Is the Broadway musical ok? We ask "Just in Time" producer Tom Kirdahy, who's also got "Kiss of the Spider Woman" on screens.
There’s much talk these days about the dire financial health of musicals on Broadway, where costs have skyrocketed — and so have ticket prices. Yet, very few of the big shows manages to turn a profit. How can this go on? Tom Kirdahy submits to some questioning about this issue, and his own work on Broadway and in the movies. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marksvincentelli.substack.com/subscribe
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Directorial dynamo Whitney White reveals to us a key to her success: her mom
Whitney White is a busy director, and we couldn’t be happier about it — we’ve been following her career for several years now, and it’s always exciting to see what she’ll come up with next.You can see her production of the new musical “Saturday Church” (which Elisabeth wrote about for The New York Times) at New York Theater Workshop until Oct. 24. And on Oct. 8, she’s starting previews for the Broadway run of the Bess Wohl play “Liberation” (which was at the Laura Pels Theater a few months ago).Whitney talked to us about both of those shows, but also went back to growing up in Chicago with a mom who made sure her daughter had a broad, inquisitive mind — turns out that studying political science is not a bad way to start a career in theater — and her days working as an actress (oh, the shows she’s been in!). We also touched on some key productions in her career, like Aleshea Harris’s “What to Send Up When It Goes Down” and Jocelyn Bioh’s “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding,” as well as her own “Macbeth in Stride,” which is part of a larger Shakespeare-themed project.Thanks to Christian Huygen for our theme music. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marksvincentelli.substack.com/subscribe
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Jinkx Monsoon talks funny business
Our guest this week is none other than Jinkx Monsoon, who’s killing it as Mary Todd Lincoln in “Oh, Mary!” on Broadway. Just ask Elisabeth: She’s seen the show five times with three different leading ladies.Jinkx basically gave us a TED Talk on the art of comedy, and frankly she’s well placed to talk about that stuff — there’s even a Madeline Kahn reference, so you know we’re in good hands. Of course we talked about her recent turn in “Pirates! The Penzance Musical” and Peter gushed about Jinkx’s take on “Somewhere That’s Green” (which she performed when she played Audrey in the Off Broadway revival of “Little Shop of Horrors,” of course).It’s impossible to avoid, so we also got into a discussion of the current climate in the U.S., and Jinkx talked about how it has weighed on some of her touring decisions — maybe not in the way you’d expect. Which reminds us: Now’s the time to buy your tickets for “The Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Show,” which has become a bona fide new traditionNeed some background on our guest? Here’s the profile Elisabeth wrote for the New York Times back in April.Thanks to Christian Huygen for our theme music. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marksvincentelli.substack.com/subscribe
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Peter got schooled!
RADA is a world-famous institution that has trained the likes of Vivien Leigh, Ralph Fiennes, Anthony Hopkins, Glenda Jackson, Alan Rickman and Roger Moore. Now you can add Peter Marks to the list. In August, Peter — as you may recall, a former theater critic — embarked on a daunting adventure: He enrolled in RADA’s five-week Shakespeare intensive program! He tells us about living out his acting dreams in London. His fellow Swan (listen to the episode for the explanation) Caitlin Wilson joined us for the occasion as well. Memorizing lines, getting used to iambic pentameter, inhabiting Shylock, King Lear and Bottom — Peter jumped through many hoops during what he called a life-changing experience.You won’t be able to see that but trust us: Elisabeth’s mouth was agape in disbelief the entire time. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marksvincentelli.substack.com/subscribe
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We laughed nonstop with Jeff Hiller. Where do you know him from? Everything funny —including his new memoir.
Both Peter and Elisabeth tore through Jeff Hiller’s new memoir, “Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty Year Trail to Overnight Success.” And they both experienced episodes that involved laughing so hard that you feel nauseous (Peter) and laughing so hard on the subway that you start drawing stares (Elisabeth).Yes, the book is that funny. So of course we had to get Jeff on the show. Also because we’ve been fans of his acting for years. Thanks to the HBO series “Somebody Somewhere,” where he played Bridget Everett’s friend Joel for three seasons, more people than ever have become aware of Jeff’s talent. For many New Yorkers, he’s also a beloved stage regular who’s brightened shows like “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” “Silence! The Musical” (a brilliant parody of “The Silence of the Lambs”), “Bright Colors and Bold Patterns” and “Hercules.” Jeff is incredibly funny onstage, and of course he was incredibly funny on the podcast. He talked about the new book, his career, acting and of course Elisabeth used the opportunity to ask about a reading she once saw that paired Jeff and Cole Escola — long before they became Tony-winning Cole Escola. Thanks to Christian Huygen for our theme music. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marksvincentelli.substack.com/subscribe
A theatre podcast hosted by critics Peter Marks (Washington Post) and Elisabeth Vincentelli (contributor to the New York Times). Featuring guest interviews, show discussion and more. marksvincentelli.substack.com
Ireland