Podcast Episode 147 – Tony Award-Winning Director, Walter Bobbie

One of the questions that I get asked a lot in my travels is . . .

“How did Chicago become one of the longest-running shows ever?”

This week’s guest is one of the primary reasons.

Walter Bobbie was the Artistic Director of the newly formed Encores! when he added Chicago to the line-up and changed the Broadway landscape forever (Chicago is not only on the list of the Top 10 longest running shows, but it is the only revival on that list).

Because of its success, that could have been the only show that Walter directed, but he has done more, including last season’s Bright Star, Venus in Fur, and a bunch more (not to mention his Broadway acting credits!).

Walter and I talked about Chicago and why it became such a monster success, along with . . .

  • How he knew he wasn’t long for life as an actor (warning: this story involves beer).
  • The “Brunch Show” on the Upper West Side that started his career . . . and the person who hired him for the gig. (Spoiler Alert:  that person was himself.)
  • The training he got by NOT going through traditional training.
  • How he exercised his Producing muscles to build Encores! at City Center.
  • The importance of a “safe room” for his actors on any play.

Walter is an ADP.  Actor/Director/Producer.  In this podcast, you’ll learn how there is much more crossover in those disciplines than you ever would have guessed.

So listen up . . .

Click here for the link to my podcast with Walter!

Listen to it on iTunes here. (And if you like the podcast, give it a great review, while you’re there!)

Download it here.

 

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Ken created one of the first Broadway podcasts, recording over 250 episodes over 7 years. It features interviews with A-listers in the theater about how they “made it”, including 2 Pulitzer Prize Winners, 7 Academy Award Winners and 76 Tony Award winners. Notable guests include Pasek & Paul, Kenny Leon, Lynn Ahrens and more.

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