Musicals | The Producer's Perspective

Tonight on the Livestream: Tony-winner and 3-Time Academy Award-Nominee, John Logan

What does the movie the massive Hollywood action movie, Gladiator, have in common with the two-hander play Red, about artist Mark Rothko?

And what does Red have in common with the ultimate Broadway extravaganza Moulin Rouge! The Musical? And what does Moulin Rouge! The Musical have in common with the Bond film, Skyfall?

John Logan.

I mean, that’s crazy, right? Who could be so talented that they could write all those different genres . . . for different mediums?

John Logan.

And who is on my livestream tonight?

JOHN LOGAN!

Tune in to hear how this three-time Academy Award-nominee and Tony Award-winner went from writing plays to writing screenplays back to plays and now writes everything in between.

And hear what he thinks about his latest Tony nomination for Moulin Rouge! The Musical!

I’m LIVE with John tonight at 8 PM EDT! Set a reminder here!

(Oh, and I’ll also be announcing some BIG news about the livestream, so don’t miss tonight’s episode!)

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You can catch me every TUESDAY at 8pm EDT (7pm CDT/ 6pm MDT/ 5pm PDT).

Next week: Cheyenne Jackson (Altar Boyz, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Aida)

To learn more about our guests and to support The Actors Fund, visit www.TheProducersPerspective.com/LIVE.

P.S. The TheaterMakers Summit with Christopher Jackson, Charlotte St. Martin, Dominique Morisseau, Ben Brantley and so many more is in just 25 days! Get your ticket here.

October 20, 2020 Broadway, Broadway Stars, Musicals, Producing, Plays, On The Blog, Trending, On The Livestream No comments yet

Tonight on the Livestream: Olivier Award-Winning Playwright and Bookwriter, Katori Hall

You have to be a heck of a talent to go to Columbia, or Harvard, or Juilliard.

But to go to all three?

That’s what Katori Hall did. And her first play after graduation from Juilliard, The Mountaintop, won her the Olivier Award before it came to Broadway. (Where it recouped – that’s right – she’s an artistic and commercial success).

She has since won The Blackburn Prize, was in residency at The Signature, and, pre-pandemic, was thrilling audiences with her book to Tina.

Oh, and she has taken to TV as well, as the showrunner of her new series, P-Valley on Starz, based on her play.

And tonight, despite her busy schedule, she’s going to talk with me (and you!) about her writing, her quaran-time, and more.

You can join me and Katori TONIGHT, Tuesday, October 13th at 8 PM ET LIVE on my Facebook, on my Twitter, or on Broadway Podcast Network’s Youtube Channel!

Set a reminder here!

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You can catch me every TUESDAY at 8pm EDT (7pm CDT/ 6pm MDT/ 5pm PDT).

Next week: John Logan (Moulin Rouge! The Musical)

To learn more about our guests and to support The Actors Fund, visit www.TheProducersPerspective.com/LIVE.

October 13, 2020 Broadway, Musicals, Broadway Stars, Producing, Plays, On The Blog, Trending, On The Livestream No comments yet

Tonight on the Livestream: Tony Award and Grammy Award winner Anaïs Mitchell (Hadestown)

Not every singer-songwriter can write a musical. As I was quoted when Spider-Man was flying around these parts, “It’s one thing to write a 3-minute song. It’s another to write a 3-hour musical.”

You know what singer-songwriter CAN write a musical?

Anaïs Mitchell.

Actually, I take that back. She can’t write a musical. She can write a great effin’ musical.

A musical so great, it helped get her named to Time Magazine’s Most Influential People in the WORLD for 2020!

The musical I rave about is, of course, Hadestown, and tonight, she’s joining me on my livestream to talk about its 12-year journey to Broadway from its humble community theater beginnings. (I mean, she’s the “Rocky” of Broadway, for goodness sake!”)

And we’ll find out how she’s keeping creative during this pandemic, and whether or not she’s got another musical up her guitar.

Join me tonight! And before you do, head over to your favorite virtual bookstore and pick up her new book, Working on a Song, The Lyrics of Hadestown . . . already a best seller on Amazon.com!

You can join me and Anaïs TONIGHT, Tuesday, October 6th at 8 PM ET LIVE on my Facebook, on my Twitter, or on Broadway Podcast Network’s Youtube Channel!

Set a reminder here!

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You can catch me every TUESDAY at 8pm EDT (7pm CDT/ 6pm MDT/ 5pm PDT).

To learn more about our guests and to support The Actors Fund, visit www.TheProducersPerspective.com/LIVE.

October 6, 2020 Broadway, Broadway Stars, Producing, Plays, Musicals, On The Blog, On The Livestream No comments yet

Tonight on the Livestream: The Tony Award Winning Lea Salonga

I remember watching Lea Salonga shred the stage as the star of Miss Saigon in 1991, when I was 18 years old. I had never seen a performance like that. I was blown away.

And then I realized, she was only 18 too. And, well . . . is there a phrase for doubly-blown away?

Lea has been performing professionally since she was a wee one in the Philippines, and she has continued to have one of the most successful careers in all of the theater since her Tony Award-winning days as Kim in Saigon.

And that is what defines a true success. Many actors can find one role that they can do better than others. But few actors can find a decades long career in this business, as they change, adapt, and excel time after time with role after different role.

On my livestream, TONIGHT AT 8, Lea and I talked about all the different roles she has played, from Kim to Erzulie in my Once to this Island, to Mrs. Lovett and Eponine, to Helen in Fun Home.

Oh, and she admits to . . . playing video games.

Listen in to hear her story, her tips on acting, getting through this pandemic . . . and even how to beat Final Fantasy.

You can join me and Lea TONIGHT, Tuesday, September 28th at 8 PM ET LIVE on my Facebook, on my Twitter, or on Broadway Podcast Network’s Youtube Channel!

Set a reminder here!

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You can catch me every TUESDAY at 8pm EDT (7pm CDT/ 6pm MDT/ 5pm PDT).

Next week . . .

I’ll give you a hint: she has a book launching the same day as our live chat!

To learn more about our guests and to support The Actors Fund, visit www.TheProducersPerspective.com/LIVE.

September 29, 2020 Musicals, Plays, Broadway Stars, Broadway, Producing, On The Blog, On The Livestream No comments yet

Tonight on the Livestream: The Tony Nominated Will Swenson (Hair, Les Miz and more)

“What about Will Swenson?”

These are the words I’ve heard spoken at just about every single casting meeting I’ve been to, when you’re looking for a leading man that can do . . . well . . . anything. He can play the good guy (Hair). He can play the bad guy (Les Miz). He can make you laugh (Disaster).

He’s also just a terrific guy that you want in your rehearsal room.

The next thing that’s said at these casting meetings by the Casing Director is, “He’s not available.” Cuz the guy is always working, whether that’s on stage or on film or on the small screen.

So, when we were coming up with great guest ideas for you for my livestream, I said, “What about Will Swenson?”

And guess what? He was available! 🙂

You can join me and Will TONIGHT, Tuesday, September 22nd at 8 PM ET LIVE on my Facebook, on my Twitter, or on Broadway Podcast Network’s Youtube Channel and find out what he’s been up to this pandemic, the two readings we recently did together, and MORE.

Set a reminder here!

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You can catch me every TUESDAY at 8pm EDT (7pm CDT/ 6pm MDT/ 5pm PDT).

Next week . . . Lea Salonga (Once On This Island, Les Miserable, Miss Saigon)!

To learn more about our guests and to support The Actors Fund, visit www.TheProducersPerspective.com/LIVE.