Thirty years ago, Richard Seff, who you now know as the writer of DCTS’ NY Theatre Buzz and Isobel Robins co-hosted a series of over 100 short (3 1/2 munute) radio interviews with Broadway luminaries for The Broadway League. The American Theatre Wing , whose conversations with contemporary leaders in the theatre world are invaluable, is making these audio captures of Broadway in the 70’s available for the first time in a new series titled ‘This is Broadway’.
Among these first releases, you can hear from the Broadway wunderkind, 28 year old Stephen Schwartz. whose Pippin, Godspell and The Magic Show were all drawing big audiences, Meryl Streep, just two years out of Yale Drama School, costume designer Florence Klotz, whose research budget for Pacafic Overtures included a trip to Japan, the editor of Playbill, Arthur Birsch, beloved comic Jack Gilford talking about backstage at Sly Fox, Chorus Line’s Robert Lupone, lyricists Betty Comden and Adolf Green, just arriving in town with their revue A Party, John Kander on how Liza Minnelli saved Chicago, Hermione Gingold, doing a star turn in Side By Side By Sondheim, and, finally, Richard Seff takes the guest seat to talk about his libretto for the musical Spotlight with Gene Barry, then playing at the National in DC. To listen, click here.
