CUNY TV's Theater Talk

Comedy legend Renée Taylor; plus Critics John Simon, Justin Brown & Matt Windma

Historian Ethan Mordden, author of “All That Jazz: The Life and Times of the Musical CHICAGO" and many works including the "Rodgers & Hammerstein" book, shares his considerable knowledge & insights into the classic musicals "Chicago" and "Carousel."

Theater Talk's team Adam Feldman, Jesse Green, Julie Halston, Michael Musto, Patrick Pacheco, Jan Simpson, Elisabeth Vincentelli & Jason Zinoman join Susan Haskins after the Tonys to evaluate the ceremony, make sense of the upsets, & celebrate the season.

Ben Brantley and Jesse Green of The New York Times, Peter Marks of The Washington Post and Terry Teachout of The Wall Street Journal review the new Broadway shows of the spring season.

Esteemed Theater Talk regulars Jesse Green, Michael Musto, Patrick Pacheco and Elisabeth Vincentelli gather with co-hosts Adam Feldman and Susan Haskins to predict who will win the coveted 2018 TONY Awards and why.

Actresses Glenda Jackson, Laurie Metcalf and Alison Pill discuss working together with director Joe Mantello to create the magnificent revival of ”Edward Albee's Three Tall Women,” now on Broadway. Jesse Green of The New York TImes and Susan Haskins co-host.

Tony-nominated actors Taylor Louderman and Grey Henson from the new Broadway musical “Mean Girls” have a fabulous time with Julie Halston, Michael Musto & Susan Haskins. Next, Lane Binkley interviews Randy, witty Australian star of “Randy Writes a Novel."

From Lincoln Center Theater's stunning revival of "My Fair Lady" are actors Lauren Ambrose, Harry Hadden-Paton, and Allan Corduner, director Bartlett Sher, and LCT Producing Artistic Director André Bishop. NYTimes' Jesse Green and Susan Haskins co-host.

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" director John Tiffany and movement director Steven Hoggett discuss creating the blockbuster show with playwright John Thorne and J.K. Rowling. Gordon Cox of Variety co-hosts with Susan Haskins.

“Frozen” composer-lyricists Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez talk about writing a dozen new songs for the new Broadway musical adaptation. Then, Charlotte St. Martin, talks about the numerous responsibilities as President of The Broadway League.

Theater Talk discusses "Angels in America" with original & current revival Angels/actors Ellen McLaughlin and Amanda Lawrence, and Isaac Butler, co-author of the new book, "The World Only Spins Forward: The Ascent of Angels in America."

Playwright David Cale, actor Billy Crudup, and director Leigh Silverman of Cale's riveting, one-man thriller “Harry Clarke” now Off-Broadway, produced by (and available at) audible. Jason Zinoman of The New York Times co-hosts with Susan Haskins.

Actors Richard Kind & Gideon Glick join Roundabout Underground Artistic Producer Jill Rafson talk about the The 24-Hour Plays Off-Broadway. Jesse Green & Jason Zinoman from The New York Times discuss The Agony and Ecstasy of Writing Negative Reviews.

Actor Estelle Parsons and actor/author Patricia Bosworth discuss the art of acting and their formative years of training at the legendary Actors Studio in the 1950's. Guest host is Jesse Green, Co-Chief Theatre Critic of The New York Times.

"Good for Otto" playwright David Rabe, actors Ed Harris and Amy Madigan and The New Group artistic director Scott Elliott discuss the new play about a community mental health center, with co-hosts Tony-winning playwright Warren Leight and Susan Haskins.

From "The Band’s Visit," actors Tony Shalhoub, Katrina Lenk and John Cariani, discussing working on the powerful musical hit. Then, multi-faceted producer Ted Chapin reveals his plans for the 92Y longtime series "Lyrics & Lyricists."

Writer/composer Richard Thomas and actors Terrence Mann & Will Swenson from Thomas’ controversial work "Jerry Springer -The Opera"; then "The Amateurs"playwright Jordan Harrison, director Oliver Butler and actor Michael Cyril Creighton.

Master actor John Lithgow discusses his one-man show Stories by Heart, which he developed over 10 years touring the country and now on Broadway. The play is dedicated to his father, who was also an actor/director.

“Hello, Dolly!” actors Kate Baldwin, Tony Award-winner Gavin Creel & Broadway newcomer Charlie Stemp; plus Adam Feldman, Michael Musto, Patrick Pacheco & Elisabeth Vincentelli discuss highly-anticipated off-Broadway shows with Jesse Green & Susan Haskins.

Adam Feldman, Michael Musto, Elisabeth Vincentelli and Patrick Pacheco plus co-hosts Jesse Green and Susan Haskins discuss the upcoming spring season on Broadway, including "Harry Potter..." “Angels in America” “Mean Girls" "Carousel" and "My Fair Lady."

Actors Daniel Breaker, Bryan Terrell Clark, and Mandy Gonzalez, now appearing in Broadway’s biggest hit musical "Hamilton" talk with co-hosts Julie Halston and Susan Haskins.

Tony-winning actor Mark Rylance & playwright Claire van Kampen discuss her new play in which he stars, Farinelli and the King, with co-hosts Warren Leight & Susan Haskins. Also, Michael Musto interviews songwriting team of Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt.

Theater critics Joe Dziemianowicz (NY Daily News), Adam Feldman (Time Out New York) and Elisabeth Vincentelli (3 on The Aisle) review new shows of the 2017 fall season with co-hosts Jesse Green (The New York Times) and producer Susan Haskins.

Actress/writer/comic Amy Schumer discusses starring in Steve Martin's “Meteor Shower” on Broadway, with New York Times critic Jason Zinoman and Susan Haskins. Also, LGBTQ performer/activist, the legendary Agosto Machado talks with Michael Musto & Haskins.

“The Band's Visit” songwriter David Yazbek and book writer Itamar Moses discuss their collaboration on the celebrated new musical based on a popular 2007 Israeli film about an Egyptian police band stranded in a small town in the Negev Desert.

Pulitzer-winner Ayad Akhtar and director Doug Hughes discuss "Junk," their new LCT play about the world of high finance & eclipsed morality. Plus, "20th Century Blues" playwright Susan Miller & actresses Polly Draper & Kathryn Grody. Jan Simpson co-hosts.

Director Julie Taymor discusses the 20th anniversary of her musical masterpiece THE LION KING. Jelani Remy performs "Endless Night." Then, playwright David Henry Hwang joins Taymor to discuss their Bway revival of his Tony Award-winning play M. BUTTERFLY.

Signature Theatre Playwright-in-Residence Stephen Adly Guirgis discusses the “Jesus Hopped the 'A’ Train” revival, and creating the initial LAByrinth Theater production of the play in 2000 directed by friend/mentor Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Nia Vardalos & Marshall Heyman adapted Cheryl Strayed's bestselling book “Tiny Beautiful Things." TACT's Scott Alan Evans, Geoffrey Johnson & Kristine Nielsen discuss Noël Coward's play "Salute to the Brave." Warren Leight & Donna Hanover guest co-host.

"Torch Song" playwright Harvey Fierstein, director Moisés Kaufman and actor Michael Urie discuss Second Stage Theater's revival of Fierstein's 1988 groundbreaking Tony Award-winning play, with co-hosts Susan Haskins and Michael Musto.

Susan Haskins & Michael Musto chat with cabaret faves Murray Hill, Bridget Everett & producer Daniel Nardicio. Then, creators Clay McLeod Chapman (The Pumpkin Pie Show) and Timothy Haskell (This Is Real) talk horror theater with Haskins & Jason Zinoman.

New immersive musical “KPOP” with co-conceiver/librettist Jason Kim, director Teddy Bergman of Woodshed Collective, and Ars Nova Artistic Director Jason Eagan; then Musto, Pacheco, Vincentelli & Jesse Green discuss more Broadway & off-Broadway offerings.

This episode is dedicated to the firs part of Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC). We have interviews with Alex Anwandter, Los Rakas, Gepe and Rawayana.

The creative team of the 2017 Tony Award-winning Best Musical DEAR EVAN HANSEN, composer/lyricists Benj Pasek & Justin Paul and librettist Steven Levenson discuss their collaboration process; plus song performances from DEAR EVAN HANSEN and LA LA LAND.

Theater Talk welcomes artist Ken Fallin and presents an on-air exhibition of his popular drawings of show business luminaries. Plus highlights of legendary caricaturist Al Hirschfeld interviewed by Art Spiegelman in 2001.

Author and musical theatre historian Ethan Mordden charts the influence of Broadway on Hollywood (and vice versa) throughout the twentieth century, in his latest book, “When Broadway Went to Hollywood.”

Critics Peter Marks, Terry Teachout, Elisabeth Vincentelli & Linda Winer return to review more spring Broadway productions. Veteran Broadway star Joel Grey discusses his new book, "Master of Ceremonies: A Memoir." Bonus, Michael Musto Roast featurette!

Critics Peter Marks (Washington Post), Terry Teachout (Wall Street Journal), Elisabeth Vincentelli (NY Times & The New Yorker), and Linda Winer (Newsday) review the spring Broadway musicals, and discuss the new challenges to critics in the digital age.

Theater journalists Jesse Green (The New York Times), Michael Musto (Out.com), Patrick Pacheco (OnStage), and Elisabeth Vincentelli (The New Yorker and The New York Times), join co-hosts Susan Haskins and Michael Riedel predict who will win 2017 Tonys.

From "Sweat," the Pulitzer Prize-winning/TONY-nominated play about the lives of factory workers in Reading, Pennsylvania, are playwright Lynn Nottage, director Kate Whoriskey, and Tony Award nominated actors Johanna Day and Michelle Wilson.

A conversation with playwright Lucas Hnath about his new play "A Doll's House, Part 2," with actors Laurie Metcalf and Chris Cooper; plus Terrence McNally, librettist of the new musical “Anastasia,” joined by actors Christy Altomare and Ramin Karimloo.

Songwriting team Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and director Jack O’Brien (Hairspray) collaborated again on the stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” for Broadway. Shaiman performs a few new songs at the piano.

"Oslo" playwright J.T. Rogers, director Bartlett Sher, and actors Jennifer Ehle and Jefferson Mays; and "Dear Evan Hansen" librettist Steven Levenson, composer/lyricists Benj Pasek & Justin Paul return to our piano to perform more songs from their career.

“Dear Evan Hansen” composer-lyricists Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, and librettist Steven Levenson join co-host Susan Haskins and guest co-host Jesse Green of The New York Times around the grand piano to discuss and perform key songs from their hit musical.

Director Matthew Warchus, lead actor Andy Karl, and librettist Danny Rubin, discuss "Groundhog Day," their new Broadway musical adapted from the classic 1993 film, originally conceived by Rubin and co-written with director Harold Ramis.

Christine Ebersole and Patti LuPone, and director Michael Greif talk about their new Broadway musical "War Paint" that chronicles the amazing careers of cosmetic-industry-pioneers and moguls, Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein.

Playwright Paula Vogel discusses "Indecent," her new play on Broadway. Plus, the creative team from new musical "Come From Away," writers David Hein and Irene Sankoff, with director Christopher Ashley, and Jenn Colella performs "Me and the Sky"

Actors Mark Ruffalo and Danny DeVito along with director Terry Kinney discuss their revival of "Arthur Miller's The Price" on Broadway.

“Dear Evan Hansen” stars Ben Platt, Jennifer Laura Thompson and Rachel Bay Jones discuss the process of creating this original new Broadway musical and the powerful sentiments that infuse it and have led to its success. With guest co-host Jesse Green.

Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg celebrate the return of "Miss Saigon" to Broadway after 26 years. They discuss the inspiration for their musical, what has changed since 1991, and their origins and influences as young songwriters in France.