All stories by Terry Gross on BroadwayStars

Friday, October 16, 2020

2 Broadway Stars Grapple With COVID And ALS: 'We're Adapting To A New Reality' by Terry Gross

Married Broadway stars Danny Burstein and Rebecca Luker both contracted COVID in the spring. Burstein was hospitalized. Luker's case was less severe, but it came soon after she was diagnosed…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 05:12AM
Tuesday, June 30, 2020

'The Past Isn't Done With Us,' Says 'Hamilton' Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda by Terry Gross

A film of the original Broadway production of Hamilton, taped in 2016, begins streaming on Disney+ on Friday. Miranda, who stars in the title role, says the production is as timely as ever.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 03:03AM
Saturday, May 9, 2020

Steve Martin On His Years As A Comic — And Walking Away From Stand-Up by Terry Gross

At the height of his fame, Martin shifted his focus from stand-up to acting and writing. He called his memoir, Born Standing Up, a biography of "someone I used to know." Originally broadcas…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 02:42AM
Saturday, March 28, 2020

'Fresh Air' Celebrates Broadway Legend Stephen Sondheim (Part 2) by Terry Gross

Sondheim, who turned 90 on March 22, composed the music and lyrics for Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Company and other shows. He spoke about his career in musical theater in this 2010 interv…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 10:54AM
Thursday, March 26, 2020

'Fresh Air' Remembers Broadway Playwright Terrence McNally by Terry Gross

McNally, who died March 24 due to complications related to COVID-19, won Tony awards for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime and Master Class. Originally broadcast J…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 10:24PM
Tuesday, December 31, 2019

'Fresh Air' Favorites: Joan Rivers by Terry Gross

This week, we're listening back to some favorite Fresh Air interviews from the past decade. Rivers, who died in 2014, spoke to Terry Gross in 2010 about the sacrifices she made as a female c…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 04:36PM
Saturday, December 28, 2019

'Fresh Air' Favorites: 'Hamilton' Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda by Terry Gross

This week, we're listening back to some favorite Fresh Air interviews from the past decade. Terry Gross spoke to Miranda in 2017 about how his "mixed tape" musical came together.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 01:03PM

'Fresh Air' Favorites: 'Book Of Mormon' Creators Trey Parker And Matt Stone by Terry Gross

This week, we're listening back to some favorite Fresh Air interviews from the past decade. In 2011, Terry Gross spoke to the creators of South Park about their Broadway hit.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 01:03PM
Tuesday, October 8, 2019

After Nearly Losing His Voice To Cancer, Anthony Roth Costanzo Takes On 'Akhnaten' by Terry Gross

Ten years ago, Costanzo had surgery that threatened to destroy his singing voice. Now the countertenor is starring as a gender-fluid Egyptian pharaoh in a new production by the Metropolitan …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 01:18AM
Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Satirist Randy Rainbow Uses Show Tunes And Pop Songs To Lampoon Trump by Terry Gross

"I always considered song parody kind of cheap," the Emmy-nominated lyricist and performer says. "But ... I've gotten [such a] response from others ... that I'm appreciating it as an art for…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 06:32PM
Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Yiddish 'Fiddler On The Roof' Is A 'Dream Come True' For Lead Actor by Terry Gross

A new, Yiddish language production of the musical is currently running off-Broadway. Steven Skybell, who plays Tevye, and Joel Grey, who directs the show, explain why the play still resonat…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 06:54PM
Saturday, May 4, 2019

Remembering Jo Sullivan Loesser, Wife Of 'Guys And Dolls' Creator Frank Loesser by Terry Gross

Jo Sullivan Loesser, who died April 28, married Frank Loesser after starring in his Broadway show, The Most Happy Fella. After Frank died in 1969, she helped preserve his legacy.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 01:06AM
Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Glenda Jackson On Playing King Lear: Gender Barriers 'Crack' With Age by Terry Gross

The 82-year-old British actor is currently playing Shakespeare's famed tragic figure on Broadway. "Doors have opened for women that were firmly locked many decades ago," she says.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 01:45PM
Friday, April 5, 2019

From The 'Fresh Air' Archives: Dancer Gwen Verdon by Terry Gross

Verdon, who died in 2000, spoke to Terry Gross in 1993 about her work with and marriage to choreographer Bob Fosse. The new FX series Fosse/Verdon revisits the complexities of their partners…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 01:27PM

Remembering Choreographer And Dancer Merce Cunningham by Terry Gross

Cunningham, who died in 2009, would have been 100 on April 16. He spoke to Fresh Air in 1985 about his unconventional approach to dance, in which music and dance are performed independently.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 01:27PM
Wednesday, March 20, 2019

How Women Have Been 'Profoundly' Left Out Of The U.S. Constitution by Terry Gross

As a teen, Heidi Schreck debated the Constitution in competitions. As an adult, she saw how it shortchanged the women in her family. Her play, What the Constitution Means to Me, will run on …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 01:25PM
Monday, December 24, 2018

How Rodgers And Hammerstein Revolutionized Broadway by Terry Gross

Todd Purdum's book, Something Wonderful, is about the creative partnership and strained personal relationship behind hit shows like Carousel and The Sound of Music. Originally broadcast Apri…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 02:24PM
Friday, December 7, 2018

How The 'Golden Age' Of Corporate Musicals Used Songs To Boost Sales by Terry Gross

Sheldon Harnick, John Russell and Steve Young discuss "industrial musicals," Broadway-style productions written and performed at the behest of corporations. Originally broadcast Nov. 5, 2013.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 07:12PM
Friday, November 30, 2018

Remembering Master Magician And Sleight-Of-Hand Artist Ricky Jay by Terry Gross

Jay, who died Sunday, was an avid scholar of con games and could make cards disappear and reappear in ways that seemed impossible. He spoke to Fresh Air in 1987, 1998 and 2002.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 05:06PM
Friday, October 5, 2018

From Injury To Recovery, A Ballet Dancer Fought To Retire On Her Own Terms by Terry Gross

Restless Creature, now available on Netflix, chronicles Wendy Whelan's recovery from hip surgery and her final performance with the New York City Ballet. Originally broadcast July 10, 2017.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 07:12PM
Friday, August 31, 2018

'Fresh Air' Remembers Choreographer Paul Taylor by Terry Gross

Taylor, who died Wednesday, began dancing when he was 22 and worked with some of the world's most renowned choreographers before establishing his own dance troupe. Originally broadcast in 19…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 04:42PM
Monday, May 28, 2018

How Rodgers And Hammerstein Revolutionized Broadway by Terry Gross

Todd Purdum's new book is about the creative partnership and strained personal relationship behind such hit shows as Carousel, South Pacific and The Sound of Music. Originally broadcast Apri…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 11:48AM
Monday, April 9, 2018

How Rodgers And Hammerstein Revolutionized Broadway by Terry Gross

Todd Purdum's new book, Something Wonderful, is about the creative partnership and strained personal relationship behind such hit shows as Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific and The Sound of…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 01:48PM
Tuesday, October 31, 2017

'Mindhunter' Actor Jonathan Groff On His Most Life-Altering Roles by Terry Gross

Groff says his work on HBO's Looking changed his life: "It's one of my favorite things I've worked on, the most personal thing I've worked on." He now stars in the Netflix series Mindhunter.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 04:18PM
Monday, August 21, 2017

Jerry Lewis On His Borscht Belt Childhood And The Lonely Work Of Comedy by Terry Gross

In 2005, Lewis told Fresh Air about his partnership with singer Dean Martin and how he honed his comic skills while working as a busboy. The comedian, actor and director died Sunday at the a…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 06:36PM
Monday, July 10, 2017

From Injury To Recovery, A Ballerina Fought To Retire On Her Own Terms by Terry Gross

Wendy Whelan feared she would never dance again after undergoing hip surgery. The documentary Restless Creature chronicles her recovery and final performance with the New York City Ballet.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 08:18PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards