Also Bob Fosse biographer, Martin Gottfried on the great director/choreographer's contribution to and personal difficlties during the original production of CHICAGO in 1975.

His Broadway credits included the original productions of: On The Town, High Button Shoes, West Side Story, Gypsy and A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to The Forum

The guests will be Clive Barnes, drama and dance critic for The New York Post and lyricist Sheldon Harnick who worked with Robbins on the musical theater classic Fiddler on The Roof.

This episode contains footage of Robbins' chorography for the 1977 revival of Fiddler on The Roof with Zero Mostel, never seen before on television.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS EPISODE IS NOT FOR SALE

Todd Haimes who during fifteen years at Roundabout made that not-for-profit theater company one of the most important and successful of it's kind, was named The Artistic Director of LIVENT last fall (replacing the financially troubled company's founder Garth Drabinsky).

In his interview with THEATER TALK hosts Michael Riedel and Susan Haskins, Haimes explains why he took on (and how he is able to cope with) two such demanding positions of responsibility.

He also describes working with his creative staff at Roundabout to stage the kind of productions (A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, CABARET, 1776) which yielded the theater company six Tony Awards last season alone.

Following Haimes is an interview with director MATTHEW BOURNE, whose highly acclaimed production of SWAN LAKE is winding up a run on Broadway. Bourne discusses the many inspirations for his radical interpretation of the classic ballet and why he reconceived the piece for all-male swans.

Stone explains how in the last 53 years the nature and importance of The Book for a Broadway musical has radically changed. The original ANNIE GET YOUR GUN was "not of our time... It was good then, but not now ...It needed concept and construction to make it fit modern taste."

Stone details why and how he has reworked the book to be more in sync with 90's sensitvities towards racial and gender equality. This includes dropping the song "I'm an Indian Too," substantially modifying the character of Chief Sitting Bull and changing the musical's famous original ending, which has Annie Oakley deliberately losing a sharpshooting match against her beloved, Frank Butler, in order to get him to marry her.

Stone also discusses to what degree he has allowed the critical and audience response to the production's Washington, D.C. tryout, to influence him as he continues to rebuild the revival's book in preparation for its opening.

"This a play about love, and sex, and loneliness and the need we all have to find a soul mate and be happy," he tells hosts Michael Riedel and Susan Haskins. He portrays his characters as, "Four nice people who behave badly, rather than four horrible people who behave badly... I love my characters, and would be very happy to spend time with all of them."

Later on this week's THEATER TALK, actor/comedians Lea DeLaria and Julie Halston, now appearing Off Broadway in Paul Rudnick's play THE MOST FABULOUS STORY EVER TOLD. In a funny and sometimes irreverent conversation, the two performers discuss the difference between their approaches to doing stand-up comedy and plays. They also candidly share their reactions to the show posting a closing notice shortly after they both joined the cast. In addition, DeLaria explains why she believes her last Broadway show ON THE TOWN closed prematurely.

The two veteran commercial producers pool their expertise to discuss: why many producers bring plays from London to Broadway, rather than do American plays; the crisis in the American not-for-profit theatre and the effect that corporate thinking is having on the American musical theater.

They also share their experiences producing musicals that "didn't make it "

(SIDE SHOW and BIG, respectively).

"It's not a failure or a flop," says Azenberg. "It's pain."

In an informative and often irreverent discussion, these Broadway insiders debate who SHOULD win the 1999 Tony Awards, who WILL win... and WHY.

The celebrated actress begins by discussing her performance in the Pulitzer Prize winning play WIT as Vivian Bering a professor of English literature, dying of ovarian cancer.

Chalfant then surprises hosts Michael Riedel and Susan Haskins by shifting the topic and challenging some opinions expressed on THEATER TALK earlier this spring by producers Emanuel Azenberg and James Freydberg.

On this previous episode, the two successful commercial producers explained why they and/or their colleagues often choose to go to England to find plays to bring to Broadway rather than moving indigenous American productions.

Their implication was that there is a dearth of new American plays that could succeed with Broadway audiences.

Chalfant takes exception to this belief by discussing a list she compiled of recent, critically acclaimed American plays that she believe, given the proper promotion, could succeed with Broadway audiences.

Also included on this episode, a brief excerpt from our January 8, 1999 interview with WIT playwright Margaret Edson.

Then a repeat of our June '98 interview with Side Man (1999 Tony Award for Best Play) playwright Warren Leight and director Michael Mayer

Following Dame Edna, October 29, are actor Mark Setlock and playwright Becky Mode to discuss FULLY COMMITTED, Mode’s new hit play at The Vineyard Theatre. In what Donald Lyons of The New York Post calls “a comic epic,” Setlock plays the reservations clerk of a chic New York restaurant, as well as over 35 different people he interacts with on the phone during one hectic day on the job.

Next, playwright Albert Innaurato (GEMINI and THE TRANSFIGURATION OF BENNO BLIMPIE) explains why the American musical theater should be ended as an art form. He laments the dumbing down of American culture which has created an enviroment where he feels it is not possible to create good musicals anymore.

First up, theater historian Ethan Mordden. Mordden, whose new book is BEAUTIFUL MORNING, The Broadway Musical of The Forties, talks about the legendary composer/lyricist, Porter and how this 1948 Broadway hit fit into his life and career.

Following Mordden, are KISS ME KATE actors Michael Mulheren and Lee Wilkof, who stop the show every night with their performance of "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," talk about working with director Michael Blakemore and choreographer Kathleen Marshall on the production.

Following Marguiles, theater reporters PATRICK PACHECO of Newsday and ROBERT SIMONSON of Playbill-On-Line discuss shows opening this spring, including Elton John's AIDA and two different versions of The Wild Party.

The show ends with a brief tribute to Derek Anson Jones, the director of WIT who died in January,2000 of AIDS.

The play tells the story of Gladys Green, an elderly art dealer in Greenwich Village (brilliantly played by veteran actress EILEEN HECKART) and her family, as they struggle with Gladys' increasing senile dementia. THE WAVERLY GALLERY is based on the true-life story of Lonergan's grandmother, but deals with a painful family experience that is familiar to many people.

Lonergan also discusses his earlier Off Broadway hit, THIS IS OUR YOUTH and his films ANALYZE THIS and YOU CAN COUNT ON ME (which won Grand Prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival).

Also on this THEATER TALK, a BROADWAY UPDATE discussion of whether or not CONTACT, Susan Stroman's highly acclaimed dance piece, which has virtually no script and prerecorded, non-original music, would be ruled eligible to receive a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical (It subsequently was).

Vilanch discusses his career writing comedy material for The Tony Awards and the Oscars to Bette Midler and Bob Hope. His one-man show, ALMOST FAMOUS, starts performances this week at the Westbeth Theatre.

Following Vilanch, actor John Shea, the star of the Off-Broadway hit, THE DIRECTOR, in which he plays the manipulative and ultimately destructive title character.

Taped before Rosie O'Donnell announced, yesterday, her intention to join the cast of SEUSSICAL for a month, the panel discusses how the creators of the show got to this point and whether or not they can still make a the show a success.

Also on Thursday's show, THEATER TALK welcomes actor Rob Bartlett the star of the Off-Broadway hit Tabletop, now at the American Place Theatre.

Writer/comedian Bartlett discusses his role in the play as an autocratic director of commercials, and whether or not his interpretation of the role is inspired by his “day job” boss, the irascible Don Imus. Bartlett is one of the writers on Imus’ popular morning radio show and responsible for the program's infamous song parodies.

Also, a conversation with actress KATE BURTON and director NICHOLAS MARTIN. The two are working together on a new production of Ibsen's HEDDA GABLER, opening this week at Boston's Huntington Theatre and headed for New York later this season.

He also details how he and his late partner Bernard Jacobs gained control of the powerful Shubert Organization, and addresses questions about the financial survival of Broadway, as well as the escalating price of tickets.

TERRENCE McNALLY's dramatic works include MASTER CLASS; LOVE, VALOR COMPASSION (both Tony Award winners for Best Play); CORPUS CHRISTIE and THE LISBON TRAVIATA, as well as the Tony Award winning musical adaptations of RAGTIME and THE KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. He recently completed the libretto for an opera version of DEAD MAN WALKING, and is currently working with Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty on a musical adaptation of the film A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE.

One of Country Music's biggest stars, McENTIRE, who has won over 60 music awards (including two Grammys) and sold more than 40 million records, discusses her new career as a Broadway star.

Also, that night an inteview with JAMES RADO, who co-created 1968's musical blockbuster HAIR.

HAIR, the anti-Vietnam "Hippie" musical, which brought nudity to Broadway, was revived at City Center's Encores, May 3-6, 2001.

Robert Gottlieb is the editor of Reading Jazz, The Collected Stories of Rudyard Kipling and The Journals of John Cheever. He is the former editor of The New Yorker Magazine

Robert Kimball is the editor of The Complete Lyrics of Cole Porter, The Complete Lyrics of Ira Gershwin and The Complete Lyrics of Lorenz Hart and is editing The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin.

Also on the program director/choreographjer JERRY MITCHELL. Mitchell who recently staged the new "I Love New York" commercial, featuring an estimated 500 Broadway performers, gathered on Duffy Square in the Broadway theater district, JERRY MITCHELL which it is hoped, will inspire people to support the city and its theaters.

Secrest discusses the life and work of the prolific and complicated genius, as well as his legendary collaborations with lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II. Rodgers' professional theatrical career spanned from 1925 until his death in 1979, and his centennial is being celebrated throughout the world in 2002.

The program was taped at Hirschfeld's studio in November of 2001 and is now a tribute to this brilliant and eloquent artist.

The producer of the mega-hits CATS, LES MISÉRABLES and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA also talks about his 35 year career as one of the most successful impresarios in the history of the musical theater, and why his plans for the future do not include putting on any more new musicals.

Ruehl is now appearing on Broadway in Edward Albee's latest play THE GOAT. She has also played Martha in "WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Seldes appeared last season in Albee's THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY and was one of the original THREE TALL WOMEN.

This episode includes a four minute excerpt from ELAINE STRITCH's emotional appearance before the press, right after her speech was cut off on the TONY AWARD broadcast Sunday night.

Anne Kaufman Schneider is the daughter of George S. Kaufman. Kitty Carlisle Hart was married to Moss Hart from 1946 until his death in 1961. She is Chairman Emeritas of The New York State Council of The Arts, as well as a well-known actress/singer ("A Night at The Opera") and television personality ("To Tell the Truth"). Together they lovingly oversee and protect Kaufman and Hart's theatrical legacy. (taped in 2002)

The panelists are dramatists Keith Glover ("Thunder Knocking at The Door"), Julia Jarcho ("Nursery," 2001 Young Playwrights Festival), Warren Leight (1999 TONY Award winner "Side Man"), David Lindsay-Abaire ("Fuddy Meers"), Theresa Rebeck ("The Butterfly Collection" and TV’s "Law & Order"), and Diana Son ("Stop Kiss").

During the second half of the taping, aspiring young writers in the audience ask the panelists questions about issues and strategies involved in doing good work. The THEATER TALK broadcast on September 27th is devoted entirely to this lively Q&A session between the playwrights and the students.

The program also includes clips from "A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green" in which the legendary team performed songs they wrote for BELLS ARE RINGING. ON THE TOWN, GOOD NEWS and PETER PAN.

Also on this week's tribute, MEL GUSSOW, cutural writer for "The New York Times."

Next, MEL GUSSOW, Cultural Writer of The New York Times discusses playwright ARTHUR MILLER, the subject of his new book, "Conversations with Arthur Miller."

Also on the show GYPSY Open Call, a brief look at auditions for the role of Baby June and Baby Louise in the upcoming revival of the classic musical GYPSY.

Also on this week's show, KATHERINE OLIVER, Commissioner of Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting. Oliver discusses the new initiatives her office is pursuing to support, promote and encourage the city's theater industry.

Also, a discussion of Tolin's comedy The Last Sunday in June.

Menken performs these and other outtake numbers from the show along with several hit tunes that made the final cut and are still part of LITTLE SHOP, nowbeing revived on Broadway at The Virginia Theatre in the 2003-04 season.

Also on the program, JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY, one of America's most prolific and successful playwrights (DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, SAILOR'S SONG) and screenwriters (MOONSTRUCK).

From SHOCKHEADED PETER, we welcome composer/performer MARTYN JACQUES, who performs a number from the show, and its leading lady TAMRYN GRIFFIN.

SHOCKHEADED PETER is a peculiar and
disturbing interpretation of the nineteenth century German pedagogic cautionary tales, Struwwelpeter, which were sritten and illustrated by (above) Heinrich Hoffman

Also on the program, an encore of our interview with two outstanding supporting performers in MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT, Christopher Sieber and this year's Tony Award-winner for Best Featured actress, SARA RAMIREZ.

Also, MARCELO PICALOMINO interviews MICHAEL RIEDEL and SUSAN HASKINS as they celebrate the beginning of THEATER TALK's 10th year on Thirteen.

Cameo appearances by critics John Simon, Michael Sommers and David Cote.

Also on Friday's show, JESSE GREEN of the NY Times, MICHAEL MUSTO of The Voice and PATRICK PACHECO of NY1 join MICHAEL RIEDEL and Susan Haskins to discuss last weekend's TONY ceremony and make suggestions on how the annual awards' broadcast could be improved in the future.

Also on the program, a visit to the first rehearsal of David Mamet's new play, November. We talk to playwright MAMET and members of the show's cast: NATHAN LANE, LAURIE METCALF, DYLAN BAKER and MICHAEL NICHOLS. Also on hand, MICHAEL MUSTO of The Village Voice.

Also, Tony winning librettist.

Also Tony-winning librettist/lyricist STEVEN SATER and tony-winning director MICHAEL MAYER discuss putting together their triumphant musical SPRING AWAKENING. (Cameo appearances by Duncan Sheik, Bill T. Jones, Michael Musto and Jesse Green of The New York Times.)

The Cat revival — starring Terrence Howard, James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad and Anika Noni Rose — officially opens March 6 at the Broadhurst Theatre. Debbie Allen directs.

Also on the program, we look back at the previous decade with Jesse Green of New York Magazine, Michael Musto of The Village Voice, and Patrick Pacheco of the Los Angeles Times. They discuss the highlights, lowlights, and significance of the works presented on Broadway between 2000 and 2009.

Next up, we toast the New Year with Jackie Hoffman (of The Addams Family), who is now starring in the brilliant and SRO Jackie Hoffman: A Chanukah Carol which rivals Hugh Jackman -- Back on Broadway as the best solo show in town.