Singular Sensation: The Podcast

Listen in on this never-before-heard dressing room interview with Sunset Boulevard’s original Norma Desmond, Patti LuPone, to hear her take on the challenges of creating the role in London and the origins of her infamous feud with Andrew Lloyd Webber. This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patti LuPone got her pool, but Glenn Close got the Tony. In this never-before-heard dressing room interview about Sunset Boulevard, Patti LuPone dives deep on the competition between her and fellow Norma Desmond, Glenn Close. Plus you don’t want to miss what she has to say about Faye Dunaway. This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Based on Michael Riedel’s spectacular book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway, the Rent miniseries explores the creation of the landmark musical with those who were there. Rent marks a major turning point in the history of American musical theatre. Before Rent, the British spectacles dominated - Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Cats, and Sunset Boulevard. When Rent, composed and written by Jonathan Larson, exploded onto the scene, the show ignited huge excitement from a young audience and changed the entire trajectory of the art form forever.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen in on this never before heard, very candid interview with Rent creator Jonathan Larson’s father, Allan Larson, and Jonathan’s sister, Julie Larson, as they share stories about Jonathan’s early passion for musical theatre, his extraordinary early musical gifts, and Jonathan’s deep desire to make musical theater relevant again for a whole new generation. This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did Rent get to Broadway? The trajectory is unexpected and spectacular. Producer Robyn Goodman, Artistic Director Jim Nicola, and Rent creator Jonathan Larson’s father and sister recount Rent’s trajectory from blank page to the show’s monumental New York Theatre Workshop production. Theatre would never be the same.   This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did the groundbreaking rock opera Rent get its start? New York Theatre Workshop Artistic Director Jim Nicola, Director Michael Greif, and Producer Jeffrey Seller dive back in time to share what initially drew them to Jonathan Larson and to his revolutionary new musical Rent.  This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daphne Rubin-Vega brought such undeniable grit, free spirit, and Lower East Side authenticity to her Mimi audition that the Rent team knew they found their Cat Scratch Club dancer. Listen to Michael Riedel's never before heard interview with Daphne as she reflects on scoring this life-changing role and the extraordinary Rent roller coaster that followed. Rent Producers Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, as well as New York Theatre Workshop Artistic Director Jim Nicola, also share their very vivid behind-the-curtain memories. This episode features excerpts from Michael Riedel’s interviews for his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daphne Rubin-Vega, the original Mimi in Rent, and her personal wardrobe were invaluable resources for Rent costume designer Angela Wendt. With only $500 to create the original Rent costumes and set design, Angela was able to bring creator Jonathan Larson's vision to life and to fulfill his dream of Rent becoming a powerful 90's fashion "influencer." Join Angela and Daphne as they reminisce about helping to shape one of the greatest musicals of all time.  This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1996, Rent creator Jonathan Larson tragically passed away just hours before the show’s very first preview at New York Theatre Workshop. Rent star Daphne Rubin-Vega, along with Tony Award-winning Director Michael Greif, join Rent Producers Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, Press Agents Don Summa and Richard Kornberg and Jonathan’s father and sister - Al and Julie Larson - to share their vivid and very emotional memories about Jonathan’s final days. From that day forward, musical theatre would be transformed forever.  This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many warned that the musical Rent did not belong on Broadway! Nonetheless, the show blasted past those naysayers to become one of the biggest hits of all time. Join Rent star Daphne Rubin-Vega, Tony Award-winning Director Michael Greif, Press Agent Don Summa, New York Theatre Workshop Artistic Director Jim Nicola, along with Producer Jeffrey Seller as they share their very insider memories of Rent’s road to Broadway. Plus Creative Director Drew Hodges shares the fascinating story behind Rent’s marketing campaign, and creator Jonathan Larson’s father and sister - Al and Julie Larson - share the significance of Rent opening at the Nederlander Theatre. This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rent is one of those super rare musicals that permeated pop culture all over the world. The show was on Broadway from 1996 to 2008 and is still produced throughout the world today. In this episode, members of the original cast and creative team, as well as creator Jonathan Larson’s sister Julie Larson, discuss how the musical forged an incredible connection with young people in a way that no musical had in decades, bringing a whole new generation of creators to American musical theatre, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bobby Lopez, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and more. This episode features excerpts from Michael Riedel’s interviews for his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original star of Rent, Adam Pascal, joins host Michael Riedel live at Sardi's for this special bonus episode. Adam reflects on how he went from playing guitar in his basement to being on the cover of magazines across the globe after Rent catapulted him and his castmates into stardom, changing their lives and the lives of audience members the show has touched since opening at New York Theatre Workshop nearly thirty years ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guys and Dolls, a classic 1950’s musical, was brought to exciting new life in 1992 just when Times Square was in decline. This beloved musical fable, written by Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling, and Abe Burrows, dazzled audiences and became a smash hit revival. In this episode, Producer Michael David reveals how he acquired the rights to the show and gathered the powerhouse creative team that made this show sparkle. Press Agent Adrian Bryan-Brown then shares how the show struggled in previews, but persevered to win over the hearts of the audience. This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Award-winning Director Jerry Zaks gives us a rarified peek behind the curtain revealing how Guys and Dolls went from a struggling show in previews to a triumphant success by opening night. Zaks shares stories with host Michael Riedel, including the fact that the original actress hired to play Sarah Brown had to be replaced just as the show was getting underway. This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They were warned “don’t work on the show behind Director Jerry Zak's back!" But Guys and Dolls stars Nathan Lane and Faith Prince DID just that and the risk paid off! The two actors secretly worked on "Sue Me" together without the director’s approval. Their performances were so spectacular that they ended up on the front page of the New York Times. In this episode, Nathan Lane speaks in depth about playing Nathan Detroit and shares some of the challenges the show faced along the way.  This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices