(smooth upbeat music)
- Hello, everyone, welcome to, "Live at Five,"
here at Broadway.com.
It is Tuesday, September 17th.
I'm Beth Stevens.
- And I'm Ryan Lee Gilbert.
- And we're here in the studio with Ms. Caitlin Moynihan.
- Hello.
- [Beth] And her jazz hands.
- As always. - Yes.
- And we're super excited. - Guys.
- Because one of our favorite Broadway divas is here today.
- Yes, we have Carolee Carmello here with us today,
leading the tour of, "Hello, Dolly!" all across the country.
Very exciting stuff.
- Very exciting stuff.
We will get to Ms. Carmello very shortly,
but first, our top five.
(upbeat music)
- Another play revival has been announced
for this upcoming season.
- Yes, this is a big one.
Laurence Fishburne and Sam Rockwell
are coming back to Broadway.
They are going to star in David Mammoth's
1976 play, "American Buffalo."
Neil Pepe will direct the production.
If you're not familiar with, "American Buffalo,"
it follows a trio of small-time crooks
who come to blows over a plan
to steal a valuable buffalo nickel.
Fishburne, who won a Tony for
his Broadway debut in, "Two Trains Running,"
and was recently on Broadway in 2008 in, "Thurgood."
He will be playing, so good, he will playing Donny,
Sam Rockwell will be portraying Teach,
and he was last seen on Broadway in, "Fool for Love,"
but he was also here in, "A Behanding in Spokane."
He won an Oscar for,
"Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,"
and he's right now for not much longer,
but he's a current Emmy nominee for,
"Fosse/Verdon," right now.
- Playing Bob Fosse.
- Yes absolutely.
Production dates, additional casting for,
"American Buffalo," will be announced soon,
but previews are set to begin in March of 2020
and opening night is set for April 14th
at a venue to be announced.
So some things are coming, yes but a very starry show.
- This Broadway diva is coming home
for another solo concert engagement.
- Hallelujah.
Kristin Chenoweth is coming back to the Broadway.
The pocket-sized diva is going to play,
that's what she calls herself.
- She does.
- The pocket-sized diva is going to play
the Nederlander Theater on my birthday,
you didn't need to know that part,
from November 8th to the 17th,
my birthday's not that whole time but it's in there.
- She's calling the concert, "For the Girls."
- Love it.
- But I think you can get a ticket if you try.
- I'll try, yeah.
- It's based on her new album, "For the Girls,"
and it's her personal tribute to music's
most passionate women who have influenced her
into becoming the accomplished Broadway star she is today.
Do I need to tell you her credits?
I do not. - No.
- She's a Tony winner.
- If you don't know who she is,
you shouldn't be watching this.
- Yeah, what are you doing here.
(laughing)
- Amazing.
Three original stars are reuniting
for the special 15th anniversary reunion.
- I know, so exciting, we're talking about "Brooklyn",
of course, and they are gonna be having
a one night reunion concert
and we are talking about Eden Espinoza in the title role,
Karen Olivo as Faith and Ramona Keller as Paradise.
It is a benefit for the Covenant House Foundation,
which is an incredibly worthy cause.
This will be the 15th anniversary of the show's
Broadway opening night, that is nuts to think about.
So October 21st is what we're talking about.
7:30, it's happening at Brooklyn Steel,
which is one of my favorite concert venues here in the city,
so great.
It features a book and a score
by Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson.
Brooklyn centers on a young girl from Paris,
whose search for the father she never knew
lands her in America,
in the city that bears her name, Brooklyn.
The music in this show is gorgeous.
- Gorgeous belting. - Yeah.
- And they have that trash bag, do you remember the gown?
- I do, yes. - Mm hmm.
- It's so good and these three women
are ridiculously talented.
- I was only two when it came out.
- That's right, yes. - I was very young.
But I remember the gown.
- But you really appreciate the--
- Costumes were amazing. - Certainly.
- Yes, and it looks like I'm gonna go to Chicago
for the very first time to go see this world premiere.
- Okay, we already knew that,
"The Devil Wears Prada," musical was on its way
but now we have a world premiere set.
It will play at Chicago's James M. Nederlander Theater.
The production will run from July 14th 2020
through August 16th.
Of course, then it's going to move on
to the great right way, we predict.
- Yes.
- We're predicting such a thing.
It's based on Lauren Weisberger's best selling 2003 novel
and of course you all know the movie
with Meryl Streep, et cetera, et cetera, so.
Look for that, Anna D. Shapiro will direct.
It features a book by the very funny Paul Rudnick,
music by Elton John and lyrics by Shaina Taub.
- I can't wait. - Wow.
- Yep. - What a creative team, right?
- Yeah, no kidding. - So good.
And Virginia Woolf has found a home.
- That's right yes.
The star-packed revival of,
"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
We have known that it is going to be in previews
on March 3rd of 2020 and it will open on April 9th,
but we didn't know where that was gonna happen
and now we do, it's happening at the Booth Theater,
which funnily enough, the last time there was a revival of,
"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
it was also at the Booth Theater.
- It's perfect for it. - Just bodes well for it.
Yes, of course this stars Laurie Metcalf,
recently announced Rupert Everett,
stepping in for Eddie Izzard, Russell Tovey
and Patsy Farren who's making her Broadway debut.
She won an Olivier over there for it.
This production will be here soon,
it's directed by Joe Mantello.
I'm very excited to see it,
we're happy to know it has a home.
Also, on the site.
Guys, it's the final, final episode of,
"Seize the Day-O" from Leslie Kritzer.
- [Caitlin] Beautiful.
Okay, wait, this is very special.
- [Caitlin] This is the craziest thing I've ever seen.
- I'm not going to give anything away, but Maj,
the character Maj that Leslie Kritzer has created.
- Just gifted to us. - Has gifted us.
Takes a trip to the upper recesses
of the Winter Garden Theater,
which maybe Carolee Carmello knows about,
we'll get to that in a second.
And there are a couple of cameos, one by Betty Buckley,
which we have another connection here.
One by Ken Page, that's all I'm gonna say,
maybe you know the connection, maybe you don't.
- It's, I think, the most epic vlog episode ever.
- Check that out, people. - It's pretty incredible.
Photos of the American Theater Wing Gala happened,
we have full photo coverage of that
and Mary Kate Morrissey is gonna be playing Janice
in the national tour of, "Mean Girls,"
and we have a ClubBroadway.com of her singing,
"I'd Rather be Me," and it's phenomenal.
- Gorgeous voice. - So incredible.
But yeah, check all of that out in a little bit.
I am going to get outta here
because this is Carolee Carmello's seat that I'm taking up.
- [Caitlin] Yes it is, yes it is.
- Well thank you. - Yeah, my pleas'.
- Caitlin, will you please tell us
a little bit more about our guest.
- Gladly.
Yes, we have miss Carolee Carmello here
with us in the studio today,
'cause she's about to hit the road as miss Dolly Levi
in, "Hello, Dolly!" on the national tour.
She's a Tony nominee for her turns in, "Parade,"
"Lestat," and, "Scandalous," and has been
in 14, one, four, Broadway productions.
She is an icon and a legend
and I really can't believe that she's here with us today.
You guys, follow her on social media @CaroleeCarmello,
leave all of your questions in the comments below
and everyone, please welcome Carolee and Beth.
(hosts clapping)
Yay! - Very nice.
Thanks Caitlin. - We have to clap for you.
- We have to clap. - Because you're here,
we love you, welcome.
- Thanks, I love you guys too.
Hi, everybody.
- So, you're gonna get to play Dolly Levi,
this is a big role.
Okay, let's just think about this for a second.
(laughing) Just this production.
- Just lay the pressure on, Beth.
- So we've got Bette Midler, Bernadette Peters,
Donna Murphy, Betty Buckley, icons of the theater.
- Yes, not to mention Carol Channing and Madeleine Kahn
and Pearl Bailey and-- - Yeah, we can go backwards.
- Yeah, there's a lot of history here.
- No pressure. - I know.
- So what's your history with, "Hello, Dolly!?"
- I don't remember much about seeing it as a kid,
except the movie, the Barbara Streisand version,
which I'm sure everyone has seen.
But I never saw it on stage until I saw Betty Buckley do it,
so there you go.
- [Beth] Wow, that was your first time?
- That was my first time ever seeing it on stage.
- And then did you go and talk with Ms. Buckley afterward?
- Yes, she gave me lots of pointers, thank you Betty,
and I asked her lots of questions
and she was very generous so hopefully
she's smoothed the way for me.
- She paved the way. - Yeah.
- So what were some of your questions
and what were some of her hot tips?
We wanna know the real dirt.
- My first question was about,
there's a scene in the show,
if you saw it in New York, you'd probably remember,
where Dolly is eating all this food at the Harmonia Gardens,
and my first question was,
"What are you eating during that scene?"
- [Beth] That's an excellent question, what are you eating?
- We're not allowed to talk about it, it's secret.
- But are you really gargling gravy?
That's all I really wanna know.
- I'm really gargling something.
- Okay that's good enough, we'll take it.
(laughing)
So you got to find out the secrets
of the sisterhood of, "Hello, Dolly!"
- Yes. - That we're not gonna
get to know. - That they won't
let me talk about. Yeah, I'm sorry.
But it's not pleasant. - It's theater magic.
- Put it that way, it's not pleasant.
- Oh, but you look like you relish it when you do it.
- Exactly, that's the acting part.
- That's where that comes in.
And so you're gonna be on stage with John Bolton.
- Yes!
- Not the former national security advisor,
John Bolton of Anastasia fame.
- Although he will have a mustache,
so maybe people might get confused.
- Who's a wonderful guy, have you guys talked at all?
- Yes!
We've been rehearsing but we had never worked together
and we're kind of the same age
and we've been in the business for 30 years and
so it was weird that we had never crossed paths before,
but we have so many friends in common
and he's delightful and he's gonna be really funny
and charming as Horace Vandergelder.
So we're looking forward to it, yeah.
- When was the last time you went on tour?
- About 25 years ago 'cause I have children
and my youngest just went off to college,
shout out to Ethan Edelman at PIT.
- Hello Ethan.
Double E. - That's right.
So now I have an empty nest
and I can go and play shows all around the country.
- [Beth] What did you tour 25 years ago?
- Well, let's see, I did a tour of, "Les Mis,"
I did a tour of, "Big River,"
I did a tour of, "Falsettos," couple tours of, "Falsettos."
I feel like there was another one.
- Do you remember the feeling of touring?
- "Chess!"
"Chess," with Steven Bogardus and John Herrera.
How could I forget that?
And Barbara Walsh.
Yeah, it was a great, great fun time.
I loved doing that.
- So tell me some of the places you're gonna go.
- So we start in Kansas City at the Starlight,
which is interesting because it's an outdoor theater.
- [Beth] And what time of year will this be?
- Next week. - Perfect.
Nope, perfect for apple picking or performing outside.
- But come see it because you'll get to
see us sweat up close and personal.
- That's what we all want.
- And then St. Louis and Oklahoma City.
We get really in the heart. - Are those places
you've been before?
- Yes, but not for a long time.
- [Beth] This also probably won't be for very long.
- Yeah, that's true.
I think we're two weeks in St. Louis,
I think one week in Oklahoma City.
But the heartland of America which is great
because this is such an appealing show
to so many different kinds of people
and I think that.
- It's so classic, it just transcends generations.
Everybody wants to see it and it moves everybody.
- It does, and it's also just lighthearted,
which I feel like the country really needs right now.
Just something that's joyful and celebrates love.
- And gorgeous costumes. - And, oh my God.
Santo Lacuesta costumes that are
just unbelievably beautiful.
- And you love a little corset situation.
(laughing)
I've seen you in a couple things with it.
- I mean, women of a certain age,
we all love a little cinch. - A big hat moment.
- Yes, it balances out the hips.
- I didn't say that at all, I didn't say that at all.
- I know what you meant, Beth.
- You have so many fans.
I can see Caitlin scrolling, so let's take some questions.
- Girl, we have so many questions.
So you guys kinda talked about this a little bit,
but Allison wants to know,
what is she just most excited about
getting to tour again and be out on the road,
what's getting you excited?
- I guess meeting people
from different parts of the country.
I mean, having done Broadway shows for 30 years,
you meet great people at the stage door
who have made a trip to New York
and spent a lot of money on a Broadway show
and that's wonderful, but it's so nice
to go to the towns where these people live,
and to really bring Broadway theater to them, you know?
And I think that's what I'm looking forward to most,
just seeing people in their natural habitat.
- Seeing them where they live.
Also, "Hello, Dolly!" is a favorite of community theaters
and schools, you might meet some Dolly's out there.
- I betcha I will.
I betcha somebody will come in costume,
I'm betting it now.
- Actually guys, if you could just put on your costumes
and go see, "Hello, Dolly!" on tour,
that would really make everyone's day, do that.
- I promise to take a picture with you
at the stage door if you do that.
- Yes!
(laughing)
That's amazing.
- Hope wants to know, what are you most looking forward to
about being able to actually play Dolly,
'cause she's such, kind of like
a musical theater character icon.
What are you most excited about?
- You know, the writing is so good.
It's Thorton Wilder book,
all these great monologues that she has,
and it's so funny and Jerry Zaks, as you know,
is like the king of comedy timing
so he's been coaching us
about how to land all these wonderful lines
and make everybody laugh and I love doing comedy
so I think that's what I'm most looking forward to.
- She gets to do a little bit of everything.
She gets to touch our hearts, she gets to dance
and she makes us laugh.
- The dancing part, I'm nervous about.
- You are? - Yeah.
I'm not a dancer, I'm a... - She moves well.
- Thank you.
Thank you, that's generous.
We'll see how well I move, but I'm trying.
I'm giving it the old college try (laughing).
But yeah, you're right,
it's not just a waka waka comedy role,
it's also very touching and romantic
and heartfelt and yeah, it's just lovely.
- And you get some serious diva moments.
Let's just face it. - Yes.
- Which I know, you're not clambering for them,
but you just are naturally good at them.
That's your natural habitat.
(laughing)
The diva.
- Coming down the staircase.
- Coming down the staircase in a gorgeous gown,
that's Carolee Carmello's natural habitat.
(laughing)
- Thanks, I don't know if that's true, but thank you, Beth.
- Close.
- Nathan wants to know if there's a song
that you're just excited to be able to sing
in Dolly all the time?
Is there a song you're like, "Yes!"
- I mean, "Before the Parade Passes By,"
is pretty spectacular.
And I was just listening, right before I came here,
the ensemble was rehearsing their vocals
which they sing behind me as I'm singing these big notes
and it's just so thrilling
because they're right on stage behind me
and you just get this wall of sound
from the ensemble singing with these glorious voices,
and this wall of sound from the orchestra,
which not everybody gets to hear a live orchestra,
that's the other part of touring that I think is wonderful
'cause you bring these wonderful musicians
to all these towns across the country so, yeah.
So standing in the middle of that and singing that song
with this sound and that sound, it's pretty thrilling.
- Love that.
Okay, so we have another question.
Mario wants to know, what have you seen
as the biggest difference over the years of Broadway?
You've been able to be in so many incredible Broadway shows,
how has it been for you to be able to see
so many years of the Broadway community as an actress?
- [Beth] What's changed?
- Mario, are you saying I'm old?
- Yeah, Mario.
No, I'm just kidding.
- What's changed? Wow.
The unfortunate thing that's changed
is that it's so expensive now.
I always feel really awful
'cause it's such a wonderful art form
and I want everybody to be able to see it,
and it's gotten really expensive which is unfortunate.
But the wonderful thing that's changed I guess
is that so many great people are attracted to it
and there's wonderful artists.
- [Beth] Do you think the interest level has gone up?
- Yeah, I do.
I really do.
I mean, there's definitely ebbs and flows to this business,
as with any, but yeah, I do feel like right now
we're at a place where people get excited about new projects
and they don't just wanna see the same old.
I mean, I'm doing a great revival
but there's lots of new projects
that you were just talking about.
- I think theater nerds have rejoiced
in their theater nerdom.
- Yes.
- They're gonna dress up and go see,
"Hello, Dolly!" on the road.
- I hope so!
Please do.
- I don't think that happened 20 years ago,
I could be wrong.
- No, I think you're right.
I mean, even just the crowds at a stage door.
When I first started doing Broadway shows,
you maybe got one or two people waiting afterwards.
Now there could be 100 when you come out.
It's just become this kind of expected thing
that you get to meet the stars of the show afterwards
and it's kinda fun.
- [Beth] What was the first Broadway show you ever saw?
- "Ain't Misbehavin'." - Oh that's a good one.
- Which is kind of an interesting first show for me
but I was in college and I was up in Albany, New York,
and we drove down for the day and saw that one.
- Not bad at all. - Not bad at all.
- Some great signing. - Oh yeah.
- Love it.
So Kalen actually, she wants to know what roles
do you gravitate towards?
When you're trying to figure out what your next project is,
what do you look for in a role?
- Reds heads. (laughing)
- Yes. - I would say red heads.
I could be wrong about that.
- A good wig.
- I mean, you've played so many roles,
so many different kinds of roles.
- Yeah, I like the variety.
I wouldn't wanna just say one particular kind attracts me,
'cause I really like the variety of going from
playing a serious sort of evangelist
to playing a vampire, to playing a telephone operator,
to a grandmother, you know, I love that.
I love that it doesn't get boring.
- I love that as a range, serious evangelist to vampire.
(laughing)
That's the Carolee Carmello range.
I mean it works.
- To Kosher caterer...
(laughing)
- To the lesbian next door. - Exactly.
- That's what we're talking about, that's amazing.
- I love that.
We can do one more question. - Okay, one more question.
- And this is actually from me
just because all these comments are people
saying how far they're traveling
to come see you in, "Hello, Dolly!"
- Oh really, oh that's nice! - And it's very sweet and kind
and I wanna know how does that make you feel,
knowing that all these people
are traveling to come see you in, "Hello, Dolly!?"
- I love that!
I'm so glad you guys are coming, thank you.
I can't wait to meet everybody
and I hope that they will feel
that the trip was worthwhile.
I mean, the show is so beautiful,
you guys know, you saw it in New York.
If you haven't seen clips of it from New York,
I think you'll really be thrilled and it's a wonderful cast
and we have lots of new people going into the company
so there's gonna be lots of energy
and fresh sort of outlook on the show
and I'm thrilled that everybody's coming to see it.
Thank you, thanks for making the drive.
- Yeah, pack up the car, don't forget the costumes,
and go see Carolee Carmello starting where?
- Kansas City, Starlight. - Kansas City, next week.
Outdoors, you see her sweat. - September 25th.
- Thank you for coming in Carolee.
- Thanks for having me.
- I feel like I need to go on a road trip.
We need to go, let's go, let's go to the heart land.
- [Caitlin] Fine by me.
- Well Caitlin, will you take us on out?
- Yes.
Thank you guys so much for tuning in today,
we are, "Live at Five," every single weekday
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Be sure to tune in tomorrow
when we talk to American Idol winner, Nick Fradiani,
who's about to take off in the,
"A Bronx Tale," national tour.
(upbeat music)