Backstage Pass to Broadway: True Tales from a Theatre Press Agent

167 Pages·2011·2.9 MB·English

by  Schulman Susan L

Advance Praise for
BACKSTAGE PASS TO BROADWAY
An expert press agent makes sure the spotlight is focused on the show, never
themselves. No press agent embodies that credo better than Susan L. Schulman,
and now — after serving in the Broadway theatre during some of its most
exciting times and with some of its biggest stars — she pivots that giant klieg
light behind-the-scenes. Her stories and incomparable insight are smart, witty,
sometimes harrowing and often hilarious.
— BERT FINK, THE RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN ORGANIZATION
Susan leads us into a world of magic and craziness and captures what it’s
really like behind the scenes on Broadway.
— Tony Award-winner KAREN ZIEMBA
Susan L. Schulman is one of Broadway’s best press agents. Everyone knows
that. Now, with this book, we can see why her publicity and marketing ideas
have filled theaters. Her shockingly honest, funny, and insightful reporting of
how this amazing industry really works makes this a captivating, easy read.
From her unique vantage point we get the down and dirty, and it makes us
admire her even more.
— TV, film and stage star JOHN DAVIDSON
This book is full of juicy theatre stories that kept me turning the pages. I love
it!
— Three-time EMMY Award winner SUSAN HAMPSHIRE
BACKSTAGE PASS TO BROADWAY
True Tales from a Theatre Press Agent
Copyright © 2013 Susan L. Schulman All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by
an information storage or retrieval system now known or heretoafter invented — except by a reviewer who
may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper — without permission in
writing from the publisher.
Heliotrope Books LLC
c/o SB Design
125 East 4th Street
New York, NY 10003
Cover Design © 2013 Frank ‘Fraver’ Verlizzo Interior designed by Naomi Rosenblatt All photos not
otherwise credited are from the author’s personal collection.
BACKSTAGE PASS TO BROADWAY
True Tales from a Theatre Press Agent
Susan L. Schulman

Heliotrope Books
New York
For my parents, Rosalind Blum Schulman and Saul T. Schulman, who
introduced me to the wonderful world of Broadway.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD
BILLING PAGE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ARE YOU ANYBODY?
MARATHON ‘33, or LEARNING HOW TO BEAT THE BUSHES
WELCOME TO THE THEATRE
THE SHOW THAT KILLED ZERO MOSTEL
ACTORS
PUBLICIZING A FUGITIVE: ABBIE HOFFMAN
WHO IS THAT PERSON IN THE CORNER OF THE PHOTO?
A STAR’S RESPONSIBILITY
IF ONLY IT WERE A DREAM
HOW RAUL JULIA AND I NEARLY KILLED RAY BOLGER
DAVID MERRICK’S FINAL CURTAIN CALL
PAL JOEY
GEORGE C. SCOTT IS A PUSSYCAT
‘HANDLING’ THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
COMPANY & FOLLIES
MARY MARTIN: A FAN and HER IDOL COME FULL CIRCLE
DANCIN’ OFF-STAGE WITH BOB FOSSE
ROBERT REDFORD
and THE ART OF DISAPPEARING IN PLAIN SIGHT
WHO’S GOT THE CLOUT?
GLENN CLOSE AND THE INDIANS
STUNTS
FRIENDS
THE LOUDS
SHELBY, BORIS AND BOBBY BRING CHESS TO THE MASSES ... VERY
SLOWLY
HENRY WINKLER or YES I KNOW THE FONZ
KATHARINE HEPBURN and THE THEATRE GUILD
VANESSA REDGRAVE
SO WHAT DOES A PRESS AGENT DO?
HOW HAS PR CHANGED?
INDEX
FOREWORD
Backstage Pass To Broadway is the story of how a theatre kid from New
York City became part of the creative process of making theatre, and managed to
survive some of the most celebrated train wrecks and backstage dramas on
Broadway. This is what it is like to work with some of the most talented and
creative people in the world — sometimes behaving badly — as they struggle to
create theatre magic. For years friends have said, “I hope you are writing this
stuff down,” as I recounted my theatre stories. Now I have.
This is not a chronicle of the last 40 years of Broadway, but snapshots of
particular stars and Broadway productions as viewed through the eyes of a
working press agent. Along the way you will also learn what a press agent
actually does — both today, and back when I began.
I love the theatre even though it is filled with crazy, neurotic people with
large egos. My mantra: You can be a pain in the ass off stage if you deliver the
goods on stage. When that formula is reversed, we are in trouble.
In the theatre, success can be, and often is, achieved through combinations of
talent, luck, timing, beauty, perseverance, smoke and mirrors, hustle, drive and
cold hard cash. But when good writing, clear direction, smart producing and
great acting align in a Broadway theatre, it can be life-changing.
This book takes you into Broadway rehearsal studios, backstage dressing
rooms, and out of town tryouts to expose what really happens when opposing
forces collide during the creation of a Broadway show. I shine a light on some
selfish behavior as well as unexpected acts of kindness. I share my experiences
dealing with legendary producer David Merrick in his last hurrah: a fading film
diva who undermines her own return to Broadway, and a new Broadway play
with more drama off stage than on.
Press agents know where all the bodies are buried. So, do I share a lot in this
book? YES. Do I tell ALL? NO. Welcome to my world.
— Susan L. Schulman,
New York City, 2013