This Week Theater Talk Presents A Tribute to Johnny Mercer & More

Theater Talk, the series devoted to the world of the stage, is co-hosted by Michael Riedel, Broadway columnist for the New York Post, and series executive producer Susan Haskins.

The popular series is now being distributed nationally to PBS member stations by Executive Program Services (EPS). The series is co-produced by Theater Talk Productions, a not-for-profit corporation, and CUNY TV (City University of New York Television).

This Week...

Episode #325
A Johnny Mercer Celebration: "One for My Baby and One More for the Road"

Theater historians Barry Day and Robert Kimball discuss The Complete Lyrics of Johnny Mercer, their comprehensive collection of the acclaimed lyricist's over 1200 works. Also on the show, popular cabaret singers Anna Bergman and Steve Ross perform some of Mercer's best-known works, including "Too Marvelous for Words," "Moon River," and "Hooray for Hollywood." (Uplink available April 15.) 

Coming Next Week...

Episode #326
Legendary Producer TEd Mann, plus Patrick Healy of the NY Times

A conversation with producer Theodore Mann, who virtually began the Off-Broadway movement in the 1950's with his productions of Tennessee William's Summer and Smoke, Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh, and other classic productions. Mann, author of the recently published memoir Journeys in the Night: Creating a New American Theater with Circle in the Square, was also instrumental in reintroducing O'Neill to an new generation of theater-goers, which helped to reestablish his legacy as one of America's all-time greatest playwrights.

Also on the show, reporter Patrick Healy of The New York Times, who swaps tales of covering the theater beat with our own Michael Riedel of the New York Post. In addition, Healy, who also has covered politics and the war in Afghanistan, addresses the question: Who is the better liar -- Hillary Clinton or the average Broadway publicist? (Uplink available April 22.) Geraldine Page and Lee Richardson in Circle in the Square's groundbreaking production of Summer and Smoke (1952)

Coming April 29...

Episode #327
Robert Osborne, Film Expert and TCM Host

Film historian, and Turner Classic Movies host, Robert Osborne discusses some of his favorite (and least favorite) films about the theater and the talented people who created them. Topics include All About Eve, Joseph Mankiewicz, George Sanders, A Chorus Line, Rosalind Russell, Lucille Ball, and The Bad Seed. (Uplink available April 29.) Bette Davis as Margot Channing in Robert Osborne's favorite theater movie with Thelma Ritter ("the Susan Haskins of All about Eve") as Birdie