147 - Walter Bobbie - a podcast by Ken Davenport

Walter Bobbie is a theatre director, choreographer, and occasional actor and dancer. Bobbie has directed both musicals and plays on Broadway and Off-Broadway, and was the Artistic Director of the New York City Center Encores! concert series. He directed the long-running revival of the musical Chicago, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical. As a performer, he was in Grease, the revival of Going Up, and the 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls. He also directed the Broadway productions of Footloose, Twentieth Century, a Sweet Charity revival, and High Fidelity. He co-wrote and directed a new musical, The Road to Hollywood. Bobbie was the artistic director of the New York City Center Encores! concert series in 1995 and 1996.
 
Walter and I talked about Chicago and why it became such a monster success, along with . . .

How he knew he wasn’t long for life as an actor (warning: this story involves beer).

The “Brunch Show” on the Upper West Side that started his career . . . and the person who hired him for the gig. (Spoiler Alert:  that person was himself.)

The training he got by NOT going through traditional training.

How he exercised his Producing muscles to build Encores! at City Center.

The importance of a “safe room” for his actors on any play.


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Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway
www.theproducersperspective.com
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