Scott Rudin. Image via playbillvault.com.

OK, not really. Scott Rudin doesn’t even know who I am, I imagine. But it would be great if you would join our conversation on Facebook and Twitter, even without a threat. If you want to get updates when we post, receive extra theatrical tidbits and warm my heart, please “like” The Broadway Blog’s Facebook page or follow me on Twitter.

As for Mr. Rudin, have you been following the soap operatic news from Broadway this week? Now is when I wish I had serious journalistic access. Basically, Scott Rudin, wealthy, influential producer of film and stage, has pulled out of the upcoming Broadway production of Clybourne Park because of a much-discussed debate/fight/misunderstanding between him and the playwright Bruce Norris. Without Rudin’s money and co-investors, the Pulitzer Prize winning play may not open in April as schedule–and that’s definitely not something to joke about given the quality of the work. Read the New York Times report for an in-depth look at what may or may not have happened.

BREAKING NEWS: At 8:09 this morning, as I was preparing to send this off, Broadway producer Jordan Roth released the following statement:

It is a true privilege for all of us at Jujamcyn to bring such a fiercely provocative and wildly funny work to Broadway audiences. Clybourne Park is on. We’ll see you there!

Once a month, a member of the theater community will pull up a chair to our cyber table and join us for a little conversation. I’ll edit the transcripts (removing the truly libelous parts) and post the results here every second Wednesday. For February, we’re shaking things up (like an earthquake) by talking to two fabulous guests and bringing it to you a few days early (all the better to see their show this weekend)…

Seth Rudetsy & Lauren Kennedy in "Disaster!". Photo by Drew Geraci.

The tiny Triad Theater is being overrun by deadly bees, killer disco tunes and innumerable other unnatural disasters…and it’s all because of writer/actor/director Jack Plotnick and Broadway’s host with the most Seth Rudetsky. Combining their love for 70′s music and those big budget, Irwin Allen spectacles of destruction (think The Towering Inferno and Airport ’75), they’ve co-written Disaster!, a new musical parody featuring a jukebox full of the me-decades best (and worst) songs and an hysterical (both in the comedic and emotionally overwrought sense) cast of great actor/singers struggling to survive until the morning after–including Mr. Rudetsky himself.

With the show running for three more Sundays in February (5th, 12th and 26th) before it hopefully blows up to bigger things, I grabbed some quick email time with the very busy duo to toss out some questions and get their fizzy–if not earth shattering, sky falling–responses.

How did you choose the songs for the show? Was there one song  you absolutely love but just couldn’t find a way to shoehorn into the show?

Jack: I love 70′s music to begin with, but while we were writing I listened to as much of it as I could, and also poured over songs lists. I, of course, considered my favorite songs from the decade first. I brought more of the rock songs to the show because I am a big fan of songs like “Don’t Bring Me Down” and “More Than A Feeling”.  The songs we used had to fit the story we wanted to tell or the plot point we wanted to musicalize, but it also had to be a song that Seth and I really loved.  For instance I wanted one of our characters to sing  ”Let Your Love Flow”;  I thought it was perfect for a certain character’s growth.  But, although Seth enjoyed broadening the scope of the music, he drew the line when it came to country music!

I’m so happy that we got in so many songs I’m OBSESSED with (Like “Saturday Night” and “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight”.)  The one song I really wanted to find a place for, but couldn’t, was “Right Back To Where We Started From”.  Such a happy song!

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