Seth Rudetsky performs with Tony Award-winning actress Audra McDonald in a concert at Town Hall on... [+]
One of the top folks responsible for putting Broadway performers in plum roles is not a casting director.
Seth Rudetsky, the host of two popular programs on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, has helped countless actors and actresses from the Great White Way land leading roles on the stage and screen over past decade. Spotlighting their talents whenever he can, Rudetsky recognized that he “has helped people be considered for roles and get roles."
“There is nothing that I really enjoy more than presenting talented people to an audience, and saying, ‘here is why they are talented,’” the radio host explained. Ever since calling a classmate in 1978 to report that Nell Carter was “belting an E” on the Ain’t Misbehavin’ cast recording, Rudetsky said that he has “enjoyed pointing out things to people, and going ‘this is why this person is amazing.’”
Presenting performers in their best light, Rudetsky has helped launch some of their careers.
In 2004, the former Broadway pianist was helping to put on a concert version of the musical Hair at the New Amsterdam Theatre, and needed someone to sing the song “Easy to Be Hard.” Rudetsky wanted someone who could sing it in a higher key.
“Jennifer Hudson from American Idol should do it,” suggested actor Billy Porter.
Rudetsky made a couple of calls, and arranged for Hudson to perform at the concert in the middle of her tour with American Idol. “She did not know the show at all,” the radio host recalled, and he taught her how to sing the tune in a higher key.
Henry Krieger, the composer of the musical Dreamgirls, happened to be sitting in the audience, and Hudson ran over to him afterwards, and begged him to cast her as “Effie White” in its film adaptation. She auditioned for the part using the song “Easy to Be Hard,” and “then she won the Oscar,” Rudetsky said with laughter.
While the radio host emphasized that “it was her talent [and not his actions] that got her the gig,” he recognized that “it was a nice confluence of events.” “I was happy to see that she was able to take the song that she learned for my concert, and do it,” he said.
Rudetsky was also involved in helping another actress make it onto the big screen.
When the radio host learned that Lilla Crawford, the leading actress in the 2012 revival of Annie, could not get an audition for the role of "Little Red Riding Hood" in Disney's film adaptation of Into the Woods, he sent a text message to its director, Rob Marshall. "Can you please see Lilla Crawford for Into the Woods?" Rudetsky asked him.
"I had no problem saying, 'you have got to see this person, because they are amazing,'" commented the radio host. Crawford got the part, and received positive reviews for her portrayal of the fairy tale character.
“All I want to do is make people look good,” Rudetsky explained. “I love talented people working,” he stated, adding that “I cannot say how happy it makes me” when he somehow helps someone secure a job.
Lindsay Mendez, who received a Tony Award for her performance in Carousel last season, recalled that, when she first auditioned for the Off-Broadway musical Dogfight in 2012, “I got totally overlooked.” The composers had previously worked with another actress, and they were not interested in hiring Mendez.
But, two months later, Mendez received a surprising call from her agent.
The new director of the show, Joe Mantello, had heard her perform on an earlier version of Rudetsky’s program, and thought that she would be perfect as its lead character. “So, I went in a few months later” for two more auditions, and then “I got the gig,” Mendez remembered.
Several months later, Mantello put Mendez in the lead role of his other musical, Wicked.
Rudetsky was delighted to witness her success, and commented that “I love giving actors a chance to shine.” “Some major industry players listen to my show,” he said, and it has helped them discover other talented actors and actresses on Broadway. “I always find out from people that they listen to my show, and make some decisions based on what they hear,” he stated.
Before heading to the Caribbean on a cruise with some popular Broadway performers, Rudetsky will shine a spotlight on actor Jeremy Jordan in a concert at Town Hall tomorrow night.
