Mondays, March 4 – April 15, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
*Please note, there is no lecture on March 25
Every Broadway debut is a cause for celebration and the fulfillment of a dream. It is confirmation of "making it” on the greatest stages in the world.
After wowing Curious Minds audiences with his past, virtual courses on the Magic of Musicals, theatrical producer Michael Rubinoff, the originating producer of the hit musical Come From Away, presents his in-person series at the Hot Docs Cinema in this lively celebration of the careers of Broadway’s brightest stars.
As we explore the lives and work of brilliant performers like Barbra Streisand, Angela Lansbury, Patti LuPone and Nathan Lane, we’ll examine their greatest hits and flops—and the moments of creative inspiration and determination that lead to some of the most extraordinary productions in the history of Broadway.
This series is led by producer Michael Rubinoff (The Magic of Musicals: Broadway’s Biggest Hits), the founder of the Canadian Music Theatre Project (CMTP). Based on an idea of his, the CMTP originally developed the hit global musical Come From Away, for which he serves as a producer and creative consultant. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General of Canada for his role in creating Come From Away.
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March 4: Chita Rivera and Ethel Merman
We begin with some of the brightest stars to grace the Broadway stage, who originated some of the most iconic roles in musical theatre. Get to know Chita Rivera, Broadway’s first Anita in West Side Story and Velma Kelly in Chicago; and the “undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage,” Ethel Merman.
March 11: Barbra Streisand and Sammy Davis Jr.
This week is all about the Funny Girl and the Golden Boy. Learn the stories behind two legendary Tony award nominees: Barbra Streisand, the original Fanny Brice, who dazzled on the Great White Way and the silver screen; and Sammy Davis Jr., a star on stage and top of the music charts.
March 18: Zero Mostel and Angela Lansbury
From Fiddler on the Roof to Sweeney Todd, Zero Mostel and Angela Lansbury have likely been on your TV on countless occasions. In this lecture, we’ll explore the Broadway roots of their storied careers, from Mostel’s role in The Producers alongside Gene Wilder to Lansbury’s 80-year-long career on stage.
April 1: Patti LuPone and Lea Salonga
This week covers a tale of two Fantines from the classic musical, Les Misérables: Patti LuPone, from the original London cast, and Lea Salonga from the 25th anniversary concert. Discover the roles that made them stars, from LuPone’s Tony-award-winning performance in Evita to Salonga’s Broadway debut in Miss Saigon.
April 8: Audra McDonald and Nathan Lane
This week we’ll examine the careers of six-time Tony winner McDonald, who has brought her generation-defining talent to roles in Carousel and Ragtime; and Lane, a master of both comedic and dramatic roles, perhaps best known for his iconic work in The Bird Cage and The Lion King—and his Tony-winning roles in The Producers and Angels in America.
April 15: Heather Headley and Hugh Jackman
Let’s end with a show-stopper: Celebrating the multi-talented Headley, who made waves in Toronto’s Ragtime before starring on Broadway in The Lion King and Aida; and the irrepressible Jackman, a great showman and bona fide crossover star, who has scaled the heights of Hollywood while headlining celebrated musicals like The Music Man and The Boy from Oz.