Catherine Zeta-Jones on how she decided to take the role of Desirée Armfeld in the upcoming A Little Night Music.
"I’m hitting golf balls and my phone rings and it’s Trevor Nunn.… I put the phone down, then ring! ring! ring! It’s Stephen Sondheim.… I died and went to heaven.”

Tony winner Lillias White (currently on Broadway in Fela!) reflects on her “Life in the Theatre” and one of her most famous roles as Effie White in Dreamgirls:

“I got to work with Michael Bennett. I had to wear a fat suit, because I wasn’t heavy enough. I wasn’t as heavy as Jennifer Holliday. They wanted that look. They gave me the fat suit for the first act, and for the second act I lost it and you saw this svelte Effie come out for the rest of the show. With Dreamgirls, I learned a lot about myself – about how to take care of myself, what not to do, getting rest, pacing myself, staying me and knowing that who I am as a person was appreciated.”

Ever wonder what’s inside John Stamos’ dressing room?  Here’s a sneak peek:
-A poster-sized blow up of the original Bye Bye Birdie Playbill cover with Chita Rivera and Dick Van Dyke on the cover.  Stamos admits to kissing Rivera’s picture every night before he goes onstage.
-An ultra turbo hairdryer (perhaps an homage to his days as the well-coifed Uncle Jesse?)
-A framed Bye Bye Birdie script signed by Liza Minnelli that says “Take no prisoners!”

Kerry Washington on working with David Mamet on Race:
“Mamet has been really generous and very supportive. He’s an incredibly supportive director. He knows what he wants and he’s very clear. He cares a great deal about the play and about his actors. It’s exciting to sit on the other side of the room and watch him listening and listening and listening and you’ll see him rewrite a line for you. And you know—this is history!”

Plus...Playbill explores race and the fall season on Broadway...Seth Rudetsky gets the dish on the holidays Onstage & Backstage with Jackie Hoffman, Mary Testa, Andrea Burns and Andrea McArdle...and your guide to an Empire Holiday in New York City!

You can pick up the December issue of Playbill free in theaters this month or for a monthly subscription click here or email [email protected]