By Seth Rudetsky
23 Feb 2009

On Thursday at the Chatterbox, I interviewed the amazing Richard Seff. He wrote the book "Supporting Player," which I read last year and loved. He was an agent during the golden age of Broadway and the stories he has are mind-boggling. He introduced John Kander to Fred Ebb, convinced Rex Harrison to go on in My Fair Lady and was with Chita Rivera when she was cast in Bye Bye Birdie. I told my sister Nancy about him and she said, "I saw that movie, and it's called Zelig." Brava.

Here are a few classics from him. When Fred Ebb was writing Cabaret, he called Richard and said, "You speak French. I need a French greeting that has five syllables." Richard thought of a phrase on the spot, told Fred, and now he always feels pride when "Willkommen" plays and he hears "Gluklich zu sehen, je suis enchante!"

He also told us that he pretty much can't remember what he had for breakfast, but he remembers everything that happened at the lunch he was at with Chita Rivera when she was meeting Gower Champion to discuss whether or not she was going to play Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie. Up until then, she had played the Latin spitfire in every show and had never been a traditional leading lady. Gower and Chita started chatting that afternoon and then Gower cut right to the point. "Look, we both know why we're here. You want to know whether I can do anything but this (he did some old-school Hollywood Gower/Marge dance move) and I want to know whether you can do anything but this (he did a sassy Latina shoulder shimmy)." He said he wouldn't presume to make her audition…but asked her if she'd come in and sing a standard song for him so he could see if the role was a good fit for her (AKA audition). Chita asked for a week to prepare and, seven days later, Richard brought her to Gower again. She wore a sweet blouse with a Peter Pan color, sat on a stool and sang a simple version of "Little Girl Blue." Well, according to Richard, she only sang some of it. After the first eight bars, Gower interrupted and said, "That's it. The part is yours." Brava!!! There are so many more amazing stories in his book. At one point, in the middle of a story, I interrupted and clarified, "Wait a minute…you were at the first performance ever of My Fair Lady????" and got a gasp from the entire audience. Go to his website, www.RichardSeff.com.

And, finally, tonight is a big night! I'm going to do some comedy in the huge benefit called Defying Inequality at the Gershwin Theater. I got an email with my tech time and a reminder not to be late because there are 400 people performing. What the-? Is it 1993 again and I'm in the Hal Prince production of Show Boat? I'm so glad I was asked to perform because it's for a cause that is personal to me: marriage equality! James and I were hoping that marriage would be legal in New York State this year so we could tie ye old knot, but it's still not. This show benefits five different non-profits that are trying to get equal marriage rights for all, and the line-up for the show is incredible. Here's a smidgeon: Cyndi Lauper, Stephanie J. Block, Daniel Breaker, Harvey Fierstein, Gavin Creel, Jonathan Groff, Nathan Lane, Keith Olbermann (!)…plus performances from Hair, Billy Elliot and Jersey Boys and Sally Struthers told me that she's sharing a dressing room with Rue McClanahan! That's two degrees of Bea Arthur. There are tickets for just $50 people! Go to www.DefyingInequality.com and I'll see you soon!

(Seth Rudetsky is the host of "Seth's Big Fat Broadway" on SIRIUS Satellite Radio and the author of "The Q Guide to Broadway" and the novel "Broadway Nights." He has played piano in the orchestras of 15 Broadway musicals and hosts the BC/EFA benefit weekly interview show Seth's Broadway Chatterbox at Don't Tell Mama every Thursday at 6 PM. He can be contacted by visiting www.sethrudetsky.com.)