Playbill News: "Broadway Profiles" Will Appear on PBS This Spring; Foster, Taymor, Ebersole Interviewed

"Broadway Profiles" Will Appear on PBS This Spring; Foster, Taymor, Ebersole Interviewed

By Kenneth Jones
May 4, 2009

The Broadway Channel and International Media have created "Broadway Profiles," a TV series that will premiere with a one-hour special — the first episode in a series — on public television stations nationwide in late May and mid June.

The series premiere, "Women of Broadway," features Tony Award winner Sutton Foster of Shrek the Musical; Christine Ebersole, the Grey Gardens and 42nd Street Tony Award winner now in Blithe Spirit; Oscar winner Estelle Parsons of August: Osage County; director Julie Taymor (The Lion King, Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark); and Charlotte d'Amboise of Chicago and A Chorus Line.

The series is hosted and narrated by Broadway's Kate Shindle, most recently of Legally Blonde the Musical.

"Broadway Profiles" offers viewers "the best seat in the house to the heart and soul of America's premier entertainment venue, Broadway," according to the producers. "Exhilarating performances and insightful behind the scenes interviews provide unique access to the stars that light up the Great White Way. …Kate Shindle takes viewers on a tour of great performances and behind the scenes insights from some of Broadway's most talented stars."

The series is executive-produced by Matthew Hege, vice president of the Broadway Channel, and Gustavo Sagastume of International Media.

WLIW New York Channel 21 will air the show June 8 at 7:30 PM during their pledge drive. Most of the other stations will air May 30 to mid June on pledge dates.

Check local PBS listings for air date and time in your area.

According to the producers, "Broadway Profiles" will "support the mission of public television stations nationwide by providing stations with free tickets to touring Broadway shows and events that support the partnership of local PBS stations and Broadway touring shows. This will encourage viewers to support their local PBS stations while enjoying their favorite Broadway shows on tour in their communities."