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[0:00] Margaret Colin: It's Margaret Colin, and you are listening to Behind the Awards.

[0:14] Eila Mell: Hello, and welcome to Behind the Awards. I'm Eila. I'm here with Bruce. Hello there.

[0:19] Bruce Gotlieb: Hello. How are you today?

[0:22] Eila Mell: Very good.

[0:23] Eila Mell: So we are at the time of recording on the Monday of Tony week. So, you know, every day is, you know, one day closer to the big day. So this morning, we got a really cool announcement that Queen Latifah is going to be leading a special tribute for the musical Chicago, celebrating its 30 years on Broadway, which is just so crazy.

[0:51] Bruce Gotlieb: It is.

[0:52] Eila Mell: So it's going to be Queen Latifah, who, of course, was nominated for an Academy Award for playing Mama Morton in the movie. She'll be alongside the Tony host, Pink, as well as Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Alex Newell, Adrienne Warren, Julianne Hough, Whitney LeVate, and Dylan Mulvaney that do star studded performance.

[1:16] Bruce Gotlieb: That will be very exciting.

[1:18] Eila Mell: I think that's fun. They also announced Book of Mormons original cast is going to be performing.

[1:24] Bruce Gotlieb: Oh, that's great.

[1:25] Eila Mell: So that alongside, obviously, the nominated musicals and revivals performing. So, you know, I think we're just getting a real, real exciting show. At least the build up is there for it.

[1:39] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah, excellent. Well, speaking of Pink, guess who I accidentally met?

[1:46] Eila Mell: I mean, I'm thinking it's not.

[1:48] Bruce Gotlieb: It was not her. It was not her, but it was her daughter.

[1:51] Eila Mell: Ah, Willow. Yes, she's a Pink Broadway fan.

[1:54] Bruce Gotlieb: And she was saying hello to Benjamin Payjack at Lost Boys when I was and I didn't even realize he introduced me to his friend Willow. And I didn't even realize it was Pink's daughter, but she was lovely.

[2:05] Eila Mell: That's so funny. Yes, I know she loves the show.

[2:08] Bruce Gotlieb: Ah, well, yeah.

[2:11] Bruce Gotlieb: When Pink took over for Kelly Clarkson, it was like a week she was off and Pink hosted her show for her. She had her daughter on and her daughter sang one of the songs from Lost Boys.

[2:21] Eila Mell: I wonder if her daughter's going to perform on the Tonys.

[2:24] Bruce Gotlieb: I mean, anything's possible.

[2:26] Eila Mell: Well, it'd be great. Why not?

[2:27] Eila Mell: So speaking of the Tonys and performances, do you remember there was a couple of years where they did little vignettes of the plays that were nominated?

[2:35] Bruce Gotlieb: Oh, my gosh, I love that so much.

[2:38] Eila Mell: It was fun because you got just a little glimpse. And because they're not doing that, Liberation's been doing that on their social media, sharing those vignettes, which they're just so beautiful.

[2:48] Eila Mell: Fortunately, you can still go see the Ballisters. You don't have to wait for the Tonys for a little vignette. And we have one of the actresses of the Tony nominated play with us today. So excited to bring her out.

[3:00] Eila Mell: All right, well, let's bring out Margaret Colin and have a chat with her.

[3:08] Bruce Gotlieb: Well, Bruce, what show did you see?

[3:09] Bruce Gotlieb: I had the opportunity to see the Ballisters, and it stars our guest. It's funny, it's poignant, it's thought provoking, it's beautiful.

[3:19] Eila Mell: It's all of the things.

[3:21] Bruce Gotlieb: Well, let's talk about it.

[3:22] Margaret Colin: Hi, Margaret.

[3:23] Margaret Colin: Hi, thanks for having me.

[3:24] Margaret Colin: I'm so glad you enjoyed the show.

[3:26] Eila Mell: It's a lot to think about.

[3:28] Margaret Colin: Yes, and we're thrilled to have you.

[3:30] Margaret Colin: Thank you.

[3:30] Margaret Colin: Thank you.

[3:30] Eila Mell: So have you worked with David Lindsay-Aber before?

[3:34] Margaret Colin: No, no, I was a fan. I loved Good People. I love the Rabbit Hole. I love the movie of the Rabbit Hole. I hadn't even met him, but they asked me to do a reading of the play of the Ballisters in August. So right after the reading, they called up and offered me the job. Richard Thomas was still with the company and Maria Cristina was with the company, but almost everybody else wasn't. It was a different reading group. And so that's where I met him. And he's just so charming and elf-like and really, really smart.

[4:06] Margaret Colin: Smart, I think, is the right word for how it's written. It's clever humor. It's just intellectual, you know?

[4:13] Bruce Gotlieb: It is.

[4:14] Margaret Colin: And it's also a little crass. We discuss prejudice. We discuss ageism. We talk about it. It's a board. We're a board supervising this street that's been landmarked in some city that's not quite identified, but it sure feels like New York or Brooklyn. And it's a very diverse group of very opinionated people.

[4:36] Bruce Gotlieb: So yeah.

[4:37] Eila Mell: What does the Ballisters mean?

[4:39] Margaret Colin: The word itself, Ballister? Oh, well, that's revealed in the first couple of pages. But a Ballister is like this or this, only it holds up the railing. Like on a Bannister, this pole would be the thing that holds up the, yeah. So that's what the big discussion's about, because we're all on the board to make sure that the community maintains the outward appearance of these houses, you know, so they all look beautiful. And it's actually based on David's block in Brooklyn.

[5:13] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[5:15] Margaret Colin: A lot of communities, when you find, especially if there's a homeowners association, there are all those rules that you have to follow. And that's the precipice for all that goes on in this play.

[5:28] Margaret Colin: One of my favourite moments, and I think it sets your character up, is, you know, you walk in with that rabbit coat, and it's beautiful. You look just great. And someone's like, oh, should we take your coat? Are you warm? And she goes, I'm sweating. But she's leaving it on to make a point, and that's all discovered. But it's just, the timing of your delivery is so perfect.

[5:54] Margaret Colin: Oh, thank you. I like to torture a young woman in the show.

[5:58] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[6:01] Margaret Colin: Ruth Ackerman. I play Ruth Ackerman. She's one of the longtime people on the board. She's owned her home for decades. Her children grew up there. So she's very, very much invested. And, you know, I'm the old white woman, and Richard Thomas is the old white guy. And Mary Louise Burke, did she make you go hysterical laughing?

[6:18] Bruce Gotlieb: Oh, my gosh, yes.

[6:20] Margaret Colin: Yeah, she's just one of a kind. And David wrote the part for her.

[6:24] Margaret Colin: Oh, wow.

[6:26] Margaret Colin: Yeah, he's written for her several times. Akimbo, the Akimbo play. She was, yeah, not the musical one. Yeah, right. I think he was the original. And yeah, they are very, like, two peas in a pod, really, really fun. And I get to share the dressing room with her, which is pretty ridiculous.

[6:47] Bruce Gotlieb: It must be fun to unpack your character, though, because when the play starts out, very surface level, you know who this woman is, and you get certain expectations. But as the play goes on, you do find with all of the characters that there's so much more.

[7:04] Margaret Colin: Yeah, yeah. There's a lifetime friendship with my character and two of the other people on the board. And then there are several new people. And they're of different race and sexual persuasion and ethnicity and education and career. So it's, yeah. And Ruth cares very deeply about her friends on the board. And she's at a certain time in her life when things should be easy. You know, they should, loyalty should be established. It should be, you know, it shouldn't be that bumpy. But the times that we are in the world, sharing the world with each other, it's a little bumpy.

[7:42] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah, yeah.

[7:43] Margaret Colin: So we definitely explore that. And Ruth is, you know, outrageous with her, her housekeeping team. She's very aware of during the course of history, which people were oppressed and which people were celebrated. And she makes that a very big part of her humor and her passion. So yes, what gets to me, the part is fantastic.

[8:04] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah. Is it a role that was easy for you to jump into? Do you know women like Ruth in your life?

[8:10] Margaret Colin: When I read it, the jokes, the laughs popped off the page. They were just off the page. So Kenny Leon is our director, brilliant director. And I didn't realize how many plays that he directed that I had already seen. And he was like, well, it's not a sitcom and don't be too funny. I mean, don't, don't go for the laughs. So I was like, a funny person is just a funny person. And they make themselves laugh. So I'm going to make you laugh. And it left off the page. So it's such a complete joy to bring the audience into her world because she's a riot. And yeah, I know people like her. I'm a little more like her than I would like to admit.

[8:52] Eila Mell: So I know that, you know, in your personal life, you're very political and, you know, fight for people's rights. And, you know, that should absolutely be commended. Do you feel like doing this play is a little bit of a part of that?

[9:07] Margaret Colin: I think that it is. I think that it is. I just had a wonderful Easter dinner at a local brilliant restaurant with my two brother and sister and my sons and their girlfriend. It's a diverse group. It's not as diverse as the play, but it's a diverse group. And because I've been in this play and we've been discussing these issues of, you know, race and privilege and it sounds tedious, but it's really not. It's landed with a bunch of it's written by it's it's written and directed. So it's much safer than our lives are when we discuss these issues. So to be able to handle these politics in a daily way at work gives me a lot of hope for handling them in my private life.

[9:50] Margaret Colin: And for and I think that that did you feel like that was something that you took you could take away that maybe if I talk about diversity or race or or or longevity or what's to be preserved, did you feel like you maybe had some more tools?

[10:07] Margaret Colin: Yeah, I think that, you know, you you come into it and I think the audience as a whole, certain things are being said and you could hear whether it's not necessarily a large guest, but you hear, you know, like, wait, they're going to say this or they're going to have this conversation now.

[10:23] Margaret Colin: Yes. But then you you also hear just as audibly the aha moment or the oh, OK, I see how this is happening now. And I think it I think you're right. I think it does help the outsider navigate what it's like in the outside world with these.

[10:41] Margaret Colin: I'm so excited to be back on Broadway. It's been a while since I've been on stage, and there's just something magical about the energy of live theater.

[11:11] Margaret Colin: The play I'm in, "The Balusters," is really special. It's timely, poignant, and also hilariously funny. I think audiences are going to connect with it on so many levels.

[11:41] Margaret Colin: Being back in the theater feels like coming home. There's nothing quite like the thrill of performing live, feeling the audience's reactions in real-time.

[12:01] Margaret Colin: I’ve had such a diverse career, from "Independence Day" to "Veep" and "Gossip Girl." Each role has taught me something different, but theater always holds a special place in my heart.

[12:21] Margaret Colin: The camaraderie among the cast is incredible. We support each other, and that bond really enhances the performance. It’s a collaborative art form, and I love that aspect of it.

[12:41] Margaret Colin: I remember my first time on Broadway. The excitement, the nerves, and the overwhelming support from the audience. It’s a feeling that never gets old.

[13:01] Margaret Colin: I think what makes "The Balusters" unique is its blend of humor and serious themes. It tackles important issues while still making you laugh, which is a tricky balance to achieve.

[13:21] Margaret Colin: I’ve been fortunate to work with some amazing people throughout my career. Each experience has shaped me as an actor and as a person.

[13:41] Margaret Colin: The anticipation leading up to opening night is always intense. You want everything to be perfect, but there's also a thrill in the unpredictability of live performances.

[14:01] Margaret Colin: I love the challenge of theater. Every night is different, and you have to be present and adaptable. It keeps you on your toes.

[14:21] Margaret Colin: I think audiences are craving live theater now more than ever. After everything we've been through, there's a real desire for connection and shared experiences.

[14:41] Margaret Colin: I’m also excited about the upcoming Tony Awards. It’s such a celebration of the theater community, and I can’t wait to see who gets recognized this year.

[15:01] Margaret Colin: The buzz around the Tony Awards is palpable. It’s a time when everyone comes together to celebrate the hard work and creativity that goes into theater.

[15:21] Margaret Colin: I’ve been lucky enough to receive some awards in my career, and each one has been a validation of the hard work and dedication that goes into this craft.

[15:41] Margaret Colin: I think awards are important, but what truly matters is the impact we have on the audience. That’s what keeps me motivated as an artist.

[16:01] Margaret Colin: I’m thrilled to be part of a play that resonates with people. It’s a reminder of why I fell in love with acting in the first place.

[16:21] Margaret Colin: The stories we tell on stage can inspire change and provoke thought. It’s a powerful medium, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.

[16:41] Margaret Colin: I hope everyone comes out to see "The Balusters." It’s a show that will make you laugh, think, and feel all at once.

[17:01] Margaret Colin: Thank you for having me on the podcast. It’s been a pleasure to share my journey and talk about the importance of theater in our lives.

[17:21] Margaret Colin: I can’t wait to see what the future holds, both for myself and for the theater community as a whole. There’s so much talent and creativity out there.

[17:41] Margaret Colin: Let’s keep supporting live theater and each other. It’s what makes our community so vibrant and special.

[18:01] Margaret Colin: I’m looking forward to connecting with audiences again and sharing this beautiful story with them.

[18:21] Margaret Colin: Thank you for this opportunity to discuss my career and the joy of being back on Broadway. It truly means a lot to me.

[18:41] Margaret Colin: I hope to see you all at the theater!

[21:24] Margaret Colin: I am the co-founder and executive producer of The Bachelorette, which is a non-profit that focuses on women's rights.

[21:54] Margaret Colin: We've done readings, we've done some benefits, but we haven't...

[24:22] Margaret Colin: Is that something that he'd like to do?

[24:29] Margaret Colin: Yes. He loves to do stage. He'd love to be back on stage.

[24:34] Margaret Colin: Well, let's tell everybody's name, Justin Dees.

[24:36] Margaret Colin: His name is Justin Dees. He held the record for the most Emmy Awards for daytime for decades.

[24:42] Bruce Gotlieb: It's amazing. Are you able to get through the apartment without crashing into an Emmy?

[24:48] Margaret Colin: We kept them around the tub where we are now in New York.

[24:52] Margaret Colin: When we lived in Montclair, New Jersey for 18 years, I had them in my bathroom there.

[24:58] Margaret Colin: So as long as they draped my underwear on them, then...

[25:02] Bruce Gotlieb: Well, they're useful.

[25:04] Margaret Colin: Yes. And then he got rid of them. He didn't want to carry them around anymore.

[25:09] Bruce Gotlieb: I know.

[25:10] Margaret Colin: Ned, do you have your SAG Award?

[25:12] Bruce Gotlieb: Baby, come on.

[25:13] Margaret Colin: I know. I would never get rid of it.

[25:15] Margaret Colin: It's right next to my crucifix, so I see it every morning when I get up.

[25:19] Bruce Gotlieb: Amazing.

[25:20] Margaret Colin: Pictures of my kids. So, yeah. That was fun. That was really fun.

[25:25] Bruce Gotlieb: And that was for Veep, right?

[25:26] Margaret Colin: That was for Veep. The ensemble for Veep. That was great.

[25:29] Margaret Colin: And the Theatre World Award for Jackie, my debut.

[25:33] Margaret Colin: And then a Richard Seff Award for Best Supporting Actress in Carousel.

[25:38] Margaret Colin: So I feel like...

[25:40] Bruce Gotlieb: Amazing.

[25:41] Margaret Colin: Yeah. I feel like, okay, good.

[25:44] Margaret Colin: The Theatre World's...

[25:45] Margaret Colin: I wanted it. I wanted some awards. I was like, come on.

[25:49] Bruce Gotlieb: Of course. And you deserve them.

[25:51] Margaret Colin: Absolutely.

[25:52] Margaret Colin: It's ridiculous.

[25:53] Margaret Colin: The Theatre World's Awards are important because they're like a real welcome.

[25:57] Margaret Colin: It's like you've made it. You've arrived.

[25:58] Margaret Colin: Because they're for your first performance.

[26:00] Margaret Colin: Yeah. That was stunning. That's still a favorite.

[26:04] Margaret Colin: Jackie and Jackie at the Belasco, written by Gip Hoppy, was still a favorite.

[26:11] Margaret Colin: Big, big, big. A lot of effort. Big ensemble cast.

[26:14] Margaret Colin: Brilliant actors playing multiple roles.

[26:16] Margaret Colin: And following Jackie from a child to post-Onassis.

[26:20] Margaret Colin: It was great. Great clothes.

[26:23] Margaret Colin: Great touch base with the audience about that time.

[26:27] Margaret Colin: And it was a satire about the Kennedys and their...

[26:31] Margaret Colin: What's the word we like to use now? Privilege.

[26:34] Margaret Colin: The Kennedys and their privilege and their heartbreak.

[26:38] Bruce Gotlieb: So, yeah.

[26:40] Bruce Gotlieb: And they're very much back in the news because of Love Story.

[26:43] Margaret Colin: Yeah. They are. He's pretty. Holy crap.

[26:47] Margaret Colin: He was so pretty, that man.

[26:49] Bruce Gotlieb: Yes.

[26:50] Margaret Colin: I got a letter backstage from Jackie's personal secretary when I was doing the play.

[26:56] Margaret Colin: And she just said, she wrote in perfect handwriting that I did a good job.

[27:02] Margaret Colin: And that Mrs. Onassis would be very pleased with my work.

[27:07] Margaret Colin: Which I did for a long time.

[27:09] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah. That is huge.

[27:11] Bruce Gotlieb: That's huge.

[27:12] Margaret Colin: And how generous of her to let you know that.

[27:14] Margaret Colin: Really. Exactly.

[27:16] Margaret Colin: Because not every bit of mail gets to people.

[27:19] Margaret Colin: I was very generous of her.

[27:20] Margaret Colin: That was a good time.

[27:22] Margaret Colin: Oh, gosh.

[27:24] Margaret Colin: So, is The Ballisters a limited run?

[27:26] Margaret Colin: Yes. It's not-for-profit Manhattan Theater Clubs.

[27:29] Bruce Gotlieb: Okay. Well, they have a season.

[27:30] Margaret Colin: That's right. We have to get out of there for the next one.

[27:33] Bruce Gotlieb: Right.

[27:34] Margaret Colin: But the best thing about the non-profits is that they can take chances and do things and not worry about the box office as much as other theaters.

[27:43] Margaret Colin: So, it's great that they can do plays that maybe other theaters wouldn't.

[27:46] Bruce Gotlieb: A hundred percent.

[27:47] Margaret Colin: And this is, as I'm sure you know, the only new play written by an American playwright on Broadway this season.

[27:57] Margaret Colin: And it's starting here.

[27:58] Margaret Colin: It has been in no other form anywhere else.

[28:01] Margaret Colin: It's not from a movie.

[28:02] Margaret Colin: It's not from superheroes.

[28:03] Margaret Colin: It didn't have an off-Broadway tryout.

[28:05] Margaret Colin: So, it's a lot like what they did with Shanley, John Patrick Shanley.

[28:08] Margaret Colin: And David is a little nervous but also thrilled to have that opportunity.

[28:12] Margaret Colin: And that is a chance that Manhattan Theater Club can take, that Mickey and Lynn can take with us.

[28:20] Margaret Colin: And it's kind of mind-blowing to try that on in 2026.

[28:26] Margaret Colin: We get to try a new play on the Broadway stage with the backing of this company.

[28:31] Margaret Colin: David's done lots of plays for Manhattan Theater Club before.

[28:34] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[28:35] Margaret Colin: So, there's a big trust there.

[28:37] Margaret Colin: And he obviously speaks to their audience.

[28:39] Margaret Colin: But, you know, Kenny wants to bring in everybody.

[28:42] Margaret Colin: Kenny doesn't want the regular subscription audience.

[28:44] Margaret Colin: So, I was really surprised.

[28:46] Margaret Colin: And, you know, so does Manhattan Theater Club.

[28:49] Margaret Colin: Manhattan loves their subscribers.

[28:51] Margaret Colin: But they do want to get everybody into the theater.

[28:54] Margaret Colin: So, Kenny, there's so many ways to get tickets.

[28:58] Margaret Colin: If you go on the website, it's ridiculous.

[29:00] Margaret Colin: I mean, there are rush tickets.

[29:01] Margaret Colin: There are 35 for 35 tickets.

[29:04] Margaret Colin: There are group discounts.

[29:06] Margaret Colin: There's not-for-profit discounts.

[29:08] Margaret Colin: It's really – and I don't remember when I did the columnist there that there were this many ways to come see the show and not pay $200.

[29:16] Bruce Gotlieb: I mean, I don't –

[29:17] Margaret Colin: Yeah, well, that's important because, you know, theater can be so transformative.

[29:21] Margaret Colin: I know that – so, your costume designer, Emilio Sosa, is a dear friend of mine.

[29:26] Margaret Colin: We've known each other for years.

[29:27] Bruce Gotlieb: Wow.

[29:28] Margaret Colin: And he was one of those kids who, you know, he didn't grow up going to theater.

[29:31] Margaret Colin: So, it's so important that people get exposed, you know, to shows early in life if they can.

[29:38] Margaret Colin: And it really can change a whole – change a life just seeing one show.

[29:42] Bruce Gotlieb: I agree.

[29:43] Margaret Colin: And I grew up on Long Island in Baldwin.

[29:46] Margaret Colin: And the teachers there did plays all the time.

[29:50] Margaret Colin: My first play was in Milburn School, which is not a – it's a private building now.

[29:55] Margaret Colin: It's a private school now.

[29:56] Margaret Colin: And it was the little old lady who loved noise.

[29:59] Margaret Colin: I was said little old lady.

[30:02] Bruce Gotlieb: You were a star right away.

[30:04] Margaret Colin: And loved it.

[30:06] Margaret Colin: Didn't know there could be such a thing.

[30:08] Margaret Colin: But that was all the teachers doing it after school, on their own time, not being paid for it.

[30:14] Margaret Colin: I can't – I could never repay that debt.

[30:19] Margaret Colin: I could never even begin to repay that debt of volunteering and their love of theater and their encouragement.

[30:25] Margaret Colin: And I don't know how much it's happening anymore.

[30:27] Margaret Colin: So, how transformative theater can be to a young person professionally and in the – where they're growing up, community theater at school.

[30:36] Margaret Colin: It's hugely important.

[30:37] Margaret Colin: It also forms all your other skills.

[30:40] Bruce Gotlieb: Exactly.

[30:41] Margaret Colin: And for the right kid, it can really be a lifeline.

[30:44] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[30:45] Margaret Colin: Yes.

[30:46] Margaret Colin: It's great that you're – that you guys have so many different points of entry into the show.

[30:51] Margaret Colin: Yeah.

[30:52] Margaret Colin: Different lighting setups.

[30:54] Margaret Colin: We can actually see everybody really clearly, which used to scare the crap out of me.

[30:58] Margaret Colin: But now I like it.

[31:00] Bruce Gotlieb: What changed for you?

[31:03] Margaret Colin: What made you not be afraid anymore?

[31:05] Margaret Colin: Not that you were terrified, but you know what I mean.

[31:07] Margaret Colin: Experience.

[31:09] Margaret Colin: Courage.

[31:10] Margaret Colin: And being – rehearsal.

[31:12] Margaret Colin: And all of those things change.

[31:14] Bruce Gotlieb: Amazing.

[31:16] Margaret Colin: It's hilarious.

[31:17] Bruce Gotlieb: It is.

[31:18] Margaret Colin: It is.

[31:19] Margaret Colin: It's very poignant.

[31:20] Margaret Colin: It's moving.

[31:21] Margaret Colin: It's hilarious.

[31:22] Margaret Colin: And it gives you something to think about and a lot to look at and laugh.

[31:25] Margaret Colin: And Kenny keeps saying, and we all feel that from the stage, that you are – the chances are pretty good you're going to find yourself up there in one of these characters.

[31:34] Margaret Colin: You're going to go, that's – I relate very strongly to that.

[31:37] Margaret Colin: Or all the way to, that's me.

[31:39] Margaret Colin: I don't say that often.

[31:40] Margaret Colin: You know, that's not a thing that happens very often.

[31:43] Bruce Gotlieb: Yeah.

[31:44] Margaret Colin: Well, go see The Ballisters and find yourself.

[31:46] Margaret Colin: Find yourself.

[31:49] Margaret Colin: Don't find yourself.

[31:50] Margaret Colin: But don't say, go see The Ballisters and find yourself.

[31:55] Bruce Gotlieb: And we will see everyone next time on Behind the Awards.

[31:58] Margaret Colin: Bye-bye.

[31:59] Bruce Gotlieb: Thank you, Margaret.