ONLINE THEATER
A Healthy Dose of Theater Talk
Seth Rudetsky, James Wesley live-streaming for the geeks
BY DAVID KENNERLEY
When Broadway theaters
were shuttered
March 12, effectively
putting countless
theater professionals out of
work, Seth Rudetsky and husband
James Wesley saw a tweet from
actress Jennifer Cody challenging
her peers: “Can anyone do something
to help?”
No strangers to show biz fundraising,
the duo sprang into action.
Rudetsky had the idea of recording
piano tracks and sending them
to Broadway stars who would do
mini-concerts from their homes
and stream them online. They
would request donations to The Actors
Fund, an essential lifeline to
the performing arts community.
Wesley, a writer and producer,
expanded on that idea. He envisioned
a combination of “Seth
Speaks,” Rudetsky’s SiriusXM talk
show about all things Broadway,
and “Concert for America,” a benefi
t for nonprofi ts like the Sierra
Club and the NAACP that features
entertainment and commentary
about social justice issues. Wesley
researched streaming services and
found a platform that was simple
to use, as the two were far from
tech savvy.
“Health experts are saying we
should all keep connected, so we
thought we could bring the connection
to our stars,” said Rudetsky,
taking time out between shows to
chat with Gay City News. “The idea
came to us on a Saturday and we
began live-streaming on Monday.”
“Stars in the House” now
streams live twice daily at 2 p.m.
and 8 p.m. (episodes are archived
for future access) and the response
has been overwhelming. Little did
they know they were creating a vital
infotainment outlet for countless
theater geeks who are going
through withdrawal, helping them
muddle through #StayAtHome.
They vowed to continue producing
shows until Broadway theaters reopen
(the shutdown was offi cially
extended to June 9, though it could
be much longer).
James Wesley and Seth Rudetsky obviously having a great time while creating an episode of “Stars in
the House.”
The roster of stars is mindblowing
— Kelli O’Hara, Kristin
Chenoweth, Raúl Esparza, Santino
Fontana, Lea Salonga, Audra
McDonald, and Jonathan Groff,
to name a few. In just over three
weeks, they’ve recruited more than
100 stars to join in the fun. Rudetsky
steals moments to play the
piano, and often guests provide
their own live musical accompaniment.
Chenoweth appears every Saturday
night from her bathroom to
maximize the acoustics.
“Kristin is special because she’s
the only one who asked for a regular
slot,” Rudetsky explained.
“She’s a big star and we are elated
to have her. It’s bizarre and wonderful
that she’s broadcasting from
her bathroom.”
Ever the jokester, Rudetsky loves
to surprise featured guests with
their friends. For instance, Jason
Alexander was bowled over when
Chita Rivera popped up on the
screen. They were in “The Rink” on
Broadway together in the 1980s.
“I do a lot of pre-show trickery,”
he said. “I casually ask which
Broadway star is their favorite. Or I
secretly ask their husband. Then I
track them down and they miraculously
appear on the show.”
For variety, the show is peppered
with amusing photos or video snippets.
Rudetsky said he learned this
technique as a comedy writer on
“The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” with
its cuts to visuals at key moments.
One of their signature questions
is “What are you and your family
doing to stay healthy?” According
to Rudetsky, people fall into two
camps. They are either getting fi t
or giving in and gaining what he
likes to call the COVID 19.
For many fans, the appeal is seeing
larger-than-life celebrities in
their own homes, casual and unfi ltered.
Shirts are wrinkled, hair is
tousled, and beds are unmade. In
a recent episode, Laura Bell Bundy
confessed she was wearing the Tshirt
she slept in, though she did
put on a bra for the show.
“I have no fashion sense, guests
can appear however they want,”
Rudetsky said. “Often they ask,
‘Do I have to wash my hair?’ and
I say ‘I dunno, whatever.’ Apparently
everyone is opting out of hairwashing
these days.”
The only dress code is on Saturday
nights, when the hosts wear
a suit (the top half, anyway) and
Chenoweth dons a concert gown
and full hair and makeup. Once
she appeared in a gown that she
had worn for a Lady Gaga concert,
then put it up for auction, fetching
$2,000 for the fundraising effort.
“She’s the grand diva,” said Rudetsky.
“Everyone else is not showering,
not shaving, no dyed hair,
whatevs.”
One of the most affecting episodes
featured Gavin Creel, who
had to cut short his stint in “Waitress”
in London’s West End due to
the pandemic. When he returned
to the US, he got hit with COVID-19
symptoms. He recounted the
shame and stigma of being sick
but advised by his doctor to stay
home and not get tested. His voice
was too hoarse to perform a song.
“I didn’t know what that episode
was going to be,” admitted Rudetsky.
“I wasn’t sure how it would
be helpful, since everyone knows
the symptoms. But it turned out to
be wonderful because he was raising
topics rarely discussed, such
as feeling like a leper. You must
stay isolated but can’t help but
feel bad when someone says, ‘Stay
away from me for your own good
and my own good.’ So glad he came
and spoke about it.”
“Stars in the House” exudes
a keen sense of authenticity as it
connects our humanity. Not only
entertaining and informative, it’s
also oddly therapeutic. Was that
part of the plan?
“Our original goal was to raise
money,” said Rudetsky. “But we’ve
discovered it’s also a way for folks
to stay calm and instill some regularity
in their lives. It’s become appointment
viewing. People tune in
and make comments on the side
in real time and we read selections
during the show. We get comments
from Singapore, Australia — all
over the world. It’s like one big gettogether,
while maintaining social
distancing.”
As a counterpoint to the songs
and conversation, Dr. Jon LaPook,
chief medical correspondent for
CBS News, offers tips and updates
about the pandemic that are frank
and easy to understand.
LaPook fi rst met Rudetsky and
Wesley when he interviewed them
about “Broadway for Orlando,”
their benefi t for victims and families
of the 2016 Pulse nightclub
massacre. They stayed in touch.
“He contacted us about a month
ago and asked us to write a song
about hand washing, since Happy
Birthday wasn’t cutting it,” Rudetsky
recalled.
➤ FOR GEEKS, continued on p.17
April 23 - May 6,16 2020 | GayCityNews.com
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