Overview

 

Tom and Barry covered a range of topics, including personal updates, theater projects, and political discussions.

 

Tom shared his experiences in the arts and entertainment industry, addressing challenges such as censorship and the impact of recent events on artistic freedom.

 

The conversation also touched on the importance of storytelling in challenging dominant cultures, the role of nonprofit theaters, and strategies for effectively communicating with people who hold different political views.

 

Democratic Club Political Engagement Update

 

Lucie Lapovsky, president of the Longboat Key Democratic Club, discussed recent political challenges, including attacks on higher education and the importance of supporting candidates for the 2026 interims.

 

She introduced Noah Widmann, a Democratic candidate running in Florida's 7th district, who shared his background and campaign goals.

 

Lucie announced upcoming speakers for the club's Zoom programs, Joan Williams (September) and Wendy Sherman (October), and mentioned that the club will resume its lunch series at the Sarasota Yacht Club in November.

 

Arts Freedom Amid Legal Challenges: “Censorship's” Impact on Culture

 

Tom and Barry discussed the impact of recent events on the arts community. He expressed concern about CBS's settlement with Donald Trump, which he sees as a chilling effect on artistic freedom. Kirdahy emphasized the importance of continuing to tell diverse stories, even in the face of financial and legal pressures.

 

He also highlighted the challenges faced by smaller arts institutions, particularly those dependent on federal funding or board philanthropy.

 

Artistic Integrity in the Casting of GYPSY

 

Tom discussed the casting of Audra McDonald in the Broadway production of GYPSY. emphasizing that it was driven by artistic integrity rather than political statements.

 

He explained the process of securing approvals from various estates and enlisting George C. Wolfe as director, who stipulated that he did not want to direct "a calcified version" of GYPSY. Tom highlighted that the production aimed for color-conscious casting, with Audra's performance being informed by race and her character's desire for a better life for her daughters. 

 

No words or notes of music were changed, but in casting a black woman the story resonates differently, and he understood that would be the case. 

 

He shared an emotional account of Kamala Harris attending the show and Audra's powerful performance, noting that the intention was never to make a political statement, but to deliver a compelling production.

 

Storytelling for Social Change

 

Tom discussed the importance of storytelling in challenging dominant cultures and its role in changing hearts and minds, particularly in the context of LGBTQ+ rights.

 

He highlighted the impact of the plays of Terrence McNally ((Tom’s late husband), including CORPUS CHRISTI and his own experiences producing works that address social issues.

 

Tom expressed concern about the current political climate, including the Trump administration's policies on HIV prevention and the NEA, and emphasized the need for powerful storytelling to counteract division and hate.

 

Tom's Emotional Journey Through Theater

 

Tom shared his experience of discovering a play, THE INHERITANCE, that resonated deeply with his own life story, particularly the first act set in 1981 New York City, which mirrored his own journey of coming out as gay. He described how the play's depiction of the Stonewall Inn, which he knew personally as a ‘bagel café’, distressingly with no signage depicting the location as the beginning of the gay right movement in the US, struck a powerful chord with him. 

 

Tom explained that he was initially skeptical about the length of “The Inheritance” (five acts in two separate performances), but became emotionally invested after reading the first act, leading him to commit to producing it despite legal challenges.

 

The production went on to win both an Olivier award (2019) and a Tony award (2020), with Tom recalling the intense emotional moments of winning these prestigious accolades.

 

He dedicated the Tony to the Terrence McNally who had recently passed away and had previously mentored the playwright (Matthew Lopez).

.

Challenging Stereotypes Through Theater

 

Tom discussed his Broadway show JUST IN TIME, which features Jonathan Groff as Bobby Darin and addresses themes of identity and prejudice. 

 

He emphasized the importance of challenging stereotypes and fostering dialogue through theater. Tom also shared personal experiences of facing discrimination and discussed strategies for effectively communicating with people who hold different political views.

 

He highlighted the need for both activism and personal storytelling in driving social change.

 

Nonprofit Theaters and DEI Challenges

​

Tom discussed the challenges faced by nonprofit theaters, particularly in the context of the NEA's new requirements for grant recipients to check a box indicating they do not operate DEI programs or use federal funds to promote gender ideology.

 

He shared examples of organizations that lost funding for refusing to check the box, emphasizing the need for artistic directors to maintain courage in their programming while facing financial pressures.

 

Tom also addressed a question about protecting young people from censorship and discrimination, stressing the importance of being vocal and visible in support of future generations.

 

Theater and Film Project Footnotes

 

Tom discussed his current and past theater and film projects, including GYPSY, JUST IN TIME, HADESTOWN, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, and KISS OF THE SPIDER-WOMAN. He mentioned that HADESTOWN is being filmed and is in the editing process.

 

Tom also shared that the film KISS OF THE SPIDER-WOMAN, directed by Bill Condon, will be released in theaters in the US on October 10th. 

 

Tom is also opening a production of  RAGTIME(with “book” by Terrence McNally) at the Lincoln Center in NYC on October 16th.