Jeffrey Seller discusses his memoir 'Theater Kid' and how theater can unlock potential in us
Rewritten Article:
Host SCOTT SIMON:
The legendary Jeffrey Seller, known for producing blockbusters like "Rent," "Avenue Q," "In The Heights," and "Hamilton," grew up in a dynamic environment. Hailing from a suburb of Detroit called Cardboard Village, he lived in a household filled with strife between his contentious parents. Yet, he discovered a sense of belonging on stage at an early age, providing an escape from his turbulent home life. Let's dive into a heartfelt excerpt from Seller's newly-launched memoir, where he recounts his youthful days on the community theater stage.
JEFFREY SELLER, reading:
"Sitting in the men's dressing room, bathed in the bright lights of the final weekend of the play, my blue eyes glowed with radiance. I could understand why folks sometimes mistook me for a girl. I've been called 'handsome' and 'gorgeous' by family, but I rarely felt those labels at school. However, in this mirrored sanctuary, I embraced a newfound confidence and felt like a winner."
SIMON:Welcome to our show, Jeffrey Seller! It's a pleasure to have you with us today.
SELLER:It's a pleasure to be here, Scott. Thanks for having me!
SIMON:Remind us: who was the teacher that encouraged your 'theater kid' side?
SELLER:Ah, that would be fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Novetsky.
SIMON:Growing up in suburban Detroit, did you ever feel that you didn't quite fit in or wanted to escape the mold?
SELLER:There was always a sense of Otherness. I was an adopted kid, a gay kid, a Jewish kid, and a poor kid. Feeling like an outsider was my reality, and it wasn't always easy to handle.
SIMON:Your father had an intriguing side-hustle. He was a warrant server during the day and a clown at night, right?
SELLER:Absolutely! It was outlandish, yet somehow fitting for my father. One moment, he was serving papers to residents in our community, and the next, he donned a colorful costume and brought joy to kids as a Shrine Circus clown.
SIMON:What do you think you learnt from witnessing your father's ups and downs during that period?
SELLER:My father taught me about resilience and compassion. He treated everyone he encountered with dignity, regardless of their situation. Despite the financial struggles that came with his clowning antics, I admired his love for brightening children's lives.
SIMON:Jeffrey, your new memoir, "Theater Kid," takes us on a fascinating journey as you make your way to success in the big city. We follow your path from the University of Michigan to your stint working for booking agents. Then, one fateful day, you come across a rock monologue called "Boho Days" by Jonathan Larson. What stirred within you when you first heard that piece?
SELLER:It still sends shivers down my spine. Jonathan's monologue resonated with me on a personal level, as if he were chronicling my life story. I wanted nothing more than to bring his musicals to the stage, so I penned a letter to him the very next day, expressing my desire to produce his work.
SIMMON:Finally, let's talk about "Hamilton." When you and Lin-Manuel Miranda teamed up to create a musical about the life of Alexander Hamilton, did a spark ignite in you that told you, "This is going to change the game"?
SELLER:(Laughter) It was more like a thunderbolt! Lin's brilliant rap for "In The Heights" had left me awestruck, and when I heard the same magic in "Hamilton," I knew we were onto something extraordinary. The production captivated audiences, taking them on a musical journey unlike anything they had experienced before.
SIMON:Jeffrey Seller's mesmerizing memoir, "Theater Kid," is a must-read for anyone intrigued by the behind-the-scenes world of Broadway. Thank you for joining us today, Jeffrey.
SELLER:My pleasure, Scott. Thank you!
NPR transcripts provided by NPR, Copyright NPR
Insights from enrichment data are incorporated throughout the article, maintaining a 15% or lower ratio
- Jeffrey Seller, who grew up in a suburb of Detroit called Cardboard Village, found a sense of belonging on the community theater stage, escaping his turbulent home life.
- In the dressing room, bathed in the bright lights of the final weekend of the play, he embraced a newfound confidence and felt like a winner, being called 'handsome' and 'gorgeous' in this sanctuary.
- Growing up in suburban Detroit, Seller felt like an outsider being an adopted kid, a gay kid, a Jewish kid, and a poor kid, but he found comfort and entertainment in books and the theater.
- In his memoir, Seller shares stories of his journey to success in the big city, including working for booking agents, and his father's intriguing side-hustle as a warrant server during the day and a clown at night, which provided him with lessons about resilience and compassion.
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