Terry Gross

You originated a role, and before we talk about what it was like to work with Sondheim on a Sondheim musical, I want to play a song from it, and it's called Get Out of My Life.

And I chose this because it's a good song, and you're really great in it.

This song is part singing and part really acting.

Thank you.

Because you're angry with this.

And it really shows you off.

There's a song by Stephen Sondheim from his musical Bounce with my guest, Richard Kind.

So that was my guest Richard Kind singing Get Out of My Life from the original cast recording of the Stephen Sondheim musical Bounce.

So you worked directly with Sondheim on this, right?

I did, yeah.

What kind of direction did he give you about how to do his songs?

What was it like?

He was one of your heroes.

You always wanted to be in one of his shows.

And here he was directing you and kind of being very picky about every word and probably about every note as well.

Sure.

Did that make you self-conscious?

You quit smoking to sing Sondheim.

So we talked a little bit about working with Sondheim on one of his musicals.

Earlier in your life, your music was being a singing waiter in a Manhattan restaurant.