This program originally aired online via Zoom on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 12:30pm Eastern.
Julie Salamon, New York Times best-selling author, sat down with Broadway Musical Director and Conductor Joshua Zecher-Ross. Joshua joined us live from the Golden Theatre to discuss his current role with Operation Mincemeat and give us a little backstage tour. Space limitations at the theatre resulted in some creative musical solutions. Joshua conducts the show and plays keyboard from a 3rd-floor converted dressing room, using live-feed monitors to track the actors onstage. For his bow, he has 22.7 seconds to run down to the stage, only to run right back up to play the end of the show. Joshua’s breakneck multitasking experience reflects the show as a whole, with a cast of 5 actors playing 87 characters over the 2-hour musical comedy.
Joshua reflected on his experience working on The Queen of Versailles, an incredible hit in Boston but unable to sustain its run on Broadway. He had the honor of working with composer Stephen Schwartz, known for Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin. Joshua lamented the loss of such a wonderful show, filled with talented creatives and performers, and cited the unpredictability of the theatre business.
Joshua strongly identifies with his Jewish identity, coming from a family of talented congregational rabbis. At one point, he considered becoming a cantor and has continued to provide music for synagogue services. His mother recently retired from her work as a rabbi to become a cabaret performer and even developed a one-person show with her son as the accompanist.
Topics covered in this program:
- The responsibilities and duties of a Broadway Musical director, in the creation and maintenance of a show.
- The power of representation to start conversations and combat discrimination.
- The historical legacy and current presence of Jewish people in theatre and musical theatre.
