InDepth InterView: Craig Zadan & Neil Meron Talk 2013 Academy Awards, Scoops, Broadway, Hollywood, Future Projects & More

PC: No way!

NM: Yeah! So, I guess I'm the matchmaker. [Laughs.] We love Victor. You know, we have been fortunate to work with a certain group of actors time and time again and at the top of that list is certainly Victor Garber.

PC: And Queen Latifah, who will be appearing onstage on Sunday, no doubt, as well.

NM: Right. We have had such remarkable success with the actors we have been lucky enough to work with time and time again.

CZ: Queen Latifah did CHICAGO, HAIRSPRAY and STEEL MAGNOLIAS with us - all big, big hits.

PC: That's a tremendous track record!

NM: We love, love, love Queen Latifah.

PC: Are there any plans for another musical comedy in the vein of HAIRSPRAY in the future for you?

NM: Oh, we'd love that - we'd love to.

PC: Dramatic musicals seem to be the more Oscar-bait projects of late, though you could change that again.

NM: You know, as long as it is entertaining and it has potential, it can take any shape or form, I think.

PC: Lastly: is there a SONDHEIM & CO. e-book on the way someday, Craig?

CZ: Well, it's funny you mention that, Pat, because I always wanted to re-publish it and do a new edition, but, because publishing is sort of going down the tubes, nobody wants to do a new edition now. But, I do have the opportunity, if I decide to, to do an e-book of it, but I have just had to put everything - everything - on hold until The Academy Awards show is over.

PC: This will be the first - and ultimate - Broadway Oscars!

NM: We certainly hope so! We hope that moments from this show go into Musical Mondays.

PC: It will be the FOLLIES of Academy Awards telecasts!

CZ & NM: [Laughs.]

PC: Seriously, though, have you two ever considered FOLLIES on film?

CZ: Oh, yeah.

NM: Sure. Sure. But, again, we've been fortunate enough to work so consistently that we have found that we only want to do projects that we feel like we can really conquer.

PC: Craig wrote the book on Sondheim, literally, so if anybody is ever going to do FOLLIES right...

CZ: Just let me finish this Oscar show first! [Laughs.]

PC: One thing at a time, right?

CZ: Yeah - right now, for us, we just hope everyone likes the show that we are doing this Sunday.

PC: Thank you both so much for this today. It will unquestionably be an Academy Awards to remember for years to come thanks to the participation of you two.

NM: Thank you, Pat. We read your columns all the time - we both just love BroadwayWorld. Bye bye.

CZ: Yeah, we love the site and we love what you guys are doing. Thank you so much, Pat. Bye.

Photo Credits: Walter McBride, 2013 Academy Awards, Miramax, Disney, ABC, Lifetime, etc.