Fly High Jay Binder

I just heard about the passing of top-notch Broadway casting director Jay Binder. I immediately had a visceral, gut-punch reaction. Regular readers of The Randy Report know that prior to becoming a journalist, I was an actor and dancer on Broadway. I was the kind of dancer and actor that was hired by directors and choreographers – not casting directors. When I booked a job, it was always because I was able to get in front of the director or choreographer. BUT… Jay Binder was an actors’ casting director. He was one of the few casting directors to act as my champion. I’m not slamming other casting directors, but Jay went to bat for ME. And I knew it. Jay was a BIG deal. He received 11 Artios Awards from the Casting Society of America, the highest honor in casting. And he cast every Neil Simon play from 1990 through 2009. He also received Tony noms as a producer in 1998 and 2010 for the revivals of Finian’s Rainbow and The Sound of Music, respectively.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to learn of the passing of Broadway casting director Jay Binder https://t.co/9PWaC1V8PJ

— BroadwayWorld (@BroadwayWorld) April 15, 2022

Our paths first crossed in 1988. After six callbacks, I was offered the pre-Broadway “skeleton cast” of Jerome Robbins Broadway in July of 1988. But I was on the road with CATS, and believe it or not, my answering service (we had those back then) lost the message. A month later, when I finally got the message I called and Jay said, “We wondered what happened to you, but we had to move on.” They’d cast another actor in my spot. But Jay Binder called me in 13 more times for Jerome Robbins Broadway – EVERY single time there was a possibility I could fill a replacement, he called me in. I danced the same six hard-ass combinations so many times you could have put me in the show upon hiring me. Twice I actually got hired for JRB. But, in one case, the actor rescinded their resignation, and in another, the LA company was postponed so the actor I was to replace didn’t leave the NYC company. But Jay kept calling me in for show after show after show – Seussical, Meet Me in St.Louis, The Goodbye Girl, Damn Yankees, on and on. One time, I danced for – and had a callback – for a replacement in a Broadway production Jay handled. I had to stop by the office to pick up sides to read for the callback. I showed up and Jay saw me at the front of the office. He called me back to his office and told me to sit down. Looking me dead in the eye, he said, “Randy, this is your time. It’s time. Own this. You deserve it. It’s time.” The callback went great, but it turned out another actor the choreographer had worked with had been mentioned, and he was in their minds, blah, blah, blah, so it didn’t work out.

Jay Binder, Top-Notch Casting Director for Broadway, Dies at 71 https://t.co/GJqu7ivN4b

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) April 15, 2022

Folks, Broadway can be very HARD when you’re not the flavor of the minute. But the very act of Jay expressing confidence in me got me there. He was in my corner the whole time. And it meant the world to me. Over the years, I learned and understood the validation of being cast and hired. When I finally made my Broadway debut in Hello, Dolly! – thanks to dear wonderful Lee Roy Reams who directed the production – Jay sent a hand-written opening night card saying, “It’s about time.” In 1994, Jay Binder co-founded the Encores! Great American Musicals in Concert series at New York City Center. His work casting the acclaimed series led to the 1996 Tony-winning revival of Chicago. And in 1998, I was cast in the national company of Chicago, which led to 12 more contracts with the show including the Broadway company. Jay, you gave so many actors/dancers/singers respect and dignity in a business that doesn’t afford much of that. In your auditions, I felt seen. I’ve never forgotten and I never will. Fly high Jay Binder.  There will be trumpets…