Patinkin in 'Falsettos' Playbill Magazine, February 28, 1993 by Kathy Henderson Mandy Patinkin refuses to admit that 'Falsettos', the small-scale musical that deals poignantly with AIDS and family relationships, is lucky to have him step in as Marvin, replacing Michael Rupert. "I've been dying to do this show ever since I saw 'Falsettoland' [Act II of the current production] at Playwright Horizons," he says. "I was always jealous of the guys who started it, and when James Lapine, who is a dear friend, asked me to go into the show, I said, 'I'd love to.' Bill Finn has written an amazing piece. I feel very privileged." For Patinkin, the father of two young sons, 'Falsettos' addresses "the things I care about most, which are families and children. The show is not just about the hope for a cure for AIDS, it also reflects the need for a cure for relationships. How do you communicate with the people you love so that the air is free for young people to grow?" He adds, "The fact that the public is embracing the show is very hopeful to me." In recent years Patinkin has managed to juggle musicals ('The Secret Garden'), Shakespeare (Lapine's Public Theater production of 'The Winter's Tale'), films ('The Doctor') and concert tours with 'Dress Casual', his successful one-man show. "I spend ten weeks a year on the road doing concerts, and the fact that my music has taken off affords me the freedom to do other things that don't pay the rent." With luck he may soon be juggling another role: husband to a TV writer/producer. Mrs. Patinkin, actress/writer Kathryn Grody, is developing a comedy series for CBS based on her one-woman show 'A Mom's Life', first performed in 1990 at the Public Theater. Patinkin laughingly admits that his wife portrayed him as self-absorbed, "but I was very proud to be used as the example of a lot of guys who need to grow up. I said, 'Honey, if you're going to write this, you'd better be ruthless with me,' but I'll also say that I have grown up a lot since then. And now," he concludes, "I'm off to my father's group meeting!"