life characters  from the New York theater world. Aside from Roy Scheider (qv),  Leland Palmer (qv)s character was based on his wife/frequent star  Gwen Verdon (qv). John Lithgow (qv)s character was also based  somewhat on the New York theater director  Michael Bennett (XI) (qv), director of "Dreamgirls" with whom  Bob Fosse (qv) had a longstanding rivalry. The character of  producer Jonesy Hecht was based upon his fellow longtime rival  Harold Prince (qv). Ann Reinking (qv) was more or less playing  herself. The character of songwriter "Paul Dann" is a swipe at  Stephen Schwartz (I) (qv), with whom he had unhappily worked on  "Pippin." Jules Fisher (qv), the lighting designer on many of  Fosses shows, and later the producer of his show "Dancin", makes  an appearance as a lighting designer in the scene with  John Lithgow (qv).