Backstage Pass

Podcasts

Ever wonder what it takes to make a new musical sing? Find out with New York Theatre Barn’s Backstage Pass.

Behind the Curtain

All Episodes

All Seasons

Episode 1 - Jason Schafer, Arthur Lafrentz Bacon, and Jeff Calhoun - Trick! The Musical

Welcome to Backstage Pass Season 3! We’re premiering our third season with a special conversation that features Jason Schafer, Arthur Lafrentz Bacon, and Jeff Calhoun discussing their new show, Trick! The Musical. Check out Episode 2 in two weeks for the second part of our conversation.

49 mins

Feb 17

Episode 30 - Douglas J. Cohen and Eva Margolies: UNZIPPED Part 2

In this episode we continue our conversation with Eva Margolies and Douglas J. Cohen about their musical: Unzipped. Set in the Bay Area in the late 1970s, UNZIPPED explores a culture of sexual liberation and the development of modern sex therapy practices through the lens of a marriage in crisis.

38 mins

Jan 6

Episode 29 - Douglas J. Cohen and Eva Margolies: UNZIPPED

This episode features a conversation with Douglas J. Cohen and Eva Margolies about their musical: UNZIPPED. Set in the Bay Area in the late 1970s, UNZIPPED explores a culture of sexual liberation and the development of modern sex therapy practices through the lens of a marriage in crisis.

39 mins

12/23/25

Episode 28 - Backstage at NAMT Part 2 Featuring The King of Harlem, Roja, Wakeman, and Alice Bliss

Welcome to Part 2 of our special coverage of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 37th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Each year, the NAMT festival shares 45 minute preview performances of 8 new musicals in development.

1 h 4 mins

12/9/25

Episode 27 - Backstage at NAMT Part 1 featuring FINN, Love is Dead, Soft Magical Tofu Boy(s), and Particle

Welcome to a very special episode of Backstage Pass. We recently attended the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 37th Annual Festival of New Musicals in New York City, and have created a podcast experience that will make you feel like you’re right there with us!

60 mins

12/2/25

Episode 26 - GRAVITY Part 2

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Matt Herrero, Joel Chapman, Weston Gaylord, Ken Savage, and Jessia Hoffman about their musical GRAVITY: A Newtonian Musical.

43 mins

11/11/25

Episode 25 - Matt Herrero, Joel Chapman, Weston Gaylord, Ken Savage, and Jessia Hoffman: GRAVITY

This episode features a conversation with Matt Herrero, Joel Chapman, Weston Gaylord, Ken Savage, and Jessia Hoffman about their musical GRAVITY: A Newtonian Musical.

43 mins

10/28/25

Episode 24 - Falling Forward Part 2

In this episode we continue our conversation with Karl Amundson and Emily Fink about their new musical: Falling Forward. Falling Forward is about Meghan, a queer 27-year-old sculpture artist who is leaving New York City, moving in with her mom in Michigan and giving up on her artistic aspirations.

42 mins

10/14/25

Episode 23 - Karl Amundson and Emily Fink: Falling Forward

This episode features a conversation with Karl Amundson and Emily Fink about their musical: Falling Forward. Falling Forward is about Meghan, a queer 27-year-old sculpture artist who is leaving New York City, moving in with her mom in Michigan and giving up on her artistic aspirations.

41 mins

9/30/25

Episode 22 - Fountain of You Part 2

In this episode we continue our conversation with Tasha Gordon-Solmon and Faye Chiao about their new musical: Fountain of You. We learn more about the journey of the characters and end the episode with a game specifically designed for these writers.

38 mins

9/16/25

Episode 21 - Tasha Gordon-Solmon and Faye Chiao: Fountain of You

This episode features a conversation with Tasha Gordon-Solmon and Faye Chiao about their new musical: Fountain of You. When a thirty-something actress is suddenly aged out of the industry, she undergoes a wildly unconventional spa procedure to get her old life back.

45 mins

9/2/25

Episode 20 - Kevin Cloud and Lisa Kenner Grissom - Vilna: A Resistance Story Part 2

In this episode we continue our conversation with Kevin Cloud and Lisa Kenner Grissom about their new musical: Vilna: A Resistance Story. VILNA: A RESISTANCE STORY is an exciting new musical about Vitka Kempner, a 19-year-old Jewish girl who inspired the heroic Jewish resistance movement in the Vilna ghetto during the Holocaust.

34 mins

8/19/25

Episode 19 - Kevin Cloud and Lisa Kenner Grissom - Vilna: A Resistance Story

This episode features a conversation with Kevin Cloud and Lisa Kenner Grissom about their new musical: Vilna: A Resistance Story. VILNA: A RESISTANCE STORY is an exciting new musical about Vitka Kempner, a 19-year-old Jewish girl who inspired the heroic Jewish resistance movement in the Vilna ghetto during the Holocaust.

40 mins

8/5/25

Episode 18 - Nico Juber, Joe Barros, Jade McLeod, Diana Huey, and Gabby Boera: Winner Part 2

In this episode we continue our conversation with Nico Juber, Joe Barros, Jade McLeod, Diana Huey, and Gabby Boera about the new musical Winner. Winner was written by Nico Juber and Joe Barros.

35 mins

7/22/25

Episode 17 - Nico Juber, Joe Barros, Jade McLeod and Gabby Boera: Winner

This episode features a conversation with Nico Juber, Joe Barros, Jade McLeod and Gabby Boera about the new musical Winner. Winner was written by Nico Juber and Joe Barros.

37 mins

7/8/25

Episode 16 - Benjamin Velez and Lisa Loomer: Real Women Have Curves Part 2

In this episode we continue our conversation with Benjamin Velez and Lisa Loomer about the Broadway musical: Real Women Have Curves. Ana García (Broadway newcomer Tatianna Córdoba) dreams of flying away.

22 mins

6/27/25

Episode 15 - Benjamin Velez and Lisa Loomer: Real Women Have Curves

This episode features a conversation with Benjamin Velez and Lisa Loomer about the Broadway musical: Real Women Have Curves. Ana García (Broadway newcomer Tatianna Córdoba) dreams of flying away.

44 mins

6/26/25

Episode 14 - Janine McGuire and Arri Lawton Simon: The Bubble Part 2

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Janine McGuire and Arri Lawton Simon about their new musical, The Bubble. Adapted from the groundbreaking film by Eytan Fox and Gal Uchovsky, the musical follows Noam, an Israeli soldier and musician, and Ashraf, a closeted Palestinian, who meet at a border checkpoint and fall in love during the Second Intifada.

38 mins

6/17/25

Episode 13 - Janine McGuire and Arri Lawton Simon: The Bubble

This episode features a conversation with Janine McGuire and Arri Lawton Simon about their musical: The Bubble. Adapted from the groundbreaking film by Eytan Fox and Gal Uchovsky, the musical follows Noam, an Israeli soldier and musician, and Ashraf, a closeted Palestinian, who meet at a border checkpoint and fall in love during the Second Intifada.

32 mins

6/3/25

Episode 12 - Charlie Romano and Harold Hodge Jr: Call Me From The Grave Part 2

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Charlie Romano and Harold Hodge Jr about their new musical, Call Me From The Grave. Call Me From The Grave explores the life and myth of the legendary Blues guitar player, Robert Johnson.

35 mins

5/20/25