The Black Business of Broadway
A bi-monthly podcast brought to you by The Broadway League that highlights the stories, how to’s and successes of the Black administrators, producers, directors, managers, creatives, and legends of Broadway. Tune in as our host, Gennean Scott, chats with these professionals and helps you find your career on Broadway.
All Episodes
#39 In the Pit
Did you ever imagine that one could pursue a career as both a weather scientist and a Broadway music director? Alvin's journey to becoming the Associate Music Supervisor for "Merrily We Roll Along" was unconventional.
#38 Braiding the Stories of Black Hair on Broadway
Nana Mensah, a Ghanaian-American writer, director, producer, and actress, joins the podcast to discuss her Broadway debut in "Jaja's African Hair Braiding".
#37 Powered By Our Ancestors
An inspiring conversation with Sade Lythcott, the CEO of National Black Theatre (NBT), about its history and how she is carrying on the legacy of her mother and founder, Dr. Barbara Ann Teer. Tune in to hear her discuss NBT's mission "to produce transformational theater...
#36 The Power of the Mentor
In this episode, Christina Selby shares her career journey, from getting her start in arts administration to the many moments where mentors played a role in helping shape her career.
#35 A Writer's Journey
On this latest episode of The Black Business of Broadway, we are joined by James Ijames, a Tony-nominated playwright, and Pulitzer Prize winner for his play 'Fat Ham'.
#34 Wear Your Curls
In this episode, Diana Moran Macuil, Director of Membership Services & Professional Development at The Broadway League, joins the podcast to share her career journey into arts administration.
#33 People & Culture in the Theatre
A conversation with Jujamcyn's Vice President of People & Culture, Darrelle Johnson, about her career journey in human resources. She shares insights into her work as a People & Culture leader, navigating senior leadership roles as a woman of color, what skills enabled her to be successful, and offers advice to anyone interested in pursuing this field.
#32 Sports in the Theatre?
In this episode of The Black Business of Broadway, Gennean returns for season three with playwright, poet, and educator Candrice Jones to discuss her new play “Flex." Tune in to hear how growing up in rural Arkansas inspired the creation of her play, what was the impulse behind her mission to write love letters for and to women of the American South, and how she pays homage to the Black women who have helped paved the way.
#31 Celebrating the 2023 Jimmy Awards
In celebration of the 14th annual Jimmy Awards, tune into this special episode featuring two Jimmy Award alums, Amina Faye and John Clay lll. Amina, who won the Jimmy Award in 2016, is currently performing in the North American tour of “Six”.
#30 Collaboration
Tammie Ward, Theater Operations Director at The Shubert Organization, shares her journey in the theatre and how understanding a variety of jobs in the industry can help your career.
#29 Be Prepared
The 2018 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical winner Giles Terera joins the podcast to discuss his start, explain some of the differences between working in New York and London, and share the story of the genesis of his book "Hamilton and Me: An Actor’s Journal." Edited by Justin Payne.
#28 Take All the Meetings
In this episode of The Black Business of Broadway, Kim Shaw discusses her path to building a career as a Company Manager. Kim shares how building relationships and being a sponge helped shape her career. Edited by Justin Payne.
#27 Creating the Legacy
Gennean Scott sits down with actor, writer, director, composer-lyricist and playwright, Douglas Lyons. Currently on Broadway in Parade, Douglas shares what brought him to theatre, his journey so far with Chicken and Biscuits and Beau: The Musical, and how his work adds to the legacy of theatre for the Queer and Black communities.
#26 Leading with Grace and Compassion
2017 Tony Award®-nominee, Michelle Wilson, stops by the podcast to discuss her latest work, starring in The Coast Starlight at Lincoln Center Theater. In this conversation, Michelle shares her journey into the industry, what it was like working with Dominique Morisseau and Lynn Nottage, and how the power of human connection can save us.
#25 Trailblazing Treasurer
Michelle Whitaker, Head Treasurer at Jujamcyn’s Walter Kerr Theatre (current home to Hadestown), joins the podcast. This trailblazing woman is the second Black woman Treasurer to rise to the role of Head Treasurer in all of Broadway history.
#24 Managing the Purpose
Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Director and one of the American Theatre Magazine’s 10 Rising Black Woman+ to Watch in Theatre, Danielle (Dani) Barlow talks about her career as an Arts Manager and the work of SDCF.
#23 Creating Balance
In this episode of THE BLACK BUSINESS OF BROADWAY, Lindsay Roberts Greene shares how she successfully navigates performing in “The Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway while also being an international arts administrator and educator, working as the Deputy Executive Director of Arts Ignite.
#22 What a Year!
Gennean Scott sits down with The Black Business of Broadway’s audio engineer, Justin Payne, to chronicle their journey together during the podcast's first year. Starting with episode one, they look back and reminisce, highlighting memorable guests and favorite moments, before turning toward the future of the podcast.
#21 Expanding the Standard in Producing
Rashad V. Chambers and Adam Hyndman discuss their work in broadening the idea of a “standard” producer or investor and how they are accomplishing that with The Industry Standard Group and Second Act Theatrical Capital.
#20 Life is Seasonal
Jennie Harney-Fleming joins THE BLACK BUSINESS of BROADWAY to break down the real of what life is like as a performer. The current Angelica Schuyler in Broadway’s Hamilton shares what it is like to have Tony Award®-winning lineage, the ups and downs of a performing arts career, while allowing for changes in your value system.
#19 The Universe is Conspiring with You
This week, Gennean Scott welcomes T. Oliver Reid. Having spent the last 20 years working on Broadway, T. Oliver shares stories from his journey, starting as early as when he could walk and talk to his headline-making turn as a Fate in Broadway’s Hadestown.
#18 Booked and Busy
The busy actor, writer, producer, director, and creative, Marchánt Davis, from Broadway’s “Ain’t No Mo” and the upcoming “Good Night Oscar” shares stories about the community support he received while growing up in the church, catching the theatre bug, and what’s going on with his many projects.
#17 International Black Folx and Broadway
Cessalee Smith-Stovall, founder of the Australian organization Stage A Change, sits down with Gennean Scott to talk about what is going on with EDI around the world, specifically with First Nation communities and how that work contrasts with what is happening in America.
#16 Walk In Your Purpose
While on tour with Hamilton, John Devereaux talks about catching the theatre bug, the urge to get a “real” job, unspoken pressures, and following the path that is placed before you. The conversation covers his joy for creating on TikTok and being featured as a notable alumnus of TCU in a mural in New York City.
#15 Race 1965 vs. today
April Matthis and Greig Sargeant discuss their new show from Elevator Repair Service, "Baldwin and Buckley at Cambridge." Highlights from the conversation include a deep discussion on the impact of James Baldwin, the importance of debate in the world today, and the challenges of creating as Black artists.
#14 Investing in Access
Angela Johnson, Founder and CEO of Invest in Access, shares what it takes to create an inclusive environment, her mission in starting her own company, and her experience as a person with a disability.
#13 Do It Scared
Gennean Scott returns for season two with dancers/choreographers Gregory Butler and Ray Mercer as they dig into topics such as fear, shame, value, and what it takes to find your path. Take a listen to learn the wise words from Ray’s Grandma Emma Turner: ”If you can’t beat fear, do it scared.” Edited by Justin Payne.
#12 Breaking down Equity Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) and the business we call show
Christina Alexander, Director of Social Responsibility for productions of Wicked, Cassandra James, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager at The Shubert Organization, and your host, Gennean Scott, Director of EDI at The Broadway League, breakdown what ED&I means in the arts, get personal about their role, and offer advice on staying optimistic for the future.
#11 Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth
Black to Broadway commemorates Juneteenth with the 2nd annual Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth on June 19th, 2022, in Times Square. Before heading to the concert, hear Director Steve H.
#10 A Peek Behind the Purple Curtain
Justin Payne and James Jones, the creators behind the music and art of The Black Business of Broadway, share their journey as they start out as Black creatives on Broadway. Edited by Justin Payne.
#9 And yet WE THRIVE
An episode with 2022 Tony-nominated Director Lileana Blain-Cruz on her latest work, "The Skin of Our Teeth," and the resilience of the Black Community. Edited by Justin Payne.
#8 We Are Ready
A talk with Black Theater Coalition’s Program Director, Nik Whitcomb and Jourdan Miller, Fellow, and TaNisha Fordham, recent BTC Alum about its mission to remove the “ILLUSION OF INCLUSION” in the American Theatre, by building a sustainable ethical roadmap that will increase employment opportunities for Black theatre professionals.
#7 Being Asked to Dance: A Career in Inclusion and The Arts
A conversation with Donna Walker-Kuhne, an award-winning thought leader and owner of a boutique marketing firm. The discussion focuses on how Donna created her own path in the industry, as well as arts administration, audience development, and community engagement as she works to “fill in the gaps” as it relates to DEI.
#6 There is Glass on the Floor: Shattering Glass Ceilings
A discussion about navigating the CEO role of a performing arts center as Black executives in a largely white environment. Focusing on support systems, mentorship and strong relationships that help lead an organization.
#5 It’s About Relationships
Legendary press agent and Tony Award®-winning producer Irene Gandy and theatrical producer/marketing guru Toni R. Isreal visit with Gennean to talk about how they got started on Broadway—and how Black women are working together to forge careers in the industry.
#4 A Conversation with James Monroe Iglehart: A Purpose Driven Journey
An intimate conversation with James Monroe Iglehart on his journey to becoming a Broadway actor and star, and what he is doing now. From accepting the Tony Award for his role in Aladdin and playing the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago to performing the voices of many wonderful cartoon characters.
#3 Making Art and Making Change Backstage and Beyond
Cody Renard Richard and Nzinga Williams are young backstage Broadway professionals who are shaking up the theatre world, both within and beyond their career paths.
#2 Finding Mentors and Making Dreams Come True
ASU Gammage Executive Director Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, one of the Touring Broadway community’s brightest stars, joins with Broadway general management associate Kevvin L. Taylor to talk about careers on Broadway and making change permanent.
#1 We Are Not New to the Theatre
Hear from producer Brian Moreland and Broadway ad exec Aaliytha Stevens about how they have crafted careers on Broadway, and what the future of Broadway holds. Brian Moreland was the lead producer of Keenan Scott II’s Thoughts of a Colored Man, and is producing American Buffalo on Broadway in the Spring of 2022.
Podcast Trailer
If you are looking to break into the business of Broadway, this podcast is for you. The Black Business of Broadway is a bi-monthly podcast that highlights the stories, how to’s and successes of the Black administrators, producers, directors, managers, creatives, and legends of Broadway.
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