The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales
Intimate, personal conversations with theatre’s biggest talents.
All Episodes
Ep364 - Lea DeLaria: Queer, Loud, and Unapologetically Iconic
Heads up - this episode has lots of profanity! Lea DeLaria has never been one to hold back—and thank goodness for that. From making history as the first openly gay comic on late-night TV to her unforgettable role as Big Boo in Orange Is the New Black, Lea’s fearless authenticity has paved the way for countless others.
Ep363 - Laura Donnelly: From Belfast to Broadway's Emotional Core
Laura Donnelly shares her powerful journey from her Belfast upbringing to becoming an acclaimed stage actress. In this episode, she delves into how Irish ballet first ignited her love for storytelling and how that passion evolved through drama school and a career full of emotionally rich roles.
Ep362 - Ophelia Lovibond: The Hills (of California) Are Alive with the Sound of (Accents)
Ophelia Lovibond. Known for her diverse and memorable roles in film and television, Ophelia shares candid insights about her journey in the entertainment industry. This episode is filled with rich discussions that range from her early career breakthroughs to the creative processes that help her bring complex characters to life.
Ep361 - Cheyenne Jackson: Sobriety, Stages, and Super Dad Duties
Buckle up for a deep dive into Cheyenne's journey from humble beginnings in Washington State to becoming a Broadway star, TV favorite, and proud father.
BONUS - Nicole Scherzinger, Mandy Gonzalez, JoJo and More: LIVE From the SUNSET BLVD Opening Night Red Carpet
Get ready for an all-access pass to Broadway’s brightest stars in this special bonus episode. Join host Salisha Thomas as she takes us onto the red carpet for the highly anticipated opening night of Sunset Boulevard on Broadway, captured live for The Broadway Exclusive.
Ep360 - Meghan Finn: Winning $200k to Disrupt the Broadway Industry
Meghan Finn is leading the charge to reshape New York City’s theater landscape. As the artistic director of The Tank, she champions affordable access to creative spaces and amplifies new voices in the arts.
Ep359 - Aurin Squire: From Journalism to Jazz Hands
Aurin Squire’s journey is a testament to the power of embracing unexpected opportunities. Originally on the path to journalism, a paperwork mix-up in college led him into the world of film and theater. That detour launched him into a multi-faceted career as a writer, producer, and playwright.
Ep358 - Helen J. Shen: Finding Humanity Finding her Maybe Happy Ending
Rising star Helen J. Shen, who is making her Broadway debut in Maybe Happy Ending opposite Darren Criss, dives into her journey from a classical piano prodigy to a Broadway performer, reflecting on the intense years of piano competitions and how those skills have shaped her approach to musical theater.
Ep357 - Gavin Creel (from the vault)
Originally aired as episode 169 on October 22, 2021. Gavin Creel is an actor, singer and songwriter who received a Tony Award for his performance as Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly!, starring Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce.
Ep356 - Chad Beguelin: The Journey Behind the Lyrics and 'Showmance', a New Novel
Chad Beguelin is a six-time Tony Award-nominated book writer and lyricist, whose name is synonymous with Broadway hits like The Prom, Disney’s Aladdin, The Wedding Singer, and Elf: The Musical.
Ep355 - Sydney Lemmon: Staying Grounded and Tackling Tough Roles
Sydney Lemmon brings her authentic charm and deep insight to this conversation, sharing her journey from growing up in an entertainment family to her Broadway role in the thought-provoking play JOB.
Ep354 - Miranda Ferriss Jones: Breaking Binaries and Finding Harmony
Miranda Ferriss Jones brings a refreshing blend of storytelling, activism, and creativity to this episode. With her upcoming concert, Spiral Bound, she discusses her passion for challenging societal binaries and feminine identity through her music and performances.
Ep353 - Laura Benanti: Will The Real Melania Trump Please Stand Up
This heartfelt episode features the multi-talented Laura Benanti, a Tony Award-winning actress known for her unforgettable performances on Broadway and TV. From her powerful roles in Gypsy and My Fair Lady to her hilarious portrayal of Melania Trump on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Laura shares the ups and downs of her diverse career.
Ep352 - Roger Bart: Going the Distance with Doc Brown and Beyond!
We dive deep into the incredible career of Roger Bart, a Tony Award-winning actor who has brought iconic characters to life on both stage and screen.
Ep351 - Patti LuPone (from the vault)
Originally aired as episode 200 on April 5, 2022. With a remarkable 14 nominations and six wins across the Emmys, Grammys, Olivier, and Tony Awards, Patti LuPone is a force in the entertainment industry.
Ep350 - Evan Alexander Smith: Cruise (Ship'ing) His Way to Broadway
We explore the remarkable journey of Evan Alexander Smith, whose path from Ontario to Broadway—and beyond—has been marked by diverse experiences and significant milestones.
Ep349 - Isaac Mizrahi: Professionals Do It Until They Can't Get It Wrong
Isaac Mizrahi, an acclaimed fashion designer, performer, and television personality, has achieved an iconic status in the fashion industry—despite initially having little desire for a career in this field.
Ep348 - Sophie Carmen-Jones: Learning to Dance Without a Mirror
Sophie reflects on her remarkable journey from a passionate young dancer in the UK to a celebrated triple-threat performer on London’s West End and New York’s Broadway. She recounts her early dedication to dance, including her practice sessions in a local church hall and self-recorded rehearsals for critique.
Ep347 - David Harris: Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love and Belonging
David Harris is an Australian actor who somehow found himself moving from architecture school to the bright lights of Broadway. He shares his early passion for architecture and how he pivoted to a career in performing arts just three days into his studies.
Ep346 - Brian Stokes Mitchell: Life Is Just Full of Commas
Brian Stokes Mitchell is a two-time Tony Award-winning actor who has always thought the universe chose him. Born on Halloween when “people dress up in costumes and pretend to be other people”, the stars have indeed decided.
Ep345 - André Ward: The Part of a Lifetime in the Show of a Lifetime
André Ward never played house when he was little, but he always played “New York City Apartment”, and with impressive Broadway credits, he can fully say he’s finally living in the midst of his dream.
Ep344 - Conrad Ricamora (from the vault)
Originally aired as episode 276 on July 18, 2023. Conrad Ricamora is a talented actor known for his roles on Broadway and his portrayal of Oliver Hampton in the hit TV series "How to Get Away with Murder." He shares his insights as they delve into his background, including his family's journey from moving to the U.S.
Ep343 - Lori Alan: Talking Reefer Madness with Pearl Krabs
Growing up in a family deeply entrenched in the arts, Lori Alan naturally gravitated towards the stage and microphone. Her parents were theater majors who later ventured into advertising and directing, so it’s no surprise that growing up in a creative environment played a pivotal role in shaping her career path.
Ep342 - Alexi Melvin: Broadway Producing and Queer Social Media Influencing
Alexi Melvin is making significant strides in the Broadway community as a producer in shows like "Here Lies Love," "The Outsiders," and "The Notebook". She highlights the struggle of balancing commercial success with artistic bravery, advocating for more support for innovative and risk-taking productions.
Ep341 - Mary Testa: No One Is Better at Cold Readings
From loving TikTok to enjoying cold readings playing “delightfully stupid” characters, Mary Testa is a talented actress who’s “not on a stardom path and never will be”. She starts off where her acting journey began: choosing between law school and performing.
Ep340 - Jessica Fontana: Every Day Special
Jessica Fontana admits that her need to feel like she’s in control impacts her journey in balancing her professional and personal life. Her passion for performing arts began with ballet, which eventually set the stage for her career in musical theater.
Ep339 - Jonathan Groff, Kara Young, George C. Wolfe, Daniel Radcliffe, Maleah Joi Moon & more at the 2024 Tony Awards
Listen in behind the scenes with this special episode featuring media room speeches from 2024 Tony Award winners Shaina Taub, Dede Ayite, Tom Scutt, George C. Wolfe, Justin Peck, Ryan Rumery, Nikiya Mathis, Will Brill, Kara Young, Daniel Radcliffe, Kecia Lewis, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Sarah Paulson, Jonathan Groff, and Maleah Joi Moon.
BONUS - "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" Recap with Alan Seales of The Theatre Podcast
"I love this show and I love this production. This production was so much fun because it spans all theater fans, all ballroom fans, and just people who want to go have a good time will like this." This bonus episode is a recap of "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" featuring Mike and Alan Seales of the Theatre Podcast recorded immediately after seeing a preview of this incredible production.
Ep338 - Jeremy Jordan: Bonnie & Clyde LIVE
Currently captivating audiences as Jay Gatsby in the Broadway production of “The Great Gatsby”, Jeremy shares insights into his career, both on stage and screen as we join him for a special press event discussing the upcoming pro-shot release of “Bonnie and Clyde”.
Ep337 - Andy Mientus: The Ultimate Spring Awakening Stan
Welcome to a crossover episode of "Was it Chance" where Alan Seales and Heather Vickery peel back the layers of serendipity to uncover the hard work and opportunities behind what looks like mere chance.
Ep336 - Eden Espinosa: Friendship Bracelets and Theatre
Eden Espinosa’s performance as Tamara in “Lempicka” garnered her a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical…and she’s not guilty about it. She highlights both the triumphs and tribulations of her career – from being a part of Colby's Clubhouse and working at Disneyland when she was young to dealing with rejections and criticisms.
Ep335 - Dorian Harewood: A 47 Year Return to Broadway
Dorian Harewood's career journey is anything but ordinary, and he's got three wonderful women (and luck) to thank for it. And after over 45 years, he’s back on the Broadway stage as Older Noah in “The Notebook”.
Ep334 - Rick Elice: Rescued by Water for Elephants
If there’s one lesson to take away from Rick Elice’s life story, it’s to never say no to a free lunch. He shares anecdotes from his past, including childhood memories of seeing theatre productions that got him to pursue acting and getting fired for his first Broadway show as an actor.
Ep333 - All Things Liza Minnelli, with Bruce David Klein (A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story)
Liza lovers, this episode is for you! We had the incredible Bruce David Klein, director of the brand new documentary, "LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story," in the virtual studio dishing all about the film and the legendary Liza Minnelli herself.
Ep332 - Maryann Plunkett: Theatre is Great if You're Shy
For Tony Award winner Maryann Plunkett, she will always be a shy person. But thanks to theatre she's learned how to enter a room and own it.
Ep331 - David Korins: Don't Do Stupid Things
Four time Tony Awards nominee David Korins lets us into his world as he talks about his creative process and the intricacies of set design. He shares insights into his work's detailed and often granular nature, emphasizing the importance of even the smallest elements in creating a believable world for actors and audiences alike.
Ep330 - Hannah Cruz: Ultra Competitiveness Led Her to Broadway
Thanks to her competitiveness in sports and being a “terrible loser”, Hannah Cruz found her way into performing and theatre. She shares insights into her journey, including going viral on YouTube and getting asked to audition for “Legally Blonde”, and eventually moving to New York.
Ep329 - Brent Comer: Accidentally Discovering A Love for Theatre
Brent Comer caught the theater bug by accident in high school when he signed up for musical theatre class instead of a news casting class – and he hasn’t stopped performing since. While it was cut short for a bit during the pandemic, his passion for performing did not waver.
Ep328 - Jason Schmidt: My Ego Loves The Outsiders
Jason Schmidt and Alan Seales discussed their experiences in music and acting, including the challenges of pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.
Ep327 - Justin Levine: Orchestrating Almost Completely by Ear
A multifaceted talent known for his work as a book writer, composer, and lyricist, Justin Levine delves deep into the creative process behind his works, particularly "The Outsiders" musical adaptation.
Ep326 - Brody Grant: He's Got Great Expectations
For Brody Grant, his bug for performing all started with his love for Star Wars. He shares insights into his journey from being a shy kid and relating to the original "The Outsiders" book to receiving a Tony nomination for his role as Ponyboy (it’s just destiny!).
Ep325 - Emma Pittman: The Search for Roxie Leads to The Outsiders
Emma Pittman’s been “live, laugh, love-ing” dance ever since she was two years old–at least until she discovered in high school that it’s best partnered with acting.
Ep324 - Rick & Jeff Kuperman: It Always Starts with the Rumble
Rick and Jeff Kuperman talk about their roles as choreographers for the Broadway production of "The Outsiders," diving deep into various aspects of the show's creation, from choreography and staging to its technical elements like sound and lighting.
Ep323 - Danya Taymor: Captaining 'The Outsiders' Ship
Welcome to the first of many episodes for 'The Outsiders' takeover here on the podcast! Tony Award Nominee(!) Danya Taymor didn’t know that she was going to stick with theater until she was towards the end of her college career.
BONUS - 2024 Tony Nominations Recap
Full list of 2024 nominees here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/theater/tony-awards-nominations.html. Find more of The Theatre Podcast at http://bpn.fm/ttp. Best Musical. - Hell's Kitchen. - Illinoise. - The Outsiders. - Suffs. - Water for Elephants.
Ep322 - Jayne Atkinson: STILL Craving Human Connection
Jayne Atkinson believes she has this kind of magic superpower of getting what she wants if she puts her attention to it, and she’s got a long list of credits to prove just that. She looks back on her childhood and having an English sensibility (and sense of humor) even though she grew up in America.
Ep321 - Isabelle "Izzy" McCalla: Diving Deep Into the Water (for Elephants)
A lot has changed since Izzy McCalla first appeared in episode 38 back in 2019 and she’s more than happy to share the latest news in her journey – from her early roles to now playing Marlena in "Water for Elephants." She reflects on how each role built her confidence and prepared her for new challenges, her tendency to gravitate towards ensemble pieces, and her ability to go back and forth between the comedic and dramatic genres.
Ep320 - Andrew Samonsky: RIP Jerry Garcia
Andrew Samonsky believes that Jerry Garcia’s death (yes that Jerry Garcia) may have instigated his performance career in some way. From being a “deadhead” to becoming a Broadway actor, Andrew opens up about his years of following the Grateful Dead and dealing with drug problems that led him to go to rehab.
Ep319 - Ryan Vasquez: Hamilton is "Paid Therapy"
Ryan Vasquez looks back on his career journey, including living with French acrobats in a seven-bedroom house while doing a show, and eventually booking Hamilton. Playing as many characters as he has in Hamilton was to him just “paid therapy”.
Ep318 - Joy Woods: Opening 'The Notebook' on Broadway
You don't have as much time as you think you do, so you better be prepared. At least that’s how Joy Woods lives her life. She shares how she caught the acting bug, starting as a dancer but eventually fell in love with theatre and acting.
Ep317 - Cayleigh Capaldi: Perfectionism is the Enemy of Creation
Cayleigh Capaldi may have the perfect pitch, but she’s not letting perfectionism get in the way of finding who she is as an individual and as a performer. She delves into her background, growing up surrounded by artists, and how it helped her embrace her talents.
Ep316 - John Tartaglia: How Jim Henson Started It All
John Tartaglia believes everything happens for a reason, and his career trajectory is a testament to this. He lets us into the world of puppetry and theatre as he shares his experiences, and how he got started in pursuing his “dual dream” of becoming a successful puppeteer and performing on Broadway.
Ep315 - Cecily Strong & Andrea Syglowski: Airing Out Their "Brooklyn Laundry"
Powerhouse actors Cecily Strong and Andrea Syglowski provide insights into their acting careers, and how they navigated life’s complexities throughout their journey. The two talk about the show they currently co-star in,“Brooklyn Laundry”, their admiration for playwright John Patrick Shanley, and the play’s portrayal of women.
Ep314 - Schele Williams: Encouraging Everyone to Stay Weird
Schele Williams has never been afraid to immerse herself in the thing that she loves in order to achieve what she wants. She reflects on her journey, the motivations and support from her family, and the significance of storytelling in her life, which has led her to where she is today.
Ep313 - Ali Louis Bourzgui: Finding His Happy Place on Stage
Ali became enamored by the idea of performing since he was a kid as a way to study the human condition. He looks back on his multicultural upbringing that blends American and Moroccan influences, and his journey into acting and performing, revealing his passion for storytelling.
Bonus - 'The Outsiders' Press Junket with Cast and Creatives
Exclusive interviews from inside the 'The Outsiders' rehearsal room on a special, invite-only press junket.
Ep312 - Marc Summers: Telling His Life and Slimes
Marc Summers believes that if he didn’t have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), he wouldn’t be where he is today. He looks back into the humble beginnings of his diverse career, his struggles with severe OCD, battles with cancer, and his resilience that ultimately defined his career journey.
Ep311 - Scott Bakula: (Quantum) Leaping Onto the Broadway Stage
A globally renowned actor known for his iconic roles in shows like "Quantum Leap", “Star Trek: Enterprise” and "NCIS: New Orleans," Scott Bakula looks back on his fruitful and diverse career, including his time as Dr.
Ep310 - Camille A. Brown: Finding a Voice Through Dance
A renowned choreographer, director, and educator, Camille A. Brown gives us a rundown of her artistic journey and the challenges and triumphs she faced in the world of dance and theatre. She looks back on her early experiences and influences, particularly her introduction to dance through her mother.
Ep309 - Anoushka Lucas: Accidentally Intentional
With Anoushka Lucas’ talent and success as a songwriter, it may come as a surprise for some that she initially had no interest at all in working in theatre. Just like in most of her endeavors, she fell into it.
Ep308 - John Lavelle & Haskell King: Your Everyday Russian Trolls
From cults and documentaries to their deeply thought out character motivations, actors John Lavelle and Haskell King look back on their theatre journey. The two share their background, doing productions when they were younger, and what eventually made them pursue acting as a career.
Ep307 - Jai Rodriguez: 'Culture Vulture' in the Original Queer Eye Fab Five
Among all the things Jai Rodriguez knows how to do well, not punching down is at the top of the list . Sharing his journey from going to Broadway to landing a role in the groundbreaking TV series, “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy”, his grit and talent took the stage by storm, playing in shows like “Rent” and “The Producers”.
Ep306 - Melissa Errico: Paying Tribute to Sondheim
A multifaceted artist, Melissa Errico talks about her career, including her album "Sondheim In The City," her latest project which pays tribute to the legendary Stephen Sondheim.
Ep305 - Ariana Madix: Roxiepump Rules
From growing up a self-proclaimed overachiever to her recent success in “Dancing with the Stars”, Ariana Madix remains unstoppable as she makes her Broadway debut in an eight-week run as Roxie Hart in the Broadway production of “Chicago”.
Ep304 - Alexandra Silber: Developing an Exit Practice
An accomplished actress, singer, author, and educator, Alexandra Silber delves into her extensive career as she shares her origin story, revealing that her early influences, particularly her deep connection to literature and theater, emerged from the challenges of her father's illness when she was a child.
Ep303 - Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer: She's a Vintage Porsche
It's always better the second time around! Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer returns to the podcast to talk about her life and career post-pandemic back on her time in “Beetlejuice”, the show closing during the pandemic, and everything that went down in between.
Ep302 - Ellen Adair: Rosalind is My Gender Identity
An actor, writer, and Shakespeare enthusiast, Ellen Adair shares their journey into acting and the profound impact it has had on their life. From their early fascination with Shakespeare to experiences in various productions, they emphasize the importance of connection in their work and the collaborative aspect that comes with it.
Ep301 - 2023 Wrap Up with Diana Salameh
Can we call it a tradition now? Diana Salameh, Vice President of Brand Integration at Serino Coyne, once again co-hosts the final episode of the year. Serino Coyne is the nation's longest-running theatrical advertising agency, so as always Diana brings some fun insider insight to how this strange business of show actually goes down.
Ep300 - Stephanie J. Block: Rejection is Protection
For Stephanie, she was either going to be a nun or a musical theatre actress. She elaborates on this as she looks back on her early days and her influences growing up, including her mom.
Ep299 - Norbert Leo Butz: Acting Needs an Audience
A two-time Tony Award-winning actor and singer, Norbert Leo Butz opens up about his childhood, the challenges he faced pursuing a career in acting, and the remarkable twists of fate that brought him to Broadway.
Ep298 - Casey Cott: Gotta Slap The Lamp
Casey Cott, a talented actor best known for his role as Kevin Keller on "Riverdale," discusses his current role and Broadway debut as Christian in the Broadway production of "Moulin Rouge! The Musical”.
Ep297 - Lili Thomas: The First Asian American Mama Morton
From dancing to “Chicago” songs to finally playing the role of Mama Morton in the long-running musical, Lili Thomas’s acting career has definitely come full circle.
Ep296 - James Ijames: Creating Black, Queer Representation in Theatre
Pulitzer Prize winner James Ijames starts off by sharing his love for writing and the meaning behind the philosophy on his website. He discusses the transformative power of his first encounter with a play and how it ignited his desire to help “expand the range of storytelling about black people”.
Ep295 - Steve Haggard: Living Inside Your Own Imagination
Steve discusses his role as Harry Potter in the Broadway production of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" and delves into the challenges and thrills of bringing such an iconic character to life on stage.
Ep294 - Marilu Henner & Caroline Aaron: Two Madwomen of the West
A dynamic duo with impressive acting credits, Marilu Henner and Caroline Aaron discuss their friendship, careers, and their play "Madwomen of the West." The two fondly share their strong and enduring friendship, how they met, and their mutual respect and support for each other despite their differences They also talk about their current play, "Madwomen of the West", the relationship they have with the other actresses, its success in Los Angeles, and bringing the show to New York.
Ep293 - Casey Likes: Initially, He Had To Turn Down 'Back To the Future'
With impressive stage credits at a young age, Casey Likes who’s currently playing the iconic role of Marty McFly in "Back to the Future: The Musical" is someone to watch out for in the Broadway scene.
Ep292 - Liana Hunt: The Improv Comedy That Led To Back to the Future
Liana Hunt is a triple-threat actress currently gracing the stage as Lorraine Baines in the Broadway musical, "Back to the Future". She talks about her journey to theatre, sharing that even though nobody in her family is in the arts, or into theater and music, their unwavering support was more than enough.
Ep291 - Jelani Remy & Merritt David Janes: On Stage and Real Life BTTF Buddies
This is the second of four of the “Back to the Future” podcast takeover! This episode features Merritt David Janes and Jelani Remy, two real-life friends and on stage frenemies.
Ep290 - Nate Hackmann: From Arizona to Opera
From playing Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables” to working with some of the best orchestras in the world, Nathaniel Hackmann has etched his mark as a versatile artist. Nate grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, doing community theater at a very young age which eventually led to his love for theatre and performing arts.
Ep289 - Gordon Greenberg: Fail Early, Fail Fast
If grit, talent, and perseverance were a person, it would be in the form of Gordon Greenberg. The multifaceted artist looks back at his younger years, sharing his first creative moment, and anecdotes about his journey which includes secretly taking a bus and walking into a producer’s office in the hopes of getting offered a role.
Ep288 - Pipeline Vocal Project: Alaska's First Professional a Capella Group
Get to know Molly Bracken, Lisa Hawkins, and Adriana Rodriguez, the talented trio behind Pipeline Vocal Project, a groundbreaking professional a cappella group hailing from Alaska.
Introducing Dracula the Podcastula
What do you get when you cross Dracula with a podcast? Bite-sized episodes that will have you howling with laughter! Welcome to the official companion podcast for off-Broadway’s Dracula A Comedy of Terrors, now playing at New World Stages.
Ep287 - Chilina Kennedy: Wild About You
From playing iconic people to trying different artistic endeavors, Chilina Kennedy is just getting started. Growing up in different parts of the world, she discusses her early experiences and influences that ultimately led her to grace the Broadway stage.
Ep286 - Andrew Keenan-Bolger: Can You Start Rehearsals on Friday?
A Broadway actor, author, and web series co-creator, Andrew Keenan-Bolger opens up about his personal experiences, life lessons, and insights into the world of theater, social media, and literature.
Ep285 - Katie Rose Clarke: Holding The Record of "Longest Glinda"
Katie Rose Clarke is known for her roles in many musicals, including “Wicked” (where she holds the record for playing Glinda the longest), “The Light in the Piazza,” and “Miss Saigon.” Katie delves into her career highlights, particularly on her iconic role as Glinda in the hit musical "Wicked." She discusses the challenges and joys of portraying an iconic character and the unique demands of performing in a long-running Broadway show.
Ep284 - Asi Wind: The Magician's Magician
A globally renowned magician and performer, Asi Wind shares his journey in the world of magic and the art of performance, including his childhood encounter with a magician that shaped the rest of his life.
Bonus - Influencing on Social Media, with Kerry Skinner (@thebwaybuzz, @sixbroadwayfanforever)
Being a social media influencer is harder than it sounds, and comes with its own unique set of challenges and growth blockers. Kerry Skinner, the brain behind @thebwaybuzz on IG and @SixBroadwayFanForever on YouTube, shares some of her behind the scenes stories in this bonus episode.
Ep283 - Justin Guarini (from the vault)
Originally released as episode 48 on Aug 20th, 2019, here's another episode from the vault with Once Upon A One More Time's Prince Charming Himself, Justin Guarini! Original description as follows: Justin Guarini’s robust performance career launched with the first season of American Idol in 2002, performing alongside Kelly Clarkson.
Ep282 - Miriam Silverman: Surprise, You're Going to Broadway!
Miriam Silverman’s journey through the world of theater traces a path from graduate school to regional theater and eventually to Broadway. She reflects on the complexities of balancing motherhood, acting, and teaching, highlighting the building of her teaching career while prioritizing her passion for acting at the same time.
Ep281 - Jose Llana: History Keeps Repeating Itself
Jose Lana, a talented actor and performer, delves into historical events, politics, theater, personal experiences that shaped his family’s story and brought him full circle to the story told in Here Lies Love..
Bonus - "The Shark is Broken" RED CARPET Coverage
Recorded live on Aug 10th, 2023, this red carpet coverage of "The Shark is Broken", a show based on the true events that happened between takes on set with Roy Schneider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw.
Ep280 - Zoe Jensen: Leaving A Legacy of Herstory in SIX
The talented and charming Zoe Jensen is currently making waves on Broadway as part of the cast of "Six: The Musical". Zoe takes us on a journey through her career, sharing anecdotes about her path to the Broadway stage.
Ep279 - Kevin Cahoon: Let's Get Shucked!
With an illustrious career spanning all throughout theater, TV, and film, Kevin shares his experiences and insights through his life in the spotlight.
Bonus - Laura Bell Bundy, Lilli Cooper, Dana Steingold and Sandy Rustin LIVE from BroadwayCon 2023 (The Women of 'The Cottage')
Recorded LIVE at BroadwayCon 2023 on July 23rd, we talk with Laura Bell Bundy, Lilli Cooper, Dana Steingold and Sandy Rustin about the new soon-to-be-Broadway smash hit, THE COTTAGE.
Ep278 - Dana Steingold: The Girl Scout in The Cottage
Dana Steingold is a talented actress known for her versatile performances on Broadway and recent role in the uproarious comedy "The Cottage." Dana takes listeners on a journey through her career, from her early days as a performer to landing roles in hit Broadway productions.
Ep277 - Tatiana Maslany: You Can Just Call Her "Tats"
Talented actress Tatiana Maslany is currently helping creep up the stage as Max in the critically acclaimed Broadway show, "Grey House." She delves into the captivating complexities of her character, what happens behind the scenes, and the dynamics at play in this spooky production.
Ep276 - Conrad Ricamora: Filipino Love on Broadway
Conrad Ricamora is a talented actor known for his roles on Broadway and his portrayal of Oliver Hampton in the hit TV series "How to Get Away with Murder." He shares his insights as they delve into his background, including his family's journey from moving to the U.S.
Ep275 - Sophia Anne Caruso - Exploring the Dark Side
Sophia is a talented and multifaceted actress currently creeping up the stage as Marlow in the hit Broadway show, “Grey House”. She talks about her role as Marlow, the complexities of her character, and her deep appreciation for the creative freedom provided by the playwright, Levi Holloway, the open-ended nature of the play being open to interpretation.
Ep274 - Bonnie Milligan (from the vault)
Originally released as episode 5 on Nov 19th, 2018, here's another episode from the vault with 2023 Tony Award winner, Bonnie Milligan! Make sure to listen to her in the BPN original "As the Curtain Rises": bpn.fm/atcr, and go see her as Aunt Deb in Kimberly Akimbo!!
Ep273 - Ariana DeBose (from the vault)
Originally released as episode 2 on Oct 26th, 2018, I'm bringing you one of my oldest episodes with Oscar winner Ariana DeBose! Make sure to listen to her in the BPN original "As the Curtain Rises": bpn.fm/atcr.
Bonus - 2023 Tony Awards Special with Winners Jodie Comer, Sean Hayes, J. Harrison Ghee & More
Join Robert Peterpaul of The Art of Kindness podcast and Alan Seales of The Theatre Podcast as they recap their night at the 2023 Tony Awards! Hear from all the winners they were honored to speak with in the press room, including: Jodie Comer (Prima Facie), Sean Hayes (Good Night, Oscar) , J.
Ep272 - Javier Muñoz: Sexy Hamilton Did Not Throw Away His Shot
Now starring alongside Jesse Mueller in the musical concept album, “My Heart Says Go”, Javier Muñoz has truly come a long way from being a science nerd to a Broadway actor.
Ep271 - Jessie Mueller: Her Heart Says Go
With her many awards and nominations, it’s safe to say that Jessie Mueller is one of the most talented actors of today. She gets real as she shares what it’s like getting a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut and dealing with imposter syndrome.
Ep270 - Lewberger & The Wizard of Friendship
Keith Habersberger, Alex Lewis, and Hughie Stone Fish of Lewberger are a handsome trio currently selling out shows across the U.S. and Canada. The three share how their 3-man comedy band started and what drew them to comedy.
Ep269 - Betsy Wolfe & Stark Sands: They Want It That Way
Betsy Wolfe and Stark Sands are currently co-starring as the husband and wife duo Anne Hathaway and William Shakespeare in the hit Broadway show, “& Juliet”. The two speak about their relationship with Max Martin and his songs, the broad appeal of the show, and how they got involved with it.
Ep268 - Paulo Szot: From Opera to Pop Stardom
Currently playing the role of Lance Du Bois in the hit Broadway show, "& Juliet", Paulo Szot is a Brazilian actor slash operatic baritone singer who opens up about his immigrant parents’ huge influence on his love of theatre and performing.
Ep267 - Luke Sheppard & Jenn Weber - Director and Choreographer of the 9-Time Tony Nominated Show "& Juliet"
Luke Sheppard and Jenn Weber are two creative geniuses currently teaming up for the smash hit, "& Juliet", as the show’s director and choreographer, respectively. The two discuss the instant connection they had and where the concept for the show originated.
Ep266 - Philippe Arroyo: Living His "Pinch-Me" Moments
Currently making his Broadway debut as Francois Du Bois in "& Juliet", Philippe Arroyo takes us through his personal journey. The actor shares what he does to recharge, including having alone time and reading plays at the famed Drama Bookshop.
Bonus - 2023 Tony Award Nominee Recap
Due to podcast episode character limits, the full nominee list cannot be added here. See the description of the video version of this episode for the full list! https://youtu.be/IyIWjOx_w4Y.
Ep265 - Brittany Nicholas: Creating The Universal Swing
Brittany Nicholas is currently back on Broadway playing the role of Viola, as a swing, the understudy for Angelique, and as the dance captain in the runaway hit “& Juliet”. Perhaps unbeknownst to many, her Broadway debut was actually "Billy Elliot", where she was universal swing (before that was ever a thing!).
Ep264 - Andrew Barth Feldman & Alex Boniello are FOUL PLAY'ing
Andrew Barth Feldman and Alex Boniello are a power duo who have most recently teamed up for "Foul Play", a new online murder mystery series that's reinventing how the internet works.
Ep263 - Wesley Taylor... is Summoning Sylvia
Wesley Taylor (one of this podcast's earliest guests!) is a multi-talented artist who's taking the entertainment industry by storm and has recently debuted as a writer AND director in his new movie, “Summoning Sylvia”.
Ep262 - Andréa Burns: Theatre is the Ultimate Form of Expression
This is the fourth episode of a special 4-part takeover with cast & creatives from Hulu's new musical series UP HERE. Make sure to stream the entire 21 song UP HERE soundtrack everywhere you find your music.
Ep261 - Tommy Kail and Sonya Tayeh: Cut From the Same Cloth
This is the third episode of a special 4-part takeover with cast & creatives from Hulu's new musical series UP HERE. Make sure to stream the entire 21 song UP HERE soundtrack everywhere you find your music.
Ep260 - Steven Levenson: UP HERE With Our Favorite Tony-Winning Executive Producer
This is the second episode of a special 4-part takeover with cast & creatives from Hulu's new musical series UP HERE. Make sure to stream the entire 21 song UP HERE soundtrack everywhere you find your music.
Ep259 - Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez: Two of Our Generation's Greatest Songwriters
This is the first episode of a special 4-part takeover with cast & creatives from Hulu's new musical series UP HERE. Make sure to stream the entire 21 song UP HERE soundtrack everywhere you find your music. Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Bobby Lopez are living proof that two is better than one.
Ep258 - NaTasha Yvette Williams: We All Like It Hot!
Natasha Yvette Williams is currently originating the role of Sweet Sue in the brand new production of “Some Like It Hot” on Broadway.
Ep257 - Jordan Fisher: A Professional eSports Athlete on Broadway
Jordan Fisher is currently starring in the upcoming production of "Sweeney Todd" on Broadway. Being drawn to art and performing from a young age, it's no surprise that he ended up in the industry.
Ep256 - Sierra Boggess: Exploring Relationships
With the recent passing of Lucy Simon, playing the role of Lily Craven in "The Secret Garden" is both special and bittersweet for Sierra Boggess and the rest of the cast.
Ep255 - Marla Mindelle: Writing a Love Letter to Celine Dion
Marla Mindelle is currently making people laugh playing an over the top Celine Dion in the off-Broadway production of "Titanique". At an early age, she already knew that a career in musical theatre was all she ever wanted to do, thanks to her father (who was a musical theatre composer) and all the obscure musical theatre records she consumed.
Ep254 - Robert Horn: Learning to Laugh at Ourselves
Robert Horn's life story is an incredible testament that you can use humor as a way of survival—well, that and a little bit of luck.
Ep253 - Jelani Remy: Putting in the Work Like Beyoncé Does
"Everybody wants to be Beyoncé, but does everybody wanna put in the work?" is just one of Jelani's many foods for thought in this episode.
Ep252 - Julie Boardman and Diane Nicoletti: Creating Broadway's First Museum
Julie and Diane are both co-founders of The Museum of Broadway in Times Square which opened November, 2022. Julie Boardman and Diane Nicoletti have teamed up in 2022 to bring the best of the Broadway and experiential worlds in the form of The Museum of Broadway in Times Square.
![Ep251 - Ilana Levine: You're a Good [Wo]Man, Ilana Levine](https://d1md8edy3s7xes.cloudfront.net/images/podcasts/the-theatre-podcast-with-alan-seales/273-1-400x400?2024-11-15T02:44:08.570Z)
Ep251 - Ilana Levine: You're a Good [Wo]Man, Ilana Levine
Infected by her mom's love for Broadway shows, Ilana was introduced to the world of theatre at an early age.
Ep250 - Brandon Victor Dixon: Driving Change Using the Arts
Driven to inspire other people with art, Brandon Victor Dixon has been sharing his talent with the world for decades now. And this month, the actor slash theatrical producer is part of the much-anticipated world premiere of the award-winning "MacGyver: The Musical’s" album which will be released on January 27th.
Ep249 - Squigs (aka Justin Robertson): Illustrating for the Acting World
You can take the boy out of Oregon, but you can't take the Oregon out of the boy. Or something like that. After growing up on the west coast and spending some time in LA, Squigs - Broadway's modern day Al Hirschfeld, found his way to NYC both acting and supplementing his income creating some of the most sought after caricatures of the Broadway community.
Ep248 - Eddie Izzard: Living up to Great Expectations
Eddie Izzard is a Tony Award nominated, Emmy Award winning actress who quickly rose to fame in the 90s as a phenomenal standup comedian - producing two of my all time favorite specials Glorious and Dress to Kill.
Ep247 - 2022 Wrap Up with Alan Seales and Diana Salameh
2022 - the first full year of theatre since Broadway shutdown in 2020. It was full of highs and lows, but one thing's for certain we're glad Broadway is back! Once again, Diana Salameh, Vice President of Brand Integration at Serino Coyne, co-hosts the final episode of the year.
Ep246 - Michael Urie & Ryan Spahn: Partners in Life and on Stage
Having been together for over 14 years as real life partners, Michael Urie and Ryan Spahn now get to share the stage together as scene partners in parts specifically written for the two of them.
Ep245 - Tovah Feldshuh: Bringing Real Mom Love to to Lea Michele and Julie Benko
With a Broadway career spanning over 50 years, Tovah Feldshuh takes us through her journey as she shares her life as an actress, wife, and mother. While she loves politics, it's her love of people that motivates her to fight for what she believes in and help in every way that she can.
Ep244 - Julie Halston: Confidence, Clarity, and Commitment
For a person who claims she can’t really sing or dance, Julie Halston sure has done a lot of Broadway musicals (and rightfully so!). Even during the pandemic, she remained booked and busy despite the circumstances.
Ep243 - Elizabeth A. Davis: Defying Death Through Theatre
Elizabeth A. Davis is currently gracing the Broadway stage as Thomas Jefferson in “1776”, where she has the unique opportunity to showcase her actual violin skills at the same time.
Bonus - "& Juliet" (exclusive) Red Carpet Opening Night Interviews
Recorded Nov 17th, 2022, listen to exclusive interview with the cast of & Juliet from the red carpet on opening night!
Ep242 - Jefferson Mays: Making Storytelling Cool Again
Jefferson Mays is currently on Broadway in his original interpretation of "A Christmas Carol" doing perhaps what he does best: playing multiple roles in a single show.
Ep241 - Michael Mott: Composing for Actors
Nothing brings people together more than music and performing; Michael Mott got the best of both worlds as he prepares for his second annual holiday show, "Michael Mott & Friends,” happening in December, along with the release of a brand new single performed by the incomparable Jessica Vosk.
Ep240 - Anika Larsen: Being Real-Life Famous in 'Almost Famous'
Anika Larsen is having a great time as she takes the challenge of both playing the mom on Broadway's "Almost Famous" and being the mom of two boys offstage.
Ep239 - Robyn Hurder: Bringing the "IT Factor" in A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond Musical
Currently playing the role of Marcia Murphey in the Broadway show, "A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical", Robyn Hurder shares how she got involved with the show and how she never thought it would be her biggest role to date.
Ep238 - Krysta Rodriguez: Opportunity is Not a Lengthy Visitor
Currently starring as Cinderella in the Broadway revival of “Into The Woods”, Krysta Rodriguez is a talented actor, singer, and dancer with countless Broadway, TV and film credits.
Ep237 - Julie Benko: Fanny Brice Was the Role She Never Knew She Wanted
With all the talent and awards Julie Benko has received at such a young age, it begs the question: What can't she do? Julie proves that it’s never too late… or too early to learn anything.
Ep236 - Beth Malone: Giving "Fun Home" A Not-So-Secret Second Act
From creating a one-woman show, "Beth Malone: So Far" to originating the role of "Fun Home's" Alison Bechdel, Tony and Grammy award nominee Beth Malone has set a name for herself on the Broadway stage.
Ep235 - Sasha Hutchings: Performing From a Place of Love and Compassion
Currently leading the North American tour of the hit show, “Oklahoma!” as Laurey Williams, Sasha Hutchings proves to be a performing powerhouse. Sasha's love for dancing has brought her to where she is today.
Ep234 - Talia Suskauer: Defying Gravity
Talia Suskauer is currently playing Elphaba in "Wicked" on Broadway, following the success of the Munchkinland National Tour of the same show where she played the same role.
Ep233 - Alyssa Fox: From Elsa to Ephaba
Alyssa Fox is currently in "Wicked" on Broadway as Elphaba standby, having been a part of "Wicked" for around 12 years now. Her lifelong dream of becoming true Disney royalty and growing up watching Disney movies was her first introduction to acting and singing and theatrical expression.
Ep232 - Steve Rosen & David Rossmer: Joined in Holy Career Matrimony
Longtime friends and creative partners, David Rossmer and Steve Rosen are currently working together as lyricists and songwriters for the "The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation" musical, which just opened for its world premiere at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle.
Ep231 - Hunter Foster: Clark Griswold, Eat Your Heart Out
As a young kid, he originally wanted to be a novelist. A audition for a high school production of Bye Bye Birdie landed him the lead role of Conrad, which blasted open the doors for him in the acting world.
Ep230 - Mikayla Renfrow: Making a Wickedly Amazing Broadway Debut
Mikayla Renfrow is currently making her Broadway debut as Nessarose in "Wicked", one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history. Mikayla shares her background, including growing up in Cincinnati and moving around a lot.
Ep229 - Jordan Barrow: The First Black Actor to Play Boq in North America
Jordan Barrow is currently making his Broadway debut as the principal role of Boq in "Wicked", making him the first black actor to play the role in North America. He talks about how he got into performing—from joining a theatre camp to doing voiceover work and getting his first professional job when he was 13.
Ep228 - Elizabeth Teeter, Dana Steingold, Zonya Love and Michelle Aravena from Beetlejuice LIVE at BroadwayCon 2022
A live panel discussion with Elizabeth Teeter, Dana Steingold, Zonya Love and Michelle Aravena from Beetlejuice. This was recorded LIVE at BroadwayCon 2022 on July 8th, 2022. Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast.
Ep227 - Patrick Page: Originally a Magician, Now King of the Underworld
Patrick Page is a Grammy award-winning actor and playwright currently playing Hades in "Hadestown". He looks back on his early years growing up in Oregon and becoming a professional magician wherein he toured an illusion show and won awards.
Ep226 - LIVE from BroadwayCon with Salar Nader, Eric Sirakian and Damian Sandys from The Kite Runner
A live panel discussion with lead Actor Eric Sirakian, tabla phenom Salar Nader and Associate Director Damian Sandys from Broadway's The Kite Runner. This was recorded LIVE at BroadwayCon 2022 on July 10th, 2022.
Ep225 - Amir Arison: FBI Special Agent Aram Mojtabai Makes His Broadway Debut
Best known for his recurring role as FBI Special Agent Aram Mojtabai on the NBC hit TV show, "The Blacklist” is stage and TV actor Amir Arison who's also currently making his Broadway debut as Amir in "The Kite Runner".
Ep224 - Faran Tahir: From Sci-Fi to Broadway
Actor, writer, director and producer Faran Tahir may be best known for his roles in “Iron Man” (he tried to kill Tony Stark!) and “Star Trek” (he was killed by Nero!) but is now currently making his Broadway debut as Baba in “The Kite Runner”.
Ep223 - Damian Sandys: A Chance Encounter with Cameron Mackintosh
Damian Sandys is currently bringing his talent to the Broadway stage as The Kite Runner's associate director. The theatre director talks about the difference between the UK production and Broadway production of “The Kite Runner”, the importance of humor in the show, and how its US audiences are more vocal.
Ep222 - Azita Ghanizada: Operating from a Place of Truth and Integrity
Azita Ghanizada is currently making her Broadway debut in "The Kite Runner" as Soraya, and is now the first woman of Afghan descent to originate a role on Broadway. As we learn, Azita's childhood life was far from ordinary and easy.
Ep221 - Eric Sirakian: A Shy Kid Finding His Home on Stage
Eric Sirakian recently made his Broadway debut in "The Kite Runner" as both Hassan and Sohrab. With stage credits such as "The Jungle", "Twelfth Night", "The Comedy of Errors", and "Pericles", Eric is definitely putting the extracurriculars he did at Yale and his training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art into good practice.
Ep220 - Salar Nader: World-Renowned Percussionist Royalty
With years of training with the best teachers, including Grammy award winner Ustad Zakir Hussain, it’s no surprise that Salar Nader is considered percussionist royalty.
Ep219 - Ian Eisendrath: Being An Artist is Like Coming Home (special crossover episode)
For Ian Eisendrath, being an artist is like coming home. So many kids, Ian shares, don’t feel like they fit or belong until they find their creative outlet. By embracing chance, trusting his gut and putting himself out there in big ways, Ian has done just that.
Ep218 - Sonoya Mizuno: Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
Sonoya Mizuno recently made her stage debut as Maggie in the first Off-Broadway production of the Tennessee Williams classic, "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof". The actress slash ballet dancer and now a stage performer speaks candidly about her childhood, and how her uncle who was a stage actor inspired her to pursue acting.
Ep217 - Rob McClure, Brad Oscar & Analise Scarpaci LIVE at BroadwayCon 2022
A LIVE panel discussion with Rob McClure, Brad Oscar, and Analise Scarpaci of “Mrs. Doubtfire” talking about the roller coaster of being part of a Broadway show during a pandemic and the bond formed as they all dealt with the effects of COVID, including their show getting postponed.
Ep216 - Analise Scarpaci: Mrs Doubtfiring Her Way Into Our Hearts
Analise Scarpaci is a powerhouse performer who landed her first principal role as Lydia Hillard in "Mrs. Doubtfire". She talks about how she coped when the pandemic hit, including playing the guitar and recording her first EP, "Pathetic Little Dreamer", finishing her Bachelor's Degree in Musical Theatre, and why it was a blessing in disguise for her when "Mrs.
Ep215 - Frankie Grande: Sinking The Titanique Ship 8 Times a Week
A man of many talents, Frankie Grande is currently playing Victor Garber and Luigi in the Off-Broadway production of “Titanique”. In a parallel universe, Frankie went to med school and became a doctor, but in this universe, he’s an unstoppable, multi-hyphenate creative and philanthropist.
Ep214 - Marylouise Burke: She'll Give You an Epiphany!
With a career spanning decades, Marylouise still finds joy in acting and is now starring in Brian Watkins' new play "Epiphany" as Morkin at Lincoln Center Theater.
Ep213 - J. Harrison Ghee: Breaking the Norm
J. Harrison Ghee made their Broadway debut as Lola in the Tony-winning musical “Kinky Boots” where they received recognition for their performance. J. briefly talks about their humble beginnings, from coming out to their parents and leaving their hometown in North Carolina to pursuing their dreams and sharing their talent with the world.
Ep212 - Charlie Rosen: A Strange Loop... of orchestrating
Tony and Grammy award-winning Charlie Rosen takes us through his journey as a musician and now an orchestrator. Born in a family of talented musicians, it's no surprise that Charlie grew up to be a good multi-instrumentalist and has already worked for renowned Broadway shows like "Be More Chill", "Moulin Rouge", etc., and won prestigious awards for his work.
Ep211 - Elizabeth Teeter: Spilling the Deetz about Beetlejuice the Musical
When Elizabeth Teeter found out she will be taking on the role of Lydia Deetz in the beloved musical, Beetlejuice, the world suddenly shut down due to COVID and she never got to take her first bow as Lydia.
Ep210 - SIX Queens: Khaila Wilcoxon, Jasmine Forsberg, Storm Lever, Olivia Donalson, & Gabriela Carrillo
Get to know Khaila Wilcoxon, Jasmine Forsberg, Storm Lever, Olivia Donalson, and Gabriela Carrillo from the first national tour of SIX THE MUSICAL as they share their journey from auditioning for the show to joining the Aragon tour.
Ep209 - Jared Grimes: Finding His Purpose as a Quadruple Threat
With credits in singing, dancing, acting and choreographing, and now a 2022 Tony Nominee for his role in Broadway's first-ever revival of Funny Girl, Jared Grimes deserves the title “quadruple threat”.
Ep208 - Kaden Kearney & Kalyn West: Emma and Alyssa in the Nat'l Tour of "The Prom"
Starring opposite each other in the national tour of The Prom, Kaden Kearney and Kalyn West talk about what it’s like to be part of the award-winning musical.
Ep207 - Rachel Dratch: Her Tony-Nominated Role in POTUS is no Debbie Downer
Rachel Dratch recently had her Broadway debut in POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, a play by Selina Fillinger.
Ep206 - Dave Harris: He is his own Exception to the Rule
With two of his plays, Tambo & Bones and Exception to the Rule, being produced simultaneously, Dave Harris shares his chaotic but exciting schedule as he goes back and forth to LA and New York to help and make sure everything is in order on their openings.
Ep205 - David Morse: The Green Mile to Broadway
2022 Tony Nominee(!!) David Morse is reprising his role for Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play How I Learned to Drive, making it's Broadway debut! David recalls his journey from loving theatre in high school to joining the Boston Repertory Company and eventually moving to New York to join the Circle Repertory Company.
Ep204 - A.J. Shively: This History Nerd is on Broadway!
A.J. shares how he had to learn Irish step dance for the new Broadway musical, Paradise Square where plays the role of Owen Duignan.
Ep203 - Alyssa May Gold: "There are doctors who do heart surgery, and then there are actors who work on your heart."
Alyssa May Gold recently made her Broadway debut alongside Mary-Louise Parker and David Morse in the long-anticipated Broadway premiere of How I Learned To Drive.
Ep202 - Simon Bailey: A West End Bad Boy with a New Take on Moulin Rouge's 'The Duke'
Actor Simon Bailey hails from London, where his career on the West End is booming. He trained at the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, and his West End credits include Heathers: The Musical, Jersey Boys (Tommy DeVito), The Phantom of the Opera (Raoul), Enjolras in the 21st Anniversary cast of Les Miserables, I Can’t Sing!
Ep201 - Michael Maliakel: Making His Broadway Debut as Aladdin
Michael Maliakel recently made his Broadway debut, following Broadway’s reopening, starring in the title role of Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
Ep200 - Patti LuPone: Broadway Royalty
Combined across the Emmys, Grammys, Olivier and Tony Awards, Patt LuPone has 14 nominations and six wins.
Ep199 - Reeve Carney: He Originally Said 'No' To Hadestown
Reeve Carney is an actor, singer-songwriter, and musician, who may be best known for originating the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway, and playing Orpheus in the original Broadway cast of the Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown.
Ep198 - Eva Noblezada: Struggling with the word 'Perfect'
Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of eating disorders. At the age of 25, Eva Noblezada is a two time Tony Award nominee, a Grammy Award winner, and a WhatsOnStage Award winning actress and singer.
Ep197 - Telly Leung & Cameron Adams: The importance of Ensemblists
Telly and Cameron discuss the inspiration behind the documentary Ensemble, the catharsis of filming it, and the resilience of the 13 very diverse people in different stages of their life and career who are featured on screen.
Ep196 - Trent Saunders, T. Oliver Reid, Eddie Noel Rodríguez: Being Hermes
What makes the heart, soul, and sound of Hermes? Ask three different Hermes u/s and get three different answers. That speaks to the brilliance of the Hadestown creative team, and their encouragement to anyone who steps into the winged shoes of Hermes to bring their actual selves to the role.
Ep195 - Mauro Refosco: David Byrne's American Utopia
A professional percussionist, Mauro Refosco has performed and recorded with artists such as David Byrne, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Thom Yorke’s Atoms for Peace.
Ep194 - Kay Trinidad and Malcolm Armwood: The Fate of Swings in Hadestown
Malcolm Armwood made his Broadway debut as a swing in Hadestown, and can currently be seen playing one of the workers. He previously starred in the national tours of Motown: The Musical and Smokey Joe’s Cafe, and other credits include Grease, Ragtime, Hairspray, and Showboat.
Ep193 - Tara Jackson & Sayo Oni: Taking Us Way Down Underground to Hadestown!
Tara Jackson and Sayo Oni, both triple threats, recently made their Broadway debuts in Hadestown. Originally from Canada, Tara Jackson was previously part of the Hadestown Canadian premiere, and is now assistant dance captain, a swing, and an understudy for The Fates in Hadestown on Broadway.
Ep192 - Alysia Reiner & David Alan Basche: Power Couple and Acting/Producing Powerhouse
Alysia Reiner and David Alan Basche are a power couple of TV, film and theater. Alysia may be best known for playing Natalie “Fig” Figueroa, a warden on Orange is the New Black, and has a plethora of additional credits including Better Things, The Deuce, Masters of Sex, How to Get Away with Murder, 30 Rock and the upcoming production of Mrs.
Bonus - The Music Man (Opening Night Red Carpet Interviews)
Join me live on the red carpet for the opening night of The Music Man! In this episode we hear from Hugh Jackman, Sutton Foster, Jerry Zaks, Warren Carlyle, Jayne Howdyshell, Jefferson Mays, Daniel Patrick Russell, Drew Minard, Eloise Kropp, Kammie Crum, Marie Mullen, Jordan Beall, Maria Briggs, Phillip Boykin, Ronnie S Bowman, Sherisse Springer, Garrett Long, and Lance Roberts.
Ep191 - Robert W Schneider: Director, Producer, Podcaster
Robert Schneider is one of Feinstein's/54 Below original programming producers, a freelance director, and co-host of the popular podcast Behind the Curtain: Broadway's Living Legends, the official podcast of BroadwayWorld.
Ep190 - Lynn Nottage: Two-time Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright
Lynn Nottage is a two time Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, and the first and only woman to win the category twice, for “Ruined” and “Sweat”. She's a screenwriter, a Tony nominee, a producer, the recipient of a MacArthur Genius Grant fellowship and was included in Time magazine's 2019 list of the 100 Most Influential People.
Ep189 - Lorin Latarro: Mrs Doubtfire Choreographer with 14 Broadway credits to her name
Lorin Latarro is a director and choreographer, who also has fourteen Broadway credits to her name as a performer, including Twyla Tharp’s Movin’ Out, Fosse, Swing!, Kiss Me Kate, A Chorus Line, Spamalot and Man Of La Mancha. She choreographed Broadway’s Mrs.
Ep188 - Kelli O'Hara: 7-Time Tony Nominee
A seven-time Tony Award nominee, actress and singer Kelli O'Hara won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the Lincoln Center Theater revival of The King and I.
Ep187 - Brad Oscar: 2-Time Tony Award Nominee, currently starring in Mrs. Doubtfire the Musical
Actor Brad Oscar has earned two Tony Award nominations for his performances in The Producers and Something Rotten!, and has additional Broadway credits which include The Addams Family, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Spamalot, Jekyll & Hyde, and Big Fish.
Ep186 - Kiera Allen: Hulu's Run, Broadway Podcast Network's TWITS
Actress Kiera Allen was named by The Hollywood Reporter as one of their breakout stars of 2020, due in no small part to her performance opposite Sarah Paulson in Hulu's psychological thriller Run.
Ep185 - Major Attaway: The Longest Running Genie of All-Time
Major Attaway has over 20 years of experience as an entertainer, actor, singer, and voiceover artist, and may be best known for playing the Genie in Disney's Aladdin on Broadway for the longest amount of time (three years).
Ep184 - Stephanie Styles: Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Goosebumps The Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium
Stephanie Styles is an actress, singer, and dancer who made her Broadway debut in the recent Roundabout Theatre revival of Kiss Me, Kate, opposite Kelly O'Hara, Will Chase, and Corbin Bleu.
Ep183 - Glynn Turman: 'Women of the Movement' and 50+ Years of Acting Excellence
Glynn Turman is an Emmy Award winning actor, writer, director and producer, who made his Broadway debut at 12 years old originating the role of Travis Younger in A Raisin In The Sun.
Ep182 - Debra Sperling: The Voice You Didn't Know You Know
Debra Sperling is a professional voiceover artist with over 26 years of experience. Throughout her career, Debra has been the voice of dozens of national television campaigns such as Charmin, Cascade, Pampers, Maybelline, Listerine, Walmart, Folgers, Kellogg’s, Olive Garden, Johnson and Johnson, Band-Aid, and many more.
Ep181 - 2021 Wrap Up with Alan Seales and Ayanna Prescod
We've successfully completed yet another year around the sun (sorry flat Earthers, the truth hurts), this time with only about 4 months of Broadway theatre to talk about, and we're already seeing more shows permanently closed than expected due to Omicron breakthrough cases.
Ep180 - Ilda Mason: Spielberg's "West Side Story"
Ilda Mason is a Panamanian actress, singer, and dancer who began her career in productions including Peter Pan, The Beauty and the Beast, A Chorus Line, Hello Dolly, and Legally Blonde.
Ep179 - Michael Zegen: The Marvelous Mrs. Miasel, Trouble in Mind, Rescue Me
Michael Zegen is an actor who may be most well known for his various roles on TV, including Joel Maisel, on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Damien Keefe, on Rescue Me, in addition to various recurring roles on Boardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead, How To Make It In America, and Girls.
Bonus - Steven Sater! (and introducing 'Was It Chance?')
The podcast's first ever repeat guest, Steven Sater (Tony/Grammy/Olivier/Lortel/Drama Desk Award-Winning Awesome Guy) rejoins us to discuss his latest project, the grammy nominated concept album called Some Lovers, a collaboration with friend Burt Bacharach.
Ep178 - Robin de Jesús: tick... tick... Boom!, In the Heights, La Cage aux Folles, The Boys in the Band
Robin de Jesús is an actor and singer who has received Tony Award nominations for his roles in In the Heights, La Cage aux Folles, and The Boys in the Band. He made his Broadway debut in Rent in 2005, and has also appeared as Boq in Wicked on Broadway.
Ep177 - Jake Bazel: Disney's Winnie the Pooh; Puppeteer, Voice actor, Writer, Director and Coach
Jake Bazel is a puppeteer, voice actor, writer, director and coach with over a decade of experience working in children's media.
Ep176 - Sierra Boggess & Julian Ovenden: Together At A Distance
Broadway and West End stars Sierra Boggess and Julian Ovenden have reunited with a new album of classic and contemporary Broadway duets. Sierra Boggess is best known for originating the role of Ariel in The Little Mermaid on Broadway, as well as for multiple appearances as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera.
Ep175 - Steven Levenson: Tick... Tick... Boom!, Dear Evan Hansen, Fosse/Verdon
Stephen Levenson is a Tony award winning playwright and screenwriter who famously won his Best Book of a Musical Tony for Dear Evan Hansen. He later adapted the script for the film adaptation. Stephen has numerous Off-Broadway credits, as well as a resume boasting TV and film.
Ep174 - Julia Murney: Baby, The Wild Party, Wicked (plus a surprise interview crash from Andrew Lippa)
Actress and singer Julia Murney originated the role of Queenie in Andrew Lippa’s Wild Party (earning her first Drama Desk Award nomination), and later became one of the most well known Elphaba’s in both the national tour and Broadway companies of Wicked.
Ep173 - Aaron Dalla Villa: A classically trained ballet dancer, rapper, singer, and actor
Actor, dancer, musician and producer Aaron Dalla Villa was most recently seen as the slimy Mordred in the Bay Street Theater production of Camelot. His Off-Broadway credits include Seeing You, and Sleep F$@cking: Revision, while regional theater roles include Mr.
Ep172 - Ana Villafańe: Chicago, On Your Feet, Mozart in the Jungle
Ana Villafañe is an Outer Critics Circle Award, Astaire Awards, and two-time Drama League Award nominated actress and singer best known for originating the role of Gloria Estefan in On Your Feet!, and starring in the hit musical throughout its entire run on Broadway.
Ep171 - Neal Brennan: Unacceptable, 3 Mics, Chappelle's Show
Neal Brennan is a three time Emmy nominated writer, director, producer and stand up comedian known for co-creating and co-writing the Comedy Central series Chappelle's Show with Dave Chappelle, with whom he also co-wrote the cult classic film Half Baked.
Ep170 - Megan Hilty: Wicked, Smash, 9 to 5, Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty - and so many more
Megan Hilty is a Tony Award nominated actress and singer who may be best known for her portrayal of Glinda in Wicked. Other credits include Broadway’s 9 to 5: The Musical as Doralee Rhodes and Noises Off as Brooke Ashton (which also earned her Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations), as well as Annie Get Your Gun and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at New York City Center.
Ep169 - Gavin Creel: Hello Dolly!, Thoroughly Modern Millie, I Put A Spell On You: The Sanderson Variant
Gavin Creel is an actor, singer and songwriter who received a Tony Award for his performance as Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly!, starring Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce.
Ep168 - Cassie Beck: What The Constitution Means to Me, The Humans, I Know What You Did Last Summer
Cassie Beck is a star of stage and screen whose previous credits include the Broadway revival of The Rose Tattoo and the original cast of The Humans on Broadway. Other stage credits include The Norman Conquests (Broadway), The Drunken City (Playwrights Horizons), Happy Hour, and Oohrah!
Bonus - "Is This A Room" Opening Night Red Carpet Interviews
The smash hit Broadway play Is This A Room opened at the Lyceum Theater on Oct 10th, 2021. Guest podcast host Beatriz Westby takes us down to the red carpet to talk to Tina Satter, Amanda Villalobos, Andy Grotelueschen, Blyth Adamson, Chris Giarmo, Deirdre O'Connell, Frankie Grande, Judy Kuhn, Lee Kinney, and Steven Sater.
Ep167 - Tarik Davis: Freestyle Love Supreme & 20 year improv actor
Tarik Davis is an actor and writer based in New York City with a 20 year history of acting, performing improv and writing comedy. Past experience includes performing for The Upright Citizens Brigade in NY, Boom Chicago in Amsterdam, and The Second City in Chicago.
Ep166 - Jill Furman: Producer on FLS, In The Heights, Hamilton, West Side Story & More
“If you can do something that makes you happy and that you really feel passionate about, it's not going to feel like work, it's going to feel joyous.” Two-time Tony Award winning theatrical producer Jill Furman is part of the driving force bringing Freestyle Love Supreme back to Broadway this month, after having originally brought it to Broadway in 2019.
Ep165 - James Monroe Iglehart and Tommy Kail Talk Freestyle Love Supreme & FLS Academy
To celebrate it’s reopening on Broadway next month, the acclaimed director of Freestyle Love Supreme joins one if it’s first company members to talk about all things past, present and future for their show, and for FLS Academy.
Ep164 - Jenny Steingart, Producing Powerhouse
Jenny Steingart is a powerhouse producer for theater, film, and television. She has worked alongside some of the greatest names in the industry, including Tina Fey, Joel Grey, Sir Patrick Stewart, Josh Groban, and Lin Manuel Miranda.
Ep163 - Barry Sonnenfeld: Schmigadoon, Big, Men In Black, Addams Family Values, When Harry Met Sally, and so many more!
He began his career working as a cinematographer alongside the Coen Brothers, made a name for himself as a director, and now reflects on much of the journey which brought him to Schmigadoon, and a new memoir: Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother.
Ep162 - Ciara Renée: Frozen, Legends of Tomorrow (The Flash), Pippin
“I feel like, as an artist, and doing my art, that is how I am seen... and I want to do that for others by creating a safe space for them”. Ciara Renée made her Broadway debut in 2013 as The Witch in Big Fish, before joining the Broadway revival of Pippin as the Leading Player.
Ep161 - Susan Kelechi Watson: This Is Us, Merry Wives, A Naked Girl on the Appian Way
Opening up about her first live performance since the COVID pandemic began, this performer shares her joy in welcoming enthusiastic audiences back to the theatre, and says if people didn’t know it pre pandemic, they certainly know it now - “life without the arts is not living." Susan Kelechi Watson may be best known for her role as Beth Pearson in This Is Us, but she made her Broadway debut in 2005 in a Richard Greenberg play, A Naked Girl on the Appian Way.
Ep160 - Jay Armstrong Johnson: Phantom of the Opera, Quantico, On The Town, Hands on a Hardbody
After realizing he “didn't just want to get up there and do a kick ball change, and sing a high C”, but also wanted his art to make change in the world, this Broadway veteran decided social justice would become a theme in his career.
Ep159 - Allison Luff: Heels, Waitress, Wicked
From the Broadway stage to the television screen, this performer opens up about her undying love for live theater, as well as the new bug she caught for doing TV while filming her new series.
Ep158 - Toneisha Harris: The Voice #TeamBlake, Hairspray North American Tour
“Music is so beautiful, because it is the tapestry of our lives. There is a song or a lyric for absolutely every emotion - good, bad, high, low - it doesn't matter…” Toneisha Harris is a singer and songwriter who may be best known for receiving a four chair turn and becoming the runner up on the most recent season of The Voice.
Ep157 - Antonio Cipriano: Jagged Little Pill, In The Light, 2017 Jimmy Award Finalist
Antonio Cipriano starred in the World Premiere of Jagged Little Pill at the American Repertory Theater as ‘Phoenix’, and reprised this role for his Broadway debut in the fall of 2019.
Ep156 - Mauricio Martinez: International star of stage and screen
A household name in Mexico, and now an Emmy award winning actor and Broadway performer, this bi-cultural artist commits himself to a life of learning and advocacy, and opens up his mental health journey through cancer and COVID-19.
Ep155 - Madison Lagares: This 13 Year Old is Going Places!
With two Broadway shows and a record deal already to her name, this 13 year old actress and singer has something to teach us all about following your dreams whenever they find you. Madison Lagares is a highly accomplished Broadway veteran, and she’s only 13.
Ep154 - Lilli Cooper - Tootsie, Spongebob Squarepants, Spring Awaking ... and motherhood!
A witch, a squirrel, and soon a mom, this actress opens up about climbing the ranks since she was a teenager, and shares the joys and challenges that have accompanied some of her most notable roles.
Ep153 - Katrina Bowden: 30 Rock, Tucker and Dale vs Evil, Great White
Since making a name for herself in the comedy world after starring in 30 Rock, this actress has shifted her focus to explore other genres, sharing she “always likes a challenge”, and happily found exactly that while working on her new film.
Ep152 - JoAnn M. Hunter: Top Choreographer working on ALW's Cinderella
JoAnn M. Hunter is a performer and choreographer with 20 Broadway credits and five US National tours on her resume, including Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (her Broadway debut), Miss Saigon, Guys and Dolls, Damn Yankees, Chicago, Spring Awakening, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, School of Rock, Kiss Me Kate, Curtains, She Loves Me, and most recently Disaster!.
Ep151 - Jenn Colella: Come From Away, "The Flame: An Original Podcast Musical"
From a comedian in LA to a Broadway veteran in NYC, Jenn Colella is driven by connection and joy, and shares how she is moving through the shifts in her career as they come, including her latest podcast appearance on The Flame: An Original Podcast Musical.
Ep150 - The Prom Reunion LIVE to celebrate PRIDE (with Caitlin Kinnunen, Izzy McCalla, Josh Lamon, Dori Berinstein, Bob Martin, and Matthew Sklar)
In a special LIVE podcast panel discussion, Alan Seales hosts cast & creatives of THE PROM on Broadway to celebrate Pride Month. After premiering on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre in October 2018, The Prom was the first musical of the 2018–2019 Broadway season to be named a New York Times Critics Pick.
Ep149 - Kate Reinders: "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series"
This performer’s life changed after being cast in a summer stock production starring Rita Moreno, and she’s been gracing stages ever since. Kate Reinders is a multi-talented performer who originated the role of Portia in the Broadway musical Something Rotten!, as well as the role of Caroline in the Broadway jukebox musical Good Vibrations.
Ep148 - Derrick Baskin: Ain't Too Proud, 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, 54/Below
A Broadway veteran, who finished a Tony and Grammy nominated run in Ain’t Too Proud just before COVID-19 shut the industry down, reflects on the inner work and reflection last summer's protests and pandemic prompted in both himself and the country, and shares hopes for audiences to watch Ain’t Too Proud and similar shows with new eyes.
Ep147 - Lauren Marcus: Be More Chill, Tick, Tick... Boom
From iconic stage roles, to cabaret and rock band performances, this performer is building a successful artistic career while also navigating an autoimmune disorder with grace.
Ep146 - Trevor Dion Nicholas: Hamilton, Aladdin, The Shows Must Go On!
He didn't smash watermelons, he smashed cups of yogurt. After memorizing entire Gallagher comedy routines as a kid in West Virginia, Trevor Dion Nicholas and his family always loved musical theater. His parents encouraged him to follow his passion and put him into improv and theater classes.
Ep145 - Jackie Cox: Drag Queen, Super Nerd, and Lover of all things Broadway
After moving to NYC as a Broadway hopeful, and discovering the drag community, power and freedom simultaneously, Jackie Cox now looks ahead to a more inclusive future for the entire theatrical community.
Ep144 - Laura Bell Bundy: Legally Blonde, Hairspray, Wicked, and TV/Film credits out the wazoo
Best known for credits that include performances as the original Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray, the original Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (for which she earned a Tony nomination), Tina in Ruthless (Outer Critics/ Drama Desk Nominations), and Glinda in Wicked, Laura Bell Bundy cannot be stopped.
Bonus EP: "In the Heights" Exclusive Interviews!
Our BPN Podcasters bring you exclusive interviews with cast and creatives from In the Heights, in theaters on June 11 2021. Watch the video version of this event here: https://youtu.be/py3YLSt8MSo. Interview 1: Daphne Rubin-Vega, interviewed by Salisha Thomas.
Ep143 - Max von Essen: Anastasia, Evita, An American In Paris
The Broadway shutdown has been hard for people across the country, but this performer shares that amidst the difficulty, it’s also “been an incredible reminder of how lucky I've been...
Ep142 - Ethan Slater: Spongebob Squarepants, Fosse/Verdon, Broadway By The Year
He may have made his mark playing a famous yellow sponge on stage, but this artist is passionate about exploring all colors of a creative career, and looks “forward to building back the most accessible kind of theater in every angle”.
Ep141 - Liz Callaway: Disney's Anastasia, Broadway by the Year, Merrily, CATS and many more
The voice on the soundtrack of many childhoods, this performer made a name for herself on stages from New York to South Korea, and continues to connect with audiences virtually until theatre is back in full force.
Ep140 - Jeremy Jordan: Newsies, Supergirl, Smash, Bonnie & Clyde, Rock of Ages
A Tony and Grammy nominated actor, this actor and new dad dishes on what it takes to keep himself going, and his latest sources of inspiration(s). Originally preformed live in the "before times" back in Feb 2020, Jeremy's cabaret show Carry On is being virtually reprised for 3 weeks only at 54/Below (tickets here).
Ep139 - Rick Pender: Author of The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia
“My writing about theater in general, is to inspire people to go to the theater... But I especially like to inspire people to dip their toes into the oceans of Sondheim.” An award winning theater critic since 1986, Rick Pender was named Ohio’s best critic in 2002 and 2017 by the Society of Professional Journalists.
Ep138 - Ramin Karimloo: Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Holby City
From Iran to Italy to Canada and finally to London, this performer forged a path uniquely his own, knowing the only failure is not trying.
Ep137 - Claire Warden: Groundbreaking Intimacy Director / Choreographer for Broadway and Beyond
“When you give the artist the opportunity to be free and respected, they will give you the world with their performance.” Claire Warden is a Drama Desk Award winning intimacy coordinator, fight director, teacher and actress with over 20 years experience in theater, TV and film across America and the UK.
Bonus - Andrew Barth Feldman: Avvatar the Musical Science Consultant
Many people know Andrew Barth Feldman made his Broadway debut in the title role in Dear Evan Hansen and is now starring in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, but what most people don’t know is that while he was in DEH performing his 6 shows a week, he was also attending Yale -- and obtained a master’s degree that has landed him his latest gig being the Science Consultant on the forthcoming Avvatar The Musical.
Ep136 - Adam Jacobs: Aladdin, The Lion King, Les Miserables
A Disney prince and a family man, this performer opens up about the importance of faith, hard work, and determination, and shares a look behind the curtain of his career both past and present.
Ep135 - Donny Most: Happy Days, Middletown
From a meteoric rise to fame at 20 years old, to all the performances he hopes to still tackle in his 60’s, this artist opens up about balancing multiple passions, and serves as an inspiration for all to keep plugging away at your dreams.
Ep134 - Lena Hall: Tony Award Winner (Hedwig), TNT's Snowpiercer, Tarzan
From the non-stop nature of a Broadway performer's life, to the slower pace of TV, this Tony Award winner opens up about her struggles as an artist during the pandemic, and the importance of stopping to “look back and realize how far you have come” on your way to your goals.
Ep133 - Guys Who Like Musicals Podcast: A Special Crossover with Joe & Dan!
The amazing podcast crossover event that no one asked for but everyone needs! Joe Carroll and Dan Tracy, two dudes who love musicals and have numerous Broadway credits of their own, sit down with me to discuss... what else... musicals!
Ep132 - Robert Hartwell: 5x Broadway Triple Threat Turned Education Leader
From Broadway performer to Broadway educator, this performer opens up about the teachers that became his mentors, setting him on his unique course, and urgently encourages us all - “Don’t let your parade pass you by!” Robert Hartwell is a Broadway performer and Founder of The Broadway Collective.
Ep131 - Rebecca Vocal Athlete: YouTube Star, Vocal Coach, Theatre Lover
Rebecca Moore, better known as Rebecca Vocal Athlete, is a vocal coach, mentor, singer, songwriter, YouTuber and entertainer with more than 20 years of experience within the music industry.
Ep130 - Drew Gasparini: Composer for The Karate Kid Musical, The Skittles Musical, Smash, and all-around good guy
"I only ever want to be Ben Harper famous." Drew Gasparini is an award winning musical theatre songwriter and performer. Currently he is writing the scores for a number of new stage musicals including the Broadway-bound adaptation of The Karate Kid, an adaptation of Night Shift for Warner Bros.
Ep129 - Stephanie Hsu: Be More Chill, Spongebob Squarepants, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Stephanie Hsu is a familiar face on both the stage and screen, maybe best known for originating the role of Christine in Be More Chill at Two River Theater, and then on Broadway. She previously made her Broadway debut as Karen the Computer in the original cast of Spongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical.
Ep128 - Michael Urie: Ugly Betty, Torch Song, Grand Horizons
Maybe best known for his starring role as Mark St. James on Ugly Betty (opposite Vanessa Williams), Michael Urie is not only a star of the stage and screen, but also a director and executive producer.
Ep127 - Colin Donnell: Chicago Med, Jersey Boys, The Nineteen Twenty
“It’s going to be bumpy, but it’s going to be worth it”. Colin Donnell is a singer, actor, and musician who has starred on both the stage and screen. His stage credits include the Broadway productions of Jersey Boys, Violet, and Anything Goes (for which he received a Drama Desk Award nomination), as well as many national tours including Mamma Mia!
Ep126 - George Salazar: Be More Chill, Percy Jackson, Works & Process at the Guggenheim
Catapulting into the limelight after originating the role of Michael Mell in Be More Chill on Broadway, George Salazar speaks candidly about struggling with his identity growing up, as a child of a Filipino immigrant and an Ecuadorian immigrant.
Ep125 - Keith Powell: 30 Rock, This is Us, Connecting
“The key to success is figuring out how to survive in an industry that needs you, but doesn’t want you.” Keith Powell is best known as series regular James “Toofer” Spurlock on NBC’s Emmy-winning sitcom 30 Rock, where he received the 2008 Screen Actors Guild Award for Comedy Ensemble.
Ep124 - Frank DiLella: Emmy Award-winning host of “On Stage” on Spectrum News NY1
As the host of NY1’s “On Stage” and a microphone for the theatre community, this Emmy Award winner's stories have shifted from Broadway openings and red carpet events, to how people are surviving and pivoting while Broadway is on hold.
Ep123 - 2020 {C,W}rap up with Alan Seales and Diana Salameh
Let's face it -- 2020 was a dumpster fire, at best. In this episode, Diana Salameh, the Director of Marketing and Communications at Serino Coyne, co-hosts the final episode of the year - a year which has been unprecedented for the theatre industry.
Ep122 - Krystal Joy Brown: Hamilton, Motown The Musical & VoteRiders activist
Krystal Joy Brown is a singer, dancer and actor who made her Broadway debut in 2009 in Hair. She is best known for her portrayal of Diana Ross in the Broadway musical Motown: The Musical.
Ep121 - Michael James Scott: A Fierce Christmas, Aladdin, Something Rotten!, Book of Mormon
Michael James Scott is an actor and singer who originated the role of Genie in the Australian production of Disney's musical Aladdin, which opened in Sydney in August 2016. He received a Helpmann Award in 2017 for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for his work in this production.
Ep120 - Nik Walker: Hamilton, Ain't Too Proud, NYU Professor(!)
Nik Walker is an artist, educator, and activist who made his Broadway debut in Motown The Musical. He spent 3 years with the Broadway and touring companies of Hamilton, adding both Aaron Burr and George Washington to his resume.
Ep119 - Carolee Carmello: Three Time Tony Nominee
She thought theater was something she just needed to get out of her system, but many years and a successful career later this performer opens up about pursuing your dreams to avoid regret, and participating in the new virtual era theater finds itself in.
Ep118 - Gen Parton-Shin: Bridging the Gap Between Japan and Broadway
When he’s not pursuing his dreams onstage, this performer spends his spare time translating musicals like Hamilton from English to Japanese, on a mission to bridge the gap between Japanese and American musical theater audiences.
Ep117 - Eddie Perfect: Beetlejuice, King Kong - Tony Award Nominated Lyricist/Composer
From The Land Down Under to The Big Apple, this singer-songwriter, pianist, writer and comedian just released his new album, Beetlejuice: The Demos! The Demos! The Demos!, and is showing other Australians that it’s possible to make the leap and find yourself working on a Broadway musical (or two).
Ep116 - Michael Riedel: theater critic, broadcaster, and columnist
Michael Riedel is an American theater critic, broadcaster, and columnist. He has been a controversial yet very influential Broadway columnist in the NY post for over 20 years. Michael is also the co-host of “Len Berman and Michael Riedel in the Morning” on 710 WOR in New York City, weekdays from 6-10am.
Ep115 - Jeanna de Waal: Diana the Musical, Marvel's Iron Fist, Kinky Boots, and Broadway Weekends co-founder
Jeanna de Waal originated the title role of Diana, Princess of Wales in Diana at La Jolla Playhouse and at the New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theatre reading at Vassar College. Her previous Broadway credits include starring as Lauren in Kinky Boots and Heather in American Idiot.
Ep114 - Meghan Picerno: Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies
Hailed by the New York Times for her “attractive soprano voice,” and for having “total control of the stage,” (Broadway World) coloratura soprano Meghan Picerno currently stars as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.
Ep113 - Anthony ‘Two-Touch’ Veneziale, (We are) Freestyle Love Supreme & FLS Academy co-founder
Anthony Veneziale, also known by his stage name ‘Two-Touch’, is the conceiver and co-creator of the improvisational hip-hop comedy musical group Freestyle Love Supreme, as well as the FLS Academy.
Bonus - A discussion of the 74th annual Tony Award nominations
Listen to a quick discussion about the 74th annual Tony Award nominations that were announced yesterday for the shortened 2019-2020 Broadway season.
Ep112 - Isabella Rossellini: Actress, Author, Philanthropist, Filmmaker and Model
Isabella Rossellini is an Italian-American actress, author, philanthropist, filmmaker and model. She is the daughter of Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman and Italian film director Roberto Rossellini.
Ep111 - Amber Ardolino: Moulin Rouge!, Hamilton, Head over Heels, Rock of Ages
Amber Ardolino is a dancer, singer and actress who made her Broadway debut in Hamilton, and was also in the original Chicago company. She is currently part of the Broadway cast of Moulin Rouge!.
Ep110 - John Lloyd Young: Jersey Boys, President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities
John Lloyd Young is a multi-award winning performer, who originated the role of Frankie Valli in Broadway’s Jersey Boys. He is the only American actor to date to have received a Lead Actor in a Musical Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and Theatre World Award for a Broadway debut.
Ep109 - Mo Brady: The Ensemblist podcast host, The Addams Family, SMASH
Mo Brady is a jack of all trades - a broadway actor turned social media specialist turned podcaster. After working for many years as a performer in Seattle, Washington, Mo made his Broadway debut in The Addams Family musical in 2010.
Ep108 - Alice Lee: Spring Awakening, Spider-Man, TV/film star, and indie recording artist
Alice Lee is an actress, singer and musician who made her Broadway debut in 2008 when she joined the cast of Spring Awakening. Her other New York theater credits include Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark on Broadway, as well as Off-Broadway productions of Bare and Heathers: The Musical.
Ep107 - Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer: Hadestown, Grease LIVE!, In the Heights
This multifaceted, multi-talented performer takes us on a trip into her psyche, sharing how she lives by the idea that “competence breeds confidence”, which encourages her to continue to learn and grow even after achieving great success.
Ep106 - Montego Glover: The Color Purple, Memphis, Les Miserables & Netflix's Inventing Anna
Montego Glover is an actor, singer and voiceover artist who made her Broadway debut in the original Broadway production of The Color Purple as Celie and Nettie.
Ep105 - Adam Pascal: Rent, Aida, Memphis & Solo Rock Artist
Adam Pascal is an actor, singer, and musician most widely known for originating the role of Roger in the original 1996 cast of Jonathan Larson's musical Rent on Broadway. Rent was not only his Broadway debut, it also earned him a Tony Award nomination, a Theater World award, and an Obie Award.
Ep104 - Jeannette Bayardelle: Girl from the North Country, HAIR, The Color Purple
A go-getter spirit at heart, a spirit which has taken her from singing in church to singing on a Broadway stage, this Broadway veteran shares how she is finding new focus during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how her Girl From The North Country Family is helping sustain her.
Ep103 - Rachel Potter: The Addams Family, Evita, Wicked tour & Nashville indie artist
Rachel Potter is not only a Broadway veteran, she is also an accomplished Nashville recording artist. She made her Broadway debut in 2010 as Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family, and originated the role of the Mistress in the 2012 Tony Nominated revival of Evita, starring Ricky Martin and Michael Cerveris.
Ep102 - James Harkness: Ain't Too Proud, Beautiful, The Color Purple, and Navy veteran!
James Harkness is a Broadway veteran, as well as a best director nominee, and award winning choreographer, and a songwriter. He made his Broadway debut in AIDA in 2001, and has been on a roll ever since.
Ep101 - Lisa Goldberg: Ballet Dancer Turned Press Agent for the Stars
Lisa Goldberg is the founder and owner of LSG Public Relations in New York, Los Angeles and London. She represents talent and creatives all across the board in film, television, theater and music, as well as in charity work, at bars and for red carpet events.
Ep100 - Rebuilding Broadway: With Erika Alexander, Karen Olivo, James Monroe Iglehart, Nik Walker, Adrianna Hicks & Brittney Mack
In a special LIVE panel discussion, moderator Erika Alexander (Living Single, The Cosby Show, Get out, John Lewis: Good Trouble) will be guest hosting the 100th episode of The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales, exclusively on the Broadway Podcast Network.
Ep99 - Harris Doran, Jason Schafer, and Arthur Bacon, the "Bleeding Love" Creatives
It’s first incarnation may have been 10 years ago, but in a surreal case of art mirroring life, their show which takes place in a world where it's too dangerous to go outside is more relevant than ever.
Ep98 - Tony Vincent: Bleeding Love The Voice, American Idiot, Jesus Christ Superstar
Tony Vincent is a recording artist, actor and producer, widely known for his appearance as a finalist on the second season of NBC’s The Voice. While in college, he started his own record company, Adobe Flats, writing and producing the EP Love Falling Down.
Ep97 - Rebecca Naomi Jones: Bleeding Love, Oklahoma!, American Idiot, Hedwig
Rebecca Naomi Jones is an actress and a singer who made her Broadway debut in 2008 when Passing Strange transferred from it’s Off-Broadway run. She went on to create the role of Whatshername in the Green Day Rock Opera American Idiot, which opened on Broadway in 2010.
Ep96 - Taylor Trensch: Bleeding Love, Dear Evan Hansen, To Kill a Mockingbird, Wicked
Taylor Trensch has been a familiar face on Broadway since 2012, when he made his Broadway debut in Wicked as Boq. He originated roles in the Broadway debut productions of Matilda The Musical, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-Time.
Ep95 - Marc Kudisch: Bleeding Love, Girl from the North Country, The Tick, Millie, and more
Marc Kudisch stars off the Bleeding Love musical podcast takeover, a brand new completely original musical podcast set in a post-apocalyptic future where it's not safe to go outside. Marc is a 3-time Tony Award nominee for his work in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and 9 to 5.
Ep94 - BLACK LIVES MATTER
Hi everyone, over the last year and a half, I have released at least one episode of The Theatre Podcast every single week without fail. Today, I have decided to break this tradition. I am purposely postponing the next episode in order to release this statement.
Ep93 - Courtney Monsma, Katherine Howard in SIX the Musical (Australian cast)
To watch the video version of this interview, please click here. Listen to the SIX studio cast recording, or grab the sing-a-long edition! Courtney Monsma is an actor, singer and dancer from Queensland, Australia.
Ep92 - Brittney Mack, Anna of Cleves in SIX the Musical (Broadway cast)
To watch the video version of this episode, click here. Listen to the SIX studio cast recording, or grab the sing-a-long edition! Brittney Mack is a performer from Chicago, Illinois, who was most recently seen as Anna of Cleves in the North American Tour of SIX the Musical.
Ep91 - Chloé Zuel, Catherine of Aragon in SIX the Musical (Australian cast)
UPDATE 2021, March 19: Congrats to Chloé who just opened Hamilton in Australia as Eliza Hamilton!! To watch the video version of this episode, click here. Listen to the SIX studio cast recording, or grab the sing-a-long edition!
Ep90 - Vidya Makan, Catherine Parr in SIX the Musical (Australian cast)
To watch the video version of this episode, click here. Listen to the SIX studio cast recording, or grab the sing-a-long edition! Vidya Makan is a composer, singer, actor, and musician based in Melbourne, Australia, and most recently starred as Dot/Marie in Sunday in the Park with George.
Ep89 - Kala Gare, Anne Boleyn in SIX the Musical (Australian cast)
To watch the video version of this episode, click here. Listen to the SIX studio cast recording, or grab the sing-a-long edition! Kala Gare is a singer, actor, musician and songwriter based out of Melbourne, Australia.
Ep88 - Adrianna Hicks, Catherine of Aragon in SIX the Musical (Broadway cast)
To watch the video version of this episode, click here. Listen to the SIX studio cast recording, or grab the sing-a-long edition! Adrianna Hicks is no stranger to the Great White Way, as she returns to Broadway as Catherine of Aragon in SIX the Musical.
Ep87 - Andrea Macasaet, Anne Boleyn in SIX the Musical (Broadway cast)
To watch the video version of this episode, click here. Listen to the SIX studio cast recording, or grab the sing-a-long edition! Andrea Macasaet has appeared in each North American iteration of SIX the Musical, including productions at the American Repertory Theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Ordway Theater, and Citadel Theatre.
Ep86 - Samantha Pauly, Katherine Howard in SIX the Musical (Broadway cast)
To watch the video version of this episode, click here. Listen to the SIX studio cast recording, or grab the sing-a-long edition! Samantha Pauly has been performing regionally on stage since 2010, including roles in Honeymoon in Vegas, Elf The Musical, Suessical and Godspell.
Ep85 - Keith Sherman, 18 years as a publicity agent repping over 300 shows, and now COVID-19 positive
His favorite four-letter word, in response to both success and failure, is “next”. After recovering from COVID-19, and with his career on pause, this Broadway publicist talks about the future of Broadway.
Ep84 - Jeff Thacker, 5x Emmy nominee and "So You Think You Can Dance" Executive Producer
Jeff Thacker a 5 time Emmy nominee for his work on So You Think You Can Dance. He is the show’s executive producer, and has been with it since day one when it first aired back in 2005. Now 252 episodes later, the show is still as strong as ever.
Ep83 - Laura Osnes: Cinderella, Bandstand, Bonnie & Clyde, Grease, Fosse/Verdon
Laura Osnes is a two-time Tony Award nominee for her roles as Bonnie in Bonnie & Clyde, and Cinderella in Roger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. After winning NBC’s 2006 reality TV show You’re The One That I Want, she made her Broadway debut as Sandy in the 2007 revival of Grease.
Ep82 - Ashley Loren, Moulin Rouge!, Jekyll and Hyde, indie pop artist
Ashley Loren is currently the standby for Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical! She has worked with artists such as Kathleen Marshall, Bono of U2, and Yoko Ono; and has sung backup for artists like Carly Rae Jensen, Melissa Etheridge and Iggy Azalea.
Ep81 - Rob Rokicki, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
Rob Rokicki is an actor, music director, composer, and lyricist whose shows have been nominated for Drama Desk, Lortel, and Off-Broadway Alliance awards. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Actor's Equity, and an alum of the Tony Award-winning BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Writing workshop.
Ep80 - Kathryn Gallagher, Jagged Little Pill & Spring Awakening revival
To watch the video version of this episode, click here. Kathryn Gallagher is an amazing singer/songwriter who made her Broadway debut in 2015 in the Deaf West revival of Spring Awakening. She stars as Annika Atwater in the show YOU on Netflix, and is currently starring as Bella in Jagged Little Pill on Broadway!
Ep79 - Len Cariou, Tony Award winner & original Sweeney Todd, Blue Bloods, Harry Townsend's Last Stand
Len Cariou is a three-time Tony Award nominee and Tony Award winner for title role in Sweeney Todd. Working steadily his entire career in theatre, film, and tv, he was on the popular television mystery series, Murder, She Wrote opposite his good friend and former Sweeney Todd co-star Angela Lansbury.
Coronavirus & Broadway Bonus Episode: Julia Hobsbawm, social health expert, author, and entrepreneur
In an unprecedented move to help contain the spread of COVID-19, aka Coronavirus, Broadway has just gone dark for weeks. Julia Hobsbawm, a social health expert, entrepreneur, and author of a new book called The Simplicity Principle: Six Steps Towards Clarity in a Complex World, I felt the need to discuss the effect of this mandatory social distancing.
Ep78 - Samuel H. Levine, The Inheritance
Samuel H. Levine is making his Broadway debut currently starring in the production of The Inheritance. He was last seen performing in The Inheritance’s West End production - which won the Olivier Award for Best New Play.
Ep77 - Natalie Weiss, actor, singer, emoji: "Breaking Down the Riffs", Emojiland, American Idol
Natalie Weiss gained an international following from her performance videos and popular YouTube web series, "Breaking Down The Riffs," which have collectively reached over 4 million views.
Ep76 - Danny Burstein, 6 time Tony Award nominee, Moulin Rouge, Fiddler, Cabaret, Golden Boy, Follies, South Pacific, The Drowsy Chaperone, and more
Danny Burstein is a six-time Tony Award nominee who made his Broadway debut in 1992 and now has 18 Broadway credits including Company, Titanic, The Drowsy Chaperone, South Pacific, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Follies, Fiddler on the Roof, and most recently My Fair Lady opposite Laura Benanti.
Ep75 - Morgan Marcell, actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, director, all around awesome person
Morgan Marcell is an actor, dancer, choreographer, and director with Broadway credits ranging from the original Broadway cast of Hamilton to the original Broadway cast of Bandstand to Fosse Verdon. She is now on stage in the original Broadway cast of Moulin Rouge, the musical.
Ep74 - Karen Olivo, Satine (the Sparking Diamond!) in Moulin Rouge the Musical
Karen Olivo is a Tony-Award winner who made her Broadway debut in Rent before going on to roles in Brooklyn, the Musical, In The Heights, and West Side Story (which is where she won her Tony!).
Ep73 - Sonya Tayeh, choreographer (Moulin Rouge, Sing Street, So You Think You Can Dance)
Sonya Tayeh made her way from the city of Detroit to New York City to find herself choreographing for some of today’s biggest names including Madonna, Miley Cyrus and Florence and the Machine.
Ep72 - Tam Mutu, the Duke: Moulin Rouge the Musical
One of Broadway's favorite bad boys, Tam Mutu is The Duke in the smash Broadway hit Moulin Rouge, the Musical, You may also recognize him from his TV appearances on The Walking Dead, Bluebloods, and Sherlock, or from being on stage in Doctor Zhivago on Broadway and Love Never Dies in London.
LIVE: Beetlejuice at BroadwayCon 2020 with Alex Brightman, Kerry Butler, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Jenny Gersten and Callie Goff
LIVE from BroadwayCon 2020 in New York City, here is the main stage panel for BEETLEJUICE with Alex Brightman, Kerry Butler, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Jenny Gersten and Callie Goff.
Ep71 - Steven Sater, Tony and Olivier Award winning poet, playwright, lyricist, television writer and screenwriter
Steven Sater is a two time Tony Award winning, Olivier Award winning, and Grammy Award winning, writer and author of shows such as Murder at the Gates, Alice by Heart, and of course, Spring Awakening. He is now also the author of Alice by Heart the novel, being released on Feb 4th, 2020.
Ep70 - Elizabeth Stanley, Mary Jane Healey: Jagged Little Pill
Starring as Mary Jane Healy in Jagged Little Pill, one of the biggest musicals on Broadway, Elizabeth Stanley leads audiences on an unforgettable journey of self-reflection and serious thought… 8 times a week.
Ep69 - Bernie Telsey, one of this generation's biggest and best casting directors
Bernie Telsey is one of the biggest names in the business. You may not see him on stage but he has introduced the world to some of the biggest names on Broadway. He and his team at Telsey + Company have cast literally hundreds of Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional productions, in addition to your favorite TV shows and movies, and more.
Ep68 - The Skivvies: Lauren Molina & Nick Cearley
Comprised of Lauren Molina and Nick Cearley, The Skivvies is a cabaret, musical, comedy show all wrapped up into one fun night, sometimes with the occasional special guest.
Ep67 – 2019 Wrap Up with Alan Seales and Mo Brady
It's the end of the year (and the end of a decade)! Along with special co-host Mo Brady, host of The Ensemblist podcast, Alan takes you through some of his favorite shows, performances, events, and more from the past year... and even what they're looking forward to in 2020.
Ep66 - Lesli Margherita: Her Last Name is More than a Tasty Drink
Lesli Margherita is an Olivier Award winning actress who made her Broadway debut in Matilda in 2013 after a successful run on the West End in Zorro, which earned her the award. She was recently in Dames at Sea here on Broadway, but made her first big splash in the entertainment scene in 1997 in the TV show Fame LA.
Crossover Bonus - CATS the movie, review. Seriously, listen right meow
I recently went with Mike Abrams, the host of The Wrong Cat Died podcast, to go see the CATS movie. We gave it a review... le sigh. So, here it is! Original episode description as follows: Get your movie review here, folks! Step right up, step right up!
Ep65 - Will Hochman: The Sound(s) Inside (His Head)
Will Hochman is a Brooklyn-born actor making his Broadway debut in the play The Sound Inside written by pulitzer prize finalist Adam Rapp, directed by Tony-winner David Cromer, and starring alongside Tony-winner Mary-Louise Parker.
Ep64 - Cody Renard Richard: Stage Managing Broadway's Biggest Shows
From a horse ranch in Texas to the Great White Way, this Broadway production stage manager has never stopped.
Ep63 - Desi Oakley: She's Officially an Officiant
Desi Oakley made her Broadway debut in Wicked in 2012, before going on to shows such as the Annie revival (also in 2012), the First National Tour of the revival of Evita!, Les Mis, and even starred as Jenna in the national tour of Waitress.
Ep62 - Chris Sullivan (Shockwave) & Aneesa Folds (Young Nees) from Freestyle Love Supreme
This episode features Chris Sullivan (aka Shockwave) & Aneesa Folds (aka Young Nees) who are two of the newest stars to the Broadway stage. They’re part of the amazing cast that makes up the critically acclaimed, completely improvised hip hop show FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME, which was just extended to Sunday, January 12th, 2020.
Ep61 - Daniel J. Watts: Tina the Musical, Hamilton, In the Heights
Daniel J, Watts made his Broadway debut in The Color Purple in 2006. He has also been in shows such as The Little Mermaid, In The Heights, Ghost the Musical, Motown the Musical, After Midnight, and Hamilton.
Ep60 - Derren Brown, mentalist, illusionist, and author
From stage to screen, two-time Olivier Award winner Derren Brown has mesmerized millions worldwide with his unique brand of mind reading, persuasion, and psychological illusion. Now, for the first time ever, this U.K.
Ep59 - Andrew Polk: Making his Broadway Debut at the Age of 54
Andrew just finished his Emmy winning run as Avrum in The Band’s Visit (which was his Broadway debut at the age of 54!). He co-stars on Alan Cummings' Instinct on CBS as Alan’s wacky sidekick.
Ep58 - Elliot Mattox, Dana Steingold, Ramone Owens of the Beelejuice Ensemble (Part 2)
Part 2: I've said it before, and I've said it again... ensemble members, swings, and standbys have some of the hardest jobs on the stage. This episode with Ramone Owens, Elliott Mattox, and Dana Steingold (who is also the girl scout!) from the Beetlejuice ensemble continues to prove that point.
Ep58 - Elliot Mattox, Dana Steingold, Ramone Owens of the Beelejuice Ensemble (Part 1)
Part 1: I've said it before, and I've said it again... ensemble members, swings, and standbys have some of the hardest jobs on the stage. This episode with Ramone Owens, Elliott Mattox, and Dana Steingold (who is also the girl scout!) from the Beetlejuice ensemble continues to prove that point.
Ep57 - Krystina Alabado: She's the Weiner!
Krystina made her Broadway debut in American Idiot in 2011 before originating the role of Vanden in American Psycho. She is now starring as Gretchen Weiners in Mean Girls, the Musical.
Ep56 - Bret Shuford, Broadway actor and life coach
He’s an actor and theatre creator who has appeared in numerous national tours, feature films, and 5 Broadway shows including Beauty and the Beast, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Little Mermaid, Amazing Grace, and most recently Cirque du Soleil Paramour -- He one half of the duo that makes the widely popular @broadwayhusbands Instagram account, and is also a Certified Life/Career Coach.
Ep55 - Astrid Van Wieren: She Actually Comes From Away
This Dora award-winning Canadian actress made her Broadway debut in Come From Away in 2017, and has now performed her role of Beulah over 1000 times. She is also currently starring in a new Canadian film The River You Step In.
Ep54 - Alex Brightman (Part 2): Beetlejuice, School of Rock, Big Fish, Wicked
Part2: This 2-time Tony-nominated actor made his Broadway debut in Wicked as 2008 as Boq, and since then has gone on to roles in Assassins, Matilda the Musical, Big Fish, and School of Rock where he originated the role of Dewey Finn, earning him his first Tony nomination.
Ep54 - Alex Brightman (Part 1): Beetlejuice, School of Rock, Big Fish, Wicked
Part1: This 2-time Tony-nominated actor made his Broadway debut in Wicked as 2008 as Boq, and since then has gone on to roles in Assassins, Matilda the Musical, Big Fish, and School of Rock where he originated the role of Dewey Finn, earning him his first Tony nomination.
Ep53 - Kerry Butler: Beetlejuice, Mean Girls, Rock of Ages, and like a zillion more
This Tony nominated actress made her Broadway debut in 1993 in Blood Brothers, before starring in shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Le Mis, Hairspray, Little Shop, Xanadu, Rock of Ages, Catch Me If You Can, Disaster!, and Mean Girls.
Ep52 - Alex Timbers (Part 2): Tony Nominated Director & Writer
Part 2: "This two-time Tony nominated writer and director is a recipient of Golden Globe, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and London Evening Standard Awards, as well as two OBIE and Lucile Lortel Awards. His Broadway directing credits alone include Moulin Rouge!
Ep52 - Alex Timbers (Part 1): Tony Nominated Director & Writer
Part 1: This two-time Tony nominated writer and director is a recipient of Golden Globe, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and London Evening Standard Awards, as well as two OBIE and Lucile Lortel Awards. His Broadway directing credits alone include Moulin Rouge!
Ep51 - Leslie Kritzer: A Self-Proclaimed Jew-rican Tearing Up Broadway
This self-proclaimed Jew-rican is tearing it up 8 times a week in Beetlejuice on Broadway, consistently proving herself as one of the funniest people on Broadway. Leslie made her Broadway debut in Hairspray in 2004, followed by a string of amazing Broadway roles in Legally Blonde, A Catered Affair, Elf, and Something Rotten.
Ep50 - William Ivey Long (Part 2): 6-time Tony Award Winning Costume Designer
PART 2: A 6-time Tony Award winner (with 17 total nominations) over his 43 year career as a costume designer on Broadway, this Raleigh, NC native shares his incredible story. This two-part episode is the first of several coming at you this month as part of a Beetlejuice the Musical takeover!
Ep50 - William Ivey Long (Part 1): 6-time Tony Award Winning Costume Designer
PART 1: A 6-time Tony Award winner (with 17 total nominations) over his 43 year career as a costume designer on Broadway, this Raleigh, NC native shares his incredible story. This two-part episode is the first of several coming at you this month as part of a Beetlejuice the Musical takeover!
Ep49 - Kirsten Scott: She Is Going to Rock Our Socks Off
The bubbly and bright Kirsten Scott is taking the Off-Broadway the stage by storm as Sherrie in the 10th Anniversary revival of Rock Of Ages. Kirsten made her Broadway debut in Hairspray right after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University, a role which she initially turned down right before starting her freshman year.
Ep48 - Justin Guarini: The American Idol is More Than a Lil' Sweet
Justin Guarini’s robust performance career launched with the first season of American Idol in 2002, performing alongside Kelly Clarkson. His stage and screen appearances since then include Broadway productions of American Idiot, Romeo and Juliet, Wicked, and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.
Ep47 - Jawan Jackson: He Ain't Too Proud to Admit He Wanted To Be a Dolphin Trainer
This Detroit native had no idea that one day he would get to play one of the most influential people of his lifetime not once, but twice! Currently starring as Melvin Franklin, one of the original Temptations, his incredibly sexy and powerful bass voice tingles everyone's eardrums 8 times a week in Broadway's Ain't Too Proud.
Ep46 - Jackie Hoffman: A Personal Comedy Hour
Jackie Hoffman has solidified herself as one of the funniest women of her generation, perhaps even of all time. This Emmy-nominated, Obie-award-winning actress can currently be seen off-Broadway in the National Yiddish Theatre's production of Fiddler on the Roof as Yente the matchmaker.
Ep45 - Ken Davenport: Tony-Winning Producer, Writer & Theatre Entrepreneur
This 2-time Tony winning producer has a 26 year career directly involved with Broadway. As one of the most entrepreneurial people in the creative space, he continues to reinvent himself and how he is involved in Broadway.
Ep44 - Andrew Barth Feldman: High School Musical, Dear Evan Hansen
After winning the 2018 Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor, Andrew Barth Feldman found his way -- at the age of 16 -- into the title role of Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen, his first professional gig, ever.
Cereal: Part of a Broadway-Lover’s Complete Breakfast – Part 5: The Tony Awards, The Press Room
Part 5 – The Tony Awards: The Press Room: The 73rd Annual Tony Awards Awards took place on June 9th 2019, at the Radio City Musical Hall, hosted by James Corden. The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre.
Ep43 - Kate Rockwell: Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, Rock of Ages, and foodie!
Kate Rockwell is showing Broadway that playing dumb takes a lot of brains. Currently starring in Mean Girls as Karen Smith, she has just entered year two with the production. Kate has proven that practice and smarts are the best recipe for comedy.
Cereal: Part of a Broadway-Lover’s Complete Breakfast – Part 4: The Tony Awards, The Red Carpet
Part 4 – The Tony Awards: The Red Carpet: The 73rd Annual Tony Awards Awards took place on June 9th 2019, at the Radio City Musical Hall, hosted by James Corden. The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre.
Ep42 - Sarah Stiles: For the Billionth Time, Go See Tootsie
Sarah Stiles is taking the stage and screen by storm. She is currently starring in Tootsie The Musical on Broadway, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. She is also currently starring in Billions on Showtime. Sarah was born to hippie parents.
Cereal: Part of a Broadway-Lover’s Complete Breakfast – Part 3: The Drama Desk Awards, The Press Room
Part 3 – The Drama Desk Awards: The Press Room: The 64th Drama Desk Awards took place on June 2nd 2019, at the Town Hall Theatre on 43rd Street. The press room, where the winners are escorted after accepting their awards and giving their acceptance speech, was a few doors down on 43rd St at a local restaurant.
Ep41 - Diana Salameh & Erik Piepenburg: Marketing Agents Extraordinaire
You’ve seen Diana Salameh and Erik Piepenburg’s work but you may not know it. Diana and Erik are employees of NYC marketing agency Serino Coyne. Diana is the director of marketing and communications and Erik is a features editor.
Cereal: Part of a Broadway-Lover's Complete Breakfast - Part 2: The Drama Desk Awards, Red Carpet
Part 2 – The Drama Desk Awards: Red Carpet: The 64th Drama Desk Awards took place on June 2nd 2019, at the Town Hall Theatre on 43rd Street. The red carpet was setup on the corner of 43rd St and 6th Ave, which is where the content for this episode comes from.
Ep40 - Chase Brock, Choreographer: Be More Chill
Making his Broadway debut at just 16 years old in The Music Man, Chase Brock has grown into the role of choreographer on many projects on the stage and screen. He is perhaps most well known as the choreographer of Be More Chill, giving the show its distinct “finger tutting” style.
Cereal: Part of a Broadway-Lover's Complete Breakfast - Part 1: Tony Nominations
Part 1: Tony Nominations: Jillian wakes up early. Like super early. And heads to the New York Public Library of the Performing Arts and Lincoln Center to hear the 8am ET presentation of the 2019 Tony Award nominations.
Ep39 - Ann Harada: Capturing Our Hearts Since Avenue Q
Ann Harada captured our hearts in Avenue Q, where she played the insightful and hilarious Christmas Eve. She has been on Broadway since 1988, making her debut in M. Butterfly. She has played various roles in shows such as Seussical, Les Miserables, 9 to 5, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and more.
Ep38 - Caitlin Kinnunen & Isabelle McCalla: The Prom on Broadway
Caitlin Kinnunen and Isabelle McCalla are not only co-stars of The Prom, but real life besties. Playing Emma and Alyssa respectively, they have a strong sense of trust which is clear to all on and off the stage.
Ep37 - Des McAnuff: Tony Winning Director/Producer
Two Time Tony Winning Director Des McAnuff has been directing on Broadway for over 30 years. His latest Broadway hit, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life And Times of The Temptations has landed him another Tony nomination for best direction of a musical.
Ep36 - Casey Nicholaw: Tony Award Winning Director/Choreographer
Casey Nicholaw has been credited for having “galvanized the modern form of the classic musical comedy” – Playbill.com. The nine musical comedies he’s shepherded to Broadway thus far have earned 62 total Tony Award nominations and 14 wins.
Ep35 - Becca Lee, Teddy Toye, & Mary Antonini: A Loving Trio from Broadway's The Prom
This special episode features Becca Lee, Teddy Toye, and Mary Antonini, three of the amazing ensemble members from The Prom. Their real-life friendship translates to their on-stage characters in a way very few other shows can claim, adding to endless list of what makes The Prom such an amazing show to watch.
Ep34 - Christopher Sieber: He's Come a Long Way Since His Living Room Performances
As a young child, Christopher Sieber would create and perform his own shows in front of a window in his living room. The grass and unsuspecting passerby was his audience. Fast forward several yeras and he’s taken the plunge, moving to New York City.
The Prom Takeover - Bonus Callback to Beth Leavel and Dori Berinstein
Before there was the May 2019 The Prom takeover, there were episodes 9 and 14 with Beth Leavel and Dori Berinstein. Please take a moment to revisit their episodes to hear each of their unique stories! Find The Prom Online via ThePromMusical.com.
Ep33 - Angie Schworer: The Role was Literally Written for Her
A 28 year veteran of the Broadway stage, Angie Schworer, a true-life gypsy has been part of the original casts in 9 out of 11 of her Broadway credits, which include Will Rogers Follies, Annie Get Your Gun, Young Frankenstein, Catch Me If You Can, Something Rotten, The Producers, and more.
Ep32 - Warren Carlyle: Tony Award Winning Director/Choreographer
Warren Carlyle is a Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critic Circle Award winning director and choreographer. To top it all off, he was just nominated for 2019 Tony Award for best choreography for Kiss Me, Kate, now playing on Broadway through June 30, 2019.
Ep31 - Josh Lamon: Theatre Literally Saved His Life
Josh Lamon is currently starring as Sheldon in The Prom on Broadway (which was nominated for 7 2019 Tony Awards including best musical). Josh made his Broadway debut in 2009 in the revival of Hair before landing iconic roles in Elf, Finding Neverland, and Groundhog Day.
Ep30 - Michael Kushner: Photographer, Investor, Producer, Multi-Hyphenate
A true multi-hyphenate, Michael Kushner is an amazing example of how you can be heavily involved in theatre without being on stage all the time. He is an actor, producer, makeup artist, and photographer whose work has been featured in The New York Time, Vogue, The Tony Awards in addition to publications in print and online internationally.
Ep29 - Micaela Diamond: This Cher "Babe" Representing the Young, Queer Community
Micaela Diamond traded in freshmen year for opening night. This powerhouse 19 year old is currently making her Broadway debut as Babe in The Cher Show. A New Jersey/New York native, she has been training her whole life for this and is now taking the world by storm.
Ep28 - Loren Lott (aka Loren Sharice): Broadway Turned Soap Star
Loren Lott is the brilliant Broadway belter, turned TV star. She has appeared on Broadway in Motown the Musical and Once on this Island after making it to the top 16 in American Idol season 14. She is now playing Ana Hamilton in The Young and the Restless.
Ep27 - Brandon Uranowitz: Being His Authentic Self
Brandon Uranowitz is a two-time Tony-nominated actor best known for his roles as Adam in An American in Paris and Mendel in the 2016 Broadway revival of Falsettos. Both roles resulted in his Tony nominations. He was also nominated for a Drama Desk award for Falsettos.
Ep26 - Jarrod Spector: Record Breaker, Heart Taker
Tony nominee Jarrod Spector made his Broadway debut as Gavroche in the original production of Les Misérables, and went on to play a record-breaking 1500 performances as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys on Broadway.
Ep25 - Patti Murin: Frozen, Lysistrata Jones, Xanadu, Wicked
Patti Murin made her Broadway debut in 2007 in Xanadu. She went on to originate the title character of Lysistrata Jones in 2011. Following that, she played Glinda in the first national tour of Wicked in 2012.
Ep24 - Noah J. Ricketts: A Childhood Injury Kicked Off His Broadway Dreams
After starting as an ensemble member and understudy, Noah J. Ricketts has taken over the role of Kristoff in Frozen the Musical on Broadway. The Louisville native first began performing when a childhood injury left him with a broken wrist and a theatre summer camp.
Ep23 - Tom Kitt: Composer, Arranger, Orchestrator and Music Director
Tony, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Kitt has been writing and arranging music for over three decades. He talks about his long career on and off Broadway and how his art grows with him. Tom is best known for Next To Normal, Bring It On, American Idiot, and many others.
Ep22 - Ryann Redmond: The First Woman to Play Olaf
Currently starring in Frozen the Musical on Broadway as Olaf, she is the first woman in history to play this role on any stage or screen! She made her broadway debut as the original Bridget in the Reading, Workshop, World Premiere, National Tour, and Broadway production of Tony Nominated Bring It On: The Musical.
Ep21 - Joe Carroll: The Prince of Broadway
Joe Carroll joins us this week to kick off our Disney’s Frozen on Broadway takeover month. Joe recently joined the company of Frozen as Prince Hans, but he’s no stranger to playing a prince. He formally played Prince Topher in Cinderella.
Ep20 - Christopher Ashley: Tony Award Winning Director and Mastermind behind La Jolla Playhouse
Tony winning director Christopher Ashley is best know for various shows including Come From Away, Memphis, Xanadu, and All Shook Up and is the artistic director of the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego.
Ep19 - John Bolton: How to Succeed in Comedy Without Really Trying
With over 25 years in the industry, John Bolton is the ultimate showman. He made his Broadway debut in 1994 and has been honing his comedy skills ever since. In this episode, John discusses his upbringing in Rochester, New York, where he was a leading member of his community theatre.
Ep18 - Chad Kimball: Kicking An Adderall Addiction and Starring on Broadway
This episode features Tony nominee Chad Kimball, currently starring in the Broadway production of Come From Away. The episode discusses a wide range of topics from Chad’s early life in Seattle, to attending Boston Conservatory, joining Civil War on Broadway three weeks before closing, and even how he kicked his addiction to adderall after severely hurting himself during Memphis.
Ep17 - Jana Robbins & Haley Swindal: This Friendship Can't Quit You
Visiting the podcast this episode are the dynamic duo Jana Robbins and Haley Swindal – a pair that meet somewhat recently in This One’s For the Girls off-Broadway and have gone on to become a producing, acting, singing, writing powerhouse team.
Ep16 - Harrison Chad: The Voice of Tarzan and Boots from Dora the Explorer
Harrison Chad may have been a big part of your childhood without you even knowing it. Best known for his voiceover performance of Boots from Dora The Explorer and Tarzan in Tarzan 2, Harrison has been in the entertainment business for most of his life.
Bonus - Loveville High Launch Party
In this special bonus episode, we talk to the cast and creative team of Loveville High – A Prom In Nine Musical Podcasts at their NYC launch party. Learn all about how this musical podcast came to be, what the cast loves about it, and even some embarrassing prom stories.
Ep15 - Kathryn Allison: A Rising Broadway Powerhouse to Keep Your Eye On
This week’s episode is with Kathryn Allison. In 2014 she was chosen out of 200 singers to win the NY Musical Theatre Festival’s Next Big Broadway Sensation contest put on my New World Stages.
Ep14 - Dori Berinstein: 4-Time Tony Award Winning Producer
Dori Berinstein is a four-time Tony Award-winning producer, Emmy Award-winning director, and Robert Whitehead Award recipient from the Commercial Theater Institute. She began her career at Morgan Stanley in Mergers & Acquisitions before transitioning to strategic planning for NBC and Paramount.
Ep13 - Michael Lee Brown: From Understudy to Alternate, Dear Evan Hansen is Where He Will Be Found
This week we speak with Michael Lee Brown. Michael made his Broadway debut in Dear Evan Hansen as an understudy for the three male teens; Evan, Connor, and Jared. He is now the Evan Hansen alternate, in which he takes the stage weekly to play the role, all while still understudying the roles of Connor and Jared.
Ep12 - Alison Burns & Lulu Picart from the 10KDollarDay Comedy Podcast
Actresses, singers, teachers, composers, comedians, and hosts of 10KDollarDay, a podcast about fake luxury travel, Alison Burns Jackson and Lulu Picart tell the story of who they are, how they met, their theatre history, and why podcasting has become their new passion.
Ep11 - Ani DiFranco: Grammy Award Winning Singer, Songwriter, Poet, and Activist
Ani DiFranco is certainly no stranger to performing in front of thousands. She is a gold record maker, grammy award winner, and one of this generation’s leading ladies of rock.
Ep10 - 2018 Wrap Up with Alan Seales and Jillian Hochman
This week host Alan Seales and Producer Jillian Hochman present their favorite shows of 2018, both on and off Broadway. Favorites include: Spongebob Squarepants The Musical, Head Over Heels, The Prom, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two, Hamilton, The Band’s Visit, Daniel’s Husband, The Cher Show, Lifespan of a Fact, King Kong, and many more.
Ep9 - Beth Leavel: The Prom, The Drowsy Chaperone, 42nd Street
This week’s guest is Raleigh, North Carolina native Beth Leavel! Beth currently stars as Dee Dee Allen in The Prom on Broadway. She made her Broadway debut in the original cast of 42nd Street and was featured again in the 2001 revival.
Ep8 - Ali Stroker; Oklahoma!, Spring Awakening, Loveville High
Ali Stroker is unstoppable. We fell in love with her while she was on The Glee Project but in recent years has made history as the first person in a wheelchair on Broadway in the 2015 production of Deaf West’s Spring Awakening.
Ep7 - Orfeh: Legally Blonde, Pretty Woman, Saturday Night Fever
The Broadway belter talks about how she never actually expected to end up on Broadway after her early pop career as one half of the duo Or-N-More. Orfeh dreamt of pop stardom while growing up in New York City. Broadway was never a goal of hers.
Ep6 - Nancy Opel: Urinetown, Wicked, Evita... where should we stop?
Nancy Opel has a long career spanning over three decades. She is now appearing on Broadway as Wicked’s Madame Morrible. She was nominated for the 2002 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical and won an Obie as Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown.
Ep5 - Bonnie Milligan (aka Broadway's Beltress): Head Over Heels
Bonnie Milligan discusses her childhood, growing up in a religious household in Illinois, finding self confidence in controlling her narrative, and the importance of representation on the stage.
Ep4 - Andy Karl: Pretty Woman, Legally Blonde, Rocky, Altar Boyz
Olivier Award winning and three time Tony nominated actor Andy Karl joins us this week. Throughout his time in New York, he has done 13 Broadway shows, earning him the trust of the Broadway community.
Ep3 - Wesley Taylor: Spongebob Squarepants, Indoor Boys, Rock of Ages
This week we talk to actor, singer, dancer, writer, and director Wesley Taylor. Wesley speaks to growing up in Orlando with the performance bug. He landed his first role on Broadway six months out of college originating the role of Franz in Rock of Ages.
Ep2 - Ariana DeBose: The Prom, Donna Summer, Hamilton, SYTYCD
This week we speak with 2018 Tony nominee Ariana DeDose. She discusses how her early childhood as a competitive dancer led her to So You Think You Can Dance. She eventually moved to New York to land her first job on her first day in the city.
Ep1 - An Introduction to The Theatre Podcast
Intimate, personal conversations with theatre’s biggest talents, ranging all across the spectrum of individuals involved in the professional theatre industry. It features both stars and creatives such as producers, stage managers, directors, press and marketing agents, or even the people who own the theaters themselves.
Podcast Trailer
Intimate, personal conversations with the biggest talents from professional theatre, tv, film, and more. Hear their secrets, what makes them laugh, stresses them out, and how they manage the anxiety of success.
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