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. She looks back on her time in “Little Shop of Horrors”, her audition process in “SIX The Musical” and the sisterhood among cast members. She moved around during the pandemic, “broke, alone and free”, realizing that part of her needed that freedom to grow. Now st...
Apr 09, 2024•46 min•Ep. 318
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. She also reflects on her role in “Titanique”, the challenges and joys of portraying Celine Dion, including incorporating her own style while honoring the character's legacy, and how the show helped her grow as a performer. Now part of “...
Apr 05, 2024•58 min•Ep. 317
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. He talks about the influence of Jim Henson in his career, how devastated he was when Jim died, and how one earnest letter he sent Jim when he was eight years old led to working for “Sesame Street” a...
Apr 02, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 316
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. Cecily opens up about how she relates to the play’s themes, reflecting on her own experiences of loss and self-discovery, particularly the loss of her cousin to brain canc...
Mar 29, 2024•51 min•Ep. 315
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. She shares how she chooses which projects to work on, given her busy schedule, her creative process, and making sure to foster a sense of involvement and connection with her children in whatever she does. She also ...
Mar 26, 2024•57 min•Ep. 314
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. Despite growing up surrounded by artists, he opens up feeling alone at one point when his dad wasn’t fully on board with his dream of pursuing an acting career yet. Playing the lead role in the production of “The Who’s T...
Mar 19, 2024•45 min•Ep. 313
Exclusive interviews from inside the 'The Outsiders' rehearsal room on a special, invite-only press junket. Watch the behind the scenes video here: https://www.instagram.com/theatre_podcast/reel/C4mRRe6uoYG/ Hear from: Brody Grant (Ponyboy Curtis) Sky Lakota-Lynch (Johnny Cade) Joshua Boone (Dallas Winston) Brent Comer (Darrel Curtis) Jason Schmidt (Sodapop Curtis) Emma Pittman (Cherry Vallance) Daryl Tofa (Two-Bit Matthews) Kevin William Paul (Bob Sheldon) Dan Berry (Paul Holden) Tilly Evans-Kr...
Mar 16, 2024•31 min
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. Marc highlights the unique aspects of “Double Dare”, how he landed the job, and his creative input in the physical challenges and the show's distinctive nose that’s supposedly modeled after his own. His of...
Mar 12, 2024•25 min•Ep. 312
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. Sam Beckett (Becket?), and some interesting behind-the-scenes details including whether or not that final end screen of the series actually has a typo! With so many changes that occurred post-pandemic, he shares his thoughts on doing self-tapes for auditions, why he thinks it’s bec...
Mar 05, 2024•53 min•Ep. 311
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. From concert dance to musical theatre, she reveals how she got the courage to pursue her passion despite facing skepticism and stereotypes as a black female choreographer in a field dominated by mal...
Feb 27, 2024•47 min•Ep. 310
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. She expands on this as shares her journey, revealing her initial passive disposition, which contrasts with her willingness to embrace diverse experiences–the duality of man, as they say. From playing the piano and writing songs at an early age, Anoushka talks about her upbringing, writing...
Feb 20, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 309
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. Currently starring in "Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy", they talk about how they got involved with the show, hitting it off on the first meeting, and the allure of cults and how people get drawn into them. Wi...
Feb 13, 2024•50 min•Ep. 308
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”. He shares how he got started by going to his first audition at the age of 12 – a funny but inspiring anecdote on why you shouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer easily. Jai also re...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 307
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. Melissa also reveals the reason behind her Instagram username, what it’s like raising kids in a “tough city”, and how theatre became her place to organize her emotions. Living in New York, she’s developed a deep connection with the city, which also reflects on her exploration of Sondheim's profound relationship with Man...
Jan 30, 2024•55 min•Ep. 306
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”. She reflects on her childhood, what got her into performing and theatre, and the shows she drew inspiration from. She also looks back into her early career, including moving to New York as a theater major after college, and the realities of the industry that le...
Jan 23, 2024•10 min•Ep. 305
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. Believing in the transformative power of storytelling, it became her sanctuary to explore profound questions about life and death, including reading (listening to, and watching) “The Secret Ga...
Jan 16, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 304
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. Currently starring in “Spamalot”, she takes pride in the exceptional ensemble dynamics in the show and shares how she’s approaching her role as The Lady of the Lake. She also provides an insider's perspective on the decision-making process behind...
Jan 09, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 303
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. They find joy in interacting with fellow actors, exploring characters, and being present in the moment. Ellen also delves into the challenges artists face, highlightin...
Jan 02, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 302
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. What was your favorite show of 2023? What are you most looking forward to seeing in 2024? Tag me in your stories and let me know! Connect with Diana: Instagram: @_di...
Dec 26, 2023•55 min•Ep. 301
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. She reflects on her journey as an actress, moving to New York in her early 20s and being intimidated by the city, leaving and eventually finding her way back. Being involved with the original creation of “Wicked”, Stephanie recalls how she dealt with rejection and why she believes that rejection is protection. S...
Dec 19, 2023•57 min•Ep. 300
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. Hailing from a large family of 11 siblings, he shares how the importance of education was instilled to them by his parents. Despite his family's support for school plays, his strict upbringing and limited resources led Norbert to sneakily pursue his love for acting. Norbert eventually ha...
Dec 12, 2023•44 min•Ep. 299
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”. He shares insights into his journey from television to the Broadway stage, including how he landed the role, finally fulfilling one of his lifelong dreams. Casey reflects on the challenges and rewards of performing on Broadway, including the supportive and encouraging atmosphere within the "Mouli...
Dec 05, 2023•45 min•Ep. 298
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. Celebrating her first anniversary on the show, Lili shares the unique experience of being part of a production with constantly changing casts, and the show’s dynamics, including the encouragement for actors to bring their individuality to their characters. She also talks about her Broadway debut and the excitement of performing on op...
Dec 01, 2023•54 min•Ep. 297
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”. The conversation also delves into his play "Fat Ham" wherein he reflects on its creative process, the play's resonance, and the impact it had, especially in the context of Black and queer representation...
Nov 28, 2023•54 min•Ep. 296
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. He recounts his initial reactions to being cast as Harry Potter and the overwhelming nature of playing a famous character. He shares his experiences with the production, the preparation involved, and the unique aspects of the show, including the magical illusions and set design that immerse the...
Nov 21, 2023•46 min•Ep. 295
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. The two look ba...
Nov 17, 2023•49 min•Ep. 294
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. Starting his acting career at age three, Casey talks about his road to Broadway and the lessons he learned from his mom who’s also an actress. The rising star shares how he initially heard about "Back to the Future: The Musical" when it was announced in 2018, considering it a fun idea to play Marty...
Nov 14, 2023•58 min•Ep. 293
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. Having experiences with improv comedy, Liana highlights the importance of trust and vulnerability in improvisation, and how it helped her to embrace unpredictability and let go of perfectionis...
Nov 07, 2023•52 min•Ep. 292
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. Merritt talks about the show’s influence on his childhood and describes being a part of the show as a pinch-me moment for him, Jelani discusses his early experiences with performing and touring and the two talk about their experiences with the production of "Back to the Future" , how they auditioned for their roles, and ...
Oct 31, 2023•46 min•Ep. 291
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. He talks about his initial goal of becoming the youngest baritone to make his debut at the Metropolitan Opera and life lessons along the way that made him realize the music theater commun...
Oct 24, 2023•56 min•Ep. 290
