Geffen Playhouse Unscripted

Executive Director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Tom Viola joins Rory to talk about ways to help support actors, artists, and Broadway during this challenging time. Now more than ever it is vital to help keep those who bring so much light into the lives of other afloat. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit www.broadwaycares.org/help2020.

Producer Eva Price joins Rory to talk about "Jagged Little Pill" the musical, the difficulty of having Broadway close during this trying time, how to stay positive, and how Broadway will inevitably bounce back!

Poet, playwright, author, and lyricist Steven Sater joins Rory to talk about the challenges he faced growing up often sick, how it led to his love of writing and theater, teaching himself ancient Greek, Spring Awakening, and his new book "Alice by Heart."

Writer and creator of "Kidding" on Showtime, Dave Holstein joins Rory to talk about his work on Weeds, writing the "Kidding" pilot a decade ago but keeping it relevant, and the long, arduous, but ultimately worthwhile pursuit of Jim Carrey.

Playwright and co-founder of Vampire Cowboys, Qui Nguyen joins Rory at the Geffen to talk about his new show, "Revenge Song." Learn the challenges of adapting a real life story, starting his own theater company, his geeky influences, and the joy of bending genres for the stage.

Geffen Playhouse Unscripted returns with a very special conversation as Rory talks to longtime friend, South Park co-creator, Book of Mormon co-creator, and all around hilarious and thought provoking writer/producer/director, Trey Parker.

Playwright Larissa FastHorse joins Rory to talk about her show currently at the Geffen, "The Thanksgiving Play." Plus, she discusses the challenges faced in her writing career, "performative wokeness", and her conscious decision to write the play with 4 non-indigenous leads.

Actor William Jackson Harper joins Rory to talk about his time on and off Broadway, his career being changed by landing "The Good Place", the writing process, and his upcoming film, "Dark Waters."

Happy Veteran’s Day! On this special podcast, we feature three monologues from the 2019 Veterans Writing and Performance Project, written and performed by veterans themselves. Learn more about this program here.

Legendary Casting Director Jeff Greenberg joins Rory to talk about the joy of casting plays as he’s cast Key Largo, now running at the Geffen. Plus, groundbreaking casting and changing how audiences view certain people and characters on things like Modern Family, Cheers, and Frasier.

FOX Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier and Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan sit down to discuss trends in the industry and share stories about a friendship that has spanned strikes, spin-offs and the rise of streaming.”

Writer Tim Federle joins Rory to talk about his new Disney+ series, "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" starting streaming November 12th. Plus, his work on the Academy Award nominated Ferdinand and his long career in New York!

Cleveland Cavaliers basketball player and former UCLA standout Kevin Love joins psychology expert Michelle Craske, Ph.D., from the UCLA College for a discussion delving into the causes of and issues related to anxiety and depression.

Actress Jenn Colella joins Rory to talk about her work in "Come From Away" on Broadway, her and Rory's friendship and bonding over Happy Days The Musical, and getting started in the LA comedy scene!

Actress Maura Tierney sits down with Rory to talk about her work on stage at the Geffen right now in, "Witch." Plus, the benefits of working with a female creative team, her early roles, and the malleability of the theater.

Actor Michael James Scott joins Rory to talk about playing the Genie in Aladdin, their meeting during Book of Mormon, how to make a performance feel like the first time despite having done it for a long time, his training, and watching new actors take on roles they've previously played.

Actress Vella Lovell joins Rory to talk about her new starring role in "Witch" at the Geffen. Plus, her time on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, working with Rachel Bloom, attending not one but TWO colleges for the arts, the importance of diverse voices in the arts, and doing shows off...off Broadway.

Legendary composer Danny Elfman joins Rory to talk about his recently joining social media, how negative reviews early in his career helped create his success, beginning as a street musician, how he went from rock star to film composer, and his recent classical work and new violin concerto, “Eleven Eleven.”

Tony winner Lindsay Mendez joins Rory to talk about their working together on a project that never quite made it to Broadway, the differences between being on a stage and a set, working jobs before the big break, and her new CBS show "All Rise".

Criminal Minds star Kirsten Vangness sits down with Rory to talk about the challenge getting started in the Los Angeles theater community, the importance of LA actors knowing their value, loving the art in yourself and not yourself in the art, the serendipity of how Criminal Minds came about for her, and writing for the show.

Actress Cynthia Erivo joins Rory for a special interview from Atlanta where she talks about her brand new serialized podcast "Carrier", her growing film and TV resume, her feelings when she first came to Broadway, and whether or not she's planning a return!

Will Roland joins Rory in New York to talk about his new show, "Be More Chill" and the reception its received. Plus, they talking about how being a native New Yorker influences his work, his Broadway history, and working on "Dear Evan Hansen."

Broadway and West End veteran Gavin Creel joins Rory to talk about the career journey and different perspectives you have with each age milestone, teaching, the challenge acting in film/tv versus on the stage, his many Tony noms, and seeing yourself within your characters.

Kerry Butler, currently starring in Beetlejuice on Broadway, sits down with Rory to talk about the show, her big break in Hairspray, and her very successful Broadway career. Plus, working with students and teaching the patience to have on the way to succeeding.

Actor Alan Tudyk sits down with Rory to talk about his new show, “Mysterious Circumstances”, now running at the Geffen. Learn his background in the theater, his journey to New York, his voice acting career, the surprise of landing a role in “Spamalot!”, and his web-series “Con Man.” Plus, hear his HUGE Firefly prediction!

Actress, writer, and show-runner Jamie Denbo joins Rory to talk about her new show, "American Princess" currently airing now on Lifetime on Sundays at 10/9c. Plus, learn how her own personal history with Renaissance Fairs influenced the authenticity of the show!

Actor Will Chase talks to Rory about his role in "Kiss Me Kate" opposite Kelli O'Hara. Plus, how he got his start and his extensive Broadway career and returning to the stage after a successful career in front of the camera.

Tony Award winner Kelli O'Hara joins Rory to talk about her nominated role this season in "Kiss Me Kate", her acting career in front of the camera, Emmy nomination, and her family.

Noah Galvin joins Rory to talk about his long theater career, starring in Waitress on Broadway, his role in the upcoming film Booksmart, and being an out gay actor from a young age.

Two time Tony nominated actor Brandon Uranowitz talks with Rory, from New York, about the revival of “Burn This” he’s currently starring in on Broadway, working with Keri Russell and Adam Driver, the lightning in a bottle of “Falsettos”, the differences playing a gay character in 2019 vs 1987, and dealing with rejection.

Glee stars Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz join Rory to talk about the show that launched their careers, Jenna's love of the theater and possibly forcing Kevin to do Broadway, the blossoming of their friendship, and, of course, their new podcast!

Rory gets a little nervous talking to theater legend Fiona Shaw! She talks about the latest season of “Killing Eve” and working with creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge and co-star Sandra Oh. Plus, how her career got started, the challenge of taking on a male role for Richard II, and what it was like to be a part of the Harry Potter phenomenon.

Writer Inda Craig- Galván talks to Rory about her new play at the Geffen, “Black Super Hero Magic Mama.” She discusses how she decided to tell this story, dealing with the loss of a son and using comic books as an escape, her background in sketch comedy writing, and how, when you something to say, it will come through for you.

Colman Domingo sits down with Rory to talk about balancing writing, acting, success, and life, his new show “Lights Out: Nat King Cole” at the Geffen, and the importance of centering it’s story around Nat’s TV show. Plus, learn about the show that saved his life…and how he and Rory were nominated for the same Tony...that they both lost.

Actress Heléne Yorke talks with Rory about her new Comedy Central show, The Other Two, her long career on Broadway and major influences, making a character your own, and working on Bullets Over Broadway and American Psycho.

Actor Dulé Hill talks with Rory about his role as Nat King Cole in, “Lights Out: Nat King Cole” at the Geffen. Plus, his extensive career going all the way back to being a young dancer. And, how working on West Wing and Pysch strengthened his craft as an actor.

It’s just friends catching up as Megan Hilty and Rory O’Malley talk about their long friendship, their time at Carnegie Mellon, getting called up to Broadway at a young age, her career changing role in Wicked, and, of course, Smash!

Host Rory O’Malley sits down with actress and comedian Julia Sweeney about her upbringing in, specifically, the Pacific Northwest, her career beginning in accounting, discovering the Groundlings, landing SNL, creating the icon of Pat, and not being afraid to take your focus off of acting to focus on family.

Director Steven Robman talks with host Amy Levinson about how he got bit by the theater bug, having a few reunions in his work at the Geffen, how he works and collaborates with playwrights, pitching his passion to those he works with, and the differences between directing for the stage, film, and TV.

Tony nominee and “Book of Mormon’s” Rory O’Malley joins Gil to talk about his time with such a unique show, his work on the “Belt the Vote” campaign, his current show “Pub Crawl”, which focuses on his real-life story growing up in Cleveland amidst the Irish pub crawl community, and his podcast! Plus, his trip to Ireland that had him accidentally running into a father he had not seen in many years.

Supergirl showrunner Jessica Queller and Executive Producer Greg Berlanti join Daniel Beaty to talk about their all-star casting, one night only reading of “Terms of Endearment” at the Geffen to benefit Stand Up to Cancer. They discuss the difficulty of losing a mother to cancer and how it fuels their desire to fight the disease and give back.

Actress Rosemarie DeWitt joins Gil Cates Jr. at the Geffen Playhouse to talk about her new film "Arizona", the challenges of dark comedy, the journey and research being a fun chapter in the creative process, and her first acting experiences.

The Geffen Playhouse's artistic director Matt Shakman returns to talk with Gil about what audiences can expect and what to be excited for in their upcoming season.

Actress and writer Amanda Peet sits down with the Geffen's Amy Levinson to talk about her new show at the Playhouse, "Our Very Own Carlin McCullough".

Actor Harry Hadden-Paton joins Gil to talk about his work currently starring in “My Fair Lady” at the Lincoln Center Theater, the immensity of a 30 piece orchestra backing a cast of 30, the challenge of doing his first musical, his work on “The Crown”, and what attracts him to a script.

Actress Judith Light sits down with Daniel to talk about the homework and process of her work, the importance of the arts in culture, going back to the theater after "Who's the Boss?", and being your authentic self.

Actress Jenifer Lewis joins Daniel to talk about her career, addressing taboo topics in her new book, and the one woman show art form.

Director Michael Mayer and producer Tom Hulce and actors Annette Bening and Jon Tenney join Daniel Beaty for a special Q&A following a screening of their new film, "The Seagull" at the WGA theater. Hear why they made the time to make the film and the process of adapting Chekhov.

Guest host Dana Delany sits down with Josh Radnor about his new show “RISE” on NBC, how teaching is in his blood, performing music with his band, his Jewish upbringing informing him as a story teller, working so that your craft meets your taste, and finding his present-day spirituality.

Roma Downey joins Daniel to talk about her book, "Box of Butterflies", how the loss of her mother at a young age influenced her, working on "Touched By an Angel", its role on her faith, and remaining faithful in an industry where it seems unpopular.

Actor John Ross Bowie joins guest host Dana Delany to talk about his performance in “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” running at the Garry Marshall Theater, coming from UCB, his show “Speechless” on ABC opening his eyes to accessibility, writing a Deep Focus on “Heathers”, and his theater and acting background.