The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

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. Apart from performing, the actor shares his love for gaming and what it's like to be a professional eSports athlete, including his day-to-day work in the gaming space. Jordan talks about what's different about this production of Sweeney this time and their take on the piece, which will look, feel and sound familiar but bigger and larger at the same time—the most realistic telling of the story, if you will. Jordan Fisher is an actor, singer, songwriter, producer, and gamer who has done numerous projects in the TV, movie, theatre, and gaming industry. He can be seen in Netflix's "Work It" and "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" sequel, The CW's "The Flash", and most recently, Netflix's "Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between" and HBO's "Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Underground Rock Experience". Apart from acting, he's an avid gamer and has commentated for the 2019 Fortnite World Cup. Jordan was also the first Black actor to portray the title character of Evan in "Dear Evan Hansen" and Mark in the Emmy-nominated "Rent: Live". He was also named a breakout star by MTV and People Magazine for Fox's Emmy-winning broadcast "Grease Live!" and won ABC's 25th season of Dancing with the Stars. He collaborated with Lin-Manuel Miranda wherein he performed a duet with him for Disney's "Moana" soundtrack and joined the cast of the Tony Award-winning musical, "Hamilton". Jordan is part of the upcoming production of "Sweeney Todd" on Broadway on March 26, 2023, and you can also catch him streaming on Twitch. Connect with Jordan: Website: www.marlamindelle.com Instagram: @jordanfisher, @jordanfishergaming Twitch: @jordanfisher Twitter: @jordanfisher YouTube: @@jordanfisher TikTok: @jordan_fisher Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Despite people telling her to switch to vocal performance, Sierra stayed as a musical theatre major so she can “graduate a triple threat.” She recalls how she got to do Phantom in Las Vegas which changed the trajectory of her career. She considers leaning into acting as the most important aspect no matter what you're doing and always considers her character's need at the moment to help her with how she's going to sing or dance. Being a part of "The Secret Garden" now playing at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, Sierra talks about the different messages of the show, her relationship with Lucy and how they're honoring her, and the contrast between working with adults and kids. She also gets real about her beliefs, her relationship with fans, knowing what your truth is and why you shouldn't let anyone take your love of performing away. Sierra Boggess is an Olivier-nominated actress who made her Broadway debut in 2007, originating the role of Ariel in "The Little Mermaid" wherein she received Drama Desk and Drama League nominations. She's also best known for her re-inventing the coveted role of Christine Daae in Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera". In fact, Lord Webber himself went on record to say that she's the best Christine. Her other stage credits include "It Shoulda Been You", "School of Rock", "Master Class", "Love, Loss, and What I Wore", and "Music in the Air". She also starred in London West End's "Les Miserables", and "Love Never Dies". Currently, Sierra is playing Lily Craven in "The Secret Garden" at Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theatre. Connect with Sierra: Website: www.sierraboggess.com Instagram: @officialsierraboggess Get tickets to The Secret Garden: http://ahmansontheatre.org Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. She chronicles her life from booking her first show and her experience as an actress to moving to Los Angeles to become a television and film writer. For Marla, writing as a career is harder than acting, proven by her humble beginnings in L.A. where she also worked at a "ratchet" dinner theatre venue doing movie and musical parodies. Ironically, this is also where the idea for "Titanique" was born. She shares the musical's (long) journey to success, including getting Celine Dion's team's blessing and keeping the script fresh and up-to-date, and how timing and the team's goal of making each other and the audience genuinely cackle are a huge part of its success. Marla Mindelle is an actress, writer, and composer who made her Broadway debut in "South Pacific" and originated the role of Sister Mary Robert in "Sister Act" as well as the role of the evil stepsister Gabrielle in the 2013 revival of "Cinderella". She also played Kitty in the first national tour of “The Drowsy Chaperone” and the evil boss Olivia in the Emmy-nominated series "Special" on Netflix. Her other tv and film credits include “The Nomads”, “Life in Pieces”, and “The Devil's B*tch”. As a writer and composer, she has had multiple writing projects sold and is in the works. Currently, she can be seen on stage playing Celine Dion in "Titanique" at the Daryl Roth Theatre, a musical she also co-wrote. Connect with Marla: Website: www.marlamindelle.com Instagram: @marlamindelle, @titaniquemusical Get tickets to Titanique Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. From getting separated from his twin and sneaking out of an orphanage when he was a little over 13 to renting an apartment in New York that was possibly run by the mob and eventually moving to LA to pursue a career in writing, his life is anything but boring. Robert talks about how he got his first gig and how it was kismet, what a showrunner really does and why it's great training for theatre, and his myopic approach when it comes to writing jokes. He looks back on his life in New York City during the 70's, which included working all sorts of jobs, including writing monologues for actors and working as a phone sex operator.  Robert has two productions currently on stage - the first is Disney's “Hercules”, currently open at the Papermill Playhouse, the other is “Shucked”, which begins previews on March 8th. With his long list of works and achievements, Robert reminds us that we should never stop learning how to laugh at ourselves and follow our instincts.  Robert Horn is a Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and New York Drama Critics' Circle award-winning book writer. His career started in film and television where he worked as a writer on the CBS series "Designing Women" and as a writer and producer on the Fox series "Living Single". Following that, he created and Executive Produced the CBS series "High Society". He was also signed to an overall production deal with Warner Brothers Studios, where he developed, wrote, and executive-produced numerous network pilots and series. He also signed a script deal at Sony Studios and an overall pilot deal at ABC studios. Together with Bob Boyett, he created and wrote the FX series “Partners”. Robert's Broadway credits include "Dame Edna", "13 The Musical", "Back With A Vengeance", and "Tootsie" among others.  Connect with Robert: Instagram: @rhorn1 Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"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. He shares where his love for theatre started, being a jack-of-all-trades type of person growing up, making it into Broadway and what it's like meeting a new generation of artists today that aspire to have the same profession. Jelani recalls his "The Lion King" journey, from the first time he saw the show to having a full circle moment of playing the role of Simba for years. This experience was eye-opening for him... becoming an inspiration and making connections with people. He was a standby when he first got the job for "Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations" and enjoyed being a swing because while it can be a lot of pressure sometimes, it also helps him explore and test his abilities. Jelani also shares his experience with accidents on stage and why the show must go on, Broadway as a sport, and that “no” doesn't no, it just means not right now, so if you're an aspiring actor, make sure to stay ready and always be prepared. Jelani Remy is an actor best known for his role as Simba in the Broadway, National Tour, and Vegas company of Disney's "The Lion King". He was also part of Disney's "High School Musical" and "High School Musical 2", "Parade", "Cabaret", Broadway's "Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations" where he played the role of Eddie Kendricks, “The Apple Boys”, and the Off-Broadway production of "Smokey Joe's Cafe" among others. Jelani will be the guest in the upcoming Broadway Lecture Series at StageWorks at Studio 237 on March 11, 2023. Connect with Jelani: Instagram: @itsjelaniremy Check out the Broadway Lecture Series: broadwaylectureseries.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Julie and Diane have known each other for decades now and the two chronicle their journey from being in the same sorority to finally working together on many successful projects. Having worked on fan experiences, Diane explains what it's like building sets of popular tv shows and movies and the overall process of building a set. Julie, on the other hand, talks about an event staffing agency she started in 2009 to help Broadway performers, which then pushed her to pursue her dream of being on the producing end of Broadway. This shift was also the beginning of Diane and Julie's partnerships. With a similar mindset of creating something that doesn't exist yet, it's no surprise that the two would work together to create a museum dedicated to Broadway. Julie and Diane share how it all started, the challenges they came across along the way, and how they made it an immersive experience for the visitors. Following its success, the two share their standout, pinch-me moments, including a visit from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, and the overall positive reception from people—a true mark that they have created something impactful and lasting for the theatre community. Julie Boardman is a two-time Tony Award-winning producer who is currently a co-producer on the Broadway revival of "Funny Girl" and “A Doll's House”. Her other Broadway credits include "An American in Paris", "Carousel", "Company", "Dames at Sea", "Head Over Heels", "Hughie", "Indecent", and "The Inheritance". Her tour credits include "An American in Paris", "Dreamgirls", and "Peter and the Starcatcher". Apart from being a Tony voter and member of The Broadway League, Julie is also on the Theatre Committee at New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and the Leadership Council for the Costume Industry Coalition among others. Her company, Boardman Productions, has worked with numerous leading brands including Nike, Maybelline, Vogue, Victoria's Secret, Microsoft, Diet Coke, Samsung, Game of Thrones, and Disney's The Lion King on their activations and fan experiences. Diane Nicoletti is a creative director, producer, and entrepreneur, who has produced some of the biggest events in fan experiences for two decades now, including the Game of Thrones Fan Experience, Gretzky's Retirement Gala, and brand activations at the Super Bowl, Comic-Con, CES, and SXSW. She's also the founder of the award-winning experiential marketing agency, Rubik Marketing, and has had the privilege of working on amazing properties like Game of Thrones, Deadpool, Frozen Hotel Transylvania, Dumbo, Shark Tank, The Muppets, How To Train Your Dragon, American Horror Story, Ghostbusters, among many others. Connect with Julie and Diane: Museum of Broadway: www.themuseumofbroadway.com Instagram: @museumofbroadway Julie's Instagram: @msjulieboardman Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Infected by her mom's love for Broadway shows, Ilana was introduced to the world of theatre at an early age. After getting a haircut by one of the most handsome people she's ever seen when she was 18 years old, she ended up at his acting studio in New York and walked into a room of people performing a private moment exercise, which changed everything in her life from that moment on, including her college major. Chance after chance, and with the luck of being surrounded by other talented people, Ilana highlights the importance of having an artistic community where you can "fail beautifully over and over again." Apart from acting, Ilana also entered the podcast universe in 2016. According to her supportive friends, there's something about her that makes it easy for people to open up about all sorts of things. Today, she hosts a couple of podcast shows, which to her have become a great avenue and a safe space for people to share stories, and complex issues. This, and her love for creating art with others, tie in neatly with what motivates her in life: connecting. Ilana Levine is an actress best known for her role as Lucy Van Pelt in the Broadway revival of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown". She also starred on Broadway's “Jake's Women”, "Wrong Mountain" and "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" and performed at the Tony Awards. Ilana also appeared in many television shows and movies, including the infamous Seinfeld episode, "The Contest", "Law & Order", "Tanner '88", "Damages", "Tanner and Tanner", "Failure to Launch", "Friends with Kids", "The Nanny Diaries", and "Confessions of a Shopaholic" among others. In 2016, she started hosting the podcast show, “Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine”. Today, she also hosts the podcast shows, “And the Award Goes To... Hosted by Ilana Levine” and “How To Be More Chill”. Connect with Ilana: Listen to And the Award Goes To: bpn.fm/atagt Listen to How to Be More Chill: bpn.fm/howtobemorechill Instagram: @littleknownfactspodcast Twitter: @ilanalevine Website: littleknownfactspodcast.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Apart from theatre, Brandon is also doing advocacy work. He talks about the We Are Foundation which he created, and how he uses it to bridge gaps between art and us as communities. He brings up a good point on human behavior, what makes it for some people to be kind, and how art can be a gateway to understanding and helping them. In choosing a role or a piece, he considers the tools that can make his role and the exchange between him and the audience the most effective. He adds that the pieces choose him and come into his life at a time when he needs them the most. When he was just starting, Brandon had to pause his graduation to go on a national tour, come back, finish school, and then originate a role on Broadway for which he got a Tony nomination. He recalls his audition process for the role of Simba, why he thinks he shouldn't have been cast, and how he overcame his doubts and the challenges he encountered as it was happening. As one of the stars in the world premiere album of “MacGyver: The Musical”, Brandon talks about his character, doing comedy, and how his process usually adapts to the show his doing. Brandon reflects on his role as Haywood Patterson in “The Scottsboro Boys”, why he considers it his favorite role, and how it ultimately goes back to his advocacy: to change and help people with the power of art. Brandon Victor Dixon is an actor, singer, advocate, and theatrical producer known for his Tony Award-nominated Broadway performances as Harpo in the 2005 musical "The Color Purple" and Eubie Blake in "Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed". Apart from originating both roles, he also originated the leading role of Berry Gordy Jr. in Broadway's "Motown: The Musical", which earned a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. In 2016, Brandon assumed the role of Aaron Burr in the Broadway company of "Hamilton". He also played the role of Hayward Patterson in "The Scottsboro Boys" both Off-Broadway and in London's West End, and was nominated for a 2014 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. As a producer, his credits include Broadway revivals of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch which won the 2014 Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for best revival of a musical, and "Of Mice and Men". In 2018, he played Judas in NBC's live concert version of Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice's rock opera, "Jesus Christ Superstar" where he received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. His other stage credits include "Chicago", "The Lion King", "The Color Purple", "Rent", and "Shuffle Along" among others. His tv credits include "Power", "She's Gotta Have It", "Modern Love", and "The Best Man: The Final Chapters". Brandon is part of the much-anticipated album of the award-winning "MacGyver: The Musical'" which will be released on January 27th, 2023. Connect with Brandon: Instagram: @brandonvdixon Twitter: @brandonvdixon Website: www.brandonvictordixon.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. After growing up watching feeling his dad was an artist by being able to create and fix almost anything, Squigs's natural ability to draw led him down a path he never expected, all the way to designing the upcoming key art for the J.P. Morgan Squash Tournament of Champions (where they setup a squash court inside Grand Central Station!). As co-creator of the Lights of Broadway trading cards, he's certainly busy creating some of the most sought after illustrations of our day. Oh, and if you like Broadway... and cooking... and dad jokes... or any of the three, make sure to check out Give My Swiss Chards to Broadway, a hilarious cookbook co-authored by Gideon Glick and Adam D. Roberts, illustrated by Squigs himself. Justin "Squigs" Robertson is an acclaimed illustrator and caricaturist specializing in capturing the ephemeral and collaborative art form of theatre. He has been hailed by the New York Times as one of the "Line King's Heirs", carrying on the theatrical caricature traditions exemplified by legendary Times artist Al Hirschfeld. His illustrations have been seen regularly since 2010 as the Broadway Ink feature on Broadway.com. They have also appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, Variety, the Playbill Broadway Yearbook, Jennifer Ashley Tepper's Untold Stories of Broadway series, and in promotional campaigns for Actors' Equity Association (including their "Ask If It's Equity" efforts and the cover of their centennial book Performance of the Century), Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS, the Theatre World Awards, and theatrical productions in New York, London, and around the world. He was born and raised in Oregon, lived in Los Angeles for many years, and now calls New York City his home. Connect with Squigs: Get the cookbook Give My Swiss Chards to Broadway: https://amzn.to/3QqPTTC Check out the Lights of Broadway cards IG: @squigsrobertson Facebook: Squigs Knows His Lines Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/squigs Web: SquigsOnline.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Among her 41 film credits include The Avengers, Ocean's Twelve, Ocean's Thirteen, and Rock Dog. She has around 40 TV credits, is a politician, activist, philanthropist, historian, linguist, has lent her voices to video games and now along with her brother Mark have adapted Great Expectations, the Charles Dickens classic, into a 2 act play now showing at the Greenwich House Theater in NYC where she plays 19 different characters. This episode covers why Eddie ran for Parliament (yes, THE Parliament), how she finds her comedic seams that glue her standup together, why running marathons became a hobby, and what it means that she is exactly 150 years younger than Charles Dickens (spoiler, it doesn't mean much!). After losing her mom at a very young age, Eddie turned to the theatre in what she believes is the need to feel the love from the audience - a substitution for the missing affection from her mother. Connect with Eddie: Get tickets to Great Expectations Twitter: @eddieizzard IG: @eddieizzard FB: /eddieizzard Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Serino Coyne is the nation's longest-running theatrical advertising agency, so Diana's brings some fun insider insight to how this strange business of show actually goes down. Spoiler alert - I've never seen a single production of Into the Woods, and she's never seen the Back to the Future movies. Um, that's not right. Connect with Diana: Instagram: @_dianasalameh Twitter: @_dianasalameh Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Interestingly enough, this episode contains as much hidden relationship advice as it does theater advice and stories, as we dive into what really makes them successful as a couple after all this time, especially both being in such a tumultuous, competitive profession. They also share how they turned pandemic lemons into pandemic lemonade by experimenting with Zoom multicam, aka two cell phones in two different rooms, to make their at-home performances have a little extra pizzaz -- which them led them through the change opportunity rabbit hole that put them on stage together now. More about Michael Urie STC: Hamlet, Will on the Hill (2022). NEW YORK: Broadway: Chicken & Biscuits, Grand Horizons, Torch Song, How To Succeed in Business... Off-Broadway: Performer: Buyer & Cellar, The Government Inspector, Angels in America, The Temperamentals, A Bright Room Called Day, The Cherry Orchard. Director: Bright Colors and Bold Patterns. Producer: Happy Birthday Doug (both written and performed by Drew Droege and both available on BroadwayHD). Co-Founder/Co-Producer: Pride Plays, an LGBTQIA theater festival. TV: Ugly Betty, Younger, Modern Family, Good Wife/Fight, Hot in Cleveland. FILM: Single All The Way, Swan Song, Lavender, Decoy Bride, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, He's Way More Famous Than You (also directed). UPCOMING: TV: Shrinking, Krapopolis. FILM: Jerseys Boys Live.  More about Ryan Spahn STC: Hamlet. NEW YORK: Off-Broadway: Good Enemy;Jane Anger;Lessons in Survival;Mr. Toole;How To Load aMusket;Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow; Daniel's Husband; Summer & Smoke; Still at Risk; Exit Strategy; Gloria. REGIONAL: Williamstown Theatre Festival, Goodman Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Philadelphia Theatre Company. FILM: September 17th, The Raging Heart of Maggie Acker, Shirley, Abducted, Nora Highland (writer/director), He's Way More Famous Than You (co-writer), Grantham & Rose (writer), Woven (co-writer). TV: Chicago P.D., Modern Love, The Bite, The Blacklist. PERSONAL: he/him | Ryan's writing has been published by Rotten Tomatoes, Talkhouse, USA Today, and D.C.'s Metro Weekly. | Training: The Juilliard School. Connect with Michael and Ryan: Listen to Michael's original episode #148 IG: @MichaelUrieLikesIt, @RyanSpahn Twitter: @MichaelUrie, @Ryan_Spahn Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Initially determined to go to Harvard Law School to stay close to her father, her brother encouraged her to apply for the McKnight Fellowship in acting and was eventually chosen as one of the four to attend the fellowship. This trajectory change was the beginning of Tovah's pursuit of becoming an actor, which to her is "so much cheaper than therapy". Tovah talks about her role as Mrs. Brice in "Funny Girl" and bringing a level of humanity and relatability to her character, and her memoir, “Lilyville: Mother, Daughter, and Other Roles I've Played” which explores mother-daughter relationships, and her complex relationship with her mother. Married for 46 years, she shares what makes their marriage work. Tovah intends to keep acting for as long as she can, mainly motivated by her love of people and making connections. Tovah Feldshuh is an actress, singer, and playwright who's been a Broadway star for more than four decades now, which earned her Tony Award nominations and two Emmy Award nominations. She made her Broadway debut in the 1973 musical "Cyrrano". Her other stage credits include "Saravá", "Lend Me a Tenor", "Golda's Balcony", “Dreyfus in Rehearsal”, “Lend Me a Tenor”, “Golda's Balcony”, "Irena's Vow", "Pippin", and "Yentl". She made her cabaret debut with her act, "Tovah: Crossovah! From Broadway to Cabaret", followed by "Tovah: Out of Her Mind!" and was selected as Best Cabaret Artist of 2000 by the Boston Globe. Tovah has also appeared in numerous tv shows, including "Ryan's Hope", "Holocaust", "Mariah", "As the World Turns", "Law & Order", "Flesh and Bone", "The Walking Dead", "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend", and "Star Wars Resistance". Her film credits include "Kissing Jessica Stein", "Just My Luck", "She's Funny That Way", and "Armageddon Time". Tovah is currently playing Mrs. Brice in the Broadway revival of "Funny Girl", and is the author of the memoir, “Lilyville: Mother, Daughter, and Other Roles I've Played”. Connect with Tovah: Instagram: @tovahfeld Website: www.tovahfeldshuh.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. She even took to the internet to keep the fans entertained (after some persuasion and help from her friend, Jim) with over 40 episodes of her hit web series called “Virtual Halston”. Julie tells the story of starting a theatre company with Charles Busch, and starring in a little play he wrote entitled, "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom" which ended up playing Off-Broadway for six years and opened up countless more opportunities for her. Her love for theatre and acting can be traced all the way back from when she was nine years old and that one afternoon her mom took her and her sisters to watch "West Side Story". She shares how she trained by doing, her three Cs of comedy: confidence, clarity, and commitment, the difference between a one-person show and a straight standup comedy routine, and her late husband's tip when you land that one punchline which is to take a look at the audience. With the cultural change happening today, Julie reflects on its relationship with comedy and how it makes it very tricky, especially when it comes to controversial topics. Apart from cultural change, Julie discusses current New York theatre problems, a possible resurgence in Off-Broadway, the need for public officials to value the arts, and how connecting with other people motivates her to keep doing what she's doing. Julie Halston is a comedian and actress who recently received the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for raising awareness and funds for The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. She first achieved recognition as an actress through her co-starring performances in the comedy plays of writer-performer, Charles Busch. "Julie Halston's Lifetime of Comedy", a series of one-woman comedy shows that she wrote had a successful Off-Broadway production and earned her an Outer Critics Circle nomination for Best Play and a CBS network development deal. Julie was recently seen on Broadway playing Rita Marshall in “Tootsie”. Her other Broadway credits include “On The Town”, “You Can't Take It With You”, “Anything Goes”, “Hairspray”, “Twentieth Century”, “Gypsy”, “The Women”, and “The Man Who Came To Dinner”. She's a founding member of Charles Bush's theatre company and has collaborated with Charles on numerous productions, including “Vampire Lesbians of Sodom” and “The Divine Sister”. Her tv credits include “Gossip Girl”, “The Good Fight”, “Almost Family”, “Divorce”, and “Law & Order” among others. She is also reprising her role as Bitsy Von Muffling in the “Sex and the City” reboot, “And Just Like That…” During the pandemic, she launched a web series, “Virtual Halston”, and garnered popular acclaim with over 40 episodes on YouTube. Today, Julie plays an asshole talent agent owner in Broadway Podcast Network's new series, "Rolling Calls." Connect with Julie: Instagram: @actressjuliehalston Twitter: @juliehalston Facebook: @juliehalston Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. She talks about what it's like performing eight shows a week while pregnant, and the financial and societal expectations that come with it. Elizabeth's love for music started at a very early age, sharing that she started playing an instrument with a butter box with a ruler in it when she was three years old. She reflects on how music was an important part of her family's life, and why she played not because she had an inkling it would be her trajectory but for the discipline of it. Playing as Thomas Jefferson, she shares that the pieces that she's playing on stage were pieces that Jefferson himself played, how she auditioned and how they were particular about casting actors who can play instruments very well, and why she considers "1776" a true musical theatre. She admits that singing on stage still terrifies her, and while she thought she wasn't a good enough violinist or a vocalist to major in them, she knew that she was a storyteller and got her degrees in classical theatre performance instead. As a storyteller, Elizabeth reflects on why the act of acting is a total defiance of death, why she aims to live her life as a thank you, and why failure is your friend and something that is not to be feared. Elizabeth A. Davis is a multi-talented, multi-hyphenate actress who received a Tony Award nomination for originating the role of Reza in the Broadway production of "Once". She has over 30 Off-Broadway credits, including "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui", "Women on Fire: Stories from the Frontlines", "Zorba", "Rain", "Allegro", "The Caucasian Chalk Circle", and "The 39 Steps". She's appeared in several TV shows such as "Fringe", "Blue Bloods", “The Jim Gaffigan Show”, and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit". She has also written original musicals and short plays, and sung on Ben Platt's album, "Sing to Me Instead". Elizabeth is playing Thomas Jefferson in Broadway's "1776", where she sings and plays the violin on stage. Connect with Elizabeth: Website: www.elizabethadavis.com Instagram: @elizabetadavis Twitter: @ElizabetADavis Facebook: @officialelizabethadavis Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded Nov 17th, 2022, listen to exclusive interview with the cast of & Juliet from the red carpet on opening night! Interviews include: Lorna Courtney (Juliet) Betsy Wolfe (Anne Hathaway) Stark Sands (William Shakespeare) Justin David Sullivan (May) Melanie La Barrie (Angelique) Paulo Szot (Lance) Phillippe Arroyo (Francois) Ben Jackson Walker (Romeo) Alaina Vi Maderal (Gwynn/swing) Jasmine Rafael (Imogen) Joe Moeller (Henry, u/s Shakes, u/s Lance) Megan Kate (Lucy, u/s Angelique, u/s Anne) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Jefferson recalls the strange beginning of how it all started, which was when he and his wife ran smack into Matt Schackman, the Artistic Director of Geffen Playhouse, as they were walking their dogs. He was eventually inspired to base their version on Dickens' original, one-man version. Jefferson also has his parents to thank for reading "A Christmas Carol" to him and his siblings when they were young, which sparked his love for performing and storytelling, thinking it was theatre in its purest form. Decades of experience later, he reflects on how this year has been the year of the understudy and swing, and how their talent and heroism changed his whole idea of what a company means. While performing on stage brings him joy, it's those moments off stage that makes him appreciate the magic of theatre even more. Jefferson admits to gravitating towards storytelling, sharing that this allows him to explore characters and their complexity endlessly. And while he doesn't have a list of roles to play before he reaches a certain age, he enjoys getting "mugged or ambushed by a production" for different kinds of roles. He shares what it's like to grow up with older siblings and the privileges that come with it, hearing the voices of his parents when he's performing on stage, and how his sense of curiosity and wonder motivates him to keep performing. Jefferson Mays is an actor and a three-time Tony Award nominee for his performances in "Oslo", "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder", and "I Am My Own Wife" a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Doug Wright, where he played over 40 different roles and won for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play. His other stage credits include "The Front Page", "The Best Man", "Pygmalion", and "Journey's End". His TV credits include "The Americans", "Westworld", "Nurse Jackie", "Law and Order: SVU", "The Closer", "Julia", "Perry Mason", "Hacks" and a guest role on "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt". He was most currently seen on Broadway's "The Music Man", and recently completed his one-man rendition of "A Christmas Carol" and is now bringing the same show to Broadway. He has also appeared in numerous films, including "Inherent Vice", "Ned Rifle", "Showing Up", "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs", "Kinsey" "Rebel in the Rye", and "The Giver" among others. Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Michael was also a professional actor for seven years and while he was grateful for all the work, he realized he was never fully happy. This led him to apply to the prestigious BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, which subsequently changed his life.. Aside from acting, he's also a successful composer and has always been passionate about music. He talks about finding his own style, writing for another person, his issues with the current things on Broadway, the craft that goes into making a musical theatre song, and the indescribable feeling and comfort music brings him that he wants to give back to listeners. A decade later, amongst all his writing and composing success, he even finds himself accepting roles again.  Michael Mott is an award-winning composer, lyricist, songwriter and vocal producer who's also recognized internationally for his talent. He graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theatre Performance and is currently living and working in New York. Michael had a successful acting career in the late 2000s, performing in many Off-Broadway, regional and national touring shows, including "Milk and Honey", "I'd Rather Be Right", "Kiss Me, Kate", "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?", "9 to 5", "A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline", and "Miracle on 34th Street". In 2012, he decided to pursue writing and was accepted into the prestigious BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Writer's Workshop. Since then, Michael has written numerous original musicals, including "In The Light", "A Faustian Tale" (book by Nathan Wright and Justin Silvestri), "The Fairy's Tale" (book by Gretchen Suárez-Peña), "Mob Wife", "A Mafia Comedy" (book by Corey Skaggs) and "Riding Out The Storm" (book & lyrics by Christine Toy Johnson). He was also commissioned to write the music and lyrics to "Lucifer". Apart from writing music, Michael is also known for his recording studio works which include the LPs "Where The Sky Ends", "In The Light, A Faustian Tale", which debuted at #8 on the Billboard Musical Theatre charts, and "Abandoned Heart". His EPs include "The Only One", "Where The Sky Ends: The Dance Remixes" and "Gone: The Remixes" while his singles include "Christmas, Will You Stay?" (feat. Laura Osnes), "The Impossible" (feat. Matt Bloyd), "Fly High" (feat. Emma Howard). He has written original award-winning material for NYC's The Boy Band Project, including "Get Behind My Love" and "Jingle My Bells" which won Best Original Song at the 2020 Broadway World Cabaret World Award. He will be releasing a new song with Jessica Vosk on December 2nd, 2022, and having his second annual holiday show, "Michael Mott & Friends" at The Green Room 42 in NYC on December 3rd, 2022. Connect with Michael: Website: www.michaelmott.net Instagram: @Michael_Mott TikTok: @Michael_Mott Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Anika's passion for saving the planet is contagious, and as a member of the Broadway Green Alliance and ambassador for Global Goals for Sustainability, she's making sure she can show and tell her children that she really tried to do what she can to pass on a healthy planet. Growing up with 9 brothers and sisters became a defining characteristic of her life and how it made her the compulsive team player that she is today. Juggling working and being a mom in real life, Anika reflects on the good and the bad things that come along with it, and how she languished during the height of the pandemic as a stay-at-home mom. She opens up about being a better mom because she's working, and the beautiful, symbiotic relationship between her home life and stage life now that she's playing a mom in “Almost Famous”. There was a point early in Anika's career when she didn't work for two years, which she considers an invaluable lesson. All the hardships that have happened to her made her smart not just about money but her future as well, and while for her the worst part of being in the industry is the unpredictability of it, she wouldn't trade it for anything. Anika Larsen is an actress who has performed on the Broadway stage in well-received shows like “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” wherein she won Drama Desk Award's Outstanding Feature Actress in a Musical and received a Tony nomination. She also originated the role of Roberta in the cult Off-Broadway musical, "Zanna, Don't!", for which she received a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Her other stage credits include "Xanadu", "All Shook Up", "Avenue Q", "Chess", and “Rent” where she made her Broadway debut in 2000. She's a member of the Broadway Green Alliance, a passionate ambassador for the Global Goals for Sustainability, a member of Actor's Equity, and serves on the board at the New York City Children's Theater. Anika has an album of lullabies, “Sing You to Sleep” which you can listen to on different streaming platforms, including Spotify. She could now be seen on stage as rock Elaine Miller in Broadway's “Almost Famous”. Connect with Anika: Website: anikalarsen.biz Facebook: @anika.larsen.nyc Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. In fact, she auditioned for a different role but didn't think much of it because she felt like she wasn't right for it. Robyn speaks candidly about her love of performing, what it's like to work during the pandemic and the physical demands of it. She recalls how she got into theatre and how growing up with a supportive family, especially her mom, was one of the main reasons why she was able to follow her dreams. From doing community theatre productions in her younger years to playing the role of Mary Magdalene in a production of "Jesus Christ Superstar", it was that first taste of being the star of the show which pushed her to pursue performing as a career. Robyn also talks about having the “it” factor, the importance of believing in yourself and your talent, and that if you remain true to yourself and what you want, you're going to be okay. Robyn Hunter is an actress best known for originating the role of Nini in "Moulin Rouge! The Musical", which also earned her a Tony Award nomination. Her other Broadway credits include "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", "Chicago", "Grease", and "Nice Work If You Can Get It". She's also performed in numerous Off-Broadways shows such as "Play It Cool", "Paint Your Wagon", "The New Yorkers", and "A Chorus Line" among others. Her tv credits include "The Right Girl", "Fosse/Verdon", and "Starlight Express". Robyn recently finished originating the role of Marcia Murphey in "A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical", which has now transferred to Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre. Connect with Robyn: Instagram: @robynhurder Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. As the world starts to adjust to the new normal, she talks about her life and being thrust back on stage in a well-received show, which was completely unexpected for her. Playing the role of Cinderella made her realize that while it's fun to watch a show, it's even more fun to perform because there's “no bottom to it”. She reflects on how said role gives her a fresh perspective of Cinderella, and what the pressures to become a mother means. For Krysta, it was her search for fun that made her come back to acting, and with all her accomplishments and fulfilled dreams, she can still find fulfillment in different ways. Her dream of theatre leads her to her bigger "dream of life", which includes traveling, home design, and having meaningful relationships. From playing iconic people like Liza Minelli to iconic characters like Cinderella, she tries to give a fresh take by finding a lifeline as to how she and these characters are alike. She recalls her "Spring Awakening"days, the impact it has on her, and the bond she formed with the cast, most especially with the Deaf West revival cast, which was also the time she was going through therapy after getting diagnosed with cancer. Krysta opens up about her healing journey, why she decided to go public about it, her blog, ChemoCouture and how it became her form of activism, and personal growth as her number one life motivation. Krysta Rodriguez is a talented actress and singer with countless stage and tv credits under her name. She made her Broadway debut in the short-lived 2005 jukebox musical "Good Vibrations". Later on, she became a replacement for the role of Bebe in the Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line". Krysta has also played many ensemble and understudy parts in the Broadway productions of "Spring Awakening", "In the Heights", and the regional production of "The Boy Friend" directed by Julie Andrews. Her other stage credits include "What We're Up Against", "A Chorus Line", "The Addams Family", "First Date", “Hercules”, and “West Side Story” among others. She is also best known for her tv roles as Ana Vargas in "Smash", Summer Henderson in "Trial & Error", Maxine Griffin in "Quantico", and Ms. Cruble in "Daybreak." Her other tv credits include "Inside Amy Schumer", “Gossip Girl”, and “Halston” where she plays the role of Liza Minnelli. Her film credits include "The Virginity Hit", "My Bakery in Brooklyn", “The Bitch Who Stole Christmas”, and “Killing Diaz”. In 2015, Krysta was diagnosed with breast cancer, and started a blog, ChemoCouture.com to share her journey during chemotherapy as well as fashion, beauty, and wellness advice. That same year, she also returned as Isle in the Deaf West Theatre production of "Spring Awakening" as well as its Broadway production. She is currently starring as Cinderella in the 2022 Broadway revival of “Into The Woods”.   Connect with Krysta: Instagram: @krysta_rod Website: krystacouture.com and www.curatedbykr.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Currently the Fanny Brice alternate in "Funny Girl" on Broadway, Julie shares her life as an actor and how she handles the hectic schedule that comes along with it. She also recalls doing a production of “Fiddler on the Roof” when she was younger which changed the trajectory of her family. Unlike most, she spent her time during the height of the pandemic doing performances online and raising money for various charities, including starting a series with her husband called, "Quarantunes" which also became the basis of their album “Hand in Hand” that was just released in August 2022. Initially scared of comedy, Fanny Brice was the role she never knew she wanted, but thanks to her friends' encouragement and help, Julie pushed through with the audition and eventually got the part. She talks about doing eight shows a week, what it's like being thrust into the spotlight, how she recovers and recharges, and the training that helped her in performing with ease. From acting and singing to writing and directing, Julie is set to do everything all at once and try other mediums too—all of which are motivated by her love for learning and passion for connecting with others. Julie Benko is an amazing actress, singer, writer, musician, director, and philanthropist based in NYC. She holds a BFA in Drama and an MFA in Acting from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She currently plays as Fanny Brice in the Broadway show, "Funny Girl", and released her brand new album, "Hand in Hand" last August. Julie's stage credits include "Fiddler on the Roof", "Les Miserables", "Spring Awakening", "Once", "The Fantasticks", and "Rags" among others. She has also appeared in several films, including "Alberto", and "Unrequited Vanya". Apart from these, Julie is also a recipient of numerous nominations for her acting skills, including the Wilde Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical which she won for her performance as Girl in "Once". She also won the Gold Medal and the Johnny Mercer Award in the national American Traditions Vocal Competition. Her recent projects include writing, directing, and starring in her first short, "The Newlywed's Guide to Physical Intimacy", which won an Honorable Mention at its premiere July 2020 premiere at New Faces New Voices Film Festival. Her first full-length play, "The District," was also named a semifinalist at the 2022 Eugene O'Neil National Playwrights Conference. During the pandemic, Julie raised money for different charities through her "Quarantunes" musical duo series with her husband.  Connect with Julie: Twitter: @Jujujuliebee Instagram: @jujujuliebee TikTok: @jujujuliebee Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Beth takes us through her journey to getting into performing and becoming an actress, sharing her younger years which included watching “Singing in the Rain on TV” and working at a dinner theatre growing up Colorado. Growing up queer, she opens up about her relationship with her parents, getting disowned in her 20s and focusing on art as a way to cope, meeting her wife and getting her master's degree and finally reconnecting with her parents. Beth's experiences have inspired her to take her art into activism, and she continues to stay active in the space and raise awareness through her solo shows. She recalls how "Fun Home" has become a form of therapy for people, some of which would talk to actors and share their stories at the stage door. In fact, they would say that the stage door was act two of the show. Apart from raising awareness, she talks about her work, including recording the cast album of  "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" during the pandemic, and her current and upcoming shows like "City On Fire". Despite not being on stage as much as she used to, Beth shares her love for rehearsals which is also what she misses the most, writing a musical, and being motivated by hope in whatever she does. Beth Malone is a singer and actress known for her work in Broadway, off-Broadway and regional theatre. She originated the role of Alison Bechdel in the musical "Fun Home", for which she received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance. Her other stage credits include "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" where she played multiple roles and now has an official cast album, "Pride Plays", "Nassim", "Angels in America", and "Ring of Fire" among others. She has also created a cabaret show, "Beth Malone: So Far" which tells her life story. Beth has also appeared in numerous films like "Tick, Tick...Boom!", "The God Committee", "Brittany Runs a Marathon", "The Comedian", "Hick", and TV shows such as "BrainDead", "Rono 911!", "Judging Amy", "Bull", "The Baker and the Beauty", and "All Rise". She released her first solo album, "Lunch Shift" in 2008. Beth stars as Linda Schafer in "Five Days at Memorial" and will be in Apple TV's "City on Fire" in 2023. Connect with Beth: Twitter: @heebyfluff Instagram: @thebethmalone Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Dancing as a career was a slow burn for her, but her parents and teachers' support helped her take it more seriously and pursue the craft. She attended Oklahoma City University, where she discovered musical theatre and fell in love with it. And while Sasha says she only does things she's good at, she admits that dancing was hard but that she kept going and trained so she was continually learning and improving her skills. She reflects on how theatre people deal with a certain amount of uncertainty, and the things she did during the shutdown, including taking voice lessons and auditioning for TV shows. With the new take on the classic story of “Oklahoma!” as well as its diverse casts, Sasha gets real about both the positive and negative responses to the show as they tour different cities all over the country. To her core, what matters is to perform with an intention that comes from a place of love and compassion. After all, Sasha considers theatre as a sanctuary where we people, despite our differences, go to watch, feel, and ponder collectively. Sasha Hutchings is an actress, dancer, and singer with several Broadway credits including "Oklahoma!", "Memphis", "My Fair Lady", "Motown: the Musical", "Rocky", and "Hamilton" where she was an understudy and ensemble member in the original Broadway cast. She plays the character of Hope on the Starz comedy series, "Run the World". Her other TV credits include "Smash", "Master of None", "Jessica Jones", "Fosse/Verdon", and "Blue Bloods". Sasha has been recently cast in a recurring role in AMC's upcoming sci-fi comedy, "Damascus", and is currently playing Laurey Williams in the North American tour of the “Oklahoma!” Connect with Sasha: Twitter: @sashahutchings Instagram: @sashahutchings Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. From being a pasta lover to being a dog lover, Talia gets super personal as she shares how she got into theatre, which includes singing recordings in the car with her mom and sister. Talia looks back on the things that inspired her to pursue acting, the lessons she took throughout her childhood and teenage years, and how the support she got from her parents and mentors has molded her and helped her find her identity as an artist and performer. She recalls her first audition for "Be More Chill" just a week before graduating and her Broadway debut which she considers as unexpected and wild. During their closing week, Talia auditioned for "Wicked" as an Elphaba replacement and eventually got the role. And with live theatre shutting down for almost two years due to the pandemic, Talia opens up about how it affected her mental health, not being able to turn to theatre as a means of escape, and what helped her get out of her rut, including exercising. She was a part of the reopening cast for "Wicked" which was the first Broadway-caliber show to reopen in the country. She talks about being on tour and being on Broadway, why she loved touring, her passion for her job, and why you shouldn't let anyone try to put you in a box because your uniqueness is what makes you special. Talia Suskauer is a New York-based actor and singer who made her Broadway debut in "Be More Chill" and recently finished a long run in the Munchkinland National Tour of Wicked as Elphaba. She attended Penn State, where she re­ceived her BFA in Musical Theater. Her other stage credits include "Shrek", "Little Women", and "The Secret Garden". Talia is currently playing Elphaba in "Wicked" on Broadway. She's also appeared in a few TV shows such as "The Kelly Clarkson Show" and "The Broadway Show with Tamsen Fadal".  Connect with Talia: Twitter: @taliarach Instagram: @taliasuskauer Facebook: @taliasuskauernyc Website: taliasuskauer.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Alyssa shares her love for singing and performing live, discovering "Wicked" in senior high school and finding her calling. She talks about her "Wicked" journey, why she decided to drop out of college, and how she went to New York for the first time to audition for a non-equity cattle call she saw on playbill.com. From humble beginnings, she went from not having an agent to booking "Wicked" and only having $18 in her bank account. As we all know, we discuss how the understudy, standby, and swing life is much harder in a different way from your standard roles. She shares some of her experiences as “Frozen's” Elsa and “Wicked's” Elphaba standby, from remembering her lines and staying sharp on stage to stage mishaps, and talks about the sisterhood and connection that comes with playing the difficult character of Elphaba, and why despite finding touring hard, it's also where she felt the happiest and most fulfilled. Reflecting back on her work, she sees all her peers as equals, explains why she loves doing theatre, and the amazing connections made between the performer and the audience. Alyssa Fox is an actress born in Dallas, Texas who is currently in "Wicked" on Broadway as Elphaba standby, also having played the lead role on the national tour. Her other stage credits include "Frozen" (Broadway and Regional) where she was Elsa standby. Connect with Alyssa: Twitter: @alyssafox Instagram: @alyssajoyfox Facebook: @Allyfox22 Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. The two share their first meeting at a performing arts camp, and the rest, as they say, is history. Growing up in a musical household and a family that has an appreciation for art, it's no surprise that both David and Steve ended up having a career in the creative industry. The two talk about stage adaptation, what makes it exciting, and how their current project is a love letter not just to the Griswolds but also to theatre. They also deep-dive into their creative processes, including writing together, creating something and acting on it at the same time, etc. With all the successful projects both David and Steve have done together and individually, they're proud to say that they still make each other laugh. The two speak about their love for collaboration and their goal to keep making stuff, not only to fulfill their passion but also to get inspiration from other people and create an artistic community. David Rossmer and Steve Rosen are a talented duo with numerous Broadway acting credits under their name. Their recent Broadway production of “The Other Josh Cohen” received rave reviews. They created the successful variety show benefit, “Don't Quit Your Night Job”. They have also worked together for Rated P, developed for television by Kelly Ripa's Milojo Productions and bought by ABC Studios, and made comedy material for Zachary Levi, Sting, etc. Individually, both have created several podcasts, radio plays, and radio comedies. Currently, they are working together as lyricists and songwriters for the "The Griswolds' Broadway Vacation" musical. David's stage credits include “Les Miserables”, “Peter and the Starcatcher”, “Children and Art”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, and “Titanic”. His TV credits include "Elementary", "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel", "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", and "It Could Be Worse". Meanwhile, Steve's stage credits include "The Little Mermaid", "A Confederacy of Dunces", "Disney's Beauty and the Beast", "Peter and the Starcatcher", "Guys and Dolls", "The Farnsworth Invention", "Monty Python's Spamalot". His TV credits include "Kings", "The Resident", "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", "Blue Bloods", "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel", and "Elementary". Connect with David and Steve: Instagram: @stevierosen, @davidrossmer, @rossmerrosen Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. He ended up going to University of Michigan when they were first beginning to make a name for themselves as one of the best places to learn the craft, and then found his way easily onto the Broadway stage. He ended up shifting focus about 8 years ago to directing, where he found what he describes as his new passion for the stage. A quick call from an old friend led him to step in and perform as Clark Griswold in The Griswolds' Broadway Vacation brought him back to the stage, originating the role in the world premiere at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington, alongside Kate Rockwell. Hunter is an actor, director, writer and librettist with Broadway acting credits including Little Shop of Horrors (which earned him a Tony Award nomination), Urinetown, The Producers, Footloose, Les Miserables and Grease. He was named 2018's director of the year by the Wall Street Journal for his productions of 42nd Street at the Bucks County Playhouse, and The Drowsy Chaperone at the Goodspeed Opera House, recently directed the critically acclaimed The Other Josh Cohen off Broadway here in NYC, is the Artistic Director for the Redhouse Arts Center in Syracuse, NY, and as we speak is originating the role of Clark Griswold in the Griswolds' Broadway Vacation. Connect with Hunter: Twitter: @Hunter_Foster IG: @hunter__foster Web: hunterfosterofficial.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. She talks about inherited trauma, a point in her life where she always felt like a black sheep, and how that changed thanks to the Cincinnati art school she went into. Mikayla recalls how her "Wicked" journey started, including sending one tape, getting a call back the following day, almost missing her Broadway debut due to a conflict in schedule, and eventually getting the role of Nessarose. She adds how it was a validation of her gut feeling that it was meant for her. Mikayla talks about her interest in astrology, why she believes that every milestone was meant to place her where she is at the moment, creating a routine and sticking to it and that everyone should go to therapy. She shares how the pandemic affected the trajectory of her life and career as well as using her dance skills to get another job. She also speaks candidly about her being a competitive gymnast and a national champion when she was younger. Mikayla looks back on writing her dream life in her journal and how she's living her dreams today, and why it's important to go back to our "why's" to help us keep going. Mikayla Renfrow graduated from Cincinnati's School for Creative and Performing Arts in 2017 and then from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music in 2021. Her regional stage credits include "Cinderalla" (Paramount Theatre), "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (The Muny), and "Smokey Joe's Cafe" (The Fulton Theatre). She's currently making her Broadway debut as Nessarose in the hit show "Wicked." Connect with Mikayla: Instagram: @mikayla.renf TikTok: @mikrenfrow Twitter: @mikrenf Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. He shares how didn't sing until he was 11 and even cried after getting the role of Danny Zuko and finding out he had to sing in front of people for a Grease musical in a summer camp. Jordan explains why he decided to go to school instead of pursuing acting right away (his agent ended up dropping him eventually). He shares his career journey from auditioning for Shakespeare in the Park in 2015 to booking a guest starring part on “POSE”. Jordan gets real about how the pandemic affected his work, wherein he lost 14 weeks of work removed, but despite that, it was also during the pandemic that he auditioned for "Wicked" and got the role of Boq. He shares that it was his fifth time auditioning and that he did not give up thanks to his mindset of how every audition is an audition for the next thing. He recalls his Broadway debut and what the experience was like, doing spot-check rehearsals, and what makes his work exciting and fresh. Jordan Barrow is an actor based in New York City currently making his Broadway debut as the principal role of Boq in "Wicked". He graduated from the University of Michigan in the Musical Theatre program and holds a certificate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts Shakespeare in Performance program. His other stage credits include "Sousatzka", "America V 2.1: The Sad Demise and Eventual Extinction of the American Negro", "Witness Uganda", "Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust Road", "The Tempest", "Hairspray" and "Peter Pan". He has appeared in several movies and tv shows, including "POSE", "Broad City", and "Amy and Peter are Getting Divorced". Connect with Jordan: Twitter: @jordant_b Instagram: @jordant_b Website: jordan-barrow.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. He shares how doing magic gave him the validation he needed and taught him about audiences and how to hold the stage. Patrick eventually got deeply interested in acting as a craft and pursued it as a career. While he decided to go for a Liberal Arts degree, he also spent his college years performing in plays. He shares his audition story for The Utah Shakespeare Festival despite being unqualified. Patrick shares how because he didn't go to acting school, he sort of learned by failing. He also talks about the first time someone told him his way of work was out of line and why he considers that a good thing. Apart from acting and writing, Patrick also has an acting studio in New York where he teaches. He talks about the importance of time management and knowing what you can do and offer, his hearing loss and the struggles that came along with it, including having to rely on muscle memory, and pursuing acting not because it's how you wish to be perceived but because it is who you are. Patrick Page is an actor and playwright known for his role in "In the Heights", "Flesh and Bone", and "The Good Wife". His other TV and film credits include "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", "The Blacklist", "Evil", "Chicago P.D.", "Elementary", and "Spirited". He originated the roles of Norman Osborn and Green Goblin in "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark", The Grinch in Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical", and Hades in "Hadestown". Patrick's Broadway credits also include "Saint Joan", "Spring Awakening", "Beauty and the Beast", and "Lion King". His long list of stage credits also includes "Cymbeline" (New York Shakespeare Festival), "Richard II" (The Public Theatre), "The Sound of Music" (Carnegie Hall), "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (The Papermill Playhouse), and "Rex" (York Theatre). He's an Affiliated Artist with The Shakespeare Theater Company in DC and The Old Globe in San Diego, has taught acting in numerous programs and classes and is the founder of The Patrick Page Acting Studio where he also teaches. Apart from acting, Patrick is also a playwright. One of his plays, "Swansong", was nominated for Best New Play by The American Theatre Critics' Association and received many regional productions. In his early years, Patrick did magic and was honored by The International Brotherhood of Magicians as the “Best International Teen Illusionist” at their yearly convention in 1979. Patrick is also the recipient of The Grammy Award, The Tony Award nomination, the Helen Hayes Award, The William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theater, and The Emery Battis Award among others. Connect with Patrick: Twitter: @pagepatrick Instagram: @pagepatrick Website: patrickpageonline.com Facebook: @thebigbrothertho Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 from BroadwayCon 2022 on July 10th, 2022. Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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". He shares one of the hardest scenes in the show for him, and that while playing his role can get tiring at times, he finds it "bizarrely energizing" and cathartic. Amir recalls the preparation he did for his role where he spent months not doing anything, practicing his lines and how his dog barking at him while doing so is a good thing. Amir shares an incident of a service dog barking in one of their shows and how he uses incidents like that as an opportunity to have a direct relationship with the audience. He shares the two moments that made him want to pursue acting, the support he's gotten from his parents who are both in the medical field, and why he thinks medicine is an art. Advocating for mental health, animal rescue and arts education, Amir makes sure to do good and that while he's alive, and why he believes that the one thing that transcends time and space is love. Amir Arison is a stage and screen actor best known for his role as FBI Special Agent Aram Mojtabai in NBC's "The Blacklist". His TV and film credits include "Billions", "Fringe", "Homeland", "The Mentalist", "American Horror", "NCIS", "Girls", "The Visitor", and "Jane Wants a Boyfriend". His stage credits include "Hamlet", and Off-Broadway productions like "The Way of the World", and "Aftermath". In 2018, he received the Mendez Award from the Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown, an award given to those who use their platform to give back to the community. Aside from acting, Amir advocates several causes , including mental health, arts education, and animal rescue. He recently made his Broadway debut as part of the ensemble cast of the Kite Runner, playing the role of Amir. Connect with Amir: Twitter: @AmirArison Instagram: @amirarison Facebook: @amirarison Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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”. Faran talks about playing villain roles, the challenge that comes with it, and how he brings a level of humanity to his roles. He talks about his childhood and growing up in a family who has been in the arts, and why he wasn't initially supported in his goal of becoming an actor. Aside from playing a bad guy, Tahir also shares the challenge of playing a good guy and of finding flaws, why he thinks art is "about putting up mirrors so that we can look at and examine ourselves". He shares what he would tell his students when he used to teach acting, which was you can never say you've mastered something. He also reflects on his role as Baba in "The Kite Runner", finding your spiritual community, and how as humans there is always room for redemption. Faran Tahir is an actor, writer, director, and producer who came from a theatre family. He has appeared in over 50 stage productions across the US and the world. He received his Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley and his graduate degree from the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University. His film credits include "Iron Man", "Star Trek", "Escape Plan", and Elysium. He has also appeared in numerous TV shows, including "The West Wing", “12 Monkeys”, "Shameless", "Supernatural", "24", "Lost", "Prison Break", "Chuck", "Criminal Minds", and "How to Get Away with Murder". He's recently played the title role of Othello at Shakespeare Theatre Company and Richard III at Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. His other theatre credits include "Macbeth" at American Repertory Theatre, "Beast and Moon" and “A Perfect Ganesh” at Actor's Theatre of Louisville, and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. Tahir is currently making his Broadway debut as Baba in "The Kite Runner". Connect with Faran: Twitter: @farantahir_ Instagram: @faran.tahir Facebook: @OfficialFaranTahir Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. He shares how he started getting into theatre directing, from watching and learning from his dad to meeting Cameron Mackintosh which opened up opportunities for him. Damian recalls how after graduating, he ended up taking a teaching job at a boy's boarding school where he taught English and Drama, and after putting on shows at the Edinburgh Festival, a producer who watched one of his shows offered him a directing job. He talks about working for the show, “NewsRevue” which was influential in his career. Damian also shares how he got connected with "The Kite Runner" production, why he decided to stay with the show for this long, and why he thinks a line from the show, "there's a way to be good again" is the key to life. Damian Sandys is a theatre director with productions across the UK, Edinburgh Fringe, the West End and internationally. He graduated from Oxford University and has directed over 50 productions at the Edinburg festival, including “Shakespeare For Breakfast: 25th Anniversary”. He has been the resident/associate director for several West End and international tours of “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”, “The Kite Runner”, and more. His other directing credits include “Aladdin”, “The Taming of the Shrew”, “Beauty and the Beast”, and “Sleeping Beauty” among others. He's also been a part of the teams responsible for the London revival of “Tick, Tick... Boom!”, “When Midnight Strikes”, and “West Side Story”. Currently, he's the associate director for Broadway's "The Kite Runner”. Connect with Damian: Twitter: @munchkindamo Instagram: @munchkindamo Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Her family fled Afghanistan and ended up in the US as political asylum seekers. Similarly to what happens in “The Kite Runner”, she had trouble getting citizenship because she didn't have proper paperwork, including her birth certificate. She talks about growing up and learning how to speak English through watching tv shows and movies, which has also sparked her interest in acting. She shares how she pursued acting by buying a one-way ticket to Hollywood and ended up working at E! for a couple of years where she learned everything about show business. From finding a loophole in not getting jobs she used to get to being told she was white, Azita, together with other actors who joined her cause, successfully drafted a new SAG-AFTRA – AMPTP TV/Theatrical hiring contract for the first time in 37 years. She also talked about MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition, an organization she founded to support and educate. Azita reflects on the issues we still need to fight for such as inclusion, and why we have to create from our heart and operate from a place of truth and integrity. Azita Ghanizada is an Afghan American actress who began her on-air camera career as a commercial model. Her family fled Afghanistan to the US and were granted asylum to remain. She has appeared in numerous television series, including “How I Met Your Mother”, “Entourage”, “Veronica Mars”, “The Wedding Bells”, “NUMB3RS”, “Bones”, “Psych” and “Castle”. Her film credits include "Killroy Was Here", “Our Friend”, “We Broke Up”, “Draupadi Unleashed”, “Complete Unknown”, “X's & O's”, and “A Kiss on the Nose” where she received a film festival best actress nomination for her performance. She's the Founder and President of MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition, an organization she launched after helping build the MENA category into the SAG-AFTRA theatrical contracts. In 2020, she gave her first TEDx talk on the path to visibility in Hollywood. In addition to "Ballers," and Freeform's "Good Trouble," she's also got a recurring role on the CBS show, “United States of Al” and is currently performing in Broadway's "The Kite Runner" as Soraya.   Connect with Azita: Watch Azita's amazing TEDx Talk “The Invisible to Stereotyped: The Journey to Hollywood”  Twitter: @azitaghanizada Instagram: @azitagram MENA Arts Advocacy Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices