When Lightning Strikes!

Jesse Eisenberg wrote, directed and co-stars in A Real Pain. In the film two mismatched cousins embark on a Holocaust tour through Poland to understand the history of their late grandmother who is a Holocaust survivor. It's a beautiful, honest, poetic and hilarious film that is listed as one of the ten best movies of 2024 by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and the National Board of Review. As Owen Gleiberman wrote in Variety "Eisenberg has scripted with an ear for the music of ideas and for contrasting voices, he presents the story of these two cousins — how they interact, what they mean to each other, how their past intersects with the present — in a way that's so supple you can touch their reality." I sat down with Jesse at the Ram's Head Inn, a seaside hideaway in Shelter Island. The historic property was the site of several famous physics conferences that hosted J. Robert Oppenheimer and Stephen Hawking over the years. The Ram's Head continues the tradition of being an incubator for great talents. Jesse took part in a new film series there called, The Ram Film Society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan Jaffe is the artistic director of American Ballet Theater. Called “America's quintessential American ballerina," and “born to dance,” by the New York Times, Susan was a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. She performed on stages around the world for 22 years. This summer American Ballet Theatre celebrates its 85th anniversary at the Metropolitan Opera House. Their anniversary season also marks 30 years of ABT Studio Company and two decades of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jenny Lyn Bader is a prolific playwright whose stage plays include None of the Above, Equally Divine: The Real Story of the Mona Lisa, In Flight, and The Whole Megillah. She also wrote the audio works Tree Confessions and Communal Table. Jenny Lyn's play, Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library, produced by Luna Stage, is currently presented off-Broadway at the WP Theater. This episode was recorded December 23, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Roy is a magician and mentalist who has headlined at the Hollywood Magic Castle, appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us and performed throughout the country. In his latest show, The Parlour of Deceptions, he intertwines sleight-of-hand, misdirection, and storytelling before an intimate crowd of 50 guests. Using his neuroscience degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Roy provides a peek behind the curtain into how magic tricks the brain. The Parlour of Deceptions is currently playing at the Salmagundi Club in New York City. This episode was recorded December 16, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shanda Sawyer is a prolific director, choreographer and executive producer. She has directed shows for Marvel, FOX, ABC, Disney, and Comedy Central. Her work has garnered many awards, including two Emmys, a Gracie and a Peabody. Most recently she has been the creative director of the 2024 Big Apple Circus show, Hometown Playground, now playing through January 5, 2025. This episode was recorded December 6, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dramatists Guild Foundation or DGF is a nonprofit devoted to American theater. For more than six decades they have supported writers at all stages of their careers. DGF offers grants, free spaces to create new works and emergency aid for immediate support. On the show is Rachel Routh is DGF's executive director and DGF's president, writer/composer Andrew Lippa. In 2024, DGF received a 2024 Tony Honors for Excellence in the theater. On October 28 DFG will have its gala, hosted by Amber Ruffin. The gala will honor Pulitzer Prize winning composer Tom Kitt and producer Mindy Rich. This episode was recorded October 8, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

April Ortiz is a prolific actress who has performed on Broadway, off Broadway in film and television. She currently stars in the musical Empire at New World Stages. Just a few of April's other credits include In the Heights, Cats, Between 2 Knees, Uncoupled, Fosse/Verdon, The Golden Girls, Elementary, Everybody Loves Raymond, Mad About You and on and on.  This episode was recorded on August 8, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew August Jeffers currently stars in An Enemy of the People now playing at Circle In the Square Theatre. A prolific actor, some of his other credits include Richard III at the Delacorte Theater, the film Unidentified Objects and the TV shows New Amsterdam, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and The Walking Dead. This episode was recorded on April 5, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bobby Conte currently plays Cousin Kevin in The Who's Tommy on Broadway. Some of his other theater credits include Company, A Bronx Tale, My Fair Lady, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Starting Here, Starting Now and A Comedy of Tenors.  This episode was recorded on April 9, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A two-time Obie Award-winning director and choreographer, Lee Sunday Evans is the Artistic Director of Waterwell. She recently directed The Poisoner, currently playing at La MaMa. Some of Lee's other credits include Oratorio for Living Things, Dance Nation, the Courtroom, Sunday, In the Green, Miller, Mississippi, Home and Porto. Lee is also directing the Broadway-bound musical adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time.  This episode was recorded April 12, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode When Lightning Strikes! goes on location to the theater at Studio 54. Jeryl Brunner talks to Brian d'Arcy James who currently stars in Days of Wine and Roses with Kelli O'Hara. Adapted from the 1962 film and original 1958 teleplay by J.P. Miller, this new musical features a book by Craig Lucas, Adam Guettel's music and lyrics and direction by Michael Greif. In this extensive conversation Brian talks about the epic journey to bring Days of Wine and Roses to the stage and why the show is so important to him.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Broadway and off-Broadway veteran who has starred in dozens of productions, Patrick Page is currently performing in the hit play All the Devils Are Here at the DR2 Theatre. Directed by Simon Godwin, this riveting show explores Shakespeare's most fascinating villains. A Tony nominee for his portrayal of Hades in Hadestown, some of Patrick's other credits include Saint Joan, Casa Valentina, A Time to Kill, Spring Awakening, Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, A Man for All Seasons, Julius Caesar, The Lion King and on and on. This Grammy-winning gifted actor has also appeared on TV and film in The Gilded Age, Elementary, Spirited, In the Heights, Estella Scrooge, and much more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sean Daniels and Sheryl Kaller are some of the forces behind The White Chip, the hit autobiographical comedy currently playing at MCC Theater. Daniels, who wrote the White Chip, is a prolific theatermaker who leads The Recovery Project for Florida Studio Theatre. The Recovery Project commissions new works that destigmatizes recovery. The White Chip's director, Sheryl Kaller, has directed on and off Broadway. Some of her credits include Next Fall, for which she was nominated for a Tony and Mothers and Sons by Terrence McNally. The White Chip's production team includes Jason Biggs, John Larroquett, Hank Azaria, Annaleigh Ashford, recovery activist and author Ryan Hampton and the The Recovery Project. The production stars Joe Tapper, Crystal Dickinson and Jason Tam. This episode was recorded on February 20, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warren Carlyle is a Tony winning and Emmy nominated Director and Choreographer. Most recently he directed and choreographed the musical Harmony, now playing on Broadway. Just a few of his other credits include After Midnight, Chaplin, Hugh Jackman: Back On Broadway, Finian's Rainbow, A Tale of Two Cities, Kiss Me Kate, The Music Man, Hello, Dolly!, She Loves Me, On The 20th Century, The Mystery Of Edwin Drood, A Christmas Story, Stephen Sondheim's Follies and more!  This episode was recorded on December 7, 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marty LaSalle is the CEO of the Big Apple Circus. Their latest show, Journey to the Rainbow, created in collaboration with Circus-Theater Roncalli, is now playing at Lincoln Center through January 1.  This episode was recorded on November 21, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zalmen Mlotek is the Artistic Director of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene. He and his son, Avram Mlotek are the forces behind Amid Falling Walls: Unveiling Resilience and Hope During the Holocaust. Arranged by Zalmen with a libretto by Avram Mlotek, this Off-Broadway production presents songs created and performed in ghettos, cabarets, concentration camps, and theaters. The musical is currently playing at the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene at The Museum of Jewish Heritage. This episode was recorded November 27, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sade Lythcott is a Tony and Emmy-nominated producer and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Black Theatre. Founded in 1968, by her mother Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, National Black Theatre is the nation's first revenue-generating Black arts complex. National Black Theatre, also called NBT, is one of the longest-running theaters by a woman of color. Most recently, National Black Theatre co-produced Fat Ham and Purlie Victorious on Broadway and (Pray) off-Broadway. All three shows have been New York Times Critic's picks.  This episode was recorded on November 1, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A prolific director on Broadway and off, some of Leigh Silverman's credits include Violet, Grand Horizons, The Lifespan of a Fact, Chinglish, Well, SUFFS, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, Soft Power, Sandra, Hurricane Diane,The Wild Party and Really Rosie. A Tony award nominee, Leigh has directed over 60 world premieres and musicals. Her latest show, Merry Me, is now playing at New York Theatre Workshop. Leigh will soon be reuniting with Billy Crudup directing him in the Berkeley Rep production of Harry Clarke. He performed the show at the Vineyard and Audible theaters.  This episode was recorded on October 26, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh off of their appearance on RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars Season 8, Alex Michaels, also known as Alexis Michelle, has a had a hit cabaret show at Joe's Pub and appeared at Disney's Gay Days in Anaheim. An accomplished theater performer, Alex appeared off-Broadway and in tours of Big Apple Circus, Field of Mars, Chapter One, Hair, Little Shop of Horrors and Oklahoma! In addition to their album "Lovefool" on Broadway records, Alex also has a series of music releases including, "If You Want My Apples" and "Lulu's Shoes." Look out for Alex's upcoming Witch Perfect tour with fellow drag stars, Scarlet Envy and Tina Burner.  This episode was recorded September 15, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrea Syglowski is a riveting actress who has thrived on stage in film and TV. Just a few of Andrea's credits include Pass Over, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven, Queens. Lost in Yonkers. Venus in Fur, A Doll's House and Dear Elizabeth. Andrea currently stars in the hit play Dig by Theresa Rebeck. Presented by Primary Stages, Dig is playing at 59e59 Theaters. This episode was recorded on October 3, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brendan George wrote and starred in A Eulogy for Roman. The riveting immersive show had a successful run at 59 E 59 Theaters. Directed and conceived by Peter Charney, A Eulogy for Roman was also a hit at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Brendan is a New York City-based actor-writer-improviser and singer. This episode was recorded on September 12th, 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marcia Cross stars with Ron Canada and Bryan Batt in Pay the Writer. Written Tawni O'Dell and directed by Karen Carpenter, Pay the Writer is now playing at The Pershing Square Signature Center. Cross, who starred as Bree Van de Kamp on Desperate Housewives and was on the series Everwood and Monarch, is a graduate of the Juilliard School. She has performed at Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Hardford Stage Company and the Old Globe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Valisia LeKae stars as LaVern Baker in Rock & Roll Man. The hit musical is playing at New World Stages. Valisia was nominated for Tony and Grammy Awards playing Diana Ross in Motown: The Musical. Some of her other Broadway and off-Broadway credits include Three Penny Opera, 110 in the Shade, Ragtime, Book of Mormon, Superhero and Almost Heaven: The John Denver Musical. On TV Valisia has been seen in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, FBI: Most Wanted, The Blacklist, and Blue Bloods. On March 15 Valisia will be making her Carnegie Hall debut in the show Hittsville: Celebrating Motown with the New York Pops. This episode was recorded August 10, 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marilee Talkington stars as Morgan Le Fey in the musical Camelot now playing at Lincoln Center Theater. A prolific actress on stage and screen, some of her other theater credits include A Nervous Smile, The Middle Ages, The Last Day and her solo show, Truce. She has acted in film and on TV in The Home, Extrapolations, SEE, FBI: Most Wanted, NCIS, New Amsterdam and Law & Order SVU. Marilee, who is legally blind, founded Access Acting Academy which offers actor training for blind and low vision adults and children.  On July 26 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law to commemorate that date, July is Disability Pride Month. In the court of Camelot at Lincoln Center Theater Marilee is one of two disabled actors in the company. Anthony Michael Lopez, a congenital above-knee amputee, plays one of the main knights, Sir Dinidan. Both these roles were not written to be played by disabled actors. They are non-disability specific. In this episode Marilee reflects on her struggles and triumphs. This episode was recorded on July 17, 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Edelman is a comedian and writer whose Orthodox Jewish upbringing has informed his critically and commercially acclaimed work for the stage and screen. He is known for both his TV writing and his solo stage shows, all three of which have been award-winning, sell-out hits in London's West End and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. His current solo show, Just For Us, is now playing at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway through August 19, 2023. Visit https://www.justforusshow.com/. This episode was recorded on December 21, 2021.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Thurm is known as one of Hollywood's most accomplished casting directors. He played a key role casting some of the most important shows and films including Cheers, Hill Street Blues, Taxi, Grease, Airplane!, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He has worked with celebrities ranging from Judy Garland, Pearl Bailey, and Ethel Merman to Ted Danson and John Travolta. His new book is Sex, Drugs And Pilot Season: Confessions Of A Casting Director. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arian Moayed was nominated for a Tony Award for his dazzling performance playing Torvald in A Doll's House opposite Jessica Chastain. An Emmy and Tony nominated actor, writer and director, in 2002, he co-founded Waterwell, (www.waterwell.org) a risk-taking and civic-minded non-profit theater company. Some of Arian's other theater credits include The Humans, Guards at the Taj and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. His TV and film credits include playing Stewy in the HBO hit Succession, Love Life, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Inventing Anna, Ms. Marvel and most recently, A24's You Hurt My Feelings. This episode was recorded June 15, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martyna Majok was recently nominated for a Tony award for her riveting, profound and funny play "Cost of Living." The play delves into the lengths we go to care for others and what it means to fight for ourselves. Presented by Manhattan Theatre Club, "Cost of Living" was nominated for five Tony Awards and has already won a 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Martyna's work, which also includes the plays "Sanctuary City," "Queens" and "Ironbound," has been performed in theaters around the world. Martyna is currently writing a musical adaptation of "The Great Gatsby," with music by Florence Welch and Thomas Bartlett. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NaTasha Yvette Williams was just nominated for a Tony Award originating the role of band leader Sweet Sue in the new Broadway musical Some Like it Hot. She is also featured in the musical's original cast recording. NaTasha's other Broadway credits include Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Chicken and Biscuits, Waitress, Chicago, A Night with Janis Joplin, The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess and The Color Purple. You can see NaTasha in the historical thriller Alice, the Disney+ movie Better Nate Than Never and Partner Track on Netflix. NaTasha is also a founding member of Black Theatre United. This episode was recorded on May 23, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A most prolific actor, just a few of Stephen McKinley Henderson's credits include Fences, A Raisin In The Sun, A Doll's House Part 2, Lincoln, Manchester By The Sea, Lady Bird, Dune, Causeway, Beau Is Afraid and the upcoming Dune: Part 2. He was last on Broadway at Second Stages' Helen Hayes Theater in the riveting play Between Riverside and Crazy by Stephen Adly Guirgis. Directed by Austin Pendleton, Stephen was just nominated for a Tony Award for his riveting performance. Returning to the role that he originated back in 2014, Stephen played Pops, a retired police officer and devoted widowed father, who is doing his best to hold on to his beloved and massive rent-controlled Riverside Drive apartment. This episode was recorded on April 26, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steven Boyer currently stars in the dazzling hit musical Kimberly Akimbo now playing at the Booth Theatre. He also received a Tony nomination for the play Hand To God. Some of his other credits include Time and the Conways, I'm Not Rappaport, Assassins, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, WeCrashed, Love Life, Borderlands, Hustlers, ChicagoFire, Trial & Error and more! He also plays lead guitar for the band the US Open. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gwendolyn Warnock and Kirjan Waage both wrote and directed The Immortal Jellyfish Girl at 59E59 Theaters. This dazzling out-of-the-box show is presented by Wakka Wakka and Nordland Visual Theatre. Gwendolyn and Kirjan are part of Wakka Wakka Productions, a non-profit visual theater company based in New York City and Oslo. Their mission is to stretch the limits of the imagination and create daring and unpredictable theater. This episode was recorded on February 13, 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A comedian and writer, Leo Reich's comedy show, Literally Who Cares?!, is currently playing at Greenwich House Theater in New York City. With sold-out runs at both Edinburgh Fringe and London's Soho Theater, the show, which is directed by Adam Brace and features music composed by Toby Marlow, has been called "biting" and "brilliantly funny." Literally Who Cares?! is a New York Times Critics Pick. For more information visit leoreich.com. This episode was recorded on March 6, 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mitchell Winter currently plays Wolf, a little boy, in Wolf Play at MCC Theater. Written by Hansol Jung and directed by Dustin Wills, the play, which had a sold-out run at Soho Rep, is presented by MCC Theater in collaboration with Ma-Yi Theater Company. A graduate of Yale School of Drama, some of Mitchell's other credits include Dracula, The Importance of Being Earnest and Mr. Robot. For more information and tickets visit, mcctheater.org. This episode was recorded on February 28, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Called the “Lady of 1,000 Voices," actress Christine Pedi is known for her fierce impressions of countless performers including Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Liza Minnelli and Elaine Stritch in the hit show Forbidden Broadway. Some of her other credits include Chicago, Talk Radio, Little Me, Dr. Death and The Sopranos.This March Christine stars in The Rewards of Being Frank from New York Classical Theatre. The new play, written by Alice Scovell, is a sequel to Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest and will run at Mezzanine Theatre at ART/New York Theatres. (Tickets are complimentary.) Learn more at https://nyclassical.org/frank. This episode was recorded February 22, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonnie Milligan stars in the hit musical Kimberly Akimbo at the Booth Theater on Broadway. The show began at the Atlantic Theater Company with Milligan winning the Lucille Lortel Award and getting nominated for a Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League award for her enthralling and utterly brilliant performance as Aunt Debra. Bonnie's other credits include Head Over Heels, Kinky Boots and Search Party. Just this month the gorgeous Kimberly Akimbo: Original Broadway Cast Recording debuts on Ghostlight Records. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actress, vocalist, and comedian Jinkx Monsoon is the first person in history to win Ru Paul's Drag Race twice, earning the title “Queen of All Queens” on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. Jinkx recently made her Broadway debut playing “Matron ‘Mama' Morton” in the jazzy hit musical Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre. She will be in Chicago through March 12. This episode was recorded on January 31, 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For nearly two decades Ray Mercer has been a cast member of 'The Lion King' on Broadway. One of the longest-running male dancers in Broadway history, Mercer, who plays one of the iconic 14 foot giraffes at the top of the show, is also the show's fight captain. This past November 'The Lion King' celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Mercer is also a prolific choreographer creating pieces and working with companies and universities around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Etheridge is a ferociously talented rock music icon. This Grammy and Oscar-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist is known for her deeply passionate, raw and honest lyrics and smoky, distinctive voice. With a career that has spanned more than three decades, this month she is debuting her new solo show, My Window - A Journey Through Life, which combines great music and storytelling. The intimate show at New World Stages, brings us from her childhood in Kansas to becoming a golden voiced rock music force. The show will run for just 12 performances. For tickets visit, www.MelissaEtheridge.com/MyWindow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katy Sullivan is reprising her role as Ani in Martyna Majok's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, 'Cost of Living,' which opened on Broadway October 3rd. Just a few of her other acting credits includes 'Dexter: New Blood,' 'My Name is Earl' and 'Last Man Standing.' A double below the knee bilateral amputee and four-time U.S. Paralympian champion, Katy is the first female amputee and only the second amputee actor ever to appear in a Broadway production. Manhattan Theatre Club's 'Cost of Living' is playing at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carl Moellenberg has produced more than 70 shows worldwide and won 13 Tony awards. Just a few of his Broadway credits includes Spring Awakening, Hair, Death of a Salesman, Pippin, All the Way, Dear Evan Hansen, Angels in America, The Band's Visit, Oklahoma, Hadestown, The Minutes, Company and many more. His memoir, Broadway and Spirituality as a Path to Survival, debuts on October 1. carlmoellenberg.com/memoir  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eugene Pack is an Emmy nominated writer and winner of the Drama Desk award for creating the hit international comedy Celebrity Autobiography. The beloved show where stars act out other celebrity memoirs live on stage, has run on on and off Broadway. Eugene's short original comedies are now featured on a unique podcast, called The Pack Podcast, https://www.thepackpodcast.org Just a few of the stars who have performed on the podcast have included Sarah Jessica Parker, Blair Underwood, Matthew Broderick, Stockard Channing, Marisa Tomei Annette Bening, Brian Stokes Mitchell,Martin short. Renée Fleming, Dick Cavett and many more. “A compelling work of art” says Variety about the plays which is listened to in 100 countries. The Pack Podcast also raises money for The Entertainment Community Fund, https://entertainmentcommunity.org (Formerly called, The Actors Fund). As acting legend Eva Marie Saint who has performed in three of his plays says “Eugene's work is so honest. I've lived long enough to know what's honest and what isn't and Eugene's plays are." This episode was recorded on January 21, 2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sharon Wheatley is an original cast member in the the hit Broadway musical, "Come From Away." She has the distinction of being the only actress to appear in "Cats," "Les Miserables" and :The Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway. When the pandemic shut down "Come From Away," Wheatley and her family hit the road in 30-foot RV. A gifted writer, she chronicles her adventures in her riveting new book, "Drive: Stories from Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miriam Pultro is an actor, singer, composer, lyricist musician, director, filmmaker and theater artist who wrote and stars in Glass Town which played at the Tank in New York City. The rock musical spotlights the Brontë-siblings as rock band. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor-musicians Van Hughes and Nick Blaemire wrote and are performing in “Space Dogs” at MCC theater. The new musical tells the heartbreaking, mind-blowing true story of the first living beings to go into outer space, even before humans. The musical centers on a stray dog named Laika and the top-secret Russian scientist who sent this pup and other dogs to space during the Cold War. “Space Dogs” is now playing at MCC until March 20th. Nick and I talked about birthing “Space Dogs” from Van's Bushwick basement studio, what it was like to play Jonathan Larson in the off Broadway musical “Tick, Tick… Boom!” and more. Learn more about Space Dogs at https://mcctheater.org/tix/space-dogs/. This episode was recorded on March 8, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clare Barron is a prolific writer who has written the plays “Baby Screams Miracle,” “Dirty Crusty,” “I'll Never Love Again,” “You Got Older” and the Pulitzer-nominated “Dance Nation." Her gripping play “Shhhh,” which has been called “illuminating” and "raw" recently had a very successful run at the Atlantic Theater Company. Not only did Clare write Shhhh she also directed and starred in the play. Clare is working on an adaptation of Anton Chekhov's “Three Sisters” for New York Theatre Workshop's (NYTW) 2022/2023 season. Directed by Sam Gold the cast includes Greta Gerwig, Oscar Isaac, Steve Buscemi, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Emily Davis, Chris Messina, Lola Kirke, John Christopher Jones, Michael Benjamin Hernandez, Anthony Michael Lopez, Matthew Maher, Chris Messina, Aaron Clifton Moten, Ben Sinclair and Virginia Wing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeannette Bayardelle is a Grammy-nominated performer who has traveled to more than 50 countries to share her exceptional gifts. Most recently she starred on Broadway as Mrs. Nielsen in Girl From The North Country featuring the songs of Bob Dylan. Her additional credits include Hair, The Color Purple, Rock of Ages, Deaf West's Big River and she wrote the book, music, lyrics and stared in her own musical Shida. Jeannette created the online class, Broadway To Wall Street - https://broadwaytowallstreet.com/. The course is a fun introduction to the stock market and includes music and animation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Edelman is a comedian and writer whose Orthodox Jewish upbringing has informed his critically and commercially acclaimed work for the stage and screen. He is known for both his TV writing and his solo stage shows, all three of which have been award-winning, sell-out hits in London's West End and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. His current solo show, Just For Us, is playing at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City from January 24th to February 19, 2022. Visit, https://www.justforusshow.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Lightning Strikes! goes to the opening Night and Broadway premiere of Alice Childress' play Trouble in Mind. Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, the cast includes LaChanze, Michael Zegen, Chuck Cooper, Danielle Campbell, Jessica Frances Dukes, Brandon Micheal Hall, Simon Jones, Alex Mickiewicz and Don Stephenson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jacquelene Acevedo is a Grammy award winning percussionist and dancer who stars in David Byrne's American Utopia currently on Broadway at the St James Theatre. She has recorded or toured with Jeremy Pelt, Alicia Hall Moran and her mentor/father, Memo Acevedo. Jacquelene also recorded on the In The Heights movie soundtrack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martyna Majok is a playwright who won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Cost of Living. Her newest play, Sanctuary City from New York Theatre Workshop is now playing at The Lucille Lortel Theatre. Her plays, including Queens and Ironbound, have been performed throughout the United States and abroad. She studied playwriting at the Yale School of Drama and Juilliard School. She is currently writing two musical librettos and developing an original series and film for HBO. Martyna is also adapting The Great Gatsby for the Broadway stage with Florence Welch and Thomas Bartlett writing music. This episode was recorded on September 24, 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices