Who Are You Now?

As third-graders in 1970, Travis Thompson and I connected over our shared affinity for classic movies, officially making him my oldest friend. I'm happy to report that our friendship has continued to this day and that the substance of our conversations has changed very little since we were kids. Our WAYN discussion took us from elementary school to cataract surgery and all the movies and music in-between. Recorded on 5/10/25. 

When I interviewed Aaron Mark, he kindly asked if he could interview me the following week. I must confess, I LOVE being interviewed -- especially if I'm asked questions that I've never been asked before. When I agreed, I never expected that I would ramble on as long as I did. My sincere apologies. (If you're interested in listening, maybe save this one for a road trip.) Still, it's always fun to talk to Aaron! Recorded on 11/2/2025.

The last time I saw or spoke to Hannah Low was the day of her graduation from Emery High School, where she was an active theatre participant. Her post-Houston story is a roller coaster with unexpected turns and a few astonishingcoincidences! Our terrific catch-up visit includes a special cameo appearance by “Gus Gus.” Recorded on 4/19/25.

Actor Josh Brener has auditioned hundreds of times, but I'm proud to say I witnessed his very first audition! In addition to sharing our memories of this momentous occasion, Josh and I discussed his journey from school plays to the TV and movie screen. Recorded on 3/29/25.Note to listener: Even with the edits, this episode turned out to be longer than usual. I would have made it into a two-parter, but I'm not tech-savvy enough to know how to do that. Feel free to listen in sections.   

As a seventh-grader, Sebastian was the only middle school student in a high school musical when he played the young version of the title character in The Who's Tommy before continuing to do theatre in high school. Like me, Sebastian is an avid cinephile, so we've never been at a loss for a topic of conversation. Recorded on 2/22/25.

When I first worked with Shelley Molad, she was part of an ensemble that sang Irving Berlin songs at retirement homes. Little did I know that her acting career would be so varied and include Chekov and true crime TV. This episode contains an unexpected cameo (audio) appearance by Shelley's children! Recorded on 1/19/25. 

As a sixth grader, Sam Strum was already a knowledgeable interpreter of the Broadway repertoire -- particularly the songs sung by kid characters. He had also already mastered the bell kick, which we took full advantage of overthe years. As we talked, Sam reminded me that he specialized in playing death scenes in shows we worked on. Recorded on 12/14/24.

I met Rich Zwelling through his brother (former student and former WAYN guest) Andrew. Rich and I immediately connected over our mutual appreciation for cinema, music, and education. This episode is a continuation of many of our conversations over the years. Recorded on 11/30/24.

In addition to lending his talent to Emery productions, both on and offstage, Jonathon Reckles was directly responsible for one of the most meaningful days of my life (7/8/2009). On this episode, we revisited that magical day and talked theatre and dry cleaning. Recorded on 12/7/25.  

I had the privilege of performing with Aaron Mark in productions of The Wizard of Oz and She Loves Me when he was a teenager. These days, Aaron is a renowned writer and director of stage, screen, and podcasts. He and I had a terrific talk about our Houston theatre experiences and his professional adventures on both coasts. Recorded on 10/25/24.

David Blankfeld appeared in Emery's productions of Fiddler on the Roof, The Dining Room, The Who's Tommy, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Since high school, his creativity, drive, and passion extended to the world of video game development. Recorded on 10/19/24. 

While at Emery, Jonathan Endelman specialized in character roles in productions including Mame, Wonderful Town, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Over the years, he has impressed and entertained me with his prolific and detailed memory of his old high school theatre days and inspiring tales of the world travels his career has taken him on since then. Recorded on 10/13/24.

In 2012, at age 50, I enrolled at Columbia College Chicago. While there, I forged lasting friendships with a handful of my much younger classmates, including this week's guest, Colin Fagan. I really enjoyed discussing how our very different age demographics affected our shared college experience. Recorded on 10/6/24.

When Stephen Abrams did shows during his middle and high school years, I was struck by how his calm and quiet everyday persona resonated onstage. During our discussion, I learned that Stephen's post high school experience was anything but calm. Therefore, I feel this episode requires a serious footnote. I'm extremely grateful that Stephen felt comfortable enough to be so open and forthcoming with his story and for approving the edit. However, what he shared took our visit to dire places that may not be suitable to more sensitive listeners. Recorded on 10/5/24.

Blake Nolingberg and I met when he was eight. Outside of theatre classes, I was the Children's Chorus Supervisor when Blake performed in TUTS productions of Cinderella and Jesus Christ Superstar. In addition to recalling backstage stories and getting caught up on his current life, Blake and I discussed our longtime mutual affinity for vintage TV reruns. (When we worked with Ruth Buzzi, he was the only kid in the cast who knew who she was!) Recorded on 9/29/24.  

For a change of pace, this week's guest is friend and former teaching colleague, Rozanne Curtis, whom I first met when we were both in the cast of a production The Wizard of Oz. We had fun sharing our adventures as longtime Theatre Arts educators. Recorded on 9/28/24.

When David Waghalter was a teenager and I was barely an adult, we appeared together in productions of Peter Pan and The Wizard of Oz. In fact, for a number of years, I worked on shows with David's entire family! Join us as we recall stories from onstage, behind-the-scenes, and a very strange housewarming. I also learned what David's been up to since the 80s! Recorded on 9/15/24.

Since I've started this podcast, many listeners have commented on how much they enjoy the theme music. This week's guest, Joshua Rosner, composed and performed the song, titled “One for Barbara.” We share the song's back story, recall EWS productions of Fiddler on the Roof and How to Succeed in Business…, and learn what Joshua is up to these days. Recorded on 8/31/24.

Perhaps by coincidence, several of my strangest theatrical experiences were alongside Kevin Arsham, starting with our lip-syncing to a Chipmunks cover of Blondie's “Call Me” in a children's revue called Pure Imagination. Kevin and I reminisced about this and other odd onstage adventures and caught up on his post-theatre life. Recorded on 8/25/24.

I first encountered Carlie Dorshaw Moe at Theatre Under the Stars when she was eight. We later worked together at I. Weiner Middle School and the JCC Summer Theatre program where she both performed and acted as a theatre camp counselor.  I last worked with Carlie in 1999. It was great finding out what she's been up to in this century! Recorded on 8/24/24.

Stephen Uzick holds the distinction of being the first (of several) of my students to later be taught by my sister, Maxine Goodman, at South Texas College of Law. Prior to that, Stephen was a fixture of the EWS Theatre Department, both onstage and behind the scenes. Recorded on 8/10/24.

In middle school, Adam Siegman was a star on both the stage and the basketball court. He and I talked about how he uses the experience he gained working before an audience in his current work. He also regaled me with the most astonishing on-the-job training story I've ever heard! Recorded on 8/10/24.  

Elliot Levy appeared in our production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. We discuss that and how, decades later, he and I wound up as fellow University of Chicago students. Also, two weeks after this interview was recorded, Elliot and his wife welcomed a baby! Mazel tov! Recorded on 8/5/24.

As an eighth grader, Michael Abrams appeared in our production of Hello, Dolly! as part of a cast of 112 middle schoolers. In addition to recalling the experience and filling us in on journey to his current life, Michael took some time to pay tribute to his mother, Rabbi Judith Abrams's memory. I was grateful for the opportunity to recall Rabbi Abrams's profound contributions to our production of Fiddler on the Roof. Recorded on 8/4/24.  

This week, I'm pausing from the usual WAYN routine to pay loving tribute to the following students/friends who are no longer with us but remain present in my memory and heart: Mike Barrett, Karen Bull, Miriam Goldman, Nicole Hurst, Paul Hussman, Ryan Maidenberg, Ryan Mendeloff, Jeff Nathan, Kevin Penn, Greg Potylchansky, Shalonda Price, Leslie Robins, Daniel Rosen. Zak Rosen, AlexSacks, Adam Shney, Jeremy Tucker, Scott Wilson, and Harris Wittels.

I had the privilege of directing Miriam Cantor-Stone in productions throughout their middle and high school years. During our visit, I was thrilled to discover that the quietly enthusiastic theatre kid whose ability to deliver even the corniest lines with stunning sincerity is still delivering “performances” of a kind. I loved hearing about their refreshingly unorthodox and fulfilling life path leading to this point. Recorded on 8/3/24.

When I was Carlos Miranda's English teacher, he was one of only five 7th graders at Banff Private School where he also performed in numerous productions. Since then, his schooling and career have taken him around the world. Carlos and I discuss his post-middle school adventures, how he met his wife (a best-selling author), his surprising celebrity encounter during the intermission for Batman Live and, of course, movies. Recorded on 7/31/24.

I first met Kevin Richie when he was three and I acted in shows with his father. A few years later, I played Kevin's father in an original musical called America. Kevin was the first of several young actors I worked with who showed an early flair and appreciation for technical theatre (a blessing for me because I have zero talent in that area). Kevin went on to mentor Blake Minor (last week's guest) and their careers continue to intersect on occasion. Recorded on 7/30/24.

I first worked with Blake Minor when he was a 7th grader and he did double duty as both actor and lighting technician for Anything Goes. Since then, Blake has dedicated his career to Technical Theatre Education. We had a terrific talk about, among other things, how Technical Theatre and Arts Education have changed since our time at Welch Middle School. Recorded on 7/29/24.

Ryan Surles was eighteen when he took classes at Theatre Under the Stars. The following summer (1989), I recruited him to play Bud Frump in my directorial debut, a teen production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Years later, when my niece was a toddler, Ryan was her teacher at Gymboree. A former Las Vegas resident, Ryan gave me a piece of sage advice before I moved here. These and other random connections are discussed within. Recorded on 7/26/24.      

Congratulations to Taylor Shepherd! Taylor holds the distinction of being my first former student (that I'm aware of) to become a grandparent! (His granddaughter arrived a few weeks after we recorded this interview.) We discuss his performing in Oliver! as a 7th grader, his travels since then, and what he's up to nowadays. Recorded on 7/24/24.

Andrew Zwelling and I met when he was in the seventh grade and was in my Theatre Arts class. Though much more interested in baseball, Andrew and I remained in touch over the years. Among other things, Andrew and I discuss how I compared to his college theatre teacher (a name most Baby Boomers and pop culture nostalgia fans will recognize)!

Tina Melamed Jaremko and Tanya Robinson are identical twins but when I was their camp counselor and middle school theatre director, I never had any trouble telling them apart. It was great to hear their mutual memories and learn about their notably individual (though sometimes oddly intertwined) journeys to where they are today.

Jake and I met at the JCC Performing Arts Summer Camp when he was eight and we immediately bonded over our mutual appreciation for a certain movie. Never satisfied to fill his time according to someone else's rules, Jake has forged a singular life path for himself, including an unusual "side hustle" that really took off!

In the summer of 1989, I directed my very first production and Sarah Guzick was in the cast. That experience would turn out to be formative for both of us, for different reasons. Through our conversation, I learned about the joys and tough realities of the journey that Sarah's love of theatre took her on.

I worked with Jer Moran for only two weeks at the JCC Performing Arts Camp, but decades later, we reconnected in Chicago. Now, Jer lives in Austin, creates intriguing theatrical and cinematic projects, and tends to a collection of rather unorthodox house pets.

When I worked with Roxie Maisel on middle school shows (in 1999 and 2000), she proved that she wasn't afraid to take creative risks onstage. Twenty-five years later, Roxie's adventurous spirit and drive are still very much intact as she shares details about her current life in New York!

This episode introduces the host and podcast concept, including reaching out for former students to interview.