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This episode we are joined by actor Caesar Samayoa! Caesar is currently starring in the Broadway production of Just in Time and was in the original casts of Come From Away and How to Dance in Ohio! Other credits include Seared at Capital Repertory Theatre, Evita at American Repertory Theater and Love's Labour's Lost at Shakespeare in the Park!We talk with Caesar about when he realized he wanted to study and perform professionally, being able to originate new work, how How to Dance in Ohio's rehearsal process changed things for him, working on Just in Time and much more!
This week, we're joined by Shannon Lewis, the choreographer behind the new musical Just In Time. Shannon talks about her early days as a dancer, how she developed her style, and what it's like working with Alex Timbers and Jonathan Groff. We get into the unique aspects of immersive theater and how choreography changes when the audience is part of the action. Shannon also shares what she learned from Susan Stroman and offers advice for performers. Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on Instagram and YouTube. Share your thoughts with us on Just In Time on our podcast cover post on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Erika Henningsen opens up about the real ups and downs of a life in the spotlight, from early rejection to career-defining roles. Known for originating Cady Heron in Mean Girls on Broadway, Erika dives into the emotional rollercoaster of auditioning, the shift from seeking audience approval to prioritizing collaboration, and why working with people she admires—like Jonathan Groff and Alex Timbers in Just In Time—makes all the difference. She also shares what it's like to voice animated characters in Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss, and how she's currently balancing stage work with her new Netflix series The Four Seasons, where she stars alongside Steve Carell and old friend Tina Fey. With heart, humor, and hard-earned wisdom, Erika brings honesty to the realities of navigating the business—and the joy of finding creative freedom along the way. Erika Henningsen originated the role of Cady Heron in Broadway's Mean Girls, earning a Drama Desk nomination. Other stage credits include Les Misérables, Joy, and Just In Time, in which she currently stars as Sandra Dee. Her voice work includes Charlie Morningstar in Prime Video's Hazbin Hotel and Bethany in Helluva Boss. On screen, she appears in Peacock's Girls5Eva and Netflix's The Four Seasons. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Erika: IG: @erikahenningsen Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: 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
Whether he's helping shape a brand-new show or breathing life into real people onstage, Caesar Samayoa brings authenticity and heart to every role. In this conversation, Caesar shares what it's like building Just in Time from the ground up—balancing daily rehearsals with nightly performances, and trusting in the collaborative energy of a veteran cast. He opens up about the emotional weight of portraying real people, the lessons learned from immersive productions, and the beauty of audience connection—especially when someone's first or last theatre experience is in his hands. Caesar reflects on his early influences, growing up as a first-generation American, and how a performance of Peter Pan set him on a path toward the stage—despite starting college with plans to study Japanese and international relations. He dives into working with Alex Timbers across four productions, the power of vulnerability in rehearsal, and how How to Dance in Ohio and Come From Away expanded his understanding of representation, empathy, and creative freedom. Caesar Samayoa's Broadway credits include Just in Time, Come From Away, Sister Act, The Pee-wee Herman Show, and How to Dance in Ohio. His TV work includes appearances on Law & Order: SVU, Chicago P.D., and The Code. He is a longtime collaborator of director Alex Timbers and is known for bringing deep emotional range and truth to both fictional and real-life roles. Connect with Caesar: Instagram: @caesarsamayoa Website: caesarsamayoa.com 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
Sophie shares her journey from a passionate, young dancer in the UK to becoming a triple-threat performer gracing the stages of London's West End and New York's Broadway. She opens up about her early obsession with dance, recounting how she would ask her mom to book a local church hall for extra practice and record her rehearsals so she could critique herself. This early dedication set the stage for her successful career, which began in the West End and eventually led her to Broadway. She looks back on her audition process for “Moulin Rouge!” on a Zoom call during the pandemic, where she had to convince director Alex Timbers that she could bring a fresh, fierce energy to the role of Nini. She also touches on her transition into TV and film, celebrating her first non-musical acting role in the UK soap “Casualty” as a major milestone that showcased her versatility beyond dance and singing. Performing in a show like “Moulin Rouge!”, she finds joy in being part of a close-knit cast that becomes like a second family. She discusses the differences between working in the UK and the US, especially the accessibility and financial challenges performers face. With a deep love for performing, Sophie imparts a piece of advice to aspirants, encouraging them to stretch themselves in areas where they aren't as strong and to live a balanced life that includes fun and downtime. Sophie Carmen-Jones has appeared in several West End productions and UK tours, including “Moulin Rouge!”, “Jersey Boys”, “Wicked”, “We Will Rock You”, and “Chicago”. Her film and TV credits include the live-action films of “The Little Mermaid”, “Cats”, “Aladdin”, and “Beauty and the Beast”, and she recently made her Broadway debut in the Broadway production of “Moulin Rouge!” as Nini. Connect with Sophie: Instagram: @sophiecarmenjones Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast YouTube: YouTube.com/TheTheatrePodcast Threads, Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com My personal Instagram: @alanseales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Douglas J Cohen Doug received the 2010 Fred Ebb Award for Musical Theatre Songwriting and won two Richard Rodgers Awards for writing book, music, and lyrics for NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY (produced twice off-Broadway resulting in over 100 productions worldwide; an upcoming NY commercial production in-the-works through producer Larry Hirschhorn) and THE GIG (O'Neill National Music Theatre Conference, Manhattan Theatre Club Stage II, Goodspeed, York Theatre Company concert on CD and reading in conjunction with the Noël Coward Prize, and Sacramento Music Circus). Doug is the composer/lyricist of THE BIG TIME (book by Douglas Carter Beane) which debuted at the NYMF Festival; plans are underway for a Broadway-bound production. Nominated for a 2005 Drama Desk Award (Outstanding Lyrics, CHILDREN'S LETTERS TO GOD), he penned co-book, music, and lyrics for THE OPPOSITE OF SEX (Williamstown Theatre Festival) and received a Jonathan Larson Grant for composing BARNSTORMER, which has recently been optioned for New York by producer Lawrence Poster. Doug is the composer of GLIMMERGLASS (NAMT Conference 2000, readings through the Village Theatre and Melting Pot, productions at Goodspeed at Chester, Spirit of Broadway – Best Production of 2008) and A CHARLES DICKENS CHRISTMAS (produced by Theatreworks/USA and licensed through MTI). He also penned book and lyrics to VALENTINO'S TANGO (with music by Howard Marren, choreographed/directed by Chet Walker) and contributed original songs to JACKIE COLLINS' HOLLYWOOD LIES, and BOOZY (Robert Moses), the latter produced by Les Freres Corbusier and directed by Tony nominee Alex Timbers, which enjoyed runs at both the Ohio Theatre and Culture Project. His latest musicals are NINE WIVES with collaborator Dan Elish (which has been optioned by producers Larry Hirschhorn and Jayson Raitt and selected for the 2013 Goodspeed Festival of New Artists) HELEN OF TROY written with future West End lyricist/ playwright Zoe Samuel and workshopped at Coastal Carolina University, and BRIDGES, commissioned by The Berkeley Playhouse written with BARNSTORMER collaborator, Cheryl L. Davis. His new play, LOVELY SEND ANYWHERE, a finalist for the Laurents-Hatcher Award, has been developed at the Lark Play Development Center and received a reading in October 2012 starring Santino Fontana and Condola Rashad. A graduate of Amherst College, Doug recently joined the faculty of the Neighborhood Playhouse where he teaches the 2nd year students in song interpretation. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, ASCAP, and the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop. How to Survive a Killer Musical: Agony and Ecstasy on the Road to Broadway When the young composer-lyricist Douglas Cohen first secured the musical rights to the novel No Way to Treat a Lady by William Goldman—the acclaimed author of The Princess Bride and Marathon Man—he hoped it would be his big break, the first step on a gilt path to artistic triumph and commercial success in the form of a hit Broadway musical. What happened after that, while memorable, was anything but. How to Survive a Killer Musical chronicles Cohen's decade-long quest to bring that musical to the stage—writing, re-writing, and shepherding it across the US and Europe amidst all manner of adversity and plain rotten luck. It's a fascinating portrait of passion, persistence, and resilience—a coming-of-age story populated with famous mentors and formidable adversaries, told with refreshing honesty and humor.
Four time Tony Awards nominee David Korins lets us into his world as he talks about his creative process and the intricacies of set design. He shares insights into his work's detailed and often granular nature, emphasizing the importance of even the smallest elements in creating a believable world for actors and audiences alike. He discusses set design for complex productions like “Beetlejuice”, and how he and director Alex Timbers viewed the house as a character itself, which led to numerous model versions to perfect the design. For “Hamilton”, he recounts starting with imaginative sketches and how the final design emerged through collaboration and feedback. While it might not make sense to the audience at times, David underscores the importance of (unseen) detailed set elements, and how they play an important role in helping actors perform authentically. He reflects on coming up with set designs for different mediums and finding new techniques to make his visions come to life, highlighting the evolving role of technology in set design and using Dear Evan Hansen and “The Who's Tommy” as examples. With countless visions realized, David reveals that ultimately, he gets his motivation from the desire to help others realize their own. David Korins is an internationally recognized award-winning creative director and designer responsible for creating 360-degree, fully immersive, holistic experiences for some of the biggest stars, brands, and events worldwide and in theatre and Broadway. He brought to life the environments for smash hits like “Hamilton”, “Dear Evan Hansen”, “Beetlejuice”, and “Mrs. Doubtfire”, among many others. He's worked as a creative director for Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Sia, and Andrea Bocelli to bring their musical visions to the stage. His film and TV experience includes series on HBO, CBS, Bravo, IFC, and PBS. He received the 2016 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special for “Grease: Live”. His scenic designs were seen last season in the play, “Just for Us”, and this season's “Here Lies Love” and “The Who's Tommy”. Connect with David: Instagram: @davidkorins Twitter: @DavidKorins Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast YouTube: YouTube.com/TheTheatrePodcast Threads, Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com My personal Instagram: @alanseales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We are excited to bring you this new episode in our podcast series, The Art of Collaboration. This series focuses on directors and choreographers in conversation with some of their collaborators on a specific production. This series explores the ins and outs of these processes, both the finer details as well as overarching ideas about what goes into a productive collaboration on a show. In the second episode of this two episode arc, Director Alex Timbers, Sound Designer Peter Hylenski, and Scenic Designer Derek McLane are interviewed by Foundation Director Dani Barlow to discuss their experience working together on Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Learn more about this episode's guests below. Bios: ALEX TIMBERS (Director) is the recipient of Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and London Evening Standard Awards, as well as two Obie and Lortel Awards. Broadway credits include Gutenberg the Musical; Here Lies Love; Moulin Rouge!; Just For Us; Beetlejuice; David Byrne's American Utopia; Oh Hello with Nick Kroll and John Mulaney; The Pee-wee Herman Show; Peter and the Starcatcher; and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (also bookwriter). For television, he co-created Amazon's “Mozart in the Jungle” (Golden Globe Award) and has helmed the Netflix specials “John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous,” “Ben Platt: Live at Radio City,” and most recently “John Mulaney: Baby J” (2023 Emmy Award nomination). His debut picture book, Broadway Bird, set in an all-animal version of Broadway, is published by Macmillan. @alextimbers PETER HYLENSKI (Sound Designer). Peter received a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award Honor for his work on Moulin Rouge! The Musical. A Grammy, Olivier, and eight time Tony nominee, his selected Broadway designs include: Moulin Rouge!, Frozen, Anastasia, Beetlejuice, Once On This Island, Something Rotten, King Kong, Rock of Ages, After Midnight, Motown, The Scottsboro Boys, Side Show, Rocky, Bullets Over Broadway, Shrek the Musical, On A Clear Day, Lend Me A Tenor, Elf. Other designs: Awakening, Le Rêve and Lake of Dreams at Wynn Las Vegas. He's designed for Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, London's O2 Arena, and The Kennedy Center. Peter holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University. DEREK MCLANE (Scenic Designer) SELECTED CREDITS: BROADWAY: MJ the Musical, Moulin Rouge!, Purlie Victorious, A Soldier's Play, American Son, The Parisian Woman, Children of a Lesser God, The Price, Noises Off, Fully Committed, Beautiful, Gigi, China Doll, Anything Goes, The Heiress, Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Best Man, Follies, How to Succeed In Business Without Even Trying, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Million Dollar Quartet, Ragtime, 33 Variations The Pajama Game, I Am My Own Wife. OFF-BROADWAY: Black No More, Merrily We Roll Along, The True, Jerry Spring the Opera, If I Forget, The Whirligig, Into The Woods, Love, Love, Love, Sweet Charity, Evening at the Talk House, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Buried Child, The Spoils, Sticks and Bones, The Last Five Years, A Lie of the Mind, Ruined, Hurlyburly. TELEVISION: He designed the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017 Academy Awards as well as the NBC LIVE! Musicals The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, The WIZ & HAIRSPRAY. AWARDS: Winner of 1997 + 2004 OBIE Awards, 2004, 2005, 2007 Lortel Awards; 2009 + 2021 Tony Award, 2011 Drama Desk Award, 2015, 2016 Art Directors Guild Award, 2014 + 2017 Emmy Award.
We are excited to bring you this new podcast series, The Art of Collaboration. This series will focus on directors and choreographers in conversation with some of their collaborators on a specific production. This series will explore the ins and outs of these processes, both the finer details as well as overarching ideas about what goes into a productive collaboration on a show. In this inaugural episode, Director Alex Timbers, Costume Designer Catherine Zuber, and Lighting Designer Justin Townsend are interviewed by Foundation Director Dani Barlow to discuss their experience working together on Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Learn more about this episode's guests below. Bios: Alex Timbers (Director) is the recipient of Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and London Evening Standard Awards, as well as two Obie and Lortel Awards. Broadway credits include Gutenberg the Musical; Here Lies Love; Moulin Rouge!; Just For Us; Beetlejuice; David Byrne's American Utopia; Oh Hello with Nick Kroll and John Mulaney; The Pee-wee Herman Show; Peter and the Starcatcher; and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (also bookwriter). For television, he co-created Amazon's “Mozart in the Jungle” (Golden Globe Award) and has helmed the Netflix specials “John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous,” “Ben Platt: Live at Radio City,” and most recently “John Mulaney: Baby J” (2023 Emmy Award nomination). His debut picture book, Broadway Bird, set in an all-animal version of Broadway, is published by Macmillan. @alextimbers Justin Townsend (Lighting Designer): His professional lighting design work includes such productions as: Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award); Jagged Little Pill (Tony Nomination); American Psycho (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Henry Hewes Award); The Humans (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award); Here Lies Love, (Drama Desk Award, Public Theater); Vietgone, (MTC); Pretty Filthy, (Civilians); Mr. Burns, a Post Electric Play, Milk Like Sugar, (Playwrights Horizons); Odyssey, A Winter's Tale, (Public Works at the Delacorte Theater); Venus, (Signature Theater); Unnatural Acts, Mother Courage, and Galileo (Classic Stage Company) Catherine Zuber (Costume Designer) Broadway: Moulin Rouge, (Tony Award, Olivier Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), Mrs. Doubtfire, My Fair Lady, (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), Oslo, War Paint (Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), King & I, (Olivier Award, Tony Award), Fiddler on the Roof, Golden Boy. South Pacific (Tony Award); The Coast of Utopia (Tony Award); The Light in the Piazza (Tony Award); Awake and Sing! (Tony Award); The Royal Family (Tony Award); Gigi (Drama Desk Award). Metropolitan Opera: Rigoletto, Porgy & Bess, Il Barbieri di Siviglia, Les Contes d'Hoffman, Comte Ory, L'elisir d'Amore, Otello, Dr. Atomic, Roméo et Juliette. 2016 Induction: Theater Hall of Fame. Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation: Founded in 1965, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) exists to foster, promote, and develop the creativity and craft of stage directors and choreographers. SDCF's mission is to create access to the field, to connect artists to each other and to the public, and to honor these artists' theatrical legacies. The centrality of directors and choreographers in theatre and the impact they have on other artists' careers—from playwrights to designers to actors—makes SDCF's services essential to the wider theatre industry's continued health and vitality. Through its dynamic educational programming, including Observerships, Fellowships, public panels, and day-long symposia, SDCF serves the needs of directors and choreographers at every stage of career. www.sdcfoundation.org
123 - Sleep No More (feat. Dara Swisher) THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall Dara Swisher (Here I Am) and the lads grab their masks and book a stay at the McKittrick Hotel as they dive into the deep secrets and complicated legacy of the industry-defining immersive theater piece: Punchdrunk's Sleep No More. Topics include the history of immersive theater, the seductive appeal of tracksuits, and the eternal battle between the production of theater and the monolith of real estate. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Dara Swisher: Twitter // Instagram HERE I AM: Website // Tickets // Instagram Media Referenced in this Episode: Sleep No More. Punchdrunk. Dir. Felix Barrett and Maxine Doyle. 2011. The Tragedie of Macbeth by William Shakespeare Rebecca. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock. United Artists, 1940. On the History of Immersive Theater: Dionysis in ‘69: Full Film by Brian de Palma. 1970. “Drag, Disco, and the Donkey” by James Montaño. Howlround Theatre Commons. October 23rd, 2019. “El Teatro Campesino: Our History” Hell House. Dir. Alex Timbers. 2006. F I N D H I M “In 1901, you could pay 50 cents to ride an airship to the Moon” by Ron Miller. Gizmodo, May 31st, 2012. “So Long Ago, I Can't Remember” Review by Neil Genzlinger. NYTimes, April 20th, 2001. Sleep No More Resources/Articles: Sleep No More Synopsis Sleep No More Story Chart Felix Barrett on Sleep No More by BUILD Series. “Meet Emursive, The Company Behind 'Sleep No More,' The Off-Broadway Production That's Been Sold Out For Three Years” by Hollie Slade. Forbes. March 19th, 2014. “Performers and Staffers at ‘Sleep No More' Say Audience Members Have Sexually Assaulted Them” by Amber Jamieson. Buzzfeed News. Feb 6th, 2018. “Sleep No More: From Avant Garde Theatre To Commercial Blockbuster” by Alexis Soloski. The Guardian. March 31st, 2015. “Sleep No More to Close in January” by Alexis Soloski. NYTimes. November 8th, 2023. “‘Sleep No More' Venue Gets $27M Refi From Signature” by Matt Grossman. Commercial Observer. May 8th, 2018. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Commercial: “An Evening at The McKittrick Hotel with Detective Rupert Cadell”
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A lifelong arts maker, Audrey Hoo is the Director of Production of Tony-award winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley California. Originally from Singapore, Audrey ventured to the United States to seek new experiences. Most recently, she has worked at the American Conservatory Theater, La Jolla Playhouse and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She has had the pleasure of working with artists across all performing arts genres such as Tony Taccone, Chay Yew, Christopher Ashley, William Kentridge, Alex Timbers, Catherine Martin, Sam Mendes, Paul Simon, Laurie Anderson, John Turturro & Elaine Stritch. Outside of work, Audrey strives to be her best self. Always pushing to learn new skills, her main loves include martial arts, hiking, west coast swing and country two-step dances. Audrey holds a M.F.A in Technical Direction from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. @theatreartlife Thank you to our sponsor @clear-com The TheatreArtLife Podcast is a branch of our larger TheatreArtLife Community. Come visit us at www.theatreartlife.com
A lifelong arts maker, Audrey Hoo is the Director of Production of Tony-award winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley California. Originally from Singapore, Audrey ventured to the United States to seek new experiences. Most recently, she has worked at the American Conservatory Theater, La Jolla Playhouse and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She has had the pleasure of working with artists across all performing arts genres such as Tony Taccone, Chay Yew, Christopher Ashley, William Kentridge, Alex Timbers, Catherine Martin, Sam Mendes, Paul Simon, Laurie Anderson, John Turturro & Elaine Stritch. Outside of work, Audrey strives to be her best self. Always pushing to learn new skills, her main loves include martial arts, hiking, west coast swing and country two-step dances. Audrey holds a M.F.A in Technical Direction from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @theatreartlife Thank you to our sponsor @clear-com The TheatreArtLife Podcast is a branch of our larger TheatreArtLife Community. Come visit us at www.theatreartlife.com
In this episode of 92NY Talks, join Emmy Award-winning comedian, writer and actor John Mulaney in conversation with Fred Armisen on Baby J, his buzzy new standup special on Netflix. They are joined by Baby J's director and executive producer, Tony Award-winner Alex Timbers, and Grammy, Tony and Academy Award winner David Byrne, who wrote the project's music. The conversation was recorded on May 31, 2023 in front of a live audience at The 92nd Street Y, New York.
Today, I am so honored to announce my episode with Pulitzer Prize Winner Alfred Uhry. Alfred Uhry recently enjoyed great success with a revival of his musical Parade at Encores!, and he joins me today for a conversation about his legendary career, including what it was like being mentored by Frank Loesser, how he met Terrence McNally through John Steinbeck, when John Houseman introduced him to Patti LuPone, how figures from his childhood reacted to characters based on themselves, the art to writing a screenplay, why he admires A Strange Loop and Hamilton, the process of casting Driving Miss Daisy, why Alex Timbers is a brilliant director, the play that was about his parents, why Parade is relevant today, the dance piece that required a lot of research, and so much more. A Note: This interview was recorded in April 2022, so all viewpoints reflect that time.
Liisi Lafontaine is currently wrapping up her run as Satine in the original West End cast of Moulin Rouge The Musical.Baz Luhrmann's iconic film comes to life onstage, in a production directed by Alex Timbers with choreography by Sonya Tayeh. Fresh from Broadway where it won ten Tony Awards, Moulin Rouge began performances in London at the Piccadilly Theatre in November 2019.After understudying Deena in a US production of Dreamgirls, Liisi first came to the UK in 2016 to star as Deena the West End premiere of Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre, alongside Amber Riley as Effie. Liisi won huge acclaim for her performance and can be heard on the production's live cast album.Some of Liisi's other theatre credits include Fly (La Jolla Playhouse), Born For This (Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre), Mickey's Magical Map (Disneyland) and Disenchanted (Virtual). She has worked on screen, she is working on music and in 2019 Liisi made her London solo show debut with a concert at Piano Works West End. This episode was recorded earlier this week, as Liisi was preparing to enter her final week of Satine shows before heading back to the the US.You can see Liisi as Satine until Saturday 15th October. Follow her on Instagram: @liisilafontaineMoulin Rouge is booking at the Piccadilly Theatre until 15th April 2023. Visit www.moulinrougemusical.co.uk for info and tickets. Hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Carefully Taught: Teaching Musical Theatre with Matty and Kikau
Matty and Kikau talk to Broadway producer Sally Cade Holmes! You can follow Sally Cade on TikTok @sally.cade SALLY CADE HOLMES is a two time Tony Award-winning producer and thought leader committed to making challenging and innovative entertainment with broad appeal. She believes that brave, accessible, social justice-minded storytelling will make the world a better place. Her Broadway producing credits include Hadestown (Tony Award), The Inheritance (Tony Award / GLAAD Media Award), Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Tony nomination), and Anastasia. Her Off-Broadway credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Drama Desk, Drama League & Outer Critics Circle Awards) and Puffs. Past credits include Nubia (featuring the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race), Boy Gets Violent (Ars Nova's AntFest), Summer Valley Fair (New York Musical Theatre Festival), Ryan J. Haddad's Hi, Are You Single (2015 Hot! Festival and 2016 Under The Radar) and Here's Hoover (directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers). Music provided by Joshua Hegg
Broadway is Back and “Beetlejuice” has returned from the dead – which is a little on the nose for "Beetlejuice," if we're being honest.Based on Tim Burton's film, “Beetlejuice: The Musical” is directed by Alex Timbers with Music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect and a book by Scott Brown and Anthony King. The opened at The Winter Garden Theatre in April 2019 and was scheduled to close to make room for the revival of The Music Man (which plays there now) but closed early when covid-19 arrived in New York City in 2020. The show's popularity surged on social media and in cast recording sales over the pandemic and the producers found a new stage for the show to open again.Now at The Marquis Theater, much - but not all - of the cast is populated by the same actors as before – including the wonderful and winning Kerry Butler who plays Barbara Maitlin.Kerry Butler's Broadway credits include "Mean Girls," "Xanadu," "Hairspray," "Beauty and the Beast," "Disaster!," "Catch Me If You Can," "Rock of Ages," "Little Shop of Horrors," "Les Misérables," "Blood Brothers," and "The Best Man."
Sally Cade Holmes is a two time Tony Award-winning producer and thought leader committed to making challenging and innovative entertainment with broad appeal. She believes that brave, accessible, social justice-minded storytelling will make the world a better place. Her Broadway producing credits include Hadestown (Tony Award), The Inheritance (Tony Award / GLAAD Media Award), Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Tony nomination), and Anastasia. Her Off-Broadway credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Drama Desk, Drama League & Outer Critics Circle Awards) and Puffs. Past credits include Nubia (featuring the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race), Boy Gets Violent (Ars Nova's AntFest), Summer Valley Fair (New York Musical Theatre Festival), Ryan J. Haddad's Hi, Are You Single (2015 Hot! Festival and 2016 Under The Radar) and Here's Hoover (directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers). She spent the early part of her producing career as Associate Producer at Tom Kirdahy Productions (White Rabbit Red Rabbit, The Jungle, It's Only A Play) where she was mentored by Tom Kirdahy and the late Terrence McNally. Prior to that, she served as Producing Associate at Williamstown Theatre Festival where she worked on Broadway and off-Broadway productions of The Bridges of Madison County, Fool for Love, Living on Love, The Old Man and The Old Moon, and The Visit. Sally Cade holds a Masters Degree in Arts Administration with an advanced certificate in Arts Enterprise from Boston University. She received her BS in Theatre Studies with a minor in Religious Studies from the University of Evansville. Currently, Sally Cade is a Guest Teaching Artist at Furman University where she teaches an Advanced Seminar in Creative Leadership. She is developing several new theatrical works. @sally.cade | www.sallycadeholmes.com
Today on Backstage Babble, I am so thrilled to present my celebration of the 2020 Tony Awards. The four-hour ceremony can still be viewed on Paramount+ and the CBS App. The evening begins with a few photos and video interviews from the red carpet. I was also invited to be part of the virtual press room for this year's ceremony, and you can see the questions I got to ask to the night's winners including Lois Smith, Alex Timbers, and Anthony Veneziale. You can also see longer interview clips that include my questions with director Kenny Leon and playwright Matthew Lopez, because what they said was so powerful it had to be shared. Following this, my extended 40-minute interview with legendary Broadway press agent and producer Irene Gandy, who shares many stories of her career, including learning from Douglas Turner Ward, walking into the New York Times office wearing hot pants, why attitudes about press have changed, the magic of August: Osage County, and the way in which she saw racism in the publicity industry. This program is best viewed in a video format, which is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p91K_oSS9U/ You can watch Ms. Gandy's Tonys speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffx2MRRCzPY&t=81s/
Maria-Christina Oliveras caught the attention of NYC theater fans with an explosive, show-stopping turn in David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's multiple award-winning musical Here Lies Love. On August 6, she brings her gift of storytelling and unique style to Feinstein's/54 Below in an electrifying night of music and surprises. In this episode, she joins our Director of Marketing, Nella Vera, for a chat about her career, her collaborations with renowned artists, including Tony nominee Alex Timbers, and why she's chosen this particular time to do her first solo cabaret show. Maria-Christina has performed extensively on and off-Broadway, regionally, internationally, and in film and television. Her career is distinguished by her transformational character work in a number of world premieres, including roles in Kiss My Aztec (by John Leguizamo, Tony Taccone, David Kamp, Benjamin Velez, directed by Tony Taccone), Amélie (by Craig Lucas, Daniel Messe and Nathan Tysen, directed by Pam MacKinnon), Soft Power (by David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori, directed by Leigh Silverman), El Huracán (by Charise Castro Smith, directed by Laurie Woolery), and Pretty Filthy (by Bess Wohl and Michael Friedman, directed by Steve Cosson). She has appeared on Broadway in Amélie, Machinal, and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. For information about Maria's show at Feinstein's/54 Below, visit https://54below.com/events/maria-christina-oliveras/ Learn more about Maria on her website: www.mariachristinaoliveras.com Follow Maria on Instagram: @mcoliveras Credits The Feinstein's/54 Below podcast is hosted by Nella Vera, Kevin Ferguson, and Grace Benigni and produced by Bailey Everett and Michael Galvez, with support from the Feinstein's/54 Below marketing staff. Original artwork design by Philip Romano. Follow Nella on Twitter and Instagram at @spinstripes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What's a woman to do? | Why Don't You Love Me (Philippines Benefit Concert - sung by Ruthie Ann Miles, Melody Butiu, Jose Llana, Maria-Christina Oliveras, and the cast of the Public Theater's production of David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's Here Lies Love, directed by Alex Timbers and choreographed by Annie-B Parson)
Let's Take It From The Top with Dana Steingold! Jump in the line, and join me and Dana as we chat about her experience being in the cast of Beetlejuice the Musical from its very early stages of creation. From readings, to the out of town try out, to Broadway, Dana was a key member of this incredible musical, and today we get to hear all about it! We chat all things TONY Awards, the cult following of Beetlejuice, and more! Alright folks... IT'S SHOWTIME! Let’s Connect!Connect with Halle!Instagram @letstakeitfromthetop & @hallemastroberardinoEmail ltifttpodcast@gmail.com Connect with Dana!@dsteinface
Beetlejuice star Leslie Kritzer has done a few shows... Something Rotten, Elf, Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, BUT MOST importantly... She is a student of the Dan Tracy school of video production. Leslie just wants Dan to like her more than he likes other people. Call Dan for all your video needs. Leslie Kritzer sure did! We're so stoked that Broadway's most hilarious leading lady is with us this week. We catch up with Leslie from her attic/ closet voice over studio in New Jersey where she has been holed up for the past year. We get to chat about her love for Alex Timbers, and her comedic roots, but also her early days in high school when she almost ended up outside the 7/11. Joe and Leslie commiserate about "being one bad decision away from being a f*** up" and how a great teacher can really change your life. Leslie is as hilarious as she is insightful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Katie and Jill go on and on about their favorite stage directors including Alex Timbers, Michael Arden, and Rachel Chavkin. https://twitter.com/thoughtsshared_ https://www.instagram.com/thoughtssharedpodcast/
Jennifer Ashley Tepper is producer of the musicals Be More Chill, Broadway Bounty Hunter, and Love In Hate Nation. She is also the Creative and Programming Director at Feinstein's/54 Below, and the author of The Untold Stories of Broadway book series. She is the creator of The Jonathan Larson Project and historian consultant on the upcoming film version of tick, tick...BOOM! Tepper was recently named recipient of a 2020 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award. As the leader of Feinstein's/54 Below's creative programming team, Tepper is responsible for programming every show at the Broadway supper club and concert venue. She has curated and overseen the production of over 3500 shows, ranging from musicals in concert, to original solo acts, to theatrical reunions, to songwriter celebrations, and beyond. Feinstein's/54 Below has become notable for being the only venue of its kind: presenting over a dozen shows every week, specializing in Broadway acts, and welcoming both traditional cabaret and innovative new work. Tepper's leadership has been instrumental in making the locale "Broadway's Living Room", where on any given night one can find Broadway's biggest stars and emerging talents side by side, creating and sharing new work in an intimate theatrical environment. Tepper's producing work on original ventures at the venue has gained praise from publications including The Huffington Post, The New York Times, Buzzfeed, Playbill, Newsday, the New York Post, and more. From Hit List (the live concert version of the fictional musical from NBC's Smash) to Smile: A Broadway Reunion Concert to her collaborations with musical theatre writers both established and emerging, Tepper has, according to Theatermania, "brought her encyclopedic knowledge and typical gusto to the venue, knowing just what musical theatre enthusiasts are looking for." Tepper is the co-creator of the Bistro Award-winning concert series, If It Only Even Runs A Minute, now in its 7th year. ...Runs A Minute celebrates short-lived Broadway and off-Broadway musicals in concerts that feature photos and research as well as songs. Each concert also boasts original cast members and writers telling stories, as well as songs that have never been recorded. The series thus far has comprised over 250 performers and over 200 'under-appreciated' shows. AM New York has called the series: "Artistically compelling... displays the blood, guts, sweat and tears that go into making Broadway shows." As a writer, Tepper has authored three volumes of The Untold Stories of Broadway series, published by Dress Circle. For these books, Tepper interviewed 250 theatre professionals about the Broadway theaters themselves and their stories of working in each house. The books cover over 70 years of our theatrical history, shared through first-hand interviews with Broadway professionals who were there. The Untold Stories of Broadway books comprise stories with actors, producers, directors, writers, designers, stagehands, door men and women, musicians, house managers, press agents, ushers, and many more. Interspersed with interviewees' stories are Tepper's own tales and discoveries about each historic building. The Untold Stories of Broadway partners with a charitable organization that receives proceeds from each volume, and is currently partnered with Broadway Impact, the Theatre Development Fund, and the Broadway Green Alliance. Published in 2013, 2014, and 2016, each book has occupied the #1 spot on Amazon.com's Best Sellers List in Broadway & Musicals. NBC New York has called the books an 'inspiring Must-Read'. Tepper was recently named one of the 10 professionals on Backstage Magazine's "1st Annual Broadway Future Power List", alongside Alex Timbers and Leigh Silverman. According to the article: "Proving herself both a zeitgeist predictor and theatrical historian with her eclectic programming, Tepper is leading the conversation on contemporary musical theatre."
Career Q&A with Roger Rees on August 7, 2012. Moderated by Rick Elice. ROGER REES' project, Peter and the Starcatcher, written by Rick Elice and co-directed with Alex Timbers, won 5 TONY awards; this prequel to Peter Pan continues to delight audiences at the Brooks Atkinson Theater on 47th street in New York. Mr. Rees won the Olivier Award in London, the Tony Award in New York, plus an Emmy nomination for Best Actor, playing Nicholas in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. Mr. Rees was an Associate Artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Be sure to subscribe for more - Creation Grounds Podcast For a list of NYC, LA and Southeast casting directors, the shows they cast as of 5/11/20 & their assistants, associates and a way to track your auditions and workshops with them check out The Audition/Workshop Tracker! ________ Isaiah Johnson Imdb Isaiah Johnson is an American actor and singer who portrayed George Washington in 2013 The Hamilton Mixtape as well as in the National Tour. Johnson has appeared on and off Broadway, working with Al Pacino and Daniel Sullivan in The Merchant of Venice, Kevin Spacey and Sam Mendes in Richard III, Kelli O'Hara and Michael Greif in Far From Heaven, Roger Rees and Alex Timbers in Peter and the Starcatcher, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Kail in Hamilton (Vassar Workshop Cast 2013), and on various projects with Norm Lewis, Bill Condon and Randy Newman. He has also been a guest star on CBS' "Person of Interest" and the Cinemax series "The Knick." Isaiah received a BFA from Howard University and an MFA from NYU's Tisch Grad Acting. He played Mister in the Oprah produced Broadway production of The Color Purple. Kendra has been a great friend of mine for many years and we met at an audition in NYC. We've been close ever since! I know you all are going to enjoy this one. Join me on Episode 8 to learn and hear from Isaiah about Unity & Encouragement. ________ Some Questions I Ask: Where he calls home? (:50) His experience at Howard University? (1:13) NYU? (2:08) On craft and it's importance? (3:10) What does artistry mean to you? (4:08) Favorite 3 books on craft? (4:27) Advice for actors who want to be on Broadway? (7:55) How to find Unity within cast from meet & greet & beyond (9:30) On The Color Purple on Broadway (10:36) On 8x a week performances for Broadway and self care? (12:05) On process of creating Mister in the Color Purple. (15:40) Interests and Hobbies (17:48) What does Unity mean to you & how do you stay encouraged? (23:10) How do people contact you? (26:00) ____________ You can follow Arron at: Website: ArronLloyd.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arronlloyd/ Facebook: Arron Lloyd Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArronLloyd Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/arronsl316 TikTok:Arronslloyd Youtube: Arron Lloyd This is NYC merch -
A career retrospective with Jake Gyllenhaal on December 1, 2016. Moderated by Jenelle Riley, Variety. Jake Gyllenhaal, an Academy Award nominee, has established himself as one of the finest actors of his generation. With his new production company Nine Stories, he is also on his way to becoming a filmmaker of note – sourcing material, developing it from the ground up, collaborating with bold storytellers, and shepherding the projects through release. In 2014, he starred in Dan Gilroy’s Nightcrawler, which he also produced. For his performance as Louis Bloom, Mr. Gyllenhaal received BAFTA, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, Critics’ Choice, and Spirit Award nominations, as well as Best Actor citations from numerous critics’ groups. He received an Academy Award nomination, and won a BAFTA Award, for his performance as Jack Twist in Ang Lee’s classic Brokeback Mountain, also for Focus Features. Working with some of the world’s finest filmmakers on both independent and studio features, Mr. Gyllenhaal has also starred in David Ayer’s End of Watch, which he executive-produced; Dennis Villeneuve’s highly acclaimed Prisoners and Enemy, playing a dual role in the latter; Richard Kelly’s cult hit Donnie Darko; Antoine Fuqua’s Southpaw; Jean-Marc Vallee’s Demolition; Baltasar Kormákur’s Everest; Jim Sheridan’s Brothers; Duncan Jones’ Source Code; David Fincher’s Zodiac; Sam Mendes’ Jarhead; John Madden’s Proof; Miguel Arteta’s The Good Girl; Brad Silberling’s Moonlight Mile; Nicole Holofcener’s Lovely & Amazing; Joe Johnston’s October Sky; and Ed Zwick’s Love & Other Drugs, for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination. In 2014, Mr. Gyllenhaal made his Broadway debut in Nick Payne’s Constellations and his musical theatre debut in the Encores! production of Little Shop of Horrors. The actor made his New York stage debut in 2012 starring in If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet, for the Roundabout Theatre Company, which earned him nominations from the Drama League and the Lucille Lortel Awards. The latter marked his first stage work since 2002, when he starred on London’s West End in Kenneth Lonergan’s revival ofThis is Our Youth, for which he won an Evening Standard Theater Award for Outstanding Newcomer. He recently formed Nine Stories, a production company acquiring and developing new material. The company is in development on a number of titles, including Denis Villeneuve’s The Son, which is based on Jo Nesbo’s critically acclaimed novel of the same name; a scripted limited series for A&E centered on cults throughout history; and the cartel drama The Man Who Made It Snow, to be directed by Antoine Fuqua. Additional projects in development include Theater of War, based on an episode of “This American Life,” which will be directed by Alex Timbers; and Ubisoft’s film adaptation of the Tom Clancy video game “The Division,” in which Mr. Gyllenhaal will also star. Through Nine Stories, he has produced Stronger, inspired by a true story and based on The New York Times bestseller of the same name. The movie, directed by David Gordon Green and to be released in 2017, is the deeply personal account of the heroic journey of Boston Marathon survivor Jeff Bauman (whom Mr. Gyllenhaal portrays). He currently stars in Focus Feature’s Nocturnal Animals.
Award winning director Alex Timbers whose work is currently represented in three broadway shows- Beetlejuice, Moulin Rouge and American Utopia gives audition advice, and tells what he looks for in actors. Resources mentioned in this episode Williamstown Theater Festival Vassar New York stage and film Berkshire Theater Festival ARS NOVA Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) The Flea Theatre Produced by Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network.
Have you ever avoided calling someone by name for fear of mispronouncing it? Have you given students nicknames to make it easier for you and fellow students to address them? How can mispronouncing, altering, or altogether changing students’ names affect their personal, educational, and social trajectories? Why is it important to change the narrative around names that some might consider difficult to pronounce and what can we do to begin? We discuss these topics and much more with N’Jameh Camara. N'Jameh Camara is an actor and author currently residing in New York. She is a proud first generation American of Filipina and Gambian roots. Having recently wrapped up the post-Broadway run of JUNK by Ayad Akhtar, she is currently performing in Macbeth at Classic Stage Company directed by John Doyle. She also did a year long run in the principal role of Nettie in the Tony Winning Revival of The Color Purple Broadway Tour, directed by John Doyle. Other credits include the World Premier of X: or Betty Shabazz vs. The Nation by Marcus Gardley, the Off-Broadway run of Julius Caesar and a Bobby and Kristen Anderson Lopez World Premier of Up Here at the La Jolla Playhouse, directed by Alex Timbers. Her voice can be heard on Amazon’s Audible, narrating audiobooks for young adults from Penguin Random House Publishing. For more information, check out the books, “Harbor Me,” “We Rise, We Resist, We Raise our Voices,” “A Peoples’ Future of the United States,” “You Bring the Distant Near,” and Fumbled and Gravity. N'Jameh received her Master of Fine Art from UC San Diego and has taught acting and movement workshops at various universities including Loyola University- New Orleans, UC San Diego, SUNY Oswego, Northern Arizona University and University of Central Missouri. She is a current member of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association where she presented on Intersectional Arts Pedagogy in Singapore at the 2017 VASTA conference. As well as acting, N’Jameh enjoys writing and is currently working on her first book. She has also written and performed a one woman show about a young Maya Angelou, Marguerite to Maya. The show was developed with the Ubuntu Theater Project and was performed at Studio 67 in Oakland, CA, The Alameda Juvenile Detention Hall and the Eugene O'Neill Tao House for New Play Development. Other writing credits include The Monologue Project. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/highest-aspirations/message
We couldn't contain our October takeover to just October! We had to extend into November to close out with our very special guest - the director of Beetlejuice, Alex Timbers! We talk his teenage public access show, experimental theatre, "downtown theatre with an uptown sensibility" and much more! From talking about collaboration to advice for actors, you don't wanna miss this episode! We crown the champion of Merch Madness and of course, play a game! Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! Rate and review! @alextimbers bpn.fm/EquityOne www.cafepress.com/equityone Instagram: @equityonepodcast Twitter: @equityone_ Email: equityonepodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Part 2: "This two-time Tony nominated writer and director is a recipient of Golden Globe, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and London Evening Standard Awards, as well as two OBIE and Lucile Lortel Awards. His Broadway directing credits alone include Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Oh Hello! On Broadway, Rocky, Peter and the Starcatcher, and of course Beetlejuice which was recently nominated for 8 Tony Awards this past 2019 season. He is even a co-creator of the Amazon series Mozart in the Jungle which won the 2016 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series. Growing up in New York City, he created his own public access sketch comedy show at age 12, he moved on to sell a video short to PBS by age 15 and directed his first show at age 19. He graduated manda cum laude from Yale (with a focus in Polish cinema!). This conversation covers his two currently running shows on Broadway, Beetlejuice and Moulin Rouge, the development process for both, how Baz Lurman approached HIM to do Moulin Rouge, how Beetlejuice was retooled after some mixed reviews in the DC out of town tryout, and oh so much more. Closing standards begin at 19:30. Connect with Alex online:Instagram: @alextimbersConnect with The Theatre Podcast:Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcastTwitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcastFacebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcastTheTheatrePodcast.comAlan's personal Instagram: @alansealesJillian's personal Instagram: @jillianhochmanEmail us at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. We want to know what you think. Thank you to our friends Jukebox The Ghost for our intro and outro music. You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @jukeboxtheghost or via the web via jukeboxtheghost.com. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible! Paul Seales, David Seales If you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support!
Part 1: This two-time Tony nominated writer and director is a recipient of Golden Globe, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and London Evening Standard Awards, as well as two OBIE and Lucile Lortel Awards. His Broadway directing credits alone include Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Oh Hello! On Broadway, Rocky, Peter and the Starcatcher, and of course Beetlejuice which was recently nominated for 8 Tony Awards this past 2019 season. He is even a co-creator of the Amazon series Mozart in the Jungle which won the 2016 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series. Growing up in New York City, he created his own public access sketch comedy show at age 12, he moved on to sell a video short to PBS by age 15 and directed his first show at age 19. He graduated manda cum laude from Yale (with a focus in Polish cinema!). This conversation covers his two currently running shows on Broadway, Beetlejuice and Moulin Rouge, the development process for both, how Baz Lurman approached HIM to do Moulin Rouge, how Beetlejuice was retooled after some mixed reviews in the DC out of town tryout, and oh so much more. Interview content begins at 2:20. Connect with Alex online:Instagram: @alextimbersConnect with The Theatre Podcast:Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcastTwitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcastFacebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcastTheTheatrePodcast.comAlan's personal Instagram: @alansealesJillian's personal Instagram: @jillianhochmanEmail us at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. We want to know what you think. Thank you to our friends Jukebox The Ghost for our intro and outro music. You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @jukeboxtheghost or via the web via jukeboxtheghost.com. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible! Paul Seales, David Seales If you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support!
The stage musical adaptation of Moulin Rouge! officially opens at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre July 25. The Alex Timbers-directed production began performances June 28. Aaron Tveit and Tony Award winner Karen Olivo star as poet Christian and courtesan Satine, respectively, taking on the star-crossed roles played on... Read More ›
Writer John Logan and director Alex Timbers bring elephants, windmills, Baz and Beyoncé to Broadway.
The Tony-nominated director of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Rocky, Beetlejuice and Moulin Rouge (among others) reflects on his career in theater. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
ISAIAH JOHNSON has appeared on and off Broadway, working with Al Pacino and Daniel Sullivan in The Merchant of Venice, Kevin Spacey and Sam Mendes in Richard III, Kelli O'Hara and Michael Greif in Far From Heaven, Roger Rees and Alex Timbers in Peter and the Starcatcher, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Kail in Hamilton (lab production), and on various projects with Norm Lewis, Bill Condon and Randy Newman. He has also been a guest star on CBS' "Person of Interest" and the Cinemax series "The Knick." Isaiah received a BFA from Howard University and an MFA from NYU's Tisch Grad Acting. Legomyankles.com https://www.theatrebayarea.org/page/sparkhttps://www.theatrebayarea.org/page/sparkThe Instagram and Facebook: isaiahslamentTwitter as @ZaiahJohnson
Politics, politics, politics. Let’s talk about politics. but the good kind, the musical kind! Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is a musical all about a rather misunderstood period of American Politics!- FURTHER READING -Wiki - Show, PoliticianLes Freres CorbusieriTuneswww.theatremakers.com.au- CELEBRITY SHOUTOUTS -Michael Friedman, Alex Timbers, Sebastian Arcelus, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, River Alexander, Bryce Pinkham, Benjamin Walker,
BEETLEJUICE ThE MUSICAL, One of the next BIG shows to hit Broadway, is coming to the Winter Garden Theater. After a out of town tryouts in Washington , D.C., the cast and creatives reunite for what is sure to be a blowout of a good time. At the press event, I managed to get times with the major cast ( Rob McClure*, Kerry Butler*, Adam Dennheisser, Kerry Butler*, Leslie Kritzer**, Alex Brightman* and Sophie Ann Caruso, and a couple of creatives, Eddie Perfect (Music & Lyrics), and Alex Timbers*. Please enjoy my press room shenanigans with these amazing people. *Tony Award© Nominees **Drama Desk Award Nominee About BEETLEJUICE: http://www.beetlejuicebroadway.com About the Podcast: http://keithpricecurtaincall.com
BEETLEJUICE The Musical is hitting Broadway, and I got a chance to not only talk to the leads, Tony Award© Nominee, Alex Brightman, Singer/actress Sophie Anne Caruso, Tony Award© Nominated Writer/Director, Alex Timbers. I got the chance to have a moment with this awesome triumvirate. ABOUT: Sophie Anne Caruso: https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Sophia-Anne-Caruso/ Alex Brightman: https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Alex-Brightman/ Alex Timbers: https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Alex-Timbers/ The Podcast: http://keithpricecurtaincall.com
Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Tom with her weekly review of a theatrical production in the region. What's on her agenda today? Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! National Theatre in Washington, DC, has staged the pre-Broadway world premiere of Beetlejuice, a new musical adaptation of filmmaker Tim Burton's 1988 cult classic.The new musical -- with music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect and Book by Scott Brown and Anthony King -- takes a new tack on the movie plot: it tells the story of Lydia Deetz (played by Sophia Ann Caruso), an unusual teenager obsessed with the whole “'being dead' thing.” Luckily for Lydia, her family's new home is haunted by a recently deceased couple (played by Kerry Butler and Rob McClure) and a degenerate demon-for-hire named Beetlejuice (played by Tony Award nominee Alex Brightman). When Lydia calls on the twisted ghost to scare away her insufferable parents (played by Adam Dannheiser and Leslie Kritzer), Beetlejuice comes up with the perfect plan, involving an exorcism, arranged marriages and one very frightened Girl Scout.Beetlejuice, directed by Alex Timbers, continues at National Theatre in Washington, DC, through Sunday November 18. Get ticket information here.
Beetlejuice The Musical is currently on its pre-Broadway run at The National Theatre. We chatted with the creative team and leads of the musical. Hear from music and lyricist Eddie Perfect, director Alex Timbers, actors Alex Brightman and Sophia Anna Caruso and book writers Scott Brown and Anthony King.
This week Julie and Zane will chat with James Gauci about which of life's truths can be gleaned from Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson!- FURTHER READING -Wiki - Show, PoliticianLes Freres CorbusieriTuneswww.theatremakers.com.au- CELEBRITY SHOUTOUTS -Michael Friedman, Alex Timbers, Sebastian Arcelus, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, River Alexander, Bryce Pinkham, Benjamin Walker,
Alex Timbers is a two-time Tony-nominated writer and director and the recipient of Golden Globe, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and London Evening Standard Awards, as well as two OBIE and Lucille Lortel Awards. He is the recipient of the 2016 Jerome Robbins Award. His Broadway directing credits include Oh Hello! On Broadway, Rocky, Peter and the Starcatcher (2012 Tony Award nomination for Best Director), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (2011 Tony Award nomination for Best Book), and The Pee-wee Herman Show. His Off-Broadway credits include Here Lies Love, and The Robber Bridegroom. He is a co-creator of the Amazon series Mozart in the Jungle which won the 2016 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy. Oh Hello! on Broadway was filmed for Netflix and The Pee-wee Herman Show was filmed for HBO and received a 2011 Emmy nomination. Tune into this, our 98th podcast, to hear talk about his experimental beginnings and . . . Why most new theater companies never make it past the first year, and how he made sure his did. How a log line of a project helps him decide to do it . . . or not. What a right-wing Christian preacher has to do with his success. What’s going to become of the “immersive” movement. How he matches up the people he wants to work with, with the projects he’s working on (or how The Robber Bridegroom came to be). Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway www.theproducersperspective.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Patty & Emily lament missing Ragtime on Ellis Island, but look forward to whatever the future is for this production. And Emily looks forward to seeing Grey Gardens this week. They go over the stories of the week, including Alex Timbers departing Frozen, … Continue reading →
It's another first on this week's episode as we welcome our first director. But not just any director, it two-time Tony nom (and theatre heartthrob) Alex Timbers! Alex is here to give us an insight into the production process from a director's point of view. He chats with Cory about first design meetings, what is going through his head during tech, how he approaches designers with notes, and his thoughts on paper techs and dry techs. Learn why he has started creating 'mission statements' for every show and hear stories from some of his most exciting adventures including 'Rocky', 'Peter and the Starcatcher', 'Here Lies Love' and his many downtown shows with Les Frerses Corbusier. And if you've never heard about Alex's avant-garde production of "How to Succeed..." then gird your loins, because no show is safe from the Timbers treatment!
About Julie Lake Julie Lake (SAG/AFTRA/AEA) plays the role of the lovable meth-head, Angie Rice, on the Netflix Original Series, Orange is the New Black. She is comedic writer and performer with the Los Angeles based all-female group, Share the Road, and the co-creator of the web shows, Mental and George and Julie. Born and raised in Palo Alto, California, Julie went on to attend Yale University where she majored in theater and performed the title roles in productions of Mother Courage and Medea. After graduation she moved to New York City where she performed in numerous plays as an artistic associate with the company Les Freres Corbusier under the direction of Alex Timbers. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and puppy, Rougarou. http://www.magicalstew.com http://julielakeactress.com Instagram: @Julie__lake ( that's 2 underscores) Twitter: @juliemflake ABOUT JULIE AND SHIRIN'S SHOW, "MENTAL" Mental is a show about two neurotic best friends who struggle with anxiety and depression. It's written, directed, edited by and starring Julie Lake and Shirin Najafi. We've filmed one episode and currently fundraising so that we can make 6 more. Please check out our Kickstarter page. http://www.mentaltheshow.com Check out the Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mental/mental-0 About Shirin Najafi Shirin grew up in Palo Alto, California and attended Columbia University in New York. She has written and directed comedy videos that have been featured on the Funny or Die homepage and written up by various media. Her screenwriting has been selected by the Austin Film Festival and CBS Diversity Showcase. Her prose writing has appeared in LA Weekly, The Rumpus, and other online publications. She lives in Los Angeles and hopes to one day have a husband or a cat. http://shirinnajafi.com/ Instagram: @shirincnajfi Twitter: @shirinnajafi
Bob Wilcox and Gerry Kowarsky review (1) ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914, by Peter Rothstein, at Mustard Seed Theatre, (2) MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, by Berry Gordy, at the Fox Theatre, (3) BOOM TOWN, by Jeff Daniels, at West End Players Guild, (4) SPOOKY ACTION AT A DISTANCE, by Will Coleman, and ORDERS, by Kevin Ferguson, at The Tesseract Theatre Co., (5) THE RESIDENTS OF CRAIGSLIST, by Lucy Cashion & Will Bonfiglio, at Equally Represented Arts, (6) SPRING AWAKENING, by Steven Sater & Duncan Sheik, at the Webster Univ. Conservatory, (7) SHE KILLS MONSTERS, by Qui Nguyen, St. Louis Univ., and (8) BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, by Alex Timbers & Michael Friedman, at Washington Univ.
In Conversation with... Alex Timbers: Directors rarely get the opportunity to spend time and share ideas in a room with other directors. This new one-on-one conversation series was conceived by director Thomas Kail to give himself, and his peers, an opportunity to do just that. This series of conversations explores topics that stretch from finding the spark in their work, making a life as a director, and how they landed on this side of the table. Each director's vision is distinct, and their way of working is their own, but this series also addresses all they have in common beyond the shared title. In June 2011, Thomas Kail sat in conversation with Alex Timbers (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Peter and the Starcatcher) at the SDC Offices. Their discussion explores how they followed their respective impulse to start their own theater company, and delves into the challenge of creating new work. They also address their inspirations and those who have influenced them as directors. Originally recorded - June 1, 2011. Running Time - 1:04:56 © 2011 SDCF
Yo, Adrian! I’m on Broadway! It might not be the last movie you ever expected to see turned into a Broadway musical, but it’s probably not one of the first either. Nevertheless, here it is: “Rocky,” the Oscar-winning 1976 movie written by and starring Sylvester Stallone, has now been set to song and dance. The show, with a score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, and a book by Stallone and Thomas Meehan, has been directed by Alex Timbers and stars Andy Karl in the title role. Charles Isherwood had a ringside seat at a recent performance, and tells us if a tune-filled Rocky wins by a knockout or should be sent to the showers.
The second offering from The Public Theater’s free Shakespeare in the Park this summer is a musical adaptation of Love’s Labour’s Lost, the Bard's early comedy about four young men who swear off romance to devote themselves to study, only to promptly fall in love. The play has been adapted and directed by Alex Timbers, the director of Peter and the Starcatcher, among many other shows, and the songs are by Michael Friedman, the house composer of the downtown theater troupe the Civilians. Shakespeare scholars and purists will find little of the original text in this version which is set at a college reunion. New York Times theater critic Charles Isherwood tells us about other changes to the plot and characters and whether we'll be pleasantly surprised or scandalized by this new production at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.
This week's post-Oscars episode of HOW WAS YOUR WEEK begins with a sad thing and ends on a high note. First, DC PIERSON joins Julie to discuss the types of people one will meet in high school Drama Club, what one does in Los Angeles to pass the time, and whether Donald is a normal name. Then, theatre director and handsome man ALEX TIMBERS talks to Julie about why history is a funny topic to explore in theatre, what it's like working with David Bryne, why Germany was a perfect place to launch ROCKY: The Musical, and the time he sort of faked his friend's death. Also: Catherine Zeta Jones and her skin tagging-vocal abilities, a sad story about making Udon Hallway Noodles saltier, some new revelations about Glenn Hetrick, and an announcement for the April 5th HOW WAS YOUR WEEK LIVE with Siggy Flicker and Max Silvestri! Buy tickets now, friend.
Bob Wilcox and Gerry Kowarsky review (1) BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, by Michael Friedman & Alex Timbers, at New Line Theatre, (2) THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, by Lisa Lambert & Greg Morrison,Bob Martin & Don McKeller, at The Alpha Players, (3) A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, by William Shakespeare, at St. Louis Shakespeare, (4) TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, adapted by Christopher Sergel, at Insight Theatre Co., (5) THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, by Lillian Hellman, at Webster Univ. Conservatory, and (6) TONY AND LIZ TIE THE KNOT, by Susan Berardi & Vanessa Roman, at Inspired Productions.
Directors rarely get the opportunity to spend time and share ideas in a room with other directors. This new one-on-one conversation series was conceived by director Thomas Kail to give himself, and his peers, an opportunity to do just that. This series of conversations explores topics that stretch from finding the spark in their work, making a life as a director, and how they landed on this side of the table. Each director's vision is distinct, and their way of working is their own, but this series also addresses all they have in common beyond the shared title.In June 2011, Thomas Kail sat in conversation with Alex Timbers at the SDC Offices. Their discussion explores how they followed their respective impulse to start their own theater company, and delves into the challenge of creating new work. They also address their inspirations and those who have influenced them as directors.
Writer/director Alex Timbers and composer Michael Friedman discuss “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” their "emo" musical about the 7th President of the US. Also, UK critic Mark Shenton and London’s notorious West End Whingers review Broadway’s latest fare.
Broadway Bullet: Theatre from Broadway, Off-Broadway and beyond.
From Mary Poppins, we get up close with actor, Daniel Jenkins. Up Close with 3 time Tony-Winning Broadway Producer Dori Berinstein about the new documentry "ShowBusiness." Plus, we profile the show "Dixie's Tupperware Party" directed by the (now in 2015 red-hot) Alex Timbers, and the children's shows "The New Kid" and "The People Garden." And more!