Podcasts about best solo performance

Comedy can be seen and experienced in many forms—onstage, on screens, and even in hospitals. Like laughter, its effects are contagious and its power spills over onto all of us. This panel of experts, comedians, and expert comedians will talk about the history of comedy and its potential to create change. Wayne Federman is a stand-up comic, actor, author, comedy writer, professor, and Emmy-winning producer. He has appeared multiple times on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon and has his own stand-up special on Comedy Central. He is the author of the bestselling book, The History of Stand-Up: From Mark Twain to Dave Chappelle, and teaches the history of stand-up comedy at the USC School of Dramatic Arts. Lanita Jacobs (joining remotely) is an associate professor of American Studies and Ethnicity and Anthropology at USC. Her fieldwork across sites of hair care, hospitals, and humor, asks how speakers construct a sense of themselves as individuals and community members without forgetting the socio-political stakes animating their lives. She is the author of To Be Real: Truth and Racial Authenticity in African American Standup Comedy. Kristina Wong is a performance artist, comedian, writer, and elected representative in Koreatown Los Angeles. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she founded the Auntie Sewing Squad, a national network of volunteers sewing masks for vulnerable communities. Their work inspired the book, The Auntie Sewing Squad Guide to Mask Making, Radical Care, and Racial Justice. Wong's show, Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord, is a finalist for the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Drama and winner of the Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Solo Performance. Moderator: Zachary Steel is an assistant professor of Theatre Practice and director of Comedy at USC. He has taught at the Clown School, is currently teaching at the Idiot Workshop, and is director of USC Comic+Care, a program that utilizes the practice of various comedy disciplines to strengthen community and support the healing process. USC Comic+Care has partnered with LAC+USC, CHLA, Norris Cancer Center, The Children's Bureau, and other healthcare organizations.

We're starting Season THREE of The "For the Makers" Podcast with a BONUS episode because we simply cannot wait until the second Friday of October to share this one with you! Brianna Kothari Barnes works professionally as an actor, singer-songwriter, and composer/lyricist. She was a 2021 Finalist for The Jonathan Larson Grant. Her debut album, Hierophanies: Manifestations of the Sacred, made the first round on the 2021 GRAMMY Awards® ballot for consideration under Best Contemporary Christian Album. Her recent writing credits include the book, music, and lyrics for Rathskeller: A Musical Elixir which was recently featured in The SheAtlanta Summer Theater Festival and the music and lyrics for the Drama Desk nominated Off-Broadway musical, Walking With Bubbles, which won the Off-Broadway Alliance Award Winner for Best Solo Performance. Brianna has performed professionally around the country at Florida Studio Theater, The Engeman Theater, The Wick Theater, Theatre Aspen, and Capital Repertory Theater and starred as Lucy in The National Tour of A Charlie Brown Christmas. She is headed to Maltz Jupiter Theater this winter to play Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Brianna's socials: IG: @⁠⁠⁠⁠brianna_barnes_ www.Brianna-Barnes.com Seeded Productions, LLC: Visit our website for more info ⁠⁠⁠www.seededproductions.com⁠⁠⁠ IG: ⁠⁠⁠@seeded.productions⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠MERCH!⁠⁠⁠ Make a tax deductible donation ⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠.

About Jennie Writer/performer of solo comedy Under The Jello Mold (2017 Hollywood Fringe Festival winner: Best Solo Performance, Producer's Encore and Pick of the Fringe). You Mutha! A One-Mother Show (2-year run in Los Angeles/2005 N.Y. Fringe Festival). Other playwriting credits:  Broads! The Musical (book – El Portal Theater), Does It Make A Sound?(One of the Four Tree Plays – Hollywood Fringe), 12 Items or Less (Friends and Artists Theater, LA), and Cracker Jack Day(Friends and Artists Theater). Screenwriting credits: web-series 5-Star Weekend, and  short films Jerry, Break, and Tea With Grandma (in which Jennie co-starred along with Tippi Hedren). Currently in development: As Long As You're Happy (full-length play; co-written with Maxine Rosenberg); and Bris Amiss! The Musical (librettist). 

In today's episode, Amanda drinks some cocktails (Corpse Reviver #2 to be exact!) with the owner of Ernie's Icebox Julia Haist to discuss starting her business Ernie's Icebox, figuring out how to delegate as a boss, and her experience as a female director. In addition to being the founder of Ernie's Icebox, a premium ice cream sandwich shop here in Toronto, I met Julia through her career in the performing arts. She graduated from Humber College's theatre performance program as well as Second City's Conservatory program, and went on to produce, write, and perform in many live theatre productions and comedy performances, including her critically-acclaimed solo show “This is Not She”, where she was nominated for Best Solo Performance by My Entertainment World Critic's Pick Awards. When the pandemic hit, Julia (like many others) felt she had to pivot career-wise, and so Ernie's Icebox was born – her very own artisanal ice cream business. Since opening, Ernie's has been featured by BlogTO, Breakfast Television, in Toronto Life's annual Holiday Gift Guide, and has made numerous “best of” lists. In July of this year, Julia opened up a storefront for Ernie's Icebox, located just north of Jane and Bloor here in Toronto – so check it out!   Looking for more of The Liquid Courage Podcast? Instagram: @liquidcouragepodcast TikTok: @liquidcouragepodcast YouTube Video Episodes & more!   Reach out at www.liquidcouragepodcast.com   Host - Amanda Pereira: insta @hotcoldspicy Guest on this episode – Julia Haist: insta @chameleonorgo   Ernie's Icebox - @erniesicebox

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://youtu.be/vXg9cBd-VhE Lesli Margherita is currently reprising the role of Mona Kent in Dames at Sea, a role she played brilliantly in the most recent Broadway revival. An Olivier Award winner for her West End debut as Inez in ZORRO THE MUSICAL , Lesli made her Broadway debut originating the role of Mrs. Wormwood in MATILDA THE MUSICAL. After over 1000 performances, she bid farewell to the Broadway company of Matilda and crossed the street to The Helen Hayes to star as the diva Mona Kent in Broadway's DAMES AT SEA. Lesli later returned to MATILDA to close out its Broadway run. Off-Broadway, Lesli starred as Princess in EMOJILAND and Cindy Lou Who in the one woman tour-de-force WHO'S HOLIDAY. Her hilarious show-stopping performance earned her critical acclaim including a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance, a Lortel nomination for Outstanding Solo Show and an Off-Broadway Alliance nomination for Best Solo Performance. Television credits include the ABC sitcom pilot "Most Likely To" opposite Yvette Nicole Brown and recurring roles on "Homeland" (Showtime), "Instinct" (CBS), "Seven Seconds" (Netflix), "Transparent" (Amazon), and "The Crew" (Netflix). Movie credits include the upcoming The Many Saints of Newark, Opening Night, Boogeyman 2 and Number 23. Lesli's critically acclaimed solo shows Rule, Broad, and This Broad's Way continue to play to crowds across the country. Her debut live album RULE YOUR KINGDOM is currently in stores and available on all digital platforms. Please visit https://www.leslimargherita.com for more info.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson made his Broadway debut at the age of 21 as Chip in George C. Wolfe's revival of On The Town, and later went on to originate the role of Leaf Coneybear in Second Stage's Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Drama Desk Award, "Outstanding Ensemble Performance"). In 2017, he won the Drama Desk Award for Best Solo Performance for his 40-character turn in the Broadway production of Fully Committed. He has worked extensively with The New York Public Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park in such notable productions as The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, The Winter's Tale, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Comedy of Errors where he performed alongside Al Pacino, Sam Waterston, Jesse L. Martin, Martha Plimpton, Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe. Other theatre credits include Sir Robin in Spamalot and Leo Bloom in The Producers, both at The Hollywood Bowl. He is a five-time Emmy nominee for his role as Mitchell Pritchett on the long-running, Award-winning ABC comedy Modern Family. A longstanding advocate for marriage equality, Ferguson co-founded Tie The Knot (now PRONOUN) in 2012 with his husband, Justin Mikita, where they design limited edition bow ties and clothing, with all the proceeds going to various organizations that fight for LGBTQ equality around the world.

Michael Benjamin Washington is currently filming the new NBC comedy, American Auto. Broadway: The Boys in the Band (also the Netflix adaptation); La Cage Aux Folles; Mamma Mia! (original company). Off Broadway: 2019 revival of Anna Deavere Smith's Fires In the Mirror at Signature Theatre (NY Outer Critics Circle Award; NY Drama League Award; Inaugural Antonyo Award for Best Solo Performance); and, Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night at Second Stage. Television: Ratched and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix); 30 Rock; Glee; Law and Order; 100 Questions to name a few. He is an alumnus of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and the National Young Arts Foundation. He is also a Presidential Scholars in the Arts. Mr. Washington currently serves on the 2020-2023 Tony Awards and Screen Actors Guild Nominating Committees.

In this episode of ADHD for Smart Ass Women, Tracy introduces you to Sarah Gise. Sarah is an award nominated Chicago actor who got her BFA degree for Acting at the University of Southern California (USC). She’s worked a thousand different jobs and gigs because she experiences intense FOMO (fear of missing out), so in addition to acting, she’s dipped her toes into teaching, writing, directing, podcasting, bartending, and coaching. She is currently an ensemble member with Interrobang Theatre Project, and has performed in numerous shows with different companies around Chicago. Her performance in Interrobang Theatre Project’s production of the one woman show THE AMISH PROJECT (2016) was nominated for Best Solo Performance at the 2017 Joseph Jefferson Awards. In addition to theatre, she has appeared in several web series, films, commercials, and audiobooks. Sarah currently works as an Executive Functioning Coach for Effective Artistry, and is the Host/Producer of The ADHD Artist Podcast, which explores and celebrates the lives of artists with ADHD.   Sarah shares: The circumstances surrounding her ADHD diagnosis Her childhood symptoms Why she chose to study the arts Her experience with medication What made her start The ADHD Artist Podcast The key to living successfully with ADHD   Resources: Actor website: http://sarahgise05.wixsite.com/sarahgise ADHD Artist Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Theadhdartistpod  Effective Artistry: EffectiveArtistry.com UCLA Mindfulness (the one Sarah uses every day is the first one, "Breathing Meditation" 5 min): uclahealth.org/marc/mindful-meditations The Headspace App Interrobang Theatre Project: interrobangtheatreproject.com   Tracy's FREE 5-day workshop, How to Fall in Love with Your ADHD Brain  

We had the pleasure of interviewing Betty Moon over Zoom audio! As a songwriter, music and film producer Betty Moon lives and works in Los Angeles California where she operates Evolver Music Inc. Her music has been featured in a variety of television shows and films including Californication, Dexter, Bounty Hunters, Teen Mom, Walking the Dead, Last Gasp and the upcoming film Butter starring Mira Sorvino.Moon’s first album deal was with A&M Records, and her self-titled debut LP was released with multiple award nominations while living and touring throughout Canada. Music from her 2019 album ‘Hellucination’ was on the ballot for this year’s GRAMMY nominations with nods for Best Solo Performance and Record of the Year. Hundreds of respected media sources have featured and reviewed Moon’s music including Billboard, Exclaim!, Huffington Post, Celebmix, Ask Men, Rawckus and more. Her latest collection of songs, "Little Miss Hollywood" is out now!We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com.www.BringinitBackwards.com#podcast #interview #bringinbackpod  #foryou #foryoupage #stayhome #togetherathome #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetworkListen & Subscribe to BiBFollow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! 

Erica Gimpel is an actor, singer-songwriter, producer and screenwriter. Known internationally for her performance as “Coco Hernandez” in the groundbreaking hit series FAME, Erica has gone on to star in numerous primetime and cable shows including: CHICAGO MED, SHUT EYE, TRUE BLOOD, CRIMINAL MINDS, GREY’S ANATOMY, NIKITA, RIZZOLI & ISLES, HOUSE, ER, PROFILER, and VERONICA MARS. Most recently Erica played "Trish" on the CBS drama GOD FRIENDED ME for two seasons. Film credits include: TUESDAY MORNING RIDEwith Ruby Dee, Wayne Wang’s SMOKE opposite Forest Whitaker, Abel Ferrara’s cult classic THE KING OF NEW YORK with Christopher Walken, Hal Hartely’s NO SUCH THINGwith Helen Mirren, FREAKY FRIDAY opposite Jaime Lee Curtis, ROMEO AND JULIET IN HARLEM, with Harry Lennix and Aunjanue Ellis. Next, Erica will be seen in SYLVIE'S LOVE with Tessa Thompson on Amazon Prime’s special Christmas release. Off-Broadway and Regional credits include: originating the roles of “Mayme” in Lynn Nottages’saward-winning INTIMATE APPAREL, “Glory Bee” in Sam Shepard’s STATES OF SHOCKopposite John Malkovich, and “Nelly” in Jose Rivera’s EACH DAY DIES WITH SLEEP. Erica received the Los Angeles Stage Raw Award for Best Solo-Performance, for her dynamic portrayal of multiple characters in the one-woman play SISTER by Michael Phillip Edwards. Having earned gold and platinum records for her work on FAME. Erica began producing her own music as a singer-songwriter. The title track from her debut album SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY is featured in the indie film HILL and GULLY, anOfficial Selection at Pan African de Cannes. As a screenwriter, Erica is currently developing several projects through her company WOMANS PARADISE PRODUCTIONS, dedicated to creatingfemale driven stories that inspire hope, passion and healing. Erica is the recipient of the LA Femme Film Festival’s “INNOVATIVE AWARD”, and is also an active member of the world peace organization, the SGI-USA dedicated to pursuing the values of peace, culture and education. Over the years Erica has used her talents to highlight different causes near to her heart by creating and producing benefit concerts focusing on women’s issues, homelessness, child abuse and the rise is of racially motivated acts of violence. Knowing first hand the transformative power the performing arts has on young people's lives, Erica teaches and mentors young artists whenever her schedule permits.

Welcome to the 16th episode of Broadway Babies! This week, Noelle and Stephanie welcome the lovely Lesli Margherita (Matilda, Zorro, Emojiland) An Olivier Award winner for her West End debut as Inez in ZORRO THE MUSICAL , Lesli made her Broadway debut originating the role of Mrs. Wormwood in MATILDA THE MUSICAL. After over 1000 performances, she bid farewell to the Broadway company of Matilda and crossed the street to The Helen Hayes to star as the diva Mona Kent in the Broadway premiere of DAMES AT SEA. Lesli returned to MATILDA to close out its Broadway run. Off-Broadway, Lesli starred as Princess in EMOJILAND and Cindy Lou Who in the one woman tour-de-force WHO'S HOLIDAY. Her hilarious show-stopping performance earned her critical acclaim including a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance, a Lortel nomination for Outstanding Solo Show and an Off-Broadway Alliance nomination for Best Solo Performance. Television credits include the ABC sitcom pilot "Most Likely To" opposite Yvette Nicole Brown and recurring roles on "Homeland" (Showtime), "Instinct" (CBS), "Seven Seconds" (Netflix), "Transparent" (Amazon), and "The Crew" (Netflix). Movie credits include the upcoming The Many Saints of Newark, Opening Night and Boogeyman 2 and Number 23. Lesli's voice can also be heard on several animated films and shows including Disney's Cinderella 3 and Nickelodeon's "Sponge Bob Squarepants". Regional stage credits include Adelaide in GUYS & DOLLS (Sacramento Music Circus; Bucks County Playhouse), Signora Psyche Zinobia in A SCYTHE OF TIME (NYMF), Esmeralda in HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (Sacramento Music Circus), Lilli / Kate in KISS ME KATE (Reprise; Ovation Award - Best Actress), THE GRONHOLM METHOD (The Falcon ; Ovation nom. - Best Ensemble), Aldonza in MAN OF LA MANCHA (MTW; Ovation & LADCC nom - Best Actress), Julie in SHOWBOAT (Goodspeed Opera), Audrey in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (La Mirada), and Lady of the Lake in SPAMALOT (Sacramento Music Circus). She is the creator/star of 'Looks Not Books' and 'Ship Happens' the popular backstage vlogs commissioned by Broadway.com, as well as the digital short series 'Sparklefpuff,' all of which can be seen on YouTube. Lesli's books, NECK PUNCH and CARRY ON: Advice from the "Queen" and BLU!, are available on Amazon & iTunes. Lesli's critically acclaimed solo shows Rule, Broad, and This Broad's Way continue to play to crowds across the country. Her debut live album RULE YOUR KINGDOM is currently in stores and available on all digital platforms. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/broadway-babies/support

Conversations with Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart on January 28, 2014. Moderated by Richard Ridge, Broadway World. IAN McKELLEN (Spooner in No Man's Land and Estragon in Waiting for Godot) has over 40 international awards for his half-century on screen and stage. He has worked regularly for Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre of Great Britain and on the West End stage in Shakespeare and a wide range of classic and new plays. In New York, he won every available award for Amadeus (1981). His solo show Acting Shakespeare packed theatres across the States and is now a teaching aid throughout the country. In 2001, he returned to Broadway in Dance of Death and hosted Saturday Night Live. He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2004. Most recently, he played King Lear for the RSC at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. McKellen has starred in more than 40 movies: Richard III, Stephen King's Apt Pupil, Gods and Monsters, The Da Vinci Code, four X-Men films, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Lately UK/PBS sitcom Vicous. Full career at www.mckellen.com. PATRICK STEWART (Hirst in No Man's Land and Vladimir in Waiting for Godot). Theater: No Man's Land (Berkeley Rep.), Waiting for Godot (What's on Stage Theatre Event of the Year), Macbeth (Tony nomination), Bingo: Scenes of Money and Death, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Young Vic. London Fringe Best Actor Award), The Ride Down Mount Morgan (Broadway), The Tempest (Shakespeare in the Park, Broadway), Othello (Washington, DC), A Christmas Carol (LA, Broadway, London, Olivier for Best Entertainment, Drama Desk Award for Best Solo Performer, What's On People's Choice Award for Best Solo Performance), over forty productions with The Royal Shakespeare Company, including Hamlet (Olivier - Best Actor), Antony and Cleopatra (SWET Best Actor), The Merchant of Venice (SWET Best Actor nomination) and Peter Brook's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Television: Macbeth (Great Performances), Hamlet (Emmy nomination, Great Performances), Star Trek: The Next Generation (SAG Award nomination), Extras (Emmy nomination), Frasier, The Lion in Winter (Golden Globe nomination), King of Texas, A Christmas Carol (Emmy and SAG nominations), Moby Dick (Golden Globe, Emmy, SAG nominations). Film: Conspiracy Theory, Jeffery, Robin Hood -- Men in Tights, LA Story, Dune, Excalibur, four Star Trek: The Next Generation movies, Stephen Belber's Match, Hunting Elephants and three X-Men movies, with a fourth -- X-Men: Days of Future Past -- coming in 2014. Stewart was knighted by The Queen in the 2010 New Year Honours for Services to Drama.

Julie and Casey sit down with San Francisco actor (and Julie's fellow MFA alumni) Rotimi Agbabiaka to talk about his journey as an actor who never fit into anyone's idea of what he should be.  Along the way, they talk about visibility, claiming space, how what is "true" isn't necessarily what is "realistic" what it's like to develop the character of "God", and owning your strut.   Rotimi Agbabiaka is an actor, writer, director, and teacher who uses humor, glamor, and drama to challenge the status quo. Most recently, Rotimi originated the role of Salima in House of Joy (California Shakespeare Theatre) and the role of Cellphone in If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhfucka (Playwrights Horizons, NYC). Other acting credits includeFather Comes Home From The Wars … (Yale Rep, American Conservatory Theatre) Tom Waits’ Black Rider (Shotgun Players), Bootycandy (Brava Theater, Theatre Bay Area award), originating the role of Boy in runboyrun (Magic Theatre), and several shows with the Tony Award-winning San Francisco Mime Troupe. Rotimi's solo play, Homeless, won Best Solo Performance at the SF Fringe Festival and Type/Caste, Rotimi's next solo, premiered at the National Queer Arts Festival and received the Theatre Bay Area award for Outstanding Solo Production. Rotimi's latest solo, MANIFESTO, plays San Francisco's Brava Theater in February 2020. Rotimi also cowrote the play, Seeing Red, with Joan Holden and Ira Marlowe, receiving a TBA award nomination for Outstanding World Premiere Musical. Rotimi teaches acting, movement, and play creation to students from pre-school through college and has presented work at museums (the deYoung), in parks (with We Players), on street corners (with Jess Curtis’ GRAVITY), and on nightlife stages around the world. www.rotimionline.com

Actress Linda Reiter received the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Solo Performance in the role of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy in the 2016 Chicago Premiere of ROSE: An Intimate Evening with Mrs. Kennedy. Ms. Reiter, who returns to the Greenhouse Theater Center on January 12th to reprise the role, joined the conversation on January 2nd to talk about her preparation, working with director Steve Scott and playwright Laurence Leamer and how the Kennedy family legacy was influenced by this remarkable woman. Season 3 Episode 1 Originally posted January 4, 2018

Guillermo Reyes has produced and published a variety of plays including Men on the Verge of a His-Panic Breakdown and Mother Lolita as off-Broadway productions with Urban Stages, Chilean Holiday and Saints at the Rave at the Humana Festival at Actors Theatre of Louisville, and many others. Men on the Verge debuted in Los Angeles at the Celebration Theater and won the L.A. Ovation Award for Best World Premiere Play which went on to win the New York Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Best Solo Performance for Felix Pire during its off-Broadway run. Recently, Guillermo published Madre and I: A Memoir of our Immigrant Lives with the University of Wisconsin Press. He’s also published short stories in various journals such as Label Me Latina/o, The Americas Review, The New Mexico Humanities Review, Puerto del Sol, among others. Guillermo earned a Bachelor's in Italian from UCLA, an MFA in Playwriting at UCSD, and he’s currently a professor and the head of dramatic writing at Arizona State University in the School of Film, Dance, and Theater.

Gary and Roscoe welcome to The Booth stage and film actor, director, writer and producer Paul Stroili, recently relocated back to Chicago from Los Angeles. Paul's wit, charm and remarkable storytelling make him one of our most hilarious guests to date. See Paul's full bio here. Paul previously co-hosted an entertainment talk radio show in Los Angeles called "State of the Arts" with Michael Sterling, and is pretty savvy behind the mic, as you'll hear. He tells about some of the iconic guests they had on the show, including Carol Channing, Russ Tamblyn and George Chakiris. Roscoe takes us through his latest Cinecon Classic Film Festival adventures, seeing rarely or never-seen films in Hollywood in the course of 5 days over Labor Day weekend. From Carl Laemmle's King of Jazz, to vintage Spencer Tracy, to meeting legendary film actress Marsha Hunt, it sounds like Roscoe had another great year at Cinecon sitting in the dark with friends. Paul's latest project is a new production of the audience-interactive theatre piece Tony n' Tina's Wedding here in Chicago. Paul was in the original Chicago production back in the 90's. When the producers heard he was moving back, they tapped him to direct the remount. This time the ceremony will be held in a real church, and attendees will then make their way 2 blocks to the reception site. Paul says the cast is full of "brilliant improvisors who are also great actors." If you've never experienced Tony n' Tina's "special day", do yourself a favor and get a group together and go. And don't forget to bring a few dollar bills! This show is all about one of our favorite things: Audience Participation. The VIP experience includes ringside seats and surprises. We will be checking that out for sure. We discuss film acting and screenwriting, and dig into The Beating, which Paul wrote and stars in. This terrific short film is a nail-biting, intense drama with a twist. The Beating tells the story of the lengths to which one father will go to end a nightmarish problem of bullying at his son’s school. The Beating premiered at the 2014 Sedona International Film Festival, as well as being an Official Selection at the San Diego Film Festival, the San Jose International Short Film Festival, The Bel Air Film Festival and The College Town Film Festival with screenings and lectures at Penn State and Ohio University. In addition, the script of the film has been used as an instructional tool at Columbia College in their course of study on short filmmaking. You can view the full film here, or by going to Paul's website at www.paulstroili.com. Go to the IMDb entry at this site. Paul is working on development for a feature film he hopes to make this spring. The screenplay is an adaptation of a play called Wake, by Carey Crim. We can't wait to follow this story! Gary asks Paul about his most prized possession - two theatre seats from Grauman's Chinese Theatre from the 1950's that he has restored to mint condition, including burgundy mohair reupholstering and a custom-made platform designed to the same rake specs as the theatre floor. His description of the process of restoring them is priceless. It's been said that "to visit Los Angeles and not see the Chinese Theatre is like visiting China and not seeing the Great Wall". Grauman's opulent, awe-inspiring presence and history has been a cornerstone of Hollywood for over 75 years. These seats were apparently installed in 1953 for the opening of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, starring Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell. A photo of these magnificent treasures can be seen in our featured image this week. Paul's one-man autobiographical show Straight Up With A Twist, in which he coined the term Renaissance Geek long before metrosexual became part of our lexicon, enjoyed over 1,400 performances nationwide, including a twice extended off-Broadway run. He was nominated for an Ovation Award for Best Solo Performance and an LA Weekly Award for this work.

Well-Strung, a New York City based string quartet, derives their unique blend of vocals and strings by fusing classical music with the pop music of today. Members Edmund Bagnell (1st violin), Chris Marchant (2nd violin), Daniel Shevlin (cello), and Trevor Wadleigh (viola) spend their time making new music and touring internationally. The group was conceived by producer Mark Cortale and Chris Marchant.Daniel Shevlin is originally from South Jersey and has been playing cello since he was ten years old and continued to use this skill when he moved to NYC at 18 to pursue a career in musical theatre. Since then he has appeared off-Broadway in The Sandbox (written and directed by Edward Albee), has toured the U.S. and Asia in productions of Rent and Cabaret, and has worked regionally as both an actor and cellist in many theaters including the Arvada Center, The Maltz-Jupiter Theatre, Riverside Theatre, and Mason Street Warehouse to name a few. He studied musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and has been a member of Actors Equity since 2006.Edmund Bagnell comes from South Carolina where he attended the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and  went on to attend New York University as music major. His senior year, he was cast as Tobias in the first national tour of Sweeney Todd directed by John Doyle. He has performed as a violinist, actor, and singer in New York and around the country. Credits include Rich in The Last Cyclist and Toby in Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium (both Off-Broadway), Charlie Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Tom Sawyer in Big River (Summer Theater of New Canaan), Charlie in Joanna Gleason’s The Big Holiday Broadcast of 1959 (Fairfield Theater Company), Oramel Howland in The Great Unknown (NYMF), Enoch Snow Jr. in Carousel (Barrington Stage Company), Stewart Smalls in Band Geeks (Ars Nova), Huck Finn in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Dennis in Smoke on the Mountain (Cotton Hall Theater).Chris Marchant grew up in Akron, OH where he began playing violin thanks to his mother’s urging. Throughout high school Chris was involved in school and regional orchestras and choirs. He  received a B.A. in Music Ministry from Malone College, where he discovered a love of musical theatre.  Credits include Tobias in Sweeney Todd and Spring Awakening (both national tours).  Follow on Instagram and Twitter @chrisjmarchant.Trevor Wadleigh is a native of Kent, WA and began studying the viola at age 17 under the tutelage of Joyce Ramée.  He earned a Bachelor of Art from the University of Puget Sound with major concentrations in Business and Music Performance as well as a minor in Comparative Sociology. While completing undergraduate coursework, Mr. Wadleigh studied concurrently with Burton Kaplan of NYC under whose direction he completed an Artist’s Certificate program at the Aaron Copland School of Music. He has served as principal and section violist of the Lake Union Civic Orchestra, Yakima Symphony, Brevard Music Center Orchestra, and the Nova Philharmonic.Storyteller/monologist Miss Coco Peru aka Clinton Leupp got his/her start as a downtown favorite in the cabaret world of NY after he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in his first show “Miss Coco Peru in My Goddamn Cabaret” over 20 years ago.On screen, Miss Coco is best known for her roles in Jim Fall’s feature film, trick (Sundance 1999) and Richard Day’s Girls Will Be Girls. (Sundance 2002) For this film Coco shared the Best Actress Award with his two co-stars at the HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen as well as the Best Actor Award at LA’s Outfest Film Festival. Other film appearances include To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, Nick and Jane, and Straight-Jacket. Coco can be heard in the Disney animated feature, The Wild as Mamma Hippo! She also appears in the highly-ish anticipated sequel of Girls Will Be Girls which will be released some day, hopefully.Coco has appeared on TV in two stand-up comedy specials on LOGO: Wisecrack and Dragtastic, How I Met Your Mother, Arrested Development, Twins, Will and Grace, New York Undercover, Detroit 187, several Bravo reality and clip shows, and in an Orbitz commercial that was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award.Coco’s live one-person shows include: “Miss Coco Peru in My Goddamn Cabaret”, “Miss Coco Peru: A Legend in Progress” (’92 MAC and Bistro Award), “Miss Coco Peru at the Westbeth Theatre” (’95 MAC Nomination), “Miss Coco Peru’s Liquid Universe”(‘98 GLAAD Nomination), “Miss Coco Peru’s Universe” (’99 LA GLAAD Nomination), “Miss Coco Peru’s Glorious Wounds…She’s Damaged” (’01 LA GLAAD Nomination) “Miss Coco Peru is Undaunted” (’04 GLAAD Award Winner, Ovation Nomination), and the hugely successful “UGLY COCO” and “THERE COMES A TIME” and most recently “SHE’S GOT BALLS”. These shows have been performed to sold out audiences in Theatres, Clubs, Restaurants, Ballrooms and Cabarets throughout the US and abroad. She currently has dates scheduled nationwide through 2014.Coco hosts an on-going live series of shows at the Renberg Theater in Los Angeles called Conversations With Coco in which Coco interviews and celebrates the lives and careers of the GLBT community’s favorite icons. Miss Peru’s guests include Liza Minnelli, Jane Fonda, Bea Arthur, Lily Tomlin, Karen Black, Lainie Kazan, Lesley Ann Warren, and drag legend Mr. Charles Busch.Coco’s recent online Youtube videos have been seen by over 2 million viewers. Her video “Coco Goes to KMART,” in which she searches for Celestial Seasoning Tension Tamer tea, has more than over 700,000 views. For this reason, Coco has had to ask her fans to stop sending her the tea. She has received close to 100 boxes!Considered The Hostess with that something extra… Coco has hosted dozens of events including: The GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles, Night of a Thousand Gowns in NYC, Chicago Takes Off, Hot and Dry in Palm Springs, Gay Days Anaheim, The Black and White Ball in Reno, LA’s OUTFEST Legacy Awards, the BALIF (Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom) Dinner in San Francisco, Project Inform’s 25th Annual Fundraiser (SF) and Charity Bingo at Harrah’s Atlantic City. She has been honored to be involved with countless Gay and AIDS related charities over the years including The Trevor Project, Aids for Aids, and Lifeworks Mentoring. In fact, the list is so long, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center honored Coco with the Board of Director’s Award. The award was presented to Coco by Zachary Quinto (Star Trek, Heroes, So NoTorious).She is also available for children’s parties.Photo Credits: Steven C De La CruzCOCO QUOTESOne of the last great storytellers.Lily TomlinMiss Coco is a heavenly hoot… Wry and uncensored, the show is a hilarious exorcism, with music, no less. Hey, that’s entertainment.Los Angeles TimesCoco, a self-described “effeminate, damaged boy from the Bronx,” was the real goods, a dragster with real talent and heart.San Francisco Bay Area ReporterHilarious, inebriating and elegant all at the same time… If there were an award for most girlish and glamorous, funniest, mouthiest diva/icon/trannie/comedian, the inimitable Miss Coco Peru would win hands down.L.A. WeeklyIt’s not often a drag queen scares you with her intellect, but Miss Coco Peru isn’t just any drag queen. Hers is a deep, dark drag performance designed for people who are sick of drag. Don’t miss it.The Stranger, SeattleCOCO AWARDSNot that I’m bragging…2004 Los Angeles GLAAD Media Award Winner, Miss Coco Peru is Undaunted2004 Los Angeles Ovation Award nomination for Best Solo Performance, Miss Coco Peru is Undaunted2003 Outfest Award for Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film, Girls Will Be Girls2003 US Comedy Arts Festival Best Actress Award, Girls Will Be Girls2001 Los Angeles GLAAD Media Award nomination, Miss Coco Peru’s Glorious Wounds… She’s Damaged1999 Los Angeles GLAAD Media Award nomination, Miss Coco Peru’s Universe1998 New York GLAAD Media Award nomination, Miss Coco Peru’s Universe1997 Los Angeles Backstage Bistro Award Winner, Miss Coco Peru’s Universe1993 New York Backstage Bistro Award Winner, A Legend in Progress.1992 Manhattan Legend in Progress.

Paul Stroili’s our guest today on “ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky." I know Paul from the theatre world in Chicago. Paul’s done an extensive amount of TV work, but he also wrote and starred in the film “The Beating,” which has been well received at nearly a dozen film fests. Paul was nominated for an Ovation Award for “Best Solo Performance” for “Paul Stroili’s Straight Up with a Twist,” which enjoyed over 1400 performances nationwide. Our podchat covered Actors Equity’s 99-seat ruling, creating from adversity, and answers the question “How is it that improv is like pizza and blow jobs?”. Yep, it’s covered. 

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Associate Director, Hamish Pirie, interviews well known playwrights whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse. In this episode, Hamish Speaks to Sabrina Mahfouz. SABRINA MAHFOUZ began training as a civil servant after a Masters in International diplomacy but she then turned to writing poetry and prose and her first piece for theatre, That Boy, was performed at the Soho Theatre in 2010 and won a Westminster Prize for New Playwrights. Since then, she has won a UK Young Artists Award 2011 for poetry; an IdeasTap Innovator Award for theatre and one for poetry and she won a place on the Old Vic's TS Eliot Exchange 2011 to New York. She is currently Creative in Residence for Theatre & Poetry at The Hospital Club and will be the 2012 Leverhulme Trust Associate Playwright at the Bush Theatre. Her recent solo show about a young stripper, Dry Ice, won widespread critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe 2011 and was nominated for The Stage Award for Best Solo Performance. In 2012 Sabrina was nominated as World Economic Forum Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum. Sabrina has been part of the writers programs at The Royal Opera House and The Royal Court and a playwright on attachment with Tamasha. Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk Produced and engineered by Cian O Siochain