Podcasts about The Drowsy Chaperone

Are you looking for a way to ignite your child's creativity and build their confidence? In this episode of the Homeschool Your Kids podcast, Jae sits down with Gaby Fadhel, the director of Royal Studios Miami, to explore the transformative power of the performing arts. Discover how theater and dance can provide a vital outlet for expression and prepare students for success in any field.In this deep dive, Gaby shares his journey from professional child actor to schoolteacher and finally to the founder of a thriving arts studio. We discuss the unique challenges within the school system and why independent programs are becoming a haven for homeschoolers and creative youth alike. From the massive success of their production of ''Six the Musical" to providing paid professional gigs for teenagers, this conversation highlights how the arts build better humans, not just better performers.Key topics include:

Ladies and gentlemen, step right up for a wild ride with Woodland Regional's very own Morning Mayhem! It is May Day, and according to the sources, the polls are open for an “old school” Election Day experience,. But that's not all; hold onto your hats for a chance to snag free tickets to tonight's big premiere,!Across the globe, the news desk reports on ancient Roman cups and the sinking streets of Mexico City,. On the field, Decker brings you the Mascot Question of the Day while our athletes gear up for tennis, baseball, and softball showdowns,,.The main attraction? Opening Night for The Drowsy Chaperone! Watch as the Man in Chair brings the 1920s to life with tap dancing, the Charleston, and a 10-foot elevated stage,,,. From secretive scares to knee-sliding antics, this senior-led cast is ready to soar,,. Don't miss the gangsters in pastry chef hats or the breakout solo performances tonight,! It's Mayhem in the morning and magic on the stage

Good morning, Woodland! It's Wednesday, April 29th, and we are kicking off National Zipper Day here at Woodland Regional. Originally a 1913 boot fastener, the zipper earned its name from its iconic sound.In school news, “The Drowsy Chaperone” opens this Friday at 7:00 p.m.. Mark your calendars for a Veterans forum on May 8th and Fine Arts Night on May 14th.Top headlines include the passing of legendary comic writer Gary Conway and a swarm of 10,000 bees in Paris. NASA is pushing to reinstate Pluto as a planet, while Tokyo's airport prepares for humanoid robot ground handlers. Additionally, a quirky AI glitch has been spotted where models insert the words "goblins" and "gremlins" into text.In sports, Boys tennis dominated Crosby with a 5-0 win. Today, the softball team hosts a major rivalry game against Seymour. In national news, March Madness is expanding its field to 76 teams. Finally, the Celtics struggle to close their series, while the Yankees continue their unstoppable winning streak. Have a great day!

Greetings, citizens of Woodland! On this auspicious April 28th, we celebrate National Superhero Day alongside the unsung heroes of the road—our bus drivers! While our intrepid hosts debate the merits of Batman's gadgets versus Superman's mastery of grammar and the typewriter, a world of action unfolds beyond the school walls.Back at headquarters, your mission is clear: catch The Drowsy Chaperone this Friday or prepare for the Pickleball Tournament on May 9th. Don't miss the Veterans Forum or the MCPHS medical career visit on May 8th! In the global theater, King Charles III prepares to address Congress, while Elon Musk engages in a legal duel with Open AI. Far above, China launches its ambitious "Star Compute" AI satellite network, but hope shines for Timmy the whale, nearing his rescue in the Baltic!On the athletic front, our teams remain victorious, with softball, tennis, and baseball securing "super" wins.Will the East Windsor Panthers mascot question stump the masses? Only time will tell! Keep those Chromebooks charged and stay tuned to the airwaves for the next thrilling update!

"Good Morning Woodland" aired on Monday, April 27th, hosted by Amato, Tomlin, and Decker. The show highlights National Gummy Bear Day—noting the candy's 100-year history—and National Prime Rib Day.School news for Woodland Regional includes a standard "B-day" week with upcoming events like the "Drowsy Chaperone" musical (May 1st), a DECA pickleball tournament (May 9th), and the Polar Plunge (May 13th).In global news, Tomlin reported a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Japan and the discovery of 2,000-year-old Roman bread in Switzerland. The segment also covered vexillology, detailing new flag adoption processes in Paragould, Arkansas, and Skokie, Illinois.Sports coverage featured local wins for baseball and softball, while the mascot trivia identified the EO Smith Panthers. Pro sports discussion centered on the Celtics' 3-1 series lead, the Red Sox firing their coaching staff, and the NFL Draft. Finally, the hosts discussed the UFL's "wacky rules," such as tiered extra points and four-point field goals.

GOOD MORNING, WOODLAND! It's Friday, April 24th, and we are live for an A-DAY at the region! The rain is clearing out because it's game time for Morning Mayhem!In local action, our baseball squad is rolling into a big matchup against the Wolcott! Softball faces Crosby, and Girls Tennis takes on Holy Cross in a tough NVL showdown. Yesterday's Quiz Bowl saw the teachers represent themselves admirably, though they might have focused a bit too much on "ancient history" for the juniors!Headlines from the desk: AI is officially moving in as a bot named Luna starts running retail shops in San Francisco. Plus, Turkey is clamping down on social media for kids under 15!Quick Hits:Best Buddies Prom is tomorrow night at the Prospect Firehouse!Track Team bottle drive hits St. Anthony's Saturday morning!Drowsy Chaperone tickets are on sale now!In the NFL Draft, the Jets, Giants, and Patriots all went big on the offensive line—protection is the name of the game, folks!That's the buzzer! I'm Amato, and we are knocking down the door! Go Hawks!

I'm Wednesday, the day that feels like a heavy blanket on a rainy morning. I'm "middle of the road" and, frankly, I'm feeling a bit like Eeyore—sluggish and definitely in need of a nap.On this April 22nd, Woodland is shifting gears. NGSS testing has moved advisory to the end of the day and closed the library. It's National Library Outreach Day, though you'll have to "reach in" since the media center is locked for tests. If you're hungry, grab pizza for the tennis fundraiser or join the debate over cold pepperoni pizza in your pajamas.The world is busy while I'm hovering in the mid-week slump: crews found shipwrecks in Sweden, a mummy was unearthed with a fragment of the Iliad, and Mars revealed organic molecules.In sports, the boys tennis team beat Watertown, but the Red Sox and Celtics struggled. Today, girls tennis, baseball, and softball are all scheduled as the rain clears. We even confirmed Hillhouse's mascot is the Bulldogs.Stay aware of the Best Buddies Prom and the "Drowsy Chaperone". Now, I'm heading back under the covers

Good morning, Woodland! It is a frosty Monday, April 20th, with temperatures taking a 60-degree plunge since last week. Today we celebrate Patriots Day, commemorating the Battle of Lexington and Concord alongside the running of the Boston Marathon and early Red Sox baseball. On campus, students are navigating a modified schedule for Senior Project Day, featuring an extended 80-minute advisory period.In global headlines, a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Japan, triggering tsunami warnings, while SSD prices have doubled due to international tariffs and conflict. Closer to home, Shelton, Connecticut, recently debuted its first-ever city flag.Turning to sports, the softball team dominated Oxford 9-0, while the NBA playoffs are in full swing with victories for the Celtics and Knicks. Finally, we highlight the new Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society. Junior members Tiago and Sofia are advancing to the state history competition on May 2nd, presenting research on the New Haven Black Panther trials and Connecticut's first female pilot. Don't forget the upcoming tennis fundraiser and tickets for The Drowsy Chaperone.Have a great day, Woodland!

Ladies and Gentlemen, are you tired of boring mornings? Well, get ready because Good Morning Woodland is BACK and better than ever! After a week off, we're hitting the airwaves with a record-shattering return this April 13th!But wait, there's more! Our very own Woodland superstars just dominated the Connecticut Association Student Council convention, bringing home a Platinum Council of Excellence award and crowning freshman Amari Adams as the state's Unsung Hero! Feeling smart? Our Rho Kappa history buffs are headed to states after a first-place sweep at Connecticut History Day!Is your spring lackluster? Not anymore! With temperatures soaring into the 80s, our softball and tennis teams are undefeated, and baseball is crushing the competition! Plus, we've got international news from Hungary, AI ethics updates on "Claude," and even a sneak peek at a new Harry Potter series!Don't miss out on The Drowsy Chaperone tickets or the Best Buddies Friendship Walk! This isn't just a show; it's a B-day revolution! Tune in every morning at 7 a.m. on Facebook, YouTube, and Spotify! Act now—your school day depends on it!

Step behind the curtain with us on this episode of Acting Up with GTC!

Good morning, neighbors! It's a rainy Friday in Woodland, but there is plenty of warmth and excitement to share. The big news is that graduation is officially set for June 15th, which means spring has truly arrived for our seniors.Around the school, we're finishing "Baba B week" and preparing for the April 2nd pep rally, where students and teachers will dress up as each other. Don't forget to vote for your favorite music at the LMC and check the QR codes to sign up for dodgeball against the staff. For the theater fans, tickets for the spring musical, The Drowsy Chaperon, go on sale April 1st.Our news segment covered everything from flattering AI to the fascinating history of local and international flags. In sports, we celebrated MLB opening day and are cheering on our UConn hockey teams for their games tonight. Finally, please remember to return library books, charge your Chromebooks, and grab a coffee on April 7th to support the tennis team. Have a wonderful day!

Good morning. Today's Woodland update highlights a 'B' day packed with events, including the "Audio" poll, UConn math team results, and a library-building reading challenge. Juniors are preparing for upcoming SATs, while tickets for the musical "The Drowsy Chaperone" launch April 1st for a May debut. Also, support the tennis team at Quincy Coffee on April 7th.In world news, Britain is mandating solar panels for new builds, while New York explores 'lights off' energy policies. Scientific breakthroughs include a Japanese 'Lunar Ring' project, a genetic limit to mouse cloning, and a freshwater reservoir discovered beneath the Great Salt Lake.In sports, MLB Opening Day arrives tonight on Netflix featuring the Yankees. Soccer icon Muhammad Salah is departing Liverpool—a legend credited with lowering local crime—and baseball is trialing AI-powered strike challenges. Finally, following a frosty morning, hosts shared nostalgia for local radio and cautioned against eating freezer-burnt lunch. Reporting for Woodland, I'm your anchor. Have a great day.

In our very special 100th episode, Brennan is joined by Tony Award winner and Broadway legend, Beth Leavel as they discuss the relationship of discipline and passion for the craft, as well as the balance one must have between work and life in order to truly find success! Beth is well known for being not only an incredible talent, but also just an incredible person, and after listening to this episode, there's no doubt that it's the truth!Support the showHost/ Production/ Editing: Brennan StefanikMusic: Dylan KaufmanGraphic Design: Jordan Vongsithi@batobroadway on Instagram, Threads, and TikTokPatreon.com/batobroadway

About This Episode: In this episode of Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby sits down with Tim Porter, founding Artistic Director of Tweed & Company Theatre, to talk about what it means to build a sustainable professional theatre company outside of major urban centres. This Episode Explores: Founding Tweed & Company and building a company from the ground up Why regional and rural theatre matters in Canada Audience relationships outside major urban centres Sustainability, scale, and expectations in Canadian theatre The difference between serving a community and chasing prestige And much more! Guest:

Send us a texthttps://www.billetweb.fr/the-drowsy-chaperoneSupport the show

This week, we're talking: some big considerations following last week's hypnosis episode, Halloween, money shame, soft-pitching “The Cancelistas,” speaking on panels, smoked fish, Ralph Lauren Christmas, the continued government shutdown, SNAP benefits, the White House Ballroom renovation, $230 Million from the Justice Department, Kristi Noem's private jet, being a Patriot for Gymnastics, and the Louvre burglary.  Check out the JVN Patreon for a BTS vlog and post-show debrief of The Drowsy Chaperone at Carnegie Hall starring JVN, Laverne Cox, Dylan Mulvaney, Betty Who, Alex Newell, Peppermint, and many many more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  New video episodes Getting Better on YouTube every Wednesday.  Senior Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we're talking: Warning labels on wigs, The Drowsy Chaperone at Carnegie Hall, what hypnosis can do for you, the Politico article on Young Republican leaders and their White supremacist, racist, and deeply offensive Telegram chat, the world gymnastics championship, our love of Peacock, Sunday Scaries, apple cider & apple cider donut flavor stories, Bette Midler's bangs, and RIP Diane Keaton. Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  New video episodes Getting Better on YouTube every Wednesday.  Senior Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we're talking: a National amendment to enshrine abortion access as healthcare, JVN Holiday Box Gift sets, navigating online “therapy speak,” The Drowsy Chaperone at Carnegie Hall, the fate of Ophelia music video, Tiktoks overtaking our algorithm, the unfolding ceasefire, prosecuting political enemies, supporting NPR, Dylan Mulvaney's one-woman-show, posting pictures of your partner on instagram, and Starbucks Protein Coffee.  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  New video episodes Getting Better on YouTube every Wednesday.  Senior Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the second part of this Encore Episode from 2021 featuring a conversation with Irene Sankoff & David Hein — the dynamic writing team and married couple that created the international smash hit musical Come From Away which recently topped American Theatre magazine's list of the most produced plays in America in 2025/26. On the previous episode Irene and David related how they got hooked on musicals, and how they went from their first show based on a true story — My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding — to deciding to create a musical based on the real life events that happened in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland in the days following 9/11. They also described what it was like to attend the 10th Anniversary of the events in Gander and then begin to transform the stories they heard there into a musical during an early workshop production at The Canadian Music Theatre Project at Sheridan College. We also explored the classic Broadway shows that influenced and inspired the writing of their book, music, and lyrics for Come From Away. If you missed part one you may want to go back and catch up on that episode before you listen to this one. Today we look at the extensive development process that CFA went through on its journey to Broadway — including a workshop in Seattle, a series of productions at the La Jolla Playhouse, The Seattle Rep, Ford's Theater in DC. and the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, as well as a thrilling concert presentation in Gander where it all began.  Back in 2015, I served as the Executive Producer and Artistic Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle and, as such, I had the great pleasure of co-producing that original Seattle workshop of Come From Away. This was the first time that the show's Tony award winning director Christopher Ashley and choreographer, Kelly Devine began to work on the show — and it was great fun to recall that exciting experience with Irene and David. Come From Away is the fifth musical to originate in Canada and eventually open on Broadway.  The first was 1974's Rockabye Hamlet with book, music and lyrics by Cliff Jones. This rock musical adaptation of Shakespeare was originally titled Kronborg 1582 and was well received, first as a radio series on the CBC, and then at the Charlottetown Theatre Festival and on tour in Canada, before being retitled and opening on Broadway with Gower Champion as the director. It became a legendary flop and closed after 7 performances. Next, in 1980 came the intimate and engaging Billy Bishop Goes To War written by John McLachlan Gray the show featured one actor to playing18 different roles to tell the story of real life Canadian fighter pilot Billy Bishop during the first World War. This show nearly doubled the run of Rockabye Hamlet closing after 12 performances. However, over the next ten years Billy Bishop Goes To War received scores of productions at theaters all across North America.  The Story Of My Life, with music and lyrics by Neil Bartram and book by Brian Hill, opened on Broadway in 2009. Unfortunately, it had an even shorter run than either of the previous two Canadian shows. However, one year earlier, a group of Canadian writers finally scored a significant hit with The Drowsy Chaperone – book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert & Greg Morrison. This delightful show opened on Broadway in 2008, received Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score, and ran for 674 performances.   There have been a few other Canadian writers that found success on Broadway – Galt McDermott being the most famous of them – but that was with shows that originated in the US. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vocal coach, and now Broadway star in “& Juliet.”, Cheryl Porter sits down with Jonathan Van Ness for an unforgettable voice lesson that's about more than just singing. Cheryl doesn't just teach notes — she teaches confidence, positivity, and how to let go of shame to truly find your voice. They dive into Cheryl's decades long career in Italy, watching Queer Eye dubbed in Italian, the realities of racism in Italy, and the universal power of finding your authentic voice. From unlearning shame to staying connected to your inner power, Cheryl shares how singing isn't just for professionals — it's a life-changing tool for anyone brave enough to open their mouth. Plus— JVN gets some pointers ahead of their Carnegie Hall debut in Breaking The Binary Theatre's production of “The Drowsy Chaperone.”  Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Cheryl Porter on TikTok @cherylporterdiva Follow Cheryl Porter on Instagram @cherylporterdiva  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn  Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Senior Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Anne Currie and Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We speak with Rob Kroes about the Racine Theater Guild's latest production- the musical "The Drowsy Chaperone"- which runs for the next two weekends. Kroes is both the stage director and music director for the production.

Broadway legend Beth Leavel joins Joel Crump for another edition of Broadway Time at Carmine's! About Beth: Tony Winner Beth Leavel was most recently seen on Broadway in the role of The Baroness in Lempicka. She was nominated for a 2019 Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critic's Circle award for her performance as DeeDee Allen in the critically acclaimed Broadway show The Prom. She received Tony, Drama Desk, NY Outer Critics Circle and L.A. Drama Critics Awards for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Beth also received Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nominations for her role as Florence Greenberg in Baby It's You. Other Broadway roles include Mrs. June Adams in Bandstand, Emily in Elf, Donna in Mamma Mia!, Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein, Dorothy Brock in the revival of 42nd Street, Tess in the original company of Crazy For You, Mrs. Bixby in The Civil War, Ellie in Hal Prince's Showboat, and Anytime Annie (her Broadway debut) in 42nd Street. Numerous TV, most recently The Ghosts of Christmas Always (Hallmark), The Walking Dead (AMC), and The Bite (Spectrum). Beth's one-woman cabaret, It's Not About Me, has played across the country to rave reviews and sold out venues. In her spare time, Leavel gives back and teaches master classes for students all over the world. MFA from UNC-G. Proud mom to T.J. and Sam and helplessly in love with Adam Heller. Grateful to my BRS/GAGE family. "Broadway Time at Carmine's" features Broadway stars over lunch in engaging conversations at the iconic Carmine's Times Square eatery. For more, visit www.BWayTime.com, and follow:

Go backstage as Mandi  interviews the cast and crew of the Loyola Players' spring musical, The Drowsy Chaperone.  Even though the show has wrapped, you can still get a behind the scenes look at how the show came together. 

This is a special encore episode of my 2022 interview with Tony-award-winning lighting designer Ken Billington. This past week, Ken received rave reviews for his lighting design of the new Broadway musical SMASH, which amazingly is his 108th Broadway production. So, I thought it was an ideal time to revisit this fascinating conversation about the history of lighting design on Broadway and Ken's own tremendous contribution to it. This is a two-part conversation and I will be rereleasing both parts this week. Original Description: My guest on this episode is Tony Award winning lighting designer Ken Billington who created the lighting for an incredible 105 Broadway plays and musicals, including 21 productions that were directed by Harold Prince.  Ken's career spans from his very first Broadway show in 1967 when he was the assistant to legendary lighting designer Tharon Musser, to his most recent Broadway show, the hit musical, Waitress.  Along the way, he designed the original productions of Sweeney Todd, On The 20th Century, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Scottsboro Boys, The Search For Signs Of Intelligent Life In the Universe starring Lily Tomlin, three revivals of Fiddler On The Roof, two revivals of Sunday In The Park with George, and the still running 1996 revival of Chicago for which he received the Tony Award. I have had the great pleasure of knowing and working with Ken for more than 40 years, and it is always fascinating and always a delight to speak with him. Theatrical lighting design is a very young art form. Its history begins primarily in the early 20th Century -- just as the Broadway musical was being invented. Lighting design's earliest innovators include the American actress Maude Adams – most famous today for her performance as Peter Pan – and producer, director, playwright, and theater owner David Belasco.  One of the recurring themes of this podcast, and one of my obsessions, is how the art and craft of the Broadway Musical have been handed down directly – firsthand – from artists to artists, from craftsperson to craftsperson.  Ken Billington's long career and especially his early experiences as the assistant to the pioneering designers Peggy Clark, Pat Collins, Tom Skelton, William Rittman, and Tharon Musser make him the ideal guest for this episode. And of course, after Ken stopped being an assistant, he eventually became one of Broadway's most acclaimed and most prolific lighting designers. And we'll hear the story of how that came about on the next episode of Broadway Nation! You can learn more about Jean Rosenthal, Tharon Musser and other great women lighting designers on Episode 8 of Broadway Nation, which is titled, “Agnes DeMille & The Women That Invented Broadway”. It's a fascinating episode and I encourage you to check it out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpeter, band leader and iconic plunger mute designer Kenny Rampton, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Kenny Rampton trumpet interview"   About Kenny Rampton:   Trumpeter Kenny Rampton grew up in Las Vegas, and studied music at both the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and the Berklee College of Music. In 1989, he moved to New York, where he quickly established his reputation as a versatile musician, touring and performing with a veritable who's who in jazz.   Kenny's first road gig was a world tour with The Ray Charles Orchestra. He subsequently went on the road with legendary jazz drummer Panama Francis and The Savoy Sultans, and soon thereafter, with The Jimmy McGriff Quartet.   As a sideman, Kenny has also performed with jazz greats Jon Hendricks, Chico OFarrill's Afro-Cuban Jazz Big Band, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Persip and Supersound, Illinois Jacquet, Dr. John, Edy Martinez, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Reuben Wilson, Charles Earland, Tony Monaco, Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Marcus Roberts, Christian McBride, Geoff Keezer, Richard Bona and a host of others.    Kenny Rampton joined the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis as a full time member in 2010. He also leads his own groups in addition to performing with the Mingus Big Band, The Mingus Orchestra, The Mingus Dynasty, George Gruntz' Concert Jazz Band, and The Manhattan Jazz Orchestra.   Kenny is also well known as being the trumpet voice on the legendary Sesame Street. Some of his Broadway credits include "Anything Goes" (lead/solo trumpet), "Finian's Rainbow," "The Wiz," "Chicago: The Musical," "In The Heights," "Hair," "Young Frankenstein," and "The Producers," "The Drowsy Chaperone," "Spamalot," "Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me," "The Wedding Singer," "Hot Feet" and several other shows on Broadway.   Finally, in 2020 Kenny started collaborating with Hirschman Mutes to design the innovative KR Indigo plunger mute, which has been a hit ever since its release.   In our conversation today, Kenny shares how he got his start growing up in Las Vegas in a family of entertainers. Studying trumpet at the time largely meant classical trumpet, but Kenny soon developed a deep love for jazz. This took him across the country to Berklee, and the rest is history.   Kenny tells us what it was like getting a sudden call from Ray Charles to join his orchestra, being on-screen on Sesame Street, and working closely with Wynton Marsalis at the Lincoln Center.   And, we learn the story of how he developed the famous KR Indigo plunger mute, in the midst of the pandemic, as not just a useful tool for musicians but a way to stay engaged with the community during that tough time.   Kenny Rampton is brimming with inspiration and heart, and it was a pleasure to have him on the podcast today.   Podcast listeners! Enter code "podcast" at checkout for 15% off any of our guard bags! Visit trumpetmouthpiece.com for more info.   Episode Links: kennyrampton.com National Trumpet Competition YouTube channel International Women's Brass Conference, May 19-24, Hartford, Connecticut. Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/iwbc International Trumpet Guild Conference, May 27-31, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/itg William Adam Trumpet Festival, June 19-22, Clarksville, Tennessee. Sign up sheet for valve alignments: bobreeves.com/williamadam hirschmanmutes.com   Podcast Credits: “A Room with a View“ – composed and performed by Howie Shear Podcast Host – John Snell Audio Engineer – Ted Cragg

Today, I'm thrilled to announce my episode with Tony winning librettist and performer Bob Martin, who is the author of two of this season's newest hits—SMASH and BOOP—both of which started previews on Broadway this week. Tune in to hear about the writing processes of those two musicals, and some of the other stories of his legendary career, including why he was sore every night after performing THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, the character he almost played in THE PROM, writing for the film adaptation of that musical, why he loves writing for Beth Leavel, the challenges of working on MINSKY'S, changing ELF between its three Broadway runs, what he learned from Charles Strouse and Thomas Meehan, revisiting unsuccessful musicals in HEY, LOOK ME OVER, how supply chain issues have affected Broadway, developing THE STING with Harry Connick, Jr., working with Kevin Kline on AMERICAN CLASSIC, his idea for a sequel to THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, revising KISS ME, KATE in London, and so much more. You won't want to miss this honest and fun conversation with one of Broadway's funniest and most prolific writers.

That's a wrap on today's episode of Be the One! A huge thank you to Lulie Lampton and Bo Blackmon for joining us and sharing their Brookstone stories, favorite memories, and all the exciting details about The Drowsy Chaperone. It's always inspiring to hear from our students who pour their passion and talent into the fine arts at Brookstone.If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend. And don't forget to mark your calendars for The Drowsy Chaperone—you won't want to miss it!Until next time, keep showing up, making a difference, and being the one.

On this On the Rocks, curtain up! We welcome Tony Award Winner Beth Leavel to chat about her many, many roles in 15 Broadway shows and counting, we talk about her early days auditioning in NYC, the roles that have left a mark on her life, the joy of originating roles in The Drowsy Chaperone and The Prom, the future of Broadway, the power of Sondheim, and all about her current run in Old Friends alongside Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga...with your sassy host with the sassy most, Alexander Rodriguez! Raise a glass, it's On the Rocks!

Today, I'm thrilled to announce my interview with one of stage and screen's funniest comedians, Lea DeLaria. You can buy tickets to her “Brunch is Gay” series at 54 Below at this link: https://54below.org/events/lea-delaria-brunch-is-gay-2/  Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how she made everyone break during POTUS, winning over Adolph Green at her ON THE TOWN audition, a memorable ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW stage door encounter, going solo in HAPPY DAYS, her friendship with Elaine Stritch, the joy of working with Gavin Creel on PROMETHEUS BOUND, being the first openly gay comedian on TV, her journey to playing “Big Boo” on ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, developing SOME LIKE IT HOT and THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, starring in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS in California, why she thinks LIL' ABNER should be revived, sharing a special moment with Austin Pendleton during NIGHT OF THE IGUANA, and the current Broadway show she would love to star in. You won't want to miss this honest and hilarious conversation with a beloved star.

Happy Wednesday everyone! Today Karen and Lauren take us on a deep dive of The Drowsy Chaperone and all the things about we love and don't love... Stumble along with us. Get in touch! @downstageleftpc downstageleftpc@gmail.com downstageleftpodcast.com

U Guys, a true triple threat, and Seussical's original Gertrude McFuzz, Janine LaManna is here! This week's BroadwayWorld Recap is a short and sweet little roundup of Bway news. Then I am joined by a true Bway legend, Janine LaManna! From standing by for Chita Rivera in Kiss of the Spider Woman, to originating the role of Gertrude McFuzz in Broadway's Seussical, Janine has truly done it all. She made her Broadway debut as Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime alongside the original company, and eventually went on to work with such legends as Anne Reinking and Harold Prince. She shares about her experience of being the wife of a military officer and traveling the country with her family living in new places, simultaneously being a mother and continuing to work as a performer. We talk about her time playing Nickie in the Broadway revival of Sweet Charity with Christina Applegate, as well as replacing Bway star Sutton Foster as Janet Van De Graaff in the original Broadway production of The Drowsy Chaperone. Her other Bway credits include Swing!, Kiss Me, Kate, and The Look of Love. A true triple threat, Janine's talent is only matched by her grace, humility, and humor. U don't wanna miss this episode! Follow the pod on Instagram: @ohmypoduguys Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with Broadway performer Happy McPartlin about always being prepared to go on as a standby/cover, the importance of storytelling for human connection, holding onto your values and identity as a theatre person through career ups and downs, and more. Click here for a transcript of the episode! Episode Notes Hosts: Hayley Goldenberg and Amy AndrewsGuest: Happy McPartlinMusic: Chloe Geller Episode Resources: The Notebook Come From Away Guest Bio: Happy McPartlin (she/her) is currently understudying Older Allie and Mother/Nurse Lori on Broadway in the new musical The Notebook, written by Ingrid Michaelson and Bekah Brunstetter, directed by Michael Greif and Schele Williams. Prior to that, she completed a 5-year run as a standby with Come From Away on Broadway, performing in the show well over 400 times in 5 different roles. Prior to that, she spent time working in some of the preeminent theaters in Washington, DC, performing in the ensembles of 110 In The Shade at Ford's Theatre, The Secret Garden for The Shakespeare Theatre, Gun & Powder (workshop ) at Signature Theatre, as well as standing by for the Pre-Broadway run of Come From Away. Happy was honored to be chosen to play the role of Beulah in Come From Away for the 20th Anniversary Memorial Concert for 9/11 in Washington, DC at the Lincoln Memorial, which was attended by roughly 10,000 people. She has also appeared on the Come From Away national tour and performed the role of Hannah for the Come From Away Tiny Desk Concert for NPR. Other favorite credits include - Broadway: Hands on a Hardbody. National tours: Memphis 1st National Tour, Hairspray (Velma), The Full Monty (Georgie). Regional: Stages Repertory: Diana in Next to Normal; Paper Mill & TUTS: Curtains; Geva: …Spelling Bee; Ogunquit Playhouse: Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard, and The Full Monty; Bucks County Playhouse: Pennywise in Urinetown, the Witch in Into The Woods, and Sugar Babies; The Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone at Theatre By the Sea. Happy's biggest joy is her family - an 8-year-old son and husband - and she loves spending time with dear friends doing just about anything, baking, and watching way too much television! Find Happy Online: Instagram Thanks for listening! Who do you want to hear from next on the Women & Theatre Podcast? Nominate someone here. The Women & Theatre Podcast is created and produced by Hayley Goldenberg and Amy Andrews. Please like, comment, subscribe, follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and consider making a donation to support our work. Thank you for listening!

Ticket Link: https://54below.org/events/beth-leavel-sings-sondheim/ Today, I'm thrilled to announce my interview with Tony winner Beth Leavel, who will be performing a 54 Below concert celebrating the works of Stephen Sondheim on October 26 and 27. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the advice she got from Elaine Stritch, her process of finding the character of Dee Dee Allen in THE PROM, how 42ND STREET ruined a trip to Disneyland, performing for Elton John and Steven Spielberg, why her involvement in LEMPICKA felt fated by the universe, the role of hers that Eartha Kitt and Joan Van Ark also auditioned for, working with Casey Nicholaw on TUCK EVERLASTING and SOMETHING ROTTEN, the tragic closing of THE CIVIL WAR, taking inspiration from Margaret Dumont for THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, the most important lines in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, and so much more. You won't want to miss this uproarious conversation with a true Broadway treasure. 

We've got our first "musicologist" and first Gershwin brothers musical in the same episode! This week we welcome William A. Everett to discuss George & Ira's first full collaboration LADY, BE GOOD! Not only did this musical star the Astaire siblings, but it also landed in 1924, a year you'll soon realize was one of the most important in all of Broadway history. Don't miss this jam-packed episode that in under an hour manages to include both HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL references and highbrow words like "diagetic." (insert exclamation point here!) Order Bill's new book The Year that Made the Musical: 1924 and the Glamour of Musical Theatre If you enjoyed this conversation, give a listen to our episode on THE DROWSY CHAPERONE with Ken Werther, a modern take on a similar musical style. Have you subscribed to PATREON! yet?! For only $1 a month you get a bonus episode and more great ways to participate in "A Musical Theatre Podcast." You can also follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X for a steady flow of episode related content. Don't forget about our TeePublic Store, where the profits we receive are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being a part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kecia Lewis is celebrating 40 triumphant years as a dynamic storyteller on stage and screen in the entertainment industry. Lewis' rich career of portraying formidable women has come full circle with her critically acclaimed, Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle nominated, and Lucille Lortel Award winning performance of Miss Liza Jane in Alicia Keys' Broadway hit musical Hell's Kitchen. Entertainment Weekly proclaims "Lewis is commanding...her voice is a weapon, and she knows just when to fire." Kecia's Broadway journey began with her debut at 18 years old in the original company of Dreamgirls. In addition to originating on Broadway iconic roles in Once On This Island, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Leap of Faith, Kecia has graced the Broadway stage in The Gospel at Colonus (with Morgan Freeman), Big River, Ain't Misbehavin' (standby for Nell Carter) and Children of a Lesser God. Off Broadway she has starred in the title role of Mother Courage (CSC), The Skin of Our Teeth (TFNA - Obie Award Winner), Dessa Rose (LCT - Drama Desk nom.), and Marie and Rosetta (ATC - Lortel & Drama League Nom, Obie Award Winner). Kecia's work on the reboot of MAD ABOUT YOU was loved by fans and critics alike. Other selected TV guest and recurring roles include "And Just Like That" (Max), "With Love" (Amazon), "The Passage (Fox), The Blacklist (NBC), Law and Order SVU (NBC) and “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” (Hulu). As a vocalist Kecia has performed in Canada, Switzerland, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Russia. Kecia can also be seen in Evan Parter's feature “The Independent” alongside Brian Cox, Jodie Turner-Smith and John Cena which is now streaming on Peacock.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join your favorite podcast hosts Jason A. Coombs and Samantha Tuozzolo , on the latest episode of Survival Jobs, as they chat with the iconic Broadway veteran and Tony Nominee Kecia Lewis in the hit Broadway musical ‘Hell's Kitchen', which is nominated for thirteen Tony Awards including Best Musical this season. Kecia shines a spotlight on her 40+ year career which includes starring in the original Broadway runs of ‘Dreamgirls', ‘Once On This Island' and ‘The Drowsy Chaperone' to such iconic television shows such as ‘Mad About You', ‘Law and Order: SVU', ‘The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, “Passages” and more! Kecia also dives into the joy of working with her powerful female co-stars Shoshana Bean and Maleah Joi Moon and Lead Producer and Composer Alicia Keys in ‘Hell's Kitchen' and why audiences and critics are praising the production!   Before closing out with a fun game of Fill in the Lyric…Alicia Keys Edition, Kecia dives into the many surprising gigs she's had over the years as a working actor! Tickets for ‘Hell's Kitchen' are available at the Shubert Theatre or online here. The episode opens with Samantha and Jason chatting about the Stephen Sondheim Awards at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut where Jason was a presenter!  Lastly, the exclusive video interview can be found here on Broadway World, while the audio-only version of the episode is available on popular platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible or any of your other favorite podcast apps. Tune in now for insights, inspiration, and entertainment! Info on Your Hosts:  Broadway World Article on our Season 3 Launch Party Follow Samantha: Instagram  |  Samantha's Official Website here Follow Jason on Instagram  | Twitter. Check out Jason's Official Website here Check out and support The Bridgeport Film Fest Info on Guests:  Follow Kecia on Instagram  Tickets to 'Hell's Kitchen' on Broadway "Mad About You" Revival Trailer "The Passage" on Fox Trailer Mic Check Links: Info on the Bridgeport Film Fest [save 30% by using the code: BFFSURVIVALJOBS2024] Tony Award Nominations article by Broadway World Important Links: Support the citizens of Gaza CAIR Shares Resources to Support Students Protesting the War and Genocide in Gaza Native Land Map US Interior Indian Affairs NPR: "How To Help Puerto Rico" Article How to Help the People of Florida Article Abortion Funds Website Plan C Pills Website National Write Your Congressman Link How to help Uvalde families NPR Article Where to Donate to Support Access to Abortions Right Now Support Us... Please!  If you're feeling generous, Buy Us A Coffee HERE! Please don't become complacent: Support the Black Mamas Matter Alliance Support Families Detained and Separated at the Border.  Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund. Support Black Trans Folx here Donate to the Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) Support the People of Palestine How to be an Ally to the AAPI Community 168 Ways to Donate in Support of Black Lives and Communities of Color The New York Times: On Mexico's Border With U.S., Desperation as Migrant Traffic Piles Up PBS: How to help India during its COVID surge — 12 places you can donate Covid quarantine didn't stop antisemitic attacks from rising to near-historic highs Opening and Closing Theme Music: "One Love" by Beats by Danny | Game Music: "Wake Up" by MBB.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“There was David Cronenberg (The Fly, Scanners), but not many other examples,” says Don McKellar, about his childhood as a Canadian where he felt there were few role models in the business. “But I did love theater. I created shows with my friends and all the disciplines — writing, directing, acting — blended together for me.” Those live performances helped to shape his work. “I co-wrote a musical called The Drowsy Chaperone on Broadway. In that kind of show, if you do a show and it doesn't work, it's obvious. What I think helps as a writer is having that actor's eye ingrained in my bones. You can sort of feel what works, what can play, what's enjoyable to deliver. That instinct really informs my writing.” “Knowing what actors will enjoy is consequently knowing what viewers will enjoy. I think that helped me work with Robert,” he jokes, in regards to the new series The Sympathizer, which stars Robert Downey Jr., Sandra Oh, and Hoa Xuande. The plot reads, “Near the end of the Vietnam War, a plant who was embedded in the South Vietnam army flees to the United States and takes up residence in a refugee community where he continues to secretly spy and report back to the Viet Cong.” Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we're giving away 100,000 copies this year. It's based on hundreds of interviews here at Creative Principles. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

"Right from the beginning, in talking with Park Chan-wook, we wanted this sort of multiplicity of narrative voices and devices. In a way, it's about how the story, in this case of the Vietnam War, has been told, what the expected story is, at least, for American viewers, which they may mainly know through the movies and through visual representations. And it's how our lead character, The Captain, who is writing the story, who has divided loyalties. How can we capture the contradictions within that story? And we tried to make that complexity part of the actual fabric of the show."Don McKellar is a highly accomplished writer, director, and actor. He has written films including Roadkill, Highway 61, Dance Me Outside, The Red Violin, and Blindness. He won the Prix de la Jeunesse at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival for his directorial debut, Last Night, which he also wrote and starred in. He is an eight-time Genie Award nominee and a two-time winner.He wrote the book for the acclaimed musical The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received a Tony Award. Most recently, Don served as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner on The Sympathizer, a television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series was co-created with Park Chan-wook.www.imdb.com/name/nm0001528/mediaviewer/rm2411273728/?ref_=nm_ov_phwww.imdb.com/title/tt14404618/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%20sympawww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcastPhoto courtesy of HBO

On casting Robert Downey Jr. in 4 Roles:"That was Park Chan-wook's idea early on. In the book, there are these sorts of male-white figures of the American establishment. They're all differentiated in the book, but he had the idea. What if we have one actor playing all the parts kind of like Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove and immediately we thought that's a great idea. Robert Downey Jr.'s characters represent academia, intelligence in the military, entertainment, and politics. Even if they have opposing political ideas on the surface, there's something at the root that is working together. It's a kind of deep-state metaphor and - I don't want to give away the ending of the series - but it comes together in a way that feeds into The Captain's character, too." "Casting of The Captain (Hoa Xuande) was very hard because it's really all from his perspective. The whole thing is on his shoulders. He's in almost every scene. And when he isn't, it's from his point of view, so he's a spy, you know, so he's got to be able to have that poker face. He's got to be able...it can't be on the surface. He's got to have a certain amount of control. So we had to have someone who was very emotional, but at the same time had a lot of control, who was very agile in a way, like the narrative of the book is, who is able to quickly change modes and at the same time sort of evoke the protagonists of American 70s action films, except from a Vietnamese side.”Don McKellar is a highly accomplished writer, director, and actor. He has written films including Roadkill, Highway 61, Dance Me Outside, The Red Violin, and Blindness. He won the Prix de la Jeunesse at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival for his directorial debut, Last Night, which he also wrote and starred in. He is an eight-time Genie Award nominee and a two-time winner.He wrote the book for the acclaimed musical The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received a Tony Award. Most recently, Don served as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner on The Sympathizer, a television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series was co-created with Park Chan-wook.www.imdb.com/name/nm0001528/mediaviewer/rm2411273728/?ref_=nm_ov_phwww.imdb.com/title/tt14404618/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%20sympawww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcastPhoto courtesy of HBO

“Doubling is kind of a big theme, and maybe it always is in spy literature, but maybe I think that that's why Viet chose to write a spy novel in a way and play with those sort of tropes because it's central and I think it's central to the message of the show and of the book. This idea that there's another side to every question. I mean, that's the central quandary. There's this problem with the whole Vietnam War. It's saying to Americans, at least put yourself on the other side, the Vietnamese side, and then recognize that that side also has two sides and then within that, there are further divisions. And if you do that, I think what it's proposing is that you have to step back. It forces a sort of objectivity and humility, and it asks you to step back and allow the bigger human questions to resonate."Don McKellar is a highly accomplished writer, director, and actor. He has written films including Roadkill, Highway 61, Dance Me Outside, The Red Violin, and Blindness. He won the Prix de la Jeunesse at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival for his directorial debut, Last Night, which he also wrote and starred in. He is an eight-time Genie Award nominee and a two-time winner.He wrote the book for the acclaimed musical The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received a Tony Award. Most recently, Don served as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner on The Sympathizer, a television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series was co-created with Park Chan-wook.www.imdb.com/name/nm0001528/mediaviewer/rm2411273728/?ref_=nm_ov_phwww.imdb.com/title/tt14404618/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%20sympawww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcastPhoto courtesy of HBO

"What saved me as a young person, I think, was how I connected with the arts. And I was exposed to this sort of world of possibility. What I hope for children is sort of courageous curiosity. I feel that they have to pursue their creative impulses, and I hope that art can inspire them to do that. That's what I always do. When I'm creating work, I always want it to be inspiring in a way. Not inspiring like a Hallmark movie, you know, like not happy, not necessarily, but provocative in a way that inspires thought, inspires creativity. So when I see young people, what I always try and encourage in them is sort of courage. Courage at facing the world, not being afraid of the world, and being. And I think that art can provide that, can bolster that courage."Don McKellar is a highly accomplished writer, director, and actor. He has written films including Roadkill, Highway 61, Dance Me Outside, The Red Violin, and Blindness. He won the Prix de la Jeunesse at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival for his directorial debut, Last Night, which he also wrote and starred in. He is an eight-time Genie Award nominee and a two-time winner.He wrote the book for the acclaimed musical The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received a Tony Award. Most recently, Don served as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner on The Sympathizer, a television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series was co-created with Park Chan-wook.www.imdb.com/name/nm0001528/mediaviewer/rm2411273728/?ref_=nm_ov_phwww.imdb.com/title/tt14404618/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%20sympawww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcastPhoto courtesy of HBO

What are the stories we tell ourselves to justify our actions in times of war? How can the arts convey complexity and foster understanding?Don McKellar is a highly accomplished writer, director, and actor. He has written films including Roadkill, Highway 61, Dance Me Outside, The Red Violin, and Blindness. He won the Prix de la Jeunesse at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival for his directorial debut, Last Night, which he also wrote and starred in. He is an eight-time Genie Award nominee and a two-time winner.He wrote the book for the acclaimed musical The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received a Tony Award. Most recently, Don served as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner on The Sympathizer, a television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series was co-created with Park Chan-wook."Right from the beginning, in talking with Park Chan-wook, we wanted this sort of multiplicity of narrative voices and devices. In a way, it's about how the story, in this case of the Vietnam War, has been told, what the expected story is, at least, for American viewers, which they may mainly know through the movies and through visual representations. And it's how our lead character, The Captain, who is writing the story, who has divided loyalties. How can we capture the contradictions within that story? And we tried to make that complexity part of the actual fabric of the show."www.imdb.com/name/nm0001528/mediaviewer/rm2411273728/?ref_=nm_ov_phwww.imdb.com/title/tt14404618/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%20sympawww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.org IG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcastPhotos courtesy of HBOSusan Downey, Robert Downey Jr., Don McKellarRobert Downey Jr. in The Sympathizer, photo by Beth Dubber/HBOHoa Xuande in The Sympathizer, photo by Hopper Stone/HBO

What are the stories we tell ourselves to justify our actions in times of war? How can the arts convey complexity and foster understanding?Don McKellar is a highly accomplished writer, director, and actor. He has written films including Roadkill, Highway 61, Dance Me Outside, The Red Violin, and Blindness. He won the Prix de la Jeunesse at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival for his directorial debut, Last Night, which he also wrote and starred in. He is an eight-time Genie Award nominee and a two-time winner.He wrote the book for the acclaimed musical The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received a Tony Award. Most recently, Don served as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner on The Sympathizer, a television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series was co-created with Park Chan-wook."I think the reason for success of the novel The Sympathizer was the very unique voice in the book. It's told in first person with this kind of raconteur who's very intelligent. It's satiric. It tackles big issues, and it's very lively and fun at the same time. It's quite and it's also complicated where it's coming from. It's a confession. It's written in theory under duress. It's very hard to replicate because it's sort of very freewheeling, and we didn't want to weigh the show down with just a lot of voiceover, you know, that feeling of a literary adaptation you get where you just have a voiceover quoting the book all the time. So, the first thing we tried to do, well, the first thing we did was get Park Chan-wook involved because he has a very similar visual language. We tried to replicate that voice visually, and we've tried to come up with parallel visual narrative devices that would give that feeling that the book had."www.imdb.com/name/nm0001528/mediaviewer/rm2411273728/?ref_=nm_ov_phwww.imdb.com/title/tt14404618/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%20sympawww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.org IG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcastPhotos courtesy of HBOSusan Downey, Robert Downey Jr., Don McKellarRobert Downey Jr. in The Sympathizer, photo by Beth Dubber/HBOHoa Xuande in The Sympathizer, photo by Hopper Stone/HBO

"I think the reason for success of the novel The Sympathizer was the very unique voice in the book. It's told in first person with this kind of raconteur who's very intelligent. It's satiric. It tackles big issues, and it's very lively and fun at the same time. It's quite and it's also complicated where it's coming from. It's a confession. It's written in theory under duress. It's very hard to replicate because it's sort of very freewheeling, and we didn't want to weigh the show down with just a lot of voiceover, you know, that feeling of a literary adaptation you get where you just have a voiceover quoting the book all the time. So, the first thing we tried to do, well, the first thing we did was get Park Chan-wook involved because he has a very similar visual language. We tried to replicate that voice visually, and we've tried to come up with parallel visual narrative devices that would give that feeling that the book had."Don McKellar is a highly accomplished writer, director, and actor. He has written films including Roadkill, Highway 61, Dance Me Outside, The Red Violin, and Blindness. He won the Prix de la Jeunesse at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival for his directorial debut, Last Night, which he also wrote and starred in. He is an eight-time Genie Award nominee and a two-time winner.He wrote the book for the acclaimed musical The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received a Tony Award. Most recently, Don served as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner on The Sympathizer, a television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series was co-created with Park Chan-wook.www.imdb.com/name/nm0001528/mediaviewer/rm2411273728/?ref_=nm_ov_phwww.imdb.com/title/tt14404618/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%20sympawww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcastPhoto courtesy of HBO

What are the stories we tell ourselves to justify our actions in times of war? How can the arts convey complexity and foster understanding?Don McKellar is a highly accomplished writer, director, and actor. He has written films including Roadkill, Highway 61, Dance Me Outside, The Red Violin, and Blindness. He won the Prix de la Jeunesse at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival for his directorial debut, Last Night, which he also wrote and starred in. He is an eight-time Genie Award nominee and a two-time winner.He wrote the book for the acclaimed musical The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received a Tony Award. Most recently, Don served as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner on The Sympathizer, a television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series was co-created with Park Chan-wook."Casting of The Captain (Hoa Xuande) was very hard because it's really all from his perspective. The whole thing is on his shoulders. He's in almost every scene. And when he isn't, it's from his point of view, so he's a spy, you know, so he's got to be able to have that poker face. He's got to be able...it can't be on the surface. He's got to have a certain amount of control. So we had to have someone who was very emotional, but at the same time had a lot of control, who was very agile in a way, like the narrative of the book is, who is able to quickly change modes and at the same time sort of evoke the protagonists of American 70s action films, except from a Vietnamese side.”On casting Robert Downey Jr. in 4 Roles:"That was Park Chan-wook's idea early on. In the book, there are these sorts of male-white figures of the American establishment. They're all differentiated in the book, but he had the idea. What if we have one actor playing all the parts kind of like Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove and immediately we thought that's a great idea. Robert Downey Jr.'s characters represent academia, intelligence in the military, entertainment, and politics. Even if they have opposing political ideas on the surface, there's something at the root that is working together. It's a kind of deep-state metaphor and - I don't want to give away the ending of the series - but it comes together in a way that feeds into The Captain's character, too."www.imdb.com/name/nm0001528/mediaviewer/rm2411273728/?ref_=nm_ov_phwww.imdb.com/title/tt14404618/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%20sympawww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.org IG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcastPhotos courtesy of HBOSusan Downey, Robert Downey Jr., Don McKellarRobert Downey Jr. in The Sympathizer, photo by Beth Dubber/HBOHoa Xuande in The Sympathizer, photo by Hopper Stone/HBO

What are the stories we tell ourselves to justify our actions in times of war? How can the arts convey complexity and foster understanding?Don McKellar is a highly accomplished writer, director, and actor. He has written films including Roadkill, Highway 61, Dance Me Outside, The Red Violin, and Blindness. He won the Prix de la Jeunesse at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival for his directorial debut, Last Night, which he also wrote and starred in. He is an eight-time Genie Award nominee and a two-time winner.He wrote the book for the acclaimed musical The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received a Tony Award. Most recently, Don served as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner on The Sympathizer, a television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series was co-created with Park Chan-wook.“Doubling is kind of a big theme, and maybe it always is in spy literature, but maybe I think that that's why Viet chose to write a spy novel in a way and play with those sort of tropes because it's central and I think it's central to the message of the show and of the book. This idea that there's another side to every question. I mean, that's the central quandary. There's this problem with the whole Vietnam War. It's saying to Americans, at least put yourself on the other side, the Vietnamese side, and then recognize that that side also has two sides and then within that, there are further divisions. And if you do that, I think what it's proposing is that you have to step back. It forces a sort of objectivity and humility, and it asks you to step back and allow the bigger human questions to resonate."www.imdb.com/name/nm0001528/mediaviewer/rm2411273728/?ref_=nm_ov_phwww.imdb.com/title/tt14404618/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%20sympawww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.org IG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcastPhotos courtesy of HBOSusan Downey, Robert Downey Jr., Don McKellarRobert Downey Jr. in The Sympathizer, photo by Beth Dubber/HBOHoa Xuande in The Sympathizer, photo by Hopper Stone/HBO

What are the stories we tell ourselves to justify our actions in times of war? How can the arts convey complexity and foster understanding?Don McKellar is a highly accomplished writer, director, and actor. He has written films including Roadkill, Highway 61, Dance Me Outside, The Red Violin, and Blindness. He won the Prix de la Jeunesse at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival for his directorial debut, Last Night, which he also wrote and starred in. He is an eight-time Genie Award nominee and a two-time winner.He wrote the book for the acclaimed musical The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received a Tony Award. Most recently, Don served as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner on The Sympathizer, a television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series was co-created with Park Chan-wook."What saved me as a young person, I think, was how I connected with the arts. And I was exposed to this sort of world of possibility. What I hope for children is sort of courageous curiosity. I feel that they have to pursue their creative impulses, and I hope that art can inspire them to do that. That's what I always do. When I'm creating work, I always want it to be inspiring in a way. Not inspiring like a Hallmark movie, you know, like not happy, not necessarily, but provocative in a way that inspires thought, inspires creativity. So when I see young people, what I always try and encourage in them is sort of courage. Courage at facing the world, not being afraid of the world, and being. And I think that art can provide that, can bolster that courage."www.imdb.com/name/nm0001528/mediaviewer/rm2411273728/?ref_=nm_ov_phwww.imdb.com/title/tt14404618/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%20sympawww.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.org IG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcastPhotos courtesy of HBOSusan Downey, Robert Downey Jr., Don McKellarRobert Downey Jr. in The Sympathizer, photo by Beth Dubber/HBOHoa Xuande in The Sympathizer, photo by Hopper Stone/HBO

Dylan and Connor are joined by Broadway LEGEND Danny Burstein (Moulin Rouge, Fiddler on the Roof). Are you ready, chickens? The incredibly kind, generous, and talented Danny shares story upon story of his magnificent career. He's worked with everyone in the business – from Bernadette Peters to Alan Cumming to Kelli O'Hara to Aaron Tveit. A true lover of the craft of acting, he delves into the fun of playing different types of roles like his characters in Moulin Rouge (which he won the Tony for), South Pacific, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, and The Drowsy Chaperone. In remembrance of his late wife Rebecca Luker, Danny tells the twins about the first time he saw her and the cosmic connection they had. They also get into Danny's television and voiceover work, Beckham on Netflix, Matt Rogers' “Have You Heard of Christmas?” album, and MORE. You won't want to miss this all-encompassing chat. To life!Follow Danny on InstagramFollow DRAMA. on Twitter & Instagram & TiktokFollow Connor MacDowell on Twitter & InstagramFollow Dylan MacDowell on Twitter & InstagramEdited by DylanSupport the podcast by subscribing to DRAMA+, which also includes bonus episodes, Instagram Close Friends content, and more!

Dylan and Connor are joined by Beth Leavel (The Prom, The Drowsy Chaperone). To celebrate FOUR YEARS of DRAMA, the twins finally chat with the legend, the icon, the moment: Beth Leavel. The queen herself regales listeners with tales from her extensive resume: from winning the Tony for creating Beatrice Stockwell in The Drowsy Chaperone, to embodying the iconic DeeDee Allen in The Prom, and stepping into Miranda Priestley's Prada shoes in The Devil Wears Prada. But don't worry, we cover everything else in between. Starring in Mamma Mia and belting out 15 songs every night, the early days of performing in 42nd Street and Crazy for You, and even performing as Rizzo in Grease on the road. We also get into Beth's other Tony nominated role of Florence Greenberg in Baby, It's You. They chat about The Crown, eBay and Black Friday deals, and even Beth's recent appearance in Gutenberg! The Musical! Listen in for the EXCLUSIVE. You're going to love this episode with Beth. Thanks for four amazing years of DRAMA, y'all. See Beth Leavel at 54 Below this January 2 and 8!Follow DRAMA. on Twitter & Instagram & TiktokFollow Connor MacDowell on Twitter & InstagramFollow Dylan MacDowell on Twitter & InstagramEdited by DylanSupport the podcast by subscribing to DRAMA+, which also includes bonus episodes, Instagram Close Friends content, and more!