Podcasts about hollywood arms

Linda Lavin, who won a Tony Award for her work on the Broadway stage and starred in the top-ten rated CBS sitcom “Alice,” has died at age 87. Here are a couple of conversations WGN’s Dean Richards shared with Lavin: May 12, 2002, regarding Hollywood Arms at the Goodman Theatre. October 10, 2004, regarding Finishing […]

Today, I am beyond thrilled to announce the 150th episode of Backstage Babble with the iconic, legendary, Carol Burnett. Fresh off of her 90th birthday celebration, Ms. Burnett joins us to discuss her career, including; the advice she got from John Huston, why she dreamed of working with George Abbott, the celebrities who she Wordles with every day, the current progress of her campaign to rename a Broadway theater for Hal Prince, the unconventional audition process for Hollywood Arms, protesting outside of Once Upon A Mattress, why she can't tell a joke to save her life, the Broadway roles she wishes she could've played, and so much more. Thank you for tuning in for 150 episodes, and I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Donna Lynne Champlin is an OBIE, Drama Desk and Gracie Award winning actress best known as Paula Proctor on The CW's critically acclaimed “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and Barb in NETFLIX's “Feel The Beat.” Broadway: “James Joyce's The Dead,' “By Jeeves,” “Hollywood Arms,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “Billy Elliot: The Musical.” Off Broadway: Transport Group's “First Lady Suite,” “Almost, Maine” and “The Dark at the Top of the Stairs,” “Working,” “The Qualms,” “Master Class” and Shakespeare in the Park's “As You Like It” and “The Taming of the Shrew.” Additional film/TV: “The First Lady,” “Blacklist,” “Law & Order,” “Submissions Only,” “The Good Wife,” “The Good Fight,” “Birdman,” “Younger,” “Downsizing,” “Another Period” and “Yes, God, Yes.” A Princess Grace Grant winner, Champlin appears on numerous OBCs, podcasts and animated features. Training: Carnegie Mellon University and Oxford University. Love and gratitude to son Charlie and husband Andrew Arrow. Charlie Arrow is an 11-year-old 6th grade student in New York. He is a passionate JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Youth Ambassador and advocates on behalf of children who, like him, have to integrate the challenges of Type 1 Diabetes into their daily lives. JONES.SHOW is a weekly podcast featuring host Randall Kenneth Jones (author, speaker & creative communications consultant) and Susan C. Bennett (the original voice of Siri). JONES.SHOW is produced and edited by Kevin Randall Jones. DONNA LYNNE CHAMPLIN Online: Twitter: https://twitter.com/dlchamplin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donna_lynne_champlin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaLynneChamplin/ CHARLIE ARROW Online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t1diabetesboy Please Support JDRF Today! https://www2.jdrf.org/ JONES.SHOW Online: Join us in the Jones.Show Lounge on Facebook. Twitter (Randy): https://twitter.com/randallkjones Instagram (Randy): https://www.instagram.com/randallkennethjones/ Facebook (Randy): https://www.facebook.com/mindzoo/ Web: RandallKennethJones.com Follow Randy on Clubhouse Twitter (Susan): https://twitter.com/SiriouslySusan Instagram (Susan): https://www.instagram.com/siriouslysusan/ Facebook (Susan): https://www.facebook.com/siriouslysusan/ Web: SusanCBennett.com Follow Susan on Clubhouse LinkedIn (Kevin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-randall-jones/ Web: KevinRandallJones.com www.Jones.Show

In this episode, Jennifer reminisces with her “The Band's Visit” castmate, Sara Kapner, about touring together before they delve into a conversation about all things voiceover. Sara shares insights into the various aspects of the industry, tons of tools about ways to submit, and the dos & donts she has seen through her 20+yr VO career.  CW: This episode mentions 9/11. About Sara: Sara Kapner is a New York based actress who most recently toured the country as Julia in the First National Tour of the Tony Award-winning musical The Band's Visit. Prior, she was a part of two major revivals, playing Sally Simpson in Sam Buntrock's reimagined The Who's Tommy at the Denver Center and as Bella in the acclaimed production of Stephen Schwartz and Charles Strouse's Rags at the Goodspeed Opera House. On-screen, she played Jenna Fischer's niece in A Little Help and also appeared in a major role in both Murder Pact and Twisted Sisters, which premiered on Lifetime. Off-Broadway, Sara appeared in the recent revival of Bare. At the historic St. Louis MUNY, Sara starred as Little Red in Into The Woods opposite TONY winner Heather Headley and as Wednesday in The Addams Family, for which she earned a St. Louis Theater Circle Award. She made her Broadway debut in Carol Burnett's autobiographical play Hollywood Arms directed by Hal Prince. Sara is the co-founder of VO Workshop NYC, a one-stop-shop for all things voiceover. Sara's IG: @sarakapner VO Workshop Website: www.voworkshopnyc.com VO Workshop IG: @voworkshopnyc Want to coach with Jennifer? Schedule a session here! https://appt.link/jenniferapple Monologue Sourcing Promo Link! https://empoweredartistcollective.com/podcastpromo Learn more: https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/podcast EAC IG: @EmpoweredArtistCollective  EAC TikTok: @EmpowerArtistCollective EAC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredartistcollective/ Check Out Our Merch! https://www.empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com/ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com

NICOLAS KING has been performing since he was 4 years old. Having been in 3 Broadway productions before the age of 12 is no small feat. Aside from appearing opposite Tom Selleck in “A Thousand Clowns", and Carol Burnett's "Hollywood Arms" directed by Hal Prince, he was Broadway's longest running Chip in Disney's “Beauty and The Beast”. King has also appeared in dozens of national TV commercials, including his award winning 'Oscar Mayer Lunchables' commercial. King has appeared on many TV talk shows such as "The View", "The Today Show", "Sally Jesse Raphael", "Liza & David", and twice on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno (including Leno's final week as host in 2014). His latest album, "Act One - Celebrating 25 Years of Recordings", was released in 2021 with Club 44 Records and features collaborations with Jane Monheit, Norm Lewis, hit-maker Charles Calello, and longtime musical director Mike Renzi. He performed on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon for 8 consecutive years live in Las Vegas, originated the voice of "Oscar" on Discovery Kids' "Kenny The Shark" and is the recipient of the 1995 and 1996 Talent America Award, 2010 Julie Wilson Award, 2015 AMG Award for Artist of the Year, the 2012 Bistro Award for 'Outstanding Performer of the Year', and the 2019 Legends Award for his contribution to the preservation of the Great American Songbook. Aside from performing alongside artists as Tony Danza, Andrea McArdle, Jack Jones, Lainie Kazan, Donna McKechnie, Faith Prince, Billy Paul, Jennifer Holliday, Debby Boone, and Linda Lavin, he has also performed alongside his mentor, the legendary Liza Minnelli, since he was 11 years old as her opening act from 2002-2012, touring all over the country. King has performed on many iconic stages including concerts and appearances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Birdland, 54 Below, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and aboard Silversea and Crystal Cruises.

Listen to Broadway star and jazz singer Nicolas King talk about working with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry on this week’s episode of LITTLE ME! Nicolas sits down with Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli and talks about growing up going to his grandmother, Angela Bacari’s cabaret gigs, acting in many national commercials, taking trips back and forth from Rhode Island to Manhattan several times per week for auditions, making his Broadway debut in Beauty and the Beast and recently learning that he was the longest-running Chip, performing opposite Andrea McArdle and creating connections with the wonderful cast of the show, and making an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and talking about his love for Liza Minnelli. Nicolas shares the story of getting asked by Tom Selleck—who was also on the same episode of the Tonight Show with him—to audition for A Thousand Clowns and booking the Broadway play after 7 callbacks, getting a knock on his dressing room door from Carol Burnett and Hal Prince who offered him a role in their new play Hollywood Arms, and working with his idol, Neil Simon on his final piece of work before the project unfortunately fell through.  Nicolas tells LITTLE ME listeners how Michael Jackson saved his grandmother’s life, getting to know Liza Minnelli after meeting her many times throughout the years, receiving the call from Liza to open for her on the road, the many magical moments of working with Liza on and off for 10 years, her unwavering support for his singing career and his amazing solo albums. http://www.thenicolasking.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To see the video of this interview: https://youtu.be/AWCzMzIoH-8 Celeste received her BM in Voice from the Manhattan School of Music. As a vocal teacher and coach Celeste has worked with Adam Chandler-Beret, Chita Rivera, Didi Conn, Sally Kellerman, Loni Ackermann, Elaine Joyce Simon, actress Amy Irving, composer David Shire, American Idol’s Kimberly Locke, Dancing with the Stars’ Mark Ballas, Dream Theater’s Jordan Rudess, from the TV show Legacies Danielle Rose Russell, Broadway Empire’s and Netflix’s The Family Ben Rosenfeld, and Kristin Chenoweth. She has worked alongside Andrew Lloyd Weber and director Joel Schumacher as the NY vocal coach for Gerard Butler on the movie Phantom of the Opera. Celeste’s voice students have appeared on Broadway in The Lion King, Chicago, Gypsy, Nine, Wicked, Spamalot, Tarzan, The Color Purple, The Book of Mormon, Jersey Boys, Hollywood Arms with Carol Burnet, The Grinch, The Carnegie Hall concert version of South Pacific (starring Reba MacIntyre, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Alec Baldwin), West Side Story, Baby It’s You, Rent, Follies, Next to Normal, Billy Elliot, Peter and the Star Catcher, Shrek, Once, Newsies, Matilda, Beauty and The Beast, The Producers, and the 1st national of The Band’s Visit. Celeste teaches from her studios on Manhattan’s West Side and Nyack, New York. Celeste is on the Faculty of Acteen NYC, Broadway Artists Alliance NYC and Bergen Community College, NJ. Celeste has been the vocal coach for the HHYT double cast productions of Les Miserable and Chicago. She was the vocal coach for ABC’s ALEX INC. starring Zach Braff, vocal and performance coach at St. Louis Cabaret Project, St Louis University and at the Kristin Chenoweth Broadway Boot Camp. www.CelesteVoice.com

Michele Pawk is a faculty member in the Theatre Department at Wagner College; she oversees the Senior Experience for Performance Majors, including "The Professional Actor" and "Senior Showcase."  NYC Acting credits include: HAIRSPRAY, LOSING LOUIE, MAMMA MIA, HOLLYWOOD ARMS (for which she won the Tony Award), CHICAGO, SEUSSICAL, CABARET (receiving Drama Desk & Outer Critics' Circle Award nominations), TRIUMPH OF LOVE, CRAZY FOR YOU (Drama Desk nomination), MAIL, MAHIDA'S EXTRA KEY TO HEAVEN, FLYOVERS, PRAYER FOR MY ENEMY, THE DARK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS, THE PARIS LETTER (Drama Desk nomination), REEFER MADNESS, AFTER THE FAIR, HELLO AGAIN, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, jon & jen, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC.  Directing credits include: MY QUEER YOUTH and THE DISNEY DIARIES at the Beechman Theatre in NYC, WEST SIDE STORY at Creighton University in Omaha, NE(nominated for Best Direction, Best Musical Awards), CARAPACE ISLE at Manhattan Rep, PICNIC for the William Inge Center for the Arts.  At Wagner, she has directed SEUSSICAL, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, RENT, and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS,  Courses Taught: Acting V, Directing I, History of the American Film.  For more information about Michele, visit http://www.facebook.com/MichelePawkNews and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Pawk

Nicolas King has been performing since age 4. He was seen first on Broadway in ‘Beauty & The Beast’, then in ‘A Thousand Clowns’ opposite Tom Selleck, and ‘Hollywood Arms’ directed by Hal Prince, all before age 12. Other credits include 8 consecutive annual performances on The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, ‘The View’, ‘Today’ show, ‘Liza & David’, ‘Sally Jesse Raphael’ and twice on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jay Leno. Nicolas went on the road with his mentor Liza Minnelli to perform as her opening act from 2002-2012. The Mabel Mercer Foundation awarded Nicolas their coveted ‘Julie Wilson Award’ at the 2010 Cabaret Convention at Lincoln Center. He’s the recipient of the 1995 Talent America Award, 2012 BISTRO Award for Outstanding Performer of the Year, 2015 AMG Heritage Award for Artist of the Year, the winner of the 2019 Legends Award, as well as receiving a Grammy consideration for his latest album, “On Another Note” with jazz great Mike Renzi. Listen to Nicolas King at: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/NicolasKing http://www.thenicolasking.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JET34rOsB6M https://youtu.be/lYyvqHgAD0g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-xvqdBm7Yg https://www.facebook.com/officialnicolasking/ https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Nicolas-King/

Today, on American TV Icons, Alikona Bradford interviews, we feature longtime veteran Linda Lavin. Born in Portland, Maine to a musically-inclined family (her mother was once an opera singer) and on stage from the age of 5, singer/actress Linda Lavin graduated from The College of William and Mary with a theatre degree. She pounded the New York pavements in the early 1960s searching for work following some stock roles in New Jersey, and gradually made a dent within the New York musical comedy scene with roles in "Oh, Kay!" (1960), "A Family Affair," (1962), "It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman" (1966) (her standout number was "You've Got Possibilities") and "On a Clear Day, You Can See Forever" (1966). She also won kudos for her straight acting roles in "Little Murders" (1969 Drama Desk award) and "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" (1969 Tony nomination). A one-time member of Paul Sills' Compass Players comedy troupe back in the late 1950s, she served as a replacement in Sills' "Story Theatre" Broadway production in 1971. Television beckoned in the 1970s and utilized her singing talents in a small-screen version of Damn Yankees! (1967) starring Phil Silvers and Lee Remick. After a one-season false start as Detective Janice Wentworth on the sitcom Barney Miller (1975), it did not take long for the talented lady to become a household name in another. As the titular waitress/mother in the sitcom Alice (1976), based on the award-winning film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) starring Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn, Lavin won deserved stardom. During the nine seasons (1976-1985) the show was on the air, she nabbed two Golden Globe awards and an Emmy nomination. Ever the singer, she even warbled "There's a New Girl in Town" over the opening credits of the show to the delight of her fans. Following this success, Linda lavished her attentions once again on the stage. She earned renewed respect, in addition to several critic's awards, for her diversified Broadway work in "Broadway Bound" (1987 Tony award), "Death Defying Acts" (1995 Obie award), "The Diary of Anne Frank" (1998 Tony nomination: as the high-strung Mrs. Van Daan) and "Tales of the Allergist Wife" (2000 Tony nomination). More recently, she appeared in Carol Burnett's autobiographical play "Hollywood Arms" (2002) portraying Burnett's grandmother. The piece was co-written by Burnett's late daughter, Carrie Hamilton. Linda received excellent reviews the first time around for her stage work in "Collected Stories" (2000). She later appeared in a PBS-TV version of Collected Stories (2002) and in 2010 revived it on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination for her efforts. She has also occasionally directed for the stage. Linda was married and divorced twice to actors -- Ron Leibman and Kip Niven -- and in 2005 married her third husband, actor Steve Bakunas, who is also an artist and musician. Since her "Alice" heyday, the actress has again found series work, albeit the short-lived Room for Two (1992) and Conrad Bloom (1998). She has also been seen in penetrating guest parts on such established series as "The Sopranos", "Law & Order" and "The O.C." (recurring). Make sure to subscribe to AfterBuzz! - http://youtube.com/afterbuzztv HELPFUL LINKS: Website - http://afterbuzztv.com Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/afterbuzz-tv/id407139777?mt=2 Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/afterbuzztv Like us on Facebook - http://facebook.com/afterbuzztv See on us Instagram - http://instagram.com/afterbuzztv Merch - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/AfterbuzzTV/ ABOUT AFTERBUZZ TV: Created by Emmy winner Maria Menounos & producer Keven Undergaro, AfterBuzz TV is the digital broadcast network dedicated to producing live and on-demand after-shows, news and coverage for nearly every TV show featuring expert recaps & interviews with cast & crew. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Donna Lynne Champlin is best known as “Paula Proctor” on The CW’s, Emmy award-winning “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (for which she won the Gracie Award). Additional film and television: “Law & Order,” “Submissions Only,” “The Good Wife,” “Birdman,” “Younger,” “Downsizing,” “Another Period” and “Yes, God, Yes.” Broadway: “James Joyce’s The Dead,” “By Jeeves,” “Hollywood Arms,” “Sweeney Todd” and “Billy Elliot: The Musical.” Off-Broadway includes: Transport Group’s “First Lady Suite,” “Almost, Maine” and “The Dark at the Top of the Stairs” (OBIE Award), “Working” (Drama Desk Award), “The Qualms” and Shakespeare in the Park’s “As You Like It” and “The Taming of the Shrew.” A Princess Grace Award winner, Champlin appears on numerous recordings as a vocalist (including “Sweeney Todd,” “My Life With Albertine” and her solo album “Old Friends”) and as a voiceover artist (Disney’s “Star Vs The Forces of Evil,” “Poetic License”). Upcoming: The NETFLIX movie, “Feel the Beat.” JONES.SHOW is a weekly podcast featuring host Randall Kenneth Jones (author, speaker, and creative consultant) and announcer Susan C. Bennett (the original voice of Siri). Donna Lynne Champlin’s Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/DLChamplin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donna_lynne_champlin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaLynneChamplin/ Jones.Show’s Social Media Join us in the Jones.Show Lounge on Facebook Twitter (Randy): https://twitter.com/randallkjones Instagram (Randy): https://www.instagram.com/randallkennethjones/ Facebook (Randy): https://www.facebook.com/mindzoo/ LinkedIn (Randy): https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallkennethjones/ Web: RandallKennethJones.com Twitter (Susan): https://twitter.com/SiriouslySusan Instagram (Susan): https://www.instagram.com/siriouslysusan/ Facebook (Susan): https://www.facebook.com/siriouslysusan/ LinkedIn (Susan): https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-bennett-8607312/ Web: SusanCBennett.com www.Jones.Show

Donna Lynne (CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND, HOLLYWOOD ARMS) talks with Rory about the difference between singing on Broadway and singing on TV, raising a child while maintaining an acting career, and her time working on a new Broadway show with the legendary Carol Burnett.

OBIE and Drama Desk winner Donna Lynne Champlin graduated with high honors from Carnegie Mellon University in 1993. A Princess Grace Foundation award winner and a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, she also received intensive training in Shakespeare and Chekhov at Oxford University on the Advanced Acting Scholarship and The Vira I. Heinz Grant to study abroad. While still in college, she received her Equity card starring as “Dorothy” in The Wizard of Oz with the celebrated Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Champlin made her New York Debut in 1994 at Carnegie Hall starring as “May” in a concert version of Very Warm for May under the direction of acclaimed conductor John McGlinn. Her Broadway debut in 2000 as “Mary Jane” in James Joyce’s The Dead was quickly followed by another Broadway turn as “Honoria Glossop” in the Alan Ayckbourn/Andrew Lloyd Webber musical By Jeeves in 2001. In 2002, came the opportunity to work with Carol Burnett and Hal Prince in Broadway’s Hollywood Arms – the dramatization of Carol’s biography One More Time, in which Champlin played the iconic comedienne. Critics across the country proclaimed Champlin a “show-stopping star in the making” and described her performance as “brilliant”, “a triumph”, and “a tour de force.” Next on Broadway, Champlin played “Pirelli” (and the accordion, flute and piano) in the groundbreaking 2005 revival of Sweeney Todd where the press called her both “hilarious” and “superb”. She then joined the Broadway company of Billy Elliot as “Lesley” in 2009 and simultaneously self-produced her solo debut CD “Old Friends” which was voted “One of the Best Ten Albums of 2009” and was hailed by critics as “brilliant”, “a masterpiece” and “breath taking”. She can also be heard on numerous cast albums including See Rock City, Sweeney Todd, By Jeeves, three and My Life With Albertine as well as many voice-overs. Her film credits include Birdman, A Secret Promise, The Audition, The Dark Half, By Jeeves, and Sweet Surrender. And while her TV credits include The Good Wife, Law And Order, Mother’s Day, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Annual Tony Awards on CBS, The View (guest star), The Rosie O’Donnell Show, Regis and Kelly and Emily Dickinson of the PBS Voices and Visions series, she is perhaps most well known for her work as the caustic “Kim Gifford’ on the hit web-series Submissions Only. Off Broadway, her performance as “Cora Flood” in the 2009 production of The Dark At The Top of the Stairs at The Transport Group (hailed by the NY press as “perfection”, “brilliant” and “a privilege to watch”), earned her the prestigious OBIE award. DL went on to win the 2013 Drama Desk Award for her performance as “Woman #3” in Working, The Musical at the Prospect Theatre and the NYMF Award for “Outstanding Performance” for not one but three separate productions including as “Jane Austen” in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Other favorite Off-Broadway credits include “Audrey” opposite Oliver Platt’s “Touchstone” in Shakespeare In The Park’s As You Like It and “Sophie” in Master Class opposite Edie Falco at the Broadhurst produced by the Metropolitan Opera. Champlin also continues to perform her critically acclaimed one-woman show Finishing The Hat in NYC (SRO at Birdland, Ars Nova and The Laurie Beechman Theatres) and across the country while teaching master classes in acting at many prestigious colleges such as CMU, Hartt and NYU. Also of particular importance to Champlin is her fundraising for three of her favorite charitable organizations, BC-EFA, the ALSA and The Actors’ Fund. In addition to being an actress, Donna Lynne also works as a director, writer, stand-up comedienne, pianist, composer, musical director and choreographer. A free-lance writer for Comedy Central, she is currently working on two books; a humorous non-fiction book inspired by her (mis)adventures in the theatre and the other a ‘how-to of comedy’. Donna Lynne lives in New York City with her husband, actor Andrew Arrow and her son, Charlie.   The Drink for Today: Crazy Ex Girl Friend 1 shot Southern Comfort® peach liqueur1/2 ozDe Kuyper Razmatazz Schnapps1 splash pineapples  

Actors Colman Domingo, Elizabeth Marvel, Tony Award winner Michele Pawk (2003 for Featured Actress in Hollywood Arms), Daphne Rubin-Vega and David Zayas discuss the influence of their early training; how they challenge themselves for each role; their feelings about participating in readings and workshops; collaborating with directors; their relationship with the audience and how it affects their performance; and roles that they'd like to play.

In this podcast we talk with the cast of Hollywood Arms, produced by Maurer Productions OnStage at the Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor, NJ. Host John Maurer talks with the director and the cast about the creative challenges of bringing Carol Burnett's childhood to the stage. Guests include Director Dan Maurer and actors Leta Gilbert as Louise, Laurie Hardy as Nanny, Nicole Spadafino as Older Helen, and Kirsten Pasewaldt as Young Helen.

Special Episode #4: I'm so thrilled to add Donna Lynne Champlin to my list of special guest stars, first at my Birdland concert in November, and now on the podcast. After loving her performances in such Broadway shows as By Jeeves, Hollywood Arms, and Sweeney Todd, it's a real treat for me to get to hear her sing my songs.I do feel the need to mention: As wonderful as Donna Lynne has been in other people's shows, she could never be better than she is in her own one-woman show, Finishing the Hat. It is, hands down, the most spectacular solo show I have ever seen in my life. Donna Lynne tells a series of stories about herself and her life (chosen from a hat by the audience), and she does so with a level of wit and comedy and pathos and musicality and drama that is truly in a league of her own. DO NOT MISS THIS if she ever does it again. (Donna Lynne, do it again.)In the meantime, you lucky D.C.er's can catch her at the Kennedy Center in Henry (Dreamgirls) Krieger and Bill (Sideshow) Russell's Up in the Air, playing February 7-10.In this special episode, she sings "I Burn," from the dearly departed, unfinished musical, Hush. (Recorded 1/11/08.) The song is from a show-within-the-show, i.e. the main character, Miles, is writing a musical which deconstructs Great Expectations and centers around the character of Miss Havisham. This song finds Miss H. on the morning of her wedding day, before she discovers that her fiancé has been deceiving her and will not marry her after all. The song would later be reprised as a duet between young Miss H and old Miss H, as the latter dies in a fire, still wearing her wedding dress. By the way, The BMI Workshop Songbook Podcast is now officially up and running. Tune in to hear me interview the wonderful members and alumni of this acclaimed writers' workshop and to listen to performances of their songs by our too, too talented guest stars! Subscribe here via iTunes.

Days after joining the "Hairspray" cast as Velma von Tussle, Michele Pawk talks about the experience of being "put into" a long-running show and how one finds their character in that situation; shares her journey from a "Broadway-style" revue at Disney World to her first Broadway appearance in "Mail"; describes how she turned down an offer to appear in "Crazy For You", only to get a second offer months later for a more prominent role; recalls her experiences working on the new musicals "Seussical" and "Bounce"; reveals some guidance she received from Carol Burnett while playing Burnett's mother in "Hollywood Arms", and offers a special message to those who see try-outs and early previews of new shows and write about them on the Internet. Original air date – August 31, 2007.

Days after joining the "Hairspray" cast as Velma von Tussle, Michele Pawk talks about the experience of being "put into" a long-running show and how one finds their character in that situation; shares her journey from a "Broadway-style" revue at Disney World to her first Broadway appearance in "Mail"; describes how she turned down an offer to appear in "Crazy For You", only to get a second offer months later for a more prominent role; recalls her experiences working on the new musicals "Seussical" and "Bounce"; reveals some guidance she received from Carol Burnett while playing Burnett's mother in "Hollywood Arms", and offers a special message to those who see try-outs and early previews of new shows and write about them on the Internet. Original air date – August 31, 2007.

Days after joining the Hairspray cast as Velma von Tussle, 2002 Tony Award winner for Hollywood Arms Michele Pawk talks about the experience of being "put into" a long-running show and how one finds their character in that situation; shares her journey from a "Broadway-style" revue at Disney World to her first Broadway appearance in Mail; describes how she turned down an offer to appear in Crazy For You, only to get a second offer months later for a more prominent role; recalls her experiences working on the new musicals Seussical and Bounce; reveals some guidance she received from Carol Burnett while playing Burnett's mother in Hollywood Arms, and offers a special message to those who see try-outs and early previews of new shows and write about them on the Internet.