Podcast appearances and mentions of paul stroili

"WAKE" - About a widowed mortician who receives a life-size male doll named Pedro, which unexpectedly complicates her life in ways. Join us as we talk to the film’s star Myndy Crist, featured actor Paul Stroili and Director Cyrus Mirakhor. The film also stars James Denton and features Jo Koy, Caroline Lagerfelt and Paige Searcy For Screening Dates And Times Please Visit: wakethemovie.com

This week I chat to Craig Ricci Shaynak. Interview was recorded back in August 2018 at the Edinburgh Performing Arts Festival. A brilliant guy so sit back and enjoy. Craig Ricci Shaynak is an actor, writer, and producer living in Hollywood, California who has appeared in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe at least a dozen times since 1989 in original shows such as MR FIZZYWIGG'S STORY FACTORY, COWBOYS & INDIANS, and I AM GOOGLE. Most people would recognize him from his numerous roles in television and film, including RAY DONOVAN opposite Liev Schreiber and Jon Voight, TED 2 with Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane, THE INFORMANT with Matt Damon, directed by Steven Soderbergh, and HARSH TIMES with Christian Bale and J.K. Simmons, directed by David Ayer. Mr. Shaynak has also done voices for such films as HAPPY FEET and NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM. Craig produced the award-winning short films WARHOL, written and directed by Adam Ethan Crow, THE BEATING by Paul Stroili and Cyrus Myrakhor, and THE STORY MAN by Erik Hudson. Craig spends most of his time writing scripts and attributes any success he may have to his very useful degree in Medieval Drama from the University of Chicago. If you want to find Craig he can be found here: Facebook: Craig Shaynak Facebook: Craig Ricci Shaynak

Booth One welcomes Mary Jo DuPrey, who recently visited Chicago from Los Angeles for some meetings about possible directing projects. Mary Jo trained as an actress at Vassar. She then worked with her sister Katie Agresta, a legendary vocal coach, managing her "rock & roll vocal studio" on the upper west side, where she also learned how to teach singing with Katie's amazingly effective approach and exercises. Check out this list of notable students! Mary Jo then moved to L.A. where she had a successful acting career. She also taught acting and singing in UCLA's musical theatre program, and tells us about how she came to be such a sought-after vocal coach for spoken and singing voices. She tells great stories about working with her clients, including how she got connected with Daveed Diggs through their mutual friend and collaborator, composer and sound designer Jonathan Snipes.  Mary Jo worked closely with Daveed while Hamilton was being developed. Read his description of working with her here. Don't miss her spellbinding story about being invited by Alex Lacamoire to Hamilton's  first music stand read! She made two bold predictions that day that came true. Mary Jo gives Gary a short voice lesson and offers to work with him via Skype! She is a master at her craft and approaches the voice in a totally holistic manner. Interested in scheduling some lessons? Contact her here. Mary Jo is the only certified West Coast teacher of the Katie Agresta Vocal Technique. She cites Patsy Rodenberg, Head of Voice for the Royal National Theatre as another major influence. Mary Jo recently got an MFA in Directing at UCLA and is loving directing there and at professional theaters in L.A., such as the beautiful outdoor repertory theater in Topanga Canyon, the Theatricum Botanicum. She directed our friend and recurring guest co-host Paul Stroili in August: Osage County and he thinks the world of her. We are looking forward to her first Chicago-based project and will let you know when that happens. Other topics of interest in this week's episode: Elephant Rescue at Sea off the coast of Sri Lanka 36 Questions - The Musical Podcast The Fair Maid of the West in Oak Park directed and adapated by Kevin Theis Kiss of Death: Barbara Cook - Legendary actress, cabaret and concert star receives a final musical tribute on her deathbed from some of the great entertainers she worked with during a 7-decade career. Read about Ms. Cook's final days.  

Gary and popular co-host Paul Stroili, welcome special guest Mark Larson to the Booth. Mark is an educator, writer and oral historian, currently working on a book of interviews called Ensemble Chicago: The Making of a Theater Town, An Oral History. Mark has spoken to literally hundreds of theatre professionals, spanning the Chicago theatrical eras from the early 1950s to the present. From Joyce Piven and Alan Arkin to Michael Shannon and Evan Linder, Mark has recorded the stories of playwrights, actors, critics, designers, stage managers, teachers, comedians, artistic directors, producers, executives, and everyone in between. We know you will enjoy hearing our lively discussion about the birth and growth of the Chicago theater scene and the players who made it possible. Mark's book will be released in 2018. You might also enjoy reading more about the incredible story of the rise of theater in Chicago in legendary critic Richard Christiansen's book A Theatre of Our Own, A History and Memoir of 1,001 Nights in Chicago. A follow up to last episode's teaser on Michael Phelps swimming against a Great White Shark. Sadly, Phelps didn't win! - no limbs were sacrificed, but he lost by 2 seconds! More from the Hollywood Reporter here. The 36 Questions - also know as the Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness study - is now a MUSICAL PODCAST! Starring Jonathan Groff (of Hamilton fame) and Jessica Shelton. Gary, Mark and Paul play some of the questions from the study, designed to make the participants fall in love! Learn more at Entertainment Weekly, and listen to the full musical at the Two-Up Productions podcast studio. Kiss of Death: Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara, Japanese Longevity Expert, Dies at (or Lives to) 105. What a remarkable life. Not only was he a pioneer in Japanese medicine, but he wrote a best seller at 101! Read the full NYT Obituary here.

Booth One welcomes back co-host Paul Stroili, and special guest Kevin Theis, actor, writer, director and audio book narrator, for some wild and wacky conversation. Kevin recently directed The My Way Residential, a world premiere play by Geraldine Aaron for the Irish Theatre of Chicago, running though June 25, 2017 at the Den Theatre. Can't wait to see it! In our ongoing fascination with shark stories, we discovered this: When porn star Molly Cavalli dropped down under water into a shark cage wearing a "white hot swimsuit," her presence apparently enticed a 10-foot lemon shark. The next thing you know she's screaming as she clutches her bloody foot. Check out the video. Further evidence to never get out of the boat! Kevin describes his audio narrating career reading some of the world's great books, like Jack London's Call of the Wild, the Autobiography of Charles Darwin, Sun Tzu's The Art of War, and of course the classic, Bigfoot and Frankenstein! Kevin records for Audible, and has newly formed his own audio book company, Fort Raphael Publishing Company. Booth One gets health conscious by reporting on gluteal amnesia, commonly known as Sleeping Butt Syndrome. Sitting all day can lead to a flat butt because muscles are disengaged for so long they forget how to wake up. The cures? Walk around for 30 seconds every half hour. Get a standing desk like most Scandinavians have (of course). Use a foam roller. Vary your workouts to include donkey kicks, squats and planks. Testing for sleeping butt syndrome is easy - squeeze each butt cheek to see if it engages. Keep moving and stay healthy! The world's oldest person has died....again! Emma Morano, 117, the last person known to have been born in the 1800s. Born in Piedmont, Italy in 1899, Morano credited her longevity to ending her abusive marriage in 1938 and a diet of raw eggs and cookies. She held the Guinness World Record titles for oldest living person and oldest living woman. Stay tuned for more updates on the world's oldest living humans. Paul Stroili's first feature film begins shooting in Long Beach in June. We are excited for him and will keep you posted! Gary, Paul and Kevin take a crack at 36 Questions Designed to Help You Fall in Love with Anyone. Asking thirty-six specific questions plus four minutes of sustained eye contact is purportedly a recipe for falling in love, or at least creating intimacy among complete strangers. After sampling select questions, the guys feel increased familiarity and trust, though 4 minutes of silent eye contact is bad for the podcast medium. Try this technique the next time you're out on a date or to create sparks between you and your companion. Or just as a parlor game! It's a marvelous alternative to Chat Pack. Kiss of Death: Lawrence Anthony, who grew up in the bush and was known as the "Elephant Whisperer." Following his death on March 2, directed by no one, two herds of wild South African elephants slowly made a 12-hour journey to the home of Mr. Anthony in a stirring procession to make a call on the bereaved family at the deceased man's home. Known for his unique ability to calm traumatized elephants, Anthony had become a legend for rescuing and rehabilitating "rogue" elephants. You can buy The Elephant Whisperer book through Amazon.            

April Fools' Day finds us recording our 55th Episode! Returning friend of the show Paul Stroili co-hosts this toe-tapping episode with Gary in Booth One. Paul reveals that he is a motorcycle enthusiast and that his father once raced motorcycles in Europe. Riding a "Hog" is a skill that Gary has long wanted to acquire, though driving a Vespa is probably closer to his ability levels of balance and coordination. Paul gives an update on his hit interactive theatrical production of Tony n' Tina's Wedding. Some cast changes are in store, at least through the summer, and the good news is that the show continues to sell strongly and bookings are being confirmed for well into the fall of 2017. Congratulations to the entire Tony n' Tina's team and best wishes for a long and prosperous run! Our friends at Broadway In Chicago made sure that both Gary and Paul got to see the recent Circus 1903 spectacular at Chicago's Oriental Theater, and they loved both the production and the talented performers. Some of our favorites are Ringmaster Willy Whipsnade (David Williamson), aerialist Lucky Moon (Elena Gatilova), The Cycling Cyclone (Florian Blummel), Elastic Dislocationist Senayet Asefa Amare, and juggler extraordinaire Francois Borie. The highlight of the show are the life-size faux elephants, manipulated by a team of expert puppeteers and designed by the same folks who brought War Horse to life on stage. These pachyderms are so life-like and majestic that you can feel the awe and amazement from the crowd. Their presence, and the focus on the artistry and athleticism of the performers, make this nostalgic homage to the golden age of circus a wonderous experience for young and old alike. Check out the Circus 1903 website for their touring itinerary and don't miss this performance if it comes to a city near you. On a sadder note, producers of the long-running musical The Fantasticks have announced its closing in New York....again! Seems that the money from anonymous donors that has kept the show alive the past couple of years has run out and ticket sales are flagging. This is one of Gary's favorite shows, so if you plan to be in New York before June, try to catch this landmark musical before it closes. Who knows? Your ticket purchase may just contribute to another extension of this beloved show. You can buy tickets here. Speaking of contributions - if you want to support the Booth One mission of bringing you the best in the art of lively conversation and fascinating guests, go to our DONATE button on this web page and you can make a fully tax deductible donation to our cause. It's quick, it's easy, and it would be deeply appreciated by all of us at Booth One. Including Gary's imaginary teacup pig support animal. Down, Jeanette! Gary and Paul reminisce about their splendid dinner the night before at friends Nancy and Arne's Big Night party. It was a recreation of the famous over-the-top dinner from the Stanley Tucci/Tony Shaloub 1996 film Big Night, complete with a heavenly appetizer course followed by the centerpiece of the evening, a homemade Timpano (or Timballo in some references). This was a night of laughter, sparkling conversation and sumptuous food. A truly Booth One experience, with an eclectic guest list in a gorgeous setting in our hosts' Chicago loft with great city views. If you want to try your hand at throwing your own Big Night dinner party, start by getting Lidia's Mastering the Art of Italian Cuisine cookbook or The Tucci Cookbook.  Here's a good recipe example for Timpano from the New York Times. Go to this link to see photos and a short video of the timpano presentation from our dinner party. Buon appetito!! Gary revives his Good Times & Bum Times segment with two stories - the "good time" of a Minnesota man who drove his car off an embankment, soared 210 feet over Lake L'Homme Dieu, and landed safely on the partially frozen surface; and the "bum time" of defense attorney Stephen Gutierrez whose pant...

Guest co-host Frank Tourangeau joins Gary in Booth One this week. Frank is a director, educator, speech coach, and all-around performing arts aficionado, whose knowledge of Chicago and New York theater is wide-ranging and insightful. I guess we should call him "Doctor" Tourangeau, as he holds a PhD in Speech and Performance Art from Southern Illinois University, and did his dissertation on the interactions of right brain/left brain as it relates to emotional cognition in performance. Wow. One of the smartest people we know! Frank once coached our producer in high school speech competitions and relates a few stories about her performance piece and its reception at competitions. More here. Frank is retired now from his professorship at the College of DuPage in Wheaton, IL and spends much of his time supporting theater and film in and around the city of Chicago. Gary does an Academy Awards recap by reviewing his picks along with those from Roscoe and Paul Stroili. Looks like Gary was the big winner with 6 out of 9 correct picks. Roscoe: 4. Paul: 3. Prize: $0. Sally Field fares marginally well in reviews of The Glass Menagerie, but the production gets disappointing notices for its deconstructionist quality and unusual staging. We highlight the New York Daily News review as a representative example. Frank and Gary romp through what's coming to the boards on Broadway and what's "in the works" for future seasons. Select upcoming openings: Come From Away, The Play That Goes Wrong, War Paint, The Little Foxes, Hello, Dolly! and A Doll's House Part 2(!). Scheduled for later - The Prince of Broadway; The Minutes by Tracy Letts; Bombshell, the Marilyn Monroe musical from Smash; The Cher Show; The Devil Wears Prada; Gypsy(again! this time starring Imelda Staunton); To Kill a Mockingbird (adapted by Aaron Sorkin); King Kong from Australia; and The Honeymooners starring Hank Azaria. Will all these come to fruition and make it on the Big White Way? Only time will tell. We discuss the brilliant new film from Jordan Peele, Get Out, a semi-horror thriller with more than a few twists and turns. Both Frank and Gary like this picture immensely and try not to give too much away while discussing various scenes and plot points. There are elements of science fiction and some suspension of disbelief is required as the harrowing story hurtles its way forward. We encourage everyone to go see it! After you've seen it, read this excellent analysis in The Atlantic. Get Out was produced by friend of the show, Jason Blum. Congratulations, Jason and Blumhouse! Pride Films and Plays, a new local producing organization whose mission is to change lives by creating diverse new work with LGBTQ+ characters or themes, has mounted a production of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert in a 99-seat theater with as many production elements as can be created in a small space. It features Chicago legend, Honey West! Read a great interview with her here. Sadly, this production will be closed by the time this episode of Booth One airs, but Frank describes the remarkable time he had at a recent viewing and what marvelous work PFP is doing as a young company.  Interested listeners should check out the Pride web site for upcoming theatrical and film presentations  of important new work. "Never get out of the boat" is one of Gary's favorite mantras, and this story about Great White Sharks amassing off the coast of Cape Cod reinforces that sage advice. The Boston Globe article enumerates the shark population in this area at 147. Of those predators, 89 are considered "new" sharks, meaning they have not been documented before, and that the population of these giant godless killing machines may be far more than previously estimated. Though the last fatal shark attack in Massachusetts was in 1936, Gary believes the odds are not in man's favor. Swim at your own risk would be a good sign for the beach above! How's that for "public education?"

Booth One continues its string of lively guest co-host episodes with our good friend Paul Stroili, actor, writer, director and filmmaker, sitting in the hot seat for still-recuperating Roscoe. Who has, by the way, rented a Barca Lounger to watch movies from for his convalescence. We're going to need a photo of that. Frequent Booth One listeners will remember that Paul has appeared on past episodes, talking about his long-running hit production of Tony n' Tina's Wedding and just being his hilarious, Booth One type entertaining self. He's working on writing a sequel to that outstanding piece of audience interactive theater. We can't wait! Gary and Paul take a look at the current Broadway season, highlighting Glenn Close as Norma Desmond in the new revival of Sunset Boulevard. The NY Times says that her reinvented performance after 22 years "may well guarantee its status as one of the great stage performances of this century." And "one of those rare instances where more is truly more." An actor cannot win a Tony for the same role, even in different productions. Yul Brynner was given an honorary Tony when he appeared in a revival of The King and I. Could there be a "special" Tony Award in the offing for Close? Read the full review here. We also discuss the upcoming revival of Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes, featuring Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon in the roles of Regina and Birdie, directed by Daniel Sullivan at the Manhattan Theatre Club. Here's the catch - the actresses will alternate parts at select performances! Now that's something worth seeing in back-to-back seatings. We'll eagerly await the notices when this show opens in mid-April. And hope to see it ourselves. A fun fact: The title of the play was suggested by Dorothy Parker. One of our favorite theater reviewers, Charles Isherwood, is leaving his post at the New York Times for points unknown. Isherwood not only reviewed Broadway and off-Broadway fare, but he was a frequent viewer and critic of Chicago and other regional theater productions. Booth One has always enjoyed his insight and candor. There's a wonderful opportunity here for the up-and-coming new generation of cultural art critics. If you or a loved one are interested in pursuing this position, American Theatre has published the full job description. See how many of the requirements you qualified for. Who knows? We might be quoting from your review some day on Booth One! It's that time of year again....OSCAR time! Gary and Paul handicap their favorites in the major categories alongside picks received from Roscoe! Will La La Land make a sweep? Or is Hidden Figures the dark horse for best picture? Natalie Portman, Emma Stone or Meryl Streep as Best Actress? Denzel or Casey? What to say about Mahershala Ali in Moonlight! Play along with the guys by downloading your own Oscar ballot here. Judy Garland no longer rests in New York State. Her remains were recently exhumed and transferred to Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, ostensibly to be nearer her three living children. Now residing near the burial grounds of Cecil B. DeMille and Mickey Rooney, Judy's coffin is at rest in the Land of Angels. "City of stars, are you shining just for me?" Paul tells of his experiences watching films projected on the side of Douglas Fairbank's memorial in Forever Cemetery. Perhaps one day soon they will screen The Wizard of Oz in tribute to a great lady. A final tidbit of information for our listeners - check out Ryan Murphy's newest series, Feud: Bette and Joan upcoming on Sundays to FX. This latest FX anthology will no doubt thrust stars Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, who play Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, respectively, into awards conversations for next year. Kiss of Death David Shepard - Film Preservationist Shepard began accumulating old films at age 12, buying them reel by reel with money he earned from his paper route. Over the years,

Gary and Roscoe romp through a medley of miscellany, joined unexpectedly by friend-of-the-show Paul Stroili of Episode 43 fame. Paul was loitering outside an Edible Arrangements franchise near our studio, shamelessly advertising for his new hit Chicago show Tony n' Tina's Wedding. So Gary invited him in for a visit and a chat on the air. More about Edible Arrangements than you ever wanted to know... Roscoe reviews The Scivvies for our listeners - singer/actor/musicians Nick Cearly and Lauren Molina from New York, who perform in their underwear stripped down arrangements of eclectic covers and eccentric originals. Roscoe "charms" other patrons seated near him at the event, which featured guest appearances by musical artists from Hamilton and Wonderful Town. Roscoe's informed notice? Two big thumbs up! Gary finally sees Wonderful Town at the Goodman Theatre before closing and his take concurs with Roscoe's - a brilliant re-imagining that simply shows what a theatrical genius like Mary Zimmerman and a stellar cast can do with somewhat mediocre musical material. Marvelous performances all, especially by leads Bri Sudia and the aforementioned Lauren Molina. Bri Sudia gives a performance that Gary imagines is reminiscent of a young Fanny Brice or Ethel Merman in her heyday. We can't avoid discussing the unanimous stellar reviews that Paul and his production of Tony n' Tina's Wedding have received in all the Chicago media. The acting, the direction, the venue, the music and the original 1980's theme make this one of the must-see events in the city this season. Despite the Chicago Cubs' World Series run diverting audiences to their TV sets this October, T n' T is playing to large and repeat crowds, offering an actual church wedding ceremony, an interactive reception, loads of great 80's music, full Italian dinner, champagne toast and real wedding cake. Paul discusses the extraordinary work by the cast and their dedication to naturalism and honest improvisation. Go to www.tonylovestina.com for information and to order tickets. Hurry, though, as it only runs through January 14, 2017. Another shout out from Roscoe and Gary about their experience at the famous iO Theatre improvisation space, where they saw the Improvised Shakespeare Company. Smart, funny, sophisticated, inspiring and downright thrilling, this troupe of actors and improvisers create a full 2-hour Shakespearean-style play with just a single suggested title from the audience. Ours was called "Without Handlebars" and was hilarious from start to finish. From mistaken identities to rhyming couplets, from iambic pentameter to mismatched lovers, you'll swear you're watching a fully written and prepared script. But NO! It's being made up on the spot for the first - and last - time ever! This is the perfect date night event, and it's only $16. Worth at least twice that. Enough gushing....GO! Gary, Roscoe and Paul bandy about Broadway's The Cherry Orchard reviews, George Bernard Shaw, War Paint and actress Kate Shindle, appearing in the national tour of Fun Home. Then we revisit Roscoe's grandfather's scrapbooks in our new recurring segment, Remembering Roscoe. And have you heard about the Ruby Slippers at the Smithsonian Institution? Their home for nearly 40 years, the slippers are in dire need of repair and refurbishment. The Smithsonian is trying to raise $300,000 through a Kickstarter campaign for the year-long task. Seems to us like a lot of money...They're a mismatched pair but evidence proves that they were indeed worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. As of this recording, the Smithsonian was over half way to their monetary goal with nearly a month left to go, so it's safe to say they will achieve the necessary amount and we can look forward to seeing a pristine pair of Ruby Slippers on display in the not too distant future. Paul relates a story of finding a pair of shoes, with the heel designed like the Ferris Wheel at the 1893 World Columbian Exhibiti...

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

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

Chicago playwright Doug Armstrong shares memories from 1989 about writing his now nationally, critically acclaimed holiday theatre comedy A Christmas Twist (a parody of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist). Los Angeles stage and television actors Lauren McCormack and Jen Ray (from the hit ABC series The Middle) are interviewed about their co-starring roles in the Los Angeles revival of A Christmas Twist at the Victory Theatre Center directed by State of the Arts’ own Paul Stroili who also co-stars in the production. The State of the Arts/Breakdown Services Sweepstakes claims another weekly winner. McCormack and Ray recall embarrassing career moments. Sponsored by Breakdown Services (http://www.breakdownexpress.com/)

My guests are: Acting Coach, Michelle Danner ("Edgemar Cener for the Arts") Actor, Paul Stroili ("Straight Up With A Twist") Director, Katherine Brooks ("Loving Annabelle") Musician, Aimee Allen ("Cooties") Actress, Erin Kelly ("Loving Annabelle") To hear this show: http://www.latalkradio.com/Sheena.php For more info: http://www.sheenametalexperience.com

My guests are: Acting Coach, Michelle Danner ("Edgemar Cener for the Arts") Actor, Paul Stroili ("Straight Up With A Twist") Director, Katherine Brooks ("Loving Annabelle") Musician, Aimee Allen ("Cooties") Actress, Erin Kelly ("Loving Annabelle") To hear this show: http://www.latalkradio.com/Sheena.php For more info: http://www.sheenametalexperience.com

Sterling and Stroili welcome notable stage and television actors Ian Vogt and Dale Morris - both of whom are associated with SeaGlass Theatre’s production of Kvetch at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks, CA. Vogt talks about directing the hilarious Steven Berkoff comedy which not only features Morris, but State of the Arts co-host Paul Stroili. Random callers phone in with their own “kvetches” causing hysteria in the studio. The Live Arts Calendar features reviews of Israeli superstar Mike Burstyn in Jolson Live at the Winter Garden on stage at North Hollywood’s historic El Portal Theatre; Kritzerland Records’ salute to the music of Frank Loesser at the Gardenia Restaurant in Hollywood; and The Unauthorized Afterlife of Eugene O’Neill at the Pasadena Playhouse’s Carrie Hamilton Theatre. Vogt and Morris share embarrassing performance moments. Sponsored by Breakdown Services (http://www.breakdownexpress.com/)

My guests are: Publicist, Michael Sterling ("State Of The Arts") Actor, Paul Stroili ("Straight Up With A Twist") Writer, Richard Hochberg ("Town Without Pity") Actress, Sylvia MacCalla ("Good Bad But Beautiful") To hear this show: http://www.latalkradio.com/Sheena.php For more info: http://www.sheenametalexperience.com

Sterling is joined by LA Talk Radio Network personality Sheena Metal who sits in for host Paul Stroili. Former, successful U.K. theatre producer Harold Sanditen talks about his new career as a cabaret performer. The Live Arts calendar features The Rat Pack Revisited at Fullerton Civic Light Opera???s Skyroom in Fullerton, CA; and Douglas Carter???s showbiz comedy The Little Dog Laughed at LA???s El Centro Theatre in Hollywood. Sterling reviews Kritzerland Record???s musical salute to Broadway composer Cy Coleman at the Gardenia Restaurant in Hollywood; and iGhost, a new, contemporary musical based on Oscar Wilde???s The Canterville Ghost at the Lyric Theatre in LA. Disney TV teen star Jennifer Stone (Wizards of Waverly Place) is interviewed about her career and participation in the Young Playwright???s Festival produced by the LA???s Blank Theatre Company. Stone shares her most embarrassing career moment. Sponsored by Breakdown Services (http://www.breakdownexpress.com/)

Double the pleasure, double the fun as Sterling & Stroili interview Andrea McArdle, Broadway???s original title star of Annie the musical; and former teen heartthrob - turned distinguished television, film and Broadway star Richard Chamberlain. McArdle and Chamberlain relive their worst moments on stage. The Live Arts Calendar is read. LA musical theatre star Callie Carson???s debut at Sterling???s Upstairs at Vitello???s in Studio City, CA is highlighted; Paul Stroili reviews the west coast premiere of Kurt Vonnegut???s Slaughter House Five (featuring Lily Vonnegut) presented by Action Theatre Company at Studio Stage Theatre in Los Angeles. Sponsored by Breakdown Services (http://www.breakdownexpress.com/)