Theater People

Hello Theater People! So, the plan was for us to take two weeks off and have a little bit of a summer break. But then we did this great interview with this young actress named Allison Semmes. She was playing Dianna Ross in "Motown The Musical" on Broadway. The day before out interview, the show got it’s closing notice. It was limited engagement on Broadway anyway, but now the show was closing way earlier than expected. Mike and I had LOVED Allison in the show and we loved her even more in person, so we wanted to get this episode out while the show was still fresh on people’s minds. It’s a really short interview, which made for a really short episode, but I urge you to keep your eye on her, she clearly has a really bright future on Broadway. Just, to let you know why I sound a little insane in this episode--it was our first time recording in an actual recording studio. I am veeeeeeery particular about the sound of this podcast and I was just loving every second of being in that padded room. So just

SURPRISE EPISODE! Happy Friday, Theater People! We're so excited to bring you this mini bonus episode featuring Broadway powerhouses Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley! Alice and Emily first met in 1998 when they were cast as the conjoined twins Violet and Daisy Hilton in the 1998 production of Side Show. Though they'd each go on to have separate thriving careers, they joined forces for the critically acclaimed albums Duets and Unsuspecting Hearts. Now they're back with a brand new album Unattached, from Broadway Records. It was such a thrill to get to interview them both at the same time! Enjoy!

You guys, I just have to go ahead and admit it, I have a full on Broadway crush on today’s guest, THREE time Tony nominee, Christopher Fitzgerald. I know, I know, I know, it’s probably inappropriate to call a full grown man adorable, but I can’t help it, he’s so…..Adorable. Of course, he’s also insanely talented. If you’re one of the lucky ones who has gotten to see the new musical, "Waitress," you know what I’m talking about. In the role of Oogie, sure, he may not appear until about 50 minutes into the first act, but when he arrives, he completely steals the show. Chris began working professionally in New York in the late 90s. One of his first big gigs in town was the somewhat controversial Terrance McNally play "Corpus Christi." Actually, strike the word somewhat from that sentence, it was COMPLETELY controversial and I was so excited to get the chance to talk to him about it here. In addition to about ten thousand other credits, he, of course originated the role of Boq in the 2003 smas

You guys, I’m SO excited to share our interview with Tony winner James Monroe Igleheart with you today. This guy is so smart and warm and funny, I could have talked to him for hours. He made his Broadway debut in 2007 as a replacement in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" and then went on to co-star as Bobby in 2009’s Tony Award winning best musical, "Memphis." In 2014 he landed the role of a lifetime as the Genie in the Broadway production of the Disney musical "Aladdin." He would, of course, go on to with the Tony Award for his work in that show. He is still hoofing it as the Genie 8 times a week at the New Amsterdam Theater, if you can get there to see him, you absolutely must. The sheer energy he brings to that performance is show stopping. He was so much fun to talk with! Enjoy!

YOU GUYS!! The day has finally arrived! We are SO thrilled to share this hilarious and heart warming interview with Betsy Wolfe with all of you!Betsy made her Broadway debut in the 2007 production of "110 In The Shade" (which she got through an OPEN CALL! Open calls really work sometimes, you guys!). Her next Broadway gig was alongside our pal Lindsay Mendez backing up Sherie Rene Scott in one of my all time favorite shows, "Everyday Rapture" in 2010. In 2012 she starred as Rosa Bud in Roundabout Theater Company production of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" before going on to win the coveted role of Cathy in the Second Stage production of Jason Robert Brown's "The Last Five" Years in 2013. She was last seen on Broadway in the 2014 production of "Bullets Over Broadway." Of course, she recently starred as Elsa in the lab production of the Broadway bound "Frozen." That all happened after this interview was recorded, so we don't get into that here

Theater People! I'm STILL in a state of shock that the Tony winning powerhouse that is Alice Ripley agreed to sit down for an interview with me! I was SO nervous--I stammered like a fool and kept telling her what an honor it was. Ugh. ANYWAY, she was amazing! Such a delight and so so kind We met in her dressing room and talked ALL about :American Psycho". I'm completely OBSESSED with the show, so she was kind to indulge me!For the uninitiated, Alice made her Broadway debut in the 1993 production of "The Who's Tommy". She went on to star in "Les Miserables" and "Sunset Boulevard" before landing the star-making role of Violet Hilton in 1997's "Side Show." After performing roles in "James Joyce's the Dead" and "The Rocky Horror Show," she won her second role of a lifetime as Dianna in 2009's "Next To Normal"--a role for which she won a Tony Award. She was a delight. I'm obsessed. Enjoy the interview!

You Guys! Jenn Damiano (she told me to call her Jenn, so.....) has to be one of the kindest, funniest, most humble humans I've ever met. Most recently Jenn starred in the fabulous, hilarious, legitimately scary, and gone-way-too-soon "American Psycho." She made her Broadway debut at the age of 15 in the groundbreaking and Tony winning "Spring Awakening." She earned a Tony nomination for her work in "Next To Normal" before being cast as Mary-Jane Watson in the Broadway mega-hit "Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark." She was SUCH a delight! Enjoy!

THEATER PEOPLE!!! We are SO excited to bring you this first-ever cast reunion episode! We are thrilled to welcome Krysta Rodriguez, Andy Mientus, and Alex Boniello to the podcast to discuss the Tony nominated Deaf West production of "Spring Awakening". We recorded this interview with the three of them the day after the Tony nominations were announced, so there was a lot of excitement in the room! We chatted about how they all came to be involved with the show, the excitement and challenges of working alongside deaf actors, and how it feels for their show to have been nominated for a Tony in a season full of stand out shows. So Fun! Enjoy!

It's no secret that 'Bright Star,' the new musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, is one of my favorites of the season. And there is no question that the show's leading lady, today's guest Carmen Cuasck, is delivering one of this season's most powerful performances in the role of Alice. In describing Carmen's performance, I use all the cliché words - astonishing, breathtaking, riveting. I remember SQUEEZING producer Mike’s arm every time she opened her mouth to sing. I knew nothing about her before seeing the show and I was instantly obsessed. She’s nominated for a Tony Award this year for her work and, without being controversial, I will have it be known that I’m really pulling for her. I was so excited to meet her and I’m delighted to share this conversation with you guys. Enjoy!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!Remember last summer when The Heavens opened up and sent Tony winner and (now) five-time Tony nominee Laura Benanti to our show? Remember when I, sort of jokingly, said that she and her mom should come back for a special Mother's Day episode and Laura promised that they would? Well you guys, Ms. Benanti has made good on her promise and this week we are DELIGHTED to bring you our special Mother’s Day interview with Laura and her beautiful and hilarious mother Linda Benanti. We talk about 'She Loves Me' and Laura’s FIFTH Tony nomination, but mostly I just try to get Linda to tell me all of the embarrassing stories about Laura from her childhood. Getting to sit with this Broadway mega-star—who is truly one of the kindest and loveliest humans I’ve ever met—and her equally kind and lovely mother in her dressing room at Studio 54, which, by the way, is bigger than my apartment, was just the most amazing way to spend an afternoon. Oh! We shot some video of Linda and Laura tal

You guys!!! it’s been a while since I’ve gotten butterflies before an interview, but I have to say, I was NERVOUS before meeting today’s guest, Laura Michelle Kelly. I mean, you know, she was the ORIGINAL west end Marry Poppins, She won an Olivier, she was in the 'Sweeney Todd' movie, she British, beautiful and perfect. But then, of course, she was disarmingly charming and friendly. Her dressing room at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater where she is currently starring in 'Finding Neverland,' is a little magic fairy kingdom with tents and tepees and maps of Neverland. I never wanted to leave. Laura made her West End debut as a baguette—yes, the bread—in the West End production of 'Beauty and the Beas't when she was 16 years old. In the West End, She went on to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 'Whistle Down the Wind,' as well as 'Sped the Plow,' 'Lord of the Rings,' and of course 'Mary Poppins,' for which she won her Olivier. She made her Broadway debut

Emmy winner and three-time Tony nominee Martha Plimpton is back! Since she was last with us, she has landed the leading role on the new hit ABC sitcom "The Real O'Neals." She has also continued her work as advocate and activist for women's health and reproductive rights. She joins us today to talk about her new TV show, past work on Broadway, and the annual fundraiser called Broadway Acts for Women--happening this Sunday at Feinstein's / 54 Below-- put on by her organization A is For.

You Guys! We're not going to beat around the bush here, we are OBSESSED with the new Steve Martin & Edie Brickell musical 'Bright Star.' And we are THRILLED to welcome one of the show's stars, Paul Alexander Nolan, to the podcast this week. Paul made his Broadway debut in 2012 in the title role of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic 'Jesus Christ Superstar.' He went on to replace as Guy in the Tony winning Broadway production of 'Once', and just last year starred in the short Lived 'Dr. Zhivago.' Go see Bright Star, you guys, Paul is great in it and the show is so magical and unique. It was such a pleasure to get to basically chew his ear off about it. Here’s our conversation. Ooh, we use a TON of music from the original cast recording of 'Bright Star' in the episode. The album is now available for pre-order from Ghostlight Records. The album is officially released on April 29th.

I recently described today's guest, the great Danny Burstein, as a glow worm. On stage, the man, truly, is lit from within. If you've ever seen him in anything,you know what I'm talking about. Whether the role is large or small, passionate or passive, when he's on stage, you can't take your eyes off of him, and you wouldn't want to--he's just magnetic that way. Danny began his career in New York in the early 90s taking a lot of small roles and understudy gigs. Then, a few years on, he made the terrifying decision that actors sometimes do--not to take any work that didn't challenge him artistically and advance him towards a more fulfilling career. Of course, we all know the rest. He went on to earn five Tony Award nominations for his work in such shows as 'The Drowsy Chaperone,' 'South Pacific,' 'Follies,' 'Golden Boy,' and 'Cabaret.' This season he's back on Broadway wowing audiences 8 times a week as Tevye in the s

You guys, I have to say that interviewing today’s guest, Andrea Burns, was one of the most fun hours I’ve ever spent in a theater. First of all, she had heard of our little podcast before, which i LOVED, but second, she was just completely game to share her stories and answer my sometimes ridiculously vague questions. I first fell in love with Andrea as Daniela the fabulous and maybe just a little bit gossipy hair dresser in "In The Heights" and I was completely blown away by her as Glosria Fajardo—Gloria Estefan’s mother—in this season’s "On Your Feet." Of course Andrea's long list of credits really begins with Jason Robert Brown’s groundbreaking "Songs for a New World" back in 1995. Also, did you know that those two went to summer camp together? Oh, last thing—I LOVE recording these interviews in dressing rooms before showtime because I think it really offers our listeners a sense of what it’s like backstage before the show starts. And that includes some interruptions a

You guys, we are so excited to welcome choreographer Spencer Liff to the podcast this week. Like a lot of people, I first became aware of Spencer for his Emmy nominated work as a choreographer on the hit show 'So You Think You Can Dance--' I had no idea that he’s totally a Broadway guy! Spencer made his Broadway debut at age 11 in the musical 'Big'. He went on to appear in 'The Wedding Singer,' 'Cry Baby,' 'Equis,' and' 9 to 5', taking on more and more responsibility along the way. He was the Associate Choreographer and Dance captain for 'Cry Baby' and was the Dance Captain on 'Equis'. After hitting it big on so You Think You Can Dance, he came back to Broadway to provide the musical staging for the Neil Patrick Harris led 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch', and was then hired to choreograph the Deaf West Production of 'Spring Awakening', which ultimately transferred to Broadway earlier this season. He was recently

OK fellow Theater People, you've been asking for this interview for almost as long as the podcast has existed, so we are THRILLED to be bringing you this episode featuring the fabulous Adam Kantor!Adam made his Broadway debut in 2008 as Marc in the closing Broadway company of 'Rent' (grab your tissues when he tells the story of how he learned he'd won the roll) and he went on to replace in the role of Henry in the hit Broadway production of 'Next to Normal.' In 2013, he was cast as Jamie opposite Betsy Wolfe in Second Stage's highly anticipated revival of Jason Robert Brown's 'The Last Five Years.' This season he's back on Broadway in the role of Motel in the Bartlett Sher helmed production of 'Fiddler on the Roof.' We had such a great time chatting in his dressing room surrounded by old family photos and heirlooms that are so meaningful to him--especially as they relate to his work in 'Fiddler,' we'll let him explain that further

You Guuuuuuuuuuys!!! We could not be happier to bring you today’s episode featuring the divine, the lovely, the just ridiculously talented Phillipa Soo. Phillipa created the role of Eliza Hamilton in last year’s off-Broadway production of the smash hit musical Hamilton at the Public Theater and this season she made her Broadway debut in the role. She first rose to fame in the title role of Natasha in the 2013 off Broadway hit 'Natasha Pierre and the Great Commit of 1812.'So, you guys, we have a really special surprise for you at the end of this episode. It’s a first for us. It’s completely related to our interview with Phillipa, but even she doesn't know about it. So stick around after our interview with her, I promise it will be worth it.

When Sierra Boggess made her Broadway debut in 2008 in the title role of the hit Disney musical 'The Little Mermaid,' she became an overnight not just star, but also idol, role model, sensation even in a way that happens so rarely to person appearing on a Broadway stage for the first time. She, of course, went on to star in the Broadway revival of 'Master Class opposite' Tyne Daily and as Christine Daae in London’s West End production of 'Love Never Dies,' Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to the Phantom of the Opera. I first got to witness the greatness that is Sierra Boggess on stage in last season’s 'It Shoulda Been You'—a show that I found to be so special for a variety of reasons that we’ll get into in this interview. She is currently starring as Rosalee Mullins, the sort of tight lipped, rulsey principal in the brand new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'School of Rock'—a show that frequent listeners know that I am completely obsessed with. I love this interview

YOU GUYS!!!! We don't even know what to say!!! Megan Hilty is a dream and a delight and a perfect guest! She is just as warm, charming, and fabulous as you're imagining. AND she makes a killer espresso!Megan made her Broadway debut as Glinda in the Broadway cast of 'Wicked,'--a role she would go on to do briefly on the national tour before creating the role for the Los Angeles sit down production. She went on to star in '9 to 5 The Musical' before being cast in the career making role of Ivy Lynn on TV's 'Smash.' She is now back on Broadway as Brooke Ashton in Roundabout Theatre Company's production of 'Noises Off.' She is unbelievably charming and hilarious! Don't forget, tickets are now on sale for our Live Summer Series! Just $10 to see Lesli Margherita, Laura Osnes, and Lindsay Mendez live! All the details and tickets can be found on our website: www.theaterppl.com. Click the 'Summer Series' tab.