Little Known Facts With Ilana Levine

Ryan J. Haddad is an actor, playwright and autobiographical performer based in New York. His acclaimed solo play Hi, Are You Single? was presented in The Public Theater’s Under the Radar Festival and continues to tour the country. Other New York credits include My Straighties (Ars Nova/ANT Fest), Noor and Hadi Go to Hogwarts (Theater Breaking Through Barriers), and the cabaret Falling for Make Believe (Joe’s Pub). Regional credits include The Maids, Lucy Thurber’s Orpheus in the Berkshires (Williamstown Theatre Festival), and Hi, Are You Single? (Guthrie Theater, Cleveland Play House, Williamstown Theatre Festival). Television credits include “Bull,” “Madam Secretary,” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” Haddad has performed original work at La MaMa E.T.C., the New Museum and The LGBT Center of New York City. His plays in development include Good Time Charlie and Dark Disabled Stories. He is a member of The Public Theater’s Emerging Writers Group and a former Queer|Art Performance and Playwriting Fellow under th

EVA NOBLEZADA previously starred in Hadestown at National Theatre in London. Last fall, she shot the lead role in the upcoming indie, Yellow Rose. In 2017–18, Noblezada starred on Broadway in the title role of the revival of Miss Saigon, receiving a Tony nomination. Variety called her Broadway debut performance “entrancing.” She previously starred in the London revival of Miss Saigon and played Eponine in the West End revival of Les Misérables. Noblezada was a high school student in Charlotte, NC, when she was discovered by casting director Tara Rubin at the 2013 Jimmy Awards in New York City. AMBER GRAY stared in Hadestown (London’s National, Edmonton’s Citadel: Sterling Award, NYTW: Lortel nomination); Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (Broadway: Theatre World Award, Kazino, Ars Nova); Daniel Fish’s production of Oklahoma! (Bard SummerScape); An Octoroon (TFANA, Soho Rep, P.S.122); and Taylor Mac’s A 24 Decade History of Popular Music: 1900’s–1950s (NYLA/UTR). Gray is a member of The TEAM and has c

ELLA RUBIN can currently be seen in THE ROSE TATTOO on Broadway where she stars as Rosa, the daughter of Serafina, who is played by Marisa Tomei. On the big screen she has been featured in THE REWRITE, a film in which she also plays Marisa Tomei’s daughter. She can be seen on the small screen in the Hulu series DIFFICULT PEOPLE, Showtime’s BILLIONS and UNFORGETTABLE on CBS. Ella studied theater and performing arts at New York’s Professional Children’s School. Ella is an advocate for social change and raising awareness for climate change. She recently enforced a new policy in her high school to turn the cafeteria entirely green, and enforce once a week “eco-awareness” day. This summer she traveled to Tanzania to help build a kitchen at a school that didn’t have one (and therefore wasn’t able to serve lunch), and has also traveled to Peru to help enforce women’s access to education and to Costa Rica to learn about turtle conservation in their oceans.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/a

Ruthie Fierberg is a New York City-based journalist and current Senior Features Editor at Playbill, creating innovative and engaging content through in-depth written, multimedia, and video pieces focused on the arts. She is also the host of Playbill's Live From the Red Carpet specials from the opening nights. A graduate of Barnard College, she has written for such national publications as Good Housekeeping, Parents, American Baby, Parents Latina, and Backstage magazines. Ruthie has moderated panels for the 92Y, the JCC of Manhattan, Disney Theatrical Productions, BroadwayCon 2016–2019, and the annual American Performing Arts Professionals Conference. She has guested on SiriusXM Volume radio and a number of podcasts as a guest expert. A lover of theatre, tennis, and yoga, Ruthie is also involved with such causes as Covenant House International and The Actors Fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ilana and Willie conclude their conversation in this episode. Rarely at a loss for work, Garson has appeared in over 300 episodes of television and more than 70 films. Garson is best known for his long runs on television, as Mozzie on WHITE COLLAR, Stanford Blatch on SEX AND THE CITY, and Henry Coffield on NYPD BLUE. Other TV series include ASK HARRIET, and JOHN FROM CINCINNATTI. He has been recurring as the grifter with a heart of gold Gerard Hirsch on "HAWAII 5-0" since 2015. Born in New Jersey, he started training at The Actors Institute In New York, before majoring in Psychology and Theater at Wesleyan University. After graduation, he quickly started landing guest roles on shows such as CHEERS, FAMILY TIES, THIRTYSOMETHING, LA LAW, as well as continually recurring on a wide array of shows including XFILES, TWIN PEAKS, TWO & A HALF MEN, STARGATE, PUSHING DAISIES, THE PRACTICE, ALLY MCBEAL, JUST SHOOT ME, SPIN, SALVATION, etc etc. His favorite longform on TV was Dr. Kreutz for Steven Spielberg in the accla

Rarely at a loss for work, Garson has appeared in over 300 episodes of television and more than 70 films. Garson is best known for his long runs on television, as Mozzie on WHITE COLLAR, Stanford Blatch on SEX AND THE CITY, and Henry Coffield on NYPD BLUE. Other TV series include ASK HARRIET, and JOHN FROM CINCINNATTI. He has been recurring as the grifter with a heart of gold Gerard Hirsch on "HAWAII 5-0" since 2015. Born in New Jersey, he started training at The Actors Institute In New York, before majoring in Psychology and Theater at Wesleyan University. After graduation, he quickly started landing guest roles on shows such as CHEERS, FAMILY TIES, THIRTYSOMETHING, LA LAW, as well as continually recurring on a wide array of shows including XFILES, TWIN PEAKS, TWO & A HALF MEN, STARGATE, PUSHING DAISIES, THE PRACTICE, ALLY MCBEAL, JUST SHOOT ME, SPIN, SALVATION, etc etc. His favorite longform on TV was Dr. Kreutz for Steven Spielberg in the acclaimed miniseries TAKEN. On the big screen, other than reprisin

McAnuff is a two-time Tony Award-winning director and former Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival. Broadway: Summer, Doctor Zhivago, Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls, Aaron Sorkin's The Farnsworth Invention, Jersey Boys (Tony and Olivier Awards for Best Musical), Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays (Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event), Dracula, the Musical, How to Succeed..., The Who's Tommy (Tony and Olivier Awards for Best Director), A Walk in the Woods, Big River (Tony Awards for Best Director, Best Musical).  McAnuff is also Director Emeritus of La Jolla Playhouse, where during his tenure as Artistic Director, he staged more than 35 productions of classics, new plays, and musicals. Under his leadership, the Playhouse received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater.  Raised in Canada, he was a part of the Toronto alternative theatre scene in the 70s. While at Stratford, he directed multiple productions including A Word or Two, The Tempest, and Caesar and Cleopatra (all starring Chri

Lang Leav is an international best-selling author and social media sensation. She is the winner of a Qantas Spirit of Youth Award and coveted Churchill Fellowship. Her books continue to top bestseller charts in bookstores worldwide.    Lang has been featured in various publications including the Sydney Morning Herald, the Straits Times, the Guardian, and the New York Times. She currently resides in New Zealand with her partner and fellow author Michael Faudet.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Betsy Wolfe has established herself as one of the most versatile and keenly intelligent Broadway performers of her generation. She recently starred as Jenna Hunterson, the title role in the Tony nominated musical Waitress. Prior to that, she played Cordelia, one of the one of the lovable “lesbians from next door,” in the Broadway revival of Falsettos directed by James Lapine, which recently aired on PBS. She is perhaps best known for her critically acclaimed performance as Cathy in the off-Broadway revival of The Last Five Years.  In TV, she was most recently seen in a guest star role on season 2 of the CBS series INSTINCT. She also just wrapped the indie feature FIRST ONE IN with Georgia King.   Originally from California, Betsy received her BFA in musical theatre from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. At age twenty—prior to graduation and prior being able to legally drink or get a British pilot’s license—she made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under Maestro Erich Kunzel. Afte

Cassidy Freeman currently stars as “Amber Gemstone” in the Danny McBride televangelist comedy THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES for HBO alongside McBride, John Goodman and Adam Devine. The series tells the story of a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work. The series premiere was HBO's most-watched comedy debut in more than 3 years and was recently renewed for season 2.   Freeman’s diverse roles have allowed her to travel the world, from Vancouver to New York to Bolivia. She is well known for starring as “Cady Longmire” in LONGMIRE on Netflix and “Tess Mercer” in CW’s superhero drama SMALLVILLE. She has appeared on series such as ONCE UPON A TIME, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES and COLD CASE. Freeman co-executive produced and starred in horror-thriller YellowBrickRoad which premiered at Slamdance. Other film credits include DON’T LOOK BACK starring Lucy Griffiths and Kate Burton, IFC comedy film FINISHING THE GAME and indie feature BRAHMIN BULLS. On stage, she has appeared i

Sarah Stiles is currently one of the stars in the critically acclaimed EPIX Original Series GET SHORTY. She was nominated for a Tony for her role as "Sandy" in the Broadway production of TOOTSIE. She is recurring on Showtime’s BILLIONS. She voiced the character “Spinel” in STEVEN UNIVERSE: THE MOVIE.   Broadway productions include her Tony nominated performance as Jessica in HAND TO GOD, ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREEVER, Kate/ Lucy AVENUE Q and THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNUM COUNTY SPELLING BEE.   Recent television and film credits include Steven Soderbergh's UNSANE.  I’M DYIN UP HERE, BLACKLIST, DIETLAND and the animated SUNNY DAY for Nickelodeon. Sarah lends her voice on the recording of Pasek and Paul’s JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. This year she penned her solo show SQUIRREL HEART which she performed to sold out audiences at Joe’s Pub at the Public in NYC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emmy Award and multiple NAACP Image Award-winning film, television and stage veteran Joe Morton is perhaps best known for his role as Rowan Pope in the television series “Scandal.” Morton’s television credits include a recurring role as lawyer Daniel Golden on “The Good Wife,” on the Network; five seasons as scientist Henry Deacon in the Emmy-nominated series “Eureka”; “The Cosby Show” spinoff “A Different World”; the Kyra Sedgwick-produced “Proof”; and “Grace & Frankie.” In 2016 he portrayed the role of Roy Wilkins alongside Bryan Cranston in the Emmy-nominated biopic “All the Way,” adapted from the Tony Award-winning Robert Schenkkan play.   In 2016 Morton appeared in the feature film “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” as Silas Stone, and he reprised the role in November 2017 in “Justice League.” His additional feature film credits include playing the title character in John Sayles’ “The Brother from Another Planet” and roles in “Terminator 2: Judgement Day,” “American Gangster,” “What Lies Beneath,” “B

Prepare yourself to get Lost at the Smithsonian with my friend, Aasif Mandvi, as he explores the little-known stories behind iconic pop culture artifacts at the National Museum of American History  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 Karen Olivo is a television, film, and stage actor who is most recognized for her Tony Award-winning performance as Anita in the acclaimed 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story, a role for which she also earned Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Astaire Award nominations. Some of her Broadway theater credits include originating the role of Vanessa in the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights (2008 Astaire Award) and starring as Faith in the Broadway production of Brooklyn The Musical.  She played the role of Angelica Schuyler in the Chicago production of Hamilton and currently stars as Satine in Moulin Rouge on broadway. Additional theatre credits include Murder Ballad at the Manhattan Theater Club, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark by Lynn Nottage at 2nd Stage, and The Miracle Brothers directed by Tina Landau at the Vineyard Theatre. Olivo is also recognized for her many television appearances including recurring & guest-starring roles on “The Good Wife,” “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior,

Gideon Glick was nominated for a Tony award for his performance as “Dill Harris” in the Broadway adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Aaron Sorkin and based on Harper Lee’s classic novel. Previously, he reprised his role as Jordan Berman in the Broadway production of Significant Other at The Booth Theatre, for which he earned a 2017 Drama League Award nomination. Gideon made his Broadway debut in the original cast of the groundbreaking Tony-winning musical Spring Awakening, and has starred Off-Broadway as Tom in Samuel Hunter’s The Harvest for LCT3/Lincoln Center and Matthew in The Few for the Rattlestick Theatre Company. Other stage credits include Speech and Debate for the Roundabout Theatre Company, Into the Woods at the Delacorte, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway, Peerless at the Cherry Lane Theatre, and Wild Animals You Should Know for the MCC Theater. In film, Gideon recently appeared as ‘Kyle McCallister’ in Gary Ross’ Ocean’s 8, and will be seen in Noah Baumbach’s upcoming film Mar

Justin Guarini’s robust performance career launched with the first season of American Idol in 2002. His stage and screen appearances since then include Broadway productions of American Idiot, Romeo and Juliet, Wicked, and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Justin has hosted shows shows like Idol Wrap and Idol Tonight along with live events for the TV Guide Network, the Oscars, the Emmys, and the Grammys. He continues to reprise his role as the lovable Lil’ Sweet in commercials for Diet Dr. Pepper. Justin is a generous humanitarian: he has advocated for music education funding on Capitol Hill by lobbying for the International Music Products Association. He has worked with Education Through Music Los Angeles, a nonprofit utilizing music education as a catalyst to improve academic achievement, motivation for school, and self-confidence in underserved communities. Justin has also partnered with RandomActs.org and GISH.com to participate in global kindness campaigns. In 2019, Justin founded The Warrior Ar

Kathryn Gallagher can currently be seen as Annika on Netflix’s mega hit show “YOU” produced by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, starring John Stamos, Penn Badgley and Shay Mitchell. This fall, Kathryn will play Bella in Alanis Morissette’s musical “Jagged Little Pill” based on the album, written with Diablo Cody and directed by Diane Paulus. In 2015 Kathryn made her Broadway debut in the Tony nominated revival of Spring Awakening. Kathryn’s music has had placements in film/TV such as “Younger” “Covert Affairs” and Stuart Blumberg’s “Thanks For Sharing.”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With an expansive list of film and television credits spanning for more than 20 years, Michael Kelly is known best for his four-time Emmy-Nominated role as “Doug Stamper” in the critically acclaimed Netflix original series HOUSE OF CARDS, for which he starred in for all six seasons. Kelly can next be seen in season 2 of Carlton Cuse’s Amazon Prime Original Series JACK RYAN alongside John Krasinski and Wendell Pierce. Recently, Kelly produced and starred in John Hyams’ ALL SQUARE, supported by Jesse Ray Sheps, Josh Lucas, and Pamela Adlon. He also starred in THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES opposite Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, and Chiwetel Ejiofor and in EVEREST opposite Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Robin Wright. Additionally, he played “Lt. Col. Gary Volesky” in National Geographic’s miniseries THE LONG ROAD HOME and “Dumbarton” in BBC’s limited series TABOO opposite Tom Hardy. In 2008, Kelly starred as “Detective Lester Ybarra” opposite Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich in Clint Eastwood’s CHANGELING, which p

Helen Levine - growing up in Brooklyn she might as well have been a million miles away from Manhattan but a chance meeting with a theater company at Brooklyn College in the early 1950s, opened up a whole new world of theater and the performing arts and a lifetime of love and appreciation for all things Broadway  which was passed down to me - your devoted podcast host- Ilana Levine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonathan Marc Sherman  Part 2 Mr,Sherman was born and raised in New Jersey, graduated from Bennington College, and lives in New York City. His plays include: Things We Want; Clive; Knickerbocker; Evolution; Wonderful Time; Sons & Fathers; Sophistry; Veins & Thumbtacks; Serendipity & Serenity; Jesus on the Oil Tank; and Women & Wallace (also adapted for PBS-TV’s American Playhouse). They have been performed at Malaparte(co-founder), The New Group, The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Williamstown Theatre Festival, WPA Theater, Los Angeles Theatre Center, and the Young Playwrights Festival, as well as in England, Australia, Israel, Istanbul, and Japan. Acting includes: Theater: Ivanov (CSC), Clive (The New Group); Sophistry (Playwrights Horizons); A Joke, Wild Dogs and The Great Unwashed (Malaparte); Up For Anything (Kraine), I Wanna Be Adored (NY Performance Works), Unexpected Tenderness (WPA), The Chopin Playoffs (American Jewish Theatre), and Oliver! (Pittsburgh Civic  Light Opera). TV/Film: Quiz Show;