Little Known Facts With Ilana Levine

DAPHNE RUBIN-VEGA is a two-time Tony and Drama Desk nominee (1996/2004) and recipient of the Theater World, Obie (1996) and Blockbuster (1998) awards. She has been a member of the Labyrinth Theater Company since 1992. Ms. Rubin-Vega is perhaps best known for the roles she originated, including Mimi ("RENT") and Conchita ("Anna in the Tropics"), both Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway shows for which she was nominated for the Tony award. She also originated the role of Rahmi ("Gum"), Sofia (Nilo Cruz' "Two Sisters and a Piano"), Canary Mary (Suzan-Lori Parks' "Fucking A") (Lucille Lortel nomination) and Lucy ("Jack Goes Boating") at the Public Theater, as well as starred in the Broadway revivals of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (Magenta) and "Les Miserables" (Fantine). Film credits include detective Gloria Perez in "Wild Things", starring Kevin Bacon and Matt Dillon (Blockbuster Award for Best Supporting Actress), Tia ("Flawless", opposite Robert De Niro), and most recently, reprising the role of Lucy in the fi

Michael Urie is the award-winning star of one of the most unexpected theater success stories in years, the brilliant and hilarious Buyer & Cellar.  Playing multiple characters – including Barbra Streisand – in this one-man tour de force, Urie has won the hearts of everyone smart enough to venture down to the Village for a night of off-Broadway genius that won him the Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk, LA Theatre Critics and the Clarence Derwent Awards for Most Promising Male Performer. Before Buyer & Cellar, Urie was probably best known as the delicious Marc St. James on the award-winning Ugly Betty, the series that introduced him to and made him a favorite of TV audiences everywhere. Following that series, he spent most of his time in critically acclaimed stage productions. He played iconic fashion designer Rudi Gernreich in The Temperamentals, a role he originated in New York where he received the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.  He followed that run with appearances off-Broadway in the Classic St

A two-time Tony award-winning stage actor and instantly recognizable film presence, Matthew Broderick will next be seen on screen in Rules Don’t Apply opposite Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and Lily Collins. He will next star in Look Away alongside Chloe Sevigny and Aidan Turner set for a 2016 release.  On stage, Broderick most recently starred in A. R. Gurney’s comedy Sylvia alongside Annaleigh Ashford. Previously he starred in the smash Broadway hit It’s Only a Play opposite his frequent co-star Nathan Lane, as well as the award-winning Broadway run of Nice Work If You Can Get It. Additionally, he starred in the Broadway production of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple and The Foreigner at the Roundabout Theatre. In 2005, he starred in the feature film version of The Producers, reprising the Tony-nominated performance he gave on Broadway in this smash hit musical.   A New York native, he made his professional stage debut opposite his father, James Broderick, at age 17 in the production of On Valentine’s Day.  His

Talia Balsam has had a fascinating career on stage and in film and television. Some of her TV roles include the new HBO Series - Divorce, Zelda, The Newsroom, Mad Men, The Good Wife, Homeland, Nurse Jackie, Elementary, Treme, K Street, Without A Trace, Larry Sanders Show, Calamity Jane, Consenting Adults and Kent State.  Films include Ira Sachs' Little Men, Don’t Worry Baby, Girl In The Book, No Strings Attached, The Cake Eaters, All The King’s Men, Little Manhattan, Line Of Fire, In The Mood, Mass Appeal and The Wackness. On stage she has starred on Broadway in Jake’s Women (Theater World Award winner) and Originated roles in John Patrick Shanley's Psychopathia Sexualis, Snake Bit , F2M - Good Television, Cedar City Falls, Vicious ( Theater World Award and LA Weekly Award winner) and the Ladies Room.  She is married to actor John Slattery and has a son and a dog.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

JULIE WHITE recently starred opposite Matthew Broderick and Annaleigh Ashford in the Broadway revival of A.R. Gurney’s play “Sylvia” under the direction of Dan Sullivan. White won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her role in “The Little Dog Laughed.”  White recently starred in the 2015 production of Lisa D’Amour’s new play “Airline Highway” under the direction of Joe Mantello, and for her portrayal of “Tanya” she was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk, and Drama League Awards. White has also starred on Broadway in “Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike,” “The Heidi Chronicles” and Off-Broadway in "The Understudy" and "Fiction" for The Roundabout, "Twelfth Night" at The Delacorte for The Public Theatre and "Bad Dates" for Playwrights Horizons, to name some favorites.  She has won The Obie, The Elliot Norton Award, The Ovation and been nominated multiple times for  Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Drama League Awards. On the big screen, Julie appeared in “Lincoln” for Steven Spielbe

Dominic Fumusa is best known for playing "Kevin Peyton" opposite Edie Falco on Showtime's acclaimed show "Nurse Jackie" which ran for seven seasons from 2009-2015. Fumusa's extensive theater experience includes originating roles in the NY premieres of Sarah Ruhl's Stage Kiss and Passion Play, Richard Greenberg's Tony Award winning Take Me Out (NY and London), Melissa James Gibson's Obie Award winning [sic] and Stephen Belber's plays The Power of Duff, Fault Lines and Tape (NY, London and Los Angeles). His Broadway debut was in the 1998 revival of Wait Until Dark opposite Marisa Tomei and Quentin Tarantino. Select regional theater credits include numerous plays at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, the Stratford Festival in Canada, the Huntington Theater in Boston, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and the Humana Festival at the Actors Theater of Louisville. Fumusa's film work includes playing the real life hero John "Tig" Tiegen in this year's 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi directed by Michael

Laura Linney is an American actress who works in film, television and theatre.  Her film work includes GENIUS directed by Michael Grandage, alongside Colin Firth, Jude Law and Nicole Kidman and Tom Ford’s upcoming NOCTURNAL ANIMALS and THE DINNER directed by Oren Moverman with Richard Gere, Steve Coogan and Rebecca Hall. Most recently she has been seen in MR. HOLMES directed by Bill Condon, starring Ian McKellan, She has appeared in YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, KINSEY, and THE SAVAGES (nominations), THE FIFTH ESTATE,  HYDE PARK ON HUDSON, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE, MYSTIC RIVER, ABSOLUTE POWER, THE TRUMAN SHOW, PRIMAL FEAR, THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES, LOVE ACTUALLY,  P.S., THE HOUSE OF MIRTH, THE DETAILS and CONGO, among others. She starred in and produced the Showtime Series THE BIG C for four seasons for which she won a few awards, as she did for her portrayal of Abigail Adams in the HBO miniseries JOHN ADAMS directed by Tom Hooper. Early in her career she starred as Mary Ann Singleton in Armistead Maupin’s TALES OF THE

Aasif Mandvi is well known for his work as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s Emmy-winning show, THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART. Most recently, Aasif wrote, produced, and starred in the HBO series, THE BRINK, co-starring Jack Black and Tim Robbins. Other recent television appearances include CBS’s PERSON OF INTEREST and MADAM SECRETARY. Mandvi recently starred opposite Kate Hudson, Jennifer Aniston, and Julia Roberts in MOTHER’S DAY, directed by Garry Marshall. November also marked the release of his memoir, NO LAND’S MAN, a collection of humorous and personal stories published by Chronicle Books. Mandvi co-created and starred in the Peabody Award winning web-series, HALAL IN THE FAMILY, which addressed anti-muslim bigotry through humour and received a staggering 577 media impressions worldwide. Mandvi also received rave reviews for originating the role of ‘Amir Kapoor’ in the world premiere of Ayad Aktahr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, DISGRACED, at Lincoln Center. He was the recipient of the 1999 OBIE awa

Craig is currently playing the multiply disordered "Chet Wilton" in Lifetime's Peabody Award winning UnREAL.  On Broadway Bierko received the Theater World Debut Award and Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League Award nominations for his performance of 'Professor Harold Hill' in Susan Stroman's critically acclaimed revival of Meredith Willson's The Music Man. Other Broadway roles include ‘Sky Masterson’ in the Tony-Nominated revival of Guys & Dolls, 'Miss Trunchbull' in Matilda and ‘Peter’ in the Lonny Price directed New York Philharmonic production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company. Films include Meera Menon's current Indy hit Equity, 'Max Baer' in Ron Howard's Cinderella Man, Christopher Guest's For Your Consideration, Terry Gilliam's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Larry David's Sour Grapes and Renny Harlin's Long Kiss Goodnight. TV: David E. Kelley’s 'Boston Legal', 'Damages', 'The Good Wife' and 'Sex and the City's' 'Jazz Guy.' Online, Craig chats intimately with stars such as John Malkovich in

Kathyrn Erbe is best known for playing Detective Alexandra Eames in LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT... Erbe’s television credits include playing the infamous death row inmate Shirley Bellinger on the acclaimed HBO series “Oz.”  She also appeared on NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street,” the miniseries “George Wallace,” Showtime’s original production of “Naked City: Justice with a Bullet,” NBC’s “Another World” and the television movie “Breathing Lessons.” Erbe also gained notice in the 1999 box office hit “Stir of Echoes” opposite Kevin Bacon and “Dream with the Fishes” with David Arquette.  Her additional film credits include “Entropy,” “Kiss of Death,” “D2: The Mighty Ducks,” “Rich in Love”,  “What About Bob?”, and “Speaking of Sex” with Lara Flynn Boyle and Bill Murray. Erbe also filmed “Three Backyards,” starring opposite Embeth Davidtz and Edie Falco, “Mother’s House”, “Worst Friend’s”, “The Love Guide” with Parker Posey,” Mistress America” and “No Beast So Fierce”. Before appearing in feature films, Erbe be

Elizabeth Marvel is a stage and screen actress. Most recently she was cast as President Elect Keane on Homeland." On the big screen, Marvel will appear in the upcoming films “Easy Living” directed by Adam Keleman and “Yeh Din Ka Kissa” directed by Noah Baumbach. She recently played Heather Dunbar, Solicitor General on the Netflix original series, “House of Cards. Marvel has been an integral part of the New York theater scene since graduating from Juilliard. She has won four Obie Awards for her work Off-Broadway, most notably for her role of Hedda Gabler in Ivo Van Hove’s 2004 revival of the play. She received a Drama Desk Award Nomination for her performance in “Fifty Words.” Of her numerous Broadway roles, perhaps her most celebrated was that of Brooke Wyeth, which she originated in the Off-Broadway production of “Other Desert Cities.” In film, she has appeared in two films from the Coen brothers, Spielberg’s “Lincoln,” Tony Gilroy’s “Bourne Legacy,” Roger Michell’s “Hyde Park on Hudson,” J.C. Chandor’s “A M

Dan Bucatinsky is an actor, writer, producer best known for his Emmy-winning role as "James Novak" on Scandal. Most recently, he joined the cast of the Fox reboot, "24: Legacy," and will appear in the return of Gilmore Girls for Netflix. With business partner Lisa Kudrow, Dan co-starred and executive produced the Emmy-nominated docuseries, "Who Do You Think You Are?" – and with Dan Savage the inspirational digital series, "IT GOT BETTER" for LStudio, which premieres its third season on May 24th. He's the author of the book, "Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight?" about his journey into parenthood with his husband, filmmaker Don Roos.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Judy Kuhn has been nominated for four Tony Awards most recently for her starring role in the Tony award winning musical Fun Home. Also on Broadway she starred in the Roundabout’s hit revival of She Loves Me (Tony Nomination), Chess (Tony & Drama Desk Nomination), Les Miserables (Tony & Drama Desk Nomination), Rags (Drama Desk Nomination), Two Shakespearean Actors (Lincoln Center Theatre), Alan Menken & Tim Rice's King David, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (original cast). Recent appearances incude: The Visit by John Kander, Fred Ebb & Terrance McNally at The Williamstown Theater Festival;  the orginal production of Fun Home Public Theater (Lucille Lortell Award); Fosca in the much lauded production of Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine’s Passion directed by John Doyle at the Classic Stage Co. (Drama League Award nomination) and and she appeared in the inaugural season of Encores! Off-Center in The Cradle Will Rock directed by Sam Gold. Other theater includes: Three Sistersadapted by Craig Lucas and directed by B

John Benjamin Hickey recently starred as ‘Frank Winter’ in the critically acclaimed WGN America series Manhattan which ended its run after its 2nd season. Earlier this year, John was back on stage in Peter Parnell’s Dada Woof Papa Hot at Lincoln Center for director Scott Ellis. John’s film credits include Truth, Big Stone Gap, Get On Up, Pitch Perfect, Flags of Our Fathers, The Anniversary Party, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Taking of the Pelham 123. Next, John can be seen in Tallulah for Sian Heder which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and subsequently acquired by Netflix. On television, he received an Emmy Award nomination for his work on the Showtime series The Big C, playing Laura Linney's brother, Sean. He has recurred on the hit CBS television series The Good Wife playing Internet billionaire Neil Gross. Other television credits includeModern Family, Hannibal, The New Normal, Sex and the City, and Law & Order. On Broadway, John won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a

Emmy and Tony Award winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth’s career spans film, television, voiceover and stage. In 2015, Chenoweth received a coveted star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, she received an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in “Pushing Daises.” In 1999, she won a Tony Award for “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” and she was also nominated for her original role of Glinda the Good Witch in “Wicked” in 2004. Chenoweth has been nominated for two Emmy Awards and for a People’s Choice Award for her role on “Glee.” In 2009, she wrote an uplifting candid, comedic chronicle of her life so far, “A Little Bit Wicked,” which debuted on the New York Times Hardcover Non Fiction Best Seller List.  In 2015, Chenoweth earned a Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for her lead role in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s “On the Twentieth Century.” She also earned nominations for a Tony Award and a Drama League Award. Ch

Noah Emmerich’s breakout performance was in Ted Demme’s cult hit Beautiful Girls (Natalie Portman, Uma Thurman, Matt Dillon). His next role, opposite Jim Carrey in Peter Weir’s Academy Award-nominated The Truman Show, firmly established his outstanding talent. Most recently Noah starred alongside Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Patrick Stewart and Minnie Driver in Damian Harris’ Wilde Wedding. Additional file credits include Todd Field’s Academy Award nominated Little Children (Kate Winslet), Gavin O’Connor’s Jane Got A Gun, starring Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor and Joel Edgerton, J.J. Abrams' Super 8, Gavin O'Connor's Pride & Glory (Edward Norton, Colin Farrell), Doug Liman’s Fair Game (Naomi Watts, Sean Penn), Sympathy for Delicious (Mark Ruffalo), Miracle (Kurt Russell), Frequency (Dennis Quaid), Beyond Borders (Angelina Jolie, Clive Owen), Windtalkers (Nicolas Cage), Life (Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence), Copland (Sylvester Stallone, Robert DeNiro, Harvey Keitel), Guillaume Canet's Blood Ties (Marion Cotill

Mary Stuart Masterson’s film, TV and theater career, includes roles in At Close Range, Some Kind of Wonderful, Immediate Family [National Board of Review Award] Fried Green Tomatoes, Benny and Joon, and the Broadway musical, Nine [Tony Award nomination]. Mary Stuart directed, The Cake Eaters, starring Kristen Stewart, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007 and was released in 2009. It was awarded audience and jury prizes at numerous film festivals. She also produced, Tickling Leo, released in 2009. Currently, after a long hiatus to “produce” her family (4 children 6 and under), Mary Stuart is launching Stockade Works (www.stockadeworks.com) a net zero media arts complex and production company in Kingston, New York whose mission is: Making Local Work. Through their annual Crew Boot Camp, Stockade Works will offer training to diverse, underemployed Hudson Valley residents in motion picture and new media production. Their first Crew Boot Camp is slated for late Summer 2017 in preparation for their

Roger Bart starred Disaster on Broadway, (Outer Critic's Circle Nom) Young Frankenstein, The Frogs, The Producers, (Tony&Drama Desk Nominations), You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Tony Award & Drama Desk Award), Triumph Of Love, Big River. Film credits include: Speech & Debate, Trumbo, How To Build A Better Boy, Last Vegas, Smiley, Law Abiding Citizen,  Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, American Gangster, Hostel: Part II, The Producers, The Stepford Wives, The Insider, Hercules (singing voice- Hercules). Television, most notably: Desperate Housewives (George Williams), Revenge (Mason Treadwell), How I Met Your Mother, Episodes on Showtime Network, 30 Rock, The Event, Political Animals, The Lost Room, Bram and Alice, and currently Graves on EPIX.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reed Birney just won Tony Award for his role as Erik in Stephen Karam's play, THE HUMANS, at The Helen Hayes Theater in New York. Last season, Reed Birney appeared in New York Halley Feiffer's I'M GONNA PRAY FOR YOU SO HARD (Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk Award nominations) at The Atlantic Theater and Clare Barron's YOU GOT OLDER (Drama Desk Award nomination) at Here Arts Center. He won a Drama Desk award and was nominated for a Tony for his performance as Charlotte in Harvey Fierstein's CASA VALENTINA. He was Hubert Humphrey the A.R.T. production of ALL THE WAY with Bryan Cranston. His Broadway debut was in 1977 in Albert Innauratoʼs GEMINI. In 2012 he returned to Broadway in the Roundabout revival of PICNIC. In 2011, he received a Special Drama Desk Award honoring his career as an actor. Recent productions: CORE VALUES at Ars Nova, HAPGOOD at Williamstown Theater Festival, Annie Baker's translation of UNCLE VANYA (Soho Rep-Drama Desk Nomination), Kim Rosenstockʼs TIGERS BE STILL and David West Readʼs THE

BEN PLATT originated the title role in Dear Evan Hansen to critical acclaim (Obie Award, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League nominations) and will reprise his performance on Broadway this Fall. Platt was the original Elder Cunningham in the Chicago production of The Book of Mormon and reprised the role on Broadway (dir. Trey Parker and Casey Nicholaw). Film: Benji Applebaum in Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2, Ricki and the Flash (dir. Jonathan Demme), Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (dir. Ang Lee), Drunk Parents (dir. Fred Wolf). ŒNational Tours: Caroline, or Change (directed by George C. Wolfe). Regional credits include Dear Evan Hansen (Arena Stage), The Black Suits (Barrington Stage Company), The Power of Duff (dir. Peter DuBois/New York Stage and Film), Dead End (dir. Nicholas Martin/Ahmanson Theatre), The Music Man, Mame, Camelot, and The Sound of Music (dir. Gordon Hunt/Hollywood Bowl).  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices