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When he’s not pursuing his dreams onstage, this performer spends his spare time translating musicals like Hamilton from English to Japanese, on a mission to bridge the gap between Japanese and American musical theater audiences.Gen Parton-Shin is a Japanese-British actor who made his professional debut as Angel in the Official Japanese cast of Rent in 2008. While pursuing his dreams in the US, he furthered his career with leading roles in Japan's official Broadway productions of next to normal (Gabe), Dracula (Jonathan), Bare (Jason), and Rocky Horror Show (Rocky). Gen also played the lead role in an original Japanese musical Mitsuko ~Love Crosses All Borders~ in 2010, composed by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll and Hyde, The Civil War). He has been a part of numerous musical/play readings in NYC, including Other World (directed by Gabriel Barr and written by Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen of Title of Show), off-Broadway’s K-pop, and Mafatu (produced by Broadway veteran Telly Leung). He co-founded a company called Broadway in Japan, which introduced Broadway musical theatre faculty to Japanese aspiring musical theatre performers, offering invaluable education opportunities in Japan. Gen has also appeared on TV, including roles on Season 4 of Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and The Other Two on Comedy Central. In addition, Gen has self-produced three solo cabaret shows, and in the latest one he translated and performed “My Shot” from Hamilton in Japanese.During our conversation, Gen describes his musical theater journey which has taken him from the stages of Japan, to those of New York. He shares that while performing in Japan, he wasn’t always satisfied with the translations they were given to work with; thus sparking his drive and desire to see if he could do the job himself. Gen has now translated about three fifths of Hamilton into Japanese, comparing the process to completing a puzzle which he really enjoys. He also shares that one of his life missions is “to bridge Japan and the U.S.”, which he has begun to do with his foray into translation, hoping to make American musical theater easier for Japanese audiences to listen to and process.In this episode, we talk about:  Why he identifies as a Third Culture Kid  Completing the One-Year Conservatory program at T. Schreiber Studio on a tourist visa How he was inspired to start translating musicals into Japanese  The intricacies of translating English to Japanese  Why he thinks musical theater is so popular in Japan  Takarazuka Revue - the all female musical theater troupe in Japan Connect with Gen and watch two of his Hamilton translations: Watch Hamilton's "My Shot" Watch Hamilton's "Helpless" Check out 35mm, A Musical Exhibition IG: @GenPartonShin Twitter: @GenPartonShin Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From The Land Down Under to The Big Apple, this singer-songwriter, pianist, writer and comedian just released his new album, Beetlejuice: The Demos! The Demos! The Demos!, and is showing other Australians that it’s possible to make the leap and find yourself working on a Broadway musical (or two).Eddie Perfect is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, comedian, writer and actor. He is now also a Tony Award Nominee after receiving a nomination for best original score for Beetlejuice the musical. During the same season, Eddie also wrote songs and vocal arrangements for King Kong on Broadway. Eddie is a four time nominee and two time Helpmann Award winner for his work in Australia. In 2009, his biographical musical comedy Shane Warne: The Musical won the 2009 Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work. This production also received a Victorian Premier's Literary Award and a Green Room Award. Eddie has recorded solo albums and written and performed in numerous cabaret shows, including Songs from the Middle with the Brodsky Quartet. Following his songwriting career on Broadway, Eddie returned to Australia where he waits to star as Franklin Hart Jr. in Dolly Parton's musical 9 to 5 once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. And most recently he released his fifth album, Beetle Juice: The demos! The demos! The demos!, a new album of demos created for his Tony-nominated score to Beetlejuice. The album also contains 17 cut songs that will be new to everyone's ears.During our conversation, Eddie candidly talks about his process for creating. He describes “kind of a weird trance I go into when I make stuff, where I really think about what it would be like to be in the audience watching it.” He focuses on what he wants an audience to think, feel, or learn in a particular moment. Reflecting on the process for Beetlejuice, Eddie shares that he wrote the opening number for the show over a 5 year period. He also recalls it was during their first previews that Beetlejuice really started building it’s cult like fan base. And it was this fanbase that served as some of the inspiration behind releasing the Beetlejuice demos in the first place. Eddie was blown away by the unique creative responses many fans of the show have had, saying he’s “never experienced anything like that.” His new demo album serves to broaden the universe of Beetlejuice a little bit “for those fans that do really riff off the work.” In the episode, we talk about:  The intense Beetlejuice fandom  The Beetlejuice preview when they knew the show had struck a chord with people  Reading the reviews of the original 1988 film to cheer them up after their DC reviews  Australia being an importer of Broadway shows  Being in a period of his life now where he is confident with his writing and his process  Working with the cast and creatives of Beetlejuice Juggling work on Beetlejuice and King Kong simultaneously Connect with Eddie: Listen to Beetlejuice: The Demos! The Demos! The Demos! @TheEddiePerfect on Twitter @EdmundPerfect on IG Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Riedel is an American theater critic, broadcaster, and columnist. He has been a controversial yet very influential Broadway columnist in the NY post for over 20 years. Michael is also the co-host of “Len Berman and Michael Riedel in the Morning” on 710 WOR in New York City, weekdays from 6-10am. Michael’s book Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway won the 2015 Marfield Prize for arts writing and is widely considered to be the successor to The Season, William Goldman's classic 1967 book about Broadway. His next book, Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway, arrived November 10, 2020. Get the book here: https://amzn.to/3jXpHhz.During our conversation, Michael shares how he carved a unique path for himself as both a critic and columnist - how he managed to be a reporter, as well as get his opinion out there. Being a traditional critic, seeing show after show and writing reports, never appealed to him. Rather, he enjoyed hanging out with theater people and getting to know them, “collecting the gossip, and putting it all together”. After life as a columnist, or a “sprinter” in his words, Michael opens up about the initial doubts and panic he had about writing his first book. And that it was during all of the research and interviews when he discovered the narrative he wanted to share, and found joy in putting together all the pieces of the puzzle. Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway has since received interest from TV networks. Michael also takes us through the inspiration and story behind his newest book "Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway", chronicling Broadway through the 90’s and its recovery after September 11th, 2001 - illustrating how Broadway rallied and “showed the world that New York could not be brought to its knees”. In this episode, we talk about:  The story behind Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway, and the forward he added in light of COVID-19 How Rent ushered in a new era of broadway after years of British dominance  Fixing Alan Rickman’s air conditioner while working for Elizabeth I. McCann  Maintaining friendships and relationships with people you’ve written about  How he conducted interviews for his newest book  Seeing The Lion King for the first time, recalling “pandemonium” in the theater  His writing process Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeanna de Waal originated the title role of Diana, Princess of Wales in Diana at La Jolla Playhouse and at the New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theatre reading at Vassar College. Her previous Broadway credits include starring as Lauren in Kinky Boots and Heather in American Idiot. Jeanna originated the role of Dawn in the A.R.T. production of Waitress by Sara Bareilles, and the role of Mary Barrie in the A.R.T. production of Finding Neverland, both directed by Diane Paulus. She has previously appeared off-Broadway in Orwell in America at 59E59 Theatre, and played Chris Hargensen in MCC Theatre's reimagined production of Broadway's Carrie. Other notable credits include her West End debut in the Queen musical We Will Rock You, Glinda in the National Tour of Wicked and Janet in The Rocky Horror Show at The Old Globe. In addition to the stage, she can be seen in the recurring role of Sophia in the Netflix/Marvel series Iron Fist. Jeanna is also an amazing entrepreneur, and is the founder Broadway Weekends, the first theater camp for adults led by Broadway performers. Amid the COVID-19 shutdown, her company pivoted and became Broadway Weekends At Home. They continue to host theater classes virtually for people of all ages.Nonetheless, performing was surely in the stars for Jeanna. Her first professional job out of school was the Queen musical We Will Rock You on the West End. During this production, Jeanna became friends with cast members of Broadway's Hair, in London at the time, and simultaneously she finally received her green card. Suddenly she knew it was time to go to New York. Jeanna shares with us the journey that took her from attending open calls in Times Square, landing her her Broadway debut role in American Idiot, to working consistently from the time she was 21 to 27 years old. Jeanna later opens up about leaving Kinky Boots behind, and her commitment to booking a show in which she could originate a lead role. It was during this period of down time, when she was without a schedule and a “purpose”, that she was inspired to found Broadway Weekends with her sister. These days, the classroom may be virtual (temporarily), but until Diana is able to open on Broadway next year, Jeanna is getting a kick out of bringing to others all the things she gained from her own education in theater - friendships, freedom to trust your body, self-confidence, camaraderie, and more.In this episode, we talk about: The inspiration and motivation for founding Broadway Weekends  Growing up in England and attending a performing arts boarding school  What attracted her to theater in the first place Her journey from performing on the West End, to her Broadway debut  Re-discovering her purpose and self worth after leaving Kinky Boots  The spiritual nature of theater  Her journey so far with Diana, the new musical Connect with Jeanna: IG: @thebigdewaal Twitter: @thebigdewaal BroadwayWeekends Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hailed by the New York Times for her “attractive soprano voice,” and for having “total control of the stage,” (Broadway World) coloratura soprano Meghan Picerno currently stars as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. In 2017 Meghan collaborated with legendary director Hal Prince as Cunegonde in his production of Candide at the New York City Opera. She quickly became one of the most sought-after Cunegondes in the world and reprised the role at San Francisco Symphony, Princeton Symphony, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. Meghan next took on the role of Christine Daae in the US Premiere and 1st National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies. She has represented Andrew Looyd Webber’s body of work by special invitation in performances on the ITV Television broadcast of the Classic BRIT Awards in 2018, making her Royal Albert Hall debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and a guest appearance on the Live at Chelsea Concert Series honoring his 70th birthday. After Love Never Dies, Meghan joined The Phantom of the Opera family as Christine on the World Tour, premiering the iconic piece in Tel Aviv, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. This past fall she made her Broadway debut as leading lady, Christine Daae, in The Phantom of the Opera, and was hailed as one the Top Broadway replacements of 2019 by BroadwayBox.Like many people during COVID-19, Meghan is back home spending time with her parents. In this episode she shares how she dealt with the initial blow when Broadway was shut down - finding herself in a bit of an identity crisis not being able perform and sing, the one she thing she loves more than anything else in the world. She talks candidly about coming out the other side, and feeling now like she is awake again - “it’s kind of magical,” she shares. Meghan also takes us on the whirlwind journey that began by meeting Hal Prince and landing a leading role in Candide, to touring with Love Never Dies and Phantom of the Opera as Christine, to making her Broadway debut in The Phantom of the Opera this past fall. Until the curtains on Broadway rise again, she is finding time to give back and help people, “one part of theater” she really loves, by hosting workshops, master classes, and private voice lessons, and getting inspired by her students.In this episode, we talk about: Adapting to the new virtual normal as a performer  Music as an emotional outlet  The plans she has for her future  Working for Renee Fleming in grad school Her time living and studying in Vienna, Austria  Competing in Plácido Domingo's Operalia, The World Opera Competition Working with Hal Prince, and Andrew Lloyd Webber Connect with Meghan: IG: @meghanpicerno On the web: https://www.meghanpicerno.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthony Veneziale, also known by his stage name ‘Two-Touch’, is the conceiver and co-creator of the improvisational hip-hop comedy musical group Freestyle Love Supreme, as well as the FLS Academy. He has been performing and teaching improv for more than 20 years and is a leader in the field of musical improvisation. Anthony has used these techniques for endeavors with names such as Tommy Kail, Lin Manuel Miranda, Daveed Diggs, and numerous others. He co-founded Speechless Inc, an “an improv thinking company that helps humans create, collaborate, and find their authentic voice”. For several years Anthony has worked with, and been involved in studies by, Dr. Charles Limb out of UCSF Sandler Center, who is renowned for his research on brain activity during musical improvisation. Anthony was most recently seen on Broadway in the limited run of Freestyle Love Supreme, and has appeared on TV in Sex and the City, All My Children, Looking, Bartlett, and the Hulu documentary We Are Freestlye Love Supreme, which documents the groups 15 year history. Never once did Anthony think he could make a living out of doing improv. But, he says, “I loved it so much that I continued to do it until people paid me for it”. During our conversation, Anthony reiterates how interested he is in the affects improvising has on people's brains. This is evident in his creation of and work with the companies Speechless Inc., and Freestyle Love Academy. Even more so, he is interested in the affects improv can have on a community. In their classes at FLS Academy, they work to create an environment where people feel authentically themselves, where they are seen and recognized as their authentic selves, and are then able to encourage others to do the same. Improv has proved to be “a fabulous tool to help people do that”. Anthony also shares more on the work he has been a part of with Dr. Charles Limb, who uses an fMRI machine to create 3D models of the brain, and identify when subjects are in a “flow state”. For some, this flow state is a “runner’s high” while running, and for others, improv is the key. In this episode, we talk about:  The parts of the brain associated with a “flow state” Discovering hip hop music when he was 10 years old  Auditioning for his college improv troupe  How he got his stage name, Two Touch  The mission and work of Freestyle Love Supreme Academy, and Speechless Inc. How isolation during COVID affects our brains  Alan and Anthony play an improv game called Convergence  Connect with Anthony: IG: @freestylelovesupreme, @FLS_Academy Twitter: @AnthVeneziale, @freestylelove, @FLS_Academy Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen to a quick discussion about the 74th annual Tony Award nominations that were announced yesterday for the shortened 2019-2020 Broadway season. While COVID-19 and the resulting Broadway shutdown did ensure that shows like SIX, Company, and Sing Street would not yet see their opening nights, the shows that were able to make the eligibility cutoff - Moulin Rouge, Jagged Little Pill, Tina, and a handful more were each able to walk away with a hefty number of nominations. Slave Play, with its 12 nominations, just became the most nominated play ever.Special guest co-host Lauren LeBeouf joins me for this quick episode to discuss what the nominations mean to us, the possible complete lack of a 2020-2021 season, and so much more.Find complete info about The Tony Awards via TonyAwards.com.Connect with Lauren IG: @LaurenLeBeouf IG: @stuck_theseries Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Isabella Rossellini is an Italian-American actress, author, philanthropist, filmmaker and model. She is the daughter of Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman and Italian film director Roberto Rossellini. A Golden Globe and Emmy award nominee, she started out her career as a successful model, appearing on the covers of numerous magazines such as Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. She is also noted for her successful tenure as a Lancôme model and spokesperson. Isabella has worked as an actress in films directed by extraordinary talents such as Robert Zemeckis, David O’Russell, and David Lynch, to name a few. Some of her most notable American films include Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, White Nights, Cousins, Death Becomes Her, Fearless, Big Night, Crime of the Century (for which she received a Golden Globe nomination), and most recently, Joy. She has also appeared Off Broadway in many performances. Isabella holds a masters degree in animal behavior and conservation, which has lent itself to her many award winning short films about animals and sex. Her latest project, Sex and Consequences, follows suit as a one-of-a-kind, 40-minute comedy about biodiversity and the multiple ways animals reproduce, which will be live-streamed from her farm 60 miles outside New York City beginning October 16th.During our conversation, Isabella gives us an in depth look on how her hit series Green Porno came about. Robert Redford had been re-inspired by short films, and reached out to a series of people in his universe about creating films focused on the environment for the Sundance channel. She remembers having a light bulb moment - she could make a “very comical” film by transforming herself into different animals and showing how they mate. Thus, Green Porno, a series of short films on animal sexual behavior, was born. She credits her time studying costume design with giving her the ability to envision the costumes for each animal. And her newest show, Sex and Consequences, will explore similar ideas. With in person live performances limited due to COVID, Isabella is hoping to reconnect with audiences through her live-streamed Zoom performance, a method that many singers and musicians have found success with during this time. Although Isabella’s family is Hollywood royalty, to her her parents are still “Mama’ and “Father.” And towards the end of our conversation, Isabella reflects on the gift they gave to her and her siblings - “If our parents gave us a gift it was to always try to do what was interesting to us… It was always try to, follow your curiosity, follow your interest… They did and we’re doing it too.In this episode, we talk about: How an interest in short films, and the advent of YouTube, provided an opening for Green Porno The reason she enjoys exploring sexuality in her work  The makings of Sex and Consequences  What appeals to her about storytelling  How her parents, Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini, met and fell in love, and the way Hollywood reacted  Celebrity in Europe versus America  Her thoughts on working for, being let go by, and being re-hired by Lancôme  How the ideas of self expression and beauty have changed over the years Connect with Isabella: IG: @isabellarossellini Get tickets for SEX AND CONSEQUENCES Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amber Ardolino is a dancer, singer and actress who made her Broadway debut in Hamilton, and was also in the original Chicago company. She is currently part of the Broadway cast of Moulin Rouge!. Amber has previously been seen as Mopsa in Head Over Heels on Broadway, Sherrie in Rock of Ages in Las Vegas, as well as on national tours of Flashdance, West Side Story, Legally Blonde, and both the Philip and Eliza tours of Hamilton. She recently sang a duet with former Head Over Heels co-star Bonnie Milligan on the new concept album Within Earshot, a new musical with music and lyrics by Jackson Teeley, and a book by Sarah Galante. The album is now available on all streaming platforms. When Broadway returns, Amber will reprise her roles in Moulin Rouge! as a swing, and the understudy for Satine, Arabia, and Baby Doll.Amber covers 10 tracks in Moulin Rouge! including Satine, Arabia, Baby Doll, La Chocolate, and the Can-Can girls. During our conversation, Amber delves into what life is like as a swing, revealing that she started covering La Chocolate after someone was injured on stage, and that when she actually made her initial Moulin Rouge! debut, she went out in a costume she had tried on once, wearing no make-up, and her hair thrown up into a wig. If it sounds chaotic, it’s because it can be. But Amber says that’s kind of the most exciting part and what she enjoys most about swinging, “you could go on at any moment.” She also gets candid with us about what life has been like as a performer during the pandemic, sharing there was a moment when for the first time ever, she doubted being in musical theater. But after opening up about her experience with anxiety and depression, she shares that the most important thing this pandemic has taught her is how important it is to take care of yourself. In this episode, we talk about:  Building stamina as a swing  Being on stage with Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo Her decision to pursue musical theater  Creating content on instagram, and why she loves TikTok Being authentic on social media  Spending 3 years performing with Hamilton The Within Earshot concept album Her experience navigating depression and anxiety Connect with Amber: Listen to Within Earshot IG: @amberardolino Twitter: @ArdolinoAmber Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Lloyd Young is a multi-award winning performer, who originated the role of Frankie Valli in Broadway’s Jersey Boys. He is the only American actor to date to have received a Lead Actor in a Musical Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and Theatre World Award for a Broadway debut. John also starred in Jersey Boys on London’s West End, and was hand-picked by director Clint Eastwood to reprise his role in the Warner Bros. film adaptation. As a concert artist he has played to sold-out crowds at the Hollywood Bowl and has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the White House, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, Café Carlyle, and with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marvin Hamlisch. John served as a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, appointed by Barack Obama, and as a member of the Committee, Young represented the United States on the first U.S. Cultural Mission to the Republic of Cuba. John’s five-star-rated solo album of classic R&B, My Turn..., debuted as a best-seller on Amazon. And next up, he can be seen online when his concert “John Lloyd Young’s Broadway” streams live from The Space in Las Vegas on October 3rd. Throughout our conversation, John comes back to the importance of and the reverence he has always had for what he believes to be the most important element of a Broadway show - the audience. What he has learned to be true is if you invest in your audience, they’ll stay and be with you even in hard times. John shares how he found other creative outlets in the “dicey years” after Jersey Boys ended, and hopes that when the smoke from the pandemic clears, and audiences and performers alike are allowed back inside theatres, “hopefully we’ll be a little more humble and appreciate the privilege” of being able to be creative for a living. In this episode, we talk about:  Working on the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities under Barack Obama The importance of investing in your audience as a performer  What he’d like his return to Broadway to look like  The choices you have when you get pigeon-holed as a particular role  The moment when he knew Jersey Boys would be a hit  The lessons he hopes creatives will take away from this pandemic His visual arts career  Connect with JLY: IG @JohnLloydYoung Twitter: @GenuineJLY JohnLLoydYoung.com/live (to get tix to his events!) Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mo Brady is a jack of all trades - a broadway actor turned social media specialist turned podcaster. After working for many years as a performer in Seattle, Washington, Mo made his Broadway debut in The Addams Family musical in 2010. He later landed work as a recurring character on the second season of the NBC TV hit show Smash. These days, Mo works as the Communications Project Manager for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS, and continues to host a wildly popular podcast, which he also co-created, called The Ensemblist. Amassing a following over the years, The Ensemblist has become an “online advocate for the talented artists working in theatre ensembles.” Now boasting not only a podcast, but a website and a social presence as well, they are “creating conversations about what it means to be a successful artist in the theatre.”Mo spent a few years working as a full time performer in Seattle, including in shows at The 5th Ave Theatre. In 2010, he made the jump to New York City, and six weeks after his arrival, he had landed his first Broadway show - The Addams Family musical. After a year on Broadway, Mo shares how his offer to volunteer for Broadway Cares turned into a full time job, and how he at one time was balancing working this full time job with filming episodes of Smash in Long Island City at the same time. When Mo later realized he didn’t really love being an actor in NYC the way he had in Seattle, and that he wasn’t feeling as fulfilled, he decided to let his agents go and focus on his Broadway Cares job. In doing so, he was also able to revisit his initial idea for The Ensemblist, which had struck him while in The Addams Family. He loved the people he had performed with, and wanted to share their stories - the stories of the ensemble. These days you can catch Mo twice a week on The Ensemblist podcast, proudly championing Broadway’s underdogs, by visiting BPN.fm/theensemblist.In this episode, we talk about:  Finding community in the theater  His hands on experience at Whitman College  Working as a performer in the Seattle theater scene  Being a part of The Addams Family musical  Why and how he decided to let performing go (for now) The inspiration behind The Ensemblist, and how it has grown since the beginning  Being a dad, and what the surrogacy process was like Connect with Mo: IG @theensemblist IG: @daddy_papa_and_me_make3 On the web Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alice Lee is an actress, singer and musician who made her Broadway debut in 2008 when she joined the cast of Spring Awakening. Her other New York theater credits include Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark on Broadway, as well as Off-Broadway productions of Bare and Heathers: The Musical. While she is no stranger to the stage, she is also no stranger to the screen. Alice was a contestant on the ABC reality TV show Rising Star in 2014, with other television credits that include Smash, The Mindy Project, Switched at Birth, 2 Broke Girls, Take Two, Zoe’s Extraordinary Playlist, and many more. She can also be seen in the Netflix film Sierra Burgess Is a Loser, and last year's hit indie movie Brittany Runs a Marathon. While she lived in NYC, Alice performed in numerous concerts at Rockwood Music Hall, where she frequently debuted original material. Coming up next she can be seen online performing through the Times Square Alliance Broadway Busker’s Concert series.Alice was born and raised in the north suburbs of Chicago, the only child of parents who immigrated from South Korea. She shares that music entered her life at a very early age, and recalls learning to play instruments and sing long before she knew she wanted to be a performer. Her dad is also a great singer, and when Alice was young they would sing karaoke together. While she dabbled in the drums and clarinet, the two instruments she still plays today are the piano and guitar. When deciding what course of study to pursue in college, Alice researched the programs at NYU. And feeling like she didn’t quite fit into either the musical theater or the classical vocal performance categories, she opted to earn her BM in Music Business. It was while she was a freshman at NYU that Alice attended a performance of Spring Awakening, and in her own words, became “obsessed”. So when she found out they were holding open calls for replacements, Alice went and auditioned - and booked her first Broadway show.In our conversation, Alice candidly talks about growing up and feeling different, but so badly wanting to fit in. And while she and her parents never had any conversations specifically about race, she recalls that she was always aware of the differences, and of other people's attitudes towards them. Alice also lovingly recalls visiting family in South Korea every two years as she grew up, memories which she holds onto and celebrates as part of her identity. Shortly after quarantine began this year, Alice left her apartment in Los Angeles where she lives alone to go spend time with her parents outside Chicago. While there Alice shares she has been spending her time writing, recording demos and making pop music. “This is my frickin destiny” she realized this summer, affirming her vision for her next big dream - to become the first big Asian-American pop star. In this episode, we talk about: Deciding to major in Music Business  Why she moved from NYC to LA about 5 years ago  Her experience on the reality TV show Rising Star on ABC Being recognized in public for her performances  Activism on Instagram Growing up the child of immigrants The joy she finds in writing and making music Connect with Alice:IG @aliceheyalice Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This multifaceted, multi-talented performer takes us on a trip into her psyche, sharing how she lives by the idea that “competence breeds confidence”, which encourages her to continue to learn and grow even after achieving great success. Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer is a Cuban-American actress, author, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She performed as Cha Cha in Fox’s Grease: Live, Vanessa in the 1st Broadway National tour of In the Heights, and currently as one of the Fates in the Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown on Broadway. Yvette has starred in stage productions of West Side Story, Much Ado About Nothing, and 3 Mo’ Divas, and won a Craig Noel Award in the category of Outstanding Female Lead. On television she has appeared as Kiki in the Emmy Award Winning Nickelodeon TV series The Fresh Beat Band, and Soleded Penagos on Madam Secretary. As a singer and songwriter, Yvette won the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and her songs have been heard on Sirius XM and in a variety of films and TV shows, including the feature film Life Itself and television’s NCIS: Los Angeles. Yvette has performed at prestigious venues like Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall, toured around the globe with a variety of artists, and can now be seen online performing through the Times Square Alliance Broadway Busker’s Concert series.In our conversation, Yvette lovingly articulates what it is she finds so addicting about performing. There is something to be said about losing yourself in a character, she says, about losing “myself in what I’m doing”. She shares that she finds a liberation and a freedom on stage, which then almost becomes like mediation. Yvette is also a firm believer in continually working on your craft, and always continuing to learn. She puts her money where her mouth is too, taking guitar lessons during quarantine, because in her own words, “competence breeds confidence”. Yvette is missing performing, and was excited to share some of her own original music through the Broadway Busker’s Concert series. In this episode, we talk about: The story behind of the origin of her last name “Nacer” The violin her mother made her when she was 1.5 years old  Being bullied in elementary school, and how drawing became her escape  What she finds so liberating about performing  The inspiration behind her music single “Quicksand”, and who she originally wrote it for The power of positive thinking  The importance of not staying silent about the things that matter Connect with Yvette: On the web Twitter: @YvetteNacer Instagram: @YvetteNacer Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Montego Glover is an actor, singer and voiceover artist who made her Broadway debut in the original Broadway production of The Color Purple as Celie and Nettie. She went on to create the role of Felicia Farrell in the Broadway musical Memphis, for which she received a Tony Award Nomination, and won both the Outer Critics’ Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award. Montego also received acclaim for her performances in The Royale at Lincoln Center Theater, and All The Natalie Portmans produced by MCC Theater. She starred in the 2016 Broadway revival of Les Miserables as Fantine, and most recently, Montego completed a run as Angelica Schuyler in the Chicago Company of Hamilton. On television she can be seen in Bull, Black Box, The Following, Hostages, Smash, Golden Boy, The Good Wife, White Collar, NYC 22, Law & Order, and Memphis on Broadway for PBS. Montego has lent her voice to many video gaming projects which include: Battlefront, Renegade Squadron & The Old Republic all for the Star Wars franchise. And in the world of animation she can be heard voicing characters for Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go. We will soon see Montego in a new show called Inventing Anna on Netflix.After moving to New York City to pursue her career, Montego gave herself a month to learn her new home - to get acquainted with the city, the subway, and catch up with old friends. During this month, she told herself she wouldn’t worry about auditions. However, two weeks after her move, she received a phone call from a fellow FSU alumni who was in a show downtown, and they’d just lost their leading lady. She auditioned and landed the job on the spot. Montego began working steadily in theater, but soon added commercials, television, voice-over projects, and guest spots with symphony orchestras to her repertoire. In her own words, the current pandemic has “changed the game”, and Montego shares with us how she is continuing to take care of her heart and her spirit, allowing her to keep showing up for herself, her career, her family, and her chosen family. In this episode, we talk about:  How she is staying busy and sane during quarantine  One of the things she loves most about Theater  Her “toolbox” Playing a woman with “a darkness” inside in All the Natalie Portman’s How she recovers after a deeply emotional performance  Stumbling upon her first acting class in school when she was young  Her BFA program at Florida State University  Her views on abundance Connect with Montego: On the web IG: @montegoglover Twitter: @montegoglover Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Pascal is an actor, singer, and musician most widely known for originating the role of Roger in the original 1996 cast of Jonathan Larson's musical Rent on Broadway. Rent was not only his Broadway debut, it also earned him a Tony Award nomination, a Theater World award, and an Obie Award. He went on to originate the role of Radames in Aida, as well as play the Emcee in the 1998 revival of Cabaret, Huey Calhoun in Memphis, Billy Flynn in the revival of Chicago, Chad in Disaster!, and William Shakespeare in Something Rotten! Adam reprised his role as Roger in the 2005 movie version of Rent, as well as the Broadway tour in 2009. He also performed in the London concert version of Chess at the Royal Albert Hall in London, alongside his Rent co-star and friend, Idina Menzel. Adam has two solo rock albums to his name, Model Prisoner (2000) and Civilian (2004), as well as a collaborative rock album called Blinding Light (2008) with pianist Larry Edoff. Most recently Adam has been seen onstage in limited engagements of Pretty Woman. And soon he can be seen virtually as part of the Times Square Alliance Broadway Busker’s Concert series.During our conversation, Adam shares how growing up and becoming a responsible adult was a challenge after having had his first audition experience lead to such success so early on. Amid this initial success, Adam recalls still being one hundred percent focused on playing in a rock band one day. When he started getting offers to audition for starring roles in Hollywood, what he really wanted was a record deal. This disconnect led to him making some “bad decisions” based on his ego, which he then spent years working on scaling back. Rent began the long journey of accepting the harsh realities of the career in which he found himself, but it also gave him a sense of safety. It gave him the overwhelming feeling of comfort whenever he walked out on stage. The feeling of being home in a way that playing in a rock band had never given him. He finally felt like he was where he belonged. And 25 years later, he’s still going strong. In this episode, we talk about:  Which movie musicals had an influence on him as a child How his friendship with Idina Menzel led to his audition for Rent  The struggles that came with early success and recognition  How he helped open the door for different types of voices on Broadway  Why he prefers playing pre-existing roles to originating a character  His desire for a record deal, and finally getting one  What he would want to talk to Jonathan Larson about today Connect with Adam: Listen on Spotify IG: @adampascal Twitter: @adampascal20 Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A go-getter spirit at heart, a spirit which has taken her from singing in church to singing on a Broadway stage, this Broadway veteran shares how she is finding new focus during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how her Girl From The North Country Family is helping sustain her.Jeannette Bayardelle is a Broadway veteran seen most recently as Mrs. Neilson in the new Bob Dylan musical Girl From The North Country. Her other Broadway credits include the revival production of HAIR as Dionne, and The Color Purple as Celie. Jeannette originated the role of Celie on the First National Tour of The Color Purple where she received an NAACP award for best lead actress in a musical. Other stage credits include the 10th-Anniversary production of Rock of Ages, touring productions of Rent and Deaf West’s Big River, as well as many other regional credits. Jeannette is the first Broadway actress to write the book, music, lyrics and star in her own musical, entitled SHIDA, which premiered Off-Broadway in NYC and went on to have successful runs at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge MA, The West Angeles Theater in Los Angeles, CA, as well as in London. Her success has landed her television appearances with Oprah and Live with Regis & Kelly, the opportunity to perform for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and work on Disney’s Princess and the Frog.Jeannette also created and stars in the new web series “I Take Thee Zoe".Jeanette shares with us how her experience with The Girl From The North Country has changed her life - from workshop, to the Public Theater stage, to Broadway - and refers to the show as her “church”. She couldn’t have known that when the Public Theater called saying they wanted her to be a part of this project, at that time just a reading, the Girl From The North Country family would be the one with which she would experience the COVID-19 pandemic. Believing there will be a renewed appreciation for live theater when it finally comes back, Jeanette is now patiently awaiting the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine so that she can share in this revival of theater when Girl from the North Country and Broadway return. In this episode, we talk about:  Meeting and hanging out with Bob Dylan in his dressing room at the Beacon  How she began preparing for COVID back in February  How COVID is creating opportunities for change, both personal and societal  The differences in the rehearsal process for Girl From the North Country from other shows she’s done  The inspiration behind and process of creating SHIDA - her one woman musical  How her cast mates inspired her to learn guitar, and what the instrument has taught her about herself Connect with Jeannette: IG: @jbayardelle Twitter: @jbayardelle Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Potter is not only a Broadway veteran, she is also an accomplished Nashville recording artist. She made her Broadway debut in 2010 as Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family, and originated the role of the Mistress in the 2012 Tony Nominated revival of Evita, starring Ricky Martin and Michael Cerveris. Rachel has also toured with the smash hit, Wicked, where she understudied Glinda. Rachel’s television appearances include MTV’s Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods, where she placed in the top 15, and season 3 of FOX’s The X Factor as a Top 12 finalist. Rachel has been a guest soloist with many symphony orchestras, and enjoys a fruitful solo career, having released 2 solo albums and multiple singles. Recently, she released a new EP as Rachel Potter & Steel Union, a fresh country trio, made up of herself, Josh Matheny and Donny Fallgatter. And she can now be seen virtually as part of the Times Square Alliance Broadway Busker’s Concert series.Rachel shares with us her experiences flying back and forth from Orlando to New York CIty to attend EPA’s and ECC’s after graduating college. She recounts meeting Pat Goodwin at an open call for Leap of Faith, which led to Bernard Tesley helping her get an audition for MTV’s Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods. She shares how finding her voice while singing in a wedding band helped sustain her until the audition that would lead to her booking the National Tour of Wicked. It was on this tour that she received the call to audition for Wednesday Addams, the role that would mark her Broadway debut in The Addams Family. And all the while, Rachel continued to write and explore her love of country music. A love which would eventually land her in Nashville, where she would successfully record 2 solo albums and multiple singles. In this episode, we talk about:  The first album she recorded when she was 15  Growing up in the Baptist Church, and the events that lead to her leaving  How working for Disney opened her eyes  Discovering her voice while singing in a wedding band  The Glinda audition which booked her the job  Driving to the airport in a blizzard to get to her The Addams Family audition The pull she felt to move to Nashville  The X-Factor experience she still recalls as traumatic Connect with Rachel: IG @therachelpotter Twitter: @therachelpotter Watch the Broadway Buskers: TSQ.org/BroadwayBuskers or on our Facebook page: Facebook.com/TimesSquareNYC Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Harkness is a Broadway veteran, as well as a best director nominee, and award winning choreographer, and a songwriter. He made his Broadway debut in AIDA in 2001, and has been on a roll ever since. He is currently starring as Paul Williams in Ain’t Too Proud - The Life And Times Of The Temptations, and previously could be seen in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Other Broadway credits include Chicago and The Color Purple, as well as the Dreamgirls national tour. In 2017, James wrote and performed his debut show, Fragments of Me, at the Metropolitan Room in New York. And on August 4th, he can be seen online performing more of his original work through the Times Square Alliance Broadway Busker’s Concert series.Originally from El Paso, Texas, James grew up constantly bouncing around and jumping “off all the things” - including the roof of his single-story childhood home. He recalls his mother always singing and dancing around the house, and is sure he learned to move by watching her. But it wasn’t until high school that he encountered structured dance classes, which changed his life. He had found a place that made him “100% happy”. After graduation, James joined the Navy and was stationed in San Diego, and it was there that dance came back to him. Throughout his career in the Navy, James would spend his days working on a ship, and then attend dance classes in the evening. When he left the military behind, James started going on regular job interviews. He signed up with a temp agency, and got an office job. But, he also continued going on dance auditions. James shares with us how a one-off audition for Whitney Houston’s concert tour led to him signing with an agent, auditioning for Debbie Allen, and finally meeting Kenny Ortega at an audition to dance for Michael Jackson on tour. While he didn’t tour with Michael Jackson, James would spend two and half years on tour dancing for Puerto Rican Latin pop singer Chayanne. And after continuing to pursue a career as a commercial dancer in LA, he was pulled to Las Vegas by work and friends. It was in Las Vegas he would book his first job singing and dancing as the lead in a show - “one of the best things that has ever happened” to him. And a little while later, when Broadway came calling - it called twice. James simultaneously booked Saturday Night Fever and AIDA, all without an agent. And he has been gracing stages in New York City ever since. In this episode, we talk about:  The nickname his AIDA cast mates gave to him  How he came to find dance again when stationed in San Diego  The Whitney Houston concert tour gig he was offered, but couldn’t take  Shaking Debbie Allen’s hand  What a typical audition day looked like for him between LA and San Diego  The theater experience that convinced him to move to Las Vegas  The honor and responsibility he feels in portraying Paul Williams in Ain’t Too Proud Connect with James: Twitter: @ijamesharkness Instagram: @ijamesharkness Watch the Broadway Buskers: TSQ.org/BroadwayBuskers or on our Facebook page: Facebook.com/TimesSquareNYC Le James Cafe with The Wiggles Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lisa Goldberg is the founder and owner of LSG Public Relations in New York, Los Angeles and London. She represents talent and creatives all across the board in film, television, theater and music, as well as in charity work, at bars and for red carpet events. Her clients have been nominated and won Emmy’s, Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Grammy’s, Independent Spirit Awards and Tony Awards, and participated in campaigns for multiple Oscar nominated films.Lisa maintained a successful career in the theater for a while, but then she suddenly started getting sick. After struggling with an autoimmune disorder which made her unable to perform, she had to move back home with her parents in South Carolina for a few years to seek treatment. But New York City was still calling her name, and once she was in remission, she packed her bags, went back, and “had to figure out what she wanted to be when she grew up.” Lisa shares how a chance offer to do in house PR for one restaurant eventually turned into two restaurants, which turned into phone calls with George Clooney’s publicist. A publicist who would later become her mentor, and recommend she start her own firm. So she did, and continues to work successfully almost 14 years later. In this episode, we talk about:  When her parents had to convince her to go to college, rather than NYC right out of high school  The curve ball her autoimmune disorder threw at her  Chasing down George Clooney’s publicist after beginning PR work for a restaurant  How she made connections and gained clients early on in her PR career  How her experience as a publicist has changed amidst COVID-19 Losing client and friend Nick Cordero to COVID-19  Why she enjoys and continues working for herself, rather than joining a larger firm Connect with Lisa: IG: @LisaGoldbergPR Twitter: @LisaGoldbergPR Web: LSG Public Relations Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesIf you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special LIVE panel discussion, moderator Erika Alexander (Living Single, The Cosby Show, Get out, John Lewis: Good Trouble) will be guest hosting the 100th episode of The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales, exclusively on the Broadway Podcast Network. This panel, composed of prominent BIPOC Broadway performers, will discuss how to move forward from where we are and create an equitable, anti-racist, and safe Broadway community. If the industry is torn down, there will be nowhere left to work. We must help create the world we want to live in.Panelists: Tony-winner Karen Olivo (Moulin Rouge, West Side Story), Tony-winner James Monroe Iglehart (Freestyle Love Supreme, Aladdin, Hamilton), Nik Walker (Ain’t Too Proud, Motown, Hamilton), Adrianna Hicks (The Color Purple, SIX), & Brittney Mack (SIX).Moderator: Erika Alexander (Living Single, The Cosby Show, Get out) who most recently produced the documentary John Lewis: Good Trouble.A roundtable discussion designed to bring to light the inequality and racist behavior towards Black people and people of color in the theatre and wider entertainment industries, presented in a way that offers an open-discussion for BIPOC performers to discuss their experiences and their hopes for the future. Watch the video of the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKVK-LmwZA0Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible!Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David SealesThis episode is released in a time of crisis and mass awakening. Black Lives Matter. Please consider donating to any of the following: George Floyd Memorial Fund Minnesota Freedom Fund Reclaim The Block National Bail Out Black Lives Matter The Bail Project Black Visions Collective Campaign Zero National Bail Fund Network The Innocence Project Run with Maud Justice for Breonna Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices