Afleveringen
-
I was forewarned that today's guest was nothing short of a delight, and the rumors are TRUE!
Grey Henson talks about his formative years as a little boy who loved (and excelled at) ballet in
Macon, GA and how those years of dance and working in youth and community theatre helped
him to be the award-winning stage actor he is today. Most recently seen as one of the
storytellers in Broadwayâs Shucked, Grey has stolen hearts far and wide in star turns as Elder
McKinley in both Broadway and touring (Helen Hayes Award) productions of The Book of
Mormon, and in creating the role of Damien in the musical adaptation of Mean Girls, for which
he was nominated for a TONY award for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical. Never too
gay to function, Grey is charming, whip-smart and hilarious as he speaks on family, school,
queer culture and this roller coaster of a business. I canât wait to see more from this remarkable
artist, but till then, sit back and enjoy the delightful Grey Henson! -
Joining me today are the Lunts of Broadway - ok, if you donât know that reference, please head
directly to google; Sandra Joseph and Ron Bohmer. Each of them a Broadway star in their own
right, they now spend much of their time inspiring others - particularly other creatives and young
artists - through teaching, keynote speaking and writing. Holding the worldâs record as
Broadwayâs longest running leading lady, (not to mention an award-winning author), Sandra
holds a place not only in Broadway history, but also in the hearts of all those fortunate enough to
work with and learn from her! And Ron is the Broadway leading man that we all dream of
loving...having led companies of The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Phantom of the Opera, Les
Miserables and Sunset Boulevard both in New York and on the road. Married for nearly 25
years, Ron and Sandra share their time, their humor and their extraordinary wisdom with all of
us in what I hope youâll agree is an absolutely delightful conversation. We talk Broadway (duh),
self-care, imposter syndrome and finding your most authentic voice as a creative human, and Iâll
keep this chat close to my heart for years to come! Sit back and enjoy!! -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
-
When I think of the worker bees of Broadway - those actors whose faces show up in production
after production and whose chameleon-like character skills allow them to seamlessly morph from
role to role and show to show...Gaelen Gilliland is at the top of an imposing list! With a resume
that spans the length of a CVS receipt, Gaelen has appeared in Wicked, Legally Blonde, 9-5,
Honeymoon in Vegas, Kinky Boots, and Spongebob Squarepants on Broadway, and taken the
road by storm in Seussical, The Addams Family, and most recently as the coolest mom ever in
Mean Girls, Gaelen was an absolute joy to chat with. Whether leading a company or raising her
family, Gaelen so clearly leads with grace, poise, and a stunningly tuned sense of humor, and I hope you love our conversation as much as I did! -
Robert Anthony Jones, or âRajâ as heâs known among his friends - has a comedic mind and
open heart which sets him apart from mere mortals. Iâd known OF Raj for decades due to
mutual friends and finally had an opportunity to sit and laugh with him while he was in town
starring in âThe Promâ at Columbusâ own Short North Stage. A veteran of off-Broadway
(âBunniculaâ by legendary playwright Charles Busch), Broadway (âFinding Neverlandâ) and
touring (âThe Phantom of the Operaâ), Raj is the embodiment of a life lived magnificently in the
theatre. Hilarious, kind as can be and a big olâ pussycat when speaking of his gorgeous little
boy, Raj was an absolute gem of a guest and I hope you enjoyed the chat as much as we did! -
The Mark Fisher Fitness (or, MFF for those in the know) website leads with “Serious Fitness, Ridiculous Humans,” and the brand built upon that foundation is one of the most remarkable business ventures I have had the honor to witness. Mark is a dear old pal from his days as a working actor, during which time he began to train his friends as a side hustle. Over the past decade, Mark and his team of unicorns (IYKYK) have not only built an extraordinary fitness empire housed in midtown Manhattan but have also worked within the theatre community to affect positive change with a National impact. Rooted in service, Mark and his magnificent gym of artists, weirdos, and one-time outcasts; all of whom hold magic within them - have changed countless lives for the better. Theirs is a gym for those who hate gyms; a community of like-minded humans moving through space with the goal of functional movement and optimal health...all while laughing, singing along, and often opening countless doors of self-discovery along the way. Sit back and listen as Mark and I chat about his time as a working actor and how his community of magical beings works with an endless array of Theatre artists to have agency over their own health and well-being.
-
Stephanie Amber - one half of the Columbus-based Indie Soul band âHoney & Blueâ sits down and
talks shop! Her history with musical theatre is what inspires her and her partner as they continue
to build Honey & Blueâs sexy, soulful catalog of music; all while doing much of the hands-on
work of recording, editing, mixing, and filming themselves. Steph and I met a few years back
when I had the honor of directing her in a production of âLittle Shop of Horrors,â and I have
found every SINGLE moment of sharing space with her to be inspiring. Sit back and enjoy, and
sheâll surely inspire you as well! -
Having only recently completed a star turn as Velma in the Broadway smash hit âChicago,â I was
able to catch up with the magnificent Kimberly Marable just as she was catching her breath
from back to back runs in âChicago,â and the National Tour of âHadestown,â in which Columbus
audiences will recognize her as the Lady of the Underworld herself, Persephone. Kimberly and I
go back to sharing the stage in âThe Lion King,â and in this episode I was able to talk not only
about her theatrical journey, but also her extraordinary philanthropic work with the Entertainment
Community Fund, on the Board of Trustees for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids and as a
founding member of Broadway Serves. A native New Yorker, Kimberly has had an illustrious
career in the theatre, with Broadway credits including âLion King,â âSister Act,â and âChicago,â as
well as touring the country in âHadestown,â âHairspray,â âDreamgirls,â and âBook of Mormon.â
This was an opportunity for me to catch up with one of the finest human beings I have ever met,
and I hope you enjoy the chat as much as I did! -
When one considers the consummate interpreters of the work of Stephen Sondheim, it’s impossible not to hear the voice of Pamela Meyers singing about the streets of New York - meeting one another “at parties through the friends of friends who they never know,” or “walk(ing) together past the postered walls with the crude remarks.” ANOTHER HUNDRED PEOPLE has become a part of Musical Theatre literature, and I had the most wonderful time sitting down with Pamela and chatting about all things theatre, Sondheim, and Broadway. Audiences will recognize Pamela not only from the original production of “Company,” but also revivals of “Into the Woods,” and “Sunday in the Park With George” and the original poor, sweet baby in “Snoopy!” I so enjoyed hearing Pamela’s stories and I hope you do too!
-
You can see from the look on my face during the entirety of my time with Vashty Mompoint that I am simply in awe of her abundant talent, her ferocious intelligence and her unwavering poise. A Broadway and film actor, singer/songwriter, voiceover artist and director/choreographer, Vasthy is a true Renaissance Artist and my conversation with her runs the gamut of topics from being the child of Haitian immigrants to working with young artists today in every landscape of our industry. Her remarkable resume boasts eight...yes, EIGHT broadway shows; including SpongeBob Squarepants, Mary Poppins, Hot Feet, Soul Doctor, Rocky (I gush about that fight scene in the episode and Iâm STILL gobsmacked thinking about it now, years after seeing the show!!! PEOPLE, they had an ENTIRE BOXING RING flown into the audience mid-show!!!), and The Prom (in a role she repeated on film, along with serving as Associate Choreographer). Vasthy joins me in the studio, as we were fortunate enough to have her in Columbus directing an acclaimed production of The Color Purple. I so hope you enjoy our chat as much as I did!
-
I donât often âfangirl,â but it was just too difficult to not sit in absolute astonishment when hearing Phylicia Pearl Mpasi talk about her remarkable star turn as Young Celie in the new film adaptation of âThe Color Purple.â I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Phylicia on the road and on Broadway in âThe Lion King,â so I sat in the darkened movie theater knowing how talented she is....nevertheless, I sobbed through her performance, having had no idea how truly exceptional her performance would be...a mistake I wonât make again! Deeply moving and sweetly charming, Mpasiâs interpretation of Celie clearly displays the magic that she possesses - and it was a joy to hear about her journey from Elon University to the Broadway stage and now the big screen, and a true testament to the resolve it takes to do what we do. Sit back and enjoy!!
-
Actor/Illustrator Justin âSquigsâ Robertson joins me for a conversation that runs the gamut
from Robin Williams to Sondheim and of course - renowned theatrical illustrator Al Hirschfeld;
discussing the inspiration that leads him from stage to page...those moments in a theatrical
narrative which translates seamlessly into an illustration alive with dynamic movement, humor
and often pathos. With his theatrical illustrative work appearing in The New York Times, The
LA Times, Variety, in advertising campaigns for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, Actors
Equity Association, the Theatre World Awards, and ten years of work for Broadway.com, Squigs
is arguably the leading theatrical caricaturist on the current landscape, and undeniably a pretty
fantastic guy. Enjoy! -
Having exploded onto the Broadway scene in 1997 with his TONY and DRAMA DESK nominated star turn in The Scarlet Pimpernel, Sills has gone on to capture the hearts of Broadway (Little Shop of Horrors, On The Twentieth Century, Living on Love), touring (The Secret Garden, Into the Woods, The Addams Family) and regional audiences alike. More recently, Doug can be seen as the sometimes French chef, Monsieur Baudin in Max’s The Gilded Age. Joining me today, Doug and I speak on all things Gilded Age, including being one of the earliest shows to return to production during the early days of COVID. As always, Doug’s charm, sense of humor, and extraordinary kindness shine through in this laugh-filled chat!
-
âI was obsessed at 7 years old...I saw Cats at the Shubert Theatre in Chicago and .there were
adults dressed as cats, jumping and singing and dancing around life-sized trash and it looked
like fun and I thought âthatâs a job!?â I wanna do that!â - Kate Baldwin
Pals for over a decade and a half, it was nothing but a joy to catch up with Broadwayâs Kate
Baldwin. Audiences will know her from starring roles on Broadway in Hello, Dolly!, Finianâs
Rainbow (TONY nominated for both), and Big Fish...Off-Broadway in John and Jen, Giant
(DRAMA DESK nominated for both), Superhero, Songbird and Babes in Arms. A darling of the
regional theater circuit for decades, Kate and I chat about our time with Barry Manilow and
Bruce Sussmanâs Harmony, being mother to a Pokemon expert, her formative time working in
theatres across the country and the puzzle of creating and marketing art to a contemporary,
post-pandemic audience. -
A longtime pal and castmate of Disneyâs The Lion King, Kenny and I begin laughing the moment
we are in each otherâs presence. With a career taking him from the renowned Hubbard Street
Dance Company to becoming a fixture in the Chicago theater scene, and eventually to Broadway
and beyond, Kenny is a singular creative voice in the current landscape; hilarious, unapologetic
and fiercely protective of those fortunate enough to work with and learn from him. In our chat,
Kenny speaks on working with the greats; Hal Prince, Susan Stroman, Mitzi Hamilton, Michael
Bennett...the list goes on. I promise you that twenty years from now, young folks will speak with
similar reverence for having been fortunate enough to work with Kenny Ingram.. Sit back and
listen as Kenny and talk all things Lion King, A Chorus Line, Showboat, potlucks, and work
ethic...you might even hear a Gwen Verdon imitation or two. -
âItâs like an act of God to create - itâs spiritual to create something out of nothingâ - Laura Bell
Bundy
Laura and I first worked together in a regional production of Gypsy, at NJâs Papermill
Playhouse, and even at the age of 17, Laura possessed a self-awareness and poise (not to
mention an extraordinary talent) that would lead to starring roles on Broadway ( Legally
Blonde, Hairspray, Wicked, The Cottage and more), television and film (Guiding Light,
Dreamgirls, How I Met Your Mother, How I Met Your Father) and currently stars in Fairly
Oddparents; Fairly Odder. In our chat, Laura and I recount the fun we had back in the old days,
while speaking on the current landscape of theatre, art, education, queer culture, gender norms
and societal expectations, as well as discussing her podcast Women of Tomorrow. Sit back and
enjoy! -
This past summer, after singing in a Sondheim concert at NYâs 54 Below, a stunning, spritely,
joy-filled woman approached with the kindest words and the request of a hug. I was immediately
infatuated and after introductions, I realized that Marty Lee and her husband George Lee
Andrews were as wonderful as I had always hoped they would be! Married for over 50 years,
George and Marty have navigated Broadway and Off-Broadway through its golden age and
beyond. With countless iconic productions behind them (The Fantasticks, Camelot, A Little
Night Music, Starting Here Starting Now...), George now holds the Guiness Worldâs record for
the most performances played of a single production (The Phantom of the Opera) - but youâll
have to listen to learn the actual number...itâs astounding! George and Marty were an absolute
delight to speak with and I truly look forward to having them on the show again...too many
stories for one episode! -
âMusical theatre was my entry point into understanding who I wasâ - Andrew Levitt
I learned about Nina West upon first moving to Columbus in 2017. Hilarious, political, unafraid
to play the fool, all while supporting her humor with a fierce intelligence...Nina had been an
anchor in the Columbus drag scene for a decade - thrilling audiences and working tirelessly to
raise millions of dollars for various Ohio charities before landing a spot on season 11 of RuPaulâs
Drag Race. Upon meeting Andrew, I immediately recognized that supporting the persona of
Nina is one of the most engaging, dynamic, and big-hearted men I have had the privilege to
know. Today we talk about what it means to carry the mantle of responsibility to the LGBTQIA+
community (my words, not his...heâs far too modest), serving as a constant example of what it
means to be a citizen of the world and the punk of drag. Have a seat and hear us chat about
Kermit the Frog, drag bans, Hairspray, Purlie Victorious and philanthropy. I am so honored to
count this man as a dear pal, and am thrilled to be able to share our conversation with our
listeners. -
âItâs always music - and an abiding need to tell storiesâ - Andrew Lippa
Broadway composer Andrew Lippa joins me in conversation for the very first episode of âThank
You, Half Hour - Conversations from the wingsâ Boasting a career spanning decades of
composing and performing for Broadway (Big Fish, The Addams Family, Youâre a Good Man,
Charlie Brown) Off-Broadway (The Wild Party, John and Jen) and Concert halls (I Am Harvey
Milk) around the world, Andrew and I became friends shortly after we both moved from New
York City to Columbus, OH in 2017. Since then, there have been countless conversations about
love, life, theater, politics, aging (only on my part....Andrew is very much a spring chicken!) and
the inspiration for it all - âItâs always music...and an abiding need to tell stories.â Todayâs chat
leads us from Thanksgiving tablecloths to Fiddler on the Roof, Harvey Milk, and a still unwritten
musical about the periodic table...and a very special thank you to Andrew for writing the theme
song for this podcast! For now, sit back and enjoy the conversation with Columbusâ own,
Andrew Lippa.