Dear Multi-hyphenate

Latest Episodes:

S2; EP 5 -- Lindsey Ferrentino: The Fear of 13 Oct 08, 2024

Where does a playwright start from? Would a playwright identify as a multi-hyphenate if they span genre, style, and medium of writing? How does a playwright break into both Broadway and the West End? Lindsey Ferrentino is one of our contemporary prolific voices in playwriting and she’s full of inspiring nuggets that will get anyone to put their ideas on paper.

In this episode we also discuss her upcoming play THE FEAR OF 13. Based on the extraordinary true story of Nick Yarris, Academy Award winner Adrien Brody makes his London theatre debut at the Donmar Warehouse in the world premiere ofTHE FEAR OF 13; a new play by Lindsey Ferrentino (Ugly Lies the Bone) directed by Justin Martin (Prima Facie).

Lindsey Ferrentino is an American playwright with three world premieres in the 2024 season. In May, she opened The Artist in the UK (co-adapted with Drew McConie, Theatre Royal Plymouth,) and this August, she will premiere the new musical The Queen of Versailles (book by Lindsey Ferrentino, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, starring Kristin Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham, The Colonial Theater).

Her other produced plays include Ugly Lies the Bone (The Lyttleton - National Theatre, UK, Roundabout Theatre Company, NY, over 100 productions worldwide), Amy and the Orphans (Roundabout Theatre Company), This Flat Earth (Playwrights Horizons), The Year to Come (La Jolla Playhouse) — among others. Her plays have been translated into Spanish, German, and Portuguese and have been produced across the US, in London, Germany, Spain, and Venezuela. This winter, Lindsey will direct her first feature film - an adaptation of her play Amy and the Orphans for Jason Bateman’s Aggregate Films.

She has various film projects in development at Netflix and Sony Pictures — with producers including Higher Ground, 3 Dot Entertainment, Dylan Clark Productions, Defiant by Nature. Lindsey is the recipient of The Arc’s prize for Entertainment Industry Excellence for her writing centered on disability inclusion. Other prizes include: the Kesserling, ASCAP Cole Porter Playwriting Prize, Paul Newman Drama Award, Laurents/Hatcher Award, NYU Distinguished Alumna Award, and Hunter College’s 40 Under 40 Distinguished Alumna. Lindsey is repped by CAA, Anonymous Content and Felker & Associates.

You can purchase tickets to The Fear of 13 here.

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S2; EP 4 -- Cameron Monaghan & Natalie Rebenkoff: Great Work Survives Oct 01, 2024

Many people go to college for theatre so one can become an educated actor. Through technique and tools, this will help the actor sustain a healthy and rich career. But what are students getting in terms of theatre business? My NYU student, Natalie Rebenkoff, graduated and took off with flying colors by digging into her multi-hyphenate potential and producing her first piece of work, The Nursery, an unpublished Clifford Odets one-act. The production co-stars Cameron Monaghan from the ever popular television show, Shameless.

So how does one graduate and produce their own work? What comes easy? What comes hard? What do we learn along the way? This episode is a great resource for actors who are deep in learning their technique but can also understand how to produce their own work – and not let each artform distract the other.

Natalie Rebenkoff is a New York-based actor, writer, and producer from Hermosa Beach, California. Her recent theater credits include Smokeshow (Edinburgh Fringe), Hamlet (RADA), MotherBoard (Experimental Theatre Wing), and I’m Sorry for Your Troubles (Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute). Her film credits include Don’t Look Up opposite Leonardo Dicaprio and Jennifer Lawrence. She would like to thank Walt Odets, Robert Ellerman, her family, and friends for all the support in bringing The Nursery to life and is excited to finally share this story.

Cameron Monaghan is an American actor, writer, director, and photographer. With a career of over 25 years, he is perhaps best known for his series regular roles as Ian on ‘Shameless’ and ‘The Joker’ on Gotham. In addition, he stars in the ‘Star Wars: Jedi’ game series. Supporting roles include ‘The Giver’ with Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges, ‘Paradise Highway’ with Juliette Binoche and Morgan Freeman, and the lead role in ‘Jamie Marks is dead’ which premiered at Sundance, amongst countless other projects. He studied screenwriting at SNHU and has attended directing courses at the Australian Film and Television School (AFTRS), The Actors Studio at Pinewood UK, and Marjorie Ballentine Theatre Company. He most currently filmed TRON: ARES for Disney.

Clifford Odets' The Nursery will be staged Off-Broadway October 10-12 at The Sam Theatre, with Stella Diji directing. The unpublished one-act will be presented by Point 5 Collective, in collaboration with The Lee Strasberg Creative Center.

Set in the 1950s, The Nursery follows an upper-middle class couple who are forced to confront the long-simmering fault lines in their troubled marriage. When the suppressed emotions of their union explode during a pivotal conversation, the strength of their love is tested.

The Nursery was discovered in the archives of The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. Visit TheNurseryPlay.com for more information.

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S2; EP 3 -- Hannah Solow: Oh, Mary! Sep 16, 2024

Hannah Solow is probably one of the funniest people on the planet. She creates hysterical characters on social media, is a stand up comic, and musical theatre performer. In this very funny episode, we dive into specific social media practices, grabbing control of your career, how getting cast in Broadway’s hit OH, MARY! came to be, and brilliant gems of stories from being in the industry – including what it was like to tour the country in Daniel Fish’s OKLAHOMA!, for instance.

Hannah Solow is currently understudy to Mary Todd Lincoln and Mary’s Chaperone/Bill in Oh, Mary!, written by Cole Escola and directed by Sam Pinkleton, at The Lyceum Theatre on Broadway.

She received her BFA in drama from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and has performed everywhere from The Kennedy Center to a hostel in Chinatown. She traveled to over 20 cities across the country performing as “Gertie Cummings” in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” directed by Daniel Fish. She performed on Broadway at The Cort Theatre as the “understudy” to Mike Birbiglia in his show, The New One.

For many years she performed weekly at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade with musical improv team, Rumpleteaser, and monthly with house sketch teams. She has performed her original standup, characters and songs at The Bell House, Caroline’s, Club Cumming, Littlefield, and many more places/basements. She has taught improvisation to students pre-K through fifth grade across both Manhattan and Brooklyn. They were way funnier than she is. @babymcgoo

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S2; EP 2 -- Michael Cyril Creighton: Only Multi-Hyphenates in the Building Sep 16, 2024

Who is absolutely loving HULU’s Only Murders in the Building? I am! On this episode of Dear Multi-Hyphenate, we have the loveable Michael Cyril Creighton who plays Howard Morris on Only Murders in the Building on HULU. We discuss how Michael was compelled to create his own work and how it created a domino effect of constant work in the industry. It’s all about writing what you know, and Michael certainly proves that theory. How did he end up from working the box office to working on some of the most successful tv shows and films of all time?

TELEVISION: Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” (Series Regular), Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (recurring) Showtime’s “Dexter: New Blood” (recurring), Netflix’s “Dash & Lily” (recurring), HBO's "High Maintenance" (recurring), EPIX's "Graves" (recurring), Amazon’s “A League of Their Own”, Netflix’s “AJ & the Queen”, FOX's "Bob's Burgers," Showtime's "Billions," "Horace and Pete," FOX’s “Bob’s Burgers,” CBS's "The Good Fight," Adult Swim's "Neon Joe Werewolf Hunter," Showtime's "Nurse Jackie," Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black,” NBC’s “30 Rock,” FX’s “Louie,” CBS's "2 Broke Girls," CBS’s “Person of Interest," FX's "Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll," LOGO’s “Jeffery & Cole Casserole.”

FILM: Cord Jeffereson’s “American Fiction,” Steven Spielberg's "The Post," "Game Night," "Spotlight," "Can You Ever Forgive Me?," “Seneca,” "Home Again," "Coin Heist," "Sleeping With Other People," "Fits and Starts," "3rd Street Blackout," “Towheads,” “How To Follow Strangers,” “Paper Spiders” and “The Outside Story.”

THEATRE: Jordan Harrison's The Amateurs (Vineyard Theatre), Sarah Ruhl's Stage Kiss (Playwrights Horizons), Blood Play, Buddy Cop 2, You're Welcome and Cape Disappointment (all with The Debate Society), Joshua Conkel's MilkMilkLemonade and more. I was a founding member of the New York Neo-Futurists and performed weekly in “Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind.”

WEB: Michael created a web series called “Jack in a Box,” which he starred in, produced, wrote and co-directed. The series ran from 2009-2012 and consisted of 31 episodes, dozens of cupcakes and a fair amount of funny-sad humor. It was written about in several publications and on several websites, including The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Time Out New York, Le Monde Paris, The New York Daily News, The AV Club and Michael was named a “Digital All Star” by Backstage. The series won Best Web Pilot at the 2010 New York Television Festival and was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Achievement in Original New Media two consecutive years in a row (2012 & won in 2013). Other work on the web includes "High Maintenance," "The Outs," "Very Mary-Kate," "Eat Our Feelings" and more.

Proud member of SAG-AFTRA, Actors Equity and the Writers Guild.

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S2; EP 1 -- Lea Delaria: The Gay Agenda Sep 16, 2024

Welcome back to Dear Multi-Hyphenate! It is Season Two and let’s kick it off with superstar multi-hyphenate Lea Delaria. In this episode we discuss all about how and when to identify as a certain type of artist, unheard stories of working with Lea’s idols, hysterical and inspiring stories about projects like POTUS and Orange is the New Black, and of course Lea’s new brunch show at 54 Below… Brunch is Gay, currently running one Sunday a month at 54 Below.

Lea was the first openly gay comic on television in America, and is an accomplished Jazz performer who has performed in concert venues all over the world. She is best known as ‘Big Boo’ from Orange is the New Black (3 SAG Awards). Lea can currently be seen in the indie feature film Potato Dreams of America, and in the Indigo Girls jukebox feature film, Glitter & Doom. Lea recently starred in the Off-Broadway Revival of Tennessee Williams' play, The Night of the Iguana, directed by Emily Mann. TV credits include Girls5Eva, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, East New York,The Blacklist, Physical, Reprisal, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, Shameless, and Broad City. Film credits include Cars 3, Support The Girls, and First Wives Club. Broadway credits, POTUS Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive (Bernadette), The Rocky Horror Show (Eddie/Dr. Scott) and On The Town (Hildy), Obie and Theatre World Awards. @realleadelaria www.leadelaria.com

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#103 - Adam DeCarlo: Post Pandemic Practices Mar 11, 2024

“I love self tapes in the post pandemic world.”

Why? Why does Adam love self tapes when so many other actors don’t? How can we embrace them? In fact, how can we embrace and adapt post-pandemic practices into our lives? Let’s face it – the industry looks different. So, we have to shift. And Adam DeCarlo has done a great job at doing just that.

Adam DeCarlo is an award-winning actor and filmmaker based in NYC. Adam was born and raised in Orange County, California; where he began studying acting at the Tony Award-Winning regional theatre, South Coast Repertory. After graduating High School, he studied as a Theatre major at Fullerton College, where he performed in many of their productions and served as a Theatre Arts Ambassador for the department for two years. He then transferred to the University of California, Riverside (UCR) where he continued to study theatre and graduated with a BA, as a double major in Theatre and Media/Cultural Studies.

Upon graduating from UCR, Adam moved to New York City and studied at the renowned Circle in the Square Theatre School. While living in NYC, he has appeared on several hit TV shows on Netflix, FOX, HULU, HBO, and A&E. Adam is the writer & director of two award-winning short films, ‘Lost & Found’ & ‘Skeletons’. Proud member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA.

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#102 - Jodi Carter: Taxes and Financial Mentality Feb 27, 2024

“What ever jobs you have on your path to where you're trying to get to to your vision all matter. And the fact that we call these things a side hustle or we talk about ‘the unwanted jobs' and all of those types of descriptions… it's not empowering people.” -- Jodi Carter

When it comes to being an artist, what is the first thing we have to know about money?

According to Jodi Carter, it’s a new language. A wow, do we discover a new language in this episode. This episode is deeply, deeply personal and Michael and Jodi truly get into a vulnerable conversation about money. It might be something all artists can relate to.

What is “ifcome” and how does it change our perspective of money managing?

How do we work around the starving artist paradigm?

The pressure to say yes and show up. Is it healthy?

The myth of uncertainty and the myth of someday.

Things we make up to ourselves when it comes to money.

A big financial hug.

Jodi Carter, CPA, has spent decades helping individuals, couples, and families – from all different financial levels and circumstances – make countless choices. This unique view sparked her desire to reach people how to live their best lives. Jodi founded Financial Insight Training to help people shift their lives from stress to freedom.

As a lifelong supporter of the arts, Jodi knew she has to create a program specifically tailored to the unique needs of artists, who live with fluctuating income and need specialized guidance for managing their finances. The IfCome® Paradigm is the framework for creative people to live as thriving artists.

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#101 - Scott Barnhardt: The Worth of a College Degree Feb 14, 2024

“If I were king of the mountain and I got to say how all arts education was – I would actually say the idea of being curiously creative is key; testing out all the ideas and options.” – Scott Barnhardt

This is a wildly fun and informative podcast for artists of all ages – especially those looking into studying theatre in college. Here’s what you’ll find in this episode:

The college audition mindset

The falsehoods of being a “starving artist”

What is true about being a “starving artist”?

Lucrative ways of working in the theatre

Leaning into the type of artist you want to be known as

The worth of a college degree

SCOTT BARNHARDT is a musical theatre actor, theatre maker, writer, educator and Independent Education Consultant (IEC). He is also the owner and creator of The Creative College Journey, a bespoke approach to college guidance working exclusively with creative applicants (writers, filmmakers, actors, dancers)—helping families handle both the academic and artistic aspects of a college application with the goal to lower stress and increase clarity and enjoyment throughout the process. As a teacher and administrator, he most recently served as Lead Faculty for the Contemporary Musical Theatre + Film BFA program at Hussian College Los Angeles, and before that as the Director of Musical Theatre at the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA). He is a graduate of Wagner College (BA, Theatre/Speech) and UCLA (MFA, Playwriting). His acting credits include the original Broadway cast of The Book of Mormon (Elder Harris/Elder Thomas, u/s Elder McKinley, Asst. Dance Captain) and the Deaf West Broadway Revival of Big River at Roundabout. Other NYC: Yank! (The Old Globe Workshop), Bye Bye Birdie (City Center Encores!). National tours: The Boy Friend directed by Julie Andrews, Deaf West's Big River, the Detroit company of White Christmas and the Japanese tour of Disney on Classic with the Tokyo Philharmonic. At OCSA, along with teaching audition prep and a class called Mind|Body|Voice, he directed the virtual production of Now. Here. This. (the first full-length musical to be shot and presented entirely during quarantine), Evita (in association with Musical Theatre West), the High School premiere of Jasper in Deadland, The Drowsy Chaperone, Xanadu, 9-to-5 (alongside Jessica Lea Patty). He was also seen in concert with students at the Irvine Barclay Theatre in Coming Home with Krysta Rodriguez and Scott Barnhardt. Scott has taught workshops, master classes and built programming for UCLA, The Grammy Foundation, Professional School for the Arts, American Ballet Theatre, University of Michigan, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, MTCA of OC, Cal State Fullerton, Broadway Dreams, Broadway Classroom, International Thespian Festival, EdTA Professional Development, Florida Thespian Festival and The Performing Arts Project among others. Awards and grants include the 2004 Tony Honor (Big River), Grammy Citation for Best Cast Album (The Book of Mormon), Tim Robbins Playwriting Award, Sono Osato Scholarship, Caroline H. Newhouse Scholarship and the George Burns & Gracie Allen Fellowship in Comedy.

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#100B - Rob Madge: I Find the Industry Hysterical Feb 06, 2024

“Collaboration is the most crucial thing you can do. Even if you are writing a solo show for yourself, for your family’s story, show it to somebody – share it with somebody.” - Rob Madge

Rob Madge is about to open their solo play on Broadway – so how did it go from home videos to fringe to West End to Broadway? Listen to this amazing episode and learn all about the new play My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?). This is the second part to Dear Multi-Hyphenate's 100th Episode celebration!

Transitioning from a child actor into an adult actor.

How does a show go from Fringe to Broadway?

Handling the weight of Broadway with humor.

Sense of play.

Rob Madge is a theatre maker, writer and actor. They began working professionally in theatre at the age of 9, having spent the majority of their childhood forcing their family to help them put on shows in the living room, most of which are now documented on Rob’s social media channels. Rob is best known for their show My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) which was nominated for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play at the 2023 Olivier Awards. Following this ongoing success, Rob won Best Creative Debut at The Stage Debut Awards, 2023 and the Attitude Award for Best Theatre Production, 2023. Most recent credits as a performer: Peter Pan (London Palladium). Theatre credits as a performer include: My Son’s A Queer (Writer/Performer: Turbine Theatre, Edinburgh, West End); Jack and the Beanstalk (London Palladium); Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), Macbeth (Gielgud Theatre), Oliver! (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), Les Misérables (25th Anniversary International Tour and Concert), Matilda the Musical (Courtyard Theatre, RSC), Bedknobs & Broomsticks (UK Tour/World Premiere),Timpson the Musical, Held Momentarily, Leave A Light On, Roles We’ll Never Play. TV credits include: The Sarah Jane Adventures, That Mitchell and Webb Look, The Armstrong and Miller Show, Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire, Poirot: Appointment with Death. Rob’s debut play My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?) played to sold out audiences at the Turbine Theatre in 2021 and won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Off-West End Production. My Son’s a Queer is headlined the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at Underbelly (George Square) in 2022, and debuted to five-star reviews at the Garrick and Ambassadors in the West End. The play script is published by Nick Hern Books. Rob graduated with a Masters in Musical Theatre from the Royal Academy of Music, being awarded the DipRAM. Rob writes and performs their own skits on their social media channels which, as a result, have amassed a following of over 300,000 collectively, with over 11.3 million likes.

Twitter: @rob_madge_02

Instagram: @robmadge02

TikTok: @rob_madge_

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#100A - Busy Philipps: Point of View Jan 22, 2024

“The greatest success for actors comes … when they sort of let go of the idea that there's something that they need to be and they relax into the idea that who they are is the gift and they just need to bring that to the work.” - Busy Philipps

Happy 100th episode of Dear Multi-Hyphenate! We are celebrating with two parts of a big 100th episode celebration. Let’s start with the amazing Busy Philipps as we discuss…

An artist’s superpower

Rise to stardom

Knowing yourself

Bad rep, good rep

How Tina Fey supported Busy

Mean Girls… and so much more.

Busy Philipps has starred in numerous movies and television since her breakout role in “Freaks and Geeks” in 1999. In 2018, Philipps released a collection of humorous autobiographical essays in her book, “This Will Only Hurt a Little,” that was immediately a New York Times bestseller, offering unfiltered and candid stories about her life. Currently, Philipps stars in the hit comedy series “Girls5eva” opposite Sara Bareilles, which Netflix recently picked up for a third season. Produced by Tina Fey, the acclaimed series centers on a one-hit wonder girl group from the '90s who try for another chance at pop stardom. Philipps can also be seen in “Mean Girls” playing Regina George’s Mom — a fan favorite. Recently, she also appeared in a scene-stealing recurring turn in three episodes of Freeform’s hit comedy series “Single Drunk Female.” In 2020, Philipps launched her podcast “Busy Phillipps is Doing Her Best” with her creative partner, Caissie St. Onge, featuring conversations reflecting on when setbacks led to better opportunities. @busyphilipps

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#99 - Jordan Kai Burnett: It's Okay to Love It Jan 02, 2024

“If I had just focused on this one thing, I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to experience the life that I’ve had, which has been pretty sick.” -- Jordan Kai Burnett

In this episode we discuss…

Agism in the industry

Is there a French Woods and Stage Door competition?

Humping dogs!

Are we ever too young to do a show in youth theatre?

Allowing yourself to be a theatre nerd!

What happens to your personal life when you open yourself up to new artistic experiences.

Paying your bills based on your art.

Checking off boxes.

Maintaining family expectations.

How acting has taken a backseat in performances today.

JKB just finished the sold-out run in the world premiere production of Gene & Gilda, playing their comedy idol – Gilda Radner. They just returned from their Las Vegas debut starring as the Emcee for Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike Live which played at both the Hard Rock and legendary Sahara Hotel & Casino. They were featured in the same role for Finding Magic Mike on HBOMAX. Favorite credits include: Romy & Michele: the Musical - Heather Mooney (5th Avenue Theater, Seattle - Gregory Award Nom, best supporting actress in a musical) Found - Denise (West Coast Premiere, IAMA Theater Company directed by Moritz Von Stuelpnagel.) Scissorhands: The Musical as Scissorhands, in Los Angeles. Was lucky enough to work side by side with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo on their Romeo & Juliet Project as Benvolia. Co-creator of Daisy & Jordan's Sunday Brunch of Shame with comedy partner, Tony Award winner, Daisy Eagan. A graduate of Emerson College and a student of both The Groundlings and the Upright Citizens Brigade. @JkaiB jkaib.com

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#98 - Hope Boykin: We Can Be Grateful and Frustrated at the Same Time Dec 04, 2023

“I don’t give you a trophy for showing up. I don’t applaud a bird for flying or a fish for swimming. You chose to be here and so you got to eat a little sand from the sandbox because it builds up your immunity.”

In this episode we discuss…

What do you do when you start to become a leader?

What happens after you’re told no?

What is good teaching?

Hope Boykin, a two-time "Bessie Award" winner, is an acclaimed dancer, choreographer and artistic advisor known for her 20-year tenure with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and her choreography for various companies worldwide. With a passion for pushing artistic boundaries, she has co-directed Off-Broadway and regional theater productions, while her virtual works have earned acclaim from institutions like Carolina Performing Arts and theGuggenheim Works And Process Virtual Commissions initiative. As a motivating force, Hope has served as a keynote speaker for Lincoln Center Activate and received a grant for her Covid Safe residency #BoykinBubble. Hercreative endeavors extend to filmmaking, including the Emmy-nominated short film "Beauty Size & Color." Frompremiering "An Evening of Hope" at 92nd Street Y to directing performances like "The Other Side" for the KennedyCenter, Hope's artistry knows no limits.

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#97 - Frances Ruffelle & Norman Bowman: Frankie & Beausy Perfect the Cabaret Nov 03, 2023

“It’s really, really important for them to see cabaret, go and see other people… go and see who’s good, go and see who’s bad, go and see what they want to portray because what I have noticed in the past, a lot of young people do a cabaret and you say, “What have you seen, what inspired you?” And a lot of them say, “Well, I haven’t been.” - Tony Winner Frances Ruffelle

Frankie and Beausy are an adorable couple… and they work with each other professionally. So, what’s that like? How do you collaborate with your partner and not want to choke them!? In this episode, we discuss…

Individuality in the theatre

Successful and organic networking

How to work with your romantic partner

Frankie and Norman’s upcoming show at 54 Below

Frances Ruffelle (Frankie) originated the role of Eponine in Les Misérables in London and on Broadway, winning the coveted Tony® Award. Frances has performed in many musicals and plays, including as Roxie in Chicago, Queenie in The Wild Party, and Piaf in Pam Gem’s Piaf. Frances is also a recording artist, composer, and writer.

Norman Bowman (Beausy) is currently appearing as Sam in Mamma Mia! in the West End having just finished filming the role of Sir William Herbert in feature film Firebrand alongside Jude Law’s Henry VIII. Other leading roles include Marius in Les Misérables, Danny in Grease, Munkustrap in Cats, and Sky in Guys and Dolls.

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#96 - Jai Rodriguez: A Thousand Sweet Kisses Oct 11, 2023

“Trail blazers very rarely get to reap the benefits of the very trail they helped blaze.”

This conversation with Jai Rodriguez is a perfect conversation when it comes to being a multi-hyphenate. What happens if we get pigeon holed into one thing? Jai had a tough time breaking out of what people thought they knew about him or what he could do after Queer Eye. So how did he lean into the full rounded multi-hyphenate he is now? In this episode we discuss…

How he landed the original cast of Queer Eye on Bravo.

The multi-hyphenate life he was leading while being a TV star.

How he broke out of what people thought they knew about him.

Gatekeeping.

Understanding the type of life and career you want to exist simulatenously.

Avoiding bad professional relationships.

Jai's upcoming 54 Below show, A Thousand Sweet Kisses

Emmy Award winner and Broadway veteran Jai Rodriguez returns home to the NYC stage after 17 years, with his new cabaret show A Thousand Sweet Kisses, chronicling his hilarious journey through love, sex and relationships. Purchase tickets here.

Best known as the “Culture Guy” in the groundbreaking original “Queer Eye,” theater audiences first met Jai at the age of 18 when he played Angel in RENT, making him the youngest person ever cast in a leading role in that show. While in NYC, Jai appeared at Lincoln Center in Spinning Into Butter, as Carmen Ghia in The Producers and as Zanna in the cult classic Zanna, Don’t! While performing eight shows a week, Jai became a fixture in nightlife with his popular post modern pop cabaret night at XL called Twisted Cabaret. Since then Jai has become a regular fixture in TV and film guest starring on shows like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Rookie,” “The Magicians,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Fantasy Island,” and as the scene stealing Geoffrey in “Malibu Country” opposite Reba and Lily Tomlin to name a few. Most recently Jai was in the Judd Apatow film BROS and is in “Uncoupled,” which is about to shoot its second season.

A Thousand Sweet Kisses is a hilarious and touching musical cabaret featuring Broadway and pop classics as well as never before told behind the scenes stories. Each night will feature a different surprise guest dueting “I’ll Cover You” from RENT with him. Join us for Jai’s unforgettable return to the NYC stage!

Featuring special guests Claybourne Elder (Company, “The Gilded Age”) on October 26, Orfeh (Tony Award® and Grammy nominee, Legally Blonde) on October 27, and Dan Amboyer (“Younger,” “Uncoupled”) on October 28.

The performance on October 27 will also be livestreamed. For tickets and more information, click here.

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#95 - Sarah Looper: Building A Wine Community Sep 25, 2023

“It’s fascinating how other people, because they don’t feel comfortable with the changes you’re making, feel more comfortable if you are just one thing.” - Sarah Looper, Episode 95 of Dear Multi-Hyphenate

If Sarah Looper is anything – she’s herself… but it took a second to get there. After questioning if she was too much because other people told her she was, she finally let that go and became the best artist she can be. She is finding her voice connecting with thousands of people on TikTok educating viewers on the wonders of food and wine through a hysterical and relatable approach. In this episode we discuss…

Discovering your own confidence

The wonders of wine!

Being too this, being too that

Overcoming negative experiences

Building community through wine.

Taking risks and being specific.

What is success?

Sarah has been in the wine and food world for over twenty-five years. She is a Master Sommelier candidate, a Certified Wine Educator, a Certified Specialist of Wine, and a graduate of the WSET Diploma program. Her passion for wine lies firmly in educating and sharing her knowledge in an open, friendly, and non-judgemental atmosphere. She has been a wine educator for 15 years. She was a lead wine educator at New York City's Murray's Cheese for 9 years and taught specialized Italian wine classes at Astor Center for 4 years. She is an advanced gelato maker and she cooks at home most nights seeking to put her own stamp on classic and regional fare ranging from French haute cuisine to Szechuan. Whenever possible she collects and drinks Champagne, Barolo and German Kabinett Riesling but is an equal opportunity drinker. Sarah is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in History and a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America's Baking and Pastry program. She can be found on Instagram @loopersomm.

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#94 - Shivani Desai: Don’t Overpitch Yourself Sep 11, 2023

“At its core, fundamentally being a multi-hyphenate is, to me, about exploration and not limiting yourself to one particular thing just because your natural strengths lie in that one particular thing.” -- Shivani Desai

In this episode, we discuss…

The importance of keeping hobbies separate from our hyphens.

Starting a new small business.

How multi-hyphenating helped get Michael out of a depressive episode.

The importance of workflow.

The common traps of netweaving.

Leaning out and not overpitching yourself.

Small, yet important business tactics.

When to appropriately accommodate for your clients.

It feels like everyday we wake up to news that is painful to read. That is why Shivani believes that art is so crucial in reminding us of the beauty that also exists in this world. She feels so connected to her purpose when she brings people hope, and comfort, and a smile through her work. That is why she’s an actor.

Shivani Desai is a 25 year old actor from India currently living in Singapore. Having grown up watching Bollywood cinema, her interest in the arts was sparked at a young age and she has relentlessly pursued the path of making art for a living ever since. Now a working actor, Shivani has starred in short films, TV shows, original plays, music videos, documentaries, and commercials while also working as a model for local magazines and making guest appearances on reality shows and podcasts.

Apart from acting, Shivani also runs her own coaching business full-time. Born out of a desire to help actors who live in non-major markets who don’t have access to same business coaching that their fellow actors in LA, NYC, or London do, she transitions actors stuck in the weird limbo between new actor and working actor into kickass business-savvy actors who operate globally. Shivani’s latest venture as an event developer involves taking on the mammoth task of organising an actor’s conference in Las Vegas this November. With this, she feels like she has flourished fully into a multi-hyphenate who is no longer bound by traditional definitions of what it means to be a working professional in the creative field.

To her, film and theatre signify the desire to affect change, a means to living truthfully, and an unwavering commitment to the process. Apart from acting, Shivani also enjoys self-portrait photography, cooking and baking, and acrylic painting.

You can find Shivani on Instagram @itsshivanidesai

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#93 - Jamie Forshaw: Producing with Passion at Madison Wells Live Aug 22, 2023

“The minute we think we know everything, or do everything… we become irrelevant.” – Jamie Forshaw

What happens when we stop learning? What happens when we stop exploring? That’s what makes Jamie Forshaw’s artistry as a producer with Madison Wells Live extremely personal and special – he doesn’t stop exploring. We as artists always have to keep exploring… and sometimes that exploration heals us from a nervous breakdown or have massive commercial hits on Broadway.

In this episode we discuss…

Why we do what we do

Exploration

What happens when you meet an idol respectfully?

Art healing a nervous breakdown

Do coincidences exist?

How does a piece speak to Jamie when he is producing a project?

Developing The Thing About Jellyfish and Jenkins

Show doctors!

Not every show needs to go to Broadway

Finding the right theatre for a show

Jamie Forshaw (Producer) leads Madison Wells Live as their Executive Producer. Under his oversight, Madison Wells Live has developed a robust-but-curated slate of stage productions focused on essential, artist-driven storytelling. Broadway credits include Shucked, The Old Man and the Pool, Company (Tony Award for “Best Revival of a Musical''), Hadestown (Tony Award for “Best Musical''), Pass Over and The Inheritance (Tony Award for “Best Play”). West End: The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Olivier nomination for “Best New Play”). Off-Broadway: Seven Deadly Sins (Drama Desk Award for “Best Unique Theatrical Experience”). Regional: Swept Away. Over the course of his 20+ year career working with an array of internationally recognized producers, including Cameron Mackintosh, Thomas Schumacher, and Michael Cohl, Forshaw has become a sought-after specialist in managing high profile, multi-million dollar budgeted global theater productions. He most recently served as V.P. of Production at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group, where he oversaw its full global roster of First-Class productions. Mr. Forshaw holds an M.F.A. from Columbia University in Theatre Management and Producing.

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#92 - BroadwayCon 2023 LIVE! Jul 24, 2023

“For anybody that’s struggling or does not believe in themselves, you just have to keep going because one day it will happen and it will be the most glorious thing of your whole lives. So, never stop. Never stop.” – Marla Mindelle

It’s BroadwayCon 2023! This special episode is filmed live in front of a BroadwayCon audience. We had such an amazing turn out and I already cannot wait until next year. This panel was loaded with incredible insight so let’s get into it. In this episode we discuss…

Why it’s so important being a multi-hyphenate today.

Creating Titanique Off Broadway

Having a better relationship with money

Bonding two seemingly contrasting hyphens but understand they meld perfectly

Failure

Workflow & more

Rachel Wright

Rachel Wright, MA, LMFT (she/her) is a distinguished psychotherapist and renowned speaker with expertise in modern relationships, mental health, and sex. Master’s Degree in clinical psychology. Podcast: The Wright Conversations - A Podcast About Sex, Relationships, & Mental Health. Rachel created the virtual workshop series What You Wish You Learned in School: Sex Ed and co-produced and hosted a show at Green Room 42 in NYC called “One Night Stand: A Night for Sexier & Healthier Broadway.” Previously SHAPE Magazine’s Sex + Relationships Coach and is currently one of mindbodygreen’s article review experts. Featured in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, PIX 11 (NYC), Women’s Health (online and print), Cosmopolitan (online and print) and NBC News Radio, among others.

Al Silber

Al Silber is an actress, singer, writer and educator. She has performed roles on Broadway, in London's West End, on television and film, and concert stages. In London, she created the role of Laura Fairlie in The Woman in White, played Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof and Julie Jordan in Carousel. In New York, she appeared in Hello Again, Master Class, created the role of Sara Jane in Arlington and as Tzeitel in the Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof.Her novels After Anatevka and White Hot Grief Parade were both published by Pegasus Books in 2018.

L Morgan Lee

L Morgan Lee (she/her) is a Tony Award® nominated actress and storyteller known for her history-making turn in A Strange Loop on Broadway. In London, she was seen playing famed artist Lili Elbe in a musical adaptation of The Danish Girl currently in development. Other work includes well over a decade of Off-Broadway, Regional, International/National concerts and tours. In the studio, L Morgan was the voice of Ornate Williams in Sugar Maple w. Fred Savage (Osiris Media) and can be found on Joe Iconis' album (Ghostlight Records), The Rainbow Lullaby Album (Broadway Records), and more. @lmorganlee | lmorganlee.com

Marla Mindelle

Marla Mindelle is an actress, writer and composer. 2023 Lucille Lortel Award for Best Performer in a musical for her portrayal of Céline Dion in the hit Off-Broadway musical, Titanique. As a co-writer, Titanique also won the Lucille Lortel for Best Off-Broadway Musical. She has received an Outer Circle Critics Nomination for her portrayal of Sister Mary Robert in the original cast of Sister Act on Broadway. Other Broadway: Stepsister Gabrielle in Cinderella, South Pacific (Broadway) and The Drowsy Chaperone (Kitty, First National Tour). TV: Special on Netflix.

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#91 - Alex Donnelly: A Numbers Guy Jul 17, 2023

“Be as specific as humanly possible. Don’t tell someone that you want to be a trader. Tell them that you want to be the oil and gas exploration, large cap, single name, U.S. equity derivatives trader because then, the one time a year that position comes up, people remember…”

In this episode we discuss…

Being there for your inner child

Creating positive work experiences

Being specific with your work

How to start producing

Fortress Productions and Production Resource Group

Alex joined Production Resource Group (PRG) in early 2018 to help expand PRG’s international presence in TV and Film before transitioning to PRG’s Broadway division in 2020, where he manages the lighting, audio, and video teams from Secaucus, NY. Under Alex’s lead, PRG’s brilliant team of creative visionaries and technologists are truly the masterminds behind the immersive visual experiences that transport Broadway’s audiences to new worlds. Their technological developments have also helped to revolutionize theatrical productions, continuing to create an even more engaging experience at each show, including shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Some Like it Hot, Lion King, & Juliet, Take Me Out, and many more.

Alex also owns and manages Fortress Productions, a live events and theatrical production company, and was Founding Executive Director of the Corkscrew Theater Festival, a multi-venue theatrical non-profit in New York City.

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#90 - Lydia-Renee Darling: Breaking Out of the Scarcity Mindset Jun 27, 2023

“If you’re branching into the U.K. market post Brexit, it’s going to be a nightmare and I don’t say that to dissuade you, just to remind you that what I did was very specific.” - Lydia-Renee Darling

In this episode we discuss:

Pandemic panic! Grad panic!

What are the main differences and similarities for multi-hyphenates in the NYC and West End markets?

How do you plant your feet when branching into new markets?

What happens when you girl-boss too hard?

Breaking out of the scarcity mindset.

How does multi-hyphenating contribute to cultural preservation?

The American Dream

The concept of Ann Bogart’s Satz

Lydia-Renee Darling is an actor-producer and founder with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Webster Conservatory of Theatre Arts and an MA in Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. As a biracial, second-generation Ghanaian-American, Lydia aims to explore identity, belonging and mental health within heightened worlds and uses live immersive theatre with digital interactive elements to enhance audience impact.

#rememberadam, a Zoom short produced, written and acted by Lydia in response to the Kenosha shootings in her home state, was chosen for the Lift Off Sessions festival, First Time Filmmaker Festival and Andromeda Film Festival. A portion of her play, The Thin Gray Line, has been seen at Bob Carter's Actors' Rep and she performed in her short play, Twenty-Five and Other Things, at The Pleasance in the Dear Black People Festival in July 2021.

Lydia is the Founder of Oh! (My Gosh) Creative Co., an international DEI audience development and co production company. A systemic lack of access to visibility and guidance in the entertainment industry has resulted in fewer BIPOC professionals, making fewer and fewer BIPOC want to enter the industry… and so the cycle repeats. OMG breaks this vicious cycle of underrepresentation. At Oh! (My Gosh) Creative Co., Lydia produces entertainment featuring marginalized creatives both onstage and backstage and specializes in reaching audiences that reflect the diverse faces of those casts. She most recently served as Associate Producer and Head of Marketing for the UK tour of Vitamin D.

Lydia has been part of multiple accelerators for Oh! (My Gosh) Creative Co., which won a first place grant at Do It Now Now’s Black and Good: Build Hustle Grow 2.0. The first of its kind on DEI in entertainment, OMG will launch their virtual publication in January 2024. This is possible due to grant support from Do it Now Now and residency at Somerset House Trust, plus the input, support and mentorship of Rachel at Brick London, Nikita at Local Champions CIC, Louis at 7PK and the ECHO Young Entrepreneurship Accelerator. This is a much-needed publication by underrepresented creatives, for underrepresented creatives. Even if you're not underrepresented in the industry, we'll have stellar tools, takeaways and studies for allies.

Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Lydia now splits her time between Chicago and as a commonwealth citizen in London.

To keep up with Lydia and Oh! (My Gosh) Creative Co., find her here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydiareneedarling/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-renee-darling/

Website: https://www.lydiareneedarling.com

Oh! (My Gosh) Creative Co.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohmygoshcreative.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oh-my-gosh-creative-co/

Website: https://www.ohmygoshcreative.co

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#89 - Renrick Palmer: Way Your Way to Success Jun 12, 2023

“It’s the people who hang in there the longest who get to reap the benefits.”

Sometimes multi-hyphenating in the theatre includes hyphens we didn’t know could affect each other. This amazing episode includes insight from actor – Veteran – writer Renrick Palmer. In this episode, we also discuss…

Accepting love

Establishing relationships and a network

Where to start in the industry

Hanging around long enough

Relationships with educators

Knowing about yourself but being on a journey

How being in the military has affected his journey in showbusiness

Renrick Palmer was born in Kingston, Jamaica. After turning thirteen, his family decided it was time for a change and headed north to New York City where Renrick would eventually finish school. Despite being drawn to the arts, Renrick felt another calling. He soon found himself swearing in as an airman in the United States Air Force. His time in uniform took him around the world, including a tour of duty in the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, exposing him to numerous cultures and experiences most of us seldom have. Not only did this help Renrick develop as a person, it provided him with the foundation for all that soon followed.

After leaving service, Renrick enrolled in Long Island University. He obtained a degree in Exercise Science and used it to launch his career. Renrick also graduated from the New York Film Academy and is active with the Public Theater (Military Resilience Foundation). His passion traces back to Shakespeare, fueling his drive to perform.

Renrick has numerous accolades and accomplishments to his name, not the least of which being honored to play baseball great Jackie Robinson on the History Channel. He is best known for playing the part of Nelson Green in the off-Broadway Critic’s Pick Play Wedding Band. Never one to rest on his past achievements, Renrick won the Best Actor award at the Ignite Film Festival in 2022 for his portrayal of Hassim in the short film Hold Up.

His book War Your Way to Success is currently available here.

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#88 - Giles Terera: Hamilton & Me May 22, 2023

“The only thing you can control is what you take into [the audition], I always like to think, like the work that you’ve done – and as you say – who you are. You can control that, you can work on that. Often we put that to the side and go, what do they want to see? What do they want to hear? What do I need to do in order to be able to impress them enough to get this job? And if you don’t get things, you then go, ‘Oh is it because I’m not X, Y, Z?’ And then the danger is that you can start to change without even really clocking it, and overtime you can drift away from what you originally were.” -- Giles Terera, Episode 88 of Dear Multi-Hyphenate

The industry is not just New York or LA. It’s Chicago, it’s D.C. It's Miami. But it’s also across the pond in London. Not only did we have the British Invasion of the 1980’s with Phantom, Les Mis, and more… we continue to have a U.S. and U.K. by way in terms of artist exchanges. Giles Terera, Oliver Award Winner for Hamilton in the West End, gives us incredible information about the West End. And even though we are divided by the Atlantic Ocean, so many constants bring us together, but also there are quite a few things we can learn from each other.

In this episode, we discuss:

Truthfully staying true to who you are and how it leads to a Broadway / West End debut

Fearlessness

How being a reader behind the table helps auditioning

Moving to a big city and what you need to know

Agent outreach

Giles’ new book Hamilton & Me

Giles Terera MBE is award-winning actor, musician, and writer.

He trained at Mountview Theatre School and has worked consistently at venues such as the National Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare’s Globe. He is best known for originating the role of Aaron Burr in the London production of the award-winning musical Hamilton, for which he won the 2018 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

His other theatre credits include Rosmersholm, The Tempest, Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon, 125th Street, Rent (West End); Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Hamlet, Death and the King’s Horseman, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other, Troilus and Cressida, Candide, Honk (National Theatre); The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare’s Globe); The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Donmar Warehouse); The Playboy of the Western World (Abbey, Dublin); The Ratpack (West End/international tour); Jailhouse Rock (Theatre Royal Plymouth/West End); The Tempest (RSC); among many others.

As a writer his theatre work includes The Meaning of Zong (Bristol Old Vic), The Ballad of Soho Jones (St. James), and Black Matter (Crazy Coqs). As a filmmaker, Terera’s first documentary Muse of Fire, created with Dan Poole, premiered on BBC Four in 2013 and he wrote and directed the concert film Hello Harry! A Celebration.

Giles was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honors for services to theatre.

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#87 - Jonathan Estabrooks: Creating a Production Business May 11, 2023

“I am living my best life. Honestly, the multi-hyphenate life, for me, is the best life. I can wake up and I am never bored. I am engaged and driven to work on different things.”

Jonathan Estabrooks went to Juilliard for opera, but just like many of us, turned his other interests into professional capabilities. And multi-hyphenates… we know how to pivot. During the pandemic, just like millions of others, spun the situation into something positive and became Vice President and head of recording for Emitha, a company which focuses on production, design, and production for artists, by artists. What goes into starting a new company? How do you balance the different responsibilities? What is spatial audio and how is Jonathan embracing it in his work?

As an active producer, mixing engineer, director and performer, Jonathan Estabrooks has amassed over 15 years of experience, 3+ Million views with a wide variety of content from short-form documentary, music videos and commercial content, to full album and single production. As a graduate of The Juilliard School he has been hailed by the New York Times as ‘a robust baritone’ his experience in front of and behind-the-scenes has given him a unique understanding of the industry and how to craft the most compelling stories through music and film.

As producer and mixing engineer he has worked on over 25 titles many of which have charted on Billboard. Notable credits include Black and Blue (NYFOS Records/#3 Billboard Classical Crossover), LAMENT (Lexicon Classics/#3 Billboard Classical) and Anna Christie (Broadway Records/#6 on the Billboard Classical) with libretto by the late Joe Masteroff and 12-time legendary producer Thomas Z. Shepard (Bernstein, Sondheim). He co-produced his debut album These Miles with 4-time Grammy-winning mixer Dave Reitzas (Streisand, Groban). He has collaborated with Grammy and Tony-winning producer Michael J. Moritz Jr. and his work has been featured in major National and international media including on the front page of Billboard.com and twice in the New York Times, CBC Television, CNN and NBC.

As an executive producer and director, he led the team behind a charity single and founded Artists for the Arts in 2017 to save the NEA. Released on Broadway Records the single and music video featured Annie Golden, Peter Hollens, Chris Mann, the cast of Hamilton and over 150 performers.

In addition to his music producing credits, his film and video work is extensive including music videos, virtual contents, galas, behind-the-scenes content and two documentaries currently in production including a profile of the first Black tenor to sing at the Metropolitan Opera, George Shirley.. He was associate concert producer and IMAG live video director for the Leonard Bernstein Centennial concert at Wolf Trap, directing 11 cameras and featuring Misty Copeland, George Takei, Tony Yazbeck, Manhattan Transfer, Take 6, Paquito D’Rivera and the National Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Estabrooks is a voting member of the Recording Academy and is co-owner and Vice-President of Emitha LLC, a full service production company focused on a full suite of creative services including recording, mixing, mastering, design, photography, music distribution and promotion through thier two labels, Lexicon Classics and Crossover Records. Visit www.emitha.com to learn more! @jonestabrooks

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#86 - Billy Porter: Leaning into Your Authenticity Apr 24, 2023

“Well, I’m first generation post Civil Rights movement. I came out in 1985, right in the middle of the AIDS crisis. And we went straight to the front lines to fight for our lives. It was Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS and The Actor’s Fund that taught an entire generation how to activate. I was always activated, I have no other choice, I don’t know anything else.” - Billy Porter

Billy Porter. Need I say anything else? An icon, mother, a trailblazer, an Emmy, Tony, and Grammy winner… and here’s what we talk about in this incredible episode:

Incredible and inspiring stories of rejection in auditions

Facing racism in the industry

Saying ‘No’ and seeing what that did to his career

Creating Lola in Kinky Boots

Not working for 12 years and coming back

Prepping for his new tour The Black Mona Lisa Tour: Volume One

This episode is chock full of deeply personal insight, first hand stories, unabashed truth regarding the industry and Billy’s life. It doesn’t matter if you are an artist or not – this conversation is full of life lessons that will just make you an overall better human.

Billy Porter is a Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award winner. Porter began his music career in 1997 with the release of his self-titled (aka Untitled) debut album which spawned the Top 10 "Bubbling Under" single, "Show Me," and the monster ballad, "Love Is On The Way," which also appeared at the pivotal moment in the film, "First Wives Club." He went on to release "At the Corner of Broadway + Soul" (2005), "Billy's Back on Broadway" (2014), and "The Soul of Richard Rodgers" (2017) featuring Pentatonix, India.Arie, Leslie Odom Jr. and Cynthia Erivo, among others. Porter scored his first #1 with "Love Yourself" in 2019 on the US Dance Club Songs Chart. He followed that up with his 2020 reimagining of the legendary Buffalo Springfield anthem, "For What It's Worth," and a fierce collab with The Shapeshifters on "Finally Ready." 2021 saw Porter covering Juliet Roberts club classic "Caught in The Middle" for Red Hot + Free, which supports underserved communities afflicted with HIV/AIDS. He was also enlisted by multiplatinum international superstar Jessie J for "I Want Love." And he delivered a magical turn on Earth, Wind, and Fire's iconic "Shining Star" as Fab G, the Fairy Godmuva, in the 2021 remake of "Cinderella." Porter is a veteran of the theater (Miss Saigon, Angels in America, Grease), and a two time Tony(r) winner, including "Best Leading Actor in a Musical" for Kinky Boots in 2013 and "Best Musical" as a producer for A Strange Loop in 2022. He has also received a GRAMMY(r) for the Kinky Boots Official Soundtrack in the category of "Best Musical Theater Album" in 2014. Porter took home the EMMY(r) Award for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" in 2019 for his work as Pray Tell on Pose, making history as being the first openly gay man to do so. Time Magazine named him one of the "100 Most Influential People" of 2020. Billy released his highly anticipated memoir, "Unprotected," in October 2021. His directorial film debut, "Anything's Possible," dropped Summer 2022 to much acclaim. Now, Billy kicks off his next chapter in music, his first love, with new single “Baby Was A Dancer” arriving March 24th. @thebillyporter

“Lin Manuel Miranda changed everything for me and I’m ten years older than him. The internet cracked open a space for the young people to understand their worth. I did not understand my worth early on – I did not understand that the stories could and should come from me. Who could tell the Black, Queer stories better than me? The audacity to understand that and know that and then step into the fullness of it. And that’s what I spent my 30’s trying to do!” - Billy Porter

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#85 - Judy Gold: Yes, I Can Say That! Apr 09, 2023

“In this business, in this show-fucking-business, you have to reinvent yourself so many times. The attention span is zero and you have to also realize that most people who hire actors or any kind of performer or artist, will remember you from the first time they saw you. That will stick in their head, so reinventing oneself is a necessary evil. But you have to branch out as you grow as a person. Let your art grow. Multi-hyphenates do not sit on their laurels.” - Judy Gold on Multi-Hyphenating

Judy Gold knows the value of a good joke – and the steep price of silencing comedians. Unnerved and infuriated, Judy shares her reverence for the intimacy of collective laughter and her passion for the vital work comedians do to bring us together, make us think, and speak truth to power.

Based on her book “Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come for the Comedians, We Are All in Trouble,” the comedy veteran is taking the stage to tell the fascists and crybabies to shove their hate and political correctness up their respective asses. This wickedly funny new one-woman show is a big-mouthed and big-hearted call for truth, kindness, common sense, and most of all, laughter. The show runs through April 16th, 2023 at 59E59 Theatres. You can buy tickets at https://www.59e59.org/shows/show-detail/yes-i-can-say-that/

In this episode we discuss…

What it means to be Jewish

Judy’s Off Broadway show Yes, I Can Say That! currently at 59E59 Theatres

Why you have to take certain jobs

Stupid politicians

Food

Empathy

Why comedy is important

JUDY GOLD (Playwright & Performer) has had stand-up specials on HBO, Comedy Central, and LOGO. She was a part of Netflix's Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration. She is the author of Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come For The Comedians, We Are All In Trouble, a critically acclaimed book about free speech and cancel culture which debuted as the number one comedy release on Amazon and was featured in the New York Times Book Review. Judy is also host of the hit podcast, “Kill Me Now with Judy Gold.” Judy’s TV acting credits include “City On A Hill” (Cassndra Kassell), FX’s “Better Things” (Chaya), and Showtime’s “The First Lady” (Elizabeth Read). Judy also guest stars as Sophie in the much-anticipated Apple TV+ drama series “Extrapolations.” Other guest stars include Hulu’s “Life and Beth”and Season 2 of Peacock’s“Girls 5Eva.”She has had recurring roles on Comedy Central's “Awkwafina,”Netflix’s “Friends from College,”and TBS’s “Search Party.”Her recent film credits include Love Reconsidered and the upcoming She Came To Me and Eternal Buzz. Judy is one of the main subjects in the Hulu documentary Hysterical. She has appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”and “The Tonight Show.”From 1999-2010, Judy was the host of HBO’s “At the Multiplex with Judy Gold.”Judy also won two Emmy awards for writing and producing “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.” She was also a writer on the final season of “Better Things.” Judy has written and starred in two critically acclaimed, Off-Broadway hit shows: The Judy Show – My Life as a Sitcom (Outer Critics Circle Nomination), and 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother (GLAAD Media Award – Outstanding NY Theater, Drama Desk Nomination – Actor). Judy received rave reviews as Gremio in The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park all-female production of The Taming of The Shrew. She also co-starred in Off-Broadway’s Clinton! The Musical and Disaster! The Musical. Judy has made numerous appearances on “The View,” “The Today Show,” “The Drew Barrymore Show,” and on MSNBC, CNN, and NewsNation as afree-speech advocate. She often pops up on The Food Network, but please do not mention “Chopped All Stars” or “Rachel vs. Guy” to her. Judy’s three albums, Conduct Unbecoming, Kill Me Now, and Judith’s Roommate Had a Baby, are available wherever you get your music. You can also check out her website, JudyGold.com, or follow her on Twitter, Instagram or Tik Tok @jewdygold

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#84 - Derek McLane & Eila Mell: Designing Broadway Mar 28, 2023

Tony and Emmy Winning Production Designer Derek McLane and Eila Mell have come together to create the new hit book Designing Broadway, available wherever books are sold! This episode is incredible for all artists – especially theatre designers who are beginning to explore their multi-hyphenate identities.

Together with other leading set design and theatre talents, McLane invites us into the immersive and exhilarating experience of building the striking visual worlds that have brought so many of our favorite stories to life. Discover how designers generate innovative ideas, research period and place, solve staging challenges, and collaborate with directors, projectionists, costume designers, and other artists to capture the essence of a show in powerful scenic design.

With co-writer Eila Mell, McLane and contributors discuss Moulin Rouge!, Hamilton, Hadestown, Beautiful, and many more of the most iconic productions of our generation. Among the Broadway luminaries who contribute are John Lee Beatty, Danny Burstein, Cameron Crowe, Ethan Hawke, Moisés Kaufman, Carole King, Kenny Leon, Santo Loquasto, Kathleen Marshall, Lynn Nottage, David Rabe, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Wallace Shawn, John Leguizamo, and Robin Wagner.

Filled with personal sketches and photographs from the artists’ archives, this stunningly designed book is truly a behind-the-scenes journey that theatre fans will love.

Derek McLane is an Emmy and Tony Award winning production designer for Broadway and television, who’s nearly 350 designs include: Broadway credits such as MJ, The Michael Jackson Musical, Moulin Rouge! (Tony Award), A Soldier’s Play (Tony Nomination), American Son, Parisian Woman, The Price, Beautiful, Fully Committed, Noises Off, Gigi, 33 Variations (with Jane Fonda) (Tony Award), China Doll (with Al Pacino), How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying (with Daniel

Radcliffe), Follies, Anything Goes, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (with Robin Williams), Ragtime, The Pajama Game, I Am My Own Wife. Off-Broadway: Buried Child, Jerry Springer The Opera, Merrily We Roll Along, The Spoils, If I Forget, Love, Love, Love; The Night of the Iguana, Sweet Charity, Buried Child, Into the Woods, Ruined, The Last Five Years, Television 6 years of Academy Awards, NBC Musicals: The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, The Wiz & Hairspray. Derek is the Chairman of the Board of The New Group Theatre. His many awards include: 2 Tony Awards, 2 Emmy’s, 2 Obie’s, 2 Drama Desks, 3 Lucille Lortel Awards, and 3 Art Directors Guild Awards. @derekmclane

Eila Mell is the author of Designing Broadway as well as the official guide to the hit television series Project Runway, titled Project Runway: The Show That Changed Fashion. Among her other books are New York Fashion Week and, with Ty Hunter, Makeover from Within: Lessons in Hardship, Acceptance, and Self-Discovery. Mell has been featured in the New York Times, Marie Claire, Glamour, and CBS’s The Insider, as well as in the documentary Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s. She is the co-host of the podcast Jiffy Pop Culture with comedian Frank Liotti. @eilamell

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#83 - Michael Minarik: Cheap Happiness or Lofty Suffering? Mar 13, 2023

What if training to be on Broadway didn’t cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars? What if it didn’t come with some of the toxic environments students often experience when studying for their BFA? What if students can train intensively in a safer and more equitable space? That’s where Michael Minarik of IAMT comes in.

What’s in this episode?

Treating yourself after auditions or small wins

Rejection is not about your soul

Finding joy from within

Not being debt after college

Why the current model for the BFA Showcase is archaic

The ability to choose in the industry

Audition accessibility

Becoming someone’s favorite

Michael Minarik is the director, acting head and cofounder of the institute for American Musical theatre located in Washington Heights, NYC – where alum is performing on Broadway, National Tours, regional theaters, film tv, cruise ships and other various performance venues.

Michael has been a performer on Broadway in Les Miserables (Grantaire u/s Javert and Thenardier) Rock of Ages (u/s Lonny, Stacee Jaxx, Dennis Dupree, Hertz Kleinman) and Matilda (Escape Artist u/s Trunchbull). He was also in the Broadway first national tours of Urinetown (Bobby Strong) and Little Women (John Booke) as well as numerous regional theatre productions including Jekyll and Hyde (Jekyll) The Happy Time (with John Kander as a consultant) Jacques, The Rink with Leslie Uggams, Phantom (Phantom), Beauty and the Beast (Gaston), Titanic (Barrett), Wedding Singer (Glen Gulia) and many more.

He is also a 12x singer for the New York Yankees singing God Bless America as well as the National Anthem. Michael is also an accomplished theatrical producer, with a Tony nomination for producing Rock of Ages on Broadway, the national tour, and the Toronto production. Michael was also the lead producer on the award winning musical Fat Camp as well as producing the off Broadway show, The Scene starring Tony Shalhoub and Patricia Heaton at second stage. Michael is also a successful real estate agent in Manhattan for over 20 years. Michael was a business major at James Madison University.

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#82 - Ilana Levine: My Jewish Goddess Feb 21, 2023

Ilana Levine has got a lot of stories. I mean, a lot of stories. From Mel Brooks to Edie Falco to Michael Mayer, Ilana’s career path is a testament to who she is: an incredible talent and a brilliant human being. This incredible informative episode tackles so much about networking, identity, and creativity.

What’s in a Jewish name?

How Ilana’s 9 year old crush helped establish her career.

When it’s necessary to burn a bridge.

How her first musical she ever did was on Broadway.

How Ilana joined Naked Angels Theatre Company.

Saying No is just as important as saying Yes.

What kind of lifestyle do you want to have?

Ilana Levine is an actress best known for her role as Lucy Van Pelt in the Broadway revival of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown".

She also starred on Broadway in “Jake’s Women”, "Wrong Mountain" and "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" and performed at the Tony Awards.

Ilana has appeared in many television shows and movies, including the infamous Seinfeld episode, "The Contest", "Law & Order", "Tanner '88", "Damages", "Tanner and Tanner", "Failure to Launch", "Friends with Kids", "The Nanny Diaries", and "Confessions of a Shopaholic" among others. In 2016, she started hosting the podcast, “Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine” -along with "LKF" she also hosts the podcasts “And the Award Goes To... Hosted by Ilana Levine” and “How To Be More Chill”.

She is the host of the Bryant Park author series " Live From The Reading Room" and hosts a celebrity interview series at The Atlantic Theater Company in NYC guests include Ben Stiller, Ted Danson, Isabelle Huppert , Duncan Sheik, Mary Steenburgen and more.

She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Dominic Fumusa, and their 2 children.

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#81 - LaQuet Sharnell Pringle: Geared Up: Awake and Aware Feb 06, 2023

Broadway’s LaQuet Sharnell Pringle (they/them/she/her) is an absolute powerhouse. Here’s some of the incredible topics we cover:

Making friends in our 30s

Preparing for relationships to close after the closing of a show.

Craving ensemble and family.

What is the purpose of a multi-hyphenate?

Why LaQuet started her new clothing brand Geared Up.

Who wants to listen and not listen.

Existing is trailblazing.

How swinging made LaQuet a better business owner.

LaQuet Sharnell Pringle (They/Them/She/Her) began their dance training at 14 in Dallas, Texas. To make up for lost time, they attended the acclaimed Booker T. Washington HSPVA. They also received additional training at The Dallas Powerhouse of Dance under the direction of Kim McSwain. While in HS, they won numerous awards from NYCDA (National Outstanding Dancer Finalist), Co.Dance (National Teaching Assistant), Jacob’s Pillow (Scholarship Recipient), Broadway Theatre Project (Scholarship Recipient and Showcase Soloist), NYU Summer Intensive (Scholarship recipient) and the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts (Honorable Mention Modern Dance, Merit Award Jazz Dance). Upon graduating from Booker T, they trained at the University of NC School of the Arts as Contemporary Dance major. There they studied José Limón, Merce Cunningham, and Alwin Nikolais dance techniques and Improvisation. They are a proud graduate of the William Esper Studios. At William Esper Studios, they trained with Master Meisner Acting teacher William Esper.

Professionally, they've been seen on Broadway/National Tour: Mrs. Doubtfire The Musical (U/S Wanda Sellner), Beautiful The Carole King Musical, Lysistrata Jones (Myhrinne), Memphis The Musical (Ethel), The Lion King, Sweet Charity (Helene U/S perf), Off-Broadway: Make Mine Manhattan, Ave Q (Gary Coleman U/S), Regional: Candide (NYC Opera), The Wiz (Dorothy), Aint Misbehavin’ (Charlaine), Princess-A New Musical, Chicago (Cell Block Tango Girl), Footloose (Wendy Jo, U/S Rusty), AIDA, Nights on Broadway III (Vocal Swing), Shrek- The Musical (NY Workshop), Jawbreaker The Musical (Featured), Caty Bridgewater A Musical (Caty Bridgewater), Television/ Film: The Daily Show (Christmas Town News Anchor), Girls on the Bus (Rashida Moore) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Lion King Dancer), As the World Turns (Hair Stylist), Step Up 3D (Tango Dancer), Devoted (Short Film), Sylvia Plath Project (Short Film).

LaQuet created Geared Up By Fearless Young Artists with a fiery passion for inspiring artists to take a step, through clothes and accessories, into taking ownership of their bodies and artistic process while maintaining one's personal boundaries in a creative/professional environment.

IG: @gearedup_by_fya

TikTok: @gearedupbyfya

Website: gearedupbyfearlessyoungartists.com

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#80 - Stephen Adly Guirgis: Sometimes You Don’t Find a Way Through Jan 23, 2023

“I’m aspiring, even at 57 now, to try to be more free.”

What’s in this episode?

What is a multi-hyphenate to Mr. Guirgis?

How writing made him respect other writer’s writing.

Why do people think multi-hyphenates aren’t a thing?

Scene work with Daphne Rubin-Vega

“I can’t believe in myself 100%, but if I believe in myself 51% – it’s enough to keep going.”

Work that isn’t as dangerous as it used to be.

Being okay with being hurt.

Loving acting, but not loving writing.

LAByrinth Theatre Company

Stephen Adly Guirgis is a Pulitzer Prize Winning American playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor. He is a member and a former co-artistic director of New York City's LAByrinth Theater Company. His plays have been produced both Off-Broadway and on Broadway as well as in the UK. His play Between Riverside and Crazy won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and is currently on Broadway, playing at the Helen Hayes Theatre through February 12th. Guirgis was most recently in the film Funny Pages and you can now purchase Guirgis’ newest play Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven, published by TCG Books. Stephen Adly Guirgis brings his prodigious gifts for exploring the lives of social outcasts to new heights in this play about the inner workings of a women’s halfway house in New York City, where the unmoored residents struggle with addiction, abuse, and mental illness. Between daily therapy sessions, they clash with the staff and each other, form alliances, and fall in love. Harrowing, humorous, and heartbreaking, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven roaringly brings to life the experiences of women who society has tried to shuffle out of sight and out of mind.

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#79 - Douglas Lyons: Making Money in the Theatre Jan 09, 2023

“Broadway is like going to the NBA. But do you really want to play basketball everyday? That’s different – waking up and wanting to play ball is different than waking up and wanting to go Broadway. I’ve met regional actors in Seattle and Minneapolis who have full lives and they work year round and they are great actors – and they are not on Broadway. So are you chasing a dream for a status or are you chasing the craft?”

What’s in this episode?

Stories from Parade at Encores

How an Instagram message sent Chicken and Biscuits to Broadway

Longevity in the theatre

Making money in the theatre

Multi-hyphenating

Changing the infrastructure

Making an impact

Douglas Lyons is a multi-hyphenate artist originally from New Haven, CT. He wrote the 2021 Broadway comedy Chicken and Biscuits, which earned him a GLAAD nomination. As an actor, Broadway/NYC: Beautiful (Original Cast), Book of Mormon and Parade (NY City Center). Tours: Dreamgirls, Rent and Mormon 1st Nat’l. Regionally: Yale Rep, Hartford Stage Company, Huntington Theatre Company, 5th Ave Theatre, The Muny and more. As a writer: Apple TV's Fraggle Rock, Five Points (Theater Latte Da world premiere) now in development with Papermill Playhouse, Beau (ATF) and the 2018 Off-Broadway Alliance Award-winning musical, Polkadots. Douglas is currently developing television with Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and Sky Dance. Douglaslyons.net. @Chocolatehipster

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#78 - Carson Kressley: 'Saying Yes' Dec 26, 2022

“I think that multi-hyphenates, and I’m flattered to be included in that bracket, they’re just creatives. It’s like you have a drivers license but some days you drive a truck, and some days you drive a car, and some days you drive a forklift, or whatever – the vehicle changes but I think they artist’s heart is always the same. We love to create things, we love to express who we are, we love to maybe entertain, we love to connect with people in that way. So I don’t really think it’s a matter of what your skill set is, it’s just if you have that artist perspective and way of thinking and moving through the world, it translates to different things.”

What’s in this episode?

Queer eye and the original intent behind the show

Carson’s love for drag

His philosophy on saying ‘yes’

How Carson joined RuPaul’s Drag Race

How opportunities are based on relationships

The fulfilling yet terrifying experience of being in a musical

Supernatural experiences involving Princess Grace!

Michael’s Titanic past life story.

Carson’s Joan Rivers’ connection.

Emmy Award winning TV personality, style expert, fashion designer, interior designer and New York Times best-selling author are some of the credits of the multi-talented and unforgettable Carson Kressley.

Carson started his career as an independent stylist and became invaluable to major designers such as Ralph Lauren. He took a leap into television & became a breakout star on Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, which won a primetime Emmy and gained a worldwide following for Carson. In collaborations with Oprah Winfrey, Carson revolutionized America’s personal fashion sense of style. He’s hosted multiple TV shows including Lifetime’s How to Look Good Naked, & ABC’s True Beauty, appeared as a fashion critic & commentator on shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show & Good Morning America. Carson has competed on several reality shows including NBC’s hit show Celebrity Apprentice, Food Network’s Celebrity Cupcake Wars, ABC’s Celebrity Family Feud, and the 13th season of Dancing with the Stars where he was a fan favorite, raising awareness & donations for several charities. Carson is a key judge on TV series RuPaul’s Drag Race, which continues to win multiple Emmy's. New fan favorites included his interior design show, Get A Room with Carson & Thom, Freeform’s Wrap Battle, and his home entertainment talk show, Couched, where he interviewed A-list celebrities & elite interior designers. Amongst being a strong supporter of many philanthropic causes, when Kressley is not starring on stage or screen, he can be found astride one of his American Saddle-bred show horses, with which he has achieved World Champion status.

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#77 - Ken Davenport: Producing 101 Dec 13, 2022

“I believe the world is a better place if there is more theatre in it. There is only more theatre in it if there are more people making it. So, I do everything I can to help inspire, educate people to make more theatre. Does that mean I can produce every show? Unfortunately not.”

What’s in this episode?

Get a sneek peak into the brand new musical The Griswold’s Family Vacation!

What exactly is producing?

How do you pick a city to do an out of town tryout?

How does the industry treat multi-hyphenates?

How are multi-hyphenates like small businesses?

How does Ken commit to being an accessible producer?

How Hal Prince inspired Ken by saying one simple thing.

What is successful producing?

Joy the Musical!

“In the business world, if you invent a product – you are the creator of that thing. You are an artist. You just designed the thing – you made it out of nothing. And then you have to raise the money for it. So, you’re producing it yourself. All those people that go on Shark Tank, they are raising the money, they are doing the things. No one says, “Ugh, how dare you!” No, that’s what they do. That’s what Sara Blakely had to do for Spanx, that’s what Mark Zuckerberg had to do for Facebook – all of it. They create something and then they raise it – but in our industry people roll their eyes.”

Ken Davenport (Producer) is a two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway producer whose credits include A Beautiful Noise, Once On This Island (Tony Award), The Play that Goes Wrong, Groundhog Day (Tony nomination), Deaf West Theatre’s Spring Awakening (Tony nomination), It’s Only a Play starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, Macbeth starring Alan Cumming, Godspell, Kinky Boots (Tony Award), The Visit (Tony nomination) as well the Off-Broadway productions of Altar Boyz, The Awesome 80s Prom and many more. Davenport’s productions have been produced internationally in over 25 countries around the world. He was the Executive Producer for North America for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group and is the Theatrical Consultant for Primary Wave Music Publishing. His blog has been featured in every major publication around the world, from the New York Times to Vanity Fair. He conceived the best-selling boardgame Be A Broadway Star (available on Amazon) and he is an avid golfer. Ken is a Massachusetts native, raised in Sturbridge, MA, who grew up going to shows at the Colonial Theatre. He dedicates his career to his late father, Dr. Kenny Dipchand Hasija, an Indian immigrant who always dreamed about going into the theater but encouraged his son to do so instead. Other productions in development include Harmony by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman, The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation, Joy and The Ten. www.kendavenport.com Instagram: @kendavenportbway

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#76 - Sarah Jones: Sell/Buy/Date Nov 28, 2022

Tony-winning writer and performer, Sarah Jones, is making her directorial debut when her new film Sell/Buy/Date which Cinedigm will be releasing in theaters in LA on October 14th, NYC on October 21st, and streaming in November on Amazon Prime. The wide release announcement exclusive is out with Variety here.

The deeply personal film is a witty documentary / narrative hybrid following Jones and her multicultural characters (she plays 5 characters in the film!) on a journey exploring our relationship to the sex industry via Sarah’s hilarious comedy and social justice lens. Sell/Buy/Date is written, and directed by Sarah Jones, and is executive produced by Meryl Streep with appearances by Ilana Glazer and Bryan Cranston.

“I want the whole world to know about Sarah Jones. I think she's an extraordinary artist--a once in a lifetime artist,” said Meryl Streep.

Sell/Buy/Date has seen various iterations over the past six years, first starting as Sarah's off-Broadway one-woman show in 2016, which she then remounted in Los Angeles in 2018. At the start of the pandemic lockdown in 2020, she brought some of her stage characters to life on social media for her #yesimsarahjones IG Live Show to ignite conversation around the black lives matter movement. And now, Jones is ready to debut her Sell/Buy/Date feature film. In the past Sarah and the live version of the show received feature coverage in Vogue and Vogue.com, The Economist, The New York Times, Town & Country, WMag.com and much more.

About Sarah Jones: Called “a master of the genre” by The New York Times, Sarah Jones is a Tony® Award-winning solo performer, writer, comedian and activist. She recently made her debut as a film director with the hybrid documentary Sell/Buy/Date, in which she also stars. The film, which is executive produced by Oscar-winner Meryl Streep, world premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and will be distributed (theatrical and streaming) by Cinedigm this fall. Jones is mainly known for her multi-character one-person shows, including Broadway hit Bridge & Tunnel, also originally produced by Streep, and the critically-acclaimed play Sell/Buy/Date, which inspired the film. She has also appeared in various film and TV projects, including co-starring (along with Elisabeth Shue, Giovanni Ribisi, and Julie Delpy) in the Netflix series, On the Verge; Noah Baumbach’s Oscar® nominated film Marriage Story opposite Scarlett Johansson, and on the final season of Broad City. Jones also appeared in Chris Rock’s Good Hair documentary, and, at the request of Vogue and Anna Wintour, co-created and starred in a short film with designers Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Zac Posen, Diane Von Furstenberg and Vera Wang, directed by Fisher Stevens for the CFDA Awards. Additionally, Jones’ writing credits include the Golden-Globe nominated Showtime series SMILF. Renowned as “a one-woman global village,” she has also given multiple main-stage TED Talks garnering millions of views, performed for President and First Lady Obama at the White House, and given a performance at The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland as the first artist on its stage normally reserved for heads of state. She has also been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, raising awareness of gender, ethnic, racial, and economic injustice and disparities, including in the United States. Jones recently launched Foment Productions, a social justice-focused entertainment company aligned with her progressive activism, with Sell/Buy/Date as its first production. The film tackles the intersection of race, gender justice, the economy, and various other issues through the unexpected lens of the sex industry. Using humor, investigative interviews, celebrity cameos (including Rosario Dawson, Ilana Glazer, and Bryan Cranston) and her own personal story, the film highlights how this topic is closer and more relevant to all of our lives than we may realize.

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#75 - é boylan: The Catalyst for Gathering Nov 14, 2022

“There is something that I think gets in my way, or has gotten in my way in the past when thinking about the multi-hyphenate,” says é boylan. “And I think it’s the hyphen. It’s the idea why I like I’m a non binary human that doesn’t like to hyphenate the non and the binary because that’s another binary! It’s like the barrier in the middle. It feels sometimes like it’s divisive within myself.”

Topics of conversation:

individual approaches to the multi-hyphenate

the pros and cons of branding

capitalism in multi-hyphenating

bragging about callbacks on social media

misinformation on social media

é’s new project The Doctor is Dead.

é is the creator of The Doctor is Dead, a new audio musical released by Musical Theatre Factory. This podcast series is a contemporary fantasy for queer imaginations following a secret society of trans outcasts living underground. Using their unique abilities to investigate a mysterious empty coffin, the outcasts sing a song of leaving, of grief that becomes giving, of what begins in the end. The production can be heard on all podcast platforms beginning September 2nd, with new episodes released weekly. You can listen to the trailer now, HERE.

é boylan (they/them) is a NYC based director, creator, and composer developing new work towards trans liberation. Selected Honors Include: New Writer in Residence at Lincoln Center Theater, 2019 Trans Lab Fellow, 2019-20 Manhattan Theatre Club Directing Fellow, 2021 Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriter, 2021 Prospect Theater Co. MT Lab, 2022 MTFxR Garage Artist, 2020-22 Roundabout Theatre Co. Directors Group, and currently Musical Theatre Factory's Makers Cohort. www.eboylan.com

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#74 - Ari Axelrod: Jewish Identities in Show Business Oct 31, 2022

This episode is special. I mean… really special. Ari Axelrod is an artist and I’ve seen him in action, growing throughout the years. The episode is sort of broken down into three parts. What crafts a great cabaret? Our views on the multi-hyphenate. And Jewish identities in showbusiness, which is a huge topic of conversation right now.

When it comes to cabaret, according to Axelrod, cabaret should be perfectly imperfect. It is the art of being yourself on purpose. So what are the pitfalls an artist creating a concert or cabaret can run into? What is the purpose for which you’re doing one? How can you best prepare? And what does it really mean when you choose not to memorize your lyrics…

“I want to hear the lyrics as you. I don’t want to hear it as the song because I’ll tune out. It’s the difference between being a tour guide and a travel agent. A tour guide says, “Let me show you all of the things. Let me facilitate your journey. The travel agent says, ‘Where do you want to go? I will help you go to wherever you need to go.’”

When it comes to the multi-hyphenate, it’s simple to Ari. “It reminds me of what you said before. Straight, cis, white men – they have the keys to the door,” says Axelrod. “People who come from marginalized communities, and whatever marginalization that is, they have to find other ways into the building. And sometimes it means having multiple ways in because the front door is locked for them. So we have to climb through the window, or go through the chimney, or building another building. It’s exactly what you’re saying, that’s what being a multi-hyphenate is. It’s telling our stories in all of the ways, flexing all of our artistic muscles and integrity, to be able to reflect the full capacity of our world.”

And the most important topic of this episode – what it means and feels like to be Jewish today. And how does that relate to our work in the industry? Anti-semitism, unfortunately, is rearing its ugly head once again. So, how do respond to it? And more importantly – how do we stop it?

“Anti-semitism looks different on the left than on the right. It looks different here. Everywhere. I think the thing that people don’t understand – the main problem, specifically, within our industry is that there is a lack of education in terms of what a Jew looks like. What a Jew is.”

Ari is an actor, director, singer, and Jewish activist. He recently received the 2022 Bistro Award for Theatrical Performance in Song for his show, "Ari's Arias." His award-winning show, "A Place For Us: A Celebration of Jewish Broadway," began with a sold-out run at the historic Birdland Jazz Club, featuring six-time Emmy & Tony nominee Tovah Feldshuh, and has since grown to international acclaim performing to sold-out audiences around the world. In 2020, he received a MAC Award nomination for Best Male Vocalist and won the BroadwayWorld Award for Best Live Zoom Performance. Ari Axelrod's first solo show, "Taking the Wheel," directed by Tony Award winner Faith Prince, and music directed by multiple MAC Award winner Alex Rybeck, has been performed in numerous cities around the country. Ari's work as a director has been seen at the Tony Award-winning Paper Mill Playhouse, Birdland Jazz Club, 54 Below, and The Green Room 42.

Ari is a recipient of The Jewish Week's prestigious 36 Under 36 Award, which "honors 36 noteworthy Jewish leaders, all 36 years old or younger, who make New York — and its many Jewish communities — better. These entrepreneurs, young leaders, and changemakers bring remarkable energy and new ideas to religion, philanthropy, the arts, Jewish learning, campus life, social action, inclusion, and justice.

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#73 - Carl Moellenberg: The Path to Survival Oct 18, 2022

“All of a sudden,” says Moellenberg. “While I was sitting there, I literally heard for about 15 - 20 minutes a deep, male voice, which I assumed was a higher being, telling me that I had a long life to live. It was going to be very productive and my purpose was to help create beauty in the world. And the suggestion was made that that beauty might be through helping to create theatre.”

According to Carl, he came out at the absolutely worst time. And after being diagnosed with HIV in the 1980’s, he found himself undergoing a transition. A transition of spirit, a transition of healing, and a transition from investment banker into a producer.

He became many things – a Reiki master, a counselor, an ordained minister – all things focusing on what multi-hyphenating is all about.

Regardless, Moellenberg couldn’t have started in a better place. The first project he invested in was Wicked and the first project he co-produced was Spring Awakening. Two very big hits.

So what is a producer? What’s their responsibilities? How does one become a producer? Check out this episode to learn more about what goes into producing on Broadway. Plus, in this episode check out why a ‘Why’ Statement is incredibly important to have, how everyone can come together to make theatre more accessible, and learn about Carl’s new book, Carl Moellenberg's Story: Broadway and Spirituality as a Path to Survival — available wherever you purchase books now.

Carl began his career in banking, and after debilitating illnesses threatened his life, he took a new approach to spirituality and healing, and re-found his love and passion for Broadway. He has since gone on to be on the producing teams for some of Broadway's most successful shows: Spring Awakening, War Horse, Hair, Death of a Salesman, Pippin, All the Way, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Dear Evan Hansen, Angels in America, The Band’s Visit, Oklahoma, Hadestown and Company. His aim has always been to tell compelling stories or to present stunning music which transforms people.

“I’m incredibly excited that I believe it is an inspirational story, and I believe it will encourage people that are maybe early in their career in the arts as you’ve been referring to. I believe it will be a story of surmounting obstacles in people’s lives. That’s my sole aim – I didn’t write it, again, to talk about me or my career as a producer or going through each show and talking at length about all the shows I’ve been involved with – I did it to talk about a personal journey in hopes that my personal journey will inspire other personal journeys. That’s what I’m excited about.”

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#72 - Carol Burnett & Eila Mell: The Majestic is Fit for a Prince Sep 29, 2022

#themajesticisfitforaprince

When Carol Burnett wants something done, it's gotta get done. That's why fashion writer and producer Eila Mell joined forces with Burnett to start the campaign The Majestic is Fit for a Prince, getting the Broadway, television, and film industries to rally behind the renaming of this legendary theatre. Yes, the very same theatre which has held The Phantom of the Opera for 35 years.

In this episode we discuss how the campaign started, what Hal Prince means to the three of us, untold stories of how Hal helped Carol during the loss of her daughter, why The Carol Burnett Show is timeless, and, keeping it in theme of the podcast, how the multi-hyphenate has grown and adapted over time as well as how the principles of the multi-hyphenate is helping getting the campaign done. Make sure you get your voice across by posting a video on social media saying, "The Majestic is fit for a Prince" and use the hashtag #themajesticisfitforaprince when you post!

Carol Burnett is an American actress, comedian, singer, and writer. She is best known for her groundbreaking comedy variety show The Carol Burnett Show, which originally aired on CBS. It was one of the first of its kind to be hosted by a woman. She has achieved success on stage, television and film in varying genres including dramatic and comedic roles. She has received numerous accolades including six Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, a Grammy Award, and seven Golden Globe Awards. Burnett was awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2013 and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2015.

Eila Mell is the author of the official guide to the hit television series Project Runway, titled Project Runway: The Show That Changed Fashion. Among her other books are Designing Broadway, New York Fashion Week and, with Ty Hunter, Makeover from Within: Lessons in Hardship, Acceptance, and Self-Discovery. Mell has been featured in the New York Times, Marie Claire, Glamour, and CBS’s The Insider, as well as in the documentary Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s. She is the co-host of the podcast Jiffy Pop Culture.

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#71 - Greg Carruthers of EveryBODY On Stage: Fatphobia in the Theatre Industry Sep 06, 2022

“People are dying from your fatphobia and that’s wild. We are so hung up on the way theatre has looked forever that we can’t change our perspective enough to literally save people’s lives.”

TW: Discussion of eating disorders.

I found Greg on TikTok. Greg is the founder of EveryBODY on Stage, which aims to break down stigma and fat-phobia in the arts. There is such multi-layered dialogue when it comes to each person’s experience. Being a CoVid long hauler changed my body by gaining weight – and even when I find the positives and self love when it comes to myself, my body, and the industry, it’s rooted in privilege.

And when it comes to weight and age – why is it that a bigger body in educational theatre equals playing someone older or someone not worthy of love? How does that affect someone in their formative years?

Why is it we are praised for losing weight, even when it’s done in an unhealthy way? Greg and I breakdown how fatphobia dominates the theatre industry, while shedding light on the people who are doing their best to fix this. Plus, we also get into how Funny Girl on Broadway battled responses based in fatphobia and anti-semitism and how as an industry, we need to move forward by communicating with kindness.

Please note – the group I talk about in the episode who’s name slips my mind is The Industry Standard Group (TISG) who are innovating Broadway by finding new pathways toward equitable representation in commercial theatre.

Also, use the code “MULTI” at the EveryBODY on Stage store for a discount at https://www.everybodyonstage.com/

“There is this narrative that a fat body is bad and ugly and gross. I’m done with that. I don’t care if other people find me attractive because I don’t need that anymore. I am happy in my body and I deserve to take up space in this body. So, like, I don’t know… get into it society.”

Greg Carruthers (he/him, she/her) is a Toronto-based choreographer, actor and body-positive activist (@EveryBODYonStage). Hailing from Bradford, Ontario, Greg studied Music Theatre Performance at St. Lawrence College which recently nominated him for an Ontario Premier's Award. Greg has choreographed for Theatre Sheridan, Hart House Theatre, Canada’s Wonderland, The Madinat Theatre (Dubai), and the July 1st ceremonies at Queens Park (Toronto). As a performer, Greg was most recently seen on the 1st National Tour of 'Trey Parker's Cannibal the Musical'. As the Artistic Producer and Founder of EveryBODY on Stage, Greg has produced projects for Musical Stage Co’s “Musical Moments” and Buddies in Bad Times “Queer Pride Festival”. With funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, Greg conceived, choreographed and produced a short film titled "Cell Block Tango: Reimagined" which was screened as part of the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show. Greg is very excited to be choreographing "Into The Woods" at the Grand Theatre in London this fall as well as developing a new queer musical and a dance film. www.everybodyonstage.com

Instagram: @gregcarruthers

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#70 - Charles Busch: Too Gay for the Industry Aug 15, 2022

“I’ve been blessed with a somewhat pragmatic view, and I had a good sense of who I was and what I had to offer.”

Charles Busch has been around a while… and in the meantime. He is one of the first self-producers and self-advocates in the industry. Since he was eleven, he was writing three act places and found out very early at Northwestern that he would not find success in mainstream showbusiness. “Too gay” for the industry in the 70’s he says… so maybe the things that made him uncastable and unemployable could actually be what brings him success.

Even after going to an incredible acting program, Busch still didn’t feel he was able to find himself in the industry. He sold numerous pilots to networks, but still found himself back to putting on a show with people he loves. And sometimes even finding himself in places at the top of the food chain (like writing a book for a new musical) and saying to himself, “I really hate this!” And yes, we talk about Taboo, one of Broadway’s biggest flops. We also talk about his huge success on Broadway, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife.

Charles also takes us down discovery lane as he found his love of drag, cabaret, a symbiotic relationship with his beloved manager, taking the road less traveled, and the upcoming 54 Below show, Backstage Babble, which he’ll be appearing in on September 6th at 7pm.

Charles Busch has forged a unique place in the world of entertainment as playwright, actor, director, novelist, cabaret performer and drag icon. He is the author and star of over twenty-five plays including The Divine Sister, The Lady in Question, Red Scare on Sunset, The Tribute Artist, The Confession of Lily Dare and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom; one of the longest running plays in the history of Off-Broadway. His play The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife ran for 777 performances on Broadway, won the Outer Circle Critics’ John L. Gassner Award for playwrighting, received a Tony nomination for Best Play and is the longest running Broadway comedy of the past twenty-five years.

He wrote and starred in the film versions of his plays, Psycho Beach Party and Die Mommie Die, the latter of which won him the Best Performance Award at the Sundance Film Festival. For two seasons, he appeared as Nat Ginzburg on the HBO series OZ and is the author of the auto-biographical novel Whores of Lost Atlantis. He has directed two films; the Showtime short subject, Personal Assistant, and a feature, A Very Serious Person, which won an honorable mention at the Tribeca Film Festival. Due to his love and knowledge of film and theatre history, he has appeared as a guest programmer and in numerous documentaries for Turner Classic Movies, and has lectured and conducted master classes at many colleges and universities including NYU, Harvard, UCLA and Amherst College. In 2003, Mr. Busch received a special Drama Desk Award for career achievement as both performer and playwright and was given a star on the Playwrights Walk outside the Lucille Lortel Theatre. He is also the subject of the acclaimed documentary film The Lady in Question is Charles Busch.

He is a two-time MAC award winner and has performed his cabaret act in many cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, Philadelphia, London, Paris, Barcelona and New York. In winter of 2016, his show The Lady at the Mic premiered at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series. His first CD, Charles Busch Live at Feinstein’s 54 Below, was released by Broadway Records.

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#69 - Robbie Rozelle: Broadway Adjacent: Sopranos Need Jokes Jul 27, 2022

“You have to choose yourself and other people will choose you.” – Robbie Rozelle on what he learned from the late Jan Maxwell.

There’s a lot of musical theatre references in this episode, folks. Proceed with caution!

Robbie Rozelle is a beloved performer, director, writer, graphic designer, and record producer who is responsible for some of the funniest and touching moments in the cabaret space of recent. Rozelle does shows all over the city… even across the pond in London. So how does he dominate the cabaret and concert scene?

“For me, I am very much a self starter. If I want to do something, I sort of will it into existence. A lot of that is a lot of cold emails. There are so many cold emails that I’ll send out, 'Hi, I am beloved, fully ignored, cabaret sensation, Robbie Rozelle.’ I’ll send the album and I’ll say, here’s the pitch. 9 times out of 10, I’ll never get an email back.”

But don’t worry, Robbie’s concerts sell out in 26 minutes. That isn’t an exaggeration. How does he do it? How does he sell his shows? If you’re interested in producing your own cabaret and concert, this episode is loaded with goodies to help you. We also chat about social media helping or hindering the industry, pushing through performances even during a crumbling political environment, understanding that what we bring to the table in the industry is allowed to be specific, and the difference between a Renaissance person and the multi-hyphenate.

Robbie infiltrates the industry in such an interesting way, He has also directed and written or co-written sold-out cabaret shows for Tony Award nominee Melissa Errico (Amour), Tony nominee Kate Baldwin (Finian's Rainbow), Elena Shaddow (The Visit), Nikka Graff Lanzarone (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown), Mauricio Martínez (On Your Feet), Nathan Salstone (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Mrs. Kasha Davis, and frequent collaborator Jessica Vosk (15th Anniversary Elphaba in Wicked). In 2017, he sold out Feinstein's/54 Below twice with his debut cabaret solo act, "Songs From Inside My Locker", which was nominated for a BroadwayWorld Cabaret Award (in addition to nominations for Best Director). He returned to Feinstein's/54 Below in 2018 to headline Pride weekend with his new show "Bustin' Out", selling out and earning rave reviews. He recorded his debut solo album of “Songs From Inside My Locker” live in front of two sold-out audiences in 2019; the album was released to rave reviews in June 2020. He also created and hosted “Tuesdays at 54… with Robbie Rozelle!,” which ran for seven months at Feinstein’s/54 Below in 2019-2020. Robbie is a Grammy voting member, and appears on the concert cast recording of Mia Moravis’ Session Girls. For three years, Robbie served as the graphic designer and creative director for Playbill, culminating in the design of the branding of #PlaybillPride, a 30-day initiative of the LGBT movement in the theatre that included a redesign of their historic logo for the month of June 2014, which continues each June to this day. He currently serves as the A&R Director and in-house designer for Grammy-winning record label Broadway Records, where he designed the iconic "What the World Needs Now is Love" in response to Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. He also runs Ghostlight Design. When not designing, he can usually be found tweeting jokes and random musings at @divarobbie.

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#68 - LIVE @ BroadwayCon 2022: John Cariani, Kaisha Huguley, Michael Kushner, Jennifer Ashley Tepper, and Jen Waldman Jul 13, 2022

This amazing episode features an incredible live panel from BroadwayCon 2022, featuring some of the leading multi-hyphenates in the Broadway, television, and film communities. Topics include process and product, boundaries, and so much more.

John Cariani – Broadway: Caroline, or Change; The Band’s Visit; Something Rotten! (Outer Critics Circle Award nom.); Fiddler on the Roof (Tony Award nom.; Outer Critics Circle Award).Off-Broadway: The Atlantic, The Public, Transport Group.Regional: Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Old Globe, Center Theatre Group, Barrington Stage Company, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. Several films. Television includes The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Blacklist, The Good Wife, Homeland; recurring roles on Law & Order (CSU Tech Beck), Numb3rs, and The Onion News Network. Playwright: Almost, Maine; Last Gas; LOVE/SICK; cul-de-sac.

Jen Waldman has been working in the Broadway community for over two decades, first as an actor (Wicked and Titanic) and now as a coach to some of Broadway's brightest stars. She is the founder and artistic director of Jen Waldman Studio (JWS), and her clients have appeared in nearly every single Broadway musical for the last 15 years. In addition to her work at JWS, her hypens include: director, choreographer, artistic director, keynote speaker, leadership coach, speaking coach, podcaster, actor, teacher, and mentor. Jen co-hosts the podcast The Long and the Short of It, with listeners in over 100 countries. JenWaldman.com

Kaisha S. Huguley is a New York based actor, singer, entrepreneur, creative, & educator originally born and raised in Washington, D.C. Most recently, Kaisha performed in solo cabaret, @kaishacreates, A One Woman Showcial making her Green Room 42 Debut. When Kaisha is not on the stage, she’s creating content for her online fanbase on her TikTok, Podcast: A Kaisha Story, YouTube Channel, and Blog. Additionally, Kaisha is the Director of Diversity & Cultural Creative Initiatives as well as a Faculty Member at The American Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York. She develops curriculum and teaches courses on the business of the arts & entertainment industry. Kaisha is committed to giving back to the next generation of artists & creatives. To follow Kaisha’s journey to her dreams, simply follow her on Instagram @KaishaCreates to join her Gram Fam :)

Jennifer Ashley Tepper is producer of the musicals Be More Chill, Broadway Bounty Hunter, and Love In Hate Nation. She is also the Creative and Programming Director at Feinstein's/54 Below, and the author of The Untold Stories of Broadway book series. She is the creator of The Jonathan Larson Project and historian consultant on the upcoming film version of tick, tick...BOOM! Tepper was recently named recipient of a 2020 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award.

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#67 - Jared Grimes: My Gifts Are Not A Distraction Jun 29, 2022

“Being a multi-hyphenate is not a disability – it’s an ability. It’s an advantage.”

Jared Grimes is a Tony Nominated actor currently starring in Funny Girl on Broadway. His effervescent energy lights up the stage every night at The August Wilson Theatre. In this episode, his energy continues into our conversation as we discuss what being a “bag of tricks” in this industry actually means.

In this episode, we discover Grimes’ road to Broadway, how he turned his ADD diagnosis into multi-hyphenation, inspirations, getting people in power to understand the multi-hyphenate, and we chat about how tap opened up his eyes to the art of multi-hyphenating.

“At an early age I began to latch on to the idea that if you’re a tap dancer, that means you can be many things. It doesn’t mean that you just use your feet to connect with people or share with people. I’m looking at all my heroes and they are singing, they are acting, they are comedians, they’re lindyhoppers, they’re writers, they’re choreographers, they do camerawork – they are behind the camera, in front of the camera – all those guys did that and I was just like wow so that’s what it is to be a tap dancer. My earliest idea of what a tap dancer was, was a multi-hyphenate.”

Jared Grimes is a quadruple threat in the world of the arts where he is heavily making his mark in singing, dancing, acting, and choreographing. He received a Tony Nomination for his performance in Funny Girl on Broadway, which he is currently starring in. On numerous occasions, he has danced alongside legends such as Wynton Marsalis, Gregory Hines, Ben Vereen, Jerry Lewis and Fayard Nicholas. and also performed for Barack Obama and Ted Kennedy at the Kennedy Center. Most recently on Broadway, Jared could be seen in the Tony Award-winning production of A Soldier’s Play.

Grimes has toured with Musical legend, Mariah Carey, under the choreography of Marty Kudelka, and danced for artists such as Common, Salt-n-Pepa, Envogue, Busta Rhymes and the Roots. Jared’s theater credits include, After Midnight on Broadway directed by Warren Carlyle, Twist directed by Debbie Allen, Babes in Arms at the Goodspeed Opera House choreographed by Randy Skinner, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes directed by John Rando at Encores and Broadway Underground directed by himself.

In the world of acting, Jared is known for his recurring role of ‘Adrian’ on NBC’s hit show “Manifest.” He performed the lead role of ‘Jackson’ in the Annapurna feature film Swing Kids and Sammy Davis Jr.’s “Birth of the Blues” on Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook for PBS. Other film credits include Paramount’s, The Marc Pease Experience starring Ben Stiller, New Line Cinema’s Little Manhattan and Elevation Filmwork’s’ First Born starring Elizabeth Shue. Grimes has appeared in commercials for Coca-Cola, Subway, MTV and television shows such as CBS’ “Star Search,” “Showtime at the Apollo,” ABC Family’s “Dance Fever” and “The Jerry Lewis Telethon.”

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#66 - Moisés Kaufman: Building Theatre from the Ground Up Jun 01, 2022

“Visibility equals donors. The more work you do, the more you’re out there, the more people come to see the shows, the more you continue to maintain your lists of who is coming to see the work – the more easy fundraising becomes.”

What is the future of theater making? How has creating theater in rehearsal rooms helped cultivate the multi-hyphenate, an economically friendly hiring option for producers? From the point of view from one of the most sought after directors and cultivators, Moisés Kaufman has incredible insight for anyone who wants to found their own company. What are the first steps? What should they be aware of? How do you raise money? Make your company official? Money can scare people – but it’s imperative to understand it when creating theatre.

On this episode we discuss being pushed into boxes and how that affected his journey of bringing the Tony Nominated musical Paradise Square to Broadway. Plus, there is a ticket giveaway where you and a guest can see the show! All you have to do are these two is:

Follow in IG: @dearmultihyphenate
Write a review – as long as you write a review from June 1st to June 13th, that review will be considered an entry! Mention how much you loved this episode with Moisés Kaufman! The winner will be announced on the next episode of Dear Multi-Hyphenate released on June 13th.

Moisés Kaufman is the founder and artistic director of Tectonic Theater Project, a Tony- and Emmy-nominated director and playwright, and a 2015 recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Mr. Kaufman’s Broadway directing credits include the revival of Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song, the revival of The Heiress with Jessica Chastain, 33 Variations (which he also wrote) starring Jane Fonda (Five Tony nominations); Rajiv Joseph’s Pulitzer Prize finalist Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo with Robin Williams; and Doug Wright’s Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning play I Am My Own Wife with Jefferson Mays. His play The Laramie Project (which he wrote with the Tectonic Theater Project company) is among the most performed plays in America. Kaufman also co-wrote and directed the HBO film adaptation of “The Laramie Project,” which received two Emmy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Writer. He is an Obie Award winner and a Guggenheim Fellow in Playwriting.

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#65 - Melissa Rose Hirsch: We Are All the Same, Afterall May 16, 2022

“Birth is art. Birth is theatrical. Birth is a nothing to a something. Birth is a ceremony. Birth is a transformation. So, my art – my writing, my blog writing, my performing, my acting – has gotten so much wider ever since I’ve witnessed birth. Because, isn’t that what we do as actors? We breathe life into people. Isn’t that what we do as writers? We breathe life into characters that never existed before.” - Melissa Rose Hirsch on adding Doula as one of her hyphens.

Multi-hyphenating is an art form – and how you identify as one is up to you. By looking at it on paper, one might not think being a Doula would belong in a theatre multi-hyphenate persona – yet, Melissa Rose Hirsch does it. On top of being a performer, song writer, and blog writer, Hirsch beautifully interweaves the artistry of being a Doula into the rest of her multi-hyphenate artistry.

In this episode, we talk about how heartbreak and the industry viewing us a certain way forced us to look inward and create artistry that feels more personal and reflective of who we are.

“If I am going to be a vessel for art, I would like to be a vessel for my own art.”

Melissa Rose Hirsch is a singer, actor, writer, and birth doula. As a theatre performer, she has acted Off Broadway and found most passion in the development of new musical theatre works. Her musical, Bradical and the Pink Socks, co written with Christopher Hlinka and music by Preston Max Allen, has an upcoming performance this fall! Melissa not only writes her own music, available on all streaming platforms, but she most notably sang back up for PHISH at Madison Square Garden. She runs the blog Charged Thoughts on instagram, where she explores the human experience as romantically as possible and reminds her readers through love, loss, healing, and feeling, that “we are all the same, after all.” As a new birth doula and a person who is deeply passionate about the bodies of birthing people, Melissa finds fascination in all things birth, whether that be breathing life into new characters, new songs, or even new tiny humans. Follow along Melissa’s ride as a multi hyphenate @melissarosehirsch and @chargedthoughts!

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#64 - Roman Molino Dunn: It's Not About You Apr 27, 2022

“When I was younger I tended to think that I was an artist, and now I tend to think I’m more of an artistic collaborator… at least in my job. I’m certainly and artist at heart but when it’s for work, it’s not about me.”

Calling all artists who are collaborators! Roman Molino Dunn is one of the leading music producers and film scorers in our industry. Not only is a multi-hyphenate himself, he works with multi-hyphenates in our industry. His approach is different from many who collaborate – and gives himself over completely to the artist who is hiring him. In this episode, you can listen to how a collaboration with a leading music producer would go. Roman also has some great stories about working with some of our favorite RuPaul’s Drag Race queens like Peppermint and Pandora Boxx.

This podcast episode is all about expectations in collaboration and keeping our Ego in check – and Dunn certainly has that down to a science.

“It’s not yours,” says Dunn. “And you should be okay to essentially scrap something and not being offended. What I mean is, you need to write music that you love so much that you’re willing to submit it but not love it so much that you’re not willing to change it.”

Roman Molino Dunn is an award-winning composer, Billboard-charting music producer (a.k.a Electro- point), and co-owner of Mirrortone Studios. His film and TV composing work includes Huracán on HBO Max, Snakehead (Samuel Goldwyn Films), Laser Candy (Netflix), Ru Paul’s Drag Race All Stars (Para- mount+), Red Rocket (A24), Kid Correspondent (Participant) a Youtube Original, and the cult classic LGBTQIA feature film Bear City 3. Known for producing and mixing his own scores, in addition to a com- poser, as a film music producer and recording engineer he has most recently worked on The Card Counter (Schrader / Scorsese) and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix). In 2021 he has worked on films that screened at three of the “Big Five” festivals: Cannes, Venice, and Toronto. TV networks that have used his work include HBO, E!TV, A&E, MTV, Oxygen, BET, Bravo, Netflix, Paramount+, VH1, Discovery, TLC, NBC, and NASCAR. Brands who have used his music include Burger King, PayPal, Marriott, Michael Kors, NBC, The Ad Council, Clinique, Snapple, Globe and Mail, Honeywell, Maserati, Tom Ford, Kopari, and many more. In addition to corporate and film music composition, as a music producer, he has worked with major and indie labels and Grammy-winning artists, including GLAAD-nominated al- bums, particularly with reality TV stars (Love & Hip Hop, Dr. Miami, Ru Paul’s Drag Race, Real House- wives of New Jersey, Howard Stern, Bad Girls Club), and his productions and soundtracks have climbed both the Billboard and iTunes top 20 charts.

“Anytime I’m working on music, I should treat it as such… as art.”

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#63 - Dani Stoller: Jewish Representation & Washington D.C. Multi-Hyphenation Apr 13, 2022

“For myself, I think for a long time I was worried that if I got my mental health and spiritual health in check… then I would lose the things that made me a really good artist.”

Dani Stoller is unapologetic. An actor who takes risks, it bleeds into her other hyphens of being a writer and producer. She approaches her art by forming her own figurative rep companies – and while based in the “DMV” area (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) she has found that those communities create their own community, much like a rep company.

Following Dani on social media also reflects her unapologetic-ness… especially when it comes to Jewish advocacy. We dive deep into Jewish representation in the media – including non-Jews playing Jews, what we think Jews are ‘supposed’ to look like, and where they’re ‘supposed’ to be from.

“Throughout all conversations about Jewishness,” says Stoller, “Jews of color get written out of the conversation so quickly in terms of what does a Jew look like? Where is a Jew from? What is a Jew’s connection to anything – and so there’s this write out of that. What’s exciting is to see plays being written by Jews of color which shines a light on the incredible expanse of Jewish people. People think of Jews and they think of White, Ashkenazi Jew… they don’t think of Sefardi or Mizrahi or Swana or Beta Israel, or Igbo. We don’t think of it that way. Those stories are just as important.”

And speaking of these stories, Stoller explores how her next play, The Joy That Carries You, co-written with Awa Sal Secka, came to fruition and will have it’s debut at The Olney Theatre Center for the Arts. And how is this experience a reflection on socially responsible artistry?

“The thing I really admire about certain theatres in the ‘DMV’”, continues Stoller, “is their commitment to bringing in local talent. I think that we have a beautiful group of people there. Of course sometimes you have to bring in people from out of town. But I really do admire theatres who make a really diligent effort to utilize the people of that area to tell the stories of that area.”

While this podcast has lessons applicable to all artists in all locations, Dani shares her stories which have happened in the Washington D.C. theatre scene. Multi-hyphenating happens everywhere – and even if you’re in NYC, LA, or London – this episode is applicable to YOU! Other topics found in this episode are becoming a good apologizer, casting director relationships, and using the things that make us unique to tell our stories.

Dani Stoller is an actor, playwright, podcaster & Jewish advocate in Maryland by way of Brooklyn, New York. She has performed all across the DMV from the Folger Shakespeare Theater to the Kennedy Center. Her play, Easy Women Smoking Loose Cigarettes, had its premiere at the Tony Award winning Signature Theater in Shirlington, VA, and was featured in the New York Times at the beginning of the pandemic. Her upcoming play, The Joy That Carries You, co-written with Awa Sal Secka is opening this May at the Olney Theatre Center. When she’s not writing she hosts the podcast Zen & Sugar, which is centered on intuitive eating, balance, and healing disordered food and body relationships. Follow her on instagram @danidangerstoller or her website www.Danistoller.com

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#62 - David Loud: Sometimes You Have to Learn the Hard Way Mar 30, 2022

“To see your heroes fail,” continues Loud, “is to learn something really important at the beginning of someone’s career. Anybody can have a bomb. Anybody can flop. And to start out your career with a monumental flop, the way I did, boy do I appreciate a show that goes well and hits now!”

We’re speaking with a multi-hyphenate legend, here.

“That need to be in the theatre, that yearning to be in a musical or to work on a musical and have that be your life is so powerful,” says Loud. “And it bites us at different times in our lives. I knew for six years old what I wanted to do with my life and I never waivered.”

While Mr. Loud knew what he wanted, he still had to figure out how and where he belonged in the industry – which took him a few tried to make sure he was going down the right road. After his first Broadway musical, the legendary Merrily We Roll Along, flopped – he had to pivot. And now, in 2022, Mr. Loud continues to work with Parkinson's disease, still figuring out ways to pivot and continue to tell his stories.

David Loud, famed Broadway music director, arranger, performer, and teacher continues the multi-hyphenate theatre artist legacy by adding author to his hyphens. His new book, Facing the Music, is now available for purchase.

“I have always been a multi-hyphenate, I think,” says Loud. “I always found this niche for myself of the pianist who can say a few lines on stage. I’ve never quite fit into only one category. I love doing lots of different things in the theatre. I’ve always wanted to do everything in the theatre.”

And now, theatre lovers everywhere can read about Mr. Loud’s fantastic journey in show business. One can begin to understand what a multi-hyphenate’s life was life before the word multi-hyphenate grew in popularity.

“When we moved to New York to go into showbusiness – we were not graduates of musical theatre academies,” continues Loud. “We learned by doing and we learned from our friends and we learned by imitating and we went to auditions and we figured out what worked and what didn’t work. We had to be self-starters in that way.”

In this episode, we speak about our love for musical theatre, what it was really like to work with Stephen Sondheim, how multi-hyphenating stems out of need to be a part of any aspect of the theatre, his experience working on Merrily We Roll Along, casting choices that have excited us throughout the years, and the importance of failure.

David Loud occupies a unique place in Broadway history. In addition to his distinguished career as one of Broadway’s most respected music directors and arrangers, he originated three Broadway roles as an actor, including his appearance in the original cast of Stephen Sondheim’s legendary failure (and cult classic) Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Harold Prince. In a career spanning several decades, he served as music director for the original Broadway productions of Ragtime, Curtains, Sondheim on Sondheim, The Visit, The Scottsboro Boys, A Class Act, The Look of Love, and Steel Pier, as well as revivals of She Loves Me, Company, and Sweeney Todd. He also appeared alongside Zoe Caldwell and Audra McDonald in Terrence McNally’s Tony-winning play, Master Class.

About Facing the Music – Musical Director and arranger David Loud, a legendary Broadway talent, recounts his wildly entertaining and deeply poignant trek through the wilderness of his childhood and the edge-of-your-seat drama of a career on, in, under, and around Broadway for decades. He reveals his struggle against the ravages of Parkinson's and triumphs repeatedly. This memoir is also a remarkable love letter to music. Loud is the 'Ted Lasso' of the theater business, ever the optimist. An inspiration to all!

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#61 - Rye Myers: Hey Listen! Marketing, Producing, and Sponsorships in the Theatre Mar 14, 2022

“I think with mistakes and failure, you really learn who the other person is. Sometimes failure and mistakes are more informative to who your people are because then you really see who you’re working with – the real people – and how they handle high stakes, handle drama, and handle problem solving.”

Ry Myers is a brilliant, accessible and adorable host and producer who somehow appears to be in more than one place in the industry at once. His brain moves a mile a minute, as do his words, and his effervescent energy is enough to lasso you in. This episode is all about opportunities and creating your own path, which is the basis of multi-hyphenating. Plus, get sneak peak insight of the new musical Paradise Square, coming to Broadway starting March 15th.

Myers is a graduate of Multi-Hype, Michael’s Multi-Hyphenate workshop (also created and led by Ashley Kate Adams and Kimberly Faye Greenberg) which he attributes to opening up his mind to anything being possible in this industry.

He has a very optimistic outlook about this industry, which is needed – and his point of view regarding mistakes is also positive. Could the industry benefit from more forgiveness? Possibly so. Mistakes can be made, and they are informative – acknowledgement and moving forward is key to growth in this industry.

Myers has his own show in Manhattan called Live with Rye & Friends on Broadway. Many fans and listeners of Dear Multi-Hyphenate often ask HOW do you start something? In this episode, Rye is chock full of knowledge on HOW to start a project. We cover finances, marketing, sponsorship, audience sizes, negative voices in our heads, and of course WHY he is producing and hosting this show.

“How I’ve set it up – I say the internet is a beautiful thing – I wanted shows to sponsor me,” says Myers. “I asked who works on X Broadway show and what is the marketing or advertising person for this show? And then it was just an email.”

Rye Myers is a talk show Host, Producer, and “Your Broadway & Entertainment BFF!”. He is the Founder of Rye Entertainment, LLC and RyeTheNewsGuy.com, the latter of which he has run for over six years. Rye’s infectious, energetic, and compassionate style to connect with people has landed him interviews with OSCAR, GRAMMY, EMMY, and TONY Award winners and big names in the industry, including Nathan Lane, Billy Porter, Susan Stroman, George Takei, David Hyde Pierce, Laura Benanti, Matthew Broderick, and many others! Rye has produced and hosted numerous video interviews, behind-the-scenes segments, award show round-ups, red carpet coverage, live events, and cabarets. Rye also works with other creatives in helping them interview celebrities, produce their dream projects, discover their passions, build their networks, and more.

He is also the Host and Exec Producer of Live with Rye & Friends on Broadway; the popular FREE Broadway-themed variety talk show at BAR 9 on Thursdays at 7:30 pm. The new talk show has taken the theater district by storm and is THE place to be on Thursday nights! Rye also Hosts and Producers “Live with Rye!” his digital streaming talk show series on YouTube that premieres new episodes every Tuesday at 6 pm. You can see all of his Hosting and Producing endeavors at www.RyeTheNewsGuy.com and www.RyeEntertainment.com. He also has an active social media presence so be sure to follow @rye_myers on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok and LIKE /OfficialRyeMyers on Facebook.

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#60 - Sarah Hamaty: Everything and Nothing Feb 28, 2022

“Art and business… we’ve tried to blend it but it’s very difficult because art lacks boundaries sometimes.” - Sarah Hamaty

Buckle your seatbelts because Sarah Hamaty is a rollercoaster of emotion, insight, and spirit. She revitalizes any room she walks into and invites a heady, complicated conversation about life! To be a multi-hyphenate during a pandemic and a reshaping of the industry is everything and nothing. It begs the question, “is anyone okay?”

In this funny and vibrant episode, we talk about everything and nothing – weaponizing the multi-hyphenate, deconstructing the way the industry has conditioned us, professional redos, beginning things for the first time, and the enjoyment of failure.

“I enjoy failing,” says Hamaty. “Maybe this goes back to the Libra everything and nothing. It doesn’t mean anything AND it means something. It tells you what you’re good at, what you’re not good at obviously – it tells you how to be better or what you can change. But being a multi-hyphenate – just the act of trying new things makes you better at trying new things.”

Sarah is also one of my make-up artists in my photoshoot studio and I often defer to her to support or challenge the choices I make in a photo – is it the right outfit? Is it the right lighting? Is it the right background color? Sarah ties it into psychology and the joy of getting to know people.

“Expressing myself externally was so important,” Hamaty continues. “My mom was like you’re really good at this – let’s now apply practice and expertise. And so I just did that – and what I love about it is the same reason I love acting, the same reason I love singing, the same reason I love connecting with people, the same reason I love psychology, and the same reason I love spirituality. It is all the same to me and it is all getting to know someone, sharing, receiving, and growing. All of those things – make up is just the tool along the way.”

Why is hair and make up extremely important and specific to the headshot session? This episode is chock full of information on how to prepare for a headshot session, especially when it comes to styling choices like hair, make up, and clothing. If you’re prepping for a headshot session – this episode has all the information for you!

“I always find myself using visual metaphors,” continues Hamaty. “And it makes me think about cooking. The ingredients have to be fresh and then of course you have a chef, and you won’t catch a chef without a sous chef.”

Sarah Hamaty is a born and bred Jersey girl who made her way to NYC to get a BFA in theater and pursue her Acting career. A proud multi-hyphenate, Sarah has been an MUA since the age of 15. Artistic expression with makeup has always been a way she has loved connecting with people, while building confidence and joy. She looks forward to seeing you in the studio!

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#59 - Brian Jordan Jr.: People See Me As Revolutionary Feb 16, 2022

“I think collaboration is the birthplace for brilliance.” - Brian Jordan Jr.

Isn’t it amazing how in our industry you can move to one place just to get relocated in a new town? Brian Jordan Jr., had that exact experience. He moved from Atlanta to LA… only to go back to Atlanta.

“Atlanta is a place where the cost of living is significantly cheaper than LA or New York,” says Jordan Jr., “I think when you are at the beginning of your career and trying to figure out things: where you belong and how to market yourself and where you fit and learning the people and learning the casting offices – especially in this time of virtual everything – I think that Atlanta is the place to be… because it’s still growing which means you won’t spend all your money – but it is growing rapidly, which means that there is opportunity.”

We also discuss the importance and the stigma of quitting. Brian and Michael have both had experience having to quit an experience. What does that do to someone? How does one control the narrative? Let’s face it – people talk, but if your self worth and self care is at stake – why force it to make it work… no matter what people say.

“People see me as revolutionary because I am the one who is going to stand up and say things,” continues Jordan Jr. “I am the one who is like, “No!” Like I am that guy. I think that in the beginning of my career – it looked, in the short form, that it would affect me.”

You know what’s a recipe for disaster? Trying to get everyone to be pleased with what you do. That being said, self care is probably the most important thing one can do for themselves in this industry.

In this episode – we talk about control, collaboration, ego, and the deficit of Black stories… which is a huge impetus to Jordan Jr. writing his own projects.

“We’re seeing more shows with Black subject matter, but the care that is taken isn’t at the place where it needs to be,” continues Jordan Jr. “We see them but they’re closing in six weeks. Or it’s a limited engagement to start because they know that people aren’t going to see it. My goal is for people to really understand that the same marketing that you use for Broadway, with the audiences that have been welcomed to Broadway forever – white audiences – you cannot use. When it comes to cultivating the Black audience to a place where it has felt elitist to us and there was nothing to see for so long – you can’t just say, “Oh we have a Black show, and we know it’s the pandemic, but come and see it because Black Lives Matter just happened and we want to make money. That’ll never happen – it’s not going to work. And so what needs to happen on Broadway is the right people who understand the insides of the Black community to come and bring the shows there. I believe I have been blessed and privileged with an opportunity to be on both sides. If you really want the people to come to the shows, you have to give them the show that they feel represented and they feel welcomed to see. My leadership, my control, my creation literally comes from necessity.”

Take a listen to this incredible episode and learn more about the projects Brian Jordan Jr. has created such as the film Georgia Sky and the musical Riley.

Brian Jordan Jr. is a classically trained actor, singer, and dancer who studied at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and The Debbie Allen Dance Academy, he has performed in Broadway national tours, Off-Broadway, and in many of the country’s most prestigious regional theaters before turning to television and film. He recently released a new, upbeat, motivational R&B track that encourages listeners to believe in themselves.

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#58 - Christine Pedi: Drop Your Pants And Go Feb 02, 2022

“I just love the warmth of being in a cabaret. It’s my favorite place to be next to a Broadway theatre. Maybe more so because you get food.”

Multi-hyphenates don’t always start as actors. Theatre multi-hyphenates find their way through multiple avenues and for Christine Pedi, The Lady of 1000 Voices, it started when she stumbled upon the radio station when she attended Fordham University studying communications.

After focusing on a radio career, she started in community theatre, eventually landing her turn at Forbidden Broadway. Then through a connection from Fordham, she was asked to interview at SiriusXM Radio. And now – Pedi is one of the pillars of our community connecting listeners of the radio to the insight of Broadway.

Post pandemic, Pedi is also continuing her in person cabaret acts, with a massively funny new show at The Green Room 42, called The Pedi Party, which had a wonderfully successful first show on January. She will be appearing at TGR42 on February 20th and March 31st both at 9:30pm.

In this amazing episode, Pedi lets us in to great stories regarding Howard Stern, Joan Rivers, while dissecting the changes and fads of cabaret and sketch comedy, such as how it’s moved from live performance to YouTube, and what forms a successful cabaret – or the “Drop Your Pants and Go” mentality. Pedi is also open about losing her eyesight over the years and shares what that means regarding performance and work opportunities. We also discuss the importance of taking care of yourself, a sense of belonging, and hustle.

“A lot of people your age don’t think about taking care of themselves until they are my age and then you got a lot of catching up to do. But to be forced to really address things now will probably serve you better and probably save you aggravation on other fronts.”

Christine the “Lady of 1000 Voices" first discovered her talent for multiple personalities (Merman, Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters etc) through her long association with the legendary off Broadway revue FORBIDDEN BROADWAY. She received a Drama Desk nomination for her work in FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD (Liza, Rosie Perez, Judi Dench, Sharon Stone etc) as well as an LA Ovation & NAACP Award.

She also brought her collection of Divas to off B'ways long running NEWSICAL the Musical and recently starred in and co-produced SPAMILTON: An American Parody written by Forbidden Broadway's creator Gerard Allessandrini. Broadway: Mama Morton (yes just one character...all night) in the 2nd longest running musical of all time CHICAGO, LITTLE ME with Martin Short & Faith Prince, directed by Rob Marshall, and opposite Liev Schreiber in Eric Bogosians TALK RADIO directed by Robert Falls.

SIRIUS XM RADIO On Broadway host. On Saturday she and the "aMAHzing" Seth Rudetsky co-host the DUELING DIVAS. Her cabaret show GREAT DAMES has won the New York Bistro & Nitelife Awards and has played NYC, Los Angeles, London, South Africa & beyond. THERE’S NO BIZNESS LIKE SNOW BIZNESS her holiday show has been a seasonal staple in NYC since 2008. She’s performed in that “cutie patootie” John McD’s Cabaret Corner on the Rosie O’Donnell Show and sung in many major NYC venues & cruiseships including Birdland, Feinsteins/54 Below, The Iridium, The Metropolitan Room, The Algonquin, The Laurie Beechman, Avery Fisher Hall, Don’t Tell Mamas...and the QE2...AND she's performed for President & Mrs Clinton (playing a singing HIllary!). Fans of THE SOPRANOS may recognize her as Mrs Bobby Baccala. Other TV: DR DEATH on NBC PEACOCK. She has many popular comic videos on Youtube including many SHIT LIZA SAYS videos including LIZA :At This Performance and LIZA: HELLO DOLLY AUDITIONS.

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#57 - Leigh Silverman: What is Essential? Jan 18, 2022

“It is, I think in the funhouse of this time, a very, very hard thing to feel like the job that you do and the way that you do it, and the life that you’ve chose as your north star is not there… and not only a thing you always felt was essential, but you really start to understand the word essential and you understand it differently and you understand it doesn’t include you.” - Leigh Silverman.

We’re trying, right? As we emerge from the rubble of this pandemic, lifting the theatre up has been a Herculean feat. In the middle of all this, we as individuals are experiencing existential dread and asking ourselves – as we essential?

Sure, we might not be essential workers, but we do have purpose. That’s one of the reasons Tony Nominated Director Leigh Silverman chose to direct Jane Wagner’s revival of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe starring Saturday Night Live’s Cecily Strong.

“It is a play that deals with people who are searching for meaning at a time that feels meaningless,” continues Silverman. It does it through humor and it does it through pathos and it does it through a celebration of community and live theatre. It’s the reason why I wanted to do the play. I couldn’t imagine coming back to the theatre and doing any other play because this play articulates and recognizes the power of being together in a room full of strangers in the dark laughing and crying about the same things. And I just quoted the play.”

In this episode, Leigh and Michael ask the tough questions. What is essential? What is our worth within the industry? But these are the questions that need to be asked. Plus, Leigh keys us into what it’s like to direct a revival, the things that needed to be changed / rewritten, fangirling over Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner, and the brilliance of Cecily Strong.

And of course – how does the multi-hyphenate help the director? Straight from the director’s mouth – learn how the multi-hyphenate identity helps strengthen a theatrical experience by approaching work from different perspectives.

Leigh Silverman has directed on Broadway Violet (Tony nomination); Chinglish; Well; The Lifespan of a Fact, and Grand Horizons. Off-Broadway: American Hero (2ST); Kung Fu (Signature Theatre); The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence (Playwrights Horizons); The Call (Playwrights Horizons); The Madrid (MTC); Golden Child (Signature Theatre); No Place to Go (Public Theater; Two River Theatre); In the Wake (Center Theatre Group/Berkeley Repertory Theatre and The Public Theater, Obie Award, Lortel nomination); Go Back to Where You Are (Playwrights Horizons, Obie Award); From Up Here (MTC, Drama Desk nomination); Yellow Face (Center Theatre Group/The Public Theater); Coraline (MCC/True Love); Blue Door (Playwrights Horizons); Well (The Public Theater; Huntington Theatre; ACT); Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (Second Stage Theatre). Recent regional: The Heidi Chronicles (The Guthrie); American Hero (WTF); Chinglish (Goodman Theater, Jeff nomination; West Coast/Hong Kong tour). Upcoming: SUFFS at The Public Theatre.

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#56 - Josh Johnston: Wiping My Feet at the Door Jan 03, 2022

“You’re only the new kid in town once. I disagree with that. You’re the new kid in town every six months because everyone has a short memory.” - Josh Johnston.

Happy 2022, everyone! Born into a theatre family, Josh Johnston has a perspective on the industry fresh enough to start the new year right. One of the best things Josh promotes is his use of boundaries, something we all can implement more, especially since we’ve been so available thanks to the use of social media and Zoom.

“Sometimes I think we all need that space to decompress or find out Zen,” says Johnston. “I don’t do yoga and I don’t meditate. So, mine is just getting away from the phone and popping back into people’s lives when I’m around. And it’s a big ask for a friend to just be cool with that. I like wiping my feet at the door. I don’t like constantly being ‘on’ and having to go to sleep and wake up with my thoughts on what I need to do to survive and be creative everyday.”

Josh is a self proclaimed superfan of Dear Multi-Hyphenate and can quote many of the guests in previous episodes. He has a factual brain full of memories, facts, and statistics. I’ve tried to get him on the podcast before, but he’s declined until now, thanks to him entering a part of his career where he is actively producing, writing, and performing – especially now that his Radio Play Revival featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Chastain, Boyd Gaines, and more has been released.

On this episode, we follow the themes of doing what you know, understanding who you are, establishing boundaries to protect yourself and your art, making an art out of a trade, studying and applying craft, moving from coast to coast, and Josh’s wild relationships with for now jobs – like working the National Hot Dog Eating Championship. And students of the theatre listening to this episode? There are a lot of good nuggets to take away!

“I cannot sing Golden Age musical theatre eight times a week,” says Johnston. “I would be putting hundreds of people at risk. I’m wasting their time and their money and resources. There are better people for that job than me… and I know that. There are other things I can do.”

Josh Johnston’s Radio Play Revival features great American actors performing great American works of literature. Performed by both established and new-and-emerging performers, musicians, and writers, Radio Play Revival pays homage to the golden age of radio, in the now-second golden age of audio.

Josh Johnston is an actor and a writer, and now producer and director. Onstage, Josh toured with The Acting Company in their 40th season (Hamlet; Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (directed by John Rando)), and has worked regionally; selected regional works include: The Merchant of Venice & Henry VIII at Valley Shakespeare Festival in Connecticut, The Cradle Will Rock in NYC (The Acting Company benefit at The Jacobs Theatre), and 5 shows at The Ravinia Festival in Illinois, including Passion, A Little Night Music (professional stage debut back in 2001!), and Annie Get Your Gun, all 5 Ravinia shows directed by Lonny Price. Josh is also a musician, playing bass at various Duplex Cabaret Theatre shows downtown, and subbing in for Billy Magnussen on guitar and vocals in Billy’s former band, Reserved For Rondee, at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC. During the pandemic, Josh moved to LA where he began pursuing work in TV and film; he most recently played a supporting role in the film TO LESLIE (post-production), directed by Michael Morris, and in the past, has worked on Season 1 of the show Benders, on IFC. Josh writes screenplays and TV scripts when he is not acting, because he cannot dance or coach singers or wait tables. He’s bad at all 3 of those things.

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#55 - Peppermint: Different Hands on Different Balls Nov 10, 2021

“You run the high risk of something suffering,” says Peppermint about multi-hyphenating on an Executive level.

Peppermint is Broadway and television royalty. As coming in second place on her season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Peppermint is the first queen to enter as an openly trans woman. Her hyphens include actor - singer - Drag entertainer - Producer - Recording Artist. She includes activism in her hyphens, but usually leaves it off because it’s implied in the work that she does.

“It’s important that we as citizens are involved in a certain type of activism because of the space that we occupy,” says Peppermint. “It is so much more than it would have been ten, twenty, thirty, forty years ago as public figures.”

According to Peppermint, her identity puts her in the box of having to perform everyday activism. In this episode, we discuss different aspects of activism as well as cancel culture. How is cancel culture helpful? How is it harmful?

“I don’t even use the word cancel, cancel culture,” she says. “I don’t think there is anyone who is above or immune to criticism. That’s not judgement… that’s criticism. But by the same token, I am 100% in favor of people having options to learn and demonstrate what they’ve done and experienced.”

In this very candid and honest conversation about the ways in which artists navigate responsibilities, we also chat about Peppermint’s upcoming reality competition television show, Call Me Mother. On the show, she is an Executive Producer, Drag Mother, and judge. What are the lessons learned by multi-hyphenating in an environment like this? How does Peppermint juggle it all? And what are the expectations that others have for Drag artists that aren’t expected of others? And what are the ways producers can make spaces better for Drag artists?

“It is extremely difficult to do it and be on camera because some of the times we had to stop,” says Peppermint. “I had to stop what was happening on stage to put on a different hat… or sometimes I wouldn't stop and I would just start talking like a producer which is obviously not what the audience wants to see. I was like, I don’t care… you’re going to have to edit this out but we need to fix this!”

Call Me Mother premieres Oct. 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on OUTtv, OUTtv.com, the OUTtv Apple TV channel, and the OUTtv Amazon Prime Channel, wherever available.

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#54 - Jennica McCleary: Disney's Own Winnie Sanderson Oct 13, 2021

“For years I was referring to myself as a Swiss Army Knife of talent,” says Jennica McCleary.

Artists often say, “and then one thing led to another,” but what does that mean? Jennica McCleary is a Bette Midler impersonator based in Orland, Florida. Her incredible story of how she became Walt Disney World’s go-to Winnifred Sanderson is an inspirational one for the ages. Also getting the blessing from the bombastic, austentatious, and Divine Miss M ain’t so bad either.

“Honey, if you sing -- you’ll make money. Good luck,” says Midler to McCleary.

McCleary is an actress, burlesque performer, producer, and Bette Midler impersonator who also happened to survive Breast Cancer. A hard worker, McCleary found herself more upset at having to cancel or reschedule gigs in order to get treatment. What are the lessons in this? How does this help an artist take time for themselves and discover what’s important? What are the expectations we put on ourselves?

Her Winnie Sanderson is the gift that keeps on giving -- and it’s all because McCleary showed up to an audition she knew she was perfect for. In this episode, we hear an UNHEARD story of how the casting process with Disney works. We also unpack the importance of being specific with one’s career, even with choosing which auditions to attend. Plus, we dish on rumors regarding Hocus Pocus 2!

“Being a mimic is hard,” says McCleary. “There’s expectations that people have. There’s expectations that people have with Winifred. And you’ve got to find the way to make who you are as a performer work in that while still giving them those nuances that they want.”

That’s not it -- McCleary is bringing her show Winnie’s Rock Cauldron Cabaret to The Green Room 42 in NYC for an incredible and highly anticipated Halloween celebration on October 31st at 7pm and 9:30pm. This performance is going to be epic, so make sure you buy tickets at https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/show/details/NZG2rfezEBrSrVmMKxTm/1635721200000

A classically trained Singer/Dancer/Actor who also dabbles in Burlesque, Wig Design, and Choreography, Jennica McCleary is best known for her work as a Bette Midler Tribute artist. In addition to her self-produced shows Divine Deception and Winnie’s Rock Cauldron Cabaret, Jennica originated Winifred Sanderson at Disney’s Magic Kingdom production ‘Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular’ 2015. Her Regional Theatre credits include Fun Home, Jekyll & Hyde, Sweeney Todd, and Cabaret. Jennica has also worked with Legends in Concert and Pattycake Productions, and been seen on The Freeform Network, MTV, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Comedy Central’s Upright Citizen’s Brigade.

Bette Midler Tribute Artist, Jennica McCleary, originated Winifred Sanderson at Disney’s Magic Kingdom production ‘Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular’ 2015 (a now viral video) in Orlando, FL. She has worked with Legends in Concert and Pattycake Productions and has been featured MTV, VH1, Entertainment Tonight. She was also featured in The Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Bash on Freeform as well as Freeform’s Halloween Road. She is thrilled to have conjured Winnie’s Rock Cauldron Cabaret, a fan-fiction style concert, while battling breast cancer, to celebrate everyone's inner magical badass witch.

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#53 - Ben Fankhauser: It Always Works Out Sep 29, 2021

What’s it like to open the first new musical post Broadway shut down? Ben Fankhauser and Alex Wyse have come together to create A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet, a new musical playing Off-Broadway at the DR2 Theatre in NYC.

“The amount of time that you have is the correct amount of time,” Fankhauser says. “That idea that like, ‘Ugh -- if I only had another week’ it’s like that took me a long amount of time to grow out of that idea because you have exactly the amount of time that you need.”

This is the mentality that helped Frankhauser and Wyse open up a new, in person, musical Off Broadway. In this episode, we go on the journey of Ben discovering his multi-hyphenate identity, and like so many of us -- we are all multi-hyphenates… we may just call it something different.

“It took me a while to realize what I was all about, however looking back I think I was always a multi-hyphenate. I was always a musician, an actor, a wannabe writer, a storyteller, a producer. But I never really had considered… it was more an innate knowledge of the kind of things I want to do with my life. Frankly, it wasn’t until I heard of your program years ago when I was like, “Oh that’s a genius name for it.” There’s a crossover -- for me the crossover always existed, it just hadn’t really registered that it was a thing or that you could be a person who didn’t crossover. To me, we all crossover whether you want to or not.”

Waiting is the most exhausting part of being an actor -- and after a phone call between Wyse and Fankhauser, they decided they don’t need to wait for permission. They didn’t know what their journey would be but they went on it. Finding success in this industry is attributed to what makes one happy -- so how does one find happiness? It’s about sharing a specific story. Everyone has one and there’s room for everybody.

“We are the first new, original musical that is opening up post pandemic. A lot of the things we’re seeing open have been open pre-pandemic. We are a brand spankin’ new original musical and it is the best feeling to offer up something that no one has ever seen before. It’s not based on anything. It’s our creative brainchild and we hope it gives people the chance to come in and laugh and experience some joy and experience some music they’ve never heard before and all those things that we go to the theatre for -- we go to see musicals for -- it just feels a little sparklier and more special.”

In this episode Ben and Michael discuss comparing themselves in their journey, what makes someone write a new musical, building the ideal version of one’s career, tips to staying healthy while working on a musical during the pandemic, how to successfully multitask or switch between hyphens when writing and starring in a new musical, and the flexibility with change.

The hysterical and zany A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet is running from September 27th through November 14th at DR2 Theater in Union Square, New York City. For tickets, visit www.reginacomet.com

Ben Fankhauser is best known for playing Davey in Newsies (Original Broadway Cast & Movie). Other New York: Mack & Mabel (Encores!), Saturday Night and Bar-mitzvah Boy (York Theatre). First national tours: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Spring Awakening. Regionally Ben has been seen in Flamingo Kid (Hartford Stage), American In Paris (MTW) Big River (Sacramento Music Circus), I Hate Hamlet (Bucks County Playhouse) Next To Normal (North Carolina Theatre), Television: The Deuce, Indoor Boys, Tony Awards. Ben is a frequent guest performer at many cabaret venues in New York City including Feinsteins/54 Below where his solo concert Ben’s Fank’d Up Broadway had a sold out run. Hear more on Spotify/Itunes/Youtube BFA: Ithaca College. Cleveland Native.

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#52 - Jason Rodriguez: Agencies in the Theatre Industry Sep 15, 2021

“Wow, first of all I love that word. When I first saw it in an email, I was like, ‘It’s gotta be the cousin to multi-faceted’ because that’s the word I carry with me.”

Jason tried for the conservatory. He tried for Macbeth. He tried to be the Latinx Carrie Bradshaw. He couldn’t be just one -- he had to find a way to access all of these proficiencies. “When you come from a place without privilege or access, you have no choice but to be multi or just fall to the ground,” says Rodriguez.

Jason understands that his work doesn’t end after he’s done performing -- he knows as a Latinx performer, he must create accessibility into the industry. He and his business partner, Ricardo Sebastn, are trying to change the game with their new agency Arrangency -- with the singular mission of bringing BIPOC, Trans, and Queer people to the forefront of all creative industries. “We’re trying to build a support system for talent when they walk into set,” says Rodriguez. “When they go to their jobs, when they do their gigs… their projects… create their production… and they know they have a team behind them that they can relate to… that see them… that understand them and then it just becomes the work between the talent and the work. Nothing else is in the way.”

In this episode Jason and Michael dissect what it means to provide access in the industry, delegating the steps to starting a new agency, working relationships, representation for artists, hopes and dreams, and more. Jason Rodriguez is the unequivocal face of voguing for an entirely new generation of dancers and dance enthusiasts. He starred for three seasons as Lemar in Ryan Murphy's Emmy and Golden Globe Award-nominated television series “POSE,” where he also shared his expertise with the cast as Movement Coach and Choreographer. Born and raised in Washington Heights NYC, Jason’s name has become synonymous with the art form of voguing. Jason’s masterful embodiment of the art form has been noted by countless dance critics and journalists, including The New York Times’ Gia Kourlas, who described how his “radiating limbs transform his torso into a solid stretch of sinew and muscle, making him at once tense, velvety, and effortless.” Jason has taught Vogue across the U.S. and the world and currently teaches at various schools and institutions throughout New York City. In addition to “POSE,” Jason has been seen on Baz Lurhmann’s “The Get Down” on Netflix, “Saturday Church,” and on HBO's “The Deuce.”

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#51 - Roger Q. Mason: Wig the F*ck Out Aug 18, 2021

“Child, I said dust mites of opportunity -- Lord help us, Jesus.”

Roger Q. Mason (they/them) is an energy like no other. When they were twelve years old, Mason felt the most free when standing on stage -- which was taken away by queer shaming and gener policing. After spending years, reclaiming what they lost, Mason became versed in writing, though they kept performing and writing separate.

“At that time, I was interested still in being a man of letters -- so I still had a very two dimensional literary relationship to writing. I hadn’t quite understood that writing was a blueprint, at least for theatre, I hadn’t understood writing as a blueprint for performance.”

Mason always identified as a multi-hyphenate, yet was socialized into ignoring that aspect of their artistry. Eventually, they found the freedom of expression to become the multi-faceted they are today. Today, Mason continues to promote freedom of expression by helming the New Visions Fellowship, an innovative and rigorous year-long professional development program created to support emerging Black trans and gender nonconforming (TGNC) playwrights. The 2021 New Visions Fellowship playwrights will each be awarded $5,000, fully funded by National Queer Theater, to develop a play, musical, or performance experience of their design and choosing. National Queer Theater will host a professionally cast and directed reading of their play at the end of the program. They will also have the opportunity to participate in professional development sessions covering a wide range of artistic topics. In addition, they will receive a five-year complimentary membership to The Dramatists Guild including access to contracts, business advice, and career services, to help protect the artistic and economic integrity of their work.

Take some Meyer Lemons and turn it into Meyer Marmelade and listen to this episode where Michael and Mason speak on the Auteur, Queer relationship to dramturgy, and how multi-hyphenating is much like gender, blurring the lines of the binary -- and so much more.

Roger Q. Mason (they/them) is an award-winning writer, performer and educator known for using history's lens to highlight the biases that separate rather than unite us. Mason's playwriting has been seen on Broadway at Circle in the Square (Circle Reading Series); Off and Off-Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop, New Group, The Fire This Time Festival, Dixon Place, American Theatre of Actors, Flea Theatre, and Access Theater; and regionally at McCarter Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, Steep Theatre, Serenbe Playhouse, Theatre Rhinoceros, Open Fist Theatre Company, EST/LA, Coeurage Theatre, Rogue Artists Ensemble, Son of Semele, and Skylight Theatre. They are an honoree of the Kilroys List; the recipient of the Chuck Rowland Pioneer Award; the Fire This Time Festival Alumni Spotlight, and the Hollywood Fringe Festival Encore Producers Award; and a finalist for the Geffen Writers' Room, Lark Playwright's Week and the Screencraft Play Award. Mason's films have screened at the Outshine Film Festival, Rochester International LGBTQ Film Festival, and the Pan African Film Festival. They've been recognized by the AT&T Film Award and Atlanta International Film Festival. Mason holds degrees from Princeton University, Middlebury College, and Northwestern University. They are a member of Page 73's Interstate 73 Writers Group, the co-host of Sister Roger's Gayborhood podcast, and the co-founder/lead mentor of the New Visions Fellowship for Black Trans and Gender non-conforming playwrights.

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#50 - Nina West: Drag Race ASMR Aug 04, 2021

“As multi-hyphenates, we are living boldly and loudly. We’re putting a lot on the line, right? In a world that’s full of judgement -- you’re allowing a lot of people in a lot of different ways to be like, “I wonder how this turns out.”

Andrew Levitt attributes his lengthy stay at Drag Race to the many years he’s dedicated to building his career. He always knew he was a creative person -- but at the age of 16, Levitt started to come to terms with his sexuality and used the theatre to connect with other men like him. The hysterical Andrew Levitt, has always been well versed in pop culture because of his early exposure to shows like Murder She Wrote and Laugh In.

Levitt, who as Nina West has entered the hearts of millions across the world after winning Miss Congeniality on RuPaul’s Drag Race is now about to enter theatres all across the nation as Edna in the upcoming national tour of Hairspray.

As a multi-hyphenate, Levitt identifies as a drag queen - actor - writer - producer - podcaster - self made everyman - brother - son. It’s always so interesting when artists include their family roles in their hyphens, but Andrew says that it’s informed every step of his career.

“My dream was worthy and valuable,” he says. “They needed to be guided a little bit. I can’t fault them for that. My multi-hyphenate is almost almost always in regard to the evolution and the belief that I am capable of more than just.”

Andrew gets to define himself through his art in a very personal way -- which leads to an evolution, something that every multi-hyphenate artist experiences. Multi-hyphenation is all about evolving and claiming one’s own power.

“I think it’s okay to say I want the world,” says Levitt. “And I think it’s okay to say I have the world. I can be a badass drag queen. I can go act. I can go write a book. I can release music. I can also produce a television show and consult on a musical. Look at what I can do.”

This episode is full of gay humor, Drag Race dish, multi-hyphenate inspiration, stories of past lives, and Levitt’s experience auditioning for the upcoming national tour of Hairspray!

Nina West is an American drag queen, actor and singer/songwriter based in Columbus, Ohio played by Andrew Levitt and is the most Googled Drag Queen In The World from 2020-2021 with over 7.8 billion unique searches. She rose to national prominence in 2019 with her appearance on VH1’s Emmy winning show RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11, where she placed sixth and won Miss Congeniality. In 2021 she returned to the show and was anointed “America’s Sweetheart” by RuPaul herself. She has released 3 EP’s. In 2021, she partnered with Nickelodeon and Blues’s Clues for a series of Pride videos that went viral with over 2million views. On June 27th 2021, Nina Hosted the First Ever DISNEY PLUS PRIDE Celebration Spectacular, a celebration of the LGBTQ Community with Disney classics reinterprutted by LGBTQ artists like Hayley Kioyoko, Todrick Hall and Alex Newell. West has been performing in central Ohio and around the United States for the last 18 years, doing regional theater and of course, drag. As Nina West, she has produced over 35 main stage production shows. West writes/hosts/directs/performs in the annual sold out "Heels of Horror" show at Axis Nightclub. In 2008, she won the Entertainer of the Year award, and was included in Columbus Business First's "40 Under 40" list in 2018 and2019. Nina is a LGBTQ advocate and has raised over $4million for charitable causes in the last decade alone, through her charitable foundation The Nina West Foundation.

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#49 - Alex Matteo: The Saturn Return Jul 21, 2021

According to Alex, a multi-hyphenate is someone who sees the world and wants to offer their own prism.

All her friends think she’s crazy -- with her crystals adorning her dressing room at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Broadway. But Alex brings up The Saturn Return, which is a personal change that happens in a human’s life around every 30 years. Connecting it to the theatre, she looks at it like the three acts of a person's life.

Alex was fortunate when she graduated from The Boston Conservatory in 2011. She was asked by a professor what her dream was -- and she responded with “paying bills as an actor.” But Alex realized after graduation, when she booked the national tour of The Addams Family, that she could not make her living touring on the road. She began to set new goals and boundaries on herself, but still risking burn out and approval from the rooms she was auditioning in.

“Around the Saturn Return time, I started to realize how much of that creative power I was giving away to other people,” Matteo says.

If you’re an artist, we check how the industry is perceived in the media and how it negatively and positively affects the expectations of young artists. This episode is chock full of inspirational information for starting a new project, establishing new goals and boundaries, self worth and productivity, being a Slave to the Muse, and unpacking the moments where we say, “There has to be more.”

“Your profession can’t be your everything,” continues Matteo. “You have to have other things that spark creativity within you. We are all creative beings and we all have this thread of creativity that runs within us, and I think that the people who are really successful, regardless of what you do, are people who have tapped into that creative energy and figured out how to work with it, as opposed to fight it.”

Alex Matteo - Broadway: Mrs. Doubtfire, A Bronx Tale, Annie (u/s Lily, Grace, Star to be) National Tours: Dirty Dancing (u/s Baby, Lisa, Elizabeth), Anything Goes, Addams Family (u/s Wednesday) Select Regional: 5th Avenue (doubtfire), Walnut Street/Riverside (Stephanie Mangano - Saturday Night Fever), MSMT (Stephanie Mangano - Saturday Night Fever), Goodspeed (A Sign of the Times), DTC (A Sign of the Times, u/s for Chilina Kennedy). Alex is a Broadway actor/woo woo enthusiast walking that fine line between surviving and thriving all while trying to give her dog Millie the life she deserves. After nearly a decade on Broadway Alex realized, true creativity stems from seeing the world that's handed to us and offering back something more beautiful. Whether on stage, in the kitchen or at home, Alex is fueled by the belief that our unique creative lens is what brings people together. She is an avid supporter of crop tops, and it is said she can assemble the most impressive charcuterie board this side of the Mississippi. She is also the creator and host of the Pull It Together Podcast. Pull It Together pulls back the curtain on life as a creative. Each week Broadway actor, Alex Matteo sits down with multi-passionate creatives who are breaking the mold debunking myths of creativity. Whether through food, design, art or entertaining Pull It Together is your destination for creativity with an emphasis on finding beauty in the everyday.

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#48 - Carlie Craig: Have the Finish Line in Place Jul 07, 2021

Carlie Craig (MadTV) and host Michael Kushner started their journey into the theatre industry together when they were young kids. Growing up doing theatre in a facility that houses national tours, music performances, comedians, fine art and more - it allowed us to be exposed to a plethora of different kinds of art.

The pandemic has caused many artists to revisit the things they know are true. And for Carlie, it’s back to the basics. Heading back to her home state of Florida, she’s not only spending a temporary time where she grew up but also spending time with the teachers who helped shape her.

When Carlie headed back to Florida, she hit up her first voice teacher. “I can’t really explain it… just something, when I was deciding to come home for a couple of months, something was just lingering in the back of my head that was like “You should call Gisbert” because I knew being home, I wanted to work on my craft… I wanted to continue to evolve. I wanted to continue to grow.”

After some personal road bumps and soul searching, Carlie found herself with an opportunity to invest in herself and her healing journey. It seems to be a pandemic theme, doesn't it?

But when Carlie has a will, she finds a way, “What I’ve learned,” she says, “as long as you have some sort of finish line in place, everything else will work itself out.” Even when she booked 54 Below in NYC for a solo show before she even could afford a plane ticket, Carlie figured out a way to make it happen. After MadTV abruptly ended, Carlie listened to what she knew best… going back to the stage.

And that’s what this episode is all about -- listening to what is true to you and following it through. Carlie’s vibrance is contagious, and truly, she makes you feel like everything is achievable, no matter what. After listening to Carlie’s stories of how she booked some of her biggest credits to date, anything actually is achievable.

Carlie Craig is an actress, singer and South Florida native who is most known for her work on the CW's reboot of the iconic sketch show MADtv. Carlie moved to Los Angeles ten days after graduating from Florida State University with her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre & Media Production. She then began her work as assistant to Broadway star and YouTube sensation, Todrick Hall, which led to touring with him internationally as a singer & actress, starring in his hit MTV docuseries Todrick and serving as a vocalist on his groundbreaking visual album, Straight Outta Oz. Carlie gained online recognition with her video Celebrity Impressions, which has been viewed over 8 million times across multiple platforms. She then appeared on USA's comedy competition show, First Impressions with Dana Carvey, where she wowed the SNL alum with her spot-on impersonations of Ariana Grande, Kristin Chenoweth and Emma Stone. Carlie has performed her all-original one woman musicals Have Several Seats and Me! The Musical! in cabaret venues across Los Angeles & NYC and cannot wait to bring her shows back to audiences again once we are all finally vaccinated. You can currently catch Carlie starring in Kevin Hart's LOL Network comedy series The Donors, streaming now on lolnetwork.com

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#47 - Erik Liberman: The Near Death Experience Jun 23, 2021

Happy Pride!

"Ultimately, I think our job as artists is to share the secrets of our heart so that others may be set free... saving our own lives so that others can save theirs."

Erik Liberman soothes the soul, simple as that. Whether or not it’s his voice, his charm, his talent, or his point of view, Erik makes the world better for other people.

“It’s not enough to want to make it, you’ve got to have something to make it with,” is a quote he holds near and dear. After the experience of seeing Chita Rivera in Kiss of the Spider Woman, and having said that to Erik, it kept him focused and able to hang in the industry and build success; a concept we touch on in this episode paired with failure.

Whenever interacting with someone, Erik tries to hold a vision for who someone was and who they will be. In a place of presence, it not only meets them in the now, but it extends forward and backwards. “We seek to be drawn from the plague of linear time into an encounter of infinity,” he says. “And that’s why with great stars they say they stopped time.”

Erik is also a survivor of a near death experience, which has informed his artistry. “What I realized was the thing that everything was fearing: death, was the wrong place to put the focus,” he says. “The place to put the focus is on utilizing the time one has in the body to do what one came for.”

In this episode, Erik provides incredibly useful insight and tools on how the multi-hyphenate experience helps us understand the ecosystem of show business as a whole. You’ll also hear us touch on the concept of vulnerability, weaponizing vulnerability, near death experiences, dignity & alignment, existentialism, commercial theatre, activism, and the discipline to sit down with yourself and create something that is bigger than you.

"Multifaceted, irreducible, and astonishing." - Joan Juliet Buck, former editor-in-chief of French Vogue

Mentored by Maureen Stapleton, named a YoungArts winner in high school, and trained at London's Complicité and National Theatre, where he came under the wing of Dame Judi Dench. He received a grant to study with master clown teacher Philippe Gaulier in France, and in Los Angeles, was the face of noted improv-and-sketch-comedy school, The Groundlings.

Liberman was "discovered" by 21-time Tony Award winning director and producer Hal Prince as a winner of the Lotte Lenya Competition. Prince hired him for his Broadway debut in Lovemusik, written by Oscar winner Alfred Uhry and starring Tony winners Donna Murphy and Michael Cerveris, remarking of the actor, "Erik is the real deal. Once you've seen him, you can't forget him."

Liberman went on to receive Helen Hayes, Ovation, Garland, and Connecticut Critics Circle Awards, his onstage work reviewed as "a showcase of sheer star power." He originated the roles of The Telephone Guy in the award-winning Band's Visit opposite Tony Shalhoub, Charles Revson opposite Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole in War Paint, and Clopin in Alan Menken, Stephen Schwartz, and Peter Parnell's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Other theatre highlights include: Motel the Tailor in Fiddler opposite Harvey Fierstein and the film's star, Topol. Some television credits include: Amazon’s Transparent, Modern Family, and Martin Scorsese’s Vinyl, and he will soon appear in the film American Dream.

Liberman has contributed to books including Performance of the Century, Wisdom From an Empty Mind, and Luminous Life. His master class series, Bridge to Broadway, benefited 45 charities and earned him a 2020 Encore Award from The Actors Fund, and he is currently developing a new book, documentary, and series for television.

For more information, please visit www.erikliberman.org and follow @erikliberman.

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#46 - L Morgan Lee: The Perception of the Multi-Hyphenate Jun 09, 2021

Happy Pride!

“The type of multi-hyphenate I am is I need to really clearly be able to compartmentalize what version of myself is being put into what thing. In terms of photography, if I have not been doing freeform things - I feel like I’m being worked to the bone.”

L Morgan Lee (A Strange Loop) is an artist who sees herself through her photography. And if anyone wants to know anything about her, all you have to do is look at one of her images. As we celebrate Pride month in 2021, this episode is an enjoyable and honest slice of life for two LGBTQIA+ multi-hyphenates in the theatre industry, both of who happen to be photographers.

L Morgan’s first priority is being an actress. She keeps in mind that perception is so much a part of the business, so it’s in her best interest to be as specific as possible in terms of being an actress. “The group of ladies that I would love to be with in terms of acting,'' she says, “You can’t just go on a website and book them for headshots.”

Being a multi-hyphenate also welcomes different communities. “I think community is number-one a life line to me,” she says. “I need to have people that I feel close to. I have a community of trans women who are over fifty. There’s two or three girls who have taught me so much without even knowing they are teaching me.”

And of course, there’s some photographer dishing - so are you ready for the tea to be spilled? Between L and Michael, the stories from behind the lens are endless. For one, they view the headshot as a survival job, while the other views the headshot as a way to express themselves. So, if each photographer has their own view of the art form - is there contention? Is there jealousy? Is it territorial? What are the boundaries we enforce to protect our heart?

Plus, if you’re a business owner, like a photographer, L Morgan and Michael go deep into the practices of owning a business and finding the sweet spot of how to stay accessible, but also charging rates where the business owner can survive.

Enjoy this episode as Michael and L Morgan dive into knowing one’s worth, money management, trans identity, joining the circles of our inspirations, a photographer’s boundaries, and what it means to take charge of how the industry perceives an artist.

L MORGAN LEE (she/her) is an Obie award-winning actress, theatre maker, and photographer. She is most known for her performance in the Pulitzer Prize winning musical, A Strange Loop which garnered her a Lucille Lortel nomination and the distinction of being the first openly transgender actress to originate a role in a Pulitzer Prize winning piece of theatre. Most recently, L Morgan was cast to portray artist Lili Elbe in a British musical adaptation of the novel, The Danish Girl being workshopped in the UK. She is also developing a new play entitled, The Women (2021) which was seen in Ars Nova's 2021 Vision Residency. Other credits include new works with Long Wharf Theater, Baltimore Center Stage, 5th Avenue Theater, Musical Theatre Factory and more. L Morgan is dedicated to being a part of work centering underrepresented voices on both stage and screen. "She needed a hero, so that's what she became." For more: lmorganlee.com

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#45 - Mary Jo McConnell: Healing: The Artist & The Combat Soldier May 26, 2021

“I am a believer in the ‘Why’. Once I owned that purpose, once I identified that that was my purpose… all my hyphens made sense. Instead of feeling like a jack of all trades, master of none - I was finally under this umbrella of ‘Why’. I’m a healer.”

Mary Jo McConnell’s purpose is simple: to heal. Not only is this incredible artist a part of the theatre industry for 35+ years as an actor, but her identity as a Veteran has provided her the incredible opportunity to work with, and most importantly heal, Veterans by using theatre as medicine tools in personal healing.

This episode is incredibly unique in a multitude of ways. Mary Jo opens us up to the perspective of Veterans healing by using theatre and also leads us through an exercise to ground ourselves and be present in the moment without judgement.

“Oftentimes the givers, the healers will extend themselves to show compassion for others, and hold space for others, and forget about the need to do it for themselves.”

As we emerge from the pandemic, healing should be in the forefront of our mind. How can we help heal the world around us, while still being present for ourselves? After recharging her batteries, Mary Jo has the perspective and experience to lend expertise as we gently guide ourselves towards recovering from the trauma.

If you’re looking to begin to move on, this episode is the gateway to start. Mary Jo’s voice is calming, shifting, and above all else: healing. While her voice is soothing, her intensity shines through. When asked about the comparisons between a soldier and an actor, she says, “I think the fact that they are two very committed beings, two incredibly committed entities, and committed in mind, body, and spirit. All of those things need to be aligned in order to achieve the mission. There’s something about being in the military - that level of camaraderie - that I have not found duplicated… even in the theatre.”

Please be advised this episode contains conversation of sexual assault in the military.

Broadway National Tours: The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast (Mrs. Potts), All Shook Up, Sister Act. Original Soap Star in the off-Broadway production of Menopause, the Musical. Regional theaters: Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse, Goodspeed Musicals, Paper Mill Playhouse, and more. Currently: UNA, the Nazi bombmaker in the Amazon Prime Series Hunters. Other TV: Pan Am, Masters of Sex, and One Life to Live. Indie films: “Trumped” (producing, co-writing and starring). Proud founding artist and winner of an inaugural “Builder Award” from The Musical Theatre Factory. Veteran: De-Cruit: using personal narrative and Shakespeare to mitigate trauma. CD: “A Voice for Healing”. Co-founder of the Veteran Arts Workshop-Online Portal (VAW-OP) and is offering free classes in arts/mindfulness to veterans and their families. IG: @maryjomcconnell

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#44 - Vasthy Mompoint: Find Your Treehouse May 12, 2021

“I think there needs to be a new wave of producers who lead from the heart. Producing can be an artistic, beautiful process if you choose to make it that way.”

Vasthy Mompoint has frequented Broadway in shows such as The Prom, Spongebob, Mary Poppins, and more. Most recently, Vasthy played Tameka in the Ryan Murphy Netflix film version of The Prom. She is also the creator of Vasthy’s Friends, a children’s show born out of the realization that there is a disconnect in the education system regarding racism and equality, which promotes activism in kids.

To Vasthy, a multi-hyphenate is using all parts of the artistic brain without the limits put on you by the industry. It’s breaking the handcuffs of all the technicalities and allowing for artistic freedom.

Vasthy produces, she performs, she plays the guitar, she writes… “And it’s not because I’m brilliant at them,” she says, “I just genuinely enjoy doing those.”

A little over two years before we recorded this episode, Vasthy became very sick - and because she was sick she wasn’t able to do many of the things she loved. Instead, she started writing which came out freely. After writing and producing a show for 54 Below and then submitting her writing to CBS, Vasthy found a whole new voice as a writer and producer. Out of illness came a new identity.

“Producing your own show doesn’t have to be imitating something someone else did, or looking at the way it’s all been done… it’s literally bringing who you are, your authentic self, how you feel, how you want to tell your story because it’s you - you get to control everything.”

Vasthy wants to see real people and stories on stage - so going from Spongebob to The Prom on Broadway was incredibly special as she was able to connect with audiences of a younger age who were able to see themselves on stage. Vasthy also keys us into the incredible way she fights the system, by producing Vashty’s Friends which provides young children to not only see themselves on screen, but also to learn compassion and empathy about others.

“It’s easier to teach a kid to love, than to teach an adult how to not hate.” Vashty says. And she’s completely correct.

Vasthy Mompoint is an Actress, Dancer, Singer, by way of Alabama, North Carolina, and Haiti. On-screen Vasthy has appeared in Nora from Queens (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), The Prom Movie (dir Ryan Murphy), Dick Johnson is dead (Kirsten Johnson) The Mysteries of Laura (Norman Buckley), The Detour (Jason Jones) and The Cartoon show, The Winx Club. On stage, Vasthy has appeared on numerous stages from Broadway to Egypt including Prom The Musical, Spongebob Squarepants, Mary Poppins, The Taming of the Shrew, Rocky, Ghost, The Legend of Georgia McBride, Aida, Hair, 42nd Street, and Ragtime. As a dancer, Vasthy has performed with James Corden, Yolanda Adams, Brian McKnight, Michael Jackson, Marc Anthony, Gloria Gaynor and more. And Vasthy has also created Vasthy’s Friends, a video platform for Broadway performers to write, choreograph, and and compose original kid-friendly programming.

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#43 - Jen Waldman: The Titanic Leader Apr 28, 2021

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on him not understanding it.”

If we looked at the industry like a cell, Jen Waldman would be the mitochondria, or the powerhouse. With a lustrous career on stage, Jen began to venture into other facets in the industry breaking down barrier after barrier as an acting teacher - acting coach - leadership coach - podcaster - business owner - director/choreographer.

“When it's working at it’s best,” Waldman says of her outlook on theatre, “I think of theatre as really responsible and relevant story telling with an eye on the impact that you seek to have not only on the audience, but the audience’s audience.” Not everything needs to be loaded with emotion, pathos, or drama, but we do need to hold ourselves accountable when creating theatre. Jen continues how when she sees theatre, she tries to go on a day where there is a talkback available in hopes of continuing the circular experience of taking responsibility, unpacking the story as a community, and calling yourself in for how one sees the show.

In this episode we speak about theatrical environments, multi-hyphenate potential, how a Swing on Broadway is a multi-hyphenate in itself, the individual journey, and how the industry can prevent the growth and experience of the multi-hyphenate.

And speaking of the stunting of the multi-hyphenate experience, Waldman goes in on how the multi-hyphenate potential is there for everyone and it is infuriating the way our industry has tried to dissuade people from having multiple pursuits.

This episode is incredibly inspiring to any artist at any level, so dive into Jen Waldman’s incredible outlook and be inspired to get to work, no matter the ways show business tries to silence your impulses. This episode also features a question from Luisa L. which touches on burnout in the segment You Got A Question.

Jen is the founder of Jen Waldman Studio, a creative home and training studio for professional theatre Artists . On March 12, 2020, when Broadway shut down, JWS Artists were appearing in 14 Broadway shows. On April 5, 2020, JWS moved its entire operations online and is now a creative home to theatre Artists in 39 states and 13 countries.

Jen brings her 20+ years of Broadway experience into the world of business and served as the Artistic Director of the Hangar Theatre and as the Artistic Director of Breaking Bread Theatre Company. She served a 5 year term as the Theatre Chair for the National YoungArts Foundation, and was awarded a Proclamation from the City of New York in 2009 for her work galvanizing the Broadway community in support of marriage equality. She has directed and choreographed productions at theatres across the country. Earlier in her career, Jen worked as an actor, appearing on Broadway in Titanic and Wicked, also touring the US as Nessarose, the Wicked Witch of the East.

Jen is the co-host of the podcast The Long and the Short of It with PeterShepherd.

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#42 - Christine Toy Johnson: Breaking the Color Barrier Apr 14, 2021

“Being open to the idea that your dreams coming true often look very different to how you first imagine them.”

Bringing compassion and kindness; intentional generosity into whatever space is possible. That’s what Come From Away’s Christine Toy Johnson is all about. In fact, that’s what this whole episode is about. From sharing where we were on 9/11 to global world views in casting a representation, in this episode we tackle what it means to integrate compassion, kindness, and intentional generosity into our art.

When did Christine start to identify as a multi-hyphenate? When Christine was four years old, she began as a child model who also put on plays for her family about the Twelve Days of Christmas. It wasn’t long after she realized she needed to do many things not just to survive, but to find happiness.

Christine is an actor, writer, director, and advocate for inclusion and her career truly is an extension of her soul. Right at the top of her bio, she prides herself on breaking the color barrier. What does that mean? When Christine started out in the industry, there was almost an expectation of the roles she could play. On representation, Christine says, “There is a direct line between underrepresentation and the perpetualization of harmful stereotypes all the way to the dehumanization and erasure of the three dimensional people that make up the population whose actions are they trying to reflect.” In the episode, Christine breaks this down from the perspective of an advocate for inclusion.

Christine is right - and she’s built a career on being right! But of course, we’re human and sometimes we get in our own way. But Christine always rises above. She says, “There’s no time to wallow in self doubt that would debilitate you and take you off course.”

Speaking of rising above, Christine took quarantine by the horns and focused on her writing. She finds her through line is about belonging, finding her place in the industry, and being sure that we all belong, all while finding that other people (consciously or subconsciously) disagree.

This episode is full of joy, inspiration, first hand experience, and lots of helpful steps for budding producers and creators - for example, what a grant is and how to apply for one. As always, please rate, review, and subscribe to Dear Multi-Hyphenate!

Christine Toy Johnson is an award-winning writer, actor, director and advocate for inclusion. Her written works have been produced and/or developed by the Roundabout, Village Theatre, Barrow Group, Prospect Theatre, Weston Playhouse, O’Neill, Women’s Theatre Festival, CAP 21, Greater Boston Stage Company, the Abingdon Theatre Company and more and are included in the Library of Congress’s Asian Pacific American Performing Arts Collection (Playwrights Division). She is an alum of the BMI Musical Theatre Writing Workshop, was a 2016 fellow of The Writers Lab (supported by Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Oprah Winfrey), serves on the Council of the Dramatists Guild and is host of the Guild’s podcast "Talkback" on Broadway Podcast Network. As an actor, Christine has appeared extensively on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in regional theatres across the country and nearly 100 television and film appearances including recurring guest star roles on Marvel’s “Iron Fist”, “Bull”, “The Americans”, “You”, “Law and Order: SVU” and more and is on "extended intermission" from the North American tour of COME FROM AWAY. Rosetta LeNoire, JACL, Asian American Arts Alliance, Obie awards for advocacy in diversity and inclusion. For details, please visit www.christinetoyjohnson.com

In the segment You Got A Question? Michael features a question from a college student who asks "When do we know when to add a hyphen to our multi-hyphenate identity?"

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#41 - PennyWild: An Artist's Guilt Mar 31, 2021

“It’s not going to be perfect, but nothing is perfect. The hardest thing about making music is finishing music.”

How does the multi-hyphenate differ from coast to coast? On this episode of Dear Multi-Hyphenate, dj-choreographer-producer-performer, wasn’t originally drawn to the word multi-hyphenate or “Renaissance Woman”. But in 2021, Penny Wildman, who also goes by PENNYWILD, resonates with the phrase as she no longer waits for permission to tackle her avenues.

Are we in a new era of Artist’s Guilt and has it flipped on its head? Where an Artist's Guilt is usually born out of an artist feeling they aren’t creating enough… in a response to a pandemic, is it the guilt now is a response to creating too much, especially in a world where so many people are less inspired to create.

PennyWild is always finding the balance in, you guessed it, social media - especially TikTok. The app can change lives, but is the Russian Roulette gamble worth it? What does growth actually look like and how can we get from point A to point B. Like PennyWild says, sometimes we are just flying by the seat of our pants. Sometimes it just takes ONE moment to hit us in the “pleasure center” to disenroll from our college courses and switch gears. People may think it’s weird, but when we find paths for artistic opportunities - it can create a beautiful orb of work. It may not make sense on paper, but it’s a beautiful thing.

“Nothing in life is black and white. It’s all very nuanced. It’s all very complicated and that really checks out with this year.”

Penny Wildman is a Music Producer, DJ, Director, and Choreographer living in Los Angeles by way of New York City. She has choreographed/directed for the likes of Zedd, Rich The Kid, Laidback Luke, Enrique Iglesias, Marian Hill, Weird Al, Gucci Mane, amongst others. Theatrical Choreography credits include Ryan Murphy’s FEUD: Bette & Joan (FX), ANNIE at The Hollywood Bowl (Associate), Merrily… at The Wallis Theatre (Associate), The Mystery of Edwin Drood at Boston Conservatory, Little Miss Fix-It at PACE University, etc.

As PENNYWILD, she has performed at globally renowned music festivals such as Coachella, SXSW, Lightning in a Bottle, BUKU Arts Festival, HARD Summer etc. She released her 1st single on Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records, followed by her debut EP on Dome of Doom Records in October 2020. Her sophomore EP will be released Summer 2021.

Penny appeared on London’s prestigious West End in the iconic Broadway musical West Side Story and toured with the production throughout the US, Canada, and Europe. Penny is also a Dance Coach/Choreographer for MTCA (Musical Theatre College Auditions).

Find her @PennyWildMusic and PennyWildMusic.com.

Michael Kushner is NYC’s leading multi-hyphenate and the Executive Produce of the EMMY Nominated series Indoor Boys. Performance: On the Town at Barrington Stage (Pre Broadway, Directed by John Rando). Featured in The NYTimes, Vogue, The Tony Awards, Playbill, and more. Creator of The Dressing Room Project. Other Producing: XaveMePlease, starring Isaac Powell, (Frameline43 Festival in San Fran), Moments in the Woods (A Virtual Gala for the HFWAA featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda, nominated for a BroadwayWorld Award), Betsy Wolfe’s A Pants Optional Holiday. Upcoming Producing: The Pink Unicorn, a film starring Alice Ripley, written by Elise Forier Edie. In 2020, Michael served as 2020 KeyNote speaker for Florida Thespians. www.michaelkushneronline.com or www.michaelkushnerphotography.com. Proud AEA Member. Ithaca College BFA Musical Theatre. @themichaelkushner on IG and TikTok.

In the segment You Got A Question? Michael features a question from Jessica P. on (asked on TikTok) who asks why we should no longer use the word 'quirky' when describing ourselves to headshot photographers, agents, and managers.

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#40 - Alex Wyse: "Oh, the Humanity!" Mar 17, 2021

“I don’t feel good about myself in the day unless I’m making something.” This inspiring and hysterical episode is just two gay, Jewish boys kibbitzing about our trajectories in the theatre while breaking down stereotypes and expectations. If you’re a fan of the hit web series Indoor Boys, breaking heteronormitve barriers, selling projects, and… The Hindenburg… then this episode is for you.

Alex Wyse is an accomplished actor in tv/film and Broadway who not only performs, but his hyphens also include writer, director, and producer. From his earliest memories of being an aspiring child magician, he realized he too can also write a song, write plays, and create. After a college experience that was less than favorable, he began to write on his own work out of necessity.

Like many multi-hyphenates, Alex also ran into the statement many people tell us - which is, “You have to pick one thing.” Together, Michael and Alex break down the idea of why picking one art form is outdated and, quite frankly, not helpful. The world today is more receptive to the multi-hyphenate than ever before, but people do still believe artists have to be stuck in the binary. How can your art defy genre and expectations?

Alex and writing/directing partner Wes Taylor have also struck gold. Together, they wrote an Emmy Nominated character in their webseries Indoor Boys, which Michael produced. Telling stories that influence change, no matter how big or small, is what Alex is about. Through whatever his hyphen, Alex wants to give space to people to tell the stories they are meant to tell. This episode was recorded on the day a straight actor was nominated for a Golden Globe for portraying a gay man, which infuriates Alex and goes against what Alex stands for. Alex says, “The way I can be a social advocate is through my writing.”

Alex Wyse is an actor, writer, director, and producer. He co-created the digital series “Indoor Boys,” which was nominated for an Emmy Award, won twelve Indie Series Awards, and was acquired by Here TV. He has been seen on Broadway in Waitress, Spring Awakening, Lysistrata Jones, on Tour in Wicked, off Broadway in Ride the Cyclone, Bare, and Triassic Parq, and regionally at Hartford Stage, Deaf West, Paper Mill Playhouse, Cleveland Play House, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, and more. He’s been seen on TV in “Iron Fist,” “Masters of Sex,” “NCIS: LA,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Modern Family,” “Agent X,” “Bad Judge,” “A to Z,” “Switched at Birth,” and “Bored to Death,” and on film in X/Y and Dating My Mother. He co-produced What the Constitution Means to Me on Broadway and on Tour. BFA: Boston University.

In the segment You Got A Question? Michael features a question from Heather A., who asks if her daughter should go to college for theatre and what is the difference between a BA and a BFA?

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#39 - Stephanie Klapper: Multi-Hyphenates & The Casting Director Mar 03, 2021

Casting directors are often seen as gatekeepers to opportunities in the industry - but does the multi-hyphenate approach help them? The answer is yes.

We’ve all had audition horror stories - and whether or not it’s the casting directors fault our own, it’s never too late to live and learn. And as always, knowing yourself as a multi-hyphenate often is the answer to avoid those icky situations.

Join one of New York’s leading casting directors Stephanie Klapper as she breaks down and opens up about the casting director process. Though casting directors seem like distant people sitting behind tables, we have to remember they are human beings in search of connection, just as the actor is.

So - when should an artist show up for their call of duty? What type of resume should you send? Do you want to see the chemical makeup of the multi-hyphenate artist or do you want to see that I once was in the ensemble of Cabaret? How can an actor make an experience better for the casting director? What purpose does the headshot serve in 2021? All these questions, and many more, are answered in this amazing episode.

The multi-hyphenate is extremely useful to the casting director, because as Stephanie states, “Sometimes we don’t even know what we’re looking for!” The rules of auditioning changes daily - especially after experiencing a shut down like the industry has, which obviously will affect the future audition protocol. “It’s a great time to get to know people,” Stephanie says, “in a way that when we’re all running too quickly - we don’t get to.”

Actors aren’t the only ones pivoting in the pandemic - you guessed it, casting directors are as well. As well as getting inspiring tips on how to apply agency to your auditions, get a behind the table look as to what a casting director is experiencing during this time away from normalcy.

This episode also features a questions from a listener in the segment YOU GOT A QUESTION? where Michael answers a question sent to him through social media. This week's question, sent in from Erika E. and focsuses on collaboration. How do we find collaborators?

Stephanie Klapper is a New York based Casting Director who has been in the business for 25 plus years.

Her work is frequently seen on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally, internationally, on television, and film. Projects she has cast have won numerous awards including the Tony, OBIES, Drama Desk, Pulitzer Prize, Sundance Audience Award, Cannes Prize Du Publique, Comic Con and Artios.

Stephanie, along with her incredible casting team, comprise Stephanie Klapper Casting, an Independent Casting Group who is known for their limitless imagination and creativity and for their work on a wide range of projects all over the country and the world. Frequent and longtime collaborators include Primary Stages, Mint Theater Company, NY Classical Theatre, american vicarious, The Peccadillo, Voyage Theatre, Masterworks, Resonance Ensemble, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Company, Capital Repertory Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Adirondack Theatre Festival, Ford’s Theatre, Kansas City Rep, The New Theatre, The Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as many more in New York, the regions, and internationally.

Ms. Klapper is passionate about working with creative teams to develop new work and expand the scope of established work. In addition to casting and teaching, Ms. Klapper is a member of the New York Board of the Casting Society of America, Casting Society Cares, and New York Women in Film. She is passionate about continuing to expand and champion diversity, equity, equality and inclusion in the business. She loves working with emerging artists to help them develop their careers.

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#38 - Tsilala Brock: Standards of Excellence Feb 17, 2021

Tsilala Brock is letting life thrill her, though she originally had trouble with coming to terms with her multi-hyphenate identity. Her journey was calling upon skills and proficiencies that she didn’t necessarily study in college. Why do we feel guilt when moving away from our past? Yet Tsilala would experience her multi-hyphenate mindset and would help her on the national tour of Book of Mormon, as she was both a dance captain and swing. But how would her experience with Book of Mormon help Tsilala become a fully flushed out and inspired multi-hyphenate? In this episode, we discuss the importance of discipline, rest, and listening to our bodies. Tsilala has become a consummate multi-hyphenate and lives by the guideline of “the life that you want is on the other side of discipline.” While Tsilala is producing a podcast, and writing JuneBug the Musical - she often has to pay attention to health, exhaustion, and mental capacity. Thankfully, she has found small ways we all can implement rest into our daily practices - even if they don’t seem like restful actions.

What do you do for yourself? How do you implement rest into your life? Just as much as it’s important to be active in your artform, it’s just as important to rest - especially in these overstimulation times. Tune in to this extremely powerful and inspirational episode that will get you invigorated to implement rest into your daily practice.

Tsilala recently completed a two year position as Assistant Dance Captain/Swing with The Book of Mormon 2nd National Tour. Currently she's producing and co hosting a new podcast called 'UNCK! Getting comfortable with uncomfortable conversations' which was recently awarded a grant from the Adobe Community Residency Fund.

Other theater credits include: Parable of the Sower (The Public Theater/ NYU Abu Dhabi/ Singapore International Festival of the Arts), Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing (Cincinnati Playhouse/STLRep), The Color Purple (Troika Bermuda), and Twelfth Night (Martha's Vineyard Playhouse). TV/Film credits: Mysteries of Laura, Happyish, Broad City, Canaries (indie film - Boston Sci Fest) and Bushwick Beats (indie film).

Visit w ww.Tsilala.com

Her podcast UNCK! hosts uncomfortable conversations using the UNCK! House: a tool for navigating conversations. The tool is showcased in our IG LIVES in collaboration with Ashley Kate Adam’s and BYOP and Lake Arbor’s Teen Summit. Follow us for more information at www.unck.org

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#37 - Backstage Bazaar: Helping Out The Purple Squirrel Feb 03, 2021

"When someone asks you to do a job - you just say yes and then you figure out how to do it later on." Though that might sound backwards - the lesson is to open the door and at least welcome opportunity - that's what this episode is all about. How did two fabulous women with similar backgrounds begin working on a completely new (and scary!) endeavor? After Erin Slattery Black posted an idea on Facebook, she received an overwhelming response, including a message from Truly Carmichael who offerend help to launch Backstage Bazaar, a virtual marketplace showcasing the amazing art created by the theatre community while their industry is on hold. They came together and with a concoction of a "YouTube and You" and Opening Night mindset - they created an online experience to help artists survive and gain income during CoVid-19. Erin and Truly talk with Michael about blending the identities of artist and CEO - all while thinking about design, tax write offs, and marketing. But the big question is how do we inform other artists that what we are learning during this pandemic is not going away, but it's also not daunting? If you'll take anything away from this awesome episode, it's how to be an expert collaborator - just like Erin and Truly have proven to be.

Erin Slattery Black is a costume designer, maker, stylist and entrepreneur. She holds an M.F.A. in Costume Design and Technology from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. in Theatre and Education from Marquette University. Erin has costumed such celebrities as Antonio Banderas, Justin Timberlake, Kermit the Frog and Big Bird. Her career has included costuming for theatre, television, film and opera, as well as corporate and commercial styling work. Erin has worked extensively with the Jim Henson Company, where she served as costume designer for Sesame Street and the Netflix original series, Julie’s Greenroom, with Julie Andrews. Her work can be seen in the movie Spy Kids as well as on Broadway in The Lion King and Willy Wonka. Erin lives in New York City with her husband and four children. In addition to her work as a costume designer, Erin is the CEO of Lyla Tov Monsters, a plush toy company she founded with her husband and oldest daughter. Erin has been awarded four daytime Emmy Awards for her work as Costume Designer for Sesame Street and is the recipient of the Zelma Weisfeld Award for Costume Design. Erin has served as an Assistant Arts Professor, Adjunct Instructor, Costume Director, and design mentor for the Tisch Drama Department at New York University. She has also worked with students as a lecturer at Carnegie Mellon University, The University of Texas at Austin, Marquette University, and Ithaca College as well as serving as designer in residence at Marquette University.

Truly Carmichael is an award-winning professional costumer and milliner who holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatrical costume construction and design. She has worked in various capacities in costume production shops across North America, including a full-time role as painter/dyer/crafts artisan at the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis and Head cutter/Draper at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Tx. Most recently a Tailor/Milliner at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, she also has a thriving couture millinery business (trulycouture.ca) and an eCommerce website that caters to actors and re-enactors who need 16th century hats and jewelry (trulyhats.net)

Truly's other career is a Project Manager and Technical Writer for a telephony software company in Seattle.

https://linktr.ee/BackstageBazaar

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#36 - Kaisha Huguley: Creating On Tik Tok Jan 20, 2021

Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. And now Tik Tok? After changing her major seven times, Kaisha Huguley went from Government worker to fresh faced artist in NYC. When her co-workers asked her where she'd be working in New York, they expected her to say The United Nations - but Kaisha had other plans... to be an actor. Upon moving to NYC, Kaisha quickly understood that her collegiate experiences could help her identify as an artistic multi-hyphenate. As she discovered the word 'multi-hyphenate' described her best, she wanted to inspire other artists to go on their own artistic journey. So, she got on social media and started to get to work. Now Kaisha has built an incredible network of social media followers who engage with Kaisha and her creative endeavors on Tik Tok. In this episode, we break down the social media scaries and how to stop comparing ourselves to others on our screens - especially when it's thrown directly into our faces. Learn the importance of establishing a dedicated audience that will follow you from social media and into the theatre.

Kaisha S. Huguley is a New York based actor, singer, entrepreneur, creative, & educator originally born and raised in Washington, D.C. Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, Kaisha was preparing to take the stage as Mama Euralie in Once on This Island in Concert at 54 Below. She was also preparing to join the ensemble (Pat/Trish U/S) in the cast of Kinky Boots at Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Most recently, Kaisha performed in Miracle on 34th Street and The Full Monty (Argyle Theatre). Prior to those productions, she made her Off-Broadway Debut in Revelation: The Musical at The Players Theatre.

People know Kaisha as the woman who quit her full time job with the federal government to become an actress. She documents her journey to Broadway and all things creative online via her personal brand, “Kaisha Creates”. When Kaisha is not on the stage, she’s creating content for her online fanbase on her Podcast: A Kaisha Story, YouTube Channel, and Blog. She also recently started a podcast with her husband, Quinton called The Happily Huguley Podcast.

Additionally, Kaisha is the Manager of Special Programmings & Initiatives and a Faculty Member at The American Musical & Dramatic Academy (AMDA NY) where she teaches courses on business of the arts & entertainment industry and social media/marketing. Kaisha is committed to giving back to and teaching the next generation of artists/creatives.

To follow Kaisha’s journey to her dreams, simply follow her on Instagram/TikTok @KaishaCreates to join her Gram Fam & TikTok Fam.

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#35 - Kimberly Faye Greenberg: Multi-tasking vs. Multi-Hyphenating Jan 06, 2021

Used to being looked at like a crazy person, Kimberly Faye Greenberg spins many different plates. She is an actor, an educator, a dresser on Broadway, created her own one woman show based on the life Fanny Brice, and the founder of her business, The Broadway Expert. What's it like leading a life without rules? Learn how Kimberly would be doing TWO Off Broadway shows at once... then run to the Imperial Theatre on Broadway to dress backstage of Billy Elliot, all while still in her show lashes. Kimberly also tells us what it's like to navigate having her one woman show, Fabulous Fanny Brice, throughout quarantine. Some things we address are how to sell a virtual show, how do you sell multiple aspects of yourself at once, who becomes your audience, what's the difference between multi-tasking and multi-hyphenating, and what are the factors that make up our hyphen identities.

Kimberly Faye Greenberg is the first and only actress to play leading roles in two Off-Broadway musicals at the same time. In addition, Kimberly’s numerous portrayals of Fanny Brice (4 shows/2 CDs) have been critically acclaimed by the New York Times, Huffington Post, and Associated Press. Her solo show show Fabulous Fanny Brice has been traveling the country for the past 8 years and is now streaming on STELLAR where it has also been named one of the BEST TO STREAM by Time Out NY, American Theatre Magazine, filmedlivemusicals.com, Times Square Chronicles, TDF, Goldstar and more. Kimberly has worked across-the-board in theatre Film and TV for over 20 years! She can currently be seen in the HBO mini-series “THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA”. Offstage, she has worked backstage as a Broadway wardrobe swing dresser on over 20 Broadway shows, including “Mean Girls,” “Something Rotten,” and “The Lion King.” And Kimberly is currently is one of the TOP 10 Performing Arts Coaches in the World (#2 according to Google), as well as known as The Broadway Expert! Kimberly loves to inspire, educate and work with proactive artists to help conquer the New York market. Whether beginners or seasoned professionals Kimberly encourages all to embrace their own uniqueness, find their own niche and follow your own path and passion whether its onstage/onscreen, behind-the-scenes or a mix of everything. Kimberly’s interviews, articles, and Broadway content has been featured and gone viral across a variety of news outlets including Backstage, Theatre Nerds, Theatremania and more!

www.kimberlyfayegreenberg.com

www.fabulousfannybriceshow.com

www.thebroadwayexpert.com

IG: Kfgreenberg

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#34 - Carly Valancy: The Reach Out Party! Dec 23, 2020

This episode, featuring Carly Valancy, focuses on creating a condition in which something might happen. One action, one motion and bam - you're able to tell your story from your perspective. Sounds simple - and it's something that Carly, founder of The Reach Out Party, has mastered. Carly's objective is to be a full time artist, which comes with so many different meanings, perspectives, and forms. Her motive is to bring art into artless spaces and for you to recognize that you, the artist, are magicians and the power that comes with it. Listen to how - by just reaching out once a day to someone now, Carly was able to quit her survival job and become an artist who garnered income by doing just that: art.

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#33 - Michael McElroy: It's Too Easy To Go Back to the Way Things Were Dec 10, 2020

Journeys are filled with lots of hills and valleys, or valleys of preparation. In those valleys, there are moments that are needed because there is something you have to navigate or move through to appreciate when you're standing on the mountaintop again. Michael McElroy joins Dear Multi-Hyphenate in this emotional, thought provoking, and intense conversation with one of the biggest hearts in the Broadway community. Michael and Michael chat about an artist's response to a pandemic, the future of theatre, creating more inclusive spaces, and honoring diverse voices and lived experiences through artistic training. Michael earned his BFA in Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University. He made his Broadway debut in The High Rollers Social and Pleasure Club. He has since appeared in numerous productions, both on and off-Broadway, and in 2004 was nominated for a Tony Honor for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Big River. He has also been nominated for Drama Desk Awards for Violet and Big River. In 1999, McElroy became the founder and director of the Broadway Inspirational Voices (Tony Award for Excellence in the Theatre), a diverse, non-denominational gospel choir made up of Broadway singers. He currently teaches in the New Studio on Broadway at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

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#32– Grace McLean: The Bisy Backson Nov 26, 2020

A multi-hyphenate is usually busy, and that's seen as a compliment - but why? And does it have to be a compliment? Great Comet's Grace McLean has a lot of interests all stemming from the same seed, and in this episode, the ferocious Broadway actor and musician chats about her latest endeavour, In the Green, which played Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3's Claire Tow Theater in 2019. Not only was she a performer in this piece, but she wrote it. Michael and Grace connect over being Bisy Backsons (The Tao of Pooh reference) and discuss Michael's latest article for Backstage, regarding self promotion during the time of CoVid-19.

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#31 - Priya Mahendra: The Common Denominator Nov 11, 2020

Priya Mahendra loves show business. After growing up in an Indian household filled with music, she grew up to live the life we see on Entourage, but just recently decided to start performing. She created The Princess Possibility Project, a consciously inclusive video series made during quarantine that brings to life the hopes, constraints, dreams and desires of seven Princesses through their “I Want” songs. Priya comes to Dear Multi-Hyphenate to talk about this incredible project, as well as why she considers herself a 'mega' multi-hyphenate.

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#30 - Rona Siddiqui: Fortitude: Seeing An Idea Through Oct 29, 2020

Rona Siddiqui is an award-winning composer/lyricist, orchestrator and music director. As well as music directing the Pulitzer Prize winning A Strange Loop (Michael R. Jackson), she is the recipient of the 2020 Jonathan Larson Grant and the 2019 Billie Burke Ziegfeld Award, and was named one of Broadway Women's Fund's Women to Watch. In this episode, we chat all things musical multi-hyphenation: how to get an idea started, seeing that idea through, uniqueness, mimicry, pastiche, and the pitfalls we can fall into while writing about extremely personal occurrences and relationships. You can catch Rona during streamed Broadway Buskers concerts, which are virtual this year on Tuesday evenings at 7pm ET through October 27 at TSQ.org/BroadwayBuskers. While the concerts are still free, audiences are encouraged to donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund and the Broadway Advocacy Coalition.

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#29 - Sophie Thompson: Oddities and Shenanigans Oct 14, 2020

Olivier Award Winning Sophie Thompson has been one of Michael's inspirations since he studied abroad in London and saw her play Mrs. Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer at the National Theatre. Sophie may not think she is a multi-hyphenate, but does Michael have what it takes to convince her? Listen to this absolutely lovely conversations as they talk about the joys of being odd, activism, and a life without social media. Plus, we talk about Sophie's appearance in the virtual play Little Wars, by Steven Carl McCasland which is streaming worldwide from November 3rd - 8th, 2020.

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#28 - Tia Altinay: Building A Plane As You're Flying It Sep 28, 2020

When is it time to explore something knew? There is no letter that falls out of the sky telling you it's time to start your next journey - but there are hints, Universal hints, and conversations that lead you in that direction. Tia Altinay (Mary Poppins, Hamilton) began following impulses when a friend asked her if she wanted to produce. With Broadway performance and producing credits under her belt, Tia takes the lesson from Mary Poppins that anything CAN happen if you let it. She began devoting time to Broadway for Biden and is now going back to school to get her Masters. We never stop learning and Tia is a perfect example of that.

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#27 - Mei Ann Teo: Passion & Purpose Sep 17, 2020

Mei Ann Teo is the current Artistic Director of Musical Theatre Factory in New York City. They are a queer immigrant from Singapore making theatre & film at the intersection of artistic/civic/contemplative practice. As an artistic director, they allow budding multi-hyphenates thrive and create new work. Teo is an extremely grounded, soulful, and charming person who allows for some spiritual conversation on art - especially on one of my favorite topics: passion vs. purpose. This episode marks the start of the NEW Dear Multi-Hyphenate with interactive qualities that push the listener into a creative direction designed specifically to get you out of your quarantine rut. Follow @dearmultihyphenate on Instagram for more!

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#26 - Anthony Norman: A Good, Consistent Pee Schedule Sep 09, 2020

Anthony Norman (The Prom) is a budding multi-hyphenate who identifies as an actor / musician and coffee enthusiast. Anthony is an incredible, sensitive, and hysterical artist who made his Broadway debut in a different way than he expected. During Quarantine, he is exploring the song writing aspect of himself as well as daily routine and relationship with social media. Follow Anthony on Instagram at @a_norms.

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#25 - Brad Oscar: Beshert! It’s a Great Word! Sep 02, 2020

This episode with Tony Nominee Brad Oscar is simply a love letter to the greats of Broadway like Madeline Kahn and Jonathan Freeman. We don't talk much about multi-hyphenating, but if you like two Jewish boys connecting over musical theatre, Broadway debuts, and Beshert moments... this episode is for you. Plus, Brad gives amazing advice for younger artists starting in the industry and Michael talks about the importance of creating your own work, like 54 Celebrates Mel Brooks, which Michael & Brad worked on together.

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#24 - Alet Taylor: Punk Ass Bitch Aug 27, 2020

Alet, a punk-ass-bitch (as someone called her in a lingerie store) is a force, but didn't tap into it until she achieved sobriety after going to rehab. "You're going to be extraordinarily productive - the way your brain works," her social worker told her. And it's true. The electricity began after Alet left her end of the line bootcamp rehabilitation center. She is now an incredibly inspiring multi-hyphenate producer, actor, and writer - currently in the process of writing her own content with humor and giggles. This mom of two knows how to have fun, keep focused, and produce.

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#23 - Lori Wheat: I Wish I Had A Formula Aug 21, 2020

When do you know it's time to stop what you're doing and change paths? Sometimes multi-hyphenating isn't about doing everything you've always known to be true. Sometimes it's going on a journey and learning new things. Lori Wheat went on ONE audition in NYC and shifted gears. She didn't quit the industry, but she did figure out how to best tell her stories and help those around her. Though there isn't a formula for being original, Lori did one of the scariest things an artist can do: start something new and create Her Story Branding.

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#22 - John Schwab: The Multi-Hyphenate Superpower Aug 05, 2020

John Schwab is a West End performer, producer, director, and creator of the online database ‘Curtain Call’. He started his journey with computer technology in South Korea... how did he end up in the arts? And how does he use knowledge of technology to this day? All these questions are answered - including a fabulous discussion of the multi-hyphenate super power - on this episode of Dear Multi-Hyphenate

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#21 - Ned Donovan: Say ‘Oui’... Then Google It Jul 29, 2020

What is work? It looks differently for everyone. We can work all day, but at the same time not work at all. Ned Donovan is a high-tech, fast thinking actor, fight choreographer, content creator, and producer who is always on the move and constantly learning new proficiencies. But when is it appropriate to commit to a project thinking we can handle it ourselves or choose to find someone else to help us solve the puzzle? Ned beautifully speaks about the grief he experienced and the lessons he learned after losing both of his parents in a short amount of time... all while being inspired by his mother who believed that life was not just about joining communities, but making them.

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#20 - Al Silber: Human Being, Not A Human Doing Jul 22, 2020

Alexandra Silber is a Broadway & West End actress, two time novel writer, and educator. This episode covers a lot of bases, but most importantly the common denominator is courage. When do we start to at a hyphen to our identity? How do we even discover our hyphens? Can't we all just be like cats? Okay, that last one seemed a little random but Al makes a brilliant point that we all should be more like cats. So be a good cat and listen to this amazing episode of Dear Multi-Hyphenate!

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#19 - Kate Rockwell & Tracey Eden: A Mouse, Duh! Jul 16, 2020

In this special how-to episode, Mean Girls’ Kate Rockwell and Empress 1908 Gin’s Tracey Eden join Dear Multi-Hyphenate in some cocktail making fun. This amazing cocktail is Karen from Mean Girls inspired and is literally... so good. Kate and Tracey both share their experiences on how their love for wine and cocktails influenced artistic freedom when not performing. L’chaim!

Watch the video companion for this episode here: https://youtu.be/aR4HfXRkqpE

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#18 - Lindsay Lavin: Make Up' Your Own Path Jul 08, 2020

Lindsay Lavin is a talented performer and make up artist. Because of her new found love of make up and hair artistry, Lindsay has been able to spend energy on projects she wants to do, not has to do. Through her new hyphen, Lindsay has discovered her place in the industry is more clear than ever. This episode has great insight to producing your own concert, how to explore a new passion, and great tips and tricks to how to prepare for a successful headshot session.

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#17 - Dimitri Moise: Discovering Your Call To Action Jul 01, 2020

Beautiful and The Book of Mormon’s Dimitri Moise is a queer, HIV+ activist, now the co-chair of Claim Our Space Now. COSN, featured in Forbes, an organization emboldening urgent action to dismantle white supremacy. Dimitri speaks about following impulses that led him to following a call to action and the tools he uses to produce his best, focused work.

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#16 - Tonya Pinkins: Career, Clairvoyance & Country Jun 24, 2020

Tony Winner and legend Tonya Pinkins (Jelly’s Last Jam, Play On!, and Caroline, or Change) joins Dear Multi-Hyphenate speaking on the energy and clairvoyance it takes to have a career in the arts. Tonya is an actor, writer, teacher, producer, director, podcaster, activist. Above all else, she is incredibly inspiring and full of wisdom.

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#15 - John McGinty: Art Isn't Easy, But Inclusion Is Jun 18, 2020

In this special edition of Dear Multi-Hyphenate, Michael speaks with John McGinty an actor and advocate, who happens to be deaf. We ask hard hitting questions, but the answer is we can always do better. Michael and John are joined by his interpreter Nicole Cartagena.

Watch the video of this event here: https://youtu.be/QlF3UDHPSPs

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#14 - Ashley Kate Adams: Marinate the Chicken May 27, 2020

Ashley Kate Adams had a total shift in gear after her Broadway show closed just a few weeks after she joined. This positive force of nature brightens any room she walks into with her sunny disposition and laser beam focus. Ashley Kate speaks about how she created her production company, releasing the need for affirmation, learning by doing, and well, marinating the chicken.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#13 - Rachel Brosnahan: Covenant House: Get Involved May 18, 2020

Emmy and Golden Globe Winner Rachel Brosnahan (Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel joins me on a conversation that focuses on Rache's advocacy. Rachel may be one of the best actresses of our time, but she also is an amazing advocate for homeless youth and serves on the Board of Directors at Covenant House, which oversees programs for homeless youth in 31 cities in six countries in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. We talk about Covenant House's gala Night of Covenant House Stars (held on May 18th, 2020), how you can get involved, and the importance of getting involved during a global pandemic. This episode also features a brand new song created out of Quarantine entitled I Miss, written by Jean Ann Garrish.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#12 - Remy Germinario (featuring Caroline Lagerfelt): Our Experience is Our Own Greatest Tool May 12, 2020

Remy Germinario is a stand up comic who has also done the one man comedy Buyer and Cellar three times around the country. But can a stand up comic also be a dramatic actor? You bet. Remy Germinario opens up about his journey as a comic, sketch performer, and actor and how intention and support plays into a successful career. As a bonus, I have legendary actress of stage and screen Caroline Lagerfelt join us to chat about her new upcoming Netflix show Sweet Magnolias.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#11 - Cynthia Henderson: The Why Of It All (Or A Masterclass in Acting) May 06, 2020

Cynthia Henderson is one of the original multi-hyphenates still leading by example. Not only is she a professor at Ithaca College, but Cynthia is Fulbright Scholar, working actor, producer, director, writer, and travels to some of the most dangerous parts in the world working on Theatre for Social Change. Cynthia literally knows what it means when art becomes life or death.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#10 - Elena Garcia: I Will Not Apologize Apr 28, 2020

Carbonell Award Winning actor Elena Maria Garcia will not apologize. And she shouldn't. Garcia is a tough cookie with the kindest heart. She is a warror of her art and continues to inspire artists from all over the world. A master improver, a brilliant teacher, a heart wrenching actor, and ballsy producer, Garcia pushes limits not only in herself, but in everyone she works with. She is full of life and jokes, and this episode is no exception. After listening to this episode, go and start that project you've been thinking about. Your muse will thank you. And you'll thank her.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#9 - Randy Graff: Just Being Jewish Apr 21, 2020

Randy Graff (Tony Winner for City of Angels, Original Fantine in Les Miserables on Broadway) joins Michael as a cultivator and supporter of multi-hyphenates. This podcast episode is supremely Jewish, full of laughs, and chocolate. For actors everywhere, this episode serves as a useful tool to dive into Jewish comedy, dialect, and speech pattern. Also - find out what Stephen Sondheim and Michael Kushner both have in common. Hint: it definitely has to do with Randy Graff.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#8 - DeAnne Stewart and Ryan Mac: That's supposed to mean Support Apr 14, 2020

Michael talks with DeAnne Stewart (Jagged Little Pill) and Ryan Mac (Anastasia National Tour) 38 days into quarantine during the CoVid-19 Outbreak. The three of them have been best friends since Freshman year at Ithaca College. All the three have had busy, stable routine before quarantine and each have found their own way to stay focused and happy while the theatre community is finding a temporary new normal. Listen to this episode for positive outlooks, helpful resources, and inspiration.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#7 - JJ Maley: A Young Producer's Journey Apr 08, 2020

After three weeks into quarantine, life has changed big time for us artists. In this episode with JJ Maley, one of the youngest producers in NYC, there are plenty goodies to implement in your life that will help with the busiest of schedules, or schedules that have been turned upside down because of CoVid-19. A non-binary actor and producer, JJ is the kindest soul who will leave you feeling inspired.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#6 - Angela Grovey: Does It Make Me Happy? Mar 18, 2020

Michael speaks with Angela Grovey (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Joyful Noise, Newsies, Escape to Margaritaville) on balancing art and serving. On top of performing on stage and screen, Angela works with Covenant House and Broadway Inspirational Voices - two opportunities for Angela to inflict change. Angela is embracing all 2020 has to offer, while sharing amazing words of wisdom to ensure a life of discovery, health, and happiness.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#5 - Liz Flemming and Tina Scariano: The 5x5 Rule Mar 11, 2020

Michael talks with Liz Flemming and Tina Scariano, two powerhouse women changing the face of how we produce theatre. Straight from a full day of planning a colorful season at Out of the Box Theatrics, Liz and Tina join for a bright and engaging conversation on fate, family, and the 5x5 rule.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#4 - Erin Kommor: Mental Health is Fierce Mar 04, 2020

Michael talks with Erin Kommor (NBC's Rise) about tools that help balance the stresses of multi-hyphenation. This episode is balanced with humor, truth, and lots of talk about food.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#3 - Adam Hyndman: Comparison is the Thief of Joy Feb 19, 2020

Michael talks with Adam Hyndman, a multi-hyphenate whose work as a performer can be found in Hadestown and as a producer in The Inheritance. Yes, Adam has two shows on Broadway at once, both using two different proficiencies. This heartfelt, heady episode elaborates on self worth, privilege, and self focused energy.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#2 - The Skivvies: Starting From Scratch Jan 30, 2020

Michael talks with Lauren Molina and Nick Cearley, the brains and bodies behind (or under) The Skivvies. In this episode, they discuss creating something out of nothing and turning a small youtube video into a Broadway band with thousands of fans! This episode is hysterical, energetic and full of inspiration.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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#1 - What is a Multi-Hyphenate? Jan 30, 2020

Host Michael Kushner describes what it is to be a Multi-Hyphenate. Tune into discover if you are getting the most out of your artistry and how to juggle multiple proficiencies to help cross pollinate professional capabilities.. In this episode, Michael, an artist who does multiple things within the industry, will lead you through the first of many tips and tricks on how to be the best Multi-Hyphenate artist you can possible be.

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Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network.

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