DRAMA. with Connor & Dylan MacDowell

Latest Episodes:

“Another Moon” with Paul Schwensen Dec 27, 2023

Show notes

Connor and Dylan are joined by Paul Schwensen (The Book of Mormon, Wicked). It’s the end of another fabulous year of DRAMA and we’re wrapping it up with the lovely Ohio boy, Paul Schwensen. Listen in as these Midwestern gays chat about everything under the sun, from Paul’s pandemic hair journey, performing with his family in local theatre, and traveling the country in national tours. Did you know that there’s a tunnel under DRAMA Boulevard? PERIOD. We get into Paul’s sweet doggie Hudson and why Lane Del Ray and Rock Hudson play a pivotal role. Beyonce’s Renaissance film, Sasha Velour’s book, and old timey nostalgic claymation Christmas movies are also discussed. The boys get the scoop on Paul’s Broadway debut in The Book of Mormon, tour life in Miss Saigon and Wicked,and the pants (or pantsless) impact of playing both Fiyero and Chris. We also hear all about Paul’s love story with his boyfriend. You’re going to love this cozy, connective chat. Happy holidays to you and yours and thanks for being part of the DRAMA Family.

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Edited by Dylan
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"A Very Vanessa Hudgens Holiday Ep" with Connor & Dylan MacDowell Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

Connor and Dylan are delivering a TWIN TALKS episode before Santa Claus comes to town! Happy Holidays to all of our listeners around the world. Settle in for some cozy discourse about the current state of theatre, pop culture, film, and more. Both twins share a piece of their Harris Dickinson obsession, as he appears in both The Iron Claw and Murder at the End of the World. Somehow it’s the mid 2000s because Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens both play a key role in this conversation. We also dig into Tick, Tick...BOOM at the Kennedy Center, RHONY: Legacy, Connor’s hopes for Ryan Gosling’s Oscar, and encourage y’all to go see Harmony and How to Dance in Ohio. This episode is dedicated to our beautiful Grandma Mickey. We celebrate her life, and also express gratitude to all of our lovely listeners. Have a warm and wonderful holiday season!
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Edited by Dylan

“I Want You to Be ‘The Guy’” with Danny Burstein Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

Dylan and Connor are joined by Broadway LEGEND Danny Burstein (Moulin Rouge, Fiddler on the Roof). Are you ready, chickens? The incredibly kind, generous, and talented Danny shares story upon story of his magnificent career. He’s worked with everyone in the business – from Bernadette Peters to Alan Cumming to Kelli O’Hara to Aaron Tveit. A true lover of the craft of acting, he delves into the fun of playing different types of roles like his characters in Moulin Rouge (which he won the Tony for), South Pacific, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, and The Drowsy Chaperone. In remembrance of his late wife Rebecca Luker, Danny tells the twins about the first time he saw her and the cosmic connection they had. They also get into Danny’s television and voiceover work, Beckham on Netflix, Matt Rogers’ “Have You Heard of Christmas?” album, and MORE. You won’t want to miss this all-encompassing chat. To life!

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Edited by Dylan
Support the podcast by subscribing to DRAMA+, which also includes bonus episodes, Instagram Close Friends content, and more!

"Not a Day Goes By Tbh" with Katie Rose Clarke Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

Dylan and Connor are joined by Katie Rose Clarke (Merrily We Roll Along, Wicked). Not a day has gone by that we haven’t dreamed of having this LEGEND on the pod. After first meeting during a Wicked blizzard in Cleveland in 2008, Katie joins the twins to mention it ALL. Hear the story of Katie seeing her first Broadway show (Miss Saigon starring Lea Salonga) and then working with Lea years later. We talk all things Wicked, Carmen Cusack, and the process of crafting a story arc for Glinda. Katie shares the tale of making her Broadway debut, replacing Kelli O’Hara in The Light in the Piazza, then going on to star in Allegiance, Miss Saigon, and currently in Merrily We Roll Along. We get into her friendship with Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe; and how Maria Friedman gave them the freedom to create their own journeys in the show. And some DRAMA: Bobby Berk leaves Queer Eye, Dylan loves Nyad, and a recommendation for Brie Larson’s Lessons in Chemistry. Old friends, y’all!

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Edited by Dylan
Support the podcast by subscribing to DRAMA+, which also includes bonus episodes, Instagram Close Friends content, and more!

“I’ve Got a Lot of Drama” with Beth Leavel Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

Dylan and Connor are joined by Beth Leavel (The Prom, The Drowsy Chaperone). To celebrate FOUR YEARS of DRAMA, the twins finally chat with the legend, the icon, the moment: Beth Leavel. The queen herself regales listeners with tales from her extensive resume: from winning the Tony for creating Beatrice Stockwell in The Drowsy Chaperone, to embodying the iconic DeeDee Allen in The Prom, and stepping into Miranda Priestley’s Prada shoes in The Devil Wears Prada. But don’t worry, we cover everything else in between. Starring in Mamma Mia and belting out 15 songs every night, the early days of performing in 42nd Street and Crazy for You, and even performing as Rizzo in Grease on the road. We also get into Beth’s other Tony nominated role of Florence Greenberg in Baby, It’s You. They chat about The Crown, eBay and Black Friday deals, and even Beth’s recent appearance in Gutenberg! The Musical! Listen in for the EXCLUSIVE. You’re going to love this episode with Beth. Thanks for four amazing years of DRAMA, y’all.
See Beth Leavel at 54 Below this January 2 and 8!
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Edited by Dylan
Support the podcast by subscribing to DRAMA+, which also includes bonus episodes, Instagram Close Friends content, and more!

"That's My Jam" with Melody Butiu Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

Dylan and Connor are joined by Melody Butiu (Here Lies Love, Doctor Zhivago). The twins are feeling THANKFUL (Kelly Clarkson vibes) for so many reasons, but especially to chat with Melody this week. Buckle up for a heartfelt, fun, and emotional chat with this star from Here Lies Love. Hear about Melody’s journey with the musical, charting from the early demos, to the Public, to Broadway. Stories matter, y’all. They also hear a Ring of Keys moment so touching that all three of them cry their eyes out. But wipe your tears, because there’s also fun to be had. Hear all about the upcoming Stephen Schwartz and Kristin Chenoweth musical The Queen of Versailles. They get into the Jacob Elordi Renaissance, book recommendations, and not one, not two but three Doses of Drama from Miss Melody herself. This is an instant classic. We’re thankful for you all and especially for listening to this chat with Melody. See her in Here Lies Love through Sunday, November 26 ONLY.

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Edited by Dylan
Support the podcast by subscribing to DRAMA+, which also includes bonus episodes, Instagram Close Friends content, and more!

“Then I’m Days” with Isabelle McCalla Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

Connor and Dylan are joined by Isabelle McCalla (Shucked, Water for Elephants). We’re not letting that Friday fatigue get us down, y’all! The boys are joined by leading lady Isabelle McCalla for a chat that goes DEEP. They discuss all things Shucked, the genius of Brandy Clark and “Maybe Love,” and how fun it is to be a part of theatrical escapism. We talk about Giggly Squad Live, as well as the abundance of riches the Bravo TV universe is providing. Learn about Isabelle’s next venture: Water for Elephants on Broadway opposite Grant Gustin and Paul Alexander Nolan. The Prom is of course discussed, but you’re not ready for the way it changed Isabelle’s life and inspired the journey she’s on now. We talk emotional roomie farewells, new homes, the ease of early lockdown, why “Plastic Off the Sofa” shan't be skipped, and MORE. Beth Leavel is discussed at length. I mean… icon. How righteous is thy Gemstone mawma?

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Edited by Dylan
Support the podcast by subscribing to DRAMA+, which also includes bonus episodes, Instagram Close Friends content, and more!

"In His Bag" with Vincent Jamal Hooper Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

Dylan and Connor are joined by Broadway’s newest leading man Vincent Jamal Hooper (The Lion King, Hamilton). They dive right into hearing about Vincent’s time in the Pridelands so far, why the stampede and Shadowland sequences in The Lion King are undefeated, and how he’s putting his own mark on Simba. They discuss Julie Taymor and Lin Manuel Miranda being in their respective bags when creating their mammoth musicals. Vincent lifts up Ragtime and Passing Strange as benchmark moments in his journey to Broadway, and campaigns for himself to play The Youth in a Passing Strange revival. Call Stew! Vincent shares how his triple crown of In the Heights productions as Benny led to his casting in Hamilton, which also introduced him to his partner. They chat about friend of the pod Lyndon Watts, Anatomy of a Fall, Fellow Travelers on Showtime, and Bodies on Netflix, and Vincent even teases the upcoming White Girl in Danger cast album. Go see Vincent star in The Lion King on Broadway!

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Edited by Dylan
Support the podcast by subscribing to DRAMA+, which also includes bonus episodes, Instagram Close Friends content, and more!

"The Slut! Train" with Connor & Dylan MacDowell Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

Dylan and Connor are back with a long-awaited TWIN TALKS episode for y’all! Recorded on the day of Wicked’s 20th anniversary (and Lea Michele’s Carnegie Hall show), we sat down to gab about all things theatre and pop culture. It starts with varying vowel affectations in names and continues with Connor’s early campaign for Jonathan Groff to win a Tony Award this year. Despite Dylan not wanting any Tonys chatter until January, they cover Cabaret at the Kit Kat Klub starring Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin, as well as the color-conscious casting choices in The Notebook. Broadway ticket prices, Lempicka, and even a discourse about the vault tracks on 1989 (Taylor’s Version) are also covered. Some DraxMoi submitted by a listener also leads to a conversation about what to see right now in New York City. Get into it!
Subscribe to DRAMA+, which also includes bonus episodes, Instagram Close Friends content, and more!
Follow DRAMA. on Twitter & Instagram & Tiktok
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Edited by Dylan

"The Marathon" with Kerry Ellis Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

Connor and Dylan are joined by Kerry Ellis (Wicked, We Will Rock You). The twins wrap up their legendary 20th anniversary of Wicked celebration, joined by the first British actress to play Elphaba on both Broadway AND the West End – Kerry Ellis. The First Lady of the West End dives into her entire history with Wicked, from her early auditions, standing by for Idina Menzel, debuting in London and eventually taking the show to Broadway alongside Kendra Kassebaum and Aaron Tveit. We discuss all things Kerry: her book, albums, collaborations and friendship with Queen guitarist Brian May, performing on gay cruises, original music, and her love story with her husband. My Fair Lady, Miss Saigon, Les Mis, and up next.. Diana in the UK. Stick around to the end for drama around Peaky Blinders, All of Us Strangers, and Cabaret on the West End. You don’t want to miss this chat with the lovely, talented, and gorgeous Kerry Ellis.
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Edited by Dylan
Support the podcast by subscribing to DRAMA+, which also includes bonus episodes, Instagram Close Friends content, and more!

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