Laura Heywood Interviews

Laura Heywood Interviews Nick Cordero (From the Archives) Apr 13, 2020

Nick Cordero is a Tony nominated actor (Bullets Over Broadway, Waitress, A Bronx Tale). I sat down with him a few years ago at Build Series in New York City.

I chose this interview from the archives because I want you to know how great Nick is, and for you to keep him in your thoughts. Because my friend is Nick is very sick — he is fighting for his life, in critical condition, in the ICU as a result of Covid-19.

He has a 10-month old baby; his wife is understandably distraught; and they are asking everyone everywhere to pray — whatever that looks like — for Nick’s recovery.

I interviewed him when starring in the iconic role of Sonny in A Bronx Tale: The Musical, written by and inspired by the life of Chazz Palminteri.

With Nick so very much on my mind right now, and in the hearts of the whole Broadway community, I am reaching back to our interview as part of my own prayer process.

Please keep Nick and his family in the forefront of your minds, along with the families of everyone else suffering from this horrible pandemic.

To all the first responders, heath care professionals, and essential workers: I thank you.

To everyone listening: Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Home.

To Nick and his wife Amanda and their baby Elvis: My heart is with you.

Laura Heywood Interviews Kyle Jarrow (Whisper House, Spongebob) Mar 18, 2020

NOTE: WHISPER HOUSE WAS CANCELED THE DAY BEFORE ITS FIRST PREVIEW DUE TO COVID-19. WE ARE ALL HOLDING HOPE THAT IT WILL BE PRODUCED AT A LATER DATE.

Kyle Jarrow was nominated for a Tony Award for his brilliant, fully original book of a musical for Spongebob Squarepants: The Musical. His current project is Whisper House, with songs by Duncan Sheik, off-Broadway at 59E59 in New York City. Kyle also leads the indie-pop-rock band Sky Pony with his wife, Tony nominee Lauren Worsham (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), writes for television and movies, and he's a dad.

Laura Heywood Interviews Steven Sater (Spring Awakening, Alice By Heart) Mar 16, 2020

Steven Sater is a Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award winning lyricist, librettist, writer, poet and much more. He is the man responsible for Spring Awakening, the show that inspired the passion that led to Laura Heywood's online alter ego, @BroadwayGirlNYC. His new novel, Alice By Heart, is a gorgeous and poetic expansion of the world behind the musical of the same name. Hardly a re-relling of Alice in Wonderland, the story instead is about a different Alice, down a different kind of hole – a lost pubescent girl in the panic of 1940s London, seeking refuge in an abandoned Tube station for herself and her sick best friend. The other children there do seem to oddly resemble the characters from her favorite Lewis Carroll novel, and the more terrifying the war becomes above ground, the more solace she takes in retelling the story she knows by heart to Alfred, the best friend who is succumbing slowly to tuberculosis. As a boy, Steven Sater himself was very sick – confined in quarantine most of his young life – and books were his refuge, too. So as we read the intertwined stories of these two Alices and the plight of struggling youth – we are, in a way, learning Steven’s story, too.

From the Archives: "The Girl From the North Country" off-Broadway cast Mar 10, 2020

Featuring the music of Bob Dylan, with a book and direction by Connor Macpherson, The Girl From the North Country is now playing at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway.

In Fall 2018, Laura Heywood sat down with three of the original principals from the Public Theater’s production of the show — the production that has transferred to Broadway this season.

Kimber Elayne Sprawl plays Marianne, a nineteen year old black woman raised to adulthood by a white family that owns and runs a boardinghouse, the setting for the musical. Jeanette Bayardelle is a tenant at the boarding house, a widow with a special relationship to the proprieter. And the third voice you’ll hear is Sydney James Harcourt, an actor who departed the production after the Public run — his role, a transient boxer with a complicated past, is no played on Broadway by Austin Scott.

LHI will revisit The Girl From the North Country with new content, once the production is officially open on Broadway (it’s currently in previews) — and for now, let this archival conversation whet your appetite for a beautiful new Broadway musical.

Laura Heywood Interviews Ben Crawford (Phantom of the Opera) Mar 02, 2020

Ben Crawford is currently and creepily embodying Broadway’s favorite malformed and maladjusted romantic hero: The Phantom of the Opera.Is hero the right word? He’s certainly the leading man. But that Phantom, he’s a dark dude. And I can’t wait to dig into his complexities with the actor who brings him to life on Broadway eight shows a week.Ben Crawford has been playing The Phantom for nearly two years, and he brings the same freshness every performance that he did when he first took on this “monster” of a role.Believe it or not, The Phantom of the Opera just celebrated its 32nd anniversary on Broadway. Only 16 actors have been cast as the Phantom in that time, so this is an elite club. It is an "unparalleled delight" to welcome Ben Crawford to Laura Heywood Interviews!

Laura Heywood Interviews Tamar Greene and Fergie Philippe (Hamilton) Feb 24, 2020

Tamar Greene and Fergie Philippe are two of the newest cast members in HAMILTON on Broadway! Tamar, with a deep baritone and linebacker physique, is playing the larger-than-life George Washington — and Fergie is James Madison, our country’s fourth president, as well as a youthful, hilarious Hercules Mulligan! Rather than dwell on the current administration — yikes — we are celebrating Presidents Day in true BroadwayGirl style… with the Presidents of Hamilton on Broadway.

Laura Heywood Interviews Morgan James (Memphis Magnetic) Feb 19, 2020

Morgan James has five Broadway credits, five solo albums — including her newest, “Memphis Magnetic” — and literally tens of millions of views on YouTube. Her most impressive trait, however, is that she never assumed that talent was enough. There is zero entitlement in this woman — instead of taking her natural gift for granted, she’s used it like a key to an endless library of learning, growing, enhancing, and redefining her own standards of success.

Laura Heywood Interviews Ann Harada (Emojiland, Avenue Q) Feb 17, 2020

Ann Harada's resume is, without a doubt, impressive. On Broadway she has sung Rodgers and Hammerstein, Boublil & Schonberg, Dolly Parton, Ahrens & Flaherty, and Robert Lopez, plus appeared in David Henry Hwang’s celebrated play M. Butterfly in her Broadway acting debut. On screen she has appeared in Smash, Gotham, 30 Rock, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Sex and the Cityvthe digital series Indoor Boys. She is currently starring as the iconic "Pile of Poo" off-Broadway in Emojiland: The Musical.

Laura Heywood Interviews Eden Espinosa (Lempicka, The Green Room 42) Feb 12, 2020

Eden Espinosa is known for playing Elphaba in Wicked, Brooklyn in Brooklyn: The Musical, and Maureen in the closing company of Rent. She recently returned from playing Trina on the National Tour of Falsettos and is originating the title role of the polish painter Lempicka in a new musical by Matt Gould. She will be playing the Narrator, alongside Alex Newell and Jessica Vosk, in Lincoln Center’s all-star 50th Anniversary Celebration of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Her album Revelation is out now, and she is embarking upon a residency at The Green Room 42 in a series she calls “Unplugged and Unplanned.”

Laura Heywood Interviews Benjamin Salka (Story Pirates) Feb 10, 2020

Story Pirates “pairs the best actors, comedians and musicians in the world with some of the most creative educators, and puts them together to create real collaborations with kids.” Original stories, written entirely from kids’ imaginations, become huge-scale production numbers — sketch comedy shows, over-the-top musicals, masterfully produced albums — the kind of wild imaginative art that only a kid can think of, and only the best-of-the-best grownups can execute. Benjamin "Jamie" Salka is Story Pirates' co-creator, President and CEO.

Laura Heywood Interviews Lesli Margherita (Emojiland: The Musical) Feb 05, 2020

If Broadway had a poster child for living out loud, it would be Lesli Margherita, currently starring as The Princess of Emojiland in Emojiland: The Musical. Never had there been a fiercer, more outspoken advocate for living your truth, owning your weirdness, and ruling your own kingdom. There’s a reason her social media accounts are all called Queen Lesli! Known for Zorro: The Musical (Olivier Award), Matilda, and Dames at Sea, Lesli Margherita is one of a kind.

Laura Heywood Interviews Jim Caruso (Broadway at Birdland) Feb 03, 2020

Jim Caruso made his Broadway debut alongside none other than Liza Minnelli in Liza’s At The Palace in 2008, which won a Tony Award for Best Special Event and also earned a Grammy nomination. He has performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and in Times Square for a crowd of 100,000 theater fans. He is the winner of multiple MAC awards, BroadwayWorld Awards, BackStage Magazine Bistro Awards, and a NightLife Awards. And on top of all of this, he is MOST beloved for his acclaimed weekly series' “Broadway at Birdland” and "Jim Caruso's Cast Party."

Laura Heywood Interviews Jen Wheeler Kahn (Scenery Bags) Feb 03, 2020

Jennifer Wheeler Kahn is the founder of Scenery Bags, a sustainable fashion company that uses reclaimed curtains, backdrops and stages from Broadway and touring shows to create purses, clutches, totes and other accessories beloved by theatre fans and fashionistas alike. A portion of every sale goes to TDF's Introduction to Theatre and Accessibility for Students programs, making the enterprise responsible for making the world a better place on both the front and back ends of the process. www.SceneryBags.com

Laura Heywood Interviews Norbert Leo Butz ("The Long Haul") Jan 27, 2020

Two-time Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz has appeared on Broadway in My Fair Lady, Catch Me If You Can, Wicked, Rent, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Big Fish, Dead Accounts, Enron, Is He Dead, and Speed the Plow. The Last Five Years off-Broadway provided an equally pivotal role.

In addition to his legendary career on the stage, Norbert Leo Butz is a wildly talented songwriter, and his album “The Long Haul” is the first full-length album he has written entirely by himself.

“The Long Haul” is a country/ blues record that has a deep, beautiful sadness running through it along with a sense of perseverance and a heart determined to keep on loving.

It would be easy to believe this record was written by a long-haul trucker with a million miles behind him and thousands more to go — which is why “The Long Haul” is the perfect name for this heartbreaking, hardy collection of songs.

Laura Heywood Interviews Mykal Kilgore ("A Man Born Black") Jan 20, 2020

Mykal Kilgore has appeared on Broadway in Motown, The Book of Mormon, and Hair; on TV, in The Wiz and Jesus Christ Superstar; and in the gorgeous City Center production of Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for A New World, which you can find on all music streaming services. After growing up in Florida and then moving to Nashville, he was discovered by Billy Porter, who shepherded him to New York City. Mykal’s new album, A Man Born Black, out now, is a little bit R&B, a dash of reggae and country, and ALL soul.

Laura Heywood Interviews Jamison Stern ("After Forever") Jan 20, 2020

Jamison Stern is a life-long actor who works constantly and puts everything he has into his characters. From one-man onstage triumphs like his recent “Fully Committed,” to full-body transformations such as his turn as Tracy in “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” Jamison commands an audience. His current role as “Paul #1” in the Emmy-winning Amazon series “After Forever” is particularly special, as it’s clear that the cast loves each other as much as the characters do, and audiences fall in love with a slice of New York that is unique and familiar at the same time. Jamison also has a gorgeous singing voice — just enter “Jamison Stern” into a youtube search for songs from Stephen Sondheim to Jule Styne. It was important to me to have Jamison on the show because he is so clearly DOING THE WORK — being an actor is hard and he has put in years. For those of you out there who want to really do this, Jamison can offer insight into the persistence, tenacity and resolve required to make it as a performer.

Laura Heywood Interviews Sam Maher (YesBroadway.com) Jan 13, 2020

Sam Maher is one of the most passionate, dedicated, informed consumers of theatre in New York. His website, YesBroadway.com, is designed to help you sort through the noise that’s prevalent on other sites — it’s quality, not quantity, of articles & features that matter.

Two of the website’s biggest sections — “saw it, loved it” and “hype alert” — focus on Sam’s personal favorites, and the upcoming shows with the most buzz. And he would know — in addition to being a professional audience member (like Laura!) — he is also a savvy marketing expert, who runs influencer marketing campaigns for shows like Be More Chill — on which he was also a producer — and Emojiland: The Musical.

Laura Heywood's Holiday Hamilton Supershow Jan 06, 2020

Lin-Manuel Miranda. Leslie Odom, Jr. Phillipa Soo. Daveed Diggs. Renee Elise Goldsberry. Christopher Jackson. Okierete Onaodowan. Anthony Ramos. Alex Lacamoire. David Korins. Javier Muñoz. Rory O'Malley. Mandy Gonzales. James Monroe Iglehart. Daniel Breaker. Morgan Marcell. Lexi Lawson. Welcome to an eight-hour marathon of HAMILTON interviews! The quintessential one-stop-shop for interviews with the stars of Broadway's most celebrated musical, with "Broadway's most influential fan," Laura Heywood, aka @BroadwayGirlNYC.

Laura Heywood Interviews Daryl Roth, live at NAMT 2019 Dec 23, 2019

Daryl Roth is one of the most prolific, influential producers in the history of New York theatre. Her mission is to champion thought-provoking, inspiring work onstage, and she is honored to hold the singular distinction of producing 7 Pulitzer Prize-winning plays: Anna in the Tropics; August: Osage County (2008 Tony Award); Clybourne Park (2012 Tony Award); How I Learned to Drive; Proof (2001 Tony Award); Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women; and Wit. Recorded live at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 2019 Fall Conference, this interview focuses on the past, present and future of musical theatre from a producer’s point of view. Roth has produced over 90 productions on and off Broadway, many with political or activist content.

Laura Heywood Interviews Tony Vincent (PCG Theatrical, American Idiot) Dec 19, 2019

Tony Vincent is a Rock/Broadway hybrid creature, having charted six songs before making his Broadway debut in RENT. He went on to appear in the film and Broadway revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, We Will Rock You in London, American Idiot both pre- and on-Broadway, and Rocktopia. He was also a fan favorite on NBC's The Voice, and headlines "The Music of David Bowie" international symphony tour. He has just launched PCG Theatrical, a customized, full-service artist development program specifically designed for aspiring musical theatre performers, featuring personalized curricula rather than a one-size-fits-all program. Find out more about Tony at www.TonyVincent.com!

Laura Heywood Interviews John Robert Allman ("A is for Audra" Dec 16, 2019

John Robert Allman is the author of "A is for Audra: Broadway's Leading Ladies from A to Z." This book is a quintessential must-have gift for everyone on your holiday list. I’m talking everyone. It’s a picture book — so you can get it for the little ones — and many people may see “A is for Audra” only as a book for kids. But don’t be fooled by the large format and colorful illustrations. This is a celebration of the women in musical theatre that have inspired ALL fans of the genre, from Tony-winning household names to lyricists, directors, and even the strong female characters (and a sprinkling of men who contributed to their creations) who have defined the modern musical theatre. And even with just 26 letters in the alphabet, there are over 70 divas included!

Laura Heywood Interviews Marty Thomas ("Slow Dancing with a Boy" Dec 11, 2019

Marty Thomas has basically been a star since he was a child. His first Broadway credit was when he was only eleven years old, in The Secret Garden; since then he has appeared in Xanadu and Wicked, and has created and performed hundreds if not thousands of shows on New York stages as a stalwart of the NYC nightlife scene.

His new album “Slow Dancing with a Boy” is out as of December 6 — for those of you listening live on DNR Studios, you’ve got to wait a couple of days (but you can preorder the album now!). If you’re listening a week later on the free podcast version of Laura Heywood Interviews, you can find “Slow Dancing with a Boy” EVERYWHERE.

The album features soaring vocals in genres that range from pop to gospel to country, with some showtunes too — re-arranged and orchestrated so they have a different feel than ever before.

Laura Heywood Interviews Vivek Tiwary (producer, Jagged Little Pill) Dec 09, 2019

Vivek Tiwary is a lead producer of Jagged Little Pill, the new musical inspired by and featuring songs from the iconic Alanis Morissette album. JLP is a powerhouse rock show that is also an intimate family portrait, with a brand new story by the Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody and directed by Tony-winner Diane Paulus, featuring a cast that is both fresh and seasoned, a true ensemble without a weak link among them. How did this team find each other, and how did this particular album — which changed so many of our lives in and since the 1990s — make its way to a Broadway stage? Vivek Tiwary knows all the details, because has been there since the beginning.

Laura Heywood Interviews Josh Lamon (Josh Swallows Broadway) Dec 02, 2019

Josh Lamon is one of Laura's longest-lasting friends in the Broadway industry. Seen most recently in the Tony-nominated musical The Prom, his Broadway credits include Groundhog Day, Finding Neverland, Elf and Hair -- plus notable off-Broadway productions including A New Brain at City Center, Little Miss Sunshine at Second Stage, and Into the Woods at the Delacorte in Central Park. His new podcast "Josh Swallows... Broadway" is available now from the Broadway Podcast Network, available everywhere you find podcasts.

Laura Heywood Interviews Julie Taymor and Eve Ensler (from the archives) Dec 02, 2019

Laura revisits conversations with two of her theatrical heroes, Julie Taymor and Eve Ensler. Taymor redefined both Disney and Broadway with her vision of The Lion King; she spoke to Laura in the summer of 2018 about the cinematic re-release of Across The Universe, the glorious film featuring the music of the Beatles. Ensler is best known as the creator of The Vagina Monologues (in which Laura performed in 1999!). They spoke about her 2018 off-Broadway memoir play, “In the Body of the World.”

Laura Heywood Interviews Wes Taylor and Alex Wyse (Indoor Boys) Nov 04, 2019

Broadway actors Wesley Taylor (Spongebob Squarepants, The Addams Family, Rock of Ages) and Alex Wyse (Waitress, Spring Awakening, Lysistrata Jones) have teamed up on the short-form fictional series "Indoor Boys," an award-winning web-based sitcom that follows two homebody roommates as they try to figure out the boundaries of their no-boundaries friendship. Three seasons are available (and highly bingeable!) at www.indoorboys.tv.

Laura Heywood Interviews Kyle Post (Kinky Boots, The Weirdo's Way) Oct 28, 2019

Kyle Post performed over 2000 times in Kinky Boots on Broadway, achieving his life's greatest dream. He then realized his purpose was to coach others to live their own. Kyle Post Life Coaching is the answer, and his newest program, The Weirdo's Way, is designed for for self-identified oddballs. He calls it "the eccentric performer’s guide to crazy artistic success," and it is one of a kind. We discuss Kyle's Broadway and coaching superpowers, and bond over both being proud weirdos ourselves.

Laura Heywood Interviews Kooman and Dimond (The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes) Oct 14, 2019

Michael Kooman (music) and Christopher Dimond (book & lyrics) are a New York City-based writing team for the stage and screen. The world premiere recording of their musical "The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes" is out now.

Their most recent musical, Romantics Anonymous, debuted to rave reviews at Shakespeare's Globe. They also currently serve as songwriters for “Vampirina,” an animated musical TV series for which they have written more than 150 songs. The show airs on Disney Channel and Disney Junior, reaching over 100 million viewers in 115 countries. Michael and Chris have written songs for Patti LuPone, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Patina Miller, Christian Borle, Andrew Rannells, Skylar Astin, Anna Camp, and Wanda Sykes.

Laura Heywood Interviews Christian Dante White (My Fair Lady; Hello, Dolly!) Oct 11, 2019

Fresh off of the Broadway productions of My Fair Lady — where he played Freddy Einsford Hill and Hello Dolly, where he understudied — and often went on for — the Tony Award winning role of Cornelius Hackel, Christian Dante White is here! The two of us originally met over social media — the first tweet we were both mentioned in goes back to 2010! — and only just FINALLY met in person LAST WEEK by total happen stance! So I HAD to invite to him instudio. He has a concert coming up at the Greenroom 42 on October 14, so we will be talking about THAT, and so much more — including the fact that I have it on good authority that he channels Beyonce in a very specific way when he needs extra confidence.

Laura Heywood Interviews Rob Rokicki and the cast of The Lightning Thief (from the Archives) Oct 09, 2019

Rob Rokicki (composer), Sarah Beth Pfeifer and Kristin Stokes (actors) all made their Broadway debuts this season in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson musical. The show has had its own hero's journey: from one-hour school show, to sold-out off-Broadway run, to national tour, to the Longacre Theatre where it is making its home on Broadway through January 5.

In honor of the show's Broadway bow, we revisit a conversation from April, the day after the tour played New York's legendary Beacon Theatre.

Laura Heywood Interviews Ann Sanders & Ivan Hernandez (Dear Evan Hansen) Oct 07, 2019

Ann Sanders and Ivan Hernandez have stepped into the shoes of Cynthia and Larry Murphy in the 2017 Tony Award winning musical, Dear Evan Hansen. They play the grieving parents of Connor and Zoe Murphy, who welcome Evan Hansen into their home under the auspices of a friendship that never really existed. The relationships that form between Evan and the Murphys are very real, though, and the heartbreaking authenticity with which these actors convey these connections is enough to break your heart. (In the best way!) Ann is a Broadway veteran, having broken ground as the first Asian American performer to play Anna in The King and I and Belle in Disney’s Beauty & The Beast on Broadway. She’s also been seen on the big stage in If/Then, Avenue Q and Leap of Faith. Ivan Hernandez is mostly a West Coast guy these days, appearing frequently on television including Claws, Scandal, NCIS, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. He’s also got an impressive New York theatre resume, including “Into the Woods” and “The Capeman” at the Delacorte, Yank! at the York, and Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway.

Laura Heywood Interviews Diana DeGarmo & Ace Young Oct 02, 2019

Diana DeGarmo & Ace Young met in the Broadway production of "HAIR" in 2010, connecting over their shared experience as American Idol contestants. Diana has a new album out, "GEMINI," a country big band record available digitally and on vinyl. Ace is working on his new solo project, too! And next year they'll be touring together in the national tour of Broadway's "First Date."

Laura Heywood Interviews Eva Noblezada (Hadestown) Sep 30, 2019

Eva Noblezada stars as Eurydice in the 2019 Tony Award winning Best Musical, Hadestown,

It’s rare that an actress bursts onto the Broadway scene with as much power and relevance as my guest today. Making her debut at age 21 in Miss Saigon, she received a Tony Award nomination as best leading actress in a musical — an honor that would be repeated just two seasons later for her current project, Hadestown.

Eva's character, Eurydice, is open-hearted and self-reliant, vulnerable and tough, strong and wise and literally eternally hopeful. Knowing the actress a little bit off-stage, I’d ascribe the same attributes to the woman visiting Laura Heywood Interviews today.

Laura Heywood Interviews Joel B. New (Monkey Trouble: Unleashed!) Sep 25, 2019

Joel B. New is the winner of the American Theatre Wing’s Jonathan Larson Grant and MAC's John Wallowitch Award. His musicals include "To Hell and Back,” performed at the New York Musical Festival in 2015; "McKenzie and the Missing Boy," developed by the Musical Theatre Factory; and the EP “Cabot Cove,” which is inspired by Murder She Wrote. His shows have been workshopped or performed at many of the best incubators in the country, including Ars Nova, New York Theatre Barn, Prospect Theater Company, and overseas at Broadway au Carré in Paris! Joel describes his newest work, “Monkey Trouble: Unleashed,” as “a violent musical comedy,” inspired by two critically obscure films. It will debut October 6 at The Duplex in New York City!

Laura Heywood Interviews Julia Murney (#FiftyFabulousThings) Sep 23, 2019

Julia Murney -- of Wild Party, Lennon, and Wicked fame -- is celebrating her 50th year of life by doing #FiftyFabulousThings. She is here to celebrate the 50th episode of Laura Heywood Interviews! Julia & Laura's conversation runs the gamut from growth mindset to Disneyland to philanthropy to a scandal involving Julia, Rosie O'Donnell and the National Enquirer. Plus, unexpected guests Nick Scandalios (The Nederlander Organization) and DNR Studios' "I Love My Wife" podcast hosts Kelli Carpenter and Ann Steele pop in for multiple simultaneous surprise reunions!

Laura Heywood Interviews Telly Leung (Aladdin, Glee) Sep 18, 2019

Telly Leung has been killing it on the Broadway stage for over a decade, with roles in Rent, Flower Drum Song, Pacific Overtures, Godspell, Allegiance, In Transit — and most recently starring for almost two years in the title role in Disney’s Aladdin. He was also a favorite on Glee, as "Wes the Warbler"!

He has been named one of the “Out100” by Out Magazine, and a “Face To Watch” by The Los Angeles Times — so the world has certainly noticed this incredible man.

Telly is here today to talk about “Sing Happy,” his solo concert that is returning for one night only, September 23 at the Green Room 42, which “takes an intimate and revealing look at the ups and downs of what it takes to be a professional singer, from joyful Broadway openings to a career-threatening event that almost ended it all."

Laura Heywood Interviews Shoba Narayan (Hamilton, Great Comet) Sep 09, 2019

Just off of a triumphant run as Eliza Hamilton in the National Tour of Hamilton: An American Musical, followed by celebrating her wedding in a fete worthy of the movies, Shoba Narayan has returned to New York, and New York is celebrating. Specifically celebrating at the Greenroom 42 inside the Yotel on 10th Avenue & 40th Street, where Shoba will be performing for one night only in her solo show, PLACES, which will use the songs of Ingrid Michaelson, Coldplay, Beyonce, and more — yes, including Hamilton — to tell the story of her two-year journey across the country and what it means to find home.

Laura Heywood Interviews Shoba Narayan (Hamilton, Great Comet) Sep 09, 2019

Just off of a triumphant run as Eliza Hamilton in the National Tour of Hamilton: An American Musical, followed by celebrating her wedding in a fete worthy of the movies, Shoba Narayan has returned to New York, and New York is celebrating. Specifically celebrating at the Greenroom 42 inside the Yotel on 10th Avenue & 40th Street, where Shoba will be performing for one night only in her solo show, PLACES, which will use the songs of Ingrid Michaelson, Coldplay, Beyonce, and more — yes, including Hamilton — to tell the story of her two-year journey across the country and what it means to find home.

Laura Heywood Interviews Brenda Meaney (Little Gem at Irish Rep) Sep 04, 2019

Brenda Meaney is currently starring in "Little Gem" at Irish Repertory Theater as Lorraine, who is juggling roles as the single mother of a pregnant teenager and the only child of aging parents, while trying to stave off her own mental breakdown. But far from a tale of despair, this production is a comedic and poignant three-hander, running 100 minutes with no intermission.

“Little Gem” is playing at Irish Rep through September 8. For tickets and information visit www.IrishRep.org.

Under 35? Get $25 tickets at https://irishrep.org/box-office/greenseats/!

Laura Heywood Interviews Louie Pearlman & Joel Esher ("Joey & Ron: A New Sixties Bubblegum Rock Musical") Sep 04, 2019

Louie Pearlman & Joel Esher are the creators of "Joey & Ron: A New Sixties Bubblegum Rock Musical," which will premiere off-Broadway this November at the Players Theatre.

Both Louie & Joel have been Story Pirates for over ten years (as has Laura!).

In addition, Louie Pearlman has been an innovator and maverick of the NYC comedy and arts scene since 2002. Louie's officially-licensed Archie Comics/Riverdale stories "Nice Girls Finish Last," and “Riverdale’s Worst Nightmare” are currently available on the platform Yarn. Louie co-hosts and produces two podcasts: “XOXO Riverdale” and “Kick The Jukebox.” Joel Esher was recently nominated for the Off-Broadway Association’s Best Musical Award for “PharmaBro,” which he wrote with Lauren Gundrum. Other works include Folk Wandering, Bagels from Benny, Sammy Spider, and the upcoming “Noplace," with Gregory Van Acker, which O'Neill Theater 2019 NMTC Semi-Finalist).

For more information, visit www.JoeyRonMusical.com!

Laura Heywood Interviews Todrick Hall Sep 02, 2019

Todrick Hall is known for a ubiquitous YouTube presence, the epic “Straight Outta Oz” visual album, judging and choreographing for RuPaul’s Drag Race, and countless pop hits including the newly remixed “Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels” with Ciara -- and he's back on Broadway, stealing the show at WAITRESS as the quirky, elfish, history-nerd Ogie. Hardly his first Broadway rodeo, Waitress is Todrick’s fifth Broadway role, most recently seen as Lola in Kinky Boots — which is when we first became friends. Todrick is a big-hearted, unapologetic, awe-inspiring figure who dreams big and somehow manages to achieve bigger every time.

Laura Heywood Interviews Rachel Sussman (theatre and event producer) Aug 28, 2019

Rachel Sussman is a Tony Award-nominated producer committed to cultivating dynamic, inclusive theatrical work through collaboration. With credits including What The Constitution Means To Me, The Woodsman, NYMF (Artistic Director), and Audible, she is also the lead producer and co-creator of In a new musical by Shaina Taub about the American women's suffrage movement. In addition to theatre, Rachel and Laura discuss intersectionality, trans visibility, putting the B back in LGBTQ+, homelessness (specifically Rachel's work with Covenant House) and even Rachel's childhood performing with her family dog.

Laura Heywood Interviews Jawan M. Jackson (Ain't Too Proud) Aug 26, 2019

Jawan M. Jackson is currently on Broadway playing Melvin Franklin, one of the original and longest lasting members of the Temptations. From the group’s founding in the early 1960s to Melvin’s death in 1995, he never left the group — and his impact has never left the world of music.

As one of the most recognizable voices in the Motown family — or truly in any music of the time — Melvin had a voice so deep it made the walls vibrate.

Finding a voice that could recreate this legend for the stage was no easy feat. But that voice was found — attached to a brilliant actor, a handsome face, and a budding dancer who proved easy to teach those signature Temptations moves.

This is the second Broadway show in which Jawan M. Jackson has played this same man — the first being a two and a half year run in Motown: the Musical, where the Temps were just one of a whole slew of featured groups. This time, we get to experience their deep back story, and through Jawan’s smooth and captivating performance, we watch Melvin grow from a timid teenager to a persistent veteran who insists on remaining with the Temptations despite the debilitating pain that came with age.

There’s a lot of focus put on Jawan M. Jackson’s voice, because it’s so low and so unique and dare I say so sexy. But there is so much more to this this performer, this man, this human being.

Yes, we get the history of “that voice” — but we also get (forgive me) “DEEPER” into how he got to Broadway without having an agent; the despondence that can follow having all of one’s dreams come true — and how Jawan pushed past that to create and pursue new dreams; what inspires him to get up in the morning; and how helping others pursue their own dreams has become a critical part of this man’s purpose.

Laura Heywood Interviews is proud to welcome Jawan M. Jackson!

Laura Heywood Interviews Lena Hall (Bat out of Hell, Hedwig, Becks, Obsessed) Aug 21, 2019

Lena Hall is most recognizable for her Tony Award winning run as Yitzak in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (a production that also won the Tony for best Revival of a Musical). She made her Broadway debut at age 18 in Cats and has worked onstage virtually consistently since then — with roles in 42nd Street, Dracula, Tarzan, Annie Get Your Gun, The Toxic Avenger, Kinky Boots, Hedwig, and more.

She’s taken a few breaks from theatre to work on-camera — running the gamut from competing on MTV’s reality show “Legally Blonde: The Musical — The Search for Elle Woods” to voicing a My Little Pony named “Countess Coloratura” for the hit cartoon series, to roles in the “Sex and the City” film and HBO’s girls, to her celebrates starring role in “Becks,” an indie film where Lena gets to show off her musician chops alongside co-star Mena Suvari.

And her EP series, “Obsessed,” — a collection of eps and videos celebrating a wide range of artists including Pink, Beck, Radiohead, Elton John and Nirvana — are not to be missed.

Today, Lena is here to promote her latest hard-rocking project, the part-concert, part-musical, all spectacle “Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell,” currently melting faces at New York’s City Center.

Laura Heywood Interviews Alice Ripley (The Pink Unicorn, Next to Normal, Side Show) Aug 19, 2019

Alice Ripley is one of the heavyweights of American Musical Theatre. A Tony winner for her star-turn as Diana in the Pulitzer Prize winning musical “Next to Normal,” Alice Ripley is known world-wide for showstopping roles, including those in Side Show (for which she was also Tony nominated, alongside Emily Skinner), The Rocky Horror Show, The Who’s Tommy, Les Miserables, James Joyce’s The Dead, Sunset Boulevard, and American Psycho. She is here today promoting a one-woman monologue show, "The Pink Unicorn," at The Cell, a 60-seat venue in Chelsea.

In “The Pink Unicorn,” from Out of the Box Theatrics, Alice plays Trisha Lee, a Christian widow in Texas whose world is shaken when her 14-year-old child, Jolene, announces that they are not in fact female but instead genderqueer, changing their name to Jo, launching a Gay/Straight alliance, and introducing their mom to the concept of gender-neutral pronouns. Trisha is totally thrown for a loop, hurled out of her comfort zone — and the show takes all of us though the complex journey of navigating the conservative community as well as her own biases, and the challenges of loving and accepting a child who defies expectations in service of being themselves.

To quote Hunter Bell & Jeff Bowen’s quirky, brilliant musical [title of show]:

ALICE RIPLEY, SHE’S FIERCE!

Laura Heywood Interviews Joe Iconis (Be More Chill, Love in Hate Nation) Aug 14, 2019

Joe Iconis is the composer and lyricist of Be More Chill, Broadway Bounty Hunter, Love in Hate Nation, The Black Suits, and more. Mr. Iconis has done a lot of interviews. This one is different. Rather than go over the questions he’s answered a hundred times before, on LHI Joe has the chance to sit back and reflect on his work — past, current, and future — to relax with a friend in a space where speak extemporaneously on how he’s feeling, and what he’s excited about looking forward, as both Be More Chill and Broadway Bounty Hunter's New York runs come to a close.

Laura Heywood Interviews Christina Bennington (Bat Out of Hell: The Musical) Aug 12, 2019

Christina Bennington slays the role of Raven, the young ingenue of "Bat Out of Hell: The Musical," whose father is a tyrant ruling over a post-apocalyptic city called Obsidian — formerly known as New York City. She is deeply in love with the forbidden heartthrob Strat, made forever young by an event called “the chemical wars” that froze him and his gang as eternal 18-year-olds. Raven, not frozen, has just turned 18 and longs for the freedom represented by Strat and his gang “The Lost” — she is the “Wendy” in this Peter Pan story, with Strat as a sexy, motorcycle riding Peter. The one thing they have in common is that they can both seriously ROCK.

LHI Behind the Scenes Series: Dominic Grijalva, Graphic Artist (TeeRico) Aug 07, 2019

Dominic Grijalva, independent graphic artist and Design Director for the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, kicks off the new Behind the Scenes Series on Laura Heywood Interviews, where we explore fascinating people outside the spotlight.

Broadway fans will recognize Dom's work for TeeRico — Lin-Manuel Miranda’s personalized, family-based, philanthropic merchandise line. Other design work extends to logos and advertising for reputable regional theaters, for shows including Carrie, Heathers, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Rock of Ages, Dog Fight, Into the Woods, and In The Heights and many more.

He’s a projection designer — having worked on regional productions of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Les Miserables, and even an Australian production of Phantom of the Opera! And his work expands into the world of book covers and album art and, and award winning animation art.

Laura Heywood Interviews Thomas Schumacher (From the Archives) Aug 05, 2019

Thomas Schumacher, President of Disney Theatricals, joined Laura in November 2017 to talk about the 20th Anniversary of The Lion King on Broadway. They became fast friends, digging into his long history with the Walt Disney company, including his ushering in a new era in theatre with this groundbreaking production. This was the first interview in which he discussed the casting and plans for the new film, which now (nearly two years later) is in movie theaters everywhere! And of course you can still see the only TRULY live-action Lion King at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City and on stages all over the world. Thanks to Verizon Media for permission to air this interview, taped on location for Build Series NYC. Please enjoy this deep cut from the archives of Laura Heywood Interviews!

Laura Heywood Interviews Nicholas Christopher (Hamilton) Jul 31, 2019

Nicholas "Nik" Christopher plays George Washington in "Hamilton: An American Musical," after starring in the touring production as Aaron Burr. He was also John in the recent Broadway revival of Miss Saigon, and has prestigious credits including having attended Juilliard. Today these acclaims take a back seat to an inspiring conversation about identity, growth, the mind-body connection, evolution, neurology, orthopedic back surgery (Nik and Laura both had the same L5-S1 operation!), and conquering chronic pain. In a truly vulnerable and open-hearted conversation, the two friends opened their personal reunion to the public to hear an uncensored, imperfect and totally human exchange of ideas.

Laura Heywood Interviews Annie Golden (Broadway Bounty Hunter) Jul 29, 2019

Annie Golden is the bad-ass muse of composer Joe Iconis and his co-writers on BROADWAY BOUNTY HUNTER, a "spoofsploitation" musical that sends up b-movies of the 1970s and 1980s. She is a Broadway veteran with credits including HAIR, On The Town, The Full Monty, and Violet. She began singing in grade school, and went on to lead the punk band The Shirts before finding her way to the stage. Now most recognized as Normal Romano on Orange is the New Black, Annie is embracing her inner Action Hero as the star of Broadway Bounty Hunter at the Greenwich House Theater.

Laura Heywood Interviews Mark Thompson (Make it Plain on DNR) Jul 24, 2019

Mark Thompson, a friend and former (and now current, again!) colleague of Laura's is the host of Make it Plain (Mornings at DNR Studios). Every weekday morning he moderates conversation with nationally-known leaders on political, social, economic, cultural & spiritual issues. A truly outspoken advocate for progress, and a fearless speaker who welcomes debate with those that don’t share his opinions, Mark is not just a leader but also a hero. The 104th Annual NAACP Convention got it right in July 2013, when they honored him for, quote, “25 years of crusading journalism and outstanding leadership in furthering the work of civil and human rights.”

Laura Heywood Interviews Ryann Redmond (Frozen on Broadway) Jul 22, 2019

Ryann Redmond is currently starring as Olaf in Disney's Frozen on Broadway. She is a veteran of Escape to Margaritaville, If/Then, and Bring It On: The Musical, in which she was cast as a Junior at NYU after being mentored by the Broadway Dreams Foundation. She is the first female actor to play Olaf and can be seen performing the role eight times a week at the St. James Theatre on Broadway!

Laura Heywood Interviews Ari Afsar ("Jeannette") Jul 15, 2019

Arianna "Ari" Afsar is a composer, singer, actress, activist and entrepreneur.

Ari wrote the music and lyrics for "Jeannette" -- a new musical about Jeannette Rankin, the first woman in Congress, which was recently workshopped at the Eugene O'Neill National Music Theatre Conference.

Hamilton fans know Ari as the original Eliza in the Chicago production of the show. Before that she was on American Idol (at age 16!) and was crowned Miss California just a couple of years later. She has a degree in ethnomusicology with an emphasis on jazz vocals from UCLA. She went directly from college to writing music for TV and film. And she has been an activist her whole life, starting with founding an organization bringing teens to perform at senior centers, and more recently has done extensive work with the ACLU an other human rights causes, including working on The Women’s March and opening for Michelle Obama at the Shrine Auditorium. This is all in addition to her new EP, “Somewhere I thought I’d Be,” released this Spring, which is available on Apple Music, Spotify and everywhere else you buy or stream music.

Laura Heywood Interviews Mean Girls' Taylor Louderman, Grey Henson, Casey Nicholaw and Kate Rockwell (from the archives) Jul 10, 2019

Taylor Louderman, who plays Regina George; Grey Henson, who plays Damien, and Casey Nicholaw, director of the show, who sat down with me together; and Kate Rockwell, who steals the show as Karen Smith are the subjects of these conversations from the Laura Heywood Interviews archives!

Thanks to Verizon Media and Build Series NYC for permission to air these conversations originally aired on their platforms.

For video of these and over 100 other celebrity interviews, visit www.LauraHeywoodMedia.com !

Laura Heywood Interviews Chase Brock (Be More Chill) Jul 08, 2019

Chase Brock brought "finger tutting" -- a style of digital choreography -- to Broadway as The Squip's signature language in the viral musical sensation "Be More Chill."

But Be More Chill is not Chase’s only accomplishment, by a long shot. He made his Broadway debut at age 16 after moving to New York alone as a teenager; he formed his own dance company, The Chase Brock Experience, at age 23; he worked on Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark as it was transitioning between creative teams, working carefully to honor his idol (and mine) Julie Taymor even as she exited the project; and he is currently choreographing Hercules: The Musical, a groundbreaking collaboration between Disney Theatrical and The Public Theatre’s Public Works Initative, which casts community members from all five New York City boroughs alongside equity actors to emphasize that theatre does in fact belong to the people.

Chase is one of the most colorful people I know, not just because of his trademark mis-matched-yet-somehow-perfectly-harmonically-patterned fashion choices but also because of his enthusiasm, joyfulness, open heart, creativity and willingness to let his true self shine through. In a world that often rewards convention, Chase has embraced and broadcast a commitment to invention instead, both on and off the stage.

Laura Heywood Interviews John Behlmann (Tootsie) Jul 01, 2019

John Behlmann is a standout in the Broadway comedy musical “Tootsie.” The character of Max Van Horn, reality show hunk, is central to the title’s emphasis on “comedy.” Max is a character original to this musical (he didn’t exist in the 1982 film that inspired this show), and John plays the role perfectly, by leaning into his “tall-dark-and-handsome type" while sending it up at the same time.

Laura Heywood Interviews Kevin Smith Kirkwood (Kinky Boots, Classic Whitney: Alive!) Jun 26, 2019

Kevin Smith Kirkwood, who appeared in nearly 2,500 performances of Kinky Boots on Broadway, is bringing back his iconic cabaret show "Classic Whitney: Alive!" A lifelong devotee of Whitney Houston, KSK celebrates her life and legacy with a show that is 100% tribute. With plenty of loving humor, the show eschews any mocking or parody in favor of a return to the time when Whitney Houston ruled the pop, R&B and dance charts. Kevin Smith Kirkwood is a world-class actor who sits down with Laura to talk about Kinky Boots, his childhood, and retooling "Classic Whitney: Alive!" for World Pride.

Laura Heywood Interviews Billy Porter and Sarah Brightman: from the archives Jun 24, 2019

Billy Porter and Sarah Brightman are stars of stage and screen who both deny convention and have skyrocketed into the pop culture milieu as a result.

Billy Porter, of Kinky Boots, Shuffle Along, FX's Pose and red carpets everywhere, joined Laura to promote his album "Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers." This interview was recorded in front of a live studio audience at Build Series NYC in April of 2017.

Sarah Brightman, the original Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, celebrated her album "HYMN" with a special live interview at Build Series NYC in September of 2018.

For more from Laura Heywood Interviews archives, visit www.LauraHeywoodMedia.com!

Laura Heywood Interviews... Erich Bergen Jun 19, 2019

Erich Bergen, best known for "Madam Secretary" and "Jersey Boys" (the film), is back on Broadway in WAITRESS: The Musical for a limited time! He joins Laura Heywood in the studio to talk about returning to the role of Dr. Jim Pomatter in Waitress opposite Shoshana Bean; what's in store for Season 6 of Madam Secretary on CBS; attending last week's Tony Awards; a new musical he is working on based on the life of the fashion designer HALSTON; and his support of VH1's Save The Music campaign!

LHI presents: Laura Heywood on "Fiercely Human" with Beth Clayton Jun 17, 2019

In this special crossover episode, Laura is the interviewee on Beth Clayton's gorgeous podcast, "Fiercely Human."

SUBSCRIBE TO "FIERCELY HUMAN" HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ao/podcast/fiercely-human/id1458152113

In this episode, we dive into: ● How Laura discovered her life-long quirks have actually been her superpowers in disguise. ● Laura’s synchronistic and “zig-zag” journey from radio host to a popular anonymous alter ego, to professional Broadway fandom. ● How writing our personal mission statement can set the stage for a dream job. ● Why primarily focusing on tangible results is deadly to our creativity, joy and even progress. ● Why it is CRUCIAL to start before you are ready (and without a ton of pressure) ● How satisfaction is directly correlated to the “muscle” we put into our dreams. ● What authenticity is REALLY about and how it has been branded incorrectly as a sales technique. ● How Laura has spread joy even in the midst of the lows of debilitating clinical depression. ● The two pieces of advice Laura would give to someone trying to create a career out of their joyful obsessions.

Resources & People Mentioned: Story Pirates Mindset by Carol Dweck Brene Brown

You can find Laura at: @BroadwayGirlNYC across social media platforms http://www.lauraheywoodmedia.com/ Laura Heywood Interviews Podcast Reward the Fan app

You can find Beth at: @bethclaytoncoach on Instagram www.soulbodylife.com Grab your free e-book, “The Secrets in Your Sabotage” at www.soulbodylife.com/free-stuff Beth’s TedX RIGHT HERE.

Laura Heywood Interviews John Hodgman Jun 05, 2019

John Hodgman -- humorist, author, writer and podcast host -- joins Laura in-studio to discuss his upcoming book, "Medallion Status," in addition to his work on "The Tick," "The Daily Show," those famous "I'm a Mac / I'm a PC" commercials (He was the PC), The Judge John Hodgman podcast, his previous books and navigating the intersection between John Hodgman the character and John Hodgman the person.

Laura Heywood Interviews... Be More Chill's Joe Iconis, Joe Tracz, Stephen Brackett & Chase Brock Jun 05, 2019

Be More Chill's Joe Iconis, Joe Tracz, Stephen Brackett & Chase Brock joined Laura Heywood at the world-famous Guggenheim Museum for their "Works & Process" series.

Writers Iconis and Tracz, director Brackett, and choreographer Brock discussed their creative process in this special edition of Laura Heywood Interviews. In a twist, Dr. Robert Klitzman, Director of the Masters of Bioethics Program at Columbia University, joins them to explore the bioethical implications of the musical.

Laura Heywood Interviews 2019 Tony Nominees Ali Stroker, Beth Leavel, Brooks Ashmanskas & Caitlin Kinnunen Jun 03, 2019

Ali Stroker (Oklahoma!) and The Prom's Beth Leavel, Brooks Ashmanskas and Caitlin Kinnunen are all nominated for 2019 Tony Awards for their performances on Broadway!

Laura Heywood Interviews Ilana Levine May 27, 2019

Ilana Levine, Broadway Actress ("You're A Good Man Charlie Brown") and host of Little Known Facts, joins Laura Heywood instudio for a conversation about passion, striving, achieving and celebrating those around us.

Laura Heywood Interviews Sammi Cannold May 22, 2019

Sammi Cannold is on the cutting edge of what theatre is becoming — a place where there are no boxes to think inside of, no limitations on the scope of productions, no ideas too bold or too ridiculous to consider. As a theatre director and innovator, at age 25, she is one of Forbes’ magazine’s 30 under 30, an honor that named her “one of brashest entrepreneurs across the United States and Canada,” a “bold risk-taker putting a new twist on the old tools of the trade.”

Laura Heywood Interviews Jon Hoche, the voice of King Kong May 20, 2019

Jon Hoche, an experienced singer, dancer, actor and puppeteer (War Horse, Soft Power, Vietgone, Little Shop of Horrors), combines his skills into the biggest role on Broadway -- the voice of King Kong!

Laura Heywood Interviews Brittain Ashford May 15, 2019

Brittain Ashford of "Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812" talks her upcoming album "Drama Club," which reinvents classic showtunes by stripping them down and excavating hidden darkness within.

Laura Heywood Interviews Julie Halston (Tootsie: The Musical)! May 13, 2019

Julie Halston, currently starring as producer Rita Marshall in "Tootsie: The Musical" on Broadway alongside Tony nominees Santino Fontana and Lilli Cooper, joins Laura Heywood in studio to talk Tootsie, Sex and the City, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, her hilarious one-woman shows, and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, for which she and her late husband, the beloved newscaster Ralph Howard, have raised millions of dollars.

Laura Heywood Interviews John Cameron Mitchell May 08, 2019

John Cameron Mitchell, known best for creating Hedwig and the Angry Inch, is now the writer and star of the star-studded "Anthem: Homunculus," a musical podcast that is also a podcast musical!

Laura Heywood Interviews April Kidwell May 06, 2019

April Kidwell, writer & star of I, NOMI -- a one-woman satire based on SHOWGIRLS and I, TONYA -- joins Laura Heywood in studio.

But I had SEEN her onstage years before, when she played Jesse Spano in “BAYSIDE: The Saved by The Bell musical.”

She embodied Elizabeth Berkley’s character SO well that she has gone on to make a career out of playing the actress — not just in her squeaky clean morning television persona but more & more as the firey, misunderstood dancer Nomi Malone in Showgirls.

She portrayed Nomi in “Showgirls: The Musical” off-Broadway for more than two years, and has since created her own one-woman show, “I, Nomi” — which ran to rave reviews in San Francisco and begins a New York run at the Laurie Beechman theatre in July!

Laura Heywood interviews Katzie Guy-Hamilton May 01, 2019

Katzie Guy-Hamilton is a fantastic chef and a phenomenal human being. From the first time we met, she delighted me with her spirit — we were introduced at a dinner party, and became instant friends! Before that, I had watched her on “Top Chef: Just Desserts” and thought, “I bet I’d be friends with her in real life.” And sure enough — here we are!

One of my favorite things about Katzie is her determination to grow, learn and evolve. Like me, she has fought against the idea of being thoroughly defined by her “brand” — and she has proven that being a well-rounded, hard-working, ever-evolving human is the key to happiness.

Her book “Clean Enough: Get Back to Basics and Leave Room for Dessert” is all about confidence in the kitchen — in both cooking and eating — and the joy that comes from creating and devouring culinary delights that score high on both the health and happiness scales.

She has done the impossible, by proving that it’s possible to be a dessert connoisseur AND a fitness professional — she is currently the director of food & beverage for equinox!

Katzie is a chef and I am a broadcaster, but we have the same mission in life: spreading happiness.

Laura Heywood Interviews Kelly AuCoin Apr 29, 2019

Kelly AuCoin, aka "Dollar Bill" Stern on Billions, aka "Pastor Tim" on The Americans, joins Laura to talk about his iconic TV roles, his upcoming play ("Long Lost" by Donald Margulies at Manhattan Theatre Club), the Portland Trailblazers, the nonprofit organization KultureCity.org, and much more.

Laura Heywood Interviews Harold Kaufman-Gibbons on fun vs fitness Apr 22, 2019

Harold Kaufman-Gibbons, aka the Steward of Strength from Mark Fisher Fitness, is in studio to talk fitness vs. fun, and whether they can co-exist. Good news: they can! But how, especially when the stuff that looks fun on instagram can also be dangerous for someone who isn't well-trained? We also debate that age-old question: who would be the best trainer, Yoda, Gandalf or Dumbledore?

Laura Heywood Interviews Tiffany Villarin and Megan Hill (Do You Feel Anger?) Apr 18, 2019

Tiffany Villarin and Megan Hill discuss the play Do You Feel Anger?, running through April 27 at the Vineyard Theatre.

This special EARLY free episode of Laura Heywood Interviews is brought to you by The Vineyard Theatre! For tickets to Do You Feel Anger? visit www.VineyardTheatre.org.

Laura Heywood Interviews Thomas Sadoski Apr 15, 2019

Thomas Sadoski of Life in Pieces and The Network talks White Noise, the stunning new play by Suzan-Lori Parks at the Public Theater, as well as his work with INARA and War Child, and the importance of social justice in his daily life.

Laura Heywood Interviews airs live Mondays & Wednesday from Noon-1PM Eastern via DNRstudios. Following one week of exclusive on-demand access for subscribers, most episodes are available free on YouTube, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and other podcast platforms. Laura Heywood Interviews embodies Laura’s signature intersection of contagious enthusiasm and deep research. The launch marks ten years since the first tweet Laura posted as her formerly anonymous online alter-ego, @BroadwayGirlNYC (50k followers across Twitter, Instagram, YouTube & Facebook). The show features visits from celebrity newsmakers, tastemakers and changemakers from both inside and beyond the world of theatre; phone calls with listeners and contests available only to those listening live; and interviews from Laura’s extensive archive, consolidated and combined to celebrate current events and timely themes. While best known for her long-form interviews with over 150 Broadway stars on AOL’s Build Series, CBS, Sirius XM, and her own social media channels, Laura is also an accomplished sports talk personality (San Francisco Giants); a radio DJ in formats as diverse as hip-hop, light rock, show tunes, and classic rock; a commercial actor (Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty), print model (Nintendo, TIME Magazine, Ameliora) and voice over actor (Grand Theft Auto series, Macy’s, Volvo); a world traveler; and a dedicated fitness & personal growth devotee. She is also an activist, focused particularly on arts education in elementary schools. Segments on the show include YES, AND… which explores a surprising feature of each guest’s background, training, or personal interest; TWEETS & SASS, a look into the social media posts that have Laura & her guests “all atwitter”; and JUST ‘CAUSE, a segment dedicated to a charity or non-profit organization chosen by that day’s guest. Subscriptions to Laura Heywood Interviews include over 100 hours of additional content from DNR Studios, including Derek & Romaine, The Taylor Strecker Show, I Love My Wife, Naughty but Nice with Rob Shuter, and Happy Campers with Matthew Camp. For more information and to subscribe, visit www.DNRstudios.com/laura. LAURA HEYWOOD is a professional enthusiast: a multi-faceted host, consultant, performer, pundit, and writer widely recognized for her commitment to positivity. Through her social media persona @BroadwayGirlNYC, Laura has become “Broadway’s most influential fan” (CBS This Morning) and "the most vocal and visible supporter in the business” (Forbes). In 2018 she worked as the in-house Broadway expert and Video Package Supervisor on the 72nd annual Tony Awards. She regularly acts as a celebrity interviewer for outlets including Build Series NYC and CBS New York, and moderates talkbacks and hosts special events on Broadway stages. She has worked in fields ranging from sports radio (San Francisco Giants) to commercial acting (Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty) to celebrity talent booking (Sirius XM), always bringing a point of view of contagious joy. As a social media expert, Laura has worked with Actors Equity, the American Musical & Dramatic Academy, FOUND: The Musical, Grant Thornton, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Kilroys, and multiple Tony- and Grammy-Award winners and nominees. She volunteers regularly and is on the Board of Directors for the national arts & education non-profit Story Pirates. Her new live radio show, Laura Heywood Interviews, is available at www.DNRstudios.com/laura.

Laura Heywood Interviews... LAURA HEYWOOD Apr 11, 2019

She might be known as "Broadway's most influential fan," but there's more to Laura Heywood than being @BroadwayGirlNYC. In her first radio show in four years, the broadcasting veteran talks identity, vulnerability, values and her plan for the new Laura Heywood Interviews program. Surprise: there's a lot to Laura that goes beyond her (intense) love for Broadway!

Laura Heywood Interviews Dan Finnerty of The Dan Band Apr 11, 2019

Laura interviews Dan Finnerty of The Dan Band, also known as "that funny singer with the dirty mouth who is in all of those movies" (Old School, Step Brothers, The Hangover)! He's also an alumni of STOMP; the husband of actress Kathy Nijimy; the father of singer Samia Finnerty; and the frontman of his amazing, hilarious band THE DAN BAND.

Laura Heywood Interviews Rob Rokicki, Sarah Beth Pfeifer and Kristin Stokes Apr 08, 2019

Laura Heywood Interviews composer/ lyricist Rob Rokicki of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, along with actors Sarah Beth Pfeifer (Clarice & others) and Kristin Stokes (Annabeth) about the touring production! They perform live instudio and discuss the Percy Jackson phenomenon as well as Rob's upcoming concert, "Rob Rokicki & the Good Kids: Face Your Fears." In "Just Cause," we discuss www.ShesTheFirst.org.

Laura Heywood Interviews Tonya Pinkins, Jasmine McLeish and Mary Archibold Mar 27, 2019

Tonya Pinkins and her collaborators Jasmine McLeish and Mary Archibold join Laura to discuss discuss the Truth & Reconciliation of Womyn plays at the Heal Me Too Festival.

The conversation quickly and easily turns into a simultaneously intellectual and intimate discussion touching on ancestry, epigenetics, data collection, the power of storytelling, and how every aspect of life could benefit from truth and reconciliation.

For more on the Truth & Reconciliation of Women project, visit https://www.facebook.com/TruthandReconciliationofWomyn/

For more on Heal Me Too Festival, visit https://www.facebook.com/healmetoofest/?rc=p

Follow Tonya Pinkins on Twitter at @tonyapinkins and instagram at @divadivu

Follow Laura Heywood on Twitter, Instagram, Youtube and Facebook at @BroadwayGirlNYC

For an archive of on-camera interviews, visit www.LauraHeywoodMedia.com

To subscribe and listen live, visit www.DNRstudios.com/LAURA

CLICK HERE to further support Laura Heywood Interviews!

Laura Heywood Interviews Ty Defoe Mar 27, 2019

Ty Defoe is the kind of performer I (Laura Heywood) gravitate towards because he breaks so many boundaries and has dedicated his life to amplifying voices and stories of communities who are too often disregarded, overlooked, and grossly underrepresented — specifically, but not limited to, trans* and indigenous voices.

I first saw Ty onstage in Broadway’s “Straight White Men” — notable because neither he nor the character onstage identifies as straight, white or male. Which was sort of the point.

In addition to his Broadway work, Ty is the co-creator of Ajijaak on Turtle Island, a beautiful theatrical experience with puppetry and music that recently concluded its run at the New Victory Theatre on 42nd street. He has also worked with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, The Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC, and many more.

He is a hoop dancer, a storyteller and shape shifter.

In a 2015 article on HowlRound, Ty describes himself this way:

“I am from Ojibwe Nation and Oneida Nation (People of the Standing Stone). I am two-spirit. I live in New York City. I am a writer. These ways of identifying are only parts of me, but as I move through the world, I find that I can’t take off my identities like a jacket and simply hang them in the closet. They are interwoven, and in creating any theatre that has verisimilitude or humanity, I must lean into the intersection of identities.”

I am so drawn to this idea, and so delighted to bring in this unique human being who lives so proudly in the center of a beautiful venn diagram of identity.

Laura Heywood Interviews Mandy Gonzalez Mar 27, 2019

Laura Heywood interviews Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez, aka Hamilton's Angelica Schuyler, aka In The Heights' Nina Rosario, aka Wicked's Elphaba, aka Aida's Princess Amneris, aka upcoming The Who's Tommy's Mrs. Walker at the Kennedy Center, aka founder & leader of the incredibly inspiring #FearlessSquad!

In "Yes, And..." Mandy reveals that she is working on her first book -- a chapter book for young readers that (she wouldn't confirm or deny) may be about Fearlessness, expected by the end of 2019.

In "Tweets & Sass" Mandy discusses the impact of using social media for good, including the growth of an entire support and motivation community that sprouted from a single photo with her Hamilton cast mates.

Mandy's "Just 'Cause" is UNICEF USA, for whom she volunteers and advocates -- we encourage listeners to donate via www.UNICEF.org!

In addition, Laura and Mandy bond over their proud dads, geek out over theatrical idols, and laugh so hard they both cry when they realize just how much they have in common.

To listen LIVE and get every episode on demand A WEEK EARLY, subscribe at www.DNRstudios.com/laura (at least eight episodes a month for just $6.95, plus over 100 additional hours of content from other DNR Studios shows)!

Please rate, share, subscribe and like this episode. Every time you do these things, more people discover the show and that helps us continue to make it!

To contribute financially to the future of Laura Heywood Interviews, visit www.LauraHeywoodMedia.com/support.

For sponsorship opportunities, email LHeywoodMedia@gmail.com!

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