Theater People

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Laura Michelle Kelly (Episode 68) May 02, 2016

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You guys!!! it’s been a while since I’ve gotten butterflies before an interview, but I have to say, I was NERVOUS before meeting today’s guest, Laura Michelle Kelly. I mean, you know, she was the ORIGINAL west end Marry Poppins, She won an Olivier, she was in the 'Sweeney Todd' movie, she British, beautiful and perfect. But then, of course, she was disarmingly charming and friendly. Her dressing room at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater where she is currently starring in 'Finding Neverland,' is a little magic fairy kingdom with tents and tepees and maps of Neverland. I never wanted to leave. Laura made her West End debut as a baguette—yes, the bread—in the West End production of 'Beauty and the Beas't when she was 16 years old. In the West End, She went on to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 'Whistle Down the Wind,' as well as 'Sped the Plow,' 'Lord of the Rings,' and of course 'Mary Poppins,' for which she won her Olivier. She made her Broadway debut as Hodel in the 2004 production of 'Fiddler on the Roof,' She later took over the role of Mary in the Broadway production of 'Mary Poppins,' and now she’s back on Broadway in the as Sylvia, the role she created last season in the smash hit 'Finding Neverland.' She was such a delight. Enjoy!

Martha Plimpton is Back! (Episode 67) Apr 29, 2016

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Emmy winner and three-time Tony nominee Martha Plimpton is back! Since she was last with us, she has landed the leading role on the new hit ABC sitcom "The Real O'Neals." She has also continued her work as advocate and activist for women's health and reproductive rights. She joins us today to talk about her new TV show, past work on Broadway, and the annual fundraiser called Broadway Acts for Women--happening this Sunday at Feinstein's / 54 Below-- put on by her organization A is For.

Bright Star's Paul Alexander Nolan (Episode 66) Apr 25, 2016

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You Guys! We're not going to beat around the bush here, we are OBSESSED with the new Steve Martin & Edie Brickell musical 'Bright Star.' And we are THRILLED to welcome one of the show's stars, Paul Alexander Nolan, to the podcast this week. Paul made his Broadway debut in 2012 in the title role of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic 'Jesus Christ Superstar.' He went on to replace as Guy in the Tony winning Broadway production of 'Once', and just last year starred in the short Lived 'Dr. Zhivago.' Go see Bright Star, you guys, Paul is great in it and the show is so magical and unique. It was such a pleasure to get to basically chew his ear off about it. Here’s our conversation. Ooh, we use a TON of music from the original cast recording of 'Bright Star' in the episode. The album is now available for pre-order from Ghostlight Records. The album is officially released on April 29th.

Danny Burstein (Episode 65) Apr 18, 2016

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I recently described today's guest, the great Danny Burstein, as a glow worm. On stage, the man, truly, is lit from within. If you've ever seen him in anything,you know what I'm talking about. Whether the role is large or small, passionate or passive, when he's on stage, you can't take your eyes off of him, and you wouldn't want to--he's just magnetic that way. Danny began his career in New York in the early 90s taking a lot of small roles and understudy gigs. Then, a few years on, he made the terrifying decision that actors sometimes do--not to take any work that didn't challenge him artistically and advance him towards a more fulfilling career. Of course, we all know the rest. He went on to earn five Tony Award nominations for his work in such shows as 'The Drowsy Chaperone,' 'South Pacific,' 'Follies,' 'Golden Boy,' and 'Cabaret.' This season he's back on Broadway wowing audiences 8 times a week as Tevye in the stunning Bartlett Sher production of 'Fiddler on the Roof,' currently playing at the Broadway Theater. I know I say this a lot, but it really was an honor to get to sit with this man for forty minutes in his dressing room and talk about his amazing body of work. Enjoy!!!

Andrea Burns (Episode 64) Apr 11, 2016

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You guys, I have to say that interviewing today’s guest, Andrea Burns, was one of the most fun hours I’ve ever spent in a theater. First of all, she had heard of our little podcast before, which i LOVED, but second, she was just completely game to share her stories and answer my sometimes ridiculously vague questions. I first fell in love with Andrea as Daniela the fabulous and maybe just a little bit gossipy hair dresser in "In The Heights" and I was completely blown away by her as Glosria Fajardo—Gloria Estefan’s mother—in this season’s "On Your Feet." Of course Andrea's long list of credits really begins with Jason Robert Brown’s groundbreaking "Songs for a New World" back in 1995. Also, did you know that those two went to summer camp together? Oh, last thing—I LOVE recording these interviews in dressing rooms before showtime because I think it really offers our listeners a sense of what it’s like backstage before the show starts. And that includes some interruptions and sound checks and other shenanigans. Rather than editing around that, I’ve left it all in because I love it. I hope you do too. Ok, here’s our conversation.

Spencer Liff (Episode 63) Apr 04, 2016

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You guys, we are so excited to welcome choreographer Spencer Liff to the podcast this week. Like a lot of people, I first became aware of Spencer for his Emmy nominated work as a choreographer on the hit show 'So You Think You Can Dance--' I had no idea that he’s totally a Broadway guy! Spencer made his Broadway debut at age 11 in the musical 'Big'. He went on to appear in 'The Wedding Singer,' 'Cry Baby,' 'Equis,' and' 9 to 5', taking on more and more responsibility along the way. He was the Associate Choreographer and Dance captain for 'Cry Baby' and was the Dance Captain on 'Equis'. After hitting it big on so You Think You Can Dance, he came back to Broadway to provide the musical staging for the Neil Patrick Harris led 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch', and was then hired to choreograph the Deaf West Production of 'Spring Awakening', which ultimately transferred to Broadway earlier this season. He was recently tapped by James Lapine himself to choreograph the upcoming revival of the much loved musical 'Falsettos'. It was such a delight to spend a Sunday morning chatting with this guy.

Adam Kantor (Episode 62) Mar 28, 2016

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OK fellow Theater People, you've been asking for this interview for almost as long as the podcast has existed, so we are THRILLED to be bringing you this episode featuring the fabulous Adam Kantor!Adam made his Broadway debut in 2008 as Marc in the closing Broadway company of 'Rent' (grab your tissues when he tells the story of how he learned he'd won the roll) and he went on to replace in the role of Henry in the hit Broadway production of 'Next to Normal.' In 2013, he was cast as Jamie opposite Betsy Wolfe in Second Stage's highly anticipated revival of Jason Robert Brown's 'The Last Five Years.' This season he's back on Broadway in the role of Motel in the Bartlett Sher helmed production of 'Fiddler on the Roof.' We had such a great time chatting in his dressing room surrounded by old family photos and heirlooms that are so meaningful to him--especially as they relate to his work in 'Fiddler,' we'll let him explain that further. Enjoy!

Phillipa Soo (Episode 61) Mar 14, 2016

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You Guuuuuuuuuuys!!! We could not be happier to bring you today’s episode featuring the divine, the lovely, the just ridiculously talented Phillipa Soo. Phillipa created the role of Eliza Hamilton in last year’s off-Broadway production of the smash hit musical Hamilton at the Public Theater and this season she made her Broadway debut in the role. She first rose to fame in the title role of Natasha in the 2013 off Broadway hit 'Natasha Pierre and the Great Commit of 1812.'So, you guys, we have a really special surprise for you at the end of this episode. It’s a first for us. It’s completely related to our interview with Phillipa, but even she doesn't know about it. So stick around after our interview with her, I promise it will be worth it.

Sierra Boggess (Episode 60) Feb 22, 2016

Show notes

When Sierra Boggess made her Broadway debut in 2008 in the title role of the hit Disney musical 'The Little Mermaid,' she became an overnight not just star, but also idol, role model, sensation even in a way that happens so rarely to person appearing on a Broadway stage for the first time. She, of course, went on to star in the Broadway revival of 'Master Class opposite' Tyne Daily and as Christine Daae in London’s West End production of 'Love Never Dies,' Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to the Phantom of the Opera. I first got to witness the greatness that is Sierra Boggess on stage in last season’s 'It Shoulda Been You'—a show that I found to be so special for a variety of reasons that we’ll get into in this interview. She is currently starring as Rosalee Mullins, the sort of tight lipped, rulsey principal in the brand new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'School of Rock'—a show that frequent listeners know that I am completely obsessed with. I love this interview for a lot of reasons. Not the lease of which being that we did the interview in Sierra’s dressing room about 90 minutes prior to an evening performance and I think it really captures the bustle and energy of the backstage of a Broadway theater just before showtime. At one point we’re interrupted—good naturedly—by a stage manager, The charming Alex Brightman makes a small cameo, oh and then there was the moment Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber himself spoke over the PA system. Anyway, Sierra is a force of nature and just as brilliant as you imagine she is. It was so much fun to chat with here. Enjoy our conversation!

Megan Hilty (Episode 59) Feb 08, 2016

Show notes

YOU GUYS!!!! We don't even know what to say!!! Megan Hilty is a dream and a delight and a perfect guest! She is just as warm, charming, and fabulous as you're imagining. AND she makes a killer espresso!Megan made her Broadway debut as Glinda in the Broadway cast of 'Wicked,'--a role she would go on to do briefly on the national tour before creating the role for the Los Angeles sit down production. She went on to star in '9 to 5 The Musical' before being cast in the career making role of Ivy Lynn on TV's 'Smash.' She is now back on Broadway as Brooke Ashton in Roundabout Theatre Company's production of 'Noises Off.' She is unbelievably charming and hilarious! Don't forget, tickets are now on sale for our Live Summer Series! Just $10 to see Lesli Margherita, Laura Osnes, and Lindsay Mendez live! All the details and tickets can be found on our website: www.theaterppl.com. Click the 'Summer Series' tab.

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