Ep434 - Alex Wyse: Why Your Debut Isn't Your Destiny

Alex Wyse joins the show for a deep dive into the relentless "compulsion to create" that has fueled his journey from the suburbs of Cleveland to the Broadway stage and the director's chair. He shares a hilarious story about the childhood soccer match where he opted to fake a faint rather than kick a ball, a clear sign that his true calling was always the theater. Alex speaks candidly about the "fairy tale" of a Broadway debut, reflecting on how the early closing of Lysistrata Jones felt like a personal failure and how that heartbreak eventually taught him to diversify his creative life to survive the industry's inevitable highs and lows.

The conversation explores the "therapy" of the creative process, from the unapologetic queer joy of his digital series Indoor Boys to the sci-fi musical he is currently developing. Alex discusses the unique challenge of his role in Marcel on the Train, a play that uses silence and mime to tell the harrowing true story of Marcel Marceau’s work saving Jewish children during World War II. By the end of the episode, it is clear that Alex is a master of "spinning plates," proving that the best way to handle the pain of waiting for an audition is to simply go out and make something yourself.

Alex Wyse is an actor, writer, director, and producer whose Broadway credits include Waitress, Spring Awakening, and Lysistrata Jones. He is the co-creator and star of the Emmy-winning digital series Indoor Boys and has appeared on television in The Bold and the Beautiful, Marvel’s Iron Fist, and Modern Family. Most recently, he starred in the world premiere of Marcel on the Train at Classic Stage Company.

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Connect with Alex:

• Instagram: @alexjwise

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