The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

With a Broadway career spanning over 50 years, Tovah Feldshuh takes us through her journey as she shares her life as an actress, wife, and mother. While she loves politics, it's her love of people that motivates her to fight for what she believes in and help in every way that she can. Initially determined to go to Harvard Law School to stay close to her father, her brother encouraged her to apply for the McKnight Fellowship in acting and was eventually chosen as one of the four to attend the fellowship. This trajectory change was the beginning of Tovah's pursuit of becoming an actor, which to her is "so much cheaper than therapy". Tovah talks about her role as Mrs. Brice in "Funny Girl" and bringing a level of humanity and relatability to her character, and her memoir, “Lilyville: Mother, Daughter, and Other Roles I've Played” which explores mother-daughter relationships, and her complex relationship with her mother. Married for 46 years, she shares what makes their marriage work. Tovah intends to keep acting for as long as she can, mainly motivated by her love of people and making connections.Tovah Feldshuh is an actress, singer, and playwright who's been a Broadway star for more than four decades now, which earned her Tony Award nominations and two Emmy Award nominations. She made her Broadway debut in the 1973 musical "Cyrrano". Her other stage credits include "Saravá", "Lend Me a Tenor", "Golda's Balcony", “Dreyfus in Rehearsal”, “Lend Me a Tenor”, “Golda’s Balcony”, "Irena's Vow", "Pippin", and "Yentl". She made her cabaret debut with her act, "Tovah: Crossovah! From Broadway to Cabaret", followed by "Tovah: Out of Her Mind!" and was selected as Best Cabaret Artist of 2000 by the Boston Globe. Tovah has also appeared in numerous tv shows, including "Ryan's Hope", "Holocaust", "Mariah", "As the World Turns", "Law & Order", "Flesh and Bone", "The Walking Dead", "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend", and "Star Wars Resistance". Her film credits include "Kissing Jessica Stein", "Just My Luck", "She's Funny That Way", and "Armageddon Time". Tovah is currently playing Mrs. Brice in the Broadway revival of "Funny Girl", and is the author of the memoir, “Lilyville: Mother, Daughter, and Other Roles I've Played”.Connect with Tovah: Instagram: @tovahfeld Website: www.tovahfeldshuh.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For a person who claims she can’t really sing or dance, Julie Halston sure has done a lot of Broadway musicals (and rightfully so!). Even during the pandemic, she remained booked and busy despite the circumstances. She even took to the internet to keep the fans entertained (after some persuasion and help from her friend, Jim) with over 40 episodes of her hit web series called “Virtual Halston”. Julie tells the story of starting a theatre company with Charles Busch, and starring in a little play he wrote entitled, "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom" which ended up playing Off-Broadway for six years and opened up countless more opportunities for her. Her love for theatre and acting can be traced all the way back from when she was nine years old and that one afternoon her mom took her and her sisters to watch "West Side Story". She shares how she trained by doing, her three Cs of comedy: confidence, clarity, and commitment, the difference between a one-person show and a straight standup comedy routine, and her late husband's tip when you land that one punchline which is to take a look at the audience. With the cultural change happening today, Julie reflects on its relationship with comedy and how it makes it very tricky, especially when it comes to controversial topics. Apart from cultural change, Julie discusses current New York theatre problems, a possible resurgence in Off-Broadway, the need for public officials to value the arts, and how connecting with other people motivates her to keep doing what she’s doing.Julie Halston is a comedian and actress who recently received the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for raising awareness and funds for The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. She first achieved recognition as an actress through her co-starring performances in the comedy plays of writer-performer, Charles Busch. "Julie Halston's Lifetime of Comedy", a series of one-woman comedy shows that she wrote had a successful Off-Broadway production and earned her an Outer Critics Circle nomination for Best Play and a CBS network development deal. Julie was recently seen on Broadway playing Rita Marshall in “Tootsie”. Her other Broadway credits include “On The Town”, “You Can’t Take It With You”, “Anything Goes”, “Hairspray”, “Twentieth Century”, “Gypsy”, “The Women”, and “The Man Who Came To Dinner”. She's a founding member of Charles Bush's theatre company and has collaborated with Charles on numerous productions, including “Vampire Lesbians of Sodom” and “The Divine Sister”. Her tv credits include “Gossip Girl”, “The Good Fight”, “Almost Family”, “Divorce”, and “Law & Order” among others. She is also reprising her role as Bitsy Von Muffling in the “Sex and the City” reboot, “And Just Like That…” During the pandemic, she launched a web series, “Virtual Halston”, and garnered popular acclaim with over 40 episodes on YouTube. Today, Julie plays an asshole talent agent owner in Broadway Podcast Network’s new series, "Rolling Calls."Connect with Julie: Instagram: @actressjuliehalston Twitter: @juliehalston Facebook: @juliehalston Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elizabeth A. Davis is currently gracing the Broadway stage as Thomas Jefferson in “1776”, where she has the unique opportunity to showcase her actual violin skills at the same time. She talks about what it's like performing eight shows a week while pregnant, and the financial and societal expectations that come with it. Elizabeth's love for music started at a very early age, sharing that she started playing an instrument with a butter box with a ruler in it when she was three years old. She reflects on how music was an important part of her family's life, and why she played not because she had an inkling it would be her trajectory but for the discipline of it. Playing as Thomas Jefferson, she shares that the pieces that she's playing on stage were pieces that Jefferson himself played, how she auditioned and how they were particular about casting actors who can play instruments very well, and why she considers "1776" a true musical theatre. She admits that singing on stage still terrifies her, and while she thought she wasn't a good enough violinist or a vocalist to major in them, she knew that she was a storyteller and got her degrees in classical theatre performance instead. As a storyteller, Elizabeth reflects on why the act of acting is a total defiance of death, why she aims to live her life as a thank you, and why failure is your friend and something that is not to be feared.Elizabeth A. Davis is a multi-talented, multi-hyphenate actress who received a Tony Award nomination for originating the role of Reza in the Broadway production of "Once". She has over 30 Off-Broadway credits, including "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui", "Women on Fire: Stories from the Frontlines", "Zorba", "Rain", "Allegro", "The Caucasian Chalk Circle", and "The 39 Steps". She's appeared in several TV shows such as "Fringe", "Blue Bloods", “The Jim Gaffigan Show”, and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit". She has also written original musicals and short plays, and sung on Ben Platt's album, "Sing to Me Instead". Elizabeth is playing Thomas Jefferson in Broadway's "1776", where she sings and plays the violin on stage.Connect with Elizabeth: Website: www.elizabethadavis.com Instagram: @elizabetadavis Twitter: @ElizabetADavis Facebook: @officialelizabethadavis Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded Nov 17th, 2022, listen to exclusive interview with the cast of & Juliet from the red carpet on opening night!Interviews include: Lorna Courtney (Juliet) Betsy Wolfe (Anne Hathaway) Stark Sands (William Shakespeare) Justin David Sullivan (May) Melanie La Barrie (Angelique) Paulo Szot (Lance) Phillippe Arroyo (Francois) Ben Jackson Walker (Romeo) Alaina Vi Maderal (Gwynn/swing) Jasmine Rafael (Imogen) Joe Moeller (Henry, u/s Shakes, u/s Lance) Megan Kate (Lucy, u/s Angelique, u/s Anne) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jefferson Mays is currently on Broadway in his original interpretation of "A Christmas Carol" doing perhaps what he does best: playing multiple roles in a single show. Jefferson recalls the strange beginning of how it all started, which was when he and his wife ran smack into Matt Schackman, the Artistic Director of Geffen Playhouse, as they were walking their dogs. He was eventually inspired to base their version on Dickens’ original, one-man version. Jefferson also has his parents to thank for reading "A Christmas Carol" to him and his siblings when they were young, which sparked his love for performing and storytelling, thinking it was theatre in its purest form. Decades of experience later, he reflects on how this year has been the year of the understudy and swing, and how their talent and heroism changed his whole idea of what a company means. While performing on stage brings him joy, it's those moments off stage that makes him appreciate the magic of theatre even more. Jefferson admits to gravitating towards storytelling, sharing that this allows him to explore characters and their complexity endlessly. And while he doesn't have a list of roles to play before he reaches a certain age, he enjoys getting "mugged or ambushed by a production" for different kinds of roles. He shares what it's like to grow up with older siblings and the privileges that come with it, hearing the voices of his parents when he's performing on stage, and how his sense of curiosity and wonder motivates him to keep performing.Jefferson Mays is an actor and a three-time Tony Award nominee for his performances in "Oslo", "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder", and "I Am My Own Wife" a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Doug Wright, where he played over 40 different roles and won for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play. His other stage credits include "The Front Page", "The Best Man", "Pygmalion", and "Journey's End". His TV credits include "The Americans", "Westworld", "Nurse Jackie", "Law and Order: SVU", "The Closer", "Julia", "Perry Mason", "Hacks" and a guest role on "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt". He was most currently seen on Broadway's "The Music Man", and recently completed his one-man rendition of "A Christmas Carol" and is now bringing the same show to Broadway. He has also appeared in numerous films, including "Inherent Vice", "Ned Rifle", "Showing Up", "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs", "Kinsey" "Rebel in the Rye", and "The Giver" among others.Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nothing brings people together more than music and performing; Michael Mott got the best of both worlds as he prepares for his second annual holiday show, "Michael Mott & Friends,” happening in December, along with the release of a brand new single performed by the incomparable Jessica Vosk. Michael was also a professional actor for seven years and while he was grateful for all the work, he realized he was never fully happy. This led him to apply to the prestigious BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, which subsequently changed his life.. Aside from acting, he's also a successful composer and has always been passionate about music. He talks about finding his own style, writing for another person, his issues with the current things on Broadway, the craft that goes into making a musical theatre song, and the indescribable feeling and comfort music brings him that he wants to give back to listeners. A decade later, amongst all his writing and composing success, he even finds himself accepting roles again. Michael Mott is an award-winning composer, lyricist, songwriter and vocal producer who's also recognized internationally for his talent. He graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theatre Performance and is currently living and working in New York. Michael had a successful acting career in the late 2000s, performing in many Off-Broadway, regional and national touring shows, including "Milk and Honey", "I'd Rather Be Right", "Kiss Me, Kate", "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?", "9 to 5", "A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline", and "Miracle on 34th Street". In 2012, he decided to pursue writing and was accepted into the prestigious BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Writer’s Workshop. Since then, Michael has written numerous original musicals, including "In The Light", "A Faustian Tale" (book by Nathan Wright and Justin Silvestri), "The Fairy's Tale" (book by Gretchen Suárez-Peña), "Mob Wife", "A Mafia Comedy" (book by Corey Skaggs) and "Riding Out The Storm" (book & lyrics by Christine Toy Johnson). He was also commissioned to write the music and lyrics to "Lucifer". Apart from writing music, Michael is also known for his recording studio works which include the LPs "Where The Sky Ends", "In The Light, A Faustian Tale", which debuted at #8 on the Billboard Musical Theatre charts, and "Abandoned Heart". His EPs include "The Only One", "Where The Sky Ends: The Dance Remixes" and "Gone: The Remixes" while his singles include "Christmas, Will You Stay?" (feat. Laura Osnes), "The Impossible" (feat. Matt Bloyd), "Fly High" (feat. Emma Howard). He has written original award-winning material for NYC's The Boy Band Project, including "Get Behind My Love" and "Jingle My Bells" which won Best Original Song at the 2020 Broadway World Cabaret World Award. He will be releasing a new song with Jessica Vosk on December 2nd, 2022, and having his second annual holiday show, "Michael Mott & Friends" at The Green Room 42 in NYC on December 3rd, 2022.Connect with Michael: Website: www.michaelmott.net Instagram: @Michael_Mott TikTok: @Michael_Mott Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anika Larsen is having a great time as she takes the challenge of both playing the mom on Broadway's "Almost Famous" and being the mom of two boys offstage. Anika's passion for saving the planet is contagious, and as a member of the Broadway Green Alliance and ambassador for Global Goals for Sustainability, she's making sure she can show and tell her children that she really tried to do what she can to pass on a healthy planet. Growing up with 9 brothers and sisters became a defining characteristic of her life and how it made her the compulsive team player that she is today. Juggling working and being a mom in real life, Anika reflects on the good and the bad things that come along with it, and how she languished during the height of the pandemic as a stay-at-home mom. She opens up about being a better mom because she's working, and the beautiful, symbiotic relationship between her home life and stage life now that she’s playing a mom in “Almost Famous”. There was a point early in Anika's career when she didn't work for two years, which she considers an invaluable lesson. All the hardships that have happened to her made her smart not just about money but her future as well, and while for her the worst part of being in the industry is the unpredictability of it, she wouldn't trade it for anything.Anika Larsen is an actress who has performed on the Broadway stage in well-received shows like “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” wherein she won Drama Desk Award's Outstanding Feature Actress in a Musical and received a Tony nomination. She also originated the role of Roberta in the cult Off-Broadway musical, "Zanna, Don't!", for which she received a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Her other stage credits include "Xanadu", "All Shook Up", "Avenue Q", "Chess", and “Rent” where she made her Broadway debut in 2000. She’s a member of the Broadway Green Alliance, a passionate ambassador for the Global Goals for Sustainability, a member of Actor’s Equity, and serves on the board at the New York City Children's Theater. Anika has an album of lullabies, “Sing You to Sleep” which you can listen to on different streaming platforms, including Spotify. She could now be seen on stage as rock Elaine Miller in Broadway’s “Almost Famous”.Connect with Anika: Website: anikalarsen.biz Facebook: @anika.larsen.nyc Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Currently playing the role of Marcia Murphey in the Broadway show, "A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical", Robyn Hurder shares how she got involved with the show and how she never thought it would be her biggest role to date. In fact, she auditioned for a different role but didn't think much of it because she felt like she wasn't right for it. Robyn speaks candidly about her love of performing, what it's like to work during the pandemic and the physical demands of it. She recalls how she got into theatre and how growing up with a supportive family, especially her mom, was one of the main reasons why she was able to follow her dreams. From doing community theatre productions in her younger years to playing the role of Mary Magdalene in a production of "Jesus Christ Superstar", it was that first taste of being the star of the show which pushed her to pursue performing as a career. Robyn also talks about having the “it” factor, the importance of believing in yourself and your talent, and that if you remain true to yourself and what you want, you’re going to be okay.Robyn Hunter is an actress best known for originating the role of Nini in "Moulin Rouge! The Musical", which also earned her a Tony Award nomination. Her other Broadway credits include "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", "Chicago", "Grease", and "Nice Work If You Can Get It". She's also performed in numerous Off-Broadways shows such as "Play It Cool", "Paint Your Wagon", "The New Yorkers", and "A Chorus Line" among others. Her tv credits include "The Right Girl", "Fosse/Verdon", and "Starlight Express". Robyn recently finished originating the role of Marcia Murphey in "A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical", which has now transferred to Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre.Connect with Robyn:Instagram: @robynhurderConnect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Currently starring as Cinderella in the Broadway revival of “Into The Woods”, Krysta Rodriguez is a talented actor, singer, and dancer with countless Broadway, TV and film credits. As the world starts to adjust to the new normal, she talks about her life and being thrust back on stage in a well-received show, which was completely unexpected for her. Playing the role of Cinderella made her realize that while it's fun to watch a show, it's even more fun to perform because there's “no bottom to it”. She reflects on how said role gives her a fresh perspective of Cinderella, and what the pressures to become a mother means. For Krysta, it was her search for fun that made her come back to acting, and with all her accomplishments and fulfilled dreams, she can still find fulfillment in different ways. Her dream of theatre leads her to her bigger "dream of life", which includes traveling, home design, and having meaningful relationships. From playing iconic people like Liza Minelli to iconic characters like Cinderella, she tries to give a fresh take by finding a lifeline as to how she and these characters are alike. She recalls her "Spring Awakening"days, the impact it has on her, and the bond she formed with the cast, most especially with the Deaf West revival cast, which was also the time she was going through therapy after getting diagnosed with cancer. Krysta opens up about her healing journey, why she decided to go public about it, her blog, ChemoCouture and how it became her form of activism, and personal growth as her number one life motivation.Krysta Rodriguez is a talented actress and singer with countless stage and tv credits under her name. She made her Broadway debut in the short-lived 2005 jukebox musical "Good Vibrations". Later on, she became a replacement for the role of Bebe in the Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line". Krysta has also played many ensemble and understudy parts in the Broadway productions of "Spring Awakening", "In the Heights", and the regional production of "The Boy Friend" directed by Julie Andrews. Her other stage credits include "What We're Up Against", "A Chorus Line", "The Addams Family", "First Date", “Hercules”, and “West Side Story” among others. She is also best known for her tv roles as Ana Vargas in "Smash", Summer Henderson in "Trial & Error", Maxine Griffin in "Quantico", and Ms. Cruble in "Daybreak." Her other tv credits include "Inside Amy Schumer", “Gossip Girl”, and “Halston” where she plays the role of Liza Minnelli. Her film credits include "The Virginity Hit", "My Bakery in Brooklyn", “The Bitch Who Stole Christmas”, and “Killing Diaz”. In 2015, Krysta was diagnosed with breast cancer, and started a blog, ChemoCouture.com to share her journey during chemotherapy as well as fashion, beauty, and wellness advice. That same year, she also returned as Isle in the Deaf West Theatre production of "Spring Awakening" as well as its Broadway production. She is currently starring as Cinderella in the 2022 Broadway revival of “Into The Woods”. Connect with Krysta: Instagram: @krysta_rod Website: krystacouture.com and www.curatedbykr.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With all the talent and awards Julie Benko has received at such a young age, it begs the question: What can't she do? Julie proves that it’s never too late… or too early to learn anything. Currently the Fanny Brice alternate in "Funny Girl" on Broadway, Julie shares her life as an actor and how she handles the hectic schedule that comes along with it. She also recalls doing a production of “Fiddler on the Roof” when she was younger which changed the trajectory of her family. Unlike most, she spent her time during the height of the pandemic doing performances online and raising money for various charities, including starting a series with her husband called, "Quarantunes" which also became the basis of their album “Hand in Hand” that was just released in August 2022. Initially scared of comedy, Fanny Brice was the role she never knew she wanted, but thanks to her friends' encouragement and help, Julie pushed through with the audition and eventually got the part. She talks about doing eight shows a week, what it’s like being thrust into the spotlight, how she recovers and recharges, and the training that helped her in performing with ease. From acting and singing to writing and directing, Julie is set to do everything all at once and try other mediums too—all of which are motivated by her love for learning and passion for connecting with others.Julie Benko is an amazing actress, singer, writer, musician, director, and philanthropist based in NYC. She holds a BFA in Drama and an MFA in Acting from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She currently plays as Fanny Brice in the Broadway show, "Funny Girl", and released her brand new album, "Hand in Hand" last August. Julie's stage credits include "Fiddler on the Roof", "Les Miserables", "Spring Awakening", "Once", "The Fantasticks", and "Rags" among others. She has also appeared in several films, including "Alberto", and "Unrequited Vanya". Apart from these, Julie is also a recipient of numerous nominations for her acting skills, including the Wilde Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical which she won for her performance as Girl in "Once". She also won the Gold Medal and the Johnny Mercer Award in the national American Traditions Vocal Competition. Her recent projects include writing, directing, and starring in her first short, "The Newlywed's Guide to Physical Intimacy", which won an Honorable Mention at its premiere July 2020 premiere at New Faces New Voices Film Festival. Her first full-length play, "The District," was also named a semifinalist at the 2022 Eugene O'Neil National Playwrights Conference. During the pandemic, Julie raised money for different charities through her "Quarantunes" musical duo series with her husband. Connect with Julie: Twitter: @Jujujuliebee Instagram: @jujujuliebee TikTok: @jujujuliebee Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices