The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

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

From creating a one-woman show, "Beth Malone: So Far" to originating the role of "Fun Home's" Alison Bechdel, Tony and Grammy award nominee Beth Malone has set a name for herself on the Broadway stage. Beth takes us through her journey to getting into performing and becoming an actress, sharing her younger years which included watching “Singing in the Rain on TV” and working at a dinner theatre growing up Colorado. Growing up queer, she opens up about her relationship with her parents, getting disowned in her 20s and focusing on art as a way to cope, meeting her wife and getting her master's degree and finally reconnecting with her parents. Beth's experiences have inspired her to take her art into activism, and she continues to stay active in the space and raise awareness through her solo shows. She recalls how "Fun Home" has become a form of therapy for people, some of which would talk to actors and share their stories at the stage door. In fact, they would say that the stage door was act two of the show. Apart from raising awareness, she talks about her work, including recording the cast album of "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" during the pandemic, and her current and upcoming shows like "City On Fire". Despite not being on stage as much as she used to, Beth shares her love for rehearsals which is also what she misses the most, writing a musical, and being motivated by hope in whatever she does.Beth Malone is a singer and actress known for her work in Broadway, off-Broadway and regional theatre. She originated the role of Alison Bechdel in the musical "Fun Home", for which she received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance. Her other stage credits include "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" where she played multiple roles and now has an official cast album, "Pride Plays", "Nassim", "Angels in America", and "Ring of Fire" among others. She has also created a cabaret show, "Beth Malone: So Far" which tells her life story. Beth has also appeared in numerous films like "Tick, Tick...Boom!", "The God Committee", "Brittany Runs a Marathon", "The Comedian", "Hick", and TV shows such as "BrainDead", "Rono 911!", "Judging Amy", "Bull", "The Baker and the Beauty", and "All Rise". She released her first solo album, "Lunch Shift" in 2008. Beth stars as Linda Schafer in "Five Days at Memorial" and will be in Apple TV’s "City on Fire" in 2023.Connect with Beth: Twitter: @heebyfluff Instagram: @thebethmalone 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 leading the North American tour of the hit show, “Oklahoma!” as Laurey Williams, Sasha Hutchings proves to be a performing powerhouse. Sasha's love for dancing has brought her to where she is today. Dancing as a career was a slow burn for her, but her parents and teachers' support helped her take it more seriously and pursue the craft. She attended Oklahoma City University, where she discovered musical theatre and fell in love with it. And while Sasha says she only does things she's good at, she admits that dancing was hard but that she kept going and trained so she was continually learning and improving her skills. She reflects on how theatre people deal with a certain amount of uncertainty, and the things she did during the shutdown, including taking voice lessons and auditioning for TV shows. With the new take on the classic story of “Oklahoma!” as well as its diverse casts, Sasha gets real about both the positive and negative responses to the show as they tour different cities all over the country. To her core, what matters is to perform with an intention that comes from a place of love and compassion. After all, Sasha considers theatre as a sanctuary where we people, despite our differences, go to watch, feel, and ponder collectively.Sasha Hutchings is an actress, dancer, and singer with several Broadway credits including "Oklahoma!", "Memphis", "My Fair Lady", "Motown: the Musical", "Rocky", and "Hamilton" where she was an understudy and ensemble member in the original Broadway cast. She plays the character of Hope on the Starz comedy series, "Run the World". Her other TV credits include "Smash", "Master of None", "Jessica Jones", "Fosse/Verdon", and "Blue Bloods". Sasha has been recently cast in a recurring role in AMC’s upcoming sci-fi comedy, "Damascus", and is currently playing Laurey Williams in the North American tour of the “Oklahoma!”Connect with Sasha: Twitter: @sashahutchings Instagram: @sashahutchings 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

Talia Suskauer is currently playing Elphaba in "Wicked" on Broadway, following the success of the Munchkinland National Tour of the same show where she played the same role. From being a pasta lover to being a dog lover, Talia gets super personal as she shares how she got into theatre, which includes singing recordings in the car with her mom and sister. Talia looks back on the things that inspired her to pursue acting, the lessons she took throughout her childhood and teenage years, and how the support she got from her parents and mentors has molded her and helped her find her identity as an artist and performer. She recalls her first audition for "Be More Chill" just a week before graduating and her Broadway debut which she considers as unexpected and wild. During their closing week, Talia auditioned for "Wicked" as an Elphaba replacement and eventually got the role. And with live theatre shutting down for almost two years due to the pandemic, Talia opens up about how it affected her mental health, not being able to turn to theatre as a means of escape, and what helped her get out of her rut, including exercising. She was a part of the reopening cast for "Wicked" which was the first Broadway-caliber show to reopen in the country. She talks about being on tour and being on Broadway, why she loved touring, her passion for her job, and why you shouldn’t let anyone try to put you in a box because your uniqueness is what makes you special.Talia Suskauer is a New York-based actor and singer who made her Broadway debut in "Be More Chill" and recently finished a long run in the Munchkinland National Tour of Wicked as Elphaba. She attended Penn State, where she re­ceived her BFA in Musical Theater. Her other stage credits include "Shrek", "Little Women", and "The Secret Garden". Talia is currently playing Elphaba in "Wicked" on Broadway. She's also appeared in a few TV shows such as "The Kelly Clarkson Show" and "The Broadway Show with Tamsen Fadal". Connect with Talia: Twitter: @taliarach Instagram: @taliasuskauer Facebook: @taliasuskauernyc Website: taliasuskauer.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

Alyssa Fox is currently in "Wicked" on Broadway as Elphaba standby, having been a part of "Wicked" for around 12 years now. Her lifelong dream of becoming true Disney royalty and growing up watching Disney movies was her first introduction to acting and singing and theatrical expression. Alyssa shares her love for singing and performing live, discovering "Wicked" in senior high school and finding her calling. She talks about her "Wicked" journey, why she decided to drop out of college, and how she went to New York for the first time to audition for a non-equity cattle call she saw on playbill.com. From humble beginnings, she went from not having an agent to booking "Wicked" and only having $18 in her bank account. As we all know, we discuss how the understudy, standby, and swing life is much harder in a different way from your standard roles. She shares some of her experiences as “Frozen’s” Elsa and “Wicked’s” Elphaba standby, from remembering her lines and staying sharp on stage to stage mishaps, and talks about the sisterhood and connection that comes with playing the difficult character of Elphaba, and why despite finding touring hard, it's also where she felt the happiest and most fulfilled. Reflecting back on her work, she sees all her peers as equals, explains why she loves doing theatre, and the amazing connections made between the performer and the audience.Alyssa Fox is an actress born in Dallas, Texas who is currently in "Wicked" on Broadway as Elphaba standby, also having played the lead role on the national tour. Her other stage credits include "Frozen" (Broadway and Regional) where she was Elsa standby.Connect with Alyssa: Twitter: @alyssafox Instagram: @alyssajoyfox Facebook: @Allyfox22 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

Longtime friends and creative partners, David Rossmer and Steve Rosen are currently working together as lyricists and songwriters for the "The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation" musical, which just opened for its world premiere at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle. The two share their first meeting at a performing arts camp, and the rest, as they say, is history. Growing up in a musical household and a family that has an appreciation for art, it's no surprise that both David and Steve ended up having a career in the creative industry. The two talk about stage adaptation, what makes it exciting, and how their current project is a love letter not just to the Griswolds but also to theatre. They also deep-dive into their creative processes, including writing together, creating something and acting on it at the same time, etc. With all the successful projects both David and Steve have done together and individually, they're proud to say that they still make each other laugh. The two speak about their love for collaboration and their goal to keep making stuff, not only to fulfill their passion but also to get inspiration from other people and create an artistic community.David Rossmer and Steve Rosen are a talented duo with numerous Broadway acting credits under their name. Their recent Broadway production of “The Other Josh Cohen” received rave reviews. They created the successful variety show benefit, “Don’t Quit Your Night Job”. They have also worked together for Rated P, developed for television by Kelly Ripa’s Milojo Productions and bought by ABC Studios, and made comedy material for Zachary Levi, Sting, etc. Individually, both have created several podcasts, radio plays, and radio comedies. Currently, they are working together as lyricists and songwriters for the "The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation" musical. David's stage credits include “Les Miserables”, “Peter and the Starcatcher”, “Children and Art”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, and “Titanic”. His TV credits include "Elementary", "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel", "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", and "It Could Be Worse". Meanwhile, Steve's stage credits include "The Little Mermaid", "A Confederacy of Dunces", "Disney's Beauty and the Beast", "Peter and the Starcatcher", "Guys and Dolls", "The Farnsworth Invention", "Monty Python's Spamalot". His TV credits include "Kings", "The Resident", "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", "Blue Bloods", "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel", and "Elementary".Connect with David and Steve:Instagram: @stevierosen, @davidrossmer, @rossmerrosenConnect 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

As a young kid, he originally wanted to be a novelist. A audition for a high school production of Bye Bye Birdie landed him the lead role of Conrad, which blasted open the doors for him in the acting world. He ended up going to University of Michigan when they were first beginning to make a name for themselves as one of the best places to learn the craft, and then found his way easily onto the Broadway stage. He ended up shifting focus about 8 years ago to directing, where he found what he describes as his new passion for the stage. A quick call from an old friend led him to step in and perform as Clark Griswold in The Griswolds' Broadway Vacation brought him back to the stage, originating the role in the world premiere at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington, alongside Kate Rockwell.Hunter is an actor, director, writer and librettist with Broadway acting credits including Little Shop of Horrors (which earned him a Tony Award nomination), Urinetown, The Producers, Footloose, Les Miserables and Grease. He was named 2018’s director of the year by the Wall Street Journal for his productions of 42nd Street at the Bucks County Playhouse, and The Drowsy Chaperone at the Goodspeed Opera House, recently directed the critically acclaimed The Other Josh Cohen off Broadway here in NYC, is the Artistic Director for the Redhouse Arts Center in Syracuse, NY, and as we speak is originating the role of Clark Griswold in the Griswolds' Broadway Vacation.Connect with Hunter: Twitter: @Hunter_Foster IG: @hunter__foster Web: hunterfosterofficial.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

Mikayla Renfrow is currently making her Broadway debut as Nessarose in "Wicked", one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history. Mikayla shares her background, including growing up in Cincinnati and moving around a lot. She talks about inherited trauma, a point in her life where she always felt like a black sheep, and how that changed thanks to the Cincinnati art school she went into. Mikayla recalls how her "Wicked" journey started, including sending one tape, getting a call back the following day, almost missing her Broadway debut due to a conflict in schedule, and eventually getting the role of Nessarose. She adds how it was a validation of her gut feeling that it was meant for her. Mikayla talks about her interest in astrology, why she believes that every milestone was meant to place her where she is at the moment, creating a routine and sticking to it and that everyone should go to therapy. She shares how the pandemic affected the trajectory of her life and career as well as using her dance skills to get another job. She also speaks candidly about her being a competitive gymnast and a national champion when she was younger. Mikayla looks back on writing her dream life in her journal and how she's living her dreams today, and why it's important to go back to our "why's" to help us keep going.Mikayla Renfrow graduated from Cincinnati's School for Creative and Performing Arts in 2017 and then from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music in 2021. Her regional stage credits include "Cinderalla" (Paramount Theatre), "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (The Muny), and "Smokey Joe's Cafe" (The Fulton Theatre). She's currently making her Broadway debut as Nessarose in the hit show "Wicked."Connect with Mikayla: Instagram: @mikayla.renf TikTok: @mikrenfrow Twitter: @mikrenf 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

Jordan Barrow is currently making his Broadway debut as the principal role of Boq in "Wicked", making him the first black actor to play the role in North America. He talks about how he got into performing—from joining a theatre camp to doing voiceover work and getting his first professional job when he was 13. He shares how didn't sing until he was 11 and even cried after getting the role of Danny Zuko and finding out he had to sing in front of people for a Grease musical in a summer camp. Jordan explains why he decided to go to school instead of pursuing acting right away (his agent ended up dropping him eventually). He shares his career journey from auditioning for Shakespeare in the Park in 2015 to booking a guest starring part on “POSE”. Jordan gets real about how the pandemic affected his work, wherein he lost 14 weeks of work removed, but despite that, it was also during the pandemic that he auditioned for "Wicked" and got the role of Boq. He shares that it was his fifth time auditioning and that he did not give up thanks to his mindset of how every audition is an audition for the next thing. He recalls his Broadway debut and what the experience was like, doing spot-check rehearsals, and what makes his work exciting and fresh.Jordan Barrow is an actor based in New York City currently making his Broadway debut as the principal role of Boq in "Wicked". He graduated from the University of Michigan in the Musical Theatre program and holds a certificate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts Shakespeare in Performance program. His other stage credits include "Sousatzka", "America V 2.1: The Sad Demise and Eventual Extinction of the American Negro", "Witness Uganda", "Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust Road", "The Tempest", "Hairspray" and "Peter Pan". He has appeared in several movies and tv shows, including "POSE", "Broad City", and "Amy and Peter are Getting Divorced".Connect with Jordan: Twitter: @jordant_b Instagram: @jordant_b Website: jordan-barrow.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

A live panel discussion with Elizabeth Teeter, Dana Steingold, Zonya Love and Michelle Aravena from Beetlejuice. This was recorded LIVE at BroadwayCon 2022 on July 8th, 2022.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