The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

What happens when one of the biggest TV shows in the world makes the leap to Broadway? Alison Jaye takes us behind the scenes of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, where she steps into the role of Joyce Maldonado in a production unlike anything Broadway has ever seen. With audiences made up largely of first-time theatergoers, Alison describes what it feels like when the show plays like a full-on rollercoaster one night and like a hushed movie the next. She also opens up about the collaboration that shaped her character, the three-year journey from top-secret workshops to opening night, and why she calls Broadway the “Olympics of theater.” In this candid conversation, Alison talks about sustaining the physical, vocal, and mental energy needed for such a demanding role, and how she keeps curiosity and honesty at the center of her artistry. From discovering the surprises hidden within this massive production to finding joy in the unpredictability of live audiences, Alison brings humor, humility, and insight to a show that continues to expand the Stranger Things universe in thrilling new ways. Alison Jaye made her Broadway debut as a child in Sunday in the Park with George and later returned in Mary Poppins. She has built a wide-ranging career across stage, screen, and voice acting, including her BAFTA-nominated work in Horizon Forbidden West, and a featured role in Call Jane alongside Sigourney Weaver and Elizabeth Banks. She now stars as Joyce Maldonado in Stranger Things: The First Shadow on Broadway. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Alison: IG: alisonjaye Web: https://www.alisonjaye.com/ Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

Gerianne Pérez joins us for a candid and hilarious conversation about her winding path from choir kid to Broadway scene-stealer. She shares how an early love of a cappella shaped her artistry, why walking away from a “safe” office job was the best decision she ever made, and what it’s like to audition for Six in front of a room full of other queens going for the same role. We get into her current adventure in Operation Mincemeat, where she covers multiple roles and leans into the joy—and chaos—of live theater, from botched hat tosses to full-on breaking on stage. Gerianne also opens up about navigating performance anxiety, the nuanced realities of being a Latina performer in a typecasting-heavy industry, and the thrill of telling a story that honors forgotten heroes of history. Whether she’s singing backup for a fellow principal, leading the charge as Monty, or making the audience laugh through an unexpected mishap, Gerianne embodies resilience, humor, and heart at every turn. Gerianne Pérez is an NYU Tisch-trained actor and singer whose career spans Broadway, national tours, and acclaimed off-Broadway productions. She made her Broadway debut in In Transit before joining Waitress and the national tour of Six: The Musical. She has also appeared in In the Heights, Grease, and Oratorio for Living Things, and is currently bringing her comedic chops to Operation Mincemeat on Broadway. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Gerianne: Instagram: @gerianne.perez TikTok: @gerianne.perez Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

Alex Serino didn’t take the “traditional” path to Broadway, but his journey is one fueled by community, heart, and hustle. A proud Boston native, Alex grew up surrounded by music, theater, and an extended family that felt more like a village. From band kid to puppeteering Audrey II, to a standout performance in The SpongeBob Musical and hosting Emerson’s EVVY Awards, his love of performance kept evolving until it landed him on one of Broadway’s biggest stages. We talk about the defining moments—from playing Uno with a Boston accent to discovering his passion for acting (with a little help from his cousins)—that led him to the role of Albus Potter in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. This episode dives into what it means to find your place in a new city, how to hold onto your authentic self in high-stakes environments, and why Alex never hesitates to ask for help. He opens up about the vulnerability of auditioning, the surreal experience of being cast in a Broadway show before even having an agent, and the ongoing journey of carving your own identity—both on and offstage. Oh, and yes, we go full nerd on spells, Polyjuice Potion, and the Hogwarts Legacy game. Alex Serino is an actor and musician making his Broadway debut as Albus Potter in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. A graduate of Emerson College, he studied Theatre Education and Performance before transitioning to a BFA in Acting. While at Emerson, he co-hosted the nationally recognized EVVY Awards and performed in numerous productions, including The SpongeBob Musical. Originally from Peabody, Massachusetts, Alex’s creative foundation was shaped by a musically rich family and years of regional youth theater. This episode is brought to you by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard that let's you be a star for a day. Connect with Alex: Instagram: @alexfserino TikTok: @alex.f.serino Twitch: @hypeape Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

Ayanna Nicole Thomas didn’t follow a traditional path to Broadway—but that’s exactly what makes her story so compelling. After growing up between the Bronx and LA, she eventually made her way back to New York to study musical theatre. But right before her senior year, she booked her Broadway debut in How to Dance in Ohio—a show that celebrates neurodivergence and gave her a sense of belonging she didn’t expect. Now, she’s playing Rose Granger-Weasley in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, bringing her own warmth and humor to a character born from one of the world’s most beloved franchises. In this conversation, Ayanna opens up about being diagnosed with ADHD and autism, and how that diagnosis helped her better understand her brain and her process. She shares how she uses Play-Doh and fidget toys backstage, what it was like to be a Broadway swing, and how she balances structure with spontaneity in a show filled with choreography, magic, and fireballs. She’s charming, thoughtful, and not afraid to let her Bronx roots shine through. Ayanna Nicole Thomas is currently starring as Rose Granger-Weasley in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. She made her Broadway debut in How to Dance in Ohio and studied musical theatre at the Manhattan School of Music. A lifelong performer with a deep love of musicals and jazz, she’s also a passionate advocate for neurodivergent representation onstage. Connect with Ayanna: IG: @ayannanicolethomass Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

Aaron Bartz brings a grounded, thoughtful energy to the role of Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and in this conversation, he shares just how much life and imagination go into keeping the magic alive night after night. From flying and fire to illusions and high-stakes contingencies, Aaron walks us through what it’s like to debut on Broadway in one of the most technically demanding plays out there—and why so many actors in the production come from classical Shakespeare backgrounds. We also explore Aaron’s journey from Great Falls, Montana to the Lyric Theatre in NYC, including a pivotal classroom moment that set him on the path to acting, and how a love of storytelling (and a little persistence) helped him land gigs that ultimately led to an MFA from Yale. Now a father of two, Aaron reflects on how playing Draco as a parent has shifted his own understanding of growth, vulnerability, and legacy. Aaron Bartz is an actor and writer currently starring as Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. He earned his MFA from the Yale School of Drama and began his career with regional Shakespeare productions across the country. He toured nationally with the Montana Repertory Theatre in To Kill a Mockingbird, and his previous work includes Loves Labour’s Lost, Macbeth, and other classical works. This episode is brought to you by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Aaron: Instagram: @aaronbartz Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 playing the oboe in northern Minnesota to casting spells as Ginny Potter on Broadway, Sarah Killough's story is anything but ordinary. In this episode, Sarah chats about her early musical roots, growing up surrounded by theater in a creatively rich family, and the pivotal decision to attend Interlochen as a teenager. She shares how she carved her path through school, summer stock, and eventually New York City—where a survival job as an audition reader turned into a backstage pass to the industry and a surprising pipeline to major roles. Now captivating audiences eight shows a week in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Sarah discusses the emotional weight of the role, the fandom surrounding the show, and what it’s like to portray a character as iconic as Ginny. She reflects on being part of casting processes from the other side of the table, the joys and challenges of working in a high-tech, high-stakes production, and what it means when fans tell her she is the “book Ginny.” Full of heart, humor, and a few tales of audition room mishaps, this conversation showcases the magic behind Sarah’s grounded presence on stage and off. Sarah Killough is an actor, musician, and dialect coach currently starring as Ginny Potter in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. Her stage credits include Leopoldstadt, The Lehman Trilogy, Travesties, and Long Day’s Journey Into Night. A Minnesota native and graduate of the Hartt School, she also serves as a trusted audition reader for major casting offices in New York. Connect with Sarah: Instagram: @rhymeswithpillow Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

Matthew James Thomas opens up in this heartfelt conversation about his journey from a rebellious, bullied teen in the English countryside to finding truth and belonging on stage. Growing up feeling misunderstood, he found safety and purpose in acting, discovering early on that truth-telling through performance was his way of making sense of the world. He shares the emotional weight he carries playing Harry Potter on Broadway, how he navigates the show’s intense emotional peaks night after night, and why live theatre never gets old — even after over 135 performances. We also dive into the legacy of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, his love-hate relationship with social media, and why he believes musicals are only great when they get it exactly right. And yes, there’s some mutual fan-girling over Severance, a hilarious attempt at explaining Les Misérables, and plenty of insight into what makes live theatre both terrifying and electrifying. Matthew James Thomas is a British actor, director, and songwriter. He originated the title role in the 2013 Broadway revival of Pippin, starred as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, and has appeared in Accused, Summer of Rockets, Britannia High, Billy Elliot, and About a Boy. He currently stars as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. Connect with Matthew: Instagram: @mattjamesthomasyes Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

Rachel Christopher brings a poet’s heart and a scholar’s mind to the stage eight times a week as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. In this conversation, she opens up about her lifelong love of language, her background in translating ancient Greek poetry, and the deeply personal connection she feels to storytelling—both on stage and off. Whether she’s talking about her time at Epcot or reflecting on how imagination shaped her childhood, Rachel reveals just how much joy and intention she pours into her work. From cooking lamb meatballs and tending to her city garden to revisiting classic Greek texts, Rachel’s passions outside of theater are just as vibrant as the characters she portrays. She shares what it means to step into the legacy of Hermione, how theater expands what we imagine is possible, and why making space for community and curiosity is at the heart of her artistry. Rachel Christopher is an actor and poet currently playing Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. Her stage credits include For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf and Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. Her screen credits include The Girl on the Train and The Upside. A graduate of Vassar College, she double-majored in drama and classics, and has collaborated on stage adaptations of The Aeneid and The Iliad. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Rachel: Instagram: @rachel_e_christopher Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

Theatre and magic collide as Erik Christopher Peterson kicks off a seven-episode Harry Potter and the Cursed Child cast takeover on the podcast. In this deep-dive conversation, Erik reflects on growing up with a theatre educator dad, trading in his baseball glove for the stage, and eventually making his Broadway debut as Scorpius Malfoy. He shares the inspiration behind some of his original plays (like the hilariously surreal The Tragedy of Clownpheus and EuridIceCream), how Shakespeare continues to influence his work, and the joy of building his version of Scorpius eight shows a week. Erik talks about navigating the illusion-heavy world of Cursed Child, from mastering time turners and flaming trolleys to discovering emotional nuance in the show’s father-son themes and the beautifully complex friendship between Scorpius and Albus. He opens up about performance anxiety, self-care, and the unexpected fan art that continues to move him. It’s a candid, heartfelt look at what it means to debut on Broadway in one of its most technically complex productions. Erik Christopher Peterson is a writer, director, and actor whose credits include The Importance of Being Earnest, Othello, and several original plays he co-created, such as The Tragedy of Clownpheus and EEuridIceCream. He graduated from Webster University and currently stars as Scorpius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Erik IG: @erik.c.peterson Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 growing up in Eastchester, New York with dreams of joining Saturday Night Live to becoming one of the most beloved cast members in its history, Bobby Moynihan’s story is packed with heart, humor, and a lot of unexpected turns. In this episode, Bobby reflects on his nine seasons at SNL—including the anxiety, the magic, and the behind-the-scenes chaos—and shares how improv and the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) shaped his creative voice. He opens up about working with legends like Keenan Thompson and Colin Jost, the surreal experience of being called into the 50th anniversary show just hours before it taped, and the moment he realized he’d become “Drunk Uncle” to a new generation of kids. Bobby also talks about his pivot into animation, voicing memorable characters in Inside Out 2, IF, LEGO Star Wars, and Loafy (which he also created), as well as the joy he finds in writing children’s books like Not All Sheep Are Boring. With stories about his massive toy collection, his dream to pitch an all-star SNL season, and the advice he’d give to anyone stepping into the pressure cooker of Studio 8H, this is a hilarious and heartfelt conversation you won’t want to miss. Bobby Moynihan is a comedian, writer, and voice actor best known for his nine-year run on Saturday Night Live, where he created iconic characters like Drunk Uncle and Anthony Crispino. His screen credits include Me, Myself & I, Girls, Documentary Now!, Inside Out 2, IF, Summer Camp Island, The Bravest Knight, and Loafy. He is also the co-author of the children’s book Not All Sheep Are Boring. Connect with Bobby: Instagram: @bibbymoynihan BlueSky: @BibbyMoynihan TikTok: @bibbymoynihan Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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