Broadway Drumming 101

Some drummers can play the show. They’ve got it memorized. But throw them on a gig where they don’t know the song? Where there’s no chart, no click, no safety net? They freeze. In tomorrow’s episode, Frank Pagano breaks down some of the things you’ll need to know to have a long-lasting career. A musician can memorize a show and play it just fine, but if someone suddenly calls out a song on a diffe...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. We're bringing back a Broadway Drumming 101 Classic episode with Joe Choroszewski —a musician whose Broadway and live performance resume is as deep as it is diverse. Joe has been on drums for The Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring The Rockettes for the past three seasons...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In this episode of Broadway Drumming 101 , we chat with touring legend Paul Hannah , whose career spans over four decades and countless genres—from orchestras to biker bars and Broadway pits to jazz trios. Paul began playing professionally at just 16, growing up in Las Vegas du...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Paul Hannah is the latest guest on the 93rd episode of Broadway Drumming 101 . In this episode (dropping May 10 ), Paul shares how he managed to live out nearly every dream he had in the music business, without ever relocating to New York City . From performing with top-tier ja...

Back when we were all stuck inside and Broadway had gone quiet, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the great Warren Odze —a true Broadway and NYC studio veteran. Re-listening to this interview in 2025, I’m reminded just how rich and inspiring Warren’s stories are. Things have changed for the better since we first recorded, but this conversation holds up stronger than ever. Warren has played i...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Broadway Drumming 101 – Episode: Quinton “Q.” Robinson (2025 Update) 🎧 Hosted by Clayton Craddock Drummer, music director, and Ableton Live wizard Quinton “Q.” Robinson returns to the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast for a long-overdue update! First interviewed in July 2021, Q ha...

This one originally dropped in September 2021 in two parts—but if you missed it back then, don’t worry. I’m bringing it back as part of the Broadway Drumming 101 Classic Interview Series . Ray Marchica is one of those drummers whose name has been floating around the NYC scene for decades—and for good reason. He’s done it all: gold records, TV house band gigs, iconic Broadway runs, off-Broadway, ja...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. 🎧 A quick note to our listeners: We want to apologize for the slightly odd sound quality in this episode. It was our very first time recording the podcast remotely, so the audio might sound a little different than usual. Thanks for bearing with us through this little glitch! A...

🎧 NEW EPISODE DROPS APRIL 12TH! Broadway Drumming 101 | Featuring Andrew Atkinson — drummer for MJ: The Musical 🔥 “I didn’t even follow the book... I played it the way I knew it should sound.” 🔥 When Andrew Atkinson got the call to audition for MJ: The Musical , he didn’t just show up—he embodied the music. Years of preparation led to a moment when he didn’t need to prove himself—he was the guy...

In this exclusive clip from the upcoming Broadway Drumming 101 podcast, percussionist Andrew Atkinson shares how a one-off gig on America’s Got Talent led to an unforgettable opportunity on Hamilton . Hear how a backstage connection, a feature in Modern Drummer , and pure preparation paved the way for his Broadway debut — all without asking for a single gig. Andrew recalls the moment he heard "My...

🎧 In this clip from Broadway Drumming 101 , Andrew Atkinson — drummer for MJ: The Musical — gets real about how not to introduce yourself if you're trying to break into Broadway. He explains why timing matters , how first impressions stick , and why cold emailing without skills or connections usually doesn’t lead to a gig. If you’re not ready—or if you don’t come recommended—you’re probably just...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. 🎙️ Broadway Drumming 101 – Classic Episode: Sean McDaniel Originally Released: September 3, 2021 Updated Notes: March 30, 2025 Welcome back to another Classic episode of the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast. This time, we’re revisiting my in-depth conversation with the incredible...

Back in 2021, I sat down with one of the most versatile and in-demand drummers on Broadway: Sean McDaniel . Since that interview, Sean’s career has only expanded. He’s played Some Like It Hot , Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club and now holds the drum chair for one of the most buzzed-about new musicals on Broadway: Smash . So I figured—why not bring this conversation back to the forefront? In this re-rel...

In this episode of Broadway Drumming 101 , we sit down with Andrew Beall , an accomplished percussionist, composer, and Broadway musician whose career spans international performances, musical theater orchestration, and a deep love for percussion. From his early days in Ohio to working on some of Broadway’s biggest productions, Andrew shares insights into his journey, his influences, and his passi...

Throwback to one of the wildest and most unforgettable nights of my Broadway career—the opening night of Ain’t Too Proud - The Life And Times Of The Temptations on March 21st, 2019, and performing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon . Playing live on national TV was already a huge deal, but throw in a mad dash through Times Square with a police escort to make it back to the Imperial Theatre...

Broadway Drumming 101 – Classic Interview: Gary Seligson In this classic episode of Broadway Drumming 101 , I sit down with the incredible Gary Seligson. If you’ve been around the Broadway scene, you already know his name. Gary’s played on some massive shows, including Aida , Tarzan , Wicked , and Billy Elliot . His resume is stacked, but what really makes this interview special is the insight he...

Thanks for reading Broadway Drumming 101! This post is public so feel free to share it. In this episode of Broadway Drumming 101 , host Clayton Craddock sits down with the incredibly talented drummer Jaylen Petinaud to discuss his journey from an eager young musician introducing himself at LaGuardia High School to playing with Herbie Hancock and holding the drum chair for Hell’s Kitchen on Broadwa...

🎙 About This Episode: In this Broadway Drumming 101 Classic, I sit down with the incredible Quinton Robinson—better known as "Q"—for an insightful and inspiring conversation. Recorded in July 2021, right before he hit the road with the first national Ain't Too Proud tour, this episode dives deep into Q’s journey from his beginnings in Miami to becoming one of the most versatile drummers in the ind...

Broadway Drumming 101 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In this episode of Broadway Drumming 101 , I chat with the legendary Jonathan Haas about his incredible journey from studying liberal arts to becoming a virtuoso timpanist and professional musician. We talk about his groundbreaking work in Broadway and orc...

Get ready for an exciting upcoming episode of Broadway Drumming 101! I’ll be talking with the legendary timpanist Jonathan Haas about his groundbreaking work with the NYU Broadway Percussion Seminar. Jonathan shares how the program started, its impact on over 400 students worldwide, and how it gave young musicians a real taste of Broadway—playing with top percussionists, sitting in active pits, le...

In this episode of Broadway Drumming 101, I sit down with Jonathan Haas, a percussion legend who revolutionized the timpani and built an extraordinary career performing with major orchestras, rock bands, and jazz icons. We talk about what it really takes to make it on Broadway—the hard work, the unexpected breaks, and the reality of starting at the bottom. Jonathan shares real-world advice and sto...

Welcome back to another Broadway Drumming 101 Classic episode! This time, I’m revisiting an incredible conversation I had with the talented Shannon Ford back in late 2021. Shannon has an amazing story, and I’m excited to share it with you again today. Broadway Drumming 101 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Shan...

On the next episode of Broadway Drumming 101, we sit down with Mike Ramsey, a seasoned professional musician who’s been making it happen in New York City for years. Mike shares what it takes to build a career in one of the most competitive music scenes in the world—talking about why being early, prepared, and easy to work with are non-negotiables for success. We dive into the nitty-gritty of subbi...

On the next episode of Broadway Drumming 101 , we chat with Mike Ramsey, who’s been making it happen as a professional musician in New York City for many years. We get into what it really takes to build a career in New York—from being on time (actually, being early) to knowing how to gel with people and stay prepared. Mike also drops some major gems about subbing for other musicians—like why it’s...

In the next episode of the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast, I chat with Mike Ramsey, a talented drummer/percussionist and an accompanist in the Dance department at NYU, to discuss his musical journey and offer invaluable advice for aspiring Broadway musicians. When asked about how to break into the Broadway scene, Mike shared a memorable lesson from his mentor, Javier Diaz , during a clinic at Rutge...