The Voracious Student

Addison Frei is a jazz pianist, composer and producer that has garnered acclaim far beyond his years. He co-leads AMP Trio, is a Yamaha artist and recently completed his artist diploma at the Juilliard School. Denis asks Addison many questions about jazz, tries to draw connections to other disciplines and gets insight into a musical brain and soul that he greatly admires. Addison Frei: Website: ad...

Edwin Bodney is a slam poet, author, teacher and a former host of Da Poetry Lounge in Los Angeles. Edwin chats with Denis about writing, having a passion for language and their first experience with poetry in school.  Edwin also shares some of their favorite affirmations, talks about the role vulnerability plays in their work and lets us in on some of the magic that happens at Da Poetry Lounge. Ed...

Monica McCarthy is the creator of The Happier Hour podcast which aims to make philosophy useful and fun for everyone. She is also an actress, filmmaker, writer and acting coach. What does philosophy mean to Monica? Do actors need philosophy? Are you studying philosophy when you study plays?  Why do actors act? Monica and Denis ask these questions and more in an episode that seeks to find some easi...

Phillipa Soo, a Tony Award nominee for creating the role of Eliza Hamilton in Hamilton and the voice of Chang'e in the new animated film Over the Moon , chats with Denis about creativity, health and finding balance.  She shares her thoughts on listening, how she manages both the highs and lulls in a cyclical career, failure as a learning tool and more. Phillipa Soo: Twitter: @Phillipasoo Inst...

Lucia Lucas is an operatic baritone based in Germany. She was the first trans singer to sing a principal role on a US stage when she played the title role in Don Giovanni at Tulsa Opera. Her experience in that production is the subject of a new documentary called "The Sound of Identity". Lucia talks about with Denis about opera, her training, her work ethic and her unique path to becomin...

Heriberto Montalban is a teacher and movement director specialising in Lecoq-based physical theatre who currently teaches across the acting courses at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). In the final episode of season one, Heriberto talks to Denis about his love of teaching, his unique approach to teaching, his favorite exercises, why he doesn't always answer questions in cl...

Jamibeth Margolis, Casting Director and General Manager at the National Yiddish Theatre, talks to Denis about the theatre and its history. She discusses the process of casting actors who didn't speak Yiddish in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish and why Joel Grey and Steven Skybell were so amazing to work with. With 20 years of casting experience, Jamibeth also talks about the casting process, wh...

Actress E. Faye Butler recently played voting and women’s rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer in Cheryl L. West’s play Fannie Lou Hamer, Speak On It! . She shares some of her favorite quotes from Hamer’s speeches and talks about what doing the play taught her. E. Faye and Denis also chat about how Hamer's words are so relevant to this moment in history, COVID's impact on  theatre, E. Faye’s...

Paul Alexander Nolan, star of Slave Play, Bright Star , Once and four other Broadway shows, talks about growing up in Saskatchewan, Canada and how working in Canada and the US is different. Paul and Denis also discuss meditation, why he is drawn to the abstract, why he limits his time on social media, how Brent Carver inspired him and his recent run as Jim in Slave Play. Paul Alexander Nolan: Webs...

Fay Simpson talks about the Lucid Body, a unique physical training method she created for actors and teaches around the world. Fay and Denis dissect "the shadow exercise" she teaches in the Lucid Body classes. They also talk about the various ways we as a country are currently facing our own shadow, including a discussion about the #MeToo movement. Fay Simpson/The Lucid Body: Website: lu...

Joey Contreras, a musical theatre and pop songwriter, talks about his writing process and collaborations. He shares where he finds inspiration and discusses his time at the NYU Graduate Musical Theatre writing program. Joey and Denis also discuss the art of teaching and what the pandemic has taught them both about themselves. Joey Contreras: Website: joeycontreras.com Youtube: /JoeyContrerasMusic...

Broadway actress Christina DeCicco ( Evita, Wicked, Spiderman) talks about her first year of motherhood. She shares what being a mother has taught her and talks about balancing her family and career. Christina and Denis explore motherhood in some of the roles she has played onstage and ponder the messages in some popular books for children. Christina DeCicco: Website: christinadecicco.com Instagra...

Mike Mosallam, director, producer, writer and head of Mike Mosallam Productions, speaks about identities in the stories he tells on screen. Mike talks about how his film Breaking Fast came to be and why All-American Muslim , his show for TLC, was a personal and important project for him. Mike and Denis also discuss teaching, writing, simplicity and debate the meaning of the word "professional...

Diana Basmajian, a producer, director, coach and artist in New York, tells Denis why Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg means so much to her. They discuss the RBG crochet dolls that Diana has been making for over two years to raise money for charities that support women. Diana also talks about directing, coaching actors, the power of community and why painting makes her happy. Diana Basmajian: Website: w...

Robert Price has taught and directed at many of London's leading drama schools including RADA and LAMDA. Robert and Denis discuss his love of teaching and why he finds change profoundly hopeful. Robert also speaks about the recent administrative changes at LAMDA, the complicated nature of drama schools and how Qigong has influenced his life and work. Denis: Instagram: @denis_e_lambert Website...

Stage and screen star Krysta Rodriguez talks about playing Liza Minnelli in the upcoming Ryan Murphy miniseries Halston and how she has used her time in quarantine to reflect on her career and pursue her passion for interior design. Krysta speaks about her time at NYU, teaching, working on television and what she learned from Susan Egan. Krysta and Denis also discuss the wisdom in A Chorus Line an...

Adam Laird, who was recently Associate Musical Director on Broadway's Beetlejuice , shares how he made the transition from actor to musical director/vocal coach by following his joy and allowing the people around him to be his school. Adam and Denis debate if confidence can be taught, discuss the nature of practice and Adam shares what his years on the road with Wicked, Les Miserables and The...

Hamilton’ s Erin Clemons speaks about the power of being true to yourself and why it's important to be of service. She discusses vocal health and how she sang the role of Eliza Hamilton eight times a week. Erin and Denis also talk about her time at Music Theatre of Wichita, what they both learned from Jen Waldman and why it can be so tempting to avoid feeling joy. Erin Clemons: Website: www.e...

Four members of the 2020 class in musical theatre from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) talk to Denis about their interrupted senior year and showcasing online during COVID. Kurtis Bradley Brown, Madison Deadman, Bailee Endebrock and Sam Pickart discuss what the silver lining of their experience has been, talk about comparison and share what they are most passionate...

Jonathan Hammond, a teacher, energy healer, shamanic practitioner, spiritual counselor and former actor talks about his new book The Shaman’s Mind : Huna Wisdom to Change Your Life . Jonathan and Denis dive into seven shamanic principles for living successfully and discuss how they can help anyone who applies them. Jonathan also shares why he believes artists are healers and why this tumultuous ti...

Ladi Emeruwa speaks about playing the role of Hamlet in 188 countries as part of Shakespeare's Globe's two-year tour of the play that went all over the world. He talks about how a Meisner course and a meditation retreat he did both profoundly changed his life. Ladi and Denis discuss their individual training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and chat about a master...

Zakiya Young, a Los Angeles-based actress and VO artist, talks about why she has felt called to speak about race and how having a teachable spirit is essential to dismantling racism. Zakiya tells Denis why being in Ayad Akhtar's Disgraced was a pivotal experience in her growth, speaks about microaggressions and interracial relationships and shares what it was like being the first and only bla...

Zoe Mann, a recent graduate of the Yale School of Drama, speaks about her training at Yale, finding her clown and a shamanic experience she had while working on Shakespeare. Zoe and Denis discuss shame, the imposter syndrome, owning up to your privilege and the importance of including the audience when acting onstage. Zoe Mann: Instagram: @zoe_mann_20 Denis: Instagram: @denis_e_lambert Website: ww...

James Harkness, star of Broadway's Ain't Too Proud, talks about his extraordinary journey with the show, how the events in the show parallel events in today’s world and what he learned from playing Paul Williams. He also talks about his favorite teachers, his advice for auditioning actors and why wearing so many hats in show business has made his life a rich one. James: Instagram: @ijame...

Actor and coach Johann George shares how he created a new free program for young women of color that teaches them to listen to their own voice first . Johann and Denis discuss the power of saying no, how to back up your values with action and why he believes in transparency as an anti-racist principle. He describes his transformative experience at the School at Steppenwolf and how his love of math...