Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb

Label.less Creators Drew & Lea Lachey come back to Behind the Awards to update us on their hit show Label.less now running at The Duke on 42nd Street.  This show which is currently in its 8th year continues to evolve and touch audiences with their profound stories, music and choreography.  Drew shares how his experience in Rent on Broadway as well as their past in the POP world with 98 Degrees inf...

Actor Michael Chernus joins Behind the Awards to deep dive embodying the personal of Serial Killer John Wayne Gacy in Peacock’s Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy.  Fans of Michael’s work also will recognize him from the hit Apple TV show Severance as well as Orange is the New Black.  Michael touches on how is Theater roots helped him take on one True Crime’s most famous subjects. MICHAEL CHERNUS ...

Immediately after taking over the role of The Little Boy in Ragtime, Jackson Parker Gill stops by Behind the Awards to discuss life as a working kid actor.  Jackson shares what it’s like to be an understudy on Broadway, the audition process, his dream roles and what it was like to play Gavroche in the National Tour of Les Miserables. Also in this episode - Sherie Rene Scott Returns to Broadway in...

Actor/Writer Carlos Manuel Vesga joins us on the heels of Season 1 of Apple TV’s hit series Pluribus.  Carlos details working with Vince Gilligan and Rhea Seehorn as well as creating the character of Manousos. Also in this episode - Eila & Bruce chat about the 2026 Tony Awards hits and misses. Carlos-Manuel Vesga, is a Colombian theater, film, and television actor. He is recognized for his role in...

Eila & Bruce bring you the fifth and final installment of their 2026 Tony deep dive. They are joined by expert Matt Stashin and share who will win and who they want to win in the following categories: Lead Actor of a Musical, Lead Actress of a Musical, Scenic Design of a Musical, Best Musical, and Best Play. Also in this episode - Eila, Bruce & Matt give their Top 10 Performances of the 2026 Seaso...

Actor Margaret Colin joins Behind the Awards to discuss her career in Veep, Gossip Girl, As the World Turns, Independence Day and more as well as her current role as Ruth in The Balusters now playing at The Samuel J Friedman Theater.  Margaret shares the thrill of being back on stage in a play that is timely, poignant and hilariously funny.   Also in this episode - Tony Excitement is buzzing.  Jus...

Eila & Bruce bring you the fourth installment of their Tony deep dive. They are joined by expert Matt Stashin and share who will win and who they want to win in the following categories: Director of a Musical, Costume Design of a Musical, Lead Actress of a Play, Lead Actor of a Play, Lighting Design of a Play, and Revival of a Musical. Also in this episode - Eila, Bruce & Matt give their biggest s...

Tony Nominated Director Zhailon Levingston come back to BTA to deep all things Cats The Jellicle Ball.  Zhailon discusses everything to casting André De Shields, honoring the origins of Ball Room and Cats, and even gives us the scoop on what he’s doing next. Also in this episode - Eila & Bruce discuss reimagined Broadway Shows.  Like, Romeo & Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, and this seasons hit Ca...

Patrick Wilson, James Carpinello and Marcus Chait join Behind the Awards to discuss producing The Lost Boys for Broadway.  This Family driven story lead by Shoshana Bean just happens to be surrounded by vampires.  The trio takes their experience in performing in film adaptations turned broadway musical to really make this production fly.  Additionally Patrick Wilson discusses how is experience sta...

Tony Nominated Book Writers David Hornsby & Chris Hoch visited Behind the Awards to talk about the process of writing The Lost Boys musical.  The discuss the must have movie moment such as Saxophone Man, Rob Lowe and The Video Store as well as the must have new moments theater goers will experience.  They discuss creating a work for fans or the movie and newcomers alike. Chris Hoch’s Broadway cred...

Eila & Bruce bring you the third installment of their Tony deep dive. They are joined by expert Matt Stashin and share who will win and who they want to win in the following categories: Featured Actress in a Musical, Book of a Musical, Scenic Design of a Play, Best Revival of a Play, and Sound Design of a Musical. Shoshana Bean, Hannah Cruz, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Nichelle Lewis, David Horns...

Tony Nominee Nicholas Christopher joins Behind the Awards to discuss his role as Anatoli, part of this seasons hottest love triangle along with Lea Michele and Aaron Tevin in the revival of the Chess.  Nicholas also talks about playing both Pirelli and Sweeney Todd in the most recent revival co-starring Annaleigh Ashford.  Nicholas also goes into his roles is Little Shop of Horrors, Miss Saigon, J...

Eila & Bruce bring you the second installment of their Tony deep dive. They are joined by expert Matt Stashin and share who will win and who they want to win in the following categories: Featured Actress in a Play, Lighting Design of a Musical, Costume Design of a Play, Best Original Score and Director of a Play. Also in this episode - Fun Facts about the 2026 Tony Nominees! Betsy Aidem, Marylouis...

Olivier Award winning and Tony Nominated Actor Sam Tutty joins Behind the Awards to chat about his award winning role in Dear Evan Hansen and this seasons breakout hit Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York.  Sam shares the creation process from its early days to Boston and New York. Also in this episode - Eila & Bruce discuss the increased ticket prices for some Broadway shows. Sam Tutty is c...

Eila & Bruce bring you the first installment of their Tony deep dive. They are joined by expert Matt Stashin and share who will win and who they want to win in the following categories: Best Choreography; Best Sound Design of a Play; Best Orchestrations; Featured Actor in a Play; and Featured Actor in a Musical. Ali Louis Bourzgui, André De Shields, Bryce Pinkham, Ben Levi Ross, Layton Williams, C...

Actor Michael Cyril Creighton steps out of Arconia to head downtown to The New Groups new home at the Theater at St Clements to star in the new adaptation of The Adding Machine.  Michael shares the stage with Daphne Rubin-Vega, Jennifer Tilly and Sarita Choudhury.  This 100 year old play is surprisingly timely and Michael discusses what it’s like playing over a dozen characters.  Michael also disc...

Emmy Winner Ana Gasteyer stops by Behind the Awards to chat about the newest hit on Broadway Schmigadoon!  Ana shares how she approaches the role of Mildred Layton and being the villain on an Oz like fantasy world.  Ana also talks about being a cast member on SNL, Auditioning and finally playing Elphaba on Broadway, her love of broadway and belting, as well as her upcoming projects. Also in this e...

Tony Nominated Playwright Bess Wohl joins Behind the Awards for a deep dive conversation on the creation of Liberation.  Bess talks about creating a team of artists to help transport the audience back to the 70s and what a joy it was to watch Whitney White, David Zinn, Qween Jean, and Nikya Mathis create poetry. Also in this episode - Eila & Bruce review Schmigadoon! Bess Wohl is a playwright and...

Tony Winner Brandon Uranowitz stops by Behind the Awards to deep dive the role of Tateh in the current broadway revival of Ragtime.  Brandon also shares his experiences in Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt and Falsettos.  Brandon reminisces about his chemistry test with Stephanie J Block and how he got his start as a child in the Toronto Cast of Ragtime pre-Broadway. Also in this episode - Bruce & Eila...

Maria Christina-Oliveras joins us on the heels of the success of The Balusters.  MC does a deep dive on the show and her role of Luz as well as the journey in unpacking the truth in the humor of David Lindsay-Abaire new American Play.  MC reminisces about her time with McKinley Henderson in Between Riverside and Crazy.  She also shares her passion for developing new works and being part of the wor...

Tony & Emmy Winning Designer Derek McLane drops by Behind the Awards to give the inside scoop on how he created such designs as Moulin Rouge, MJ, Death Becomes Her, Beautiful and most recently The Balusters.  Derek also details different skills he learned from his mentors Ming Cho Lee and Robin Wagner.   We also learned the inside secrets that make some of the magic in Death Becomes Her.  Derek al...

Behind the Awards welcomes back their resident awards expert Matt Stashin to play Tony Nominator before the actual nominations are announced.  What will make our lists; Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Titanique, Ragtime, or Chess?  Could Christiani Pitts, Marla Mindelle, Brandon Uranowitz, Nicholas Christopher, Carrie Coon, Ayo Edebiri, Daniel Radcliffe, Ali Louis Bourzgui, Jim Parsons, June Squibb or Da...

Outsiders Original cast member Barton Cowperthwaite joins Behind the Awards to talk about his new show Gotta Dance now running at Stage 42.  Barton shares what it was like to grow up as a High School Dance Major, Dance the American in Paris Ballet on Tour and put this current show together with the gate keepers of the original pieces such as Baayork Lee, Donna McKechnie, Christopher Wheeldon, Susa...

Choreographer/Director Lorin Latarro joins Behind the Awards to discuss the creation of the Chess Revival starring Lea Michele, Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher. Listen for the origin story of getting Aaron Tevit’s paints on and her favorite moment of the show which happens right before One Night in Bancock.  Lorin also talks about her other bodies of work including Heart of Rock & Roll, Joy,...

Choreographer/Director Ellenore Scott take a moment out of her busy schedule to give us the scoop on her current show; Ragtime, Titanique and Little Shop of Horrors.  Ellenore shares her journey from Alvin Alley to So You Think You Can Dance to working with Billy Crystal and mounting not only the Broadway Funny Girl but this summer heading to Japan to kick off the run. Also in this episode - Tony’...