Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb

Actor/Writer Harrison Bryan returns to Behind the Awards to discuss life as an Understudy for Ethan Slater in Marcel on the Train.  This play follows a 20yr old Marcel Marceau and the untold story of how he saved children during World War 2.  Now playing at CSC through March 22nd, 2026. Also in this episode - Pie Day! Featuring Sweeney Todd & Waitress Harrison Bryan is an award-winning multi-hyphe...

Star of Stage, Screen and Drag Latrice Royale stops by Behind the Awards to dish on all things, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Little Shop of Horrors, Stop! That! Train! and more!  Listen to hear how much reality is in reality TV and Latrice’s journey from Color Guard to Miss Congeniality to her own show coming to a stage near you! Best known for her Chunky Yet Funky, Bold and Beautiful appearances on shows...

Actor/Writer Andrew Keenan - Bolger takes us back in time to NYC in the 90s with his new Novel Limelight.  Andrew brings back the real life characters from that time such as Rentheads, Clubkids who were navigating a changing city.  Andrew also takes us back to where his career began with Disney’s Beauty & The Beast, The National Tour of Ragtime and of course fan favorite Newsies. Get tickets for A...

Steppenwolf Ensemble Member Namir Smallwood stops by Behind the Awards to deep dive Peter Evan in Bug by Tracy Letts.  Namir talks about working with Carrie Coon and David Cromer and taking the show from Chicago to NY.  Catch Namir in Bug just extended through March 8th. Also in this episode - Invited Dress Rehearsal of Every Brilliant Thing Starring Daniel Radcliffe Namir Smallwood joined the Ste...

Behind the Awards goes on location to bring you to The Kleban Awards!  This live episode brings you interviews with Santino Fontana, Susan Stroman, Richard Maltby Jr, Maury Yeston, and John Weidman as well as performances by Talia Suskauer, Santino Fontana and more.  Congratulations to the winners Phillip Christian Smith and Eric Price. Also in this episode - Suffs PBS Airdate announced for May 8t...

Tony Winner Myles Frost visits Behind the Awards to chat about his upcoming leading role in Chez Joey Directed by Savion Glover & Tony Goldwyn.  Myles also takes us back with a look at the experience of becoming Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical both on Broadway and The West End. Get tickets for Chez Joey - https://tickets.arenastage.org/events/38123 Also in this episode.- The closing announcement...

Christine Sherrill makes her Debut on Broadway as well as with us here at Behind the Awards.  Christine dishes on what it’s like to go from Tour to Broadway, The moment she found out she was going to Broadway, and what Bucket List roles she has in mind.  Christine talks about how this show is a fan favorite from Stage Door excitement to viral moments in the audience. Also in this episode - Bug on...

Actor Jonathan Mousset joins Behind the Awards to chat about his career.  Jonathan talks about the experience that comes with creating new works through the 29 hour reading process.  Jonathan talks about auditioning, touring the county in regional theaters and the importance of vocal health. Also in this episode - Oscar Nomination takeaways.  From Kate Hudson’s Nomination for Song Sung Blue to Fra...

Marc Shaiman - Never Mind the Happy Tony, Emmy, Grammy Award winning Composer and Lyricist Marc Shaiman stops by Behind the Awards to give us a sneak peek into his Memoir Never Mind the Happy.  Marc shares his path to success when a daydream turned into reality starring Bette Midler.  Marc also recounts his time on SNL and meeting Billy Crystal and Martin Short, his many Movie credits including Fi...

Life long theater kid Tonatiuh joins Behind the Awards to talk about one of the Movie Musicals of the year alongside Jennifer Lopez & Deigo Luna.  Tonatiuh shares his journey from audition to shooting in record time to the premier.  Tonatiuh recalls being put through his dancing paces with Sergio Trujillo and the friendship his gained under the direction of Bill Condon.  As if that wasn’t enough T...

Broadway’s newest leading lady Christiani Pitts takes the cake in this new musical at the Longacre Theater opposite Sam Tutty.  Christiani does a deep dive into her character Robin and dishes on the ingredients that went into baking the show that’s on everyone’s lips.  Christiani also talks about making her Broadway Debut in the same theater in A Bronx Tale and starring in King Kong. Also in this...

Emmy Winning Star of Elsbeth Carrie Preston returns to Behind the Awards to chat about Season 3 of the Award Nominated series.  Carrie gives us the secret behind Elsbeth’s many bags and Easter Eggs to look out for.  She also tells us about this seasons guest stars including, Lindsey Mendez and Laura Benanti.  Also hear about her gender bending performance opposite Vanessa Redgrave 20 years ago at...

Child Star Matilda Lawler (IT, The Ferryman, The Gilded Age) joins Behind the Awards for a look into what it’s like being a child actor and starring opposite Bill Skarsgard as Stephen King’s iconic character Pennywise. Also in this episode - Review of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at New World Stages. Matilda Lawler, nominated for a Gotham Award and named to Variety’s Power of Young H...

Recording Star & Actress Shanice visits Behind the Awards to talk about the satirical musical 44 in which she plays Michele Obama.  Shanice also reminisces about her time on Kids Incorporated, Winning Star Search, her famous guest appearance on Family Matters, and being the first Black Actress in the role of Eponine in Les Miserables.  Catch her upcoming Christmas Movie on BET+ A Soulful Christmas...

Broadway Star Hannah Cruz drops into Behind the Awards to talk about her Blockbuster show Chess alongside side Lea Michele, Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher.  Hannah also scoops us on her upcoming Peacock Spy Series The Copenhagen Test starring Simu Liu.  In addition to a deep dive of Svetlana in Chess Hannah also reminisces on her journey with Suffs from The Public to The Music Box. Also in t...

Actress Irene Sofia Lucio joins Behind the Awards to talk about playing Isidora in Bess Wohl’s Liberation.  Irene discusses auditioning for the role backstage at Slave Play on The West End.  She also shares how this play feels like a love letter to her mother and her unique perspective as a new mother.  Irene of course uncovers what performing nude on a Broadway stage feels like and how it has imp...

Tony Nominee Kevin Del Aguila in never to busy to return to Behind the Awards to give us the scoop on his latest projects.  From his 20yr journey with The Baker’s Wife, to Dogman The Musical, Hazbin Hotel and Schmigadoon Kevin is always busy making audiences laugh.  Catch Kevin in The Baker’s Wife alongside Ariana DeBose, Scott Bakula, Nathan Lee Graham, Judy Kuhn and more! JUST ANNOUNCED will pla...

Actor/Director Jack Plotnick joins Behind the Awards to chat about the upcoming run of the hilarious parody Vape the Musical.  Fans of the movie Grease and John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John will love this modern telling the summer love of Danny & Sandy, a girl from down under.  No stranger to camp and Broadway Jack Plotnick co-wrote (with Seth Rudetsky) and Directed Diaster! A New Musical. Get ti...

Broadway Star Chilina Kennedy joins Behind the Awards to chat about her upcoming show Reunions at City Center Stage 2.  Chilina joins Chip Zien, Courtney Reed, Joanna Glushak, and Bryan Fenkart in this musical directed by Gabriel Barre.  Chilina also talks about working with and playing Carole King & Billie Jean King on stage, and gives us an update of Wild About You the musical she created. Ticke...

Rosanne Sorrentino grew up with a job most girls would kill for.  She was Annie in the 3rd National Tour as well as Pepper in the Movie along side Carol Burnett, Ann Reinking, Tim Curry, Bernadette Petters, and the late Albert Finney.  Rosanne shares her journey from audience member to star, meeting the President and Trampoline Playdates with Sarah Jessica Parker. Also in this episode - Emma Stone...

Director David Staller joins Behind the Awards to chat about his current Off Broadway production of Pygmalion now playing at Theater Row. Staller, a noted Shaw expert enlightens us about Shaws humble beginnings and how Pygmalion evolved into the wildly popular My Fair Lady. For Tickets - https://bfany.org/theatre-row/shows/bernard-shaws-pygmalion/?_gl=1*mozafk*_gcl_au*MTk0NzcyOTQ0OC4xNzYyOTYwNjI4...

Tony Nominee Laura Bell Bundy joins behind the awards to chat about her newest role as Romy White in Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion the Musical now playing at Stage 42.  LBB gives us an in-depth look at re-creating iconic movie roles for the stage such as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde and Amber VonTussle in Hairspray.  She also gets personal and discusses what it takes to balance her career...

Matt Jones, star of Breaking Bad, Mom, Bob Hearts Abishola joins Behind the Awards to talk about his upcoming film Once More Like Rain Man.  Listen to hear about the early days of Breaking Bad and his VoiceOver work with Nickelodeon and the video game Fantasy Fantasy. For for about the film visit: https://www.omlrmovie.com https://oceanofentertainment.com/ Also in this episode - Bat Boy the Musica...

Claire-Marie Hall - Operation Claire-Marie Claire-Marie Hall comes back to Behind the Awards solo this time to chat about her experience on the Operation Mincemeat train.  From her teenage theater student start to starring in Les Miserables on The West End to Broadway Claire-Marie’s star rise has taken a path she least expected. Also in this episode - Jack Nicholson & Robin Williams at The Critic...

Jenny Anderson - Behind Her Candid Camera Photographer Jenny Anderson stops by Behind the Awards to discuss her new book The In-Between: Intimate and Candid Moments of Broadway Stars.  With a forward by Ariana DeBose this book is a must have for theater fans.  Jenny also shares how a hobby turned into a career; from working at Broadway.com as photo editor to her own freelance work.  Jenny photogra...