Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb

Stage, Screen and Film star Elizabeth Marvel joins Behind the Awards to discuss her brand new play And Then We Were No More at LaMaMa.  From House of Cards to Homeland to Fargo Elizabeth is no stranger to roles with stature.  Look for Elizabeth in the upcoming film The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shed. Also in this episode - Paul McCrane’s 2011 Emmy win and his roles on Fame and ER. ELIZABETH MARVEL...

Star of TV’s Will Trent and Broadway’s A Strange Loop comes back to Behind the Awards to chat about his splash into TV and his dreams for the future. Also in this episode - Kieran Culkin’s 2025 Oscar win for A Real Pain Antwayn Hopper is a two-time Obie Award-winning actor, singer, and performer known for his work in stage, film, and television. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University School of D...

Behind the Awards welcomes back T.R. Knight to deep drive Victor Creel, the magic that goes into creating Stranger Things on Broadway and the struggles with being the father of a demon.  T.R. also discusses his beloved roll of George O’Malley on Grey’s Anatomy. Also in this episode - Lucille Ball at the 25th Emmy Awards & Wicked For Good Trailer. T.R. Knight’s Broadway credits include A Life in th...

Choreographer Dominique Kelley chats with Behind the Awards about his hit Broadway Debut with Great Gatsby which is now playing around the world and is a viral sensation.  Dominique discusses Dancing with Stars, working with Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Usher and Beyonce as well as being the youngest dancer at 15 on the tour of Bring in da Noise Bring in da Funk with George C Wolfe. Also in this e...

Broadway & TV Star Donald Webber Jr. joins Behind the Awards on heels of closing Glengarry Glenross in which he starred with Bob Odenkirk, Kieran Culkin, Bill Burr and Michael McKean.  This past season he also starred in Our Town and appeared on the Apple TV show Severance.  He also tells us about how a random “what are you doing this weekend” from his friend Leslie Odom Jr led him to Berry Gordy’...

Writer/Director Kevin Zak and Tony Nominated Choreographer Jesse Robb stop by Behind the Awards to deep dive all the humor in the Off Broadway trending hit Ginger Twinsies.  From The Parent Trap to Devil Wears Parada, to Stomp, to Wicked no-one is left unparodied in this hilarious show! Also in this episode - Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short at the 2024 Emmy Awards and Time Square Propo...

Grammy Winner Sean Allan Krill comes back to Behind the Awards to discuss his role in anticipated revival in Chess on Broadway.  Sean also shares his upcoming movie Song Sung Blue starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, his Tony Bennet concert in Chicago Sept 15th & 16th as well  last seasons hit Floyd Collins. Get tickets for Sean's Concert here - https://www.marriotttheatre.com/show/the-best-is-y...

Actor, Playwright, and Director Ted Lange steps off The Love Boat to chat with Behind the Awards about his play Lady Patriot starring former castmates Fred Grandy & Jill Whelan. Also in this episode - Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Ann Hathaway’s Devil Wears Prada reunion at the 2024 SAG Awards. TED LANGE (Playwright / Director) personifies the Renaissance Man Theatre Award received from the NAACP....

Award winner Douglas Carter Beane stops by Behind the Awards to chat about his new Play Finding Dorothy Parker at The Laurie Beechman Theatre Featuring: Julie Halson, Ann Harada, Jackie Hoffman, and Anika Larsen  Douglas also talks about Too Wong Foo…, The Nance, and upcoming revivals of Xanadu and The Little Dog Laughed. Get tickets to Finding Dorothy Parker at https://www.thebeechman.com/ DOUGLA...

Gerianne Perez might have the hardest job on Broadway, understudying 3 out of the 5 roles in Operation Mincemeat on Broadway.  Gerianne tells us about the endurance needed to take on this show, after the marathon of performing in Six the Musical.   Also in this show Julianna Margulies 1995 Emmy win for ER. Gerianne Perez is a powerhouse performer known for her soaring vocals, emotional depth, and...

Gilded Age Stars Celia Keenan-Bolger (Mrs. Bruce) & Claybourne Elder (John Adams) stop by Behind the Awards to do a deep dive on Season 3.  Behind The Scenes of John Adams death, Mrs. Bruce’s mystery husband, a mole in the Russell House, Oscar and John Adams Love story, unrequited love and so much more! Also in this episode - Claybourne Elder’s upcoming studio album and his non-profit City of Stra...

Book of Mormon star and Stage Time creator PJ Adzima joins Behind the Awards for a chat.  Not only did PJ give us the low down on the Book of Mormon but he also discussed the evolution and current state of State Time.  Stage Time is a hybrid of Vaudeville meet Johnny Carson meet Drag meets Magic and celebrates NYC nightlife as only the city that never sleeps can. Also in this episode -  Sean Hayes...

Tony Nominee Montego Glover joins Behind the Awards to deep dive on her approach to Mama Rose in Gypsy.  Montego also gives us the scoop on Memphis, Into the Woods and working with George C Wolfe and Audra McDonald. Catch Montego in Gypsy at The Majestic Theater. Also in this episode - Christine Ebersole, John Tartaglia and Rod present the 2006 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Mont...

Broadway and Film Star Benjamin Pajak joined Behind the Awards to chat about his experience starring in The Music Man alongside Hugh Jackman & Sutton Foster, playing Oliver at New York City Center.  Next up for Benjamin are the films The Life of Chuck with Tom Hiddleston & Mark Hamill, Playdate starring Kevin James & Alan Ritchson, and Tiny Fugitives with Johnny Knoxville. Benjamin also shares wha...

Tony Winner Phylicia Rashad Directs the Pre Broadway run of Paul Oakley Stovall’s Immediate Family.  This run will take place at the Blumenthal Arts Center from July 29th through August.  Immediate Features Christina Sajous, Elijah Jones, Freddie Fulton, Britney Coleman, Andy Mientus, Kai Almeda Heath with Costumes by Colleen Morris-Glennon. Get your tickets at - https://www.blumenthalarts.org/ Ma...

Playwright and Actor Douglas  Lyons joins Behind the Awards to chat about his current off Broadway hit Beau and previous works such as Chicken and Biscuits, Table 17 and Parade with Michael Arden.   Also on this episode - Lilly Tomlin’s 1974 Emmy win for Outstanding Comedy & Variety Special. Douglas Lyons is a 2X Emmy nominated multi-hyphenate artist. As a writer, he earned a GLAAD nomination for...

J Savage joins Behind the Awards to chat about Smash from Audition to Closing, Understudying Buddy the Elf in Elf the Musical, and turbulence that was part of his Broadway Debut in Bad Cinderella. Also in this episode - Harvey Fierstein’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Tony Award.  Plus Joy the Musical. J Savage, also known as Jonathan, is an NYC based artist and outdoorsman most recently seen in SMASH...

Tony Award Winning Writer/Composer stops by Behind the Awards to discuss adapting Pirates into the Jazz age as as his other hits such as The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Curtains….Don’t forget the Pina Colada Song. Also in this episode - Catherine Zeta Jone’s 2010 Tony win for A Little Night Music and Chess Revival finds a home at The Imperial Theater.  Plus new music and workshop from the Broadway...

Husband/Wife creative team Lea & Drew Lachey visit Behind the Awards to discuss their Original Theatrical Experience Label-less which recently enjoyed an Off-Broadway run at Theater Row.  Drew brings his 98 Degrees & Broadway (Rent & Spamalot) experience to this one of a kind show coupled with the storytelling of Lea’s choreography.    Also in this episode - 2010 Tony Awards with Bebe Neuwirth and...

Broadway Publisist, Activist and Radio Host David Rothenberg joined behind the awards to discuss his legendary life, career and his new book Manhattan Mayhem.  David dishes about working with Bette Davis, Lauren Becall, Linda Lavin, Stephen Sondheim and his one time encounter with Joan Crawford.  David has also been a witness to history and tells us about what I was like being part of the Attica r...

Off the heels of their duet at Maestrea Amplify 2025 Antwayn Hopper & Zeniba Now come to Behind the Awards to talk about working together on The Loophole at The Public Theater as well as their upcoming projects.  Antwayn can be seen on ABC’s Will Trent Season Three and Zeniba’s show Take the Lead which she did Music & Lyrics for had its World Premier at The Paper Mill Playhouse.  Also a recording...

Founder and Fitness Coach to the theater community Joe Rosko joins Behind the Awards to chat about his journey with Fitness and Performing.  Joe shares Fitness tips and also give some of his favorite performance in the most recent seasons. Also in this episode - Celia Keenan-Bolger’s 2025 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award and her start of the Gavin Creel Fellowship with the help of Sara Bareilles, Cat...

Tony Winner Lena Hall joins Behind the Awards to chat about her new series on Apple TV Your Friends and Neighbors.  Lena shares her experience working with Jon Hamm and playing his sister.  Lena tells us her Tony nomination/win story for Hedwig and the Angry Inch.  Your Friends and Neighbors is now streaming as well Lena’s Your Friends and Neighbors EP. Also on this episode - Kecia Lewis's 2024 To...

The hilarious Wendi McLendon-Covey joins Behind the Awards  to give us a prescription for laughter with her series St. Denis Medical.  Wendi shares what it’s like to work with such veterans as David Alan Grier, George Segal and Allison Tolman.  From Bridesmaids to Reno 911 to The Goldbergs Wendi proves time and time again that she is a master of comedy.  Season 1 is currently streaming on Peacock....

Emmy Winner Carrie Preston joins Behind the Awards to chat about her career and starring in the CBS hit Elsbeth which was just renewed for a 3rd Season.  Carrie takes us into Elsbeth’s world including her fashion, quirks and creating a Columbo for a new generation.  Carrie also discusses the evolution of the character from The Good Wife to The Good Fight to now. Also in this episode - S. Epatha Me...