Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb

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...

Tony winner Robert Horn takes a rehearsal break to share all he has going on across the pond.  From Shucked to Disney’s Hercules Robert is taking London by storm.  Robert takes us back to the start of his career as a TV writer on Designing Women and Living Single, which opened the door for his Broadway dreams. Also in this episode - Eila & Bruce celebrate their 100th episode! Plus Pen Pals starrin...

Tony Nominee Writer/Director joins Behind the Awards to discuss the creation of The Picture of Dorian Gray alongside Sarah Snook.  Kip shares how his vision married technology and art to create Oscar Wilde’s novel for this generation. Also in this episode - Eila & Bruce discuss the announcement of Darren Criss and Renee Else Goldsberry as the hosts of The Tony Awards streaming on PlutoTV at 6:40pm...

Eila & Bruce bring you the fifth and final installment of their 2025 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 Musical, Best Play, Scenic Design of a Musical, Lead Actor of a Musical, Lead Actress of a Musical. Audra McDonald, Megan Hilty, Jasmine Amy Rogers, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Simard, Darren C...

5 time Tony Nominee Ben Stanton stops by Behind the Awards to share his process on lighting such shows as Maybe Happy Ending, The Notebook and Spring Awakening.  Ben goes into detail about the innovative tech that went into Maybe Happy Ending and his collaboration with the video design. Also in this episode - 2026 Broadway Season announcements are in full swing. Revivals of Ragtime, Chess and Mamm...

Just in Time’s Caesar Samayao visited Behind the Awards to discuss his multiple roles in the show including the legendary Don Kurshnier.  Caesar recounts his time creating his track in Come From Away, The Pee Wee Herman Show and How to Dance to Ohio.   Also in this episode - Real Women Have Curves Tony Nominee Benjamin Velez comes back to Behind the Awards to share what the process has been like s...

Emily Bergl takes a break from Just in Time: The Bobby Darin Musical to break down the two characters she originates in the show.  Emily gives us the low down of working with Jonathan Groff as well as working on such TV Series as; The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Shameless, Desperate Housewives and Gilmore Girls. Also in this episode - Tony Nominated Just in Time Orchestrators Andrew Resnick & Michael T...

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. Laura Donnelly, Mia Farrow, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Sadie...

Burke Swanson visited Behind the Awards to give us the low down on his show Stranger Things: The First Shadow.  Burke shares his first hand experience in the creation of the magical theater experience and what it is like to step into the shoes of James Hopper Jr. Also in this episode - Tony Nominated Sound Designer Dan Moses Schreier gives Behind the Awards a glimpse into what it takes to create t...

Tony Nominee Joy Woods stops by Behind the Awards to talk about playing Louise in Gypsy alongside Audra McDonald. Danny Burstein, and her Notebook co-star Jordan Tyson.  Joy shares her way into the title role through Director George C Wolfe’s stories during rehearsal and her meteoric rise from Little Shop to Six to being a Tony Nominee. Also in this episode - Millie Shapiro and Keri Rene Fuller fr...

Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers joins behind the Awards to give a deep dive into Boop The Musical where she is making her Broadway Debut.  Jasmine also shares the process of working with Jerry Mitchell on the workshop and then into the out of town as well as working with David Foster. Also in this episode - Octavia Spencer’s 2012 Oscar win for The Help Jasmine, in her acclaimed Broadway debut, has...