Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb

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...

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 Natalie Venetia Belcon, Julia Knitel, Gracie Lawrence, Justina Machado, Joy Woods, Wi...

Death Becomes Her Writer Marco Pennette joins Behind the Awards to chat about making his Broadway Debut in this musical comedy.  From his TV work on such shows as Ugly Betty, Caroline in the City, and Kate & Allie to being Hal Prince’s intern Marco has stories for days including the touching relationship he had with Linda Lavin.  Death Becomes Her stated 8 years ago with the help of his friend Kri...

2 time Lortel Winner Francis Jue dropped by Behind the Awards to chat about his role in Yellow Face and working with David Henry Wong.  Francis shares his 20 year journey with the piece as well as storing in the tour of M Butterfly and The King and I at The MUNY.  Catch Yellow Face on PBS May 16th 2025. Also in this episode - Lady Gaga’s 2019 Oscar win for Best Song Shallow from A Star is Born. Re...

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. Tala Ashe, Jessica Hect, Marjan Neshat, Fina Strazza, Kara Young, Jack Knowles, Tyler...

The cast of Operation Mincemeat joins Behind the Awards to do a deep dive of the musical from inception to Broadway.  David Cumming, Claire-Marie Hall, Natasha Hodgson, Jak Malone, and Zoe Roberts give us the behind the scenes secrets of the show.  Staring at The Fringe to Oliver Award winning run on the West End this show gives the audience a history lesson of World War II in the most physical co...

Natalie Venetia Belcon brings her Lortel Winning performance of Omara to the Schoenfeld Theater.  Buena Vista Social Club has the 2025 Broadway season a flurry and Behind the Awards gets the scoop for the star.  Natalie Venetia Belcon also is known for creating the role of Gary Coleman in the Tony Winning Avenue Q. Also in this episode- Andrea Martin’s 1993 Tony win for My Favorite Year and Real W...

Tony Nominated Director/Choreographer Camille A Brown stops by Behind the Awards to discuss Gypsy, Hells Kitchen, For Colored Girls and her journey to Broadway.   Also in this episode - Bebe Neuwirth 1997 Tony win for her portrayal of Velma Kelly in Chicago and a review of Purpose Four Time Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown, currently nominated for her choreography in Hells Kitchen on Broadway,...

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. Glenn Davis, Gabriel Ebert, Francis Jue, Bob Odenkirk, Conrad Ricamore, Brooks Ashmans...

Sunset Blvd Choreographer Fabian Aloise joins us from backstage at Drury Lane Theater where he is currently working on Much Ado About Nothing with Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell to give us the low down on putting the show on its feet.  Fabian breaks down the shows viral TikTok stroll through Shubert Alley.  Fabian gives us the close up on working with Nicole Scherziger and collaboration with Dir...

Dead Outlaw star Julia Knitel gives Behind the Awards a deep dive into all things Dead Outlaw, plus her experience playing Louise in Gypsy with Beth Level and Carol King in Beautiful. Also in this episode - Katie Finneran 2010 Tony win for Promises Promises and a review of Good Night and Good Luck Julie Knitel - Broadway: Beautiful, Bye Bye Birdie. Tour: Beautiful (Carole King), Come From Away (Ja...

Behind the Awards welcomes back their resident awards expert Matt Stashin to play Tony Nominator before the actual nominations are announced. Also in this episode - The World Premier of Cheap Seats from the Theatrical Experience Label-Less created by Lea & Drew Lachey and performed by Diana Hutchinson.  This single can be found anywhere you download music with the full Album available May 1st! Mak...

Director and Creator Zhailon Levingston joins Behind the Awards to share his vision for the upcoming Wonderful Town at New York City Center Encores.  Zhailon also talks about Cats: The Jellicle Ball and the future of the show and his collaboration with Playwright Douglas Lyons. Link to Wonderful Town Tickets - https://www.nycitycenter.org/pdps/2024-2025/wonderful-town/ Also in this episode - Chris...

Tala Ashe unpacks her Lortel Nominated performance as Elham in Sanaz Toossi’s Pulitzer Prize winning Play English at The Roundabout Theater.  Tala also compares this to her work on Legends of Tomorrow and Smash.   Also in this episode - Heather Headley's 2000 Tony win for Best Actress in a Musical for Disney's Aida plus Dead Outlaw Review. Tala Ashe received a Best Actress Drama Desk Award nominat...

Tony Winner Beth Leavel pays a visit to Behind the Awards to chat all things Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends.  Beth talks about working with Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga and what to expect at the Samuel J Friedman theater.  Beth also talk about working on The Prom. Drowsy Chaperone and Gypsy.  She also gives an answer to the burning question do you go the Yankee game or see Angela Lansbury in Mam...

Teenage Producer/Director Charles Kirsch & Tony Nominee Brad Oscar stop by to talk about their upcoming concert version of the musical Coco.  We also discuss Brad’s current run as the Wizard in Wicked and Apple TV Hit turned musical Schmigadoon. Also in this episode - Nora Ephron presents Meryl Streep with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a review of John Proctor is the Villain 54 SINGS COCO BY AL...

Writer Rick Elice joins Behind the Awards days after Smash’s first preview.  Years in the making thanks to the Pandemic co-writer Bob Martin and the rest of the creative team, Marc Shaiman, Scott Whitman and Susan Stroman tackle the hit TV Show with Robyn Hurder and Brooks Ashmanskas leading this musical comedy.  Rick also takes us on a trip down memory lane sharing how he go into Broadway via Adv...

Stage and Screen Star Norm Lewis drops by to give us an early look into his upcoming show Ceremonies In Dark Old Men at St Clements Theater.  Norm also recounts his time with A Soldiers Play, Les Miserables and working with Billy Porter on Pose.  Link for tickets -https://www.thepeccadillo.com/ Also in this episode - Joe Morton Emmy Win.  Review of The Last 5 Years. Emmy, Tony, and SAG Award nomin...

Boom Box Icon Ione Skye stops by Behind the Awards to discuss her new book Say Everything and the movie that made famous Say Anything.  Ione is brutally honest as she discusses her life, career, famous father and romances with Jon Cusack, Keanu Reeves, Anthony Kiedis. Also in this episode - Tina Fey Emmy Win. Review of Lea & Drew Lachey’s Label-less. Ione Skye made her film debut opposite Keanu Re...

Carra Patterson dropped in to talk about Elsbeth and what it’s like to be on a network series in 2025.  Carra also revels what it was like originating a role in the August Wilson Play Jitney and being directed by George C Wolfe.  Listen as Carra talks about working with co-stars Carrie Preston & Wendell Pierce, plus her take on Self-Tape Auditions. Also in this episode - Martin Sheen 2001 Golden G...

Behind the Awards welcomes Constatine Maroulis to give us the back story about his new immersive show Avalona.  We do a deep dive on American Idol, Rock of Ages, Jekyll & Hyde and Jesus Christ Super Star. Also in this episode - Debbie Allen’s Emmy Award Win, Buena Vista Social Club Review. CONSTANTINE MAROULIS (he/him) was born in Brooklyn and raised in Jersey. Best known for his Tony Nominated st...

Broadway’s premier animal trainer Bill Berloni joins Behind the Awards to chat about his current dogs starring in Gypsy & Left on Tenth.  Bill also talks in depth about how he started his career with the original production of Annie.  Bill gives us the inside Scoop about working with Naomi Watts for the upcoming Feature Film The Friend. Also in this episode - Diahann Carroll’s 1972 Tony Award for...

Pulitzer Prize Finalist Rajiv Joseph explores his new play Dakar 2000 at Manhattan Theater Club running through March 23rd.  Rajiv gives us the backstory on working with Robin Williams to bring Bengal Tiger at the Bagdahd Zoo to Broadway.  Rajiv talks about collaborating with esteemed Directors Moisés Kaufman on Bengal Tiger and Kenny Leon on critically acclaimed King James about Rajiv’s hometown...

Behind the Awards welcomes Kevin Csolak to chat about his scene stealing role as Tulsa in Gypsy.  Kevin also shares his experience working with Stephen Spielberg in latest West Side Story film.  Listen to hear how the Outsiders manifested Gypsy, and how he leaped into the first day of Mean Girls Rehearsal hours after performing with Justin Timberlake in the Super Bowl. Also in this episode - Cate...

Behind the Awards is joined by Jiffy Pop Culture’s Frank Liotti and our in house expert Matt Stashin to dish all things Oscar’s.  The hottest races include Conclave vs Anora, Demi Moore vs Cynthia Erivo, Timothée Chalamet vs Adrian Brody and much more! Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y. Connect with Eila and Bruce: Insta...