Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb

Marjan Neshat joins Behind the Awards to deep dive into the Pulitzer Prize winning Play at the Roundabout Theater.  Marjan shares her pride and excitement of being part of a cast and creative team all making their Broadway Debut at the same time.  You can also catch Marjan Guest Starring on The Night Agent now streaming on Netflix. Also in the this episode - Olivia Coleman’s 2019 Oscar win for The...

Original Rent cast member Rodney Hicks joins Behind the Awards to recount the creation of the cult phenomenon Rent and his friendship with Jonathon Larson. Fun Fact the OBC still has an active group text. Rodney discusses for the first time ever 1968: An American Love Story, a project that he has been writing for the past 5 years.  Rodney shares how Susan Stroman made him a dancer, his battle with...

Behind the Awards was thrilled to participate in BroadwayCon 10 and have Producer Jack Noseworthy & Composer and Lyricist Benjamin Valez on their live panel to discuss the new musical Real Women Have Curves. Jack Noseworthy is the co-founder of Truworthy Productions along with Tony and Olivier Award-winning Director/Choreographer Sergio Trujillo. His producing career has been bolstered by 33 years...

Theater has the power to challenge, connect, and inspire—and that’s exactly what Maiden Mother Crone: A Duet of Solo Plays delivers. This groundbreaking production, featuring Sugarcoated by Jen Ponton and The Longer My Mother is Dead, the More I Like Her by Deborah Unger, invites audiences to explore universal themes of identity, resilience, and transformation through two uniquely personal perspec...

CFDA Award Winning Designer Francisco Costa joins Behind the Awards to review Sunset Blvd.  Francisco also shares the launch of his new beauty line Coast Brazil.   Also in this episode Meryl Streeps 2004 Emmy Win for Angels in America, a busy Behind the Awards weekend of BroadwayCon 10 Panel discussing Real Women Have Curves and Nancy McKeon in the Off Broadway Play Pen Pals. Francisco Costa, the...

Alison Arngrim joins Behind the Awards to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Little House on the Prairie.  Alison shares how she was cast as Nellie Oleson.  What it was like to work with Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert.  Did you know Alison played Eve Plumbs daughter on Fantasy Island?  Alison also talks about guest starring on The Love Boat, what it’s like being a child start and her one woman...

Tony Winner J. Harrison Ghee joined Behind the Awards to reminisce on their Some Like it Hot Tony nomination and win and how the subject of identity has evolved since then.  J also takes us on a journey to create Lady Chablis for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.  Plus going from Swing to Dance Captain to Lola in Kinky Boots. Also in this episode - A review of Wonderful World. J. Harrison G...

McKinley Belcher III pays Behind the Awards a visit before taking his final bow in A Guide for the Homesick.  He also discuses his Netflix series Eric co-starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Death of a Salesman and how he detoured into a career of acting. Also in this episode - Jean Smart’s 2025 Golden Globe win for Hacks.  A review of Pulitzer Prize winning Play English by Sanaz Toossi at The Roundabou...

Behind the Awards looks at what could be nominated for the 2025 Tony Awards. Big in the conversation are Gypsy, Sunset Blvd, Death Becomes Her, Oh Mary!, Our Town, Good Night and Good Luck, Glengarry Glen Ross, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. 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: Instagr...

Anna K Jacobs, Alyse Alan Louis and Jared Loftin visit with Behind the Awards to do a Teeth Deep Dive.  They share everything from the original concept album to the expanded slash zone. Also in the episode - Steven Spielberg’s 1999 Oscar win for Best Director for Saving Private Ryan.  Plus the 2nd Tony Committee Eligibility Rulings.  Show included in the meeting were:  Sunset Blvd.; A Wonderful Wo...

Writer/Producer Matt Williams & Writer Trey Ellis join Behind the Awards to give a first look at their new Musical Delta Blue. Matt and Trey talk about developing the show and their collaboration with Masi Asare, Jimmy Vivino, and Tamara Tunie. Delta Blue invites listeners for a very special night of songs on Tuesday January 21st at The Green Room 42 performed by notable Broadway stars including P...

Playwright Ken Urban visits to discuss his play A Guide for the Homesick starring McKinley Belcher III & Uly Schlesinger.  Ken gives us the lowdown on the process of getting a play produced in NY as well his role throughout the production.  Ken shares the importance of collaborators when putting up a play and this play was lucky enough to have Coleman Domingo in 2017 in Boston which lead to the co...

The entire cast of Left on Tenth; Julianna Margulies, Peter Gallagher, Kate MacCluggage, and Peter Francis James join us for a deep dive into the show.  How a chance in counter on the corner of 10th Street between Delia Ephron and Juliana lead to her playing the author.  Based on Delia Ephron’s bestselling memoir, this warm and witty new play is directed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroma...

Richard Kind stops by to discuss the Ensemble Piece All In co-starring John Mulaney, Fred Armisen, and Renee Elise Goldsberry. Fans know Richard from TVs Mad About You, Only Murders in The Building, Spin City and Curb your Enthusiasm. Also in this episode - Sharon Stone’s Best Actress Golden Globe for Casino. Review of Swept Away. Richard Kind, a Drama Desk Award winner and Tony nominee for the Br...

Eila & Bruce go through their top moments of 2024 including: The Outsiders, Wicked, Taylor Swift, Sunset Blvd and more! Plus don’t miss what they are excited about for 2025! 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: Instagram @behind_the_awards Eila @eilamell Bruce @cominghomewithbruce Learn more ab...

Grey Henson visited to discuss his starring role as Buddy in Elf the Musical on Broadway. Grey talks about working with his co-start Sean Astin who is making his Broadway Debut. Grey also recalls where he was when he received his Tony Nomination for Mean Girls. We learn how his career started in Book of Mormon and how he almost didn’t do Shucked on Broadway. Also in this episode - Hugh Laurie Gold...

Award winning actor TR Knight stopped by on the heels of the casting announcement of Stranger Things on Broadway. TR also discusses The Merchant of Venice, Grey’s Anatomy and his passion of all things Jim Henson and getting to work with the Muppets on Sesame Street.  Also on this episode - Julie Bowen Emmy Win for Modern Family, a review of Gypsy starring Audra McDonald, Danny Burstein, Joy Woods,...

Gracie McGraw joined Behind the Awards to discuss making her Off-Broadway debut in Babe. She talks about working with costars Marisa Tomei and Arliss Howard. Gracie discusses her unique point of view for the play as someone who grew up in the music industry (her parents are Faith Hill and Tim McGraw), and how that informed her performance.  Also in this episode…Norbert Leo Butz’s Tony win for Catc...

Emmy Winner Lea DeLaria gives us the scoop on her residency at 54 Below. In this Monthly cabaret style show Lea brings her love of Broadway, Comedy and Current events to her audience in a way only the star of POTUS, Orange is the New Black and On the Town can. Lea also discusses her upcoming movie Tow co-staring Rose Byrne and Ariana DeBose. Plus you can find her current film Holy Irresistible on...

Cady McClain joins us to discuss Orson’s Shadow now playing at Theater for the New City. Cady also takes us through her starring roles on All My Children, Days of Our Lives, As the World Turns and The Young & The Restless as well as her work in movies and television with Peter O’Toole, Bernadette Peters, Ted Danson and more. Also in this episode Lauren Bacall’s 1981 Tony Win for Woman of the Year....

Nick Adams stops by to chat all things Drag The Musical. Sharing what it’s like to work with NKOTB Joey McIntyre, getting tips from the stars of RuPauls Drag Race, and creating the character with Alaska from the shows first incarnation. Nick also takes on a trip down memory lane of past shows Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, La Cage aux Folles, and Chicago and also starring the movie Fire Island on...

Tony Winning Producer and Theater Owner Daryl Roth answers the age old questions what does a Producer to? What was it like to bring her friend Delia Ephron’s memoire Left on tenth to Broadway starring Juliana Margulies & Peter Gallagher? Daryl also discusses Kinky Boots, Titanique, Closer Than Ever, Clybourne Park, and the upcoming Picture of Dorian Gray and Sondhiem’s Old Friends. Daryl shares he...

Tommy Dorfman Star of Romeo & Juliet talks about what it’s like to work on the show of the season from one of the oldest playwright. Tommy discusses playing the duel role of The Nurse & Tibolt, the role of gender in this version directed by Sam Gold and the bond between Rachel Zegler’s Juliet and Tommy’s Nurse. We also discuss her hit series 13 Reasons Why, upcoming movie I wish you all the best w...

Behind the Awards goes backstage at Our Town to talk with actor Noah Pyzik. He talks about working with director Kenny Leon in this and Purlie Victorious. Noah explains what it’s like being a cast member and also an understudy. Noah also talks about his career as a producer and growing up as a theatre kid in Michigan.  Also in this episode we discuss seeing Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler in Romeo &...

Lorraine Toussaint kicks off Season 5 of The Equalizer this week on CBS alongside her TV Niece Queen Latifah and drops by to chat about her 40 year career of Stage, Film and TV including Any Day Now Co-starring Annie Potts, Orange is the New Black, plus she talks about how Juilliard gave her the training needed to create her own language for Into the Bandlands, and of course her return to the stag...