Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb

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...

James Monroe Iglehart chats with us about starring as Louie Armstrong as well as Co-Directing A Wonderful World. James shares stories of originating the role of The Genie in Aladdin, being part of Memphis and Hamilton. Not only has James had a wonderful stage career but he shares his prolific experience as a Voice Actor. Also in this episode Scarlett Johansson’s 2010 Tony Win for A View from the B...

Ephraim Sykes stops by to discuss creating a George for this generation with Kenny Leon. He tells us all about the field trip on the first day of rehearsal to New Hampshire and how his career has been as series of pinch me moments from being in the original cast of Hamilton to playing Seaweed Stubbs in Hairspray Live and being a Temptation in Ain’t Too Proud. Ephraim shares how getting a scholarsh...

Claybourne Edler takes a break from filing The Guilded Age with many Broadway friends to discuss Company, his charity City of Strangers, his current concert series and his love of Patti LuPone.  Also in this episode: Nikki M James winning Tony moment for The Book of Mormon. Eila & Bruce's visit to The Public to see Good Bones written by past guest James Ijames, Pulitzer Prize Winner author of Fat...

Fresh off the heels of is run in Little Shop of Horrors, Emmy Winner and Tony Nominee Kevin Del Aguila pops by to give us the skinny on David Henry Hwang’s play Yellow Face at the Roundabout Theater. Kevin also talks about his time creating his character in Some Like it Hot, as well as his work as a writer with shows like Altar Boyz and Dog Man the Musical. Also in this episode - Marcia Gay Harden...

Break out star of Orange is the New Black Uzo Aduba joins us for an in-depth look at her new book The Road is Good. The Emmy Winner also shares starting off in theater, roles she didn’t get and the road that led her to Orange is the New Black. Uzo recounts her time with Clydes, Godspell, The Wiz Live and so much more. Also in this episode - Rue McClanahhan, Yellow Face at the Roundabout Theater fe...

Eric Roberts and his wife Eliza join us to discuss his new book Runaway train and being a new cast member of Dancing with the Stars. The brutally honest Oscar Nominee goes into the Broadway run of Burn This, working with Bob Fosse in Star 80. He also gives us a glimpse of into growing with a difficult father and his lifelong friendship with Martin Luther King Jr’s family. Also in this episode, Che...

Tony Winner Joe Mantegna talks all things Criminal Minds, Madonna, David Mamet, and being part of The Godfather. From Stage to Screen to TV Joe recounts his 55 year career as an Actor/Director/Writer. Also in this episode, Andre DeShields Tony win for Hadestown. Eila & Bruce stop by Our Town rehearsal and give you a glimpse of what’s to come.  Joe Mantegna has starred in the CBS television series ...

Eila & Bruce and are joined by Robert Bannon of BPN’s The Roundtable to dish and predict this years Emmy’s. From The Bear to Abbot Elementary to The Guilded Age and everything in between. Jennifer Aniston, Matt Bomer, Carol Burnett or Selena Gomez…who will go home with a trophy. Watch the Emmy’s Sunday September 15th and see which of us predicts the best! Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The T...

Current Emmy Nominee Carol Burnett does a deep dive on Palm Royale, The Carol Burnett show, Annie and so much more. This legend also shared her excitement for Sutton Foster’s Once Upon a Mattress currently running on Broadway and her quest to have theater named for icon Hal Prince.  Also on this episode Martin Short’s 1999 Tony Win for Little Me. Broadway Boxed Up Founder Anant Das.  Carol Burnett...

Coming off heels of an Off Broadway run in Pre-Existing Condition Tony winner Deirdre O’Connell stops by to chat about her new MAX Series The Penguin Starring Colin Farrell. She takes us back on the journey to create Dana H. And the woman the play is based on. Also in this episode - Judith Lights Isabelle Stevenson Award Speech at the Tony Awards. Closing of The Notebook and the many lives of Catw...

Adrian Martinez talks about working with Jerry Seinfeld in Unfrosted, Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez in Only Murders in the Building, and Nicole Kidman in the Interpreter. Adrian shares his love being a stage actor and directorial debut in the award winning iGilbert. Also in this episode Christine Lahti’s bathroom break/Golden Globe win. Eila and Bruce reminisce about popular TV Theme...

Pulitzer Prize Winner James Ijames gives us the scoop on Fat Ham and his upcoming show Good Bones at the Public Theater. Also in this episode Henry Winkler’s Emmy win for Barry. Eugene & Dan Levy announcement as 2024 Emmy Hosts and possible 2025 Oscar Hosts. James James is a Pulitzer Prize winning and Tony Award nominated playwright, a director and educator.  James’ plays have been produced by Fla...

Santino Fontana takes us behind the scenes of what it took to get Carol Burnett to introduce the Hal Prince Award at this year’s Drama Desk Awards. Santino describes what it’s like to be in the center of a Tootsie tornado and his secret Frozen identity. Also in this episode Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Emmy win for Abbott Elementary, Phylicia Rashad, and Summer Binging. Santino Fontana is an American actor...

Off the heels of a successful Off Broadway run White Rose Director/Award winner Will Nunziata talks about what it takes to get his new show Figaro to London’s Palladium Theater. Will shares how the Pandemic lead to an explosion of creativity, as well as what it’s like being in the business with his twin brother Anthony and the parental expectations that go along with that. Eila & Bruce also discus...

Christine Ebersole talks all things Grey Gardens, Bob Hearts Abishola, Tootsie & SNL. This Broadway legend is as much fun as she is tenacious, and impressed us how she took her career into her own hands and became a Producer. Join Behind the Awards for Christine’s stories of her 50 year career.  Eila & Bruce also chat about Jonathan Groff’s Tony win for Merrily We Roll Along, Being the Tony Awards...

Adrienne C Moore drops by to discuss Orange is the New Black, Theater and the moment she made it as a New York Actress. Eila & Bruce also discuss Lin Manuel Miranda’s Tony win for Best Book of Musical for Hamilton. Emmy Nomination standouts Carol Burnett and Aja Naomi King as well as Cher’s first appearance on Will & Grace opposite Sean Hayes. Adrienne C. Moore is an accomplished television, film,...