Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb

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,...

Miriam Silverman chats about Mary Jane, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window and more. Miriam gives us the scoop on upcoming project and what it was like to work with Anne Kauffman and Rachel Brosnahan. Eila and Bruce also discuss Hannah Waddingham’s Emmy win for Ted Lasso as well as their most recent TV Obsession Claim to Fame. Miriam Silverman won the 2023 Tony Award for B...

Anna K Jacobs takes a cult movie to the stage with Strange Loop’s Michael R Jackson. Campy, horror musical about Vagina dentata had such a successful run at Playwrights Horizons that it is moving to an open ended run at New World Stages. Anna gives us the scoop on all things teeth, partnering with Michael R Jackson and what projects are coming up next. Eila & Bruce also chat about Teeth’s upcoming...

Grammy Winner Sean Alan Krill went Behind the Awards to discuss working with Alanis Morissette in Jagged Little Pill. Sean tells us how he went from play Sam in the tour to his Broadway Debut in Mamma Mia opposite Carolee Carmello. He also goes into what it was like to be in Parade during a turbulent political climate. Eila & Bruce share their experience attending the final performance of Here The...

Emmy Winner Yeardley Smith began her career on Broadway as Cynthia Nixon’s understudy in The Real Thing directed by Mike Nichols. She is best know for the voice of Lisa Simpson on the Simpsons, and has also appeared in Herman’s Head, Family Guy, The Big Bang Theory and Mad Men. Yardley is the co-host of popular True Crime Podcast Small Town Dicks with Paul Holes, and Dan & Dave. Eila and Bruce als...

11yr old Tony Winner takes us from The Secret Garden to the The Strange and Unexplained Daisy Eagan shares the unique experience of being the youngest female winner in Tony history. She recounted working with Mandy Patinkin, Rebecca Luker and John Cameron Mitchell who was writing Hedwig & The Angy Inch at the same time. Daisy was shocked to learn of her impact on Broadway star Sutton Foster, and h...

Our day at the Tony’s from rehearsal to show…and awards recap.  Eila & Bruce share what it was like to be at the Tony awards rehearsal as well as the big show. Listen to hear the who, what, where and wow of the biggest day for Broadway. Plus, who predicted the winners best from our deep dive episodes.  Also in this episode, Eila & Bruce share one of their favorite speeches of the night. Kecia Lewi...

Jeff & Rick Kuperman give us a deep dive on the process of creating the choreography for The Outsiders. They discuss their unique collaborative relationship as brothers and how that helped form the framework for The Outsiders, a show about brothers.  Eila and Bruce also discuss Jennifer Aniston SAG award for Outstanding Actress for her work on the morning show and how our Friend got her SAG card d...

Celia discusses working with Jessica Lang and Jim Parsons and having a role created for her in Paula Vogel’s Mother Play. Celia takes us on a journey of her career including The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bell, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Gilded Age. Celia shares what she was doing the morning nominations came out and how she balances being a working actor and motherhood.  Eila and Bruc...

Rumors have it that Stereophonic will bring home the Tony Feature Friday! Eila & Bruce bring you the sixth 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 Musical, Best Play, Scenic Design of a Musical, Lead Actress of a Musical, Lead Actor of a Musical. Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Mary...