Broadway Drumming 101

This is a Broadway Drumming 101 Classic . Originally released in December 2021, this episode features Rich Rosenzweig , recorded on the very day Company officially opened on Broadway. The timing alone makes it special. Rich was stepping into an opening night shaped by grief, history, and pressure, following the passing of Stephen Sondheim, while carrying the responsibility of yet another major Bro...

This Classic episode goes back to 2021 with drummer Rich Rosenzweig . At the time, he was playing the drum chair for Company . Today, he is the drummer for Ragtime at Lincoln Center . Part One focuses on his early years, his training, and his path into the Broadway world. What we cover in this episode * How Rich transitioned from piano lessons to drums. * Growing up in a home filled with music and...

I went back to one of my classic Broadway Drumming 101 conversations this week, and it reminded me why I started this series in the first place. Years ago I sat down with Rich Rosenzweig when he was holding the drum chair for the revival of ‘Company.’ Now he’s driving the bus for Ragtime at Lincoln Center , and revisiting this talk brought everything back. We got into the real work of subbing on B...

In this episode, I sit down with drummer Tom Jorgensen . He’s been playing drums on the Beetlejuice national tour for the last three years. Tom talks about what makes the Beetlejuice drum book one of the most physically demanding on the road and how Shannon Ford’s original approach set the tone for everything that followed. We dig into: * The sheer physical challenge of playing Beetlejuice eight t...

Coming Soon: The Tom Jorgensen Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast Episode There’s a line that’s stuck with Tom Jorgensen ever since he first heard it from jazz legend Michael Carvin : “It’s not about what you’re playing — it’s about what you’re doing.” It sounds simple. But as Tom explains in the upcoming episode of the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast , that one sentence completely changed how he approac...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast — Episode: Larry Lelli Larry Lelli has done just about everything a Broadway drummer can do. From marching snare in Wisconsin to playing The Producers on Broadway, his story is about hard work, timing, and versatility. In this conversation, Larry t...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I’m excited to share that a new Broadway Drumming 101 podcast episode with Larry Lelli will be re-released soon. I originally sat down with Larry back on December 16, 2021, and since then, his career has kept growing in remarkable ways. Larry isn’t just a veteran Broadway drumm...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Today’s guest is a little different. Usually, I feature drummers on this podcast, and we’ve had some incredible ones—plus music directors like Nate Patten and music coordinators like Michael Aarons and Michael Keller. But this time, I wanted to bring on someone I’ve known and p...

Originally posted December 2021 In this episode of Broadway Drumming 101 , I sit down with Dena Tauriello , the drummer for Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theatre. From her first sparkle kit inspired by Karen Carpenter to a career that’s taken her from rock arenas to Broadway pits, Dena shares a powerful story about perseverance, adaptability, and passion. Dena spent nearly two decades wit...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In this episode, I talk with Michael Manasseh , the drummer for the current Hadestown national tour. Michael shares his unique path from studying economics at Columbia University to landing gigs on Broadway tours, and how his early training shaped the versatile musician he is t...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. The next episode of the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast features a great conversation with Michael Manasse h, drummer and percussionist for the most recent North American tour of Hadestown . Michael’s musical journey started at the age of five and has taken him through an impress...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Originally posted November 2021 Paul Pizzuti has over fifty years of experience playing shows, making him one of the most seasoned and respected drummers on Broadway. He’s a musician everyone should listen to when it comes to understanding what it takes to build and sustain a s...

The new Broadway Drumming 101 merch just dropped, and it’s made for musicians who show up, do the work, and take pride in what they do. Get yours now at www.signaturebrandworks.com . This isn’t the kind of merch that sits around. The last time, wesold out kinda quickly, so get yours now or you’ll be wishing you did. And if you haven’t already, grab the free PDF: “20 Questions Every Drummer Should...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In this video episode, I sit down with drummer and Hawaii native Pili Fronda—and fair warning: you might learn more about Hawaiian history, food, geography, and culture than you expected. And I’m not mad about it…because I love Hawaii as much as Pili does. What started as a con...

In this episode, I sit down with drummer and Hawaii native Pili Fronda , and fair warning: you might learn more about Hawaiian history, food, geography, and culture than you bargained for. And I’m not mad about it…because I love Hawaii as much as Pili does. This conversation might’ve started out about drums, but before we even hit the 10-minute mark, we were deep in the mountains of Maui, eating p...

Pili Fonda—drummer for the first national tour of Mrs. Doubtfire —shares the key to what membership really means in this business. Catch it this Saturday, August 2. If you’re trying to build a real career in musical theater, this is something you need to hear. While you’re at it, get on the email list for my book Broadway Bound and Beyond at: http://broadwayboundbook.com You’ll get early access, b...

What does it really take to succeed on the road with a Broadway tour? It’s not just about chops or time feel; it’s about trust, vibe, and being the kind of person people want to work with day in and day out. In this episode, dropping Saturday, August 2nd , we talk about the reality of touring life and the often-overlooked human qualities that make all the difference. Tune in for insights that go b...

Originally released in 2021, this episode is a masterclass in what it really takes to make it on Broadway and beyond. Jake Goldbas was at the time, the drummer for Dear Evan Hansen . He shares his incredible journey from growing up in Connecticut to playing for some of the biggest names in music, including Aretha Franklin, Patti Austin, and The O’Jays. In this conversation, we talk about: * How a...

What does it take to go from high school marching band to playing drums for major Broadway tours? Meet Jaren Angud , a versatile percussionist whose journey has taken him from ska cover bands in garages to international stages with Disney and beyond. In this episode, Jaren and I dive deep into his story: * How a high school French horn mishap led him to drums * Playing in ska and punk bands before...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. We’re closing in on 100 interviews here at Broadway Drumming 101, and we’re just getting started. We’ve got a great lineup ahead. Upcoming episodes include conversations with: * Pili Fronda * Michael Manesseh * Matthew Friedman * Joe Bergamini * Tom Jorgensen * Trevor Holder We...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. We’re closing in on 100 interviews here at Broadway Drumming 101, and we’re just getting started. We’ve got a great lineup ahead. Upcoming episodes include conversations with: * Pili Fronda * Michael Manesseh * Matthew Friedman * Joe Bergamini * Tom Jorgensen * Trevor Holder We...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Originally released: October 2021 In this classic episode, I talk with Dennis Arcano —an all-around force in the musical theater world: Educator / Audio Engineer / Synth & Drum Programmer / Composer . He's subbed on shows like Death Becomes Her , tick, tick...BOOM! , Altar Boyz...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In this episode, Clayton chats with drummer Patrick Phelan IV , the current touring drummer for the Shucked First National Tour. Patrick shares how a random hangout in NYC led to his first Broadway subbing opportunity and how he's since built a career full of friendship, groove...

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In this episode, Clayton chats with drummer Patrick Phelan IV , the current touring drummer for the Shucked First National Tour. Patrick shares how a random hangout in NYC led to his first Broadway subbing opportunity and how he's since built a career full of friendship, groove...

What happens when you’re brand new to NYC, hanging out between shows, and you meet someone who might change your life? That’s exactly what happened to drummer Patrick Phalen. In this candid clip, Patrick shares how a simple hangout with Shannon Ford and Joshua Samuels , who were both playing Beetlejuice, introduced him to Emma Ford , who later offered him the chance to sub on Shucked . Fast forwar...