Broadway Drumming 101

A special episode of the Broadway Drumming 101 podcast is on the way, featuring Andrés Forero and a talented lineup of subs currently playing in Hamilton. I chatted with Andrés, Alex Giosa, Juan Felipe Mayorga, Dena Tauriello, and Ryan McCausland about the behind-the-scenes experience and challenges of being a sub on such a challenging show. In this clip, Alex shares a great story about the show....

In this episode of Broadway Drumming 101 , host Clayton Craddock chats with Ryan McCausland, a drummer who made his way from Southern New Jersey to the heart of the New York drumming scene. Ryan talks about his early influences, the importance of being kind, and the ups and downs of making it as a professional musician. He also shares stories from his time playing on Broadway and touring with hit...

On Saturday, September 6th, we’re releasing a new episode of the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast featuring Ryan McCausland. Ryan shares his thoughts on something that should be a given but isn’t always discussed: being kind. While we need to hone our drumming skills and stay competitive in a place like New York, our people skills are just as necessary. He recalls a moment during intermission at Wick...

Broadway Drumming 101 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In 2021, we started this podcast with a simple goal: to offer you an inside look into the lives and careers of Broadway drummers. Since then, we've hosted numerous incredibly talented guests who have shared their stories, experiences, and wisdom. As our su...

In this episode of Broadway Drumming 101, I sit down with the incredibly talented Skyler Fortgang, the drummer for The Great Gatsby on Broadway. We dive deep into his journey from early drumming experiences to landing a coveted spot in the Broadway scene. Highlights from the Episode: * First Impressions:  Hear about when Skyler took a lesson with me and immediately blew me away with his drumming s...

In the next episode of Broadway Drumming 101, we are excited to showcase Skyler Fortgang, the talented drummer currently leading the rhythm of The Great Gatsby on Broadway. Skyler takes us through his journey, sharing how his diverse experience, from subbing on shows like Paradise Square and A Strange Loop to performing at renowned venues like Paper Mill Playhouse, prepared him for his current rol...

Check it out! Don’t miss Skyler’s episode on the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast, dropping on Saturday, August 17th! Skyler Fortgang is a drummer/percussionist, producer, keyboard programmer, and music director based in New York City. He has played in a variety of Broadway, Off-Broadway, touring, and regional theater productions and recorded for many artists across a wide array of genres. He appears...

Don’t miss his episode on the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast, dropping on Saturday, August 17th! In Skyler’s episode of Broadway Drumming 101, I interview Skyler Fortgang (The Great Gatsby on Broadway), he shares his journey from his early drumming experiences to becoming a fixture in the Broadway scene. We discuss his breakthrough into Broadway through connections like Chris Jago and Sean McDaniel...

Skyler Fortgang is a drummer/percussionist, producer, keyboard programmer, and music director based in New York City. He has played in a variety of Broadway, Off-Broadway, touring, and regional theater productions and recorded for many artists across a wide array of genres. He appears on multiple albums with artists like Cristina, The Other Lovers, Skylar Pocket, Kathleen Elle, Andre Molina, and m...

Check out this insightful chat with Steve Picataggio! Episode Highlights: * Early Inspirations : Find out how Steve’s older brother got him hooked on drumming. * Jazz and Beyond : Learn how Steve expanded his musical tastes from pure jazz to include pop-punk and Broadway tunes. * Starting Out : Hear about Steve’s first drumming experiences, including summer music camp and high school bands. * Maki...

When you subscribe for only $10 a month, you will receive behind-the-scenes access to the life of a musician who makes a living on Broadway through YouTube videos, podcasts, and articles on what you need to know. We also have merchandise! https://merchandise.broadwaydrumming101.com In this episode of Broadway Drumming 101, we are thrilled to welcome the incredibly talented Bill Hayes. With an illu...

Broadway Drumming 101 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In today's episode of Broadway Drumming 101, we chat with the highly accomplished drummer and percussionist Charles Descarfino. With a portfolio of over twenty Broadway shows, Charles shares his extensive experience and unique insights into the world of Br...

Broadway Drumming 101 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Today, we have the pleasure of welcoming Derek Stoltenberg to our show. He is a highly experienced drummer who has performed on cruise ships, Broadway stages, and many other prestigious platforms. In this episode, Derek shares his valuable experiences, ins...

Today, we're joined by Kevin McNaughton, an incredible musician who is currently on the road with the Mamma Mia tour. Kevin shares a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a touring musician. * Getting Started in Touring : Kevin's journey began in Florida, where networking and a timely opportunity launched his career with the national tour of South Pacific. * Musical Influences : From early experie...

Hailing from New Brunswick, New Jersey, Pat Petrillo is a world-renowned drummer who has significantly impacted the drumming industry over many years. His impressive career includes collaborations with an eclectic range of artists spanning various genres. Some notable musicians he's worked with include Patti LaBelle, Gloria Gaynor, Oz Noy, Chieli Minucci, Ed Hamilton, and Glen Burtnik, and his con...

Hailing from Perth Amboy, NJ, Juan "Carlito" Mendoza is a seasoned musician with over 25 years of experience. A classically trained percussionist, he excels in playing the marimba, timpani, orchestral snare drum, vibraphone, drum set, and hand percussion. Juan obtained his BA in Music Education from New Jersey City University in 2004 and earned his MA, summa cum laude, in Music Education in 2013....

As we bring our special three-part series to a close, we want to express gratitude for your interest in the podcast. We started a few weeks ago by introducing you to Michael Aarons , an industry veteran, whose invaluable insights have broadened our understanding of the many facets of musical production—from Broadway stages to recording studios, live events, and beyond. With a career that's been bo...

In the second installment of our special three-part series, we're showcasing Michael Aarons, a veteran with an extensive background encompassing Broadway, live events, recording studios, television, film, and national tours. He's been instrumental in assembling top-notch pit orchestras for numerous Broadway shows and over 15 national tours. Outside the theater, his multifaceted talents shine throu...

While we frequently spotlight drummers who have made enduring contributions to Broadway and touring stages, it's just as essential to get the inside scoop from the influential figures orchestrating things behind the curtain. That's why today marks the launch of a special three-part series. We're ecstatic to start by introducing you to Michael Aarons, a seasoned Music Coordinator whose portfolio sp...

https://cartermclean.com Carter was born in San Francisco and shortly thereafter moved to Connecticut. This is where McLean listened to and fell in love with music and especially the drums. At age 10, he started his journey as a musician. Broadway wasn’t even on his radar when he started working at Manny’s Music in Manhattan just prior to 9/11. The self-taught musician had just wrapped up his stud...

Dan has been making music most of his life.  While attending East Carolina University's School of Music, he auditioned and was hired at age 19 to join the cast of the Off-Broadway show "STOMP".  After performing in the New York company, he joined the national tour, eventually playing the lead role and becoming the Rehearsal Director. During this tour, he had the opportunity to perform on stage wit...

Gregory Landes is a versatile musician, excelling as a drummer, percussionist, composer, educator, and arranger. His impressive orchestral credits include serving as a timpanist and percussionist for esteemed ensembles such as The New Jersey Symphony, Garden State Philharmonic, The New Haven Symphony, The American Symphony Orchestra, New York Chorale Society, The Brooklyn Philharmonic, Princeton S...

Jordan Rose is the drummer for Theo Katzman , Cory Wong , Caleb Hawley , Darren Criss , Charlie Puth , Pomplamoose , Charlie Hunter , Jeff Coffin , Joe Louis Walker , Louis Cato , sub for Dear Evan Hansen (on Broadway), Rufus Wainwright , Ruel , SZA , Maddie Poppe , and held the chair for Only Gold (Off-Broadway). Get full access to Broadway Drumming 101 at broadwaydrumming101.substack.com/subscri...

Broadway Drumming 101 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Greg Joseph is an in-demand drummer who has been a fixture on  the NYC music scene for over 25 years. He has played with such diverse musicians as Kevin Hays, Chris Potter, Steve Wilson, Ira Sullivan, Ted Kooshian, Michael Blake, Chiara Itzi, Tony Scherr,...

Grant Braddock is a freelance drummer, percussionist, and educator based in New York City. Broadway credits include A Beautiful Noise - The Neil Diamond Musical, Caroline, or Change, Tootsie, Escape to Margaritaville , Amazing Grace . Grant has toured as a performer with Green Day's American Idiot, The Great Moscow Circus , and Blast! . He holds a B.M. from The University of Oklahoma and a M.M. fr...