Built For The Stage Podcast

Mari McGinlay / @marimoomcg After studying acting at the Guildford School of Acting and training at the Dance School of Scotland, Mari McGinlay had laid a strong foundation to move forward in the theatre industry. She joins us on our podcast to share parts of that journey, as she then went on to work on the production of Oklahoma! at Royal Albert Hall, playing the role of Cinderella multiple times...

Stefan Lagoulis / @stefann96 Stefan Lagoulis comes from Down Under and is currently in Hamilton AU, experiencing coming back to the stage after more than a year of the shutdown and shares with us what that journey has looked like as he is rediscovering his strength and ability in the rehearsal room. He encourages other actors to give themself grace and accept that your best today is your best and...

Ryan Gonzalez / @rgonzy After starting at a young age pursuing to be a comerical dancer in Australia, Ryan then saw a live musical theatre production and was absolutely sold. He then did his first show at 18 and hasn't turned back. He is now opening Fun Home in Australia and will soon be joining Moulin Rouge Australia. Ryan shares in our conversation about experiences and interests that he has exp...

Daniel Assetta / @dassetta From a very young age, Daniel Assetta was no stranger to the perfoming world. He started taking dance as a child, and it was all about the show. He had a deep desire to learn and grow and perform. From there, he saw the tour of Lion King in Australia, and he quickly fell in love with the world of musical theatre. Daniel made his debut at the age of 19 in the 10th Anniver...

J. Harrison Ghee / @jharrisonghee It is so exciting to hear how Broadway is coming back to life, and our conversation with J. Harrison Ghee is no exception! He is soon to be seen in Mrs. Doubtfire on Broadway, and he shares with us what the journey has been like returning to the stage. From a year full of cast zoom meetings to overthinking himself when trying to get back into the role, it has been...

Amos Wolff / @amoswolff When Amos Wolff made his Broadway debut at the young age of 25 in Follies, he assumed that he would be completely fulfilled. Instead, he found that he still wasn't happy. In this moment, he began to realize there was much more to being a balanced and healthy human being rather than just the career success of landing a Broadway role. This challenged him to start a journey of...

Jason Sparks / @jasonasparks Hello, Dolly!. Combining his training as a classical dancer, as well as a theatre performer, and his curiosity for how the world moves around him, Jason strives for the human body to be a lead voice in how his stories are told. Jason has also founded a unique nonprofit program called Fosters Theatrical Artist Residency. Fosters is a safe space created for actors, direc...

Liz Flemming / @littlelizzybiz In 2016, Liz Flemming had the idea to do the production of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown on a playground. She wanted to create a piece that used all disabled and BIPOC actors, and she set out with a dream that then became the company Out Of The Box Theatrics. Liz and OOTB focuses on creating theatre site specific locations that are in marginalized communities, cre...

Nasia Thomas/ @nasiathomas "I believe everyone has learned something about themself during this quarantine"...Nasia says as she reflects back on what the last year has looked like and what it felt like to be prepping for a Broadway show, Caroline, or Change, and then to be told it is all put on hold for a global pandemic. Nasia Thomas has been seen on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical...

Nicholas Edwards / @nickedwardsnyc You don't have to wait for anyone to tell you to do something"...and that is exactly what has happened in Nick's life over the past few months! When the quarantine shut down his upcoming opportunity to take on his first principal role on Broadway as Kristoff in Frozen, Nicholas knew he had to continue to find ways to make art. But there were no auditions and seem...

Simon Gordon / @simongordon Joining us from the West End on today's episode is Simon Gordon! We are so excited to be talking to him about his upcoming role in the UK tour of Heathers the Musical. Simon always wanted to be an actor, but he didn't start his theatre career as many people do by going to college and studying the craft. Instead, he went to school to study law! He was in his third year o...

Dennis Stowe / @dennisstowe Have you ever had a dream that you thought would never come to pass as the years went by? Well, Dennis Stowe is the perfect example that good things come to those who continue to work hard and not lose focus of their dreams! And we get to hear all about that journey in our chat with him. Dennis didn't make his Broadway debut until he was in his thirties. But, once he di...

Mike Ruckles / @rucklesvoice Within the theatre industry, there are several components that are an absolute must that we focus on. One of those components is the training and care of our voice. But how do we do so correctly? What techniques should we use? How often should we train? Some of the same questions that we ask ourselves about fitness and weight training. An interesting correlation, we th...

Kolby Kindle / @kolbizzle As so many of us are waiting to have the opportunity to walk back into a theatre, Kolby Kindle is living his best life as he is touring in Australia with the incredible musical Come From Away. He shares what it has been like to go through the pandemic and have the chance to return to the stage once again, bringing hope and excitement to everyone as we anxiously await that...

Salisha Thomas / @salishathomas Have you ever met someone whose mere presence becomes the light and energy in the room? That is Salisha Thomas. A woman with the power and joy to lift the spirits of anyone who meets her. And in our interview with her, we have the privilege of getting to know what makes this amazing powerhouse tick. Salisha is a true multi-tasker who has found herself developing not...

Alex Joseph Grayson/@alexjgsings How does someone raised as a military kid end up on Broadway? Alex Joseph Grayson shares his journey with us of how he found theatre later in life but once he found it, he couldn't be stopped. Alex was always compelled to perform, putting on performances for family and friends anytime he found the chance, including random dance performances of "Thriller"! He was kn...

Adam Jacobs / @adamjacobsnyc Not everyone can say they have ridden a magic carpet, but for Adam Jacobs, that became his daily routine as he played Aladdin in the Disney Broadway musical. But, hanging out with a genie every night isn't all there is to this Broadway star that we have all come to know and love. In our interview, Adam shares his insight on what it is like to be an actor who could fit...

Christian Thompson / @christianthompsonactor "Pivot"- A word we have all heard throughout our industry, over and over again. Christian Thompson, who plays Smokey Robinson and Damon Harris in Ain't Too Proud the Musical Christian has experienced so much in his journey, from cruise ship work to Rent National Tour. Then, to go from rehearsals for a promised Broadway show to working at the Hamilton me...

Maybe you don't recall seeing the name "Craig Feldman" on the front of a Playbill, but you can absolutely find his genius and skill spread across each design of Parodybill. As the founder and lead designer of Parodybill, Craig shares with us how he has taken his love of Broadway and infused it with his lifelong graphic design career to create what we know today as the witty and creative designs of...

Hillary Porter / @hillaryporter_ From competitive cheerleading to the Broadway stage, Hillary shares some of the incredible stories that have been the ups and downs of her journey. Find out how she booked her first Broadway show, in spite of forgetting choreography in the audition room. She also tells us about breaking her ankle and the mental and physical process back to the stage, and how she al...

Brian Martin / @btmartz shared his booking Broadway journey with us!  www.builtforthestage.com - Schedule your one week trial today! www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Showell - @justinbshow joins us as he awaits the return of the Hamilton - And Peggy tour. A BFTS Fam member, recent Michigan grad, and all around beautiful human shares with us his journey and the importance of embracing the fact that it is your own personal, unique journey.  www.builtforthestage.com - Schedule your one week trial today! www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your...

Elyse Niederee / @elyseniederee was on BFTS Podcast a little over a year ago to talk about her Broadway debut in KING KONG. Since then, Elyse has become the head of our FLOW program at Built for the Stage. FLOW is a flexibility and mobility program specifically designed for performers. Elyse's 10+ years as a yoga instructor and her seasoned career in theatre, makes her the perfect coach for this p...

Kfir Danieli / @kfirmusic Born in Tirat Carmel, Israel, American/Israeli multi-hyphenate Kfir Danieli’s journey began at age 6 when one of his teachers encouraged him to enlist in ballet classes. From Israel to London’s Royal Academy of Dance to some of the biggest stages in the world including the Metropolitan Opera house in New York City and later in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Of The Opera on...

Raymond Baynard / @raymondbaynard joins us from the cast of Hamilton and will soon be seen premiering the new Michael Jackson Broadway musiical! We chat fitness, Hamilton, and the mentality he's shifted to while in this pandemic. Enjoy! www.builtforthestage.com - Schedule your one week trial today! www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices