I Wanna Be Like You with Elbi Cespedes

Today I Wanna Be like Jared Goldsmith! Jared Goldsmith is a content creator with collectively almost 1 MILLION followers on Instagram and TikTok! As a child actor, Jared had the chance to do guest spots on Blue’s Clues, Blue’s Room, The Ant Bully and Spider Man 3. A graduate from Elon University, Jared made his Broadway debut as Jared in Dear Evan Hansen after touring with the show on its initial...

Today I Wanna Charlie Siedenburg! Charlie Siedenburg is a press representative who’s worked on Broadway and at many regional houses across the country. Most recently, he announced he will be retiring from being the press representative at Barrington Stage after working there for 21 years to step into the new role of producer. Charlie has taken up the mantle at the College of Staten Island as produ...

Today I Wanna Be Like Brett Boles! Brett Boles is a musical theater composer and lyricist whose work has been professionally performed regionally and in workshops in NYC. Most recently, a workshop of his musical Time Stops was presented at MTC starring Norbert Leo Butz and Elizabeth Stanley. He’s most well known on social media (with over 650K followers collectively on TikTok and Instagram) for pr...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Randy Graff! Randy Graff is a Tony Award winning actress for her role as Oolie/Donna in City of Angels! Most well known for originating the role of Fantine in Les Miserables on Broadway, Randy's career spans all over the stage and screen. From working with Carol Burnett on Broadway in Moon Over Buffalo, to originating a Neil Simon play Laughter on the 23rd Floor alongside Na...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Robert Horn! Robert Horn is a Tony Award winning Book Writer for his work on Tootsie alongside David Yazbek! Prior to working in theater, Robert had a successful career in TV/Film writing on Designing Women, Living Single and High Society to name a few. He’s penned some successful television movies for Disney Channel including the High School Musical spinoff Sharpay’s Fabulo...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Ken Davenport! Ken Davenport is a successful book writer and producer for multiple Broadway shows garnering 2 Tony Awards for Kinky Boots (Best Musical) and Once on this Island (Best Revival of a Musical). Currently, he’s working on Joy Off Broadway at the Laura Pels Theater where he serves as the producer and book writer. The Broadway shows he’s currently serving as produce...

Today I Wanna Be Like Elizabeth Teeter! Elizabeth Teeter is a triple threat performer with 4 Broadway credits including Lydia in Beetlejuice, Mary Poppins, The Audience and The Crucible! Currently, she’s starring as Heather McNamara in Heathers at New World Stages! Having performed on Broadway alongside Academy Award winner Helen Mirren, Sadie Sink, and Saoirse Ronan, Elizabeth’s career has spanne...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Peter Van Dam! Peter Van Dam is a Broadway casting director who’s a co-owner of The TRC Company. He’s currently the Casting Director for SIX on Broadway! Most recently, Peter cast the Tony Award nominated Best Musical Dead Outlaw, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends and The Heart of Rock n Roll! A graduate from Boston Conservatory, Peter pivoted from acting and worked as  Lonny P...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Jess LeProtto! Jess LeProtto is a Broadway veteran who’s been working onstage since he was a child in shows including Bye Bye Birdie with John Stamos and The Boy From Oz alongside Hugh Jackman. As an adult, he was in the ensembles of Hello Dolly with Bette Midler, Newsies, Carousel and most recently seen on Broadway in A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. Jess, a for...

Welcome to the new BONUS series of I Wanna Be Like You, I Wanna See! Today, I Wanna See Rolling Thunder! Rollling Thunder is a new musical premiering Off Broadway premiering at New World Stages! It brings together legendary songs of the period of the 60's and 70's, raw and potent storytelling inspired by Vietnam veterans and their families!

Today, I Wanna Be Like Jim Walton! Jim Walton has had a vast Broadway career most notably originating the role of Frank in Merrily We Roll Along. He also was featured in the documentary The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened which details the process and legacy of Merrily We Roll Along. He’s also gone on to star alongside John Stamos on Broadway in Bye Bye Birdie. He originated the Kan...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Gary Lloyd! Gary Lloyd is a UK based choreographer whose career ranges from Theater to events for the Royal Family. Currently, he serves as the choreographer for the cult hit musical Heathers which recently extended their run into 2026 at New World Stages! Spanning from working as the creative director on the original seasons of American Idol to serving as the choreographer...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Kevin Metzger-Timson! Kevin Metzger-Timson is casting director who runs The TRC Company. Currently, he's represented on Broadway as the Casting Director of Boop, Death Becomes Her, Aladdin and the upcoming production of Mamma Mia coming to the Winter Garden this summer! He also served as the Casting Director for the current Beauty and the Beast national tour and the most rec...

Today I Wanna Be Like Annbritt DuChateau! Annbritt DuChateau is a professional conductor, piano and French horn playing, music director with numerous Broadway and National Tour credits. Currently, she’s conducting and music directing Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends on Broadway at the Samuel J Friedman Theater until June 29th. Her long history working on Sondheim began with working under a legend in...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Cara Rose DiPietro! Cara Rose DiPietro is a social media influencer who focuses on Lifestyle and Theater content. Currently holding over 400,000 followers on all social media platforms, Cara has been developing her accounts influencing people from all over the globe over the past 3 years. Since then, she's gotten to hold her own TED Talk and 54 Below show: My Mother's Daught...

Today I Wanna Be Like Brad Oscar! After making his Broadway debut in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Aspects of Love, Brad Oscar has received 2 Tony Award nominations for starring in the original companies of The Producers and Something Rotten as Franz Liebkind and Nostradamus respectively. Currently, he is doing 8 shows a week in Wicked as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz! He’s also originated the cast...

Today I Wanna Be Like Josh Bergasse! Josh Bergasse is a renowned choreographer currently Tony Award nominated for his choreography on SMASH playing at the Imperial Theater! He also choreographed the original TV show on NBC as well as So You Think You Can Dance, the revival of On the Town on Broadway for which he received a Tony nomination and many more! Upcoming, Josh is working on the new musical...

Today I Wanna Be Like Thom Sesma! Thom Sesma is currently starring in the new musical Dead Outlaw nominated for 7 Tony Award including Best Musical playing now at the Longacre Theatre! Born in San Diego, Thom didn’t originally see himself being an actor. Now he’s gone onto to star in many shows on and off Broadway as well as playing Scar in The Lion King in Las Vegas! You can catch him performing...

Today I Wanna Be Like Jack Noseworthy! Jack Noseworthy heads the production company TruWorthy Productions alongside his husband, Tony Award Winner Sergio Trujillo and currently is the Lead Producer of Real Women Have Curves on Broadway! The show is happening every night at the James Earl Jones Theater and is nominated for 2 Tony Awards! Beginning as an actor, Jack has found success on stage and sc...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Andy Karl! Andy Karl is an Olivier Award winning and 3 time Tony Award nominated actor whose career spans widely amongst screen and stage. He's most well known for his Olivier Award winning performance as Phil Connors in Groundhog Day the Musical which he performed on Broadway (Tony Award nomination), London's West End and most recently in Australia. He's originated musicals...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Jerry Mitchell! Jerry Mitchell is a Tony Award winning Broadway legend. Currently represented with an Outer Critics Circle Award and Tony Award nomination for his choreography on Boop! The Musical (which he also directed) running on Broadway NOW! Jerry started his career working under the greatest choreographers to have ever worked in the theater: Agnes DeMille, Jerome Robbi...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Brittany Conigatti! Brittany Conigatti is a Broadway dancer who originated A Bronx Tale directed by Robert DeNiro and Jerry Zaks. She also was in the ensemble of The Prom on Broadway! She most recently danced alongside Quinta Brunson on Saturday Night Live! She’s gone on to be a featured dancer in Annie Live!, Mean Girls National Tour, and the national tour of Matilda! Next...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Kris Kyer! Kris Kyer is a renowned acting coach for children working in TV/Film. He’s worked as a dialect coach on TV shows including Boy Meets World, That 70’s Show, Grace Under Fire and more! He’s trained many prominent child actors including Mila Kunis, Dylan & Cole Sprouse, Taylor Lautner, Kyle Massey and many more! He’s also a professional impersonator of Dick Van Dyke...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Lee Roy Reams! Lee Roy Reams is a bonafide Broadway LEGEND. Most well known as the original Billy in 42nd Street (1980), Lee Roy has worked on 11 iconic Broadway shows. He was in the original company of Sweet Charity on Broadway (1966) as well as the film (1969) working alongside Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon. He played the first openly gay role in a Broadway show as Duane Fox i...

Today, I Wanna Be Like Sean McManus! Sean McManus has become most well known for his viral impression of Patti LuPone on TikTok and Instagram! Beyond that, he’s become notable for his impressions of Jennifer Coolidge, Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek and Parker Posey in the most current season of The White Lotus. He’s recently begun performing these impressions LIVE with his upcoming show, And The N...