Storybeat with Steve Cuden

Indie filmmaker, Mark Pirro, arrived in Hollywood in 1974 dreaming of a filmmaking career. With no connections, relatives or friends in the industry, he quickly met other artists with the same dream. After making a few short films in the late 70’s, he produced his first feature in 1981, a comedy entitled A Polish Vampire […] The post Mark Pirro, Indie Filmmaker-Episode #162 appeared first on Story...

Two years after the renowned cartoonist, Jeff Keane, was born, his father, the legendary cartoonist, Bil Keane, started chasing him around begging him to do something funny. So began Jeff’s career as a cartoon model for “The Family Circus.” Raised in Arizona, Jeff moved to California to attend the University of Southern California where he […] The post Jeff Keane, “The Family Circus” Cartoonist-Ep...

The brilliant singer, Joanie Pallato, was described by Rick Kogan of the Chicago Tribune as having “a stirring and special voice.” Joanie toured with The Glenn Miller Orchestra as a featured vocalist before moving to Chicago in 1979.  As a solo singer, group singer and voiceover talent, Joanie has recorded hundreds of radio and television […] The post Joanie Pallato, Singer-Songwriter-Episode #160...

The extraordinary editor and marketer, Brett Jay Markel, better known as BJ, began his film acquisitions career in the earliest days of pay TV, working for Dore Schary’s TheatreVision, Optical System’s Channel 100, and Cinemerica. He headed up acquisitions at the launch of the Disney Channel, and was responsible for over a third of its […] The post BJ Markel, Editor and Marketer-Episode #159 appea...

Actor, singer, and artist, Bill Nolte, made his Broadway debut in 1985 as Old Deuteronomy in Cats, which led to roles in the original cast of The Secret Garden, and the revivals of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and 1776 among others. His formidable comedic talents infused hilarious new life into the roles of Franz […] The post Bill Nolte, Broadway Actor-Singer-Artist-Episode #158 ap...

The brilliant playwright and screenwriter, Martin Casella, has seen his work produced across the United States and around the world. His plays include: The Report, Black Tom Island, The Irish Curse, Directions for Restoring the Apparently Dead, Desert Fire, Beautiful Dreamer, George Bush Goes to Hell, Paper Moon, the Musical, and many others. For film […] The post Martin Casella, Playwright-Screen...

Diane Delin is an extraordinary jazz violinist, composer, recording artist and educator. Her jazz work has earned her the Downbeat Magazine Critics’ Poll “Rising Star” category four times. Jazz Times Magazine said that, “Her elegance and expertise are always obvious,” and Boston’s Jazz Critic, Fred Bouchard said of Diane, “She’s really a fine player with […] The post Diane Delin, Jazz Violinist-Co...

The legendary writer-lyricist-director, Richard Maltby, Jr., conceived and directed two musical revues that went on to win Tony Awards for Best Musical starting with1978’s Ain’t Misbehavin’, for which he also won the Tony for Best Director, and 1999’s Fosse.  Richard has been nominated for an additional 10 Tonys, and he’s both won and been nominated […] The post Richard Maltby, JR., Tony Winning W...

Stage and TV actress, Karen Ziemba, has appeared in 11 Broadway shows. Her Broadway debut was in A Chorus Line as Diana Morales. Later, she played Peggy Sawyer, the lead in 42nd Street. Other Broadway roles include Polly Baker in Crazy for You, Roxie Hart in Chicago, and Belle Hagner in Teddy & Alice. Karen […] The post Karen Ziemba, Tony Winning Broadway and TV Actress-Episode #154 appeared f...

The dynamic Julie Budd is one of the most exceptional singers to ever light up a stage. Julie’s dazzling vocal gifts enable her to bring something fresh to every song she sings. The New York Times declared her as, “The consummate performer!” Julie has worked alongside some of the most illustrious stars in performance history, […] The post Julie Budd, Legendary Singer-Episode #153 appeared first on...

Debbi Dachinger, Media Personality and a Media Visibility expert, has been interviewed on over 1,500 media outlets. And for over 13 years she has hosted the syndicated, award-winning podcast Dare to Dream, for which she’s been nominated for two People’s Choice Podcast Awards. Debbi also interviews celebrities on the red carpet, acts as a keynote […] The post Debbi Dachinger, Media Personality-Epis...

Music producer, John Yap, is the founder of internationally renowned Jay Records. John has dedicated his life to preserving musicals for generations to come. Some of his masterworks include My Fair Lady, West Side Story, The King and I, South Pacific, Man of La Mancha, Annie Get Your Gun, Cabaret, and many others. John’s latest […] The post John Yap, Music Producer-Episode #151 appeared first on S...

You’ve assuredly seen actor Troy Evans many times on the silver screen. Troy’s 4-decade career has been marked by a few memorable home runs, and a huge number of base hits. He’s guest starred on over 100 TV episodes. And you may remember him as Sgt. Pepper on the TV series China Beach, or Artie […] The post Troy Evans, Actor-Episode #150 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden .

Steve Bramson, is the Emmy™ award–winning composer of hundreds of primetime television episodes and numerous feature films. He scored ten consecutive seasons of the long-running CBS series JAG. At the time, it was one of a handful of series that utilized a large live orchestra for each of its weekly scores. He received two Emmy™ nominations […] The post Steve Bramson, Emmy™-Winning TV and Film Com...

The revered actress, Kathleen Chalfant, has spent more than five decades performing on stage, screen and TV. Perhaps best known for her devastating portrayal of Vivian Bearing, a scholar battling cancer, in Margaret Edson’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, Wit, for which she received numerous awards, including: the Obie, Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, […] The post Kathleen Chalfant,...

Stage and screen actor, Jason Graae, has starred on Broadway in A Grand Night For Singing, Falsettos, Stardust, Snoopy!, and Do Black Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up? Off-Broadway, Jason has starred in such shows as, Forever Plaid, Olympus on My Mind, All in the Timing, Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (which earned him a Drama […] The post Jason Graae, Stage and Screen Actor-Episode #147 appeare...

Janis Hirsch got her start as a comedy writer by talking her way into a job on the National Lampoon Show called Lemmings, which starred the then unknown John Belushi, Christopher Guest and Chevy Chase, among others. She subsequently worked at the National Lampoon Magazine back, as she says, when it was funny. She’s also […] The post Janis Hirsch, Comedy Writer-Producer-Episode #146 appeared first...

Evette Vargas is an award-winning writer, director, producer and immersive storyteller. Named by the New York Times as an “Artist to Watch,” Evette has produced series for Amazon, MTV, Bravo, DirectTV; and interactive content for Fast And Furious, the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and Madonna. Evette executive produced, wrote and directed her digital series […] The post Evette Vargas, Writer-Director-...

Actor-Director Michael Dorn is best known for his longtime popular portrayal of Klingon Starfleet Officer Lieutenant (later Lt. Commander) Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Michael has appeared more times as a regular cast member than any other Star Trek actor in the franchise’s nearly 55-year history, spanning […] The post Michael Dorn, Actor-Director-Star Tre...

Jamie deRoy is a show business tour de force. Not only is Jamie a prolific, Tony Award-winning producer on Broadway and beyond. She’s also a cabaret, stage, film and TV performer, a recording artist and producer, and humanitarian. Jamie started out as a singer, opening for many comics, including Norm Crosby, Robert Klein and Joan […] The post Jamie deRoy, Tony Award-Winning Broadway Producer-Episo...

Jeff Werner is an Emmy Award-winning director and editor of documentaries, feature films and motion picture advertising. Most recently, Jeff produced and directed Those Who Serve, a feature length documentary dealing with invisibly wounded combat Veterans who have found themselves defendants in our Criminal Justice System. In 2017, Jeff produced and oversaw the editing of […] The post Jeff Werner,...

Jonathan Deans is a highly renowned, heavily in-demand theatrical sound designer. His sound systems and designs can be heard on stages and in venues around the world. Known for his unique approach to immersive sound by giving the audience a one-off sonic experience for a particular theater or space, Jonathan works to create a memorable […] The post Jonathan Deans-Renowned Theatre Sound Designer-Ep...

Paulette McWilliams is a dazzling vocalist who you’ve likely heard many times. For a significant part of her career, she has graced the recordings of no less than Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, Luther Vandross, Celine Dion, and many others. You see, Paulette is a backup vocals superstar. Paulette’s most recent solo song collection, […] The post Paulette McWilliams, Singer-Episode #...

Music producer, musician, songwriter, arranger, sound engineer – and consummate artist, Stephan Oberhoff, has performed with, produced for, and collaborated with a who’s-who of music legends; including Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach, Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Melissa Manchester, Patti Austin – and many more. Though he’s mastered a wide range of […] The post Stephan Ob...

The dynamic movie and TV producer, Chris Moore, is visiting StoryBeat for the second time. Chris is perhaps best known for producing Good Will Hunting, the American Pie movies, Promised Land, The Adjustment Bureau, Manchester by the Sea, and two notable TV series, Project Greenlight, and The Chair, which was shot in Pittsburgh seven or […] The post Chris Moore, Movie and TV Producer, Session 2-Epi...