The Roundtable with Robert Bannon

A stirring new musical filled with history, resilience, and hope has arrived. We Shall Someday, featuring a book and lyrics by Harrison David Rivers and music and additional lyrics by Ted Shen, tells the story of three generations of a Southern Black family confronting injustice, identity, and the ongoing fight for equality. Released by Joy Machine Records, the World Premiere Recording captures th...

Tony Award nominee, Broadway superstar, and film & television favorite Laura Bell Bundy joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon! Best known for originating the iconic role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical and starring in Hairspray, Laura has also appeared in fan-favorite projects including Jumanji, Dreamgirls, How I Met Your Mother, Hart of Dixie, and more. Now, Laura is back on screen...

From making Broadway history to inspiring others through his new book, Joomin Hwang is proving that persistence, passion, and reinvention can take you anywhere. Currently starring in & Juliet, Joomin joins us to talk about his incredible journey from South Korea to the Broadway stage, the power of storytelling, and the release of his new book, The Rule of Five Journal. Joomin made history as one o...

The stars were out in full force for the 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards, celebrating the very best of Broadway, Off-Broadway, and beyond! From the casts of Ragtime, The Balusters, Schmigadoon!, The Lost Boys, Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and more, the night was packed with powerhouse talent, unforgettable performances, and theatrical magi...

Award-winning director Jeremy Seifert is bringing important conversations to the forefront with Papertown, a moving documentary that shines a light on the lives of unhoused individuals living in makeshift communities across the country. Known for emotionally driven storytelling and socially conscious filmmaking, Jeremy captures the resilience, heartbreak, and humanity behind the headlines while ch...

From Broadway stage manager to eco-conscious entrepreneur, Jennifer Kahn has created something truly one-of-a-kind with Scenery Bags — a company that transforms discarded theatrical materials into stunning handbags, jewelry, and accessories. Using retired backdrops, stage floors, costumes, and promotional materials from iconic productions, Jennifer has built a brand that celebrates theatre history...

Pop sensation Maisy Kay joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk all about her emotionally charged new single “Bitter,” a track that blends cinematic pop, raw honesty, and the soaring vocals fans have fallen in love with. Known for creating music that feels both deeply personal and larger-than-life, Maisy opens up about channeling heartbreak, frustration, and growth into one of her most rel...

Robert Bannon sits down with filmmaker, producer, and now novelist Lovell Holder to discuss his gripping debut novel, The Book of Luke. The fast-paced, emotionally charged story follows Luke Griffin, a former reality TV champion whose carefully constructed life begins to unravel after a political scandal rocks his marriage and family. Forced back into the cutthroat competition show that first made...

Artistic Director Alexandra Aron and Obie Award-winning playwright Carmen Rivera join us on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk about the powerful new community-based production Everybody Has A Story To Tell! Set throughout the Lower East Side and Chinatown gardens of NYC, this multilingual theatrical experience shines a light on resilience, culture, migration, and the voices too often unhea...

Comedy icon Robert Hays is taking flight once again as he and co-star Julie Hagerty hit the road celebrating one of the funniest films ever made — the legendary Airplane! The groundbreaking 1980 comedy changed movie history forever with its rapid-fire jokes, absurd humor, and unforgettable one-liners. Hays starred as Ted Striker, the troubled ex-fighter pilot forced to land a plane in chaos, deliv...

The Roundtable with Robert Bannon heads to one of the most exciting artistic incubators in the country as we sit down with Andy Sandberg, the Artistic Director and CEO of the Hermitage Artist Retreat! Located on Florida’s stunning Gulf Coast, the Hermitage has become a powerhouse destination where groundbreaking playwrights, composers, performers, poets, and creators come to develop bold new work....

The Producing Artistic Director of The Acting Company joins The Roundtable to discuss reimagining Shakespeare’s legendary tragedy for a new generation and why Hamlet still speaks to audiences today. The Roundtable with Robert Bannon welcomes Devin Brain, the Producing Artistic Director of The Acting Company, to talk all about their exciting new production of Hamlet. A Yale School of Drama graduate...

Fresh off the national tour of Peter Pan, rising star Serenity Mariana is stepping into the powerful new Off-Broadway play Indian Princesses at Atlantic Theater Company. Inspired by playwright Eliana Theologides Rodriguez’s real-life experiences, the production explores identity, family, cultural appropriation, and the stories we inherit — all through a sharp, emotional, and darkly funny lens. Ser...

The Roundtable hit Lincoln Center for the dazzling 2026 New York City Ballet Spring Gala and what a night it was! This year’s “Set in Stone: Creation & Preservation” celebration brought together the worlds of dance, fashion, philanthropy, and entertainment for an unforgettable evening. We caught up with stars on the carpet including celebrities, benefactors, supporters of the arts, and members of...

The rising stage star is making major moves in the theater world as she prepares to share the stage with none other than Hugh Jackman in the highly anticipated new production of New Born. The intimate theatrical event, written by acclaimed playwright Ella Hickson, will also feature Sepideh Moafi and is set for a limited engagement at New York’s Minetta Lane Theatre through Audible Theater.  Known...

Broadway star Rashidra Scott is here on The Roundtable to talk about the powerful new production “My Lord, What A Night!” Known for her incredible performances in Ain’t Too Proud, Beautiful, Sister Act, and more, Rashidra is now stepping into a moving story inspired by the final night before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. Filled with music, heart, humor, and history, the production ex...

Soul, heart, powerhouse vocals, and a whole lot of joy — Brother Wallace is here on The Roundtable! The Georgia-born singer, songwriter, pianist, and K-12 music teacher is bringing his electrifying blend of soul, gospel, blues, and rock to the world with his debut album “Electric Love.” From performing with gospel legend Kirk Franklin to sharing stages with The Heavy and lighting up venues across...

The chaos queens of rap-pop are HERE! Flyana Boss joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to celebrate their brand new single “Feelin It,” out NOW! If you love when our interviews completely go off the rails in the best possible way… buckle up. This one is FUN. The viral duo talks new music, friendship, creativity, internet fame, and building a brand that is totally and unapologetically THEM. Loud...

The Roundtable with Robert Bannon hit the red carpet at the 2026 Lucille Lortel Awards celebrating the very best of Off-Broadway theater! We caught up with some of the biggest names of the night including Daniel J. Watts, Justin Cooley, Okieriete Onaodowan, Whitney White, Stephanie Hsu, and more to talk about the power, passion, and magic of the Off-Broadway community. From groundbreaking new work...

When you say legacy, craft, and real storytelling, you’re talking about Ruben Santiago-Hudson. A Tony Award winner for Seven Guitars, Ruben has built a career that seamlessly moves between Broadway, film, and television—bringing depth and authenticity to every space he enters. Now, he’s back on Broadway in August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, stepping into the role of Bynum Walker—a charact...

The Broadway season is heating up, and correspondent Rob Nicholson was front and center at the Meet the Nominees presentation for the Chita Rivera Awards! From the ballroom to the backstage buzz, Rob caught up with some of the incredible artists bringing dance and movement to life on stage and screen this year. First up, the jellicle magic of Cats: The Jellicle Ball! Rob chatted with nominees Sydn...

Tony Bordonaro and Ingrid Kapteyn are not just performing—they’re inviting audiences into a living, breathing experiment. Their latest work, Chalk Outline Portal, is an immersive “danceplay” that fuses movement, storytelling, and technology into something completely unpredictable. Built through their company Welcome to Campfire, the piece dives into grief, identity, and the shifting nature of self...

On this episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, we’re shining a spotlight on the women who quite literally keep the show running. From calling cues to managing chaos, these stage management leaders are the heartbeat of the productions we love. Aura Michelle (You Got Older), Katie Girardot (My Joy is Heavy at New York Theatre Workshop), pau (Spread at INTAR Theatre), and Christina M. Woolard...

Brooke deRosa is having a major moment—and New York audiences are about to experience it firsthand. The multi-hyphenate composer, lyricist, and director is behind a dynamic double feature of original musical comedies, Gunfight at the Not-So-OK Saloon and Does Not Compute, arriving for a limited run this May. Known for her ability to fuse classic musical theater traditions with modern storytelling,...

Rhonda Shear is officially back—and she’s not just revisiting the past, she’s reinventing it. The iconic host of USA Up All Night has launched a brand-new Roku destination, the Up All Night Network, bringing fresh episodes, classic vibes, and a whole new generation into her signature late-night world. Roku viewers can now dive into new content alongside the nostalgic chaos that made her a cult fav...