The Spotlight Series

We all love Broadway – the glitz, the glamour, the electric energy of those bright lights, and the jaw-dropping performances by some seriously talented people. But beyond all that sparkle, there's something more meaningful that connects us – the joy of witnessing authentic performances and seeing raw talent truly shine.  Stephanie Torns is the perfect example of that. You might know her from her s...

In theater, balance is everything. From meeting the unique needs of performers to making sure mental health is a priority during rehearsals, the industry is always evolving. One of the biggest challenges is pushing back against the toxic idea of perfection and instead embracing the excitement of discovery. This is exactly what EPIC Players is all about. Founded by Aubrie Therrien, who was named "N...

EPIC Players is redefining what inclusivity looks like in theater, creating a space where neurodivergent and disabled artists can truly shine. Since its founding in August 2016, this nonprofit has been all about Empower, Perform, Include, Create – staying true to the acronym in every sense. Their mission? To break down barriers and ensure that everyone has the chance to build a professional career...

Throughout the year, week after week, the actors of Only Make Believe, along with the staff, create and perform interactive and engaging theater in children’s hospitals, special education schools, and care facilities. It allows these children which medically fragile conditions to truly be the star of the show. But one night each year is set aside to celebrate the work that they do as well as conti...

Only Make Believe started in New York City and has since opened an office Washington, DC with outreach in several other cities as well. And every November they have an all-star gala on Broadway to raise funds and awareness for the incredible work they do for children across the country. For our sixth episode, I’m bringing you a conversation from my other podcast, Why I’ll Never Make It. Joe DiPiet...

For our fifth episode, we will hear from Maria Peyramaure, a bilingual stage and screen actress and teaching artist. Growing up in Madrid, Spain and later on in Georgia, she eventually moved to New York City in 2005. After years of establishing herself here, she eventually learned about Only make Believe and joined the acting company in 2018. We’ll talk about her work between theater and on-camera...

For our fourth episode, we will hear from Tony Award winner J. Harrison Ghee. He will be performing at this year’s annual gala for Only Make Believe on November 6th. I first met and worked with J. in a production of Kinky Boots at The Muny in St. Louis. It was a fantastic production and J. definitely stole the show as Lola. We discuss that role as well as his award-winning turn in Some Like It Hot...

For our third episode, we will hear from multi-talented actor and voiceover artist David Shih, who has been an actor and member of the Only Make Believe family since. He was most recently on Broadway with the amazing play Life of Pi, a visually stunning piece that was gone way too soon, in my humble opinion. David has also performed off-Broadway in shows like KPOP (Ars Nova), Awake and Sing (The P...

For our second episode, we will hear from theater husbands Diego Prieto and Brad Oscar. Diego is a long-time actor in the company and has brought theater to thousands of children, while Brad serves on the board of Only Make Believe and regularly performs in their annual galas. We talk about how it was the stage that brought them together, what led each of them to come to New York, and how OMB has...

In this first episode, we will hear from the Executive Artistic Director of Only Make Believe, Tamela Aldridge. She first started out as one of their actors, and she shares how theater has inspired her from a young age. Tamela went on to become OMB’s first regional director in Washington, DC. Now she heads up the entire organization with a spirit of empathy and energy that will continue to further...

The arts are not just important as a means of creativity and enjoyment, but they’re also a source of inspiration and at times even healing, and it is this guiding principle that led to the founding of Only Make Believe. And in this first season of The Spotlight Series, we’ll be talking with those who work for and support this important organization that brings interactive theater to children. It w...