The Theater Enthusiast Podcast

This episode we are joined by producer, director, writer and actor Craig Newman!  Craig is based in LA and we talk about what brought him to LA, his experience teaching acting, him writing, directing and producing content and much more!  Craig also has a production company called Craig & Co and can be checked out here:  https://www.craigandco.co/ .  He also has a film premiering April 12th and...

Happy to welcome Maestra Music’s Kat Sherrell and Kathleen Wrinn as our next guests. Kat and Kathleen are Program Heads with Maestra Music with Kat being Program Head of Regional and Affinity Groups and Kathleen being the Directory Manager. We talk with them about their careers, working with Maestra Music, its importance in the theater community and about Maestra’s upcoming concert: Maestra Music’...

This episode we are joined by actress Lesli Margherita!  Lesli is an Olivier Awarding winning performer and is best known for her originating the role of Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda on Broadway.  She also appear in Dames at Sea on Broadway and Emojiland off-Broadway.  Lesli has a ton on tv, film and regional theater credits and got her Olivier Award from her West End debut in Zorro the Musical.  You...

This episode we are joined by the founders of Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera, Dimitri Pittas and Leah Edwards.  Both Dimitri and Leah are opera singers and have brought their love of the arts and opera to Charleston, SC with founding Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera, also known as HALO.  We talk with them about what got them into singing opera, why art is so important, what they hope to bring to...

This episode we are joined by actor Aaron C. Finley!  Aaron is currently in the ensemble of Moulin Rouge the Musical where is also understudies Christian and The Duke.  He is one of 5 original cast members left in Moulin Rouge!  Aaron made is Broadway debut in Rock of Ages and starred as Charlie Price in Kinky Boots. Other credits include It Shoulda Been You and the regional premier of Diner.  Aar...

This episode we are joined by actor, writer, director, producer and teacher Colin Hanlon!  Colin made his Broadway debut in Rent. Other credits include Falsettos, In Transit, the original off-Broadway cast of I Love You Because, Submissions Only (my personal favorite!), Uncoupled and Modern Family. He also directed an acclaimed regional production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee!  We...

This episode we are joined by actor and filmmaker Tom Riley!  Tom was last seen on stage in the National Theatre's production of Dancing at Lughnasa.  Tom is best known for playing Leonardo Da Vinci in Da Vinci's Demons and made his Broadway debut playing Septimus Hodge in Arcadia.  He has a long list on theater credits and made his directing debut with his film The Toll Road.  We talk w...

This episode we are joined by actor Tam Mutu!  Tam was last seen in City Center Encores' production of Oliver and is known for originating the role of The Duke in Moulin Rouge! The Musical!   He made his Broadway debut in Doctor Zhivago as Yuri Zhivago and his other credits include Love Never Dies, City of Angels and Les Misérables.  We talk with Tam about what led him to theater, his love of...

This episode we are joined by theater journalist and photographer Shoshana bwaySHO!  Shoshana talks about what got her into journalism, her transition from being a reporter in Texas to deciding to come back to New York, the importance of changing your name and much more!  You can follow Shoshana on social media at @bwysho and can subscribe to her Patreon!

This episode we are joined by cast members of the off-Broadway play The Inheritance of a Long-Term Fault!  Gabra Zuckman and Craig Wesley Divino give us insight into all things The Inheritance of a Long-Term Fault: why you should see it, why it's important piece of theater,  what it's like portraying different roles and much more.  Gabra also talks about her work as a voice performer and...

This episode we are joined by actor Elliot Cowan!  Elliot was last seen in the West End production of A Little Life in the roles of Brother Luke/Dr. Traylor/Caleb.  His other credits include 2:22 A Ghost Story, An Ideal Husband, A Streetcar Names Desire, Macbeth and Henry V.  He is also known for playing Mr. Darcy in Lost in Austen and his film debut, Alexander.  We talk with Elliot about his care...

This episode we are joined by Lauren Kennedy Brady!  Lauren is the Producing Artistic Director of Theatre Raleigh and her Broadway credits include Sunset Boulevard, Side Show, Les Miserables and Spamalot.  She has numerous regional credits and was the original Kathy in Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years.  We chat with Lauren about her career in New York and what brought her back home to...

This episode we are joined by performer Lindsay Nicole Chambers!  Lindsay is currently in the cast of the new Stephen Sondheim musical, Here We Are .  Lindsay has also appeared on Broadway in Lysistrata Jones, Legally Blonde and Hairspray.  She toured with Kinky Boots, Elf and Hairspray and has a number of regional credits.  You can also get her album, This is the Chord, This is the Note, on bandc...

This episode we are joined by the delightful Jenn Gambatese!  Jenn has originated roles on Broadway in such shows as Hairspray, All Shook Up, Tarzan, Is He Dead? and Mrs. Doubtfire.  She's has also appeared in School of Rock, Carousel, The Sound of Music and on tour with Wicked.  Jenn talks about the Broadway Green Alliance, what it's like being a working mom, auditions stories and much...

This episode we are joined by musical theater star Amy Spanger!  Amy is known for her roles in Tick, Tick...Boom! , The Wedding Singer , Kiss Me Kate! , Rock of Ages , Chicago , Elf , Matilda  and many others.  We talk about her career, her early involvement in the musical now known as  Next to Normal , getting to work with theater legends and much more!

This episode we are joined by actor, writer and producer Catherine Waller!  Catherine is the creator and performer of the new off-Broadway show called The Creeps .  We talk with Catherine about all thing The Creeps , her career, her ambitions for the future and much more! 

This episode we are joined by actor Lindsay Heather Pearce!  Lindsay is currently starring as Rose in Titanique .   She made her Broadway debut as Elphaba in Wicked and played Janis in the national tour of Mean Girls .  Lindsay is also known for being on the Glee Project .  During our chat Lindsay talks about the importance of taking care of ones self in the industry, what  lessons she's lear...

This episode we are joined by Tony and Grammy Award winning actor Steve Kazee!  Steve is known for playing the role of Guy in Once .  He has appeared in other Broadway shows such as 110 in the Shade , Spamalot and Seascape .  Steve talks about what it was like working on all the shows he has been in, the Tony experience, the book he is working on and much more! 

This episode we are joined by performer James D. Gish.  James was last seen in City Center Encores' production of  The Light in the Piazza   and made his Broadway debut in  Wicked .  James was also in the national tours of  Beautiful and  Les Miserables .  You can also listen to James' album "So in Love" on iTunes.  James takes about his life as a working actor, his love of wri...

This episode we are joined by actors Kim Chase and Aurora Leonard!  Both Kim and Aurora are currently starring in Ruskin Group Theatre's production of A View From a Bridge as Beatrice and Catherine.  Kim and Aurora talk about working on and performing in this famous play as well as their careers as working actors.  We also touch upon the SAG-AFTRA Strike and why it's so important. 

This episode we are joyed by playwright, producer and director Neil LaBute!  Neil talks about what it's like to get plays produced, working as a director in theater, film and television, the progression of his plays and much more!

Let's get informed about the SAG-AFTRA Strike! This episode we are in conversation with Austin Highsmith as she breaks down the SAG-AFTRA strike.  She talks about why SAG-AFTRA is striking, what they are asking for and much more! 

This episode we are joined by actor Jay Armstrong Johnson!  Jay is currently starring in the Tony winning Broadway revival of Parade.  His past credits include, Hair, Catch Me if You Can, Hands on a Hardbody, On the Town and Phantom of the Opera.  We chat with Jay about his career, his passion for producing, working with Emma Thompson and his yearly Halloween fundraising event I Put A Spell On You...

This episode we are joined by hair, wig and makeup designer J. Jared Janas!  Jared shares with us the his process of how we starts to design for a show, creating wigs and make designs, and much more!  You can currently see his work on Broadway in the newly minted Tony winner for best musical, Kimberly Akimbo, Good Night, Oscar and &Juliet.  

This episode we are thrilled to welcome the cast of Park Theatre's The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute!  Starring Luke Newton (Bridgerton, The Book of Mormon), Amber Anderson (Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror), Carla Harrison-Hodge (Cyrano De Bergerac, Amadeus) and Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy (War Horse, Hollyoaks).  We chat with the cast (our first in-person interview since before the pandemic) a...