The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

Christian Cowan’s journey to the top of the fashion world is anything but traditional. He opens up about applying to Central Saint Martins with a literal soup can instead of a standard portfolio and explains how a childhood obsession with insects helped him understand high fashion structures. He also shares the wild story of receiving a commission from Lady Gaga at just 18 years old while he was s...

Kevin Del Aguila has one of those careers that feels impossible on paper but makes perfect sense once you hear him talk about it. He shares how acting and writing grew side by side almost accidentally, from staging one-acts with unemployed friends to becoming the secret ingredient that finally unlocked Altar Boyz. Kevin opens up about years of temp jobs, the anxiety of switching to a full-time art...

Gabrielle Nevaeh’s journey to Stranger Things: The First Shadow feels like a real-time coming-of-age story. In our conversation, she opens up about growing up painfully shy in Florida, discovering acting at a performing arts school, and then making the leap to Los Angeles at just twelve years old with nothing but six suitcases and a dream. From navigating the whirlwind of Nickelodeon fame, to esse...

Kimiko Glenn brings a mix of honesty, humor, and delightful chaos to this conversation, opening up about the vulnerable journey behind her new single Hang Out Forever and why the music video takes such a hilariously dark turn. She talks about songwriting as her personal diary, how she finally found the courage to share it publicly, and why creative control feels like oxygen after years of being th...

This conversation with Nathan Lee Graham goes deeper than expected, mixing sharp humor with real insight into a career built on consistency, curiosity, and craft. He reflects on growing up between St. Louis and Los Angeles, navigating a childhood shaped by divorce, experimental schools, and parents who understood early on that the arts were his home. Nathan talks about discovering his calling in h...

Two artists with big hearts take center stage to talk about building a true home for kids in the South Bronx. Casimar Valles shares how The Haus of Performing Arts grew from an uncle’s dream into a community hub that picks students up after school, feeds them, and lets them stand up and create instead of being told to sit still. Broadway powerhouse Nasia Thomas jumps in with lived proof of what ea...

We go deep with Phillip Johnson Richardson on the real stuff behind a Broadway glow up. He opens up about being a young Black man showing vulnerability onstage, the pressure to be perfect, and how identity, belonging, and mental health shape the work. We talk about choosing when to step away, the cost of staying, and the tools he uses to keep his center steady when the noise gets loud. Quick heads...

Originally recorded for my other podcast Was It Chance? with my co-host Heather Vickery, this conversation with director, producer, educator, and author David Armstrong felt like a perfect fit for The Theatre Podcast as well. David shares stories from his remarkable 40-year career in theatre — including his years leading Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre, where he helped develop Hairspray before it b...

Tony Award–winner Ariel Stachel sits down for a candid and deeply personal conversation about his new Off-Broadway solo show Other. More than just a performance piece, the show is a marathon of vulnerability — exploring identity, anxiety, and the pressure to belong — and Ariel shares how it feels to put his entire self on stage for 90 minutes without a break. We talk about why he treats performing...

The cult-favorite film Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion has officially made the leap to the stage, and we got a front-row seat at the press day for Romy & Michele: The Musical. From the long road of development to the joy-filled energy the show brings today, this conversation takes us inside the creative journey of bringing Romy and Michele’s world to New York. Across a series of interviews, t...

Marisha Wallace brings both powerhouse vocals and fearless honesty to this conversation, diving deep into what it really means to lead Cabaret during one of the most politically charged times in recent memory. She shares how audience reactions shifted depending on the day’s headlines, and how she embraced the role not just as entertainment, but as activism—using art to help people process the worl...

Originally aired as episode 120 on December 9, 2020. Nik Walker is an artist, educator, and activist who made his Broadway debut in Motown The Musical. He spent 3 years with the Broadway and touring companies of Hamilton, adding both Aaron Burr and George Washington to his resume. Other stage credits include Peter and the Starcatcher (off-Broadway), and regional productions at La Jolla Playhouse,...

When two podcasts collide, the conversation gets wild — and that’s exactly what happened when Mike Abrams of The Wrong Cat Died joined me for this crossover episode with actor Ian Knauer. We cover Ian’s journey through Broadway, the West End, regional theater, and even his time performing on Disney Cruise Line. Along the way, Ian shares the perseverance it took to finally land Cats after years of...

Jack Viertel has quietly shaped Broadway for decades, guiding landmark productions from behind the scenes while rarely stepping into the spotlight himself. In this conversation, he opens up about the art and the business of theatre, reflecting on how shows get chosen, how failures and successes both shape a career, and why Broadway has always been in a cycle of decline and rebirth. We also wander...

Burke Swanson brings the heart, humor, and metaphysical musings to this episode in a way that’s rare and deeply refreshing. From his early days as a third-grader doing stand-up at a summer camp to stepping into the Netflix universe as Hopper Jr. in Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Burke shares the moments that shaped him—and the ones that continue to ground him. We go well beyond credits to talk...

What happens when one of the biggest TV shows in the world makes the leap to Broadway? Alison Jaye takes us behind the scenes of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, where she steps into the role of Joyce Maldonado in a production unlike anything Broadway has ever seen. With audiences made up largely of first-time theatergoers, Alison describes what it feels like when the show plays like a full-on r...

Gerianne Pérez joins us for a candid and hilarious conversation about her winding path from choir kid to Broadway scene-stealer. She shares how an early love of a cappella shaped her artistry, why walking away from a “safe” office job was the best decision she ever made, and what it’s like to audition for Six in front of a room full of other queens going for the same role. We get into her current...

Alex Serino didn’t take the “traditional” path to Broadway, but his journey is one fueled by community, heart, and hustle. A proud Boston native, Alex grew up surrounded by music, theater, and an extended family that felt more like a village. From band kid to puppeteering Audrey II, to a standout performance in The SpongeBob Musical and hosting Emerson’s EVVY Awards, his love of performance kept e...

Ayanna Nicole Thomas didn’t follow a traditional path to Broadway—but that’s exactly what makes her story so compelling. After growing up between the Bronx and LA, she eventually made her way back to New York to study musical theatre. But right before her senior year, she booked her Broadway debut in How to Dance in Ohio—a show that celebrates neurodivergence and gave her a sense of belonging she...

Aaron Bartz brings a grounded, thoughtful energy to the role of Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and in this conversation, he shares just how much life and imagination go into keeping the magic alive night after night. From flying and fire to illusions and high-stakes contingencies, Aaron walks us through what it’s like to debut on Broadway in one of the most technically demandin...

From playing the oboe in northern Minnesota to casting spells as Ginny Potter on Broadway, Sarah Killough's story is anything but ordinary. In this episode, Sarah chats about her early musical roots, growing up surrounded by theater in a creatively rich family, and the pivotal decision to attend Interlochen as a teenager. She shares how she carved her path through school, summer stock, and eventua...

Matthew James Thomas opens up in this heartfelt conversation about his journey from a rebellious, bullied teen in the English countryside to finding truth and belonging on stage. Growing up feeling misunderstood, he found safety and purpose in acting, discovering early on that truth-telling through performance was his way of making sense of the world. He shares the emotional weight he carries play...

Rachel Christopher brings a poet’s heart and a scholar’s mind to the stage eight times a week as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. In this conversation, she opens up about her lifelong love of language, her background in translating ancient Greek poetry, and the deeply personal connection she feels to storytelling—both on stage and off. Whether she’s talking about her time at...

Theatre and magic collide as Erik Christopher Peterson kicks off a seven-episode Harry Potter and the Cursed Child cast takeover on the podcast. In this deep-dive conversation, Erik reflects on growing up with a theatre educator dad, trading in his baseball glove for the stage, and eventually making his Broadway debut as Scorpius Malfoy. He shares the inspiration behind some of his original plays...

From growing up in Eastchester, New York with dreams of joining Saturday Night Live to becoming one of the most beloved cast members in its history, Bobby Moynihan’s story is packed with heart, humor, and a lot of unexpected turns. In this episode, Bobby reflects on his nine seasons at SNL—including the anxiety, the magic, and the behind-the-scenes chaos—and shares how improv and the Upright Citiz...