The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

With Anoushka Lucas’ talent and success as a songwriter, it may come as a surprise for some that she initially had no interest at all in working in theatre. Just like in most of her endeavors, she fell into it. She expands on this as shares her journey, revealing her initial passive disposition, which contrasts with her willingness to embrace diverse experiences–the duality of man, as they say. Fr...

From cults and documentaries to their deeply thought out character motivations, actors John Lavelle and Haskell King look back on their theatre journey. The two share their background, doing productions when they were younger, and what eventually made them pursue acting as a career. Currently starring in "Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy", they talk about how they got involved with the show,...

Among all the things Jai Rodriguez knows how to do well, not punching down is at the top of the list . Sharing his journey from going to Broadway to landing a role in the groundbreaking TV series, “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy”, his grit and talent took the stage by storm, playing in shows like “Rent” and “The Producers”. He shares how he got started by going to his first audition at the age of...

A multifaceted artist, Melissa Errico talks about her career, including her album "Sondheim In The City," her latest project which pays tribute to the legendary Stephen Sondheim. Melissa also reveals the reason behind her Instagram username, what it’s like raising kids in a “tough city”, and how theatre became her place to organize her emotions. Living in New York, she’s developed a deep connectio...

From growing up a self-proclaimed overachiever to her recent success in “Dancing with the Stars”, Ariana Madix remains unstoppable as she makes her Broadway debut in an eight-week run as Roxie Hart in the Broadway production of “Chicago”. She reflects on her childhood, what got her into performing and theatre, and the shows she drew inspiration from. She also looks back into her early career, incl...

An accomplished actress, singer, author, and educator, Alexandra Silber delves into her extensive career as she shares her origin story, revealing that her early influences, particularly her deep connection to literature and theater, emerged from the challenges of her father's illness when she was a child. Believing in the transformative power of storytelling, it became her sanctuary to explore pr...

It's always better the second time around! Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer returns to the podcast to talk about her life and career post-pandemic back on her time in “Beetlejuice”, the show closing during the pandemic, and everything that went down in between. Currently starring in “Spamalot”, she takes pride in the exceptional ensemble dynamics in the show and shares how she’s approaching her role as Th...

An actor, writer, and Shakespeare enthusiast, Ellen Adair shares their journey into acting and the profound impact it has had on their life. From their early fascination with Shakespeare to experiences in various productions, they emphasize the importance of connection in their work and the collaborative aspect that comes with it. They find joy in interacting with fellow actors, exploring characte...

Can we call it a tradition now? Diana Salameh, Vice President of Brand Integration at Serino Coyne, once again co-hosts the final episode of the year. Serino Coyne is the nation's longest-running theatrical advertising agency, so as always Diana brings some fun insider insight to how this strange business of show actually goes down. What was your favorite show of 2023? What are you most looking fo...

For Stephanie, she was either going to be a nun or a musical theatre actress. She elaborates on this as she looks back on her early days and her influences growing up, including her mom. She reflects on her journey as an actress, moving to New York in her early 20s and being intimidated by the city, leaving and eventually finding her way back. Being involved with the original creation of “Wicked”,...

A two-time Tony Award-winning actor and singer, Norbert Leo Butz opens up about his childhood, the challenges he faced pursuing a career in acting, and the remarkable twists of fate that brought him to Broadway. Hailing from a large family of 11 siblings, he shares how the importance of education was instilled to them by his parents. Despite his family's support for school plays, his strict upbrin...

Casey Cott, a talented actor best known for his role as Kevin Keller on "Riverdale," discusses his current role and Broadway debut as Christian in the Broadway production of "Moulin Rouge! The Musical”. He shares insights into his journey from television to the Broadway stage, including how he landed the role, finally fulfilling one of his lifelong dreams. Casey reflects on the challenges and rewa...

From dancing to “Chicago” songs to finally playing the role of Mama Morton in the long-running musical, Lili Thomas’s acting career has definitely come full circle. Celebrating her first anniversary on the show, Lili shares the unique experience of being part of a production with constantly changing casts, and the show’s dynamics, including the encouragement for actors to bring their individuality...

Pulitzer Prize winner James Ijames starts off by sharing his love for writing and the meaning behind the philosophy on his website. He discusses the transformative power of his first encounter with a play and how it ignited his desire to help “expand the range of storytelling about black people”. The conversation also delves into his play "Fat Ham" wherein he reflects on its creative process, the...

Steve discusses his role as Harry Potter in the Broadway production of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" and delves into the challenges and thrills of bringing such an iconic character to life on stage. He recounts his initial reactions to being cast as Harry Potter and the overwhelming nature of playing a famous character. He shares his experiences with the production, the preparation involved,...

A dynamic duo with impressive acting credits, Marilu Henner and Caroline Aaron discuss their friendship, careers, and their play "Madwomen of the West." The two fondly share their strong and enduring friendship, how they met, and their mutual respect and support for each other despite their differences They also talk about their current play, "Madwomen of the West", the relationship they have with...

With impressive stage credits at a young age, Casey Likes who’s currently playing the iconic role of Marty McFly in "Back to the Future: The Musical" is someone to watch out for in the Broadway scene. Starting his acting career at age three, Casey talks about his road to Broadway and the lessons he learned from his mom who’s also an actress. The rising star shares how he initially heard about "Bac...

Liana Hunt is a triple-threat actress currently gracing the stage as Lorraine Baines in the Broadway musical, "Back to the Future". She talks about her journey to theatre, sharing that even though nobody in her family is in the arts, or into theater and music, their unwavering support was more than enough. Having experiences with improv comedy, Liana highlights the importance of trust and vulnerab...

This is the second of four of the “Back to the Future” podcast takeover! This episode features Merritt David Janes and Jelani Remy, two real-life friends and on stage frenemies. Merritt talks about the show’s influence on his childhood and describes being a part of the show as a pinch-me moment for him, Jelani discusses his early experiences with performing and touring and the two talk about their...

From playing Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables” to working with some of the best orchestras in the world, Nathaniel Hackmann has etched his mark as a versatile artist. Nate grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, doing community theater at a very young age which eventually led to his love for theatre and performing arts. He talks about his initial goal of becoming the youngest baritone to make his debut at...

If grit, talent, and perseverance were a person, it would be in the form of Gordon Greenberg. The multifaceted artist looks back at his younger years, sharing his first creative moment, and anecdotes about his journey which includes secretly taking a bus and walking into a producer’s office in the hopes of getting offered a role. Gordon also shares his experiences in writing and directing, includi...

Get to know Molly Bracken, Lisa Hawkins, and Adriana Rodriguez, the talented trio behind Pipeline Vocal Project, a groundbreaking professional a cappella group hailing from Alaska. The three talk about PVP’s origins, from Lisa and Adriana’s initial meeting in high school to Molly auditioning, and becoming the all-female a cappella sensation they are today. The three fondly look back on how they en...

What do you get when you cross Dracula with a podcast? Bite-sized episodes that will have you howling with laughter! Welcome to the official companion podcast for off-Broadway’s Dracula A Comedy of Terrors, now playing at New World Stages. Hosted by blood curdling Broadway veteran Andrew Keenan-Bolger, this podcast takes you inside the show’s (teeny tiny backstage) world with interviews and games...

From playing iconic people to trying different artistic endeavors, Chilina Kennedy is just getting started. Growing up in different parts of the world, she discusses her early experiences and influences that ultimately led her to grace the Broadway stage. From portraying iconic people like Carole King to releasing her own album called “What You Find in a Bottle”, she talks about how she splits her...

A Broadway actor, author, and web series co-creator, Andrew Keenan-Bolger opens up about his personal experiences, life lessons, and insights into the world of theater, social media, and literature. He recalls his introduction to theater and his early influences, which include his older sister, and how he was able to pursue a career in acting, thanks to the overwhelming support he received from hi...