Theater Life Uncensored

Let's talk about building wealth. What do I mean by that? I mean no longer living paycheck to paycheck. I mean choosing what jobs you say yes/no to. I mean building your dream lifestyle—where you eat, how you dress, where you go on vacation. And if you're sitting there thinking like, “Oh, yeah right. Not in the theater industry.” Think again! Because what I'm going to show you today works regardle...

I’m joined by Broadway performer Jeff Gorti in this episode. You might’ve seen him featured in a recent Playbill article about how he’s using an issue with his health that occurred when he was a child to assist a young boy who’s now dealing with the same disease. He’s giving hope and inspiration to this boy of what will still be possible in his life, and he’s using his success on Broadway as an ex...

Congratulations! You've landed your dream job! But what's the offer? It's now time to negotiate the contract. Most people make the mistake of only focusing on the money, so they're missing out on a ton of other things they could be negotiating. Likewise, if the pay is non-negotiable, you may think you just have to accept the contract as is. But that is so not the case! In this episode, I’m sharing...

Friends, today we are so lucky to have none other than  the  Rachelle Rak on the show. For those who might not know, Rachelle launched her Broadway journey at age 17 in the musical  Cats . She then continued on with  Fosse ,  Thou Shalt Not ,  Catch Me If You Can ,  Dirty Rotten Scoundrels ,  Oklahoma , and more! She was also featured in  Every Little S...

In today's episode, we brace ourselves with a powerful quote: "Imperfect action is better than taking perfect inaction." This episode is centered on taking action—acting before we feel completely prepared or when fear threatens to paralyze our progress. Growth demands that we step outside our comfort zone, requiring action even when fear tries to resist it. This action is usually a path we've not...

In this episode, I’m talking with my dear friend and colleague, Tony-winning producer Rashad V. Chambers. His long list of credits include the Tony-winning revival of  Topdog/Underdog,  lead producing  Fat Ham,  and being on the producing teams of many other shows like  The Music Man ,  Ain’t Too Proud ,  American Son …the list goes on! He’s also the Founder and...

We've all been brainwashed into thinking that all we need to do to book our dream jobs is to keep improving our talent and skills. So we spend hour after hour, training and training, going to class after class. That’s what we’ve been told to focus on. Even though there is all this evidence around us that contradicts that, we don't even question it. If all you needed to book your dream jobs was to...

Today, my guest is the talented Javier Manente, known as both a performer and a voice teacher. He’s currently playing the lead role of Dimitri in the Broadway production of  Anastasia  that's sitting down in Mexico City Prior to that, he was in Les Miz and Aladdin , both of which were also the Broadway productions sitting down in Mexico City, so I think you can guess the theme here… We'r...

Networking. Just the sound of that word probably makes you feel gross inside. Does anyone  really  want to go to a cocktail party where the drinks are overpriced and you're in a room full of people all talking about how wonderful they are? Or where everyone is trying to talk to “the cool kids” at the top of the social ladder and trying to get a job from them? Or where people are tossing...

You're going to absolutely love today's episode where we're talking all about booking jobs. I’m chatting with Michelle Lemon, a performer and instrumentalist in New York City. She's performed internationally and all over the country at regional theaters, and she's currently in the national tour of Lincoln Center Theater's production of  My Fair Lady . Michelle is the perfect example of someon...

As Thanksgiving week rolls around here in the United States, we're all aware that people have various feelings and thoughts about this holiday and what we’re actually celebrating. But for the purpose of this week’s episode, let’s not attach any specific meaning or significance to the day. Instead, let's focus on the word itself. Thanksgiving = giving thanks, or in other words, expressing gratitude...

Y'all are not ready for this conversation today that I'm having with Aurelia Michael! For one thing, she's done it all. From being a Broadway performer to being an associate choreographer... From being a voiceover artist to being a voiceover coach... From being a competitive bodybuilder to being a motivational speaker… She not only juggles all these hats (and more!), but she SUCCEEDS at all of the...

Do you feel like there's not enough time in the day? Or that you have too many things to get done and too short of time? Or wish you just had a few more hours to get everything done on your to-do list? I bet you do, because anytime I ask artists what’s the number one thing they're struggling with, it's always time. And it makes sense because in a business like ours, where we’re artists and freelan...

We’re kicking off the first guest interview of the season in a big way! I’m chatting with Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Christopher Gattelli! With over 15 Broadway credits to his name, plus TV and movies, and multiple award nominations and wins, he’s had a huge career. During our conversation, he shares his journey from dancer to performer and his transition into choreography and direc...

Welcome to Season 2 of Theater Life Uncensored! In this first episode, you’ll get an exclusive sneak peek into what's coming up this season! I’ll also share some exciting stats about the show—it’s been an exciting journey thus far! But that’s not all! It’s been a strange time in our industry the past couple of years, and a lot has changed. The old ways of having a sustainable career no longer work...

Since it's the final episode of the first season of  Theater Life Uncensored,  we're going to do something special. I'm going to turn the tables and ask myself the same questions I've been asking my guests all season. You'll learn how I incorporate all of the strategies we've been discussing this season into my own career and life, some of the successes and stats of the podcast, and what...

If you want to learn how you can stay creatively fulfilled and carve out a career that's custom to your unique skill set, then this conversation with Rebecca Magazine is for you. When you double down on the aspects of your career that you're  best  at, people will keep wanting to work with you, which means you will stay booked.  Rebecca has some incredible wisdom to share from her w...

Reels are an important tool to help you book work. The  only job it has is to convince people to hire you by instilling feelings of excitement and trust.  Not only should they have complete confidence in hiring you as a result of watching your reel, but they should feel like it would be a mistake NOT to hire you. Anything you do to get in the way of that works against you. So, in or...

We're going behind the scenes with Laura Pierpont, creator of Cut Dancers of NY. This dance company focuses on creating videos that feature dancers who are  not currently booked , so they can continue working on their craft, get footage, and be a part of a community. Laura is also a performer, choreographer, and works for a biohacking gym. So for any of you who do multiple things, you're gonn...

Do you struggle with imposter syndrome? If so, you're not alone. Imposter syndrome is very common among performing artists, and left unchecked, will quickly kill your confidence. Whether you feel like a fraud, or like you're not good enough at what you do, it's important to fully eliminate it. Let's talk about three strategies you can use to  completely  get rid of your imposter syndrome...

You may recognize Alphonse Gonzales from season 20 of  American Idol , which aired in the spring of 2022. However, when I invited him to be a guest on my podcast, I had no idea he was going to be on the show. He had to keep that under wraps due to his contract. But by the time we recorded this, it was in the middle of that season. So,  American Idol  was not the reason I b...

We're looking at the three biggest pitfalls you should avoid when it comes to your branding in this episode. And of course we talk about what to do instead.  These three things are what makes the difference between a brand that's just nice to look at and one that actually books you work.  The whole point of branding is to book you more work, so it's crucial you don't fall prey to these v...

Creating something from scratch can be really scary. It's very daunting to trust yourself and take that very first step. But you get so much more say in your life and career when you carve out opportunities for yourself. The rewards far outweigh the risk. Maggie Sposato has created something really special called Unique Movers. It's a nonprofit that creates and hosts inclusive dance programs for i...

There are four things your website needs to have if you work in the performing arts. These are universal and help convince people to hire you. It gives them the needed trust, comfort, and excitement to feel like they're making the right decision. Episode Highlights: [00:55] Why Websites Are the Best Way To Book Work [02:51] Four Things Your Website Must Have [03:12] Your Name and Headshot/Photo [0...

A lot of people make excuses for why they aren't where they want to be in life. And I'm not saying that the facts of the circumstances aren't real, but it's what you DO with those facts and given circumstances that truly matters. My guest today, David H. Parker, is so inspiring, because no matter what they face, they continue to see their greatness. This gives them the confidence to conquer anythi...