Delano Mendoza & Margo Mikkelson
What's the Tea, MD?
A podcast for musical theatre artists with a unique perspective: through the eyes of the music director! Join Delano Mendoza (music director, actor, singer, voice/acting teacher) & Margo Mikkelson (music director, singer, actor) as they spill the tea on all things MT. Think of this like a vocal class, an acting coaching, a leadership coarse, a music directing mentorship, and an entertaining storytime all wrapped into one show. There's a little something for everyone! Along with sharing from our own experiences, we will have guests from all over to discuss important topics that come up in the a...
Where to listen?
Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soonPodcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts
Episodes
Choosing an Effective Audition Cut 07.07.2026 52:32
The audition notice says 16 bars. But which 16 bars make sense? What does the casting panel want to see? Crafting an audition cut can be fun when you have some good starting points. Join Delano and Margo for a hot cuppa as they share their tips on creating a cut that is both authentic and captivating. It's tea time! Follow our IG (@whatistheteamd) and subscribe to the podcast to stay up to date wi...
Winning Behaviors in the Rehearsal Room 30.06.2026 38:41
It's all about the vibes. And in a rehearsal room, there are behaviors that make the vibes ELECTRIC, and actions that bring the whole mood down. The way we show up - from the production team to the cast and everyone in between - can make a huge difference in how the rehearsal process goes. Tea time is nigh! Grab a cuppa and settle in; we're ready to spill. Subscribe to the pod and follow us on Ins...
Acting the Song: Whose Job Is It Anyway? 23.06.2026 50:48
Some might say that working on acting the song is exclusively the director's job. But what about all of the details in the music that inform the story? And doesn't the story inform the vocal choices to be made? Oooh, there's a lot to break down here. Do you have your tea? Ours is ready, and it's time to spill. Don't forget to subscribe to the pod and follow our instagram: @whatistheteamd
Singing the Ink 16.06.2026 59:20
Sheet music can be a gold mine for the singing actor, providing a map for the character's journey. So how do we find these clues? How important is it to sing EXACTLY what's written? When is there room for freedom? Answers coming your way. The kettle is hot. Tea time is here! Follow the podcast to stay up to date with our latest episodes!
Building an Audition Book That Makes Sense 09.06.2026 58:35
Smaller audition books are all the rage! Who has time to shuffle through 30 songs that haven't been touched since senior recital to find the perfect audition piece? Focusing on who YOU are as a person and artist will help you find the best material - you will SHINE! Join Margo and Delano as they discuss ways to build an efficient, concise, and compelling audition book that shows the best of you. Y...
The Ensemble Sound (Pt 2) - Technical Skills 26.05.2026 44:31
Let's get in the weeds. How do we help the ensemble discover and portray the story behind the pitches on the page? Teaching notes alone isn't enough. Our duty is to develop and arm our casts with as many tools as we can to empower them to go further. That starts with US. Some useful ideas, tools, and food for thought coming your way. It's tea time.
The Ensemble Sound (Pt 1) - Leadership 19.05.2026 42:31
Most music directors GUSH over a tight, clean ensemble sound. So what goes into making that happen? Before we get in the weeds over the technical aspects of teaching and directing the ensemble, we gotta talk about leadership. We work with humans, not machines, and that should be the heart of everything we do. Have a seat, grab some tea, and let's chat.
To Belt or Not to Belt, That is the Question! 19.05.2026 53:55
Let's BELT. Or, maybe not? Should I belt this song? Do I need to belt in every audition? We're in an age where musical theatre continues to be written higher and higher, and they want it LOUD. So, does that mean we need to belt everything? There is nuance, and we're here to spill the tea. Subscribe to stay up to date with our latest episodes!
Top 5 Audition Mistakes 19.05.2026 41:38
We want actors to SUCCEED! Auditioning can be scary, we know. Listen as we uncover some of the most common mistakes we see actors make and provide strategies to improve them. Don't worry, we also share our most embarrassing audition moments. Subscribe to the pod to stay up to date with our latest episodes!
Similar podcasts
Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.