EPISODE 60 - JULIANNE MOORE

Julianne Moore is an Academy Award and Emmy winning actor, and the first American woman to be awarded top acting prizes at the Cannes, Berlin, and Venice film festivals.  She is also a NY-Times best selling author, for her children’s book series Freckleface Strawberry.  Julianne is on the Advisory Council of The Children's Health Fund, is a supporter of the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance and in 2015, became founding chair of the Everytown for Gun Safety Creative Council, a creative community established to help amplify the movement to end gun violence in America. In 2017, she will be seen in the upcoming films KINGSMAN 2: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE, WONDERSTRUCK, and SUBURBICON. She lives with her family in New York City.

Little Known Facts: As a child of a military family, she never lived in one place for long. That lifestyle has helped her become an actress who can reinvent herself with every role she plays. Welcome Academy Award-winning actress Julianne Moore!

EPISODE 59 - BRIAN D'ARCY JAMES

Brian dʼArcy James is an award-winning theater, film, and television actor as well as a recording artist.

Hailed recently as “one of the most celebrated actors of his generation in both straight plays and musicals” (Jeremy Gerard, Deadline), Brian is a three-time Tony nominee, and an Obie and Drama Desk Award winner for his varied and extensive work in the theater on Broadway and off-Broadway.

Brian reprised his award-winning role as King George III in Lin-Manuel Mirandaʼs musical HAMILTON at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway from April to July 2017. He originated the role of King George (“played with vaudevillian brilliance”—Ben Brantley, The New York Times) in the sold-out Off-Broadway run of Hamilton at The Public Theater.

In 2015, immediate following Hamilton, Brian starred in the Broadway musical SOMETHING ROTTEN, for which he was nominated for a 2015 Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, and Drama League Distinguished Performance Award.

In film, Brian starred in the 2016 Academy Award–winning Best Picture SPOTLIGHT, alongside Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel McAdams as the four-member “Spotlight” columnists for the Boston Globe. Brian was awarded the 2016 SAG Award, Critics Choice Award, Gotham Award and the Independent Spirit’s Robert Altman Award for Best Ensemble for his portrayal of Matt Carroll.

2017 proved to be a busy year with the spring premiere of the Netflix series THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, in which Brian co-stars with Kate Walsh, followed by his appearance in Discovery Channel’s Manhunt:UNABOMBER miniseries. Additionally, he will appear in seven feature films that will be released in 2017 and 2018, including Aaron Sorkinʼs directorial debut MOLLY’S GAME, MARK FELT starring Liam Neeson, ALL THESE SMALL MOMENTS, 1922, SONG OF BACK AND NECK, TROUBLE, and REBEL IN THE RYE. More film credits include SISTERS, ADMISSION, GAME CHANGE, and GHOST TOWN among others.

TV audiences will remember Brian as Frank Houston, co-starring opposite Debra Messing in the NBC series SMASH. Additional credits include guest starring roles in THE GOOD WIFE, THE BIG C and PERSON OF INTEREST, among many others.

A veteran of the stage with more than a dozen Broadway credits to his name, highlights include his Tony award nominated performances for starring roles in SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS and SHREK THE MUSICAL, as well as roles in Broadway plays such as MACBETH, TIME STANDS STILL and LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE.

Off Broadway highlights include his Obie winning solo performance of THE GOOD THIEF, Drama Desk nominations for GIANT and THE WILD PARTY along with originating roles in NEXT TO NORMAL and FLOYD COLLINS, among others.

From Carnegie Hall to the White House, from Madison Square Garden to The Kennedy Center, Brian is an accomplished and sought-after concert performer and has appeared in esteemed concert halls worldwide. He made his highly acclaimed solo debut at the New York City nightclub venue 54 Below with his show UNDER THE INFLUENCE, returning for an encore performance a year later, and performing the solo show internationally.

As a recording artist, Brian has a Grammy nomination for his performance on the Broadway Cast Album of SOMETHING ROTTEN. His solo Christmas album FROM CHRISTMAS EVE TO CHRISTMAS MORN features holiday classics along with three original songs including the popular song “Michigan Christmas.”

Brian dʼArcy James resides in New York City with his wife and daughter. He has supported and performed many times for an organization in his hometown of Saginaw, Michigan, called the Field Neurosciences Institute (FNI). The mission of the FNI is the prevention, early diagnosis, care and cure of neurological diseases, disorders and injuries.

Little Known Fact: When he was in high school, a Broadway actor came to his small town to work at the local theater. That same Broadway actor did an interview for the local newspaper, and in it says, "This kid is pretty great and can have a professional life in theater."

EPISODE 58 - BRENDAN MCDONALD

Brendan McDonald is the co-creator and executive producer of WTF with Marc Maron. He is an Emmy-winning producer and veteran of television, radio and digital media. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and son. 

Little Known Fact: He first met Marc Maron when they were matched to work together on Air America. Together they went on to create WTF with Marc Maron and have made podcast history.

EPISODE 57 - JEN RUDIN

Jen Rudin is an award-winning casting director who began her thirty-year career in show business as a child actor at age eight. As a casting executive at the Walt Disney Company, Jen conducted extensive talent searches all over the United States, identifying and hiring actors who went on to star on Broadway in The Lion King, Mary Poppins and The Little Mermaid and in beloved Disney movies like The Incredibles, The Princess and the Frog, Chicken Little and Brother Bear. Her company, Jen Rudin Casting, casts projects in New York and Los Angeles. She is the author of Confessions of a Casting Director.

Little Known Fact: It was when she and Tom Schumacher at Disney flew me out to read for their animated film, Chicken Little, that I found out I was pregnant with Georgia. 

EPISODE 56 - JERRY MITCHELL

JERRY MITCHELL (Director/Choreographer) is currently represented on Broadway as the Director of the Gloria Estefan bio-musical, On Your Feet, having previously received TONY Awards in recognition of his choreography for the 2013 TONY-Award winning Best Musical, Kinky Boots, for which he was also nominated as Director and the 2005 revival of La Cage Aux Folles.  He was nominated for an Olivier Award for his choreography in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which he also directed and co-produced in the West End. In the 35 preceding years, Jerry has been involved with over 50 Broadway, Off-Broadway, West End and touring productions, starting as a dancer for Agnes De Mille in Brigadoon and thereafter assisting Michael Bennett and Jerome Robbins. His Broadway debut as Choreographer, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, was followed by The Full Monty (TONY nomination), The Rocky Horror Show, Hairspray (TONY nomination), Gypsy (starring Bernadette Peters), Never Gonna Dance (TONY nomination), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (TONY nomination), Imaginary Friends, Legally Blonde (TONY nomination), which he also directed, Catch Me If You Can and Kinky Boots (also currently running in London, Australia, Japan, Korea and on a U.S. tour, with Germany up next.) He also choreographed both
the Off-Broadway productions and films of Hedwig & The Angry Inch and Jeffrey, the National Tour of Jekyll & Hyde, Paper Mill Playhouse’s critically acclaimed Follies, featuring Ann Miller and Love Never Dies, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to his Phantom of the Opera, for the West End and supervised the Broadway production of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Jerry’s memorable film work includes In and Out, Scent of a Woman, Jeffrey, Drop Dead Gorgeous and Camp.  For television, he recently choreographed the NBC live production of Hairspray, as well as several seasons of The Rosie O’Donnell Show, was nominated for an Emmy for his choreography created for The Drew Carey Show, was featured as the host of Step It Up and Dance and appeared in his role as Director/Choreographer of Legally Blonde in The Search for Elle Woods and of Peepshow in Ice Loves Coco.

Jerry expanded his activities as a theatre producer by forming a partnership with one of the most active and respected West End producers and theatre owners, Ambassador Theatre Group, with the goal of developing musicals for the West End and Broadway stages. Twenty-seven years ago, Jerry conceived and created Broadway Bares, a comedy burlesque show performed annually for the charity Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He continues to serve as Executive Producer of Broadway Bares, with a book, website and satellite productions in Fire Island Pines, Las Vegas (Peepshow, which enjoyed a five-year run of continuous performances) and London (West End Bares).

Most recently, Jerry received the Drama League’s Founders’ Award for Excellence in Directing and the George Abbott Lifetime Achievement Award from his peers, the latter being especially meaningful to him in that he was directed by the 96 year old Mr. Abbott in the Broadway revival of On Your Toes.

A native of Paw Paw, Michigan, Jerry attended Webster Conservatory in St. Louis, from which he received an Honorary Doctorate.

Little Known Fact: His Broadway burlesque show has raised over 17 million dollars for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS. 

EPISODE 55 - NIKKA GRAFF LANZARONE

Nikka Graff Lanzarone is a New York City-based performer, writer, podcaster, cat lady, lover of the Internet, wife, and nerd. She’s appeared on Broadway in Chicago (Velma Kelly) and Women on the Verge… (Marisa) and Off-Broadway in Sweet Charity (Ursula, New Group) Hello Again (The Whore, Transport Group), Zorba (Encores!), and Seussical (Lucille Lortel Theatre). Favorite regional credits include My Paris (Long Wharf), The Jungle Book (Goodman/Huntington Theatres), A Chorus Line (Paper Mill Playhouse) and Into the Woods (Baltimore Centerstage/Westport Country Playhouse). She also did a stint as a Vegas showgirl in Jerry Mitchell’s Peep Show. Film: Bandslam. TV: “Unforgettable,” “Smash,” “Live from Lincoln Center.” Recordings: “Women on the Verge…” and “Seussical” cast albums. Her podcast, The Ensemblist, is changing the conversation about what it means to make a successful life in the theatre. Follow @nikkalanz on social media. More: nikka-graff-lanzarone.com. Heed the words of Bill and Ted: Be excellent to each other.

Little Known Fact: She comes from a long line of theatre folk, including actor and filmmaker, Todd Graff, and the Tony Award-winning actress, Randy Graff. 

EPISODE 54 - ALEX GANSA

Alex Gansa is the showrunner, co-creator and executive producer of Showtime’s thriller HOMELAND, starring Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin. HOMELAND premiered in October 2011 to critical acclaim and the highest debut ratings for a freshman drama on the network. HOMELAND won the 2012 and 2013 Golden Globe for Best Television Series, and a 2012 Emmy in six different categories including Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series and Best Drama Series. Additional honors include two 2012 WGA awards in the categories of Best New Series and Episodic Drama, 2013 Producers Guild Award, the Peabody Award, Television Critics’ Association Award, Critics’ Choice Television Award and was named one of AFI’s Top Ten Programs of the Year in both 2011 and 2012. Gansa previously served as an Executive Producer on the long-running 24, the CBS series NUMB3RS, and DAWSON'S CREEK, and as a Consulting Producer on ENTOURAGE. His other work includes the hit series THE X FILES for Fox, SISTERS for NBC, and the critically acclaimed series MAXIMUM BOB that he created for ABC.

Gansa lives in Los Angeles.

Little Known Fact: When he first got to L.A., Gansa and co-creator of HOMELAND, Howard Gordon, started a test prep company. Years later, they went on to create television history together.

EPISODE 53 - GUS BIRNEY

Gus was born and raised on the Upper West Side in NYC. She went to The Professional Performing Arts School for high school. Her first professional job was one of the Clean and Clear girls for their commercials. She guest starred on Chicago Med, played Marissa Tomei's daughter in The Rose Tattoo at Williamstown, opened Kanye West's show at NY Fashion week last fall and just recently wrapped the first season of The Mist. Based on Stephen King's novella (was also a movie) and shot for four months in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Releases June 22nd. Gus is a songwriter and has performed at The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall and Arleen's Grocery. She is scheduled to shoot a new Sarah Jessica Parker film this July.

Little Known Fact: Gus is the youngest guest that I've had on the podcast, and she is also the daughter of acting legends, Connie Shulman and Reed Birney. 

EPISODE 52 - KASKADE

Multi GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer, songwriter, producer and remixer Kaskade is a titan in the dance music world, and a groundbreaking innovator in the music industry as a whole. Bending the curve by which his contemporaries measure themselves, Kaskade has an unprecedented string of “firsts”. He was the first DJ to land a Las Vegas residency, the first ever solo electronic dance artist to sell-out both Navy Pier in Chicago, and the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and the first dance artist to perform and sell out at the Los Angeles Convention Center in its 45-year history with a career-defining solo headline date in front of 30,000 fans. A three-time Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival veteran, Kaskade made history in 2015 where he was the only electronic musician to headline the festival and drew the two largest crowds in its storied sixteen-year existence.

Crowned by The New York Times as “the new face of electronic dance music,” Kaskade has been bridging the gap between old school music purists and a new generation of music lovers. Relentlessly touring the world and playing to tens of millions people around the globe, he has been in the trenches for over a decade, laying the groundwork for a titanic musical and cultural shift. With nine studio albums and five GRAMMY® nominations to his name, Kaskade’s global reach is ever-expanding. He has headlined every major North American festival, and was recently inducted into Pete tong’s Hall of fame, and sold out London’s The Steelyard on his most recent UK date. His single “Fakin It” was first premiered in the UK when Kaskade went back to back with Danny Howard on his primetime “Dance Anthems” slot on BBC Radio 1.

While Kaskade’s handwriting is all over the history of electronic music, his influence today is at an all-time high. His latest full length album, Automatic [Warner Bros. Records/Arkade] claimed the #2 spot on the Billboard Dance /Electronic Albums Chart. Automatic commanded a Top 15 placement on the U.S. Digital Chart, as well as amassing over 50 million streams on Spotify in less than a year’s time. His live set from Ultra Music Festival 2016 has garnered over 1.9 million views in a matter of months (Watch here). Kaskade continues his reign in Las Vegas with an unprecedented multivenue long term residency for Hakkasan Group, and his social media reach continues to connect him with his audience in an authentic and powerful way. Rolling Stone asserts, “Kaskade represents an intensely positive side of dance music culture”, another cornerstone in the foundation that sets him apart.

Little Known Fact: He found out very quickly that house music clubs were a place where a Mormon kid could feel at home. 

EPISODE 51 - BEN PLATT AND LUCAS HEDGES

BEN PLATT originated the title role in Dear Evan Hansen to critical acclaim (Tony Award, Obie Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama League Award and Lucille Lortel Award). Platt was the original Elder Cunningham in the Chicago production of The Book of Mormon and reprised the role on Broadway (dir. Trey Parker and Casey Nicholaw). Film: Benji Applebaum in Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2, Ricki and the Flash (dir. Jonathan Demme), Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (dir. Ang Lee), Drunk Parents (dir. Fred Wolf). ŒNational Tours: Caroline, or Change (directed by George C. Wolfe). Regional credits include Dear Evan Hansen (Arena Stage), The Black Suits (Barrington Stage Company), The Power of Duff (dir. Peter DuBois/New York Stage and Film), Dead End (dir. Nicholas Martin/Ahmanson Theatre), The Music Man, Mame, Camelot, and The Sound of Music (dir. Gordon Hunt/Hollywood Bowl). 

As a child, LUCAS HEDGES made his feature film debut as an extra in his father's film, Dan in Real Life. He went on to play major roles in Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, Jason Reitman's Labor Day, Terry Gilliam's The Zero Theorem, Michael Cuesta's Kill the Messenger, Kenneth Lonergan’s Manchester By The Sea, Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird and Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. His received critical acclaim for his role in the play, Yen. He was nominated for over 20 awards for his role in Manchester By The Sea (including an Academy Award), and won multiple awards for his gorgeous work in the film (including the National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance). 

Little Known Fact: Ben and Lucas were introduced through their mutual friend the Broadway actress and film star, Beanie Feldstein.

EPISODE 50 - ALAN ALDA

ALAN ALDA has earned international recognition as an actor, writer and director. In addition to The Aviator, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, Alda’s films include Crimes and Misdemeanors, Everyone Says I Love You, Flirting With Disaster, Manhattan Murder Mystery, And The Band Played On, Same Time, Next Year and California Suite, as well as The Seduction of Joe Tynan, which he wrote, and The Four Seasons, Sweet Liberty, A New Life and Betsy’s Wedding, all of which he wrote and directed. Most recently, his film appearances have included Tower Heist, Wanderlust, and Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies.

In 2016, he appeared as Uncle Pete in Louis CK’s groundbreaking web series Horace and Pete.

He has the distinction of being nominated for an Oscar, a Tony, and an EMMY - and publishing a bestselling book - all in the same year (2005). His Emmy nomination was for his role on The West Wing. His Tony nomination that year was for his role in the Broadway revival of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross. In addition to receiving an Academy Award nomination for his appearance in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator that year, he was also nominated for a British Academy Award.

In all, he has received 6 EMMYs and has been nominated for an EMMY 34 times.

Alda played Hawkeye Pierce on the classic television series M*A*S*H, and wrote and directed many of the episodes. His EMMY nominations include performances in 2015 for The Blacklist, in 2009 for 30 Rock, in 2006 for West Wing (for which he received an EMMY), and in 1999 for ER.

In 1994 he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.

He hosted the award winning series Scientific American Frontiers on PBS for eleven years.

On Broadway, he has appeared as the physicist Richard Feynman in the play QED. He starred in the first American production of the international hit play ART.

He has received 3 Tony nominations. In addition to his nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross, he was also nominated for the Tony Award for his performances in Neil Simon's Jake’s Women and the musical The Apple Tree. Other appearances on Broadway include The Owl and the Pussycat, Purlie Victorious and Fair Game for Lovers for which he received a Theatre World Award.

He helped found the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science and is the author of a play entitled “Radiance – the Passion of Marie Curie."

His wife, Arlene, is the author of nineteen books. They have three daughters and eight grandchildren.

Little Known Fact: While he was waiting for them to call "action" for his first scene in the hit series, M*A*S*H, he still had no idea who his character was. Then he walked onto set and something spontaneous happened. And with that, Hawkeye Pierce was born. 

EPISODE 49 - ANDY COHEN

Andy Cohen is an Emmy Award-winning host, producer, and author best known as the host and executive producer of “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” Bravo’s Late Night, interactive talk show.  The series is the only live show in Late Night television and consistently makes headlines with bold interviews viewers don’t see anywhere else. Because of this, “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” has become a nightly destination for some of the biggest names in pop culture including Meryl Streep, Cher, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lawrence, Ryan Reynolds, Mariah Carey and Lady Gaga. He also serves as executive producer of “The Real Housewives” franchise and hosts the network’s highly rated reunion specials.

In Fall of 2015, Cohen launched “Radio Andy,” a personally curated channel on SiriusXM focused on pop culture, celebrities, lifestyle, relationships and the dish on all topics deep and shallow. The channel is a fun, uncensored entertainment and talk destination with celebrity hosts including Cohen, who has daily and weekly shows on air.

In 2016, Cohen also launched his own book imprint Andy Cohen Books and in November became a New York Times best-selling author for a fourth time with the release of his latest book, “Superficial: More Adventures from the Andy Cohen Diaries” and achieved similar success with “The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look At a Shallow Year” as well as with the hardcover (May 2012) and the paperback (May 2013) versions of his first book, titled, “Most Talkative: Stories from the Frontlines of Pop Culture.”

Cohen is the host and executive producer of “Andy Cohen’s Then & Now,” a Bravo series that explores the nostalgic moments of some of the most significant years in history. “Andy Cohen’s Then & Now” is produced by World of Wonder and Cohen’s Most Talkative Productions. Also coming up, Cohen will host the hour-long revival of the iconic relationship show “Love Connection” set to premiere in May on Fox. Much like the original version, each episode will feature single men and women in search of romance.

When he isn’t in the host seat, Cohen tours the country with Anderson Cooper for “AC2: An Intimate Evening with Anderson Cooper & Andy Cohen” where the dynamic duo discuss all topics deep and shallow in front of sold out audiences across the country.

In his ten years as an executive at Bravo he was responsible for an aggressive slate of unscripted series and specials including hits such as "Project Runway,” “Top Chef,” “Queer Eye For the Straight Guy,” "The Millionaire Matchmaker,” the “Million Dollar Listing” franchise, “Being Bobby Brown,” “Shahs of Sunset,” “Flipping Out,” “Top Design,” “Work Out,” “Make Me a Supermodel,” “Blow Out,” “Kathy Griffin My Life On the D List,” “The A List Awards” “The Rachel Zoe Project,” “Work of Art: The Next Great Artist,” “Bethenny Ever After,” “Tabatha’s Salon Takeover,” and “The Real Housewives” franchises.  Cohen started at Bravo in 2004 as Vice President, Original Programming and most recently, Cohen served as Bravo’s Executive Vice President of Development and Talent from November 2011 to January 2014. 

Cohen received an Emmy award when season six of “Top Chef” won Outstanding Reality Competition Program at the 2010 primetime Emmy Awards  and  has been nominated for 17 additional  Emmy Awards as Executive Producer of “Project Greenlight,” “Project Runway,” “Top Chef” and “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy.” In 2005, Cohen was awarded a Peabody Award for his role as Executive Producer of the TRIO documentary “The N Word” and another in 2008 as an Executive Producer of “Project Runway.” 

Cohen ran Original Programming and Development for the pop culture and arts cable channel TRIO, beginning in July 2000. He was responsible for developing and supervising all of TRIO's original productions including the critically acclaimed original documentaries “Gay Republicans,” “Easy Riders/Raging Bulls,” and “Brilliant, But Cancelled.”  He spent ten years (1990-2000) as a producer at CBS News, working on “CBS This Morning” and “48 Hours”. 

Born in St. Louis, Cohen is a graduate of Boston University where he received a Bachelor of Sciences in broadcast journalism.  Cohen is currently on the board of directors for charity Friends In Deed and resides in New York City. Andy has over three million followers on social media; follow him on Facebook, Twitter (@andy), Instagram (@bravoandy) and Tumblr (therealandycohen.tumblr.com).

Little Known Fact: He is as passionate about the Grateful Dead as he is about his Real Housewives.

EPISODE 48 - OCTAVIA SPENCER

One of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents, Octavia Spencer has become a familiar fixture on both television and the silver screen. Her critically acclaimed performance as Minny in 2011’s The Help won her the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award, among numerous other accolades. Throughout the past year she has taken on many different characters, such as Johanna in Allegiant and Miss Harris in The Great Gilly Hopkins, as well as lending her voice to the character of Mrs. Otterton in Zootopia. Octavia can currently be seen in the critically acclaimed Hidden Figures, a drama that follows the true story of three African American women who were instrumental to NASA catching up in the Space Race. Octavia’s performance as Dorothy Vaughan has earned her SAG, Golden Globe, NAACP Image Award, and Academy Award nominations to date. Spencer can currently be seen starring in The Shack and Gifted.

Little Known Fact: For the first time I did an interview with someone on the phone, this very special person was in L.A and I was in New York. We tried to get together in the same room and it just was proving too difficult. But she was such a sweetheart and really, really wanted to support my podcast, so we did it this way. I think you're still going to love it. Welcome Octavia Spencer! 

EPISODE 47 - ORFEH

Broadway: Paulette in Legally Blonde: The Musical (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award nominations, Broadway.com Audience Award), Saturday Night Fever, Fascinating Rhythm, Footloose. Off Broadway: Love, Loss, and What I Wore, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Love, Janis. TV/Film: Sleeping with the Fishes (with Gina Rodgriguez), Across the Universe, Film U, L&O CI, Sex and the City, Chappelle's Show. She has performed at Lincoln Center with her husband, Olivier Award winner and Tony nominee Andy Karl, and in numerous Broadway benefits including Hair for the Actors Fund (Grammy nomination). Her extensive recording career includes music with the '90s pop group Or-N-More, she has performed with many music icons from legends the O'Jays to Cissy Houston. Her solo CD, "What Do You Want From Me" and latest single, "Forget My Name" are available on iTunes. Twitter: @official_orfeh

Little Known Fact: She and Broadway star, Andy Karl, are the rare example of love at first sight lasting!

EPISODE 46 - CHRISTOPHER HANKE

Christopher Hanke, star of stage and screen, shares personal stories of triumph and frustration that actors experience every day, on this hilarious and heartfelt episode of Little Known Facts. Originally slated to go to medical school Christopher deferred to give acting a shot. Quickly after arriving in New York City he booked a job and never looked back. Be a fly on the wall as Christopher and Ilana share stories, sing, laugh and go deep! 

Christopher is an actor and theater nerd.  He most recently starred in the hit one-man comedy Buyer & Cellar in New York and Toronto, to rave reviews and the new play Perfect Arrangement at Primary Stages in NYC. Before that he ate the scenery as Bud Frump in the Broadway revival of How to Succeed… Other Broadway credits include: Rent (Mark), Cry-Baby (Baldwin)and In My Life (JT). Additionally, Hanke played Tommy Boatwright in director George C. Wolfe’s Tony Award-winning production of The Normal Heart at Arena Stage in DC and starred as Claude in the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production of Hair in NYC. 

Television is also Christopher’s jam.  He currently plays Devon on the new comedy series Odd Mom Out on BRAVO in it’s second season AND plays Fabian in this new last season of Devious Maids. He was series regular Ryan Abbot on the CBS medical drama Three Rivers; had a recurring role of Stuart on HBOs Big Love; and has guest starred on Nashville, Major Crimes, The Client List, and Brothers & Sisters.  Hanke also studies & performs improv with the UCB Theatre in LA/NY in hopes to make people laugh.  

In his spare time, Christopher works as a professional guest teaching artist for Broadway Dreams Foundation, Broadway Artist Alliance, Making It On Broadway, and Broadway Workshop.  He teaches master classes all around the country and works with BFA Musical Theater programs and BFA Acting programs at various universities.  He is very very passionate about coaching high school seniors looking to audition for college acting and musical theater programs.  

He has a dog named Grover.  Not after the muppet.  Or the President. 

Little Known Fact: When he's at the gym listening to the Little Known Facts podcast, and the theme music comes on, this is what happens: (hear the little known fact in the audio above)

EPISODE 45 - EMILY SKEGGS

In December, Emily wrapped one of the lead roles in Desiree Akhavan’s feature film THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST, based on the popular YA novel. Emily also stars in Dustin Lance Black's eight-part miniseries WHEN WE RISE for Gus van Sant, airing on ABC. Emily was nominated for duel Tony and Grammy Awards as the lead in Sam Gold’s hit musical FUN HOME on Broadway, all the while shooting a recurring role on Brannan Braga’s series SALEM.

Little Known Fact: She was nominated for her first Tony award doing her first Broadway show. 

EPISODE 44 - J. SMITH-CAMERON

J. Smith-Cameron has appeared in numerous theatre productions Off and On Broadway. Highlights include "Our Country’s Good" (Tony Nomination), "Sarah" (Drama Desk nomination), "Fuddy Meers" (Outer Critics and Drama Desk Nominations) and "As Bees in Honey Drown" (Obie award, Drama Desk and Outer Critics nominations). Recent credits include "Sweet and Sad" (Drama Desk and Obie Awards) by Richard Nelson at the Public, as well as "That Hopey Changey Thing" and "Sorry," by the same author. Also "Midsummer Night’s Dream" at La Jolla Playhouse and "The Starry Messenger," by Kenneth Lonergan, at the New Group. J. plays Melinda Mickens in HBO's “True Blood”. J. stars opposite Anna Paquin in Kenneth Lonergan's film "Margaret," which won her the Best Supporting Actress Award for the International Cinephile Society.

Little Known Fact: She does a young Shirley Temple impression that rivals, well, the young Shirley Temple. 

EPISODE 43 - DANNY BURSTEIN

Danny is a 6-time Tony Award nominee whose 16 Broadway credits include: Fiddler on the Roof (2016 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards; Tony & Grammy Award nominations); Cabaret (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations); The Snow Geese; Golden Boy (2013 Tony and Outer Critics Circle nominations); Follies (2012 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards; Tony, Astaire & Grammy Award nominations); Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown; South Pacific (Outer Critics Circle Award; Tony and Drama Desk nominations); The Drowsy Chaperone (Tony and Ovation Award nominations); Saint Joan; The Seagull; Three Men on a Horse; A Little Hotel on the Side; The Flowering Peach; A Class Act; Titanic and Company. Off-Broadway credits include: Talley’s Folly (Lucille Lortel & Drama League nominations); Mrs. Farnsworth; Psych; All in the Timing; Merrily We Roll Along; Weird Romance and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Film/TV includes: Indignation (directed by James Schamus); The Family Fang (directed by Jason Bateman); Blackhat (directed by Michael Mann); Transamerica; Lolly Steinman on “Boardwalk Empire” (directed by Martin Scorsese); “Louie”; “Absolutely Fabulous”; “Elementary”; “Ed”; all the “Law & Order” series; “Hope & Faith;” Deception; Affluenza; American Milkshake; Nor’easter; Construction; The Sounding; etc. In 2014 he made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Frosch in the Jeremy Sams/Douglas Carter Beane production ofDie Fledermaus.

Little Known Fact: At a very young age, he decided he was a character actor. That decision was smart, he hasn't stopped working since. 

EPISODE 42 - EDIE FALCO

Edie Falco, the multi award winning actress, takes Ilana through her life and career in exquisite detail. From her early days waitressing to her early indie films. How she got the role of Carmela on "The Sopranos," the script she originally read for "Nurse Jackie." Ilana and Edie talk about sobriety, adoption, fame, single motherhood, pet psychics, and much more on this fascinating episode of "Little Known Facts."

Edie Falco's acting career began with her work in indie films: The Unbelievable Truth , Laws of Gravity and Trust. In 1999, she had two starring roles, in Judy Berlin and Random Hearts, her first major role in a mainstream film. She was  cast in roles on the television shows Homicide, Life On The Street and Oz  both created by Tom Fontana.  She became a household name when she landed her star-making role as Mafia wife Carmela in HBO's The Sopranos. When that show ended, she nabbed the title role in Showtime's Nurse Jackie and then she played Louis C.K.'s sister on Horace and Pete. She will also portray attorney Leslie Abramson, the attorney best known for her legal defense of Erik Menendez in the mini series Law and Order : True Crime.  Raised on Long Island Edie now lives in New York City with her children and is an advocate for animal rights. 

Little Known Fact: She auditioned and got the role of Carmela Soprano all within 24 hours. 

EPISODE 41 - MIRIAM SHOR

Miriam Shor, star of "Hegwig and the Angry Inch" and TV Land's "Younger," describes in hilarious detail the juxtaposition of growing up splitting her time between Detroit, Michigan, and Turin, Italy. Miriam describes the process of creating her role as the gender bending Yitzhak along with the shows creator, John Cameron Mitchell. She goes on to explain the thrill of seeing the rock stars she worshippedin the audience every night. Also discussed in this episode are thejoys of raising kids in New York City and shooting a tv show with her college boyfriend's sister, Sutton Foster. Be a fly on the wall as Ilana and Miriam share stories about a life in the theater and the power of staying true to your dreams even when others around you encourage you to give up. 

Miriam Shor’s Theater Credits include "Sweat," "Scarcity," "Dedication or the Stuff of Dreams," "Maine, Boy," "Book of Days," "Mondo Draama," "Hegwig and the Angry Inch, "Hair,' and "The Wild Party."  On television: "Younger,' "High Maintenance," "GCB," "Mildred Pierce," "The Good Wife," "Jessica Jones," "Bored To Death," "Damages, "Swingtown," "My Name Is Earl," and "The West Wing." On film: "Puerto Ricans in Paris," "5 Flights Up," "The Cake Eaters," "Shortbus," "Bedazzled," and "Hedwig and the Angry Inch."

Little Known Fact: She dated her co-star, Sutton Foster's brother, Hunter Foster, when she was in college.