EPISODE 182- NIKKI M. JAMES

 Nikki M. James most famously, originated the role of Nabalungi in the Broadway hit musical, Book of Mormon, for which she won the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. After her award winning performance, Nikki went on to star as Éponine in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Misérables. James starred on the Fox series Proven Innocent.

James received rave reviews for her starring role as Viveca in Kirsten Child’s musical The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin in Encores! Off-Center production at City Center. The musical review was an ambitious follow up to Nikki’s portrayal of Portia, Brutus’ proud wife, in The Public Theatre’s extremely press worthy and politically prescient version of Julius Caesar at Shakespeare in the Park in 2017. Nikki reprised her role of Viola in the musical version of Twelfth Night this past summer under the direction of Oskar Eustis at the Delacorte Theatre.
 
Recent notable work in television includes a starring role in CBS’ quirky series Braindead and a recurring guest arc on the hit series The Good Wife, CBS’ Bull, Escape From Dannemora on Showtime and reprised her role of Monica from The Good Wife on the CBS All Access series The Good Fight. Her film credits include: Lucky Stiff and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby.  

She has also performed several sold-out, one-woman cabaret shows at popular New York City venues such as 54 Below and Joe’s Pub.
 
No stranger to Broadway, Nikki has starred in productions of All Shook Up and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Other memorable theater productions include; Romeo and Juliet, Caesar and Cleopatra alongside Christopher Plummer, The Wiz, Bernarda Alba, House of Flowers and Preludes. 
 
She resides in New York City and holds a BFA in Drama from NYU.

EPISODE 181- DOMINIC FUMUSA LIVE FROM NOTRE DAME

Dominic Fumusa is best known for playing "Kevin Peyton" opposite Edie Falco on Showtime's acclaimed show "Nurse Jackie" which ran for seven seasons from 2009-2015. Fumusa's extensive theater experience includes originating roles in the NY premieres of Sarah Ruhl's Stage Kiss and Passion Play, Richard Greenberg's Tony Award winning Take Me Out (NY and London), Melissa James Gibson's Obie Award winning [sic] and Stephen Belber's plays The Power of Duff, Fault Lines and Tape (NY, London and Los Angeles). His Broadway debut was in the 1998 revival of Wait Until Dark opposite Marisa Tomei and Quentin Tarantino. Select regional theater credits include numerous plays at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, the Stratford Festival in Canada, the Huntington Theater in Boston, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and the Humana Festival at the Actors Theater of Louisville. Fumusa's film work includes playing the real life hero John "Tig" Tiegen in this year's 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi directed by Michael Bay, The Report with Adam Driver and Sweet Girl opposite Jason Momoa. Fumusa appeared opposite Will Smith and Margot Robbie in the romantic comedy Focus. Other film work includes Allegiance, Helena from the Wedding, Management and Little New York. Other television work includes upcoming recurring roles on "Homeland" (Showtime) and "Taken"(NBC). He has also had numerous guest and recurring roles on such shows as "Blue Bloods," "Elementary," "Person of Interest," "Damages," "Sex and the City," "The Sopranos," "Bones" and many others. Fumusa earned his BA in Government from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI in 1991 and his MFA in Acting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1994. He lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife, actress and producer Ilana Levine, and their two children, Georgia and Caleb. 

EPISODE 180- DEREK KLENA

Derek Klena has been seen on Broadway as Fiyero in Wicked, Michael in The Bridges of Madison County and Dmitry in Anastasia. His off-Broadway credits include Dogfight and Carrie. Regionally, he has appeared in Anastasia (Hartford Stage), Diner (Signature Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company), Unknown Soldier (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Hairspray (Hollywood Bowl) and Jagged Little Pill (A.R.T.).  His TV credits include Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Blue Bloods, Quantico, Law & Order: SVU and The Carrie Diaries. He is now currently starring in Jagged Little Pill on Broadway.

EPISODE 179- AMANDA GREEN

Amanda Green is a Tony-nominated lyricist/composer. She is the recipient of the 2013 Frederic Loewe Award from the Dramatists Guild (with collaborator Trey Anastasio) for her music for Hands On A Hardbody (lyricist; co-composer), one of two new musicals she premiered on Broadway in the 2012-2013 season. She also co-wrote the lyrics for Bring It On (currently on its second National Tour). For her work on Hands she was nominated for a Tony Award, Two Drama Desk Awards (music, lyrics) and an Outer Critics Circle Award. She was nominated for a third Drama Desk Award the same year for her lyrics (with Lin Manuel Miranda) for Bring It On. Also on Broadway:High Fidelity (lyrics). NY and regional credits: Stars of David (original songs; 2013; DR2 Theater). Arthur Laurents asked her to write additional lyrics for the revival ofHallelujah Baby (Arena Stage, directed by Mr. Laurents). For The Love Of Tiffany: A Wifetime Original Musical (lyricist, co-star; NY Fringe Festival). “Put A Little Love In Your Mouth! The Songs Of Amanda Green” (Second Stage Theater, Joe’s Pub); Up The Week Without A Paddle (2001 LADCC Nomination (Best Score), Backstage's Garland Award (Best Score). She is also an award-winning performer (2 MAC Awards, BISTRO Award) who performs her work, along with Broadway stars, in concerts everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Birdland to The Bluebird Café in Nashville. She has acted in musicals on Broadway and regionally, including originating the role of “Gary Coleman” in Avenue Q at The O’Neill Center. Legendary guitarist Trey Anastasio performs songs he and Amanda have co-written in arena concerts around the country with his bands PHISH and TAB. Other Awards: The Jonathan Larson Award, The Songwriter’s Hall of Fame Abe Olman Award. TV: The Wonder Pets. BMI Musical Theater Workshop, Alumni; B.A. Brown University; Dramatists Guild member.

EPISODE 178- KORI WITHERS & CHRIS STILLS

Chris Stills is a celebrated troubado ur who ’s releases include h is debut album 100 Year Thing produced by Ethan Johns, on through to the eponymous Chris Stills and most - recently, Don’t Be Afraid where Chris reconnected with that “California kid who loves Leon Russell and Tom Petty” . Raised between California and France, Chris has cultivate d his music internationally along side a successful a cting career where he’s played Julius Caesar in the top - grossing French musical Cleopatra - The Last Queen of Egypt . Stills went on to also appear opposite Mélanie Laurent in in the French film Requiem for a Killer and later landed a foot firmly in both music and acting camps when his contributions to the long - running U.S.hit series of Shameless led to a regular guest spot across two seasons of the show. Chris’s music is sought - after in film and television including his songs “Live To Live” on A merican Hustle and Black Betty in Hot Pursuit . He also sang the Bee Gees’ “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” in the 2018 Oscar ® winning movie I, Tonya . As a philanthropist, he’s the co - producer and musical director for “ Light Up the Blues ” - an annual concert to benefit Autism Speaks

Kori Withers is a recording artist and is the daughter of acclaimed artist Bill Withers and can be found at KoriWithers.com

EPISODE 177- MICHAEL ZEGEN

MICHAEL ZEGEN can currently be seen starring on the critically acclaimed Amazon series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” created by Amy Sherman-Palladino.  The series is recently won the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, a 2018 Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, the Golden Globe Award for Outstanding Television Series, Musical or Comedy and the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Comedy Series.  The show is returning for it’s third season on Friday, December 6th.

Previous television includes his standout recurring role as ‘Benny Siegel' on HBO's “Boardwalk Empire,” for which he was included in the 2015 SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.  Other recurring television arcs include: "The Walking Dead," "Girls," "How To Make It In America," "Happyish" and all seven seasons of "Rescue Me.”  Michael’s film credits include Noah Baumbach's FRANCES HA, John Crowley's Oscar-Nominated film BROOKLYN, Greg Mottola’s ADVENTURELAND, and Ang Lee’s TAKING WOODSTOCK.  

Earlier this year, he wrapped production on the independent feature “The Stand-In” opposite Drew Barrymore.  Michael was recently seen as 'Mikhail Medvedenko' in Michael Mayer's film adaptation of Anton Chekhov's THE SEAGULL, opposite Annette Bening and Elisabeth Moss. Other upcoming films include Sebastian Silva’s ensemble indie TYREL in which Michael appears alongside Michael Cera, Jason Mitchell and Caleb Landry Jones that premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival; and the musical film BECKS with Lena Hall.  

On stage, Michael starred as ‘Marco’ in the Broadway production of in Ivo Van Hove’s Tony-award winning "A View From The Bridge" opposite Mark Strong.  Michael’s previous theater credits include originating the role of ’Ted’ in The New Group's production of "The Spoils," written by and co-starring Jesse Eisenberg for director Scott Elliott and the role of ‘Liam’ in Joshua Harmon's smash hit play "Bad Jews” directed by Daniel Aukin for Roundabout Theater Co.

EPISODE 176- DANIEL J. WATTS

Daniel J. Watts has appeared in eight Broadway shows including Hamilton, In The Heights and Memphis. Off Broadway he has starred in Suzan-Lori Parks' Death of the Last Black Man in the Entire World (Signature Theatre) and the world premiere of Whorl Inside A Loop (2nd Stage). TV credits include recurring roles on Amazon’s Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, NBC's Blindspot and HBO's Vinyl and The Deuce. The Good Wife (CBS), Blue Bloods (CBS), Odd Mom Out (Bravo), The Night Of (HBO), Boardwalk Empire (HBO), Person of Interest (CBS), Broad City (Comedy Central) and Smash (NBC). He currently appears as Felony in Tracy Morgan's new comedy series The Last OG on TBS. Daniel J. Watts' The Jam an homage to his great grandmother who made homemade jam from scratch and gave away what she couldn't eat herself, is a spoken word/storytelling experience fusing a live band, song, dance and multimedia where Watts encourages audiences to focus on social similarities opposed to differences.

EPISODE 175 - MELISSA ERRICO

“The Maria Callas of American musical theater,” as Opera News has called her, referencing both her crystalline voice and dramatic, expressive intensity, Melissa Errico is an actress, singer and author. First known for her starring roles on Broadway, her latest album, Sondheim Sublime, was called by The Wall Street Journal “The best all-Sondheim album ever recorded.” Nothing in her work has been more constant than her association with Michel Legrand. Having starred in his sole Broadway show, “Amour”, she went on to collaborate with him on the iconic album “Legrand Affair”. After his death in 2019, she was asked to write his eulogy by The New York Times - where she is a frequent contributor- and was then invited to become the sole American performer to participate in the extraordinary two-day memorial to Legrand held in April at Paris’ Le Grand Rex Theatre, work that led one critic to announce that, “Errico is, and will continue to be, the premier interpreter of the musical legacy of Michel Legrand.” This fall 2019, Ghostlight Records reissues her symphonic album, which Legrand arranged & conducted, as “Legrand Affair Deluxe Edition.”

Melissa is best known for her many starring roles on Broadway. She starred in the Broadway musicals Anna Karenina, My Fair Lady, High Society, Dracula, White Christmas and Michel Legrand’s Amour which won her a Tony nomination for “Best Actress”. Melissa was recently honored with a caricature at Sardi’s in celebration of her Broadway performances. But her career is characterized by diverse interests in many creative corners of theater and the arts. She has had a steady career in television, appeared in feature films, and performed in non-musical roles in Off-Broadway plays. She has also worked widely as both a recording artist and concert singer, releasing a series of award-winning albums and working with the world’s most noted symphonies and jazz and cabaret spaces. Most recently, she has established herself as a writer, publishing essays in The New York Times and beyond.

For the last three years, Melissa has performed successful runs of her solo Sondheim concerts, winning raves, among them The New York Times: “Her familiarity with the way the [Sondheim’s] songs work to advance character and story in vivo naturally informs her in vitro style, which is actorly to begin with. Her fierce “Loving You” from “Passion” brought unusual attention to the two distinct thoughts often blurred in the line “I will live and I would die for you.” Her attention to the lyrics and their rush of harsh “wisdoms” was Ms. Errico’s keynote.

Debuting the same show at London’s Live at Zédel last year for her sold-out UK concert debut, one critic wrote that “sometimes 5 stars just aren’t ENOUGH!” After a sold-out return engagement, she was thrilled to go to London yet again in September 2019 to sing at Royal Festival Hall in an all- star tribute to Legrand with the Ronnie Scott Jazz Orchestra. Over this time, Melissa also brought her Sondheim program to The Ravinia Festival in 2018, to the Signature Theatre in DC, and Guild Hall in East Hampton, as well as many points from Provincetown’s Art House, and then debuted her ravishing Legrand concert titled “Amour & After- Melissa Errico sing Michel Legrand” at a standing room only concert at San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel.

Her recent stage performances include a hit Off-Broadway run of On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (“musical comedy mastery” - The New Yorker Magazine), The Baker’s Wife in a concert run of Into the Woods with Alice Ripley and “Wordplay” - a unique look at Sondheim- at Lyrics & Lyricists produced by Ted Chapin for 92Y in April. She will soon be seen discussing & performing selections from ‘Sunday In The Park With George’ on film on the forthcoming PBS Poetry in America portrait of Sondheim. She was the curator of a wildly popular French film festival at FIAF in NYC and performed and organized concerts after screenings.

This past summer Melissa also worked with Michael Feinstein in various ways including with The Pasadena Pops and The American Songbook Series at Lincoln Center. Her future plans include concerts devoted to the music of Kurt Weill and the words of Yip Harburg, a new album of swing standards, and an autobiographical novel.

EPISODE 174 - RYAN J. HADDAD

Ryan J. Haddad stars in The Netflix series - The Politician . He is an actor, playwright and autobiographical performer based in New York. His acclaimed solo play Hi, Are You Single? was presented in The Public Theater’s Under the Radar Festival and continues to tour the country. Other New York credits include My Straighties (Ars Nova/ANT Fest), Noor and Hadi Go to Hogwarts (Theater Breaking Through Barriers), and the cabaret Falling for Make Believe (Joe’s Pub). Regional credits include The Maids, Lucy Thurber’s Orpheus in the Berkshires (Williamstown Theatre Festival), and Hi, Are You Single? (Guthrie Theater, Cleveland Play House, Williamstown Theatre Festival). Television credits include “Bull,” “Madam Secretary,” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” Haddad has performed original work at La MaMa E.T.C., the New Museum and The LGBT Center of New York City. His plays in development include Good Time Charlie and Dark Disabled Stories. He is a member of The Public Theater’s Emerging Writers Group and a former Queer|Art Performance and Playwriting Fellow under the mentorship of Moe Angelos. Learn more at www.ryanjhaddad.com and follow him on social @ryanjhaddad.

EPISODE 173- EVA NOBLEZADA & AMBER GRAY

EVA NOBLEZADA  stars in Hadestown on Broadway and

starred in Hadestown at National Theatre in

London. Last fall, she shot the lead role in the

upcoming indie, Yellow Rose. In 2017–18, Noblezada

starred on Broadway in the title role of

the revival of Miss Saigon, receiving a Tony

nomination. Variety called her Broadway debut

performance “entrancing.” She previously

starred in the London revival of Miss Saigon

and played Eponine in the West End revival of

Les Misérables. Noblezada was a high school

student in Charlotte, NC, when she was discovered

by casting director Tara Rubin at the

2013 Jimmy Awards in New York City.

AMBER GRAY  ( Broadway) Hadestown

(London’s National, Edmonton’s Citadel:

Sterling Award, NYTW: Lortel nomination);

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

(Broadway: Theatre World Award, Kazino, Ars

Nova); Daniel Fish’s production of Oklahoma!

(Bard SummerScape); An Octoroon (TFANA,

Soho Rep, P.S.122); and Taylor Mac’s A 24 Decade

History of Popular Music: 1900’s–1950s

(NYLA/UTR). Gray is a member of The

TEAM and has codeveloped and performed

in their Mission Drift, Primer for a Failed Superpower

and the upcoming Reconstruction.

Gray can always be found with political activist

group and show Reverend Billy and The

Church of Stop Shopping. Recent television:

“Escape at Dannemora.” MFA: NYU.

Photo Credit -Matthew Murphy

EPISODE 172- ELLA RUBIN

ELLA RUBIN can currently be seen in THE ROSE TATTOO on Broadway where she stars as Rosa, the daughter of Serafina, who is played by Marisa Tomei. On the big screen she has been featured in THE REWRITE, a film in which she also plays Marisa Tomei’s daughter. She can be seen on the small screen in the Hulu series DIFFICULT PEOPLE, Showtime’s BILLIONS and UNFORGETTABLE on CBS. Ella studied theater and performing arts at New York’s Professional Children’s School.

Ella is an advocate for social change and raising awareness for climate change.  She recently enforced a new policy in her high school to turn the cafeteria entirely green, and enforce once a week “eco-awareness” day.  This summer she traveled to Tanzania to help build a kitchen at a school that didn’t have one (and therefore wasn’t able to serve lunch), and has also traveled to Peru to help enforce women’s access to education and to Costa Rica to learn about turtle conservation in their oceans. 

EPISODE 171- RUTHIE FIERBERG

Ruthie Fierberg is a New York City-based journalist and current Senior Features Editor at Playbill, creating innovative and engaging content through in-depth written, multimedia, and video pieces focused on the arts. She is also the host of Playbill's Live From the Red Carpet specials from the opening nights. A graduate of Barnard College, she has written for such national publications as Good Housekeeping, Parents, American Baby, Parents Latina, and Backstage magazines. Ruthie has moderated panels for the 92Y, the JCC of Manhattan, Disney Theatrical Productions, BroadwayCon 2016–2019, and the annual American Performing Arts Professionals Conference. She has guested on SiriusXM Volume radio and a number of podcasts as a guest expert. A lover of theatre, tennis, and yoga, Ruthie is also involved with such causes as Covenant House International and The Actors Fund.

EPISODES 169 and 170 - WILLIE GARSON

Rarely at a loss for work, Garson has appeared in over 300 episodes of

television and more than 70 films. Garson is best known for his long

runs on television, as Mozzie on WHITE COLLAR, Stanford Blatch on SEX

AND THE CITY, and Henry Coffield on NYPD BLUE. Other TV series

include ASK HARRIET, and JOHN FROM CINCINNATTI. He has been

recurring as the grifter with a heart of gold Gerard Hirsch on "HAWAII

5-0" since 2015.

Born in New Jersey, he started training at The Actors Institute In New

York, before majoring in Psychology and Theater at Wesleyan

University. After graduation, he quickly started landing guest roles on

shows such as CHEERS, FAMILY TIES, THIRTYSOMETHING, LA LAW, as

well as continually recurring on a wide array of shows including XFILES,

TWIN PEAKS, TWO & A HALF MEN, STARGATE, PUSHING

DAISIES, THE PRACTICE, ALLY MCBEAL, JUST SHOOT ME, SPIN,

SALVATION, etc etc. His favorite longform on TV was Dr. Kreutz for

Steven Spielberg in the acclaimed miniseries TAKEN.

On the big screen, other than reprising his SEX & THE CITY role for two

features, he has collaborated with the Farrely Brothers on 3 films,

SOMETHING ABOUT MARY, KINGPIN, and FEVER PITCH, as well as

appearing in SOAPDISH, GROUNDHOG DAY, MARS ATTACKS, THE

ROCK, BEING JOHN MALKOVITCH, FEED, POLKA KING, and many

others. He has often been re-used by such varied directors as Spike

Jonze, Michael Bay, the late great Mike Nichols, and Ron Shelton.

Upcoming films include WALK TO VEGAS, MAGIC CAMP, and BELLMEN.

As a director, Garson has directed episodes of WHITE COLLAR and GIRL

MEETS WORLD, and, with Warner Brothers, is developing a half hour as

producer/creator, which he will also appear in. LONE PINE, a feature for

Garson to direct, is currently also in development.

Garson continues to perform with various bi-coastal theater companies

such as Naked Angles, Manhattan Theater Club, The Roundabout

Theater, and The Geffen. He is very involved with many charities,

including AMFAR, Camp Joslin for Diabetes, Doctors Without Borders,

Habitat for Humanity, and especially The Alliance for Childrens Rights,

which facilitates adoptions in LA County---this has a special place in the

Garson family, as Willie adopted his son Nathen in Los Angeles in 2010,

and has twice served as National Spokesman for National Adoption Day,

as well as winning the Francis Wheat Award from The Alliance, and

many others. Willie and Nathen speak about adoption nationwide.

Aside from acting, Garson is known as a world-class poker player,

having been nicknamed "Evil Willie" on the first episode of CELEBRITY

POKER SHOWDOWN, and continues to play in tournaments all over the

world, both for charity, and through the WORLD POKER TOUR.

EPISODE 168 - DES MCANUFF

DES MCANUFF is a two-time Tony Award-winning director and former artistic director of Canada's Stratford Festival. He is also Director Emeritus of La Jolla Playhouse, where as Artistic Director he staged over 30 productions of classics, new plays and musicals. He’s co-founder of Broadway’s Dodgers. Broadway: Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Doctor Zhivago, Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls, Aaron Sorkin’s The Farnsworth Invention, Jersey Boys (Tony and Olivier Awards: Best Musical), Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays (Tony Award: Best Special Theatrical Event), Dracula the Musical, How to Succeed…, The Who’s Tommy (Tony and Olivier Awards: Best Director), A Walk in the Woods, Big River (Tony Awards: Best Director, Best Musical). Selected New York: Fetch Clay, Make Man (NYTW), multiple productions at The Public and BAM. Stratford highlights: A Word or Two, Caesar and Cleopatra, The Tempest (all with Christopher Plummer). Opera: Faust (The Met, ENO). TV: 700 Sundays (HBO). Film: Cousin Bette (with Jessica Lange, director), The Iron Giant (producer, BAFTA Award) and Quills (executive producer). In 2011, he was honored with a doctorate from Ryerson University where he attended theatre school. In 2012, he was awarded Canada’s Governor General’s National Arts Center Award and the Order of Canada.

EPISODE 167- LANG LEAV

With over two million followers worldwide, Lang Leav is a leader in modern poetry. She is an international best selling author and the winner of a Qantas Spirit of Youth Award and coveted Churchill Fellowship. Her books continue to top bestseller charts in bookstores worldwide. She is the author of 7 volumes of poetry and 2 novels. She lives in New Zealand with her partner and fellow author Michael Faudet.

Photo Credit for Ms. Leav - Carolyn Haslett

EPISODE 166- BETSY WOLFE

Betsy Wolfe has established herself as one of the most versatile and keenly intelligent Broadway performers of her generation. She recently starred as Jenna Hunterson, the title role in the Tony nominated musical Waitress.  Prior to that, she played Cordelia, one of the one of the lovable “lesbians from next door,” in the Broadway revival of Falsettos directed by James Lapine, which recently aired on PBS. She is perhaps best known for her critically acclaimed performance as Cathy in the off-Broadway revival of The Last Five Years.

In TV, she was most recently seen in a guest star role on season 2 of the CBS series INSTINCT.  She also just wrapped the indie feature FIRST ONE IN with Georgia King. 

Originally from California, Betsy received her BFA in musical theatre from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. At age twenty—prior to graduation and prior being able to legally drink or get a British pilot’s license—she made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under Maestro Erich Kunzel. After receiving her BFA, Betsy quickly starred in the San Francisco and Boston companies of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Soon after, she made her Broadway debut in the revival of 110 in the Shade. Betsy started to gain attention for her next role in both the off-Broadway and Broadway productions of Sherie Rene Scott’s Everyday Rapture, where she played one of the two Mennonettes. 

Only a few years later, Betsy would be Scott’s successor in one of contemporary musical theatre’s most challenging and well-known roles: Cathy in Second Stage Theatre’s revival of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years.  Her complex performance as Cathy was lauded by critics and audiences alike. 

Betsy’s other Broadway credits include Ellen in the 2014 production of Bullets Over Broadwaydirected by Susan Stroman and Rosa Bud in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She also appeared as Beth in the Encores! production of Merrily We Roll Along. She starred in the La Jolla Playhouse world premiere production of Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez’s new musical Up Here, and created the role of Mary Ann Singleton in ACT's world premiere of Tales of the City, a musical based on the Armistead Maupin novels.

Betsy made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Douglas Carter Beane’s adaptation of Die Fledermaus. She has been a guest artist for over 50 symphony, pops, and philharmonic orchestras across the U.S. and internationally including the New York Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She collaborated with The New York Pops and played to sold-out crowds at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center with their Broadway Today and Women of Notesconcerts.  Her recent collaboration with the BBC Orchestra and Jason Robert Brown ended up being recorded for Friday Music Nights for the BBC and can be heard on their channel. 

She can be heard on the recordings of Falsettos, Bullets over Broadway, The Last Five Years,The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Everyday Rapture, Stage Door Canteen, 35MM, and Merrily We Roll Along. She can also be seen in the film adaptation of The Last Five Years.

Betsy is currently mini- touring with her one woman show ALL BETS ARE OFF and primarily lives in New York with her husband.   She is so very proud to have created and co-founded the program Broadway Evolved, which has revolutionized the summer camp for both theatre students and educators alike.

EPISODE 165- CASSIDY FREEMAN

Cassidy Freeman stars as “Amber Gemstone” in the Danny McBride televangelist comedy THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES for HBO alongside McBride, John Goodman and Adam Devine. The series tells the story of a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work. The series premiere was HBO's most-watched comedy debut in more than 3 years and was recently renewed for season 2.

Freeman’s diverse roles have allowed her to travel the world, from Vancouver to New York to Bolivia. She is well known for starring as “Cady Longmire” in LONGMIRE on Netflix and “Tess Mercer” in CW’s superhero drama SMALLVILLE. She has appeared on series such as ONCE UPON A TIME, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES and COLD CASE. Freeman co-executive produced and starred in horror-thriller YellowBrickRoad which premiered at Slamdance. Other film credits include DON’T LOOK BACK starring Lucy Griffiths and Kate Burton, IFC comedy film FINISHING THE GAME and indie feature BRAHMIN BULLS. On stage, she has appeared in Anthony Minghella’s Cigarettes and Chocolate and The Maids at the Moth Theatre.

Freeman was born and raised in Chicago, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Middlebury College with degrees in Theatre and Spanish. She is the youngest of three actor siblings.

EPISODE 164- SARAH STILES

Sarah Stiles is currently one of the stars in the critically acclaimed EPIX Original Series GET SHORTY. She was nominated for a Tony for her role as "Sandy" in the Broadway production of TOOTSIE. She is recurring on Showtime’s BILLIONS. She voiced the character “Spinel” in STEVEN UNIVERSE: THE MOVIE.

Broadway productions include her Tony nominated performance as Jessica in HAND TO GOD, ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREEVER, Kate/ Lucy AVENUE Q and THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNUM COUNTY SPELLING BEE.

Recent television and film credits include Steven Soderbergh's UNSANE. I’M DYIN UP HERE, BLACKLIST, DIETLAND and the animated SUNNY DAY for Nickelodeon. Sarah lends her voice on the recording of Pasek and Paul’s JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. This year she penned her solo show SQUIRREL HEART which she performed to sold out audiences at Joe’s Pub at the Public in NYC

EPIOSDE 163- JOE MORTON

Emmy Award and multiple NAACP Image Award-winning film, television and stage veteran Joe Morton is perhaps best known for his role as Rowan Pope in the television series “Scandal.” Morton’s television credits include a recurring role as lawyer Daniel Golden on “The Good Wife,” on the Network; five seasons as scientist Henry Deacon in the Emmy-nominated series “Eureka”; “The Cosby Show” spinoff “A Different World”; the Kyra Sedgwick-produced “Proof”; and “Grace & Frankie.” In 2016 he portrayed the role of Roy Wilkins alongside Bryan Cranston in the Emmy-nominated biopic “All the Way,” adapted from the Tony Award-winning Robert Schenkkan play.

In 2016 Morton appeared in the feature film “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” as Silas Stone, and he reprised the role in November 2017 in “Justice League.” His additional feature film credits include playing the title character in John Sayles’ “The Brother from Another Planet” and roles in “Terminator 2: Judgement Day,” “American Gangster,” “What Lies Beneath,” “Blues Brothers 2000” and “The Astronaut’s Wife.”

Recently, Morton starred as the titular role alongside Tom Hanks in Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles’ production of “Henry IV.” Staged by Tony Award-winning director Daniel Sullivan, the critically raved show featured Morton as Henry IV and Hanks as Sir John Falstaff. In spring 2016, Morton portrayed the groundbreaking comedian Dick Gregory in the one-man show “Turn Me Loose,” executive produced by Grammy Award winner John Legend. Morton was honored with the NAACP Theatre Lifetime Achievement Award and was awarded the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play. Also, he was nominated for the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance. In October 2017, he brought “Turn Me Loose” to Los Angeles at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.

Born in Harlem, Morton was raised in a military family and spent parts of his childhood in West Germany and Okinawa, Japan, before finishing school in New York. After attending Hofstra University, Morton debuted on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning musical “Hair,” followed by his starring role in “Raisin,” the Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” which earned him a Tony nomination and Theatre World Award for his portrayal as the embittered Walter Lee Younger. In addition, he appeared in David Hare’s “Stuff Happens” at the National Theatre in London as Colin Powell and played Serge in “Art” on Broadway (and in London’s West End) with Judd Hirsch and George Wendt.

Morton is a huge proponent of diversity in Hollywood and uses his platform to express the need for more contemporary non-white roles in television and film. Morton devotes his rare free time to writing, playing his guitar and recording music. Music has been a huge part of his life, and his talent has led him to write and score a multitude of songs for various film and TV projects.

EPISODE 162- KAREN OLIVO

Karen Olivo is a television, film, and stage actor who is most recognized for her Tony Award-winning performance as Anita in the acclaimed 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story, a role for which she also earned Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Astaire Award nominations.  Some of her Broadway theater credits include originating the role of Vanessa in the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights (2008 Astaire Award) and starring as Faith in the Broadway production of Brooklyn The Musical.  She played the role of Angelica Schuyler in the Chicago production of Hamilton and currently stars as Satine in Moulin Rouge on broadway. 

 Additional theatre credits include Murder Ballad at the Manhattan Theater Club, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark by Lynn Nottage at 2nd Stage, and The Miracle Brothers directed by Tina Landau at the Vineyard Theatre.

Olivo is also recognized for her many television appearances including recurring & guest-starring roles on “The Good Wife,” “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior,” “Chase,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Conviction,” and “Law & Order.” 

Karen Olivo is a native New Yorker who currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin. 

Olivo recently taught Musical Theater Styles at UW-Madison as well as working as a teaching artist and writer for Theatre LILA, she serves on the Advisory Committee for Forward Theater and she also coaches students in her private Madison studio. Karen also released her first solo, ‘Leave,’ album in 2017. www.Karenolivo.com