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 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 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 andstarred 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
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 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 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
EPISODE 161- GIDEON GLICK
Gideon Glick can currently be seen in his Tony-nominated performance as “Dill Harris” in the Broadway adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Aaron Sorkin and based on Harper Lee’s classic novel. Previously, he reprised his role as Jordan Berman in the Broadway production of Significant Other at The Booth Theatre, for which he earned a 2017 Drama League Award nomination. Gideon made his Broadway debut in the original cast of the groundbreaking Tony-winning musical Spring Awakening, and has starred Off-Broadway as Tom in Samuel Hunter’s The Harvest for LCT3/Lincoln Center and Matthew in The Few for the Rattlestick Theatre Company. Other stage credits include Speech and Debate for the Roundabout Theatre Company, Into the Woods at the Delacorte, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway, Peerless at the Cherry Lane Theatre, and Wild Animals You Should Know for the MCC Theater. In film, Gideon recently appeared as ‘Kyle McCallister’ in Gary Ross’ Ocean’s 8, and will be seen in Noah Baumbach’s upcoming film Marriage Story. Additional onscreen roles include Speech & Debate, Song One, A Case of You, Gods Behaving Badly, One Last Thing, “The Detour,” “Devious Maids,” “Elementary,” “The Good Wife,” “Margot vs. Lily,” “Man Seeking Woman,” “It Could Be Worse” and “Wallflowers.”
EPISODE 158- MICHAEL KELLY
With an expansive list of film and television credits spanning for more than 20 years, Michael Kelly is known best for his four-time Emmy-Nominated role as “Doug Stamper” in the critically acclaimed Netflix original series HOUSE OF CARDS, for which he starred in for all six seasons. Kelly can next be seen in season 2 of Carlton Cuse’s Amazon Prime Original Series JACK RYAN alongside John Krasinski and Wendell Pierce.
Recently, Kelly produced and starred in John Hyams’ ALL SQUARE, supported by Jesse Ray Sheps, Josh Lucas, and Pamela Adlon. He also starred in THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES opposite Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, and Chiwetel Ejiofor and in EVEREST opposite Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Robin Wright. Additionally, he played “Lt. Col. Gary Volesky” in National Geographic’s miniseries THE LONG ROAD HOME and “Dumbarton” in BBC’s limited series TABOO opposite Tom Hardy.
In 2008, Kelly starred as “Detective Lester Ybarra” opposite Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich in Clint Eastwood’s CHANGELING, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was distributed by Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment. For his performance, Kelly received a coveted spot as one of “Daily Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch.” That same year, Kelly starred in the HBO miniseries GENERATION KILL, which chronicled one Marine’s journey in the American-led assault on Baghdad in 2003.
Kelly’s other feature film credits include Louis Leterrier’s NOW YOU SEE ME opposite Mark Ruffalo and Jesse Eisenberg, Zack Snyder’s MAN OF STEEL, the hit film CHRONICLE, George Nolfi’s THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU, Doug Liman’s FAIR GAME opposite Sean Penn and Naomi Watts, F. Gary Gray’s LAW ABIDING CITIZEN alongside Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx, DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? with Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker, DEFENDOR with Woody Harrelson, INVINCIBLE opposite Mark Wahlberg, the Universal blockbuster DAWN OF THE DEAD directed by Zach Snyder, TENDERNESS starring Russell Crowe, THE NARROWS directed by Francois Velle, BROKEN ENGLISH written and directed by Zoe Cassavetes, nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, and LOGGERHEADS nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. Kelly also appeared in M. Night Shyamalan’s UNBREAKABLE, Milos Forman’s MAN ON THE MOON and RIVER RED (Sundance Film Festival).
On television, Kelly has had recurring roles on the hit shows THE GOOD WIFE and PERSON OF INTEREST. He played the series regular role of “Jonathan ‘Prophet’ Simms” in CRIMINAL MINDS: SUSPECT BEHAVIOR, “Terrence Brooks” on LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT and “John Mosley” on FRINGE. Kelly also had the recurring role of “FBI Agent Ron Goddard” on THE SOPRANOS and was a series regular on the USA network television series KOJAK with Ving Rhames and Chazz Palminteri and the UPN action drama LEVEL 9. He has also guest starred on numerous hit television shows, including BLACK MIRROR, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, LAW & ORDER: C.S.I. MIAMI, THE SHIELD, JUDGING AMY, THE JURY and THIRD WATCH.
A lifetime member of The Actor’s Studio, Kelly has performed in such plays as Arthur Penn’s production of Major Crimes, Theatre Studio’s Miss Julie as well as in a production of In Search of Strindberg staged in Stockholm, Sweden.
EPISODE 157- HOW I MET MY MOTHER
Here is a conversation with Helen Levine- mother to podcast host and actress -ILANA LEVINE.
EPISODE 155 & 156 - JONATHAN MARC SHERMAN PARTS ONE & TWO
Jonathan Marc Sherman is a playwright & actor. He was born and raised in New Jersey, graduated from Bennington College, and lives in New York City. He is currently writing musicals with Jason Robert Brown (The Connector), Duncan Sheik (Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice), and Aimee Mann (Untitled). His plays include: Things We Want; Clive; Knickerbocker; Evolution; Wonderful Time; Sons & Fathers; Sophistry; Serendipity & Serenity; Jesus on the Oil Tank; Veins & Thumbtacks (which was the basis for Frank Whaley’s movie The Jimmy Show); and Women & Wallace (also adapted for PBS-TV’s American Playhouse). They have been performed at Malaparte (co-founder), The New Group, The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Williamstown Theatre Festival, WPA Theater, Los Angeles Theatre Center, and the Young Playwrights Festival, as well as in England, Australia, Israel, Istanbul, and Japan. Acting includes: Theater: Ivanov (Classic Stage Company), Clive (The New Group); Sophistry (Playwrights Horizons); A Joke, Wild Dogs and The Great Unwashed (Malaparte); Up For Anything (Kraine), Retail Sluts (HBO/WB @ Melrose Theater), I Wanna Be Adored (NY Performance Works), Unexpected Tenderness (WPA), The Chopin Playoffs (American Jewish Theatre), and Oliver! (Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera). TV/Film: Eric Bogosian’s 100 Monologues; Quiz Show; Blaze; The Hottest State; The Baxter; The Limbo Room; When The Nines Roll Over; Broadway: The American Musical (as E.Y. "Yip" Harburg); and My First Swedish Bombshell. He is a member of LAByrinth. His hobby is writing about himself in the third person.
Photo Credit -Serge Nivelle