EPISODE 229- CHEYENNE JACKSON

Cheyenne Jackson is a Grammy-nominated actor, singer, and songwriter who most recently was seen starring in HBO Max’s four-part LGBTQ+ Docuseries "Equal," Peacock's "Saved by the Bell" Reboot as well as Kenny Ortega's hit Netflix series "Julie and the Phantoms." 

 

Cheyenne previously collaborated with Kenny Ortega as he appeared in Disney's hugely popular "Descendants 3." He appeared in multiple seasons FX and Ryan Murphy's award-winning horror anthology "American Horror Story." On television, Jackson has also starred on HBO's "Watchmen," Paramount Networks “American Woman,” opposite Alicia Silverstone, NBC’s 30 Rock as “Danny Baker” for four seasons, and “Dustin Goolsby” on Glee. Other television credits include "The Morning Show," "Family Practice," "Life on Mars," "Ugly Betty," "It Takes a Village," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Local Talent," "HR," and "Law and Order." 

 

Jackson has appeared in numerous films including the 2006 Academy Award-nominated United 93, Behind the Candleabra, The Green, Price Check; Lola Versus, Love is Strange, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, Mutual Friends, Opening Night, Beautiful Now, Day out of Days and Hello Again. He will also appear in the forthcoming feature, Werewolves Within. 

 

On and off Broadway, Jackson has starred in The Performers, The Most Happy Fella, 8, Finian’s Rainbow (Drama Desk nomination), Damn Yankees, Xanadu (Drama League and Drama Desk nominations), The Agony & the Agony, All Shook Up (Theater World Award, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle nominations), the premiere cast of Altar Boyz, Aida, Thoroughly Modern Millie, On the 20th Century, and The 24 Hour Plays.


EPISODE 228- STANLEY WAYNE MATHIS

A Native of Washington D.C. Has just finished a successful Three year run of The First National Tour Of The Book Of Mormon. He has been seen on Broadway in The Book Of Mormon, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Wonderful Town, Kiss Me Kate,You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, The Lion King, Jelly’s Last Jam and Oh Kay. Off Broadway credits include: St. Louis Woman with Vanessa Williams(Ugly Betty)at City Center’s Encores, Death Of A Salesman at Yale Rep with Charles Dutton(Rock), Lynn Nottage Ruined at Florida Studio Theatre, August Wilson’s Radio Golf at Kansas City Rep, Gem Of The Ocean(Seattle Rep) directed by Phylicia Rashad, Fences(Bristol Riverside Theater), Master Harold And The Boys(Triad Theater/Greensboro Carolina),You Can’t Take It With You(Pioneer Theater Co/Salt Lake City Utah,Blues For An Alabama Sky(Cleveland Playhouse), Day Of Absence( Baltimore Center Stage), Of Mice And Men(Dallas Theater Center), Cinderella(PaperMill Playhouse/ NJ) Williams And

Walker( Bermuda Theater Festival)and Spunk directed by George Wolf at The Mark Taper Theater in LA and The Royal Court Theater in London. Television: Law & Order, Criminal Intent, SNL, Late Night With Conan O’Brien. Film: Magic Sticks, Dark Streets(SuperFly), Brother To Brother( Sundance Winner), Santa Baby (Animation Starring, Eartha Kitt, Gregory Hines and Vanessa Williams),Family On Board and Steve McQueen’s Shame. He has danced with Charles Moore African Drummers And Dancers. Done Commercials and voice-overs, and has taught and directed as a Teaching and Guest Artist for Rosie’s Theater Kids, Creative Arts Team NYU, Periwinkle Productions, Sacred Heart Arts Program, New Jersey Playwrights and The Brazo Valley Troupe of Bryan Texas. He studied Musical Theater at The Washington International College in D.C., HB studios and Cythia Belgrave’s Studio in NYC and was a member of Ebony Impromptu Theater Company in Washington D.C. He is a recipient of The Fred Astaire Award 1989, Monarch Award,1991, and The 2006 Adelco Award, Stanley is currently working on his won one-man show entitled “ Truth Be Told” and his multimedia play called “Preachin’ To The Choir/An Inconvenient Truth”. You can also catch Stanley as Principal Evan Ward on NBC’s Premier Season of “Rise” by the producers of Hamilton and Friday Night Lights.

EPISODE 227- SEAN ALLAN KRILL


Sean Allan Krill is an American actor who has crafted a career on Broadway, off-Broadway, at prestigious regional theaters, and in television. He studied at Wayne State University, where he received the Lily Tomlin Scholarship for Theatre. Sean was nominated for a 2020 Tony Award, Best Performance by a Featured Actor, for his role as Steve Healy in Jagged Little Pill, the acclaimed Broadway musical inspired by Alanis Morissette's groundbreaking 1995 album. He is also a Carbonell Award and Leon Rabin Award nominee, a Joseph Jefferson Award and Craig Noel Award recipient, and lives in New York, NY.

Photo by Brian Ray Norris


EPISODE 225- ANDREW BARTH FELDMAN

ANDREW BARTH FELDMAN won the 2018 National High School Musical Theatre Award (aka the Jimmy Award) as a high school sophomore, and went on to make his Broadway debut as the title character in the Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen as a junior in high school. In his “spare” time, Andrew runs a theatre company, Zneefrock Productions. Founded when Andrew was twelve years old, Zneefrock’s productions raise money for NEXT for Autism and have included Be More Chill, reimaginings of The Last Five Years and Seussical, and an original Star Wars parody musical called “SW: A New(sical) Hope,” which recently had a production at Feinstein's/54 Below. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrew, with Tony Award Winner Alex Boniello, created "Broadway Jackbox,” a hit web series where Broadway stars play games and raise money for The Actors Fund, as well as "Broadway Whodunit," a live, virtual, improvised murder mystery party series with Broadway stars. Andrew will soon be attending Harvard University.


EPISODE 224- CELIA ROSE GOODING


Celia Rose Gooding made her debut as Frankie Healy in the world premiere of Jagged Little Pill as well as the Broadway production. Past roles include Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown and Carmen Diaz in Fame at The Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy in New York City. Celia has studied Acting and Film at the Berridge Conservatory in Normandy, France with a concentration in Shakespeare, and studied dance at The Alvin Ailey Institute. She is a graduate of Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York with honors in performing arts. She is currently a student at Pace University in New York City, majoring in Musical Theatre.


Photo Credit- Matthew Murphy

EPISODE 223- R.J. CUTLER

R.J. Cutler is an award-winning producer and director who has made some of the most significant documentaries of the past quarter century. Cutler’s films include The War Room, A Perfect Candidate, The September Issue, The World According to Dick Cheney, Thin and Listen to Me Marlon. He has also been a pioneer in the area of non-fiction television, having created such landmark programs as “American High,” “Freshman Diaries,” “30 Days” and many others. Cutler’s scripted work includes conceiving and directing “Nashville,” directing the feature film If I Stay (starring Chloe Grace Moretz), and creating, writing, directing and producing the award-winning podcast The Oval Office Tapes. 

Other projects include the feature documentary Belushi, which he directed and produced and which will air on Showtime later this year. He is also the producer and director of The Untitled Billie Eilish Documentary, an intimate look at the last year in the life of the 18 year-old pop sensation whose music has been streamed over five billion times. Cutler’s documentary series “Dear…” will premiere on Apple TV+ this spring, and his musical drama “Bronzeville” (which he executive produces along with John Ridley, Alicia Keys, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Mark Platt) has been ordered straight-to-series by Showtime. Cutler has been nominated for an Academy Award and numerous other awards, and he is the recipient of two Emmys, two Peabody Awards, a GLAAD Award, two Cinema Eye Awards, and two Television Academy Honor Awards. In 2009, the Museum of Television and Radio held a four-day retrospective of Cutler’s work.

 Cutler and his wife Jane live in Los Angeles with their daughter Madeleine, their son Maxwell, and their dog Dexter.

Photo Credit- Matt Sayles

 

EPISODE 222- JOAQUINA KALUKANGO

JOAQUINA KALUKANGO  received a 2020 Outer Critics Circle Award honor and a 2020 Tony Award nomination for her work in Slave Play. In total, Slave Play received 11 Tony Award nominations, the most for any play in Broadway history. Other Broadway: The Color Purple (revival), Holler If Ya Hear Me and Godspell. Off-Broadway: Red Letter Plays: F***ing A (Signature), Our Lady of Kibeho (Signature), Antony and Cleopatra (The Public Theater/ RSC), Emotional Creature (Signature/ Berkeley Rep) and Rent (NYTW). Recipient of a 2012 Theatre World Award and a Drama Desk nominee for Hurt Village (Signature). Television: HBO’s “Lovecraft Country,” “When They See Us” (Netflix), and “Instinct” (CBS). Upcoming film: Regina King’s directorial debut One Night in Miami. Instagram: @Joaquinakalukango

Photo Credit - Lelund Durand Thompson

EPISODE 221- EDEN ESPINOSA

Eden Espinosa is most recognized for her portrayal of Elphaba in “Wicked.”

Other Broadway credits include “Brooklyn the Musical” and “ Rent.”

Regional credits are- Sadie Thompson in “Rain” , Flora in “ Flora the Red Menace”, Eva Peron in “Evita”, Emma Borden in the rock musical “Lizzie” and Mary Flynn in “ Merrily We Roll Along.” 

Most recently she performed the role of Trina in the National tour of “ Falsettos”

Television appearances include -Law and Order, Ugly Betty and Elementary. 

Voiceover credits include Tangled, Robot Chicken, Mad TV, Elena of Avalor and Titan Maximum.

Eden’s debit album , “Look Around’ and her new album of original music “ Revelation” are available at digital retail outlets.

WWW.EDENESPINOSA.COM

EPISODE 220- LAUREN PATTEN


LAUREN PATTEN originated the role of Jo in the new Alanis Morissette musical Jagged Little Pill both on Broadway (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards) and in the American Repertory Theater’s world premiere. Other theatre credits include: the Broadway production of Fun Home, The Wolves (Obie and Drama Desk winner), and Steven Levenson’s Days of Rage (Second Stage). Film and television credits include: “Blue Bloods,” “The Good Fight,” “Succession,” The Big Sick. www.laurenpatten.com @pattenlauren   

EPISODE 218- KATE ROCKWELL

Kate Rockwell recently starred as the original Karen Smith in Mean Girls: The Musical at the August Wilson Theater, which garnered her a Drama Desk Nomination. A natural brunette, her previous Broadway dumb blondes include originating the role of Skylar in Bring It On: The Musical, as well as roles in Rock of Ages, Hair, andLegally Blonde. She’s also been seen recently as Nina Bennett on Fox’s Almost Family, and on High Maintenance, Deadbeat, and Sex and the City: the Movie. Rockwell released her debut solo album, Back To My Roots, in 2018 on Broadway Records, and has performed her solo concert by the same name at Birdland Jazz Club, City Winery, and other venues in NYC. She is a WSET-certified wine lover and has the two cutest dogs on the planet. 

EPISODE 217- HUBERT POINT- DU JOUR

The consummate New York actor, Tisch graduate Hubert Point-Du Jour has performed in over 20 plays commissioned by the likes of The Old Globe (The Two Gentleman of Verona), The Public (Tiny Beautiful Things) and Shakespeare in the Park (Kenny Leon’s Much Ado About Nothing) as well as been honored in two Obie Award winning productions (A Beautiful Day in November on the Banks of the Greatest of the Great Lakes; A Map of Virtue), all while simultaneously balancing a growing television career. After a string of appearances on Happyish, Madame Secretary, The Path, Blindspot and Elementary, he is making his series lead debut alongside Ethan Hawke in Showtime’s limited event series, The Good Lord Bird. An adaptation of James McBride’s novel by the same name, the series follows Hawke’s abolitionist ‘John Brown’ as he leads Point-Du Jour’s ‘Bob,’ Joshua Caleb Johnson’s ‘Onion’ and a small army of anti-slavery insurgents on a journey to raid the federal armory in Harpers Ferry in effort to ignite a slave revolt. Often serving as ‘Brown’s’ conduit to what’s actually going on with slaves, ‘Bob’ become integral to ‘Brown’ in his endeavors. 

Photo Credit- Eric Hobbs

EPISODE 216- JESSICA VOSK

Jessica Vosk was beginning her concert tour this year before the world shut down—and also had the Honor of recently starring as the Narrator in the 50th anniversary of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, at Lincoln Center. She also created the role of Aunt Val in the world premiere of

Becoming Nancy last year, directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. Before that, she finished an acclaimed run as Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, having played the role for 2 years. Vosk also recently starred in the NYC Ballet Jerome Robbins tribute Something to Dance About, directed by Warren Carlyle and re-created the role of Fruma Sarah in the most recent revival of Broadway’s Fiddler on the Roof. Other Broadway: Finding Neverland, The Bridges of Madison County. She starred as Anita in the Grammy-nominated San Francisco Symphony’s West Side Story. Debut Solo Album “Wild and Free” available for purchase at www.jessicavosk.com. Follow along @jessicavosk

EPISODE 215- ERICA GIMPEL


ERICA GIMPEL is an actor, singer-songwriter, producer and screenwriter. Known internationally for her performance as “Coco Hernandez” in the groundbreaking hit series FAME, Erica has gone on to star in numerous primetime and cable shows including: CHICAGO MED, SHUT EYE, TRUE BLOOD, CRIMINAL MINDS, GREY’S ANATOMY, NIKITA, RIZZOLI & ISLES, HOUSE, ER, PROFILER, and VERONICA MARS.  Most recently Erica played  "Trish" on the CBS drama GOD FRIENDED ME for two seasons.

Film credits include: TUESDAY MORNING RIDE with Ruby Dee, Wayne Wang’s SMOKE opposite Forest Whitaker, Abel Ferrara’s cult classic THE KING OF NEW YORK with Christopher Walken, Hal Hartely’s NO SUCH THINGwith Helen Mirren, FREAKY FRIDAY opposite Jaime Lee Curtis, ROMEO AND JULIET IN HARLEM, with Harry Lennix and Aunjanue Ellis. Next, Erica will be seen in SYLVIE'S LOVE with Tessa Thompson on Amazon Prime’s special Christmas release.

Off-Broadway and Regional credits include: originating the roles of  “Mayme” in Lynn Nottages’saward-winning INTIMATE APPAREL, “Glory Bee” in Sam Shepard’s STATES OF SHOCKopposite John Malkovich, and “Nelly” in Jose Rivera’s EACH DAY DIES WITH SLEEP.  Erica received the Los Angeles Stage Raw Award for Best Solo-Performance, for her dynamic portrayal of multiple characters in the one-woman play SISTER by Michael Phillip Edwards.

 Having earned gold and platinum records for her work on FAME. Erica began producing her own music as a singer-songwriter. The title track from her debut album SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY is featured in the indie film HILL and GULLY, anOfficial Selection at Pan African de Cannes.

 As a screenwriter, Erica is currently developing several projects through her company WOMANS PARADISE PRODUCTIONS, dedicated to  creatingfemale driven stories that inspire hope, passion and healing. Erica is the recipient of the LA Femme Film Festival’s  “INNOVATIVE AWARD”, and is also an active member of the world peace organization, the SGI-USA dedicated to pursuing the values of peace, culture and education.

 Over the years Erica has used her talents to highlight different causes near to her heart by creating and producing benefit concerts focusing on women’s issues, homelessness, child abuse and the rise is of racially motivated acts of violence. Knowing first hand the transformative power the performing arts has on young people's lives, Erica teaches and mentors young artists whenever her schedule permits.

EPISODE 214- STEPHEN BOGARDUS

STEPHEN BOGARDUS was featured in the Broadway revival of Man of La Mancha as Dr. Sanson Carrasco.  Previously, he starred as Gabriel Conway in James Joyce’s, The Dead.   He has also appeared on Broadway as reporter Mike Connors in High Society and choreographer Gregory Mitchell in Terrance McNally’s Love! Valour! Compassion! for which he received a Tony Award nomination and Obie Award.  He was featured in the Alan Menken/Tim Rice opus King David which opened Disney’s newly restored New Amsterdam Theatre and in productions of Les Miserables and The Grapes of Wrath.  Mr. Bogardus is an original member of the Broadway production of Falsettos.  He created the role of Whizzer in the 1981 off-Broadway production of William Finn’s March of the Falsettos at Playwrights Horizons.  Nine years later he reprised the role in Falsettoland at Playwrights Horizons and the Lucille Lortel Theatre.  Between these engagements he portrayed Marvin in a revival of Finn’s In Trousers at the Promenade Theatre.  Stephen made his Broadway debut in the 1980 revival of West Side Story as Mouthpiece and later starred as Tony in Paris and at the Hamburg Staatsoper.   Stephen’s extensive Off-Broadway work includes The Pavilion (Rattlestick)   Genesis and Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Public Theatre), Feathertop (WPA Theatre) No Way to Treat a Lady (Hudson Guild) and Love! Valour! Compassion! (Manhattan Theatre Club).  For the City Center’s ‘Encores!’ he has co-starred in productions of Sweet Adeline and Allegro.  For Los Angeles’ like-minded ‘Reprise!’ series he co-starred in Bells Are Ringing.   He portrayed Gaylord Ravenal in the national tour of Show Boat, the writer Stine in the L.A. production of City of Angels and Freddy Trumper in the national tour of Chess.  Regionally, he appeared at Arena Stage as Rene Gallimard in M. Butterfly, as Bob Wallace in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the Wang Center in Boston, in the American premiere of Doug Lucie’s Progress at the Long Wharf Theatre and Ray Davies’ 80 Days at the La Jolla Playhouse.  On television he has guest starred on ‘Ed’, ‘Now and Again’, ‘Law and Order’ (also ‘Special Victims Unit’ and ‘Criminal Intent’), ‘New York Undercover’, ‘Murder She Wrote’, and ‘Tour of Duty’.  His films include Alchemy, Second Best, States of Control and Love! Valour! Compassion!  Mr. Bogardus attended Princeton University where he was a member of  The Triangle Club and The Nassoons.

EPISODE 213- KELLY HUTCHINSON

KELLY HUTCHINSON IS AN ACTOR/WRITER WHO HAS APPEARED ON BROADWAY, OFF-BROADWAY, TV AND FILM. KELLY RECENTLY WROTE ON THE FIRST TWO SEASONS OF "DEAD TO ME" FOR CBS STUDIOS/NETFLIX (WGA AWARD NOMINATION FOR BEST NEW SERIES). SHE WAS FEATURED IN THE 2019 "YOUNG AND HUNGRY LIST" WHICH REPRESENTS THE MOST TALKED ABOUT, MOST IN DEMAND, AND MOST IMPACTFUL WRITERS OF 2019.

EPISODE 212- LIZ CAPLAN

LIZ CAPLAN has been teaching and coaching voice since 1978 in New York City and lectures throughout the United States and Europe.

 

Her students are currently featured in principle roles on Broadway, as artists in the recording industry, as well as actors on Film and TV. Many have also won the prestigious Tony, Grammy and Emmy awards. Besides working vocally with recording artists, Liz also does consulting work for all the major record labels.

 

Additionally, Liz has the honor of working with many Tony and Grammy Award winning musical directors and arrangers. She consults on many projects long before they are fully realized, and as a result, she is able to get a sense of the upcoming trends in both musical theater and the music industry. Her students, therefore, benefit from a teacher who has an awareness of these new productions and their various musical styles.

EPISODE 211- JORDAN FIRSTMAN


This year, writer, director, actor Jordan Firstman has created viral content on his Instagram with his "impressions" (such as Banana Bread's Publicist) and "secrets". His writing credits include SEARCH PARTY, BIG MOUTH, THE OTHER TWO. His acclaimed shorts currently available include Call Your Father (The Criterion Chanel), The Disguistings, Men Don't Whisper (SUNDANCE, SXSW), Sold.

EPIOSDE 210- NICOLETTE ROBINSON RETURNS

NICOLETTE ROBINSON starred in Waitress on Broadway. Nicolette holds the distinction of being the first African American woman to play the musical's leading lady, "Jenna." On television, Robinson played ‘Jane’ on Showtime’s Golden Globe Award-winning drama series, The Affair. She has also appeared on Hart of Dixie, Unforgettable, Perfect Couples, and Cold Case, among others. Most recent and upcoming roles include "Sade" in Freeform's limited series, Love in the Time of Corona, and "Barbara Cooke" in Regina King's One Night in Miami. Robinson is a graduate of UCLA's School of Theater, Film, & Television.