EPISODE 413- BILL RAUCH

Bill Rauch is the inaugural Artistic Director of Perelman Performing Arts Center. His work as a theater director has been seen across the nation, from low-income community centers to Broadway in the Tony Award-winning production of Robert Schenkkan’s All the Way and its sequel The Great Society, as well as at many of the largest regional theaters in the country. His other New York credits include the world premiere of Naomi Wallace’s Night Is a Room at Signature Theatre, the New York premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s The Clean House at Lincoln Center Theater, and a site-specific Occasional Grace in multiple Manhattan churches for En Garde Arts. From 2007 to 2019, Bill was artistic director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), the country’s oldest and largest rotating repertory theater, where he directed seven world premieres and 20 other plays including several by Shakespeare as well as innovative productions of classic musicals including a queer re-envisioning of Oklahoma! Bill is also co-founder of Cornerstone Theater Company where he served as artistic director from 1986 to 2006, directing more than 40 productions, most of them collaborations with diverse rural and urban communities.

Photo Credit- Oregon Shakespeare Festival

EPISODE 412 - DANYA TAYMOR & EMMA PITTMAN- The Outsiders

EMMA PITTMAN: Mississippi native, Wagner College graduate, and winner of “The Search For Roxie.” Broadway: Chicago (Roxie & Annie), Back to the Future OBC (Ensemble) Regional: The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet), Damn Yankees (Lola). Emma is also a teaching artist, director, and choreographer. Her choreography credits include: On the Twentieth Century, Into the Woods, and The Cradle Will Rock. @emmapittmanofficial

DANYA TAYMOR: Danya Taymor is a New York based director and winner of the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for The Outsiders. She reopened Broadway with Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu's Pass Over, the first play back after 18 months of darkness on Broadway (New York Times 10 best shows of 2021). Other recent work includes: Samuel Beckett's Endgame (Gate, Dublin), Will Arbery's Pulitzer Prize Finalist Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Obie Award, Callaway Award for Outstanding Direction) and Evanston Salt Costs Climbing (New Group), Jeremy O. Harris' "Daddy" (Almeida, London + New Group/Vineyard), Korde Arrington Tuttle's Graveyard Shift (Goodman Theater), Martyna Majok's queens (Lincoln Center), Danai Gurira's Familiar (Steppenwolf), and Brian Watkins’ My Daughter Keeps Our Hammer and Wyoming (The Flea + Lesser America). Her world-premiere production of Pass Over was filmed in collaboration with Spike Lee, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is streaming on Amazon Prime. Recipient of the Cullman Award for Extraordinary Creativity from Lincoln Center. BA: Duke University.

EPISODE 411- BETTY

Legendary Indie Rock trio BETTY, Alyson Palmer (vocals, bass, guitar), Elizabeth Ziff (vocals, guitar, electronic programming) and her sister, Amy Ziff (vocals and cello), use beguiling melodies, compelling lyrics and signature harmonies to create energetic live shows that mix music, performance art, politics and comedy.

BETTY sings of joy, love, longing, sex, food, heartbreak, and the universal hilarity of human existence. More than a band, BETTY uses music to channel their passion for representation, fairness and equality. From the beginning, they’ve blended their voices for causes they fight for, their talents in collaboration with other artists of every medium, and their time in support of women and girls, worldwide.

In addition to creating, performing and recording together as a group of independent artists since 1986, BETTY travels the world as Arts Envoys for the US Department of State. To further their humanitarian outreach and cultural diplomacy, Gloria Steinem advised them to form a non-profit, which they did in 2014. The BETTY Effect’s mission is using music and performance techniques to help others communicate and connect for personal power, social progress and peace, especially women and girls and LGBTQIA communities.

BETTY has been featured on national and international radio, television – including their iconic theme song for the L Word – and in films, commercials, jingles, recordings, streaming projects and concert venues across five continents. They have contributed as guest artists to dozens of recordings and compilation albums, and their soundscapes can be heard in art installations, like Darren Waterston “Filthy Lucre” at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MOCA), The Smithsonian Institute and London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. Their Off-Broadway musical, BETTY RULES, was another show in a glittering string of hits directed by Michael Greif (Days of Wine and Roses, Hell’s Kitchen, Dear Evan Hanson, Next to Normal, RENT.)

EPISODE 410 - WATER FOR ELEPHANTS - LIVE "BOOKS ON BROADWAY" EVENT

WADE McCOLLUM (Actor)

Broadway: Wicked (Witch’s Father, Wizard/Dr. Dillamond cover) London’s West End: World Premiere of It Happened in Key West (Carl) Broadway Tours: Lincoln Center Theatre’s My Fair Lady (Karpathy/Higgins cover), Priscilla Queen Of The Desert (Tick/Mitzi), Jersey Boys (Norm). Off-Broadway: Make Me Gorgeous, (Kate/Kenneth Marlowe), Triassic Parq (Velociraptor of Faith), Secondary Dominance (The Muse), and McCollum’s Lortel Nominated and Norton Award-winning performance as Ernest in Ernest Shackleton Loves Me. World Premieres: Water For Elephants, Alliance Theatre (Wade); Michael Weller’s A Welcome Guest, CATF (Shimeus); Rob Askins’ The Carpenter, Alley Theatre (Gene); Fly By Night, TheatreWorks Palo Alto (The Narrator). Select Theatre: I Am My Own Wife, PCS (Charlotte/Others); A Lie Of The Mind, PCPA (Jake); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Willamette Rep (Puck); Batboy the Musical, PCS (Batboy); The Rocky Horror Show, Triangle Productions (Frank-N-Furter); The Santaland Diaries, Syracuse Stage (Crumpet); Cabaret, Dallas Theatre Center (Emcee) – Dallas/Fort Worth Theatre Critics Award; Hedwig And The Angry Inch, Triangle Productions and L.A.’s Celebration Theatre (Hedwig) – Drammy, Ovation, Los Angeles Critics Circle, and Garland Awards. Select TV and film: “FBI: MW,” “Madame Secretary,” “The Knick,” “Nightcap,” “At Home with Amy Sedaris,” Options, “Prodigal Son,” Delicate Instruments, “Submissions Only,” and Ernest Shackleton Loves Me on broadwayhd.com. www.wadesong.com

Rick Elice ( Book Writer)

On Broadway: Jersey Boys (Best Musical, 2006 Tony Award, 2007 Grammy Award and 2009 Olivier Award); The Addams Family; Peter and the Starcatcher (winner of five 2012 Tony Awards);and The Cher Show (winner of two 2019 Tony Awards). In the pipeline: The Princess Bride and Smash, co-written with Bob Martin; Silver Linings Playbook, a musical adaptation of the popular film; The Marvels, a musical adaptation of the popular novel; and Treasure, an original musical written with 2021 Ed Kleban Award-winner Benjamin Scheuer. From 1982-1999, as creative director at Serino Coyne Inc, Rick created and produced ad campaigns for more than 300 Broadway shows, from A Chorus Line to The Lion King. From 1999-2009, he served as creative consultant for The Walt Disney Studio. Charter member, American Repertory Theatre. Trustee, The Actors’ Fund. BA, Cornell University; MFA, Yale Drama School; Teaching Fellow, Harvard University. Heartfelt thanks to those he’s been lucky enough to know, whose work makes him grateful for the day he was born: Sondheim, Stoppard, Bennett, Prince, Fosse, Robbins, Nichols, Tune, Nunn, Timbers, McAnuff, Laurents, Lippa, Stone, Taymor, Papp, Schumacher, Schneider, Costello, Coyne, Brickman, and eternally, Roger Rees. Hey Rog, look who’s running away with the circus!

EPISODE 409 - ELISABETH SELDES ANNACONE

Elisabeth Seldes Annacone is a screenwriter, producer and educator with over three decades experience in film & TV. Her career started working with Oliver Stone on WALL STREET, TALK RADIO, and BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY.
Elisabeth then served as VP for Francis Ford Coppola, during DRACULA, SECRET GARDEN, and BUDDY. As a Sr. VP at MGM, Elisabeth had a helping hand in films like GET SHORTY, MULHOLLAND FALLS, TWO DAYS IN THE VALLY. After getting her MFA from UCLA in screenwriting, Elisabeth’s first feature, THE GREAT LILLIAN HALL was released by HBO and stars Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates Pierce Brosnan, Jesse Williams and Lily Rabe. It is currently a New York Times critics’ pick. Her pilot, WEEKENDS, is at UTV with Debra Chase producing.

EPISODE 408- CALISTA FLOCKHART

Calista Flockhart, a classically trained stage actress, quickly gained overnight fame as she endeared herself to millions as the provocative and controversial “Ally McBeal.” Flockhart’s ability to move effortlessly from comedy to drama earned her a Golden Globe Award in 1997 along with numerous nominations for Golden Globes, Primetime Emmy Awards and SAG Awards throughout her celebrated career.

Calista can be seen starring in Ryan Murphy’s series FEUD: Capote Vs. The Swans.  The second installment of the Feud anthology is based on Capote's Women by Laurence Leamer and focuses on the story of how Truman Capote befriended society women Barbara "Babe" Paley, Gloria Guinness, Marella Agnelli, Slim Hayward, Pamela Churchill, C. Z. Guest, and Jackie Kennedy’s sister Lee Radziwill and then betrayed these women for a story. Calista stars as Lee Radziwill, Jackie Kennedy’s younger sister and wife of a Polish prince, who developed a strong kinship with Capote thanks in part to her poor relationship with Kennedy. The series also stars Tom Hollander as Capote, Naomi Watts, Chloë Sevigny, Diane Lane and Molly Ringwald.

Flockhart made her TV debut portraying the title role in FOX’s widely popular and award-winning series “Ally McBeal,” created by David E. Kelley. She also starred in ABC’s critically acclaimed TV drama, “Brothers & Sisters,” a family soap revolving around the Walker family and their lives in Los Angeles. Additional TV credits include “Full Circle,” “Supergirl,” Lisa Kudrow’s improvisational comedy series on Showtime “Web Therapy,” “Facetiming with Mommy,” and the DreamWorks’ TV Series, “The Penguins of Madagascar.”

Calista returned to her theatre roots as Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virgina Woolf for the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. She made her Broadway debut opposite Julie Harris in The Glass Menagerie, for which she received the Theatre World Award and the Clarence Derwent Best New Talent Award.  New York theater credits include Neil LaBute’s Bash: Latter Day Plays; The Three Sisters; Warren Leight’s The Loop, which landed her the role of Gene Hackman’s daughter in Mike Nichols’ “The Birdcage;” Sophistry; Sons and Fathers; Wrong Turn at Lungfish; All for One and Caryll Churchill’s Mad Forest.

Regionally, Flockhart was “Juliet” in Romeo and Juliet at The Hartford Stage; “Cordelia” in King Lear at The Actors Theater in Louisville; “Irina” in The Three Sisters at the Goodman Theater in Chicago; and “Emily” in Our Town directed by the legendary Jose Quintero.

Flockhart’s film credits include the independent thriller Fragile; Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her with Glenn Close and Cameron Diaz; A Midsummer Night’s Dream, co-starring Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Everett; Drunks; The Birdcage, which received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble; and Telling Lies in America co-starring Kevin Bacon and Brad Renfro.

EPISODE 407- MARYANN PLUNKETT & DORIAN HAREWOOD

Dorian Harewood

Broadway: The Mighty Gents, Streamers, Don' f Call Back, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Jesus Christ Superstar. National Tour: Kiss of the Spider Woman, Madame Lily, Miss Moffat. Regional: Purley (Kennedy Center). Film: Gothika, Levity, Pacific Heights, Full Metal Jacket, The Falcon and the Snowman, Against All Odds. TV: "Big Sky, " "Bel-Air," "9-1-1," "Criminal Minds," "Private Practice," " 7th Heaven," "The Practice," "12 Angry Men," "PlI Fly Away," "The Jesse Owens Story," "Roots: The Next Generations." Awards: NAACP Image Awards for Lead Actor in a Drama Series for "I* Il Fly Away" and Best Actor in a Television Mini-Series for "The Jesse Owens Story;* Theatre World Award for Best New Actor for Don't Call Back.

Maryann Plunkett

Originated the role of Older Allie at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Fall 2022. Other Broadway includes: Agnes of God, Sunday in the Park with George, Me and My Girl (Tony Award®), The Crucible, St. Joan, A Man for All Seasons, The Seagull. Off-Broadway: Deep Blue Sound, The Sean O' Casey Dublin Trilogy at Irish Rep, The Lucky Ones, Aristocrats, Richard Nelson 's 12-play Rhinebeck Panorama (seen over a span of 11 years, onstage in NYC, on tour around the world, and live on Zoom during the pandemic). Films: Showing Up, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Little Women, MAD, Blue Valentine, The Family Fang, The Rhinebeck Panorama. TV: recurring roles on both "Manifest" and "Dr. Death" ; others include "New Amsterdam, " "The Knick," "Chicago Med," "Law and Order" franchise, "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Plunkett is a founding member of Portland Stage Company and is a coach and mentor. She has performed in Shakespeare, Chekhov, and as narrator with the Britten Sinfonia.

EPISODE 406- SAMANTHA PAULY

SAMANTHA PAULY : Grammy nominee, Drama Desk winner.  Broadway: Original Katherine Howard in SIX.  West End: Eva Peron in Jamie Lloyd’s critically acclaimed Evita. Regional: SIX, Honeymoon In Vegas, Elf, Hairspray, Godspell, and more.  Represented by Stewart Talent, Lohne/Graham Management, Gersh Agency, Imprint PR. @sampauly 

EPISODE 405- KECIA LEWIS

KECIA LEWIS is celebrating 40 triumphant years as a dynamic storyteller on stage and screen in the entertainment industry. Lewis' rich career of portraying formidable women has come full circle with her critically acclaimed, Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle nominated, and Lucille Lortel Award winning performance of Miss Liza Jane in Alicia Keys' Broadway hit musical Hell's Kitchen. Entertainment Weekly proclaims "Lewis is commanding...her voice is a weapon, and she knows just when to fire." Kecia's Broadway journey began with her debut at 18 years old in the original company of Dreamgirls. In addition to originating on Broadway iconic roles in Once On This Island, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Leap of Faith, Kecia has graced the Broadway stage in The Gospel at Colonus (with Morgan Freeman), Big River, Ain’t Misbehavin’ (standby for Nell Carter) and Children of a Lesser God. Off Broadway she has starred in the title role of Mother Courage (CSC), The Skin of Our Teeth (TFNA - Obie Award Winner), Dessa Rose (LCT - Drama Desk nom.), and Marie and Rosetta (ATC - Lortel & Drama League Nom, Obie Award Winner). Kecia's work on the reboot of MAD ABOUT YOU was loved by fans and critics alike. Other selected TV guest and recurring roles include "And Just Like That" (Max), "With Love" (Amazon), "The Passage (Fox), The Blacklist (NBC), Law and Order SVU (NBC) and “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” (Hulu). As a vocalist Kecia has performed in Canada, Switzerland, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Russia. Kecia can also be seen in Evan Parter’s feature “The Independent” alongside Brian Cox, Jodie Turner-Smith and John Cena which is now streaming on Peacock. 

Photo Courtesy of Kecia Lewis

EPISODE 404 - EDEN ESPINOSA

After developing Lempicka at The Williamstown Theatre Festival and The Jolla Playhouse, Eden is thrilled to return to Broadway and originate her second titular role. Broadway: Wicked (Elphaba), Rent (Maureen), Brooklyn the Musical (Broadway). Tour: Falsettos (Trina, National Tour). Off-Broadway: Gardens of Anuncia (Mami, Lincoln Center), Rain (The Old Globe), In The Heights (Kennedy Center), Lizzie (Emma, Signature), and Merrily We Roll Along (Mary, Huntington). Eden's original albums are available on all streaming platforms. @edenespinosa.

EPISODE 403 - BEN SHENKMAN

Ben Shenkman recently completed his seventh season of BILLIONS and recurred on the final season of THE GOOD FIGHT, Peacock's THE CALLING, and Robert & Michelle King's Spectrum limited series THE BITE.

He had regular roles on Shondaland's ABC series FOR THE PEOPLE and five seasons of ROYAL PAINS, recurred on CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, and was featured in the acclaimed HBO limited series THE NIGHT OF and ANGELS IN AMERICA (Emmy and Golden Globe noms.)  Movie credits include THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7, BLUE VALENTINE, THEN SHE FOUND ME and PI.

On Broadway he appeared in Larry David's FISH IN THE DARK, SIGHT UNSEEN and PROOF (Tony nom.)

Photo Credit- Jenna Stem

EPISODE 401- YOU CAN COUNT ON ME - LIVE PODCAST EVENT

You Can Count on Me premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2000, where it tied with Girlfight for the Grand Jury Prize, and Lonergan won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. It was theatrically released on December 22, 2000, to widespread acclaim, with particular praise for Linney's performance. At the 73rd Academy Awards, Linney was nominated for Best Actress, and Lonergan was nominated for Best Original Screenplay.

Welcome to a live podcast event with Kenneth Lonergan, Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo, Rory Culkin and J. Smith- Cameron. The event took place on April 28th in New York City.

Produced by Julianne Hoffenberg at The Center at West Park.

EPISODE 400 - JEREMY SHAMOS

Jeremy Shamos was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the Pulitzer Prize winning play CLYBOURNE PARK, for which he also received Lucille Lortel Award and Drama League Award nominations. His other stage appearances include the Broadway productions of Steve Martin’s METEOR SHOWER, Michael Frayn’s NOISES OFF, Richard Greenberg’s THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES, and David Mamet’s GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, as well as the off-Broadway productions of the original GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL, IF I FORGET (Drama Desk Award nomination), ANIMALS OUT OF PAPER (Drama Desk Award nomination), THE QUALMS, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED), DINNER WITH FRIENDS (Lucille Lortel Award), and ENGAGED, for which he received the Obie Award. He appeared most recently on stage in Stephen Sondheim’s final musical HERE WE ARE.

His work on film and television has provided the opportunity to collaborate on many acclaimed features, including MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM, BAD EDUCATION, THE BIG SICK, and BIRDMAN, and many prestigious series including THE HANDMAID’S TALE, BETTER CALL SAUL, SUCCESSION, DEAD RINGERS, NURSE JACKIE, and FOSSE/VERDON. For his recurring roles as part of the ensembles of both THE GILDED AGE and ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, he earned SAG Award nominations for his work on both award winning series.

An MFA graduate of New York University, he resides with his family in Brooklyn.

EPISODE 399- BERNIE TELSEY

Bernard Telsey graduated from New York University in 1981 with a degree in Theater Administration and Acting. Soon after, he co-founded MCC Theater with Robert LuPone. Simultaneously, Telsey began working at Meg Simon and Fran Kumin’s office as an assistant for six years, and then as a casting director at Risa Bramon & Billy Hopkins Casting.

He opened his own casting office in 1988. Since then, he, along with his staff of casting directors, associates, and assistants, have cast such Broadway shows as Rent, Wicked, Hamilton, Hairspray, In the Heights, The Color Purple. Recent productions include Days of Wine and Roses, Kimberly Akimbo, Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, Parade, Some Like it Hot, and the upcoming Cabaret, The Notebook, Lempicka, and The Mother Play including countless national tours, Off-Broadway productions, and regional theater productions across the country.

Film credits include the upcoming film adaptation of Wicked, The Color Purple and Mean Girls: the Musical. Other films include Theater Camp, The Little Mermaid, Tik, Tik...Boom, Mary Poppins Returns, In the Heights, The Greatest Showman, Into the Woods, A Most Violent Year, Pieces of April, Margin Call, Sex and the City 1 & 2, Rachel Getting Married, Across the Universe.

Telsey’s current television projects include “And Just Like That”, “Only Murders in the Building”, “The Gilded Age” “Tracker” and “Death And Other Details”. Previous credits include “Schmigadoon”, “Fosse/Verdon”, “This Is Us”, “We Crashed” “Jesus Christ Superstar Live”, “Smash” and “The Big C”.

Telsey won an Emmy Award for casting the pilot of “Ugly Betty” and was nominated for “Only Murders in the Building”, “Fosse/Verdon,” “This Is Us,” “Grease! Live”, “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “The Big C.” He won an Independent Spirit Award for casting Margin Call and was the 2016 recipient of the Casting Society of America’s Hoyt Bowers Award for his contributions to the profession. His staff has cumulatively won over 20 Artios Awards for excellence in casting.

Telsey served as the New York Vice President of the Casting Society of America and sat on the Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He remains one of the Artistic Directors of MCC Theater with William Cantler.

EPISODE 398 - GORDON GREENBERG

Gordon Greenberg has directed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in London’s West End, written for television and stage, and developed, directed and produced new works for arts institutions across America.

Current Directing/Writing projects include The Heart of Rock and Roll , which opens on Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theatre in April, 2024, following its record breaking run at The Old Globe, the hit Off-Broadway show Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors (Director & Co-Writer, with Steve Rosen, New World Stages & podcast starring John Stamos, Laura Benanti, & Annaleigh Ashford), a new musical about Picasso (directing & co-writing with Stephen Schwartz & Caridad Svich), the NBC television series Most Talkative (Co-Executive Producer/Writer, NBC, Blumhouse, Andy Cohen), Crime and Punishment, A Comedy (directing & co-writing with Steve Rosen) for the Old Globe, a London revival of The Baker’s Wife (Menier Choclate Factory, 2024), Single White Female (A.T.G.), The Wedding Banquet (Ang Lee, Hua Musicals, Taiwan), Ghost Tour, The Play, and the new comedy podcast series Rolling Calls starring Julie Halston & Richard Kind (co-writer, Steve Rosen).

His acclaimed revival of Who’s Afraid of Virgina Woolf starring Calista Flockhart and Zachary Quinto at the Geffen Playhouse won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Best Revival. Variety called it “Inspired”, the L.A. Times called it “Unerringly good…Qunto & Flockhart expose something infinitely fragile in Edward Albee’s shatterproof play”, Entertainment Weekly called it “A riveting production…brilliantly staged by Gordon Greenberg”, and the Wall Street Journal called it “Intriguing…Here, unusually, there is the suggestion that the oncoming dawn may truly presage a fragile new beginning.”

Other work includes the North American premiere of Piaf/Dietrich for Mirvish in Toronto (Dora Award, Best Production), Barnum (Menier Chocolate Factory, London), The Secret Party: Jacques Brel 1968 (Das Vindobona, Vienna, Austria), Secret of My Success for Universal Pictures Stage Productions, and Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big [Your Town Here] Christmas Show! in its third season at the Old Globe (co-writer Steve Rosen.)

His West End revival of Guys and Dolls was nominated for six Olivier Awards at the Savoy Theatre and then transferred to the Phoenix Theatre (starring Rebel Wilson.) The New York Times’ Ben Brantley called it "Pure, unforced pleasure...a boozy, bawdy party". The Guardian's Michael Billington called it 'An expert revival...delivered with grace and elan,' the Evening Standard said 'This unstoppable hit keeps getting better and better...Gordon Greenberg's delicious production of Frank Loesser's classy classic once again boasts chemistry in all the right places', The Telegraph’s Charles Spencer wrote, "I left the theater walking on air and with a grin of pure happiness on my face," and The London Times’ Dominic Maxwell wrote, "Gordon Greenberg's production leaves the whole audience purring with pleasure."

Greenberg co-wrote and directed the Broadway stage adaptation of Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn at Studio 54 for Roundabout Theatre Company, Universal Pictures Stage Productions, and PBS Television's Great Performances. In its review, Variety said “Holiday inn, the 1942 film, has gotten a complete and first-class stage redo...Director Gordon Greenberg and co-writer Chad Hodge have significantly rethought, reshaped and revitalized the script, giving the show more heart, a modern sensibility and a joyful spirit." Deadline called it "An endorphin assault, inducing warm bath pleasure like no other show since 42nd Street," The Hollywood Reporter called it "Pure joy," and the Star Ledger said "Directed with generosity and warmth, it wears down all defenses." 

Other directing work includes the revisal of Working (Drama Desk Award, adapted with Stephen Schwartz and Lin-Manuel Miranda), Jacques Brel…(Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Award noms), Terms of Endearment with Alfred Molina & Calista Flockhart (Geffen Playhouse for Greg Berlanti), the stage adaptation of Tangled (Disney), Johnny Baseball (Williamstown), Stars of David by Jeanine Tesori, Tom Kitt, Tony Kushner (Daryl Roth), Pirates! (created with Nell Benjamin, Huntington, Paper Mill, Goodspeed, MUNY), Band Geeks! (also co-writer, Goodspeed, NEA grant), The Baker’s Wife (Paper Mill, Goodspeed), 1776 (Paper Mill), Floyd Collins (Signature), the Klezmer-Rock reimagining of Isaac Bashevis Singer’s Yentl (Asolo Rep), Blue Sky Boys by Deborah Breevort (Capital Rep.), the professional premiere of Edges The Musical (Capital Rep.), the acclaimed reimagining of Jesus Christ, Superstar starring Billy Porter (Helen Hayes, St. Louis MUNY), the U.S. national tour of Guys & Dolls, Disney’s Believe, the Disney Fantasy Christening (with Neil Patrick Harris & Jerry Seinfeld), West Side Story (MUNY, Circle Award nom), Happy Days, A New Musical (Paper Mill, Goodspeed, U.S. National Tour), Vanities, A New Musical (Theatreworks Palo Alto - San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Award), We The People (Lucille Lortel Theatre & Paper Mill Playhouse), Rags (Roundabout, workshop), and the all-female workshop of Man of La Mancha (Mirvish, Toronto),

Other writing work includes, for television, Herbie Rebooted for Disney, Emerald City Music Hall, an original movie musical for Nickelodeon Television and Scramble Band, an original movie musical for the Disney Channel, The Single Girls Guide (co-writer Tommy Newman) for Dallas Theatre Center, Ars Nova, Capital Rep, the podcast Theatre Camp (with Jonathan Marc Sherman) for Sirius XM, Killing Time (with Steve Rosen), an At Home Play Commission from The Old Globe, and the new book of Meet Me In St. Louis for the St. Louis MUNY's 100th Anniversary.

EPISODE 397 - ANN HARADA

ANN HARADA originated the role of Christmas Eve in Avenue Q on Broadway and in the West End. Other Broadway: Cinderella, Into the Woods, 9 to 5, M Butterfly, Seussical, Les Miserables. Selected Off-Broadway: Dear World, Fairycakes, Emojiland, Dropping Gumballs on Luke Wilson, Pacific Overtures, Brooklynite and Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Regionally: Babbitt (LaJolla Playhouse), The Closet (Williamstown), Matilda, Beauty and the Beast, & Mamma Mia (MUNY). Recent film: Jerry and Marge Go Large and Disenchanted. Add’l film: Sisters, Admission, and Hope Springs. She is one of the stars of the musical series Schmigadoon! (Apple TV+) Add’l TV:  Gotham, Blue Bloods (recurring), Younger, Jim Gaffigan Show, The Good Wife, 30 Rock, House of Cards, Master of None, and Smash. Insta/Threads: @iamannharada, X:@annharada ——Photo Credit - Michael Kushner

Hello, World!

EPISODE 396- CAMRYN MANHEIM

Camryn Manheim is an actor, author, and activist. She is best known for her Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning role as the feisty defense attorney Ellenor Frutt on the legal drama series, The Practice. 

In her long career that spans over 40 years, she has appeared in over 60 television shows, 40 movies, and countless plays. Currently, you can see her on location in the streets of New York City playing Lieutenant Kate Dixon on Law & Order.   Her other notable credits include: Ghost Whisperer, Stumptown, The L Word, Ally McBeal, Criminal Minds, Person of Interest, Two and a Half Men, Will & Grace, Utopia, The Magicians, Waco, How I Met Your Mother, Cop Car, Elvis, An Unfinished Life, Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion, Happiness, The Laramie Project, Dark Water, and The Road to Wellville. In 2015, Camryn made her Broadway debut in Deaf West’s Tony-nominated production of Spring Awakening. 

Manheim received her B.F.A from UC Santa Cruz and her M.F.A from New York University. In 1999 Manheim fulfilled a lifelong dream and became a New York Times best-selling author with her book, Wake Up, I'm Fat!  When she’s not filming, she teaches and lectures all over the United States and abroad.

EPISODE 395- MAX BURKHOLDER

Max Burkholder stars as the lead of Seth MacFarlane’s critically acclaimed series TED, a prequel to the hit film franchise. He plays the leading role of “John Bennet” (the younger version of Mark Wahlberg’s character from the films), a good-hearted teenager who is still in his awkward teenage phase. With Ted’s help, John hilariously navigates adolescence, dealing with everything from first dates to high school bullies. Premiering on January 11, 2024, Ted launched as Peacock’s most-watched original title ever through its first three days on the platform.

Burkholder is perhaps best known for his portrayal of “Max Braverman” in NBC’s long running award-winning series PARENTHOOD, from producers Jason Katims, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. Here Max raised awareness while portraying a young boy with Asperger’s syndrome. After the second episode aired, Asperger’s was one of the most frequently searched terms on Google. He also played the lead role in Paramount TV’s WHEN THE STREET LIGHTS GO ON for DGA, Oscar, IDA, and Emmy-nominated director Brett Morgen. His notable recurring roles include HBO’s IN TREATMENT and BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

In film, Burkholder starred in Debra Eisenstadt’s hit Sundance comedy BLUSH opposite Wendy McLendon-Covey; and in the title role of BENJAMIN, alongside comedy veterans Rob Corddry, Kevin Pollak and Dave Foley. 

Burkholder began his career at a very young age in films including DADDY DAY CARE directed by Steve Carr, FRIENDS WITH MONEY directed by Nicole Holofcener, and a starring role in the Michael Bay-produced hit feature THE PURGE opposite Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey. 

In the world of voiceover, Burkholder has voiced characters on a number of hit series including Amazon Prime’s INVINCIBLE, FAMILY GUY, THE CLEVELAND SHOW, AMERICAN DAD and THE LAND BEFORE TIME.

EPISODE 394- CHRISTOPHER FITZGERALD

Christopher  Fitzgerald  is an actor and singer  known for his role as Boq in the musical Wicked, Igor in the musical Young Frankenstein, and Ogie Anhorn in the musical Waitress- he also starred on Broadway in Spamalot, Company , Act Of God and Amour. He earned Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and Tony Award nominations for his performances in Waitress and Young Frankenstein and won the Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for his performance in Waitress.