EPISODES 68 & 69 - DONNA MURPHY -Parts One and Two

Donna Murphy’s award-winning performances in theater, film and television have forged a career of exceptional diversity, impressing both audiences and critics with her depth and skill. This “seductive actress of major transformative powers” (NY Times) was named by New York Magazine as one of “Three Living Legends” of the New York Theater and awarded in 2003 one of their prestigious “New York Awards” for her work in the theater. One of the most beloved and honored stage actresses of her generation, Murphy earned the Drama League Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theater. She currently shares the iconic role of Dolly Gallagher Levi with the legendary Bette Midler in the Tony Award winning revival of Hello, Dolly!, for which she has received great critical acclaim.

Ms. Murphy received the first of two Tony® Awards for Best Actress in a Musical, along with the Drama Desk and Drama League Awards, for her spellbinding creation of Fosca in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Passion, which was filmed for PBS’ American Playhouse. She received her second Tony® Award, as well as a Drama League Award and Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations, for her “resplendent, matchless” (New York Post) performance as Anna Leonowens in the 1996 Tony® Award-winning revival of The King and I. In 2004, she was honored with the Drama League Outstanding Achievement Award for her work in Musical Theater, the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Astaire Awards, as well as another Tony® nomination, for her hilarious comic tour de force as Ruth Sherwood in the Broadway Revival of Wonderful Town. She returned to Broadway in 2007, receiving Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle Awards, and a Tony® nomination for her mesmerizing portrayal of the legendary actress-singer Lotte Lenya in LoveMusik, directed by Harold Prince. Earlier that season, Murphy received raves for her “ brilliant and sexy” (NY Post), “bravura, regal” (Variety), performance as Phyllis Stone in City Center’s Encores!’ production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s Follies. That summer, Variety named her one of three “Legit Luminaries” along with Christine Ebersole and Joan Didion, in their Women’s Impact Issue.

In April 2010, she lit up the stage at City Center Encores! again with her performance as Mayoress Cora Hooper in Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents’ Anyone Can Whistle, prompting Ben Brantley of the NY Times to call her “perhaps the most sophisticated practitioner of musical comedy alive today.” The following year, the chameleonesque Murphy starred in the world premiere of The People in the Picture, produced by the Roundabout Theater Company. Her remarkably fluid, time-shifting performance as Raisel/Bubbie, a Yiddish theater and film star who survived the Holocaust, seen throughout her youth and as an elderly grandmother determined to pass on her family’s history, garnered Murphy rave reviews and her fifth Tony® nomination, as well as Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations. In the summer of 2012, Murphy took on the role of the Witch in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods for Shakespeare in the Park’s 50th Anniversary season production, which also starred Amy Adams, Jessie Mueller, and Denis O’Hare. For her performance, she was honored with Drama Desk and Drama League Award nominations.

Recognized as a gifted character actress in the film world, she was most recently seen on the big screen as Pearl in No Pay, Nudity opposite Gabriel Byrne. She received international critical acclaim for her performance as the mercurial Marie in Todd Solondz’ Dark Horse, with Selma Blair, Christopher Walken, and Mia Farrow. In Vera Farmiga’s 2011 directorial debut, Higher Ground, she co-starred with Farmiga as Kathleen, the film’s troubled matriarch, creating a sensual, heartbreaking characterization. Murphy’s animated feature debut, voicing the villainess Mother Gothel in Disney’s mega-hit Tangled, earned her rave reviews for her scene stealing performance. She is also widely recognized for her performances as Judy Braddock, the hardworking, suburban single mom to Scarlett Johansson in The Nanny Diaries; the elegant and demanding, but ultimately sympathetic ballet instructor Juliette Simone, in Nicholas Hytner’s Center Stage; and Anij, the quietly alluring and wise leader in Star Trek: Insurrection, opposite Sir Patrick Stewart. Other select film credits include: The Bourne Legacy with Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz, Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center, Darren Aronovsky’s The Fountain, Rosalie Octavius in Spiderman 2, The Door in the Floor, The Astronaut’s Wife with Johnny Depp, and Jade, directed by William Friedkin.

Murphy’s first television film, HBO’s “Someone Had to be Benny,” earned her a Cable Ace Award as Best Actress in a Drama Special or Series, as well as a Daytime Emmy. Most recently, she starred as Jane Green, the matriarch of a prominent Southern family torn apart by the Civil War in PBS’ Mercy Street and guest starred on ABC’s hit show “Quantico” and CBS’ “Doubt” with Katherine Heigl and Laverne Cox. Other regular and recurring appearances include the mysterious “elegant woman” Angela Forrester in ABC’s “Resurrection,” Georgie on VH1’s “Hindsight,” Darlene Garretti on CBS’ “Made in Jersey” alongside Janet Montgomery and Kyle McLaughlin, the steely Denise Goodman on TNT’s “Trust Me” with Eric McCormack and Tom Cavanaugh, Heather Olshansky in CBS’ “Hack” opposite David Morse, and her critically acclaimed comedic performance as the neurotic psychiatrist Dr. Ruby Stern on ABC’s sitcom, “What About Joan,” starring Joan Cusack. Other TV work includes: Lifetime’s “House of Versace,” opposite Gina Gershon, Showtime’s political drama “The Last Debate,” “The Day Lincoln Was Shot” (TNT) as Mary Todd Lincoln, Stephen Bochco’s “Murder One” (ABC), “Leonard Bernstein’s New York” and “Liberty!” for PBS, the 2000 and 2002 Kennedy Center Honors (CBS), and guest appearances on USA’s “Royal Pains”, “The Good Wife”, “The Mentalist”, “Ugly Betty”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”, “Law & Order: SVU”, “Damages”, “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”, “CSI”, “Law & Order”, “The Practice”, “Ally McBeal”, and the PBS Broadcast of the Emmy Award winning “Sondheim! The Birthday Concert.”

Ms. Murphy studied with the legendary Stella Adler, and at the Lee Strasberg Institute, and attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She made her professional debut, after being cast from an open call, in Neil Simon’s They’re Playing Our Song, and went on to create memorable characters in comedies, dramas and musicals on and off Broadway, and in theaters across the country. These credits include Edwin Drood in the original Broadway production of Rupert Holmes’ The Mystery of Edwin Drood, James Lapine’s Twelve Dreams, and Michael John LaChiusa’s Hello Again at Lincoln Center Theater (Drama Desk nominations), Song of Singapore (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations), Peter Nichol’s Privates on Parade at the Roundabout Theater Co., Strindberg’s Miss Julie (McCarter Theater), and Helen of Troy in Tony Kushner’s production of Ellen McLaughlin’s Helen, for the New York Shakespeare Festival (Drama League Award).

A versatile singer, she can be heard on a number of recordings including Tangled (Disney Soundtrack), The People in the Picture (Kritzerland), Lovemusik (Ghostlight), Wall to Wall Sondheim (Symphony Space), Wonderful Town (DRG), Leonard Bernstein’s New York (Nonesuch), Hello Again (RCA Victor), The King and I (Varese Sarabande), the Grammy Award winning Passion (Angel), and Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project, to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Young Survival Coalition.

Ms. Murphy, born in Queens, New York and raised in Hauppauge, New York and Topsfield, Massachusetts, is the eldest of seven children. For her contribution to the Arts, Culture and Public life, she’s received special honors from New York Magazine, Symphony Space, Greenwich Village’s Caring Community, the Women’s Project, The Little Orchestra Society, Irish America Magazine, the Breukelein Institute and Emerson College. She donates her time and efforts to a number of organizations, including the Worldwide Orphan’s Foundation, Berwin Lee London New York Playwrights, Inc., The Drama League, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and The Actors Fund. She is the proud mother of one daughter and two stepdaughters, and happily resides in New York City.

Little Known Fact: When I asked this Tony-Award winning actress, "How old were you when you realized that you had this incredible voice?", she said, "It's not so much that I had this incredible voice, but I had this incredible desire to sing. That was when I was three years old." 
Welcome Donna Murphy!

EPISODE 67 - WILL ROLAND

Will Roland is a Brooklyn-based actor and singer. He stars as Jeremy Heere in the Joe Iconis/Joe Tracz musical, Be More Chill. He made his Broadway Debut in Dear Evan Hansen, in which he originated the role of Jared Kleinman (Broadway.com Audience Choice Award: Favorite Funny Performance). Recent credits include: Dear Evan Hansen (Second Stage & Arena Stage), The Black Suits (CTG & Barrington), The Bus (59E59), LoserSongs (Don't Tell Mama), & Academia Nuts! (NYMF). Will frequently collaborates with Joe Iconis & Family. Passionate about new work, he's helped develop plays & musicals with 2nd Stage, La Jolla, Arena, CAP21, Don't Tell Mama, and various Fringe festivals. Thanks Mom, Dad, Val, Steph, Station3, SRDA, and my many loving teachers for their support throughout this crazy endeavor. 

www.will-roland.com 

Twitter: @will_roland 

Little Known Fact: When he was seven years old he started getting laughs from his impeccable Jimmy Stewart impression, and he's been getting huge laughs ever since with his incredible comedic skills. Welcome Will Roland!

EPISODE 66 - LAURA HEYWOOD

Laura Heywood is a professional enthusiast: a multi-faceted host, consultant, performer, pundit, and writer widely recognized for her commitment to positivity. Her formerly anonymous alter-ego, @BroadwayGirlNYC, is widely regarded as a leading advocate, ambassador, and best friend to Broadway (Forbes calls her "the most vocal and visible supporter in the business”). She has worked in fields ranging from sports talk radio (San Francisco Giants) to commercial acting (Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty) to social media consulting (Tori Amos), always bringing a point of view of contagious joy. Laura works regularly as a celebrity interviewer for outlets including AOL’s Build Series and CBS New York, and is the creator of the web series The Between The Shows Show. She volunteers regularly and is on the Board of Directors for the national arts & education non-profit Story Pirates.

Little Known Fact: She was an anonymous Broadway influencer on social media with the Twitter handle, @BroadwayGirlNYC. Then, she revealed her identity on a Broadway TED Talk, and it changed everything.

EPISODE 65 - CAZZIE DAVID & ELISA KALANI

Cazzie David, daughter of "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" creator Larry David, was followed by TMZ the day she moved into her college dorm.  Any hopes for an anonymous matriculation were blown immediately -- and most of the students Cazzie encountered on campus weren't quite sure how to interact with the child of a major Hollywood star.  The one person who didn't seem to be nonplussed by it all was Elisa Kalani. In her refreshingly straight forward manner, Elisa acknowledged how wonderful -- and strange -- it was to have Cazzie at the school. The two freshmen became fast friends and have remained the best of friends ever since those first surreal days. 

Cazzie and Elisa, co-creators of the critically acclaimed web series "Eighty-Sixed," chat with Ilana about their work and what it means to be "millennials."  Elisa and Cazzie describe their relationship to technology as second nature -- but as millennials they are actually on the cusp; they lived a life before having all of these technological advances and social media so they know life before and after Snapchat. "Eighty-Sixed," as described by Cazzie, is simultaneously critical of her generation and sympathetic.  In other words, it's honest, real and of course hilarious. 

These two young, smart writers go in depth with Ilana about what it was like doing a project that shot in Larry David’s home -- but didn’t involve Larry David! Cazzie shares what it feels like being the child of a famous father -- and they both discuss what’s next for them. These brilliant young women are taking Hollywood by storm on their own terms with their unique take on what it’s like to be in your 20’s in America today.

Little Known Fact: They met their first week of college, and now they have an incredibly successful millennial web series called "86ed". 

EPISODE 64 - BILL CAMP

Bill is best known for his Emmy Award nominated performance (Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series) in HBO's critically acclaimed limited series The Night Of, starring alongside John Turturro and Riz Ahmed directed by Steve Zaillian and written by Richard Price. Bill is currently filming the The Looming Tower, where he will portray FBI veteran Robert Chesney. The upcoming Hulu series in the based on Lawrence Wright’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that chronicles the events that led to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Bill recently shot the Francis Lawrence-directed spy thriller Marble, based on Jason Matthew’s espionage novel. This film also marks his second time working with Steve Zaillian, who is attached as a producer on the Fox feature. Additionally, Bill filmed The Land Of Steady Habits both written and directed by Nicole Holofcener with Anthony Bregman of Likely Story producing. Bill also shot a pivotal role in Molly’s Game directed by Aaron Sorkin and co-starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan in Wildlife, Paul Dano’s directorial debut. Other upcoming films include The Killing of a Sacred Deer directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, Woman Walks Ahead directed by Susanna White, and Scott Cooper’s latest feature, Hostiles. This will be his second time working with Cooper, as the duo previously collaborated on Black Mass. Last year, Bill held key roles in Midnight Special and Loving (both from writer-director Jeff Nichols) as well as Jason Bourne directed by Paul Greengrass. Bill has also appeared in Gold for director Stephen Gaghan, Aloha for director Cameron Crowe, Birdman (Academy Award Winner, Best Picture) for director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Love & Mercy, 12 Years a Slave, Lincoln, Compliance, Lawless, Tamara Drewe and Public Enemies. On the small screen he has played recurring roles on The Leftovers, Manhattan, Boardwalk Empire and Damages.

A veteran of the stage, Bill received a Tony Award nomination for his performance as Reverend John Hale in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, directed by Ivo Van Hove and produced by Scott Rudin. He is an alumnus of The Juilliard School and recipient of several awards and honors, including the Obie, Elliot Norton, Drama Desk, and Boston Critics Association.

Little Known Fact: After winning an Obie Award for the Tony Kushner play, Homebody/Kabul, he decided to take a break from acting. Then, Tony Kushner convinced him to come back. Luckily for us, he did. Welcome Bill Camp!

EPISODE 63 - GILLIAN PENSAVALLE

A born and raised New Yorker, Gillian is a karaoke enthusiast who says hello to dogs on the street, but always asks permission first. She is a proud Ravenclaw and loyal to House Stark.

Gillian is the creator, executive producer, and host of The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast, the first Hamilton podcast to hit the airwaves in January of 2016, which has since earned the title of "The Official Hamilton Podcast" among cast members and has listeners in over 140 countries. Guests include over two dozen people involved in Hamilton including cast members, crew, musicians, and the man who started it all: Lin-Manuel Miranda. How lucky we are to be alive right now indeed.

Gillian is also the co-creator and co-host of comedy podcast True Crime Obsessed, with podcast maven Patrick Hinds. This smart, well-researched, respectful, and hilarious podcast received critical acclaim almost instantly thanks to the duo’s undeniable chemistry, nonstop passion, and zero tolerance policy for garbage people. 

Teaming up with her husband Michael Paul Smith, Gillian is the co-creator, producer, and star of The Residuals, a successful comedy series based on the couple's the real-life auditioning for commercials in New York City. Guest stars include Horatio Sanz, Michael Torpey, and Emily Tarver.

In the digital video world, Gillian has pitched, wrote, hosted, produced, and edited over 2,000 videos that have been distributed to over 12,000 partner sites including The Huffington Post, Hearst, AOLOn, MSN, Amazon, USA Today, and Roku. Topics included viral animal stories, dumb criminals, travel tips, Game Of Thrones and Breaking Bad recaps, and general pop culture. From telling a story straight to camera or editing text-only videos, Gillian’s pieces have amassed over tens of millions of views.

With over ten years of experience in the entertainment industry, Gillian is a content creator through and through: she is an actor, voice-over artist, on-camera host, podcaster, editor, writer, SAG signatory producer, and showrunner.

Twitter: @GillianWithaG / @TheHamilcast

Instagram: @GillianWithaG / @TheHamilcast

Little Known Fact: Because of her love of Hamilton The Musical, she started a podcast. Nineteen months later, Lin-Manuel Miranda came on that podcast as a guest. Welcome Gillian Pensavalle!

EPISODE 62 - ALLISON JANNEY

The incredibly versatile Allison Janney has taken her place among a select group of actors who combine a leading lady’s profile with a character actor’s art of performance. Currently starring alongside Anna Faris in the CBS/Chuck Lorre sitcom, “Mom,” Janney also received rave reviews for her turn as ‘Margaret Scully’ on Showtime’s groundbreaking drama “Masters of Sex.”

Janney won Emmys for both roles in the same year; a rare feat in Emmy history. She won a second Emmy for “Mom” the following year, bringing her total number of ATAS statues to seven. She was also recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition, Janney has continually taken on movie roles during her hiatus weeks from the sitcom. She’s completed filming “I, Tonya” with Margot Robbie for Miramax Films. Recently released movies include “Tallulah” which reunited her with Ellen Page, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” marked her first time working with director Tim Burton and “Girl on the Train” saw her collaborating again with longtime friend, director Tate Taylor. Janney also appeared in two of the previous summer’s biggest box office titles: the adorably animated “Minions” and “Spy” with Melissa McCarthy. Prior feature work includes “The Duff,” Jason Bateman’s directorial debut “Bad Words,” the Dreamworks’ animated film “Mr. Peabody & Sherman,” and “The Way, Way Back” with Steve Carell and Toni Collette.

Additionally she co-starred in the much anticipated feature film "The Help," based on the best-selling novel of the same name. For their extraordinary performances, the cast won Ensemble awards from the Screen Actors Guild, National Board of Review and the Broadcast Film Critics. The film was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. Janney has also delighted audiences with outstanding performances in the Oscar- winning ensemble hit “Juno” and in the movie version of the Tony Award winning play “Hairspray.” For her role in Todd Solondz's film "Life During Wartime," she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress by the Spirit Awards. She also appeared in Sam Mendes’ “Away We Go,” the comedy “Strangers with Candy,” and was heard as the voice of ‘Gladys’ in Dreamworks’ animated film “Over the Hedge” as well as ‘Peach’ in “Finding Nemo.” She received another Spirit Award nomination for her work in the independent feature “Our Very Own,” and starred opposite Meryl Streep in “The Hours,” which received a SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture. Other feature credits include the Academy Award winning film “American Beauty” (for which she won a SAG Award for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture) as well as “Nurse Betty,” “How to Deal,” “Drop Dead Gorgeous,” “10 Things I Hate About You,” “Primary Colors,” “The Ice Storm,” “Six Days Seven Nights,” “The Object of My Affection,” and “Big Night.”

Throughout her career Janney has made a handful of memorable guest-star appearances on television, but she is renowned for her starring role in the acclaimed NBC series "The West Wing," where she won a remarkable four Emmy Awards and four SAG Awards for her portrayal of White House Press Secretary ‘CJ Cregg.’

While a freshman studying acting at Kenyon College in Ohio, Janney auditioned for a play that Paul Newman was directing and got the part. Soon after, Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward suggested she study at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. She followed their advice and went on to make her Broadway debut in Noel Coward’s “Present Laughter” for which she earned the Outer Critics Circle Award and Clarence Derwent Award. She also appeared in Arthur Miller’s "A View from the Bridge," receiving her first Tony Award nomination and winning the Outer Critics Circle Award as well as the musical "9 to 5," for which she earned a Tony nomination and won the Drama Desk Award. Janney made her return to Broadway earlier this year in the revival of John Guare’s “Six Degrees of Separation” taking on the title role of ‘Ouisa’ alongside John Benjamin Hickey and Corey Hawkins.

Little Known Fact: She may be the most reluctant star you will ever meet, but she is also the most gifted. Welcome Allison Janney!

EPISODE 61 - CELIA KEENAN-BOLGER

CELIA KEENAN-BOLGER- Broadway: Glass Menagerie (Tony Award Nomination, Drama Desk Award, Dorothy Loudon Award), Peter And The Starcatcher, (Tony Nom, Drama Desk Nom, Drama League Nom), The Cherry Orchard,  Les Miserables (Drama Desk nom.), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Tony Nom, Theatre World Award, Drama Desk Award for Best Ensemble), Off Broadway: Tumacho (Clubbed Thumb) The Oldest Boy (Lincoln Center Theater), Merrily We Roll Along (City Center Encores), A Small Fire (Playwrights Horizons), Bachelorette (2econd Stage). TV: Louie, The Good Wife, Nurse Jackie, Good Behavior, Elementary, Blue Bloods, Law & Order SVU, Heartland. Film: The Visit, Mariachi Gringo, Breakable You, Diane (upcoming). Celia is a graduate of The University Of Michigan. 

Little Known Fact: She is as passionate about her political activism as she is about her work and her family. Her willingness to stand up for her beliefs is one of the many reasons I have so much respect for her. Welcome Celia Keenan-Bolger!