David Abeles, LaQuet Sharnell and Molly Tynes Talk 'Special Skills' on THE ENSEMBLIST Podcast

Mo Brady (The Addams Family, SMASH) and Nikka Graff Lanzarone (Chicago, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) announce the release of The Ensemblist's seventh episode: "Special Skills."

The "Special Skills" episode features interviews with three actors who have used their special skills in shows on the Great White Way: David Abeles, LaQuet Sharnell and Molly Tynes. In the 24-minute episode, our guests share how the skills they picked up in other ways helped to facilitate their performance careers.

David Abeles both acted and played instruments in the Broadway productions of Million Dollar Quartet and Once. He currently plays the titular male role in the off-Broadway hit Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, scheduled to begin performances on West 45th Street on September 24. On the "Special Skills" episode, he describes late night jam sessions with his Once castmates that influenced their onstage chemistry in the Tony Award-winning musical.

LaQuet Sharnell has performed on Broadway in Sweet Charity, The Lion King, Memphis and Lysistrata Jones, as well as numerous regional, readings, workshops, and concerts. Along with the company of Lysistrata Jones, she attended a week-long basketball camp to pick up the special skills required for their show. In the episode, she tells us about playing one-on-one basketball with two-time NBA MVP Chris Mullin.

Molly Tynes used her passion for aerial work to book a role in the Tony-winning revival of Pippin. An original and current member of the cast, she is making her Broadway debut in the production in the ensemble, and covering the roles of Fastrada and Leading Player.

New episodes of The Ensemblist can be downloaded every two weeks through the iTunes store by searching for "The Ensemblist." Episodes can be also be downloaded directly from Podbean at theensemblist.podbean.com.

Upcoming episodes will feature Broadway performers sharing the experiences performing in an out of town tryout and interviews with ensemblists from other countries who have made it to Broadway.

Our website, TheEnsemblist.com, features stories, Q&As, and blog posts from those in the know about life as an ensemblist, plus cool stuff we can't NOT share. You can also follow @theensemblist on Twitter and Like us at facebook.com/theensemblist.