Exclusive Podcast: BROADWAY'S BACKBONE with James Walsh

BroadwayWorld will be bringing you new episodes of Broadway's Backbone- a podcast dedicated to the men and woman of the ensemble: the chorus of dancers, singers, and actors that are the foundation of every Broadway musical. These often-unsung gypsies are the hardest working people on the boards and are Broadway's backbone. Each episode features an interview with a Broadway vet, in which they speak about their life, career and dreams, and the topics that aren't always shared. The life of a gypsy maybe full of passion, but not always filled with glamour. Each guest shares intimate details about their journey. There is no mud slinging, but expect a little dirt. The podcast is in honor of the folks of the ensemble and the people who plan to be them.

In this episode: James Walsh is a jack of all trades, who masters them all. His newest endeavors include director with "As Much as I Can," a theatrical event focusing on HIV infection in the African American community, and as playwright with an original new play beginning previews this weekend at Queens Theatre in the Park. "Jimmy And Carolyn" is a hysterical, true-to-life world premiere which opens officially September 22nd. Jimmy and wife Carolyn drive from Florida to idyllic Weekapaug, Rhode Island to celebrate Jimmy's birthday at the fancy beach house of their gay son and his life partner from Costa Rica. Once the pepperoni loaf has been devoured, the Italian cookies eaten, the cigarettes smoked, and the Pinot Grigio drunk, amid the laughter, dark truths are exposed as the family struggles to make sense of their irreconcilable memories of the past, and the choices they face as they move forward. In this episode James discusses taking control of ones own career, being impervious to negativity, and the importance of finding the keyhole into the center of your performance. http://queenstheatre.org/jimmy-and-carolyn

Broadway Backbone is hosted by Brad Bradley, who made his Broadway debut in the original cast of "Steel Pier" and followed that with "Annie Get Your Gun", "Thou Shalt Not" "Spamalot", "People in the Picture", "Billy Elliot", and "Chita: A Legendary Celebration." Brad got the idea for the podcast during a conversation he had with Chita Rivera as they were sitting on the dock in Cherry Grove, Fire Island talking shop. She told him that everyone should go through the chorus. It's where dues are paid, the craft is refined, and discipline is born. The seed was planted.

Past podcast guests have included: Ryan Steele (Newsies, Peter Pan LIVE), Neil Haskell (Hamilton, So You Think You Can Dance), Lisa Gajda (Tuck Everlasting), Peter Gregus (Jersey Boys), Angie Schworer (Something Rotten), Charlie Sutton (An American in Paris), Dennis Stowe (Aladdin), Cleve and Donna Marie Asbury (Chicago), Jeremy Davis(Hail, Caesar), Jen Cody (Urinetown), and Tara Rubin (Tara Rubin Casting). The podcast can be found at www.Broadwaysbackbone.com, and soon on iTunes.