NEWSIES' Jeff Calhoun Set for The Lynne Show Today, 6/5

It's Tony Award Month on The Lynne Show, which is set to feature interviews with NEWSIES director Jeff Calhoun, set and costume designer Tobin Ost and actor Laura Osnes, and BONNIE AND CLYDE THE MUSICAL's Jeremy Jordan. See details below.

The Lynne Show plays Tuesdays at 2:00 PM EST and Mondays at 3:00 AM EST on Radioearnetwork.com. Hear/download podcasts anytime at thelynneshow.com.

June 5, 2012 — Nominated for the Tony for his direction of the Broadway Musical Newies (which has garnered 8 nominations including Best Musical), Jeff Calhoun knew what he wanted to do by the time he was 8 years old: he wanted to be Dick Van Dyke, he wanted to be Fred Astaire, he wanted to dance on the Carol Burnett show; he wanted to be a dancer! It was “in his DNA.” And, as if it was meant to be, a series of circumstances propelled him on the path to becoming not only a dancer but a choreographer and a director of musicals like Jekyll and Hyde, Grease, Big River, Bonnie and Clyde – The Musical, 9 to 5 The Musical and many more. Listen to unexpected way he became the protégé of the amazing Tommy Tune. And the remarkable series of happenstance’s that led to his working with such luminaries as Bob Hope, and Dolly Parton. Then hear one of the songs from Newsies wonderful score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman.

June 12, 2012 — Lynne interviews the charming as he is talented Jeremy Jordan as he was about to star as the charismatic bad boy Clyde Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde the Musical. Surprisingly he didn’t intend to be an actor, He says that his first auditions for shows at the local community theater, were "horrible" and he "couldn't even get cast in Peter Pan or Oliver Twist." But he didn't mind because he was a really good student and thought he was going to be an engineer. After deciding that engineering was not for him he didn’t know what he was going to do, so he just let life lead him. He sang in the school chorus and was heard by someone who offered him a role in a play. Jeremy was hooked and knew that this was the life he was meant for. And it must be true because at 27 having already starred in Grease and West Side Story, created the role of Clyde Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde –The Musical, appeared in a movie with Dolly Parton, Jeremy is nominated for the Tony as Best Actor in a Musical for his standout performance in Newsies . Listen to his story and the extraordinary voice that got him that first role in high school as he sings the beautifully poignant Santa Fe, from the wonderful score of Newsies by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman

June 19, 2012 — Nominated for a Tony for his work on Newies, set and costume designer Tobin Ost is Jeff Calhoun’s “secret weapon.” Soft spoken and serious Tobin thought he was going to be an architect. But when, as a high school student he was turned down for a job at an architectural firm, he approached the theater across the street, was hired and the rest is history. Listen to the twists and turns that led Tobin inexorably to what is, without question, his right place.

June 26, 2012 — Director Jeff Calhoun describes Laura Osnes as “beautiful inside and out” and it is definitely true. The term unaffected is old-fashioned but seems to apply here; Laura seems almost unaware of her beauty, talent and sweetness. And her story is perfect for her; from the beginning others saw the potential star in her and encouraged it. Listen to the remarkable way her career simply unfolded, including how she won her starring role in Grease on a reality show! From there she captured roles in South Pacific and Anything Goes, but they were roles others had created. She finally got her chance to define the role, when she starred as Bonnie of Bonnie and Clyde in the Musical of the same name and to be rewarded for her amazing performance with a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Listen to her sing songs from Frank Wildhorn and Don Black’s beautiful score, and you will understand why.