THE ENSEMBLIST Podcast Strips Down BROADWAY BARES

Mo Brady and Nikka Graff Lanzarone announce the release of The Ensemblist's 25th episode: "Broadway Bares."

Founded in 1990 by Broadway choreographer and director Jerry Mitchell, Broadway Bares is an annual burlesque show which currently raises over a million dollars for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Each year, 250 Broadway performers team up with a selected group of choreographers to create an unforgettable night of glitter, sweat and little-to-no clothing. In this episode, Broadway Bares veterans James Brown III, Lindsay Janisse and Josh Rhodes share their memories of this momentous community event.

Brown (Rocky, Ghost The Musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Memphis, The Little Mermaid, The Color Purple, Wicked, The Frogs) is a crowd favorite as a five-time Bares veteran. He explains the challenge of attending Bares rehearsals while performing eight times a week, which he is currently doing in Rocky, and shares a particularly hair-raising story of a costume malfunction during Broadway Bares.

Janisse (Wicked, Rock of Ages) graced the Bares stage in 2012, after many months of practice performing as a scantily clad Rock of Ages cast member. She conveys the excitement and energy backstage, as well as the challenges of performing in wearing a 20 feet braid of hair as part of the 2012 Bares: Happy Endings.

Rhodes (Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, First Date, Chicago, Fosse, Bells Are Ringing, Urban Cowboy, The Boy from Oz) boasts an impressive Bares resume as performer, choreographer and director. In this episode, he provides insight into the creative process of the choreographers and director, which includes the challenge of envisioning a new, original production each year, and lets listeners in on his favorite moment of Broadway Bares - a little discussed rehearsal held just days before the big show.

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 streamed on Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, and downloaded directly from Podbean at theensemblist.podbean.com.

Upcoming episodes will feature a two-part release of the inaugural Ensemblist Live Show at Birdland Jazz in NYC, recorded on June 16.

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.