Broadway's Backbone - Page 2

From the Broadway Company and current 1st National tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Madeline Doherty. Maddie admits that fear and intimidation have been some of the best partners in this business and often are the greatest motivators. After 10 years in Les Miserables, over 6 years in The Producers and the entire run of Sister Act, Maddie hit the road with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to play the role she covered on Broadway. In an industry that is guaranteed to break your heart, she realizes that being tenacious and auditioning well is what provides longevity. When inspiration is needed, she revisits that kernel of being child and seeing her first show and her love for being a member of an acting company explodes.

Broadway Legend Stephen Schwartz believes life works a-lot better if you give to others what you would like to receive back. He was eight years old when he went to his first Broadway Show, became smitten and followed up with Juilliard Prep and a directing major at Carnegie Mellon.

Broadway Legend Stephen Schwartz believes life works a-lot better if you give to others what you would like to receive back. He was eight years old when he went to his first Broadway Show, became smitten and followed up with Juilliard Prep and a directing major at Carnegie Mellon.

In this episode: Chicago's Charlotte d'Amboise started dancing with Balanchine at 8 years old and hasn't stayed still since. It was a moment in a character class where she felt in her soul 'there I am' that began her path to Broadway. An admitted workhorse, Charlotte most enjoys working with people whose passion is as great as hers and more. She has always had a sense of self and aware the she is her instrument, her instrument is art, and art must change. Along with this self awareness, she is facing the heartbreak that her body can't do what it used to, but this is inspiring her new focus: re-invention.

In this episode: Broadway show shoe designer Phil LaDuca began his career singing and dancing on Broadway with choreographers like Agnus De Mille. Now choreographers like Jerry Mitchell are calling him to design shoes for singers and dancers. Phil LaDuca is a definition of having a second act in life that is just as grand as the first, and the term my 'LaDucas' has become a noun. After a reconstructive knee surgery he took his eye for beauty and experience onstage and created the most sought after shoe on stage and screen. Since dance has changed from the days of 'bring out the chorus girls', Phil thought that shoes should change with it. He brought his idea to the big companies and they said dancers don't have ideas and the rest is history. With accolades like a Drama Desk awards and thanks from dancers who say he's saved their legs and careers, it's the thought of a child getting inspired from a performer in his shoes that keeps him on pointe.

In this episode: My Fair Lady's Cameron Adams grew up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and devoted her time to basketball and dance. At 16 years old, she was cast in Susan Stroman's The Music Man, and basketball become a spectator sport. A self-proclaimed tomboy, Cameron loves to play Broadway dress up and it's usually in period clothing. Her secret to having worked with all the top Broadway choreographers is that she shows up, works hard and is always authentic. Her favorite part is the rehearsal process because that's where she gets to make things. In Lincoln Center Theatre's My Fair Lady, she was allowed to be seen as an actor within the ensemble and that path she has made.

In this episode: Victoria Bailey, Executive Director of TDF, talks about TKTS celebrating 45 years and parent company TDF celebrating 50 years in 2018. TDF (Theatre Development Fund) is an organization that believes the performing arts should be available to everybody. They sell the idea of going to all theatre, not shows in particular and that Broadway is for everyone. Victoria Bailey has been with the company for 17 years, started at Yale, and was the GM at MTC for 19 years. She believes that theatre creates empathy for lives different than our own, that TDF/TKTS has created theatre goers for generations, and is a prime example of having a successful life in the arts separate from the footlights.

In this episode: Victoria Bailey, Executive Director of TDF, talks about TKTS celebrating 45 years and parent company TDF celebrating 50 years in 2018. TDF (Theatre Development Fund) is an organization that believes the performing arts should be available to everybody. They sell the idea of going to all theatre, not shows in particular and that Broadway is for everyone. Victoria Bailey has been with the company for 17 years, started at Yale, and was the GM at MTC for 19 years. She believes that theatre creates empathy for lives different than our own, that TDF/TKTS has created theatre goers for generations, and is a prime example of having a successful life in the arts separate from the footlights.

In this episode: Broadway's Shannon Lewis grew up in a rural Canadian suburb and at age 19 was hand picked by Susan Stroman to make her Broadway debut, after a 'Crazy for You' casting director saw her in a Toronto theme park show. The essence of this podcast is having integrity, the importance of the respect of your peers, and to have your talent and drive ready, so that when someone opens a door for you, you can walk right in. With an impeccable work ethic that takes every opportunity seriously; whether in the ensemble, as a deputy, or as a principle; as well as having Gwen Verdon as a champion, the real Shannon Lewis is coming out of hiding. @realshanlew 

In this episode: Broadway's Shannon Lewis grew up in a rural Canadian suburb and at age 19 was hand picked by Susan Stroman to make her Broadway debut, after a 'Crazy for You' casting director saw her in a Toronto theme park show. The essence of this podcast is having integrity, the importance of the respect of your peers, and to have your talent and drive ready, so that when someone opens a door for you, you can walk right in. With an impeccable work ethic that takes every opportunity seriously; whether in the ensemble, as a deputy, or as a principle; as well as having Gwen Verdon as a champion, the real Shannon Lewis is coming out of hiding. @realshanlew 

In this episode: Broadway's Shannon Lewis grew up in a rural Canadian suburb and at age 19 was hand picked by Susan Stroman to make her Broadway debut, after a "Crazy for You" casting director saw her in a Toronto theme park show. The essence of this podcast is having integrity, the importance of the respect of your peers, and to have your talent and drive ready, so that when someone opens a door for you, you can walk right in. With an impeccable work ethic that takes every opportunity seriously; whether in the ensemble, as a deputy, or as a principle; as well as having Gwen Verdon as a champion, the real Shannon Lewis is coming out of hiding. @realshanlew 

Stephen Flaherty has two shows currently running on Broadway with 'Anastasia' and 'Once on this Island', a Tony award for 'Ragtime' and says that having an artistic faith is the best way to survive as a writer. In this episode he discusses how he had to audition for two of his biggest jobs, what true and honest collaboration is, and that in the theatre medium there is no such thing as final cut. He has learned that some of the best ideas came out of desperation, his greatest songs weren't written sitting in front of a piano, and that eventually you have to make a choice. You will learn soon enough if it was the right one.

In this episode: The topic of race in theatre and the whitewashing on the professional stage with special guests Ann Harada and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Alan H. Green. In this episode, the topics of white privilege, color-blind casting, and the systematic disenfranchisement of people based on the color of their skin are hashed out and discussed at an honest mature level. We live in a time that hatred is spouted so freely, when the ultimate goal should be to see people for what's under their skin. Everyone has an innate worth and sense of equality and that POC are as much as, not less than. The theatre world is known for being all-inclusive, so let's educate ourselves and understand there is enough for everyone.

In this episode: The topic of race in theatre and the whitewashing on the professional stage with special guests Ann Harada and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Alan H. Green. In this episode, the topics of white privilege, color-blind casting, and the systematic disenfranchisement of people based on the color of their skin are hashed out and discussed at an honest mature level. We live in a time that hatred is spouted so freely, when the ultimate goal should be to see people for what's under their skin. Everyone has an innate worth and sense of equality and that POC are as much as, not less than. The theatre world is known for being all-inclusive, so let's educate ourselves and understand there is enough for everyone.

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

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

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

Hamilton and Bandstand's Andy Blankenbuehler has 3 Tony Awards, 3 shows running on Broadway, and 3,000 ideas in his head. He was always determined to be his best and to do this he realized that he had to stop apologizing, accept that problems gave him the best ideas, and that he works best when he is over prepared. He stopped performing because he wanted to tell stories and the ensemble (a group of distinct individuals) is the lens the story is told through. Having had to deal with personal tragedy and suffering, he knows first hand that art heals the soul. He must find an identity and do it as best he can, and that he married a superhero.

In this episode: Broadway Debut Special Episode with Mary Claire King (War Paint) Elliot Mattox (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and Kristen Smith Davis (Anastasia). These three talented performers are over the moon about making their debut in the 2017 season. They share their surprises, expectations, and fears and learned that sometimes you just have to stop and breathe. The biggest shock was realizing that when confronted with this ominous task at had, they were more than capable and that when preparation meets opportunity, embrace it.

In this episode: Broadway Debut Special Episode with Mary Claire King (War Paint) Elliot Mattox (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and Kristen Smith Davis (Anastasia). These three talented performers are over the moon about making their debut in the 2017 season. They share their surprises, expectations, and fears and learned that sometimes you just have to stop and breathe. The biggest shock was realizing that when confronted with this ominous task at had, they were more than capable and that when preparation meets opportunity, embrace it.