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Musical Theatre Radio presents "Be Our Guest"

Musical Theatre Radio presents "Be Our Guest"

By Jean Paul Yovanoff

A mystery guest or guests joins Jean-Paul Yovanoff to share their love of musical theatre. Some one famous or just a lover of showtunes, you never know who's going to be on the air each week.

Produced in conjunction with the internet radio station www.musicaltheatreradio.com
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Be Our Guest with Grace Aki

Musical Theatre Radio presents "Be Our Guest"Aug 07, 2022

00:00
36:18
Be Our Guest with Greg Dean Borowsky, Shaun Borowsky and Bongi Duma (Mandela A New Musical)

Be Our Guest with Greg Dean Borowsky, Shaun Borowsky and Bongi Duma (Mandela A New Musical)

Greg & Shaun Borowsky are songwriters and music producers from South Africa, signed to Sony Music Publishing New York.


Together, the brothers have been the creative producers and writers behind some of South Africa's biggest SAMA-winning artists, having earned a Grammy Award Nomination, an Off-Broadway Alliance Award, a Naledi Award, a Loerie Award Nominations, Metro FM Best R&B Award Nomination, and a Channel O Africa Best R&B Award Nomination.


Bongi Duma wrote additional music and lyrics for Mandela and is an accomplished performer composer and arranger and can currently be seen on Broadway in The Lion King. He has worked with the likes of Miriam Makeba, Angelique Kidjo, Somi, Michael Frenti and many more.

Mar 24, 202441:20
Be Our Guest with Stephen Cole (Mary, Ethel and Mikey Who?)

Be Our Guest with Stephen Cole (Mary, Ethel and Mikey Who?)

Stephen Cole is an award-winning musical theatre writer whose shows have been recorded, published, and produced from New York City to London to the Middle East and Australia and Edinburgh, Scotland.


His shows include: After the Fair, Night of the Hunter, Saturday Night at Grossinger's, Aspire, Time After Time, Merman's Apprentice and The Road To Qatar! to name just a few.

As a producer, Stephen presented Liza Minnelli, Barbara Cook, David Hyde Pierce, and many others in an 80th Birthday Tribute to John Kander. Stephen has also released a series of CD's entitled MERMANIA on Harbinger Records. These include never before released selections sung by his favorite star and friend, Ethel Merman. Besides writing the CD booklets for these and his original cast CDs, Stephen has written the DVD booklets for the box set of THAT GIRL: SEASON ONE and ANYTHING GOES.


Mary, Ethel and Mikey Who? takes Stephen's real-life friendships with Ethel Merman and Mary Martin, the two undisputed queens of Broadway, tossed them into a blender and come up with a fantasy about a nerdy super-fan in the early 1980s who, while visiting his dying idol Ethel Merman, stumbles into a time portal in her closet and exits on the other side in Sophie Tucker's star dressing room at the Imperial Theatre in 1939. Mikey Marvin Minkus gets to know his idols in their prime as he time travels through the decades with them, influencing their lives and careers, while helping to foster their legendary rivalry. Only visiting times when Merman and Martin's fates crossed, Mikey becomes a vital part of their lives, all the while interacting with such celebrated theatrical figures as Cole Porter, Jerome Robbins, Josh Logan, Dorothy Fields, Larry Hagman, Irving Berlin, Sophie Tucker, Leland Hayward, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and a newcomer named Jane Fonda.

Mar 17, 202437:33
Be Our Guest with Van Dean (Center Stage Records)

Be Our Guest with Van Dean (Center Stage Records)

Van Dean is a Tony® Award and Grammy® Award winning producer.  He co-founded Broadway Records which released nearly 300 albums during his leadership. Van earned his Grammy Award for helping to produce the Broadway Records’ release of the 2015 Broadway revival of The Color Purple.  His Grammy nominations were earned for his work on Matilda the Musical, My Fair Lady and Caroline, or Change.  Van also executive produced well over 200 other albums including 9 that were Grammy Award nominated.

His theatrical production credits include The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (Tony® Award), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Tony® Award nomination), Anastasia, Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette and Diablo Cody  (Tony® Award nomination), How to Dance In Ohio, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, Matilda (Tony® Award nomination), Evita (Tony® Award nomination), Gore Vidal’s The Best Man (Tony® Award nomination), Catch Me If You Can (Tony® Award nomination), The Velocity of Autumn, Big Fish, Bonnie & Clyde, Chinglish, the Off-Broadway production of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (2016) and ROOMS a rock romance and the national tours of Anastasia, Matilda, Cinderella, The Lightning Thief and more. He was also a producer of Master Class with Tyne Daly and the 2022 and 2023 productions of Bonnie & Clyde in London’s West End.  Upcoming: Death Note, Wild, Goodbye New York, SMASH, Figaro, Little Dancer, Song of Bernadette.

 

He co-produced Broadway For Orlando’s “What The World Needs Now Is Love” to raise funds for the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida. The charity single was featured on NBC’s “Maya and Marty” and at the Democratic National Convention in 2016.  He co-conceived and co-Executive Produced the anti-bullying single “I Have A Voice” featuring 70 Broadway kids from Matilda, School of Rock and more and co-produced the new Broadway United music video of “We Are The World”. He also co-conceived and produced From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook featuring 100 Broadway stars, a 40 piece orchestra and 300+ children from Newtown and From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert for Parkland, USA at the BB&T Center Arena in Sunrise, FL and co-produced the Emmy® Award winning From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Orlando.  He is also a co-producer of the feature film documentary “Midsummer in Newtown” which premiered as a Spotlight selection at Tribeca Film Festival. Van has several major film and television musicals in pre-production. 

Center Stage Records is a new label dedicated to the preservation of Broadway, London, Off-Broadway, new musicals in development and theater-related solo albums

Mar 10, 202424:43
Be Our Guest with Joshua Castille

Be Our Guest with Joshua Castille

Joshua Castille is a Deaf performance artist based out of Los Angeles, California. Josh strives to form meaningful collaborations that explore the boundaries of art. He has worked on various projects in different roles including ASL master, director, actor, set designer, and more. His charming ability to communicate and deliver performance art to both hearing and Deaf audiences allows him to connect to people in a way that is unique and entertaining.

Josh began studying at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. Josh was soon thereafter recruited to work in California with Deaf West Theatre Company, being cast in the revival of Spring Awakening. The run of the show gave Josh the experience of working alongside professional actors and technical artists, expanding his perception of the theatre. The show enjoyed its fruitful run in Beverly Hills, then was moved to Broadway. While in NYC, Josh’s industry network expanded, his intensive labors paid off, and he was able to enjoy the culmination of all his hard work molding into a successful start of a fulfilling professional career. 

Josh has worked in spaces from small community theatres, to Broadway, to the Tony Awards stage. He has starred in commercials, short films, music videos, and cameo appearances on TV shows and network programming. He has worked alongside artists such as BD Wong, Marlee Matlin, Camryn Manheim, Jules Dameron, Russell Harvard, Michael Arden, American Authors, Ingrid Michaelson, and Andrew Keegan-Bolger.

Amidst the adrenaline rushes, Josh has been able to channel his inner Cajun spirit. He makes friends with everyone he meets, remembering the influence others have on him. He harbors the humility of knowing that no matter how you communicate, you have a voice to be heard.

Mar 03, 202401:00:50
Be Our Guest with Doctor Bird Productions "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" with Manuele Adrian Mizzi, Ethan Rotenberg and Emilia Ballester

Be Our Guest with Doctor Bird Productions "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" with Manuele Adrian Mizzi, Ethan Rotenberg and Emilia Ballester

Doctor Bird Productions is looking to bring something fresh and new to Toronto's performance world.   We want to put on productions that stretch the imagination, that bring smiles to peoples faces and help to make people walk away with new thoughts and new ideas.  We hope to put on new productions in Canada and hope to reimagine shows that have been so important to the makeup of Torontos performance world. 

We are committed to the practice of color-conscious casting. We recognize that considerations of race, including how race and ethnicity shape society and the stories we tell, are vital components to the casting process. Also critical to the casting process are audience perceptions of race on stage and in film. We strive to craft performances in ways that respect, care for, and honor individuals, cultures, and communities of color. Furthermore, we recognize that the practice of white-washing erases culturally and racially specific stories and experiences. White-washing takes away opportunities from people of color and reinforces the dangerous notion of white superiority. Therefore, we reject this practice. In light of this, we seek to be inclusive and color-conscious not only in our casting but also in the material we choose to stage.

Manuele Adrian Mizzi

Jamaican-Italian tenor, Manuele Adrian Mizzi discovered his love for performing at a very young age. Growing up in Markham he attended Unionville High School for the Arts later obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Voice Performance from York University under the tutelage of renowned Canadian operatic soprano Stephanie Bogle and having also studied with renowned European soprano Galina Lumkosky.

With a repertoire ranging from pop to musical theatre to opera and classical, he has performed in a wide variety of venues throughout North America. His musical theatre credits include performing the roles of Schroeder in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Japheth in Two by Two, Thomas in Emmanuel the Musical (New York City), Barnaby in Hello Dolly, Shrek in Shrek Tateh in Ragtime, The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, and Dickon in The Secret Garden among many others.Manuele Adrian Mizzi also has a long career of teaching under his belt. As an avid pianist, accompanist, musical director and director, he has been working with all ages from 3-99 for the last 23 years. His directing and musical directing credits include musicals, plays, pantos and recitals. Ethan Rotenberg

Ethan is a Toronto-based music director and classically-trained pianist who's has been described as "delivering all the colours of an orchestra" (Schmopera), "an accomplished accompanist" (Richard Ouzonian), and "brilliantly drawing the listener into the world of the story by using the piano as the backdrop to sweeping, emotionally nuanced melodies" (Mooney on Theatre). He frequently collaborates with both Opera and Musical Theatre singers on productions, concerts, and open mics, most recently serving as music director and performance accompanist for The No Frills Revue (Spotlight Musical Productions). Having grown up in theatre and music, he has enjoyed both sides of the stage, graduating from Queen's University with a Bachelors in Drama and Music. He currently trains with world-renowned pianist Dmitri Levkovich. In 2019, he co-founded and is current music director of Impromptu Concert Series, presenting concerts featuring the Toronto's top non-professional talent, bringing the series outdoors during the Covid-19 pandemic as The Front-Lawn Series. Previous musical credits include: Songbook VI, Songbook XII (Tapestry Opera), Dr. Silver (Musical Stage Co.) Legally Blonde, The Drowsy Chaperone, Mamma Mia (Nightwood Theatre), Masterclass (Oshawa Little Theatre), Ragtime (Encores). HEmilia Basllester


Is a Mexican dancer, actor singer and photographer living in Toronto. She studied dance perfromance at Centennial College and phtography at Escuela Activa De Fotografia.

Feb 29, 202427:51
Be Our Guest with Julie Nemitz (Theatre Marketing Consultant)

Be Our Guest with Julie Nemitz (Theatre Marketing Consultant)

Julie Nemitz

With over a decade of experience in senior sales and marketing leadership roles, Julie has a proven track record of driving growth through strategic vision and innovative content marketing. She has partnered with Fortune 500 companies and led teams at award-winning agencies and publishers. In the past six years alone, Julie has developed over 200 successful theatre marketing campaigns and strategic plans, bringing her substantial expertise to help theatres thrive. 


Known for rolling up her sleeves, she combines big-picture strategy with hands-on execution to deliver robust marketing solutions for her clients.
Julie also works with dozens of stellar for-profit arts companies to guide them in making a huge impact on their businesses by creating influential marketing content born from innovative strategies. 

In June of 2019, she launched the Theatre Marketing Lab. To date, over 3,200 theatres have benefitted from the Lab's training content and group coaching with Julie!

Feb 25, 202447:34
Be Our Guest with Michael D'Angora

Be Our Guest with Michael D'Angora


Michael was born in the wagon of a traveling show... At least that's what it says on his website.

He is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College and has been directing and producing in any and all mediums.  Some recent projects are Broadway's Caroline, or Change revival (co-producer), off-Broadway's long running A Musical About Star Wars (director), and the decadent new soap opera, Mélange, starring Morgan Fairchild (editor).


During the pandemic he produced and directed several high profile streaming benefits to raise money for various neighborhood institutions in need of some help.  Save West Bank Cafe was a 10 hour Christmas Day telethon, followed by Save Birdland, The Musical of Musicals (the York Theatre) and a benefit for The Stonewall Inn to name  few. Ultimately, we raised 1.5M and were honored that so many stars collaborated on these projects with him from President Clinton (both of them) to Sting, Whoopi Goldberg, Pete Townshend, Sean Penn nee Ciccone, Patti LuPone, André De Shields, Ana Gastyre, Demi Lovato and so many more.

Feb 18, 202456:26
Be Our Guest with Duncan Lang & Sydney Gauvin (Shifting Ground Collective production of Merrily We Roll Along)

Be Our Guest with Duncan Lang & Sydney Gauvin (Shifting Ground Collective production of Merrily We Roll Along)

Sydney Gauvin was once described (by her best friends ex boyfriend) as "Effortlessly Quirky", Canadian native, Sydney Gauvin, grew up in Brampton Ontario. the same birthplace of Michael Cera! Her passion and love for singing, dancing, acting and all things theatrical ignited when she was 7 years old. When one magical day of kindergarten, her teacher told her mother to put her in theatre. Miss Jones if you're reading this, you changed her life!


Duncan Lang is a Candian performer and graduate of Sheridan College. Past credits include 'The Words and Music of Britta Johnson" and Urinetown.


Shifting Ground Collective was founded in the Spring of 2022, Shifting Ground Collective is Toronto’s newest home for emerging musical theatre voices. Our work spans developmental processes for new Canadian musicals, concert and cabaret programming, and full-scale productions of beloved musical theatre favourites – all with a focus on spotlighting the next-generation of great Canadian musical theatre talent.

Feb 12, 202419:52
Be Our Guest with Eric Price & Will Reynolds (The Violet Hour)

Be Our Guest with Eric Price & Will Reynolds (The Violet Hour)

WILL REYNOLDS (Music) and ERIC PRICE (Lyrics and Book) are musical theatre writers based in NYC.

Shows currently in development include The Violet Hour and Radioactive, which charts the discovery of radium by Marie and Pierre Curie.

Will and Eric are songwriters on the AppleTV+ animated series “Central Park,” starring Leslie Odom Jr., Josh Gad, and Stanley Tucci. They also wrote the song “When I See You Again,” which can be found on Broadway Records’ benefit album “Artists in Residence.” Their papers for this project have now been permanently housed in a Special Collection of the Music Division at the Library of Congress.

Will and Eric are the winners of the Fred Ebb Award for Musical Theatre Writing, the Kurt Weill Foundation’s Lotte Lenya Award, and the Dramatists Guild Fellowship. 

In 2020, they created the online Musical Theatre Education platform THIS MT SPACE.

THE VIOLET HOUR

If you knew the future, would you try to change it?

The story is set on April 1, 1919, when John Pace Seavering, a young publisher, comes to possess a machine that inexplicably begins printing pages from books. Books from the future.
Page by page, John pieces together a vision of what the next century has in store for himself, his friends, and the world at large.

And once he decides he wants to change the future, the clock is ticking.

Feb 11, 202444:48
Be Our Guest with Lizzie Bea & Alfie Parker (Around the World in 80 Plays - podcast)

Be Our Guest with Lizzie Bea & Alfie Parker (Around the World in 80 Plays - podcast)

Lizzie Bea, living in Brighton and Hove, England, is a professional stage actress. Lizzie trained at the National Youth Theatre And National Youth Music Theatre. She also attended the National Student Drama Festival.

Her extensive work in theatre includes Mrs Wilkinson in Nick Evans’ Billy Elliot at Billy Youth Theatre (2011); Polly Parish in Lotte Wakeham’s The Other School at the National Youth Music Theatre; Mother Pig/Bee in Ewan Jones’ The 3 Little Pigs (Kenny Wax Family Entertainment, 2016); Actress 2 in Malcolm McKee’s The Shakespeare Revue (2016); Ducky Daddles in Samuel Harjanne’s Chicken Little at From Page to Stage (2017); Rose in Samuel Harjanne’s Dino Story at From Page to Stage; onstage swing in Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends The Musical (Rollem Productions, 2018); Abigail Henson in Jerry Mitchell’s Becoming Nancy at the Alliance Theatre (2019); Pat in Jerry Mitchell’s Kinky Boots (Playful Productions, 2019).

Among her workshop credits are Abigail Henson in Jerry Mitchell’s Becoming Nancy (Jammy Productions Inc. 2016); Martha Dunstock in Andy Fickman’s Heathers at The Other Palace (2017); Abigail Henson in the New York cast of Foresight Theatrical, 2017 and 2018; Commentator 2 in Adam Lenson’s The Throwaways (2020).

Lizzie is in the 2015 demo recording of Half A Sixpence (Cameron Mackintosh Ltd). In concert and cabaret, she was an ensemble in Thom Southerland’s State Fair (London Musical Theatre Orchestra, 2016); soloist in Shaun McCourt’s Christmas Goes…Pop! At Giggin4Good (2016); Joanne in Shaun Kerrison’s Honeymoon In Vegas (London Musical Theatre Orchestra, 2017); soloist in The Mousetrap Awards (Mousetrap Theatre Projects, 2017); soloist in Scott Alan’s Scott Alan With Mystery Guests (Live at Zedel, 2018); guest performer in Broadway Star Jessica Vosk In Concert (2019); herself in Leave A Light On at the Lambert Jackson/Theatre Café.

Alfie Parker comes from Worthing, West Sussex and graduated from The Royal Academy of Music in 2015.

Alfie made his West End debut as swing in the original West End production of School of Rock. Other credits include Tackaberry in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (City of London Festival), Nick in Aladdin (Buxton Opera House), Genie in Aladdin (Beck Theatre Hayes), Fat Friends (UK Tour), Samuel Byck in Assassins (Pleasance Theatre), Mutt in Kinky Boots (UK Tour), The Baker in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour) and Eddie in Sister Act (Frankfurt).


Around the World in 80 Plays

Join West End theatre stars Lizzie Bea and Alfie Parker on the road as they tour the country- and the world- performing in shows and exploring the local arts along the way!

Feb 04, 202437:48
Be Our Guest With Jessica Hendy and Brianna Kothari Barnes (Walking With Bubbles)

Be Our Guest With Jessica Hendy and Brianna Kothari Barnes (Walking With Bubbles)

Jessica Hendy

A Broadway veteran, best known for her roles in CATS and Amneris in Aida. Prior to her Broadway Debut, Hendy was featured on the national tour of Jospeh and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Napthali’s Wife and the Narrator. She then made her Broadway Debut in 1999 in the ensemble of CATS and understudying Grizabella. She went on to star on the national tour of Cats in the role. Her next Broadway show was Aida, playing the outlandish, opulent Amneris. Hendy was also featured in the Original Broadway Cast of the musical Amour. Coming around full circle, Hendy most recently starred as Grizabella in the Andy Blankenbuehler helmed Broadway Revival of CATS.

BRIANNA KOTHARI BARNES

AN ACCOMPLISHED ACTRESS, COMPOSER/LYRICIST, AND PLAYWRIGHT, BRIANNA BELIEVES IN USING EVERY TOOL IN HER BELT TO TELL STORIES THAT INSPIRE TRANSFORMATION. SHE IS A MULTI-HYPHENATE FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.

BRIANNA MAKES NO APOLOGIES FOR THE AMOUNT OF IRONS IN HER FIRE. HER CREATE-YOUR-OWN-WORK PHILOSOPHY HAS SERVED HER WELL IN HER 7 YEARS BASED IN NYC.

A GRADUATE OF THE ESTEEMED MUSICAL THEATER PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI-COLLEGE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC (CCM), BRIANNA HAS PERFORMED AS A PRINCIPAL, ENSEMBLE MEMBER, AND UNDERSTUDY/SWING IN MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY (FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE, THEATRE ASPEN, THE WICK THEATRE, CAPITAL REPERTORY THEATER, JOHN W. ENGEMAN THEATER) AS WELL AS STARRED AS LUCY IN THE NATIONAL TOUR OF A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS.

BUT IT’S BRIANNA’S WRITING THAT HAS GIVEN HER AN EDGE AS A RISING COMPOSER/LYRICIST IN THE NEW YORK THEATER COMMUNITY.

Walking With Bubbles

Meet Jessica - 

A Broadway actress and single mother.

As she and her young son ‘Bubbles’ wait for their playdate in Central Park they are approached by a homeless man -

Meet Bubbles’ father. 

From the lights of Broadway to the depths of her husband’s mental illness, Walking With Bubbles explores how far a mother will go to protect her son, her loved ones, and ultimately, herself.

Jan 28, 202444:53
Be Our Guest with Antony Zioni (The Vicious Serpents Wit)

Be Our Guest with Antony Zioni (The Vicious Serpents Wit)

Antony is a musician and mythical storyteller who loves creating worlds. He is based in Los Angeles.

Jan 21, 202425:15
Be Our Guest with Tim Juillet (Nazareth Man Rock Opera)

Be Our Guest with Tim Juillet (Nazareth Man Rock Opera)

Tim Juillet is a worship leader and music teacher based in Surprise, Arizona. He has written songs that have been played on the radio, in film, and various other media outlets across the world. His voice students have been successful performing at Arizona Broadway Theater, as soloists with the Phoenix Symphony, and many other companies.

Mr. Juillet’s new oratorio, “The Selah Prophesies” recently garnered a Bronze Medal at the 2018 Global Music Awards. He gave his life to Jesus at the age of 12 and never looked back. Tim says: “God is good all the time, and we can always choose to see His goodness”. Proverbs 3: 5-6 is his favorite life verse. Tim and his wife of 23 years have lived in Surprise Arizona for 16 years, and have two daughters.


Nazareth Man is a rock opera about the life and death of Jesus.

Jan 14, 202421:53
Be Our Guest with Kristen Rosenfeld, Luanne Rosenfeld & Jim Cooney (Divided)

Be Our Guest with Kristen Rosenfeld, Luanne Rosenfeld & Jim Cooney (Divided)

KRISTEN LEE ROSENFELD is a New York based composer and music director. Her songs have been performed by some of Broadway's finest talent at venues such as 54 Below, Joe's Pub, the Triad and the Metropolitan Room.  Her music has been commissioned by Sprouts Children's Theatre, Red Fern Theatre, The Atlantic acting School, American University and Wooden O theatre. Kristen's music direction credits include the 1st National Tour of the Broadway musical Spring Awakening and Band of Angels with collaborator Colman Domingo.  She recently served as Music Director for the Off Broadway hit Friends! The Musical Parody.  Kristen has also music directed and arranged for children's pop sensation Laurie Berkner and Backstreet Boy Howie D.  Other music direction credits include shows at NYMF,  Prospect Theatre Company, the John W. Engeman Theatre, the Olney Theatre Center and Village Theatre, as well as being a guest artist at Pomona College, American University and SUNY Cortland.

LUANNE ARONEN ROSENFELD is a South Carolina-based playwright and lyricist.  She has written the book and lyrics for Equal Time, Holly and IvyThe Queen of Valleluna, Cardboard Castles (book, lyrics and screenplay) and DIVIDED.  She is drawn to stories that reflect the complexity of the human experience and the depth of the human spirit. She and Kristen are currently developing Chasing Gold Dust, a new musical that celebrates the women who conquered the Klondike. In addition to writing, Luanne has worked as a theatre educator, producer, and stage manager in New York and Seattle.  She is a graduate of The New School and Tufts University and a proud member of The Dramatists Guild. Jim Cooney's artistic mission is to inspire conversation, affect change, and bring communities together. He specializes in new musicals and reimagined revivals, though is equally excited to tell stories through virtually any medium. It’s his greatest passion to create experiences for contemporary audiences that will stay with them long afterward. He truly loves what he does.


Divided tells the journey of two friends across decades, miles, and a country divided. Refusing to be defined by societal constraints, Eleanor and Hanna strive for personal freedom amidst a backdrop of hatred, lies, loss, and war.

Taking place pre and post Civil War, the story of Divided spans from Mississippi to Boston, following two friends separated by society, but forever bonded through their bravery. On a journey that takes them both far from home, they wonder if they will ever be reunited again.

Jan 12, 202425:14
Be Our Guest with Florencia Cuenca (Real Women Have Curves The Muscial)

Be Our Guest with Florencia Cuenca (Real Women Have Curves The Muscial)

Florencia is a brown Mexican immigrant singer, actress, and songwriter based in New York City. She made her first album "Aquí - Los Nuevos Standards" produced by husband Jaime Lozano which BwayTunes.com calls "One of the most unique cover albums of recent memory," and subsequently toured all around Mexico, Latin America and New York City, performing in some of the most prestigious jazz venues and festivals and being awarded with the Hot House Jazz Award 2016 for Best New Jazz Artist. She has performed Off-Broadway in numerous shows, including Children of Salt (NYMF 2016 Best of Fest) and A Never-Ending Line (album released by GRAMMY award winner label Broadway Records). She has performer in iconic venues such as Lincoln Center, 54 Below, Joe's Pub, among others. Real Women Have Curves: The Musical Summer 1987, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. After eighteen years under the roof of her immigrant parents, Ana is ready to spread her wings. Her dreams of college and a career in New York City are bursting at the seams, but her family’s expectations would keep her home, working at their garment factory. Is it worth sacrificing the dreams of her family, who have sacrificed everything for her? Based on the play by Josefina López that inspired the iconic hit film, Real Women Have Curves: The Musical is an empowering new show that explores life’s unexpected curves.

Music & Lyrics by Joy Huerta & Benjamin Velez
Book by Lisa Loomer
Additional Material by Nell Benjamin
Based on the Play by Josefina López

Jan 09, 202421:20
Be Our Guest with Caden Zane Marshall

Be Our Guest with Caden Zane Marshall

Caden Zane Marshall is a seasoned performer, American Sign Language interpreter, and influencer. He holds two Bachelor's degrees: American Sign Language Interpreting and Musical Theatre and combines his professions in a myriad of ways, with an emphasis on Deaf musical theatre and marketing. Currently, Caden is interpreting and performing across the country, often collaborating with Deaf writer/director/Broadway actor Joshua Castille on writing, directing, acting, translations, and various other projects.

Caden is well known as "@TheMusicalDealer," a theatre historian and connoisseur who spotlights, supports, and advises musical theatremakers all over the world. Thanks to his platform, Caden educates and entertains millions of theatre-goers on hidden gems and new works of musical theatre. Caden's 15+ years of experience in the theatre community has led him to focus on topics of queer activism and advocacy for inclusive spaces and works of art that highlight underrepresented communities.

As a certified/licensed BEI Intermediate ASL interpreter, Caden translates for a vast variety of topics. He specializes in arts/theatrical interpreting, mental health, and queer interpreting work. He is currently the personal interpreter for Joshua Castille and works with Deaf artists such as Peter Cook, Crom Saunders, Jules Dameron, and Alexandria Wales. He also interprets for Joshua's projects all across the USA for film, television, theatre, and more.

Jan 07, 202453:20
Be Our Guest with Scott Eyerly (Pooch a new comedy musical)

Be Our Guest with Scott Eyerly (Pooch a new comedy musical)

Composer and librettist Scott Eyerly has won acclaim across a wide range of genres. From The House of the Seven Gables (praised by Opera News for its "maximum drama and melodically memorable set pieces") to Missa Brevis No. 2 (called by Choral Journal "a study in beauty and simplicity"), Eyerly brings to all his works a direct, American lyricism. 

Eyerly notes, "I grew up singing hymns, but also show tunes. Then at college, I studied with composers from opposite corners of the ring, William Bolcom and Elliott Carter. In those days, after a lesson with Carter in the morning, I'd rush to rehearse songs for a theater revue that afternoon! 

Later I taught musical theater courses at Juilliard, interviewing masters like Sondheim, Harnick, and Burton Lane. My love of musicals has always 'balanced' my love of the longhairs." 


An active lecturer, Eyerly is on the faculty of The Juilliard School where he teaches sold-out courses on opera, musical theater and classical music. Since 2007 he has given popular talks at the Mahaiwe Theater in the Berkshires to introduce each Metropolitan Opera HD broadcast, a series which continues to grow and is now available online. Born in a suburb of Chicago, he and his wife live in New York City. POOCH is a zany musical set in present day Manhattan, based on real events. A once-proud classical music label has been taken over by a conglomerate that makes dog food. The head office installs a new C.E.O. who knows nothing about music. He hears that one classical artist is making a fortune – so he orders Samantha, his new Sales Director, to set up dinner with Puccini... who's been dead 100 years. Sam vows to meet the challenge – and expose her sexist boss. To do so, she enlists the help of Clark, a shy colleague so smitten he writes poetry about her. In their quest to prevail over corporate madness, Sam and Clark encounter snooping journalists, unexpected judo, a missing dog, and an oversupply of fake mustaches. All roads lead to the climax in a Village opera café, where Sam & Clark & C.E.O. sit down to… dinner with Puccini!  

Jan 01, 202443:28
Be Our Guest with Ted Kociolek

Be Our Guest with Ted Kociolek

Ted Kociolek is a composer, vocal coach, author, music director, pianist and educator.

Dec 24, 202333:42
Be Our Guest with David Secter (Rule of Fire)

Be Our Guest with David Secter (Rule of Fire)

David Secter is an award-winning writer/producer/director of film, theater and television. He lives in Kona on the big island of Hawaii, where he is completing the book and lyrics for Rule of Fire, a new musical about old Hawaii, which dramatizes the encounter between an aging Captain Cook and a young Kamehameha the Great, and celebrates the islands’ polyamory culture. Secter’s movie Take the Flame! Gay Games: Grace, Grit & Glory is a documentary feature on the Games and founder Olympian Dr. Tom Waddell, narrated by Greg Louganis, which Secter is adapting as a narrative feature An All American Family. He produced Pacific Passions about the Festival of Pacific Arts in New Caledonia, and BURN on Burning Man, seen on the Discovery Channel. His narrative movie CyberDorm is an offbeat campus comedy about early webcasts. In New York City Secter founded Total Impact, a media co-op, where he wrote, produced and directed the comedy Getting Together, which Troma released as Feelin’ Up. Television credits include music specials with Eartha Kitt and Talking Heads plus commercials such as Guinness World Records, selected as a National Clio Award Finalist as Best Entertainment Production. During ten years as CEO of EnterMedia, a Manhattan arts center in a historic 1100 seat playhouse, he produced and presented Obie-award winning plays and launched such long-running Broadway musical hits as The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Secter also wrote the book and lyrics and produced the celebrated Off-Broadway musical Get Thee to Canterbury and created Banjos and Bugles, a civil war docudramusical.

Dec 17, 202337:05
Be Our Guest with Robert Bannon (Album: Rewind)

Be Our Guest with Robert Bannon (Album: Rewind)

Robert Bannon has been dazzling audiences on the stage and screen for years, his emotive and powerful vocals and knack for comedy bringing people by turns to tears of emotion, laughter and elation, and always to their feet. 


Now, the accomplished and lauded cabaret singer and "Saturday Night Live" actor is about to release "Unfinished Business," his debut album set for release in 2021. The highly anticipated album features Bannon's versatile vocal talents and includes duets with Grammy Nominee Jane Monheit and recording star Loren Smith. "Unfinished Business" consists of two originals and 11 classic songs by a variety of American Songbook crowd pleasers running the gamut from Frank Sinatra to Johnny Mercer to Whitney Houston. Bannon recorded the album in his home studio with all musicians adhering to social distancing guidelines.

 

The album's first single, a powerful rendition of the Bette Midler song, "From a Distance," is a highly emotional and inspiring performance that sums up 2020 perfectly, providing an unforgettable, uplifting soundtrack to a tumultuous year. The track spotlights Bannon's unforgettable and emotive rich, soaring voice and vocal flourishes as he signs of a hopeful, peaceful and prosperous future.

 

The album was produced by international cabaret superstar Lee Lassack. In 2020, Bannon and Lassack co-hosted the virtual sensation, “Quarantine, Cabaret, and Cocktails," a weekly live stream on Facebook and YouTube that has reunited the Broadway casts of “Frozen,” “Aladdin” and “Mrs. Doubtfire” and featured Broadway legends like Lea Salonga, Chita Rivera, Shoshana Bean and many more. They have also hosted the applauded "Best of Broadway and Music" on Facebook Live and YouTube.

 

Bannon, a tireless performer, brings a wealth of experience and rave reviews to listeners. In addition to his work on "Saturday Night Live" the past three years, Bannon has performed with a number of rhythm-and-blues, jazz and comedy icons including Patti LaBelle, George Benson and Whoopi Goldberg at legendary venues like Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Bannon also sang for Bill and Hillary Clinton during for Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center and for Hillary Clinton at a Martin Luther King Day event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. 

 

Bannon has also traveled the country performing his hit one-man show, "Unfinished Business," including at New York's famed Feinstein's/54 Below cabaret. The autobiographical performance traces Bannon's journey from his time at the prestigious Juilliard Prep School to giving up music to become a teacher and finding his way back to the stage. He's also performed in national touring and regional productions of  “My Big Gay Italian Wedding," “Rent,” “We Will Rock You,” “My Way” and many more.

 

Robert Bannon has been singing since he was 12. He is a graduate of the William Esper Conservatory and Juilliard Prep, both in Manhattan. Bannon was admitted into the very first Juilliard Prep class for musical theater under the direction of Broadway icon Bertin Roswer at Lincoln Center. A Fort Lee, New Jersey, resident and native of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, Bannon spends his "downtime" from singing and performing in the classroom as a 5th grade history teacher in North Bergen, New Jersey. 

Dec 10, 202331:38
Be Our Guest with Leslie Sharp (Two Elizabeths America)

Be Our Guest with Leslie Sharp (Two Elizabeths America)

Her present focus, mind-imagination sessions with individuals, has proven to be quite remarkable. Because of her life's dedication to music, she most enjoys working with people in the music world. She understands fears of Plateau-ing, limited genres, resistance to practicing, the illusion of limited creativity, issues with technique, loneliness in touring, loneliness in practicing, anxiety of auditioning, trauma and limitations from childhood experiences. For these, she offers Exponential Performance Breakthroughs. I invite you to peruse https://thwackch.com
Her work as composer, recording artist, and musician, continues. Degree in Music Composition from the University of Redlands; Coursework in Electronic Music from Los Angeles Harbor College and USC. Certifications in Transformational Hypnosis (Master Level), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (Master Level), Knowledge of Powerful Esoteric Breathwork and more.
Has original music including two complete musicals, an album of original inspirational music, a second album with Flutist which includes The Hindemith Sonata for Flute and Piano as well as other classical pieces and serious original work -- And a most recent jazz album featuring fresh and original arrangements of select standards: The Leslie Sharp Trio plus son on trumpet, and daughter singing on one track.
With her Transformational work with clients, she has over a thousand hours of experience, bringing them to their Exponential Breakthroughs in Life. All remarkable sessions.
Ms. Sharp is a member of MTAC, with a double certification. Presently teaching privately; She teaches piano for ages ranging from 3 to 70, incorporating classical, jazz, rock, improvisation, musicianship, theory and music composition. She is particularly effective teaching young beginners and advancing them impressively, quickly and with ability. In addition, she teaches voice using a unique approach that is proven dramatically effective. She is equally effective on the advanced level for analyzing and solving specific problems with technique.
Specialties: Albums, Trio, Compositions, Performances, Teaching:
https://blazinleslie.wordpress.com

Dec 03, 202328:44
Be Our Guest with Carmel Dean (Places, Please Travel)

Be Our Guest with Carmel Dean (Places, Please Travel)

Places Please Travel is a bespoke travel service for people who love theatre, seeing the world. and making memories Carmel's depth of theatre knowledge and connections within the industry, combined with her experience and passion for travel, make her the perfect curator for your one-of-a-kind vacation.


Born and raised in Perth, Australia, Carmel now resides in New York City, where she has been a respected member of the Broadway industry for over two decades. A multi-hyphenate theatre musician, her Broadway credits include Funny Girl, If/Then, American Idiot, Hands on a Hardbody and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She has worked with luminaries such as Idina Menzel, Chita Rivera, Betty Buckley, and more, as well as with the rock bands Green Day and Phish, and pop singer Ingrid Michaelson. She sits on the Tony Award Nominating Committee and is a Tony voter.


She has also worked (and traveled) extensively in regional America, London and Australia.
Carmel is a Certified Travel Advisor with Fora Travel.

Dec 03, 202328:17
Be Our Guest with James A Rocco

Be Our Guest with James A Rocco

JAMES A. ROCCO is the visionary CEO of Thirty Saints Productions, creators of the Songbook Series and Broadway Songbook®. Thirty Saints Productions is a dynamic and innovative company that excels in creating original theatrical works for a diverse range of venues across the globe. In 2022, the company expanded its horizons, venturing into negotiating, consulting, and acquiring music licenses for popular jukebox musicals, solidifying its position as an industry leaders. 

 

With Broadway Asia, Thirty Saints toured Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat® to Tokyo and led the artistic team for the US Air Force's 9/11 tribute video, There Are No Words, seen by millions of viewers. Thirty Saints is an investor in the current Broadway, National Tour, and Toronto productions of Come from Away and Magic Mike in London. 

 From 2005-2017, Rocco was the VP of Programming and Producing Artistic Director of Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, where he presented and booked the best of touring Broadway (August, Osage County, An American In Paris, Kinky Boots, Les Misérables) and produced or co-produced award-winning theatricals (In The Heights, Love, Janis, Cabaret, West Side Story.) As the Ordway's representative and member of the Broadway League and the IPN (Independent Producer's Network), he was a producing partner and investor in Fun Home, Legally Blonde, The Color Purple, Monty Python's Spamalot, and others, as well as serving on the IPN's Governance Committee.  

 In 2019, he was recognized by The Broadway League and The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds for "30 years of dedication, craft, and contribution to the theater" at their annual Broadway Salutes ceremony.

 

A longtime member of NAMT (National Alliance for Musical Theatre), he served on the Alliance's New Works committee.  Rocco commissioned the holiday musical A Country Christmas Carol and was part of the creative teams behind the off-Broadway cult hits Nite Club Confidential and Hooked on the 70s.  His re-versioned stage production of Singin' in the Rain has been seen worldwide.  Rocco was Producing Artistic Director of Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and Interim Artistic Director of Stage One, a theatre dedicated to new musical development. 

 

On Video, he was the Executive Producer and Co-Director of the Regional Emmy Nominated Documentary, The World We Create, and directed the television musical, Born of A Dream.  For Mitsubishi/ArtSphere, he created the stage and television spectacular Galaxy Express 999.

 

Rocco's theatrical career started at three years old, as the youngest member of the (Art) Linkletter Totten Tots! He appeared in Oliver! with Ray Walston and Jules Munschin; Carousel as Enoch Snow Jr, with John Raitt; and as Sheppard in Sidney Lumet & David Merrick's Paramount motion picture thriller, Child's Play.  

 

James directed and produced his first show in New York at 16 (Henry, Sweet Henry, at the Mercer Arts Center and the Lamb Theatre).  As a performer, he appeared in the original Broadway production of Cats(as the Rum Tum Tugger), the International and TV Ashai Productions of Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies; sang back up for Frank Sinatra and was featured singer for Herbie Hancock and the Super Sounds. He played Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, The Witch in Into The Woods, appears on 10 Ben Bagley albums, and his CD, It's Between Us, produced the FMQB Top 40 hit, And The Night Stood Stillby Diane Warren. In 2021, Broadway World Minneapolis cited him as Vocalist of the Decade.

 

Nov 26, 202301:17:44
Be Our Guest with Kara Tremel (Tremfit)

Be Our Guest with Kara Tremel (Tremfit)

TremFit is attainable for all body types and ages. We get to know you and your body, so we can build workouts and meal plans based on your goals. Every workout is unique—nothing is pre-programmed! From weightlifting to dancing, all programs are focused on making fitness and nutrition enjoyable, while getting you the results you want! Kara Tremel was born and raised a Canadian Prairie girl, Kara has always had a desire to expand her horizons. She graduated from College, with the triple threat award, in Theatre. She has been fortunate enough to work for twenty years, in a business that took her from Moose Jaw (her hometown) to Broadway (Jersey Boys).   Along the road she found a passion for fitness and more importantly, helping others find their way to strength and wellness. Sculpting minds and bodies is a pure joy. Kara loves every aspect of being a fitness trainer, from choosing playlists and creating programs, to getting to know clients and their individual needs.  

Nov 19, 202355:10
Be Our Guest with Darryl Reuben Hall (The Little Mermaid JR)

Be Our Guest with Darryl Reuben Hall (The Little Mermaid JR)

Darryl, a native of Jacksonville, FL, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Florida. Mr. Hall is a member of the following professional acting unions: Actor’s Equity Association, Screen Actor’s Guild, American Guild of Variety Artists, and American Guild of Musical Artists. He is also the founder of Stage Aurora and director of the upcoming presentation of The Little Mermaid jr.

Nov 12, 202324:21
Be Our Guest with S.C. Lucier, Meghan Rose, Jessie MacBeth, Jenn Colella L. Morgan Lee (Xena Warrior Musical The Lost Scrolls)

Be Our Guest with S.C. Lucier, Meghan Rose, Jessie MacBeth, Jenn Colella L. Morgan Lee (Xena Warrior Musical The Lost Scrolls)

XENA WARRIOR MUSICAL: THE LOST SCROLL is a full length musical with more than 20 well-crafted original and eclectic songs —plus a few epic battle scores!— that pay tribute to the show you know and love. This action-packed production is an exciting new way to experience the timeless characters of the Xenaverse.

Nov 12, 202327:37
Be Our Guest with James Rich (James Rich Salutes Nat King Cole)

Be Our Guest with James Rich (James Rich Salutes Nat King Cole)

James Rich got a BFA in musical theater from Syracuse University. His performing credits include touring with Harry Belafonte (Backup Singer), the First National Tour of Rent (Benny), Saturday Night Fever on Broadway (Booth Singer), Off-Broadway, Regional Theater, Tokyo Disney Resort (Lead Singer/Vocal Captain), lead singer for numerous bands/orchestras in New York and Los Angeles, featured roles in national commercials as well as guest star roles on Everybody Loves Raymond and As the World Turns, as well as his one-man concert, When I Think About Love.


Prior to Syracuse, he studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology (NYC), and got to put that training to use as an Assistant Costume Designer on the Emmy Award winning Season 2 of Dancing with the Stars, and Artistic Director for Randall Designs as well as the Costume Designer for That's Dancin' (Crystal Cruises) as well as numerous regional theater productions.

Nov 05, 202326:53
Be Our Guest with Jesse J. Sanchez, Linedy Genao & Kris Carrasco (SUEÑOS: Our American Musical)

Be Our Guest with Jesse J. Sanchez, Linedy Genao & Kris Carrasco (SUEÑOS: Our American Musical)

JESSE J. SANCHEZ is an award-winning composer-lyricist, writer, and music director. He is a highly sought-after collaborator in theatre, opera, TV, and film.
As composer, lyricist, arranger and librettist, his works include: musical arrangement, "Musicals Based on Shakespeare" (Broadway League's Jimmy Awards on Broadway), original music for W. Fran Astorga's Exhaustion Arroyo: Dancin' Trees In The Ravine (Cutting Ball Theater), co-librettist for desert in (Boston Lyric Opera, Long Beach Opera; finalist for 2022 Opera America's Digital Excellence in Opera Award), book, music, and lyrics for Black Friday! (Prospect Theater Company's Musical Theater Lab), music and co-lyricist for The Fezziwig Promise (The 24 Hour Plays), book for Clopening (Prop Thtr Small Hours Festival), and book, music, and lyrics for SUEÑOS: Our American Musical, which has been developed at The Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals, Barn on Fire Musical Residency (produced by Fire Island Pine Arts, Nicole La Fountaine, and NYTB), New York Theatre Barn, 2021 Frank Young NAMT Development Grant, Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Black Swan Lab, and The Choreography Lab.

Linedy Genao - After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Connecticut, she began a career in banking. However, after receiving a message encouraging her to audition for the first open call of Gloria & Emilio Estefan’s On Your Feet, her life changed forever. With only high school theater experience, Linedy landed her first Broadway-bound show, On Your Feet, and hasn’t stopped since!

Linedy has continued to rise through the ranks, most recently as the Alana/Zoe understudy on Dear Evan Hansen prior to its Broadway closing and on its first national tour. She was also recently named in Variety’s “10 Broadway Stars to Watch” list. Additional credits include Passing ThroughWest Side StoryHavana Music HallA Taste of Things to Come, and In the Heights. She is honored to be the first Latina/Dominican-American to originate an Andrew Lloyd Webber Broadway-bound musical.


Kris Carrasco is a genderqueer, Latino-American artist hailing from the Appalachian mountains of western North Carolina. Born to immigrant parents, his first taste of the stage was seeing Jennifer Lopez star in the hit movie Selena, and through the incredible power of representation, a flame was lit.

Kris' love of storytelling stems from the belief that as artists, we are the storytellers of the human experience and that it is our duty to record humanity (and our experiences with it) as diversely and specifically as possible with a 21st-century anti-racist lens on everything. Kris' greatest hope is that anyone that comes to a performance of theirs leaves with a greater sense of empathy for themselves, their community, and most importantly those who've lived experience is different. SUEÑOS tells the untold story of three generations of a Mexican-American family and their pursuit of the American Dream. The story primarily focuses on the viewpoint of protagonist, Ali Viramontes,  and his journey to becoming a world renown composer. Juilliard is his one-way ticket and he won't let anything stop him, even if he has to sacrifice those close to him. Obstacles become too challenging to overcome and seems there's no other way, but to continue the cycle that tore down his family's dreams. This original, contemporary musical celebrates Latiné/Latinx people and cultures, and weaves their stories into the fabric of the American Musical Theatre.

Oct 22, 202325:37
Be Our Guest with Joe Barros & Hector Flores Jr ( Theatre Barn Records)

Be Our Guest with Joe Barros & Hector Flores Jr ( Theatre Barn Records)

Joe Barros is a New York-based stage director and award-winning choreographer working on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally.

Joe recently directed and choreographed two national tours of A Charlie Brown Christmas (Gershwin Entertainment), the new musical Love and Yogurt in New York, the musical Aida in Singapore, and A New Brain at Five Towns College on Long Island.

New York credits include the Broadway revival of Gigi (associate director, directed by Eric Schaeffer) starring Vanessa Hudgens and Victoria Clark, Cagney (associate director, directed by Bill Castellino)the New York premiere of Dan Elish and Douglas Cohen’s The Evolution of Mann Off-Broadway (starring Max Crumm and Allie Trimm, cast recording on iTunes and Spotify), the world premiere of Marc Acito and Amy Engelhardt’s critically acclaimed rock musical Bastard Jones Off-Broadway, Nine at CAP21/Molloy College, Out of the Box Theatrics’ Alice in Alice’s (Alice in Wonderland at Alice’s Tea Cup with a company of actors with disabilities, co-writer, world premiere at Weathervane Theatre), I Married Wyatt Earp at 59E59 Theatres (Prospect Theater Co./NY Theatre Barn), Hard Times (NY Innovative Theatre Award Nominee for Best Choreography, NY Times Critics’ Pick), Debra Barsha and Hollye Levin's A Taste of Things to Come (associate director, directed by Lorin Latarro, York Theatre Company, Bucks County Playhouse, Broadway in Chicago), and the world premiere of Cheryl Stern's Shoes & Baggage (The Cell). With New York Theatre Barn, Joe produced the new musical Sam's Room, inspired by real stories of nonverbal teens who find a way to communicate.


Héctor Flores Jr. is a multi-hyphenate Latino theatre professional whose work meets at the intersection of art and advocacy. Héctor was born in New Jersey and raised by his Puerto Rican grandmother and his single mom. Luckily his mother believes in cultural enrichment & education which instilled a hunger for knowledge, art and change within him. The artform that chose him, however, wasn’t made in his image. After being a first-generation college graduate Flores embarked on a career in musical theatre that continues to inspire him to find new ways to break barriers for Latinx people.  Hector is the president of Theatre Barn Records.


Theatre Barn Records is a new imprint of Broadway Records and is dedicated to original musicals in development. New York Theatre Barn, which has served as a home for new culture shifting musicals during incubation since 2007, has been evolving its unique development-based programming since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a new program of New York Theatre Barn, Theatre Barn Records will support writers in recording and releasing concept recordings of new musicals in development on global streaming platforms. Theatre Barn Records offers a worldwide marketing platform for musical theatre writers and has the potential to create revenue for writers while their show is still in development.

The focus of Theatre Barn Records is to continue to incubate and elevate projects that we are already developing while evolving our storytelling systems. In this critical digital age that we now live in, EP's and concept albums of original musicals in development are potentially the fastest and most lucrative ways that musical theatre writers can now be noticed, supported, and advanced while their shows are in development.

Oct 22, 202320:59
Be Our Guest with Gabriel Barre, Tricia Paoluccio & Bruce Vilanch (Here You Come Again)

Be Our Guest with Gabriel Barre, Tricia Paoluccio & Bruce Vilanch (Here You Come Again)

Gabriel Barre is an American director and actor. Best known for creating original musicals, his work has been seen on Broadway, throughout the United States, and across four continents internationally.

Gabriel directed the Broadway production of Amazing Grace, which also toured the country and was a sit-down production at the new Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC in 2019. In New York City, he is known for his off-Broadway work: he directed the original production of Andrew Lippa’s, The Wild Party at the Manhattan Theatre Club starring Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, Brian Darcy James and Julia Murney. He was awarded the Calloway Award for Best Direction, and was nominated for five Outer Critics Circle Awards and thirteen Drama Desk Awards, both including Best Direction of a Musical. He directed the original production of John Cariani’s Almost, Maine at the Daryl Roth Theatre, which has become one of the most frequently produced plays in the United States with over 4000 productions to date. It has been translated into a dozen languages and recently unseated Shakespeare as the most produced play in North American high schools. Other Off-Broadway productions include a new adaptation of Cyrano De Bergerac at the St. Clement’s Theatre, using the Anthony Burgess translation, brought to life by a cast of only eight actors and featuring direction by Barre (who also appeared in the leading role), action direction by Rick Sordelet and an original musical score by Alexander Sovronsky, performed live, by the actor/musician cast.  He also directed the original productions of Summer of ’42 at the Variety Arts Theatre, Honky Tonk Highway at Don’t Tell Mama (winner of a MAC Award and Bistro Award for Best Review), Stars in Your Eyes at the Cherry Lane Theatre, Andrew Lippa’s, john & jen at the Lamb’s Theatre and Son Of A Gun at the Samuel Beckett Theater.

Tricia Paoluccio is a multi talented actor, unique visual artist, and creator. Growing up on an almond farm in Modesto, CA, with an inventor as a father and school teacher mother, Tricia moved to NYC and sold her art on the street before she could make a living as an actor. Since making her Broadway debut in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge, she has worked consistently in NY theatre on Broadway and off, in television and film. As a visual artist, Tricia has been commissioned to create botanical designs for luminaries in the fashion, publishing, and music industries. As a creator she has created and produced an optioned web-series, and, during the pandemic, cowrote a show in which she will star, premiering this Fall of 2022, where she gets to play her lifelong idol: Dolly Parton. This show, entitled Here You Come Again, was approved by Dolly, who has given Tricia permission to play her and given the creative team the world wide grand rights to all of her music. She divides her time between her California farm and NYC, where she lives with her two sons and husband, director Gabriel Barre. She is passionate about prison reform, having spent a dozen years serving as a volunteer chaplain at Manhattan Detention Center. Bruce Vilanch is an American comedy writer, songwriter and actor. He is a two-time Emmy Award-winner. Vilanch is best known to the public for his four-year stint on Hollywood Squares, as a celebrity participant; behind the scenes he was head writer for the show. In 2000, he performed off-Broadway in his self-penned one-man show, Bruce Vilanch: Almost Famous.

Oct 14, 202327:45
Be Our Guest with Laura Nobili (Gatsby)

Be Our Guest with Laura Nobili (Gatsby)

Laura Nobili is a young Canadian composer. From solo music to large ensembles, Nobili has written a wide array of instrumentations for professional and student musicians across the country. She is the composer of the piano book The Rainbow of Music, as well as, a co-author of A Journey Through Canada and has won several competitions for solo and large ensemble composition. In July 2022, she composed 'Macbeth the Musical'. The show, which she produced and directed, premiered in May 2023. Currently, she is producing and directing 'Gatsby', her second original musical, which is premiering on October 18, 2023 at the City Playhouse Theatre. Nobili also teaches piano and flute, in addition to performing classical voice, flute and piano.

Oct 08, 202316:58
Be Our Guest with Cheri Steinkellner (Summer Stock)

Be Our Guest with Cheri Steinkellner (Summer Stock)

Cheri Steinkellner has won four Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, The People s Choice, BAFTA, Writers Guild Award, Parents Choice and TV-Land Legend Awards, for writing and producing Cheers (recently named one of the Top 10 Best Written Comedies in TV history), and The Jeffersons, Facts of Life, Family Ties and Who's The Boss, and for creating the acclaimed Disney animated Saturday morning TV series and feature film, Teacher s Pet. A 2011 Tony-nominee for Sister Act (with husband Bill Steinkellner, Alan Menken and Glenn Slater); Cheri has also written Princesses (with Bill, David Zippel and Matthew Wilder); and book and lyrics for Mosaic (with Georgia Stitt), and Jailbirds on Broadway (with Bill and Jeff Rizzo). Other stage includes Our Place, and Instaplay - L.A. s original - and longest-running - improvised musical-comedy. An Indy Award winner and Ovation nominee for Hello! My Baby, Cheri currently teaches writing at Stanford and UCSB and directs youth theatre in beautiful Santa Barbara, where she and Bill raised their three favorite children/writers/ artists: Kit, Teddy, and Emma.

Oct 08, 202337:48
Be Our Guest with Mimika

Be Our Guest with Mimika

Mimika is a singer, songwriter, musician and, vocal arranger whose cuts total over a million streams on Spotify.

Since attending and graduating from Berklee College of Music with a degree in songwriting she's lent her skills to multiple artists around the world. (NY, LA, Nashville, Malaysia, Toronto...)



Oct 04, 202323:09
Be Our Guest with Micheal Shaw Fisher (Exorcistic The Unauthorized Rock Musical Parody of The Exorcist)

Be Our Guest with Micheal Shaw Fisher (Exorcistic The Unauthorized Rock Musical Parody of The Exorcist)

Michael Shaw Fisher is an actor, producer and writer of musicals, films, and novels in Los Angeles. His original musical DOCTOR NYMPHO VS THE SEX ZOMBIES won Best Musical at the Hollywood Fringe in 2018. His show SKULLDUGGERY: THE MUSICAL PREQUEL TO HAMLET premiered at Sacred Fools Theatre Company in 2016 and earned him an Ovation Award for Best Lyrics and Music. His solo show, SHAKESPEARE’S LAST NIGHT OUT won an Ovation Award for “Best Book of an Original Musical” after winning “Top of Fringe” at the Hollywood Fringe 2015 and "Best Solo Show.” As Artistic Director of Orgasmico Theatre Company, Michael penned and performed in the Ovation-nominated DOOMSDAY CABARET (2012), Best Fringe Musical-winning EXORCISTIC: THE ROCK MUSICAL PARODY EXPERIMENT (2013) and THE WEREWOLVES OF HOLLYWOOD BLVD. (2014). As an actor he has appeared in the Ovation nominated and Top of Fringe-winning SHAKESLESQUE with Cherry Poppins. He’s also appeared in Ben Moroski’s TILT also appeared in Theatricum Botanicum’s RICHARD III and ROSE COTTAGES in 2011.

Michael has performed a variety of other plays as well as written, produced and directed others. He has a passion for storytelling in all forms and can’t wait to bring more exciting and original theatre projects to life in Hollywood. He is in love with his wife and son.

 Exorcistic: The Unauthorized Rock Musical Parody of The Exorcist is the must-see rock musical experience of 2023. Come celebrate "the scariest film of all time" with a demon-themed drink, clutch your crucifixes tight and say your prayers. Your Salvation may depend on it!

Sep 29, 202320:33
Be Our Guest with David Serero (Anne Frank a Musical)

Be Our Guest with David Serero (Anne Frank a Musical)

DAVID SERERO (Otto Frank/Director/Producer)

David Serero, has received international recognition and critical acclaim from all over the world. At 38 years old, he has already performed more than 2,000 concerts and performances throughout the world, played in over 100 films and recorded 20 albums. He entered the prestigious Who's Who America for demonstrating outstanding achievements in the entertainment world and for the betterment of contemporary society. In 2019, he received the Morocco Day Distinguished Achievement Award, and the Trophy of the Culture of Morocco and has been honored by Royal Air Maroc as one of the 15 most influential moroccans worldwide. That same year, he received the 2019 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2020, David Serero was Awarded by the Trophy for Diversity by the UNESCO. David Serero is a member of the Recording Academy and of the Television Academy and a voting member both of the Grammys and Emmys. He has given concerts in Paris at the Opera Garnier, Olympia, Eiffel Tower; in New York at the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Times Square; in London at the Royal College of Music, Wembley Stadium; and in Moscow at the Tchaikovsky Hall; in Amsterdam at the Concertgebouw, the Budapest Opera conducted by Placido Domingo and more. He made his sold out West End debuts at the Dominion Theatre. He has sung more than 30 lead roles in Opera, Operetta and Musical Theater. In his extensive discography, he has recorded Cast Album Recording of iconic roles such as Shakespeare's Richard III and world Premiere adaptations. He is also the founder and producer of several music and film festivals.

During the 2017/2018 season in New York, David Serero starred as Cyrano De Bergerac (Rostand), Don Giovanni (Mozart), Barabas (Marlowe's Jew of Malta), King Ahasuerus (from musical Queen Esther's Dilemma), King Lear (Jacob Gordin's The Yiddish King Lear), Napoleon's title role from Napoleon by Stanley Kubrick.

For the 2018/19 season in New York, David starred as Nabucco's title role, Romeo (Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in a Jewish adaptation), Figaro (Mozart's Marriage of Figaro) which he directed and adapted. He opened his 2019/20 season with « Anne Frank, a musical », starring as Otto Frank, which he directed and produced, and the world premiere of "Lost in the Disco" with Lisa Azuelos. Upcoming engagements are Shylock (Merchant of Venice), his own theatrical adaptation of Carmen, Anne Frank a musical, "Lost in the Disco" at the Public Arts Hotel, Rodrigo in The Cid among others.

Anne Frank A Musical Written by Jean-Pierre Hadida, adapted in English by Dylan Hadida, this musical was highly recognized in France for the last ten years. David Serero directed and produced of this premiere and received critical acclaim for his 2019 Off-Broadway production, also starring as Otto Frank. Anne Frank, a Musical features 12 artists on stage to bring the poetry and music of Jean-Pierre Hadida.

Sep 29, 202335:12
Be Our Guest with Joaquina Kalukango

Be Our Guest with Joaquina Kalukango

Joaquina Kalukango received the 2022 Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her performance as Nelly O’Brien in Paradise Square. She received a 2020 Tony Award nomination for her performance in the critically acclaimed Broadway production of Slave Play. For that production she also received an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Actress, and Broadway.com listed her as one of the top five performers (male or female) of the year. Kalukango is a 2021 SAG Award nominee for Cast in a Motion Picture for her role as Betty X opposite Kingsley Ben-Adir in Regina King’s directorial debut, One Night in Miami. She had a recurring role on the HBO series Lovecraft Country. Other TV credits include Ava DuVernay’s Netflix series When They See Us and Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia, directed by Kenny Leon. Additional Broadway credits include The Color Purple, Holler If Ya Hear Me, and Godspell.

Sep 24, 202322:17
Be Our Guest with Chilina Kennedy (Wild About You)

Be Our Guest with Chilina Kennedy (Wild About You)

CHILINA KENNEDY

Chilina is known for playing Carole King in the musical Beautiful on Broadway for over 1,200 performances. She also recently originated the Tony-award winning role of Dina on the First Broadway National Tour of The Band’s Visit. Chilina’s first appearance on Broadway was in 2012 when she played Mary Magdalene in Des McAnuff’s Jesus Christ Superstar, which also had successful runs at the Stratford Festival of Canada and the La Jolla Playhouse. Other US credits include the world premiere of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, in which she originated the role of Phoebe at Hartford Stage and The Old Globe in San Diego (San Diego and Connecticut Outer Critics nominations), the world premiere of A Sign Of The Times as Cindy (Delaware Theatre Company), Binky in the Off-Broadway world premiere of This Ain’t No Disco (Dir. Darko Tresnjak/Chor. Camille A. Brown) and Sophie in the 1st US National Tour of Mamma Mia!. Selected Canadian credits include the title role in Ted Dykstra’s Evangeline (Charlottetown Festival and original recording), the title role in Ross Petty’s Pantomime The Little Mermaid (Toronto Critic’s Award), three seasons at the Stratford Festival (three Broadways World Awards) including Maria in Gary Griffin’s West Side Story, Eva Peròn in Evita, Lois Lane in Kiss Me Kate, three seasons at the Shaw Festival, the World Premiere of The Lord of the Rings (Mirvish), Philia in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Stratford/Toronto), Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest (Neptune) and the title role in Mary Poppins (Theatre Aquarius).

Chilina is also a singer/songwriter with a debut album “What You Find In A Bottle”, released in 2015. Chilina has written a new musical Call It Love with Eric Holmes, who is known for being a writer for The Good Fight on CBS. Featuring music and lyrics by Chilina, book co-written by Eric and Chilina, and musical arrangements by Rick Fox, Call It Love has been developed in the New York City area by Eclipse Theatre Company with the first Canadian workshop planned for May 2020. Chilina has worked with Burt Bacharach, guest starred in concert with the TSO, Colm Wilkinson and Jason Robert Brown. You can hear Chilina’s voice on CBC’s Celebrate The Seasons and Carols For A Cure. Chilina is a graduate of Sheridan College and the Birmingham Conservatory for classical theatre in Stratford. WILD ABOUT YOU is a new musical in development, with music and lyrics by Chilina Kennedy and book by Eric Holmes, and directed by Lorin Latarro. Following a well-received industry presentation in March 2023, an album was immediately greenlit, and a first developmental production will be staged in 2024-2025. The album will be produced by Brian Spector, Daniel Edmonds and Michael J. Moritz Jr., and will be released on Broadway Records later this year. Arrangements, orchestrations and music production are by Daniel Edmonds. Additional production and mixing will be by Emmy and Tony-winner producer Michael J. Moritz Jr. The score is infused with original, lyrical pop-folk songs that are memorable, elevated and timeless. The musical was originally developed at Eclipse Theatre Company and was part of the New York Theater Barn New Works Series.

Sep 24, 202322:24
Be Our Guest with Sam Carner (Musical Creators' Institue)

Be Our Guest with Sam Carner (Musical Creators' Institue)

SAM CARNER is a New York bookwriter / lyricist. He won the $100,000 Kleban Prize for librettists, the Richard Rodgers Award, and the John Wallowitch Award for songwriters under 40. He and Derek Gregor were among Playbill.com’s 12 “Contemporary Musical Theatre Songwriters You Should Know,” and 13 of their songs have been nominated for MAC Awards. Their musical UNLOCK’D played and extended Off-Broadway run at the Duke Theater and was produced at Houston’s Queensbury Theatre. His musical ISLAND SONG has had over 50 productions internationally, including at the Adirondack Theatre Festival, London’s Stratford Circus, Vanderbilt University, etc. His show SECOND LINE was the 2020 Pace New Musical, having had readings at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, NC State, and more. Sam taught musical theater writing and analysis courses at Yale, NYU, and Temple University.

Musical Creators’ Institute is on a mission to empower early-career musical theater creators. We work to provide unique tools and insights into musical theater form from highly-experienced, top-level musical theater professionals. We aim to do this with a program size that is large enough to provide ample collaborative opportunities and small enough to provide individual attention and at a price-point that will not saddle our students with years of debt.

We believe in fostering a shared language between artists with diverse areas of specialization. This involves supporting the development of multi-disciplinary artists and offering all artists opportunities to expand their areas of knowledge.

The philosophy of program founder, Kleban-Award-winning lyricist-librettist Sam Carner considers all ideas and concepts as viable and views the role of a training program as helping students to express their ideas with greater clarity and to build greater drama around their themes. This leads to a supportive, non-judgmental environment that encourages exploration and artistic passion.

Develop your own unique artistic voice, explore new collaborations and artistic communities, and gain a solid framework in musical theater structure and style.

Sep 21, 202322:26
Be Our Guest with Rachel Wagstaff (Flowers for Mrs. Harris)

Be Our Guest with Rachel Wagstaff (Flowers for Mrs. Harris)

Rachel Wagstaff wrote the book for multi-award winning musical, Flowers for Mrs Harris (Best Musical, UK Theatre Awards 2016) which transferred to Chichester Festival Theatre, directed by Daniel Evans, in September 2018 after a run at the Sheffield Crucible. Her critically acclaimed adaptation of Birdsong opened in the West End, directed by Trevor Nunn, and enjoyed four UK tours with the Original Theatre Company and Birdsong Productions.

With Duncan Abel, she adapted Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train, which had a record-breaking UK tour and West End run in 2019 and her new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d toured the UK produced by the Wales Millennium Centre and Wiltshire Creative, followed by a tour of India. 

For radio, Rachel adapted Sebastian Faulks’ novel The Girl at the Lion d’Or for a five part series for Woman's Hour on Radio Four, transmitted in 2009. Her Afternoon Play When I Lost You, also co-written with Duncan Abel, was transmitted on Radio Four in July 2013.

Moonshadow, the musical she co-wrote with Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), opened at the Royal Albert Hall in 2010, and then was produced at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne in June 2012. That Girl, was produced at the Soho Theatre in June 2012, by DryWrite. Rachel also wrote the book for the original musical Only the Brave, which opened at the Wales Millennium Centre in March 2016 with music composed by Matthew Brind.

Sep 17, 202324:17
Be Our Guest with Mauricio Martínez (511, Based in NYC)

Be Our Guest with Mauricio Martínez (511, Based in NYC)

Emmy Award Winner and Mexican star of theatre, music, and television Mauricio Martínez, will perform at 54 Below on October 5th and 6th. In his new show 5’11, Based in NYC, Martínez will sort through songs of what might have been from his musical, “What If”. 

The show will be recorded and released as Mauricio's first live album.

Sep 15, 202325:08
Be Our Guest with Adrian Saldanha & Aly Slominski (Be More Chill)
Sep 11, 202324:26
Michael Radi (The King's Legacy, Musical Theatre Writing Collective)

Michael Radi (The King's Legacy, Musical Theatre Writing Collective)

Michael Radi

COMPOSER / LYRICIST / LIBRETTIST / PERFORMER / VOCAL COACH / MUSICAL DIRECTOR / MUSICAL WRITING EDUCATOR / CONTENT CREATOR / FOUNDER OF MTWC


The King's Legacy

THE KING’S LEGACY is a celebration of remarkable women in history told through the stories of Anne Boleyn - the second wife of King Henry VIII - and their daughter Queen Elizabeth I. The show portrays how Henry’s obsession for a son tore his country apart, and how his and Anne’s daughter unexpectedly saved them all. The musical is performed by a small troupe of Players in honor of the fortieth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth I’s celebrated reign (London, 1598) and spans thirty-three years between two story lines: Anne’s ascension and fall the present, as she forges her own path amidst Henry’s desperate attempts to obtain a son; And the future, in which a young Elizabeth grows up learning how to become a great monarch from Henry’s later wives and through her mother’s legacy. The Musical Theatre Writing Collective

The Musical Theatre Writing Collective is built upon the idea that anyone who writes for the musical theatre or collaborates with those writers should have access to a welcoming, affirmative, and supportive community environment in which to continuously learn, connect, and develop as both artists and individuals.

Aug 28, 202349:01
Be Our Guest with Mark Brown (This Is Tom Jones!)

Be Our Guest with Mark Brown (This Is Tom Jones!)

Mark Brown


Hi, I’m Mark Brown and I’m a playwright. For more than 20 years I was an actor but I made a mid-career switch to writing. My mom always said I should have something to fall back on. For the longest time I thought she meant a mattress.

The acting worked out okay. I did a lot of theatre, TV and film. I was blessed to work with some really great actors, from George Clooney to Philip Nolen. From Tom Hanks to the Rally Monkey. But I grew weary of the acting business as it became more and more last minute. I would get a lot of calls from my agent saying things like, “You need to be in Santa Monica in 45 minutes.” It wasn’t my agent’s fault. It was just the business.

So I heeded my mom’s advice and I fell back on the much more stable career of playwriting. What was I possibly thinking? But so far things have worked out. Excuse me while I go knock on the largest piece of wood I can find.

I’ve been fortunate to have my plays produced all over the world: Off-Broadway, across the U.S. (including the 50th state, Hawaii), Canada, England, India, Turkey, South Africa, Bangladesh and China. I consider myself very lucky.

http://markbrownwriter.com/ This Is Tom Jones! Henry Fielding’s heart-throbbing masterpiece meets the frenzied, mop-top sounds of the 1960s known as the British Invasion. Aristocrats, wenches and scalawags abound in this bawdy and rollicking romp through the back roads and bedchambers of England.

If you liked Austin PowersThe Full Monty, or Avenue Q, you’ll like THIS IS TOM JONES!

Aug 22, 202328:48
Be Our Guest with Mark Cabaniss (Miracle of the Music Man)

Be Our Guest with Mark Cabaniss (Miracle of the Music Man)

Mark Cabaniss is a music publisher, writer, producer, broadcaster, and speaker. He is President/CEO of Jubilate Music Group, a worldwide music publisher creating printed and digital music, recordings, and videos.

As an ASCAP composer and arranger, Mark’s published compositions have been performed nationally and abroad, and include choral anthems, musicals, cantatas, and instrumental pieces. His concert musical Triumph of Faith (co-written with Mark Blankenship) received its world premiere at Carnegie Hall. Other musicals include The Homework Machine, co-written with Tony-nominated composer Keith Herrmann and premiered by the Boston Children’s Theatre and The Stardust Supper Club (featuring the music of Hoagy Carmichael) co-written with Alan Bailey and given an Off-Broadway workshop production by The York Theatre Company.

Mark is the author of three books: Confessions of a Shameless Name-DropperMusic Business Essentials: A Guide for Aspiring Professionals; and Miracle of The Music Man: The Classic American Story of Meredith Willson.

Mark is a multiple recipient of ASCAP’s Popular Music Award, the NAMM Believe in Music Award, and is a Dove Award and Angel Award-winning producer. He is a member of The Recording Academy, The Dramatists Guild of America, and serves on the Board of Advisors for The Music Man Square, a museum and foundation in Mason City, Iowa, dedicated to furthering music education and honoring the legacy of Meredith Willson (creator of Broadway’s The Music Man). He also created and manages the official Meredith Willson website: www.meredithwillson.com. Mark was recognized as an Outstanding Alumnus by Mars Hill University and serves on the University’s Board of Trustees. Governor Wallace Wilkinson of Kentucky commissioned Mark as an official Kentucky Colonel. Mark is also the founder/donor of The Helen Cole Krause Music Scholarship, awarded annually to a qualifying incoming or current Mars Hill University music major.

Mark serves as a correspondent for Hollywood 360, a weekly nationally-syndicated entertainment radio show based in Chicago.

Mark’s work in music business and broadcasting has led to collaborations with television icons Andy Griffith, Bob Barker, and Kathie Lee Gifford; Academy Award-winner Shirley Jones; legendary entertainer Steve Allen; composer Charles Strouse (Annie/Bye Bye Birdie); Broadway/pop platinum singer/songwriters Rupert Holmes and David Pomeranz; jazz pianist/composer Loonis McGlohon; gospel singer Cynthia Clawson; actor/singer Thurl Ravenscroft (Tony the Tiger/“Mr. Grinch”), and others.

Mark holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education and Communications from Mars Hill University and The University of Tennessee – Knoxville. Mark resides in Nashville.


https://markcabaniss.com/


MIRACLE OF THE MUSIC MAN: The Classic American Story of Meredith Willson About the Book

The Music Man stands as one of the greatest achievements in American musical theatre, but few know about its rocky beginnings and the against-all-odds success story of its creator Meredith Willson.

Mark Cabaniss steps back into the Golden Age of Broadway and brings to life the origins of this classic show, the music behind it, and the unlikely story of its creator. Interweaving behind-the-scenes accounts of people who worked with Willson, Cabaniss looks at his long and unusual career as a composer, conductor, radio personality, and flutist, which reached its pinnacle in The Music Man.

Aug 20, 202339:55
Be Our Guest with Aaron Netsky (366 Days/366 Musicals: A Musical Theatre Trivia Book and Diary)

Be Our Guest with Aaron Netsky (366 Days/366 Musicals: A Musical Theatre Trivia Book and Diary)

Aaron Netsky

My areas of expertise are writing and performing. They're what I studied, they're what I practiced, and they have many applications outside of the obvious. For one, when I speak or write, people know what I'm trying to say, they may even be convinced, and, importantly, they find it interesting. In addition to being an excellent communicator myself, I can help clear up the words and arguments of others, in speech or text, whether I agree with them or not. I have been building a social media profile on the strength of my writing and wit. I'm also entertaining. Experience working backstage in theatre and as a courier and organizer have built up many skills that would make me helpful around the office. There is a lot that I can do outside of my strengths. Critical thinking aids quick thinking. Performing enhances physical labor capabilities.
I like to find and explore things others miss in my writing, hence my musical theatre blog (http://366days366musicals.tumblr.com), mostly about overlooked musicals, which inspired one of my novels. Below, you'll find links to my assembled works for various websites that I have been published on, and those articles, plus many more on books, politics, and culture, can be found on Cantonaut (http://cantonaut.blogspot.com), my personal blog.

366 Days/366 Musicals: A Musical Theatre Trivia Book and Diary


How long is 21 Chump Street? Who wrote Island of the Lost Coeds? What the heck is Cinderella Meets the Wolfman!? The answers to these musical theatre questions you never thought you'd ask and so many more are in this book. Learn about a different musical on the top every page and then use the bottom to keep track of important events or record your own experiences of each of these musicals. How many have you seen? Which ones may never be seen again?

Aug 13, 202333:13
Be Our Guest with Samuel Peña (One Shoe of Each Colour)
Aug 06, 202319:26
Be Our Guest with Steven Greenwood

Be Our Guest with Steven Greenwood

Steven Greenwood is a Montreal-based writer & director, and the Artistic Director of Home Theatre Productions. He holds a PhD from McGill University with a focus on queer cultural history, and he teaches university courses in film, theatre, and popular culture. His work is influenced by his passion for queer history & culture, and he is a fan of all things geeky, pulpy, campy & queer. 


Aug 06, 202337:02
Be Our Guest with Erin Murray Quinlan (Brain Hemingway)

Be Our Guest with Erin Murray Quinlan (Brain Hemingway)

Erin Murray Quinlan is a published  Playwright, Poet, And Composer

with credits Off-Broadway and beyond. 

 

Quinlan's latest show, Brain Hemingway, had its premiere at Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue Greenside @ Infirmary Street in August '22 and will be returning to the festival in 2023 to Greenside @ Nicholson Square.

 

God Save Queen Pam had its Off-Broadway debut in the summer of 2018, and critics raved about the tight script, witty lyrics, and catchy music. "How Can I Tell You", her contribution to the album 'The MS Songbook' (lyrics co-written by Rory Sherman) was chosen again and again by reviewers as the favorite of the song cycle, called 'the cream of a very talented crop'. EMQ's work has been performed at many venues around the US and UK, including the Players Theater, the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater, and the Duplex Theater in NYC; the Playwright in Boston; the Tabard Theater  in London; and the Actors Studio in LA. She has also written music for film and television, including 2021's comedy Bad Cupid starring John Rhys-Davies (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lord of the RingsThe Living Daylights). For complete credits, check out the resume page.

EMQ studied composition and creative writing at Berklee College of Music, playwriting at the University of Oxford, and composition with professors from Juilliard at the EAMA Nadia Boulanger Institute at the Schola Cantorum in Paris. She is also an alumna composer/lyricist of the Tony Award-winning BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Advanced Workshop in NYC, and a protege of accomplished UK-based musical theater writer and director Paul Boyd.

 

She is inclued in Scott Pfitzinger's Composer Genealogies: A Compendium of Composers, Their Teachers, and Their Students. She is on the selection committee at NYC's the Players Theatre Off-Broadway, and is a very proud member of the Dramatist Guild.


https://www.erinmurrayquinlan.com/

Jul 30, 202319:08
Be Our Guest with Alexander S. Bermange (I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical) July 2023

Be Our Guest with Alexander S. Bermange (I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical) July 2023

Alexander S. Bermange is a composer and lyricist whose musicals and theatre productions have enjoyed successful runs in the West End, across the UK and around the world, whose comic writing has acquired a formidable following amongst millions of radio listeners, and whose songs have been performed, recorded and released by international stars including Cynthia Erivo, Kerry Ellis, Miriam Margolyes, Ramin Karimloo and Christopher Biggins.

Alexander’s work has won widespread international critical acclaim, and has garnered numerous honours including two Frank Wildhorn Awards, a West End Wilma Award and two Broadway World Award nominations. Alexander has also topped the iTunes comedy album chart with Wit & Whimsy, an album celebrating his comedic work featuring 23 popular personalities and West End stars.

https://bermange.co.uk/

Jul 30, 202324:57
Be Our Guest with Jaime Lozano (Songs By An Immigrant in Concert)

Be Our Guest with Jaime Lozano (Songs By An Immigrant in Concert)

Jaime Lozano is a musical theatre composer who has been heralded as the “next big thing” on Broadway by Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda. A native of Monterrey, Mexico, Jaime earned his BFA in Music and Composition from the School of Music at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León and was the recipient of a full scholarship to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he has the distinction of being the first Mexican to be accepted to and earn an MFA from the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. Jaime is one of the five artists selected for the 2020-2022 Joe’s Pub Working Group residency and one of the artists selected as part as The Civilians R&D Group 2020-2021.  https://www.jaimelozano.net/

Jul 29, 202309:16