Michael Pizzi is Producing and Artistic Director of the Sandhills Repertory Theatre, bringing all NYC and Broadway talent to the Sandhills, with a percentage of ALL show net profits funding performing arts in Moore County schools. He is also the creator and producer of the Special Broadway Camp for children with special needs in the Sandhills.Besides being an artist, Michael is an occupational therapist, a health and wellness lifestyle coach and co-owner of the NC organization Sandhills Adaptive Living (SAL). We talk to him about the cabaret-style shows he had developed in the Berkshires, as well as how theater touches other elements of people's lives.
https://sandhillsrep.org/

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "Between Riverside and Crazy", performing at Albany Civic Theater from July 18th - 27th.

Martha Banta, the Founding Artistic Director at the Adirondack Theater Festival, an Artistic Associate at New York Theater Workshop, the Associate Director of MAMMA MIA! on Broadway and the National Tours, and the Original Resident Director of RENT for NYTW, Broadway, two National Tours, and London, joins us to talk about her current production of "Gutenberg! The Musical!" at the Adirondack Theater Festival and thoughts about how to program shows for these current times.
https://www.atfestival.org/
https://www.marthabanta.com/about

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "Between Riverside and Crazy", performing at Albany Civic Theater from July 18th - 27th.

Annabelle Duffy is no stranger to the Capital Region. She has been wowing audiences in the area for many years before heading off to train at Carnegie Mellon. And now she's back (albeit briefly) as the understudy for Fanny Brice in the national tour of "Funny Girl." We chat about life on the road, and how to tackle such a classic and mammoth role. 

"Funny Girl" runs at Proctors Theatre until April 6th 2025.https://www.atproctors.org/

Hudson Valley Shakespeare has been performing outdoor theater since 1987, and now they are building a beautiful new state-of-the-art open air theater venue that will open in the summer of 2026. We talk to Artistic Director Davis McCallum about the structure of their summer repertory season, Shakespeare's connection to an audience, and what to look forward to in the future!

We're back to the backstage episodes! We've been crazy busy with our own shows, but Ellen and Benita are back to chat about upcoming shows in the area, auditions, and the future of theater in today's climate.

For the 5th year, Jackson Murphy joins us to discuss the upcoming Academy Awards. Similar to past years, theater has made a big impact on the movies this year, with big contenders like "Wicked." We chat about our sister industry and Jackson's predictions on who will take home the golden statues Sunday night!

One of the newer and most important jobs on a stage production team is the intimacy coordinator - the person who ensures that intimate scenes are performed safely and respectfully. We speak with intimacy coordinator, Yvonne Perry, about her work and how it is applied to the stage.

"Tango Illusion" is an interactive dance play, portraying the onstage and offstage lives of a troupe of Tango/ Salsa dancers who nightly perform their show Fuego in New York City. Creator/ Writer/Choreographer/Producer Diane Lachtrupp Martinez and Script Editor/Choreographer/Fight Choreographer Johnny Martinez join us to talk about this new play making it's way to a stage near you! https://tangoillusion.com/

Sand Lake Center for the Arts has been producing such exciting work for years, and now Tanya Gorlow has taken over as Executive Director. We chat with Tanya about her position at SLCA, her plans for the future, and the ability to create a true community surrounding your theater.

We're going backstage at Proctors Theatre to meet the cast and crew of "Parade" - the Jason Robert Brown and Alfred Uhry musical that is teching and starting it's national tour right here in Schenectady! We chat with Max Chernin and Talia Suskauer (who are playing Leo and Lucille Frank) and get a peek of what the tech process looks like at Proctors!

"Parade" plays at Proctors from Jan 11 - 17, 2025. Get tickets at https://www.atproctors.org/event/parade/

Here we are again at the end of another great year of theater! Our annual guests, Chris Foster and Patrick White, join us to talk about changing trends in theatre and some of the biggest highlights of 2024.

Let's face it. Audiences are different than they used to be. And because of that, theater is different too. Rob Bailis, Artistic & Executive Director for BroadStage in Santa Monica, California, joins us to discuss cultivating an artistic space for modern audiences while developing a true community between theaters and their patrons.

"Oklahoma!" is commonly considered the first modern American musical, shaping the theatrical forum for decades. Playhouse Stage Company is presenting a bold new interpretation of the classic musical in Washington Park in Albany this summer. Director Chuck Kraus and assistant director/choreographer Ashley Simon Kirchner join us to talk about the production and how it applies to our modern world. 

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "Between Riverside and Crazy", performing at Albany Civic Theater from July 18th - 27th.

Multidisciplinary artist, D. Colin, joins us with actress Angelique Powell, to discuss her new play, Psalm 91:Releasing Religion, performing with Creative Action Unlimited. We talk about the piece, the vulnerability of presenting an autobiographical story, and the impact art has on an audience.
https://creativeactionunlimited.com/

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "Into the Breeches"

Diaka Kaba Hill is the best "people person" you'll ever come across, which is why it makes sense that she is a cherished House Manager in the Capital Region. Diaka joins us to talk about the job of a house manager and how an audience's experience with a show starts from the moment they enter the theater lobby.

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "Into the Breeches."

Performing on stage is one thing, but not many people think about the immense amount of work actors have to do off-stage in order to get their moment in the spotlight. Actor Marc Christopher chats with us about the business of acting, including Equity status, finding representation, auditions, and making a living as a professional actor.

The Capital Region in New York is a thriving theatre scene. It's why we host a podcast from here! And for the first time, the community is being celebrated with a weekend-long theatre festival in June 2025. The festival is kicking off with a "cast party" fundraising evening at Cohoes Music Hall with entertainment, food, wine, and thousands of dollars in raffle prizes. Patrick White chats with us about what is in store for CRFT (Capital Region Festival of Theatre). Join us on Oct 27th, 2024 at 7pm (doors open at 6pm) for the cast party!
Tickets available at: https://playhousestagecompany.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a0FUO00000209zp2AA

This episode is sponsored by the CRFT Cast Party.

The Charles R. Wood Theater is working with Artist Anthony Richichi to turn his award winning children's book, "Colorworld", into a LIVE Stage Play! We chat with the author, Anthony Richichi, as well as Executive Director, Emily Murphy, and Facilities Director, Eric Potter, about the origins of the project and how they are adapting this new children's piece for the stage!

David Bunce, local actor/fight choreography/playwright joins us to talk about stage combat, the SAFD (Society of American Fight Directors), and his work on "Red Maple", his play that was produced at Capital Repertory Theatre and Curtain Call Theatre.

We're moving backstage to discuss wardrobe crew and production management with Elizabeth Streeter, a Capital Repertory Theatre Wardrobe Supervisor turned Associate Production Manager at Proctors. What does it take to run the show behind the curtain? A lot!

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre and Albany Civic Theater's co-production of "Maggie May", running Sept 6 - 22 at Albany Civic Theater.

"Shear Madness" has been acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running non-musical play in American theater history. Our own Benita Zahn is reprising her role as Mrs. Shubert at the Majestic Theater, and we chat with her co-star Jeff Haffner about this one-of-a-kind interactive show that has become a staple of American Theater.

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theater and Albany Civic Theater's co-production of "Maggie May."

Tina Turner, the "Queen of Rock n' Roll" made a massive impact on the world of music, and "TINA" celebrates this powerful woman through all her ups and downs. We chat with the two Tinas on the National Tour, Ari Groover and Zurin Villanueva, who alternate one of the most demanding roles in the history of theater (a 3 hour long show where they never leave the stage!)

It's summer and it's beautiful outside... and INSIDE, at Capital Repertory Theatre! From July 12 - August 18th, Carole King's amazing story is being told in the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical "Beautiful." Shannon Rafferty (playing Cynthia Weil) and David Girard (playing Donnie Kirshner) join us to talk about the show and Carole King's amazing contribution to the music industry. #BeautifulMusical
https://attherep.org/event/beautiful-the-carole-king-musical/

Be our guest! And join our conversation with Danny Gardner, who is traveling the country playing Lumiere in the national tour of "Beauty and the Beast." We chat about this iconic Disney show and Danny's life on the road as he tours with his wife, Emily Larger (who is also in the show), their dog, and their infant son.

Will Kempe's Players travel on their bus, "Robin Goodfellow," presenting productions of Shakespeare and other classic plays to audiences throughout the Capital Region. They believe in presenting the works of William Shakespeare and his contemporaries through original practices with minimal tech elements and plenty of audience engagement. We chat with Artistic Director, Sandra Boynton, Director of Development,
Kristoph "Rags" DiMaria, and Director Shane Sczepankowski, about their approach to their shows and this summer season featuring "Pericles" and "Midsummer Madness."
https://www.willkempesplayers.com/

"There's a rat in the theater!" No, you don't have a pest problem - it's just an old saying meaning there is a critic in the audience. Gail Burns from Berkshire on Stage joins us to talk about the job of the critic, what makes a successful review, and the state of arts journalism. https://berkshireonstage.blog/

Murder is afoot at The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show, playing nation wide! We chat with Jen Werner, an actor at the Albany branch of The Dinner Detective, about an interactive evening full of code names, hilarity, delicious food, fun clues, and of course... murder! Can you solve the crime by the time you finish dessert? https://www.thedinnerdetective.com/albany/

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theater's production of "The Squirrels"

Carpe Diem Theater is in their 13th season of providing students in grades 2-10 a summer full of theater, education, and leadership training in Round Lake, NY. We chat with Executive Director, Alexandra van den Heever, and Artistic Director, Brady Walsh, about the program and the impact it has had on them and countless students. https://carpediemtheater.org/home

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theater's production of "The Squirrels", running 6/21-6/30, 2024 at the Sand Lake Center for the Arts

It's Tony time! For the 4th year in a row, we are delighted to chat with Adam Deremer about all the shows on Broadway this season, and who might go home with a Tony. But for the first time ever, Adam feels like it could be anyone's year! Tune in to what is bound to be a night full of surprises on Tony Sunday, June 16th 2024.

Marybeth Clark has had quite the journey in the theater. Originally as an actor, turned Head of Education, turned Artistic Director, Marybeth has done it all! We chat with her about Charleston Stage Company in South Carolina, including their upcoming season and the 12-month artist-in-residence and teacher training program for young professional actors.
https://charlestonstage.com/

Are you a dog person? Well, you're going to love "Dog People" - a new play by Leigh Strimbeck, produced by Great Barrington Public Theater, running May 31st - June 16th. Playwright Leigh Strimbeck and Director Judy Braha join us to talk about the process of producing a new play.

We're talking "SIX", the musical sensation featuring the 6 wives of Henry VIII. Cassie Silva plays Anne Boleyn (Henry's 2nd wife) on the 2nd National Tour, and fills us in on audience interaction, actor prep, her time playing 4 different Queens, and what it's like performing this 85-minute high-energy show throughout the nation.

NEXT ACT! New Play Summit, a joint venture between Capital Repertory Theatre and Proctors, is an annual showcase of new plays designed to shed light on new play development. The summit brings playwrights, directors, actors, and audience members together for a series of workshops and readings, where multiple new full-length plays are given readings. We speak with Cap Rep's Associate Artistic Director, Margaret Hall, about this year's programming.

Benita and Ellen chat about all the great upcoming shows in the area, and read off a list of the 20 top things only people in community theater understand.

J. Jared Janas is an acclaimed hair, wig, and make-up designer who has worked on over 700 shows, including the recent Broadway productions of "John Proctor is the Villain", "Dead Outlaw", and "Glengarry Glen Ross" to name a few. In addition to his thriving work on Broadway, Jared remains steadfast in his mission of supporting the craft, and platforming up and coming designers to work alongside him on high end productions – opportunities they may not have been afforded otherwise. We chat with Jared about his career, his approach to design, and the shocking lack of a hair and makeup category at the Tony Awards.

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "At the Wedding" running at the Sand Lake Center for the Arts June 6th - 15th.

WAM Theatre (Where Arts and Activism Meet) aims to produce theatrical events for everyone, with a focus on women theatre artists and/or stories of women and girls while donating a portion of proceeds from those theatrical events to organizations that work to benefit the lives of women and girls in our communities and worldwide. Genée Coreno has just taken over as Artistic Director (only the 2nd AD in the company's history). We chat to her about WAM's powerful work and what she envisions for the future. https://www.wamtheatre.com/

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "In The Blood" by Pulitzer winner, Suzan-Lori Parks running March 15-24 at the Saint Rose Theatre.

Franklin Trapp, Producing Artistic Director of Forestburgh Playhouse, joins us to talk about the excitement and challenges of producing 7 mainstage shows in the summer on top of presenting cabarets, theater for young audiences programming, and a new play festival. https://www.fbplayhouse.org/

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "In The Blood" by Pulitzer winner, Suzan-Lori Parks. Performances: March 15-24 at the Saint Rose Theatre

It's that time of year again when we take a break from theater to discuss our sister industry, film. Jackson Murphy (Lights Camera Jackson) is back to chat all things Oscars with us! Who will take home the golden statues, and what is the future of cinemas when people are so used to just streaming stuff at home?

James Barry, Co-Producing Artistic Director of Chester Theatre Company in Massachusetts, joins us to talk about their thrilling upcoming season, the joy of the audience talk-back, and theater tours to London and Dublin. https://chestertheatre.org/

In 2015, performers Leah Edwards and Dimitri Pittas made a trip to Charleston, South Carolina to escape the hustle and bustle of their careers. Wooed by its beauty and hospitality, the couple returned a month later to make it their home. In connecting with their community through discussion and performance, they realized that there was a strong local desire to learn more about and attend opera and musical theatre. Upon learning that Charleston is, in fact, the birthplace of opera in North America, Leah and Dimitri embraced the serendipity and embarked on the giant adventure that is opening and running Charleston’s first full-time opera company - Holy City Arts and Lyric Opera (HALO). https://holycityarts.org/

2024 is here! It's time for our annual review with Patrick White and Chris Foster. We chat about some of their favorite shows of the year, completing a successful season with their company Harbinger Theater, and what exciting things await in the new year. Can you believe this is our 5th end-of-year review with these guys?! How time flies!

Brandon Jones knows his music. He is an actor, singer, accompanist, voice teacher, and music director who is now traveling the world working on shows on cruise ships. We chat with him about all his experience and tips for a good singing audition.

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theater's production of "Mrs. Packard."

Ellen and Benita chat about holiday shows, the move to no-intermission scripts, and upcoming productions we're looking forward to.

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger's Production of "Mrs. Packard", playing at the Albany Barn Dec 7-16.

Jack Mastrianni is known in the Capital Region for his work with Playhouse Stage Company, Capital Rep, and more, but he has been traveling the country performing - from Broadway to California. He is currently in a revival of "The Fantasticks" that changes Lousia into Lewis. We chat with him about this new take on this classic show.

Leigh Strimbeck is a very accomplished actor, director, teacher, and writer. We sit down with her to discuss safe spaces in rehearsal, how to teach acting, and the future of the theater. http://leighstrimbeck.com/bio/

This episode is sponsored by iTheatreSaratoga's production of "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd", a new adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic novel, running Oct 27th - Nov 5th. https://www.itheatresaratoga.org/

It's Tony time! Adam Prado-Deremer joins us again to discuss all things Broadway, from our favorite shows of the season, to changing audiences, and award predictions! The Tonys will air on Sunday, June 8th (6:40pm - Act One on Pluto, and 8:00pm - Act Two on CBS/Paramount Plus).

This episode is sponsored by Harbinger's Production of "At the Wedding" playing at the Sand Lake Center for the Arts from June 6th - 15th.

Heelllooo! We're chatting with Bianca Rivera-Irions, who is the female ensemble swing and social media captain for the national tour of Mrs. Doubtfire. Hear about life on the road, mastering how to cover multiple tracks, fun skills to put on a resume, and the social media element of promoting a show.

Company is touring the nation, and starting right here in Schenectady at Proctors. We chat with Britney Coleman, who plays Bobbie, about the gender flip in this production, life on tour, and tackling Sondheim music. Company runs at Proctors from Oct 8th - Oct 14th 2023.

Heidi Schreck's groundbreaking play "What the Constitution Means to Me" is currently playing at Capital Repertory Theatre, starring the incredibly talented Kim Stauffer. Kim joins us to discuss the process of rehearsing and performing such a powerful play that affects the audience in so many varying ways.

The post-show blues. It’s a real thing. How do you cope after a show closes? Do you immediately look for your next project? Are you grateful for a break? What’s the end of a run look like for you? We read our listeners' comments on how they handle a show closing.