Explore every episode of the podcast The Chicago Theater-Makers Podcast

This episode we chat with Artistic Director of the Oak Park Festival Theatre, Peter G. Andersen.

Mr. Andersen is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s MFA directing program and a graduate of Emerson College where he obtained his BFA in Acting. Formerly, he was the education manager at Writers Theatre in Glencoe. He has also worked at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as an Education Apprentice and Multicultural Fellow.

Select directing projects throughout Chicago include Romeo & Juliet (OPFT); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (OPFT); The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (The Gift Theatre); At Your Own Risk (University of Chicago) and Our Town (Roosevelt University).

Projects throughout the US include Pericles (Catskill Mountain Shakespeare); Macbeth (NIU); Measure for Measure (Montana Shakespeare in the Parks); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Catskill Mountain Shakespeare); The Kennedy Plays (CMU); 21 (CMU); As You Like It (CMU) and The American Myth (Shakespeare and Company).

He has also worked for Chicago Shakespeare, TimeLine Theatre, Writers Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company, Huntington Theatre Company, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Yale Repertory Theatre, and American Players Theatre as an assistant and associate director.

The Oak Park Festival Theatre celebrates its 50th season this year as the Midwest’s oldest, professional, outdoor classical theatre. Known for producing classic works, many are created as multi-generational experiences. Not only do they produce high quality theater, they are also stewards in the Oak Park community.

In addition to an attendance of 7,000 patrons annually, their ‘Community Appreciation Night’ program offers free tickets to EVERYONE for the first preview performance every season, removing financial barriers to those who might not otherwise have the means to attend.

Because of their strong partnership with the Village of Oak Park, they have endured recessions, climate calamities and a pandemic and their commitment to community, high quality art and the wellbeing of their artists, has them well on their way to celebrating another 50 years.

Our very first episode features a husband and wife director/ choreographer team who have been seen on Broadway and National tours, but since 2013 have made Chicago their hometown and their creative home base.

Justin Brill is an actor, singer, dancer and educator currently assistant professor of Theater arts at Illinois Wesleyan University.

Shanna VanDerwerker is an actress, singer, dancer and choreographer and one of Chicago’s most well loved and well respected dance teachers.

They both offer group workshops and private coaching and, while they do occasionally work on separate project, here in Chicago they are lovingly referred to as “Team VanDerBrill”.

I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with my good friends, Justin Brill, and Shanna VanDerwerker.

Today’s guest has been a theater-maker for over 40 years.

He’s an actor, singer and playwright whose first area bow was in Marriott Theatre’s production of "1776" nearly 30 years ago. Since then, he has been seen on many Chicago-area stages including the Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, First Folio Theatre, Oak Park Festival Theatre, and Porchlight Music Theatre (just to name a few!)

He has also added the moniker of ‘producer’ to his ever growing list of hyphens, with the creation of SoloChicago Theatre, and his Jeff Award winning production of “Churchill” ran in off-Broadway for 6 months, earning audience and critical acclaim.

Those of you in the Chicago-land area familiar with his work have probably already guessed that today my guest is none other than Chicago's original "journey-man", Ronald Keaton.

I hope you enjoy our conversation. Let’s go to the top of the show!

Today’s guest has been seen on stages all over the Chicagoland as well as Broadway and National Tours for the last 40 years. He was most recently seen in "Translations" at Writers Theatre in Glencoe, and "Uncle Vanya" for the New Theatre Project.

Past credits include Scrooge in Goodman Theatre’s perennial staging of "A Christmas Carol", the National Tour of "Aladdin" on which he originated the role of Jafar, and played mobster Gyp DeCarlo in the show on which we met, Broadway In Chicago’s long running production of "JERSEY BOYS".

I hope you enjoy my conversation with my good friend Jonathan Weir.

In today’s 2 Act Episode, we’re going to chat with two community theaters in the Western suburbs both opening shows this coming weekend:

City of Lights Cabaret and Theatre in Aurora, IL, producing "Pippin" from July 24th through July 27th, and

Summer Place Theatre in Naperville, IL, producing "Legally Blonde" from July 25th through August 3rd.

Tickets can be purchased at:

https://www.cityoflightstheatre.org and https://summerplacetheatre.org, respectively.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with these wonderful organizations and that you're able to catch their shows!

Welcome to the Chicago Theater-Makers podcast!

Each episode we’ll chat with actors, directors, choreographers, designers and producers shaping Chicagoland’s one-of-a-kind-theater scene!

The aim of this podcast is to highlight theater-makers at every level: From high school drama clubs to community theater to storefront theaters to the big Union houses.

New episodes drop every Monday, and in our first season, our list of guests already includes:

- Executive and associate directors from the top regional houses in town,
- A playwright whose shows have been produced world-wide,
- A husband and wife, director/choreographer team,
- Jeff Award Nominees and winners, and much more. Whether you’re a theater-maker just starting out, a theater pro, a curious audience member, or just love a good backstage story…This is the podcast for you.

So now that you’ve found us, please like us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, share us with your friends or colleagues and subscribe to us on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.

And, if you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, drop us a note at our website: www.chitheatermakerspodcast.com

Thanks for listening and we’ll see you on the boards soon!

Today’s guests both appear in the New Theater Project’s site specific production of “Blackbird“ running now through November 23rd at Servi-Sure: A working titanium parts factory in Chicago’s Bomanville Neighborhood. 

Todd Wojcik who plays Ray, is an ensemble member of The Artistic Home where he earned a Jeff award nomination for his role in their production of “The Pavilion”.

Olivia Lindsay who plays Una is a Chicago based actor, clown and artist who also works with Vaudeville Chicago.

We discuss the current of “Blackbird”, and the reason for producing this story for today’s audience. Be advised that while today’s episode does not include adult themes, the play “Blackbird” does, and our listeners are encouraged to read more about the play before purchasing tickets.

You can get tickets to Blackbird here: https://www.tixtree.com/e/blackbird-by-david-harrower-the-new-theatre-project-9fb3e5b6066b 

I hope you enjoy my conversation with the 2 person cast of “Blackbird”: Todd Wojcik and Olivia Lindsay. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today’s guest is an actor, singer, and musician based in the city of Chicago.

An alumni of Columbia College Chicago, he is a multifaceted performer who thrives on collaboration and ensemble work throughout the city's vast surplus of storefront and suburban theater.

Some of his wide range of credits includes the Hollywood film, Grand Torino directed by Clint Eastwood, guest star appearances on Chicago Med and Chicago Fire, National tours of The Play that Goes Wrong and Once, Million Dollar Quartet at both Theatre At the Center and Paramount Theatre, and most notably as Samwise Gamgee in Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the New Zealand Tour of ‘Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale’.

He is also a multi-instrumentalist who is proficient in acoustic, electric and bass guitars, Drums, Piano, Cajon, Mandolin, Banjo and Ukulele.

I hope yo enjoy my conversation with Michael Kurowski. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today’s guest is a multiple award winning Chicago based performer, currently nominated for her role as John Dickinson in Marriott Theatre’s 1776. A Northwestern Graduate, she has

performed in over 100 productions in Chicagoland and around the

country. Some of her most well known roles include Nessa Rose in the Chicago sit down of Wicked, Harper Pitt in Court Theatre’s Angels In America and Dolly Levi in Marriott Theatre’s Hello, Dolly! She has appeared in film and Television, is a nationwide concert performer and last but certainly not least, is the wife of actor, David Girolmo. 

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Heidi Kettenring. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today’s guests are both appearing in Point 2 Point Production’s production of “Next To Normal”.

Max Trotter, who by day is a digital marketing expert, plays Gabe and Logan VanLerberghe, who is a school teacher by day plays Henry.

They both shared with us their love of the show, this current production and also how their daily experiences align with their roles.

“Next To Normal”. plays at the Lodge Performing Arts Center in Elgin from Sept 19th - 28th and you can get your tickets by visiting https://www.schaumburgonstage.org/point2productions.

Now let’s go, to the top of the show!

Today’s guest was born in the North Shore of Chicago and started her career as a dancer at New Trier High School. Since then she has had a career spending decades as an actress, singer, director, choreographer, acting coach and casting director.

Her acclaimed school, The Performers School, was one of the first of its kind in the Chicagoland area, strictly geared towards the training of child theater makers. Her latest project, 'A Flaster Production', is another feather in her cap where the shows they’ll produce will exclusively feature college ready teenagers.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Stacey Flaster!

Today’s guest began his professional career as a writer and actor with Chicago’s The Second City.

His first full-length play, “Magic Time,” premiered at Brandeis University and was subsequently produced Off-Broadway. His next play, “The God of Isaac” premiered in 1985 at the Tony Award winning Victory Gardens Theater.

A founding member of the Victory Gardens Playwrights Ensemble he premiered a dozen plays there between 1985-2010. His plays have been published and are regularly produced by theaters throughout the United States and have also been seen in Canada, Mexico, Australia, South America, England, Germany, Austria, Poland, Turkey, South Africa, Australia, China, and Korea.

In the summer of 2006, he wrote and directed the movie of what is arguably is most popular play, “Beau Jest”, starring Lainie Kazan, Seymour Cassel, and Robyn Cohen.

Finally, he teaches classes in Playwriting and Improvisation at Columbia College of Chicago and DePaul University and is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America.

His newest play, “The First Lady of Television”, makes its world premiere at the Northlight Theatre, opening September 4th and runs through October 5th. For tickets, visit https://northlight.org

I hope you enjoy my conversation with playwright, James Sherman. Let’s go to the top of the show!

Kokandy Productions is one of Chicago’s premier storefront theatre companies.

Created in 2011, they have been nominated for 101 Non-Equity Jeff Awards, with countless wins including 5 for last season’s "Into the Woods".

Under the leadership of Scot Kokandy and Derek Van Barham, they have built a reputation that in every way aligns with the company’s mission: To leverage the heightened reality of musical theater, to tell complex and challenging stories, with a focus on contributing to the development of Chicago-based musical theater artists and new musical theater works while raising the profile of Chicago’s storefront musical theater community.

Anyone who has seen a Kokandy production can attest that they are doing just that to great success

Their current production of "Amelie" has been acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, and is currently running through September 28th. For tickets, visit https://www.kokandyproductions.com/

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Scot Kokandy and Derek Van Barham. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today’s guest is a founding Ensemble Member of The Regional Tony Award Winning Lookingglass Theatre Company, where he has worked as an actor, director, adapter, and  educator.

As an actor, he has appeared in nearly 30 productions for Lookingglass, including 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Cascabel (with Rick Bayless); Big Lake, Big City (directed by David Schwimmer); a he received a Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination for his Solo Performance in For Keeps and a Single Day. He also lays claim as being the only actor to perform 3 out of 4 roles in LookingGlass Alice, the company's iconic take on the classic Lewis Carroll tale.

He’s also been seen on the stages of the Goodman, Steppenwolf, Court, Drury Lane and Northlight Theatres. 

A a dedicated theatre educator for most of his adult life, he has worked with organizations such as Eileen Boevers Performing Arts Workshop, Piven Theatre Workshop, and as adjunct faculty member in the Departments of Theatre at Northwestern University and at the University of Illinois at Chicago and, as a teaching artist for Lookingglass, has worked in schools all over Chicago for more than 25 years.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with today's guest, Thom Cox!

The Marriott Theatre was founded in 1975 and today the acclaimed theatre sells more than 400,000 tickets annually. In all, It has presented more than 180 productions to an estimated 11 million people! Earning praise from critics and audiences alike, they have received a record 599 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations.

In addition to the presentation of classic American musical theatre, Marriott Theatre has become a driving force in the development of original and re-imagined musicals, including world premieres of Phantom of the Country Palace, Peggy Sue Got Married, Once Upon a Time in New Jersey, For the Boys, Hero and October Sky.

Their popular ‘Theatre for Young Audiences’ programming has presented more than 75 productions original works as well as classic fairy tales. Through these special one-hour productions, over 2 million children have experienced the joy and magic that is "live" theatre.

Along with their recently launched concert series, The Marriott is always reinventing itself to meet the ever changing landscape in live entertainment programming.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Marriott Theatre’s Executive Director, Peter Blair and Artistic Director, Peter Marsden Sullivan. Let’s go to the top of the show!

Today's guest shares their name with a famous recently departed Hollywood icon and also a renowned female jazz vocalist. The relations of which we actually were unaware of until the time of this interview.

With a career spanning decades in opera, straight plays and musicals all over the world, some of his performance credits include Titanic, Ragtime, She Loves Me, The Full Monty, and Catch Me If You Can at the Marriott, the first National tours of The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, Come From Away and Company, Five Guys Named Moe, Satchmo at the Waldorf, and Porgy and Bess at Court Theater, and as the title character of Carlyle at the Goodman Theater.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Chicago's own James Earl Jones II. Now let's go to the top of the show.

Today’s guest is a playwright, performer and theater commentator whose work explores themes of resilience connection and self discovery.

As "Broadway Bob" on TikTok, he shares news, insights and sparks conversation across the Broadway and regional theater communities. He has also written about Chicago’s rich cultural landscape for outlets including Huffington Post, NBC 5 Chicago and the City of Chicago. He also has a cult favorite podcast called "The Sunset Project".

Recent Chicago credits as an actor include The Addams Family Titanic , Sondheim on Sondheim, Sweeney Todd and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical .

He is passionate about storing telling it all its forms and is honored to continue to the evolving conversations around Theatre and the arts.

I hope you enjoy our conversation with Bob Bullen. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

We are fortunate today to have two guests on the show: One the director of, and one a cast member of, 4 Chairs Theatre’s production of Four Places. 

Director Lauren Berman founded 4 Chairs Theatre in 2018. Since the company's inception, she has directed several cabarets as well as the musicals Ride the Cyclone, Be More Chill, Spring Awakening, and their current production of the play, Four Places.

She also directed What the Constitution Means To Me as part of Paramount Theater’s Bold Series and is an acting coach for actors of all ages and abilities. 

Actress Andrea Uppling’s recent Chicago credits include hat the Constitution Means To Me , A Streetcar Named Desire, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and Girls and Boys.

Four Places opens October 16 and runs through November 2 at the Bramble Arts Loft.

For tickets please visit https://www.4chairstheatre.org.

Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today’s guest is an award-winning freelance designer based in the city of Chicago.

Having received his master’s degree in scenic design from Indiana University, Bloomington, he now designs sets, props, and projections for a variety of theaters the Midwest.

Some of his favorite designs include Mean Girls with EVSC, The Beauty Queen of Leenane with Three Crows Theatre, and Pro-Am with First Floor Theatre.

He’s also currently the Marketing Coordinator at Northlight Theatre in Skokie, where he runs their various social media accounts and manages their newsletter and digital audience communications.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Spencer Donovan Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today’s guest is a Broadway veteran, who has appeared in the original New York casts of Ragtime and Candide, joined the long running A Chorus Line, and toured nationally in Urinetown, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ and Cabaret (where he understudied the legendary Joel Grey). 

in 2011, he inaugurated Paramount Theatre’s Broadway Series as Artistic Director with President and CEO, Tim Rater, with their critically acclaimed production of My Fair Lady. 

With a subscriber base then of 12,500 patrons, it has grown to 40,000 subscribers; The largest subscription based theatre in the country!

In 2015, Paramount became Jeff Award eligible. Since then, the theatre has garnered over 150 nominations with 30 wins, including three Best Musical Awards for Les Misérables, West Side Story, and Sweeney Todd, the last two of which, he also won Jeff Awards for Best Director.

Finally, he remains the sole honoree to have won Jeff Awards as an actor, choreographer and director. 

This season, the Paramount holds the record for the most Jeff nominations in a single season with 26, breaking its previous record of 18 during the 2016-17 season. Paramount’s current production of Million Dollar Quartet is running into its second year at the venue’s new Stolp Island Theatre.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Jim Corti. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today’s guest holds a Doctorate of Music from Northwestern University and is a very busy Music Director, Composer, Conductor, Pianist and Vocal Coach residing in Chicago who also works in LA, NY, London and New Zealand!

Currently the resident music director for Norwegian Cruise Line’s production of Choir of Man (a position he also held for Chicago’s resident production) he was also the music director and conductor of Porchlight Theatre’s Titanique which ran at Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse.

He is also the music director of this year’s Joseph Jefferson Awards; An award he received for best musical direction of Boho Theatre’s Big Fish in 2019.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Michael McBride. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today’s guest is a Chicago based actress and teaching artist. As a Company Member of TimeLine Theatre, she has performed  in over 15 of their productions including the role of Maria Callas in Master Class. She has performed with the Goodman, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Lookingglass, Northlight, Drury Lane, Marriott and Writers Theatres, as well as a variety of regional theaters including Woolly Mammoth in DC, and Milwaukee Rep.

Also seen on both TV and Film, she has garnered 10 Jeff nominations in seasons past and is nominated this season for two productions: As part of the ensemble of Northlight’s A Prayer for the French Republic and for her role as Queen Elizabeth in Drury Lane Theatre’s The Audience. She will also, once again,  be the announcer for this Jef Awards.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Janet Ulrich Brooks. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today’s guest is a Chicago based actor who has performed all over America and the high seas. Notable performances include Miss Blakk for President at Steppenwolf, Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Signature Theatre in DC, and The Little Mermaid at Drury Lane Theatre.

They are a Jeff recipient for best choreography for Heathers The Musical at Kokandy productions, has been previously nominated for Best actor in a supporting role as Fastrada in Pippin. THIS season, they're nominated for their role as Ursula in Disney’s The Little Mermaid at Drury Lane.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Sawyer Smith. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

March is National Cabaret Month and today's episode is part of our series celebrating some of Chicago’s amazing cabaret artists!

Today’s guest are a married couple known for innovative vocal jazz arrangements paired with the immediacy and intimacy of cabaret-style storytelling. 

Anne Burnell is a vocalist and songwriter whose work has been presented at jazz clubs, concert halls, and festivals including the Sarasota Jazz Festival, Taste of Chicago, and Plymouth Arts Wine & Jazz Festival. Her solo recordings include Blues in the Night - a Harold Arlen tribute arranged by Count Basie Band veteran Bob Ojeda, and Summer Days & Dreamy Nights, produced and arranged by Henry Johnson. Summer Days & Dreamy Nights also featuring some of her original songs that earned her a Billboard Magazine Certificate of Achievement in Songwriting. Anne served as President of Chicago Cabaret Professionals from 2019–2023, during which time she received the organization’s Excellence in Cabaret Service Award.
Mark Burnell is a pianist, vocalist, and arranger hailed by the Chicago Tribune as “silky smooth and highly polished”. He has worked with Dave Frishberg, Richie Cole, Louie Bellson, Connie Francis, and Ward Swingle, among many others, and has toured internationally throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and Central America. A dedicated educator, Mark taught jazz at Northwestern University and Roosevelt University, trained vocalists for ten years at Carnegie Mellon University, where he earned his BFA and MFA, and directed the CMU Jazz Choir. He is one of Chicago’s most in-demand pianists and music directors and leads a weekly jazz trio at Tortoise Supper Club.

Together, they tour nationally and internationally, presenting Chicago-rooted jazz and cabaret on stages in New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Panama, and beyond. Their work has been supported by Chicago Dept of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Illinois ArtsTour, and the City of Chicago Band Roster. Finally, they were the 2024 recipients of the Gold Coast Award from Chicago Cabaret Professionals

While National Cabaret Month is in March, Chicago hosts it’s annual Cabaret week each year in May (Anne explains why this is during the interview) and during this year’s festivities, Anne and Mark will be appearing at the Gateway Lounge at the Copernicus Center on Thursday, May 14th. For more info on that event please visit the link to Anne and Mark’s website in our show notes. 

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Anna Burnell and Mark Burnell. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today's guests are from Chicago’s 50 year old, South Side theater-making institution, Free Street Theatre.

Katrina Dion is a Chicago based director and producer, known for her radical youth work at Free Street Theater where she acts as Producing Artistic Director. In her 10 years at Free Street, Katrina has directed over 11 original plays, mentored over 200 youth, and produced over 40 shows. Recently, Katrina directed The Wizards by Ricardo Gamboa, presented by Concrete Content, for which she was named “Best Stage Director,” in the Chicago Reader Best of 2022 awards. In addition, Dion acts as an adjunct professor at The Theatre School at DePaul University, her alma mater. In 2019, Dion was listed as one of the top “50 People Performing for Chicago Theatre.” Her work has been featured in magazines such as Teen Vogue, and she has facilitated workshops across the country at places such as The National Civil Rights Museum, the Obama Foundation, ProPublic Illinois, and more.

Tanuja Devi Jagernauth is an Indo-Caribbean PIC abolitionist, writer, theater-maker, and yoga educator who believes in the necessity of creation during times of destruction. She is an In/House Artist-in-Residence with Free Street Theater, a member of the Playground Chicago writer pool, and the co-facilitator of Understory, a biweekly virtual space for activists and organizers to gather and contemplate that which they hold sacred. She is the writer and director of Free Street’s current production of Rupture/Repair, now playing until March 7th. For tickets, please visit freestreet.org or simply click the link in our show notes.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Katrina Dion and Tanuja Devi Jagernauth. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today's guest is the theater director at Niles North High School in Skokie.

She received her Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University in theater, comparative literature, and psychology, and then attended Harvard's Arts and Education Master's program.

Her first three years of teaching were in music appreciation and theater at Holy Trinity High School, where she directed their first two productions in over 15 years. The following five years, she taught English and coached debate at the University of Chicago Charter School’s Woodlawn Campus, and in 2014 transferred to Niles North High School to teach English and start their speech team.

She eventually took over as a theater director at Niles North, and has been a staple there ever since, directing various productions such as School of Rock, The Prom, and The Addams Family.

I hope you enjoyed that conversation with Megan Baskin. Now let's go to the top of the show.

On today’s episode we’re joined by company members from Lifeline Theatre production of Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol.

Playwright Tom Mula recently retired as an Associate Professor in Columbia College Chicago’s Theatre Department but has been a Chicago actor, director, and playwright for more than 45 years. After seven seasons (that’s over 400 performances) playing the role of Scrooge in Goodman Theatre's perennial A Christmas Carol, Mula wrote the novel “Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol” in 1994 which quickly became a Chicago Tribune bestseller. The award-winning play version premiered in 1998 at the Goodman. Since then, it was broadcast nationally on NPR for many seasons, and has received over 400 productions worldwide.

       Some of Mr. Mula's acting credits include Hot Mikado, King Lear; Richard III, and another solo turn in The Circus Of Dr. Lao; His directing credits include Jeff nominations for Porch and A Life, and the world premiere of Larry Shue's last play, Wenceslas Square.

        Mula has spent twenty-six summers at Peninsula Players in Door County, Wisconsin. There he has directed productions of Amadeus, Lion in Winter and Red Herring, among others and appeared there in Heroes, Art, Cabaret, The Mystery of Irma Vep, and many, many farces.

Phil Timberlake, who is the sole actor in the production repeats his Jeff Nominated performance this year. Previous Lifeline acting roles, for which he was either nominated or won Jeff Awards, include Soon I Will Be Invincible, Pride & Prejudice, Neverwhere, Busman’s Honeymoon and The Two Towers.

At Lifeline, he also coached dialects for Treasure Island, Strong Poison and A Room With a View and throughout Chicago he has coached dialects at The Goodman, American Players Theatre, and was the resident voice and dialect coach at First Folio Theatre.

Other Chicago acting credits include roles with First Folio, Apple Tree, Powertap, and Shakespeare’s Motley Crew. Phil has taught actors for over 20 years, most recently as the Head of Voice and Speech at the Theatre School at DePaul University.

Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol is running now through December 21st. You can get your tickets at lifelinetheatre.com or simply click the link in our show notes.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Tom Mula and Phil Timberlake. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today’s guests are both starring in Theo's currently running production of Urinetown. 

Ryan Stajmiger, who plays “Officer Lockstock” has been seen all over the Chicagoland area for the last 13 years. Some of his more memorable roles were Olaf in Paramount Theater’s Frozen, Anthony in Kokandy Production’s Sweeney Todd, and many others, including the Marriott Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre and Porchlight Music Theater.

Alicia Berneche who plays “Penelope Pennywise” has forged her career in both opera and musical theater all over the world. She came to fame replacing Dawn Upshaw in The Great Gatsby for the lyric opera of Chicago, which then took her to New York City’s Metropolitan Opera. She is also a very busy vocal teacher here in town specializing in classical, crossover and musical theater styles. 

Theo‘s production of Urinetown runs at their home base in Evanston, Illinois and has just been extended until January 4, 2026. For tickets please visit https://theo-u.com/ or you can simply click the link in our show notes. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Ryan Stajmiger and Alicia Berneche. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

As we officially kick off the holiday season, we have a very special holiday concert that we’re chatting about today: Chicago's annual NF Hope fundraiser concert.

“NF” stands for Neurofibromatosis - One of the most common genetic disorders of the nervous system in the United States.

NF causes tumors to form on the nerves anywhere in the body at any time. This progressive disorder affects all races, all ethnic groups, and both sexes equally. Neurofibromatosis affects more than 120,000 Americans; One of whom is Emma Leibow, daughter of entertainment couple Jeff and Melody Leibow.

When Emma was diagnosed with NF as a toddler, Jeff and Melody sprang to action the way entertainers know best. They produced 'NF Hope - A fundraiser concert in their hometown of Las Vegas - to support NF research funding, and the NF Network, which provides advocacy and support for NF families.

The concert has since grown to stages in both New York and Chicago, with this year's Chicago concert being the sixth one in a row.

My guest today is my good friend Jeff Leibow, and we chat about the upcoming concert and why this year's fundraising goal is more vital than ever.

This year's one night only NF Hope concert will be Sunday, December 7th at 3 p.m. at the Madison Street Theater in Oak Park. There's also an online auction of exclusive experiences. If you would like your tickets or to view the online auction, please visit nfhope.org.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Jeff Leibow. Now let's go to the top of the show.

Today’s guests are from the currently running production of “Miracle at Century High School”; A new Christmas musical comedy being produced for the second year in a row at the Chicago’s Annoyance Theatre.

Writer and lyricist, Anthony Cusumano has been writing, performing, directing and producing comedy shows since 2017 and is a former member of Chicago’s famed second city. While he remains strictly behind the scenes for this production, you can find him doing standup on Instagram @anthonycusumanocomedy and @dnasketchshow.

Aiden Tappert, who plays Teddy in the production, is a writer, actor and director who received his BFA from the University of Utah. He is also the co-writer of the original dark comedy titled “A Night to Dismember”. 

But today of course they’re on the podcast to chat about “Miracle at Century High School”, running every Saturday at 7:30 from November 29th until December 13th. For tickets please visit  https://www.theannoyance.com

I hope you enjoy my conversion with Anthony Cusumano and Aiden Tappert. Now let's go to the top of the show!

Today’s guest is a multiple Jeff Award nominee and 3 time winner who has been working in Chicago and throughout the United States for more than 3 decades.

Some of his more notable roles include Fiddler on the Roof, Beauty & the Beast and Crazy for You at Drury Lane Theatre, No Man’s Land and Noises Off at Steppenwolf, Titanic, Oliver! and Anything Goes at Marriott Theatre, and most recentlyThe First Lady of Television at Northlight Theatre. He spent 5 years in the National Tour of The Lion King covering the roles of Zazu, Timon and Pumba!

Finally, he is a proud member of SAG/AFTRA and AGMA, Actors’ Equity Association and sits on the boards of Equity and Season of Concern; Chicago’s primary fund raising organization which focuses it’s efforts on the physical and mental wellness of those who share their gifts in the performing arts.

For more info on Season of Concern, please visit https://seasonofconcern.org/ .

I hope you enjoy my conversation with my good friend, Mark David Kaplan. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today's guest started his theater-making career as a member of Chicago's Second City.

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. He has worked on stage and backstage throughout the area as an actor, improv performer, storyteller, director, head of marketing, and Executive Director. He is currently the Chief Marketing and programing officer for the Aurora Civic Center Authority, which includes the Paramount Theater and River Edge Park in Aurora.

His leadership has been integral in growing the Paramount subscriber base from 18,000 to 40,000 during his tenure.

I am so excited to share my conversation with dear friend, colleague, and mentor Jim Jarvis.

Now let's go to the top of the show.

Today’s guest is a composer, sound designer, musician and educator.

Select Credits as Composer/Co-Author include ADDING MACHINE at Next Theatre, Evanston (a shows he’s held that position for 2 additional times); A MINISTER'S WIFE  at Writers Theatre, Glencoe and Lincoln Center, GIFT OF THE MAGI at American Players Theatre, WI).

Select incidental music credits in NY and on Broadway include WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING (Lincoln Center, NYC) FIFTY WORDS (MCC Theater, NYC) and as as Composer/Sound Designer on Broadway include HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES and BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS. In Chicago, he has designed numerous productions for companies including Drury Lane Theatre, Steppenwolf, The Goodman, Writers' Theatre, Victory Gardens, Raven Theatre, Northlight Theatre and many others.

He has served in all of the capacities in over 300 productions at venues across the country including Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Bay Street Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, and Ford's Theatre in Washington DC)

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Josh Schmidt.

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Today’s guest has lived and worked in Chicago as an award-winning playwright, composer and lyricist for 45 years. Much of his work has been seen world-wide.

In summer of 2025, Dramatic Publishing Company released his stage adaptation of Aldous Huxley's classic novel Brave New World, which is his 13th script in print. 

He has received the L. Arnold Weissberger Playwriting Award, the Midwestern Playwrights Festival Award, the Cunningham Commission Award, the Blue Ink Playwriting Award, three Playwriting Fellowship Awards from the Illinois Arts Council, and has been nominated for three Joseph Jefferson Awards, a Suzi Bass Award and an Emmy Award.

Finally, in December of 2025 he received the Innovation in Teaching Award from the University of Chicago Graham School, where he teaches playwriting and theatre appreciation.

We discuss all of this and much, much more in my conversation with  Douglas Post.

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Today’s episode launches a new series that will be dipping in and out of over the course of the podcast that we’re calling our "Out of the Loop" series. 

In general, the guests on these episodes are those who may or may not necessarily have ties to Chicago, but who’s work at the highest level in the world of theatre-making and even TV & film is renowned to fellow artists and audiences alike. And with that, I am extraordinarily excited to introduce today’s guest.

Born and raised in New Jersey, he began his career as a musical director and arranger for Bette Midler before expanding into film scoring, gaining prominence with his work on such films as When Harry Met Sally, Sister Act, City Slickers, A Few Good Men, and a personal favorite South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. He’s also been seen on television with SNL, and on recordings with Harry Connick Jr. and Mariah Carey.

He earned widespread acclaim for co-writing the Broadway musical Hairspray alongside his longtime co-lyricist Scott Wittman. The duo has also co-created the musicals Catch Me If You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Some Like It Hot, and Smash. He has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards and has won a Tony, two Emmys, and two Grammys.

We chat about some of those experiences, many which are included in his new book, “Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner” which is available now wherever fine books are sold!

By now you may have guessed that today’s guest is none other than Marc Shaiman. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

Today's guest gracefully balances multiple careers as an actress, college professor and casting director.

Originally from San Francisco, she received her BFA at Boston Conservatory. After working for many years as a performer, she was then recruited by renowned casting director Jay Binder to join his office as his assistant and fellow casting director. She eventually left New York to return to San Diego to get her MFA at San Diego State University, and from there began her teaching journey.

A professor since 2012, she moved to Chicago in 2019 to begin her career at North Central College in Naperville, where she was tenured in 2025.

As an actress, she has been seen at Drury Lane, Metropolis, Music Theater works and is also now working here in town as a freelance casting assistant.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Mitzi Smith!

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On today’s episode we’re joined by company members from HGBIC Productions’ upcoming World Premiere: The Greatest Night in Show Business; A new musical play about Judy Garland and the night of her Carnegie Hall concert.

Producer/writer and director of the piece, Mikey Duran, was Born and raised in Chicago. Studied acting At The Academy Of Art University of San Francisco, attended Illinois Media School, and hosted the LGBT Radio Show, “Pride Of The Chi” From 2018-2020. His first production, “Happy Birthday, Mr.President” premiered in March 2025.
Lisa Lindquist, was a child prints ads model and appeared in commercials until the age of 18. She then took time off to attend college and start a family. She is now back on the boards starring as Judy Garland in the production. She and Mikey have also been best friends since childhood.

For tickets to 'The Greatest Night In Show Business", please visit this link!

We talk about all this and more in today’s conversation with Mikey Duran and Lisa Lindquist.

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We are extremely honored to introduce our guest on today’s episode.

For two decades, our next guest has been the chief theatre critic for the Chicago Tribune and as such, is the influential voice for one of the most vibrant theatre scenes in the world.

He’s seen it all, reviews about 200 shows a year in Chicago alone, and covers every major Broadway opening, establishing himself as one of the nation's most prolific and well respected critics.

A veteran of Variety, who developed a specialty in covering those crucial pre-Broadway tryouts, and who has twice served on the Pulitzer Prize for Drama jury. He’s even beat-boxed on stage with Lin-Manuel Miranda (look it up on YouTube!)

In 2001, he was named by American Theatre magazine as one of the 12 most influential theater critics in America. He, also quite literally, wrote the book on Chicago's theatrical history—Bigger, Brighter, Louder: 150 Years of Chicago Theater was published in 2013, and his second publication, Rise Up! Broadway and American Society from 'Angels in America' to 'Hamilton', was published in 2015.

In 2016, the New York Times cited Jones as an important reason that Broadway shows try-out in Chicago, noting the role his reviews have played in helping producers improve productions for New York runs.

As of 2021, he took on an added role: As Editorial Page Editor for the Tribune he now balances his reviewing responsibilities with guiding the entire opinion section of a major metropolitan newspaper.

And all of that just scratches the surface of his many contributions and accolades!

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Chris Jones!

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*SPECIAL THANKS!*We appreciate the help of the following friends of the podcast for helping curate questions for this episode:Bob BullenAaron DavidsonAndres EnriquezVince GerasoleJames ShermanRyan StajmigerMatt Whelan

Hi everyone! John Michael Coppola with The Chicago Theater-Makers Podcast, here to give you a quick end of the year wrap up message before we take a much needed holiday break.

First, we want to thank all of our listeners, supporters and fans for giving us such an overwhelmingly positive response during our first season. From a huge variety of guests, to our live-stream from this year’s Jeff Awards, our efforts to raise the visibility of the Chicago Theater community continue to be a huge success!

Next, we’re excited to announce that our first podcast interview of season two drops on Monday, January 5th where we’ll be chatting with none other than Chicago Theater critic and journalist, Chris Jones!

Also coming up in season two is the launch of Special Feature Months, such as "National Cabaret Month" in March where each week we’ll feature a cabaret professional here in town; "National Pride Month" in June with theater-makers within the LGBTQ community, and "National Wellness Month" in August where we chat with theater adjacent practitioners on subjects including physical, mental, vocal and financial wellness. 

Also to look forward to in Season 2 is the launch of our “Out of the Loop” Series; Where we chat with celebrity theater-makers who may not necessarily have ties to Chicago, but have famously graced the stages here, whose work has been a mainstay among the many theaters in town and the like.

And of course, many, many more guests to come including playwrights, teachers, designers, actors, directors, choreographers and producers throughout the Chicagoland area! So, lots of exciting stuff to come starting January 5th!!

In the meantime, while we’re on our holiday break, feel free to catch up on all of season one’s episodes wherever you get your podcasts. And most importantly, don’t forget to like, subscribe to and SHARE this podcast with your friends and colleagues who you think would appreciate the conversations we’re having. As always, we greatly appreciate your support in this way, so we can continue to bring these stories for years to come. 

We look forward to welcoming you back after the new year. Until then, happy holidays, and we’ll see you on the boards soon!

Those of you who follow me on social media are aware that in January of this year I began rehearsal for my first book musical in 14 years! That show is On Your Feet at Drury Lane Theatre in Oak Brook. It’s been an incredible experience and I’ve fallen in love with the entire cast! We’ve become such a close knit family which, believe me when I tell you, is a very rare thing. Well, today’s episode I’m thrilled to have on the two leads of our show.

Originally from Mexico City, Gaby Albo who plays Gloria Estefan is a graduate of AMDA and has been seen in the National Tours of Six and On Your Feet, and such iconic shows as A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Cats, Aladdin and the Spanish TV series, Mentiras. She also played Gloria in the world premiere of On Your Feet! en Español.

Gaby has also sung around the world on Norwegian and Regent cruise lines and was a semifinalist on the TV competition “La Voz.” (Which is the Mexican version of the US TV show “The Voice”.

Samuel Garnica is a Venezuelan Actor, Singer and voice over artist. He studied at the Andrés Bello Catholic University (UCAB), where he graduated with a degree in Social Communications and Audiovisual Arts.

Among his many credits are appearing opposite Gaby as Emilio Estefan in the 2nd Broadway National Tour of On Your Feet and in On Your Feet! en Español. Additional credits include El Laurel de Apolo and La Canción with Repertorio Español, The Tempest with R.Evolucion Latina, and Superhero Roberto Clemente and La Cucarachita Martina both with Teatro SEA. 

As a voice over artist, he has voiced radio and TV ads for such brands as Papa John’s, Publix, Pepsi and Corona.

Together they have received rave reviews for their portrayals of Gloria and Emilio Estefan all over the country as well as our current production at Drury Lane.

On Your Feet at Drury Lane Theatre runs until Sunday, March 22nd. For tickets please visit ⁠https://drurylanetheatre.com⁠ or simply click the link in our show notes. You can follow Gaby and Samuel on Instagram at gaby.albo and samgarnik, respectively.

I’m so excited to have on today’s episode my fellow cast mates and very good friends, Gaby Albo and Samuel Garnica. Now let’s go, to the top of the show!