Kimberly Kilby and Katherine Ambrosio have teamed up to write a musical! We chat with them to discuss the process of writing a musical while getting a glimpse into their work-in-progress, "Care."

Broadway actress Happy McPartlin joins us to talk about her work with "Come From Away" and "Hands on a Hard Body," balancing acting with raising a family, and being ready to cover a performance track at a moment's notice.

Benita and Ellen attended the Proctors 2023-2024 Season Announcement Bash to find out what's coming to Proctors and Capital Rep next year! Listen to what's in store, and catch snippets of songs from the upcoming season.

We take our annual break from theater to discuss our sister industry, film. Jackson Murphy (Lights Camera Jackson) is back to chat all things #Oscars with us! Will some of our more theater-themed nominees, like Martin McDonagh, take home a win? Will the academy honor actors playing iconic roles like Elvis over fictional characters? We'll have to see. In the meantime, Jackson has his thoughts and predictions!

Are audiences getting ruder, or are audiences changing in a world full of technology and instant gratification? Benita and Ellen join psychotherapist Tom Templeton to share thoughts about audience engagement, cell phones, and eating in the theater. Do audiences need to learn a lesson in respect, or do we need to adapt?  

Edward Miskie is an actor, singer, composer, author, entrepreneur, producer, cancer survivor, and tall person. We chat with Edward about his published book "Cancer, Musical Theatre, and Other Chronic Illnesses," the impact his cancer journey had on his life as an artist, and his plans to turn his book into a TV series. https://www.edwardmiskie.com/ And for a copy of his book, you can find it online at several retailers, including Barnes&Noble - https://bit.ly/3Gkm1VD

Jessica Vosk landed her first Broadway role when she was 30 and has had a very busy 9 years, playing Elphaba in Wicked, Fruma Sarah in Fiddler on the Roof, and appearing in The Bridges of Madison County, and Finding Neverland. She is visiting the Capital Region on her solo tour, performing at UPH on Feb 18th. Jessica chats with us about her journey to Broadway, her notes on protecting your voice, and her advice to young performers.

It's 2023 and there is so much exciting theater happening locally and regionally! Owen Smith, Producing Artistic Director of Playhouse Stage Company, joins us to discuss the great shows coming up at his company, other theaters in the Capital Region, and Broadway!

2023 is upon us, but before we ring in the new year, our friends Patrick White and Chris Foster join us to look back on this fabulous year of theater. Chris and Patrick share some of the highlights from the over 200 plays they saw this year. We also discuss their new company, Harbinger Theater, who had a very successful first season this year!

From one-person shows to multicast performances, from psychological thrillers to heart-wrenching and inspiring personal stories, Audible Theater takes what you thought you knew about going to a play and turns it on its head. General manager, Jonathan Whitton, joins us to chat about all the wonderful work happening with Audible Theater, which you can listen to as an Audible subscriber. https://www.audible.com/ep/theater Jonathan also discusses "Beyond the Stage Door", a comprehensive and intensive program designed to educate and prepare undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds for careers in general, company and stage management in the theatre industry. https://www.beyondthestagedoor.org/ This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "The Agony and the Agony."

WAM Theatre (Where Arts and Activism Meet) strives to create change by providing opportunities for women and girls which lifts all of humanity. In 2019, they launched their elder ensemble - a performance group for women over the age of 65. Talya Kingston and Kaia Jackson join us to discuss the elder ensemble and other outreach opportunities at WAM. This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "The Agony and the Agony" by Nicky Silver. Running 12/8-12/17, 2022 at the Yulman Theatre on the Union College Campus.

Ellen and Benita chat about shows that are opening, shows that are closing, and some holiday favorites to wrap up 2022.

Tremendously talented Helene Galek is an actor, casting director, and author based in NYC. She joins us to chat about her experience and versatility in the theater, and shares some thoughts about how to catch a casting director's eye!

The musical of "Pretty Woman" is on it's national tour and heading to Proctors in Schenectady! The incredibly talented Jessie Davidson, who plays the lead role, joins us for a chat about life on the road and adapting this classic movie to the stage.  www.proctors.org This episode is sponsored by Albany Civic Theater.  

Creative Action Unlimited develops new plays that guide creative change for individuals, organizations, and communities. After casting a group of actors, the company writes and performs pieces revolving around social issues such as racism, homelessness, suicide prevention, addiction, and child sex trafficking. Michael Kennedy joins us to discuss the incredibly important work Creative Action Unlimited shares with the community. https://creativeactionunlimited.com/ This episode is sponsored by the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York and Albany Civic Theater.

In preparation for Halloween, we're sharing our listeners' theater ghost stories! Head to an empty theater, turn on the ghost light, and try not to get too scared listening to these chilling tales.   This episode is sponsored by Playhouse Stage Co.'s production of "Assassins".

Tamar Greene is currently lighting up Broadway playing George Washington in "Hamilton", and he has a very inspirational story about the drive and determination it took to get there. Tamar talks to us about the audition process, his advice for students, and his work with "Ham 4 Progress."

Are men in dresses on stage funny anymore? The New York Times posed this question recently, and it caught our interest. With “Mrs. Doubtfire”, “Tootsie”, and “Some Like It Hot” originally from a time where gender identity was not as openly discussed in society, do you think this comedic device has a place in modern theatre? Why or why not? With special backstage guest, Jeremy Buechner, Benita and Ellen read our listeners' comments.   This episode is sponsored by Master Class Performing Arts and Playhouse Stage Company.

Writer and Actor, Lydia Nightingale, knows her history. And her love for history often combines with her love of theatre as she performs historical plays and writes pieces focusing mainly on World War 2. Lydia talks with us about the different approach needed to write and perform historical characters. This episode is sponsored by Master Class Performing Arts and Playhouse Stage Company

Master Class Performing Arts provides Broadway-quality performances for young performers who learn the ropes of the theatre while working with an impressive list of guest instructors. Artistic Director Andrew Higgs chats with us about the history of Master Class and their upcoming productions. http://www.masterclassperformingarts.com/ This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "Andy and the Orphans", playing at the Albany Barn until Oct 1st, 2022.

What's your warm-up routine when you get to the theatre? What are some of the best tongue-twisters and energy games? Ellen and Benita read our listeners comments and also discuss Broadway shows that are closing that you may want to catch in the little time they have left! The episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "Andy and the Orphans", running Sept 22nd - Oct 1st at the Albany Barn.

Anywhere there is a story to be told visually, Adirondack Studios is there! From theaters, to amusements parks, to grocery stores, Adirondack Studios has provided creative solutions for designers, artists, and producers across the entertainment industry. Each collaborative design is constructed through thoughtful storytelling to create the most effective visual impact. Tom Lloyd and Alison Hubbard join us to talk about this amazing resource that's right in our backyard! Check out Adirondack Studio's amazing work at https://www.adkstudios.com/

We're talking microphones! As a performer, do you like using microphones? What kind are best? As an audience member, what kind of shows/venues should use microphones? Are there situations when it was too hard to hear without microphones? Are shows sometimes over-amplified? Ellen and Benita read our listeners' comments and stories about working with microphones.

Actor/Director/Writer/Producer/Educator Wesley Broulik joins us to talk about directing Shakespeare in the Park at Saratoga Shakespeare Company and elsewhere, while also discussing important ways of bringing theatre to the community in order to secure the future of diverse audiences.

Benita and Ellen chat with Teddy Foster, Director at Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) about their upcoming summer schedule and discuss shows and auditions coming up in the Capital Region over the next couple of months.

  In "Leave Your Fears Here", actor and playwright James Morrison presents his own true story of living through his son's brain cancer diagnosis, wherein he discovers the power of hope and the courage to move forward. James Morrison and Director Robert Egan join us to discuss the process of developing this show and the importance of trust between a playwright, actor, and director. Mike Clary from Great Barrington Public Theater also fills us in on all the exciting programming coming to the Berkshires this summer. https://www.greatbarringtonpublictheater.org/

Stacey Bridge, Associate Director of Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, New York, joins us to talk about the wonderfully eclectic programming and the amazing acoustics at the historic Music Hall built in 1875. Check out their programming at: https://www.troymusichall.org/

The 75th Tony Awards were a HUGE success and a joy to watch. Viewership was up by 40%, and the night was filled with themes of acceptance, diversity, and love. Adam Deremer joins us again to talk about Broadway's big night of celebrating theater.   This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "Exit Strategy" running June 16th - 25th 2022 at the Albany Barn.

It's Tony time! Adam Deremer joins us again to chat about the nominees for this year's Tony Awards, airing June 12th. We discuss our thoughts on the nominated shows and potential winners from productions like "A Strange Loop", "Six", "Paradise Square", "American Buffalo", "The Lehman Trilogy" and many more. Who do you think will take a Tony home?

Have you ever had to fill in for an actor last minute onstage? It can be a thrilling and terrifying experience all at the same time. Benita and Ellen read our listeners' incredible true stories of how they rose to the occasion since the "play must go on!"

The Lake George Dinner Theater is one of the nine remaining Equity Dinner Theaters in the country. Artistic Director, Jarel Davidow, joins us to talk about running a dinner theater that has a rich history (did you know the popular long-running show "Shear Madness" got its start at the Lake George Dinner Theater?!)

They say never work with babies or animals, but in some shows you have to! We asked our listeners to share their stories about working with animals and/or children on stage, and what unpredictable things happened as a result.

The new musical ¡Americano! tells the true story of Tony Valdovinos, a Dreamer who discovers he is an undocumented immigrant when he attempts to join the Marines. Jonathan Rosenberg, co-author of ¡Americano!, joins us to talk about the journey of bringing the show to New York with hopes of transferring to Broadway. ¡Americano! currently runs until June 19th, 2022 at New World Stages in NYC. This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre and their current production of "Destroying David" by Jason Odell Williams, with final performance dates of April 12th, 13th, 15th, and 16th, 2022 at the Opalka Gallery in Albany. 

Emmy-nominated writer and producer as well as award-winning playwright and novelist Jason Odell Williams joins us to talk about his work, including "Destroying David," a play about an art restorer working through the grieving process by contemplating destroying the most beautiful thing in the world - Michelangelo's David.   And if you're in the Capital Region, you can come see "Destroying David" produced by our sponsor this week, Harbinger Theatre, and featuring Patrick White and Chris Foster, running April 9th - 16th at the Opalka Gallery (140 New Scotland Ave), with a pay-what-you-can preview on April 6th.

What are the most successful play/musical turned movie and vice versa? Why? Which ones don’t work as well? Why? Which ones haven’t been made that should be made? We read our listeners' comments!  

Our esteemed guest and film critic, Jackson Murphy (Lights Camera Jackson), joins us to discuss the upcoming Oscars Awards on March 27th. Hear Jackson's predictions for the awards and our thoughts about the movies nominated this year that are based on stage productions or feature the stage, including West Side Story, Drive My Car, Macbeth, Tic Tic Boom, and Cyrano.

The 2017 Tony Award-winning musical "Dear Evan Hansen" is touring the country and coming to the Capital Region from March 22-27 at Proctors. We chat with Alessandro Costantini (playing Jared) and Ciara Alyse Harris (playing Alana) about touring with the show and the lasting impact of the show's themes.

We're celebrating the people and productions that made a big impact in our lives! We asked our listeners - "What is the best production, actor, actress, director, playwright, costumer, set designer, lighting designer, stage manager, crew, and/or company you have seen locally, on Broadway, regionally, or internationally that had a big impact on your life and/or your art, and why?" We have many wonderful stories about inspirational Broadway moments, artists who have guided and molded actors, and the plethora of amazing artists in New York's Capital Region!

We last spoke to Sarah Craig, Executive Director of Caffe Lena, back in April 2020. Little did we all know performing venues would still be impacted by the pandemic 2 years later. But as the arts are bursting with revived creativity, Caffe Lena has introduced a plethora of new programs and opportunities for artists of all backgrounds and talents. Listen to all the wonderful events they have in store. And if you aren't local to the Capital District, good news! You can catch a lot of their past and current performances by subscribing to caffelena.tv   This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre and their current production of "Admissions", playing March 3-12, 2022 at the Albany Barn.

An actor from "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" was recently fired after an investigation into his misconduct towards a fellow actor. Keeping the theater a safe place for everyone involved is an incredibly important conversation. How should theater companies handle disclosures of inappropriate behavior? Who should cast/crew/production teams report to, and what steps should follow? Do you have any experience with this? How can we make the theater as safe as possible? Ellen and Benita read our listeners' comments about this very important topic.

Swings have always been an integral part of musical theatre, but these insanely talented individuals have really been put to the test lately with all the last minute casting needs due to actors testing positive for Covid and missing performances. Richard Gatta joins us to talk about working as a swing in "The Music Man", which is currently running on Broadway with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster.

The incredibly talented Shafiq Hicks joins us to talk about playing Tom Collins in the national tour of Rent. Hear about performing on the road, singing with Aretha Franklin, and the legacy of Jonathan Larson's last show.

What is the best/worst thing you have eaten on stage and/or what is the best/worst food you have eaten before a show? Benita and Ellen read our listeners' hilarious (and sometimes disgusting) stories of food in the theater!

Laura Roth has spent years thriving as a performer with a very special talent - impersonation. From Judy Garland to Dolly Parton, she can transform her voice and physique to bring these powerhouses to life before your eyes. We talk to her about creating your own opportunities as a performer, and about a special upcoming performance to honor the essential workers at Glens Falls Hospital.

What is the biggest blooper that has happened to you on stage, or what is the biggest "oops" you have seen happen during a performance? Hear our listeners' hilarious comments about the worst mishaps they've had onstage.