For more than three decades Producer and Designer, Mark Nichols, has worked in themed entertainment as a producer and/or designer for companies including Disney, Universal Studios, Paramount Parks, GES Branded Entertainment, and ITEC Entertainment. 

The brilliant singer-songwriter, Megon McDonough, has been performing around the United States for more than four decades, on stages as varied as Carnegie Hall, The Birchmere, Wolf Trap and more. Megon wrote her first song at age 11 and landed her first record deal by the time she was 14 after winning a local “Big […]The post Megon McDonough, Singer-Songwriter-Episode #178 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Special effects and water effects wizard, Jim Doyle, received his undergraduate degree in Theater from the University of Colorado, and an MFA in Theater and Design from USC. He subsequently spent a number of years bumping back and forth between film special effects, commercials, and theme park design, working for Disney, MGM, Landmark, and numerous […]The post Jim Doyle, Oscar Winning Special Effects and Water Effects Wizard-Episode #177 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Michael Emanuel is an award winning actor, producer, writer and director with hundreds of TV, film and commercial credits on his resume, Michael has worked alongside such Hollywood luminaries as William Friedkin, Wolfgang Peterson, Armand Mastroianni, Nick Nolte, Dustin Hoffman, Harrison Ford, Rene Russo, and Alfre Woodard, just to name a few. The quintessential everyman, […]The post Michael Emanuel, Actor-Producer-Writer-Director-Episode #176 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Mark Simon, who is known as the Godfather of Storyboarding, has spent over 30 years in the entertainment industry, amassing over 5,000 production credits, including working on popular titles like Stranger Things, The Walking Dead, Black Lightning, Woody Woodpecker, Doom Patrol, and Dynasty. He even worked with a favorite StoryBeat guest, Mark Pirro, on Mark’s […]The post Mark Simon, The Godfather of Storyboarding-Episode #175 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Bobbie O’Steen is a writer and film historian dedicated to sharing the invisible art of editing with students, professionals, and cinephiles. Bobbie’s a graduate of Stanford University, an Emmy®-nominated editor, and author of two acclaimed books about editing: Cut to the Chase, based on interviews with her late husband and colleague, the legendary editor Sam […]The post Bobbie O’Steen, Writer and Film Historian-Episode #174 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The powerhouse singer and actress, Karen Mason, has starred on Broadway, Off-Broadway, on screen, and in recordings. Karen is a 13-time MAC Award winner, has won the MAC Award for Major Female Vocalist of the Year six consecutive years. She was the recipient of the 2019 MAC Lifetime Achievement Award. Karen also won the 2006 Nightlife […]The post Karen Mason, Broadway Singer and Actress-Episode #173 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Martin Giles is an actor, director and writer based in Pittsburgh, PA. He was a founder and long- time artistic director of the legendary, alternative theater, The New Group Theater. As an actor, Martin has performed at PICT Classic Theatre, City Theatre, Quantum Theatre, Bricolage, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville and Studio Theatre […]The post Martin Giles, Actor-Director-Writer-Episode #172 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The actress and playwright, Sarah Bierstock, began writing plays in 2014.  Her first play, Honor Killing, received its initial development through the John Drew Theater Lab at Guild Hall in East Hampton. It went on to a world premiere that ran for eight weeks at Florida Studio Theatre to full capacity audiences, and has been […]The post Sarah Bierstock, Actress-Playwright-Episode #171 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Michael Mason has been playing, teaching and recording on flute for 40 years or so. He’s well known for his work and performances in jazz, the avant-garde, free jazz and world music in many styles. Michael has recorded 7 CDs as a leader of various groups and ensembles, some of them pre-nominated for Grammy Awards. […]The post Michael Mason, Jazz and Avant-Garde Flutist-Composer-Episode #170 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Elyce Wakerman is the author of  the novel,  A Tale of Two Citizens, and two works of non-fiction: Father Loss: Daughters Discuss the Man That Got Away,  and Air Powered: The Art of the Airbrush. Her essays and articles have appeared in NYCITYWOMAN.com, The Los Angeles Times, The Jewish Journal, and numerous magazines. Her TV writing […]The post Elyce Wakerman, Author-Episode #169 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The award-winning Creative Director, Roger Holzberg, is founder of Reimagine Well, a company that designs and builds immersive healing programs for hospitals and treatment centers. As a professor at the California Institute of the Arts, Roger created the experience design in healthcare curriculum and teaches the “Healthcare By Design” class. He served as the first […]The post Roger Holzberg, Award-Winning Creative Director-Episode #168 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Noted Wheel Of Fortune Production Designer, Renee Hoss-Johnson, watched her mother create colorful gardens in their backyard and paint beautiful still-life pictures. Her high school drama teacher noticed that Renee loved to draw and asked her to design her first set for an upcoming school play, and so began a lifelong career in stage and […]The post Renee Hoss-Johnson, Wheel Of Fortune Production Designer-Episode #167 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The extraordinary composer, David Shire, is an Academy Award and two-time Grammy winner, and multiple Tony and Emmy nominee. David has composed prolifically for theatre, film, television and recordings. On Broadway, he and a favorite StoryBeat guest, lyricist/director, Richard Maltby, wrote the scores for the musicals Baby, which received Tony nominations for Best Score and […]The post David Shire, Award Winning Broadway and Motion Picture Composer-Episode #166 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The noted artist, L. Scooter Morris, calls herself a sensory illusionist. Scooter’s goal is to make artwork that is so beautiful it cuts to the heart of what is true and of this moment, but exists as something timeless. Scooter grew up in Pittsburgh, where she took advantage of the city’s incredible arts programs, including through […]The post L. Scooter Morris, Artist-Episode #165 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

John Davidson is one of the most extraordinarily gifted entertainers of this or any era. John’s probably best known for hosting the TV shows, The Hollywood Squares, That’s Incredible!, and as the guest host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson some 80 times, more than any other singer.  John has also hosted his own […]The post John Davidson, Singer-Actor-Host Extraordinaire-Episode #164 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Lindsay Jones is a Tony-nominated composer and sound designer for theatre and film. He’s worked extensively on Broadway, off-Broadway, internationally, and on over 500 productions in regional theatres across America. In addition to his 2 Tony nominations for his score and sound design for Slave Play, which was produced by a favorite StoryBeat guest, Jamie deRoy, […]The post Lindsay Jones-Tony Nominated Composer-Sound Designer-Episode #163 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Indie filmmaker, Mark Pirro, arrived in Hollywood in 1974 dreaming of a filmmaking career. With no connections, relatives or friends in the industry, he quickly met other artists with the same dream. After making a few short films in the late 70’s, he produced his first feature in 1981, a comedy entitled A Polish Vampire […]The post Mark Pirro, Indie Filmmaker-Episode #162 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Two years after the renowned cartoonist, Jeff Keane, was born, his father, the legendary cartoonist, Bil Keane, started chasing him around begging him to do something funny. So began Jeff’s career as a cartoon model for “The Family Circus.” Raised in Arizona, Jeff moved to California to attend the University of Southern California where he […]The post Jeff Keane, “The Family Circus” Cartoonist-Episode #161 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The brilliant singer, Joanie Pallato, was described by Rick Kogan of the Chicago Tribune as having “a stirring and special voice.” Joanie toured with The Glenn Miller Orchestra as a featured vocalist before moving to Chicago in 1979.  As a solo singer, group singer and voiceover talent, Joanie has recorded hundreds of radio and television […]The post Joanie Pallato, Singer-Songwriter-Episode #160 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The extraordinary editor and marketer, Brett Jay Markel, better known as BJ, began his film acquisitions career in the earliest days of pay TV, working for Dore Schary’s TheatreVision, Optical System’s Channel 100, and Cinemerica. He headed up acquisitions at the launch of the Disney Channel, and was responsible for over a third of its […]The post BJ Markel, Editor and Marketer-Episode #159 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Actor, singer, and artist, Bill Nolte, made his Broadway debut in 1985 as Old Deuteronomy in Cats, which led to roles in the original cast of The Secret Garden, and the revivals of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and 1776 among others. His formidable comedic talents infused hilarious new life into the roles of Franz […]The post Bill Nolte, Broadway Actor-Singer-Artist-Episode #158 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The brilliant playwright and screenwriter, Martin Casella, has seen his work produced across the United States and around the world. His plays include: The Report, Black Tom Island, The Irish Curse, Directions for Restoring the Apparently Dead, Desert Fire, Beautiful Dreamer, George Bush Goes to Hell, Paper Moon, the Musical, and many others. For film […]The post Martin Casella, Playwright-Screenwriter-Episode #157 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Diane Delin is an extraordinary jazz violinist, composer, recording artist and educator. Her jazz work has earned her the Downbeat Magazine Critics’ Poll “Rising Star” category four times. Jazz Times Magazine said that, “Her elegance and expertise are always obvious,” and Boston’s Jazz Critic, Fred Bouchard said of Diane, “She’s really a fine player with […]The post Diane Delin, Jazz Violinist-Composer-Episode #156 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The legendary writer-lyricist-director, Richard Maltby, Jr., conceived and directed two musical revues that went on to win Tony Awards for Best Musical starting with1978’s Ain’t Misbehavin’, for which he also won the Tony for Best Director, and 1999’s Fosse.  Richard has been nominated for an additional 10 Tonys, and he’s both won and been nominated […]The post Richard Maltby, JR., Tony Winning Writer-Lyricist-Director-Episode #155 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Stage and TV actress, Karen Ziemba, has appeared in 11 Broadway shows. Her Broadway debut was in A Chorus Line as Diana Morales. Later, she played Peggy Sawyer, the lead in 42nd Street. Other Broadway roles include Polly Baker in Crazy for You, Roxie Hart in Chicago, and Belle Hagner in Teddy & Alice. Karen […]The post Karen Ziemba, Tony Winning Broadway and TV Actress-Episode #154 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The dynamic Julie Budd is one of the most exceptional singers to ever light up a stage. Julie’s dazzling vocal gifts enable her to bring something fresh to every song she sings. The New York Times declared her as, “The consummate performer!” Julie has worked alongside some of the most illustrious stars in performance history, […]The post Julie Budd, Legendary Singer-Episode #153 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Debbi Dachinger, Media Personality and a Media Visibility expert, has been interviewed on over 1,500 media outlets. And for over 13 years she has hosted the syndicated, award-winning podcast Dare to Dream, for which she’s been nominated for two People’s Choice Podcast Awards. Debbi also interviews celebrities on the red carpet, acts as a keynote […]The post Debbi Dachinger, Media Personality-Episode #152 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Music producer, John Yap, is the founder of internationally renowned Jay Records. John has dedicated his life to preserving musicals for generations to come. Some of his masterworks include My Fair Lady, West Side Story, The King and I, South Pacific, Man of La Mancha, Annie Get Your Gun, Cabaret, and many others. John’s latest […]The post John Yap, Music Producer-Episode #151 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

You’ve assuredly seen actor Troy Evans many times on the silver screen. Troy’s 4-decade career has been marked by a few memorable home runs, and a huge number of base hits. He’s guest starred on over 100 TV episodes. And you may remember him as Sgt. Pepper on the TV series China Beach, or Artie […]The post Troy Evans, Actor-Episode #150 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Steve Bramson, is the Emmy™ award–winning composer of hundreds of primetime television episodes and numerous feature films. He scored ten consecutive seasons of the long-running CBS series JAG. At the time, it was one of a handful of series that utilized a large live orchestra for each of its weekly scores. He received two Emmy™ nominations […]The post Steve Bramson, Emmy™-Winning TV and Film Composer-Episode #149 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The revered actress, Kathleen Chalfant, has spent more than five decades performing on stage, screen and TV. Perhaps best known for her devastating portrayal of Vivian Bearing, a scholar battling cancer, in Margaret Edson’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, Wit, for which she received numerous awards, including: the Obie, Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, […]The post Kathleen Chalfant, Actress-Episode #148 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Stage and screen actor, Jason Graae, has starred on Broadway in A Grand Night For Singing, Falsettos, Stardust, Snoopy!, and Do Black Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up? Off-Broadway, Jason has starred in such shows as, Forever Plaid, Olympus on My Mind, All in the Timing, Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (which earned him a Drama […]The post Jason Graae, Stage and Screen Actor-Episode #147 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Janis Hirsch got her start as a comedy writer by talking her way into a job on the National Lampoon Show called Lemmings, which starred the then unknown John Belushi, Christopher Guest and Chevy Chase, among others. She subsequently worked at the National Lampoon Magazine back, as she says, when it was funny. She’s also […]The post Janis Hirsch, Comedy Writer-Producer-Episode #146 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Evette Vargas is an award-winning writer, director, producer and immersive storyteller. Named by the New York Times as an “Artist to Watch,” Evette has produced series for Amazon, MTV, Bravo, DirectTV; and interactive content for Fast And Furious, the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and Madonna. Evette executive produced, wrote and directed her digital series […]The post Evette Vargas, Writer-Director-Producer-Episode #145 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Actor-Director Michael Dorn is best known for his longtime popular portrayal of Klingon Starfleet Officer Lieutenant (later Lt. Commander) Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Michael has appeared more times as a regular cast member than any other Star Trek actor in the franchise’s nearly 55-year history, spanning […]The post Michael Dorn, Actor-Director-Star Trek: The Next Generation-Episode #144 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Jamie deRoy is a show business tour de force. Not only is Jamie a prolific, Tony Award-winning producer on Broadway and beyond. She’s also a cabaret, stage, film and TV performer, a recording artist and producer, and humanitarian. Jamie started out as a singer, opening for many comics, including Norm Crosby, Robert Klein and Joan […]The post Jamie deRoy, Tony Award-Winning Broadway Producer-Episode #143 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Jeff Werner is an Emmy Award-winning director and editor of documentaries, feature films and motion picture advertising. Most recently, Jeff produced and directed Those Who Serve, a feature length documentary dealing with invisibly wounded combat Veterans who have found themselves defendants in our Criminal Justice System. In 2017, Jeff produced and oversaw the editing of […]The post Jeff Werner, Feature and Documentary Director and Editor-Episode #142 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Jonathan Deans is a highly renowned, heavily in-demand theatrical sound designer. His sound systems and designs can be heard on stages and in venues around the world. Known for his unique approach to immersive sound by giving the audience a one-off sonic experience for a particular theater or space, Jonathan works to create a memorable […]The post Jonathan Deans-Renowned Theatre Sound Designer-Episode #141 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Paulette McWilliams is a dazzling vocalist who you’ve likely heard many times. For a significant part of her career, she has graced the recordings of no less than Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, Luther Vandross, Celine Dion, and many others. You see, Paulette is a backup vocals superstar. Paulette’s most recent solo song collection, […]The post Paulette McWilliams, Singer-Episode #140 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Music producer, musician, songwriter, arranger, sound engineer – and consummate artist, Stephan Oberhoff, has performed with, produced for, and collaborated with a who’s-who of music legends; including Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach, Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Melissa Manchester, Patti Austin – and many more. Though he’s mastered a wide range of […]The post Stephan Oberhoff-Songwriter-Music Producer-Episode #139 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The dynamic movie and TV producer, Chris Moore, is visiting StoryBeat for the second time. Chris is perhaps best known for producing Good Will Hunting, the American Pie movies, Promised Land, The Adjustment Bureau, Manchester by the Sea, and two notable TV series, Project Greenlight, and The Chair, which was shot in Pittsburgh seven or […]The post Chris Moore, Movie and TV Producer, Session 2-Episode #138 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Dan Berendsen has worked on over 350 episodes of television. He created and Executive Produced the half-hour comedy “Baby Daddy” for Freeform and Netflix and the sci-fi action drama  “The Nine Lives of Chloe King” for ABC Family. Dan’s first showrunning job was on “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”. He’s sold over a half-dozen pilots and […]The post Dan Berendsen, Writer-Producer-Episode #137 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Steven Jay Rubin is a screenwriter, producer, film historian, author, documentarian, and promoter. He’s recognized internationally as the world’s leading authority on the James Bond movie series. He was the first writer to publish a book that examines the backstage world of 007, called, “The James Bond Films: A Behind the Scenes History.” He followed […]The post Steven Jay Rubin, Writer-Producer-Film Historian-Episode #136 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Writer-Producer, Elliot Shoenman, started his career as a writer on Norman Lear’s Maude, won an Emmy for his work as Executive Producer and showrunner on The Cosby Show and was Executive Producer and showrunner of Home Improvement. He’s co-author of the play Sunset Park with one of my favorite StoryBeat guests, Marley Sims. And he […]The post Elliot Shoenman, Writer-Producer-Episode #135 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Josie Falbo began singing in Italian and English when she was a mere 19 months old! Signed to Vee-Jay Records in 1963, Josie released a 45 RPM record with the songs, Leave Me Alone/Easy To Love, which served as an early catalyst for her life in music and recording. As one of Chicago’s most frequently […]The post Josie Falbo, Singer-Episode #134 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The extraordinarily gifted saxophonist and composer, Danny Lerman, has studied with Junior Walker’s legendary teacher, Charlie Atkins, and at the music school of the University of North Texas and the Berklee School of Music as well as with Peter Ballin. Both of Danny’s CD’s, Danny’s Island and Meow Baby, earned stunning reviews, opening the door […]The post Danny Lerman, Smooth Jazz Saxophonist-Composer-Episode #133 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The extraordinary actor-producer-writer and director, Bryan Cranston, is an Academy Award nominee, and the winner of the Emmy®, Golden Globe, SAG, Tony® and Olivier Awards. Bryan has been seen recently in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, also on the big screen starring opposite Kevin Hart and Nicole Kidman in The Upside, and most recently […]The post Bryan Cranston, Legendary Actor-Producer-Writer-Director-Episode #132 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning composer, Bear McCreary, began his career as one of the final protégés of film music legend, Elmer Bernstein, with whom he worked for nearly a decade. Bear has since become one of the most sought-after talents in today’s music industry. Bear burst onto the scene scoring the influential and revered series […]The post Bear McCreary, Television and Film Composer-Episode #131 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.