For the past 15 years, Vincent Jefferds has been the Production Designer of the long-running, hit TV show, Criminal Minds. He has overseen the show's visual look for more than 325 episodes. Vincent has also been the Production Designer for the original TV series Roswell and the NBC mini-series, The 60’s, both of which were nominated by the Art Directors Guild for Outstanding Design.The post Vincent Jefferds, Production Designer-Episode #79 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Stephen Cole is an award-winning musical theatre writer whose shows have been recorded, published, and produced on stages around the world. Stephen’s off-Broadway musical, After the Fair, with music by Matthew Ward was the winner of 5 Dallas Theatre Awards, including Best New Play or Musical. It was nominated for the Outer Critic's Circle Award for Best Musical and was subsequently produced in London.The post Stephen Cole, Musical Theatre Writer-Episode #78 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Public Theater, Marya Sea Kaminski, recently arrived in Pittsburgh after four years as the Associate Artistic Director at Seattle Repertory Theatre. One of the highlights of her tenure there was spearheading a collaboration with New York’s Public Theater and Dallas Theatre Center to create Public Works Seattle. This initiative was based on long-term, authentic partnerships between regional theaters and local non-profits and designed to make theater of, by, and for the people.The post Marya Sea Kaminski, Playwright-Director-Producer-Episode #77 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

3-time Grammy-Nominated lyricist, Pamela Phillips Oland, has written over 500 songs that have been recorded and enjoyed in the U.S. and around the world. Her work has been recorded by no less than the spectacular talents of Aretha Franklin & The Four Tops, Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston & Jermaine Jackson, Anne Murray, Philip Bailey, Earth Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight, Reba McIntyre, Peabo Bryson, The Jacksons, Engelbert Humperdinck, Dusty Springfield, The Crusaders, The Whispers, The Brothers Johnson, DJ Ralphi Rosario, Michael Learns to Rock, and Selena.The post Pamela Phillips Oland, Lyricist-Episode #76 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Bruce E. G. Smith, and Nancy and Leon Zionts, jointly lead Front Porch Theatricals, Pittsburgh’s Boutique Professional Musical Theater Company. Front Porch prides itself on presenting socially relevant musicals featuring Pittsburgh-based talent. Focusing on both established and emerging local talent, Front Porch creates a high-level professional vehicle for directors, designers and artists.The post Bruce E.G. Smith, Nancy Zionts & Leon Zionts, Theatre Producers-Episode #75 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Dana L. Davis is a published novelist and an accomplished actress who made her film debut in Coach Carter with Samuel L. Jackson. She’s appeared as a series regular on such TV shows as: TNT’s Franklin and Bash, on which she played Carmen Phillips, and NBC’s cult series, Heroes, on which she played modern day mimic, Monica Dawson. Dana currently stars on the animated TV series Star Vs. the Forces of Evil, Craig of the Creek, and She-Ra. She’s also guest-starred in over twenty primetime series, including 911, Scorpion, Code Black, Grey’s Anatomy, and CSI.The post Dana L. Davis, Actress-Novelist-Episode #74 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Theatre and TV writer and producer, Scott Guy, has six Emmy nominations, and over 100 produced television scripts for Warner Bros., FOX-TV, Disney, Discovery Channel, PBS, and numerous others. Scott is the Executive Director of New Musicals Inc. where he supervises online writers' workshops, lyric labs, and script consultations.The post Scott Guy, Writer-Producer-Episode #73 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Sharon Eberson, theater critic and arts and pop culture reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, is a Brooklyn girl from Flatbush -- Barbra Streisand's old neighborhood -- where she grew up loving sports and the arts, and studied art, literature and journalism. Joe Papp's free and affordable Public Theater and Leonard Bernstein's Young People's concerts fueled her love of live performance.The post Sharon Eberson, Theater and Arts Reviewer-Episode #72 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The greatly revered actor, and life-long Pittsburgher, Wali Jamal, was born and raised along the Monongahela River. Once named by the late great Bill Nunn as the August Wilson Soldier, Wali Jamal has performed in all ten of August Wilson’s American Century Cycle. After performing in Wilson’s eleventh play, the one man show, How I Learned What I Learned, Wali has become the only actor in the world to have performed in all eleven of August Wilson’s plays.The post Wali Jamal, Actor-Episode #71 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Sharon Dilworth is the award-winning author of two collections of short stories, The Long White and Women Drinking Benedictine, and two novels, Year of the Ginkgo and My Riviera. Her newest book, Two Sides, Three Rivers, is a collection of stories that take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.The post Sharon Dilworth, Author-Professor-Episode #70 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Brad Dechter is an orchestrator, arranger, composer and woodwind player. He has been a professional musician since 1971 and an active participant in the Hollywood music industry since 1981. Brad has orchestrated or arranged all or parts of over 300 feature films, including Academy Award-nominated scores for The Fugitive, The Prince of Tides, My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Village, The Passion of the Christ, Defiance, Michael Clayton, The First Wives Club, and audience favorites like Mary Poppins Returns, Rogue One, 42, City Slickers, The Dark Knight, Dolphin Tale, The Sixth Sense, Pretty Woman and Dave.The post Brad Dechter, Orchestrator-Arranger-Composer-Episode #69 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Pittsburgh native, Tamara Tunie, has had a storied career as an award-winning actor, director and producer whose body of work has garnered international acclaim while simultaneously bringing light to important social issues. Tamara first came to national prominence as Jessica Griffin in As The World Turns. She then gained an international following playing Medical Examiner Dr. Melinda Warner on the legendary NBC series Law & Order: SVU.The post Tamara Tunie, Actress-Director-Producer-Episode #68 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Rocky Lang has been involved in the motion picture and television business all his life. He’s produced, written and directed motion pictures, documentaries, television shows, movies-of-the-week and mini-series. Directing assignments have included the long-running hit show Remington Steele, as well as three features: Nervous Ticks, Race For Glory, and All’s Fair. Rocky also produced White Squall, starring Jeff Bridges and directed by Ridley Scott. And he produced the Emmy Award-winning Titanic, a four-hour mini-series for CBS.The post Rocky Lang, Writer-Director-Producer-Episode #67 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Kelly Ward is a longtime entertainment industry veteran, with a remarkable career that includes extensive experience as an actor, writer, director, producer, and studio executive. Kelly is best known for his co-starring role as T-Bird, Putzie, in the musical feature film, Grease. Additional film credits include co-starring roles in Samuel Fuller's acclaimed The Big Red One and Luis Valdez's Zoot Suit.The post Kelly Ward, Actor-Writer-Director-Choreographer-Episode #66 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Ted Pappas was Pittsburgh Public Theater’s leader for 18 years and was closely associated with the company as a director for 25 years. Ted has returned to The Public as a guest artist to direct A Doll’s House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath. Acknowledged for his tremendous versatility, Ted has worked On and Off-Broadway, directed a hip-hop concert that galvanized the Cannes Film Festival, produced and directed a Las Vegas extravaganza, choreographed a musical for famed director Harold Prince, directed at New York City Opera under the leadership of Beverly Sills, and served as choreographer of NBC’s Saturday Night Live.The post Ted Pappas, Stage Director-Choreographer-Producer-Episode #65 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Maia Danziger has been acting professionally since she was 16. She made her stage debut in the Broadway production of “The Waltz of the Toreadors,” with Ann Jackson and Eli Wallach. Since then she’s appeared extensively in theatre, on television and in film, including long running roles on the daytime series Another World, The Doctors, and All My Children.The post Maia Danziger, Actress-Author-Teacher, Episode #64 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

For nearly 40 years, David Silverman has been a writer, producer, and executive producer on dozens of legendary TV shows. Along with his longtime writing partner, the late Stephen Sustarsic, David contributed scripts to such landmark shows as Mork & Mindy, One Day at a Time, ALF, Newhart, Dilbert, Duckman and South Park. Together, David and Steve also wrote for Tom Arnold, Drew Carey, Pee Wee Herman, Roseanne, and Bob Newhart.The post David Silverman, Screenwriter-Producer-Therapist-Episode #63 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Dancer-choreographer-teacher, Garfield Lemonius, has had career adventures that include performing as a principal dancer with the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, working with noted American choreographers, tours across the US and Europe, serving on numerous boards and panels at dance conferences and teaching and choreographing for a variety of companies, festivals and academic institutions across the U.S., Canada, and Australia.The post Garfield Lemonius, Dancer-Choreographer-Teacher-Episode #62 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Mark Clayton Southers is an award-winning playwright, photographer, scenic designer, theatrical producer and stage director. He is the founder and producing artistic director of the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company where he’s produced over 140 full-length and one-act plays, including August Wilson’s complete ten-play Pittsburgh Century Cycle.The post Mark Clayton Southers, Playwright-Director-Producer-Episode #61 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Tami Dixon and Jeffrey Carpenter are the award-winning co-founders of Pittsburgh-based Bricolage Production Company, one of the most innovative and forward-thinking theater companies in the world. While Tami is Bricolage’s Creative Principal, Jeffrey is the company’s Artistic Director.The post Tami Dixon & Jeffrey Carpenter, Bricolage Production Company-Episode #60 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The multi-award winning lyricist, Debra Gussin, was named Best Lyricist at the 2016 and 2017 “Hollywood Music in Media Awards,” the first time that group has ever honored a lyricist. She recently wrote rock songs with “Weezer’s” Brian Bell, for his band “The Relationship,” and continues to focus on writing songs for the pop, adult contemporary, country, and dance markets.The post Debra Gussin, Lyricist-Episode #59 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Laura Boyd has long had an interest in travel, adventure and natural history, which steered her toward the path of documentary filmmaking. She spent nearly a decade traveling the globe while working for natural history and expedition travel companies. She has produced content for the National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Mission Programs, National Geographic Explorer, “Wild Chronicles” for PBS and the award-winning children's television series, “Wild Detectives.”The post Laura Boyd, Documentary Film Producer-Episode #58 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Laura Harkcom is a Los Angeles-based writer and producer. Laura co-created, wrote and produced the TV series, The Lost Room, for the SyFy Channel. The show was nominated for two Emmys and a Writers Guild Award.The post Laura Harkcom, Screenwriter-Producer – Episode #17 Encore appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

In this special Encore StoryBeat presentation of Phil Proctor, Phil's two separate wonderfully fun StoryBeat interviews have been combined into a single glorious podcast featuring one of the funniest, most multi-talented men ever to grace stage, screen, TV and books.The post Phil Proctor-Encore – Episodes #33 and #34 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Peter Marks is a staff writer for the Washington Post and has been that grand paper’s chief theater critic since 2002. Prior to that, he was a reporter and theater critic for 10 years for The New York Times.The post Peter Marks, Washington Post Chief Theater Critic-Episode #57 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Novelist, playwright, and screenwriter, Stephen Fife, has also written feature articles for The New York Times, New Republic, Village Voice, New York Newsday, and American Theatre. His screenplay The Falling Man has won several awards. Steve’s most recent novel, “Angel’s Glance,” has just been published and is available on Amazon.The post Stephen Fife, Playwright-Screenwriter-Author- Episode #56 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Legendary jazz guitarist, Joe Negri, spent more than twenty years working in television as a music director. He worked with Pittsburgh TV legends like Ricki Wertz of “Ricki and Copper,” Hank Stohl, Bob Trow, and Paul Shannon. Eventually, he would meet the legendary Fred Rogers, and would appear for 40 years as Handyman Negri in the beloved children's program, “Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.”The post Joe Negri, Legendary Jazz Guitarist – Episode #55 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Barney Burman, is a third-generation monster maker. Barney was quite literally raised in and around the art of make-up effects. At 14, he started officially working with his father, Tom Burman, in his special make-up effects shop, The Burman Studios. By the time he turned 23, Barney was already designing and creating monsters and dead people for indie filmmakers like Roger Corman and others.The post Barney Burman, Oscar Winning Make-Up Effects Master-Episode #54 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Daina Griffith is a very much in-demand actress of breathtaking range and depth. She has performed in over 55 productions with Pittsburgh’s greatest theatre institutions such as The Pittsburgh Public Theater, Off The Wall, City Theatre, Front Porch Theatricals, PICT Classic Theatre, and Barebones. In 2013, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named her “Performer of the Year.”The post Daina Griffith, Actress-Episode #53 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Peter Filichia has spent most of his life writing about theater. He’s written reviews and features for a daily newspaper (The Star-Ledger), a magazine (TheaterWeek), and the Internet (Playbill, Theatermania, Music Theatre International, Broadway Select, Masterworks Broadway and Kritzerland). Peter has also authored numerous books on theater, including: “Let’s Put on a Musical,” “The Biggest Hit of the Season/The Biggest Flop of the Season,” “Broadway Musicals’ Most Valuable Players,” “Strippers, Showgirls, and Sharks” and “The Great Parade: The Remarkable 1963-64 Broadway Season.”The post Peter Filichia, Theater Reviewer-Author-Episode #52 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Fritz Kiersch began his career in Hollywood in 1975 in television commercial production in the camera department working for Caleb Deschannel, John Hora and other notable cinematographers. In 1983, Fritz crossed over into feature films, directing the original motion picture of Stephen King's "Children of the Corn," which created a franchise in the horror film genre.The post Fritz Kiersch, Director-Producer-Educator-Episode #51 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Michele Brourman began making up songs when she was three years old. She’s been creating songs and singing them ever since, always with a joy that is infectious. Her best-loved song, “My Favorite Year”, has been recorded by Michael Feinstein, Dame Cleo Laine, and Margaret Whiting. Olivia Newton-John, Rita Coolidge, and Sheena Easton are among the many others who have recorded her work.The post Michele Brourman, Singer-Songwriter-Episode #50 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Rick Hawkins is an Emmy-winning screenwriter whose decades long career in Hollywood includes successes as a producer, head writer, studio executive and international media consultant. Beginning with The Carol Burnett Show - where his now iconic "Went With the Wind" sketch contains the longest sustained laugh in television history - Rick went on to pen the ABC telefilm, The Love Boat, which piloted the long-running series.The post Rick Hawkins, Writer-Producer-Episode #49 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

 The multi-talented Carla Bianco is well known for composing the #1 Billboard song, “The Lover That You Are”, which won her an ASCAP award. As an actor, Carla is perhaps best known for starring as Maureen in both the Los Angeles and Broadway productions of Rent.The post Carla Bianco, Singer-Songwriter-Actress-Episode #48 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The eminent film educator, Howard Suber, taught film studies for more than fifty years at UCLA’s prestigious School of Theatre, Film, and TV. Many of his students have become influential filmmakers who have gone on to create some of the greatest movies and television shows of all time.Howard has also given the world two exceptionally important books for filmmakers, “The Power of Film” and “Letters to Young Filmmakers.” In spring of 2019 he will release his third book called, “Creativity and Copyright.”The post Howard Suber, Film Educator-Episode #47 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Frank Verlizzo, who is better known by the single name, Fraver, is perhaps the most prominent, prolific, and influential theatrical poster designer in Broadway’s long history.The post Frank “Fraver” Verlizzo, Broadway Poster Designer-Episode #46 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

The brilliant playwright and librettist, Tammy Ryan, has created work that’s been performed across the United States and internationally. She was awarded the Francesca Primus Prize by the American Theater Critics Association for her play “Lost Boy Found in Whole Foods.” Other plays include: Molly’s Hammer, Tar Beach, Soldier’s Heart, Baby’s Blues, FBI Girl: How I Learned to Crack My Father’s Code, Pig, Lindsay’s Oyster, and The Music Lesson.The post Tammy Ryan, Playwright and Librettist-Episode #45 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Susan L. Schulman has been a theatrical press agent for over 40 years, handling Broadway, off-Broadway, dance, film, special events, TV, books, and individual personalities.The post Susan L. Schulman, Broadway Theatrical Press Agent-Episode #44 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Actor, Javier Grajeda, has landed Guest Starring and recurring roles on such TV shows as "Star Trek: Voyager", “CSI Miami,” “NCIS,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Halt and Catch Fire” and “Mind Games.” On the big screen he’s tackled roles in the Matthew McConaughey crime drama "The Lincoln Lawyer" and the dramatic adaptation "The Rum Diary" starring Johnny Depp. But the project that has brought him the most recognition came when he landed the role of drug lord, Juan Bolsa, on Vince Gilligan’s hit AMC show, “Breaking Bad,” where he ordered the beheading of Danny Trejo. He’s come full circle by reprising Juan Bolsa on “Better Call Saul.”The post Javier Grajeda, Actor – Episode #8 Encore appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Amy Aniobi, is the Executive Producer of the hit HBO comedy "Insecure.” She also has various projects in development including at Amazon with Jill Soloway’s Topple Productions. Her past produced credits include NBC’s “Trial & Error,” HBO's "Silicon Valley," NBC's "The Michael J. Fox Show," "2 Dope Queens," and web series "Lisa and Amy Are Black," "The Slutty Years," and "Awkward Black Girl."The post Amy Aniobi, Writer-Producer – Episode #20 Encore appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Marv Wolfman is one of the most influential storytellers on planet earth – and in infinite earths beyond. Marv is best known as a legendary writer, editor, and creator of hundreds of comic books that the world has loved for more than forty years. Marv has created more characters that have gone on to television, animation, movies, videogames and toys than any other comics creator except Stan Lee.The post Marv Wolfman-Legendary Comic Book Writer/Editor – Episode #35 – Encore appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Brooks Wachtel is an Emmy Award winning screenwriter, novelist, and producer. Brooks recently published his first novel, a thrill ride of a story called, Lady Sherlock: Circle of the Smiling Dead.The post Brooks Wachtel, Writer-Producer – Episode #9 Encore appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Ken Davenport is an Award-Winning producer of over a dozen Broadway shows, including: Deaf West Theatre’s Spring Awakening, The Visit, Mothers and Sons, Speed the Plow, Godspell, The Bridges of Madison County, Allegiance, Chinglish, Oleanna, Macbeth, Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America, Once on This Island, and Kinky Boots, for which he won the Tony.The post Ken Davenport, Playwright-Broadway Producer – Episode #4 Encore appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Paige Davis is one of the most versatile performers working on stage and screen today. She’s an actor-singer-host and author, perhaps best known as the effervescent star of Trading Spaces, TV’s groundbreaking, Emmy-nominated design-reality show.The post Paige Davis, Actress-Singer-Host-Author – Episode #16 Encore appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

George Newbern’s career in film and television has spanned several decades and has shown his immense versatility, from his debut arc as Payne McIlroy in “Designing Women” to his current role as Charlie, the former B613 assassin, who is now a member of what was formerly Olivia Pope and Associates and is now Quinn Perkins and Associates on the hit ABC series “Scandal.”The post George Newbern, Actor – Episode #36 Encore appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Writer David Wise is best known for having developed “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” for television, creating most of the elements for which the Turtles became famous, including their love of pizzas and catchphrase “Cowabunga, dude.” He was show-runner of the original series for most of its ten-year run, during which time he wrote over 100 episodes.The post David Wise, Writer-Filmmaker-Producer – Episode #43 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Randy Johnson has had a diverse and complex 30-year show business career. Randy has written and directed on Broadway, Off Broadway, Regional Theatres across the United States and Canada, created world class international music and aerial spectaculars, directed tours of some of the greatest musical artists of all time, directed sports legend Mike Tyson, screen legends Katharine Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn, and has staged domestic and global events for Presidents, First Ladies, World leaders and Pope Benedict XVI.The post Randy Johnson, Playwright-Director-Producer – Episode #42 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Austin Pendleton is a truly familiar face to audiences worldwide. For fifty years he has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in numerous highly popular movies and TV shows. Austin is also a director, playwright, and, at the prestigious HB Studio in New York, a teacher of acting.The post Austin Pendleton, Legendary Actor-Director – Episode #41 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

Kirsten Childs, the multi-talented, multi-award winning writer of numerous musicals, is perhaps best known for writing "The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin." Her other musicals include "Miracle Brothers," "Fly," and "Funked Up Fairy Tales."The post Kirsten Childs, Playwright-Librettist – Episode #40 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.