Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb

#120 - Kevin Zak & Jesse Robb - Ginger Twinsies: No Secret Handshake Required


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Writer/Director Kevin Zak and Tony Nominated Choreographer Jesse Robb stop by Behind the Awards to deep dive all the humor in the Off Broadway trending hit Ginger Twinsies.  From The Parent Trap to Devil Wears Parada, to Stomp, to Wicked no-one is left unparodied in this hilarious show!

Also in this episode - Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short at the 2024 Emmy Awards and Time Square Proposed Casino.


Kevin Zak - Originally from Buffalo, Kevin has made his career in NYC working on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and in television. 

He is the writer and director of the Off-Broadway hit comedy GINGER TWINSIES, now playing at the Orpheum Theatre through October 25, 2025. He is also providing additional material for Rob Lake Magic with Special Guests The Muppets playing the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway beginning October 28th, 2025. (omg the Muppets!)

He’s been involved either as an actor or creative on such productions as Death Becomes Her, Waitress, Clinton the Musical (Lucille Lortel Nom.), and Silence! The Musical (Off-Bway and 2024 UK production).  He is also writing the book for the musical adaptation of The NY Times best-selling memoir Running With Scissors, by Augusten Burroughs. Other projects include A Kidman Carol, A Gay Dementia on Australian Dames (writer/director) and Little Fucking Women (adapted from the Louisa May Alcott classic). Currently, Kevin is developing television pilots with Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Victor Quinaz, and Tim Federle.  


Jesse Robb - Jesse is a Tony Award nominated and Chita Rivera Award winning choreographer and movement director based in New York City. An honors graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts,  Jesse’s resume covers a wide variety of work including Broadway, Cirque Du Soleil, Disney, Cameron Macintosh, Mirvish Productions, Momix, Prime Video, RWS Entertainment Group, Opera Philadelphia and Turner Classic Movies. 

On Broadway, Jesse is the co-choreographer (alongside Shana Carroll) for the new musical Water For Elephants. The production is directed by two time Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo) and was nominated for 7 TONY Awards including BEST MUSICAL.  Jesse and Shana received Tony Award, Drama Desk, and OCC nominations for their work as well as the Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Choreography.  “Gorgeously Imaginative” - Jesse Green, The NY Times. The production launches its North American Tour in the Fall of 2025.

Currently, Jesse is the Movement Director for the North American touring, West End, Japanese, and South Korean companies of Les Miserables.

Jesse was the Associate Choreographer for the Tony-Nominated Revival of Miss Saigon and The Cher Show.  For Saigon, he staged the performance on the Tony Awards Broadcast and remounted the show for the subsequent North American tour and Vienna company. Jesse was also a long time associate to the Tony winning legend Bob Avian. 

Regionally, Jesse has worked at The Alliance Theater (Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Choreography), The MUNY, The Stratford Festival of Canada, Theatre Calgary, Ogunquit Playhouse, The 5th Avenue Theatre, The Ordway, The Cape Playhouse, and The Berkshire Theatre Festival among others.


Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Connect with Eila and Bruce:

  • Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@behind_the_awards⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • Eila ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eilamell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • Bruce ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cominghomewithbruce
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