From his first role as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast to his current work as an onstage swing in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Riley shares how a childhood love for performing grew into a passion for storytelling and representation. He reflects on standout roles in Cats and Next to Normal, the life-changing moment of being a Jimmy Awards finalist, and finding his creative home at Shenandoah Conservatory. We also dive into the dedication and adaptability it takes to learn multiple tracks on Broadway. 

In this episode, Isaac takes us through their inspiring journey from growing up in Oklahoma with an early love for performance to making their Broadway debut in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. They open up about discovering theatre after starting in ballet, the lessons they learned at Boston Conservatory about resilience and standing out, and the balance between pursuing roles out of passion and taking ones for practical reasons. We also dive into standout experiences like performing in Allegiance, a powerful story centered on the Japanese internment with a predominantly AAPI cast, and the disco-fueled creativity of The Donkey Show. Most importantly, Isaac shares the pride and responsibility of being a non-binary performer on Broadway, the importance of visibility and representation, and why the magic of Cursed Child resonates universally.

On this episode, Bradley reflects on his journey from discovering theater as a kid to becoming part of the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. We chat about the challenges and joys of performing in such a beloved show, including mastering complex scenes, embracing physically demanding roles, and the importance of collaboration with cast and crew. Bradley also opens up about balancing life on and off stage, staying inspired through intense rehearsal schedules, and what it’s like to bring magical stories to life night after night. 

Backstage With Becca B. Episode 183 with Hailey Hyde is now LIVE on YouTube! On this episode, Hailey reflects on how a childhood dream of becoming a singer — sparked by her aunts’ Broadway tours and favorite shows like Wicked — led to a growing passion for theater. We chat about her summer program experiences, her love for regional theater, including standout roles in Cats and Frozen, PLUS The Outsiders Musical which is her Broadway debut. She talks about the process of learning multiple tracks, the thrill of being an understudy, and how choreography, community, and careful prep helped her feel ready for her debut. Hailey also opens up about adjusting to life in NYC, overcoming stage nerves, and the value of staying grounded and inspired through it all.

On this episode, Jenna talks about growing up in a Broadway-performing family, her regional theatre journey, and how she’s brought iconic roles like Elsa in Frozen and Fanny Brice in Funny Girl to life with heart and originality. We also chat about her voiceover work with Disney (including Sofia the First), the importance of vocal health, her love for regional theater’s creative freedom, and why mentorship and connection matter so deeply to her. Plus, she shares that she’s joining the national tour of Suffs Musical this fall!

On this episode I talked with Lizzy about her journey as a performer — from falling in love with musical theatre as a kid watching The Wizard of Oz and Smash, to her first big role as Gabriella in High School Musical, to finding her artistic voice at Texas State University with the guidance of incredible mentors. We talked about her first professional experience in Rent in New Orleans, the challenges and growth that came from it, and her exciting Broadway debut in Boop the Musical! Lizzy shares what it was like going through the Boop audition process, including an intense dance call with Rachelle Rak, how she learned the whole show in just a week, and what it means to her to be in the ensemble and understudy both Betty and Trisha. She also talks about the joy of working with legends like Jerry Mitchell, the importance of bringing her own voice to her work, the power of storytelling, and so much more! 

On this episode I talked with Alex about Alexander/Aristotle now playing at Company Of Angels through May 10th — emphasizing its intellectual depth and audience engagement, the rich historical connections and cultural experiences tied to Greece, particularly during the Hellenistic period, emphasizing the importance of art and theater in understanding these historical contexts, how understanding Shakespeare and Greek mythology is crucial for appreciating modern storytelling, the transition from mythology to evidence-based thinking marked a significant shift in philosophy and governance, his belief that theatre should challenge viewers with complex ideas and foster discussions, and much more!

Backstage With Becca B. Episode 179 with guest John Kapelos is now LIVE on YouTube. On this episode, I talked with John about the challenges of building theater communities in L.A., his early days in Chicago’s collaborative scene, and how support from his father and a role at Second City helped launch his career, how the digital age has reshaped the entertainment industry and brought more opportunities but also more competition, his thoughts on the evolution of storytelling in film and TV, his current show Aristotle/Alexander at Company Of Angels where he stars as Isocrates, historical narratives, focusing on Alexander the Great and his complex relationship with Aristotle, the psychological layers of leadership, the influence of mentorship, how these ancient stories can still resonate today, and much more!

On this episode I talked with Anika about her journey as a performer including the moments she fell in love with theatre, her initial career path she thought she wanted to pursue, what ultimately guided her toward theatre, her experience in the immersive experience of “The Great Gatsby” in New York, how unique audience interactions are during an immersive show, her education at NYU, getting involved with the For The Record series, FTR’s new venue The CineVita and how special the energy at the venue is, her talented costars in Tarantino: Pulp Rock at The CineVita, preparation for her role as O-Ren in Tarantino: Pulp Rock, advice for aspiring performers in the industry, her singing group with her sisters called The Braganza Sisters and where you can check out their music, her desire to uplift in her work, dream roles, self-confidence, and much more!

Backstage With Becca B. Episode 177 with guest @blockedanddeletedangel is now LIVE on Youtube. On this episode I talked with Emily about all she’s done since the last time we talked, including the life changing experience of performing in her favorite musicals such as “Sunday in the Park with George” at CCAE and “Cabaret” with Altadena Music Theatre, plus performing at Escape Hotel in Hollywood and how that experience was unique as a performer for her. Performing with For The Record Live, emphasizing it’s unique style of immersive theatrical shows, their new traveling venue, The CineVita which is currently in Inglewood, the exceptional talent of the FTR team, the unique atmosphere of The CineVita, and the high stakes involved in productions there, her artistic evolution with her new band, Leopard Skin Dolcinea, upcoming gigs, people who influence her, her desire to play every female Sondheim role and other classic characters, and much more!