Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb

Star of stage and screen Brandon J. Dirden joins Behind the Awards to discuss Directing and working with Bill Irwin in this season’s revival of The Imaginary Invalid playing at The Roundabout through November 22nd.  Brandon also shares stories on working with Keri Russell in The Americans, and countless plays with Ruben Santiago Hudson by August Wilson.

Also in this episode - Upcoming Cast Recordings - The Lost Boys - October 30th, Rent: Original Broadway Cast Recording (30th Anniversary Edition) - November 13th, Voices of the Gilded Age: The Christmas Album - November 6th.

Brandon J. Dirden appeared on Broadway in Jamie Lloyd’s production of Waiting for Godot; the Tony Award winning production of Take Me Out; Skeleton Crew, for which he received Drama Desk and Outer Critics Awards nominations; as Martin Luther King, Jr. opposite Bryan Cranston in the Tony Award-winning production of All the Way; and as Booster in the Tony Award winning revival of August Wilson’s Jitney. Other Broadway credits include Clybourne Park, Enron, and Prelude to a Kiss. Off-Broadway, he appeared as Boy Willie in The Piano Lesson, for which he won Obie, Theatre World and AUDELCO awards; The First Breeze of Summer and Day of Absence all at Signature Theatre; the world premiere of Detroit ’67 at the Public and Classical Theatre of Harlem; Peter and the Starcatcher at New York Theatre Workshop; and as ‘Brutus’ in TFANA’s production of Julius Caesar. On screen he has appeared in “The Good Wife,” “For Life,” “Evil,” “The Big C,” “Public Morals,” “Manifest,” “The Get Down,” “The Accidental Wolf,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Quad,” the miniseries “Mrs. America,” four seasons of “The Americans” as Agent Dennis Aderholt, and in Katori Hall’s series “P-Valley.” Brandon has directed numerous plays including the revival of steve carter’s Eden at Yale Rep and most recently Arthur Miller’s The Price at Two River Theater. Brandon is an Associate Arts Professor at Tisch Grad Acting at NYU, a volunteer at the 52nd Street Project and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. B.A. in Mathematics from Morehouse College. M.F.A. in Acting from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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

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Actress Ava Lalezarzadeh joins Behind the Awards to chat about her current role in Bill Irwin’s adaptation of The Imaginary Invalid.  Ava also talks about making her Broadway Debut in last seasons English, working with Billy Crystal in Apple TV’s Before, Writing, Producing and Performing in the film In the Garden of Tulips and more.

Also in this episode - Broadway Cares Rent 30th Anniversary Concert

Ava Lalezarzadeh returns to Roundabout Theatre Company after making her Broadway debut in English (five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play), recipient of a Clive Barnes Award. Off-Broadway: English (Atlantic Theater Company and Roundabout Theatre  Company), recipient of an Obie Award Special Citation. Television: series regular on “Before” (Apple TV+) opposite Billy Crystal, “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+), “New Amsterdam” (NBC), “Big Mouth” (Netflix), and “Wild Life” (HBO). Lalezarzadeh writes, executive produces, and stars in the Oscar-qualified short film In the Garden of Tulips, a coming-of-age portrait inspired by true events. A feature adaptation is in development. Upcoming projects include two feature films and a Netflix animated series. Training: B.A., UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

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:

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Actress Eve Plumb better known to the world as Jan Brady stops by Behind the Awards to talk about her memoir Happiness Included.  Eve shares what it was like to be a child actor and part of The Brady Bunch, one of the most iconic families in TV history.

Get Eve’s Book - https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/shop/happiness-included/

Plumb Goods - https://www.eveplumb.tv/plumbgoods

Also in this episode - Eila & Bruce go to opening night of Copperfield the Musical

Eve Plumb started her acting career at age 6, after an agent moved in next door and she booked the first audition she attended. Many commercials for toys and television roles followed. She has continued to work in television, movies, and stage her whole life, and is known for having played “Jan” in “The Brady Bunch”, and “Dawn” in “Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway”, “Beth” in “Little Women”, and many others. 

Television roles have continued, with “Bull”, “Crashing”, “Blue Bloods”, “The Path”, “Law & Order, SVU”, “Army Wives”, and “Grease Live”.

Eve studied improv comedy at The Groundlings School in Los Angeles, and after moving to New York City, performed Off Broadway in Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron’s “Love, Loss, and What I Wore”, “Unbroken Circle” and “Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating, & Marriage”, as well as regional theatre work throughout the United States. 

Eve has proudly been part of two “Broadway Backwards” performances for Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids.

Recent film appearances include “Blue Ruin” (Winner Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Sundance Spotlight Festival, Independent Spirit nominee) and “Monsoon”.

TV audiences saw a new side of Eve when she shared her love for home renovation and restoration on “A Very Brady Renovation” and “Design At Your Door” on HGTV.

Eve has also been an accomplished painter for many years, showing her oil paintings in galleries around the U.S. Her subject matter ranges from restaurant scenes and still lifes to paintings based on Film Noir and Western movies.

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

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Writer, Director, Actor Kevin Zak comes back to Behind the Awards to deep dive his upcoming Play A Kidman Carol starring Marla Mindelle & Josh Sharp.  Imagine Nicole Kidman guiding Cate Blanchett through awards season ala A Christmas Carole and there you have the hilarious brain child of Kevin Zak.  Kevin also talks about Ginger Twinses, Mommy Dearest, and more.

For tickets - https://akidmancarol.com/

Also in this episode - Bruce & Eila discuss School Girls: The African Mean Girls Play

Originally from Buffalo, Kevin has made his career in NYC working on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and in television. He is currently developing pilots with HBOMax/Before The Door Productions and Maximum Effort.

After a sold-out developmental run in 2025, his play A KIDMAN CAROL will have a SIX WEEK ONLY run at New World Stages beginning November 16th, 2026. The production stars three-time TONY nominee and Olivier Award winner Marla Mindelle(Titanique) as Nicole Kidman and Drama Desk Nominee Josh Sharp(Dicks The Musical) as Cate Blanchett. Directed by Obie Award winner Skylar Fox.

His play MARCH MADNESS (or Little Fucking Women) had a sold out one night only reading at the Greenwich House Theater August 16th, 2026 as part of the Matchbook Festival. The reading was directed by Zi Alikhan and starred Russell Daniels (Titanique, Ginger Twinsies) and Hannah Solow (Oh, Mary!) amongst other Broadway criminals.

Kevin is the writer and director of the hit Off-Broadway comedy GINGER TWINSIES, which was nominated for a 2026 Queerty Award for Best Theater. Stay tuned for news on future productions.

He’s been involved either as an actor or creative on such productions as Bill Pay The Musical, Rob Lake Magic With Special Guest The Muppets(Muppet material), Death Becomes Her, Waitress, Clinton the Musical (Lucille Lortel Nom.), and Silence! The Musical (Off-Bway and 2024 UK production).  Kevin is currently writing the book for the musical adaptation of The NY Times best-selling memoir Running With Scissors, by Augusten Burroughs.

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

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Anthony Michael Lopez joins Behind the Awards to chat about his stage and screen career.  Most known for his role of Bruce in Survival of the Thickest, Tony is also an accomplished stage Actor seen in last seasons Titus Andronicus with Patrick Page.  Tony gives us the low down on working with Page as well as Othello, Our Town, Camelot and The Gilded Age.

Also in this episode - Three’s Company Come and Knock on Our Door tour is scheduled for November 2 at Joe's Pub.  Hosted by original cast member Joyce DeWitt alongside John Ritter’s widow, actress Amy Yasbeck. Richard Kline, who originated the role of Larry Dallas, will be the evening's narrator.  The cast is lead by Jason Biggs, who steps into Ritter’s iconic role of Jack Tripper, with Christine Taylor as Chrissy Snow, Bellamy Young as Janet Wood, Richard Kind as Stanley Roper, and Susie Essman as Helen Roper.  Following the New York kickoff, the Three’s Company 50th anniversary tour will continue in 2027, with readings in Dallas (February 27), Cleveland (March 13), and Los Angeles (September 9).  Also in the news; Sacha Baron Cohen will star in Quentin Tarantino's debut stage play, The Popinjay Cavalier, which opens in London's West End in 2027.

Anthony Michael Lopez is best known for his recurring role as Bruce on Michelle Buteau’s hit comedy series Survival of The Thickest on Netflix, and as Roderigo in Othello on Broadway starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Recently, Anthony originated the role of Sir Dinadan in Aaron Sorkin’s Tony-nominated adaptation of Camelot on Broadway. Other Broadway and NYC stage credits include Our Town starring Jim Parsons and Katie Holmes, and Othello starring Daniel Craig and David Oyelowo.  Onscreen, Anthony has appeared on TV’s Broad City, The Gilded Age, Homeland, New Amsterdam, and many other movies, TV shows, and national commercials. 

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:

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Illusions and Visual Effects Designer Chris Fisher stops by Behind the Awards fresh off the opening of Paranormal Activity to breakdown the magic he’s creating for the show.  Chris also does a deep dive into the illusions in Stranger Things that won him a 2025 Tony Award and his theater career in such shows as Wicked, Company, Harry Potter, and the upcoming Nanny McPhee the Musical.  Chris also had is magic wand in the creation of Black Swan and 2:22 A Ghost Story coming in October to The Lortell Theater.

Also in this episode - Doug Henning turns Broadways Andrea McArdle into Allison Smith on his special Doug Henning: Magic on Broadway which aired on NBC in November 1982.

Chris Fisher received a Special Tony Award in 2025 for his work as Illusions and Visual Effects Designer on Stranger Things: The First Shadow, as well as Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. Chris is also a member of The Magic Circle and works worldwide as International Illusions and Magic Associate for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Theatre credits as illusion designer and director include Black Swan (American Repertory Theater); The Psychic (York Theatre Royal); Paranormal Activity (Leeds Playhouse/West End/U.S. tour); The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (West End); The BFG (RSC/Singapore); The Hunger Games On Stage (Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre); Stranger Things: The First Shadow (Marquis Theatre/Phoenix Theatre); Dr. Strangelove (Noël Coward Theatre); The Illusionist (Tokyo); Ballet Shoes, The Witches, Peter Gynt, Here We Go, Treasure Island, and Julie (National Theatre); Back to the Future: The Musical (Winter Garden Theatre/Tokyo/U.S. tour/Germany/Adelphi Theatre); The Ghost and the Lady (Tokyo); Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Leeds Playhouse/U.K. tour); The Time Traveller’s Wife (Apollo Theatre); The Prince of Egypt and Big the Musical (Dominion Theatre); The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Gillian Lynne Theatre/U.K. tour); 2:22 A Ghost Story (Noël Coward Theatre/Melbourne/Los Angeles); Angels in America (National Theatre/Neil Simon Theatre); Wicked Das Musical (Hamburg); Company (Gielgud Theatre/Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre/U.S. tour); and Merlin (Northern Ballet).

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:

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Broadway’s Brandon Contreras joins Behind the Awards to dish on his career thus far after recently taking over the role of Charles in Operation Mincemeat.  Brandon shares the thrill of staring in both Titanique Off Broadway and Titanic at New York City Center.  Brandon also talks about being in Almost Famous and working with Cameron Crowe, Drew Gehling and Anika Larsen.  Brandon shares some future dream roles.

Also in this episode - Annie is back on Broadway and Eila & Bruce have casting ideas for Hannigan, Rooster and Lily

Brandon Contreras is New York City born & raised creative. He was last seen causing absolute chaos as “Cal” in the Off-Broadway/International hit, Titanique. Before that, he made his Broadway debut rocking out and originating in Tom Kitt and Cameron Crowe’s, Almost Famous.

Some other theatrical favorites include Titanic and Road Show at the historical and honorable City Center Encores!, In the Heights (1st National Tour), Jerry Springer: The Opera (The New Group),  Beauty & the Beast (Drury Lane), Bhangin’ It! (La Jolla Playhouse), You Deserve to be Here (Roundabout Theatre Workshop) and the regional premiere of The Play that Goes Wrong (Pioneer). FILM/TV include: The upcoming feature film, “There She Goes” with Rachel Leigh Cook and Utkarsh Ambudkar, “WeCrashed”, “Mr. Robot” and “Awkwafina is Nora from Queens.”

Outside of performing, Brandon is also a freelance director, writer, filmmaker & choreographer for multiple collaborative art pieces. With over 1.6 Million followers across all social media platforms, he is the co-creator of the award-winning Queer platform, The HomoSapien Experience. @OhHey_Brandon @TheHomoSapienExperience – BrandonContreras.com

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:

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Drag Race Alum and Choreographer Jay Jackson aka Laganja Estranja joins Behind the Awards to chat about her latest project, Choreographer of the Jawbreaker the Musical workshop.  The cult film has been turned into a musical by the films creator Darren Stein and lead by one of the original “Flawless Ones” Rebecca Gayheart. Laganja also tells us about her upcoming Fall 2027 project; Co-Choreographing Miss Step at Playwrights Horizons.  Of course we got some Drag Race tea too!

Get tickets to Jawbreaker the Musical - https://www.hudsontheatre.com/index.html

Jay Jackson (Laganja Estranja) is a world renowned LGBTQIA+ icon most known for her choreography, music and cannabis advocacy. A U.S. Presidential Scholar in The Arts, Jackson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance and choreography from the California Institute of the Arts and launched to stardom after being selected to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race. Since then, Jackson has performed on numerous television shows and for artists such as Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, Jennifer Lopez, LeAnn Rimes, and Christina Aguilera. Other choreography credits include Miley Cyrus, Brooke Candy, “Trixie & Katya Live,” “Miss Step,” and McDonalds.

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:

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Tony Nominee Elizabeth Stanley joins Behind the Awards to talk about her brand new thriller Disruption now playing at The Pershing Square Signature Center as well as the hit musical Jagged Little Pill.  Elizabeth shares what it was like to work with Alanis Morissette on such iconic music.  Disruption is playing through October 4th and you can catch Elizabeth alongside John David Washington, Conrad Ricamora, Joe Tippett and Irene Sofia Lucio.

Get tickets here: https://www.disruptionplay.com/

Also in this episode - Eila & Bruce see Paranormal Activity on Broadway

Elizabeth Stanley is an award-winning actor, singer, and musician, best known perhaps for her work on Broadway, recently starring in the Alanis Morissette musical Jagged Little Pill, earning nominations for the Tony Award, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle, as well as a Grammy Award for the original cast recording.

Elizabeth has captivated New York theater audiences ever since her Broadway debut as “April” in the revival of Sondheim’s Company directed by John Doyle, and has since played an eclectic array of comedic and dramatic, classic and contemporary leading ladies including roles in the Broadway revival of On the Town(Drama Desk nomination), Million Dollar Quartet, Cry-Baby, and James Lapine’s production of Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along (Encores). Last year, The New York Times nodded to her performance as Vera in the City Center’s gala production of Pal Joey as “Best Theater of 2023.”

Other credits include as The Nurse in Hello, Again (Transport Group, Drama League Award), F**king A(Signature Theatre), and starred opposite Vanessa Williams and Santino Fontana in Sondheim’s Anyone Can Whistle in Concert at Carnegie Hall with MasterVoices and recently as Luisa in Maury Yeston’s Nine opposite Steven Pasquale at The Kennedy Center. Elizabeth also starred as Francesca in the First National Tour of Jason Robert Brown’s The Bridges of Madison Country, and as Kira in the First National Tour of Xanadu.

Equally present on screen, Elizabeth appears in Season 3 of Katori Hall’s P-Valley and was a recurring guest star on the FX series Kindred and HBO Max’s Gossip Girl. Other guest appearances include The Equalizer, New Amsterdam, Younger, Blue Bloods, N0S482, FBI, The Get Down, The Affair, Black Box, Made in Jersey, Fringe, and Company (PBS Great Performances).

As a concert soloist, she appeared last season with the San Diego Symphony conducted by Rob Fisher, and in a new symphonic production of Ragtime with The Boston Pops conducted by Keith Lockhart. She has also performed with Colorado Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Ocean City Symphony, New York Pops Underground, and many solo engagements.

Elizabeth is a graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.

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:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behind the Awards is joined by Kristin Hopkins, Ashley Hufford and Alan Seales to select our Fantasy Broadway Lineup.  From Rising Star to Legacy Performer, from Director to Costume Designer we cover it all!  Listen along and make your selections! Did names like Idina Menzel, Bob Fosse, Caissie Levy or Debbie Allen make the lists? Listen to find out!

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:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices