Award winner Douglas Carter Beane stops by Behind the Awards to chat about his new Play Finding Dorothy Parker at The Laurie Beechman Theatre Featuring: Julie Halson, Ann Harada, Jackie Hoffman, and Anika Larsen  Douglas also talks about Too Wong Foo…, The Nance, and upcoming revivals of Xanadu and The Little Dog Laughed.

Get tickets to Finding Dorothy Parker at https://www.thebeechman.com/

DOUGLAS CARTER BEANE’s (Compiled by / Director) credits include Lysistrata Jones, Sister Act, Xanadu (Tony Nom., Drama Desk Best Book, Outer Critics Circle Best Musical), and Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella. Plays: The Little Dog Laughed (Tony Nom., Olivier Nom. GLAAD Media Best Play), As Bees In Honey Drown (Outer Critics Circle), Mr. & Mrs. Fitch, Music From a Sparkling Planet, The Country Club, Advice From a Caterpillar, The Cartells, Fairycakes and The Nance. Revues: White Lies, Mondo Drama. Screenplays: To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar; Advice From a Caterpillar. He is married to Lewis Flinn and is the proud father of Cooper and Gaby.

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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Gerianne Perez might have the hardest job on Broadway, understudying 3 out of the 5 roles in Operation Mincemeat on Broadway.  Gerianne tells us about the endurance needed to take on this show, after the marathon of performing in Six the Musical.  

Also in this show Julianna Margulies 1995 Emmy win for ER.

Gerianne Perez is a powerhouse performer known for her soaring vocals, emotional depth, and commanding stage presence. A proud New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent, she has built a dynamic career spanning Broadway and several national tours.

An alumna of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Gerianne is also a passionate advocate for representation in the arts and a frequent collaborator on new works that spotlight bold, diverse voices. Whether leading a musical or championing new stories, she continues to be a vibrant force in american theatre.

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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Gilded Age Stars Celia Keenan-Bolger (Mrs. Bruce) & Claybourne Elder (John Adams) stop by Behind the Awards to do a deep dive on Season 3.  Behind The Scenes of John Adams death, Mrs. Bruce’s mystery husband, a mole in the Russell House, Oscar and John Adams Love story, unrequited love and so much more!

Also in this episode - Claybourne Elder’s upcoming studio album and his non-profit City of Stranger.  https://www.cityofstrangers.org/

Celia Keenan-Bolger and the American Theater Wing’s Gavin Creel Fellowship. - Text GAVIN to 44321 to support The Gavin Creel Fellowships and Learn More

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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Book of Mormon star and Stage Time creator PJ Adzima joins Behind the Awards for a chat.  Not only did PJ give us the low down on the Book of Mormon but he also discussed the evolution and current state of State Time.  Stage Time is a hybrid of Vaudeville meet Johnny Carson meet Drag meets Magic and celebrates NYC nightlife as only the city that never sleeps can.

Also in this episode -  Sean Hayes & Kristin Chenoweth at the 2010 Tony Awards.  Ariana DeBoise set to kick off the 2025/2026 Classic Stage Company Season with a production of The Baker’s Wife.

PJ Adzima is a New York based actor and comedian currently playing Elder McKinley in The Book of Mormon on Broadway. He is the creator and host of STAGE TIME with PJ Adzima, the hit downtown variety show that unites the best of New York City nightlife. 

Select credits include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon), Girls5Eva (Peacock), Madam Secretary (CBS), The Good Fight (Paramount+), FBI: Most Wanted (CBS), Girl Haunts Boy (Netflix), The Wake by John Patrick Shanley, The Tycoons! at RAVE Theater Festival (Winner: Outstanding Performance), Volleygirls and The Cobalteans at NYMF, The Bacchae at La Mama, and GUNS: A Cabaret under director Liz Swados. PJ is a Story Pirate and Co/Lab Supporting Artist and can be seen next in the upcoming theatrical release of The Kiss of the Spider Woman starring Jennifer Lopez.

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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Tony Nominee Montego Glover joins Behind the Awards to deep dive on her approach to Mama Rose in Gypsy.  Montego also gives us the scoop on Memphis, Into the Woods and working with George C Wolfe and Audra McDonald. Catch Montego in Gypsy at The Majestic Theater.

Also in this episode - Christine Ebersole, John Tartaglia and Rod present the 2006 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

Montego Glover is an award-winning actress in theatre, film, and television. Born in Macon, Georgia and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Montego is a graduate of Florida State University with a BFA in Music Theatre. She made her Broadway debut in the original Broadway production of The Color Purple in the roles of Celie & Nettie.

She created the role of Felicia Farrell in the Broadway hit musical Memphis and received a Tony Award Nomination for Lead Actress in a Musical as well as a Drama League Nomination and won both the Outer Critics’ Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award for her performance. Montego won a second Drama Desk Award (Outstanding Ensemble) for her critically acclaimed run as Nina in the New York debut of The Royale at Lincoln Center Theater. And a special Outer Critics’ Circle Honor for the role of Ovetta in All The Natalie Portmans, a new play produced by MCC Theater making its New York debut. 

She created the role of Annie Shepard in the new musical comedy It Shoulda Been You, starred in the most recent Broadway revival of Les Misérables as Fantine, and Angelica Schuyler in the Chicago Company of Hamilton. 

Montego enjoyed a thrilling run as The Witch in the smash hit revival of Into The Woods on Broadway as well as its Selected Engagements across the US. Followed by a Sold Out evening of Gershwin at Carnegie Hall with the illustrious New York Pops entitled “Jazz, Love & Gershwin: A Century of Rhapsody In Blue”.

Currently, Montego is Alternating the role of Mama Rose with Audra McDonald in the award winning & critically acclaimed Broadway revival of Gypsy.

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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Broadway and Film Star Benjamin Pajak joined Behind the Awards to chat about his experience starring in The Music Man alongside Hugh Jackman & Sutton Foster, playing Oliver at New York City Center.  Next up for Benjamin are the films The Life of Chuck with Tom Hiddleston & Mark Hamill, Playdate starring Kevin James & Alan Ritchson, and Tiny Fugitives with Johnny Knoxville. Benjamin also shares what it’s like to do a workshop of a new musical (The Lost Boys).  He also tells up about his first job in a Super Bowl Commercial which aired as his favorite team played.

Also in this episode - Review of Ginger Twinsies now playing at The Orpheum.

From an early age, Benjamin and his mom attended artistic productions throughout the tri-state area. Benjamin says that he loved the music, the costumes, the lights - all aspects of performing - from a very young age. He credits this early exposure to wanting to be a part of the arts, in whatever form possible. 

Benjamin made his Broadway debut in The Music Man on Broadway, with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, for which he received The Theater World Award (2022).

He next played the iconic role of Oliver, in New York City Center’s Encores! production of Oliver!. Working with Broadway superstars such as Raúl Esparza and Lilli Cooper, Benjamin was able to take on his first lead in the Broadway community.

Benjamin can be heard on the official recording of Figaro, A New Musical, by Ashley Jana and Will Nunziata, which is currently in development for a West End opening. Benjamin loves creating new characters through his voiceover and podcast work, featured on Apple TV+ and Netflix. He can also be heard on the Original Cast Recording for The Music Man.

Benjamin is so grateful to have learned many valuable lessons from his inspirational and creative teachers, both in the classroom and in the professional world. They have helped foster a discipline and love for his craft that he hopes will direct him in whatever comes his way. Please enjoy learning more about Benjamin and following his journey through his site! 

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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Tony Winner Phylicia Rashad Directs the Pre Broadway run of Paul Oakley Stovall’s Immediate Family.  This run will take place at the Blumenthal Arts Center from July 29th through August.  Immediate Features Christina Sajous, Elijah Jones, Freddie Fulton, Britney Coleman, Andy Mientus, Kai Almeda Heath with Costumes by Colleen Morris-Glennon.

Get your tickets at - https://www.blumenthalarts.org/

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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Playwright and Actor Douglas  Lyons joins Behind the Awards to chat about his current off Broadway hit Beau and previous works such as Chicken and Biscuits, Table 17 and Parade with Michael Arden.  

Also on this episode - Lilly Tomlin’s 1974 Emmy win for Outstanding Comedy & Variety Special.

Douglas Lyons is a 2X Emmy nominated multi-hyphenate artist. As a writer, he earned a GLAAD nomination for his Broadway playwriting debut, Chicken and Biscuits, which was the 2nd most produced play in America in 2022-23. His most recent play, Table 17, which premiered Off-Broadway at MCC Theater, was deemed a New York Times Critics’ Pick and won two 2024 Audelco Awards for Best Playwright and Outstanding Ensemble. Douglas served as a writer on both seasons of Apple TV's  “Fraggle Rock.” His Broadway acting credits include The Book of Mormon, plus the Original Casts of Beautifuland the Tony Award winning Broadway revival of Parade. Tour credits include Rent, Dreamgirls and The Book of Mormon. As a composer-lyricist, his music and lyrics have been featured on Nickelodeon, BET Plus, Apple TV, CBS's Sunday Morning Show, Audible and more. His other written stage works include Don't Touch My Hair (IAMA Theatre Company), Polkadots (Off Broadway Alliance Winner Best Family Show, Atlantic Theater Company), Beau (Adirondack Theatre Festival), the world premiere of Five Points (Theater Latté Da) and more. He is currently developing television with Sky Dance and Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort. @DouglasSings IG: @Chocolatehipster

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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J Savage joins Behind the Awards to chat about Smash from Audition to Closing, Understudying Buddy the Elf in Elf the Musical, and turbulence that was part of his Broadway Debut in Bad Cinderella.

Also in this episode - Harvey Fierstein’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Tony Award.  Plus Joy the Musical.

J Savage, also known as Jonathan, is an NYC based artist and outdoorsman most recently seen in SMASH on Broadway, just down the street from the Marquis theatre where he recently was in the ensemble and was first cover for Buddy in the Broadway revival of Elf: The Musical  

Also a singer/songwriter, Jonathan took his pandemic experience and wrote his critically acclaimed one man show, Farewell to the West. Three months into quarantine, he bought a one way ticket West, got a camper van and moved to Yellowstone National Park to teach preschool to the rangers' kids. He fell in love with a true mountain man who taught him how to climb, ski, ride horses and live a full mountain life. With 11 original songs he dives deep into the emotional and physical tug-of-war of his two major yet conflicting passions: the outdoors and musical theatre. The show was see at both Feinstein’s/54 Below and The Green Room 42 last year. 

After a year and a half away in the mountains, Jonathan moved back to New York City in August of 2021 on his 25th birthday. It was that day be promised himself that if he would come back to pursue his dreams, then he was going to do two things this year: his first solo backpack trip and book Broadway. A year later both those dreams came true. Within the same week, he did his first solo backpack in Yosemite and auditioned for Bad Cinderella on Broadway. 

After making his Broadway debut in 2022, J spent most of 2023 in what he likes to call his New World Stages Residency, performing in both A Sign of the Times and Empire: The Musical (Ethan O'Dowd). 

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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Tony Award Winning Writer/Composer stops by Behind the Awards to discuss adapting Pirates into the Jazz age as as his other hits such as The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Curtains….Don’t forget the Pina Colada Song.

Also in this episode - Catherine Zeta Jone’s 2010 Tony win for A Little Night Music and Chess Revival finds a home at The Imperial Theater.  Plus new music and workshop from the Broadway bound Wanted featuring Solea Pfeiffer, Liisi LaFontaine, and Will Swenson.

Rupert Holmes is a 2023 New York Times bestselling author and was the first individual to singly win Tony awards for book, music, and lyrics, this for The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which also won the Tony for Best Musical. The Drama Desk awarded him the identical honors plus Best Orchestration. He is a recipient of the Bergeret Living Legend award from The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, ASCAP’s George M. Cohan Award, and an honorary doctorate from The Manhattan School of Music. Additional Broadway & LORT include: Say Goodnight Gracie (Tony Nomination, Best Play); Curtains (Drama Desk award, Best Book, Tony nominations Best Book, Best Add’l Lyrics); Accomplice (Edgar Award, Mystery Writers of America); Roundabout Theatre’s The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2013 Tony nomination, Best Revival), the current All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg; The Nutty Professor (libretto by Holmes, music by Marvin Hamlisch), and The Picture of Dorian Gray (music and libretto by Holmes, The British Museum). He created and wrote all four seasons of the acclaimed AMC period dramedy Remember WENN; contributed songs to the Golden Globe-winning score of A Star is Born; wrote, arranged and conducted platinum recordings by Barbra Streisand as well as his own Billboard top ten hits. He dedicates his work on Pirates to his brother Richard, a fixture of The Met and NYGASP, who as a boy steeped him in the entire Gilbert and Sullivan canon.

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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