Just in Time’s Caesar Samayao visited Behind the Awards to discuss his multiple roles in the show including the legendary Don Kurshnier.  Caesar recounts his time creating his track in Come From Away, The Pee Wee Herman Show and How to Dance to Ohio.  

Also in this episode - Real Women Have Curves Tony Nominee Benjamin Velez comes back to Behind the Awards to share what the process has been like since BroadwayCon when they were just getting into the theater to rehearse and put the show together to where we are now. 

Caesar Samayoa most recently starred as Dr. Emilio Amigo in How to Dance in Ohio on Broadway. Original Broadway Companies include Come from Away (Kevin J./Ali), Sister Act (Pablo), The Pee Wee Herman Show, Hot Feet. Off-Broadway/Regional: Evita (Perón - A.R.T./STC), Los Otros (Carlos - A.R.T./New York), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Don Armado - The Delacorte Theater), Bernstein’s Mass (Carnegie Hall), Seared (Harry - Capital Rep). Other: Yale Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, Goodspeed Musicals, Tectonic Theater Project, Seattle Rep. Film/TV: Come from Away (Apple TV+), “FBI” (CBS), “Ray Donovan” (Showtime), “The Blacklist” (NBC). Awards: 2022 HOLA José Ferrer Tespis Award, 2024 Harold Prince Award (Third St Gala). CaesarSamayoa.com @CaesarSamayoa

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Emily Bergl takes a break from Just in Time: The Bobby Darin Musical to break down the two characters she originates in the show.  Emily gives us the low down of working with Jonathan Groff as well as working on such TV Series as; The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Shameless, Desperate Housewives and Gilmore Girls.

Also in this episode - Tony Nominated Just in Time Orchestrators Andrew Resnick & Michael Thurber join Behind the Awards to discuss creating the environment that is a Jonathan Groff/Bobby Darin Concert at the Copa.

Emily Bergl is a unique actress among her peers, known for her ability to transform from role to role. With versatility across genres, she has had a flourishing career in television, film and theater. As a young actress understudying on Broadway, Emily was chosen from a nationwide casting call to play the lead in The Rage: Carrie 2, her very first job on camera. Wary of being typecast as a scream queen, she returned to the theater to play Juliet opposite Neil Patrick Harris, then starred in The Lion in Winter on Broadway opposite Laurence Fishburne and Stockard Channing. Emily’s roles on television are so transformative, she is often unrecognizable from one character to the next: Alex Borstein’s ditzy, resourceful sister in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” a hardnosed investigator on “Mindhunter,” and a gun-toting, trailer park Chicago mother in “Shameless.” On “Desperate Housewives,” she shocked audiences as the suicidal housewife Beth Young. Other regular television roles include “You,” “Dirty John,” “The Knick,” “American Crime,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Southland,” “Men in Trees,” and “Gilmore Girls.” True to her original roots, Emily has combined a thriving television career with equally diverse roles in the theater. She recently starred on Broadway opposite Sean Hayes in Good Night, Oscar, for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. Other Broadway appearances include The Ferryman, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opposite Scarlett Johansson, and A Touch of the Poet opposite Gabriel Byrne. Off-Broadway she has starred in Shakespeare in the Park, and has originated roles in new works by Gina Gionfriddo, Christopher Shinn, and Wendy Wasserstein. She has played iconic parts in classic dramas from Molière to Thornton Wilder at Lincoln Center, the Roundabout Theatre Company, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival, among others. Perhaps the most unique aspect of Emily’s career is that she has reinvented herself as a cabaret singer. She has played the premier nightclubs across the country from Cafe Carlyle to Yoshi’s and made the last album to be recorded in the Oak Room, “Emily Bergl: Live at the Algonquin.” She can also be seen in the upcoming film The History of Sound, starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor. 

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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Eila & Bruce bring you the fourth installment of their Tony deep dive. They are joined by expert Matt Stashin and share who will win and who they want to win in the following categories: Director of a Musical, Costume Design of a Musical, Lead Actress of a Play, Lead Actor of a Play, Lighting Design of a Play, and Revival of a Musical.

Laura Donnelly, Mia Farrow, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Sadie Sink, Sarah Snook, George Clooney, Cole Escola, Jon Michael Hill, Daniel Day Kim, Harry Lennix, Louis McCartney, Saheem Ali, Michael Arden, David Cromer, Christopher Gattelli, Jamie Lloyd, Dede Ayite, Gregg Barnes, Clint Ramos, Paul Tazewell, Catherine Zuber, David Bengali, Heather Gilbert, Natasha Chivers, Jon Clark, Natasha Katz, Hannah Wasileski, Nick Schlieper, Floyd Collins, Gypsy, Pirates! The Penzance Musical, Sunset Boulevard, The Hills of California, The Roomate, Purpose, John Proctor is the Villain, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Good Night and Good Luck, Oh, Mary!, Yellow Face, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Buena Vista Social Club, Maybe Happy Ending, Dead Outlaw, Death Becomes Her, Boop! The Musical, Just in Time

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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Burke Swanson visited Behind the Awards to give us the low down on his show Stranger Things: The First Shadow.  Burke shares his first hand experience in the creation of the magical theater experience and what it is like to step into the shoes of James Hopper Jr.

Also in this episode - Tony Nominated Sound Designer Dan Moses Schreier gives Behind the Awards a glimpse into what it takes to create the environment that is Floyd Collins at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center.

Burke made his Broadway debut, immediately following his graduation from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), when he originated the role of “Jack” in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of Tennessee Williams’ The Rose Tattoo, which opened in October 2019. He most recently wrapped up the First National Tour of Back to the Future: The Musical where he starred as “George McFly”.  He is now returning to Broadway as James Hopper Jr in Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

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 Joy Woods stops by Behind the Awards to talk about playing Louise in Gypsy alongside Audra McDonald. Danny Burstein, and her Notebook co-star Jordan Tyson.  Joy shares her way into the title role through Director George C Wolfe’s stories during rehearsal and her meteoric rise from Little Shop to Six to being a Tony Nominee.

Also in this episode - Millie Shapiro and Keri Rene Fuller from Last Bimbo of the Apocalypse now running at The New Group join us to give listeners a looking into the show and their characters.

Joy Woods originated the role of Middle Allie in The Notebook on Broadway as well as at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and received The Joseph Jefferson Award for Performer in a Supporting Role – Musical for her performance. Previously, Woods made her Broadway debut as Catherine Parr in Six: The Musical. In 2023, Woods starred as Martha Mills in the Off-Broadway revival of I Can Get it For You Wholesale. The production won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Revival of a Musical. Woods made her Off-Broadway debut in 2019, originating the role of Chiffon in the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors. She then returned to the show in 2023 as Audrey. Woods resides in New York and graduated from the AMDA College of the Performing Arts.

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 Jasmine Amy Rogers joins behind the Awards to give a deep dive into Boop The Musical where she is making her Broadway Debut.  Jasmine also shares the process of working with Jerry Mitchell on the workshop and then into the out of town as well as working with David Foster.

Also in this episode - Octavia Spencer’s 2012 Oscar win for The Help

Jasmine, in her acclaimed Broadway debut, has earned nominations for the Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards, Drama League Awards, and Chita Rivera Awards — and winning a Theatre World Award. She originated the role of Betty Boop in the pre-Broadway Chicago run. Additional credits include Anita in Jelly’s Last Jam (Pasadena Playhouse), Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls (National Tour), Melody Green in The Wanderer (Paper Mill Playhouse), and Francis in Becoming Nancy (Alliance Theatre). A Jimmy Awards finalist, she studied musical theater at the Manhattan School of Music.

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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Eila & Bruce bring you the third installment of their Tony deep dive. They are joined by expert Matt Stashin and share who will win and who they want to win in the following categories: Featured Actress in a Musical, Book of a Musical, Scenic Design of a Play, Best Revival of a Play, and Sound Design of a Musical

Natalie Venetia Belcon, Julia Knitel, Gracie Lawrence, Justina Machado, Joy Woods, Will Aronson, Hue Park, David Cumming Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, Zoe Roberts, Itamar Moses, Marco Pennette, Marco Ramirez, David Bergman, Marg Horwell, Miriam Buether, 59 Productions, Marsha Ginsberg, Rob Howell, Scott Pask, Jonathan Deans, Adam Fisher, Peter Hylenski, Dan Moses Schreier, Buena Vista Social Club, Dead Outlaw, Just in Time, Real Women Have Curves, Gypsy, Maybe Happy Ending, Operation Mincemeat, Death Becomes Her, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, English, The Hills of California, Good Night and Good Luck, Sunset Boulevard, Floyd Collins, Eureka Day, Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Romeo & Juliet, Yellow Face

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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Death Becomes Her Writer Marco Pennette joins Behind the Awards to chat about making his Broadway Debut in this musical comedy.  From his TV work on such shows as Ugly Betty, Caroline in the City, and Kate & Allie to being Hal Prince’s intern Marco has stories for days including the touching relationship he had with Linda Lavin.  Death Becomes Her stated 8 years ago with the help of his friend Kristin Chenoweth. 

Also in this episode - Isabelle Sanford’s Emmy Win and a review of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga.

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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2 time Lortel Winner Francis Jue dropped by Behind the Awards to chat about his role in Yellow Face and working with David Henry Wong.  Francis shares his 20 year journey with the piece as well as storing in the tour of M Butterfly and The King and I at The MUNY.  Catch Yellow Face on PBS May 16th 2025.

Also in this episode - Lady Gaga’s 2019 Oscar win for Best Song Shallow from A Star is Born. Review of Pirates! A Penzance Musical.

Francis Jue earned Lucille Lortel and Obie Awards for the NYC debut of Yellow Face at the Public Theater. Broadway: Pacific Overtures, Thoroughly Modern Millie, M. Butterfly. Recent theatre credits include Cambodian Rock Band (Lortel Award), Twilight: Los Angeles 1992, Once Upon a Mattress, Babbitt, Good Enemy, Soft Power (Outer Critics Circle Award), Wild Goose Dreams (Obie Award). Film/TV includes Our Son, White Noise, Joyful Noise, Madam Secretary, New Amsterdam, Law & Order: SVU, Hightown.

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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Eila & Bruce bring you the second installment of their Tony deep dive. They are joined by expert Matt Stashin and share who will win and who they want to win in the following categories: Featured Actress in a Play, Lighting Design of a Musical, Costume Design of a Play, Best Original Score and Director of a Play.

Tala Ashe, Jessica Hect, Marjan Neshat, Fina Strazza, Kara Young, Jack Knowles, Tyler Micoleau, Ben Stanton, Rudy Horne Sun, Scott Zielinski, Justin Townsend, Brenda, Abbandandolo, Marg Horwell, Rob Howell, Holly Pierson, Brigitte Reiffenstuel, Erik Della Penna, David Yazbeck, Noel Carey, Julia Mattison, Will Aronson, Hue Park, David Cumming, Natasha Hodgson, Zoe Roberts, Joy Huerta, Benjamin Valez, Knud Adams, Sam Mendes, Sam Pinkleton, Danya Taymor, Kip Williams, English, Eureka Day, John Proctor is the Villain, Purpose, Sunset Boulevard, Buena Vista Social Club, Maybe Happy Ending, Floyd Collins, Death Becomes Her, Good Night and Good Luck, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Hills of California, Oh Mary!, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Dead Outlaw, Operation Mincemeat, Real Women Have Curves.

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