Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb

Actor/Writer Harrison Bryan returns to Behind the Awards to discuss life as an Understudy for Ethan Slater in Marcel on the Train.  This play follows a 20yr old Marcel Marceau and the untold story of how he saved children during World War 2.  Now playing at CSC through March 22nd, 2026.

Also in this episode - Pie Day! Featuring Sweeney Todd & Waitress

Harrison Bryan is an award-winning multi-hyphenate: playwright, actor, librettist, producer, and puppeteer. A proud member of The Dramatists Guild of America and The Alliance of Jewish Theatre, and artist in residence at Windridge Farm, he is a two-time finalist at NYC’s Steven Sondheim “Write-A-Play Festival” and a Helen Hayes Award–nominated performing artist. Recipient of the 2019 New York Innovative Theatre Award, his work has been produced, read, or workshopped at venues including The Cherry Lane Theatre, MCC’s FreshPlay Festival, Broadway Comedy Club, BMI Advanced Writer’s Workshop, FringeNYC, The Flea, Round House Theatre, Caveat NYC, The Irish Rep, City Vineyard NYC, The Rude Mechanicals, Ugly Rhino, The Kraine, Open Hydrant, The Players Theatre, The Nuyorican, Dixon Place, People’s Improv Theatre, and Boston University, among others.

His musical A Hanukkah Carol, or GELT TRIP! The Musical received an honorary mention from the American Playwriting Foundation’s Relentless Award for Musical Theatre committee and won the Audience’s Choice Award at Open Jar Studio’s Broadway Shark Tank, premiering at Round House Theatre in 2024. His newest musical, BALLS: The Monster-Catchin' Musical Comédy, was featured in TimeOut NY, Variety, Forbes, Kickstarter’s “Projects We Love,” and Nintendo Life, debuting in NYC with a sold-out run at Caveat NYC and a panel at New York Comic Con. It won eight Broadway World Awards, including Best New Musical, Best Book, Best Score, and Best Production of a Musical.

Harrison’s plays include [WORLD WAR TBD], read Off-Broadway at The Cherry Lane Theatre’s Tuesday TONGUES series; STILL NOT, produced at FringeNYC and published in Indie Theatre Now’s 2016 collection; In Fair Corona, produced virtually by The Rude Mechanicals; Ophelia Later, a finalist at Red Bull Theatre’s New Short Play Festival; and Romeo’s Jules, which won Best of Week at The Players Theatre Short Play Festival.

A dedicated educator and practitioner, he has trained with clown master Christopher Bayes (Yale School of Drama), puppeteer Jim Kroupa (Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center), mixed-media innovator Jared Mezzocchi (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), and mentoring playwrights Lauren Gunderson, Lydia Diamond, and Kirsten Greenidge. He studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, New York Stage & Film, and Double-Edge Theatre Co. A Brooklyn native with a BFA from Boston University, Harrison served five years as Writer/Actor with FACES, Theatre Network for Teens, using playwriting and improv to promote tolerance, peace, and anti-bullying.

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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Star of Stage, Screen and Drag Latrice Royale stops by Behind the Awards to dish on all things, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Little Shop of Horrors, Stop! That! Train! and more!  Listen to hear how much reality is in reality TV and Latrice’s journey from Color Guard to Miss Congeniality to her own show coming to a stage near you!

Best known for her Chunky Yet Funky, Bold and Beautiful appearances on shows like “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “We’re Here,” Latrice Royale made her long awaited 54 Below debut on the heels of her star turn as Audrey II in Ogunquit Playhouse’s Little Shop of Horrors.  Touring extensively with her autobiographical cabaret shows Here’s to Life and Life Goes On with her husband Christopher Hamblin at the piano, Miss Royale’s vocals will shine as she shares stories along with some of her favorite tunes such as “With Every Breath I Take” and her own special spin on Aretha Franklin’s “RESPECT.” 

Latrice Royale captured the hearts of the world and earned the title of Miss Congeniality on Season 4 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” She then went on to appear in other incarnations of the franchise, including multiple guest appearances on the show, “RuPaul’s Drag U” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” Seasons 1 & 4, as well as representing “RuPaul’s Drag Race” on “Celebrity Family Feud.” Latrice also just completed her fourth residency at The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas as part of the “RuPaul’s Drag Race: LIVE!” show, and just finished filming Season 2 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race: LIVE! UNTUCKED” for WOWPresentsPlus.

In January 2021, Latrice made history by becoming the first queen to appear in drag on the QVC network, while promoting Ruby Royale nuts by Squirrel Brand. Since that time she has seen two successful runs on London’s West End Stage in DeathDrop. In addition to her guest star role on the Netflix series “AJ & The Queen,” Miss Royale also served as a special consultant to the writers of that show, helping shape the script and her character of Faberge Leggs, which became a fan-favorite from the series.

The Large and in Charge Beautiful Queen has toured the world extensively, not only in group tours with her “RuPaul’s Drag Race” sisters, but her autobiographical one-queen-show Here’s to Life has seen sold out audiences in major cities all over the world, with an album of the same name available worldwide. Royale also toured over 30 cities in North America in 2023 with her debut solo tour Life Goes On, which she also self-produced through her company Latrice Royale, INC. / LRI Talent & Management.

Always eager to lend her voice to help her community, Latrice was especially proud to be a keynote speaker on the steps of the State Capitol Building of the State of Florida in Tallahassee, speaking out against anti-drag legislation as part of the Drag Queen March in 2023.

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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Actor/Writer Andrew Keenan - Bolger takes us back in time to NYC in the 90s with his new Novel Limelight.  Andrew brings back the real life characters from that time such as Rentheads, Clubkids who were navigating a changing city.  Andrew also takes us back to where his career began with Disney’s Beauty & The Beast, The National Tour of Ragtime and of course fan favorite Newsies.

Get tickets for Andrew’s Book Event March 16th 2026 - https://donate2.app/sOGxUp

Buy Andrew’s Book - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768589/limelight-by-andrew-keenan-bolger/

Also in this episode - Eila & Bruce discuss their recent late to the party binges.  Difficult People starring Julie Klausner, Billy Eichner, Cole Escola, Andrea Martin and more.  Pose starring Billy Porter, MJ Rodriguez, Indya Moore and more.

Andrew Keenan-Bolger is an actor, director, author and filmmaker. He starred as “Jesse Tuck” in Tuck Everlasting on Broadway (Drama League Award nominee). He created the role of "Crutchie" in the Original Broadway Cast of Newsies (Outer Critics Circle nominee) and in the record-breaking Newsies: The Broadway Musical film. Other Broadway: Mary Poppins, Seussical, Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Carol. 1st Nat'l Tours: Spelling Bee, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Mary Poppins, Ragtime. Theater: Titanique (Off-Broadway), Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors (Off-Broadway), Scarlett Dreams (Off-Broadway), Seven Deadly Sins (Off-Broadway, dir. Moisés Kaufman), Family Furniture at The Flea Theater (dir. Thomas Kail),  Aladdin at The 5th Avenue Theater (dir. Casey Nicholaw), Ever After at Papermill Playhouse (dir. Kathleen Marshall), Film: “Billy Frazier” in The Rewrite starring Hugh Grant, To Dust, Marci X, Are You Joking? Upcoming: Rosie in On Swift Horses starring Jacob Elordi and Daisy Edgar-Jones, Hanish in V13 starring Alan Cumming. TV: The Undoing (HBO), The Blacklist (NBC), The Other Two (HBO), Three Rivers (2018 ABC Pilot, lead), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon), Nurse Jackie (Showtime), Looking  (HBO), Naked Brothers Band (Nickelodeon), One Life to Live. Podcast: Bobby in Marvel's Wolverine: The Long Night. B.F.A. from the University of Michigan. His work as a filmmaker has been profiled in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, The Associated Press and New York Magazine. Director of the award-winning short films Mikey’s Army, Sign and The Ceiling Fan. Along with collaborator, Kate Wetherhead, he is the co-creator the critically acclaimed webseries, Submissions Only and co-author of the children’s series Jack & Louisa (Penguin Random House). He is the author of the upcoming novel Limelight (Penguin Random House).

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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Steppenwolf Ensemble Member Namir Smallwood stops by Behind the Awards to deep dive Peter Evan in Bug by Tracy Letts.  Namir talks about working with Carrie Coon and David Cromer and taking the show from Chicago to NY.  Catch Namir in Bug just extended through March 8th.

Also in this episode - Invited Dress Rehearsal of Every Brilliant Thing Starring Daniel Radcliffe

Namir Smallwood joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble in 2017. Steppenwolf: You Will Get Sick, The Book of Grace, The Seagull, Bug, True West, BLKS, Monster, Man In Love, The Hot L Baltimore, Last Night and the Night Before. Broadway: Pass Over. Off-Broadway: Pipeline, Pass Over (Lincoln Center). Chicago: Primary Trust (Goodman); Charm (Northlight Theatre); The Grapes of Wrath (The Gift Theatre); East Texas Hot Links (Writers Theatre). Regional: Marin Theatre Company, Pillsbury House Theatre, Ten Thousand Things, Guthrie Theater. International: True West (Galway International Arts Festival). Television: “Chicago Fire,” “Betrayal,” “Elementary,” “American Rust” (Showtime/FreeVee); “Power Book IV: Force” (STARZ). Film: Rounding, About Time, Bailey’s Blues.

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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Behind the Awards goes on location to bring you to The Kleban Awards!  This live episode brings you interviews with Santino Fontana, Susan Stroman, Richard Maltby Jr, Maury Yeston, and John Weidman as well as performances by Talia Suskauer, Santino Fontana and more.  Congratulations to the winners Phillip Christian Smith and Eric Price.

Also in this episode - Suffs PBS Airdate announced for May 8th starring Shaina Taub, Hannah Cruz, Jenn Colella and Nikki M. James to name a few.

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 Winner Myles Frost visits Behind the Awards to chat about his upcoming leading role in Chez Joey Directed by Savion Glover & Tony Goldwyn.  Myles also takes us back with a look at the experience of becoming Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical both on Broadway and The West End.

Get tickets for Chez Joey - https://tickets.arenastage.org/events/38123

Also in this episode.- The closing announcement of Moulin Rouge.  Winner of 10 Tony Award in 2020 including Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical for Aaron Tveit, Featured Actor in a Musical for Danny Burstein

Myles Frost is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actor, and music producer. In 2022, he became the youngest solo actor in history to win the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance as MJ in MJ the Musical. He was also nominated for a Grammy Award as principal vocalist on the MJ the Musical cast album. In 2024, Myles made his major motion picture debut in the role of Trayvon Martin in the biographical drama Origin. In 2025, he was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his revised role as MJ in MJ the Musical UK. Among his numerous accolades, Myles proudly received the 76th Annual Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut Performance, the 2022 Chita Rivera Award, and recognition as a nominee for the 2022 Drama League Award, 2022 Drama Desk Award, and 2022 Outer Critics Circle Award. He has been celebrated as part of Variety’s 2022 Power of Young Hollywood Impact Report, Ebony’s 2022 Power 100 List, The Root’s 2022 100 Most Influential Black Americans, the 2022 HBCU Top 30 Under 30, and the NAACP Theatre Spirit Award. At just 26, Myles continues to defy expectations as a self-trained artist, actor, and musician.

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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Christine Sherrill makes her Debut on Broadway as well as with us here at Behind the Awards.  Christine dishes on what it’s like to go from Tour to Broadway, The moment she found out she was going to Broadway, and what Bucket List roles she has in mind.  Christine talks about how this show is a fan favorite from Stage Door excitement to viral moments in the audience.

Christine is making her Broadway Debut and last enjoyed the role of Donna during her residency with the Las Vegas company of MAMMA MIA! Other national credits include Kiss Me Kate (Kate); Next to Normal (Diana); Guys and Dolls (Adelaide); Sunset Boulevard (Norma Desmond) which earned her a Joseph Jefferson Award. Her work spans prestigious houses from the Goodman Theatre to DC Shakespeare. TV/Film/Video: “FBI Most Wanted,” “Prophet,” “Red Dead Redemption,” “Landline.”

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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Actor Jonathan Mousset joins Behind the Awards to chat about his career.  Jonathan talks about the experience that comes with creating new works through the 29 hour reading process.  Jonathan talks about auditioning, touring the county in regional theaters and the importance of vocal health.

Also in this episode - Oscar Nomination takeaways.  From Kate Hudson’s Nomination for Song Sung Blue to Frankenstein and Elle Fanning Noms.  To snubs like Wicked and Ariana Grande.

Jonathan Mousset (he/his) Previously seen as "Frankie Valli" in Jersey Boys (Ogunquit PH, The Fulton, NSMT). Jonathan made his Off-Broadway debut with the Public Theater's Mobile Unit in a bilingual musical adaptation of "Much Ado About Nothing." He made his Carnegie Hall debut performing in Mozart: Her Story as the treacherous villain Schuster directed by Stephanie Klemons. Other notable credits include In the Heights (Usnavi, Dir/Choreo: Luis Salgado), tick, tick... BOOM! (Bucks CountyPH), R&H's Cinderella (Prince Topher, The Fulton), Newsies (Jack Kelly, Fireside Theatre), It Happened in Key West (The Fulton). Growing up as a child of Venezuelan immigrants, Jonathan has been singing and performing since the age of six. Graduate of Florida State University (BM in Music Theatre). His debut vocal record One Take: A Jazz Album is available to stream on all major music platforms. IG:@jonathangmoussetnyc

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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Marc Shaiman - Never Mind the Happy

Tony, Emmy, Grammy Award winning Composer and Lyricist Marc Shaiman stops by Behind the Awards to give us a sneak peek into his Memoir Never Mind the Happy.  Marc shares his path to success when a daydream turned into reality starring Bette Midler.  Marc also recounts his time on SNL and meeting Billy Crystal and Martin Short, his many Movie credits including First Wives Club, When Harry Met Sally, Sister Act 2, and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut which lead to his Broadway dreams coming true with Hairspray along side Scott Wittman.

Get Marc’s Book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP5L62X5?&linkCode=sl1&tag=marcshaiman-20&linkId=dfe4af2994d42b81f7823af7f8f74972&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Also in this episode - Rodney Hicks Play InhaleExhale Directed by Josh Rhodes and starring; Christopher J. Hanke, Crystal Lucas Perry, Michael James Scott, and Elizabeth Stanley gets a one-night-only reading at The Laurie Beechman Theatre February 23, 2026.

For Tickets: https://www.showclix.com/event/lbt25-inhale-exhale

Marc Shaiman is a renowned American composer, lyricist, arranger, and music producer known for his work across film, television, and theater. Shaiman began his career as a musical director and arranger for Bette Midler before expanding into film scoring. He gained prominence with his work on films such as When Harry Met Sally, The Addams Family, Sister Act, City Slickers, A Few Good Men, Sleepless in Seattle, The American President, and South Park, on television with SNL, and on his recordings with Harry Connick Jr. and Mariah Carey. Shaiman earned widespread acclaim for co-writing the Broadway musical Hairspray alongside his longtime co-lyricist Scott Wittman. The duo has also co-created the musicals Catch Me If You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Some Like It Hot, and Smash. He has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards and has won a Tony, two Emmys, and two Grammys. Marc Shaiman is celebrated for his versatile, emotionally resonant music and his ability to blend classic musical theater sensibilities with modern storytelling. Born and raised in New Jersey, he currently lives in New York with his husband, Lieutenant Commander (ret) Lou Mirabal.

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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Life long theater kid Tonatiuh joins Behind the Awards to talk about one of the Movie Musicals of the year alongside Jennifer Lopez & Deigo Luna.  Tonatiuh shares his journey from audition to shooting in record time to the premier.  Tonatiuh recalls being put through his dancing paces with Sergio Trujillo and the friendship his gained under the direction of Bill Condon.  As if that wasn’t enough Tonatiuh shares the advice and friendship Jennifer Lopez shared.

Also in this episode - What 2026 Theater Eila & Bruce are looking forward to: Titanique, Dog Day Afternoon starring Jon Bernthal & Ebon Moss-Bachrach & , The Lost Boys, Proof starring Don Cheadle, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone starring Taraji P. Henson and Directed by Debbie Allen.

Tonatiuh (no last name) is an accomplished actor, singer, and performer who can be seen in the  lead role of Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman, directed by Bill Condon and starring opposite  Jennifer Lopez and Diego Luna. Produced by Artists Equity and Jennifer’s Nuyorican Productions,  the film is based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical adaptation of Manuel Puig’s  critically acclaimed 1976 novel. 

The film debuted at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it became one of the most talked-about  premieres. Tonatiuh’s performance earned widespread acclaim, with Deadline calling him a  “breakout discovery,” USA Today declaring him “enchanting” and a star on the rise, and ScreenDaily  hailing him as a “revelation.” He landed the role after an extensive and highly competitive casting  process. 

Most recently, Tonatiuh was seen on stage as a part of at the prestigious Williamstown Theater  Festival co-starring in Jeremy O’Harris’ “Spirit of the People.” and he is currently in production for  Ryan Murphy's "American Love Story" for FX in which is he portrays Narciso Rodriguez. Tonatiuh  also recently co-starred in the Netflix thriller Carry-On, a Netflix thriller produced by Amblin,  alongside Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman. 

On television, Tonatiuh starred as a series regular in ABC’s Promised Land alongside John Ortiz,  Cecilia Suárez, and Bellamy Young, and appeared in Peacock’s Angelyne with Emmy Rossum and  Martin Freeman. He also lends his voice as a recurring character in Nickelodeon’s The Loud House  and has made guest appearances in Jane the Virgin, Chicago Med, Famous in Love, and Stargate: Origins. 

On the film side, he starred in the SXSW-selected indie feature Drunk Bus and played a supporting  lead in the indie dramedy Shoplifters of the World. 

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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