Beltline to Broadway

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Turner Classic Movie's Dave Karger joins the pod squad to discuss the cultural significance of musicals, whether we're entering a new era of film musicals, and how contemporary audiences are embracing (or resisting) the genre.

Dave Karger is an award-winning entertainment journalist, Turner Classic Movies host, and a leading expert in film history. A longtime red carpet correspondent and Oscars insider, Dave has interviewed some of the biggest names in Hollywood. His deep passion for classic cinema and musicals led him to create Musical Matinee, a Saturday series on TCM that curates and celebrates the best of the genre. A Duke University graduate, Dave’s love for film began in college, where he discovered the rich history of Hollywood. Today, he continues to share his expertise and enthusiasm for film with audiences worldwide.

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Hear interviews with Broadway stars live from the Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction.

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Shae Marie Tolbut (Black Stage Everything) joins the pod squad to discuss her journey from stage management to playwriting, the challenges of creating space for plus-size Black performers, and why she’s passionate about centering Black joy on stage.

Shae Marie Tolbut is a writer, director, and co-founder of Black Stage Everything, a platform dedicated to amplifying Black voices in theater. With a background in stage management and poetry, she has transitioned into playwriting, creating works that center plus-size Black women without reducing them to stereotypes. She is currently developing her play Blue and Green, a groundbreaking production that challenges industry norms by focusing on fully realized Black characters beyond their size. A fierce advocate for representation and inclusion, Shay Marie continues to push boundaries and uplift marginalized voices in the arts.

Connect with Beltline to Broadway

Facebook/Instagram @beltlinetobroadway

Twitter @beltlinetobway

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A conversation with Valerie Curtis-Newton about the theater's role in a community, Black theater in America today, and more.

About the Guest

Currently the Head of Directing at the University of Washington School of Drama, I also serve as the Founding Artistic Director for The Hansberry Project, a professional African American theatre lab. I have worked with professional theatre's across the country including: The Guthrie Theatre, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Seattle Rep, Playmakers Repertory Company, Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, The Mark Taper Forum, New York Theatre Workshop, and Southern Repertory Theatre among others.

Links:

https://playmakersrep.org/show/blues-for-an-alabama-sky/

Follow us

Website: beltlinetobroadway.org

Facebook/Instagram @beltlinetobroadway

Twitter @beltlinetobway

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Hear what Dr. Alisa Hurwitz (Dr. Drama) has to say about Jewish representation onstage, musicals and mental health, and faith. Also in this episode, hear what COME FROM AWAY's Kevin Tuerff has to say about paying it forward.

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Libby Parker (aka The Broadway Dietician) joins the pod squad to discuss the challenges theater artists face when it comes to body image, the pressures of casting expectations, and how the industry can be more inclusive. She also offers tips on how performers can fuel the body for performance and avoid diet culture pitfalls.

Libby Parker is a registered dietitian specializing in eating disorder recovery and nutrition for performers. Passionate about dismantling harmful industry norms, she educates artists on maintaining a healthy relationship with food and their bodies. She is the author of Permission to Eat and an upcoming textbook for BFA programs that promotes a weight-neutral approach to health. Libby frequently speaks at conferences and offers coaching services through her websites, The Broadway Dietitian and Not Your Average Nutritionist. Her mission is to empower performers to prioritize their well-being while pursuing their artistic dreams.

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Actor, director, and lifelong theater fan Aaron Simon Gross joins the pod squad to discuss how his early passion for musical theater shaped his career, the importance of audience engagement in modern theater, and why collaborating with playwrights on new works thrills him.

Aaron Simon Gross is a multi-talented actor, director, and creative mind with deep roots in the theater world. He made his Broadway debut in 13, where he worked closely with Jason Robert Brown, and has since carved out a unique career that blends performing, directing, and developing new works. Passionate about bringing fresh voices to the stage, Aaron frequently collaborates with emerging playwrights and has been involved in numerous workshops and productions. Recently, he directed a show for North Carolina Theatre Conservatory, and he’s now pursuing a master's degree in journalism in New York—further proof that his love for storytelling extends beyond the stage.

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