Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

Joseph Corella is a dancer, choreographer, and founder of 567Broadway! Joseph takes me through how he got started in dance, his journey to the Broadway stage, and why he wanted to create 567Broadway! If you’ve never heard of 567Broadway!, I am so excited to introduce you to Joseph AND to the popular dance fitness class--and don’t worry if you have zero dance skill (like myself), the class is for all levels!

For a full transcript of today's episode go to beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:02:30] Spisak Dance Academy
[00:05:34] Over the Moon
[00:10:23] The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute
[00:30:04] Broadway Dance Center

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Chrissy Hogue Bartles is an actor, producer, and filmmaker.  In addition to her acting career, she is on a mission to teach actors how to make money at their craft no matter where they live.  New York, Chicago, LA get a lot of press in the acting world, but there are thousands of people all over this country trying to make a living in acting and Chrissy walks me through some of her biggest recommendations. No matter how long you’ve been at this game called entertainment there is something in this episode for everyone. And if you know an actor or someone who dreams of acting, be sure to share this with them.  Sometimes the smallest suggestion can help us all think out of the box enough to begin to make huge strides.

For a full transcript of today's episode go to beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:7:23] Julien Dubuque International Film Festival
[00:14:03] Wendy Alane Wright
[00:18:12] ACX
[00:18:34] Audacity
[00:26:22] Upwork
[00:26:54] Freelancer.com
[00:26:56] Fiverr
[00:28:41] Voices.com
[00:40:39] The Queen’s Gambit – NY Times Article

Books Recommended by Chrissy*
Self-Management for Actors: Getting Down to (Show) Business by Bonnie Gillespie
Audition by Michael Shurtleff
Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen
An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski
Sanford Meisner on Acting by Sanford Meisner

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*This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, Chrissy will receive a small commission.

Jonathan McCrory is the Artistic Director of Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre. Jonathan walks me through his serendipitous beginnings at the Duke Ellington School in Washington DC to his current position at National Black Theater. Jonathan considers himself a “creative doula” a term I had never heard until this conversation, but after “meeting” Jonathan I can think of no better description.

For a full transcript of today's episode go to beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:01:03] Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theater
[00:01:55] Duke Ellington School
[00:07:58] The Movement Theater Company
[00:08:23] Harlem 9
[00:08:27] Next Gen Network
[00:08:30] Black Theater Commons
[00:08:36] HowlRound
[00:33:49] New Black Fest

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On today’s episode, I speak with Cat Ramirez a director and producer. Cat is the current Creative Director of Philadelphia Asian Performing Artists which serves to enhance and strengthen the presence of Asian Americans in the Philadelphia theatre community. Our conversation runs the gamut from the definition of devised works, to the creation of PAPA, to their love of anime.

For a full transcript of today's episode go to beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:03:55] Mariadela Belle Alvarez
[00:03:57] Carl(os) Roa
[00:08:50] Philadelphia Asian Performing Artists
[00:09:25] Makoto Hirano Open Letter
[00:11:25] Asian Arts Initiative
[00:11:38] Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival 
[00:11:50] PAPA Playwrights Project
[00:11:59] Stephanie Kyung-Sun Walters
[00:15:20] Bearded Ladies Cabaret
[00:15:36] Obvious Agency
[00:19:36] Interact Theater Company
[00:25:50] Directors Gathering
[00:35:40] Watch Yu Yu Hakusho
[00:35:45] About Yu Yu Hakusho

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On today’s show...well, we don’t have a show today. Because of the upcoming holidays, I’ve decided to take a little bit of a break. Catch up on some editing, bank some future interviews, and also just take things easy.   

I am so excited for what the new year will bring. I have several episodes waiting to be shared, and many more scheduled in the coming weeks. People are doing cool things out there and I feel so very lucky that so many have spent their time with me over the last five months. 

 New episodes will begin again on Jan. 11th, so use this free time to catch-up on past ones. There are twenty, yes, TWENTY previous episodes to check out that I promise you don’t want to miss. I’ll still be on the socials during the coming weeks so be sure to like, tweet, message me, whatever, in the meantime. 

 And with that, Happy Holidays everyone (if you celebrate) and I’ll catch ya in 2021!

On today's episode, I speak with Jason Joseph a Broadway Hair Supervisor. I fully admit I knew nothing about the world of Broadway Hair prior to our conversation, but he is so great at explaining how the hair department operates and what exactly is involved working on new and established productions. If you've been listening to the show for a bit, you know I'm a little obsessed with Broadway quick changes, which I consider to be a special brand of theatrical magic, so I was NOT disappointed to learn how hair fits into those moments.

For a full transcript of today's episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:08:35] Ali on the Run Show
[00:09:01] University of Maine Marine Biology Program 
[00:14:39] Big Fish Cast Recording
[00:19:55] Bullets Over Broadway Cast Recording
[00:26:27] Something Rotten! Cast Recording
[00:32:45] Nishida Bobby Pins
[00:49:59] IATSE Local 798
[00:52:28] School of Rock Cast Recording


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On today's episode, I speak with Markéta Fantová, a scenographer, and the current artistic director of the Prague Quadrennial. She gives me a great break down of what exactly a scenographer is, her experience moving from the Czech Republic and then moving and working in the US, and the ins and outs of the Prague Quadrennial.

Before speaking with Brad in episode 10 I was entirely unfamiliar with PQ, but after speaking with him and now Markéta I'm ready to pack my bags for the 2023 edition and I think you will be too.

For a full transcript of today's episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:00:37] Brad Caleb Lee Episode
[00:01:03] Prague Quadrennial
[00:08:25] Undermain Theater
[00:26:27] Heidelberg Project
[00:35:44] PQ Studio
[00:38:21] Emergence
[00:49:42] Sleep No More
[00:58:11] The Illustrated Man

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Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link which I may earn a small commission from if you make a purchase.

Elisa Bocanegra is the Producing Artistic Director of Hero Theatre in Los Angeles. Elisa began acting at the age of 17 with the famous Puerto Rican Traveling Theater Company in New York. After years of pursuing an acting career in film, tv, regional theatres, and off-Broadway productions, a backstage conversation with her mentor Olympia Dukakis led Elisa to create Hero Theatre. We talk about everything that led up to that moment, what has since followed, and why she has no desire to return to institutional theater in its current state.

For a full transcript of today's episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:00:19] Hero Theatre
[00:02:05] Theater Communications Group
[00:02:10] Oregon Shakespeare Festival
[00:04:01] María Irene Fornés
[00:04:39] The Rest I Makeup – María Irene Fornés Documentary
[00:04:52] Intar Theater
[00:05:54] Puerto Rican Traveling Theater Company
[00:06:30] LA Stage Alliance
[00:08:46] Crossroads Theater
[00:16:49] Inner-City Arts 
[00:20:06] Downtown Women's Center
[00:20:07] East LA Women’s Shelter
[00:20:09] Alexandria House
[00:23:31] Troy review by Tracey Paleo

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On today’s show, I speak with Matthew Neff from the wardrobe department of well…15 Broadway musicals in the last FOUR years. Are you tired just thinking about it? Because I am. Before March 12th he was a stitcher on West Side Story and since the shutdown, Matthew has pivoted to form his own business that earns himself and other Broadway wardrobe professionals some income while we all endure “The Great Pause”. Be sure to check out the links below for more information!

For a full transcript visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:47:05] Shop Neff NYC
[00:47:50] Stud Muffin
[00:48:17] Arel Studios
[00:54:00] AFC Pride Mask
00:54:01] Ali Forney Center

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Teri Ball is currently the Executive Director of Center Stage Theater in Santa Barbara, California.  We discuss what it takes to become a successful executive director and how she is keeping her theater alive during the current health crisis.  When we were originally connected she was described to me as “the most born-to-be-an-executive-director ever” and after you listen to our conversation, I think you will agree! If you or someone, you know, has superior administrative skills and loves theater, this is the episode for you.

For a full transcript of today's episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:00:53] Center Stage Theater 
[00:16:41] John H. Heinz School for Public Policy 
[00:20:31] Pittsburgh Public Theater
[00:29:24] Selected Shorts
[00:33:47] The Moth

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