BGR's Backstage Buzz

Welcome to BGR's Backstage Buzz Podcast! Our featured guest is Austen Danielle Bohmer who plays the bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, Glinda. 

Austen shares shares why this role is so appealing and her most heartwarming fan interaction to date that happened in Grand Rapids.

We also spend time with Andy Allen, Vice President of Advancement at AYA Youth Collective to learn more about the non-profit organization and how you can get support during the show run of Wicked.

Show sponsors include- AHC Hospitality, BISSELL Inc., Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services,  SHARPE Cars. Title Sponsor is Fifth Third. Season Sponsor is Meijer.

New episodes come out ahead of Broadway Grand Rapids shows making their way to the DeVos Performance Hall stage. 

Welcome to BGR's Backstage Buzz Podcast! Our featured guest is Maeve Moynihan plays Scout Finch. To Kill A Mockingbird is her first Broadway tour and she talks about her connection with her character and the themes of racial injustice and moral integrity.

Miller Johnson is the exclusive sponsor of To Kill A Mockingbird. Title Sponsor is Fifth Third. Season Sponsor is Meijer. 

New episodes come out ahead of Broadway Grand Rapids shows making their way to the DeVos Performance Hall stage. 

Welcome to BGR's Backstage Buzz Podcast! Our featured guests are Preston Truman Boyd,  who plays Javert in Les Misérables. He shares his love of the show and what he likes to do when visiting each city stop on the tour.

Also in this episode, we'll get to know Justin Raha, owner of Grande Finale in Spring Lake and a season subscriber. He shares why he wanted to partner with BGR's Broadway Arts Access initiative.

New episodes come out ahead of Broadway Grand Rapids shows making their way to the DeVos Performance Hall stage. 

Welcome to BGR's Backstage Buzz Podcast! Our featured guests are Bob Bucci, President of Marketing at Broadway Across America and Emily Croft from MAMMA MIA! Bob shares the 2024-2025 season lineup and explains the process of bringing the best of Broadway to West Michigan. Emily shares her personal connection about why MAMMA MIA is so special and for the first time the two will play the BGR Lightning Round!

Also in this episode, we'll get to know Melissa Conway, the new Director of Community Partnerships and Giving at Meijer (our series sponsor).

New episodes come out ahead of Broadway Grand Rapids shows making their way to the DeVos Performance Hall stage. 

Welcome to our 35th Anniversary Season!  Our featured guest is Adi Roy who plays Aladdin in Disney's Aladdin. 

This is Adi's second role on Broadway and he shares why playing Aladdin is a full circle moment and talks about his journey to the stage. 

Plus, we chat with Ellie Wilcox, Regional Managing Director of Make-A-Wish Michigan about partnering with Broadway Grand Rapids for this show and how the rest of the community can support their efforts to grant wishes to kids in the Mitten state. 

New episodes come out ahead of Broadway Grand Rapids shows making their way to the DeVos Performance Hall stage. 

Welcome to our 35th Anniversary Season!  Our featured guest is Roz White who plays Zelda Bullock in TINA- The Tina Turner Musical.

Roz is a vocalist, actress, motivational speaker and teaching artist who shares how she found her way onto the Broadway stage and why playing the role of the Mom of the Queen of Rock is an emotional journey.

Plus, we chat with Charisse Mitchell, CEO of  YWCA West Central Michigan why partnering with Broadway Grand Rapids is so meaningful. 

New episodes come out ahead of Broadway Grand Rapids shows making their way to the DeVos Performance Hall stage. 

Welcome to our 35th Anniversary Season!  Our featured guest is Walter Koppage who plays Florenz Ziedgfeld in Funny Girl. 

Seasoned actor Walter is making his Broadway debut in this exciting new musical, and he's sharing his first-time experience, what drew him to the role, and what audiences can expect when they come to see the show.

Plus, we chat with Wendy Wigger, President of Gilda's Club Grand Rapids, about why it made sense to partner with Broadway Grand Rapids for this show.

New episodes come out ahead of Broadway Grand Rapids shows making their way to the DeVos Performance Hall stage. 

Welcome to BGR's Backstage Buzz Podcast! Our featured guest is Dominic Dorset  who plays Kristoff in Disney's Frozen.

Dominic shares his excitement to come home to The Mitten, how he found his way to the touring Broadway stage and advice to future stars.

New episodes come out ahead of Broadway Grand Rapids shows making their way to the DeVos Performance Hall stage. 

Welcome to BGR's Backstage Buzz Podcast! Our featured guest is Maria-Christina Oliveras  who plays the lead Persephone in Hadestown.

Maria-Christina shares some insight of the show, the challenges of playing Persephone and how she found her way onto Broadway.

New episodes come out ahead of Broadway Grand Rapids shows making their way to the DeVos Performance Hall stage. 

Welcome to BGR's Backstage Buzz Podcast! Our featured guests are Jonathan Grunert who plays Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady and Sandra Gaddy, Executive Director of Women's Resource Center.

Jonathan shares his journey in musical theater, talks about his experiences so far during his national touring debut and plays along in our our BGR's Broadway Buzz Lightning Round!

Sandra talks about Women's Resource Center's 50 year anniversary and how the community partnership with Broadway Grand Rapids has brought about a meaningful relationship and how you can get involved in an uplifting activity in the lobby during the show run.   

New episodes come out ahead of Broadway Grand Rapids shows making their way to the DeVos Performance Hall stage.