Broadway Babies

Welcome to the Broadway Babies Holiday Spectacular!!! In our 24th episode, Noelle and Stephanie discuss all the fun musical content we have been gifted with this season, including Jingle Jangle, The Prom, The Snow Ball - hosted by Lance Roberts, One Night Only: The Best of Broadway, The Jagged Little Pill reunion concert, The HamFam Holiday Celebration - featuring the Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton and more!

This is our last new episode before we take a break for the holidays.  We'll return with new episodes in January. Until then, we wish you all love, joy, and peace in this holiday season and a bright and prosperous New Year!

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Stephanie Andersen (Bare: A Pop Opera, Original Cast, Cast Recording and Revival) and Noelle Hannibal (Hair: 20th Anniversary Production, Star Trek, Buffy) and are professional performers and fangirls with a deep and never-ending love for musical theatre. Join them as they chat about all things Broadway on this special podcast which will feature interviews with some of Broadway's most beloved stars.

Welcome to the 23rd episode of Broadway Babies! Noelle & Stephanie had a wonderful chat with Desmond Newson (Hamilton, Motown: The Musical). Desmond has an exciting special event called The Wiz: A Virtual Celebration of Black Excellence which will premiere on Monday, November 30 at 7PM PST / 10PM EST on Facebook and YouTube. The event features an all-star Disney cast, including our own Stephanie Andersen! Because we don't want you to miss this very special celebration, we have released next week's episode a few days early. Happy Thanksgiving!

Desmond Newson is a dynamic Broadway performer who has been nominated for an L.A. Ovation Award as well as the recipient of an NAACP Theatre Award. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida Conservatory, where he obtained his B.F.A. Degree in Theatre, with a minor in Business. Desmond has been seen in the 1st National Tour of Hamilton, Motown: The Musical on Broadway, and The 35th Anniversary of Dreamgirls, with the original Dreamgirls: Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, and Tony Award Winner, Jennifer Holliday. Internationally, he has been blessed to perform as Simba in The Lion King for Hong Kong Disney, as well as The South Korean Tour of FAME: The Musical. Beyond the stage, Desmond is an exceptional storyteller and playwright. He is using his words in the hopes of creating a more authentic, Black narrative, that will be showcased worldwide. As a Youth Arts Instructor, his goal is to mentor and empower the next generation to be unapologetic about who they are, on and off the stage.

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Stephanie Andersen (Bare: A Pop Opera, Original Cast, Cast Recording and Revival) and Noelle Hannibal (Hair: 20th Anniversary Production, Star Trek, Buffy) and are professional performers and fangirls with a deep and never-ending love for musical theatre. Join them as they chat about all things Broadway on this special podcast which will feature interviews with some of Broadway's most beloved stars.

Welcome to the 22nd episode of Broadway Babies! This week Noelle and Stephanie welcome the wonderful Joe Iconis (Be More Chill, Smash)!

Joe Iconis is a musical theater writer and performer. He has been nominated for a Tony Award, four Drama Desk Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards, two Outer Critics’ Circle Awards, and is the recipient of an Ed Kleban Award, a Jonathan Larson Award, and a Richard Rodgers Award. Be More Chill (with Joe Tracz) is currently playing London’s West End, after running at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre and off-Broadway’s The Pershing Square Signature Center after a world premiere at Two River Theater. Joe is the author of Love in Hate Nation (directed by John Simpkins; Two River Theater), Broadway Bounty Hunter (with Lance Rubin and Jason SweetTooth Williams; Barrington Stage Company and Greenwich House Theater Off-Broadway), Bloodsong of Love (Ars Nova, NAMT), The Black Suits (with Robert Maddock; Center Theater Group, Barrington Stage Company), ReWrite (Urban Stages, Goodspeed Opera House), and Theaterworks USA’s The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks and We the People. Musicals currently in development include The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson for La Jolla Playhouse (directed by Christopher Ashley), Punk Rock Girl! His music appeared on season two of NBC’s Smash. Albums: Be More Chill (OCR and OBCR, which over 500 million streams); Broadway Bounty Hunter (OCR); Things to Ruin (OCR); Two-Player Game, The Joe Iconis Rock & Roll Jamboree, and the upcoming Broadway Bounty Hunter (OCR) all available on Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records. Joe is hugely inspired by Robert Altman, Dolly Parton, The Muppets, and the Family of artists he frequently surrounds himself with. www.MrJoeIconis.com

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Stephanie Andersen (Bare: A Pop Opera, Original Cast, Cast Recording and Revival) and Noelle Hannibal (Hair: 20th Anniversary Production, Star Trek, Buffy) and are professional performers and fangirls with a deep and never-ending love for musical theatre. Join them as they chat about all things Broadway on this special podcast which will feature interviews with some of Broadway's most beloved stars.

Welcome to the 21st episode of Broadway Babies! This week Noelle and Stephanie welcome the delightful Jason Graae!

The New York Times recently said, "Nowadays, probably no other performer could infuse (that song) with the manic mischief that Jason Graae, a frisky clown with a real tenor, pumped into it..."

Jason Graae has starred on Broadway in "A Grand Night For Singing", "Falsettos", "Stardust", "Snoopy!", "Do Black Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up?". Off- Broadway shows include "Forever Plaid", "Olympus on My Mind", "All in the Timing", "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh" (Drama Desk Nomination- Best Actor in a Musical) and many more. Jason is currently playing the Wonderful Wizard of Oz across America in the National Tour of "Wicked."

Jason made his Metropolitan Opera House debut as the male vocalist in Twyla Tharp's "Everlast" with American Ballet Theatre.  Jason has performed his one man show all over the country from Rainbow and Stars and Birdland in NYC to Feinstein's and the Plush Room in L.A. and San Francisco, winning 4 Bistro Awards and a N.Y Nightlife Award, also making TimeOut NY's Top Cabaret shows of the year. His critically acclaimed show with Faith Prince, "The Prince and the Showboy" played at 54 Below and the pair won a 2nd Nightlife Award for Best Duo.

In Los Angeles, Jason won the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award - the Joel Hirschorn Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theatre. Jason originated the role of "Houdini" in the L.A. production of "Ragtime" at the Shubert Theatre and won an Ovation Award for "Forbidden Broadway Y2KLA!". At the Hollywood Bowl, he played Benny Southstreet in "Guys and Dolls'" and Marcellus in "The Music Man". With the 42nd Street Moon Theatre Co. in San Francisco, he played the 7 Sid Caesar roles in "Little Me" and most recently played Scrooge in the world premiere of "Scrooge in Love", winning the Theatre Bay Area Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

On television, Jason has appeared on many shows including "Six Feet Under", "Rude Awakening", "Friends", "Frasier", "Sabrina the Teenage Witch", "Living Single", "Caroline in the City", "Providence", etc. On PBS, he was a guest soloist twice with the Boston Pops and once with Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony on "Holiday for the Troops at The Kennedy Center" and in "Words and Music by Jerry Herman".

Movie appearances include the title role in "Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms" (2008 Toronto and London Film Festivals), Disney's "Home on the Range", "On Edge", "Gepetto", "The Dukes of Hazzard in Hollywood", and "Awakening of Spring" . He has been heard on many cartoons and for 5 and 1/2 years he was the voice of "Lucky, the Leprechaun" for Lucky Charms Cereal, a balanced part of your complete breakfast.

He made his Los Angeles Opera debut as "Njegus" in "The Merry Widow", repeating the role with Dallas , New Orleans, Houston Grand Opera, and Michigan Opera Theatre (Oscar Wilde Award nomination). Also with L.A. Opera he was featured as "Offenbach" in "The Grand Duchess" , directed by Garry Marshall. He has played "Frosch" in "Die Fledermaus" with the Washington National and San Francisco Operas, the Manhattan School of Music, and most recently with Houston Grand Opera.

Jason has recorded over 45 CDs, including original cast albums, concerts, compilations, and his 3 solo CDs, "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile - Jason Graae Sings Charles Strouse", and "Jason Graae LIVE at The Cinegrill" (Fynsworth Alley), and "Perfect Hermany-the songs of Jerry Herman."

Welcome to the 20th super-sized episode of Broadway Babies! This week Noelle and Stephanie welcome Ryan McCartan (Heathers, Rocky Horror, Wicked, Frozen)!!

Most recently, Ryan played the role of Hans in Disney’s Frozen on Broadway. Additional theater credits include Fiyero in Wicked on Broadway, and originating the roles of JD in Heathers The Musical and Mac in Scotland, PA, off-broadway.

Ryan was thrilled to be a part of The Rocky Horror Picture Show as Brad Majors, released on Fox Television.

Young audiences know Ryan as Diggie from Disney Channel’s Liv & Maddie. Additional television credits include Freakish, Royal Pains, Midnight TX, Monday Mornings, Last Man Standing and The Middle.

Ryan’s original music is available on Spotify, iTunes and most music outlets.

Instagram: @mccarya

tiktok: @ryan.mccartan

Twitter: @ryanmccartan

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Stephanie Andersen (Bare: A Pop Opera, Original Cast, Cast Recording and Revival) and Noelle Hannibal (Hair: 20th Anniversary Production, Star Trek, Buffy) and are professional performers and fangirls with a deep and never-ending love for musical theatre. Join them as they chat about all things Broadway on this special podcast which will feature interviews with some of Broadway's most beloved stars.

Welcome to the 19th episode of Broadway Babies! This week Noelle and Stephanie welcome Kristin Hanggi (bare, Rock of Ages). Kristin joins us just in time for the 20th anniversary celebration of the landmark, original production of bare: a pop opera!

Kristin Hanggi is a theater, television, and film director as well as a passionate multi-hyphenate — writer, producer, story shaman, intuitive healer, artist, and poet.

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Stephanie Andersen (Bare: A Pop Opera, Original Cast, Cast Recording and Revival) and Noelle Hannibal (Hair: 20th Anniversary Production, Star Trek, Buffy) and are professional performers and fangirls with a deep and never-ending love for musical theatre. Join them as they chat about all things Broadway on this special podcast which will feature interviews with some of Broadway's most beloved stars.

Sponsorships: on for this episode

Welcome to the 18th episode of Broadway Babies! This week, Noelle and Stephanie are thrilled to welcome Ben Fankhauser (Newsies, Beautiful, Spring Awakening)!

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Stephanie Andersen (Bare: A Pop Opera, Original Cast, Cast Recording and Revival) and Noelle Hannibal (Hair: 20th Anniversary Production, Star Trek, Buffy) and are professional performers and fangirls with a deep and never-ending love for musical theatre. Join them as they chat about all things Broadway on this special podcast which will feature interviews with some of Broadway's most beloved stars.

Welcome to the 17th episode of Broadway Babies! This week, Noelle and Stephanie welcome the incredible Drew Gehling (Waitress, Jersey Boys)

Drew Gehling has appeared on Broadway in Waitress (also Grammy Award–nominated cast album), On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, and Jersey Boys. His regional credits include the Broadway bound Almost Famous ((Jeff Bebe), Dave(Helen Hayes Award nomination), Roman Holiday (SHN Golden Gate Theatre), A Minister’s Wife, I Believe, and The Scarlet Pimpernel in concert (Lincoln Center), Waitress and Johnny Baseball (American Repertory Theater), Billy & Ray (Vineyard Theatre), and Anne of Green Gables (Off Broadway). His developmental project work includes The Secret Garden (upcoming), American Psycho, The Searchers, Big Fish, and Sunset Boulevard. Gehling’s television and film credits include “Instinct,” “The Code,” “Dietland,” “The Good Fight,” “Succession,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Elementary,” “30 Rock,” “Smash,” HBO’s Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight, “The Indoor Boys,” Stomach People, Desert Guests, “The Daily Show,” and “Live from Lincoln Center.” Academically, Gehling co-authored a paper about professional singers along with several faculty members at New York University’s Langone Voice Center.

He is an alumnus of both Carnegie Mellon and Columbia University.

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Stephanie Andersen (Bare: A Pop Opera, Original Cast, Cast Recording and Revival) and Noelle Hannibal (Hair: 20th Anniversary Production, Star Trek, Buffy) and are professional performers and fangirls with a deep and never-ending love for musical theatre. Join them as they chat about all things Broadway on this special podcast which will feature interviews with some of Broadway's most beloved stars.

Welcome to the 16th episode of Broadway Babies! This week, Noelle and Stephanie welcome the lovely Lesli Margherita (Matilda, Zorro, Emojiland)

An Olivier Award winner for her West End debut as Inez in ZORRO THE MUSICAL , Lesli made her Broadway debut originating the role of Mrs. Wormwood in MATILDA THE MUSICAL. After over 1000 performances, she bid farewell to the Broadway company of Matilda and crossed the street to The Helen Hayes to star as the diva Mona Kent in the Broadway premiere of DAMES AT SEA. Lesli returned to MATILDA to close out its Broadway run.

Off-Broadway, Lesli starred as Princess in EMOJILAND and Cindy Lou Who in the one woman tour-de-force WHO'S HOLIDAY. Her hilarious show-stopping performance earned her critical acclaim including a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance, a Lortel nomination for Outstanding Solo Show and an Off-Broadway Alliance nomination for Best Solo Performance.

Television credits include the ABC sitcom pilot "Most Likely To" opposite Yvette Nicole Brown and recurring roles on "Homeland" (Showtime), "Instinct" (CBS), "Seven Seconds" (Netflix), "Transparent" (Amazon), and "The Crew" (Netflix). Movie credits include the upcoming The Many Saints of Newark, Opening Night and Boogeyman 2 and Number 23. Lesli's voice can also be heard on several animated films and shows including Disney's Cinderella 3 and Nickelodeon's "Sponge Bob Squarepants".

Regional stage credits include Adelaide in GUYS & DOLLS (Sacramento Music Circus; Bucks County Playhouse), Signora Psyche Zinobia in A SCYTHE OF TIME (NYMF), Esmeralda in HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (Sacramento Music Circus), Lilli / Kate in KISS ME KATE (Reprise; Ovation Award - Best Actress), THE GRONHOLM METHOD (The Falcon ; Ovation nom. - Best Ensemble), Aldonza in MAN OF LA MANCHA (MTW; Ovation & LADCC nom - Best Actress), Julie in SHOWBOAT (Goodspeed Opera), Audrey in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (La Mirada), and Lady of the Lake in SPAMALOT (Sacramento Music Circus).

She is the creator/star of 'Looks Not Books' and 'Ship Happens' the popular backstage vlogs commissioned by Broadway.com, as well as the digital short series 'Sparklefpuff,' all of which can be seen on YouTube. Lesli's books, NECK PUNCH and CARRY ON: Advice from the "Queen" and BLU!, are available on Amazon & iTunes.

Lesli's critically acclaimed solo shows Rule, Broad, and This Broad's Way continue to play to crowds across the country. Her debut live album RULE YOUR KINGDOM is currently in stores and available on all digital platforms. 

Welcome to the 15th episode of Broadway Babies! In this episode, Noelle and Stephanie chatchat with the multi-award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, producer, (Jagged Little Pill, Anastasia, The Lightning Thief) the marvelous Mia Moravis!

Mia Moravis is a three-time Emmy® Award-nominated producer, a Remi Award-winning filmmaker, an award-winning actress, 27-time ASCAP Plus Award-winning composer /songwriter, an award-winning recording artist, an audio theatre and audiobook narrator and producer, and a Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End producer, who’s worked on multiple projects with Broadway Records~including as Associate Producer of the Grammy® Award-nominated “My Fair Lady” Broadway revival cast recording.

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Stephanie Andersen (Bare: A Pop Opera, Original Cast, Cast Recording and Revival) and Noelle Hannibal (Hair: 20th Anniversary Production, Star Trek, Buffy) and are professional performers and fangirls with a deep and never-ending love for musical theatre. Join them as they chat about all things Broadway on this special podcast which will feature interviews with some of Broadway's most beloved stars.