Ep. 12: Imani Russell (Mel) How to Dance in Ohio Broadway Musical

Honored to make their Broadway debut with Ohio! Imani has performed Off-Broadway and is an emerging voice actor. They also release music under the name NANí. Imani is a proud Black+Boricua, queer, and disabled artist who believes in art as an act of love and community.

Imani Russell is a Black+Boricua, queer+trans, and disabled multi-hyphenate artist from Crown Heights (Lenapehoking). Trained in classical music, musical theatre, and acting, Imani will be making their Broadway debut this Fall in the new musical How to Dance in Ohio. Imani has performed off-Broadway and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and is an emerging voice-over artist. As a writer, they think about the connections between time, space, family, queerness, and magic. In 2021, Imani was a member of The Lark’s Beyond the Binary inaugural cohort. They also write music under the name NANí and released a two-song EP titled sweetbitter creature in December 2020. Imani believes in Black queer+trans power and safety, Indigenous sovereignty, and art as an act of love+community. Imani is an AEA member currently looking for representation for theatre, film, and television. Imani is represented for commercial work by Courtney Nelson and Zachary Smith with STATE Management's Lifestyle Division.

https://www.imanirussell.com/

About our How to Dance in Ohio Podcast Building Moo-Mentum is a very, very unofficial podcast about the Broadway Musical "How to Dance in Ohio". Each interview is a researched conversation (30 min. to hour in length) with host Richard Wexler with those that are involved with the production from cast, crew, and more. 

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/building-moo-mentum-a-very-unofficial-how-to-dance-in-ohio-podcast.html

Credits 

Produced, Edited, Research and Interview by Rich Wexler  

Music  

Richie by B.J Snowden

https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/ 

There Was a light Instrumental  

I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm 

https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/ 

Website

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/

Ep. 11: Conor Tague (Tommy) How to Dance in Ohio Broadway Musical

My name is Conor Tague. I am an actor / singer and former student of the Professional Conservatory of Musical Theatre at New York Film Academy. I am also a person on the autism spectrum, diagnosed at a young age; however, this does not inhibit me in any way... It actually encourages me to work harder doing the thing that I love. I pick things up very quickly, I retain information, and I'm not afraid to commit fully to any character or circumstance. I have also been part of an original musical that has been in workshops and had a World Premiere at Syracuse Stage titled How To Dance In Ohio, based on the award winning documentary of the same name by Alexandra Shiva, where I originated the role of Tommy and will be reprising my role on Broadway this fall at the Belasco Theatre. 

Some things I enjoy doing are puppetry, impressions/character voices, I also create memes to post on my Instagram and TikTok, and I can quote a multitude of movies... just off the top of my head. Hope we get to work together soon! :)

https://www.conortague.com/

About our How to Dance in Ohio Podcast Building Moo-Mentum is a very, very unofficial podcast about the Broadway Musical "How to Dance in Ohio". Each interview is a researched conversation (30 min. to hour in length) with host Richard Wexler with those that are involved with the production from cast, crew, and more. 

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/building-moo-mentum-a-very-unofficial-how-to-dance-in-ohio-podcast.html

Credits 

Produced, Edited, Research and Interview by Rich Wexler  

Music  

Richie by B.J Snowden

https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/ 

There Was a light Instrumental  

I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm 

https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/ 

Website

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/

Ep. 10: Rebekah Greer Melocik (Book and Lyric Writer) How to Dance in Ohio Broadway Musical 

Rebekah Greer Melocik’s projects with composer-collaborator Jacob Yandura include THE LAST QUEEN OF CANAAN (book by Harrison David Rivers), WRINGER, based on the novel by Jerry Spinelli (Off-Broadway, City Center) and HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO, based on the award-winning documentary (dir: Sammi Cannold).

Recognitions and Residencies: SPACE at Ryder Farm (2021), Ars Nova’s two-year UNCHARTED residency, 2016 Jonathan Larson Finalist, 2015 NAMT Festival (THE LAST QUEEN OF CANAN), the 2014 Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed MusicalsA, The York Theatre's NEO 2014 residency, 2013 Yale Institute for Music Theatre, the 2012-2013 Dramatists Guild Fellowship, the 2012 Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, Cap21’s Writers Residency and Ant Fest 2013 (The Fearful Earful ).

Rebekah holds a B.A. in Poetry from the University of Southern California and an MFA from the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at NYU.

She also wrote curriculum stories for the award-winning early childhood chess company, Chess at Three. 

https://melocik.com/

About our How to Dance in Ohio Podcast

Building Moo-Mentum is a very, very unofficial podcast about the Broadway Musical "How to Dance in Ohio". Each interview is a researched conversation (30 min. to hour in length) with host Richard Wexler with those that are involved with the production from cast, crew, and more. 

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/building-moo-mentum-a-very-unofficial-how-to-dance-in-ohio-podcast.html

Credits 

Produced and Edited by Otter Castro   

Produced, Research and Interview by Rich Wexler  

Music  

Richie by B.J Snowden

https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/ 

There Was a light Instrumental  

I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm 

https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/ 

Website

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/

Ep. 9: Ava X. Rigelhaupt (Autistic Creative Consultant) How to Dance in Ohio Broadway Musical

Ava X. Rigelhaupt (she/her) is a writer, actress, consultant, and advocate for diversity, autism, and disability representation in entertainment. As a Chinese, Jewish, transracial, autistic adoptee, Ava shares her intersectional lived experiences through consulting with Hollywood studios, theatres, and arts organizations, public speaking (ie: SXSW, Sundance, Disney, JCCs), and publishing articles. She’s the Autistic Creative Consultant for How to Dance in Ohio! She’s also a writer for the upcoming PBS Kids animated series, “Carl the Collector,” and has written scripts for 9Story Media shows such as “Blue’s Clues & You”. Ava has worked with professional theatres to develop sensory friendly performances, the Kennedy Center on a neurodiversity training course, and the Smithsonian Access team to create accessible museum exhibits. 

About our How to Dance in Ohio Podcast

Building Moo-Mentum is a very, very unofficial podcast about the Broadway Musical "How to Dance in Ohio". Each interview is a researched conversation (30 min. to hour in length) with host Richard Wexler with those that are involved with the production from cast, crew, and more. 

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/building-moo-mentum-a-very-unofficial-how-to-dance-in-ohio-podcast.html

Credits 

Produced and Edited by Otter Castro   

Produced, Research and Interview by Rich Wexler  

Music  

Richie by B.J Snowden

https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/ 

There Was a light Instrumental  

I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm 

https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/ 

*sorry that is says episode 8 in the recording. Will fix and re-upload

Ep. 75: Madison Kopec (Marideth) How to Dance in Ohio Broadway Musical 

Broadway debut! Returning to Ohio on Broadway after the world premiere at Syracuse Stage is a dream come true. Madison originated the role of Emma in Indigo at The Human Race Theatre. To my amazing family, Sara Bartlett, and the entire cast and creative team of Ohio, thank you!

About our How to Dance in Ohio Podcast

Building Moo-Mentum is a very, very unofficial podcast about the Broadway Musical "How to Dance in Ohio". Each interview is a researched conversation (30 min. to hour in length) with host Richard Wexler with those that are involved with the production from cast, crew, and more. 

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/building-moo-mentum-a-very-unofficial-how-to-dance-in-ohio-podcast.html

Credits 

Produced and Edited by Otter Castro   

Produced, Research and Interview by Rich Wexler  

Music  

Richie by B.J Snowden

https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/ 

There Was a light Instrumental  

I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm 

https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/ 

Ep. 7: Nicole D'Angelo (Access Team/Assistant Music Director/Script Consultant) How to Dance in Ohio Broadway Musical

Nicole D'Angelo (they/she) is a music director, actor, and multi-instrumentalist in the NJ/NYC area. A recovering classical musician, they majored in piano and bass clarinet at Montclair State University before pursuing musical theater full time. Nicole recently made their Broadway debut as assistant music director and script consultant for the new musical How to Dance in Ohio. Other favorite credits include Fun Home (MD, Stageworks 237), The Civility of Albert Cashier (MD, Trans Entertainment Guild), and Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey, EPIC Players). Nicole is proudly Autistic and a passionate advocate for authentic representation and equitable hiring of disabled performers on stage and screen. Ask them for pics of their cats Whizzer and Hope! IG/TikTok: @nicole.m.dangelo

About our How to Dance in Ohio Podcast

Building Moo-Mentum is a very, very unofficial podcast about the Broadway Musical "How to Dance in Ohio". Each interview is a researched conversation (30 min. to hour in length) with host Richard Wexler with those that are involved with the production from cast, crew, and more. 

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/building-moo-mentum-a-very-unofficial-how-to-dance-in-ohio-podcast.html

Credits 

Produced, Edited, Research and Interview by Rich Wexler  

Music  

Richie by B.J Snowden

https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/ 

There Was a light Instrumental  

I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm 

https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/ 

Ep. 6: Samantha and Raymond Esposito (Producers) How to Dance in Ohio Broadway Musical

Raymond and Samantha Esposito are a Connecticut-based couple, dedicated to creating an inclusive, loving home for their four children, one of whom has autism. They advocate for accessibility in the neurodiverse and disabled community.

About our How to Dance in Ohio Podcast

Building Moo-Mentum is a very, very unofficial podcast about the Broadway Musical "How to Dance in Ohio". Each interview is a researched conversation (30 min. to hour in length) with host Richard Wexler with those that are involved with the production from cast, crew, and more. 

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/building-moo-mentum-a-very-unofficial-how-to-dance-in-ohio-podcast.html

Credits 

Produced and Edited by Otter Castro   

Produced, Research and Interview by Rich Wexler  

Music  

Richie by B.J Snowden

https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/ 

There Was a light Instrumental  

I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm 

https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/ 

Website

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/

Ep. 5: Liz Weber (Production Asst./ Access Team) How to Dance in Ohio Broadway Musical

Liz (they/them) is a freelance AEA stage manager and audio engineer/ designer who has a passion for justice and equality and will fight for what is right in the theater industry whether it be through wage parity, gender parity, and especially now through accessibility. They are actually autistic and strive for intersectionality in theater 'with every breath and every sinew'. Born in NYC, they started their professional career at 15 working Off-Broadway while still enrolled in high school at LaGuardia for Technical Theater. Besides Ohio - they have done myriads of work for various New York and national companies. They recently served as the Monitor Engineer at Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield, Wisconsin where they mixed artists like KT Tunstall, The Allman Family Revival, and Gladys Knight. Other recent credits include - PSM of All Things Equal - The Life and Trials of RBG for its first national tour; Associate Sound Designer/A1 for the Big Apple Circus in 2022, and sound designer for over 30 shows for the SheNYC festival which strives for equity amongst marginalized genders in NYC.

More info on our How to Dance in Ohio Podcast

⁠https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/building-moo-mentum-a-very-unofficial-how-to-dance-in-ohio-podcast.html⁠

Credits 

Produced and Edited by Otter Castro   

Produced, Research and Interview by Rich Wexler  

Music  

Richie by B.J Snowden

https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/ 

There Was a light Instrumental  

I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm 

https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/ 

Website

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/

Ep. 72: Amelia Fei (Caroline) in How to Dance in Ohio Broadway Musical

Amelia (Yi-Hsuan) Fei is a performer from Taiwan. It’s been a dream come true to get to tell this beautiful story since 2021. And now, she is making her Broadway debut with the most loving people! Some previous credits include Avenue Q and The King and I. Endless love to her parents and her Ohio family. 

Amelia (奕瑄 Yi-Hsuan) 費Fei is a performer from Taiwan living in New York City, and sometimes, Texarkana, Texas. Being a former literature major, she loves learning while creating each character's backstory. Now, she is thrilled to portray these characters and share their stories with the world. When she is not performing, she enjoys kickboxing and making cool dice for her fellow D&D friends. Amelia is also a voice-over artist who narrates audio-books across all genres. 

https://www.ameliafei.com/

About our How to Dance in Ohio Podcast

Building Moo-Mentum is a very, very unofficial podcast about the Broadway Musical "How to Dance in Ohio". Each interview is a researched conversation (30 min. to hour in length) with host Richard Wexler with those that are involved with the production from cast, crew, and more. 

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/building-moo-mentum-a-very-unofficial-how-to-dance-in-ohio-podcast.html

Credits 

Produced and Edited by Otter Castro   

Produced, Research and Interview by Rich Wexler  

Music  

Richie by B.J Snowden

https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/ 

There Was a light Instrumental  

I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm 

https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/ 

Website

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/

Ep. 3: Sammi Cannold (Director of How to Dance in Ohio) 

Sammi Cannold is a theater, film, and television director who is one of Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 in Hollywood & Entertainment, one of Variety's 10 Broadway Stars to Watch, and one of Town & Country's Creative Aristocracy. She recently made her Broadway debut as director of How to Dance in Ohio at the Belasco Theater. Sammi has directed at some of the world's most prestigious venues, including The Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall, and Lincoln Center as well as for the National Symphony Orchestra, CBS, ABC, Nickelodeon, Paramount+, Cirque du Soleil, and TikTok. Recent theater credits include Evita (American Repertory Theater, New York City Center -- Critic's Pick), Rent in Concert (The Kennedy Center), Sunset Boulevard (The Kennedy Center), Carmen (Rose Hall, Lincoln Center -- NYT Critic's Pick), Celine Song’s Endlings (New York Theatre Workshop, A.R.T.), Ragtime on Ellis Island, and Violet on a moving bus (A.R.T.). In the television space, Sammi has served as Director of Curtain Up!, live on ABC, and served as Creative Consultant on the 2021 Tony Awards, live on Paramount+ and CBS. Sammi’s first documentary feature film premiered at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre and was released worldwide on AppleTV. Sammi has also served as an Artistic Fellow at the A.R.T., a member of Cirque du Soleil's Creative Cognoscenti, and a Sundance Institute Fellow. Sammi holds a B. A. from Stanford University and an M.A. from Harvard University. 

www.sammicannold.com

More info on our How to Dance in Ohio Podcast

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/building-moo-mentum-a-very-unofficial-how-to-dance-in-ohio-podcast.html

Credits 

Produced and Edited by Otter Castro   

Produced, Research and Interview by Rich Wexler  

Music  

Richie by B.J Snowden

https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/ 

There Was a light Instrumental  

I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm 

https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/ 

Website

https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/