Built For The Stage Podcast

Tanisha L. Spring / @tanishalspring

Following her most recent opening night in West End's Prince of Egypt, Tanisha Spring joins us to share what the journey has been for her finding her way to the West End stage. Some productions she has previously appeared in include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Caroline or Change and Hairspray.  

Tanisha took on a new experience throughout the pandemic in producing an online theatre production called A Killer Party and has found her love for the other side of the table throughout that experience. She feels as though some of her other skills such as having a business mind have come in to play in a new way and she tells us how she came into theatre much later in life than many people do. She was an accountant before she started pursuing theatre as a fulltime career choice and is now finding some of that part of her becoming involved as she produces theatre.

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Mari McGinlay / @marimoomcg

After studying acting at the Guildford School of Acting and training at the Dance School of Scotland, Mari McGinlay had laid a strong foundation to move forward in the theatre industry. She joins us on our podcast to share parts of that journey, as she then went on to work on the production of Oklahoma! at Royal Albert Hall, playing the role of Cinderella multiple times in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella and now joining the returning cast Hairspray the Musical on the West End as Penny Pingleton!

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Stefan Lagoulis / @stefann96

Stefan Lagoulis comes from Down Under and is currently in Hamilton AU, experiencing coming back to the stage after more than a year of the shutdown and shares with us what that journey has looked like as he is rediscovering his strength and ability in the rehearsal room. He encourages other actors to give themself grace and accept that your best today is your best and move forward. It is a process and we have to be willing to embrace that process.

Stefan has had the understanding and experience of putting in the extra work for most of his life. He grew up in regular school but then also attended performing arts school in the evening. He was encouraged by his family to chase his dreams and put in the work to achieve whatever it was that his heart desired. Stefan transitioned from a sports background into the world of dance and performance, and has moved forward in that passion with a focused mindset and determination. This drive has opened many doors, including being in the cast of Aladdin AU.

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Ryan Gonzalez / @rgonzy

After starting at a young age pursuing to be a comerical dancer in Australia, Ryan then saw a live musical theatre production and was absolutely sold. He then did his first show at 18 and hasn't turned back. He is now opening Fun Home in Australia and will soon be joining Moulin Rouge Australia.

Ryan shares in our conversation about experiences and interests that he has explored in the last year during the pandemic, such as a book to read that we have linked below and new cooking adventures. He also shares the joy of opening Fun Home and how the story really connects to so many different types of people and families, no matter what they family structure looks like.

Moulin Rouge Broadway Vlog

Book Reference: Breath by James Nestor

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Daniel Assetta / @dassetta

From a very young age, Daniel Assetta was no stranger to the perfoming world. He started taking dance as a child, and it was all about the show. He had a deep desire to learn and grow and perform. From there, he saw the tour of Lion King in Australia, and he quickly fell in love with the world of musical theatre.

Daniel made his debut at the age of 19 in the 10th Anniversary Australian Tour of Wicked! Other shows he has been seen in are Cats, The Book of Mormon, A Chorus Line and West Side Story. Most recently, Daniel is playing Samuel Seabury in the Australian premiere of Hamilton. He shares with us what the expereience has been like to be returning to the stage after the last year and the challenges and joys that have come with preparing and getting back into a performance ready mindset. Daniel says that though there are new protocols and processes in place to keep everyone safe, it is all worth it just to be back on stage and doing what he loves to do!

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J. Harrison Ghee / @jharrisonghee

It is so exciting to hear how Broadway is coming back to life, and our conversation with J. Harrison Ghee is no exception! He is soon to be seen in Mrs. Doubtfire on Broadway, and he shares with us what the journey has been like returning to the stage. From a year full of cast zoom meetings to overthinking himself when trying to get back into the role, it has been quite an experience. J also shares with us the joy of working with brilliant colleagues on stage and how wonderful it is to create and originate a show from its beginning.

J has been seen in Kinky Boots on Broadway as Lola and also on camera in Raising Dion, along with other films. He believes that no matter wether you're on stage or on camera "it is all based in truth. You've gotta find whatever the truth is for you and live that authentically."

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Amos Wolff / @amoswolff

When Amos Wolff made his Broadway debut at the young age of 25 in Follies, he assumed that he would be completely fulfilled. Instead, he found that he still wasn't happy. In this moment, he began to realize there was much more to being a balanced and healthy human being rather than just the career success of landing a Broadway role. This challenged him to start a journey of yoga and therapy, leaning on incredible professionals around him to help him find a true contentment in each season of his life.

Amos then went on to become a family and couples therapist himself and has joined the incredible team at Equity Therapy, a therapy program focused towards the performing arts community based in NYC, where he now works to help others find the balance and fulfillment that he, himself has found through such practice. He shares this journey and so much insight with us on the challenges and joys of taking time to focus on one's betterment and self.

https://www.equitytherapy.com/ - Equity Therapy

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Jason Sparks / @jasonasparks

Hello, Dolly!. Combining his training as a classical dancer, as well as a theatre performer, and his curiosity for how the world moves around him, Jason strives for the human body to be a lead voice in how his stories are told.

Jason has also founded a unique nonprofit program called Fosters Theatrical Artist Residency. Fosters is a safe space created for actors, directors and playwrights to discover their approach, explore new ways of working and dive deeper into new works without judgement, allowing the process to be as much a part of the art as the product.

Jason holds a B.F.A from Pennsylvania State University where he frequently returns to work with and learn from the young artist of today.

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Liz Flemming / @littlelizzybiz

In 2016, Liz Flemming had the idea to do the production of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown on a playground. She wanted to create a piece that used all disabled and BIPOC actors, and she set out with a dream that then became the company Out Of The Box Theatrics. Liz and OOTB focuses on creating theatre site specific locations that are in marginalized communities, creating space for inclusivity and equality at a professional level.

This spring, Out Of The Box Theatrics produced a virtual production of The Last FIve Years, which they filmed in an actual NYC apartment. Liz shares with us the journey of bringing a production like this to life and how different it was to film a piece in a site specific location and the joy of still creating theatre even in such a challenging time our industy has seen in the last year.

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Nasia Thomas/ @nasiathomas

"I believe everyone has learned something about themself during this quarantine"...Nasia says as she reflects back on what the last year has looked like and what it felt like to be prepping for a Broadway show, Caroline, or Change, and then to be told it is all put on hold for a global pandemic. Nasia Thomas has been seen on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, National tour of Beautiful and Broadway production of Ain't Too Proud.

Her most recent accolades come from her portrayal of the role of Cathy in Out of The Box Theatrics' virtual production of The Last Five Years. A reimagined production of the musical is filmed in an actual New York City apartment and can be found streaming online!

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