call and response podcast

With nod to our Austin, Texas roots, we talk with Vincent J. Hooper about the importance of creating narratives with nuance, the sanitization of art, and the responsibility we all have in creating authentic representation.

We sit down with Nick Reid, a young creative professional in the industry to talk about the importance of diverse voices in the room, the theatrical sunken place he experienced, and representation on Broadway red carpets.

We have a majestic episode for the King of the Jungle himself! We sat down with Alton Fitzgerald White, the actor who played Mufasa in The Lion King for 4,308 performances, to talk about his time on Pride Rock, his offstage racial profiling experience that informed his onstage work as Ragtime’s Coalhouse, and his new book “My Pride: Mastering Life’s Daily Performance.”

We talk with Zhailon Levingston about shaking up the theatre-making structure, the need for more imagination, and how art is inherently educational.

We sit down with Playbill’s staff photographer, Marc J. Franklin, to talk about his 360-degree, surround experience with theatre, what it's like to photograph Broadway stars, and our commitment to giving visibility to artists of color.

We again visit Webster Avenue to talk with Bronx Tale’s Janelle McDermoth about her journey with a cappella music, finding points of synergy between passions, and how we can increase diversity in audiences.

We grande jeté over to American Ballet Theatre to talk with corps de ballet member Gabe Stone Shayer about breaking barriers as a black ballet dancer, immersing yourself into your passion, and how ballet is an art for everyone.

We have a giant episode for a giant performer with giant talent! We talk with Olivier nominee Kyle Scatliffe about expanding the idea of who gets tell which stories, grappling with imposter syndrome, and busting the myth of the monolithic black experience.

We talk with Kirsten Childs about creating new narratives for actors of color, exploring her life experiences through music, and increasing visibility for black musical theatre writers.

We welcome Nikki Renée Daniels to talk about the differences between the opera and musical theatre worlds, what it’s like to be a black soprano, and singing the iconic “Summertime.”