Call To Stage with Amber Davies

She has the voice of a hundred people.. literally, this week's guests is one of the world's greatest impressionists! Christina Bianco first broke through with her viral impressions of the likes of Ariana Grande, Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, which led to millions of YouTube views and appearances on Ellen, The Today Show, This Morning and even RuPaul's Drag Race.

Now, many Drama Desk Award nominations later, Christina has starred in the West End productions of Forbidden Broadway and OKLAHOMA! In Concert, the 2023 revival of The Wizard of Oz and even Funny Girl in Paris.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Christina talk about training in New York, the differences between American and British audiences, her passion for impressions and going from open calls to Broadway success. Plus Christina reveals her next exciting project...

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might recognise him as Jamie New (or even from The X Factor), this week's guest is Luke Bayer! Luke was in the Original West End Cast of Everybody's Talking About Jamie, and has also appeared in Hair at the London Palladium, and the 20th Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Luke talk about the importance of vocal health, the highlight of his Everybody's Talking About Jamie experience and his one-man musical Diva: Live From Hell. They also talk skincare journeys and the importance of having a good attitude!

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having become one of the most-talked about performers in the West End over the past few years, Rob Madge is proving that they're here to stay. Having written and starred in the WhatsOnStage Award winning and Olivier Award nominated autobiographical show My Son's A Queer (But What Can You Do?), they have gone on to star in the UK Tour of Bedknobs and Broomsticks, the Off West End production of Buyer & Cellar and gain further critical acclaim for their self-penned show Rob Madge's Regards to Broadway.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Rob talk about the creation story behind My Son's A Queer (But What Can You Do?), Rob's start as a child actor in the West End productions of Mary Poppins, Macbeth and Oliver! as well as the significant importance of family support... especially when your dreams of Broadway hit a (very public) problem.

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nathania Ong's journey to the West End is, much like the actress herself, unique and outstanding. Having been born and raised in Singapore, she made her West End debut in 2021 in the transfer of Be More Chill, before joining the UK Tour of Les Misérables as Éponine that same year. That kicked off a journey that has led to her joining the cast as Elizabeth Schuyler in Hamilton.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Nathania talk about the journey from Singapore to the UK, Nathania's transformative training at Mountview, the perseverance that led her to iconic roles on the West End and her surprising dream role...

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might recognise todays guest from TikTok where, as part of the duo Brookie and Jessie, she has over 4M followers! Jess Qualter has become known for her dance choreography - her choreo for Meghan Trainor's "Made You Look" became internationally renowned (with over 59M views) - and her dance videos have gained a combined over 235M Likes on TikTok. Now starring as Daphne in the World Premiere of Burlesque The Musical, Jess formally trained at Lane Theatre Arts.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Jess talk about rising to fame on TikTok, collaborating with everyone from Shania Twain to JoJo Siwa, manifesting career opportunities and making her professional debut in Burlesque.

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some could say it was written in the stars... but when Rebekah Bryant and Amber Davies just missed each other in 9 To 5 The Musical (with Rebekah joining the cast as Amber left), who could have guessed that they would not just work together on Pretty Woman The Musical but become close friends?!

As well as her credits as 1st Cover Vivian Ward and Swing in Pretty Woman, Rebekah also played the lead in the UK Tour of Saturday Night Fever, has danced her way through The BRITs and The FA Cup Final and is going on to be in the European Tour of Grease next!

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Rebekah are live backstage on tour in South End to share audition anecdotes, the reality of life as a swing, advice for their younger selves and they give a final farewell to their time at Pretty Woman.

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glinda in Wicked? Tick. Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz? Double tick. Wales Online's 5th Sexiest Woman In Wales of 2010... Triple Tick! The world discovered Sophie Jenkins (Evans) when she rose to fame on Andrew Lloyd Webber's BBC show Over The Rainbow, and then again in her two stints in Wicked on the West End... but her story starts long before then, in Tonypandy in Wales.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Sophie discuss Sophie's crazy wedding drama, stepping into Glinda's shoes and her rise to fame on national TV.

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh off the back of standout reviews for her portrayal of Lois in Kiss Me, Kate at London's Barbican Theatre, the theatre world is finally giving Georgina Onuorah her flowers. Alongside her latest critically acclaimed performance, she also played Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton and Ado Annie in the Olivier-award winning retelling of Oklahoma! in the West End.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Georgina talk about discovering theatre as a career path, winning the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Scholarship, the importance of resilience and her work in Bad Cinderella, Oklahoma! and The Wizard of Oz.

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are joined by a true legend of the theatre! Having grown up in Manila, Joanna Ampil auditioned at an open call for the original production of Miss Saigon - and, despite having no experience - landed the lead role of Kim and was flown to London to open the show at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Since then, Joanna has played the most desired roles in the West End including both Éponine and Fantine in Les Miserables, Mimi in Rent, Grizabella in Cats and played Mary Magdalene in the revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. She currently stars as Carlotta in The Phantom of The Opera at His Majesty's Theatre.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Joanna talk about the difference between theatre audiences worldwide, navigating different singing styles, being the first person of colour to play Fantine in Les Mis and the incredible story behind her breakthrough.

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With over a decades experience in the West End, Frances Mayli McCann has just about done in all. Having been nominated for an Olivier Award and a WhatsOnStage Award (including one for Best Performer in a Musical), Frances made her West End debut in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre and has gone on to play the titular roles in Bonnie & Clyde and Heathers in the West End, as well as roles in Les Misérables and Here Lies Love at the National Theatre.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Frances cover everything from breaking out in Bonnie and Clyde to her early TV work in River City and Britannia High. Frances also shares her experience training at Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre Arts and the differences between working on stage and screen.

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices