Matty and Kikau talk about some of their favorite episodes of 2024. It has been quite a ride. Go back and take a listen to some of these great moments. Happy Holidays! We will see you soon with all new episodes and fun in 2025!

Kikau interviews RJ Magee who is a professional educator, actor, director, talent manager, and casting director. In addition to serving as the Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, RJ is currently an Associate Talent Manager for Baker Management in NYC where some of his recent client bookings include many of the nation's top regional theaters, national touring companies, and NYC episodics, as well as various Broadway shows.

We discuss what it means to be a Visiting Professor and how being a talent manager and casting director is helpful in the classroom. RJ recommends a new movie called Saturday Night.

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Richard (RJ) Magee is a professional educator, actor, director, talent manager, and casting director. In addition to serving as the Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, Richard is currently an Associate Talent Manager for Baker Management in NYC where some of his recent client bookings include many of the nation's top regional theaters, national touring companies, and NYC episodics, as well as various Broadway shows. Through his own casting office, RJ Magee Casting, Richard's casting credits include Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Iron Bridge Theatre, Arden Theatre Company, Top Hat Productions, Esther's Follies, The Girl Behind The Curtain Productions (Off-Broadway's Truffles), Flaviar (celebrity casting: Stephen Soderbergh, Carlos Mencia, Marc Summer, Aisha Tyler, and more), New City Stage Company, FunikiJam World Music, Childsplay Theatre, MainStreet Musicals: Philadelphia, and more. His most recent casting project, the hit reality series Theality TV, is currently streaming on Broadway On Demand, Revry, and YouTube. He has also been called upon to share expertise by serving as an entertainment industry adviser to prestigious market research and management consulting firms EY-Parthenon and Third Bridge. Richard is a proud member of the Music Theatre Educators Alliance. He is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and holds a bachelor's degree in musical theatre from Temple University. Additionally, Richard received an MFA in Theatre Arts from Minnesota State University, Mankato and recently concluded a 9-month contract as the Visiting Assistant Professor of Acting at Longwood University (home of the 2016 Vice Presidential debate).

Matty put together a fantastic episode that includes interviews with Vicky Bussert (Oberlin College), Josh Grisetti (California State University, Fullerton), Jacob Brent (Elon University), Michael E. Mckelvey (Carnegie Mellon University), and Aaron Brown (Texas State University). 

This is one of those episodes that you are going to want to listen to and then share with your colleagues as it is a conversation happening in many institutions across our MT educator community.

If you like what you hear, it is helpful to like and review our podcast on all of the platforms. If you would like to join us or have an idea for an episode, reach out to [email protected].

Matty and Kikau reconnect about our Thanksgiving holiday and talk all things WICKED. We have a couple more episodes before 2024 ends so be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends. We really love doing this. If you are interested in a particular topic or would like to be a guest on the show feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

Enjoy.

In this very special episode, Ben Lundy interviews Matty and Kikau. Ben is working on an article about the MT Podcast scene for the upcoming MTEA Journal. Take a listen because this was super fun!

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Ben Lundy is the chair of theatre at Wallace Community College and teaches theatre and speech courses while directing productions. Lundy is a Musical Theatre Educators' Alliance member and has presented his research at the organization's Atlanta and New York City conferences.

Lundy’s goal is to use the transformative art form of theatre to encourage students to find their voice, become content creators rather than passive culture consumers, and recognize the humanity in one another, making students not just career-ready, but, more importantly, community-ready.

In our series interviewing folks who are transitioning to a new institution, Matty and Kikau chat with André Garner who recently joined the Department of Musical Theatre as an assistant professor in the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. We talk about the strong UMICH alum community, how we nurture curiosity and rigor, and so much more! 

Andre’s recommendation is The Morning Show on Apple TV and we chat about America’s Sweethearts on Netflix.  

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Garner’s Broadway credits include How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Music Man, Marie Christine, and Grease. Off-Broadway, he starred as the title character in Langston Hughes’s Little Ham, as well as performing in From My Hometown. Garner appeared in the national touring productions of The Color Purple, Dreamgirls, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Miss Saigon. Internationally, he toured with the European and Asian companies of A Chorus Line.

Garner has taught at Ball State University, Baruch College, New York Film Academy, and California State University, Long Beach. His professional memberships include SAG-AFTRA and the Actor’s Equity Association, and he currently serves on the executive board of the Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance.

Garner received a BS from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and an MFA from California State University, Long Beach.

Jacob Brent joins Matty and Kikau in their series on MT educators who are transitioning to new institutions. Jacob is now an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at Elon University. Jacob's recommendations are the Netflix show The Perfect Couple and Jeffrey Kaplan Videos.

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Jacob Brent is a 10 year veteran Broadway performer with an MFA in Musical Theatre.

With extensive experience performing, directing, choreographing and teaching, Mr. Brent has been recognized by The New York Times as knowing how to inspire actors.

As a performer, Jacob is probably best known for his portrayal of Mr. Mistoffelees in the Broadway, London and DVD productions of Cats. Now on the other side of the table, he brings the same commitment and passion for performing to directing, choreographing and teaching. 

Mr. Brent is actively involved in the International Junior Theatre Festival and pilot productions of new Broadway Jr. musicals. He adapted the high school editions of CHICAGO and A CHORUS LINE and has directed the premiere productions of LEGALLY BLONDE JR., RENT school edition and AVENUE Q school edition. 

Jacob is passionate about inspiring the next generation of artists and audiences.

In our series of folks who are transitioning to new positions, Matty and Kikau chat with the incredible Lauren Haughton Gillis, who is the new Director for the BFA Musical Theatre Program at Florida State University. We talk about all of the amazing things that the program has to offer, serving the needs of the students, and the importance of work/life balance. Lauren's recommendation is the FX tv show, The Bear.

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Lauren the new Director for the BFA Musical Theatre Program at Florida State University. She was previously an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at the Indiana University Department of Theatre & Dance where she won the 2022 Trustees Teaching Award. She is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and is the Head of Dance/Vice President of Conferences for Musical Theatre Educators' Alliance International (MTEA). She holds a BFA from Syracuse University and an MFA from San Diego State University.

In our series about folks who are transitioning from one institution to another, we invited the amazing Scott Susong to the podcast. Scott is now Visiting Professor of Musical Theatre for the 2024-25 school year at Ohio Northern University! His recommendations include The Great Lillian Hall, a film on HBO Max starring Jessica Lange and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.

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Scott Susong is a sought after Theatre Educator and SDC*  Director. He has amassed numerous professional and academic credits, both nationally and internationally, contributing to fifteen world premiere musicals and two original international tours. Recently retired as Professor Emeritus after leading the Music Theatre program at Illinois Wesleyan University from 2007-2024, Scott is currently serving as a Visiting Professor of Musical Theatre for the 2024-25 school year at Ohio Northern University and is available as a guest artist, coach, and consultant.

Kikau and Matty are back with a brand new episode. They catch up after an eventful summer and talk about what is coming up for them for the new school year. Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!