Cleveland Stage Door

In this engaging conversation, Melissa Campbell shares her excitement about making her national tour debut as Miranda in the musical adaptation of 'Mrs. Doubtfire.' She reflects on her journey from community theater in Cincinnati to performing on a national stage, emphasizing the importance of love and joy in the show. Melissa discusses her approach to portraying Miranda, a character often seen as a villain, and how she aims to present her in a more empathetic light, highlighting the struggles many mothers face. The conversation also touches on the balance of comedy and emotional depth in the production, as well as the challenges and surprises of touring life.

Valerie Fagan shares her experiences in theater, highlighting the joy of connecting with the audience, the challenges of Broadway, and the emotional impact of performing. She also discusses the transition from writing to performing and offers advice for navigating life and embracing authenticity.

Takeaways

• Laughter as a powerful bridge
• Emotional connection with the audience

Daniel Reichard returns home to Cleveland with his annual Christmas show, and he sits down with Jimmy Davis to discuss the heart behind it. From the lessons learned on Broadway to finding purpose in performance, Daniel shares thoughtful wisdom for aspiring artists—embracing passion, committing to excellence, and letting joy be the driving force in the creative process.

Nella Cole joins Cleveland Stage Door!

Actor and recording artist Nella Cole returns to Cleveland as Anne Boleyn in Six the Musical, the global sensation that reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII as a fierce pop concert.

In this inspiring conversation, Nella shares what makes Six such a powerful celebration of life, resilience, and sisterhood. She reflects on her diverse career across Broadway, touring shows, and television, discussing how she’s learned to trust herself as a performer — and why telling women’s stories on stage continues to move her deeply.

🎟️ Six the Musical plays at Playhouse Square, November 11–16, 2025. 🎶 Follow Nella: @nellacole 🎙️ Follow Cleveland Stage Door for more exclusive Broadway and national tour interviews.

We’re kicking off the holiday season with a visit from Andrew Hendrick, who stars as Santa Claus and Mr. Greenway in the national tour of Elf the Musical, coming to EJ Thomas Hall in Akron, November 11–12, 2025.

Andrew shares what makes this stage adaptation of the classic holiday film so special, how he switches between two completely opposite roles every night, and what it’s like touring with a Christmas show that spreads joy across the country.

He also reflects on his incredible career performing in all 50 states and around the world, with past credits including Come From Away, Kinky Boots, Fiddler on the Roof, Bullets Over Broadway, and Jekyll & Hyde.

It’s a warm, funny, and festive conversation that’s sure to put you in the holiday spirit!

Elf the Musical 📍 EJ Thomas Hall – Akron, OH 📅 November 11–12, 2025 🎟️ Tickets: PlayhouseSquare.org

Cleveland Stage Door — conversations with Broadway and national tour performers, hosted by Jimmy Davis.

Broadway star Kennedy Caughell joins Cleveland Stage Door to talk about starring as “Jersey” in the national tour of Alicia Keys’ new musical, Hell’s Kitchen — now playing at Playhouse Square in Cleveland!

Host Jimmy Davis shares how seeing the show just days before media day completely blew him away. They chat about the emotional depth of her role, how she preps for each performance, and what audiences can expect from this powerful new production.

🎭 Hell’s Kitchen runs at Playhouse Square through November 1st — tickets available at PlayhouseSquare.org.

New interviews from the Hell’s Kitchen media day drop later this week!

I had the chance to chat with Northeast Ohio native Aaron Ramey on his homecoming with the Notebook The Musical. We dived into the differences between the Book and the Movie, to the stage show. What's it like to open the national tour in his hometown, and more.

Will Burton, who plays Adam in the musical Beetlejuice, shares insights into the challenges and joys of performing in a high-energy show. He discusses the emotional depth of his character, the influence of his dance background, and the improvisational elements that keep the performance fresh. Will also reflects on his experiences touring across the country, his aspirations in TV and film, and offers valuable advice to his younger self about trusting the journey of his career.