Guests from 2020 answer the question, “Have you made it?”

00:53 Becca Kötte- Broadway actress and recording artist

1:30 David Valentine - Puppet Builder at Jim Henson Co.

2:52  Lauren Hirsh- Broadway child guardian

3:27 Clyde Voce- Actor

4:14 Sarah Schreiber-WWE backstage correspondent

5:50 Ross Evans- Screenwriter

6:17 Katie McClellan- TV, film, theatre & voiceover

7:38 Tim Murray- Actor, comedian

8:42 Grace Douglas

9:42 Mariand Torres- Broadway actress

11:15 Logan Jones- General manager, About Face Theatre, Chicago

11:52 Jenna Rubaii- Broadway actor

12:47 Alanna Saunders- Broadway actor

14:11 Anne Cofell Saunders- Television writer, executive producer

17:22 Lindsay Levine- Casting director

18:06 Carrie Compere- Actor

19:12 Julie Fleischer

20:07 Joshua Henry- Artist and Performer

20:37 Josh Fiedler- Producer

21:04  Travis Cloer- Broadway actor, Las Vegas performer, recording artist

21:42 Nick Francone- Scenic designer for theatre, art director for television and film

22:35 Theresa Squire -Broadway Costume Designer

23:13 Shaun J. Brown- Actor, writer and producer

23:52 Maya Lynne Robinson- Film, TV, stage actress, and writer/producer

24:09 Michael McElroy-Tony and Grammy nominated Broadway performer

24:35 Qui Nguyen-TV and film writer and playwright

25:24 Chantal Bilodeau- Playwright, founder of the Arctic Cycle organization

26:14 Bliss Griffin- Entertainment industry inclusion strategist

20:10 Kiki Rivera- Theatre artist and playwright

26:36 Kiki Rivera -Playwright and Activist

26:57 Laura Camien- Writer, producer, Co-host of The Spark File podcast

27:21 Vincent J. Cardinal- Chair of University of Michigan Musical Theatre

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Guests from 2020 answer the question, “What was your biggest risk?”

1:07 Becca Kötte- Broadway actress and recording artist

1:40  Lauren Hirsh- Broadway child guardian

2:16 Clyde Voce- Actor

2:55 Sarah Schreiber-WWE backstage correspondent

3:36 Ross Evans- Screenwriter

4:44 Katie McClellan- TV, film, theatre & voiceover

5:34 Tim Murray- Actor, comedian

6:32 Mariand Torres- Broadway actress

7:12 Logan Jones- General manager, About Face Theatre, Chicago

7:48 Jenna Rubaii- Broadway actor

9:15 Alanna Saunders- Broadway actor

9:47 Anne Cofell Saunders- Television writer, executive producer

12:00 Lindsay Levine- Casting director

12:48 Carrie Compere- Actor

13:12 Joshua Henry- Artist and Performer

14:02 Josh Fiedler- Producer

14:22 Travis Cloer- Broadway actor, Las Vegas performer, recording artist

15:23 Nick Francone- Scenic designer for theatre, art director for television and film

16:02 Shaun J. Brown- Actor, writer and producer

16:37 Maya Lynne Robinson- Film, TV, stage actress, and writer/producer

17:02 Michael McElroy-Tony and Grammy nominated Broadway performer

17:53 Qui Nguyen-TV and film writer and playwright

18:23 Chantal Bilodeau- Playwright, founder of the Arctic Cycle organization

19:22 Bliss Griffin- Entertainment industry inclusion strategist

20:10 Kiki Rivera- Theatre artist and playwright

20:45 Jerry Jay Cranford- Director, choreographer, performer professor

21:15 Laura Camien- Writer, producer, Co-host of The Spark File podcast

21:51 Vincent J. Cardinal- Chair of University of Michigan Musical Theatre

22:35 Alisa Hurwitz- Psychologist, Dr. Drama

DitchYourBackupPlan.com

In the first episode of 2021, guests from 2020 answer the question, “Did you have a backup plan?”

2:00 Becca Kötte- Broadway actress and recording artist

2:22 David Valentine- Puppet builder at Jim Henson Co.

2:56  Lauren Hirsh- Broadway child guardian

3:22 Clyde Voce- Actor

3:58 Sarah Schreiber-WWE backstage correspondent

4:07 Ross Evans- Screenwriter

4:44 Katie McClellan- TV, film, theatre & voiceover

5:36 Tim Murray- Actor, comedian

6:25 Grace Douglas- Story producer, unscripted (reality) TV 

7:25 Mariand Torres- Broadway actress

7:49 Logan Jones- General manager, About Face Theatre, Chicago

8:30 Jenna Rubaii- Broadway actor

9:21 Alanna Saunders- Broadway actor

10:09 Anne Cofell Saunders- Television writer, executive producer

10:55 Lindsay Levine- Casting director

11:21 Carrie Compere- Actor

11:42 Sara Andreas- Broadway Actor and Julie Fleischer- TV writer, script supervisor and Sara’s mom

12:29 Joshua Henry- Artist and Performer

13:02 Josh Fiedler- Producer

13:17 Travis Cloer- Broadway actor, Las Vegas performer, recording artist

14:00 Nick Francone- Scenic designer for theatre, art director for television and film

14:33 Theresa Squire- Broadway costume designer

14:47 Shaun J. Brown- Actor, writer and producer

15:13 Maya Lynne Robinson- Film, TV, stage actress, and writer/producer

15:37 Michael McElroy-Tony and Grammy nominated Broadway performer

15:54 Qui Nguyen-TV and film writer and playwright

16:18 Chantal Bilodeau- Playwright, founder of the Arctic Cycle organization

16:42 Bliss Griffin- Entertainment industry inclusion strategist

17:023 Kiki Rivera- Theatre artist and playwright

17:21 Jerry Jay Cranford- Director, choreographer, performer professor

17:50 Laura Camien- Writer, producer, Co-host of The Spark File podcast

18:18 Vincent J. Cardinal- Chair of University of Michigan Musical Theatre

18:33 Alisa Hurwitz- Psychologist, Dr. Drama

DitchYourBackupPlan.com

Dr. Alisa Hurwitz is Dr. Drama! She gives away mental health advice for artists on her Mental Health Live Series on Instagram.

In this episode, she discusses her consulting work for the stage, the importance of self care, boundaries and success, and the impact brain development has on the ability to process the challenges of an industry shut down.

As a  psychologist who has a lifelong passion for musical theater, Dr. Hurwitz offers her clinical insight into the characters you know from the shows you love. On her website you will find articles on the mental health aspects of your favorite musicals, discussion of new works and access to mental health resources, as well as interviews with some of your favorites from Broadway. http://www.drdrama.com/

Join other fearless friends in the Ditch Your Backup Plan Facebook Community Group to learn more about each interview and to connect with Jen.

Show Notes at DitchYourBackupPlan.com

Jen shares how artists register risk differently and how protocols in theatre lead to a fearless community that is accepting of risk and supportive to adjustments.

Jen's longtime mentor, Vincent J. Cardinal is the Arthur and Martha Hearron endowed professor of musical theatre, chair of the department of musical theatre, and professor of music at the school of music, theatre, and dance at the University of Michigan. 

Vince shares the importance of goals and what purpose they really serve and how to find "your people."

Show Notes at DitchYourBackupPlan.Com

Host, Jen Vellenga goes solo and talks about adaptation in the digital moment and how she's owning her digital space.

Show Notes at DitchYourBackupPlan.com

Laura Camien is a Broadway producer, playwright and screenwriter, and, along with Susan Blackwell, Laura is Co-host of the popular creativity podcast, The Spark File. She was a long time VP of Communications for Blue Man Group, as well as Creative Director and Head Writer for Blue Man Group's book, Blue Man World. As a teacher, she specializes in public speaking, media training, writing and communication.

Show Notes at DitchYourBackupPlan.com

Jen talks about the dangers of complacency for an artistic life and some strategies for overcoming embarrassment and resistance in order to show up.

Jay has made his career as an actor, singer, dancer, director, choreographer, and educator. He has performed on Broadway (Les Miserables), international and national tours (Les Miserables, Evita European Company as featured dancer, Singing in the Rain as Don, Anything Goes as Billy), regional stages, television and spent 3 years as the Genie in Disneyland's stage musical Aladdin.  He is currently an Associate Professor at Kansas State University. Jay has been a proud member of Actors Equity for nearly 30 years but none of the above credits compare to the joy that is being a husband and father to two beautiful daughters.

Show notes at DitchYourBackupPlan.com