Going For Broadway Podcast

We are joined today with one of Eryn’s favorite directors, Kim Granner. Kim Granner studied Art and thus, her original career choice was to become an artist but to make a living, veered off (in her words) and worked as a graphic artist for 30 years.

Arbender Robinson joins us today on this episode of Going for Broadway. Arbender is a native of Chicago and a Graduate of Viterbo University. After his Broadway debut in Hairspray, Arbender has had many more successful runs in a number of Broadway shows in The Book of Mormon, the original casts of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Little Mermaid, Ragtime, and currently as the Constable and Montparnasse in Les Mis (he is also the understudy of Marius), in which Eryn got to see if him in.

Coach Robert has served as Eryn’s voice teacher for about 6 years now. Robert Hoefer is president of the South Carolina Institute for Vocal Training (SCIVT) and CEO of Pitch Doctors, LLC. Coach Robert has been in the music and voice industry his entire life, beginning his vocal training as a child under the tutelage of the distinguished Hungarian instructor Dr. Arpad Darazs.

Originally from South Carolina, Justin has made a professional career in theatre. He has gone from starting with community theatre in Greenville, South Carolina and moving on to the regional theatre scene in Atlanta, Georgia, Justin at both the Serenbe Playhouse where he has played Demetrius in Midsummer’s Night Dream and Craven/Weatherstaff in The Secret Garden, and at the TheatreSquared where has acted in Look Away and One Man, Two Guvnors. Coming up, Justin will be Jason in Wit at the Aurora Theatre, a theatre center that produces professional plays based in Georgia, and Ventecelli in Amadeus at Theatre Squared.

In this Episode, Justin and Eryn discuss his training at North Greenville and the prestigious University of Arkansas. They also talk about the different regional theatres he acts at and the environment in which they come. Justin is always back and forth between working in different locations of theatre, but finds Atlanta to be the place to be.

Justin talks about the life as an actor. He is always looking for work and makes it a point to say that the agent can only get you the appointment, and the rest of the work is all on you.

They close out the episode with his word of advice being to “have fun.” It’s hard work and there’s always time to be serious, but if you’re not having fun then it’s all wrong. Justin tells the parents to support their young performers and keep on with the encouragement.

Samuel Farnsworth join us today on this episode. Eryn and Samuel have known and acted together since the beginning of both of their acting experiences. Samuel Farnsworth is a sophomore Drama student at University of North Carolina for the Arts in Winston Salem, widely acknowledged as one of the top drama programs in the U.S.

Eryn and Samuel discuss a lot about all of the training that he has done. He has gone through many classes and performances at many local theatres, as well as trained at the Fine Arts Center and the Governor’s School. They talk a lot about the National Unified Auditions and the convenience and benefits of these type of auditions. They also go into being able to choose the right program for you to attend. Tour schools, get the right “feel” of the school and know what you want in order to know where you’re meant to be.

Samuel believes that you must do what you love to do and do the art for yourself, not anyone else.

“Be curious and find your love of the play… If you love it, it won’t get old and you will become better.”

Amelia is a USA-based singer, actor, songwriter, musician and voice-over artist with international credits in music theatre, theatre, cabaret, film and television, and voice-over. She first trod the boards of a professional stage at 13, in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Really Useful Group). She completed a BA (Performance Studies) at the University of Sydney, before graduating from WAAPA in 2004 with a BA (Music Theatre).

And Eryn recently saw her in Kinky Boots when it came to Greenville!

Amelia talks about the many things she has accomplished in her performing career. She talks about her involvement in theatre, film, touring, singing at award shows, and voiceover work. She goes into detail about the differences in performing at different places all around the world and how they vary.

“If you can dream it, you can do it,” she says. If you are passionate about it enough, then it will happen. You have to prove to the universe that you can take a risk.

As artists, never be afraid to create your own work and keep on honing your craft.

Joining us today, is Ms. Kimberlee Ferreira. Kimberlee was dancing professionally in New York by the age of 18. A sought-after teacher and choreographer, Kimberlee is director of the jazz companies at the Upstate Carolina Dance Center. Eryn has worked with her in a number of productions with something amazing choreography!

In this episode, Eryn and Kimberlee talk about her experience in dance, choreographing, and special skills and sparks within an actor. She believes that it is ok if your dance skills aren’t the best, but your acting and voice are; It does not limit you. There are many other shows and musicals that aren’t “Chorus Line”-esque.

Kimberlee always says to stay in class and never stop learning and growing. Always be the hardest working person wherever you’re at because someone will always notice your determination. Something will always come out of your trying.

Parents, always keep supporting and don’t judge or compare.

Eryn is joined by Suzanne McCalla on this episode of Going for Broadway. Eryn has worked under Suzanne’s direction at the Greenville Little Theatre since 2009, and is a dear friend to her. Suzanne joined GLT in 1993. She is head of design; designing costumes and sets for the past twenty-one seasons. Suzanne’s early career was spent primarily at The Dallas Theatre Center with legendary director Adrian Hall and Tony Award winning designer, Eugene Lee. Their vision of theatre has always been her primary source of inspiration.

Suzanne talks about being in the right place at the right time to help you get success, as well as having connections. The two discuss auditioning for everything versus things that you are only good for. She believes that you must know what you are good that, and only audition for those certain opportunities and not go out for something that you aren’t the best at. Of course, you can work your way up to getting that skill, but that shouldn’t be the start of it. Know yourself!

Suzanne’s word of advice comes from being able to have lots of life experience, keep your eyes open, and know that there are many ways of working your way up. She says to meet lots of people as well. Parents, keep those checkbooks open; be an investor and supporter in the arts!

Originally from Mississippi, Beth received a degree in Broadcast Journalism from The University of Southern Mississippi. She was hired by CNN in Atlanta and later transferred to their offices in New York where she worked while attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

In the following years she learned it ain't all 5-star hotels; sometimes it's no-star hotels, but it's the work that matters. Beth makes it a point that if a director pulls you off to the side for a note or for a tip, then it means that they see something in you. They want you to improve and are looking to talk to you again. You must also be tenacious, if you see something you like that another actor, ask them what they are doing to put themselves on their level.

The advice that Beth would give to aspiring actors is that you must subdue all of your fears and that you must make a good relationship with every single person you work with. You are always investing in yourself and investing in the people in the room. It doesn’t matter if the person is dismissive, you must make sure you greet them and remind them of you, but also move out of their way quickly.

“The show business is the one career that there is no set path, you can choose your own path.”

Eryn is joined by Rachel Izen on this episode of Going for Broadway. Rachel started at a young age performing, but mainly as a dancer. She studied at a conservatory that was purely dance training. Her transition into being an “actor” was really just auditioning for different opportunities. Rachel discusses how she ended up working in the West End and how she got her green card to be able to travel to the US where she toured and performed on Broadway in Mary Poppins and currently in Les Mis, in which Eryn got the chance to see her in.

Not only does she talk about her journeys towards performing, she also explains the rather exhausting work life of an actor balancing eight shows a week along any other gig you’ve signed up for. She goes into explaining her film work that comes through her agent and the difference between acting on stage and on television.

The show wraps up with Rachel talking about how to learn from experiences from going out and auditioning and learning from everything. She thinks that feedback from another person isn’t the most reliable to work with and to always continue to work on your craft.