Jersey Arts Podcast

You might know classic Hollywood actor Mary Astor from The Maltese Falcon or Meet Me in St. Louis, but in 1936 her name was splashed across newspapers for a very different reason. Astor was entrenched in a messy custody battle with her ex-husband, and at the center of what was then deemed “the trial of the century” was Mary Astor’s own salacious diary.

90 years later, this saga is retold through a new show: Mary Astor’s Purple Diary (The Musical), based on a book by renowned illustrator Ed Sorel. The musical is written by award-winning cabaret performers and husband and wife team Michael Garin and Mardie Millit – Garin the music and lyrics, Millit the book.

This "fizzy little cocktail of a musical" as they lovingly refer to it, will have its second staged reading ever at New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch on Monday, October 26th. Mardie and Michael join the podcast to chat about the fascinating story behind the musical as well as their creative process. While the show is still in its nascent stages, they have terrific demo tracks that we’ll play little clips of throughout to give you a taste, featuring the voices of Michael and Mardie as well as Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin singing the part of Mary Astor and Broadway’s Max Crumm as Ed Sorel.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

It’s in the third act of a three-act story structure when everything comes to a head. The plot builds to its peak, the characters demonstrate development, and the audience/reader/listener experiences the story’s climax—and maybe even a moral.

If the third act is the culmination of everything leading up to it, then the third act of Kathryn Grody’s life has been a wild one. The 2-time Obie Award-winning actor, mother, grandmother, and wife of actor Mandy Patinkin, found new recognition in 2020 when her son posted a video of her and Patinkin that earned them a new overnight fan base. From that viral success developed the family’s Don't Listen to Us podcast, a TV pilot, and a one-woman show written and performed by Grody called The Unexpected 3rd—coming to George Street Playhouse October 13 through November 1st, 2026.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

We are fast approaching Spooky Season, and with that comes the inimitable Rocky Horror Picture Show season. The cult classic has become synonymous with October and Halloween, likely due to the fabulous costume opportunities afforded by its cast of characters.

In this episode, Gina speaks with Golden Globe and Tony Award-winning actor Barry Bostwick, the film’s original Brad Majors. He will accompany the film’s tour to two stops in New Jersey this fall: State Theatre NJ on October 3rd and The Scottish Rite Auditorium on October 4th.

Bostwick has enjoyed fifty years of connection to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, so if you’re a Rocky Horror fan or perhaps just Rocky-curious, you’ll learn a lot!

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

If you’ve ever wondered if it’s too late to make a change, today’s guest may give you renewed faith in second acts. Liz Glazer is a former tenured law professor turned actor and standup comic.

Her comedy special Do You Know Who I’m Not? is now streaming on YouTube and she has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, , Don’t Tell Comedy, Nate Bargatze’s The Showcase and has opened for renowned comedians including Maria Bamford, Judy Gold, and Myq Kaplan.

Liz draws on her unique life experiences—as a former lawyer, law professor, a lesbian, a rabbi’s wife and a mother — bringing insight and laughter to audiences across the country. She performs regularly at top comedy clubs and festivals, as well as at law firms, law schools, synagogues, theaters and corporate events.

And she is now bringing her upcoming special, Big Waitlist Energy, to the South Orange Performing Arts Center this September. Gina had a blast chatting with Liz and we think you’ll enjoy their conversation. 

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Today Gina is speaking with Broadway stars Joy Hermalyn and Brian O’Brien who will be starring together in the upcoming production of Come From Away at Axelrod Arts. The two have previously performed together in a production of Terrance McNally’s The Visit years ago. Today's interview became a mini reunion of sorts.

“Come From Away” tells the true story of seven thousand airline passengers from all over the world who were grounded in the small Canadian town of Gander in the wake of 9/11. As told by a cast of only twelve actors, the musical is an emotional and uplifting look at recent history.

While Joy and Brian hadn’t yet begun rehearsal for this particular production at the time of our interview, they are veteran performers of the show having performed the musical before in various roles. Therefore, their discussion focuses on the impact this show has had and continues to have on all those it touches.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Today’s episode hits extra close to home for host Gina Marie Rodriguez. As a member of the Puerto Rican diaspora who often feels neither here nor there, she says she is honored to get the chance to speak with the director and cast of the Ritz Theatre’s production of “La Gringa.”

La Gringa, written by Carmen Rivera, is the story of a young woman’s search for her identity. Mari­a Elena Garcia goes to visit her family in Puerto Rico during the Christmas holidays and arrives with plans to connect with her homeland. Although this is her first trip to Puerto Rico, she has had an intense love for the island, and even majored in Puerto Rican Studies in college. Once Maria is in Puerto Rico, she realizes that Puerto Rico does not welcome her with open arms.

Recording this episode while in Puerto Rico herself, on location for a short film with a very similar theme, this interview is special to Rodriguez. Culture should not be gatekept. This is a story of reclamation.

Stay tuned to hear from the cast and creative behind “La Gringa.”

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Today’s guest is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® Inductee, GRAMMY® Award-winning musician, and one of the most influential guitarists of all-time.

Jorma Kaukonen was named among Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists.” He pioneered a signature fusion of folk, blues, and rock and, ultimately, inspired generations of players to follow in his footsteps. The world first heard Jorma as an original member of Jefferson Airplane, playing lead guitar on a string of classic albums. He went on to co-found iconic blues duo Hot Tuna with Jack Casady, building up another parallel legacy thereafter. Renowned for his unprecedented fingerpicking and eloquent six-string phrasing, his catalog expanded with over 20 solo albums. He was notably inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame® as a member of Jefferson Airplane in 1996, while he and his bandmates garnered the prestigious GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

On this episode, Jorma and Gina have a very pleasant chat about his international upbringing, longstanding friendship with musical partner Jack Casady, and the unique names by which his music has been identified. Stay tuned to learn more.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

If you’re familiar with the notion of sibling rivalry, today’s episode may be the one for you. Today, Gina is speaking with the cast and director of Princeton Summer Theater’s production of True West.

Written by Sam Shepard, the play first debuted Off-Broadway in 1980 with Peter Boyle and Tommy Lee Jones in the leading roles. It was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1983 and went on to receive four Tony Award nominations, two Drama Desk nominations, and won an Outer Critics Circle Award for its Broadway debut in 2000.

Directed by Wasif Sami and starring Joe McLean and Jordan Rashdan, Princeton Summer Theater’s production will tackle the dark comedy this July. Stay tuned to learn more about the show and the work that goes into building a gritty, grounded examination of masculinity and sibling rivalry.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

*There is currently no live performance in NJ attached to this episode.*

In today's episode, Gina speaks with the talented blues artist, Jovin Webb. Perhaps you’ve seen him on American Idol, maybe you’ve been following him since his early days or perhaps this is your first introduction to his soulful music but no matter the journey, he is an artist to follow moving forward.

His raw and emotive debut album, “Drifter,” out on the iconic blues label, Blind Pig, released in 2024. The 12-song collection is a vibrant mix of growling low-down blues, Jovin’s wailing harmonica, heartfelt soul ballads, and rowdy, Little Richards-style rock 'n' roll.

His newest album, “Son of a Sinner” on the same label has recently been announced and will drop September 18th. The first single off that record, “Pray for Me” is included at the end of this episode.

Jovin and Gina take a moment to chat about his music and share a little love for his home of Louisiana. Stick around to meet Mr. Jovin Webb.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Today, Gina is speaking with the Bacon Brothers. Yes, that is Hollywood A-lister Kevin Bacon and Emmy Award-winning composer, Michael Bacon. The siblings have spent the better part of three decades creating their own mix of folk, rock, soul, and country music. They call that diverse sound "forosoco," and it's taken them around the world, from headlining gigs in Japan to American performances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry and Gruene Hall.

Their last album, entitled Ballad of the Brothers, highlights the differences between the siblings and their latest release, a single called People in the World is an anthem highlighting the good in the world. (If you stay tuned through the end of the episode, you’ll get to hear that song in full).

Their summer tour is bringing them to the Morven Museum & Garden with the Princeton Festival this June.

Stick around to learn more about the band and music in film as Gina chats with Kevin Bacon, and Michael who joins a little bit later in the conversation.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.