Laura Heywood Interviews

Ann Sanders and Ivan Hernandez have stepped into the shoes of Cynthia and Larry Murphy in the 2017 Tony Award winning musical, Dear Evan Hansen. They play the grieving parents of Connor and Zoe Murphy, who welcome Evan Hansen into their home under the auspices of a friendship that never really existed. The relationships that form between Evan and the Murphys are very real, though, and the heartbreaking authenticity with which these actors convey these connections is enough to break your heart. (In the best way!) Ann is a Broadway veteran, having broken ground as the first Asian American performer to play Anna in The King and I and Belle in Disney's Beauty & The Beast on Broadway. She's also been seen on the big stage in If/Then, Avenue Q and Leap of Faith. Ivan Hernandez is mostly a West Coast guy these days, appearing frequently on television including Claws, Scandal, NCIS, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. He's also got an impressive New York theatre resume, including "Into the Woods" and "The Capeman" at the Delacorte, Yank! at the York, and Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway.

Diana DeGarmo & Ace Young met in the Broadway production of "HAIR" in 2010, connecting over their shared experience as American Idol contestants. Diana has a new album out, "GEMINI," a country big band record available digitally and on vinyl. Ace is working on his new solo project, too! And next year they'll be touring together in the national tour of Broadway's "First Date."

Eva Noblezada stars as Eurydice in the 2019 Tony Award winning Best Musical, Hadestown,

It's rare that an actress bursts onto the Broadway scene with as much power and relevance as my guest today. Making her debut at age 21 in Miss Saigon, she received a Tony Award nomination as best leading actress in a musical — an honor that would be repeated just two seasons later for her current project, Hadestown.

Eva's character, Eurydice, is open-hearted and self-reliant, vulnerable and tough, strong and wise and literally eternally hopeful. Knowing the actress a little bit off-stage, I'd ascribe the same attributes to the woman visiting Laura Heywood Interviews today.

Joel B. New is the winner of the American Theatre Wing's Jonathan Larson Grant and MAC's John Wallowitch Award. His musicals include "To Hell and Back," performed at the New York Musical Festival in 2015; "McKenzie and the Missing Boy," developed by the Musical Theatre Factory; and the EP "Cabot Cove," which is inspired by Murder She Wrote. His shows have been workshopped or performed at many of the best incubators in the country, including Ars Nova, New York Theatre Barn, Prospect Theater Company, and overseas at Broadway au Carré in Paris! Joel describes his newest work, "Monkey Trouble: Unleashed," as "a violent musical comedy," inspired by two critically obscure films. It will debut October 6 at The Duplex in New York City!

Julia Murney -- of Wild Party, Lennon, and Wicked fame -- is celebrating her 50th year of life by doing #FiftyFabulousThings. She is here to celebrate the 50th episode of Laura Heywood Interviews! Julia & Laura's conversation runs the gamut from growth mindset to Disneyland to philanthropy to a scandal involving Julia, Rosie O'Donnell and the National Enquirer. Plus, unexpected guests Nick Scandalios (The Nederlander Organization) and DNR Studios' "I Love My Wife" podcast hosts Kelli Carpenter and Ann Steele pop in for multiple simultaneous surprise reunions!

Telly Leung has been killing it on the Broadway stage for over a decade, with roles in Rent, Flower Drum Song, Pacific Overtures, Godspell, Allegiance, In Transit — and most recently starring for almost two years in the title role in Disney's Aladdin. He was also a favorite on Glee, as "Wes the Warbler"!

He has been named one of the "Out 100" by Out Magazine, and a "Face To Watch" by The Los Angeles Times — so the world has certainly noticed this incredible man.

Telly is here today to talk about "Sing Happy," his solo concert that is returning for one night only, September 23 at the Green Room 42, which "takes an intimate and revealing look at the ups and downs of what it takes to be a professional singer, from joyful Broadway openings to a career-threatening event that almost ended it all."

Just off of a triumphant run as Eliza Hamilton in the National Tour of Hamilton: An American Musical, followed by celebrating her wedding in a fete worthy of the movies, Shoba Narayan has returned to New York, and New York is celebrating. Specifically celebrating at the Greenroom 42 inside the Yotel on 10th Avenue & 40th Street, where Shoba will be performing for one night only in her solo show, PLACES, which will use the songs of Ingrid Michaelson, Coldplay, Beyonce, and more — yes, including Hamilton — to tell the story of her two-year journey across the country and what it means to find home.

Just off of a triumphant run as Eliza Hamilton in the National Tour of Hamilton: An American Musical, followed by celebrating her wedding in a fete worthy of the movies, Shoba Narayan has returned to New York, and New York is celebrating. Specifically celebrating at the Greenroom 42 inside the Yotel on 10th Avenue & 40th Street, where Shoba will be performing for one night only in her solo show, PLACES, which will use the songs of Ingrid Michaelson, Coldplay, Beyonce, and more — yes, including Hamilton — to tell the story of her two-year journey across the country and what it means to find home.

Brenda Meaney is currently starring in "Little Gem" at Irish Repertory Theater as Lorraine, who is juggling roles as the single mother of a pregnant teenager and the only child of aging parents, while trying to stave off her own mental breakdown. But far from a tale of despair, this production is a comedic and poignant three-hander, running 100 minutes with no intermission.

"Little Gem" is playing at Irish Rep through September 8. For tickets and information visit www.IrishRep.org.

Under 35? Get $25 tickets at https://irishrep.org/box-office/greenseats/!

Louie Pearlman & Joel Esher are the creators of "Joey & Ron: A New Sixties Bubblegum Rock Musical," which will premiere off-Broadway this November at the Players Theatre.

Both Louie & Joel have been Story Pirates for over ten years (as has Laura!).

In addition, Louie Pearlman has been an innovator and maverick of the NYC comedy and arts scene since 2002. Louie's officially-licensed Archie Comics/Riverdale stories "Nice Girls Finish Last," and "Riverdale's Worst Nightmare" are currently available on the platform Yarn. Louie co-hosts and produces two podcasts: "XOXO Riverdale" and "Kick The Jukebox." Joel Esher was recently nominated for the Off-Broadway Association's Best Musical Award for "PharmaBro," which he wrote with Lauren Gundrum. Other works include Folk Wandering, Bagels from Benny, Sammy Spider, and the upcoming "Noplace," with Gregory Van Acker, which O'Neill Theater 2019 NMTC Semi-Finalist).

For more information, visit www.JoeyRonMusical.com!