Milling About

Singer/songwriter Judith Owen joins host Robin Milling the day following her album showcase, “Somebody's Child” at the Iridium in New York. This Welsh-born entertainer is a beautiful songstress who weaves personal life lessons and stories throughout each song with a dab of her cheeky sense of humor thrown in for good measure which propel you not only to fall in love with her music, but with her as well. “I told you I was a bottomless pit of need,” she jokes speaking about wanting the feedback from the audience. Born into a musical family – her father was an opera singer at Covent Garden – where hanging out with Pavarotti backstage seemed common place. She became “obsessed with the piano and singing from an early age;” wanting to experience the same joy her father did when he sang. Unfortunately she inherited melancholy from her mother who suffered from depression. Judith reveals, “Dad's the reason why I can sing and my mother's the reason why I sing and that's absolutely the truth.” After 10 albums Owen tells Robin she has finally reached a stage in her career where people are appreciating her authenticity and how she has reached a point in her life where she can say, “I've been getting well, I've been getting me sorted. I have never felt more comfortable in my own skin.” Never one for a false note musically or in conversation Judith talks about her journey in turning her life around with the help of her music, her mench of a husband This Is Spinal Tap writer/star Harry Shearer, and the unconditional love from her yellow lab, Doris Day. But that's another story! Judith is currently on tour with Bryan Ferry. For more information on Judith Owen visit http://www.judithowen.net/

Writer/director Bart Freundlich joins host Robin Milling to talk about his new film Wolves. The film stars newcomer Taylor John Smith as a rising highschool basketball player who must overcome the challenges of his gambling father (Michael Shannon) and overcompensating mother (Carla Gugino) to excel.  Basketball is in the family as Bart tells Robin he still plays, his son plays for Davidson College, and his daughter for her Junior Varsity team. In fact most of the film's basketball scenes were shot at a local New York school where the classrooms often doubled for dressing rooms. Bart tells Robin he actually began writing Wolves almost 30 years ago in his own 10th grade highschool English class so on many levels this film is a win-win for him.

Stephen Dorff stars as Wheeler Bryson, a country singer songwriter in the film Wheeler who captures Nashville by storm with his unique talents. Stephen tells host Robin Milling what it was like to be completely unrecognizable underneath the weathered Wheeler prosthetics and how he managed to fool the people who knew him such as the session musicians he grew up knowing through his famous songwriting father, Steve Dorff. The Hollywood actor, also an accomplished musician in his own right did all the performing live throughout the making of the film in the infamous Bluebird Cafe; home to patrons who come to hear the newest voice on the Nashville circuit. The recording of the film's music along with Nashville songwriter Bobby Tomberlin is currently available as a soundtrack featuring the single "Pour Me Out Of This Town."

Georgina Pazcoguin, now playing Victoriathe Cat in Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical CATS joins host Robin Milling. For the sake of familiarity, Gina met Robin for an informal chat in Central Park with her adorable black Labs in tow, Jett and Marco, to talk about her turn as the white cat. Gina tells Robin walking in the park is essential for her to wind down on her days off from her hectic Broadway schedule; doing eight shows a week. A day in the life of CATS for Gina begins with ballet class where she puts on her pointe shoes so she can keep herself in shape for the vigorous Andy Blankenbuehler dance work-out followed by acupuncture and physical therapy. On hiatus as a soloist for The New York City Ballet, she had to learn how to apply her own Victoria make-up which proved to be a learning curve for the self-described “rogue ballerina.” While still working with NYC Ballet, she practiced in her dressing room psyching herself up with songs like Cat Scratch Fever and What's New cat. Cat themes are all the rage backstage at the Neil Simon Theater where becoming a cat entailed studying videos and channeling your inner feline nature. Gina tells Robin she modelled Victoria after a close friend's cat named Emma, “she is this beautiful white-gray cat who is kind of like a dog. She come when you call. She is a little shy. And kind of my inspiration for Victoria.” Listen here for more behind-the-scenes stories including “owning her body in a white unitard” and a very special opening night gift Gina gave her CATS cast mates. Visit Georgina on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/public/Georgina-Pazcoguin

Do you remember how you felt when you first heard Walking In Memphis, the seminal debut from Marc Cohn, which would ultimately become his signature song. Marc joins host Robin Milling to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that song, and talks about his memories and inspirations from his songwriting vault in Careful What You Dream: Lost Songs And Rarities. A consummate storyteller, Marc tells Robin wonderful stories behind such songs as Ghost Train and Silver Thunderbird, along with oldies but goodies he has released on this newest collection; among them Nowhere Fast, From The Faraway Nearby, and Maestro. Oddly enough Marc has never been able to read a note of music but the talent for weaving words and music has shaped him into the prolific songwriter he is today. Stay tuned for much more from Marc Cohn, including writing his memoirs some day, a possible Broadway show, and of course, the music. For more information visit http://marccohn.net/

Gbenga Akinnagbe (pronounced phonetically as Benga Akinabee) joins host Robin Milling to talk about his turn as Agent Matthew Travis to President Whitmore (Bill Pullman) in Independence Day: Resurgence. His background is perfectly suited for the role as he tells Robin there was a time when he actually was interested in becoming President of the United States. He weighs in on Trump, "If I told you 10 years ago if Donald Trump was gonna be one of two people who were definitely gonna be president you would've laughed in my face and called the police to take me away!" Deciding not to pursue politics, Gbenga became an actor instead, but he still remains passionate about government and citizens' rights. He discusses his theories about gun control, and how seriously he looks at handling weapons in a film. Ad avid adventurer, he also contributes essays about travel, science and sports for The New York Times. Next he will be starring in the television series, The Deuce, as a pimp amongst the backdrop of the beginnings of the industry in the 1970s.

Milling About Dance visits the production of Monte/Molissa/Margo/Muller – LIVE! At New York Live Arts through June 18. Host Robin Milling chats with choreographer Margo Sappington about her piece Entwined featuring dancers Lillian DiPiazza, Marjorie Feiring, Chyrstyn Mariah Fentroy, Silken Kelly and Marlon Taylor-Wiles, who expertly and sensuously weave in and out of each other's bodies to the serene music of Erik Satie's solo piano compositions, the Gnossiennes. Margo tells Robin about her ballet beginnings at 17 with the Joffrey Ballet; how Robert Joffrey noticed her when she was just 14 and waited until she finished high school in Houston, thus starting her professional dancing career. She recalls, 'I levitated and floated out of his office!' She danced there for two years before a fated audition for Bob Fosse landed her Broadway debut in Sweet Charity. Choreography is an aptitude that Margo had back in high school; her first piece was to poetry. Over the years she's created ballets with some very interesting musical collaborators. She tells Robin wonderful behind-the-scenes stories working with William Shatner on his CD Has Been and Billboards set to the music of Prince. For more information visit http://www.newyorklivearts.org

The Jets vs. The Sharks are back for another rumble at The Paper Mill Playhouse production of West Side Story running June 1- June 26. Host Robin Milling goes behind the scenes to chat with the cast. Michigan born Mikey Winslow (On The Town) as Riff  began his career on Broadway dancing in the ensemble of the 2009 revival of West Side Story. He tells Robin, “Working my way up to the gang. I was Baby John, Big Deal; I played Action and now here I am. Maybe someday I'll play Officer Krupke!” Natalie Cortez reprises her role as Anita. In the 2009 Broadway revival she was cast just after having her first child. She recalls, “Just do West Side Story to lose baby weight! I have a 10-month old so I'm dancing off the baby weight this time too!!” German Alexander (2010 national tour of West Side Story) describes his take on Bernardo. “He plays against his situation either through jokes, humor, or sex. Anything that gets in the way of his relationship with Anita, with Maria is a threat to him just like the Jets are.” Spring Awakening star Matt Doyle is a newcomer to the Jerome Robbins classic. He says, “I'm talking middle school, high school; I've never done it. I somehow always missed the boat. I'm excited for the opportunity to finally get to play Tony, and hopefully not too late!” Belinda Allyn played Maria before at Riverside Theater in Florida, reuniting with choreographer Alex Sanchez at Paper Mill. She says the story still has incredible relevance and needs to be told to reinforce it's theme of intolerance. “The moral of the story is to not hate and that lesson still hasn't been learned in the world.”

Harry Hamlin joins host Robin Milling from the Tribeca Film Festival to talk about his film Rebirth. It's the story of communication in the modern age and redefining yourself through self-actualization and EST-like retreats. Harry tells Robin he's familiar with pounding pillows amongst the guys to get frustrations out, and also welcomes marriage therapy with his wife Lisa Rinna to "keep their relationship on track and harmony in the household." Harry plays a sex guru in the film which he says was a perfect role for him at this stage in his career, which has recently included an older gay lover in Shameless and as ad executive Jim Cutler in Mad Men. At 64, Harry is certainly not resting on his laurels. Closing his bricks and mortar clothing store Belle Gray that he developed with Lisa, now available on QVC, has given him that freedom. He jokes that he's embracing his upcoming Medicare status! Listen to how he hopes to celebrate and what's in store for Harry Hamlin.

Graham Nash joins host Robin Milling to talk about his new solo album, 'This Path Tonight.' At 74 years old it's been quite the journey for Nash who celebrates several milestones including his 60th year in the business making music, leaving his home in Hawaii for New York City, and finding love again with Amy Grantham after separating from his wife of 38 years. He tells Robin the story of how they met and how she has become his personal photographer, contributing the solo photos you see here. Graham candidly talks about how the songs on his new CD are his most personal to date, sharing writing credit with producer Shane Fontayne, who has been a fan of Nash's since The Hollies. Nash never looks back he says, always living in the moment; but he is looking forward to a CSNY Broadway musical and many more years of songwriting to come.