Stage Door, a theatre podcast hosted by two average guys. Hosted by: Kyle Omlor, Thom Ovacek, Ron Ma

It's happening TODAY!⁣⁣

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The first-ever Toledo Area Theatre Fest is here, and it's shaping up to be an incredible day celebrating local theatre.⁣⁣

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Join theatre companies from across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan for live performances, interactive workshops, food trucks, vendors, games, prizes, and plenty of opportunities to discover everything our local theatre community has to offer.⁣⁣

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Toledo Area Theatre Fest⁣⁣

Saturday, July 11, 2026⁣⁣

10:00 AM – 7:00 PM⁣⁣

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Ohio Theatre & Children's Theatre Workshop⁣⁣

3114 Lagrange St.⁣⁣

Toledo, Ohio⁣⁣

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Whether you're a performer, volunteer, theatre lover, or just looking for something fun to do today, stop by and experience the very first Toledo Area Theatre Fest. We hope to see you there!⁣⁣

“You live, you learn. You love, you learn.”⁣

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On this episode of Stage Door, we sit down with Jaymes, Tallie, and Chloe from Stone Productions’ upcoming NW Ohio premiere of "Jagged Little Pill".⁣

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Inspired by the legendary music of Alanis Morissette, this isn’t the story you might expect. It’s not a biography. It’s a powerful look at a family that appears perfect on the outside while dealing with the very real struggles hiding underneath.⁣

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We talk about the impact of Alanis’ music, why these songs still connect decades later, and how this show tackles topics like family expectations, identity, relationships, pain, and finding a way forward.⁣

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Come for the nostalgia. Stay for a story that might hit closer to home than you expect.⁣

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"Jagged Little Pill" Presented by Stone Productions⁣

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Show Dates:⁣

Friday, July 24, 2026 at 7:30 PM⁣

Saturday, July 25 & August 1, 2026 at 7:30 PM⁣

Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM⁣

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Don’t miss the NW Ohio premiere of this unforgettable musical.⁣

What happens when a shy high school senior auditions for a musical on a whim... and lands the lead?

Andrew Kleopfer shares the remarkable journey that took him from never performing on stage to building a professional acting career in just a few years.

Andrew talks about discovering theater at Whitmer High School, developing his craft at Owens Community College and the University of Toledo, chasing professional opportunities in Chicago, enduring more than 30 auditions before getting his first big break, and eventually returning home to launch a new Performing Arts Career Tech program at Whitmer.

Along the way, we discuss rejection, confidence, mental health, teaching, artistic growth, and why success in theater is measured by much more than Broadway.

Still Talking, about Which Way to the Stage. Sometimes there's a lot more stuff to talk about after the "stop recording" button has been pushed. Here is just a little clip

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Spotify:⁣

https://open.spotify.com/show/214M4OKBbWcDivndnc2MTu⁣

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Apple Podcasts:⁣

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stage-door-a-theatre-podcast-hosted-by-two-regular-guys/id1573865415⁣

Starting a theatre company is equal parts passion, creativity, and controlled chaos.

Joseph Ball sits down with the team behind the launch of That's Joe Biz Productions to share what inspired him to create a new production company dedicated to bringing fresh theatrical experiences to Northwest Ohio.

Joe, Maxwell, and Megan discuss how the company came together, why they chose Which Way to the Stage as their inaugural production, and what it's really like wearing multiple hats as producers, directors, actors, designers, and builders while creating a show from the ground up.

Still Talking, with The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey Sometimes there's a lot more stuff to talk about after the "stop recording" button has been pushed. Here is just a little clip

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Spotify:⁣

https://open.spotify.com/show/214M4OKBbWcDivndnc2MTu⁣

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Apple Podcasts:⁣

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stage-door-a-theatre-podcast-hosted-by-two-regular-guys/id1573865415⁣

Based on the celebrated novel by James Lecesne, this powerful one-man show follows the investigation into the disappearance of a 14-year-old boy named Leonard Pelkey. As the story unfolds, a small community is forced to confront its assumptions, fears, and understanding of acceptance, identity, and love.

John shares what drew him to this extraordinary piece, the unique challenges of portraying multiple characters in a solo performance, and why this story continues to resonate with audiences around the world. We also discuss the importance of bringing meaningful theatre to local communities and what audiences can expect when they experience this moving production.

The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey
August 8 & 9, 2026

For tickets and information:
www.act419.org

Still Talking, with The Toledo Area Theatre Fest. Sometimes there's a lot more stuff to talk about after the "stop recording" button has been pushed. Here is just a little post⁣

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Spotify:⁣

https://open.spotify.com/show/214M4OKBbWcDivndnc2MTu⁣

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Apple Podcasts:⁣

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stage-door-a-theatre-podcast-hosted-by-two-regular-guys/id1573865415⁣

For years, Toledo's theatre community has been growing. More companies. More productions. More opportunities. But also more competition for audiences, volunteers, performers, and support.

What if there was one event that brought everyone together?

In this episode, we sit down with Toledo Area Theatre Fest founder and president Anber Wilkes to talk about the first-ever Toledo Area Theatre Fest happening July 11, 2026. We discuss how a casual conversation among theatre friends turned into a community-wide event featuring live performances, workshops, vendors, food trucks, games, prizes, and opportunities to connect with theatre companies from across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.

We also dive into:
• How the idea for Theatre Fest was born
• Why local theatre needs this event now more than ever
• The workshops, performances, and activities planned for the day
• Building a stronger, more connected theatre community
• What organizers hope Theatre Fest becomes in the years ahead

Whether you're a performer, director, technician, volunteer, or someone who's always wanted to get involved in theatre, this episode is your inside look at what could become Toledo's newest arts tradition.

Get tickets: https://toledoareatheatrefest.ludus.com

The Toledo Area Theatre Fest
July 11, 2026
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Ohio Theatre & Children's Theatre Workshop
3114 Lagrange St.
Toledo, Ohio

Listen now and find out why this is much more than just another theatre event. It's the beginning of something bigger.

Joe Caskey is living the dream.

The DFW native and Oklahoma City University graduate joins The Stage Door Podcast to talk about making his national tour debut in A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. From playing Elvis Presley and the Beast to stepping into one of the biggest touring productions in the country, Joe shares his journey, the realities of life on the road, and what it's like bringing Neil Diamond's legendary music to audiences across America.

Created in collaboration with Neil Diamond himself, A Beautiful Noise tells the inspiring true story of how a kid from Brooklyn became one of the most successful recording artists of all time. Packed with iconic hits like "Sweet Caroline," "America," "Forever in Blue Jeans," and "Cracklin' Rosie," the musical celebrates the life and career of a true American music legend.

A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical is the fifth and final production in the 2025-2026 Broadway in Toledo season and will play eight performances at the Stranahan Theater from June 16-21, 2026.

Tickets are available at BroadwayInToledo.com, StranahanTheater.com, and Etix.com.

Performance Schedule:

• Tuesday, June 16 – 7:30 PM
• Wednesday, June 17 – 7:30 PM
• Thursday, June 18 – 7:30 PM
• Friday, June 19 – 7:30 PM
• Saturday, June 20 – 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
• Sunday, June 21 – 1:00 PM & 6:30 PM

Follow Broadway in Toledo:
Facebook: @BroadwayInToledo
Instagram: @BwayToledo

New episode streaming now.