Marla Mindelle  is criminally deranged for writing and starring in her second musical, THE BIG GAY JAMBOREE. She co-created and starred as Céline Dion in the hit Off-Broadway show TITANIQUE, which won her the 2023 Lucille Lortel Award and Obie award. On Broadway she perfomed in SISTER ACT (Sister Mary Robert, Outer Circle Critics Nomination), Stepsister Gabrielle in CINDERELLA and SOUTH PACIFIC. Marla starred as Olivia in the Emmy- nominated series, “Special” (Netflix). 

In this episode, Marla talks about her surprise and delight of being back on stage in New York and how resiliency and humor are the corner stones of success. She candidly shares her ongoing challenges with tinnitus, and how it has affected her as a performer.

Marla Mindelle

Tickets Big Gay Jamboree

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Julie Halston is one of New York’s busiest actresses and was the recipient of the 2021 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for her advocacy on behalf of The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.

Her Broadway credits are numerous, including Tootsie, Hairspray, Gypsy, Anything Goes, and The Twentieth Century. She received the Richard Seff Award for her acclaimed performance in You Can’t Take it with You and has garnered four Drama Desk nominations for her Broadway and off-Broadway work. Miss Halston was a founding member of Charles Busch’s legendary theatre company and co-starred with Mr. Busch in many productions including TheDivine Sister, Red Scare on Sunset and The Lady in Question. They starred together in the independent feature film, The Sixth Reel. In addition, Miss Halston recently completed the independent feature films, Intermedium and Simchas and Sorrows and Chosen Family with Heather Graham. Television credits include a recurring role on the latest “Gossip Girl”, guest roles on “The Good Fight”, “Almost Family” and “Divorce”. In addition, she has reprised her role of the popular character , Bitsy Von Muffling on the Sex and The City reboot, “And Just Like That” on MAX. Miss Halston’s web series, Virtual Halston was a pandemic hit with over 40 YOUTUBE.

In this episode, Julie shares rehearsal room stories ranging from terrible to beautiful, her start as an actress and thoughts on living to the fullest. 

Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

Julie Halstoon Youtube Series

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Tickets to see Marylee in Stories From The Stage with PBS Boston

Tony Award winner Joanna Gleason (Into the Woods, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and actor and fellow podcaster Chris Sarandon (The Princess Bride, Fright Night, The Nightmare Before Christmas) join us for our Season 4 return! They discuss their favorite dinner conversations on Chris' "Cooking By Heart" podcast, growing into multi-hyphenate performers as a married couple and individual artists, and building family on-set in Joanna's newest venture as the writer and director of her new film, The Grotto.

Cooking By Heart

The Grotto

The Stay Gold Project

Stephanie in concert

Stories From The Stage PBS

It's Summertime! In this episode, Stephanie and Marylee take a moment to connect and reflect before the Summer break, discussing their Tony Awards experiences -- now both as winners!; why cultural and societal expectations change between generations, how they each found a sense of belonging in the theater community and unique birthday celebrations.

See you in the September!

Kiss Me Kate

Birdland

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Emmy-nominated actor John Stamos is a favorite of stage and screen, known widely for his work on hit shows like "General Hospital, "ER, "Full House," and the sequel on Netflix, "Fuller House." He has also starred on Broadway in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, CABARET, NINE, and BYE BYE BIRDIE, and is beloved for his musical collaboration over the years with The Beach Boys. His memoir, If You Would Have Told Me, is a universal story about love, loss, and the courage to embrace love once more.  In this episode, John shares the ways writing a book forces you to reflect on your life, how his son watching "Uncle Jesse" helped him understand the "Full House" impact, and why he always asks for help in rehearsal rooms.    If You Would Have Told Me   John in Cabaret

tickets to Kiss Me Kate

Tickets to Birdland  concert

Ryan J. Haddad is an actor, playwright, and autobiographical performer known for his on stage and off. His acclaimed solo play, HI, ARE YOU SINGLE?, premiered at The Public Theater's Under the Radar Festival, and he continued his career with The Public, making his off-Broadway debut as a playwright and performer with his autobiographical DARK DISABLED STORIES, which was named a New York Times Critic's Pick. His latest work, HOLD ME IN THE WATER, was recently announced for the Spring 2025 season at Playwrights Horizons.   In this episode, Ryan shares how he transforms his personal essays into plays, the importance of taking up space, and getting creative about accessibility in live theater.   Ryan Haddad   Playwrights Horizons   Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Tony Award winner Lindsay Mendez has graced the Broadway stage in everything from modern hits like WICKED to theater classics like CAROUSEL. She currently is becoming "old friends" with audiences in the smash success revival of Stephen Sondheim's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. In this episode, Lindsay shares how she finds vulnerability in each of her characters, what it's like performing on Broadway while pregnant, and the advice that director Maria Friedman, who played "Mary Flynn" in the original production, has gifted her along their journey. 

Don't miss the tony Awards on Sunday, June 16th on Paramount Plus

Merrily We Roll ALong Tickets

The Four Agreements

Orange County School of the Arts

Danya Taymor is a Tony Award-nominated director for her first musical work on Broadway in THE OUTSIDERS. She holds a multifaceted portfolio of work, directing Will Arbery's HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING, Jeremy O. Harris' DADDY, Khat Knotahaiku's GRAVEYARD SHIFT, Antoinette Nwandu's PASS OVER, Danai Gurira's FAMILIAR, Martyna Majok's QUEENS and many more. Danya is a recipient of several awards and fellowships for her work, including the Cullman Award for Extraordinary Creativity from Lincoln Center, Time Warner Directing Fellowship at Women's Project, 2050 fellowship at New York Theatre Workshop, and the Lincoln Center Directors Lab. In this episode, Danya discusses building trust and creativity in a rehearsal room, looking for theater spirits in Ireland, and getting the stamp of approval from S.E. Hinton herself. 

Don't forget to watch the Tony Awards SUNDAY JUNE 16th on CBS and Paramont+

Tickets to THE OUTSIDERS

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Watch Pass Over

Known as "the voice of Broadway," acclaimed and award-winning performer Betty Buckley has made her mark in iconic roles like "Norma Desmond" in SUNSET BOULEVARD, "Grizabella" in CATS, "Margaret White" in CARRIE, and "Alice Nutting/Edwin Drood" in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, just to name a few.  In addition to her remarkable contributions on stage, she has release 16 solo albums and toured across the world. She has recently returned to the big screen in the highly anticipated thriller "Imaginary," playing in theaters now. In this episode, Betty discusses booking "Martha Jefferson" in the original Broadway company of 1776 on her first day in New York City, finding her voice through performing Bob Fosse's "Steam Heat" in her school talent show at 11-years-old, and hearing her younger self throughout pivotal moments in her multi-decade career.

Tickets to Betty at Joes Pub

Betty Buckley

Cutting Horses

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Tony Nominee Jocelyn Bioh is an Award-winning Ghanian-American playwright and actress. Her most recent play, JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING, is Tony-nominated for Best Play this season. Jocelyn’s work can be seen across screen and stage. SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY, won numerous awards including Lortel and Outer Critics Circle, and earned Drama Desk, Drama League, and Off-Broadway Alliance nominations. As an actress, Bioh received a Drama Desk nomination for IN THE BLOOD, and a Lortel nomination for her work in EVERYBODY. She is the Book writer for Broadway-bound musical GODDESS. Jocelyn has also written for TV on “Russian Doll”, Spike Lee's “She’s Gotta Have It,” and “Tiny Beautiful Things.” In this episode, Jocelyn discusses the history and spirituality within hair braiding, the importance of originality in the American musical theater, and how her perspective on work and life has changed with motherhood.

Jaja's African Hair Braiding

History of Hair Braids

Milton Hershey School