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

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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+

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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.

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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.

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John Tartaglia has been working as a professional puppeteer since the age of 16, as one of the youngest performers ever to be in the cast of "Sesame Street." He earned a Tony award nomination for his Broadway debut in AVENUE Q, with additional stage credits in Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and SHREK THE MUSICAL. John's producing debut came with his Emmy-nominated preschool series, "Johnny and the Sprites" for Disney Junior, followed by creating the acclaimed musical IMAGINOCEAN that was re-imagined for PBS Kids as "Jim Henson's Splash and Bubbles." He can be heard every week on SiriusXM on Broadway's "Sunday Funday with John Tartaglia." John's newest project, a reimagining of the beloved 1980s series "Fraggle Rock," is streaming now on Apple TV+.

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The personification of kindness, Jenn Colella, returns to Broadway as "Carrie Chapman Catt" in the new musical SUFFS. She shined on stage in IF/THEN, URBAN COWBOY, HIGH FIDELITY, CHAPLIN: THE MUSICAL, and was nominated for a Tony Award for her work in COME FROM AWAY.

In this episode, Jenn discusses what she learned from her start in stand-up comedy, telling the suffragists' story during an election year, becoming a first-time mother, and transmuting fear into love when making choices.

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Tony Award winner Kelli O'Hara has established herself as one of Broadway's brightest stars and greatest leading ladies. She has starred in FOLLIES, THE PAJAMA GAME, NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, THE KING & I, and DAYS OF WINE & ROSES, just to name a few. She received an Emmy Award nomination for her work on "The Accidental Wolf" and can currently be seen on HBO's "The Gilded Age." In this episode, Kelli discusses finding a niche for voice when she moved to New York City, and what she's learned about herself through working with Adam Guettel for the past 20 years.

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Tom Broecker has helped bring your favorite sketch comedy characters to life for nearly 30 years, as an Emmy Award-winning costume designer for Saturday Night Live. He has also designed for hit TV series like Showtime's "The Big C," NBC's "30 Rock," HBO's "The Comeback," "House of Cards" on Netflix, the Mean Girls movie and more. In this episode, he discusses how his love for the rehearsal process led him to costume design, the power of being present and going with the flow during a live TV show, and the costume reflects the emotional state of a character. Aubrey Plaza Monologue - SNL Mean Girls Movie Tom Broecker

Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer dazzles with an illustrious career on Broadway and beyond, originating roles in hit shows like BEETLEJUICE, SOMETHING ROTTEN!, ELF, and A CATERED AFFAIR. She is also known for her work in LEGALLY BLONDE, HAIRSPRAY, and her currently show-stopping performance as "The Lady of the Lake" in the Broadway revival of Monty Python's SPAMALOT. In this episode, Leslie discusses finding the freedom in loss, recreating an iconic role in her own way, and keeping up with cast text threads for 20 years. SPAMALOT ENTERTAINERS COMMUNITY FUND LESLIE as Carole Burnett