The Art of Kindness: Pop Culture & Positivity with Robert Peterpaul

Suffs star Hannah Cruz joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to talk her Broadway debut, stage fright, self kindness, finding courage in seeing herself in media, a surprise from Jenn Colella and more.

Hannah Cruz is thrilled to be making her Broadway debut. Off-Broadway: The Connector (Robin, MCC), Only Gold (Camille, MCC), Suffs (Ruza, The Public). Tour: Hamilton (IRNE Best Actress, Eliza), Bullets over Broadway (Ellen). Regional: The Da Vinci Code (American Premiere, Ogunquit Playhouse, Sophie Neveu) and Young Frankenstein (OP, Inga).

Follow Hannah:

@thisishannahcruz

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Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

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Join The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul live from the New Dramatists 2024 luncheon at the New York Marriott Marquis honoring Tony-nominated director Michael Greif (The Notebook, Dear Evan Hansen and Rent to credit a few). All proceeds benefited New Dramatists' resident playwrights and their work.

In this order, Broadway star guests talk what makes a great leader, kindness tips and more: Tony-nominated Stereophonic stars Will Brill and Eli Gelb, Tony-nominated Hell's Kitchen Choreographer Camille A. Brown and star Shoshana Bean, The Who's Tommy star Allison Luff, Tony-nominated Appropriate star Corey Stoll, Tony-nominated Suffs star Nikki M. James, Tony-nominated The Outsiders director Danya Taymor and star Brody Grant.

Ps. this just so happens to be coming out on my dear sister Julia's birthday - happy birthday!

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Support the show!

(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok)

Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

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Broadway star Jelani Remy joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to talk all things Back to the Future the musical, the joy of a good backstage prank and much more.

Jelani Remy is a NJ native and Broadway performer known for shows like Ain't Too Proud The Life and Times of The Temptations and Disney’s The Lion King. The talent now lights up Broadway in the blockbuster musical Back to the Future as Goldie Wilson and Marvin Berry. His number Gotta Start Somewhere truly stops the show!

For tickets and more: www.backtothefuturemusical.com

Follow Jelani:

@itsjelaniremy

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Support the show!

(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok)

Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

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How I Met Your Father star Francia Raísa joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss her life-changing act of kindness to Selena Gomez, paying it forward with her new Modelo partnership and much more. Also, today is Earth Day - please be kind to the earth!

FRANCIA RAISA recently starred in the hit Hulu sitcom HOW I MET YOUR FATHER which ran for 2 seasons. As an entrepreneur, Raisa shared her family salsa recipe with the world in partnership with the La Victoria brand which had a limited run before selling out in Fall of 2023. She can also be seen as ‘Ana Torres,’ a first-generation Cuban-American and roommate to Yara Shahidi’s ‘Zoey Johnson,’ on Freeform’s GROWN-ISH, the BLACK-ISH spinoff. Francia has come a long way from her first role as young cheerleader ‘Leti’ in the film BRING IT ON: ALL OR NOTHING. Continuing the development of her acting prowess in projects such as THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER and Netflix’s DEAR WHITE PEOPLE, she’s been primed to tackle all that is ahead of her. In between roles that have won her awards such as a Gracie Award and La Femme Film Festival Rising Star, and nominations for Teen Choice, IMAGEN and an ALMA, Raisa is dedicated to assisting organizations dear to her heart like Unlikely Heroes, whose mission is to provide safe homes and restoration to victims of sex trafficking worldwide. Born and raised in Southern California, bi-lingual Raisa is of Honduran and Mexican decent.

Modelo has partnered with Francia to celebrate the launch and expansion of Modelo Spiked Aguas Frescas, a line of vibrant, spiked, flavored malt beverages expanding to new markets across the country – and for the second year in a row, Modelo pays homage to the street vendors that helped inspire it and keep the beloved Mexican street drink tradition alive. 

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Support the show!

(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok)

Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

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Sherz shares! Sherz Aletaha joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul on the day of the 2024 Solar Eclipse to talk all things making her Broadway debut in Merrily We Roll Along, meeting Meryl Streep, bringing her authentic self to every role and more.

Sherz, which is pronounced like “more than one Cher,” is an Iranian American actor, singer, and vocal coach. Originally from Southern California, Sherz is based in Manhattan and is currently appearing in the hit Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Merrily We Roll Along alongside Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez. She has been seen on stage at The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Ars Nova, as Lalume in Kismet (directed by Lonny Price for the Santa Barbara Symphony), Aldonza in Man of La Mancha (Triad Stage), in Archetypes (Prospect Theater Company), Spring Alive (Dixon Place, cast album available) and the 2022 Off Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along (NYTW). She is frequently seen in concerts around New York City and is often part of readings and workshops of new and developing works at theater companies like Playwrights Horizon, The York, and Musical Theatre Factory. As a voice over artist, she has recorded work for Netflix and Age of Learning among others. Her on-camera work includes appearances on "Powerbook III: Raising Kanan," “The Detour,” “The First Wives Club,” “Three Trembling Cities,” “Wing Women,” "Insomnia," and numerous commercials.

Follow Sherz:

@morethanonecher

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Support the show!

(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok)

Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

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Broadway star Chilina Kennedy joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss playing Carole King in Beautiful, acts of kindness throughout her life, her new Off-Broadway show A Sign of the Times and more.

CHILINA KENNEDY most recently played Billie Jean King in Love All by Anna Deavere Smith. Broadway: Paradise Square, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Film/TV: “The 2015 Kennedy Center Honors,” With Me. Other: The Band’s Visit (International Tour), This Ain’t No Disco (Atlantic Theater Company), Mamma Mia! (1st National Tour), A Gentleman’s Guide To Love And Murder. Chilina is the composer of the new musicals Wild About You and Silk, and is Artistic Producer of Eclipse Theatre Company. chilinakennedy.com

A SIGN OF THE TIMES is a totally original story with such classic songs as “Downtown,” “Gimme Some Lovin’,” “Rescue Me,” and “I Know A Place,” plus dozens more, A SIGN OF THE TIMES explodes with the music you love and the spirit that shaped a generation—and our own. For tickets and more info: asignofthetimes.com.

Follow Chilina:

@chilinakennedy

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Support the show!

(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok)

Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

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Mean Girls icon Jonathan Bennett joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to chat following your dreams no matter what, getting out of your own way, jumping into Spamalot on Broadway and more. This isn't an April Fool's joke!

Jonathan Bennett skyrocketed to fame after playing heartthrob Aaron Samuels in "Mean Girls." The GLAAD Award winner and five-time nominee broke new ground at Hallmark Channel starring in and executive producing “The Holiday Sitter,” the network’s first gay-led romantic comedy. Fans have dubbed him “The Gay King of Christmas,” for his many hit holiday movies on the network including “The Christmas House” franchise and most recently, “Christmas on Cherry Lane.” The talented actor also hosts the ratings powerhouses “Halloween Wars” and “Cake Wars” on Food Network, “Times Square New Year’s Eve,” and “Battle of the Decades” on Discovery Plus. His work to bring more LGBTQ+ storylines to television and movies earned him the Equality Visibility Award. Other fan-favorite roles include taking on the iconic character Van Wilder in National Lampoon’s Van Wilder: Freshman Year, as Steve Martin’s antagonistic son-in-law in Cheaper By the Dozen 2, and roles on popular shows such as “Station 19,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Fantasy Island,” and more.

Get tickets to Spamalot and more at spamalotthemusical.com.

Follow Jonathan:

@jonathandbennett

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Support the show!

(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok)

Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

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World-renowned Opera Singer Sharon Azrieli joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss giving back to arts education, amplifying the Jewish community and more under the kindness sun.

Sharon Azrieli is a philanthropist and award-winning opera singer. Born in Montreal, Sharon’s voice has soared around the world, gracing Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Opéra Bastille de Paris, to name a few. She’s recorded a string of albums, including her latest Secret Places: A Tribute to Michel LeGrand. Most importantly, Sharon is a passionate philanthropist for arts education. She sits on the boards of several organizations, including the Azrieli Foundation for which she created the Azrieli Music Prize to celebrate rising stars in music. 

Speaking of, the Azrieli Music Prizes, Sharon and the AMP are celebrating a decade of championing exceptional music creation in NYC with a very special concert. See Sharon shine alongside world-renowned talent on Thursday, March 28th at 7:30 PM in the Starr Theater of Alice Tully Hall, which is at the iconic Lincoln Center.

More on Sharon:

sharonazrieli.com

Follow us:

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Support the show!

(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok)

Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

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Bonus Episode Alert! Podcast history is being made - this is the first ever crossover episode event featuring Robert Peterpaul host of The Art of Kindness Podcast and Samantha Tuozzolo, co-host of Survival Jobs: A Podcast. Samantha and Robert are live on the opening night red carpet of The Notebook on Broadway asking cast, creative and attendees all about survival jobs and being kind! 

This bonus episode features interviews with the stars and production team of the show including Ingrid Michaelson, Bekah Brunstetter, Joy Woods, Ryan Vasquez, Maryann Plunkett, Dorian Harewood, Jordan Tyson, John Cardoza, and Andrea Burns to name a few. Plus we chat with attendees including the man who started it all, Nicholas Sparks. 

The Notebook is a new musical based on the best selling novel that inspired the iconic film. Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart, in a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love.

The Notebook is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT, Spring Awakening) and Schele Williams (The Wiz, Aida) and features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, book by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC’s This Is Us), and choreography by Katie Spelman. Buy tickets to the show here! 

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@survivaljobspod/ @sammytutz/ @jasonacoombs

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Episode editor:

Carli Sanger

Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez

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Tony Award winner J. Harrison Ghee joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss their transformative Some Like It Hot journey, taking intentional time to rest and more.

J. HARRISON GHEE won the 2023 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, making history as the first non-binary actor to be nominated and win in this category for their role as “Daphne/Jerry” in SOME LIKE IT HOT, a role which also garnered them Grammy, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, as well as Drama League and Chita Rivera Award nominations. Ghee was selected by Billy Porter to star as “Robyn/Kevin” on the hit FOX series ACCUSED, and previously played the series regular of “Kwame” on Netflix’s RAISING DION. On Broadway, they starred as “Lola” in KINKY BOOTS, created the role of “Andre Mayhem” in MRS. DOUBTFIRE, and have dazzled audiences in roles such as “Velma Kelly” in CHICAGO and “Johnny Hooker” in THE STING, opposite Harry Connick, Jr. 

To learn more about Maestra Music and get tickets to their Amplify 2024 event, please visit: maestramusic.org/amplify/

Follow J:

@jharrisonghee

Follow us:

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Support the show!

(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok)

Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

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