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

Broadway star Adrianna Hicks joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss acts of kindness during her Tony-winning new musical Some Like It Hot, the delights of working with Christian Borle and J Harrison Ghee, lessons learned from Jennifer Holiday during The Color Purple, self-kindness and so much more.

Adrianna Hicks fell in love with performing at a young age, singing in church choirs in Texas. The musical theatre bug bit her bad in high school, prompting her to study it at University of Oklahoma.

After racking up a slew of regional credits and tours under her belt, Adrianna made her Broadway debut in 2015 as a swing in The Color Purple. You’ll find out during our discussion that this was truly a magical full circle moment. She went on to perform in Aladdin on Broadway and more recently, to originate the role of Catherine Aragon in the hit musical Six.

Adrianna is currently (well depending on when you listen to this) playing the iconic role of Sugar in the Tony-winning sensation Some Like It Hot. You may know the part as being minted in Hollywood history by Marilyn Monroe during the late 50’s MGM film, but Hicks brings her own joy and magic to the updated story.

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Music:

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

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

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Shark Tank's Mr. Wonderful a.k.a. Kevin O’Leary, Chairman, O’Leary Ventures joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss his latest venture Chef Wonderful, his unique view of kindness, gaining self-confidence and more.

As a university student, Kevin’s innate business sense led him along several different paths – including some very unusual, very entrepreneurial ways of making a profit. Not long after he finished his MBA, Kevin had a meeting that changed his life forever. He met a man who had a strange idea for a software product – an idea with huge, high-profit potential that Kevin immediately recognized. After years of ups, downs, sacrifices, challenges, and lessons learned, the opportunity that Kevin saw eventually turned into a computer software giant that was acquired for more than $4 billion dollars.

 After his extraordinary success at the software company he founded, Kevin eventually found himself on television, quickly becoming a sought-after host and personality on a range of shows – including Discovery’s Project Earth, CBC’s Dragons’ Den, and ABC’s Shark Tank. Kevin has since launched O’Leary Funds, an investment fund company; O’Leary Fine Wines; and a best-selling book series on financial literacy. In 2014, Kevin founded O’Leary Financial Group – a group of brands and services that share Kevin’s guiding principles of honesty, directness, convenience, and above all, great value.

Use the below service Sandboxx to send a letter to my brother Will Peterpaul at Coast Guard Bootcamp in Cape May, NJ. His Company name is "Hotel.” And his company #204:

https://link.sandboxx.us/referral/WV4TUH7K

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Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

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Music:

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

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

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Tony Award Nominee L Morgan Lee (A Strange Loop), Broadway's Linedy Genao (Bad Cinderella), Director Taylor Haven Holt (Back to the Future Musical) join The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul live from BroadwayCon 2023! Listen in as they discuss how to make the rehearsal process a more positive, safe and successful place for artists to thrive.

This special live podcast is presented by the Broadway Podcast Network.

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

[email protected]

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Support the show!

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

Music:

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

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway star Megan Hilty joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss her incredible career through the lens of kindness. From Idina Menzel's career-changing act of kindness to what she learned from Dolly Parton herself, Megan shares countless inspiring stories and quips while reflecting on her journey.

Megan Hilty is probably most recognizable for her portrayal of Ivy Lynn in the NBC Musical Drama “Smash.” Before that, Hilty started her career on Broadway, playing Glinda in “Wicked,” Doralee Rhodes in “9 to 5 The Musical,” and Brooke Ashton in “Noises Off,” which earned her a Tony Award Nomination. Other stage credits include Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors” (Kennedy Center), Annie Oakley in “Annie Get Your Gun” (Encores/NY City Center) and Lorelei Lee in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (Encores/NY City Center). 

Her numerous television credits include “Sean Saves The World” with Sean Hayes, “Difficult People,” “Braindead,” “The Good Fight,” playing the iconic Patsy Cline in “Patsy and Loretta” and Lily in NBC’s “Annie Live!” Megan’s voiceover work spans from audiobooks to kids animated favorites on Disney, Nickelodeon, Netfilx, Hulu & Cartoon Network. Hilty continues to tour her cabaret show with her band, led by Grammy Nominated Matt Cusson, which has been taped for “Live from Lincoln Center” on PBS, and regularly appears with world renowned orchestras including the NY Pops, Boston Pops and the National Symphony Orchestra.

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

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Music:

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

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

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Arielle Jacobs joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss approaching her new Broadway show "Here Lies Love" with empathy, acts of kindness on Broadway and much more.

Arielle Jacobs has been lighting up the stage since she studied ballet at the age of three. She went on to star in Broadway blockbusters, playing Princess Jasmine in Disney’s “Aladdin”, Nessarose in “Wicked”, and Nina Rosario in “In the Heights” alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda. More recently she dazzled Off-Broadway in “Between The Lines.” Now, Jacobs channels Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos in the aforementioned show "Here Lies Love." The immersive disco pop musical has transformed the Broadway Theatre into a dance club where actors perform amongst audiences.

Most importantly, when not performing, Arielle gives back: supporting her company “The Broadway Pup”, which sells punny Broadway-themed pet bandanas and donates 100% of profits to animal rescue charities.

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

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@ariellejacobs

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Music:

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

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

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Sweet Magnolias showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul on the mic for a cozy conversation on running a positive television set, working alongside her children, the WGA strike and much more.

Sheryl J. Anderson is the showrunner of Netflix's Sweet Magnolias. She began her writing journey as a playwriting major at William & Mary. Lured to Los Angeles by the intrigue of television and the promise of 300 sunny days a year, she worked as a television studio executive, screenwriter, and half-hour series writer on shows like Parker Lewis Can’t Lose and Dave’s World. She then moved to writing and producing hour-long series, working on a wide range of series from Charmed to Flash Gordon to When Calls the Heart. She has sold pilots to Netflix, SyFy, Lifetime, UPtv, and Disney, and written movies for NBC, UPtv, and Lifetime.

If you love this episode be sure to go back and listen to our chats with Sweet Magnolia stars JoAnna Garcia Swisher and Carson Rowland!

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

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Music:

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

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony and Grammy Award-winner Jessie Mueller joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss her incredible career, how Chita Rivera changed her life with an act of kindness, navigating negative voices in her head when she’s recording an album or just in life, and much more.

Jessie Mueller is a Tony and Grammy Award-winning actress and singer. She was last seen on Broadway in Tracy Lett’s The Minutes. Other recent credits include the Kennedy Center’s Guys & Dolls, The Music Man, Julie Jordan in the Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel (Tony & Grammy nominations, Drama Desk Award), originating the roles of both Jenna in Waitress, for which she received Tony, Drama Desk & Grammy noms, and Carole King in Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, for which she won Tony, Grammy & Drama Desk Awards. I saw her in Waitress and Beautiful and she was well… BEAUTIFUL! She’s done concert appearances at Carnegie Hall, Chicago’s Lyric Opera, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.  

Jessie is also no stranger to shining bright in the Film and Television world. You can watch her in Steven Spielberg’s The Post, Madam Secretary, Blue Bloods, Hulu’s Candy, and Lifetime’s Patsy & Loretta. Like Javier Munoz who was previously on the AOK (go listen if you haven’t already), Jessie is in the new musical concept album My Heart Says Go - which you can stream everywhere.

Jessie is an Arts Education champion for groups such as Rosie’s Theatre Kids (rosiestheaterkids.org) and a long-time supporter of The Entertainment Community Fund (entertainmentcommunity.org) & Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids (broadwaycares.org).

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

[email protected]

Follow us

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Support the show!

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

Music:

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

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Art of Kindness podcast LIVE from the Jimmy Awards 2023 red carpet at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre, as host Robert Peterpaul talks with stars: Corbin Bleu (High School Musical), Eva Noblezada (Hadestown), Andrew Barth Feldman (No Hard Feelings), Justin David Sullivan (& Juliet), Elijah Johnson (MJ the Musical), McKenzie Kurtz (Wicked), Casting Director Stephanie Klapper, Producer Alecia Parker (Chicago), performer Garrett Ryan Hoy, Morgan Higgins (Bad Cinderella) and Felix Torrez-Ponce (Sweeney Todd).

From advice for dreamers to kindness tips, we hope this episodes inspires you, friends! Apologies for any whack audio levels as this was a live event.

About the Jimmy Awards:

The Broadway League Foundation presents the 14th annual Jimmy Awards​ ​ceremony taking place on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 7:30pm at the Minskoff Theatre.​ ​This year’s host is star of stage, television, and film, Corbin Bleu (High School Musical). The Jimmy Awards​ ​features dynamic ensemble and solo performances and culminates with the​ ​presentation of a Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor​ ​award, as well as other honors and scholarships. Winners will be chosen by a panel of​ ​industry experts.​ ​This year there are 96 nominees from 48 high school musical theatre awards​ ​competitions across the U.S. For more visit: www.jimmyawards.com

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

[email protected]

Follow us

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Support the show!

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

Music:

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

Special thank you to Carli Sanger for editing this episode!

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway star Desi Oakley joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul live from a 2023 Jimmy Awards rehearsal. She discusses coaching the high school nominated performers to be their unique selves and much more in this special bonus episode.

Desi Oakley is a self-prescribed artist, creator, people person, go-getter and true jane of all trades. One of the Kansas native's first roles was ironically Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. She then brought her Oztastic sparkle to her Broadway debut in Wicked, starting as a swing and then taking over ensemble and understudy tracks as Nessarose and Elphaba. Since then she's appeared on Broadway in the 2014 Les Miserables revival and earned much attention for her beautiful portrayal of Jenna in Waitress both on the first national tour and West End. More recently, Desi's name was on everyone's lips as she played Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway.

About the Jimmy Awards:

The Broadway League Foundation presents the 14th annual Jimmy Awards​ ​ceremony taking place on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 7:30pm at the Minskoff Theatre.​ ​This year’s host is star of stage, television, and film, Corbin Bleu (High School Musical). The Jimmy Awards​ ​features dynamic ensemble and solo performances and culminates with the​ ​presentation of a Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor​ ​award, as well as other honors and scholarships. Winners will be chosen by a panel of​ ​industry experts.​ ​This year there are 96 nominees from 48 high school musical theatre awards​ ​competitions across the U.S. For more visit: www.jimmyawards.com

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

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Follow Desi

@desioakley

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Music:

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

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss the challenges of vulnerability in today's world, acts of kindness from Jennifer Lawrence on the set of No Hard Feelings, giving yourself grace as an artist and much more.

Celebrated stage and screen actress Laura Benanti burst onto the scene at 18-years-old with a captivating performance as Maria in "The Sound of Music," on Broadway. Her talent was undeniable, setting the stage for a remarkable career. About a year after do-re-mi-ing... she earned a Tony Award nomination for her role in Swing! on Broadway. From there flowed a cascade of phenomenal performances and glittering awards, racking up 5 Tony noms total. She notably won the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Tony Award in 2008 for a revelatory portrayal of Gypsy Rose Lee opposite Patti LuPone's Mama Rose in Stephen Sondheim's Gypsy. Other Broadway highlights include: her acclaimed starring role in of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown; originating the role of Julia in The Wedding Singer, starring opposite Antonio Banderas in Nine, and her acclaimed performance of Cinderella in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. Most recently the star lit up Broadway in She Loves Me, My Fair Lady and Meteor Shower, which also starred her future TV collaborator Amy Schumer.

Laura recently worked with Schumer onscreen in Hulu's Life & Beth... which brings us to her illustrious career on screen. I simply don't have time to name everything, but I'm gonna run by a bunch - let me just take a breath. *Inhale.* Ok... Laura’s past television credits include staple shows like Law and Order: SVU, Royal Pains, The Big C, Nashville, and Elementary. She's had arcs on series like Supergirl, The Good Wife and Nurse Jackie. You may recognize her as Quinn on TV Land's hit show Younger and for her role in HBO Max's Gossip Girl reboot. Or perhaps she's Melania to you, thanks to Late Night with Stephen Colbert.

On the film front, Laura's appeared in movies like Worth and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s tick, tick... BOOM! on Netflix. She starred opposite Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish in the comedy Here Today. She also created and executive produced Homeschool Musical: Class of 2020 for HBO Max... or I guess MAX now? Which has such a beautiful origin story that we discuss. We also discuss Laura's latest movie No Hard Feelings, where she stars opposite the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Feldman and Matthew Broderick.

I mean from countless additional regional theatre credits to touring prestigious venues around the country with her concerts, Laura's resume is truly longer than a CVS receipt.

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

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Follow Laura

@laurabenati

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Support the show!

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

Music:

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

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices