The Backstage Creative

Laura Valenti is a New York City based scenic designer and artist. We dive into life in NYC, what it's like assisting a top tier scenic designer, and the importance of passing on what we know through teaching.

Cory Pattak is a New York City based lighting designer and podcaster. We talk about the relationship between lighting and music, becoming better at saying yes, and his own podcast called In 1.

Katie Siegmund is a New York City based keyboardist and music director. We had such a fun conversation discussing how to build trust with the people you work with, how to navigate conflicts and failure, and the business skills needed to be a freelancer.

Dawn Youngs and I sat down and had a great conversation about the benefits of community, the importance of good habits, and the arts scene in the Kansas City area.

Sean Francis Patrick is a multi talented stage manager based in New York City. We talk about teaching, changes in the theater industry, and the amazing theater scene in Cleveland.

Jessica Paz is a Tony award winning sound designer for her work on Hadestown. This is a great conversation where we talk about her interesting path to the theater world, the importance of perseverance, and women in technical fields.

Brad Carlson is a designer, technical director, and professor who is based in Missouri. We talk about puppetry, the role of a TD, and the importance of creative problem solving.

Rachel Hauck is a Tony award winning scenic designer who has worked on shows like Hadestown and What the Constitution Means to Me. We talk about her creative process, the magic of theater, and how to find inspiration in everyday life.

Trevor Jones is a bassist in the Chicago area. We talk about what characteristics make a good pit player, how to build a network, and what it's like subbing for Hamilton.

Jamibeth is a casting director and teacher in New York City. We talk about how to negotiate contracts, advice for actors, and the importance of having your own projects to work on.