Some things that might seem incredibly mundane are truly religious experiences. For some, it's taking that first sip of their morning coffee, letting it walk over them, melting away every worry. For others, it's a long drive on a nice summer day, blaring their music and letting the sun shine on their skin. However, for others, it's the act of gathering together with their community, gaining peace from being surrounded by others. This last experience is at the core of Steel Magnolias, about a group of women who work at a beauty salon and the relationships between them. This stunning play written by Robert Harling arrives this weekend at Birmingham Village Players in Birmingham, MI, and just ahead of its arrival, we sat down to talk to one of the cast members from this production, Leah Louis-Ferdinand.

In this exclusive Box Seat Babes interview, Louis-Ferdinand discusses what drew her to Steel Magnolias, how she's made Annelle her own while remaining faithful to the source material, and how this role has challenged her as an actor. The themes of community, family, and the beauty within the struggles of loss ring loudly in this play, and also speak to Louis-Ferdinand, drawing her even more into her role. Find out more about her experience in the play and what you can expect from this production of Steel Magnolias! Thank you so much for listening and enjoy!

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For as long as the cartoon has been around, Patrick Star has been Spongebob's best friend. They are inseparable in almost every aspect of their lives, staying besties through thick and thin (well, give or take a few episodes). So it only makes sense that when Bikini Bottom is under fire (literally) from the impending explosion of Mount Humongous, Patrick will be by Spongebob's side to save the day. At least, that's the basis for The Spongebob Musical, as the cast member personifying the talking starfish, Ian Campbell, told us when we spoke about his time on the Bloomfield Players production of this Broadway musical!

In this exclusive Box Seat Babes interview, Campbell spoke about how his love for the Nickelodeon show has spanned decades, even being a formative part of some of his friendships, and how playing Patrick on stage is his dream role. He also spoke about Patrick's journey through the story, what it's like to bring joy to everyone in the audience, and how the music comes together for this stage production! Thanks for listening to this exciting interview and we hope you enjoy!

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While Parade might have left Detroit and moved on with its North American tour, this musical's impact will live in our minds forever. This timely story about the conviction and unjust murder of Leo Frank couldn't have come at a better time, as injustices in our country are becoming increasingly more apparent. It serves of a reminder of the treatment of others not that long ago in American history and the dangerous patterns we're bound to face if we don't take a moment to reflect and attempt to do better, collectively. Parade has so much power in its story, as we discussed in the first episode, however, there is just as much to break down with the music, staging, and direction this incredible show has taken. 

In this second part of our Parade Discussion, hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko discuss all the additional wow factors that this touring stage musical was able to pack into its two and a half hours of run time. What was so striking about the stage and how the actors used it? What did the visibility of the conductor signal to both of the hosts? Listen to this episode of The Box Seat Babes podcast to find all those answers!

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Sandy the squirrel is truly a fish out of water in the world of Spongebob and the rest of his aquatic friends. A mammal from the warm land of Texas, Sandy ends up in Bikini Bottom, living in a space suit to protect her from drowning as well as the crushing pressure of the water. In the cartoon, she's built herself a beautiful life and seems relatively accepted by those around her. However, as we've learned from talking with Danielle Cover, who plays Sandy in the Bloomfield Players' production of The Spongebob Musical, that isn't the case in the stage show.

In this exclusive Box Seat Babes interview, Danielle Cover discusses some of the deeper messages and commentary in The Spongebob Musical, such as discrimination and hatred toward those who are viewed as different. As a squirrel living under the sea, Sandy finds herself blamed for some of the impending doom that is threatening to destroy Bikini Bottom! Cover also talks about what drew her to this role, how her son has helped her to develop her character, and the joy it is working with her daughter on this production. What's her favorite moment from The Spongebob Musical? Listen to this exciting interview to find out!

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Broadway in Detroit has been a staple of the southwest Michigan theater community for decades, bringing the best touring Broadway shows to The Fisher Theatre and The Detroit Opera House. While we're still working our way through the current season, with shows such as The Book of Mormon and The Wiz still upcoming, those behind the scenes always think about the future and the next series of shows to grace these Detroit theaters. Recently, Broadway in Detroit announced their 2025-2026 season with a fun guessing game, revealing eight shows to their core season and three additional add-ons that patrons can witness on stage! The Box Seat Babes are absolutely thrilled with the incredible shows coming in the 2025-2026 season and we couldn't wait to break down the announcement on the podcast!

Hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko are joined by Amber Rasho, the public relationships specialist for Broadway in Detroit as they discuss all the Broadway shows coming to Detroit next season! Which ones are they all most excited for? How many of them have they seen already? You'll have to listen into this exciting episode of The Box Seat Babes podcast to find out for sure! You can get tickets for the final few shows of Broadway in Detroit's 2024-2025 season on their website, so grab them soon before they are gone! Keep your eyes peeled as well for the upcoming season passes, which will be going on sale soon!

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The show must go on, no matter what...At least that's what must be going on in Pearl's head throughout the course of The Spongebob Musical. Set against the backdrop of impending disaster, this musical sees the star in the making, Mr. Krab's cheerleader daughter, decide to save Bikini Bottom from the exploding Mount Humongous in the only way possible. A Benefit concert of course! And so begins her journey through The Spongebob Musical, to bring her favorite band to Bikini Bottom, and maybe make a name for herself as well. Bloomfield Players' production of this wacky musical is currently entering its second week, and just before their premiere, we sat down and spoke with Kylie Wieand, who is bringing Pearl to life on stage!

In this exclusive interview, Kylie Wieand talks about her time in this production of The Spongebob Musical. She discusses what drew her to the role, how she's made the Pearl her own, what it's like slipping into the costume of such an icon, and what she's hoping audiences take away from the production. What is so special about the music of this show according to Wieand? How familiar was she with the musical before being cast in it? You'll have to give this interview a listen to find out!

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The Ringwald Theatre over in Ferndale, MI, has never shied away from the stories they tell, and their latest show, Cock, is no exception. An intimate look into sexuality and how attraction and love change over time, Cock shines a light on relationships of all kinds and how complicated they can be. Director Joe Bailey has created something special for The Ringwald, as this show is something unlike you've never seen before. Prior to the opening night, we spoke with one of the cast members of the show, Stebert Davenport, about his time on this production!

In this exclusive Box Seat Babes interview, Stebert Davenport talks about what drew him to Cock (because how to do you turn away a script with a title like that!), how he has built his character of John, and how his journey with sexuality has changed in reflection with his character. Listen as Brian Kitson and Davenport explore gender, sexuality, and the debate between nature and nurture in the development with the former two. Which themes from Cock resonate the most with the actor? What is he hoping audiences walk away from this production with? Listen to this thoughtful interview to hear all these answers and more about this current Ringwald Theatre show!

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It’s not every day that something from our childhood crosses over with our passion of Broadway, but every once in a while we find a show that mixes those two things together, creating a special night out at the theater. Those over at the Bloomfield Players Community Theater are looking to do just that with their upcoming production of Spongebob the Musical! Ahead of its opening night at the local theater, we spoke with Elijah Lang, who stars as Mr. Krabs in this musical adaptation of this Nickelodeon property!

In this exclusive interview, Lang shares his excitement about taking on this more adult role in this hilarious stage musical. He discusses what drew him to the show, how he feels the music enhances The Spongebob Musical, and what he hopes audiences take away from this production. With 23 productions under his belt since 2019, Elijah Lang excels at his craft, and we can’t wait to see him in Bloomfield Players’ production of The Spongebob Musical!

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There’s nothing on the Broadway scene quite like Parade, as this marries the concept of theater and art perfectly. There’s so much beauty in the tragic story of Leo Frank and the heinous acts of the Georgia government to wrongly convict him of murder. This isn’t escapism theater, but instead a musical that pushes those in attendance to think about the world at large and how an act such as what happened to Leo Frank could happen to anyone. We were absolutely blown away by the story and production quality of this show, making this episode of The Box Seat Babes podcasts one we couldn’t wait to record.

Journey with co-hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko as they explore the story and characters within Parade. From their confusion with the opening scene, to the story of Leo Frank and his wife, and most importantly the strength and conviction this innocent man had throughout his trial, there’s so much to explore. Which aspects of the story spoke the most to them? Which characters did they feel a connection with? Listen to the Parade: Story and Characters episode of The Box Seat Babes Podcast to find out!

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Life is short, there's no denying that. Time is forever slipping through our fingers as we grow older, each day feeling like it's passing faster than the one before it. As we grow older, many of us attempt to squeeze every drop we can out of life, desperate for more time for all the things we want to do. However, for someone like Kim, time is even more fleeting and, therefore, more beautiful. The Tony-Award Winning show, Kimberly Akimbo, is coming soon to Broadway in Detroit, and before its arrival we were able to speak with one of the cast members, Sarah Lynn Marion, about her time on the production.

In this exclusive interview with Box Seat Babes, Sarah Lynn Marion shares what it's like to be an off-stage understudy with the touring production of Kimberly Akimbo. Always waiting in the wings in case she needs to go on, Marion is prepared to cover two vastly different roles at any given time. How does she prepare for both Pattie and Debra? What does she do to get into their different mindsets? What themes from the show speak to her as an actor? How does she prioritize her mental health while on a national tour? All those answers are within this exciting interview!

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