The Roundtable with Robert Bannon

Justin Guarini is taking center stage once again, and this time, he's helping others find the confidence to do the same!

The singer, actor, Broadway star, television personality, and now author joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon for a conversation about his extraordinary journey through show business and the release of his new book, Center Stage Confidence: How to Own Your Story and Command Any Room, available October 6, 2026.

Millions first fell in love with Justin during the inaugural season of American Idol, where his incredible voice, charisma, and unforgettable performances made him a household name. But that was only the beginning of a career that would take him from recording studios and television sets to some of Broadway's biggest stages.

Justin reflects on his musical journey, the opportunities and challenges that followed American Idol, and the importance of continuing to grow as an artist. With nearly 25 years in the entertainment industry, he's learned a thing or two about navigating success, embracing change, and finding new ways to share his talents.

Broadway fans know Justin from his impressive theatrical career, including seven Broadway productions: Good Vibrations, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, American Idiot, Romeo and Juliet, Wicked, In Transit, and Once Upon a One More Time. From rock musicals to beloved Broadway favorites, Justin has demonstrated remarkable versatility as a performer.

Now he's bringing those experiences together in Center Stage Confidence, a new book that explores what it really means to believe in yourself, communicate authentically, overcome fear, and own your story.

Drawing on lessons from his years in entertainment and his work coaching professionals, Justin shares practical insights about building confidence from within. The book also features conversations with accomplished performers and leaders, including Michael Bublé, Jordan Fisher, Amber Ruffin, and Russell Brunson.

This episode celebrates the many sides of Justin Guarini: the singer audiences discovered on television, the Broadway performer who continued to challenge himself, the entertainer who has reinvented his career, and the author encouraging others to step into their own spotlight.

Whether you've followed Justin since American Idol, seen him on Broadway, or are discovering his work for the first time, this is a conversation about music, passion, perseverance, and realizing that your next great chapter may still be ahead.

Join Robert Bannon and Justin Guarini for an inspiring and entertaining edition of The Roundtable!

Pick up Center Stage Confidence: How to Own Your Story and Command Any Room, available now wherever books are sold.

For more interviews, exclusive conversations, and entertainment news, visit www.RobertBannon.com or follow @RobertMBannon on Instagram.

The best is yet to come!

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On this episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, Robert welcomes musical theatre writer, composer, lyricist, and violinist Timothy L. Michuda for a conversation about his powerful new musical, TURING.

Co-written by Michuda and Benjamin Ward, TURING tells the true story of Alan Turing, the brilliant British mathematician whose work was instrumental in cracking Nazi Germany’s Enigma code during World War II — and who was later prosecuted by the British government because he was gay.

Rather than tell Turing’s life as a conventional chronological biography, the musical unfolds across three parallel timelines, introducing audiences to Turing as a boy struggling to find his place in the world, as the brilliant young man whose groundbreaking work helped change the course of World War II, and as an adult facing devastating persecution because of his sexuality.

The result is a musical about far more than mathematics and history. TURING examines identity, love, loneliness, genius, acceptance, injustice, and the human being behind one of the most consequential minds of the twentieth century.

Michuda joins Robert to talk about why Alan Turing’s story called to him, the challenge of transforming such a complicated life into musical theatre, and how he and Ward found the show’s distinctive three-timeline structure. They also discuss creating a contemporary theatrical score that incorporates orchestral, jazz, and electronic influences and finding the emotional life underneath a story many audiences may think they already know.

The conversation comes at an exciting moment for the project. TURING has already received Best Musical honors at the Theatre on the Verge New Musicals Festival and received a full staging in Chicago. Now, the show takes another step forward with the release of the official TURING concept EP on October 9, 2026.

Michuda also shares his own journey from a classically trained violinist to a musical theatre creator. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and BerkleeNYC, he holds undergraduate degrees in Violin Performance and Civil Engineering as well as a master’s degree in Writing and Design for Musical Theater. His work also includes the family musical Take A Quack At It!, which has reached audiences internationally, including productions in Taiwan.

It is a conversation about the responsibility of telling a real person’s story, the importance of preserving LGBTQ+ history, and how musical theatre can take a figure we know from history books and reveal the complicated, vulnerable human being behind the accomplishments.

Three stories. One man. One extraordinary life.

Hear Timothy L. Michuda tell the story behind TURING on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon.

Visit RobertBannon.com for more episodes and follow @RobertMBannon on Instagram.

The best is yet to come.

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What happens when the trip of a lifetime becomes the ride from hell?

Writer, director and producer Kristian McKay joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk about his new horror thriller KILL TRIP, a Texas-set nightmare that takes a group of festival-bound friends and sends their road trip in a terrifying direction.

On their way to a music festival in Austin, a group of carefree travelers accepts a ride from a magnetic stranger. What should be the beginning of an unforgettable weekend quickly turns sinister as members of the group begin disappearing. With their numbers dwindling and danger seemingly everywhere, getting to the festival is no longer the priority — staying alive is.

Written and directed by McKay, KILL TRIP stars Tate Christensen, Diletta Guglielmi, Stelio Savante, Corin Nemec, Samaire Armstrong, Todd Jenkins, Brittany McVicker, John Ford Coley and more. The film was shot in Texas and blends the road-trip movie with horror and thriller elements for a story where nobody — and nothing — is quite what it seems.

Kristian sits down with Robert to talk about creating the world of KILL TRIP, writing and directing his own material, assembling the film’s eclectic cast, shooting on location in Texas, and finding the balance between suspense, character and all-out horror. He also opens up about his life as an independent filmmaker, the challenges of getting a movie from an idea on the page to the screen, and why he remains passionate about telling stories his own way.

KILL TRIP is now available digitally and on VOD from Quiver Distribution.

Don’t miss this conversation with filmmaker Kristian McKay — and whatever you do, be careful who you hitch a ride with.

Watch The Roundtable with Robert Bannon on YouTube and listen wherever you get your favorite shows, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and the Broadway Podcast Network.

For more interviews, visit www.RobertBannon.com or follow @RobertMBannon on Instagram.

The best is yet to come!

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We’re heading Off-Broadway as WP Theater’s Producing Artistic Director Lisa McNulty, director Tatiana Pandiani, and stars Alyssa May Gold and Yasmin Ranz-Lind join The Roundtable to take us inside the world premiere of Melis Aker’s FISH!

Set in London in 2016, FISH follows 17-year-old Karya as she struggles with the unresolved disappearance of her brother. When a theory from her mother begins to gain traction, Karya and her best friend create a twisted online experiment to search for answers — and soon find themselves venturing into much darker territory than they ever expected. It’s a sharp, funny and tender coming-of-age story about grief, girlhood, family, friendship and games that go too far. Women's Project Theater

We talk with Lisa McNulty about WP Theater and its continued commitment to developing and producing work by Women+ artists; Tatiana Pandiani about directing this timely new work; and Alyssa May Gold and Yasmin Ranz-Lind about finding Libby and Karya and bringing this complicated friendship and story to life onstage.

Alyssa returns to WP after appearing in the acclaimed world premiere of Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, with credits that also include the Broadway revivals of How I Learned to Drive and Arcadia. Yasmin makes her WP and Signature Theatre debut as Karya, following work including Smile Off-Broadway and productions at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Women's Project Theater

FISH is a co-production of WP Theater and Signature Theatre, in association with New Light Theater Project, with Noor Theatre as consulting producer. It runs through October 25 at WP Theater, with opening night set for October 11. Women's Project Theater

🎟️ Tickets and more information from WP Theater

For more from The Roundtable, visit RobertBannon.com or follow @RobertMBannon on Instagram.

The best is yet to come. ❤️

#FISH #WPTheater #AlyssaMayGold #YasminRanzLind #TatianaPandiani #LisaMcNulty #MelisAker #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #OffBroadway #NYCTheater #NewYorkTheatre #SignatureTheatre #NewPlays #Theatre

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Award-winning, Billboard-charting composer and songwriter Billy Recce joins us at The Roundtable to talk about his powerful new project, BIG MAN: A NEW MUSICAL!

Currently in development, BIG MAN takes us inside the imagination of Albert, an 85-year-old man living with Alzheimer’s whose world transforms from a memory care room into the bright lights, big-band sounds, and Rat Pack swagger of 1960s Las Vegas.

With music by Billy Recce and book and lyrics by Sheryl Berk, the show explores family, memory, caregiving, love, loss, forgiveness, and what it means to meet someone you love exactly where they are.

Billy takes us behind the music, the development of the show, and the journey of bringing this deeply human story to the stage. We also talk about the incredible artists already lending their voices to the score, including Ramin Karimloo on “Wanted to Believe” and Kevin Chamberlin on “Wander” — with proceeds from the singles benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association.

It’s a conversation about creating new musical theatre, finding joy alongside heartbreak, and using music to tell a story that so many families know firsthand.

🎥 Watch our conversation now!

For more from The Roundtable, visit www.RobertBannon.com or follow @RobertMBannon on Instagram.

The best is yet to come. ❤️

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Broadway is getting WANTED — and The Roundtable is going inside one of the season’s most exciting new musicals! ⭐️

Grammy Award winner Ledisi joins us alongside members of the incredible cast and creative team of WANTED, the new American musical heading to Broadway’s James Earl Jones Theatre.

Inspired by a Clarke family story carried through generations, WANTED takes us to Texas in 1893, where twin sisters Mary and Martha Clarke are on the run. Black women passing as white, the sisters navigate two very different Americas while fighting for their family, their freedom, and a future they refuse to surrender.

We talk about bringing this extraordinary story to Broadway, finding the sound and soul of the piece, the history behind the Clarke sisters, and what it means to tell their story to audiences today. And with a company led by Solea Pfeiffer, Liisi LaFontaine, Ledisi, Luke James, Bradley Jaden, Aurelia Williams, and Awa Sal Secka, there is some SERIOUS talent bringing this world to life.

WANTED features book and lyrics by Angelica Chéri, a descendant of the Clarke sisters, with music by Ross Baum, direction by Stevie Walker-Webb, and choreography by Chelsey Arce.

The show begins Broadway previews October 15 and officially opens November 8 at the James Earl Jones Theatre.

🎭 Learn more and get tickets at the official WANTED website.

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A new chapter. A powerful voice. A story worth hearing! Singer, songwriter, and producer Merce joins Robert Bannon at The Roundtable to talk about her single “My Guy” and her deeply personal solo project, ALIVE. As a founding member of The Jazzyfatnastees, Merce helped shape the neo-soul movement—and now she is bringing her own story front and center.

We talk about the meaning behind “My Guy,” trusting your path, and finding the courage to move forward. Blending alternative soul, pop, and electronic sounds, her new music explores loss, resilience, and rediscovering yourself through creativity. From her roots with The Jazzyfatnastees and The Roots to finding her own artistic voice, this is a conversation about music, purpose, and the power of beginning again!

Watch and listen to The Roundtable across BroadwayWorld, Broadway Podcast Network, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio.

Visit www.RobertBannon.com or follow us at @RobertMBannon on Instagram.

The best is yet to come.

#Merce #MyGuy #ALIVE #TheJazzyfatnastees #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #NeoSoul #NewMusic #SoulMusic #BroadwayWorld #BroadwayPodcastNetwork

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The saxophone legend is at The Roundtable! Four-time Grammy nominee Boney James joins Robert Bannon to celebrate his brand-new album, A Simple Man. With 20 studio albums and more than three decades of making music, Boney continues to bring the soul, the groove, and that unmistakable sound we love!

We talk about the inspiration behind this deeply personal new chapter, finding joy in the simple things, and blending jazz and R&B in a way that is entirely his own. Featuring collaborations with Ledisi, Larry Carlton, and Marquis Hill—including “I Belong To You” with Ledisi—A Simple Man celebrates an artist still creating, exploring, and making every note count. Come for the music, stay for the conversation!

Watch and listen to The Roundtable across BroadwayWorld, Broadway Podcast Network, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio.

Visit www.RobertBannon.com or follow us at @RobertMBannon on Instagram.

The best is yet to come.

#BoneyJames #ASimpleMan #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #Ledisi #Jazz #RnB #NewMusic #BroadwayWorld #BroadwayPodcastNetwork

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The one and only Leon is at The Roundtable! From The Five Heartbeats and The Temptations to Cool Runnings, his performances have given us characters and moments we continue to love. Now, he joins Robert Bannon for a conversation about his latest film, Wildcards!

Written and directed by Wes Miller, Wildcards brings questions of truth, bias, and justice into the courtroom. Leon stars as Greg Sims, a veteran defense attorney whose undefeated record faces a challenging case. With jurors divided and a mysterious witness entering the picture, certainty becomes harder to find.

Robert recently had the pleasure of moderating a Wildcards event with Leon in Detroit, and we are thrilled to bring him to The Roundtable! There is something special about welcoming an artist whose work has been part of so many of our lives—and celebrating what comes next.

Whether you have been a fan for decades or are discovering his work for the first time, pull up a chair. We are giving Leon his flowers!

Watch and listen to The Roundtable with Robert Bannon on BroadwayWorld, YouTube, Broadway Podcast Network, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio.

Visit www.RobertBannon.com or follow us on Instagram at @RobertMBannon.

The best is yet to come.

#Leon #Wildcards #RobertBannon #TheRoundtable #TheFiveHeartbeats #TheTemptations #CoolRunnings #ActorInterview #Film #BroadwayWorld

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We’re turning down the lights and turning up the chills on The Roundtable! Robert Bannon welcomes Matthew Lillard, Amber Midthunder, Alison Thornton, Josie Totah, Joel Oulette, and Arthur Conti for a special featuring the cast of Carrie, Mike Flanagan’s new adaptation of Stephen King’s classic for Prime Video.

First up, Matthew Lillard and Amber Midthunder join Robert! From Matthew’s unforgettable place in horror history to Amber’s powerhouse screen presence, this is a pairing we could not wait to welcome.

Then, Alison Thornton and Josie Totah take their seats at the table, followed by Joel Oulette and Arthur Conti, rounding out three conversations with the ensemble stepping into the world of Carrie.

A legendary story, an exciting cast, and a little spooky season magic—what more could we ask for? Whether you’re a longtime Stephen King fan or meeting Carrie White for the first time, come spend some time with the people bringing this new chapter to life.

Carrie premieres October 7 on Prime Video.

Catch our cast conversations on The Roundtable across BroadwayWorld, Broadway Podcast Network, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and more.

For more info www.RobertBannon.com or @RobertMBannon on IG!

The best is yet to come.

#TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #Carrie #CarrieSeries #MatthewLillard #AmberMidthunder #AlisonThornton #JosieTotah #JoelOulette #ArthurConti #MikeFlanagan #StephenKing #PrimeVideo #HorrorFans #SpookySeason

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