The Roundtable with Robert Bannon

Robert W. Schneider is one of Feinstein’s/54 Below’s original programming producers, Artistic Director of the J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company, and a freelance director. He has worked with such artists as Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, as well as such institutions as Lincoln Center, Second Stage, The York Theater, PBS, Walnut Street Theater, and Center Theater Group. and HE IS A GOOD OLE TIME! Rob & Robert talk show biz, Broadway, Cabaret, and why Robert has never been invited to sing at one of Rob's 203,000 shows at 54 Below! :)

He is here to talk his new podcast coming to the Broadway Podcast Network! "Broadway historian, director, and all around MT nerd Robert W. Schneider for a wild and exhaustively researched celebration of the musicals that had set their sights on Broadway but missed the mark. The first season of Broadway Bound is called "HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD" and explores ten Broadway Bound musicals that were based on movies."

If you want the story about the shows that almost were, we have the show for you! Catch the hilarious Rob here on "The Roundtable" and then hop over and listen to Broadway Bound today!

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Roy Tomko is a gifted psychic and spirit medium who grew up in New Jersey. He has sensed the spirit world for as long as he can remember. Although Roy has always been aware of this gift, it was not until recent major shifts in the world (Covid 19) that inspired Roy to focus his gift to help others connect with spirit.Roy provides mediumship and psychic readings via Zoom and other video call methods to help sitters connect to the spirit realm. His spiritual gifts allow him to connect to clients' loved ones who have crossed over. Roy provides healing messages and evidence from the spirit world. He creates a safe and comfortable environment for those seeking guidance from the other side.

The world first got to know psychic medium Roy Tomko from his popular YouTube series, Reading the Queen and Reading the King. Roy has read some of the world’s leading drag queens, including Sasha Colby and Detox. On Monday, February 19 @ 6pm PT/9pm EST, he will be showcasing his many talents and reading a season 15 favorite on Instagram Live.

Roy gives Robert a reading and leaves him shook! This is a much watch episode of The Roundtable!

For Info On Roy- https://www.spirittalkwithroy.com/

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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Rachel Ling Gordon, a prodigious young star from New York, has captivated hearts around the globe with her gift as a magician, actor, singer, pianist, and model. At the age of 11, Rachel has already achieved what some can only dream of, overcoming childhood anxiety and transforming her life through unwavering dedication to her craft. From being mute as a child to turning around and touring the country on the Broadway National Tour of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” playing the lead role of Cindy Lou Who, Rachel has proven that magic can truly happen in the face of adversity.

On Friday, February 2nd, viewers can witness Rachel Ling Gordon's magic on the hit show Penn & Teller: Fool Us Season 10 - one of the longest-running series about magic on TV. Tune in to the CW Network on Channel 11 at 8pm ET to catch Rachel's dazzling performance in the episode titled “The Youngest Act In Fool Us History”. Prepare for an awe-inspiring spectacle as Rachel makes history as the youngest magician ever in all ten seasons, garnering accolades from the legendary duo Penn & Teller. Her magical debut not only captivates the live audience but also leaves them moved and spellbound, earning a well-deserved and unforgettable standing ovation.

Rachel's success is a testament not only to her unparalleled talent but also to her strength of character and resilience. Overcoming childhood anxiety, she proudly serves as an Ambassador for the Selective Mutism Association and SMart Center, inspiring children and families with her transformative story. For Rachel, each performance is a personal and joyous celebration of her remarkable journey from silence to a stage filled with music and magic.

For more information on Rachel’s story for Selective Mutism Association please visit: https://www.selectivemutism.org/people/rachels-story/ 

For more information on Rachel’s success at the SMart Center please visit: https://selectivemutismcenter.org/smart-center-success-stories/ 

To find out more about Rachel Ling Gordon, please visit www.rachelingordon.com and follow her on Instagram @rachelingordon

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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Robbie Montgomery, often referred to as Ms. Robbie, is an esteemed American soul singer and restaurateur, who earned the title "Queen of Soul Food." Initially an Ikette, she later joined the Mirettes and became a part of Dr. John's "Night Trippers" in the 1970s. Montgomery's career also included providing backing vocals for legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, the Rolling Stones, and Joe Cocker.

Suffering a collapsed lung and forced to stop singing, she decided to pour her talents into another creative venture, a soul food restaurant called Sweetie Pies. She later created the award-winning reality series, "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's", alongside her son Tim Norman, focusing on Montgomery running her soul food restaurant, airing on the Oprah Winfrey Network for 8 seasons.

She is now reinventing herself with a new blues album on the way. She shares a message of never giving up on your dreams. "I was in my 70's when my dreams came true, and I was blessed to come into your homes on the tv screen." She's gone from the stage to the television screen and is now back on the stage to share her talents once again.

"BOSS LADY" was written by Robbie Montgomery and Latoya Sharen and produced by Robbie Montgomery and Avyon. "Boss Lady' is more than just a song; it's an anthem of empowerment, a resonating echo of my own journey. This song speaks to the heart of being strong, embodying courage, and chasing your dreams with relentless passion. It's about rising as a go-getter, embracing your power, and becoming whatever you aspire to be in life. 'Boss Lady' is not just music; it's a testimony to the strength and resilience every woman holds within," mentions Ms. Robbie.

The visuals to "BOSS LADY" were directed by Craig Thomas. "I wanted to show my fans a window into my world, where you see me doing everything that brings joy to my heart. Music, family, and inspiring the next generation of ladies. It's a reminder to every woman that our lives can be as rich and fulfilling as we dare to dream," she adds.

Ms. Robbie is currently in the studio working on her upcoming Blues album, to be released later this year.

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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Melba Moore, who has starred on Broadway, in film and on television, found ways to entertain herself while being entertained by the new activities and innovations that developed during the pandemic. But few were as innovative as DJ D-Nice’s “Club Quarantine,” a livestream of his skills on the turntables that draw millions of viewers, earned him The NAACP Image Award for Entertainer of the Year in 2021 and helped many of us endure the monotony of being sheltered in place. The virtual dance party not only drew the likes of President and Mrs. Obama but Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, President Joe Biden and almost every actor, activist and artist known to mankind, breaking Instagram’s LIVE feed and forcing the platform to modify its capacity. And at that Club Quarantine Party, D-Nice played hits and shouted out notables as they entered the party. But when he dropped the needle on Ms. Moore’s 1978 dance classic You Stepped Into My Life, the room erupted with excitement and those in attendance were quick to bring his attention that “MELBA MOORE IS IN HERE!” D-Nice called out her name and celebrated her presence and introduced a new generation to an icon.

Melba Moore has done it all, twice. At the tender age of 10, Melba notes that it was then that she was introduced to music and that “I didn’t have any music in my life before my mother married my stepfather. He introduced music into our home and into my life.” From that moment forward, Melba began to develop her 5-octave, note-holding soprano that would soon bring audiences to their feet. The Newark, NJ Arts High School graduate started doing recording sessions after a chance meeting with singer/songwriter/composer Valerie Simpson (of Ashford & Simpson). That opportunity in the studio led Melba in the company of the Broadway musical “HAIR!” First in the ensemble of the show, Melba’s name was tossed into the conversation when actress Diane Keaton left the show and Melba took the female lead and broke all the rules, being the first Black woman to replace a white actress in a featured role on Broadway.

Melba Moore, the Tony Award-winning, Grammy Award nominated siren, has commanded stages around the world and who has conquered Broadway in memorable roles in HAIR (1967), PURLIE (1970) and became the first Black woman to inhabit the role of Fantine in LES MISERABLES (1995), also used the pandemic period of reflection to work on new music with her sweetest collaborator and greatest creation, her daughter Charli Huggins, who also happens to the head of The Gallery Entertainment, her own independent label. The label is set to release IMAGINE, Melba Moore’s 2022 project featuring new music and a return to her R&B roots. She is the epitome of an entertainer and a consummate performer. Honored with the likes of Diana Ross, Patti Labelle and Nancy Wilson, Melba Moore was among those who were celebrated at Oprah’s now historic Legends Ball. 

See her at 54 Below this March! Grab tickets at www.54Below.org!

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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Wife, Mother to three children, dog Mom of two, and founder of That’s Inappropriate and That’s Inappropriate Parents. I started this community back in October of 2014 because I felt alone and thought I was the only Mom who was losing her mind on a daily basis. Here is my story:

I had been sick for months, always turned away as the picture of health. When I finally demanded an endoscopy and what they found turned my world upside down. At 34 years old with three children under the age of 8, I encountered my own mortality.

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WHILE SITTING IN BED CRYING A WEEK BEFORE THE SURGERY I TOOK INVENTORY OF MY LIFE. I MARRIED MY SOULMATE AND BLESSED WITH THREE CHILDREN, BUT I HAD NOT LEFT MY MARK ON THIS WORLD.

While sitting in bed crying a week before the surgery I took inventory of my life. I married my soulmate and blessed with three children, but I had not left my mark on this world. Becoming a mother left me with no idea who I was. After my surgery I awoke to three amazing words. My husband leaned over and said, “It’s not cancer.” At that moment I vowed to find myself and make my mark. My blogging adventure began in October of 2014 when I created That’s Inappropriate, for parents just like me.

She joins us to tell how sharing her truth led to building an empire!

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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A Sign of the Times, a new musical featuring the songs of Petula Clark, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, and other classic pop hits of the 1960s. A Sign of the Times begins previews February 7, 2024 in advance of a February 22, 2024 opening night at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Tickets are on sale now at Telecharge.com. 

We have STARS here for you to hear all about it! Akron Lanier Watson, Justin Matthew Sargent, and Ryan Silverman Are Here To Tell All! They have done Broadway, TV, and film- now they are here!

Based on an original story by Richard J. Robin, A Sign of the Times features With a book by Lindsey Hope Pearlman (Roar!, Cassandra Complex), music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Joseph Church (Broadway: The Lion King, In the Heights), choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter (Broadway/London: School of Rock, London: SuperYou), and direction by Gabriel Barre (Broadway: Amazing Grace; Off-Broadway: Almost Maine, The Wild Party). 

The year is 1965. With the country in transition – as the war in Vietnam rages on and struggles for civil rights and women’s liberation command headlines – one aspirational young woman finds herself in New York City, and ready to dive into this brave new world. In A Sign of the Times, journey back to America’s most unforgettable decade as a young photographer tries to make her way amid the changing times that defined an era. 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 madness that shaped that generation – and our own.  

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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We have a favorite of TV, Broadway, and more! Steven Pasquale makes his "Roundtable" debut!

Center Stage Records announced Steven Pasquale: Some Other Time, the sophomore album from Broadway’s leading baritone, is available digitally today at www.CenterStageRecords.com and on all platforms.

“Some Other Time” showcases Pasquale's "generational voice" and the incomparable jazz guitar playing of John Pizzarelli as they bring ten iconic American songbook tunes to life. The ten standards featured on “Some Other Time” represent the essence of the great American songbook, capturing the timeless melodies and heartfelt lyrics that have made these songs beloved for generations. Pasquale pays homage to the golden era of jazz with his rich and captivating voice – it's no secret this is Broadway's leading baritone – and Pizzarelli compliments him perfectly with his truly singular guitar playing,. Listeners can expect to be transported back in time as Pasquale and Pizzarelli effortlessly guided us through classics such as “Stardust”, “Smile”, “The Impossible Dream”, and “When I Fall In Love”. Each track on the album will showcase just two things: Pasquale’s singing and Pizzarelli’s jazz guitar. No frills. 

Their collaboration on “Some Other Time” is truly a match made in musical heaven. Pizzarelli's masterful guitar skills perfectly complement Pasquale's vocals, resulting in a blend that will captivate listeners from the very first note. Together, they effortlessly recreate the magic of the golden era of jazz, evoking the spirit of legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass.

“Some Other Time” is a must-have for any music lover, offering a nostalgic journey through the timeless classics of the great American songbook. Get ready to be swept away by this truly great singer and one of the planet's greatest jazz guitarists.

The album was recorded just two days, and produced by Grammy Award-winning producer John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey.

Track Listing:

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Steven Pasquale is highly regarded for his work onstage. On Broadway, he starred opposite Kerry Washington in Kenny Leon’s acclaimed Broadway production of American Son, a role he reprised for the Netflix film adaptation. He also starred in Lincoln Center Theater’s acclaimed production of Junk, penned by Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar. He received both Drama Desk and Drama League nominations for his portrayal of Robert in Bartlett Sher and Jason Robert Brown’s The Bridges of Madison County opposite Kelli O’Hara, reprising the role that he originated in Williamstown. He made his Broadway debut in Neil LaBute’s Reasons to Be Pretty. Off-Broadway, Pasquale won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for Alex Timbers’ production of The Robber Bridegroom at Roundabout Theatre Company. He also received Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for the Ahrens/Flaherty/McNally musical A Man of No Importance at Lincoln Center Theater. He starred in Classic Stage Company’s Lucille Lortel-nominated production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins, directed by John Doyle. Pasquale recently returned to the New York stage starring in the lauded, star-studded production Here We Are at The Shed. The musical, which was directed by Joe Mantello, marks Stephen Sondheim’s last new musical. He next stars in Playwrights Horizons’ world premiere production of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael R. Jackson’s Teeth, based on the cult hit film.

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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Jackie Goldschneider makes her Roundtable Debut with a real and powerful chat about her new memoir "The Weight of Beauty" out now! She bares all about growing up and battling Anorexia both in private and in public documenting her battle on the hit show "The Real Housewives of NJ." As a lawyer, a mother, wife, and TV Star she goes thru her journey with us in a No Holds Back, Real, & Raw Conversation about her battles and the light at the end of the tunnel.

THIS IS A NOT MISS EPISODE OF "THE ROUNDTABLE!"

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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We are talking music, musicals, and shows that have a cult following because they were ahead of their time! NIck Blaemire and James Gardiner are here to talk "Glory Days" coming to NY for one night only!

Keen Company, a Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Off-Broadway theater creating stories that celebrate the complexities of hope and the joys of connection, is thrilled to announce complete casting for its upcoming benefit concert of Glory Days by Nick Blaemire and James Gardiner. Jordan Dobson (Bad Cinderella, Hadestown) and George Salazar (Keen’s Tick, Tick…BOOM!, Be More Chill, Godspell) join Tony nominees Derek Klena (Moulin Rouge, Jagged Little Pill, Anastasia) and Colton Ryan (New York, New York; Dear Evan Hansen) in this one-night-only event directed by Keen Company’s Artistic Director Jonathan Silverstein featuring new musical arrangements by Van Hughes. The concert takes place on Monday, February 12, 2024 at 7pm at Peter Norton Symphony Space (2537 Broadway, Manhattan). Tickets, which start at $25, are currently on sale at www.keencompany.org. 

A cult-favorite, coming of age rock musical, Glory Days premiered at Circle in the Square Theatre on Broadway in 2008 and has since been performed all over the world. This benefit concert, with music direction by Lily Ling, reflects Keen Company’s efforts to champion small scale intimate musicals with a large emotional impact. Composer and lyricist Nick Blaemire is familiar to Keen Company audiences from his star turn as Jonathan Larson in their acclaimed 2016 production of Tick, Tick… BOOM!

Glory Days tells the story of four high school friends who meet up at their alma mater one year after graduation to reconnect, crush a few beers, and enact revenge on their former bullies in the form of an elaborate prank. But the guys quickly discover that a lot can change in a year — even the people they thought they knew best. This vibrant, energetic musical about friendship and fulfillment invites us to reminisce on our own heydays gone by and encourages us to live like the best is yet to come.

Nick Blaemire and James Gardiner remarked, “We’re so excited to be taking another look at Glory Days. When we started writing it, back in high school, 20 years ago...!, we envisioned a simple show like The Fantasticks, Suburbia, or Our Town –- one we could produce with just a band and a bench. Keen Company excels at that kind of intimate storytelling. We're lucky to have four of the most exciting actors and singers in New York. Symphony Space is a legendary venue. So it's an honor to introduce this show to the next generation with these wonderful collaborators.”

Proceeds from this special event underwrite Keen Company’s 24th Season including the Off-Broadway premiere of Kia Corthron’s Fish, a new intimate musical commission by Adam Gwon, resources for mid-career writers, and free theater mentorship for students in all five boroughs of NYC.

Please visit www.keencompany.org/glorydays/ for more information.

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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