Originally recorded for my other podcast Was It Chance? with my co-host Heather Vickery, this conversation with director, producer, educator, and author David Armstrong felt like a perfect fit for The Theatre Podcast as well.

David shares stories from his remarkable 40-year career in theatre — including his years leading Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre, where he helped develop Hairspray before it became a Broadway smash. We dive into his new book, Broadway Nation: How Immigrant, Jewish, Queer, and Black Artists Invented the Broadway Musical, and explore how marginalized voices shaped the art form we love today.

From childhood performances in Cincinnati to mentoring future generations through his course at the University of Washington and his Broadway Nation podcast, David embodies what it means to take creative risks, honor history, and build the future of theatre.

Make sure to check out Was It Chance? wherever you are listening now.

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Tony Award–winner Ariel Stachel sits down for a candid and deeply personal conversation about his new Off-Broadway solo show Other. More than just a performance piece, the show is a marathon of vulnerability — exploring identity, anxiety, and the pressure to belong — and Ariel shares how it feels to put his entire self on stage for 90 minutes without a break.

We talk about why he treats performing like athletic training, why therapy has become a non-negotiable part of his process, and how he went from hiding his background and struggles to embracing them as the very heart of his art. His honesty about anxiety, identity, and purpose reveals a side of Broadway life we don’t often get to see.

Ariel Stachel is a Tony and Grammy Award–winning actor, singer, and writer. He won the 2018 Tony Award for his Broadway debut as Haled in The Band’s Visit. His screen work includes Zola, Don’t Worry Darling, and The Night Agent. With Other, he steps into the role of both writer and performer, bringing his story of identity and belonging to the Greenwich House Theater Off-Broadway.

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The cult-favorite film Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion has officially made the leap to the stage, and we got a front-row seat at the press day for Romy & Michele: The Musical. From the long road of development to the joy-filled energy the show brings today, this conversation takes us inside the creative journey of bringing Romy and Michele’s world to New York.

Across a series of interviews, the cast and creative team share why this story of friendship and self-acceptance feels more timely than ever. With insight, nostalgia, and plenty of laughs, they reflect on the movie’s lasting influence, what it means to revisit these characters onstage, and how the musical balances comedy, heart, and pure fun.

Interviewees (in order):

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Marisha Wallace brings both powerhouse vocals and fearless honesty to this conversation, diving deep into what it really means to lead Cabaret during one of the most politically charged times in recent memory. She shares how audience reactions shifted depending on the day’s headlines, and how she embraced the role not just as entertainment, but as activism—using art to help people process the world around them.

From growing up in North Carolina to moving to London on a week’s notice, Marisha’s journey is anything but ordinary. She reflects on the leaps of faith that shaped her career, the moments when following her gut changed everything, and the surreal honor of performing for the King of England. Her story is a reminder that perseverance, self-belief, and courage to break molds can create opportunities where none seem to exist.

Marisha Wallace is an Olivier Award–nominated actress and singer. She starred as Sally Bowles in Cabaret on Broadway, Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre, and Ado Annie in Oklahoma! at the Young Vic. West End credits include Effie White in Dreamgirls, Becky in Waitress, and Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray. She recently released her live album Live in London, recorded at the Adelphi Theatre.

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Originally aired as episode 120 on December 9, 2020.

Nik Walker is an artist, educator, and activist who made his Broadway debut in Motown The Musical. He spent 3 years with the Broadway and touring companies of Hamilton, adding both Aaron Burr and George Washington to his resume. Other stage credits include Peter and the Starcatcher (off-Broadway), and regional productions at La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe and The Denver Center, to name a few. He can also be seen on TV in Law & Order: SVU. Nik is a self-proclaimed cinefile and theme park nerd, and co-hosts his own movie analysis podcast called Little Justice The Podcast. He also co-hosts a video series on Broadwayworld.com called The Chaos Twins. Nik currently leads the Broadway cast of Ain’t Too Proud playing Otis Williams, and is an adjunct professor at his alma mater, New York University.

Nik shares that his mother worked a job as a news anchor when he was growing up, so she wasn’t really home a lot. So it was movies that played babysitter and kept his imagination going. But movies and stories played an even bigger and more important role in focusing him as a child after he was diagnosed with ADHD, eventually leading to his early involvement in theater. And later, a BFA in Theater from NYU. 

During our conversation, Nik speaks candidly about coming to Broadway with very little dance background, sharing that Motown was his first brush with dancing professionally and getting paid for it. He shares memories of intense dance training for Ain’t Too Proud while still on tour with Hamilton - 5 hours of dance a day, and a performance of Hamilton in the evening - and the sense of pride he gained as a result of “being comfortable with letting go of your comfort zone”. Nik also opens up about the journey he has taken during the COVID pandemic which brought him back to NYU, this time as a professor. And while he acknowledges performing in Ain’t Too Proud and teaching at the same time will be a lot of work, he not only feels rewarded by his new job, but knows he is contributing to the education and growth of the next generation of theater artists. 

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When two podcasts collide, the conversation gets wild — and that’s exactly what happened when Mike Abrams of The Wrong Cat Died joined me for this crossover episode with actor Ian Knauer. We cover Ian’s journey through Broadway, the West End, regional theater, and even his time performing on Disney Cruise Line. Along the way, Ian shares the perseverance it took to finally land Cats after years of auditioning, what it was like stepping into the role of Jafar at sea, and how those experiences shaped his career both onstage and off.

Of course, with Mike in the room, we couldn’t resist diving headfirst into the eternal Cats debate — was Grizabella really the right choice, or did the wrong cat die? Ian makes a compelling case for Old Deuteronomy, and things only get livelier from there. From cruise ship lore to Broadway memories to a game of “Did the Wrong Cat Die?” reimagined with iconic stage and screen deaths, this episode is equal parts thoughtful and hilarious.

As promised, here's the video to James Cameron proving Jack could have survived on the door with Rose when the Titanic sunk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1mYHQZcD70

Ian Knauer’s career spans Broadway (Anastasia), the West End (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), national tours, regional theater (Cats, White Christmas), and concert and film appearances. A University of Michigan graduate, he has also performed with Disney Cruise Line as a Broadway guest artist, where he delighted audiences as Jafar in Aladdin and beyond.

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Jack Viertel has quietly shaped Broadway for decades, guiding landmark productions from behind the scenes while rarely stepping into the spotlight himself. In this conversation, he opens up about the art and the business of theatre, reflecting on how shows get chosen, how failures and successes both shape a career, and why Broadway has always been in a cycle of decline and rebirth. We also wander into the bigger picture — what the industry is doing right, where it stumbles, and what it will take to keep live theatre thriving for future generations.

Of course, Jack’s influence isn’t limited to the stage. He’s also a writer with a brand-new crime thriller, The Glass Eel, co-written with his son Josh. Described as “Breaking Bad on the coast of Maine,” the novel dives into the murky world of baby eels, environmental stakes, and the dark edges of human ambition. Jack shares how the story came to life, what it was like to collaborate with family, and why storytelling — in any form — remains at the heart of his work.

Jack Viertel served for decades as Senior Vice President and Creative Director at Jujamcyn Theaters, helping shepherd productions including Into the Woods, M. Butterfly, Angels in America, The Producers, Book of Mormon, and Dear Evan Hansen to Broadway. He was also Artistic Director of New York City Center’s Encores! series, and is the author of The Secret Life of the American Musical, Broadway Melody, and now The Glass Eel, co-written with his son.

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Burke Swanson brings the heart, humor, and metaphysical musings to this episode in a way that’s rare and deeply refreshing. From his early days as a third-grader doing stand-up at a summer camp to stepping into the Netflix universe as Hopper Jr. in Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Burke shares the moments that shaped him—and the ones that continue to ground him. We go well beyond credits to talk about the importance of ensemble energy, the spiritual nature of collaboration, and how 65% of his audience are seeing theater for the first time thanks to this production. That’s no small ripple effect.

We also talk about what it means to chase artistic expression when you’re not even sure what form it’ll take, and how acting might just be the day job that funds your actual art. Whether it’s football plays as choreography, crying backstage during a surprise Season 5 trailer drop, or reflecting on experimental poetry zines, this one is full of unexpected gems. Burke is equal parts philosopher, clown, and community-builder—and it shows in every minute of this conversation.

Burke Swanson is currently starring as James Hopper Jr. in Stranger Things: The First Shadow at Broadway’s Phoenix Theatre. His previous credits include George McFly in the Back to the Future tour and his Broadway debut in The Rose Tattoo. He is also a founding member of JMP Collective, where he produces experimental performance and multimedia work.

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What happens when one of the biggest TV shows in the world makes the leap to Broadway? Alison Jaye takes us behind the scenes of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, where she steps into the role of Joyce Maldonado in a production unlike anything Broadway has ever seen. With audiences made up largely of first-time theatergoers, Alison describes what it feels like when the show plays like a full-on rollercoaster one night and like a hushed movie the next. She also opens up about the collaboration that shaped her character, the three-year journey from top-secret workshops to opening night, and why she calls Broadway the “Olympics of theater.”

In this candid conversation, Alison talks about sustaining the physical, vocal, and mental energy needed for such a demanding role, and how she keeps curiosity and honesty at the center of her artistry. From discovering the surprises hidden within this massive production to finding joy in the unpredictability of live audiences, Alison brings humor, humility, and insight to a show that continues to expand the Stranger Things universe in thrilling new ways.

Alison Jaye made her Broadway debut as a child in Sunday in the Park with George and later returned in Mary Poppins. She has built a wide-ranging career across stage, screen, and voice acting, including her BAFTA-nominated work in Horizon Forbidden West, and a featured role in Call Jane alongside Sigourney Weaver and Elizabeth Banks. She now stars as Joyce Maldonado in Stranger Things: The First Shadow on Broadway.

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Gerianne Pérez joins us for a candid and hilarious conversation about her winding path from choir kid to Broadway scene-stealer. She shares how an early love of a cappella shaped her artistry, why walking away from a “safe” office job was the best decision she ever made, and what it’s like to audition for Six in front of a room full of other queens going for the same role. We get into her current adventure in Operation Mincemeat, where she covers multiple roles and leans into the joy—and chaos—of live theater, from botched hat tosses to full-on breaking on stage.

Gerianne also opens up about navigating performance anxiety, the nuanced realities of being a Latina performer in a typecasting-heavy industry, and the thrill of telling a story that honors forgotten heroes of history. Whether she’s singing backup for a fellow principal, leading the charge as Monty, or making the audience laugh through an unexpected mishap, Gerianne embodies resilience, humor, and heart at every turn.

Gerianne Pérez is an NYU Tisch-trained actor and singer whose career spans Broadway, national tours, and acclaimed off-Broadway productions. She made her Broadway debut in In Transit before joining Waitress and the national tour of Six: The Musical. She has also appeared in In the Heights, Grease, and Oratorio for Living Things, and is currently bringing her comedic chops to Operation Mincemeat on Broadway.

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