The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

Corey Mach sits down to discuss his journey from performing in a hundred community theater productions in Cleveland to taking center stage on Broadway. He opens up about the hustle behind building his wildly successful concert series, Broadway Sings, explaining how a desire to create his own work led to turning pop anthems into custom orchestral arrangements and building a thriving brand from the ground up.

Corey breaks down what it was like stepping into the role of William Shakespeare in & Juliet on Broadway with just three days of rehearsal after a ten month break from the tour. He shares hilarious backstage stories about accidentally turning his dressing room into the ultimate chilled hangout spot, navigating the mental shift from understudy to principal, and why playing to your personal strengths is the key to longevity in the theater industry.

Corey Mach is an actor and producer known for his work on Broadway in Godspell, Hands on a Hard Body, Kinky Boots, and Merrily We Roll Along. He starred as William Shakespeare on the national tour of & Juliet before making his Broadway principal debut in the same role. Beyond his acting career, Corey is the creator and producer of Broadway Sings, an ongoing concert series in New York City that reimagines iconic pop music for Broadway performers and live band arrangements.

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What happens when classical opera training collides head-on with aggressive post-hardcore rock? You get the viral sensation Broadway Does Punk, a project that takes iconic standards from shows like Wicked, Hamilton, Six, and The Phantom of the Opera and turns them into full-throttle rock anthems. Matt Copley breaks down the journey of shifting gears from choir rooms and classical vocal pedagogy to mastering false chord screams and harsh vocal grit on stage. He shares the hilarious resistance he faced when first pitching a heavy cover of "Defying Gravity" to his non-theatre bandmates, and how that single leap of faith exploded into millions of views and a live New York City debut.

The discussion dives deep into the unexpected silver linings of the 2020 pandemic, which detoured Matt back home to Michigan to form his band Unwell instead of taking the traditional NYC audition route. From the creative influence of American Idiot to self-producing a immersive, dark vaudeville concert experience at the Abrams Art Center Playhouse Theater, Matt reflects on bridging the gap between theatre kids and punk rockers. Plus, he tackles a chaotic 60-second plot recap of Mary Poppins and breaks down why building an authentic, non-traditional path is the ultimate key to disrupting the status quo.

Matt Copley is a Michigan-based recording artist, content creator, and theatrical producer. Classically trained in voice through high school and college, he graduated with a degree in musical theatre in 2020 before becoming the lead singer of the post-hardcore band Unwell. He is the creator and producer of Broadway Does Punk, a viral project and live production that reimagines classic musical theatre scores as high-energy rock and punk covers.

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Collaborative partners Lindsey Kraft and Ben Folds take us behind the scenes of their new musical project, We've Been Here Before, currently running at the SoHo Playhouse. Lindsey shares how picking up the piano at age thirty-nine led to an outpouring of songs that revealed truths about her life before she could fully articulate them in prose. Ben explains why he was drawn to the show as producer, music director, and on-stage performer, diving into his philosophy that genuine art must pass a fundamental pass-fail test of sheer necessity. They discuss building work from the ground up, the courage required to reinvent oneself, and why audiences respond so intensely to vulnerable, unvarnished storytelling on an intimate stage.

The conversation takes plenty of unexpected, hilarious, and thoughtful turns along the way. Lindsey recalls her brief junior high basketball career that came to a swift end after getting guarded on the court by future WNBA legend Sue Bird, as well as her early acting gigs on television shows like Southland and Grace and Frankie. Ben offers a refreshing, counterintuitive breakdown of imposter syndrome, explaining why he considers it a self-centered burden placed on the audience rather than a mark of true humility. The duo also touches on musical psychology, orchestrating violin lines to act as live dramatic characters, and Ben finding his key theatrical moment on stage playing the triangle for a telephone ring.

Lindsey Kraft is an actor, writer, and composer known for her screen roles in Grace and Frankie, Getting On, and The Big Bang Theory, alongside her stage playwriting work on Wedding Bash. Ben Folds is an acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer, author, and former frontman of the band Ben Folds Five who has composed for film, television, and major symphonies around the world. On We've Been Here Before, Lindsey serves as writer and star, with Ben producing, music directing, and performing on stage.

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When Academy Award winning actor Matthew McConaughey decided it was time to open up thirty six years of personal journals, he packed up a truck with beef, bourbon, and twenty gallons of water, heading off to an undisclosed desert for fifty two days. The journey behind his bestselling memoir, Greenlights, took a pivotal turn when his initial ghostwriter fell through, creating an unexpected green light asset that forced him to write every word himself. From unpacking how yellow and red lights in life can eventually serve as crucial navigational tools to engineering more affirmative moments in our daily lives, Matthew brings his signature philosophical approach and warm humor to a deeply reflective conversation.

Beyond the writing process, Matthew opens up about the core principles that shape his approach to family and parenting. He reflects on his upbringing surrounded by outlaw logic, recounting childhood misadventures like stolen pizza and lumber that ultimately became profound lessons on truth, hustle, and the value of time. He also breaks down how winning an Oscar turned into a masterclass in delayed gratification for his three children, and shares his ongoing desire to remove creative filters by living life in one long, unfiltered live take.

Matthew McConaughey is an Academy Award winning actor, philanthropist, author, and professor. After breaking out in the film Dazed and Confused, he went on to star in a wide array of acclaimed projects, including A Time to Kill, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Interstellar, and True Detective. His performance in Dallas Buyers Club earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. He is also the author of the New York Times bestseller Greenlights⁠ and serves as a minister of culture for the University of Texas at Austin.

Make sure to get Greenlights. I highlight recommend the audio book version! And watch the original video version of this from Talks at Google: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPq0Elf18n4

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Mandy Gonzalez joins the podcast for a warm, candid, and inspiring conversation tracing her extraordinary journey from a passionate kid in Southern California to one of Broadway's most celebrated performers. She reflects on her grandmother's pivotal role in nurturing her voice, from family living room jam sessions to getting her first theatrical role at seven years old alongside all-you-can-eat pickles at a local dinner theater. Mandy shares memories from her formative summer at the Broadway Theater Project learning under legends like Gregory Hines and Ann Reiking, as well as the wild, thrown-into-the-fire experience of going on tour as a backup singer for Bette Midler at just nineteen years old. She also recounts her memorable first meeting with Lin-Manuel Miranda in the basement of the Drama Book Shop, where she heard the score for In the Heights for the very first time.

The discussion delves deeply into the power of community, advocacy, and stepping through life's biggest fears. Mandy opens up about creating the #FearlessSquad social media platform, which blossomed into a movement of belonging and inspired her young adult novel series, Fearless. She shares the poignant story of navigating her breast cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment while continuing to perform in Hamilton on Broadway, explaining how the theater community provided a safe space during dark times. From taking on iconic roles in shows like Wicked, Sunset Boulevard, and Aida to creating her symphonic concert Everything I Know celebrating the songbook of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mandy illustrates what it truly means to live a life driven by connection, resilience, and gratitude.

Mandy Gonzalez is an accomplished Broadway actor, singer, and author. Best known for creating the role of Nina Rosario in In the Heights and starring as Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton, her extensive Broadway credits also include Elphaba in Wicked, Amneris in Aida, and Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. Her screen credits include Madam Secretary, Only Murders in the Building, Bull, Quantico, The Good Wife, and Across the Universe. She is the author of the Fearless novel series and tours internationally with her solo concerts across the country.

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Steven Sater makes a triumphant return to the podcast to catch up on a whirlwind few years that have taken him all over the world. In a wonderfully candid conversation, he opens up about the upcoming, highly anticipated Off-Broadway revival of Spring Awakening with Sea View, helmed by director Danya Taylor and choreographer Celia Robson Hall. Steven shares his deep passion for writing for young performers, discovering new talent through open calls and TikTok, and why he believes it is vital to take the emotional lives of teenagers seriously in musical theatre. He also reflects on how the show continues to deeply impact new generations of fans who were not even born when it first premiered on Broadway.

The heart of the chat dives into Steven's newest passion project, the black comic murder mystery musical Murder at the Gates, written alongside collaborator James Bourne. He gives us a thrilling, exclusive sneak peek at the tracks "Fuckin' Scream" and "A Fine Rigor Mortis" from the upcoming concept album, featuring an all star cast including Gaten Matarazzo, Milo Manheim, Mason Alexander Park, Ramin Karimloo, and a whole bunch more. From hilarious memories of a playful debate with Stephen Sondheim over whether a murder mystery musical could actually work, to navigating the heartbreaking collapse of a previous workshop, Steven pulls back the curtain on the grueling, beautiful ten year journey of bringing an entirely original musical score to life.

Steven Sater is a Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award winning playwright, lyricist, and screenwriter. He is best known for his landmark collaboration with composer Duncan Sheik on Spring Awakening, as well as his acclaimed work on Alice by Heart and Nero. His upcoming projects include the new musical Murder at the Gates and a major new revival of Spring Awakening.

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Originally aired Oct 1st, 2019:

This 2-time Tony-nominated actor made his Broadway debut in Wicked as 2008 as Boq, and since then has gone on to roles in Assassins, Matilda the Musical, Big Fish, and School of Rock where he originated the role of Dewey Finn, earning him his first Tony nomination. His TV/Film credits include Royal Pains, The Good Fight, and Documentary Now! among many others, He now holds the title role in Beetlejuice on Broadway which brought him his second Tony nomination.

This interview shows a unique and different side of Alex. Known as the funny man, he has a deeply real part of himself that he taps into before every performance.

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Matt Rodin joins the podcast for an invigorating conversation about stepping out of traditional boxes and forging an authentic, sustainable path in the entertainment industry. He shares the remarkable story of his wedding day, which pulling double duty included marrying his husband in Central Park just hours before delivering his high-stakes final callback for the national tour of Company. Matt opens up about the perspective this gave him, detailing how a 360-degree view of the business—shaped by his time as a digital producer at Broadway.com and his husband's work as a talent agent—allows him to navigate the highs and lows of the theater world without taking the rejection personally.

The discussion also dives deep into Matt’s passion for technological innovation and community building. He pulls back the curtain on his latest venture, theater.games, explaining how his curiosity with AI code tools allowed him to develop daily theater puzzles like Spike and Curtain that have rapidly captured tens of thousands of players globally. From his early days creating the "Red Carpet Challenge" with a selfie stick to preparing for a whirlwind 12-hour recording session for the Beau cast album, Matt emphasizes the power of self-reliance, creativity, and the joy of creating work with friends rather than waiting for gatekeepers to open doors.

Matt Rodin is a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award-nominated actor, creator, and creative consultant. His extensive stage credits include starring as Jamie in the national tour of the Tony-winning revival of Company, Roger in Rent at Paper Mill Playhouse, and the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Milwaukee Rep, alongside leading the off-Broadway premiere of Adam Gwon’s All The World’s A Stage with Keen Company. A prominent digital pioneer within the Broadway community, he is the mastermind behind the viral "Red Carpet Challenge," writer of the industry newsletter The Fourth Wall, and the founder of the digital puzzle platform theater.games.

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Alan sits down with Broadway producer Brian Anthony Moreland for a candid, high-energy conversation about the realities of commercial theatre. Brian shares the fascinating story of how he caught the theatre bug playing Santa Claus in the third grade , his formative years at a performing arts boarding school , and his early career as a non-union dancer dealing with the exhausting audition grind in New York City. He opens up about the pivotal moment he decided to pivot to producing, starting with a grueling five-and-a-half-year journey to bring Thoughts of a Colored Man to Broadway. Alan and Brian pull back the curtain on the industry's economic pressures, debating Broadway financials, escalating production costs, and what it truly takes to balance commercial viability with meaningful, artistic storytelling.

The conversation centers deeply on Brian’s extraordinary relationship with the work of August Wilson. He recalls the serendipitous train ride to Pittsburgh that led to him producing the record-breaking revival of The Piano Lesson , and how Denzel Washington personally asked him to lead-produce his next Wilson project. Brian breaks down the profound themes of identity, healing, and family preservation driving his latest production at the Barrymore Theatre, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, sharing delightful insights into working with legendary director Debbie Allen and the joyful, nurturing energy that stars Taraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer bring to the rehearsal room. Finally, Brian takes on the 60-second plot challenge, pitches a classic musical, and reflects on the timeless power of theatre as a space where you can be anything.

Brian Anthony Moreland is a transformative Broadway producer dedicated to shaping the contemporary cultural landscape through visionary, inclusive storytelling. Originally from California, he began his career as a performer before transitioning into producing. His impressive Broadway repertoire includes the ground-breaking global hit Othello starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, the record-breaking revival of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson, The Wiz, The Lifespan of a Fact, Sea Wall / A Life, and The Sound Inside. A respected industry leader, Moreland serves on the Board of Governors of The Broadway League, where he co-chairs the Multicultural Task Force. He also holds leadership roles as a Trustee for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a Trustee of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, a Board Director for NYC Tourism and Conventions, and is an active member of the Theatre Development Fund (TDF).

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Tess shares her journey of embracing authenticity and finding her unique voice across stage, television, and film. She opens up about how she found true artistic fulfillment by embracing the "kooky," quirky, and offbeat parts of herself rather than trying to constantly force her five-foot-nine frame into a traditional ingenue box. She breaks down the surreal whirlwind of her recent career milestones, from performing on The Today Show at five o'clock in the morning to hearing the news of a Tony nomination. Alan and Tess swap hilarious stories about major life updates happening in the least convenient places, including the exact moment she received a FaceTime call inviting her to Broadway while riding completely alone in an Amtrak quiet car.

The conversation also shifts into creative endeavors outside the theater world, including Tess's passion for music and her upcoming solo album. She breaks down the therapeutic process of heading to Nashville to record a deeply personal breakup album, laying down tracks on the legendary microphone used for Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway. Alan and Tess bond over their shared experiences with self-diagnosed ADHD, hilariously dissecting the reality of "body doubling," "doom scrolling," and the mounting clutter of "doom piles". From a formative high school moment where a failed math test accidentally set her on a path to music school, to a lightning-fast, 60-second summary of Les Misérables, Tess delivers a wonderfully candid, smart, and funny look at a life in the arts.

Tess Marshall is a versatile performer whose stage credits include a year and ten months as a swing and dance captain for the off-Broadway production of Titanique at the Daryl Roth Theatre, where she ultimately stepped into the iconic role of Celine Dion. Her screen credits include playing the recurring role of Dionne in the NBC series Ordinary Joe, as well as making her feature film debut in Beauty of Poverty, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. In addition to her extensive performance career, she also performs as a rock vocalist with the band Clyde Frog and works as an arts educator.

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