The Voracious Student

Joseph Siravo was born on March 11 and on the day of his birth, we celebrate his life with a re-release of our tribute to him. Thirty people from Joe’s life joined forces for this special episode, originally recorded in 2021. They share their memories of Joe, talk about the influence he had on their lives and, collectively, they tell his story. 

A magnificent actor best known for his work in The Sopranos, Carlito's Way and American Crime Story: The People vs. O. J. Simpson, Joe was also a gifted teacher, proud father and incredible friend. This episode was a highlight of The Voracious Student podcast and we are proud to re-release it on Joe's birthday in celebration of his extraordinary life.

With Special Guests:

Julia Barrett-Mitchell
Ray Brahmi
Karl Bury
Paul Calderón
Gregory Connors
Bryan Fenkart
John Gardiner
Kelvin Garvanne
Maury Ginsberg
Jonathan Hadley
Jessica Blair Herman
Buck Hujabre
Daniel Jenkins
Terry Knickerbocker
Aaron Lazar
Bruce MacVittie
Elizabeth Masucci
Brian Patrick Murphy
Kelli O'Hara
Allegra Okarmus
Cambra Overend
Heather Parcells
Garry Pastore
Rachel Pickup
Michael Raynor
Laila Robins
J.T. Rogers
Fay Simpson
John Douglas Thompson 
Barbara Walsh

Conductor Kwamé Ryan is the final guest for Season 2 of the podcast. Mr. Ryan's international career includes holding the position of General Musical Director of Freiburg Opera, Musical and Artistic Director of the National Orchestra of Bordeaux and Musical Director of the National Youth Orchestra of France. As a guest conductor, he has worked with the Paris Opera, Belgian National Opera, English National Opera and many more. In 2011, he was inducted as an officer in the Order of Arts and Letters, one of France's highest honors. Kwamé and Denis discuss education, language, interpretation, serving the composer and the personal nature of his most recent project, The Time of Our Singing. His musical journey is a unique and inspiring one. We'll be back in 2022 with Season 3!

Kwamé Ryan:
Website: www.kwameryan.com
Podcast: 8 Minute Idea

Denis:
Website: www.denislambertonline.com
Instagram: @denis_e_lambert

Podcast:
Website: www.thevoraciousstudent.com
Instagram: @thevoraciousstudent
Facebook: /thevoraciousstudent

Kimberly Vaughn is a performance coach, teacher, actress, producer, director and dramaturg. One of the things she focuses on at the Kimberly Vaughn Performance Studio is releasing her students’ need to be perfect and "get it right the first time” so that they can be improvisational beings and bring their own unique humanity to the stories they tell. This episode is centered on that idea. Kimberly and Denis also discuss the challenges of the audition waiting room, why she tells her students "your voice is not for sale" and why she finds her job so endlessly rewarding.

Kimberly Vaughn
Website: www.kimberlyvaughnperformancestudio.com

Denis:
Website: www.denislambertonline.com
Instagram: @denis_e_lambert

Podcast:
Website: www.thevoraciousstudent.com
Instagram: @thevoraciousstudent

Photo: Jeffrey Hornstein

Will Burrard-Lucas is a prolific British wildlife photographer. He is known for developing innovative devices such as the BeetleCam and camera traps. Some of his projects include The Black Leopard, Land of Giants, Ethiopian Wolf and Year in Zambia. Will discusses safety, conservation, commitment, his relationship to Africa, the different purposes of photography and how he found his passion. Denis' conversation with Will inspires him to think about depth of experience versus breadth of experience.

Will Burrard-Lucas:
Website: www.willbl.com
Instagram: @willbl

Denis:
Website: www.denislambertonline.com
Instagram: @denis_e_lambert

Podcast:
Website: www.thevoraciousstudent.com
Instagram: @thevoraciousstudent
Facebook: /thevoraciousstudent

Photo: Will Burrard-Lucas

Darian Sanders is about to step into the role of Simba in the National Tour of The Lion King, make his New York debut in  Songs for a New World at New City Music Theatre on August 26 and he starts work next week on recording his first album. Denis sits down with his friend to discuss his inspiring and unconventional path to being a busy professional performer. Darian started late in life and never expected to be on a musical stage. Darian talks about how having a strong purpose in life guides him and teaches Denis the phrase "speaking life into" and its origin.

Darian Sanders:
Website: www.dariansanders.com
Instagram: @_dariansanders_
Twitter: @_DarianSanders_

New City Music Theatre:
Website: www.newcitymusictheatre.org

Denis:
Instagram: @denis_e_lambert
Website: www.denislambertonline.com

Podcast:
Website: www.thevoraciousstudent.com
Instagram: @thevoraciousstudent
Facebook: /thevoraciousstudent

Joseph Siravo was a magnificent actor who passed on earlier this year. Best known for his work in The Sopranos, Carlito's Way, American Crime Story: The People vs. O. J. Simpson and the original Broadway productions of Oslo and The Light in the Piazza, Joe was also a profoundly gifted teacher and an extraordinary human being. Thirty people from Joe’s life contributed to this special tribute episode. They share their memories of Joe, talk about the influence he had on their lives and, collectively, they tell his story.

With:

Julia Barrett-Mitchell (Gabriel’s Inferno)
Ray Brahmi (365 Days/365 Plays)
Karl Bury (The Karl Bury Studio)
Paul Calderón (Pulp Fiction)
Gregory Connors (Coriolanus)
Bryan Fenkart (Waitress)
John Gardiner (A Bronx Tale)
Kelvin Garvanne (Emmy winner)
Maury Ginsberg (Jessica Jones)
Jonathan Hadley (Jersey Boys)
Jessica Blair Herman (American Crime Story: The People vs. O. J. Simpson)
Buck Hujabre (Jersey Boys)
Daniel Jenkins (Tony nominee, Big River)
Terry Knickerbocker (Terry Knickerbocker Studio)
Aaron Lazar (Drama Desk nominee, A Little Night Music)
Bruce MacVittie (When They See Us)
Elizabeth Masucci (Shame)
Brian Patrick Murphy (The Engagement Party)
Kelli O'Hara (Tony winner, The King and I)
Allegra Okarmus (Joseph Siravo’s daughter)
Cambra Overend (Oslo)
Heather Parcells (A Chorus Line)
Garry Pastore (The Sopranos)
Rachel Pickup (The Merchant of Venice)
Michael Raynor (ER)
Laila Robins (The Blacklist)
J.T. Rogers (Tony winner, Oslo)
Fay Simpson (Founder, The Lucid Body)
John Douglas Thompson (Tony nominee, Mare of Easttown)
Barbara Walsh (Tony nominee, Falsettos)

Martine Kei Green-Rogers is a freelance dramaturg, theatre educator and author. Her credits include the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Goodman Theatre, Kennedy Center and Court Theatre. She is the Past President of the Literary Managers and Dramturgs of the Americas and is currently the Interim Dean of the Division of Liberal Arts at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Martine obtained her Ph.D. from the Department of Theatre and Drama at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Denis chats with Martine all about dramaturgy, including her work on Shakespeare, August Wilson and new plays. Tune in to hear why Martine believes dramaturgical skills are life skills and why she tells her students it is irrelevant if they "like" a play.

Martine Kei Green-Rogers:
Website: www.martinekeigreenrogers.com
Twitter: @martinekei
Instagram: @martinekei

Playwrights' Center:
Website: www.pwcenter.org

Denis:
Website: denislambertonline.com
Instagram: @denis_e_lambert

Podcast:
Website: thevoraciousstudent.com
Instagram: @thevoraciousstudent
Facebook: /thevoraciousstudent

Stephanie Pope's career as a performer is over 35 years long and includes over 10 Broadway shows. Stephanie worked directly with Bob Fosse on Sweet Charity and Big Deal, in addition to performing his material in many shows after his passing. She now teaches Fosse rep for The Verdon Fosse Legacy as one of their legacy teachers. Stephanie talks about the significance of Fosse's work in her life and why it's important to her to protect its integrity as she passes it on to the next generation. She also discusses longevity in show business through her journey with yoga, her willingness to move from ensemble to principal roles and back, taking a break from performing when she needed it and her current focus on producing.

Stephanie Pope:
Website: www.stephaniepope.com
The Verdon Fosse Legacy: www.verdonfosse.com

Theater Resources Unlimited/"No One Cries for the Blacksmith"
wwww.truonline.com

Denis:
Website: denislambertonline.com
Instagram: @denis_e_lambert

Podcast:
Website: thevoraciousstudent.com
Instagram: @thevoraciousstudent
Facebook: /thevoraciousstudent
 

David W. Connolly is a Canadian director and educator and the Associate Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment, where he has helmed over 30 productions. He also happens to be a double below-knee amputee. As an advocate deeply committed to disability inclusion in the arts, David shares his thoughts about the true goal for disabled representation and what he believes needs to happen in order for positive change to occur. David and Denis also discuss the healing nature of musical theatre, why kindness is so important to him and why different generations need each other to move forward.

David W. Connolly:
Website: www.davidwconnolly.com
Instagram: @davidwconnolly
Photo: David Leyes

BroadwayCon 2021 Panel -
"Ready, Willing, and Very Abled: Inclusion through as Disability Lens"
Watch on YouTube here

Denis:
Wesbite: denislambertonline.com
Instagram: @denis_e_lambert

Podcast:
Website: thevoraciousstudent.com
Instagram: @thevoraciousstudent
Facebook: /thevoraciousstudent

k. Jenny Jones is a fight master, fight director, actress and a professor of acting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). She also served as Board President for the ground breaking organization Intimacy Directors International (IDI) and is a passionate advocate for consent culture. In this episode, she discusses intimacy, the relatively new position of the intimacy director and coordinator, its connection to the #metoo movement and how this work improves so many aspects of the rehearsal process. Denis and k. Jenny also discuss the difference between safety and comfort, the director/actor relationship, setting boundaries and negotiating power and time in rehearsal rooms.

Please note: We are switching to a bi-weekly format! Our next episode will be out on Thursday June 24 and then every second Thursday after that. Thanks for listening!

k. Jenny Jones
www.safd.org/MemberProfile/Details/31265
Photo: Tom Korbee

Intimacy Directors and Coordinators:
Website: www.idcprofessionals.com

Denis:
Website: denislambertonline.com
Instagram: @denis_e_lambert

Podcast:
Website: thevoraciousstudent.com
Instagram: @thevoraciousstudent
Facebook: /thevoraciousstudent