When Lightning Strikes!

Susan Jaffe is the artistic director of American Ballet Theater. Called “America’s quintessential American ballerina," and “born to dance,” by the New York Times, Susan was a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. She performed on stages around the world for 22 years. This summer American Ballet Theatre celebrates its 85th anniversary at the Metropolitan Opera House. Their anniversary season also marks 30 years of ABT Studio Company and two decades of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School.

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Jenny Lyn Bader is a prolific playwright whose stage plays include None of the Above, Equally Divine: The Real Story of the Mona Lisa, In Flight, and The Whole Megillah. She also wrote the audio works Tree Confessions and Communal Table. Jenny Lyn's play, Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library, produced by Luna Stage, is currently presented off-Broadway at the WP Theater.

This episode was recorded December 23, 2024.

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Daniel Roy is a magician and mentalist who has headlined at the Hollywood Magic Castle, appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us and performed throughout the country. In his latest show, The Parlour of Deceptions, he intertwines sleight-of-hand, misdirection, and storytelling before an intimate crowd of 50 guests. Using his neuroscience degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Roy provides a peek behind the curtain into how magic tricks the brain. The Parlour of Deceptions is currently playing at the Salmagundi Club in New York City.

This episode was recorded December 16, 2024.

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Shanda Sawyer is a prolific director, choreographer and executive producer. She has directed shows for Marvel, FOX, ABC, Disney, and Comedy Central. Her work has garnered many awards, including two Emmys, a Gracie and a Peabody. Most recently she has been the creative director of the 2024 Big Apple Circus show, Hometown Playground, now playing through January 5, 2025.

This episode was recorded December 6, 2024.

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The Dramatists Guild Foundation or DGF is a nonprofit devoted to American theater. For more than six decades they have supported writers at all stages of their careers. DGF offers grants, free spaces to create new works and emergency aid for immediate support. On the show is Rachel Routh is DGF's executive director and DGF's president, writer/composer Andrew Lippa. In 2024, DGF received a 2024 Tony Honors for Excellence in the theater. On October 28 DFG will have its gala, hosted by Amber Ruffin. The gala will honor Pulitzer Prize winning composer Tom Kitt and producer Mindy Rich.

This episode was recorded October 8, 2024.

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April Ortiz is a prolific actress who has performed on Broadway, off Broadway in film and television. She currently stars in the musical Empire at New World Stages. Just a few of April’s other credits include In the Heights, Cats, Between 2 Knees, Uncoupled, Fosse/Verdon, The Golden Girls, Elementary, Everybody Loves Raymond, Mad About You and on and on. 

This episode was recorded on August 8, 2024.

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Matthew August Jeffers currently stars in An Enemy of the People now playing at Circle In the Square Theatre. A prolific actor, some of his other credits include Richard III at the Delacorte Theater, the film Unidentified Objects and the TV shows New Amsterdam, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and The Walking Dead.

This episode was recorded on April 5, 2024.

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Bobby Conte currently plays Cousin Kevin in The Who’s Tommy on Broadway. Some of his other theater credits include Company, A Bronx Tale, My Fair Lady, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Starting Here, Starting Now and A Comedy of Tenors. 

This episode was recorded on April 9, 2024.

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A two-time Obie Award-winning director and choreographer, Lee Sunday Evans is the Artistic Director of Waterwell. She recently directed The Poisoner, currently playing at La MaMa. Some of Lee's other credits include Oratorio for Living Things, Dance Nation, the Courtroom, Sunday, In the Green, Miller, Mississippi, Home and Porto. Lee is also directing the Broadway-bound musical adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time. 

This episode was recorded April 12, 2024.

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In this episode When Lightning Strikes! goes on location to the theater at Studio 54. Jeryl Brunner talks to Brian d’Arcy James who currently stars in Days of Wine and Roses with Kelli O'Hara. Adapted from the 1962 film and original 1958 teleplay by J.P. Miller, this new musical features a book by Craig Lucas, Adam Guettel's music and lyrics and direction by Michael Greif. In this extensive conversation Brian talks about the epic journey to bring Days of Wine and Roses to the stage and why the show is so important to him. 

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