Why I‘ll Never Make It

The first episode of the year has me chatting about my failed attempt to make Red Velvet Cupcakes...and I mean utter failure. I hurried through the prep and ended up with inedible red mushy hockey pucks. Such wasted time and effort and ingredients. 

What wasn't a waste of my time, though, was a recent chat I had with Marc Kudisch. I met him at the Only Make Believe Gala after-party, and he graciously talked with me for about 15 minutes. From the business to Broadway and keeping it all in perspective, it was an informative and surprisingly honest chat about making it in theater and in New York itself. So I wanted to share my reflections from this impromptu discussion. (Hopefully he can come on the show at some point to expound upon these topics and more.)

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It's been a wonderful ride despite some growing pains and losses along the way. My first year of podcasting has nonetheless taught me a great deal, and I hope you've learned a thing or two as well.

I honestly do this for you and try my best to give you interviews and insights as well as some fun along the way. A lot of effort goes into these episodes and sometimes they hit the mark and other times fall short (mostly technical hitches and glitches and my own verbal fumbles).

So I may not have made it on anyone else's Top Podcast Lists, but here's my own best-of retrospective on the highs and lows of 2018!

The guests and sounds clips featured on this episode:

Marella Martin Koch • Erin Cronican • Joey Fatone • Jeff Thomson • Scott Wojcik • Mike Wartella • Stephen Wallem • Casey Erin Clark • Jessica Holt • Matt Zambrano • Grace McLean • Jelani Alladin • Glasgow Lyman • Alvin Hough, Jr. • Jeff Theiss • Dena Hammerstein • Michael Repper • Sydney Altbacker • Tate Robinson • John McGinty • Chris Coyne

Though there was no way to include every episode on this best-of-2018 edition, I am immensely grateful for ALL the guests that have come on the podcast. It most certainly would not be the same or nearly as good without their contributions.

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Music is this episode - 

"Hot Swing" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Reverie (small theme)" by _ghost. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

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In this episode, Patrick shares one thing that has kept him from auditioning and finding work lately...and that's jury duty. That civic obligation that many try to get out of has become yet another obstacle to making it. 

But Patrick diligently fulfilled his duty and rendered a verdict on an attempted murder case involving a babysitter. This is certainly a different kind of episode for the podcast, but nonetheless it's a fascinating story with twists and turns and surprises, just the kind of "ripped from the headlines" case they feature on LAW & ORDER.

For more on the case, read about some of the most important moments in the trial:

The Retrial of Marianne Benjamin-Williams

The Father Takes the Stand

Mother's Emotional Testimony

Defense Doctor Provides Alternate Possibility

Defendant Takes the Stand

Manhattan DA Press Release on Verdict

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Whether you call it "dun, dun" "chung, chung" or "bong, bong"...the Law & Order sound effect is ubiquitous with the franchise and was conceived by Mike Post, produced by Dick Wolf.

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As the school year winds down, a Ph.D joins the podcast once again, this time to talk about fiction writing and The Promise of Failure. The most recent book from John Mcnally is a collection of lectures and essays he's given to writing students about the certainty of rejection and how best to handle it and move on from it. 

I mean, what better guest and topic are there for the Why I'll Never Make It podcast??

He shares how he combats writer's block and why acting and theater play a vital role in his own writing as well as how he teaches his students.

Follow John on Instagram.

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Andy Clausen is a New York-based composer, trombonist, bandleader, and graduate of The Juilliard School. Hailing from Seattle, Clausen relocated to NYC in 2010 where he enjoys a diverse schedule collaborating with filmmakers, folk and blues artists, classical composers, as well as New York's jazz elite. An active educator, Clausen has taught workshops across the United States and currently serves as Artistic Director of The New York Youth Symphony Jazz Program. 

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Intro music and interludes: "Reverie (small theme)" by _ghost. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

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These two writers and actors join the podcast to talk about their new show...WE NEED THIS MUSICAL TO KEEP US FROM KILLING OURSELVES: THE MUSICAL. (Oh yes, it's a mouthful.)

But Lyman Glasgow is more than just a writer, by day he works as a licensed therapist, applying the work of Dr. John Sarno to patients with chronic pain and TMS. Before that he was a farmer, shepherd, and set decorator for Playboy. And we definitely talk about all that!

Jeff Rosick has had a more traditional path in the arts by getting a degree in theater, composing commercial jingles, and having a recurring character on the hit TV show FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS.

They talk about the creative process in creating this new musical for the Hollywood Fringe Festival, and then being asked to come to NYC and perform their show at the Soho Playhouse. But the writing process certainly wasn't smooth sailing, and they share the twists and turns that finally gave them a show worthy of production.

But it is when they talk about themselves that we really get an inside look at what drives these two and keeps them motivated beyond the "glitz and glamour" of the stage.

For more info, go to www.whyillnevermakeit.com.

Follow them on social media: 

facebook.com/danielglyman

facebook.com/jeffreyrosick & @jeffrosick

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In this episode, we delve into the captivating world of the New York Youth Symphony's Musical Theater Composition program under the direction of the talented Anna Jacobs. As an accomplished composer and lyricist, she has an impressive portfolio that includes musicals such as POP! with book and lyrics by Maggie-Kate Coleman, ANYTOWN with a book by Jim Jack, TEETH with co-book and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson, and collaborations on CAGE MATCH and MAGIC 8 BALL with Prospect Theatre Company alongside Sam Salmond and Michael R. Jackson. Her upcoming project, KAYA: TASTE OF PARADISE, a movie musical commissioned by the New York Film Academy, features Okieriete Onaodowan, with a screenplay by Jerome Parker and direction by Paul Warner.

Anna's contributions to the world of musical theater have earned her recognition, including the prestigious Billie Burke Ziegfeld Award. A former Sundance Fellow and Dramatists Guild Fellow, Anna has also served as an Artist in Residence at esteemed institutions such as Ars Nova, New Dramatists, Musical Theatre Factory, Goodspeed, and Barrington Stage Company. Holding an M.F.A. in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU-Tisch, Anna now imparts her expertise as a faculty member at The New School. Join us as we explore the journey and achievements of this remarkable musical talent.

www.annakjacobs.com

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Also featured in this episode are two students in the MT Composition program, Sydney Altbacker and Tate Robinson, along with their new piece "Song for Marilyn" which was written for the class.

Watch the full interview with Sydney, Tate, and two other students on the WINMI YouTube Channel.

Learn more about the New York Youth Symphony, founded in 1963 as an orchestra to showcase the metropolitan area's most gifted young musicians.

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Intro music and interludes: "Reverie (small theme)" by _ghost. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

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Michael Wartella spent ten years in the city before landing his dream role and first major New York production, RENT at the Off-Broadway venue New World Stages. Since then he's reached even greater heights on Broadway with WICKED, TUCK EVERLASTING, and CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.

But there's also been some pauses and setbacks along the way, both personal and professional, from divorce and sharing custody of his son to years of struggling to be noticed and cast in shows.

With age comes wisdom, though, and Mike shares the insights he has learned and continues to learn about the entertainment industry as well as himself and finding balance in his life.

Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

See more of his work on YouTube.

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For the next couple of weeks will be talking to directors of the New York Youth Symphony. Founded in 1963 as an orchestra to showcase the metropolitan area’s most gifted musicians ages 12-22, its activities have since grown to encompass programs in chamber music, conducting, composition, and jazz, with performances at world class venues including Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Today’s guest is Michael Repper who is in his second year as Music Director of the NYYS Orchestra. He is an emerging conductor of classical music, jazz, pops, and musical theater. A graduate of Stanford University, he recently completed his doctoral residency at the Peabody Conservatory of Music as a student of Gustav Meier and his longtime mentor, Marin Alsop, a world-famous conductor and violinist who is also an alumna of the NY Youth Symphony.

Michael talks about his own path to conducting and the importance of music education and his passion for helping foster the next generation of artists. These kids truly sound amazing!

Learn more about New York Youth Symphony and Michael Repper.

Intro music and interludes: "Reverie (small theme)" by _ghost. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

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John McGinty lost his hearing at a young age and for years headed toward a career in Finance. But theater kept calling him, and he finally answered by moving to New York to see if he could make it. On this episode he shares the twists and turns of that journey and what keeps him motivated and focused. John also opens up about lessons he learned, and that we all can learn, from his Broadway debut in the revival of CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, which The Hollywood Reporter called "forceful and spontaneous."

He also spoke of his performance in Hunchback of Notre Dame and in a short film Sign, directed by Andrew Keenan Bolger.

Follow John on Twitter and learn more about his career on is website.

You can also watch this interview, our very first video podcast, on YouTube.

(ASL Interpreter - Craig Fogel)

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