Why I‘ll Never Make It

By Patrick Oliver JonesTV & Film Arts Music Performing Arts

Why I‘ll Never Make It episodes

October 22, 2018 Tribute to Marin Mazzie (Bite-Size Edition)
The first ever mini-episode with Patrick, focusing on why he'll never make it as well as why he's still here. Patrick talks about the wonderful camaraderie within theater and gives a loving tribute to Marin Mazzie, who passed away last month from ovarian cancer. (Read about Marin's remarkable joy and positivity as she confronted cancer.)

A career that spans 30 years, she was always a consummate professional yet easy-going and always herself. She brought passion and true enjoyment to each role she played. Her light still shines and her impact is still felt on a grateful Broadway community to whom she gave so much. "We've been laughing and laughing, and hoping that the audience thinks it's as funny as we do," she says of her time in Bullets Over Broadway.
Opera News did an excellent interview and chronicle of her life.
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20 min
October 15, 2018ONLY MAKE BELIEVE with Artistic Director Jackie Miller, Actors Dan Domingues & Jeanette Bonner (Spotlight)
In Part Two of our look at Only Make Believe, Patrick talks to Jackie Miller, Artistic Director of the acting company, and two of the actors, Dan Domingues and Jeanette Bonner.
They share the process of bringing interactive theater to children in hospitals and care facilities. From choosing the right type of shows that best fits the kids and their medical conditions to rehearsing scripts and coordinating actor schedules, a lot of time and effort goes into these productions...and all at no cost to the hospitals or children.
Each of them also discuss their lives before OMB and what they currently do in addition to their work with this organization.
With over twelve years of experience as a director and curator of arts programming across New York City’s cultural sector, Jackie joined Only Make Believe in 2012. She holds a B.F.A. in Performance and M.A. in Arts-Politics, both from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Jeanette joined OMB in 2013. She received her BA in Theater from Trinity College in Hartford, CT and has performed with Magic Futurebox Productions, Ars Nova ANT Festival, Manhattan Theatre Source, as well as her solo show, "Love. Guts. High School." at the 2012 Midtown International Theatre Festival and won nominations for Best Actress and Best Solo Show. She performs weekly with the Improv troupe National Comedy Theater and is also a licensed NYC tour guide...welcome to New York!
Dan has been with OMB since 2007. Off-Broadway credits include Atlantic Theater, Joe's Pub, LaMAMA, Baruch PAC, HERE and Soho Playhouse. He's worked regionally at Studio Theatre, Cape Playhouse, Long Wharf, Kansas City Rep, Florida Stage, Portland Stage, Pioneer Theatre, Rep of St. Louis, George Street Playhouse, ART. On TV his credits include Royal Pains, Law & Order, Hope and Faith, Third Watch, and As The World Turns. Dan has an MFA from ART/IATT at Harvard and is an associate artist with The Civilians.
You too can make a difference in children's lives. Go to https://www.onlymakebelieve.org and see ways you can help and contribute.
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Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode.

Join the WINMI community by following on Instagram or Twitter as well as reaching out to Patrick with any questions or comments: contact.winmipodcast.com

"Reverie (small theme)" by _ghost
2010 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

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1 hr 3 min
October 08, 2018 Chris Coyne - Actor, Singer, Foley Mixer, Emmy-Nominated Sound Editor
Chris Coyne’s career in the entertainment industry spans more than 30 years, and in this episode he talks about his work onstage and in television commercials from Los Angeles to Europe as well as Las Vegas. where he has the distinction of playing leading roles in both of the longest continuously running shows in Las Vegas history: JUBILEE! and LES FOLIES BERGERE.
Chris also shares why, after finally getting his first national commercial for Southwest Airlines, he decided to go back to school for 2 years and learn the craft of Sound Editing for film and TV...and then what is was like to be nominated for both an Emmy and a Motion Picture Sound Editors Award for his work on the Dreamworks animated series The Adventures of Puss in Boots available on Netflix.

Check out his credits on IMDB and follow him on Instagram.
Also, in 2015 he released an EP of original material available on iTunes and Amazon. Check out the lead single "By God's Grace" on YouTube.
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The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is both sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode.

Join the WINMI community by following on Instagram or Twitter as well as reaching out to Patrick with any questions or comments: contact.winmipodcast.com

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1 hr 2 min
October 01, 2018 ONLY MAKE BELIEVE with Founder Dena Hammerstein (Spotlight)
Geraldine Sherman was born in Middlesex, England and became a busy actress on BBC and in film when she met and later married James Hammerstein. She is now known as theater producer Dena Hammerstein, President/CEO of James Hammerstein Productions and Founder of the non-profit organization Only Make Believe.
OMB brings interactive theater to children in hospitals and care facilities, those with illnesses and disabilities and special needs. They entertain the kids with specially created plays designed for their needs and to encourage their participation. Starting in one hospital in 1999, OMB has now grown (thanks to private and corporate support and donations) to more than 50 hospitals in New York City and Washington D.C.
This episode is Part One of a two-part look at this wonderful organization and is also the first installment of the Spotlight Series. Dena shares part of her life story in entertainment and what/who brought her to America. We also discuss the founding of Only Make Believe and how it has shaped her work and her life ever since.
To find out more and see how you can make a difference in children's lives: https://www.onlymakebelieve.org
And to find out a bit more about Dena's early years in TV and film: IMDB
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Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode.

Join the WINMI community by following on Instagram or Twitter as well as reaching out to Patrick with any questions or comments: contact.winmipodcast.com

"Reverie (small theme)" by _ghost
2010 - Licensed under Creative Commons
Attribution (3.0)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
55 min
October 01, 2018 Spotlight Series 1: Only Make Believe (Part One) with Dena Hammerstein, TV and Stage Actress, Playwright, Theater Producer, Founder of OMB
Geraldine Sherman was born in Middlesex, England and became a busy actress on BBC and in film when she met and later married James Hammerstein. She is now known as theater producer Dena Hammerstein, President/CEO of James Hammerstein Productions and Founder of the non-profit organization Only Make Believe.
OMB brings interactive theater to children in hospitals and care facilities, those with illnesses and disabilities and special needs. They entertain the kids with specially created plays designed for their needs and to encourage their participation. Starting in one hospital in 1999, OMB has now grown (thanks to private and corporate support and donations) to more than 50 hospitals in New York City and Washington D.C.
This episode is Part One of a two-part look at this wonderful orgnaization and is also the first installment of the Spotlight Series. Dena shares part of her life story in entertainment and what/who brought her to America. We also discuss the founding of Only Make Believe and how it has shaped her work and her life ever since.
To find out more and see how you can make a difference in childrens' lives: https://www.onlymakebelieve.org
And to find out a bit more about Dena's early years in TV and film: IMDB
51 min
September 30, 2018 Scott Wojcik & Gayle Seay - Casting Directors for Regional Theater, National Tours, and Off-Broadway
When Scott Wojcik and Gayle Seay entered the entertainment industry, headshots were black and white and fax machines and beepers were high tech ways to communicate. The mode of casting has changed dramatically from when they began their careers. What has not changed is their commitment to the process, their care for the actor and their collective love of show business. Both Scott and Gayle were both actors and eventually worked in casting prior to merging their experience into the thriving partnership of Wojcik | Seay Casting. They opened their doors in January of 2009 with the non-union National Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and has been working non-stop ever since.
In this episode, the lead-off to Season Two of our podcast, Patrick talks with Scott and Gayle about their life before casting and gets an inside perspective on auditions, casting, and making in this business. They not only answer questions on who makes it and who doesn't, but more importantly address the "why" as well.
https://wscasting.com
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56 min
September 30, 2018 14: Scott Wojcik & Gayle Seay, Casting Directors for Regional Theater, National Tours, and Off-Broadway
When Scott and Gayle entered the entertainment industry, headshots were black and white and a fax machine and beeper were high tech ways to communicate. The mode of casting has changed dramatically from when they began their careers. What has not changed is their commitment to the process, their care for the actor and their collective love of show buisness. Both Scott and Gayle were both actors and eventually worked in casting prior to merging their experience into the thriving partnership of Wojcik | Seay Casting. W|S opened its doors in January of 2009 with the non-union National Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and has been working non-stop ever since.
In this episode, the lead-off to Season Two of our podcast, Scott and Gayle talk about their life before casting and also give an inside perspective on auditions, casting, and getting started in this business. They answer questions on who makes it and who doesn't, but more importantly address "why" as well.
https://wscasting.com
52 min
June 25, 2018Joey Fatone - Singer with *NSYNC, TV Host, Broadway Star
Before he became a part of the worldwide phenom *NSYNC, Joey was a theater kid in Orlando, Florida. And since his days of touring around the world, he has been on Broadway, appeared in films and television, and has hosted more shows than he can count.
Through it all, he makes time for his family and friends and even our little podcast. We catch up with him on the phone from his home in Florida to chat about life in the spotlight and how his career is constantly evolving. There is no better way to say "bye bye bye" to Season 1 than with Mr. Joey Fatone!
Follow Joey on Twitter!
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Why I’ll Never Make It is an award-winning, Top Theater Podcast with actor and singer Patrick Oliver Jones and is a production of WINMI Media.

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1 hr 13 min
June 25, 2018 Episode 13 with Joey Fatone
Before he became a part of the worldwide phenom *NSYNC, Joey was theme park performer in Orlando, Florida. And since his days of touring around the world, he has been on Broadway, appeared in films and television, and has hosted more shows than he can count. Through it all, he makes time for his family and friends and even our little podcast. We catch up with him on the phone from his home in Florida to chat about life in the spotlight and how his career is constantly evolving. There is no better way to say "bye bye bye" to Season 1 than with Mr. Joey Fatone!

Follow Joey on Twitter!
1 hr 10 min
June 11, 2018 Martine Kei Green-Rogers, PhD - Dramaturg and Theater Professor
We have really stepped up our game this episode with the first PhD on WINMI! Martine is a theater professor at SUNY New Paltz and freelance dramaturg, with work at Oregon Shakepeare Festival, Pioneer Theatre Company, and Court Theatre to name a few. Her research interests include violence in African American Theatre, African diaspora theatre, and gender and race in American theatre and issues of sustainability in the theatre. She talks with us about the role of dramaturgy in creating both new and classical works, and how we all share in the craft of bringing stories and characters to life in the trueness of their surroundings onstage. She even shares her thoughts on Bento Boxes and Collard Greens.
Learn more about Martine, President-Elect of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas: https://lmda.org/users/martinekei
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Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode.

Join the WINMI community by following on Instagram or Twitter as well as reaching out to Patrick with any questions or comments: contact.winmipodcast.com
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1 hr 7 min

About Why I‘ll Never Make It

From the publisher's feed

The actor’s journey is one of occasional highs and frequent lows. It is a path riddled with self-doubt and frustration as we question our career choices, wondering if we’ll ever really ”make it.” But…