The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

Ali Stroker is unstoppable. We fell in love with her while she was on The Glee Project but in recent years has made history as the first person in a wheelchair on Broadway in the 2015 production of Deaf West’s Spring Awakening. From a very young age, all Ali has wanted to do is perform after the acting bug bit her when she was cast in a neighborhood production of Annie. She was recently seen in the off-Broadway production of Oklahoma! at St. Ann’s Warehouse, and can be heard in the upcoming podcast, Loveville High (lovevillehigh.com). In this episode, she speaks about disability awareness, representation, education, how she positively overcomes the daily struggles, and why she actually doesn’t prefer being called an ‘inspiration’ to others. Connect with Ali: Instagram: @alistroker Twitter: @alistroker Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at [email protected]. I want to know what you think. Thank you to our friends Jukebox The Ghost for our intro and outro music. You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @jukeboxtheghost or via the web via jukeboxtheghost.com. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible! Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David Seales If you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Broadway belter talks about how she never actually expected to end up on Broadway after her early pop career as one half of the duo Or-N-More. Orfeh dreamt of pop stardom while growing up in New York City. Broadway was never a goal of hers. She talks about her start in drama school, which led her to a music career and record deal. When plans changed, she found herself auditioning for Broadway and she’s been here ever since.  She also recounts an amazing story describing the first time she and now-husband Andy Karl went on stage together that she literally made him forget an entire scene! Orfeh earned a Tony nomination playing Paulette in Legally Blonde The Musical in additional to other notable roles in Saturday Night Fever and Footloose. She can currently be seen as Kit De Luca in Pretty Woman The Musical. Connect with Orfeh: Instagram: @Orfeh Twitter: @official_orfeh facebook.com/official.orfeh www.youtube.com/orfehandandykarl Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan’s personal Instagram: @alanseales Jillian’s personal Instagram: @jillianhochman Email us at [email protected]. We want to know what you think. Thank you to our friends Jukebox The Ghost for our intro and outro music. You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @jukeboxtheghost or via the web via jukeboxtheghost.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nancy Opel has a long career spanning over three decades. She is now appearing on Broadway as Wicked’s Madame Morrible. She was nominated for the 2002 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical and won an Obie as Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown. In addition, she was nominated for the 2015 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical in Honeymoon in Vegas. Nancy has appeared in Evita, Teddy & Alice, Sunday in the Park with George, Anything Goes, Triumph of Love, 2004’s Fiddler on the Roof, Memphis, the 2014 revivial of Cinderella as Madame. She was also title character in the first national tour of The Drowsy Chaperone. Connect with Nancy Twitter: @NancyOpel IG: @opelnyc Web http://www.nancyopel.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan’s personal Instagram: @alanseales Jillian’s personal Instagram: @jillianhochman Email us at [email protected]. We want to know what you think. Thank you to our friends Jukebox The Ghost for our intro and outro music. You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @jukeboxtheghost or via the web via jukeboxtheghost.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nancy Opel has a long career spanning over three decades. She is now appearing on Broadway as Wicked’s Madame Morrible. She was nominated for the 2002 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical and won an Obie as Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown. In addition, she was nominated for the 2015 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical in Honeymoon in Vegas. Nancy has appeared in Evita, Teddy & Alice, Sunday in the Park with George, Anything Goes, Triumph of Love, 2004’s Fiddler on the Roof, Memphis, the 2014 revivial of Cinderella as Madame. She was also title character in the first national tour of The Drowsy Chaperone. Connect with Nancy Twitter: @NancyOpel IG: @opelnyc Web http://www.nancyopel.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan’s personal Instagram: @alanseales Jillian’s personal Instagram: @jillianhochman Email us at [email protected]. We want to know what you think. Thank you to our friends Jukebox The Ghost for our intro and outro music. You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @jukeboxtheghost or via the web via jukeboxtheghost.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonnie Milligan discusses her childhood, growing up in a religious household in Illinois, finding self confidence in controlling her narrative, and the importance of representation on the stage. Bonnie is currently making her Broadway debut in Head Over Heels as Princess Pamela, though she has been with the show since its early years in workshops and out of town tryouts. She tells us about being active and using her voice to promote love, light, and acceptance. Connect with Bonnie: Instagram: @beltingbons Twitter: @BeltingBonnie Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan’s personal Instagram: @alanseales Jillian’s personal Instagram: @jillianhochman Email us at [email protected]. We want to know what you think. Thank you to our friends Jukebox The Ghost for our intro and outro music. You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @jukeboxtheghost or via the web via jukeboxtheghost.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonnie Milligan discusses her childhood, growing up in a religious household in Illinois, finding self confidence in controlling her narrative, and the importance of representation on the stage. Bonnie is currently making her Broadway debut in Head Over Heels as Princess Pamela, though she has been with the show since its early years in workshops and out of town tryouts. She tells us about being active and using her voice to promote love, light, and acceptance. Connect with Bonnie: Instagram: @beltingbons Twitter: @BeltingBonnie Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan’s personal Instagram: @alanseales Jillian’s personal Instagram: @jillianhochman Email us at [email protected]. We want to know what you think. Thank you to our friends Jukebox The Ghost for our intro and outro music. You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @jukeboxtheghost or via the web via jukeboxtheghost.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Olivier Award winning and three time Tony nominated actor Andy Karl joins us this week. Throughout his time in New York, he has done 13 Broadway shows, earning him the trust of the Broadway community. He tells us about his early beginnings, his definition of success, and the changes he sees in the theatre community over time. Andy is currently starring as Edward in Broadway’s Pretty Woman: The Musical. He’s also known on TV as Sgt Mike Dodds on Law & Order: SVU. Past roles include (our favorite) Kyle the UPS Guy in Legally Blonde The Musical, Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys, Rocky Balboa in Rocky The Musical (Tony nomination), Bruce Granit in On The Twentieth Century (Tony nomination), Phil Connors in Groundhog Day (Olivier Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Tony and Drama Desk nominations), in addition to many other shows like Wicked, 9 to 5, The Wedding Singer, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Altar Boyz. Connect with Andy: Facebook.com/TheAndyKarl Instagram.com/Andy_Karl Twitter.com/Andy_Karl Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcastTheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Jillian's personal Instagram: @jillianhochman Email us at [email protected]. We want to know what you think. Thank you to our friends Jukebox The Ghost for our intro and outro music. You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @jukeboxtheghost or via the web via jukeboxtheghost.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we talk to actor, singer, dancer, writer, and director Wesley Taylor. Wesley speaks to growing up in Orlando with the performance bug. He landed his first role on Broadway six months out of college originating the role of Franz in Rock of Ages. He then moved on to play Lucas in The Addams Family. Wesley went on to star in the hit TV show Smash and Spongebob Squarepants the Musical on Broadway. We discuss finding early success, mental health, the importance of artist financial planning, his various web series, and what’s next. Connect with Wesley on social: Twitter: @WesTayTay Instagram: @sirwestaytay facebook.com/WesTayTay Billy Green Could Be Worse Indoor Boys Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcastTheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Jillian's personal Instagram: @jillianhochman Email us at [email protected]. We want to know what you think. Thank you to our friends Jukebox The Ghost for our intro and outro music. You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @jukeboxtheghost or via the web via jukeboxtheghost.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we speak with 2018 Tony nominee Ariana DeDose. She discusses how her early childhood as a competitive dancer led her to So You Think You Can Dance. She eventually moved to New York to land her first job on her first day in the city. Ariana tells us about the importance of legacy, what it was like to be part of the Hamilton theatrical revolution, how she feels staring in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, her thoughts on pride and sexuality, and the need to keep moving forward without getting too comfortable.  UPDATE Jan 14, 2019: Ariana will also star as Anita in the upcoming remake of “West Side Story,” being recreated by Steven Spielberg. UPDATE Jan 14, 2021: Holy crap, her career has exploded! Congrats, Ari! Connect with Ariana on social: Twitter: @ArianaDeBose Instagram: @arianadebose Facebook.com/ArianaNDeBose Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Jillian's personal Instagram: @jillianhochman Email me at [email protected]. I want to know what you think. Thank you to our friends Jukebox The Ghost for our intro and outro music. You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @jukeboxtheghost or via the web via jukeboxtheghost.com. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible! If you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Intimate, personal conversations with theatre’s biggest talents, ranging all across the spectrum of individuals involved in the professional theatre industry. It features both stars and creatives such as producers, stage managers, directors, press and marketing agents, or even the people who own the theaters themselves.  Hosted by Alan Seales. Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcastTheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Jillian's personal Instagram: @jillianhochman Email us at [email protected]. We want to know what you think. Thank you to our friends Jukebox The Ghost for our intro and outro music. You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @jukeboxtheghost or via the web via jukeboxtheghost.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices