When Lightning Strikes!

A prolific director on Broadway and off, some of Leigh Silverman's credits include Violet, Grand Horizons, The Lifespan of a Fact, Chinglish,Well, SUFFS, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, Soft Power, Sandra, Hurricane Diane,The Wild Party and Really Rosie. A Tony award nominee, Leigh has directed over 60 world premieres and musicals. Her latest show, Merry Me, is now playing at New York Theatre Workshop. Leigh will soon be reuniting withBilly Crudup directing him in the Berkeley Rep production of Harry Clarke. He performed the show at the Vineyard and Audible theaters. This episode was recorded on October 26, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh off of their appearance on RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars Season 8, Alex Michaels, also known as Alexis Michelle, has had a hit cabaret show at Joe’s Pub and appeared at Disney’s Gay Days in Anaheim. An accomplished theater performer, Alex appeared off-Broadway and in tours of Big Apple Circus, Field of Mars, Chapter One, Hair, Little Shop of Horrors and Oklahoma! In addition to their album "Lovefool" on Broadway records, Alex also has a series of music releases including, "If You Want My Apples" and "Lulu's Shoes." Look out for Alex's upcoming Witch Perfect tour with fellow drag stars, Scarlet Envy and Tina Burner. This episode was recorded September 15, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrea Syglowski is a riveting actress who has thrived on stage in film and TV. Just a few of Andrea's credits include Pass Over, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven, Queens. Lost in Yonkers. Venus in Fur, A Doll’s House and Dear Elizabeth. Andrea currently stars in the hit play Dig by Theresa Rebeck. Presented by Primary Stages, Dig is playing at 59e59 Theaters. This episode was recorded on October 3, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brendan George wrote and starred in A Eulogy for Roman. The riveting immersive show had a successful run at 59 E 59 Theaters. Directed and conceived by Peter Charney, A Eulogy for Roman was also a hit at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Brendan is a New York City-based actor-writer-improviser and singer. This episode was recorded on September 12th, 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marcia Cross stars with Ron Canada and Bryan Batt in Pay the Writer. Written Tawni O’Dell and directed by Karen Carpenter, Pay the Writer is now playing at The Pershing Square Signature Center. Cross, who starred as Bree Van de Kamp on Desperate Housewives and was on the series Everwood and Monarch, is a graduate of the Juilliard School. She has performed at Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Hardford Stage Company and the Old Globe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Valisia LeKae stars as LaVern Baker in Rock & Roll Man. The hit musical is playing at New World Stages. Valisia was nominated for Tony and Grammy Awards playing Diana Ross in Motown: The Musical. Some of her other Broadway and off-Broadway credits include Three Penny Opera, 110 in the Shade, Ragtime, Book of Mormon, Superhero and Almost Heaven: The John Denver Musical. On TV Valisia has been seen in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, FBI: Most Wanted, The Blacklist, and Blue Bloods. On March 15 Valisia will be making her Carnegie Hall debut in the show Hittsville: Celebrating Motown with the New York Pops. This episode was recorded August 10, 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marilee Talkington stars as Morgan Le Fey in the musical Camelot now playing at Lincoln Center Theater. A prolific actress on stage and screen, some of her other theater credits include A Nervous Smile, The Middle Ages, The Last Day and her solo show, Truce. She has acted in film and on TV in The Home, Extrapolations, SEE, FBI: Most Wanted, NCIS, New Amsterdam and Law & Order SVU. Marilee, who is legally blind, founded Access Acting Academy which offers actor training for blind and low vision adults and children.  On July 26 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law to commemorate that date, July is Disability Pride Month. In the court of Camelot at Lincoln Center Theater Marilee is one of two disabled actors in the company. Anthony Michael Lopez, a congenital above-knee amputee, plays one of the main knights, Sir Dinidan. Both these roles were not written to be played by disabled actors. They are non-disability specific. In this episode Marilee reflects on her struggles and triumphs. This episode was recorded on July 17, 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Edelman is a comedian and writer whose Orthodox Jewish upbringing has informed his critically and commercially acclaimed work for the stage and screen. He is known for both his TV writing and his solo stage shows, all three of which have been award-winning, sell-out hits in London’s West End and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. His current solo show, Just For Us, is now playing at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway through August 19, 2023. Visit https://www.justforusshow.com/. This episode was recorded on December 21, 2021.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Thurm is known as one of Hollywood's most accomplished casting directors. He played a key role casting some of the most important shows and films including Cheers, Hill Street Blues, Taxi, Grease, Airplane!, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He has worked with celebrities ranging from Judy Garland, Pearl Bailey, and Ethel Merman to Ted Danson and John Travolta. His new book is Sex, Drugs And Pilot Season: Confessions Of A Casting Director. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arian Moayed was nominated for a Tony Award for his dazzling performance playing Torvald in A Doll's House opposite Jessica Chastain. An Emmy and Tony nominated actor, writer and director, in 2002, he co-founded Waterwell, (www.waterwell.org) a risk-taking and civic-minded non-profit theater company. Some of Arian's other theater credits include The Humans, Guards at the Taj and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. His TV and film credits include playing Stewy in the HBO hit Succession, Love Life, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Inventing Anna, Ms. Marvel and most recently, A24's You Hurt My Feelings. This episode was recorded June 15, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices