Break A Bat! where Baseball Meets Broadway

From July 2020. Al Roker steps into The Batter's Box for Episode 43! A lifelong fan of both baseball and theatre, the host and weatherman at NBC's Today and co-anchor of 3rd Hour Today is opening up about his life off screen in a new memoir titled "You Look So Much Better in Person: True Stories of Absurdity and Success." Throughout the book, Roker looks back on his own career and shares valuable "Altruisms" that can be applied to our own endeavors in weathering the storms of life, no matter how torrential the downpour. The 14-time Emmy Winner and New York Times Bestselling Author takes host Al Malafronte through some of the stories behind his success in the spotlight which now spans more than 40 years. To this day, Roker says he still gets nerves before he goes on air every morning. However, as he rehashes in this episode, none that compare to those he felt before making his Broadway debut in Waitress in 2018. In the trying times we're living in, there's a lot to be said for a book like Roker's. With a message that's overwhelmingly positive, entertaining, and inspirational, it very much aligns with his personality that America has come to love over the years, and needs now more than ever. It's set for release on July 28th, and is available for purchase at Hachette Book Group and wherever you get your books! Connect with Al Roker on Instagram: @alroker and Twitter: @alroker You can also find more information on Al Roker Entertainment at his website: alroker.com Hosted by Al Malafronte Produced by the Broadway Podcast Network Edited by Matthew Hendershot Connect with Break a Bat! on Instagram: @break_a_bat_podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From October 2021. Dylan Dreyer steps into The Batter's Box for Episode 104! Part of the fabric of our mornings for nearly a decade as a co-host of The Today Show on NBC, Dreyer is about to release her very first children's book, Misty the Cloud: A Very Stormy Day. The first in a series, the book provides Dreyer the opportunity to combine her meteorology background with her experience as a mom in a way that's both accessible and enjoyable for children. Co-written by Alan Katz and illustrated by Rosie Butcher, the story follows a little cloud with big feelings named Misty and helps young readers understand how to deal with good days, bad days, and everything in between. The book is published by the fine folks at Random House Children's Books, and you can preorder it here before its official release on October 12th! Dreyer embodies the perfect hitter for our podcast, as she's an avid fan of both sports and theatre. A New Jersey native, she takes us back to her time on the softball field at Manalapan High School, working for NBC Sports, and some of the brilliant sports crossovers she's gotten to experience as the "ultimate utility player" on The Today Show. She also discusses the roots of her place in "Red Sox Nation," and while she warns host Al Malafronte that she wasn't the best clutch hitter in her ballplaying days, her performance in this week's edition of Fastball Derby was nothing short of All-Star caliber - highlighted by some hilarious and inspiring stories, many of which just so happened to center around her favorite nights on Broadway! This episode was recorded just a couple of weeks prior to the birth of Dreyer's third child, Russell James. Congratulations to her and her family! Connect with Dylan Dreyer on Instagram: @dylandreyernbc Connect with Break a Bat! on Instagram: @break_a_bat_podcast Hosted by Al Malafronte Produced by the Broadway Podcast Network Edited by Matthew Hendershot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From June 2021. We have the honor of welcoming our very first Tony Award-winner to The Batter's Box, as the great Norbert Leo Butz joins us for Episode 90! Butz's many Broadway accolades are highlighted by four Tony Award nominations, winning twice for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical thanks to his performances as Freddy Benson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in 2005, and again in 2011 when he portrayed Agent Carl Hanratty in Catch Me If You Can. He's also starred in Rent, The Last Five Years, Wicked, Big Fish, My Fair Lady, among other prominent credits. In addition to all of his accomplishments on stage and screen, Butz is just as passionate about baseball as he is for theatre. Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, he spent much of his childhood at Busch Stadium during the heart of the Cardinals' great run in the 1980's with Whitey Herzog at the helm. To this day, he still gets major adrenaline rushes on stage when his performances coincide with Cardinals' World Series games, and has some very memorable stories about those occasions. In an extremely candid conversation, he discusses growing up in what he describes as a very Catholic household with 10 other siblings, and how sports and performing were always at the forefront of his passions. He also takes us through some of the major personal triumphs he's experienced within the Broadway community, having found the ultimate teammates that bring out the best in him to help propel some of his greatest grand slams even in trying times. Anyone from Joe Torre to Keith Hernandez to Bruce Springsteen has come to see Butz perform on stage, and even with all of his success as an actor, he's as humble as anyone we've gotten to speak with. That humbleness, as well as his gratitude and brilliant comedic wit are on full display in this conversation that can be enjoyed by baseball and Broadway fans alike! Connect with Norbert Leo Butz on Instagram: @norbert_leo_butz Connect with Break a Bat! on Instagram: @break_a_bat_podcast Hosted by Al Malafronte Produced by the Broadway Podcast Network Edited by Matthew Hendershot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From March 2021. LOOKOUT! Christy Altomare steps into The Batter’s Box for Episode 76! One of Broadway's most beloved players, Altomare’s talent as a leading lady is up there with anyone's in the game. She got her start in show business when she starred as Wendla in the first national tour of Spring Awakening in 2008, before taking on the role of Sue Snell in the off-Broadway revival of Carrie in 2012. Later that year, she’d go on to make her Broadway debut in Mamma Mia! when she starred as Sophie Sheridan, and most recently, she originated the role of Anya in Anastasia. In doing so, she not only earned a Drama Desk Nomination and Theatre World Award, but she also won the very prestigious Broadway.com Star of the Year title in 2017. We often parallel that honor to being MLB's top Vote-Getter at the All-Star Game… In a conversation that covers all bases, Altomare speaks with host Al Malafronte about anything from her latest songwriting endeavors to her biggest grand slams on Broadway. She also discusses achieving great heights as a performer, and in her case, overcoming a tough period of darkness in order to do so. Altomare explains what inspired her to make changes in her life off-stage in order topropel success on it, which is a story that can motivate anyone who’s looking to excel either on stage or at the stadium. This chat also features big laughs during this week’s 7th Inning Stretch trivia, along with some epic banter about Billy Joel vs. Bruce Springsteen concerts, Italian name translations, and even New York Yankees references in Friends.Tune in for a special one. Connect with Christy Altomare on Instagram: @christyaltomare Connect with Break a Bat! on Instagram: @break_a_bat_podcast Hosted by Al Malafronte Produced by the Broadway Podcast Network Edited by Matthew Hendershot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From April 2020. Derek Klena steps into The Batter's Box for Episode 31! Klena is currently starring as Nick Healy in Broadway's Jagged Little Pill, and has authored a phenomenal career on stage. In addition to this, he may be one of our podcast's most theme-appropriate guests. As a high school pitcher in his native Southern California, Klena was a two-time first-team All-San Antonio League selection and two-time first-team All-Valley honoree, before enrolling in UCLA. While there, he was rostered on the school's iconic baseball team, pitching alongside eventual MLB All-Star hurlers Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer. He did all of this while simultaneously participating in theatre, with full awareness of the parallels between the two mediums. Klena has a clear understanding of the focus and dedication required to be successful both on the mound and on stage, as well as the necessary confidence to overcome peer pressure and stigmas. We also had plenty of fun in this episode, as we re-hashed many of Klena's roles and highlights here on Broadway, as his other credits include Wicked, The Bridges of Madison County, and Anastasia. While speaking about Nick Healy in Jagged Little Pill, it was fascinating to hear why he believes Alanis Morissette's iconic music and the story it's set to - plays so well on stage, as well as his overall connection to the character he's taking on in the show. Hosted by Al Malafronte Guest Co-Hosts: Doug Horowitz and Erin Connors Produced by the Broadway Podcast Network Edited by Matthew Hendershot Connect with Derek Klena on Instagram: @derek_klena and Twitter: @DerekKlena Connect with Break a Bat! on Instagram: @break_a_bat_podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From June 2021. Sweeny Murti is taking us backstage and into the clubhouse! For 21 seasons and counting, Murti has played the role of the New York Yankees beat reporter on the team's flagship radio station, WFAN, and also serves as a contributor to both MLB Network and SNY. This week, he takes host Al Malafronte through some of the fascinating aspects of his job, the challenges that come with covering the team over a 162-game season both at home and on the road, as well as some of the unique experiences he's had with the Bronx Bombers and their diverse personalities. Murti entered Yankees Universe during a particularly interesting chapter in the team's history. They were in the heart of their most recent dynasty when he came on board in 2001, and soon watched a major change in the guard unfold almost instantly after it ended on a November night in Arizona. His perspective on the franchise, as well as all of the players and events that followed the glory years are truly incredible, and not without some brilliant insight. Some of the other subject matters we touched on spanned anything from earning player's trust, Jeter & A-Rod, the best team he covered that didn't win it all, and developing his own unique style that we believe represents the "good stuff" in baseball coverage. Murti even tells us which Broadway musical he'd most like to star in! Connect with Sweeny Murti on Twitter: @YankeesWFAN and Instagram: @sweeny_murti Connect with Break a Bat! on Instagram: @break_a_bat_podcast Hosted by Al Malafronte Produced by the Broadway Podcast Network Edited by Matthew Hendershot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From November 2020. Kara Lindsay steps into The Batter's Box for Episode 58! Lindsay has cemented herself as a favorite among Broadway fans through her memorable performances in roles such as Katherine Plumber in Newsies, Glinda in Wicked, and Cynthia Weil in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. This week, Lindsay and host Al Malafronte share some laughs and stories as they chat about everything from Italian holiday traditions, earworm lyrics in Newsies, her time spent with Carole King, and much more! The conversation was not without some love for the baseball fans, as we also revisited Lindsay's National Anthem performance at Citi Field during the Mets' pennant-winning 2015 season! Lindsay's always positive disposition and great sense of humor made for the perfect kickoff to the holiday season on Break a Bat! Connect with Kara Lindsay on Instagram: @karalindsay1 and Twitter: @KaraLindsay1 Connect with Break a Bat! on Instagram: @break_a_bat_podcast Hosted by Al Malafronte Produced by the Broadway Podcast Network Edited by Matthew Hendershot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From April 2021. "Baseball is in a weird place right now." Doug Mientkiewicz steps into The Batter's Box for Episode 78 in a conversation filled with epic baseball chatter, brutal honesty, and fantastic wisdom. Mientkiewicz's 12-year playing career spanned 1998-2009 for seven different teams and was highlighted by an Olympic Gold Medal for Team USA, a Gold Glove Award, a .360 lifetime On-Base Percentage, and a World Series Championship. While playing he also garnered a reputation as one of the best defensive 1st basemen of his era and a no-nonsense player who would do anything it took to win. This week, he joins host Al Malafronte to revisit his memorable time on Broadway as a member of the New York Yankees in 2007, as well as plenty of other moments that surrounded his eventful career. He also addresses the 2004 World Series final out ball controversy when he battled the Red Sox front office in order to stay true to his own morality. It wasn't pretty, but Mientkiewicz tells all and then some. The ultimate way to define Mientkiewicz is a "winner," and he's a firm believer in differentiating yourself from other performers in a competitive playing field - a principle that can serve hopefuls in both sports and theatre. He's also a master storyteller, and his Yankee tenure was filled with so many wonderful talking points. These include A-Rod and the Toronto stripper incident, special relationships with Joe Torre and Don Mattingly, and a strong affinity for Roger Clemens as a teammate. He certainly wasn't afraid to address some of the more uncomfortable moments he witnessed between A-Rod and Derek Jeter, and his thoughts on the changing nature of today's game...This week's Fastball Derby was also especially fun as Mientkiewicz discusses his love of the musical, Oklahoma, and even which of his former teammates would make the best Broadway leads! Connect with Doug Mientkiewicz on Instagram: @olympicgoldfishing Connect with Break a Bat! on Instagram: @break_a_bat_podcast Hosted by Al Malafronte Produced by the Broadway Podcast Network Edited by Matthew Hendershot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From February 2021. Every so often, we’re fortunate enough to welcome personal favorites from show business to The Batter’s Box. That’s very much the case this week, as Megan Hilty joins the show for one of our most enjoyable conversations to date! A veteran of the stage and screen, Hilty’s career began in 2004 when she took the stage as Glinda in Wicked on Broadway. She’s since gone on to put together a tremendous body of work with other highlights that include starring as Ivy Lynn in NBC’s Smash, a Drama Desk nomination for her portrayal of Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5: The Musical, and a Tony nomination for her performance as Brooke Ashton in Noises Off. Episode 70 is the perfect blend of fun and insightful, as Hilty speaks with host Al Malafronte about some of her signature All-Star performances that have earned her love and praise from audiences worldwide. The free-flowing conversation truly hit a wide array of topics spanning anything from nights at the ballpark to America's Band to last spring's Smash reunion. Hilty even offers her candid thoughts on reviving the beloved series, and partook in a fun round of Baseball meets Broadway trivia in this week’s edition of the 7th Inning Stretch! Connect with Megan Hilty on Instagram: @meganhilty Connect with Break a Bat! on Instagram: @break_a_bat_podcast Hosted by Al Malafronte Produced by the Broadway Podcast Network Edited by Matthew Hendershot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From October 2021. Gene and Bill Barretta, known to many quite simply as “The Barretta Brothers,” are stepping into The Batter’s Box for Episode 105! Two master creatives, Gene is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. He has also animated and illustrated for Sesame Street, Between The Lions, and The Jim Henson Company. Bill has been a director, writer, producer, and core performer with The Muppets for nearly 30 years. Together, they’ve created their own podcast/vodcast series appropriately titled: The Barretta Brothers - a spontaneous fun-filled hour with fascinating guests and great stories from their lives and careers. This week, the two brothers chat with host Al Malafronte about a myriad of topics spanning anything from their shared experiences growing up in Italian households that loved both sports and the arts to Gene competing against LeBron James to memories from the set and stadium. We also discussed the recent release of Muppets Haunted Mansion, a brilliant Halloween special on Disney+ that Bill co-wrote and served as Executive Producer, in addition to performing his signature characters in Pepé the King Prawn, Johnny Fiama, and many others. It was an hour full of big laughs, constant play and gave the boys the opportunity to share some never-been-told stories! Be sure to check out The Barretta Brothers on their website, on YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts! You can also connect with them on Instagram: @thebarrettabrothers and follow Gene's writing and art on his website: www.genebarretta.com. Connect with Break a Bat! on Instagram: @break_a_bat_podcast Hosted by Al Malafronte Produced by the Broadway Podcast Network Edited by Matthew Hendershot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices