Podcasts by Why I‘ll Never Make It

Luke Yankee HIghlights the Mishaps and Misadventures We All Endure as Actors from 2023-11-20T08:00

Get ready for a rollercoaster ride through the highs and lows of the acting world with today's guest, Luke Yankee, who is no stranger to the trials and triumphs of the industry. As a versatile arti...

Sharon Catherine Brown Live at BroadwayCon 2023! from 2023-11-06T08:00

In an enjoyable BroadwayCon encounter this past summer, I found myself in the heart of all things Broadway, rubbing shoulders with the stars and hosting live interviews for the Broadway Podcast Net...

Tjasa Ferme Engages Audiences by Blending Science and Theater from 2023-10-23T07:00

Tjasa Ferme is more than an actress; she's a dynamic creator who writes, produces, and stars in her own work. Her artistic vision revolves around transformation, pushing the boundaries of what is p...

John Rubinstein, a Man of Many Talents from 2023-10-09T07:00

John Rubinstein was born the son of renowned pianist Arthur Rubinstein, and his early exposure to theater in the 8th grade ignited a passion that would shape the trajectory of extraordinary career....

Richard Maltby Jr. and the Curious Case of Nick&Nora's Failure on Broadway from 2023-09-25T07:00

This summer marked the beginning of my new podcast venture, Closing Night, where I delve deep into the captivating world of Broadway history. Our journey takes us through the tales of shows that ha...

Jocelyn Panton Finds Freedom After Failure in the Pageant World and Being $50K in Debt from 2023-09-11T05:00

As a child, Jocelyn Panton attended a musical theater production that came to her hometown in Canada, and she just knew that’s what she wanted to do one day. Well, she stuck to that dream and has g...

Jelani Alladin Live at BroadwayCon! from 2023-08-14T07:00

In July of this summer, I did my very first BroadwayCon, which is an annual conference here in New York City about all things Broadway and theater, and while I was there, I got to be a part of even...

Noah Crandell Finds a Silver Lining in the Struggles of Being an Actor from 2023-07-31T07:00

In the midst of the devastating impact of the pandemic on the arts, there's a unique perspective rarely explored--that of artists just entering the performing arts world when Covid struck. In this ...

Welcome to Closing Night at the Marquis Theatre! from 2023-07-17T07:00

Last year, the idea for a new theater history podcast came up as Dan Delgado and I were working on The Little Prince episodes. Well, it took me awhile to get the ball rolling, but the first season ...

Lisa Lampanelli, The Queen of Mean Makes Nice and Gets Personal About Life on the Stage from 2023-07-03T07:00

I was in college when I first discovered Lisa Lampanelli, a stand-up comedian, insult comic, actress, and writer who is known for her sharp wit, fearless humor, and ability to push the boundaries o...

E. Clayton Cornelious on Persistence and Opportunity as a Broadway Actor and Producer from 2023-06-19T16:39

E Clayton Cornelious has been a part of 10 Broadway shows: in the ensemble, as an understudy and swing, as well as in starring roles, and even as a producer. And in one of those he made an appearan...

E. Clayton Cornelious on Persistence and Opportunity as a Broadway Actor and Producer from 2023-06-19T16:39

E Clayton Cornelious has been a part of 10 Broadway shows: in the ensemble, as an understudy and swing, as well as in starring roles, and even as a producer. And in one of those he made an appearan...

Tony Award Nominees Talk About RAGTIME and XANADU on Broadway from 2023-06-07T21:11

My first conversation is with Marcia Milgrom Dodge, who I am so grateful to have met for the first time in this interview. We had a wonderful discussion about her 2009 production of Ragtime that st...

Sidney Myer Found a Home and Family in New York Cabarets from 2023-05-22T10:00

Cabarets have been an integral part of New York City's cultural fabric for over a century, offering a unique blend of entertainment, social commentary, and artistic expression. From the early 1900s...

Why I’ll Never Make It Joins the Broadway Podcast Network! from 2023-05-08T16:00

Well, after more than five years, Why I’ll Never Make It is taking a big leap forward as a Podcast, joining the highly respected and expansive Broadway Podcast Network. So over the coming weeks, yo...

Corrie Legge Shares How Choices Have Shaped Her Acting Career from 2023-05-08T10:00

Previous guest Michael Kushner loves to use the term multi-hyphenate to illustrate the many ways we can express our creative selves. Well, Corrie Legge describes herself as a multi-passionate actor...

Jack Canfora Continues to Learn as a Playwright, Even From His Critics from 2023-04-24T10:00

Writing is by its very nature, a solitary practice. Whether with pen and paper or in front of a computer screen, it is generally time spent alone, creating a world of characters and stories. Acting...

Remembering Phantom of the Opera with Cast Member Jeremy Stolle (REWIND) from 2023-04-17T10:00

It took 35 years, but Phantom of the Opera has finally left Broadway. It was a show that I first discovered in high school, and I went on to perform “Music of the Night” several times in high schoo...

Michael Kushner Embraces and Defends the Multi-Hyphenate Performing Artist from 2023-04-10T10:00

There was a study that came out the year before the pandemic called “Quantifying and Predicting Success in Show Business.” It starts off by saying that the unemployment rate for actors hovers aroun...

Jocelyn Jones Helps Actors and Individuals Awaken Their Artistry and Creativity from 2023-03-27T05:00

Recently, I went googling for articles about downsizing and simplifying my life, and I found this one called Simple Living Manifesto, which sounded great. But then the title of the blog post was “7...

Maestra and Their Efforts to AMPLIFY Women&Non-binary People in the Musical Theater from 2023-03-20T10:00

Music director Julianne Merrill and broadcast technology director Jessica Ryan join the podcast for Women's History Month, to talk about Maestra and their annual Amplify concert.   Maestra was foun...

Lisa Howard on Originating Roles on Broadway and the Unjust Stigma Associated with Plus-Sized Actors from 2023-03-13T13:00

As collaborative as theater can be, there are sometimes when the creative process can be more like herding cats—with no clear direction as everyone tries to get on the same page…hopefully. And that...

Sharon Catherine Brown (Part 2) - Performing in Milestone TV Shows&Knowing Our Worth as Actors from 2023-02-27T11:00

One of the important aspects of Black History Month is that it’s not just about what happened 50, 100, 200 years ago. It’s also about the present, the world around us and what’s happening now to br...

Sharon Catherine Brown (Part 1) - Born to Be a Drama Queen in Her Broadway Family from 2023-02-13T11:00

One essential ingredient to any actors career is experience. It allows us to develop our craft and hone our skills over time. With each performance, we refine techniques, learn from mistakes, and d...

Blake Stadnik from ”This Is Us” Doesn’t Let His Disability Stop Him Onstage or in Life from 2023-01-30T05:06

One of the joys that can come from being an actor, besides getting to perform on stage and feeling the energy of a live audience, is that of working and collaborating with other wonderful actors on...

Welcome to Season Seven! from 2023-01-23T17:00

Welcome to Season Seven of Why I’ll Never Make It, an award-winning theater podcast. After a few weeks off, I’m so excited to be back for another year of great guests and wonderful discussions. Som...

Bettering Our Mindset with ”Dr. Drama” Alisa Hurwtiz, PsyD (REWIND) from 2023-01-16T11:00

As we start off this new year, I’m continuing where we left off last week with Brooke McNamara by talking with another psychologist, Alisa Hurwitz. In this episode from 2020, we dive into why minds...

Bettering our Acting Training and Practice with Brooke Macnamara (REWIND) from 2023-01-10T00:32

Happy New Year! Thank you for listening to Why I’ll Never Make It! The next season is just a few weeks away and I wanted to start off the year by going back to conversations I had to with two psych...

Angela Lansbury and Her Bumpy Road to MAME on Broadway from 2022-12-21T13:00

Back in October of this year we lost a beloved star of the stage and screen, Angela Lansbury. Her performing career spanned 80 years in which she received six Tony Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, ...

Jeremy Stolle Shares 15 Years at Phantom of the Opera and the Struggles He Faced Getting There from 2022-12-12T23:37

Back in September of this year, news came out that both shook and shocked the Broadway theater world: Phantom of the Opera will be closing and have its final performance in February 2023. After 35 ...

Simon Tam and The Slants Battle Asian Stereotypes and the Supreme Court from 2022-12-05T11:00

During the past 30 years there’s been a growing list of pop and rock musicians trying their hand at musical theater. And they range in style and scope from artists like Cindy Lauper, Dolly Parton, ...

Ben Curtis Found Fame as the Dell Dude But Found Himself as the Wellness Dude from 2022-11-28T13:00

Do you want to be famous or do you want to be an actor? Very few truly achieve both. For most of us it’s a choice, and the direction we choose impacts the roles and opportunities that we pursue goi...

Elaine Romanelli Battles Criticism and Self-Doubt as a Singer and Songwriter from 2022-11-21T15:00

One of the greatest obstacles to becoming a better performer is thinking you aren’t good enough, that the dreams and aspirations you have for yourself are just too far out of reach and beyond your ...

Jules Helm Explores Personal Growth and Self-Discovery On Stage and Off from 2022-11-14T13:00

Jules Helm chats about how to focus on self-care and personal growth by using movement and acting techniques to bring both our mind and body into alignment. He will be sharing his own journey of se...

Dena Hammerstein, from Actress&Writer to Producer&Founder of Only Make Believe (REWIND) from 2022-11-07T12:00

Back in 2008, I made the move to New York City to finally pursue my acting career here. And after a couple of years of doing regional work, though, I was looking for more opportunities that could k...

Joe DiPietro and How Theater Has Made a Difference in His Own Life from 2022-10-31T10:00

Joe DiPietro is certainly no stranger to theater and has been writing for the stage since 1991. His musicals and plays have received multiple awards and nominations on and off-Broadway, including M...

Muriel Miguel and the Art of Story Weaving Her Native American Experiences from 2022-10-24T13:00

The art of theater is really just storytelling, and the stories that are told from region to region often come from within those communities and offer a shared experience on the stage. Broadway ill...

Ricky Schroeder and Why Booking a Show Doesn’t Always Mean You’ve Booked the Show from 2022-10-17T14:35

The life of an actor is often a cross between a seesaw and a rollercoaster. Sometimes it’s as simple as an up or down choice between opportunities and trying to find the balance between life and wo...

Kate Baldwin Looks for Deeper Creative Purpose When Performing 8 Times a Week from 2022-10-10T13:00

For only the second time in my career, I’m doing back to back shows at the same theater. First there was Anne of Green Gables this past summer and now there’s 42nd Street here at the Goodspeed Oper...

Marc Acito and the Steep Learning Curve from Theater Writer to Filmmaker from 2022-09-26T10:37

Sometime before the pandemic, I auditioned for a small off-Broadway production of the Lerner and Loewe musical The Day Before Spring. It was at the York Theater, which is known for refreshing older...

Steve Harper Talks About Non-Traditional Casting&Writing for Superheroes Like Stargirl from 2022-09-19T10:00

Steve Harper is an actor, writer, and producer of the stage and screen. He shares his actor’s nightmare in a Shakespeare production in Cincinnati, but we also discuss the pivotal time when he found...

Daryl Eisenberg and the Evolving Role of the Casting Director for the Stage and Screen from 2022-09-12T10:00

As noted in the previous episode, auditions are the backbone of this industry, but there is an important gatekeeper when it comes to submitting our self tapes or actually getting in the audition ro...

Audition Stories 2022 with Jerry Mitchell, Carmen Cusack, Barton Cowperthwaite, Kathryn Allison&More from 2022-09-05T05:00

As much as we actors wish it wasn’t so, auditioning really is our job. Performing it’s just an added perk, if we do that job really well. That being said though, there are times when we mail an aud...

Barton Cowperthwaite from Tiny Pretty Things Discovers He’s More Than Just a Dancer from 2022-08-29T15:37

Barton Cowperthwaite is a dancer first and foremost, with performances ranging from the opera La Traviata to Travis Wall’s Shaping Sound dance tour. The esteemed choreographer Lar Lubovitch describ...

Andrew Lippa Shares Disappointments and Lessons Learned as a Broadway Composer&Lyricist (REWIND) from 2022-08-22T14:00

Back in the summer of 2020, there was a new Netflix docuseries everyone was talking about, a little show called Tiger King. Well, in the midst of all that I sat down with composer and lyricist Andr...

Gina Harris Finds Magic in the Ordinary Things of Life and Theater from 2022-08-15T13:00

In the previous episode, I spoke with a musical writing team about their process of writing a full show for the stage with a cast and creative team bringing their story to life, but in today’s epis...

FINAL FIVE: Composer Matt Vinson&Book Writer and Lyricist Matte O’Brien from 2022-08-08T13:00

In the last episode, I spoke with composer Matt Vinson and writer Matte O'Brien about their new musical Anne of Green Gables. It was the first time I’ve spoken with a musical writing team here on W...

Matt Vinson&Matte O’Brien on the Joys and Challenges of Bringing a Musical to the Stage from 2022-08-01T12:00

Writing a musical is a long process, and once the writers are have finished that last page…that’s really only the beginning of their journey. By the time an actor comes along to audition for it, th...

Adam Stocker and the Theater Interview That Went All Wrong from 2022-07-25T13:00

Just like actors show off their skills in the audition room, other artists and creatives have their own ways of showcasing talents to prospective theaters, directors, or employers and these intervi...

Adam Stocker Shows How Broadway Costumers Are Like Engineers&Should be Paid Accordingly from 2022-07-18T15:05

This past week as Anne of Green Gables went into tech rehearsal and we finally had our first public performance, I was reminded that there is a very particular important step that happens as you le...

Playwright Cris Eli Blak Proves That Persistence Can Overcome the Most Challenging Hurdles (REWIND) from 2022-07-11T21:30

For the past four weeks I’ve been in rehearsals for a new musical adaptation of Anne of Green Gables. During that time I even got Covid for the second time and had to miss several days of rehearsal...

Brian Patacca Lets Go of Expectations and Finds Artistic Freedom from 2022-07-04T14:41

Among the many repercussions of the Covid pandemic, it caused actors, including myself, to question our purpose, our abilities, and our own belief in what it means to be an artist. Well, today’s gu...

Ashley Victoria Robinson Never Settles, Constantly Pushing Herself as an Actor and Creative from 2022-06-20T22:26

This past week I started rehearsals up in Connecticut at the Goodspeed Opera House doing a new musical version of the beloved Anne of Green Gables. It’s a well-known story around the world but espe...

Jerry Mitchell Knows His Worth as Director&Choreographer Despite 6 Losses at the Tony Awards from 2022-06-06T10:00

June is always a busy time for New York City with two major events taking place: one is of course the month-long Gay Pride celebration and the other is the biggest day of the Broadway season -- the...

Turning Artistry Into Activism with Playwright Jason Odell Williams and Producer Charlotte Cohn from 2022-05-30T10:00

Four years ago this spring, a new play opened off Broadway called Church&State. It dealt with the contentious intersection of God, guns, and politics and featured four actors on a single set. I con...

Brian Keith Graziani Illustrates How Talent Agents Impact an Actor’s Career from 2022-05-23T13:00

My on-camera agent Brian Keith Graziani and I have been working together since late 2020 for a range of projects--from commercials and industrials to TV dramas and docu-series. Brian himself starte...

Ethan Steimel Lights the Way to Talking About Money and Finances from 2022-05-16T10:00

“There are few things that can cause joy, shame, contentment, anxiety and stress the way that money does,” says Korrena Bailie, Consumer Finance Editor at Forbes. “If your finances cause you stress...

Treating Yourself as a Business with Jonathan Cerullo and Artistic Finance from 2022-05-09T10:00

Ethan Steimel talks with Jonathan Cerullo about seeing ourselves and our careers as more than an artistic craft in this special collaboration and presentation with Artistic Finance. There are two f...

David Dean Bottrell Faces His Fears and Unlocks a Greater Love for Acting and Performing from 2022-05-02T13:00

No matter how many conversations I have with artists, no matter how many episodes this podcast releases, I’m amazed at the variety of insights and lessons that each person brings to these discussio...

Carmen Cusack and the Journey to Finding Her Bright Star from 2022-04-25T13:00

One of the main themes and messages of this podcast has always been that success can mean different things to different people and the path of how someone gets there, if they get there, is always u...

Anthony Rapp Becomes The Little Prince and Later Finds Seasons of Love from 2022-04-18T09:00

Years after the failed Lerner & Loewe movie musical of The Little Prince, producer Joseph Tandet tried again, but th...

Steven Warner (Part 2) - The Little Prince Grows Up and Finds a New Path from 2022-04-11T09:00

As an actor it is rare to have long stretches of employment, especially in theater. Television actors can certainly be a part of a successful show for years on end. Same goes for movi...

Steven Warner (Part 1) - Becoming The Little Prince from 2022-04-04T06:00

One of my all-time favorite movie musicals is Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe's adaptation of THE LITTLE PRINCE in 1974. It starred such legendary performers as Bob Fosse, Richard Kiley, Gene ...

Kevin Spirtas - Emmy-Winning Actor Takes the Stage and Shares from the Heart from 2022-03-28T14:19:14

Back in January 2022, this podcast held its first ever live event. It was a night of conversation with Emmy-winner Kevin Spirtas. He not only shared stories and struggles from his tim...

Judy Tenuta is Kicking Cancer’s and Shares Her Journey from Stage to Stand-up from 2022-03-21T12:58:29

In 1987, HBO had a comedy special called Women of the Night. It featured four wo...

Elizabeth Swain Leads a New Generation of Theater Artists from 2022-03-14T06:00

In the final episode of Season Five, I spoke with a talented and passionate actress and producer Debra Ann Byrd. In our conv...

Mental Talk About Performance Anxiety with Mostafa Ashraf and Yara from 2022-03-07T06:00

The art of performing is certainly filled with joy and passion and can offer a creative fulfillment not found another professions. But as this podcast highlights with each episode, th...

Terron Brooks Discovers There’s More to Success Than Fame from 2022-02-28T06:00

Back in 2014, I met today’s guest as we were both working on a workshop of a new musical based on the hit movie FIRST WIVES CLUB. We both continued on with the show as it traveled to ...

Black History Month - Vinnette Justine Carroll and Alvin Ailey (Encore) from 2022-02-21T06:00

In honor of Black History Month, this episode is an encore presentation of two pioneering Black artists and the legacy they left in the performing arts.

Gina Morgano Learned That Self-Awareness Is Key to the Performer’s Journey from 2022-02-14T06:00

No matter what profession you’re in, setting goals is an important part of finding the best path to get you there. For actors and performers our goals can be big ones like being on Broadway or c...

Kathryn Allison Shares How She Found Her True Authentic Self Outside of Broadway from 2022-02-07T06:00

With live theater happening once again here in New York, one of the joys has been seeing friends back on stage, doing what they do best. And I certainly hope to be joining them soon, ...

Al Blackstone On Knowing Yourself as an Artist&Not Waiting for Permission to Create from 2022-01-31T06:00

The act of creating is both a testament to and a full embodiment of its creator. An actor gives so much of themselves to the role that they’re playing. A dancer utilizes every muscle ...

Briana Packen on Finding Balance and Stability in our Lives and Acting Careers from 2022-01-24T11:30

Sometimes the biggest obstacle standing in our way as actors is ourselves. Whether it’s self-doubt and a disbelief in our own abilities or maybe it’s giving too much weight to the cri...

Welcome to Season Six! from 2022-01-17T06:00

After a few weeks off, I’m so excited to be back for another year of great guests and wonderful discussions. As you can see there’s a new look to the WINMI podcast artwork and logo, t...

A Look Back at 2021 and What’s Next for Theater and This Podcast from 2021-12-28T09:00

Happy birthday, WINMI! Welcome to the 4th Anniversary Episode of Why I'll Never Make It.

Normally at the end of each season I take a chance to look back at the gues...

Debra Ann Byrd (Part 2) - A Black Girl‘s Journey to Becoming Othello from 2021-12-20T06:00

The experiences of our lives affect the paths we choose and help make us who we are today. In part one of my conversation with Debra Ann Byrd, she revealed the ups and downs of her ow...

Debra Ann Byrd (Part 1) - Classically-Trained Actress Shares Her Bumpy Road to Theater from 2021-12-13T09:00

I first found out about Debra Ann Byrd through an article in the Listen

Rodney Hicks (Part 2) - Broadway Actor Shares His Difficult Journey of Self-Discovery from 2021-09-15T09:00

When it comes to work as an actor, there’s that old adage of "feast or famine" or "when it rains it pours." For myself that has meant going 11 months without any work…all while still ...

Rodney Hicks (Part 1) - Musical Theater Actor Opens Up About What Caused Him to Leave Broadway from 2021-09-13T09:00

Here in America, we just marked the 20th anniversary of 9/11. And on the eve of that anniversary a live recording of the Broadway production of Come From Away was released. It feature...

Will Swenson (Part 2) - Actor/Singer on the Changes He Hopes to See in Theater, Especially Broadway from 2021-09-08T12:00

As we came to the end of part one of our conversation Will Swenson and I were talking about the deeper questions of who we are as artists and as individuals in the absolute importance of bringin...

Will Swenson (Part 1) - Broadway Actor Talks About Failed Shows and Leaving the Mormon Church from 2021-09-06T08:00

For the next three weeks I’ll be talking with two Broadway actors and a music director about their careers in New York and their own thoughts on the Tony Awards and theater in general. I start t...

Will Swenson (Part 1) - Broadway Actor Talks About Failed Shows and Leaving the Mormon the Church from 2021-09-06T08:00

For the next three weeks I’ll be talking with two Broadway actors and a music director about their careers in New York and their own thoughts on the Tony Awards and theater in general. I start t...

Darren Darnborough - British Actor and Producer&CEO of WeAudition from 2021-08-30T12:02:11

Whether from personal experience or hearing stories from the past two episodes on this podcast, you know that almost anything can happen in an audition room. Sometimes it’s magical mo...

More Audition Stories 2021 with Will Swenson, Mykal Kilgore, Gabrielle Ruiz, Justin Guarini and more! from 2021-08-23T09:00

For most theater actors, Broadway is the ultimate status to attain in this industry. It’s the highest level any of us can reach and is the utmost definition of making it. But just bec...

Audition Stories 2021 with Chaz Wolcott, Megan Carver, Damian Thompson and more! from 2021-08-16T06:00

This summer has seen actors returning to the stage as some regional theaters have returned to normal with a summer season and live audiences. And with that of course has seen an incre...

Eff Your Fears with Actress and Model Ashley Monique Menard from 2021-08-09T06:00

For the past week I have been doing a deep dive into podcasting at a yearly conference called Podcast Movement. It's a place where podcasters like me can learn how to make better epis...

Kristen Hetzel and Keep the Flame Alive Talk Team USA Duathlon&Maintaining Her Acting Career from 2021-08-06T06:00

Last year I started releasing bonus episodes to those who supported this podcast on a monthly basis. Well, this is one of those special episodes with Kristen Hetzel. I brought along the co-hosts...

Kristen Hetzel REWIND - Actress and Team USA Duathlete Reveals What Artists Can Learn from Sports from 2021-08-02T06:00

As the Olympics head into their second week, it’s been a great reminder of the lessons we as artists can learn from these Olympians.

Remember the episode with Sally...

Sydney Irving - Young Singer/Songwriter Shares How Hard Work Defines Her as an Artist from 2021-07-26T06:00

When it comes to theater we all know Broadway and the big lights of New York City. There’s also organizations like the public or playwrights horizons that present notable off Broadway production...

Sabine Kvenberg - German Actress Who Discovered Musical Theater and a Love for Teaching from 2021-07-19T06:21

During this past year as Covid wrecked the theater scene, ending so many shows and seasons, Andrew Lloyd Webber was doing his best to bring musicals back to the West End. And in much the same wa...

Damian Thompson - A Jamaican-Born Actor Who Shares How Stuttering Led Him Into Acting from 2021-07-12T06:01

Communication and interacting with each other through words is really at the heart of what it means to connect and relate to other people. This is even more clear as actors and writers in the wa...

Ashley Danyew - Musician and Educator Shares the Importance of Being a Portfolio Artist from 2021-07-05T06:30

in many ways today’s episode is almost a masterclass from beginning to end in how to bridge the gap between being artist and an entrepreneur. Ashley Danyew is a musician and educator who shares ...

Joshua Turchin - Actor, Composer, and Musical Theater Wunderkind from 2021-06-28T12:34:51

Well, here we are at the third and final installment of my young artist series. And it could be argued that I’ve saved the most prolific artist for last. As both a performer and writer, Joshua T...

Chloe Noelle - Young Actress from TRUE BLOOD Continues to Learn and Grow in Her Career from 2021-06-21T06:49

When it comes to actors, we really are part of a family and community with one another, and no matter how long or how short a time we’ve been in this business, there’s always something we can le...

Alex J. Dean - Young Actor and Director Graduates from Film School During a Pandemic from 2021-06-14T06:03

Being a coach and leading master classes has been something I truly enjoyed doing. Imparting my experience and insights to students and watching them have those a-ha moments and discovering some...

The Flame Podcast Musical with Creators Ellie Brigida and Leigh Holmes Foster from 2021-06-07T11:02:54

In this past year, as most actors and artists were forced to stay at home, we found new ways to keep creating. The most obvious is the explosion of zoom readings and productions of both new and ...

Blatantly Honest with Makaila Nichols from 2021-06-02T06:00

This week I'm sharing a conversation I had on another podcast called Blatantly Honest. At the end of this episode I also talk about the recent su...

Diane Foy - PR&Marketing Coach Shares Her Roadmap for Actors and Musicians from 2021-05-26T06:00

Last week on the podcast I spoke with an acting teacher (Terry Knickerbocker) about techniques and the creative process for us actors. Well, this week a publicist will guide us through the busin...

Listener Survey and Podcast Updates... from 2021-05-24T18:50:15

Just letting you know that the 2021 Listener Survey isn't going quite as I had hoped. And a schedule ch...

Evelyn LeBel&Chris Stepanek - Broadway Dresser and Off-Broadway Technician Share Their Work and Love of Theater from 2021-05-19T06:00

The last time a couple came on the podcast was way back in Season 1. And on today's episode Evelyn LeBel and her fiancé Chris Stepanek join me to discuss their different roles backstage, why uni...

Terry Knickerbocker - New York Acting Teacher and Theater Director Helps Actors Become Their Best from 2021-05-12T06:00

Give your feedback in the 2021 Listener Survey.

Ever since I became WINMI's sole host and producer, I have wanted to have an acting tea...

Kimberly Faye Greenberg - An Actress and Singer Making It as a Broadway Dresser from 2021-05-05T06:09

As you and I certainly know there is so much more to Theater then just what happens on stage. There are those behind the scenes and backstage, contributing just as much to the production of any ...

MoonAmie Productions - Training Children and Young Adults in the Performing Arts from 2021-04-28T06:00

It’s really no big secret that having children involved in the performing arts can have a major impact on them in school and out of school. Well, today’s guests are training some of these young ...

Joel B. New - Musical Theater Composer Learning to Craft Music and Marketing from 2021-04-21T07:00

In the last episode we learned the importance of producing our own work as actors. Well today's guest, Joel B. New, will show us that just because you build it doesn't mean people will come. Aft...

Ashley Kate Adams - Broadway Actress Who Learned How to Be Her Own Producer from 2021-04-14T06:00

At one point or another there is a lesson that all actors have to learn, and this past year has driven home that lesson even more so, and that is the need to create our own work. Toda...

Marcus Scott - Theater Playwright and Journalist Who Embraces His Inner Black Geek from 2021-04-07T09:00

On today’s podcast journalist Marcus Scott shares his love of telling stories and how he suddenly found himself writing musicals. 

Sign up for the WINM...

Joyce Hshieh (Part 1) - Line Memorization Techniques to Help Actors OFF BOOK IT from 2021-04-02T08:00

Part Two of my conversation with Joyce Hshieh, an actress and founder of the OFF BOOK IT memorization program. She is also a 3-day Jeopardy champion.

Joyce Hshieh (Part 2) - Line Memorization Techniques to Help Actors OFF BOOK IT from 2021-04-02T06:00

While natural talent certainly plays a part in the capabilities of any actor to perform, there’s one skill that has to be learned and nurtured for any actor to really make it in this business, a...

Joyce Hshieh (Part 1) - BFA Trained Actress Becomes Jeopardy Champion from 2021-03-31T06:00

Almost every actor would seize upon the opportunity to be in a big TV show. But even with a BFA in acting and conservatory theater training, none of it had really prepared Joyce Hshieh for one o...

Sally Wilfert (Part 2) - ALL THE GIRLS and a Tribute to Broadway’s Leading Lady, Rebecca Luker from 2021-03-26T06:00

On December 23, 2020, Broadway and musical theater lost one of its most beautifully talented leading ladies, Rebecca Luker. In the second half of my conversation with Sally Wilfert, we talk abou...

Sally Wilfert (Part 1) - A Singer’s Journey from the Piano to Broadway from 2021-03-24T06:05

Sally Wilfert is a Broadway actress and an amazing vocalist who understands the rigors and demands of performing at the top of her game. In part one of my conversation with Sally, she and I disc...

Gabrielle Ruiz (Part 2) - EVITA National Tour and Female Representation in the Arts from 2021-03-19T06:00

As we talked about in Part One, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is what put Gabrielle Ruiz on the map. However, it was her theater training and performance abilities that made it possible for her to be cast...

Gabrielle Ruiz (Part 1) - From Broadway Actress to TV Star on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend from 2021-03-17T06:11

My good friend and amazing performer Gabrielle Ruiz joins me for Women's History Month to chat about her journey from ensemble member on Broadway to a principal role on primetime television. It'...

Dorothy Fields and Broadway Collaborations Over Five Decades (Part 2) with Kristin Stultz Pressley from 2021-03-12T06:00

Fifty years ago this month 10 people were inducted into the songwriters Hall of Fame. Included on that list are well-known names like duke Ellington, Ira Gershwin, and Alan J Lerner. The only wo...

Dorothy Fields and Her Impact on Broadway Musical Theater (Part 1) with Kristin Stultz Pressley from 2021-03-10T06:02

This week for Women’s History Month, I’m sharing a special conversation with Dr. Broadway about prolific lyricist and librettist Dorothy Fields, who collaborated with some of the most iconic and...

Carrie Bernans (Part 2) - Connecting with Other Actors and Confronting Stereotypes of Black Women from 2021-03-05T06:05

The church plays and school musicals of Carrie's childhood eventually gave way to on-camera acting and her desire to become a "black girl James Bond." So she was introduced to stunt work and mar...

Carrie Bernans (Part 1) - From Actress on Stage to Stuntwoman in Black Panther from 2021-03-03T15:56:21

Carrie Bernans is the perfect person to kick off Women's History Month. She is a strong individual who knows who she is, what she wants, and usually how to get there. That’s not to say it’s been...

Brie Eley (Part 2) - Using Her Force for Good in Star Wars and with Fellow Black Actresses from 2021-02-26T06:00

In part two of my conversation with Brie Eley, she talked about her latest project that has been such a mountaintop experience for her and we get into her organization that promotes and supports...

Brie Eley (Part 1) - Classically Trained Theater Actress Chooses TV/Film Career from 2021-02-24T06:00

When it comes to being an artist, Brie Eley is the very definition of a multi-hyphenate. She is a classically trained actress and improviser, spent more than 10 years in marketing and small busi...

Adrienne Walker (Part 2) - Offering Audition and Theater Advice to Fellow Actors with 32 Bar Cut from 2021-02-19T06:00

One of the hardest lessons for any actor to learn is to not take constant rejection personally. Adrienne Walker and I continue in part two of our conversation with stories from our own struggles...

Adrienne Walker (Part 1) - Broadway Actress and Singer Found a Home in The Lion King from 2021-02-17T06:00

While the goal of every actor is to perform, our day-to-day job is actually auditioning. As we continue Black History Month here on the podcast, Adrienne Walker from The Lion King on Broadway jo...

Erin Cherry (Part 2) - An Actress Producing and Creating Her Own Work from 2021-02-12T06:00

In the second half of our conversation, Erin Cherry focuses on her weekly show Sundays with a Cherry on Top, a health and lifestyle show that sho...

Erin Cherry (Part 1) - This Emmy Winning Actress Can Teach Us a Thing or Two from 2021-02-10T06:00

For almost a year now Actors have had very little in the way of exercising and using our creative muscles, so in this episode I wanted to remind us of the craft and joy of acting. As Black Histo...

Geoffrey Owens (Part 2) - The Trader Joe’s Photo and Shift Happens from 2021-02-05T06:06

The life of any actor is one of going in and out of employment. But for Geoffrey Owens back in 2018, his side job was captured in a photo and spread across the Internet. In part two of our conve...

Geoffrey Owens (Part 1) - So Much More Than Just Elvin on The Cosby Show from 2021-02-03T06:00

Throughout his career Geoffrey Owens has been an actor, director, and teacher. But for more than 35 years he has been known as Elvin from The Cosby Show. As we kick off Black History Month here ...

Ashley Monique Menard (Part 2) - Writer and Comedian Who Knows What She’s Capable Of from 2021-01-29T06:00

I think it’s fair to say that artist are an emotional bunch in general. We feel things deeply and react with conviction. And that goes for the wonderful and exciting emotions but also goes for t...

Ashley Monique Menard (Part 1) - Actress and Plus Size Model Who Just Wants to Make You Laugh from 2021-01-27T06:00

In theater or really in any performing art, we have certain genres or types of characters and stories that fit us better than others. And today’s guest Ashley Monique Menard found her niche in c...

Lauren Ober (Part 2) - How Podcasting Makes a Great Home for Performers from 2021-01-22T06:00

As the host of NPR‘s the big listen, Lauren Ober was basically podcasting about podcasts and through that became a bona fide podcast expert. Maybe you’ve thought of starting your own podcast. In...

Lauren Ober (Part 1) - Podcaster, Journalist, and Voice Coach Shares Her Spectacular Failures from 2021-01-20T06:00

Here on Why I’ll Never Make It, we focus on the challenges and setbacks that artists face, but there is one podcast out there focusing on the Spectacular Failures of companies and organizations....

Justin Guarini (Part 2) - Lessons Learned from His Broadway Career after American Idol from 2021-01-15T06:00

Welcome back to part two of my conversation with Justin Guarini! He’s already shared pivotal moments from his childhood and given us a cautionary tale of his college experience. So we pick up wi...

Justin Guarini (Part 1) - His Bumpy Musical Journey Leading Up to American Idol from 2021-01-13T17:00

Happy New Year to you! And welcome to the premiere episode of Season Five. Today’s guest is Justin Guarini, who you probably know from American Idol but has done so much more and has a lot to teac...

Justin Guarini (Part 1) - His Bumpy Musical Journey Leading Up to American Idol from 2021-01-13T12:00

Happy New Year to you! And welcome to the premiere episode of Season Five.

Today’s guest is Justin Guarini, who you probably know from American Idol but has done so much more and has a l...

Season Five Preview from 2021-01-13T06:00

Welcome to Season 5 of Why I’ll Never Make It!

Look Back at 2020&the Last Final Five from 2020-12-28T13:34:22

A look back at the year that was unlike anything we would’ve hoped for or imagined. Still, this podcast had its good moments and a plethora of fantastic guests.

• 0:28 - In...
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THE PROM Special Rewind with Caitlin Kinnunen and Abigail Rose Solomon from 2020-12-25T06:00

Merry Christmas! :)

In honor of the recent release of THE PROM movie on Netflix, here is a special combo episode of my conversations with star of the Broadway production, Caitlin Kinnune...

Sammi Cannold (Part 2) - Don’t Keep Your Distance from This Innovative Theater Director from 2020-12-18T06:00

Today’s episode is part two of my conversation with the final guest of Season 4.

Sammi Cannold is a remarkable artist and director. She was even named to the 2019 Forbes List of 30 under...

Sammi Cannold (Part 1) - Director Who Shows How Theater Can Be COVID-Safe from 2020-12-16T03:00

Here we are at the final guest of Season Four...

In part one of my conversation with New York director, Sammi Cannold shares the details of an article she wrote for part one of my conversation with Christophe Zajac-Denek, he talked about growing up with dwarfism, his love of music and dr...

Christophe Zajac-Denek (Part 1) - Little Person Actor and Musician on Finding Acceptance from 2020-12-09T06:00

If I’m being honest, I have never really met a little person. Maybe in passing, but never actually sat down and had a conversation with one. But once we got on Zoom, Christophe Zajac-Denek and I...

Cecy Treviño (Part 2) - Her BroadwayMania Actors and Christmas Creative Team from 2020-12-04T06:00

It's been one heck of a year, yet one arts group wanted to come together and make something to celebrate this season. They asked me to be a part of the event by hosting their Virtual Red Carpet....

Cecy Treviño (Part 1) - Founder and Artistic Director of BroadwayMania from 2020-12-02T06:00

This past summer, as we were in the midst of massive theater shutdowns and summer season cancellations, I found BroadwayMania on Instagram. It was mostly videos of singers belting out show tunes...

WINMI Recommends: ”The Politics of Culture” on Left, Right&Center from 2020-11-30T12:00

When it comes to the arts, I aim to give as wide a field of experience and opinion as possible here on the podcast. Yet for the most part I steer clear of politics. This is for a few reasons, bu...

FINAL FIVE: Kristen Hetzel, Team USA from 2020-11-27T08:00

Thanks for coming back to join me and Kristen Hetzel again! This is a bonus episode to the previous conversation, where we cover topics and five specific questions that we didn’t address on the ...

Kristen Hetzel - Team USA Duathlete on Bettering Our Attitudes with Persistence and Gratitude from 2020-11-25T06:00

In this podcast’s continuing series, Bettering Ourselves, Bettering Our Careers we’re finding ways to improve how we work and create, how to push through challenges we face. So far we’ve looked ...

Kristen Hetzel - Actor and Physical Therapist Who Competes as a Duathlete from 2020-11-25T06:00

Kristen Hetzel is an actress as well as a world class cyclist and runner who competes in the duathlon, which is multi-athletic event of run-bike-run. She shares how athletics has helped her acting ...

After the Interview with Tony Howell from 2020-11-20T14:59:12

Become a WINMI Producer today: donate.winmipodcast.com 

This interview was conducted back in August 2020, hence the reference to my air conditi...

Tony Howell - Bettering Our Online Presence and Social Media Strategy from 2020-11-18T09:00

When it comes to our lives and our careers, perhaps no shift has been more dramatic or significant as our increase in time online and on our phones. The biggest driver of this is social media. D...

Alisa Hurwitz (Dr. Drama) - Bettering Our Mindset for Auditions and Performance from 2020-11-13T06:00

In part three of the month-long series bettering ourselves bettering our careers, this episode is a continuation from the previous conversation about deliberate practice and the 10,000 hours rul...

Brooke Macnamara, PhD - Bettering Our Practice and Applying the 10,000 Hours Rule to Actors from 2020-11-11T06:00

When it comes to bettering ourselves as artists, it involves a lot of training, coaching, and practice. One popular strategy is called the 10,000 Hours Rule, popularized by from 2020-11-11T06:00

Today’s episode is part two of my month-long series: bettering ourselves, bettering our careers. And who better to turn to then a psychologist to help us improve both of those areas.

Lisa Goldberg - Bettering Our Acting Careers through Public Relations from 2020-11-04T09:00

This is the first episode in a new series on the podcast: Bettering Ourselves, Bettering Our Careers. And today’s guest provides a great example of both - Lisa Goldberg, Owner of LSG Public Relatio...

Lisa Goldberg - Promoting Our Acting Careers with Public Relations from 2020-11-04T09:00

Today’s episode begins a month-long series of bettering ourselves and bettering our careers. And we’re starting off with a look at public relations and how we can promote ourselves and the projects...

2020 Tony Award Nominees with Broadway’s Nate Patten from 2020-11-02T07:00

On this special bonus episode all about the recent Tony Award Nominations, I’m so happy to introduce music director, conductor, and fellow podc...

FINAL FIVE: Meredith Aleigha Wells from 2020-10-30T03:00

Meredith and I continue our conversation from the previous episode as she answers the Final Five questions. She shares her national tour ambitions and her love of interior design as well as what...

Meredith Aleigha Wells - Actor/Singer Who Is Dysfunctioning Just Fine in Her Wheelchair from 2020-10-28T06:00

In honor of Dysautonomia Awareness Month, Meredith Aleigha Wells joins the podcast to share her struggles and challenges on...

WINMI Recommends: Keep the Flame Alive from 2020-10-26T09:00

This month’s Recommendation comes from co-hosts Jill Jaracz and Allison Brown and their podcast: Keep the Flame Alive, the podcast for fans of the greatest sporting event in the world.

E...

Charlotte Canning, PhD - The History of Pandemics and Theater Closings from 2020-10-21T12:45

British historian and philosopher R.G. Collingwood said, "History is for human self knowledge, the only clue to what men can do is what man has done. So with an ongoing pandemic and theaters shu...

Historias Hispanas en Español - Bianca Marroquín, Luis Salgado, Jaime Lozano y Mas from 2020-10-15T09:00

Bienvenidos y gracias por acompañarnos en esta edición especial de Why I’ll Never Make It!

En esta segunda parte de mi serie sobre historias hispanas, escucharán a mis invitados anterior...

Hispanic Stories in English - Matt Zambrano and Dan Domingues from 2020-10-14T09:00

This is part one in a series of former Hispanic guests coming back to share their stories in their own words. The second part - la segunda parte - comes out tomorrow and will be en espanol.   My or...

FINAL FIVE: Tadeo Martinez, DFW Theater Critics Outstanding Actor from 2020-10-09T09:00

Welcome back to more conversation with Tadeo Martinez as he answers the Final Five. Tadeo shares two of his favorites pieces of advice and his dream to be on YouTube. He also talks about his awa...

Hispanic Heritage Month - Tadeo Martinez, BFA in Theater from SMU from 2020-10-07T09:00

When it comes to the guests on this podcast most of them are fairly well established. This allows me to the Google them, find pictures and stories about them, and get to know their body of work....

FINAL FIVE: Bianca Marroquín, who played Chita Rivera in FOSSE from 2020-10-02T08:00

Well, I hope you listened to our previous conversation because Bianca is back to answer the Final Five questions. She shares her disappointment in not getting to play Evita but also her joy to p...

Hispanic Heritage Month - Bianca Marroquín, CHICAGO’s Roxie Hart from 2020-09-30T09:00

In today's wide-ranging conversation with Bianca Marroquin, one of the issues she addresses is that of language and accent. Growing up near the Texas border, she had the opportunity to learn bot...

WINMI Recommends: The Industry with Dan Delgado from 2020-09-28T11:17:21

Well, it's the last Monday of the month, so that means it's time for this month's podcast recommendation: THE INDUSTRY, hosted by Dan Delgado.

Every week Why I’ll Never Make It likes to ...

Hispanic Heritage Month - Luis Salgado, Reaching New HEIGHTS Through Dance from 2020-09-23T04:23:10

Luis Salgado was born and raised in Puerto Rico and studied theater there at the University of Puerto Rico. He moved to New York City in 2012 and it was slow going at first for him to book work. Bu...

FINAL FIVE: Jaime Lozano, Voting Member of the Grammys and Latin Grammys from 2020-09-18T06:00

After our conversation on the previous episode, Jaime talks about the process of voting on songs and albums for the Grammys, and then he answers the Final Five. He shares his love of Law & Order...

Hispanic Heritage Month - Jaime Lozano, Musical Theater Composer from 2020-09-16T06:00

For the next few weeks WINMI is going to be highlighting some amazing Hispanic artists, ranging from composers and dancers to actors and singers. And it's all in honor of National Hispanic Herit...

You Too Can Be an #ArtsHero with Carson Elrod and Brooke Ishibashi from 2020-09-09T00:52:45

Mid-March of this year was a uniquely devastating time for theater and the arts industry as a whole. Broadway and Off-Broadway here in New York as well as theaters all around the country began t...

FINAL FIVE: Alex Pires from 2020-09-04T06:00

After our conversation on the previous episode, Alex answers the Final Five. He shares his love of Christopher Nolan movies and his dream to be on Law & Order: SVU as well as what he learned fro...

Alex Pires - Actor and Writer of the Comedy Web Series P’s in a Pod from 2020-09-02T06:00

The process of getting an idea, a story from conception to production to finally being onstage or onscreen can be a rather lengthy process. Hamilton took seven years and La La Land was almost nine....

WINMI Recommends: The Tony Howell Podcast from 2020-08-31T04:10:25

For the second month in a row Why I’ll Never Make It goes outside its own podcast walls to recommend another podcaster doing great work in the arts or beyond. The first one was Listen

Bart Shatto - Broadway Veteran on Maintaining Creativity and Artistic Power from 2020-08-26T06:00

Broadway is no cure against challenges or setbacks. Bart Shatto has experienced the joys and the hardships of a life in theater, both personally and professionally. He gives an open and vulnerab...

FINAL FIVE: Jason Odell Williams from 2020-08-21T06:00

Thanks for coming back to join me and Jason Odell Williams for the final five! This is a bonus episode to the conversation we had previously, covering topics and five specific questions we didn’...

Jason Odell Williams - Playwright and Producer Walking the Line Between Stage and Screen from 2020-08-19T06:00

Jason Odell Williams is an award-winning playwright and Emmy-nominated television producer. But his first love was acting...until it wasn't. In this episode he shares that journey...

FINAL FIVE: Eric Jordan Young from 2020-08-14T09:03:22

Well, here we are at the Final Five questions, a bonus episode to our previous conversation. Eric is back and shares his passion for branding and being a stylist. He also mentions what distingui...

Eric Jordan Young - Broadway Actor and Singer on the Importance of Letting the Work Inspire You from 2020-08-12T06:00

During his years in New York City, Eric Jordan Young bounced around from Broadway productions and national tours to regional shows and concerts. According to most performers, he was living the d...

FINAL FIVE: David Ruttura from 2020-08-07T06:00

After our conversation on the previous episode, David answers the Final Five. He shares his political aspirations, what he's learned from Broadway directors as well as where the best ideas come ...

David Ruttura - Broadway’s Associate Director of Plays and Musicals Cuts Loose from 2020-08-05T06:00

David and I first met last year as he directed the 90-minute version of FOOTLOOSE on Norwegian Cruise Line. But In New York, he spends his time working with some of the best directors on Broadwa...

FINAL FIVE: Mo Brady from 2020-07-31T06:00

Thanks for coming back to join me and Mo for the final five! This is a bonus conversation covering topics and five specific questions we didn’t address on the last episode. Today, Mo talks about...

Mo Brady - Broadway Actor/Podcaster Advocating and Supporting the Ensemblist Community from 2020-07-29T06:00

Co-creator of The Ensemblist podcast and blog shares his love of theater, especially for those out of the spotlight and in the ensemble. Mo Brady grew up building sets and imagining a life on th...

Erin Cronican (Part 2) - Taking Theater Online and Streaming from 2020-07-24T06:00

Instead of answering the Final Five questions, Erin Cronican continues our conversation on producing theater for the online world as well as some insight into her cooking habits (or lack thereof...

Erin Cronican (Part 1) - Producing Theater in the Midst of COVID and Cancer from 2020-07-22T06:00

Erin Cronican first came on the podcast back in Season One, sharing the ups and downs of making theater while still being an actor. Today, she faces new challenges of producing theater in the mi...

FINAL FIVE: Chaz Wolcott Shares an Audition Story from 2020-07-17T06:00

After our conversation on the previous episode, Chaz answers the Final Five. But first, he shares a hilarious audition story, then goes into his dream to work in physical therapy as well as how ...

Chaz Wolcott - Choreographer and Dancer Goes from NEWSIES to a New Normal from 2020-07-15T04:06:42

Chaz started dancing at the age of 2in Gahanna, Ohio, and several years later he won the Gold Medal at the US Tap Championships and then won Bronze for the United States at the World Tap Dance C...

FINAL FIVE: Brian Lowdermilk from 2020-07-10T06:00

After our conversation on the previous episode, Brian answers the Final Five, talking about software engineering and his dream to fix CHESS as well as lessons learned from Elizabeth Gilbert.

Brian Lowdermilk - LGBTQ Composer and Songwriter from Kerrigan&Lowdermilk from 2020-07-08T06:00

Featuring the third composer of the season, Brian Lowdermilk is a fantastic contemporary songwriter who's found a great deal of success from the internet. And in this day and age where not much ...

FINAL FIVE: Roberto Araujo from 2020-07-03T18:00

After our conversation on the previous episode, Roberto answers the Final Five. He shares his love of CBS Sunday Morning and his dream of playing the Baker in INTO THE WOODS as well as that the ...

Roberto Araujo - Actor, Photographer, and PLAYBILL’s Director of Video Production from 2020-07-01T06:00

Season 4 Survey: https://winmipodcast.typeform.com/to/SdODaMU7

I first got to know Roberto when putting together the Season Three opener with Caroline Bowman. He had taken beautiful phot...

FINAL FIVE: Cris Eli Blak from 2020-06-26T06:00

After our conversation on the previous episode, Cris answers the Final Five. He shares why he'd love to teach and his dream to be in CATS as well as what he learned from Tyler Perry.

Do ...

Cris Eli Blak - African-American Actor, Playwright, Producer, and Poet Shares His Story from 2020-06-24T06:00

In this longer episode than normal, I am honored and grateful to have this enormously gifted artist on the show. Cris Eli Blak may only be a senior in college, but he has wisdom far beyond his y...

Michael Francis McBride - Dancer Who Found Love and Passion at Alvin Ailey from 2020-06-17T06:00

The third and final look at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with Michael McBride, a 10-year veteran with the company. Through this organization he not only gained skills and experience in...

Samantha Figgins - Dancer and Ballerina Finds a Home at Alvin Ailey from 2020-06-10T06:00

Samantha Figgins is currently in her sixth season with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. But what many people don't know is that this gorgeous dancer suffers from single-sided deafness. As...

Tribute to Alvin Ailey - Dancer&Choreographer Preserving the African-American Cultural Experience from 2020-06-03T06:03

When it comes to the performing arts and certainly to dance, there are few people more worthy of admiration, of inspiration and imitation than Alvin Ailey. He was both uniquely gifted and qualif...

FINAL FIVE: Douglas Sills from 2020-05-29T06:00

At the end of our previous insightful conversation, Douglas Sills gave his answers to the Final Five questions. He shares a story of his mentor who recently passed away as well as his interests ...

Douglas Sills - Broadway’s Leading Man Almost Led Another Life from 2020-05-27T06:00

His iconic Broadway debut in SCARLET PIMPERNEL may have made Douglas Sills a Broadway star, but his head has never been in the clouds. In today's episode, he has his feet firmly on the ground an...

FINAL FIVE: Mykal Kilgore and Hannah Elless from 2020-05-22T06:00

After our conversation on the previous episode, Mykal and Hannah answer the Final Five questions. They share stories of the individuals who have inspired them as artists as well as their interes...

Hannah Elless&Mykal Kilgore - Broadway Performers Who Crave New Works and Musicals from 2020-05-20T06:00

Hannah Elless and Mykal Kilgore (and myself) first met doing a reading of a new musical called THE STAR CHILD. They have each gone on to do three Broadway shows, but they still love that new-car...

FINAL FIVE: Andrew Lippa from 2020-05-15T06:00

Welcome back to my talk with Andrew Lippa as he answers the Final Five questions. This is a bonus episode to the conversation we had previously, covering topics we didn't get to last time. From ...

Andrew Lippa - Composer and Lyricist on Being a Big Fish in a Little Broadway Pond from 2020-05-13T06:00

From his first intimate musical, john and jen, to his bigger productions on and off Broadway, Andrew Lippa has been a prolific and award-...

FINAL FIVE: Hal Luftig from 2020-05-08T06:00

After our conversation on the previous episode, Hal Luftig answers the Final Five. He shares his love of teaching and his dream to work with Audra McDonald as well as what he learned from famed ...

Hal Luftig - Broadway Producer Finds Value in the Hit Musicals As Well As the Flops from 2020-05-06T06:00

Welcome to a month-long look at previous Broadway seasons...the nominations, the wins, and the losses. 

With four Tony Awards to his name, including two as lead producer, and two Olivier...

FINAL FIVE: Alina Alcántara from 2020-05-01T06:00

Welcome to another FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode with Alina Alcántara! After our last conversation about staying motivated and the joy she found in performin...

Alina Alcántara - Actress and Singer Found Passion and Purpose in Theater from 2020-04-29T06:00

Former flight attendant Alina Alcántara is a New York native of Dominican heritage, who has lived in Florida for most of her life. And in this episode s...

FINAL FIVE: Seán Cullen from 2020-04-24T06:00

It's been a month-long break, so welcome back to the FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode!

After our last conversation, Seán answers five final questions not covered in the previous episode. He talk...

Seán Cullen - Stand-up Comedian and Actor on the Serious Business of Being Funny from 2020-04-22T06:00

Seán Cullen is a Canadian actor, voice artist and stand-up comedian, known for combining improvisation with mimicry and music. He joins me today to share his...

Financial Wellness (Part 2) Rebecca Selkowe from The Actors Fund, COVID Edition from 2020-04-17T06:00

In the last episode, Rebecca Selkowe reminded us of the groundwork needed to organize and manage our money. Today, she brings it to the present with useful tips and insights we can use during ti...

Financial Wellness (Part 1) Rebecca Selkowe from The Actors Fund REWIND from 2020-04-15T06:00

Since 1955, April 15th has been Tax Day, until this year...the year of COVID-19 and economic uncertainty. With so many unemployed, especially those of us in the arts, what are we to do. How can ...

Laziness - How Doing Less Can Bring More Success (Bite-Size Edition) from 2020-04-08T06:00

Overcome with laziness and procrastination, feeling unmotivated, stuck, and just can’t get started? Believe me, you are not alone. 

But there is...

Social Distancing - A Special Coronavirus Conversation with Clayton Howe from 2020-04-01T18:00

Well, coronavirus is all people can talk about. It has completely changed our daily lives and interactions with others, especially in the world of theater. So I wanted to address it head on with...

FINAL FIVE: Tiffany Coyne from 2020-03-27T06:00

Welcome to another FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode! After our last conversation Tiffany answers five final questions not covered in the previous episode. She talks about how she still hopes to do music...

Tiffany Coyne - LET’S MAKE A DEAL Co-Host&Former Vegas Dancer (Women’s History Month) from 2020-03-25T06:00

Whether as sidekick or the lady in charge, Tiffany Coyne has made her mark on the popular game show LET'S MAKE A DEAL. She can keep up w...

FINAL FIVE: Charlotte Cohn from 2020-03-20T06:00

Welcome to another FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode! After our conversation on Wednesday about opera and directing, Charlotte gave her answers to five questions and topics not covered in the main interv...

Charlotte Cohn - Former Tank Commander&Opera Singer Finds Her Voice in Theater (Women’s History Month) from 2020-03-18T06:00

Charlotte Cohn was born in Denmark and raised in Israel where she served in the Israeli Army as a commanding officer. She was a founding producer of the New York Music Theatre Festival (NYMF) an...

MAESTRA MUSIC with Georgia Stitt, Advocating Women Musicians in Theater (Women’s History Month) from 2020-03-13T06:00

MAESTRA MUSIC was founded by composer/lyricist and music director Georgia Stitt to give support, visibility, and community to the women who make the music...

Georgia Stitt - Composer, Lyricist, and Music Director (Women’s History Month) from 2020-03-11T05:30

GEORGIA STITT (georgiastitt.com) is a composer and lyricist whose original musicals include Snow Bird, Big Red Sun, The Water, and Samantha Spade, Ace Detect...

FINAL FIVE: Abigail Rose Solomon from 2020-03-06T05:00

After our in-depth discussion on producing in NYC and balancing that with an acting career, Abigail now shares bucket lists and who she looks up to. These final five questions get into topics an...

Abigail Rose Solomon - Actress and Broadway Producer of Musicals and Plays (Women’s History Month) from 2020-03-04T06:00

For the first episode of Women's History Month, I'm talking to New York-Los Angeles actress and producer Abigail Rose Solomon, who founded Rosalind ...

More AUDITION STORIES 2020 with Lauren Kennedy, Justin Guarini and others! from 2020-02-26T07:00

On the second half of AUDITION STORIES we dive into the comparison game with Justin Guarini. This kind of jealousy is so common to actors and affects us in the audition room more than we know. Listen

AUDITION STORIES 2020 with Caroline Bowman, Kelvin Moon Loh and more! from 2020-02-19T10:03:24

The 2nd Annual Auditions Stories is here! And this is only part one...focusing on the Audition Book and deb...

SING FOR YOUR SENIORS with Founder&Producing Artistic Director Jackie Vanderbeck (Spotlight) from 2020-02-12T05:00

Throughout history artists have known that music provides benefits for both the creator and the listener. It can affect individuals in positive ways by inducing both psychological and physiological...

Getting OVER ... Social Media Content (Special Offer) from 2020-02-06T16:25:44

So much of how we connect with the world and share our lives and interests is centered around social media. From promoting this podcast to my own acting career, creating social media posts is a ...

American Sign Language for Theater - Providing Access to Deaf Audiences with ASL Interpreters from 2020-02-05T07:00

This podcast mainly focuses on the artist and the creative, the actor or composer or director, etc. But in today’s episode I’m turning the tables and focusing on the audience, specifically those...

Dave Jackson - Hall of Fame Podcaster on How and Why Actors Should Start a Podcast from 2020-01-29T05:00

This is a special episode where someone I consider to be one of the best in podcasting joins the show to discuss what he's learned about this growing medium and how we as artists can use this as...

FINAL FIVE: Megan Carver from 2020-01-24T05:00

Welcome to the FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode with Megan Carver!

After our in-depth discussion on finding our artistic niche and creating work for ourselves, we then chatted about others job a...

Megan Carver - Actress, Producer, Writer, and Filmmaker from 2020-01-22T06:00

Whether in life or her profession, Megan lives by three simple mottos...

• Work Hard  •  Be Kind  •  Stay Classy  •

And it is these ideals that led her to turn a punch ...

FINAL FIVE: Remy Germinario from 2020-01-17T05:00

Thanks for joining me and Remy for this week's FINAL FIVE!

After our discussion of the rigors and challenges of stand-up comedy, we got down to the serious business of bucket lists and s...

Remy Germinario - Theater Actor Finding Another Stage with Improv and Stand-Up Comedy from 2020-01-15T08:00

I first met Remy Germinario while taking improv classes at Upright Citizens Brigade in NYC. He’s an actor as well as a comedian, and he shares how he g...

FINAL FIVE: Miata Edoga from 2020-01-10T05:00

Welcome to the first FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode of 2020!

These are five questions I ask each guest on topics and insights not covered in our main conversation on Wednesday. The answers giv...

Miata Edoga - TV/Film Actress&Financial Coach with Abundance Bound from 2020-01-08T05:00

Miata Edoga is the President and Founder of Abundance Bound, the premiere financial education company for actors, artists, and creative entrepreneurs. Listen

Season Four Preview from 2020-01-06T05:00

Hello and welcome to Season 4 of Why I’ll Never Make It! This is now a year-round podcast...more work for me and more conversations for you. The central theme of Why I’ll Never Make I...

A Look Back at 2019 from 2019-12-28T05:00

Welcome to the 2nd Anniversary episode of the podcast! And what a year it has been!

Artists Striving to End Poverty / ASTEP with Samantha Manfred (Spotlight) from 2019-12-18T05:00

ASTEP was conceived by Broadway Musical Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Juilliard students. It’s goal was to transform the lives of youth using the most powerful tool they had: their art. Today...

FINAL FIVE: Mike Isaacson from 2019-12-13T06:00

Welcome to another FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode! These are the five questions I'll be asking each guest all season long, as they give concise and and focused insights not covered in our main convers...

Mike Isaacson - Artistic Director of the Muny on the Challenges of Producing Broadway Musicals from 2019-12-11T09:03:58

Mike Isaacson has led the Muny for almost ten years and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. In this episode he shares not only the challenges of producing 7 musicals in 10 weeks each su...

FINAL FIVE: Jenny Stafford from 2019-12-06T06:00

Welcome to another FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode! These are the five questions I'll be asking each guest all season long, as they give concise and and focused insights not covered in our main convers...

Jenny Stafford - Lyricist on Writing, Collaboration, and the Day Broadway Called from 2019-12-04T05:00

In the entertainment industry, we are all essentially storytellers. But there is one among us who is the spark and drive of those stories...the writer. Jenny Stafford is a prolific lyricist and ...

Five Reasons Artists Have to Be Thankful (Bite Size Episode) from 2019-11-27T06:37:09

Happy Thanksgiving! We’ve all been with our families and gone around the proverbial table to say what we are grateful for. Well, it’s my turn and this episode is dedicated to YOU, who listen and...

FINAL FIVE: Misha Osherovich from 2019-11-22T05:00

Welcome to another FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode! These are the five questions I'll be asking each guest all season long, as they give concise and and focused insights not covered in our main convers...

Misha Osherovich - Actor and Filmmaker on Body Image and His Own Battle with an Eating Disorder from 2019-11-20T05:00

Misha Osherovich is a Russian-American actor, filmmaker, and mental health/LGBTQ+ activist.    Misha's latest short film E.VERY D.AY is currently scre...

FINAL FIVE: Janine DiVita from 2019-11-15T05:00

Welcome to another FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode! These are the five questions I'll be asking each guest all season long, as they give concise and and focused insights not covered in our main convers...

Janine DiVita - Broadway Actress on Maintaining the Voice and Surviving Under Pressure from 2019-11-13T03:47:15

This is part two of my conversation with Janine DiVita. Last time was a Spotlight episode on her work with the USO Show Troupe. In this episode she and I dig into what drives her as a...

USO SHOW TROUPE with Janine DiVita for National Military Families Month (Spotlight) from 2019-11-06T06:00

November is National Military Families Month, and in honor of that I have Janine DiVita joining me today to talk about her work with the USO...

Megan Hoxie - Actress in Norwegian Cruise Line’s FOOTLOOSE on Scene Work and Taking Notes from 2019-10-30T06:00

As I’ve mentioned since the beginning of the season, I’m currently in a production of FOOTLOOSE on Norwegian Cruise lines. And so on today’s episode I’m talk about the show and the process of putti...

KU Talent Agency and Artsplosure with Terri Dollar (Bite Size) from 2019-10-25T06:00

Welcome back to part two of my conversation with Terri Dollar. In the previous episode we focused on STAR, her program working with special needs theater artists in Raleigh.

Normally thi...

Terri Dollar - Arts Director Working with Special Needs Actors in Raleigh from 2019-10-23T06:00

If you ever feel like you can’t do something or or get down about hard this business is, then this episode it for you (and me). Terri Dollar ...

FINAL FIVE: Lauren Kennedy from 2019-10-18T06:00

Welcome to another FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode! These are the five questions each guest will be asked all season long, giving concise and and focused insights not covered in our main conversation. ...

Lauren Kennedy - Broadway Actress and Theatre Raleigh Artistic Director on Auditioning and Being Your Authentic Self from 2019-10-16T06:00

Having worked with Lauren at Theatre Raleigh on BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, she joins the podcast today to talk about her transition from Broadway back to doing theater in her hometown of Raleigh...

FINAL FIVE: Bret Shuford from 2019-10-11T05:00

These are the five questions I'll be asking each guest all season long, giving concise and focused insights not covered in our conversations on Wednesday.

1. If you could have any o...
   Listen

Bret Shuford - Broadway Actor and Life Coach on Being Sober and Dealing with Our Inner Critic from 2019-10-09T06:00

Bret Shuford has dedicated his life to creating theatre. Most recently, he play...

FINAL FIVE: Caroline Bowman&J. Harrison Ghee from 2019-10-04T06:00

The very first FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode! These are the five questions each guest will be asked all season long, giving concise and and focused insights not covered in our main conversation. The ...

Caroline Bowman&J. Harrison Ghee (Part 2) How to Handle Criticism and the Importance of Recognizing Your Gifts from 2019-10-02T05:00

Welcome to Season Three and part two of my interview with J. and Caroline! These two Broadway performers join me to share their own journey to the Great White Way. We also discuss how to deal wi...

Caroline Bowman&J. Harrison Ghee (Part 1) Their Broadway Debuts in KINKY BOOTS and Leadership in a Cast from 2019-09-30T05:00

Welcome to Season Three! These two Broadway performers join me for three episodes to share their own journey to the Great White Way. We also discuss the pressure of playing a leading role, handl...

Season Three Preview from 2019-09-22T17:04:50

Welcome to Season 3 of Why I’ll Never Make It, a weekly show, featuring insightful conversations with actors and fellow creatives on the realities of a career in the arts. In each episode we exp...

Broadway Closings and Listener Questions (Bite-Size Edition) from 2019-08-07T05:00

A surprise bonus episode this summer...I just couldn't stay away! And also introducing the first-ever listener question.

- First and foremost, I'd love to hear from you and get your thou...

Ben Davis - Broadway Actor and Singer, Tony Award Honoree from 2019-06-24T05:00

For the final episode of Season 2, Ben Davis joins me in St. Louis to talk about the life of an actor on the road and in New York. His accomplishments on Broadway and elsewhere are many and magn...

Ethan Paisley - Filmmaker, Director, Producer and Speaker from 2019-06-17T05:00

Audition season is winding up here in New York City as we prepare for the summer months. I hope you have some good plans for the summer. For myself, I will be doing a couple of shows: one in St....

Thoughts on the 2019 Tony Awards (Bite-Size Edition) from 2019-06-10T02:15:19

The Tonys have all been handed out and another Broadway Season comes to a close. While the trophies themselves are the main attraction, it was really the speeches and heart of the awards ceremon...

Sherryl-Lee Secomb - Actor, Director, Marketer, and An Idiot On Stage from 2019-06-03T05:00

Welcome to WINMI's first international episode!

Joining me on the show today is Sherryl-Lee Secomb from Australia. With over thirty-five years on stage, creating roles in musical theatre...

Tony Awards - BEETLEJUICE with Kelvin Moon Loh from 2019-06-01T05:00

The third and final Awards Season Bonus Episode features Kelvin Moon Loh of BEETLEJUICE, nominated for eight Tony Awards.

We discuss his audition for the role of Otho...or rather lack of...

Ariel Estrada - Actor, Producer, Founder of Leviathan Lab from 2019-05-27T05:00

Broadway is all abuzz with the latest shows and performances making all the headlines. But theater in New York is so much more than what happens on the great white way....

Drama Desk Awards - FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (IN YIDDISH) with James Monroe Stevko from 2019-05-25T05:00

Having already won the Best Musical award from the Outer Critics Circle. James Monroe Stevko and the entire FIDDLER cast and crew wait to see if their winning continues with the upcoming Drama D...

Matthew Stern - Stage Manager, BROADWAY SYMPOSIUM from 2019-05-20T05:00

The job of a stage manager may be behind the scenes, but all that they do makes its way into each and every performance we actors give onstage.

Matthew Stern joins me today to explain th...

Tony Awards - AIN’T TOO PROUD with Joshua Morgan from 2019-05-18T05:00

The first Award Season Bonus episode of 2019! And it's a musical that's tied for the most Tony nominations with 12, including Best Musical. (A full list of those nominations can be found Listen

2019 NY Award Season and the WINMI Blog from 2019-05-17T13:51:25

A short talk about upcoming bonus episodes focusing on this NY Theater Award Season. Also, check out the WINMI Blog with guest blogger Maggie Bera. Find it all on winmipodcast.com!

Lothair Eaton - Actor, Singer, U.K. and Germany STARLIGHT EXPRESS from 2019-05-13T05:00

You're not likely to hear a more infectious laugh than on today's episode with Lothair Eaton. His joy of life and performing shine through in this engaging conversation about life on tour with S...

Musical Theater Trivia Challenge with Dr. Broadway (Bite-Size Edition) from 2019-05-08T05:00

After our great discussion of Broadway history, Tony Awards, and Dorothy Fields, Kristin was a sport enough to take on some trivia questions...and some of them were doozies. I didn't even know m...

DR. BROADWAY - Kristin Stultz Pressley PhD, Musical Theatre Historian from 2019-05-06T05:00

Well, the Award Season is now in high gear with all the major theater nominations out: Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and of course the mother of them all, the Tonys. Everyone seem...

WINMI Host Patrick Oliver Jones on ENTERTAINMENT(X) with Clayton Howe from 2019-05-02T02:00

After being on WINMI Episode 32, fellow podcaster Clayton Howe invited me to return the favor and come on his podcast. We chatted ...

John Ort - Casting Director, Board Member of Artist’s Patron Fund from 2019-04-29T02:04

As part 2 of the focus on auditions, John Ort joins the podcast. He is a member of CSA (Casting Society of America) and works on TV, film, new media and theatre.

His insights on the audi...

AUDITION STORIES 2019 with Caitlin Kinnunen, Lothair Eaton, Tovi Wayne, Ilana Levine, and more! from 2019-04-22T05:00

Welcome to the first annual Auditions episode! I’ll be sharing stories from those in the audition room as well as some tidbits of wisdom along the way. For the past few months during my conversatio...

THE ACTORS FUND Financial Wellness Program with Rebecca Selkowe (Spotlight) from 2019-04-15T02:00

Welcome to your favorite holiday: Tax Day! One of the most difficult but important issues we face in the arts is our finances. How to make more of it and how to spend (and save) it in the best w...

Kelly Gabel - Actress, Singer, Coach, Founder of TRIPLE THREAT THERAPY from 2019-04-08T02:00

Kelly and I talk about the mindset needed to get through the ups and downs of this business, and as founder of Triple Threat Therapy she even gives me a bit of therapy,...

Clayton Howe - Actor, Singer, Host of ENTERTAINMENT(X) from 2019-04-01T02:00

Fellow actor and podcaster, Clayton Howe, riffs on the business of auditioning as well as creating new work and making a difference in the world...whether that world is our own theater community...

Amy Marie Stewart - Actor, Singer, Vocal Teacher, Founder of THEORY WORKS from 2019-03-25T01:00

From musical theater to opera, from Disney Cruise Line to New York's famed Town Hall venue,Amy Marie Stewart has seen first hand the struggles that singers and actors face. Most of it coming fro...

Ilana Levine - Actress, Singer, Host of LITTLE KNOWN FACTS from 2019-03-18T05:00

Today, I'm joined by the wonderfully charming and talented Ilana Levine. She takes a break from her own podcast, LITTLE KNOWN FACTS, to talk with me about her career on Broadway and in TV/film a...

Caitlin Kinnunen - Actress and Singer, THE PROM on Broadway from 2019-03-11T04:00

Happy Promposal Day!

Caitlin Kinnunen may go to THE PROM eight times a week on Broadway as Emma, a high schooler who wants to bring her girlfriend to the big dance. But when s...

DRAMA CLUB with Founder&Executive Director Josie Whittlesey (Spotlight) from 2019-03-04T01:00

For the first Spotlight Series of 2019 I’m joined by Josie Whittlesey, the founder and Executive Director of Drama Club. The organization started in 2013, providing theatre programming to incarc...

Heather Botts - Actress, Singer, Swing in MY FAIR LADY on Broadway from 2019-02-25T05:00

How would you like to learn 13 different roles for one show, and be ready at a moment's notice to perform anyone of them...or even combine two or three of them in one s...

Ryan K. Bailer - Actor, Singer, CEO of Ryan Bailer Tech Support from 2019-02-18T05:00

The man who has been in more EVITA productions than Mandy Patinkin joins me on the podcast to talk about his back and forth in show business and finding the balance bet...

Tony Howell - Digital Strategist for Creative Artists, Social Media Branding&Marketing from 2019-02-11T00:28:23

Tony Howell is a digital strategist for Emmy, Grammy, Tony, Oscar, and Olivier award-winning artists. His work has been featured by Google, Squarespace, SAG-AFTRA, Acto...

2019 Broadway Chat with Ryan McPhee, Managing News Editor at PLAYBILL from 2019-02-04T05:00

We're now about halfway through the 2018-19 Broadway season, and several shows have closed and some still have yet to open. Ryan McPhee, Managing News Editor at PLAYBILL, joins the podcast once ...

Maggie Bera - Musical Theater Actress, Singer, and ACTOR AESTHETIC Blogger from 2019-01-28T05:00

Maggie graduated from Texas State with a BFA in Musical Theatre just two years ago and has been pounding the NYC pavement ever since. In today's episode she talks abo...

Tovi Wayne - Musical Theater Actor, Joffrey Ballet Dancer, Dance Teacher from 2019-01-21T05:00

A good friend of mine and the podcast joins me for the first interview of 2019!

Tovi Wayne opens up about starting dance late in his performing career and how that put him behind other d...

Cupcakes&Kudisch (Bite-Size Edition) from 2019-01-14T05:00

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 hock...

A Look Back at 2018 from 2018-12-31T09:00

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 we...

Jury Duty, One Actor’s Journey Into the Justice System (Bite-Size Edition) from 2018-12-31T05:00

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

John McNally PhD - Award-Winning Author, Screenwriter, Lecturer, English Professor from 2018-12-17T05:00

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. His most recent book is a collection of lectures and essay...

NY YOUTH SYMPHONY Jazz Program with Andy Clausen (Spotlight) from 2018-12-10T05:00

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...

Glasgow Lyman&Jeff Rosick - Writers, Actors, Producers from Hollywood Fringe, WE NEED THIS MUSICAL... from 2018-11-28T05:00

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 Glasgow i...

NY YOUTH SYMPHONY Musical Theater Composition Program with Anna Jacobs (Spotlight) from 2018-11-26T05:00

Today's episode focuses on the Musical Theater Composition program of the New York Youth Symphony, directed by Anna Jacobs. Her musicals include:

• POP! (book & lyrics by Maggie-Kate ...
  Listen

Michael Wartella - Singer, Songwriter, Broadway Actor in the National Tour of WICKED from 2018-11-19T05:00

Mike 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 ...

NY YOUTH SYMPHONY with Conductor Michael Repper (Spotlight) from 2018-11-12T08:11:19

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 age...

John McGinty - Broadway Actor (Children of a Lesser God), Deaf Advocate and Sign Language Teacher from 2018-10-29T08:00

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 ...

Tribute to Marin Mazzie (Bite-Size Edition) from 2018-10-22T00:00

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 trib...

ONLY MAKE BELIEVE with Artistic Director Jackie Miller, Actors Dan Domingues&Jeanette Bonner (Spotlight) from 2018-10-15T00:00

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 sha...

Chris Coyne - Actor, Singer, Foley Mixer, Emmy-Nominated Sound Editor from 2018-10-08T00:00

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 ...

ONLY MAKE BELIEVE with Founder Dena Hammerstein (Spotlight) from 2018-10-01T00:00

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 Hammerst...

Scott Wojcik&Gayle Seay - Casting Directors for Regional Theater, National Tours, and Off-Broadway from 2018-09-30T01:00

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 chang...

Joey Fatone - Singer with *NSYNC, TV Host, Broadway Star from 2018-06-25T00:00

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...

Martine Kei Green-Rogers, PhD - Dramaturg and Theater Professor from 2018-06-11T05:00

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, Pi...

2018 Tony Awards Predictions with PLAYBILL Managing News Editor Ryan McPhee from 2018-06-04T00:00

With just a week to go before the Tony winners are announced, Patrick joins Ryan McPhee at the Playbill headquarters in midtown Manhattan to chat about the whole Broadway season and this year's ...

Tony Awards - CAROUSEL with Actor/Singer Nicholas Belton (understudy for Billy Bigelow) from 2018-06-01T00:00

For the fourth Bonus Episode of our Tony Award series, Patrick catches up with Nicholas Belton, who understudies the lead role of Billy Bigelow in the current Broadway revival of CAROUSEL, which...

Tony Awards - THE BAND'S VISIT with Associate Conductor Jeff Theiss from 2018-05-29T00:00

From the longest running Best Musical nominee this year comes Jeff Theiss, who joins Patrick on the third installment of the Tony Awards bonus series. This associate conductor shares how THE BAN...

Jelani Alladin - Broadway Actor, Kristoff in Disney's FROZEN from 2018-05-21T00:00

It gets a little chilly in the studio as FROZEN’s Kristoff joins us for today’s episode. Mega-watt Broadway star and Drama Desk Award nominee, Jelani Alladin, took time out of his morning talk s...

Tony Awards - SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS with Actor/Singer Kelvin Moon Loh from 2018-05-18T05:09

Tying for the most Tony nominations this Broadway season, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS The Musical is as energetic and colorful as they come. In this bonus episode Patrick sits down with Kelvn Moon Loh...

Tony Awards - ONCE ON THIS ISLAND with Musical Director Alvin Hough, Jr. from 2018-05-15T05:00

We chose to make our first Bonus Episode in honor of the Tony Awards! To celebrate those truly making it on Broadway we invited Alvin Hough, music director and conductor for ONCE ON THIS ISLAND,...

Jessica Holt - Theater Director (MFA from Yale School of Drama) from 2018-05-07T00:00

The Jessica Holt joins us for today's discussion about all things theater. With her Ivy League roots and a love for new, contemporary and classical plays, this director delights in adventurous t...

Michael Kostroff - Actor, Director, Writer, Blogger, Audition Coach from 2018-04-23T07:52:28

We have a doozy for you this week. We solve what's wrong with kids today (it's emojis) and we talk with the actor/teacher/audition coach/director/writer Michael Kostroff. You can find out more a...

Grace McLean - Actress, Singer from GREAT COMET&Them Apples from 2018-04-09T12:57

The “electrifying” (Huffington Post) and “phenomenal” (NY Times) Grace McLean joins us “in-studio” to tell a couple of jokes and give insight on how we might make it. You might recognize her fro...

Marella Martin Koch - Theater Writer, Director, Producer from 2018-03-26T12:55

This podcast would never have happened if today's guest had not written the show where that brought Dewey and Patrick together. We'll get into that and much more with writer/director/producer an...

Casey Erin Clark - Actor, Singer, Dancer, Public Speaking Coach from 2018-03-12T11:53

Today on our program we have an actor, a singer, a dancer, a voice/public speaking coach and a singing/audition coach. And...it's all one person, Casey Erin Clark! Learn all about her 15 minutes...

Erin Cronican - Theater Actress, Producer, Director, Coach from 2018-02-26T12:51

The actor and all-around fun gal, Erin Cronican joins us "in studio" to discuss her own formula for making it in the entertainment industry. From coaching to her theater company, Erin keeps a lo...

Stephen Wallem - Stage and TV Actor from NURSE JACKIE from 2018-02-12T12:48

Dewey and Patrick get real about winter and its effect on us actors. Then, Stephen Wallem joins in to talk about his first love -- theater -- and how Nurse Jackie fame has both helped his career...

Mara Davi&Aaron Gaines - Musical Theater Actors&Married Couple from 2018-01-29T12:43

An interview on how to live and garden in this business with the dynamic duo of Mara Davi (Instagram: @MaraDavi or @Vintage.Green) and Aaron Gaines (Aaron-Gaines.com).

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Jeff Thomson - Musical Theater Composer from 2018-01-15T12:38

An interview with musical theater composer extraordinaire, Jeff Thomson. He shares his thoughts on "making it" as well as samples of some of his latest work.

You can find out more about ...

Matt Zambrano - Theater Actor, Writer, Mime, Improv from 2017-12-28T05:00

OUR PREMIERE EPISODE!! Get to know your hosts Dewey Caddell and Patrick Oliver Jones as they share their own ups and downs in the performing world. They then interview the supremely talented Mat...