HELLO THEATER PEOPLE!! For the first time in FIVE FREAKING YEARS I'm breaking the silence of the Theater People Universe to bring you a VERY SPECIAL episode. A few months ago, I discovered the podcast "Stage Combat" it's a true crime style THEATER PODCAST in which actor Sean Hayden tells his TRUE horror story of being cast as a lead in the Goodspee…

Laura Benanti needs no introduction, you guys!! The Tony winner and five-time nominee joined me live on the main stage at Broadway con where we chatted like old pals....in front of 2500 people. We swapped parenting stories and talked about everything from 'Women on the Verge,' because I'm still obsessed, to Melania Trump and Stephen Colberet. I'm o…

Live From Broadwaycon 2018, we bring you "Being Out on Broadway!" Each BroadwayCon, I ask some of my favorite LGBTQ guests to sit down for a live panel discussion about how it is to be OUT on Broadway. On this year's panel, we discussed everything from dating to politics to polyamory. to the state of union under Trump. I look forward all year to mo…

We're Back! Take a listen to this episode's intro to find out what Patrick and Producer Mike have been up to and how the Theater People production schedule will be a little bit different going forward. AND THEN, prepare ye for our interview with Jennifer Ashley Tepper.We are THRILLED to welcome our friend Jennifer Ashley Tepper to the podcast! Jenn…

Hey Theater People! Yes, it’s been a minute since our last episode. We will have much more on that in our next episode—an interview with newly minted Tony nominee Lindsay Mendez. You guys, if you haven’t seen "Carousel" yet, RUN, do not walk to the Imperial Theater. The one thing I do want to let you know is that Theater People is NOT going away. A…

By Patrick Hinds and Mike Jensen

Hey theater People! We have big big news! Check it out!By Patrick Hinds and Mike Jensen

We're SO thrilled to welcome Adam Kantor back to the podcast! When we last chatted with Adam, he was mid-run as Motel in the 2015 Broadway revival of "Fiddler on the Roof." Adam is now back on Broadway as Telephone Guy in "The Band's Visit," one of the most critically acclaimed new musicals of the year. For the episode, we chat about how Adam won t…

YOU GUYS!!!! Sitting down with Lea Salonga for this interview was literally a dream come true. Lea, of course, needs no introduction, but since I have to put something here, here goes: In 1989 she was selected to star as Kim in "Miss Saigon"--first in London and then on Broadway where, of course, she won the Tony Award for her work. She would go on…

You Guys!! We are the biggest Ryann Redmond fans ever! We first fell in love with her in 2012 when she made her Broadway debut as Bridget, the lovably awkward sidekick in "Bring It On: The Musical." From there, she went on to originate roles in "if/Then" and the critically beloved off-Broadway hit "Gigantic." This season she's back on Broadway in t…

We're SO excited to welcome Telly back to the podcast! Since we last spoke with him, Telly has solidified his standing as one of Broadway's most popular leading men! For the episode, we'll chat about his recent move to the New Amsterdam Theatre where he as taken over the title role in Disney's "Aladdin.' We'll also chat about last season's "In Tran…

For our final episode of 2017, we're chatting with our pal, everyone's favorite Olivier winner, Lesli Margherita (Matilda The Musical, Dames At Sea, Zorro The Musical). This holiday season, Lesli is starring in the one-woman (insert Ru Paul voice) extravaganza "Who's Holiday" at the Westside Theater. Lesli plays a grown-up Cindy Lou Hoo, the belove…

YOU GUYS!!! I am completely obsessed with today's guest, Gillian Pensavalle. Not only is the creator, producer, editor, and host of "The Hamilcast," but she is ALSO Patrick's podcast soulmate and ch-host of "True Crime Obsessed," their comedy / true crime podcast (which you should all be listening to!). Today, Gillian shares the story of how "The H…

YOU. GUYS. I. AM. DYING. OF. EXCITEMENT! We have been trying to get Helene Yorke on Theater People for YEARS! We have been completely obsessed with her since seeing her in her star-making turn as Olive in "Bullets Over Broadway" but we became full on Helene Yorke maniacs after seeing her in "American Psycho." Words cannot explain how much we loved …

This episode has been YEARS in the making. We are so so so excited to welcome Jeremy Jordan to the podcast. .And actually, we sort of tricked him into it. Jeremy initially agreed to sit down for an interview for the "Bonnie and Clyde" episode of our other podcast, Broadway Backstory. But we enjoyed each other so much that he agreed to stick around …

YOU GUYS!! We are SO excited to welcome director Jeff Caohoun to the podcast!Jeff has been at the helm of some of our favorite shows like "Brooklyn: The Musical," "Bonnie & Clyde," and "Newsies." He shared AMAZING stories from his decades long career on Broadway as a performer, choreographer, and director. We're obsessed with him! Enjoy!…

YOU GUYS! I've been obsessed with Morgan James for years and I was SO thrilled to get to learn more of her story for this episode. Morgan first moved to NYC to study voice at Julliard--and the story of how she made that happen is one of the coolest stories I've heard. And then, after graduating from one of the best conservatories in the world, she …

YOU GUYS!! We are so so excited to welcome today's guest, Tyler Hanes! I first met Tyler years and years ago when he was making his Broadway debut in "Oklahoma!" and I have been creepily stalking his career ever since. Since then he's stacked up 8 more Broadway credits including "Hairspray," "The Boy From Oz," "A Chorus Line," and Gaby in "On the T…

This Week: A Two-Parter! First Up, the FABULOUS Alexandra Silber share stories from her amazing career on Broadway (2015's "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Master Class") and The West End ("The Woman in White" and Fiddler on the Roof"). And she shares how her own life story prepared her to write the new novel "After Anatevka" which follows the character …

We're OBSESSED with Julia Murney! In the early days of her career, Julia made a name for herself working downtown in some of off-Broadway's hottest theaters. Her biggest break early on came in 2000 when she was cast in the leading role of Queenie in Andrew Lippa's "The Wild Party." She made her Broadway debut in 2005 in "Lennon" and is probably bes…

Today's episode is in two parts, you guys! Up first is our dear friend Laura Osnes, making her FOURTH appearance on the podcast). Laura recently invited us to her perfectly appointed dressing room at the Jacobs Theater where she is starring as Julia Trojan in "Banstand." We talk about how it's been for her to see the show through from it's very fir…

The handsome, charming, and talented Derek Klena invited us to his dressing room at the Broadhurst theater to chat about starring in "Anastasia." He also shared the AMAZING story of his road to professional acting, and his work in "Carrie: The Musical," "Wicked," and "Dogfight." Enjoy!By Patrick Hinds and Mike Jensen

It's no secret that I'm OBSESSED with "Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812"--I truly think it is one of the most powerful and affecting pieces of theater I've ever experienced. The first time I saw the show, I knew we had to have Brittain Ashford, who plays Sonya, on the podcast ASAP. Brittain has been with the show from the earliest readi…

It's a 2017 Tony Extravaganza! In this two-part episode, we have two of this year's most loved nominees! Up first, two-time Tony winner Andy Blankenbuehler ("In the Heights" "Hamilton) talks this year's "Bandstand" which he directed and choreographed. He is nominated for his choreography. In the second part of the show, we chat with Johanna Day abo…

YOU GUYS! The "Come From Away" obsession continues! For today’s episode, I had the great honor of sitting down for a chat with the Irene Sankoff and David Hein who conceived the show and wrote the music, book, and lyrics. I could barely contain myself. The show, of course, is nominated for 7 Tony Awards this year including Best Book of a Musical an…

I still can't breathe, you guys! Words cannot explain the pure exhilaration of sitting across the table from the one and only Betty Buckley and the concentration it took trying to sound smart while asking her questions! This Tony-winning Broadway legend certainly needs no introduction, but for the uninitiated, Betty made her Broadway debut in 1969 …

Full Disclosure, you guys, I’m OBSESSED with "Come From Away" And I’m equally obsessed with today’s guest, Caesar Samayoa. Caesar plays multiple roles in the show including Kevin, who is one half of a gay couple in which both men are named Kevin, and Ali, a Muslim chef, both of whom are stranded in Gandor, Newfoundland on September 11th 2001 during…

This was, without a doubt, one of the most fun and interesting interviews I've ever done, you guys. Gabriel Ebert talks being cast as Mr. Wormwood in "Matilda" at the age of 24--winning a Tony Award for the role at age 25--and a new and BRILLIANT play called "Gently Down the Stream" which is currently playing off-Broadway at the Public Theater.…

You Guys, I said it the day it happened and I'll say it again: The chat I had with Miss Saigon's Eva Noblezada is one of the most memorable I've ever had. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but I found her to be SO charming and SO funny and SO downright personable that I just wanted to talk to her for hours. I won't give too much away here, but …

At Long Last the Jenn Colella interview is here! We couldn't be more excited to talk with the fabulous Broadway star about her work in this season's "Come From Away" and to hear her AMAZING and HILARIOUS stories from "If/Then," "Chaplin," "High Fidelity," and "Urban Cowboy." We're obsessed with her and you need to be too! Enjoy!…

You guys, We're OBSESSED with Ariana DeBose! Ariana is Currently co-starring as Jane in the critically acclaimed "A Bronx Tale"--directed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Zacks. She made her Broadway debut in 2012 in "Bring it On: The Musical" (one of my faves!) and went on to join the Broadway cast of "Pippin." In 2013 was invited by Lin-Manuel Miranda…

28-year-old Gideon Glick is giving one of the most buzzed-about performances on Broadway this season as Jordan Berman, an unlucky in love New York City bachelor in the play "Significant Other." It was such a pleasure chatting with him about this star-making turn, his real life love life (which is going great!), and his earlier work on Broadway--200…

I LOVE NATHAN LEE GRAHAM! As a lot of you know, I'm a bit of a gay history nerd, so I was thrilled recently to get to see Nathan--one of my favorite NYC actors--in the new off-Broadway musical, "The View Upstairs." The show tells the little-known true story of The Upstairs Lounge--one of the country's first gay bars--where an arsonist set a fire wh…

YOU GUYS!!! I've been pursuing this interview with Rebecca for YEARS! I'm totally obsessed. I first fell in love with this incredible woman in 2008 when I saw her in the Broadway production of "Passing Strange"--a show she'd been with since the 2007 production at The Public Theater. I fell even deeper in love with her when I saw her in 2010's "Amer…

You Guys! It was such a thrill to spend an afternoon chatting with the perfectly British and perfectly handsome and perfectly hilarious Michael Xavier. Currently starring opposite Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard on Broadway, Michael is on loan to us from Mother England where he is one of the West End's biggest stars. With two Olivier nominations to…

YOU GUYS!! Theater People is 100 episodes old!! To mark the occasion, we recorded this episode live at BroadwayCon. Basically I made some of my favorite guests listen to me talk about how much I love them. Hilarity ensued! Enjoy!By Patrick Hinds and Mike Jensen

What an episode, you guys! In the first segment two-time Tony winner (and five time nominee!!!) Michael Cerveris is back to talk making his own music, acting, and life post-"Fun Home." In the Second half of the show, two of our favorite guests ,Jose Llana and Laura Michelle Kelly, return to talk all things "The King and I" tour! Enjoy!…

You guys, we've been working on locking down an interview with today's guest Rory O'Malley for YEARS! He was originally scheduled to be the THIRD ever guest of Theater People! For this episode we talk all things "Hamilton"--he was King George on Broadway before heading off in the role on the national tour. We also talk about "Book of Mormon," "Litt…

We are SOOOOO excited to finally welcome everyone's favorite Screltress, Shoshana Bean to the show! As if I need to tell you guys, Shoshana made her Broadway debut in 2002 in the original cast of "Hairspray." She, of course went on to be the first replacement for the role of Elphaba in the Broadway company of "Wicked." She is also beloved internati…

YOU GUYS!! today is the day that we get to bring you our interview with the one and only Rachel Bay Jones. You all helped us book her when you all responded to my call via twitter to let her know just how much we wanted to chat with her. She is amazing and hilarious. She made her Broadway debut in 1989 in "Meet me in St Louis", She was in the recen…

We are SO SO SO excited to welcome Tony-winning actress LaChanze back to the podcast! For this return visit, we get to talk about her life and career in a way that we didn't the first time. We start with a little bit of background about growing up and discovering her talent at a young age, we then talk about her iconic work in "Once On This Island,…

Tony nominee--and just fabulous human--Orfeh has an incredible story of growing up in NYC, going to high school at the famed La Guardia High School (the "FAME" school), starting a pop band and getting a record contract that took her all over the world, and then landing on Broadway in such shows as "Saturday Night Fever," "Footloose," and "Legally B…

The handsome and charming Michael Park is currently co-starring in this season's hottest new musical, "Dear Evan Hansen." Michael has been a working NYC-based actor for almost 25 years. He got his start off-Broadway in the almost legendary productions of Michael John Lachiusa's "Hello Again" and Jeanine Tesori's "Violet." Prior to "Dear Evan Hansen…

The genius Orchestrator / Arranger / Musical Director tells all about his experiences working on Dear Evan Hansen, Hamilton, In the Heights, and more! We go deep and get great stories of working alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Tommy Kail, Michael Greif, Ben Platt, and more!

We're OBSESSED with Emily Skinner and we FINALLY get to meet her!! Emily made her Broadway debut in 1997 in the original Broadway cast of "Jeckyll & Hyde." Less than a year later she originated the role of Daisy Hilton in "Side Show." She was next seen in "James Joyce's The Dead" before originating the role of Vicki Nichols in "The Full Monty." She…

For today's show, we're doing something a little different! We're traveling to Philadelphia, PA to spend the afternoon with the creative team behind the fabulous new musical "Found," which is now playing at the gorgeous Philadelphia Theatre Company. The show, which began in the basement theater of the Drama Bookshop and had it's off-Broadway premie…

Today's the day, Theater People! Our brand new podcast," Broadway Backstory", premieres today! Episodes 1 and 2 tell the incredible true backstory of the Tony Award winning "In The Heights". We're playing the first 20 minutes of episode 1 here, but you can get the first two full episodes RIGHT NOW by searching iTunes, Stitcher, Googleplay or any ot…

We loved chatting with this guy!! He's funny, charming, has a GREAT head of hair, and really knows how to tell a story! Brandon made his Broadway debut in 2011's "Baby It's You." He received a Tony nomination for his turn as Adam Hochberg in last season's "An American in Paris," and can now be seen eight times a week as Mendel in William Finn's and…

WE"RE OBSESSED! We had the MOST fun hanging out with Mandy Gonzalez in her dressing room backstage at the Richard Rodgers Theater before a performance of "Hamilton." It had been less than two weeks since she'd taken over the role of Angelica, and she still hadn't completely moved in!Mandy made her Broadway debut in 2000 in "Aida" as the Amnneris st…

I am so excited to announce that Theater People has partnered with the fab folks at TodayTix to create a brand new podcast called Broadway Backstory. Each episode tells the story of how a show develops from an idea to a full Broadway production. We get the behind-the-scenes story directly from the people who lived it - the concievers, actors, direc…