Best Rob Thrasher Podcasts (2024)

1
Dominic Thrasher Finds Another Meaning of Success as He Slowly Loses His Ability to Perform 1:05:13

16h ago1:05:13

1:05:13

In the year before the pandemic, I was on a contract with Norwegian Cruise Line performing the musical Footloose. In past seasons you’ve heard me speak with some members of that company (Megan Hoxie, David Ruttura, Eric Jordan Young) And in today’s episode I’m bringing on another one of the people that I met through that show, Dominic Thrasher, one…

1
Listen Now - The Magical Making of Disney's Aladdin on Broadway 16:44

3h ago16:44

16:44

Few musicals have captured the hearts of audiences quite like Disney's ALADDIN. But did you know the beloved stage adaptation of the classic animation almost never came to be? This podcast pulls back the curtain on the untold story of ALADDIN's journey from conception to Broadway triumph. Join 11-time Emmy Award winning entertainment journalist for…

1
FINAL FIVE with Sarah Hester Ross, Singer and Comedian 19:18

8h ago19:18

19:18

Last week you heard from singer and comedian Sarah Hester Ross, who talked about bringing her comedic songs to Vegas piano bars and the vocal injury that almost ended her singing career. Well, now Sarah is back to talk about lessons she’s learned from those dueling pianos and why she feels like she may never truly “make it” by answering the Final F…

1
Sarah Hester Ross Loses Her Voice But Finds Her Passion 56:53

8d ago56:53

56:53

When it comes to performing, whether in musical theater or in the pop world, a singer’s voice can be their identity, their money maker, the one instrument that often defines their careers. And so losing their voice can be life-changing and demoralizing. On my other podcast Closing Night I did an episode on the Broadway production of Victor/Victoria…

1
FINAL FIVE with Rob Melrose, Artistic Director at Alley Theatre 15:06

1M ago15:06

15:06

In the previous episode you heard from theater writer and director Rob Melrose, who is the artistic director of Alley Theatre in Houston. He shared what it means to create and produce his own works and others. Well, now Rob is back to talk about lessons he’s learned behind the table as well as from a heart attack he suffered two years ago by answer…

1
Rob Melrose on the Joys and Challenges of Directing and Producing Regional Theater 52:32

2M ago52:32

52:32

In a recent opinion piece for The Daily Iowan, a vital point was made about the importance of regional theater. It said “not every production is ultra famous, boasting popular actors in leading rules. But every production is important.” (I even posted about it on WINMI’s instagram feed, which you can follow: @winmipodcast.) The point being made was…

1
FINAL FIVE with Aaron Ronnie Almani, Actor and Producer 16:20

2M ago16:20

16:20

Last week you heard from actor and producer Aaron Ronnie Almani as he shared his creative journey from New York to Isreal and back again. We discussed audition challenges and even personal tragedies he witnessed in Isreal. Well, now Ronnie is back to talk about how to find fulfillment and balance in our creative life by answering the Final Five Que…

1
Paul Harvey, Radio Genius, My Favorite Pieces 21:00

2M ago21:00

21:00

Paul Harvey was a true genius and patriot. His "Rest of the Story" broadcast was my favorite of all time. When you here him you will become an admirer as well! This piece is number 277. Listen carefully as you might be shocked at the end! "Paul Harvey Aurandt (September 4, 1918 – February 28, 2009) was an American radio broadcaster for ABC News Rad…

1
Aaron Ronnie Almani Discovers Life Lessons from Being an Actor and Growing Up in Isreal 40:19

2M ago40:19

40:19

The art of theater and acting is a cornerstone of cultures globally, serving as a powerful medium for storytelling, expression, and communal reflection. It allows societies to explore and challenge social norms, convey historical and contemporary narratives, and foster a shared cultural identity through performances that resonate with audiences. Fo…

1
FINAL FIVE with Schele Williams, Director of The Wiz and The Notebook Musicals 13:48

2M ago13:48

13:48

In the previous episode you heard from theater director Schele Williams as she shared her journey from actress to director. We discussed her work in two of this season’s most highly anticipated Broadway shows: The Wiz and The Notebook. Well, now Schele is back to talk about the importance of gratitude and what it means when she puts her name on a t…

1
Schele Williams Is the First Black Woman to Direct a Broadway Musical in 40+ Years 54:22

3M ago54:22

54:22

The 2024 Tony Awards were certainly a night to remember, celebrating a very full Broadway season filled with remarkable performances and groundbreaking productions. Yet amidst the accolades and celebrations, some highly anticipated shows were left without a single nomination. One of these was The Wiz, a revival production directed by the wonderful …

1
Kelvin Moon Loh Brings Otho to Life in Beetlejuice on Broadway (REWIND) 1:06:37

3M ago1:06:37

1:06:37

As I leave New York City to join the North American Tour of Beetlejuice (to play the role of Otho and understudy Charles and Maxie) I wanted to share a special rewind episode of my memorable conversation with Kelvin Moon Loh from 2019, the original Otho on Broadway and a wonderful friend, who was an invaluable resource during my auditions for the s…

1
FINAL FIVE with Conor Tague from How to Dance in Ohio 11:00

3M ago11:00

11:00

In the previous episode you heard from Conor Tague, one of the stars from the Broadway musical How to Dance in Ohio. He shared his experiences in that history-making production as well as the struggles he faced early on as an actor, both at school and in the audition room. Well, now Conor is back to talk more about his Broadway debut and share how …

1
Conor Tague Is an EPIC Performer Who Learns How to Dance in Ohio 48:37

3M ago48:37

48:37

Every Broadway season, one of the most heated discussions about the Tony Awards centers the snubs—those notable shows that didn’t get any nominations. This year they include musicals like The Wiz, Harmony, and The Heart of Rock and Roll. Another one of those shows that was left out made history as being the first Broadway musical to cast autistic a…

1
FINAL FIVE with Des McAnuff, Broadway Theater Director 19:52

4M ago19:52

19:52

Last week you heard from theater director Des McAnuff as he shared his experiences with three of his biggest shows, Tommy, Jersey Boys, and Big River. We discussed his approach to each of these unique musicals. Well, now Des is back to talk his musicianship and his composition efforts as well as share the lessons and insecurities he’s discovered in…

1
My Ted Talk(r) Practice - I am using you listeners as practice for a Talk... 27:00

4M ago27:00

27:00

I have seen a few Ted Talks(r) and they are truly awesome! I hope that through the grace of God, I might be blessed with the stage of a Ted Talk(r)! Ted Talk is not my brand and Ted Talk has not approved this little venture. I in no way speak for the brand and they know not who I am. But here's to keeping my feet on the ground whilest reaching for …

1
Des McAnuff Offers a Candid Discussion on the First Revival of TOMMY and Other Musicals 52:36

4M ago52:36

52:36

The Who's Tommy is back on Broadway for its first revival, 30 years after the original production. And directing this revival is the original director from that first Broadway run, Des McAnuff. While he is known for his work in musicals, he is also quite adept in the works of Shakespeare and other classical works, having been Artistic Director of C…

1
FINAL FIVE with Jack Viertel, Theater Producer and Historian 20:00

4M ago20:00

20:00

In the previous episode, you heard theater producer and historian Jack Viertel share stories of how his talents and interests weren’t in acting, his interactions with playwrights like Lanford Wilson, and the process of adapting a novel into a musical. Now he’s back to talk about his new book Broadway Melody as well as share more lessons learned by …

1
South China Sea Update - World War Three - When Will China invade Taiwan 16:00

4M ago16:00

16:00

... the situation in the South China Sea remains complex and dynamic, with ongoing tensions among countries bordering the region, primarily China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Disputes in the South China Sea primarily revolve around territorial claims, resource exploitation, freedom of navigation, and strategic military i…

1
Jack Viertel and the Secret Life of the American Musical 45:16

4M ago45:16

45:16

Jack Viertel has the kind of knowledge I wish I had about Broadway history, having studied the various journeys of great shows for his book The Secret Life of the American Musical, but he’s also worked with playwrights like August Wilson and Tony Kushner. He’s even conceived the long running Smokey Joe's Café and the critically acclaimed After Midn…

1
Kerry Sandell & Marci Duncan Explore the Dissonance in Race Relations 1:06:25

5M ago1:06:25

1:06:25

Theater can serve as a powerful platform for difficult discussions, especially offering a space for nuanced exploration of racial dynamics. It allows audiences to empathize with characters from diverse backgrounds, challenging preconceptions and fostering dialogue. It provides a visceral experience that can elicit strong emotions and provoke intros…

1
Sara Gettelfinger Shares Her Long and Struggling Journey Back to Broadway 58:55

5M ago58:55

58:55

Sara Gettelfinger's Broadway debut came in 2000 with the musical Seussical. And she worked steadily on Broadway through the years until she and I met and worked together on The Addams Family national tour in 2011. But then she had to take a break from acting, a break from New York City as well. And except for an Off-Broadway musical in 2014, Sara f…

1
Gabrielle Ruiz Discusses THE ADDAMS FAMILY National Tour and Female Representation in the Arts (REWIND) 42:57

6M ago42:57

42:57

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 in the show. In this rewind episode from 2021, we talk more about her time on the stage and what drives her most as an artist. Subscribe or Donate to WINMI…

1
FINAL FIVE with Ann Harada, Broadway Actress and Singer 26:21

6M ago26:21

26:21

In the previous episode, you heard actress and singer Ann Harada share her stories of grinding it out as an Asian actress trying to fit in with what she thought casting directors wanted but then discovered her superpower as an artist, being herself. Now she’s back to share more lessons she’s learned and answer the Final Five Questions in this bonus…

1
Ann Harada Learns That Her Greatest Asset as an Actor Is Being Herself 37:13

6M ago37:13

37:13

Ann Harada will be the first to tell you that finding happiness and satisfaction in the acting business didn’t come quickly or easily for her. In fact, her first Broadway credit came as a production assistant, not as an actor. She followed that up with ensemble roles in M. Butterfly and Suessical. But between those two shows was a ten-year gap, and…

1
FINAL FIVE with Lydia-Renee Darling, Actress and Producer 15:29

6M ago15:29

15:29

Last week you heard actress, writer, and entrepreneur Lydia-Renee Darling share her stories of growing up in an immigrant household and then her own experiences of living and working in other countries as an artist. Now she’s back to answer the Final Five Questions in this bonus episode. To get more bonus content like Auditions Stories and listen t…

1
Rob Thrasher Sootlight on Success 11:00

6M ago11:00

11:00

WIP...By Rob Thrasher

1
Lydia-Renee Darling Embraces Change and Learns to Become a Better Artist 42:56

7M ago42:56

42:56

Lydia-Renee Darling is the very definition of a well rounded, multi hyphenate artist. She got her BFA in musical theater from Webster University in St. Louis and a Masters in writing for stage and broadcast media from the Royal Central School in London. She’s a filmmaker and a playwright and founded her own DEI entertainment marketing and virtual p…

1
Steve Cuden (Part 2) Discovers His Talent for Animation Writing & The Art of StoryBeats 55:14

7M ago55:14

55:14

As an actor I fully appreciate and recognize that I couldn’t do what I do without a writer doing what they do. Their words and characters are the basis for any work I’ve had in theater, television, or film. The writer’s strike this past summer highlighted just how important they are, because without them there is no entertainment industry. In part …

1
Steve Cuden (Part 1) Leaving the Jekyll & Hyde He Helped Create 59:45

7M ago59:45

59:45

For the first guest of this season, I’m talking with writer Steve Cuden, who was a part of a musical and its beginning stages, but was eventually replaced right before it began to take off and become the hugely iconic Jekyll & Hyde musical we all know. In fact, it was Steve's first foray into writing with another unknown composer and writer at the …

1
Season 8 Preview 16:54

7M ago16:54

16:54

For Season 8, we're diving deep into the world of theater once agin with guests from Broadway, West End, and regional theaters near and far. From seasoned veterans to fresh faces on the scene, each episode is packed with candid conversations and inspiring stories about life in the performing arts industry. Join me as I sit down with actors, directo…

1
A Moment to Revisit "The Band's Visit" on Broadway (REWIND) 25:41

8M ago25:41

25:41

Five years ago, "The Band's Visit," a musical defying convention, closed on Broadway after a year and a half of acclaim. Composed by David Yazbek and written by Itamar Moses, it emerged as a masterpiece, transcending Broadway norms. At the 2018 Tony Awards, it earned 11 nominations, winning 10, including Best Musical, beating stiff competition like…

1
Spotlight on AI with guest Chat GPT with The AI Guy Rob Thrasher 15:00

8M ago15:00

15:00

Hello World! How many of you know that phrase and its meaning? On this episode, Rob Thrasher, The AI Guy, questiions THE AI itself, Chat GPT!!!! This is the first radio interview of an AI, with a guy who needs Artificial Intelligence because he has no real intelligence of his own! :) This could be the first radio interview of an AI Chat Bot, by Rob…

1
Clifton Duncan (Part 2) Addressing Groupthink in the Theater Community 54:36

8M ago54:36

54:36

With politics becoming more and more a part of our daily lives, the theater and acting profession are certainly no strangers to it influence and impact. While it can be a force for change and understanding, my guest today talks about the ways in which it can further divide as well. In the first part of my conversation with Clifton Duncan, he shared…

1
Clifton Duncan (Part 1) Embracing Authenticity and Its Consequences 57:21

9M ago57:21

57:21

Meryl Streep once said that "acting is not about being someone different. It is about finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.” She is in essence urging us to discover the common threads in our seemingly diverse experiences. And the final guest of the season has had quite a few experiences these past cou…

1
Spotlight on New York State Corrections as a Job Opportunity 26:00

9M ago26:00

26:00

Working as a correction officer in NY State.By Rob Thrasher

1
Emily Grace on Directing Ourselves and Our Own Careers 38:14

9M ago38:14

38:14

We read and hear a lot these days about how actors need to be their own producers and creating their own work. In my own career about the only thing I’m creating are self-tapes, which are truly productions in and of themselves for sure--based on all the requirements and props and lines and technical aspects that are required to just put together a …

1
The AI Guys: Rob Thrasher and Gary Kraeger Bring AI to Your Business Chat 30:00

9M ago30:00

30:00

The AI Guys Transport your business into the AI (Artificial Intelligence) Age. The AI Guys, Gary Kraeger and Rob Thrsaher, Founding Owners of "Secrets of the Search Engines in the NY Times, Spotlight on Success, and Secrets of Successful HTML Email Design, Secrets of Social Media/Facebook and more, explain how to add AI to your business Facebook, W…

1
Luke Yankee Highlights the Mishaps and Misadventures We All Endure as Actors 38:17

10M ago38:17

38:17

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 artist sporting multiple hats, Luke draws inspiration from the incredible legacy of his mother, the legendary Eileen Heckart—a powerhouse who clinched the Os…

1
Sharon Catherine Brown Live at BroadwayCon 2023! 33:57

10M ago33:57

33:57

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 Network. While my conversation with Jelani Alladin about Frozen and Hercules was already shared in a previous episode, today we delve into my interview with…

1
Tjasa Ferme Engages Audiences by Blending Science and Theater 43:56

10M ago43:56

43:56

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 possible and challenging traditional relationships between actors and audiences. Tjasa shares her journey from Europe as a rock star's daughter and early …

1
John Rubinstein, a Man of Many Talents 1:08:01

11M ago1:08:01

1:08:01

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. He catapulted to Broadway stardom originating the title role in Pippin, directed by Bob Fosse, and won a Tony Award for his compelling performance in Ch…

1
Richard Maltby Jr. and the Curious Case of Nick & Nora's Failure on Broadway 44:43

11M ago44:43

44:43

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 have graced the Marquis Theater in the heart of Times Square. Among the unforgettable productions is the notorious musical Nick & Nora, boasting a creative…

1
Jocelyn Panton Finds Freedom After Failure in the Pageant World and Being $50K in Debt 52:16

12M ago52:16

52:16

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 gone on to do television and film, including Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and the CW’s DC‘s Legends of Tomorrow, among others. But as any actor …

1
Dan Knechtges Goes from Broadway Director to Artistic Director 1:00:49

1y ago1:00:49

1:00:49

Regional theater is really the lifeblood of the performing arts in America. It’s the place where we get that first spark and inspiration to become lifelong theatergoers or decide to become actors ourselves. But in recent years regional theaters have been struggling to find audiences and to just stay open. The pandemic caused some to close their doo…

1
Jelani Alladin Live at BroadwayCon! 31:47

1y ago31:47

31:47

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 events hosted by the Broadway Podcast Network. I conducted live interviews with two actors that I’ve had the pleasure of working with before: Jelani Alladin …

1
Noah Crandell Finds a Silver Lining in the Struggles of Being an Actor 55:12

1y ago55:12

55:12

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 episode, Noah Crandell shares how he not only survived these challenges but also experienced a profound personal and artistic transformation. Noah's visi…

1
Welcome to Closing Night at the Marquis Theatre! 39:28

1y ago39:28

39:28

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 of Closing Night is finally here with a focus on Broadway's Marquis Theater. This first episode preview covers the contentious history of this theater an…

1
SpotLight on Mental Health with Rob Thrasher and Other Show Listeners 32:00

1y ago32:00

32:00

Surviving Every Day: Healing With Art & SpotLight on Mental Health Radio With Rob Thrasher I am removing mentions of AD due to a Facebook request from her brother. Join Our Expanding Network of 200K+ Survivors! SpotLight on Mental Health Radio with Rob 100% of Proceeds go to non-profit status!* Surviving Every Day (FB) - Healing & Surviving Origina…

1
Lisa Lampanelli, The Queen of Mean Makes Nice and Gets Personal About Life on the Stage 53:13

1y ago53:13

53:13

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 of comedy. She has legions of fans around the country and has performed on countless stages across the country, released numerous albums and appeared on v…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Rob Thrasher Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide