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Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

Mary Beth Smith

Welcome to Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals. Theater is a community event and it takes a village to operate. From actors to designers to company managers to teaching artists to data nerds and dramaturgs and everything in between. So join me weekly to learn more about each person's journey and the "hustle" we call theater as we go Beyond the Lights.
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Top 10 Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals - 30. SARAH ENLOE - Director of Education at the American Shakespeare Center

30. SARAH ENLOE - Director of Education at the American Shakespeare Center

Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

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03/15/21 • 61 min

Sarah Enloe is the Director of Education at the American Shakespeare Center. We discuss the role an education director plays for a theater, the practical research efforts that infuse performances at the ASC, and how scholarship informs all aspects of the company. For a full transcript of today's episode go to beyondthelightspodcast.com.
Mentioned in this Episode
[00:01:36] American Shakespeare Center
[00:01:58] Shakespeare Theater Association
[00:03:56] #SHXCamp
[00:04:20] Shakespeare and Leadership
[00:09:44] Mary Baldwin University – Master of Letters/Master of Fine Arts
[00:13:01] The Knight of the Burning Pestle
[00:15:18] Actors’ Renaissance Season
[00:18:00] Tiffany Stern
[00:18:17] Shakespeare's Globe
[00:18:19] Peter McCurdy
[00:30:48] Stage of American Fight Directors
[00:34:55] UIL One Act Play Festival
[00:38:22] Anchuli Felicia King
[00:38:37] Shakespeare's New Contemporaries
[00:40:08] Ira Aldridge
[00:44:49] Blackfriars Conference
[00:47:33] Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay
[00:47:34] Spanish Tragedy[00:48:03] Bonduca
[00:48:09] Gallathea
[00:57:41] Give Way To Night
[00:57:44] From Unseen Fire
[00:59:07] Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail
[00:59:33] Basic City Beer
[01:01:11] Baja Bean Co.
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ASC Education Department
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Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals - 53. ANDREA GRODY - Broadway Music Director

53. ANDREA GRODY - Broadway Music Director

Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

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11/15/21 • 57 min

Andrea Grody is a music director and music supervisor, primarily working in new musicals. Now, if you've been listening for a while you know that one of my specialties and loves is new plays, so it was such a pleasure to discuss what that looks like from a musical director's perspective. Andrea has been on two of the bigger Broadway shows over the last few years, The Band's Visit and Tootsie—two pretty different shows. She walks me through a little of what those processes looked like and the different challenges they each presented.
For a full transcript of this episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.
Mentioned in this Episode
[00:04:33] The Civilians
[00:05:53] The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
[00:05:57] Music Directing at Penn State
[00:13:40] The Band’s Visit
[00:17:36] MTI
[00:25:09] Tootsie
[00:40:43] Maestra
[00:49:02] SuffsFollow Andrea
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WordWaves
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Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals - 52. CATE BROOMHEAD - Broadway Wig Swing

52. CATE BROOMHEAD - Broadway Wig Swing

Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

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11/01/21 • 51 min

On today's show, I speak with Cate Broomhead, a wig swing on Broadway. With Halloween being yesterday it's only appropriate to release an episode with a person who does a job that we've all benefitted from at some point in our lives. I'd venture to guess MOST of us have worn a wig at least once, and many of us much more frequently than that. Cate walks me through how she got into theater and wig making in the first place, what really goes into creating and maintaining a wig, and what a day in the life of a swing in the hair department on Broadway looks like right now.
For a full transcript of this episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.
Mentioned in this Episode
[00:03:39] Walnut Street Theater
[00:04:10] Glimmerglass Opera Company
[00:09:45] Gretchen Evans - Wig Maker
[00:09:45] JJ Janas - Wig Maker/Designer
[00:26:48] Pacific College of Health
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Etsy
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Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals - 51. RJ MAGEE - Casting Director

51. RJ MAGEE - Casting Director

Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

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10/18/21 • 48 min

On today's show, I speak with casting director RJ Magee. RJ got his start in professional theater at a very young age, a journey that led him to the famous Interlochen School for the Arts and then eventually onwards to casting for musical theater. RJ is currently involved in a pretty unique project called Theality TV which we talk about extensively in this episode.
For a full transcript of this episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.
Mentioned in this Episode
[00:05:06] Interlochen
[00:07:17] The Arden
[00:08:45] Jamie Baker Management
[00:08:58] Breakdowns Express
[00:12:07] Actors Access
[00:15:52] Musical Theater Educators Alliance
[00:21:54] Theality TV
[00:21:58] Broadway On-Demand
[00:21:59] Dekkoo
[00:22:12] Fearless
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More Theality TV
WebsiteBroadway-on-Demand
Dekkoo
Fearless
IMDB
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Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals - 50. DARREN LEE - Director, Choreographer, and Performer

50. DARREN LEE - Director, Choreographer, and Performer

Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

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10/04/21 • 47 min

On today's show, I speak with Darren Lee, a director, choreographer, and performer. Darren has had quite the career, from winning the first-ever Junior Star Search, to being in the original Broadway cast of Miss Saigon, to reconnecting with Lea Salonga in 2015's Allegiance, to being on tour in the UK as the King in The King and I when covid shut the world down.
For a full transcript of this episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.
Mentioned in this Episode
[00:03:43] Star Search
[00:04:41] Kids Incorporated
[00:06:06] Shogun[00:09:05] The Battle of Miss Saigon: Yellowface, Art, and Opportunity
[00:24:48] Red Bucket Follies
[00:24:53] Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids
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Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals - 49. OR MATIAS - Music Director

49. OR MATIAS - Music Director

Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

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09/20/21 • 51 min

On today's show, I speak with music director Or Matias. Or has such an incredible resume that includes Juilliard, NYU, The Great Comet, Octet, Moby Dick, The Wave which premiered in Austria, an upcoming children's album, honestly the list goes on and on. I've had the pleasure of seeing a bit of Or's work both on and off-Broadway and I was so excited to have a chance to speak with him.
For a full transcript of this episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.
Mentioned in this Episode
[00:00:39] Chloe Treat
[00:05:52] Ars Nova
[00:06:10] Dave Malloy
[00:11:05] “Time Does Not Bring Relief”
[00:14:42] Adam Guettel
[00:16:34] How The Great Comet Went From Cabaret to Broadway
[00:20:11] Off-Broadway Cast Recording of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
[00:22:25] Original Broadway Cast Record of The Great Comet
[00:26:01] Mimi Lien
[00:35:55] Octet
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Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals - 48. CAROLYN MAZUCA - Costume Designer

48. CAROLYN MAZUCA - Costume Designer

Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

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09/07/21 • 47 min

On today's show, I speak with costume designer Carolyn Mazuca. We talk about everything from our love of San Antonio and the Southwest, to imposter syndrome, to the differences between working in film and television vs. theater. I absolutely loved chatting with Carolyn and I know you'll enjoy our conversation as much as I did.
For a full transcript of this episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.
Mentioned in this Episode
[00:07:55] Old Town Albuquerque
[00:08:17] Carnegie Mellon
[00:17:34] Oregon Shakespeare Festival
[00:38:34] Cambodian Rock Band at OSF
[00:40:03] Mother Road
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Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals - 46. *REBROADCAST* JASON LOFFREDO - Music Director of KINKY BOOTS

46. *REBROADCAST* JASON LOFFREDO - Music Director of KINKY BOOTS

Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

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08/18/21 • 51 min

Hi everyone! I am still on a bit of a break, but I promise, I'll be back with NEW episodes in two weeks. Until then, I am rebroadcasting my episode with Music Director Jason Loffredo. Now, Jason and I recorded this in August of 2020 so any "upcoming" projects have long since passed. Nonetheless, this episode remains one of my favorites, enjoy!
______________________________________
Today’s guest is Jason Loffredo a music director in New York City. We discuss how an invite to play on a softball team led to becoming a substitute musician in a Broadway pit and ultimately to becoming the music director for off-Broadway's ALTAR BOYZ and Broadway's KINKY BOOTS. Jason also breaks down the ins and outs of working as a substitute musician on Broadway, what a music director actually does, and how he's kept busy while Broadway is suspended. If you have a musician in your life, THIS is the episode to share with them.
For a full transcript of today's episode please visit beyondthelightspodcast.com
Links Mentioned During this Episode
[00:39:30] Finale Tutorials
[00:42:12] Kate Rockwell's BACK TO MY ROOTS
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Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals - 45. *REBROADCAST* KAT WEST - Stage Manager of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in Yiddish

45. *REBROADCAST* KAT WEST - Stage Manager of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in Yiddish

Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

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08/09/21 • 58 min

This is week in re-broadcasts, I am proud to present the second episode I ever recorded with my friend Kat West stage manager, extraordinaire of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish. Enjoy!
______________________________________
Today's episode features Kat West, a freelance stage manager working in New York City. We discuss her work with Prospect Theater Company, how she became involved with Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (directed by Joel Grey), what it's like working on a show when your son is 3 months old, becoming a better advocate in the room, and what a "typical" middle-of-the-process day looks like in the life of a stage manager. For a full transcript of today's episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.
Mentioned in this Episode
[00:02:57] Prospect Theater Company
[00:10:00] Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish
[00:10:07] Museum of Jewish Heritage
[00:11:26] National Yiddish Theatre
[
00:15:33] Steven Skybell as Teyve
[00:26:15] Teyve the Dairy Man
[00:55:12] The FerrymanFollow Kat West
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Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals - 18. ELISA BOCANEGRA - Artistic Director of Hero Theatre

18. ELISA BOCANEGRA - Artistic Director of Hero Theatre

Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

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11/30/20 • 57 min

Elisa Bocanegra is the Producing Artistic Director of Hero Theatre in Los Angeles. Elisa began acting at the age of 17 with the famous Puerto Rican Traveling Theater Company in New York. After years of pursuing an acting career in film, tv, regional theatres, and off-Broadway productions, a backstage conversation with her mentor Olympia Dukakis led Elisa to create Hero Theatre. We talk about everything that led up to that moment, what has since followed, and why she has no desire to return to institutional theater in its current state.
For a full transcript of today's episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.
Mentioned in this Episode
[00:00:19] Hero Theatre
[00:02:05] Theater Communications Group
[00:02:10] Oregon Shakespeare Festival
[00:04:01] María Irene Fornés
[00:04:39] The Rest I Makeup – María Irene Fornés Documentary
[00:04:52] Intar Theater
[00:05:54] Puerto Rican Traveling Theater Company
[00:06:30] LA Stage Alliance
[00:08:46] Crossroads Theater
[00:16:49] Inner-City Arts
[00:20:06] Downtown Women's Center
[00:20:07] East LA Women’s Shelter
[00:20:09] Alexandria House
[00:23:31] Troy review by Tracey Paleo
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FAQ

How many episodes does Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals have?

Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals currently has 56 episodes available.

What topics does Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals cover?

The podcast is about Podcasts, Arts and Performing Arts.

What is the most popular episode on Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals?

The episode title '53. ANDREA GRODY - Broadway Music Director' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals?

The average episode length on Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals is 52 minutes.

How often are episodes of Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals released?

Episodes of Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals?

The first episode of Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals was released on Aug 13, 2020.

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