Writer Sonja Warfield (The Gilded Age, Will & Grace) on Maintaining Joy, WGA Strike & More
05/22/23 • 66 min
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Television writer, author and Executive Producer Sonja Warfield joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss The Gilded Age, the WGA writer's strike, and more.
Sonja Warfield has churned out an impressive 20-year career in the entertainment industry. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Sonja was far from the lights of Hollywood, and yet surrounded by stardom. Fun fact: her father Paul Warfield is an NFL Hall of Famer. Sonja’s own star has shone bright over the years, with her writing on a diverse range of shows, including: Will & Grace, Disney Channel’s Liv and Maddie; BET’s Zoe Ever After, which featured pop star Brandy; the animated series She-Ra for Dreamworks/Netflix, where she also penned an original song; and the ABC comedy Jake in Progress. She’s developed and written pilots/projects for ABC, NBC, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Lifetime, Universal TV, Sony Pictures Television and HBO. Speaking of... she’s currently a writer and Executive Producer for HBO’s hit series The Gilded Age.
In addition to writing for television and film, Sonja is author of the empowering book Get Your Butt Off My Couch (And Your Hand Outta My Wallet), a woman’s guide to getting rid of her deadbeat husband, boyfriend or boo-thing. Sonja is the mother of a college student who’s following their own creative passion. When she isn’t writing scripts or trying to reach the top of the leaderboard on her Peloton, Sonja is a part-time stand-up comedian. She’s performed at The World Famous Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory and The Ice House. These days, though, she performs mostly in her kitchen. Sonja has a B.A. in Cinema/Television-Critical Studies from the University of Southern California where she has taught television writing.
More on the Writer's Strike:
Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:
Follow Sonja
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@artofkindnesspod / @robpeterpaul
(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok)
Music:
"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.
We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Television writer, author and Executive Producer Sonja Warfield joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss The Gilded Age, the WGA writer's strike, and more.
Sonja Warfield has churned out an impressive 20-year career in the entertainment industry. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Sonja was far from the lights of Hollywood, and yet surrounded by stardom. Fun fact: her father Paul Warfield is an NFL Hall of Famer. Sonja’s own star has shone bright over the years, with her writing on a diverse range of shows, including: Will & Grace, Disney Channel’s Liv and Maddie; BET’s Zoe Ever After, which featured pop star Brandy; the animated series She-Ra for Dreamworks/Netflix, where she also penned an original song; and the ABC comedy Jake in Progress. She’s developed and written pilots/projects for ABC, NBC, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Lifetime, Universal TV, Sony Pictures Television and HBO. Speaking of... she’s currently a writer and Executive Producer for HBO’s hit series The Gilded Age.
In addition to writing for television and film, Sonja is author of the empowering book Get Your Butt Off My Couch (And Your Hand Outta My Wallet), a woman’s guide to getting rid of her deadbeat husband, boyfriend or boo-thing. Sonja is the mother of a college student who’s following their own creative passion. When she isn’t writing scripts or trying to reach the top of the leaderboard on her Peloton, Sonja is a part-time stand-up comedian. She’s performed at The World Famous Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory and The Ice House. These days, though, she performs mostly in her kitchen. Sonja has a B.A. in Cinema/Television-Critical Studies from the University of Southern California where she has taught television writing.
More on the Writer's Strike:
Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:
Follow Sonja
Follow us
@artofkindnesspod / @robpeterpaul
(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok)
Music:
"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.
We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Previous Episode
Broadway Star Rob McClure (Mrs. Doubtfire, Beetlejuice Musicals): Lessons in Kindness
Rob McClure joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss kindness on and off Broadway, his beautiful full-circle moment during Beetlejuice, being kind to yourself and much more in one of our favorite chats ever... 2 Robs, 1 pod! (*chants*)
Rob McClure is an actor and singer, who’s become a magical fixture on the Broadway scene. Growing up in NJ, Rob was a bonafide theatre kid, winning the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award his senior year. Consequently his first professional gig was at the Playhouse shortly after graduation. Rob made his Broadway debut in 2002 as an understudy in I'm Not Rappaport. From 2006 to 2009, he went on to play several roles in Avenue Q, both on Broadway and on the show's national tour. He spent the next three years working on a musical that would put him centerstage: Chaplin. The title role earned him a Theatre World Award and his first Tony Award nomination.
Following Chaplin, Rob racked up a list of dazzling Broadway credits - not to mention various concerts and regional credits in between. You may have seen him in Honeymoon in Vegas or Noises Off. Or perhaps you caught his portrayal of Nick Bottom in Something Rotten on Broadway, which he continued for the first national tour alongside his wife Maggie Lakis. I’m such a sucker for a theatre love story. I most recently watched him day-ooo-ing his heart out in Beetlejuice on Broadway.
Rob last lit up Broadway as the lead role in Mrs. Doubtfire... a marathon performance that earned him his second Tony nomination. Speaking of... it was just announced that the writer’s strike will be affecting the Tony’s live telecast this year. Please stay tuned after the interview for your kindness tip of the week where we’ll chat a bit more about the writer’s strike.
Back to Rob! His screen credits include: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Good Fight, and Blue Bloods.
One of the things I love most about him is the childlike sense of play and wonderment he seems to exude throughout all his projects. We cover so much ground from balancing your passions and your personal life to keep your mindset in a positive space. Of course Rob regales us with tons of fun Broadway stories along the way.
Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:
Follow Rob
Follow us
@artofkindnesspod / @robpeterpaul
(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok)
Music:
"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.
We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Next Episode
Broadway's Javier Muñoz (Hamilton): "Kindness is a Choice"
Broadway star Javier Muñoz joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to kick off Pride month and reflect on: acts of kindness in Hamilton, working on the new musical album My Heart Says Go alongside Jessie Mueller, making theatre accessible, self-acceptance and much more.
Javier Muñoz is an actor and activist whose impressive body of work spans theater, film and television. He is best known for starring and co-creating the role of "Alexander Hamilton'' in the hit musical HAMILTON on Broadway for two years after Lin-Manuel Miranda departed the show (and was his alternate prior to that). He got his break starring as “Usnavi” in IN THE HEIGHTS on Broadway, also created by Miranda.
Javier starred in the dark comedy indie feature, MONUMENTS, opposite David Sullivan & Marguerite Moreau, the indie feature LOVE RECONSIDERED and stars in THREE MONTHS, opposite Troy Sivan and Judy Greer, on Paramount+. He voices a lead character in the Disney Jr. animated series, Eureka! Other TV credits include recurring role on Shadowhunters, Blindspot and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. Javier is also an outspoken activist for LGBTQ+ rights, a Global Ambassador for (RED), which fights to end HIV/AIDS, and supporter of GMHC.
Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:
Follow Javier
Follow us
@artofkindnesspod / @robpeterpaul
(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok)
Music:
"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.
We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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