Built For The Stage Podcast

Tayler Harris / @sheistayler Tayler Harris is currently playing Grizabella in the national tour of Cats! Tayler was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Tayler grew up in a musical family. She studied Liberal Arts at University of South Carolina Lancaster, did a summer semester abroad in Italy studying devised theatre work with La Mama Umbria International and then finished her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theatre with a minor in Dance at Western Carolina University. Outside of acting, she enjoys being outdoors, bike riding, spending time with friends, painting, and going to museums (the MoMA in NYC is one of her favorites). During the initial Covid-19 Lockdown/Quarantine from March 2020 - Early June, she completed 15 acrylic paintings on canvas. Tayler is also a singer-songwriter who plans to release her first EP in 2022. https://www.taylerharris.com/ https://builtforthestage.com/subscribe - $1 coaching for your first month + unlocking a 20% discount code on apparel! www.broadwaypodcastnetwo

Tyrone Davis Jr / @tyronedavisjr Tyrone Davis Jr stepped into the role of Ogie in Waitress after having performed as an ensemble member and understudy in the production since 2017. Before the shutdown, he was last seen in the off-Broadway revival of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, helmed by Kathleen Marshall and starring Beth Malone. Tyrone originated the role of Ronny Lule in the 2015 off-Broadway production of Invisible Thread. He also toured the country in the first national tour of Shrek The Musical, directed by Jason Moore. In this episode we chat making the character Ogie, mental health, Nickelodean in the 90's and more! https://builtforthestage.com/subscribe - $1 coaching for your first month + unlocking a 20% discount code on apparel! www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vaibu Mohan / @vaibumohan Vaibu Mohan is blazing a trail for young producers of theatre while still finding time to perform, go to grad school, and run a half marathon. Make sure to take a listen to Nayika Mixtapes after tuning into this episode. The link is down below. Spotify link to the Nayika Mixtape: https://open.spotify.com/album/7JCdLMuZkN1rbb5Gl3QC95?si=MNsHdljGQ52lGKV3y1W1BA Upcoming shows at 54 Below: Feb 11- https://54below.com/events/new-musical-and-then-she-ran-by-kat-cartusicello-and-alex-becker/ Feb 20- https://54below.com/events/new-musical-in-concert-for-show-by-carrie-caffrey-and-earl-marrow/ https://builtforthestage.com/subscribe - $1 coaching for your first month + unlocking a 20% discount code on apparel! www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonalyn Saxer / @jksaxer Jonalyn Saxer is currently starring as Karen in the first national tour of Mean Girls after appearing in the original Broadway cast in the ensemble and as an understudy for Karen, Cady, and Regina. She is a Jet girl in the West Side Story movie remake directed by Steven Spielberg. Other Broadway credits include Cats, Holiday Inn, Honeymoon In Vegas, and Bullets Over Broadway. Other credits include Moonshine: That Hee-Haw Musical and Gotta Dance (now known as Half Time). Regionally, she was seen as Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street at The Muny, and has performed at other theaters including Pittsburgh CLO, Maine State Music Theater, and the Fingerlakes Theater Festival. Proud graduate of Syracuse University. BROADWAY: MEAN GIRLS CATS HOLIDAY INN HONEYMOON IN VEGAS BULLETS OVER BROADWAY https://builtforthestage.com/subscribe - $1 coaching for your first month + unlocking a 20% discount code on apparel! www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch

Paloma Garcia-Lee / @palomagarcialee Paloma Garcia-Lee is an established actress who gained notoriety for her standout performances on the Broadway stage and now is making an outstanding leap to television and film. Paloma’s career is on a meteoric trajectory, and there’s no chance of slowing down anytime soon. Dynamic and versatile, Garcia-Lee has captured the essence of what it is to be a singular show-woman with her raw, authentic and captivating acting, dancing and singing. Born into a theatrical family she was home schooled by her parents so she could pursue a career in the arts. BROADWAY: MOULIN ROUGE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT ON THE TOWN CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY NATASHA, PIERRE, AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 https://www.palomagarcialee.com/ https://builtforthestage.com/subscribe - $1 coaching for your first month + unlocking a 20% discount code on apparel! www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spencer LaRue / @spencer_larue Spencer LaRue is currently a swing in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. Spencer is a Florida native and will graduate from The University of Michigan in May of 2019 with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. Throughout his four years at Michigan, he has performed in five main stage productions including the World premiere of One Hit Wonder directed by Hunter Foster. Regionally Spencer has performed with Connecticut Repertory Theatre in Newsies (Finch) which was choreographed and directed by Christopher d’Amboise and Disaster! starring Seth Rudetsky (Ensemble). He has also been seen on stage in Sacramento with Broadway at Music Circus in Newsies (Romeo) which featured the original Broadway choreography for the first time since the tour closed. When Spencer isn’t performing, he spends his time at the gym or with friends. He enjoys traveling and exploring new places while trying all of the food he can get his hands on. https://spencerlarue.com/ https://builtforthestage.com

Nicole Benoit / @nicolbenoitonline From Washington State's "Apple Capitol of the World" to New York's "Big Apple", Nicole Benoit has graced the stages of theaters worldwide from North America to Asia and even atop the waves of the Caribbean. A triple-threat chameleon, Nicole has portrayed such diverse iconic leading ladies from the starry-eyed-yet-sinister Roxie Hart in CHICAGO, to the charmingly damaged Sally Bowles in CABARET, to multiple lauded rounds as the Swedish blonde bombshell Ulla in THE PRODUCERS. And for something entirely different: jump-roping fitness queen Brooke Wyndham in LEGALLY BLONDE. www.nicolebenoitonline.com https://builtforthestage.com/subscribe - $1 coaching for your first month + unlocking a 20% discount code on apparel! www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Davon Williams / @daywilling Davon Williams is an international performer, delegate for the Actors' Equity Association, and a TED Talk alum. Davon is committed to using his talents to bring about substantive social change. As a performing artist, Davon has been blessed to star in several national and international productions, working on multiple television shows and playing the lead in independent films. Davon & The Spectacle was founded in 2018 after Davon was asked to sing at a state dinner in Thailand. Davon and the Spectacle has since entertained audiences all across Southeast Asia before hitting the performance circuit in the US. During the pandemic, Davon launched the hit show, "The Receipts w/ Davon Williams," which garnered over 118,750 views with a reach of over 750,000 in less than a year with no formal producers, budget, or marketing. This show led to the creation of the Black Theatre Matters Bill, a series of over 100 resolutions designed to build a more equitable theatre industry, which recentl

Eleri Ward / @eleriward Eleri Ward is a musical theatre performer who has recently burst onto the scene as a singer-songwriter. She recently released her album of Stephen Sondheim covers, A PERFECT LITTLE DEATH. Hear us chat about how she channels her inner-bravery to chase this passion that she has had since five years old. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/2tDDozfRiM8hb85ptdVKUt?si=rnVOkRDBRdea9PO0z0SVBw&nd=1 Tickets for Rockwood Music Hall 12/13 - https://www.seetickets.us/event/Eleri-WardSamanthaJoyPearlman/449506 Tickets for Joe's Pub 3/2/22 - https://publictheater.org/reserve/reserve?productionseasonNumber=44794&performanceNumber=44795 https://www.eleriward.com/ https://builtforthestage.com/subscribe - $1 coaching for your first month + unlocking a 20% discount code on apparel! www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michaeljon Slinger / @double_windsor Michaeljon is a Broadway vet who shares with us how to establish a career in the biz from either side of the table. Enjoy our conversation! CHOREOGRAPHY: MRS. DOUBTFIRE ALMOST FAMOUS THE ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT ​LA TRAVIATA (World Premiere) MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG MYTHIC (World Premiere) CHASING RAINBOWS (Workshop) BROADWAY as Performer: ​HELLO DOLLY (Original Cast) MATILDA ​SIDE SHOW (Original Cast) ​EVITA (Original Cast) HOW TO SUCCEED WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (Original Cast) BILLY ELLIOT ​WEST SIDE STORY (Original Cast) ​GUYS AND DOLLS https://www.michaeljonslinger.com/ www.builtforthestage.com - free trial sign up www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Olivia Valli / @oliviafvalli Olivia is set to hit the road as the lead, Vivian Ward, in Pretty Woman the musical! Olivia previously has toured with Wicked as the Elphaba understudy and played Mary Delgado in the Off-Broadway production of Jersey Boys. Olivia shares her career-long mantra of letting the work speak for itself. She certainly has put the work in and it certainly is paying off. We talk about coming out of a smaller collegiate theatre program having entered into it with no prior experience at all, starting a podcast during the pandemic, and the wild ride she took during the audition process of booking the lead in Pretty Woman! Please, enjoy our conversation. www.builtforthestage.com - free trial sign up www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miracle Chance / @miraclechance Miracle is currently on West End as Christine Canigula in Be More Chill. She grew up in a very artistic home with her parents, which igniter her love and passion for music and performing arts. Miracle loves folk music and is a very talented folk singer. Miracle shares how she finds inspiration in her writing from the simplest things like the magazine on her coffee table, something a friend may say, and she is continually finding inspiration in the smallest daily things. Always stay alert and aware of the small moments each day, you may find creative inspiration in those moments. www.builtforthestage.com - free trial sign up www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Norlen / @anorlen It began as an artist’s desperate desire to express himself inside a worldwide pandemic, but in one year’s time it has grown into a theater industry and country-wide outlet for healing, grief, justice, and hope in the theater community—and beyond! When The Lights Are Bright Again immortalizes the stories, struggles, and successes of an industry that was first to be shut down and one of the last to return. Andrew Norlen weaves 200+ letters from Broadway theater veterans, devout theater goers, teenage dreamers aching for their day in the spotlight, long-time ushers, designers, creatives and countless other arts workers in tandem with a brand new breathtaking photo series by Broadway photographer, Matthew Murphy. Not only has the creation of this book allowed the theater community to grieve and express themselves in a new way, but for every copy purchased, a portion of the profits will directly benefit The Actors Fund. This book will continue to help support arts workers to thrive and re

T. Oliver Reid / @toliverreid A true Broadway veteran, T. Oliver Reid has performed in over 10 Broadway shows and is currently in Hamilton. He shares insight and wisdom from his many years of experience on and off the stage in the theatre industry. Reid encourages other artists to focus on doing the work and keeping things simple and focused, wether its always showing up early, being very attentive during rehearsal, living s life as a supportive creator, and he continues to do just that. www.builtforthestage.com - free trial sign up www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kimberly Marable / @misskimizzo Kimberly is making waves in the Broadway community, not only as an actress, but also as a social activist as a co-founder of Broadway Serves, a service organization created and operated by Broadway professionals who are looking to "be the change we want to see in the world." Their mission is to provide opportunities for community service to Broadway and theater professionals. Kimberly is currently in the workers chorus in Hadestown, and has also been in The Lion King and Sister Act. www.builtforthestage.com - free trial sign up www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com @bwayserves info@broadwayserves.org www.broadwayserves.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Malcolm Armwood / @marmwood214 Malcolm is making his Broadway debut as a swing in Hadestown, and shares parts of his journey with us. He believes in staying ready and continuing to show up, because many times he thought he would book and didn’t but kept at it and booked Broadway. Persistence is the key ingredient to Malcolm’s success. www.builtforthestage.com - free trial sign up www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shawn W. Smith / @shawnwsmith Shawn is a true well-rounded artist who is in a band called “Stray and the Soundtrack” while also touring with the national tour of Waitress in the role of Earl. Shawn shares his passion for 80’s rock and how he always wanted to be a musician who is also an actor, which has led him to booking a lot of musical theatre work, as he uses his multiple passions and skill sets together to create a colorful career for himself. www.builtforthestage.com - free trial sign up www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com https://music.apple.com/au/album/stray-and-the-soundtrack/1571267910 https://open.spotify.com/album/70KqExXm0h1e1RmeEUxTHt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Karla Puno Garcia / @karlapunogarcia Karla has performed on several television programs, films, National Tours, and Broadway shows - the most recent being Hamilton: An American Musical, in which she was a swing for four years. She is now making huge name for herself as a choreographer, teaches at Steps and Broadway Dance Center regularly and has several upcoming projects she will be working on. Karla was recently hired to create additional choreo for the new Netflix film Tik TIk Boom that is being directed by Lin Manuel Miranda. She shares with us that she booked gigs by being willing to do tons of passion projects. Sometimes you just have to keep putting yourself out there and making work for yourself. www.builtforthestage.com - free trial sign up www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ariel Reid / @arieljreid Ariel joins us as a current cast member of Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway, and she is also the Dance Captain for the captivating musical. But, what we learn about Ariel is not only is she and incredibly talented dancer, she’s also a mom! She is a prime example how much of a superhero moms on broadway really are. Not only does she juggle an entire cast but also home-life, and we find that pretty impressive. www.builtforthestage.com - free trial sign up www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stanley Martin / @stanleymartinthethird Joining us this week is the energetic and fun Stanley Martin! Stanley has been performing since the age of ten and is currently a cast member of Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway. He has also been involved in the international tour of West Side Story. He produces his own work, and he truly believes that he can just do something and figure things out as he goes. He shares with us that the only way to become an expert is by starting as a beginner. Stanley is also the cast member of Aladdin who has performed the most shows. www.builtforthestage.com - Schedule your one week trial today! www.broadwaypodcastnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices