Why I‘ll Never Make It

Become a WINMI Producer today: donate.winmipodcast.com This interview was conducted back in August 2020, hence the reference to my air conditioner. Tony also mentions his episode with Lea Salonga, which has since been released. He goes on to rant a bit about podcasting and getting interviews, and we discuss online classes from Domestika and General Assembly. And once again, the title of this podcast comes under the microscope. Take Tony's Digital Wellness Survey, a quick self-assessment of your online presence and learn more about his classes and seminars at tonyhowell.me. ---------- As always, thank you for supporting and donating to WINMI. I couldn't do this without you! Sign up for the monthly newsletter or reach out to me, I'd love to hear from you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to our lives and our careers, perhaps no shift has been more dramatic or significant as our increase in time online and on our phones. The biggest driver of this is social media. Digital strategist Tony Howell pays another visit to the podcast as we talk about branding, online presence, and our use of social apps. Sign up for the WINMI newsletter... Tony first appeared on the podcast back in season two. Since performing together on a national tour, he has left the physical stage behind and now helps us artists on the virtual stage, which in this pandemic has grown to be even more important. What I love about Tony’s approach is that it isn’t about tricks and filters and quick fixes for our social media lives. He takes a very personal path to growing and connecting with followers, helping us become a unique presence both online and offline. Follow Tony: Website / Instagram / Twitter / YouTube Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website ————— Donate to the podcast and gain access to the supporters-only episodes: pod.fan/winmipodcast Don't forget to check out all the helpful offers available to you through WINMI guests and partners: resources.winmipodcast.com WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part three of the month-long series bettering ourselves bettering our careers, this episode is a continuation from the previous conversation about deliberate practice and the 10,000 hours rule. Another psychologist, Alisa Hurwitz, PsyD, joins me today to dive into mindset and how we actors can deal with rejection and the challenges we face in this business. Her moniker Dr. Drama comes from her many analytical interviews, discussions, and articles on theater, specifically her lifelong passion for musical theater. She’s even consulted on regional and off Broadway productions on elements related to psychological concepts and mental health issues. So she is the perfect person to help us face some of the realities of this make-believe world of theater, a profession that can bring us tremendous joy but also sorrow and frustration. Follow Alisa: Website / Instagram / Twitter Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website ————— Donate to the podcast: pod.fan/winmipodcast Don't forget to check out all the helpful offers available to you through WINMI guests and partners: resources.winmipodcast.com WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to bettering ourselves as artists, it involves a lot of training, coaching, and practice. One popular strategy is called the 10,000 Hours Rule, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell. But today’s guest, psychologist Brooke Macnamara, has done research showing the importance of quality over quantity. Get the WINMI Newsletter: whyillnevermakeit.com In his 2008 book Outliers: The Story of Success, Gladwell proposes this rule based on a study of violinists conducted by psychologist Anders Ericcson. And the rule is pretty simple: mastery comes after someone practices one skill, like playing the violin, and according to Gladwell “10,000 hours is the magic number of greatness.” Today’s episode is going to focus on this rule, its implications as well as how or if it can be applied to us as artists. Follow Brooke: Website / Twitter Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website Join this podcast as a WINMI Producer and gain access to exclusive episodes and special content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the first episode in a new series on the podcast: Bettering Ourselves, Bettering Our Careers. And today’s guest provides a great example of both - Lisa Goldberg, Owner of LSG Public Relations. Support WINMI and get your supporter-only episodes: donate.winmipodcast.com Lisa represents actors, writers, directors, and choreographers both nationally and internationally, who have won Emmys, Golden Globes, Grammys, and Tony awards. She’s also represented companies and charities as well. But she hasn't always been talking about other performers. When she first came to New York, she was a dancer herself. Pounding the pavement and putting herself out there. In this episode, she gives some good tips you can use even in a pandemic, ways that you can put yourself out there, network with others, and find projects to stay busy. Follow Lisa: Instagram / Twitter Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website ————— Don't forget to check out all the helpful offers available to you through WINMI guests and partners: resources.winmipodcast.com WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special bonus episode all about the recent Tony Award Nominations, I’m so happy to introduce music director, conductor, and fellow podcaster Nate Patton. Nate and I first met when he was associate conducting Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway. And his podcast called Booked It. The title to one of his episodes was “Broadway is broken and I alone can fix it.” And it's this kind of witty, tongue in cheek and knowledgeable opinions that I wanted to bring on the show as we talk about these Tony nominations: The lone best actor nomination of Aaron Tveit The complete snubbing of the lightning thief Only plays being nominated for best original score Nate and I will also get into these topics and more, including what these nominations in general say about the state of theater today, and even make a few Tony predictions. Broadway reaches for normalcy with Tony Award nominations Snubs and Surprises: The Tonys Point a Middle Finger at The Lightning Thief Tony Award Snubs, What Ifs And That Strange Case Of Aaron Tveit The 2020 Tony Award nominations were weird and sad Tony Awards Announces 2019-2020 Nominating Committee Outer Critics Circle Honorees Tony Nominee Reactions Support WINMI and get access to a members-only private podcast feed. Join the monthly WINMI Newsletter by going to whyillnevermakeit.com --------- Music in this episode provided by Chad Crouch and Admiral Bob. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meredith and I continue our conversation from the previous episode as she answers the Final Five questions. She shares her national tour ambitions and her love of interior design as well as what she learned from Ali Stroker. Make your one-time or monthly donation at donate.winmipodcast.com ---------- The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. For further insights on the topics covered in this episode: twitter.com/winmipodcast/ Quotes and unreleased audio clips: instagram.com/winmipodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of Dysautonomia Awareness Month, Meredith Aleigha Wells joins the podcast to share her struggles and challenges onstage and in life all from the vantage point of a wheelchair. After becoming disabled at the age of 19, Meredith performed in a college workshop production of the new musical Donny Johns, making UMass Amherst history as the first actor who uses a wheelchair to perform in a Mainstage production. Meredith graduated with a Bachelor's Degree with Individualized Concentration in Musical Theatre. Immediately after graduation, Meredith moved to Cleveland, Ohio to dance with Dancing Wheels, a physically integrated touring repertory company. In this episode, she opens up about the hard-fought lessons she has been through and how much more there is learn, both in herself and for others. Topics discussed in this episode: - Mayo Clinic Physician Philip Fischer, MD - 10 Facts about POTS - Dancing Wheels Company founder Mary Verdi-Fletcher - What does the 30th anniversary of the ADA mean to youth with disabilities? - Youth Today - Able-Bodied Actors Play 95% of Disabled Characters - Variety - Ali Stroker's Tony Award acceptance speech Follow Meredith: Website / Instagram / YouTube Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website Support WINMI through monthly or one-time donations. ————— Don't forget to check out all the helpful offers available to you through WINMI guests and partners: resources.winmipodcast.com WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month’s Recommendation comes from co-hosts Jill Jaracz and Allison Brown and their podcast: Keep the Flame Alive, the podcast for fans of the greatest sporting event in the world. Each week, hosts Jill Jaracz and Alison Brown explore the stories of the Olympics, which is basically the Broadway of sports. They talk to athletes and sports writers as well as coaches and organizers. They explore host cities and sporting histories, showcasing different aspects and perspectives of the Olympic Games. Here’s a bit of trivia, can you name some Olympians who have appeared on Broadway? - One received both a Tony nomination and was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. She played the role of Peter Pan into her 60s. - Another Olympic gymnast is gold medalist played Patti Simcox in Grease during the late 1990s and then went back to the Olympics for a third time in 2000 and won the bronze. - And in 2014, a world champion figure skater and two-time silver medalist played Billy Flynn in Chicago. Another thing I love about Jill and Allison and Keep the Flame Alive is they cover the Paralympics as well. In a recent episode they brought on author David Davis, who wrote the book Wheels of Courage. He talked about how paralyzed veterans from World War II invented wheelchair sports and fought for disability rights. KEEP THE FLAME ALIVE - https://flamealivepod.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

British historian and philosopher R.G. Collingwood said, "History is for human self knowledge, the only clue to what men can do is what man has done. So with an ongoing pandemic and theaters shut down for the foreseeable future, what can history teach us about dealing with such hardships and what to expect going forward? That’s what we’ll be exploring in this episode with Professor Charlotte Canning, Ph.D, a theatre and performance historian at the University of Texas at Austin. Topics discussed in this epiosde: Actor's Equity First Strike - American Theatre Katherine Anne Porter’s Pale Horse, Pale Rider Shakespeare and the Plague - The New Yorker "Finding Hope in Theatre That Hasn’t Happened Yet: How to Survive a Global Pandemic" - Sight Lines Is Merchant of Venice Anti-Semitic? - Smithsonian Magazine Our Students Are Depending on Us - The Atlantic For Part 2 of my conversation with Charlotte, go to donate.winmipodcast.com for access to this special episode. ---------- All music underscoring and segues by Blue Dot Sessions, except for WINMI intro music by Patrick Oliver Jones and "Smooth Actor" by Podington Bear. All licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial License. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bienvenidos y gracias por acompañarnos en esta edición especial de Why I’ll Never Make It! En esta segunda parte de mi serie sobre historias hispanas, escucharán a mis invitados anteriores compartir sus propias historias y experiencias en español. Roberto Araujo - 1:06 Bianca Marroquín - 5:57 Luis Salgado - 11:50 Jaime Lozano - 16:59 Alina Alcántara - 24:43 Tadeo Martinez - 28:39 Cecy Trevino - 30:52 Sin embargo, hay una mujer en este episodio que no ha aparecido anteriormente, Cecy Treviño. De hecho, la conocerás más adelante en esta temporada, pero quería aprovechar esta oportunidad para presentarla. En este episodio no habrán entrevistas, sólo historias hispanas vividas y contadas por los propios protagonistas. Sitio Web - whyillnevermakeit.com Apoya este podcast - ko-fi.com/winmipodcast ---------- Musica: "Being Together" y "Road Trip" por el artista Borrtex. Licencia bajo Attribution-NonCommercial License. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is part one in a series of former Hispanic guests coming back to share their stories in their own words. The second part - la segunda parte - comes out tomorrow and will be en espanol. My original idea was to bring back all Hispanic guests for a single Spanish episode. And I ignorantly assumed they would all want to share stories in that language. But Matt Zambrano and Dan Domingues expressed their hesitation at speaking fluently off the cuff about their experiences. While they speak the language, Spanish is not their first language. In the past year there’s been another clear example of this from one of the Democratic Presidential candidates, Julián Castro. He's talked about his own relationship with the Spanish language. Matt Zambrano was the very first guest on the podcast and he and i did MAN OF LA MANCHA together in Orlando. Dan Domingues is a NY actor who took part in my Spotlight episode on Only Make Believe, a nonprofit that brings interactive theater into children’s hospitals and cafe facilities. They both share insights about the work they do as well as very personal feelings about their own ethnicity and heritage. In this episode as well as the Spanish one, there are no back and forth questions from me. In fact, I’ve done very little editing to these recordings, just cleaning up sound quality as much as possible and structuring these episodes together. But in general, I’m simply stepping back to let previous guests tell their own story, and say what THEY want to say. whyillnevermakeit.com donate.winmipodcast.com Your donation will go directly into the podcast, helping to grow the WINMI community and allowing me to do so with greater ease and effectiveness. I wouldn't be here without listeners like you, so your donations are greatly appreciated. All donors will be recognized in a future episode for their generosity. ---------- Music in this episode: "In Paler Skies" and "Lost Shoe" by Blue Dot Sessions and "Smooth Actor" by Podington Bear are licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to more conversation with Tadeo Martinez as he answers the Final Five. Tadeo shares two of his favorites pieces of advice and his dream to be on YouTube. He also talks about his award-winning performance in Noises Off in Dallas, Texas. Would you like to be a part of creating an episode? Find out how you can and support this podcast at the same time: https://ko-fi.com/winmi/commissions ---------- For further insights on the topics covered in this episode: twitter.com/winmipodcast/ Quotes and unreleased audio clips: instagram.com/winmipodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to the guests on this podcast most of them are fairly well established. This allows me to the Google them, find pictures and stories about them, and get to know their body of work. But for Tadeo Martinez, there wasn’t much to go on. I found a couple of show reviews and his website. Now, this is no slight on Tadeo. I didn’t have much either coming out of college. But what I did find certainly gave me enough cause to bring him on the podcast, especially when I read of his desire to bring more Latino and Hispanic representation to theater. So in today’s episode you and I are going to get to know this extraordinarily talented young man, who graduated from college just one year ago. Just like last week's guest Bianca Marroquín, Tadeo grew up in Monterrey, Mexico learning both English and Spanish. So while he did have an smoother transition then some coming to America to go to college, that didn’t mean language and communication was easy for him. And it was once he found the secret to address this barrier that his performances and opportunities really opened up. Follow Tadeo: Website / Instagram / Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website ————— Donate to the podcast, either one time or on a monthly basis: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast Don't forget to check out all the helpful offers available to you through WINMI guests and partners: resources.winmipodcast.com WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Music used in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions and Podington Bear and licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, I hope you listened to our previous conversation because Bianca is back to answer the Final Five questions. She shares her disappointment in not getting to play Evita but also her joy to portray Chita Rivera in the hit TV show Fosse. She also goes deeper into her love of family and being a stepmom. Would you like to answer the Final Five questions? Let me know at winmipodcast.com. ---------- The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. For further insights on the topics covered in this episode: twitter.com/winmipodcast/ Quotes and unreleased audio clips: instagram.com/winmipodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's wide-ranging conversation with Bianca Marroquin, one of the issues she addresses is that of language and accent. Growing up near the Texas border, she had the opportunity to learn both languages. So in addition to being the first Mexican woman ever to land a leading role on Broadway, she is also the only one ever to do Chicago in two different languages. Yet in the 18 years since the Broadway debut as Roxie Hart, she has still faced confusing and ignorant statements from casting directors and reporters, for example, regarding their expectations of what a Mexican is or should be. At the end of this episode I'll shine a spotlight on this week's Hispanic Icon, John Leguizamo, who has a few things to teach us about Latin History. But first, Bianca and I discuss an issue we are all dealing with as artists: the state of theater and the arts during this pandemic and what that might look like in COVID's aftermath. Since childhood Bianca's life has been one filled with change. Though she was born in Monterrey, she grew up living on the Mexican side of the border in Matamoros, yet went to school on the Texas side in Brownsville. She first studied dance at the age of three but by high school was also learning flamenco, jazz, and tap. For college she wanted to study in Spain but her father insisted on a technical college in Monterrey, where she majored in Communications with the intention of becoming a reporter. But she soon found her dancing feet again in a flamenco company as well as various festivals and concerts. She had made a name for herself, so much so that by the time she was doing Roxie Hart in the Spanish version of Chicago in Mexico City, she won best actress and caught the attention of Chicago's Broadway producers. And in 2002 she came to NYC in the show and role that has come to be the one constant in her life. CBS News - Language Barriers Cause Problems Patrick Swayze on working with Bianca Marroquin in LA Follow Bianca: IBDB / Instagram / Twitter Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website ————— Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast Don't forget to check out all the helpful offers available to you through WINMI guests and partners: resources.winmipodcast.com WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, it's the last Monday of the month, so that means it's time for this month's podcast recommendation: THE INDUSTRY, hosted by Dan Delgado. Every week Why I’ll Never Make It likes to highlight and dive into the areas that hold us back as artists, the realities of this business with all of its ups and downs. Sometimes we find success and other times, like now, we face hardship and/or failure. So when I happened upon a television and movie podcast that did the same thing, focusing on lesser known stories behind the scenes, I was immediately intrigued. Since 2018, THE INDUSTRY has taken a closer look at actors who thought too much of themselves, producers who did not know what they were doing, and studios that would do anything for a hit show. Delgado's exposé, for example, of the rival movies Lambada and The Forbidden Dance, which both came out at the same time in 1990, revealed a lot of the behind the scenes bickering and was highly entertaining. But it was actually a very different kind of episode that first introduced me to THE INDUSTRY. Last Christmas Dan did a bonus episode all about the first Charlie Brown Christmas Special on CBS and how it almost didn't get made. Since that episode I've been hooked. Dan gives some backstory to his podcast, and in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, he also shares a bit of his own background as well. So in your playlist of podcasts, I heartily recommend you add The Industry. Just put it after Why I’ll Never Make It, of course. :) Listen and subscribe to THE INDUSTRY Website: theindustrypodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luis Salgado was born and raised in Puerto Rico and studied theater there at the University of Puerto Rico. He moved to New York City in 2012 and it was slow going at first for him to book work. But eventually things started to click for him and his career as featured as many credits on stage as off stage, behind the scenes, in addition to film and television work. But this year has not been kind to so many artists, and work has come to a grinding halt. And so Luis brought himself and his family back to Puerto Rico during this pandemic. And being back has give him a chance to connect with others around all Latin America. You see, back in 2008 while he was performing his Broadway debut with in the Heights, Luis began a nonprofit organization called Revolucion Latina. Their mission is to activate individuals and promote human growth through artistic experiences they can lead to personal transformation and social change within the Latinx community. And so with his performing career on hold, Luis has been able to focus solely on his organization and reaching out to others. Follow Luis: Website / Facebook / Twitter Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website ————— Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast Don't forget to check out all the helpful offers available to you through WINMI guests and partners: resources.winmipodcast.com WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Music and Sound Bites used in this episode: "Bom Jardim" by Lobo Loco "Latin Rhythm" by Sunsearcher "Hot Salsa Trip" by Arsonist "Escape" (Karaoke Track) by Rupert Holmes "True Blue Sky" and "Copley Beat" by Blue Dot Sessions "Smooth Actor" by Podington Bear "Ayer" (Karaoke Track) - Gloria and Emilio Estefán "Somewhere Nice" by John Bartman "Meekness" by Kai Engel Lin Manuel Miranda on CBS Good Morning VOX - Why Puerto Rico Is Not a US State Oscar Hijuelos on New Mexico PBS Keez in the Pen with DC-7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After our conversation on the previous episode, Jaime talks about the process of voting on songs and albums for the Grammys, and then he answers the Final Five. He shares his love of Law & Order and his dream to work with Lin-Manuel Miranda as well as what he learns from those who are humble. The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. For further insights on the topics covered in Jaime's episodes: twitter.com/winmipodcast/ Quotes and unreleased audio clips: instagram.com/winmipodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the next few weeks WINMI is going to be highlighting some amazing Hispanic artists, ranging from composers and dancers to actors and singers. And it's all in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month. In addition to these interviews I’ll be showcasing important creatives in Hispanic history. It’ll be a chance for us to learn about the wonderful artists who have made such an impact not only in Hispanic communities but to our nation as a whole. And so we begin Hispanic Heritage Month with Jaime Lozano, a native of Monterey, Mexico. As a composer his works have been produced Off-Broadway, regionally here in the US, and internationally in France, Germany, England, and of course his home country of Mexico. Jaime has also taken on the roles of arranger, music director, and orchestrator, in addition to adapting, producing, and directing the Spanish world premiere of Jason Robert Brown’s THE LAST FIVE YEARS in 2006 and SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD in 2005. And it was around that time that Jaime came to New York to study at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He's been on quite the journey and it's a fascinating story of an immigrant artist here in America. Follow Jaime: Website / Instagram / Twitter Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website ————— Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast Don't forget to check out all the helpful offers available to you through WINMI guests and partners: resources.winmipodcast.com WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ ————— Music in this episode: "Yellow Light District" by Lobo Loco. "Kitty in the Window" by Podington Bear. "Basketliner" by Blue Dot Sessions. Savage, a musical by Tommy Newman and Jaime Lozano, performed and recorded at University of Alabama in Birmingham. "Una Historia sin Final Concierto" by Jaime Lozano. "Smooth Actor" by Podington Bear. "Night Emotions" by Lobo Loco. "Ayer" by Gloria and Emilio Estefan (Karaoke Track). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mid-March of this year was a uniquely devastating time for theater and the arts industry as a whole. Broadway and Off-Broadway here in New York as well as theaters all around the country began to close for what they thought would be a possible one-month shut down. At the time playwright Lynn Nottage tweeted: “Emotionally and financially preparing for theaters across the country to be shut down. Mourning the beautiful work that will be lost. Alas, protecting our practitioners and our audiences is essential.” But as you and I know, it’s lasted much longer than anyone anticipated. And while the loss of jobs and the lack of theater options for audiences were immediately felt, there has been a further impact in communities and states around the country. From regional and local theaters to touring companies, stage work has a financial impact beyond just the box office. For example, the 2016-17 touring season in cities like Charlotte, NC generated more than $38.2 million in economic impact. In Tempe, AZ their Broadway Season brought in $100 million. And more recently, in Denver the seven-week pre-Broadway run of frozen added about $30 million to the local economy. Theater and the arts are a driving economic indicator in cities and regions around the country, which is why it is vital that we save this industry and do what we can to become an arts hero. Be An Arts Hero is an intersectional grassroots movement emphasizes arts and cultures $877 billion value added contribution to the nation's economy, highlighting the human and financial toll of letting the contribution collapse. Carson Elrod and Brooke Ishibashi, two of the organization's founders, join the podcast today to share their goal of keeping all 5.1 million Americans who work in the arts 1) alive 2) in their homes and 3) with jobs to return to when the crisis subsides. Join their efforts: https://beanartshero.com/get-involved Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website ————— Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast Don't forget to check out all the helpful offers available to you through WINMI guests and partners: resources.winmipodcast.com WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Music used in this episode: "Appreciation" by Chad Crouch is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After our conversation on the previous episode, Alex answers the Final Five. He shares his love of Christopher Nolan movies and his dream to be on Law & Order: SVU as well as what he learned from Will Smith and Michelle Obama. Check out Alex's web series: P's in a Pod ---------- The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. For further insights on the topics covered in this episode: twitter.com/winmipodcast/ Quotes and unreleased audio clips: instagram.com/winmipodcast/ Do you have questions or stories of your own? Share them with me: contact.winmipodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The process of getting an idea, a story from conception to production to finally being onstage or onscreen can be a rather lengthy process. Hamilton took seven years and La La Land was almost nine. Alex Pires is another one of those with plenty of ideas. He’s an actor who came to NYC with a mission to not only act but to write as well. But as we know having the idea is just the first step on a long journey towards actually seeing it come to life. His comedy web series P's in a Pod released its Pilot Episode in January 2019, but the rest of the seven-episode season didn't come out till April 2020. He talks about that long journey as well as some of the serious subjects addressed on this funny show: stereotypes, racism, depression, and even germaphobia. Follow Alex: Website / Instagram / Twitter Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter ---------- Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast Don't forget to check out all the helpful offers available to you through WINMI guests and partners: resources.winmipodcast.com WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the second month in a row Why I’ll Never Make It goes outside its own podcast walls to recommend another podcaster doing great work in the arts or beyond. The first one was The Ensemblist as part of the episode with Mo Brady. And this month features a recommendation of another one inside the creative arts as well as a former WINMI guest: The Tony Howell Podcast. Tony is a former actor and singer who has now become a highly sought-after author, speaker, and expert in digital marketing and branding. On this podcast, you’ll find enlightening 1:1 conversations with artists and thought leaders who are changing the world (and web) through their work. And on occasion Tony shares his own original strategies and formulas to help you design your future and impact your career. To determine your own digital wellness, check out his self-assessment quiz. Listen to the show on your favorite podcast app. ---------- May this podcast be a resource for you as you discover more ways to pursue a career in this industry and sustain it through the many ups and downs we all face. Don't forget to check out all the helpful offers available to you through WINMI guests and partners: resources.winmipodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After our conversation on the previous episode, Bart Shatto answers the Final Five. He shares his broadcasting aspirations and his dream to do all the roles I've done as well as what he learned from Albert Einstein and Booker T. Washington. Also, check out his latest project, coming up in October, the 2020 New Works Virtual Festival. Twenty plays in seven days! Everything from full-length plays and short plays to TV pilots and screenplays. It features a star-studded lineup, including Oscar nominees, Emmy Award nominees, and Tony Award winners/nominees! Like and subscribe to the New Works Virtual Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. ---------- Take the WINMI podcast survey: survey.winmipodcast.com Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway is no cure against challenges or setbacks. Bart Shatto has experienced the joys and the hardships of a life in theater, both personally and professionally. He gives an open and vulnerable look at how this business can create wonderful moments and powerful lessons. Bart particularly shares his time with WAR PAINT, playing opposite Patti LuPone, as well as being in the cast of Tom Kitt's SUPERHERO and dealing with the negative reviews. Even I, the host, open up about the lowest point in my acting career, one that Brat shared in. The WINMI Podcast Survey: https://winmipodcast.typeform.com/to/SdODaMU7 Singers & Songwriters Playlist: spotify.whyillnevermakeit.com Follow Bart: Instagram / Twitter / Website Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Blog Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ ---------- Music used in this episode: "Bon Journée" by Chad Crouch is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. "Meekness" by Kai Engel is licensed under a Attribution License. "Barbara" by U.S. Army Blues is licensed under a Public Domain Mark 1.0 License. "Driven to Success" by Scott Holmes is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. "Old City Bar" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, sung by Bart Shatto, recorded at a live concert in Las Vegas, 2011. "Smooth Actor" by Podington Bear is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. Based on a work at http://soundofpicture.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks for coming back to join me and Jason Odell Williams for the final five! This is a bonus episode to the conversation we had previously, covering topics and five specific questions we didn’t address on the last episode. Today, Jason talks about how his teachers inspired him and how he's still learning to process and handle criticism and feedback. Take the survey & join the WINMI newsletter - whyillnevermakeit.com ---------- The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. For further insights on the topics covered in this episode: twitter.com/winmipodcast/ Quotes and unreleased audio clips: instagram.com/winmipodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Odell Williams is an award-winning playwright and Emmy-nominated television producer. But his first love was acting...until it wasn't. In this episode he shares that journey from saying the words to writing them. We specifically talk about his plays Handle With Care and Church & State, both of which were produced by his wife (and former WINMI guest) Charlotte Cohn. He opens up about his difficulty with taking criticism and how different writing is from the stage to small screen, especially when those shows involve true crime or brain teasers. Take the survey & join the WINMI Newsletter - whyillnevermakeit.com Follow Jason: Instagram / The New Play Exchange Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Blog Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast ————— WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Music used in this episode: "Small Hours" "Dim" "Arrival of the Geese" "Daybreak" and "The Gloaming" by Chad Crouch is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, here we are at the Final Five questions, a bonus episode to our previous conversation. Eric is back and shares his passion for branding and being a stylist. He also mentions what distinguishes Gayle King and why he'd love to pick her brain as well as the two distinct life lessons he learned from his parents. Do you have other ideas for Final Five questions? Let me know at winmipodcast.com. ---------- The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider supporting this podcast: ko-fi.com/winmipodcast For further insights on the topics covered in this episode: twitter.com/winmipodcast/ Quotes and unreleased audio clips: instagram.com/winmipodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his years in New York City, Eric Jordan Young bounced around from Broadway productions and national tours to regional shows and concerts. According to most performers, he was living the dream. But he wanted something else, we wanted something more. So Eric branched out into his own endeavors, from a solo recording album to a one-man tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr. Along the way he met some challenges and found out he knew more about the show than he did the business. And Vegas became the testing ground and base of operations for his own production company, and he found the stories he was truly meant to tell. Listen to Eric and other previous guests on the new WINMI Singers & Songwriters Playlist - spotify.whyillnevermakeit.com. Follow Eric: Instagram / Twitter Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Blog Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast ————— WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Music used in this episode: "Smooth Actor" by Podington Bear is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. Based on a work at http://soundofpicture.com. "Nocturnal" by Kai Engel is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. "Holiday Gift" by Chad Crouch is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. "Retreat" by Gold Coast is licensed by soundstripe.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After our conversation on the previous episode, David answers the Final Five. He shares his political aspirations, what he's learned from Broadway directors as well as where the best ideas come from. Do you have other questions you'd like to ask? Let me know at winmipodcast.com and fill out the survey. ---------- The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and I first met last year as he directed the 90-minute version of FOOTLOOSE on Norwegian Cruise Line. But In New York, he spends his time working with some of the best directors on Broadway from SCHOOL OF ROCK and BEAUTIFUL to LOMBARDI and NETWORK (starring Bryan Cranston). As assistant director, I ask what's kept him from being In the top spot as well as what he think of cruise ship productions. But the show I really focus on is the most reviewed and vilified Broadway show so far this century -- SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK. As Resident Director, how did he manage and maintain such a constantly changing show? It's a full conversation with plenty of theater know-how and behind the scenes stories. Podcast Survey: https://winmipodcast.typeform.com/to/SdODaMU7 Follow David: Website / Instagram / Twitter Follow WINMI: Website / Instagram / Twitter / Blog Check out all the artist resources available to you through WINMI: resources.winmipodcast.com ————— Support and donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Audio used in this episode: FOOTLOOSE Promo Video and "Somebody's Eyes" (underscoring), Norwegian Cruise Lines. "Hill And Dale" and "Dusk" by Chad Crouch is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. "Smooth Actor" by Podington Bear is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. Based on a work at http://soundofpicture.com. "Broadway's 'Spider-Man' Musical Turns Off The Lights At Last" by Jeff Lunden on NPR, January, 3, 2014. https://www.npr.org/2014/01/03/256602469/broadways-spider-man-musical-turns-off-the-lights-at-last Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks for coming back to join me and Mo for the final five! This is a bonus conversation covering topics and five specific questions we didn’t address on the last episode. Today, Mo talks about his love of NEXT TO NORMAL and how Susan Blackwell from TITLE OF SHOW inspires him. Don't forget to check out all the offers and resources available to you through WINMI: resources.winmipodcast.com Follow Mo: Instagram / Twitter Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Blog Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Co-creator of The Ensemblist podcast and blog shares his love of theater, especially for those out of the spotlight and in the ensemble. Mo Brady grew up building sets and imagining a life on the stage. After finally getting his Broadway debut, two other more personal roles came his way: husband and father. But he still manages to keep up the podcasting and working on the communications team at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. http://www.theensemblist.com/podcasts Don't forget to check out all the resources available to you through WINMI: resources.winmipodcast.com Share your feedback at survey.winmipodcast.com Follow Mo: Instagram / Twitter Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Blog Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast ————— WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Music used in this episode: "Hill and Dale" and "Daydream" by Chad Crouch are licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. "Smooth Actor" by Podington Bear is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. Based on a work at http://soundofpicture.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Instead of answering the Final Five questions, Erin Cronican continues our conversation on producing theater for the online world as well as some insight into her cooking habits (or lack thereof). For now, COVID has ended live theater as we know it, and digital platforms have become a new home for actors and writers to reach audiences. So Erin shares how she's made it work and how Actors Equity Association has (not) helped. Follow Erin: Instagram / Twitter - Donate to the The Seeing Place Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Blog - Newsletter / Survey: whyillnevermakeit.com ————— WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. The instrumental song "Smooth Actor" by Podington Bear is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. Based on a work at http://soundofpicture.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erin Cronican first came on the podcast back in Season One, sharing the ups and downs of making theater while still being an actor. Today, she faces new challenges of producing theater in the middle of a pandemic while also battling cancer once again. She opens up about her very real and present reality, just living 3 months at a time. Legacy has become very important to her, and through our conversation she shares insights into living with a terminal illness and how it changes the way she approaches theater and the idea of bucket lists. Follow Erin: Instagram / Twitter - Donate to the The Seeing Place: resources.winmipodcast.com Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Blog - Take the Survey / Join the newsletter: whyillnevermakeit.com ————— WINMI is a Top 20 Theater Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. ————— Music used in this episode: - "Whispers" by Hyson is licensed under a Attribution License. - "Cobweb Morning" by Kai Engel is licensed under a Attribution License. - "Smooth Actor" by Podington Bear is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. Based on a work at http://soundofpicture.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After our conversation on the previous episode, Chaz answers the Final Five. But first, he shares a hilarious audition story, then goes into his dream to work in physical therapy as well as how he learned the importance of preparation. ---------- Jazz with Chaz - resources.winmipodcast.com Give your feedback - survey.winmipodcast.com Support WINMI - donate.winmipodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chaz started dancing at the age of 2in Gahanna, Ohio, and several years later he won the Gold Medal at the US Tap Championships and then won Bronze for the United States at the World Tap Dance Championships in Germany at the age of 14. From his BFA in Musical Theatre Dance to serving as dance captain in the American Spirit Dance Company, Chaz has led a busy life on his feet. And so it was that I first met Chaz Wolcott at a regional theater in upstate New York during a production of MARY POPPINS. Later that same year he joined the National Tour of NEWSIES and then went on to even bigger heights with "So You Think You Can Dance." In this episode, he shares the ups and downs of tour life and the doors it opened in his career. He also shares his experience of being cut from FOX's popular dance show and the lesson he learned from it. Take the podcast survey and let me know how WINMI can improve as well as what keeps you coming back each episode: survey.winmipodcast.com - Chaz on SYTYCD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMs24fYbzG0 - THE ADDAMS FAMILY National Tour parody video for NEWSIES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxSvcqFu7tQ&t=149s Follow Chaz: Instagram / YouTube / Twitter Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website / Medium ————— WINMI is a Top 20 Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Tunes from NEWSIES featured in this episode: "Something to Believe In" • "Seize the Day" • "Movin' in Circles" • "It's a Fine Life" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After our conversation on the previous episode, Brian answers the Final Five, talking about software engineering and his dream to fix CHESS as well as lessons learned from Elizabeth Gilbert. Do you have other ideas for Final Five questions? Let me know at contact.winmipodcast.com. ---------- The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. For further insights on the topics covered in this episode: twitter.com/winmipodcast/ Quotes and unreleased audio clips: instagram.com/winmipodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Featuring the third composer of the season, Brian Lowdermilk is a fantastic contemporary songwriter who's found a great deal of success from the internet. And in this day and age where not much theater is happening onstage, that bodes well for both Kerrigan & Lowdermilk. Brian (they/them, she/her) shares the nuts and bolts of writing and collaborating on musicals (and is joined by Kait for part of the interview). Then we get into more personal matters of gender identity and theater's place in the LGBTQ community. It's an in-depth, personal conversation with a talented and insightful composer. Follow Brian: Instagram / YouTube / SoundCloud Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website / Medium ————— WINMI is a Top 20 Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Reach out with any questions or comments: contact.winmipodcast.com The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support the work that goes into each episode. ————— Brian's music featured in this episode: "Run Away with Me (Instrumental)" - "How to Return Home" - "Avalanche" - "Say the Word" - "Five and Half Minutes" - "Not a Love Story" - "Run Away with Me (sung by Brian at 54 Below)" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After our conversation on the previous episode, Roberto answers the Final Five. He shares his love of CBS Sunday Morning and his dream of playing the Baker in INTO THE WOODS as well as that the time he forgot to press the record button. Do you have other ideas for Final Five questions? Let me know at contact.winmipodcast.com. ---------- The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode: ko-fi.com/winmipodcast For further insights on the topics covered in this episode: twitter.com/winmipodcast/ Quotes and unreleased audio clips: instagram.com/winmipodcast/ Do you have questions or stories of your own? Share them with me: contact.winmipodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 4 Survey: https://winmipodcast.typeform.com/to/SdODaMU7 I first got to know Roberto when putting together the Season Three opener with Caroline Bowman. He had taken beautiful photos of her as she was preparing for the National Tour of Disney's FROZEN. I wanted him to come on the show to share his experiences and insights on making the best headshots possible. So get ready to take some notes. Little did I know, though, the backstory and struggles he's been through. From a family unwilling to accept his sexuality and being homeless in NYC to the "casual racism" he has encountered in the industry. Roberto really opens up and shares an enlightening story that can both inspire our craft and push us to change the underlying biases still present in theater. Follow Roberto: Instagram / Twitter / YouTube / Website Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website / Medium ————— WINMI is a Top 20 Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Reach out with any questions or comments: contact.winmipodcast.com The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After our conversation on the previous episode, Cris answers the Final Five. He shares why he'd love to teach and his dream to be in CATS as well as what he learned from Tyler Perry. Do you have other ideas for Final Five questions? Let me know at contact.winmipodcast.com. ---------- The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. For further insights on the topics covered in this episode: twitter.com/winmipodcast/ Quotes and unreleased audio clips: instagram.com/winmipodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this longer episode than normal, I am honored and grateful to have this enormously gifted artist on the show. Cris Eli Blak may only be a senior in college, but he has wisdom far beyond his years to share with all of us. From thoughts on the current racial tensions gripping this country to how theater can be a voice in the midst of it, Cris shares from the heart and from his art. He opens up about his own challenges and struggles as a writer, how growing up without a father affected him, and the type of writing and storytelling he wants to give the world. This is a touching and moving episode that will leave you with a better understanding of where we are and a brighter hope for where we can ultimately go. Topics covered in this episode: - Do The Right Thing 30 Years Later - Spike Lee on HuffPost Live - The Brother's Survivor short film - The World Changes Through Art - Our Duty to Confront Racism in Theater Industry - "Like Father, Like Son" on the Logue Lounge - All-White Production Of HAIRSPRAY In Texas Raises Eyebrows - Should There Be All-White Productions of HAIRSPRAY? Follow Cris: Instagram / YouTube / Medium Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website / Medium ————— WINMI is a Top 20 Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ Reach out with any questions or comments: contact.winmipodcast.com The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The third and final look at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with Michael McBride, a 10-year veteran with the company. Through this organization he not only gained skills and experience in collaborating with some of the best dancers and choreographers on the planet, but he also found the love of his life, Samuel Lee Roberts, a fellow dancer in the company. But it wasn't all smooth sailing for Michael. He's had some hard lessons to learn along the way and he talks about some of those, especially in the Final Five questions, also included in this episode. Topics and People Mentioned: Alvin Ailey's REVELATIONS - https://www.alvinailey.org/performances/repertory/revelations Michael's engagement to Samuel - https://www.dancemagazine.com/when-two-ailey-dancers-get-engaged-of-course-there-are-professional-ba-2404644366.html Michael and Samuel dancing together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aD9fGhW7xI Hope Boykin Teaches Revelations - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QefuHRw5948 Matthew Rushing - https://www.dance-enthusiast.com/features/video/view/Matthew-Rushing-and-Hope-Boykin-Rushings-Surprise-Role-in-LIFT-by-Aszure-Barton-/#.XumIcmpKgWo Follow Michael: Instagram / Website ————— WINMI is a Top 20 Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ More episodes: listen.winmipodcast.com Join the WINMI community: Instagram or Twitter (@winmipodcast) Reach out with any questions or comments: contact.winmipodcast.com The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. Music in this episode: "Ah Been 'Buked" by Hall Johnson. The Chamber Singers of Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges, Thomas Lloyd, director. "Kitty In The Window" by Podington Bear is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. Based on a work at http://soundofpicture.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samantha Figgins is currently in her sixth season with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. But what many people don't know is that this gorgeous dancer suffers from single-sided deafness. As a baby, Figgins contracted spinal meningitis, which caused her to lose all hearing in her right ear. She never gave up on her dance dreams, though, and fought her way through uncomfortable situations, never missing an opportunity to learn and grow. In this episode, she shares her love of dance, her passion in telling stories, and the discipline that makes it all possible. Listen to the previous episode all about Alvin Ailey. Dance Spirit cover in 2013 Watch Samantha dance in Revelations on TED: https://youtu.be/0f4wtD8eXNk Follow her: Instagram / Twitter ————— WINMI is a Top 20 Podcast thanks to you! https://blog.feedspot.com/theatre_podcasts/ More episodes: listen.winmipodcast.com Join the WINMI community: Instagram or Twitter (@winmipodcast) Reach out with any questions or comments: contact.winmipodcast.com The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. ----------- "I Been 'Buked" and "Fix Me, Jesus" arranged by Hall Johnson. G. Schirmer, Inc., publisher and copyright owner. "Kitty In The Window" by Podington Bear is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. Based on a work at http://soundofpicture.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to the performing arts and certainly to dance, there are few people more worthy of admiration, of inspiration and imitation than Alvin Ailey. He was both uniquely gifted and qualified to tell the African-American experience which he lived and saw and reacted to through the art of dance. If you follow me or the podcast on social media, you know that I’m a white man who also grew up in the South. I was certainly witness to and heard tinges of racism growing up, but was fortunately sheltered for the most part from those who held such a deep-seeded hatred. A bigotry that Ailey knew first-hand. Growing up in the South, he had his own struggles with self-esteem due to the acts of racial violence so prevalent in those formative years. Within the theater, we have playwrights and lyricists who can put difficult feelings and hard lessons into words. They show us parts of humanity that can be both glorious and despicable. But theater is not with us right now, the stage is silent. And so in the last few days, in light of the events that led to George Floyd‘s death and its aftermath, I have looked for and listened to past voices for both understanding and action, comfort and courage. One of my most treasured experiences and memories of being here in New York City is getting to watch the Alvin Ailey American dance concerts each winter and summer. They consist of powerful and moving performances by amazingly talented dancers. And so it was only natural that my thoughts would go to the stories and emotions told through the pieces that Alvin Ailey choreographed himself, namely his iconic Revelations, which was inspired by his involvement within the Southern Black church. In fact, all of his work came forth from the people and places and experiences of his life. People and choreography discussed: Alvin Ailey - https://www.alvinailey.org/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater/alvin-ailey Judith Jamison - https://www.alvinailey.org/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater/judith-jamison Robert Battle - https://www.alvinailey.org/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater/robert-battle Lester Horton - https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/h/ho-hz/lester-horton/ Cry - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuTJSbWm2QY Masekela Langage - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxsWWYBxKE0 Revelations - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrPJ4kt3a64 Videos and interviews used in the making of this episode: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre at 50 A Golden Anniversary Celebration Big Lives: Profiles of LGBT African Americans - Alvin Ailey Alvin Ailey Celebrates 50th - CBS Judith Jamison: Early Days with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Alvin Ailey and the Importance of the Arts - The New Yorker Alvin Ailey connects cultures through dance Alvin Ailey speaking at UCLA - 3/9/1983 Revelations from a lifetime of dance - TEDtalk ------------ The time and expense needed to compile and edit this epiosde was at times challenging but ultimately rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. Music used in this episode: "Reverie (small theme)" by _ghost. 2010 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) "Smoldering" by Kai Engel is licensed under a Attribution License. "Jazz Brunch" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 International License. Based on a work at incompetech.com. "Barbara" by U.S. Army Blues is licensed under a Public Domain Mark 1.0 License. "Something About John Coltrane" by Alice Coltrane. Licensed to YouTube by UMG (on behalf of Verve); BMI - Broadcast Music Inc., UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA - UBEM, UMPI, LatinAutor, Jowcol Music (Publishing), LatinAutor - UMPG, and 8 Music Rights Societies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the end of our previous insightful conversation, Douglas Sills gave his answers to the Final Five questions. He shares a story of his mentor who recently passed away as well as his interests finance and veterinarian medicine. After his answer to best advice, I kept the recording going and it opened into a deeper conversation about happiness and feeling (un)motivated. Do you have other ideas for Final Five questions? Let me know at contact.winmipodast.com. ---------- The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. For further insights on the topics covered in this episode: https://twitter.com/winmipodcast/ Quotes and unreleased audio clips: https://www.instagram.com/winmipodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

His iconic Broadway debut in SCARLET PIMPERNEL may have made Douglas Sills a Broadway star, but his head has never been in the clouds. In today's episode, he has his feet firmly on the ground and shares how he left the business (twice) and what brought him back. His insights are a seasoned look not only at his career but at the kind of person he wants to be. From understanding luck's role in his career to realizing that having a life means so much more than making a living, Douglas is both confident and vulnerable in this honest look at what "making it" really means. That Tony Awards performance that inspired me and made me a fan of Douglas Sills: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpAXrY2rf_s&list=RDgpAXrY2rf_s&start_radio=1 Follow Doug: Twitter / Instagram Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter ————— May this podcast be a resource for you as you discover more ways to pursue a career in this industry and sustain it through the many ups and downs that follow. Reach out to me with comments or questions: https://contact.winmipodcast.com WINMI is supported through kind donations of listeners like you: https://ko-fi.com/winmipodcast Music in this episode: "Little Idea" by Scott Holmes is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After our conversation on the previous episode, Mykal and Hannah answer the Final Five questions. They share stories of the individuals who have inspired them as artists as well as their interests in education and geology. They finish with why it's so important to be on time and the proper place for performance in an artist's life. Do you have other ideas for Final Five questions? Let me know at contact.winmipodast.com. ---------- The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode. For further insights on the topics covered in this episode: https://twitter.com/winmipodcast/ Quotes and unreleased audio clips: https://www.instagram.com/winmipodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices