Backstage with Becca B‪.‬ Becca Brown

On this episode I talked with Jason about his journey as an actor, from his early ambitions to his multifaceted artistic career, filming Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies where he played Buddy Aldridge, what it was like filming music numbers for the show and how long they took, how he is similar to Buddy, his audition for The Outsiders where he originally went in for Bob Sheldon before going in for Sodapop, how his portrayal of Sodapop has changed since the La Jolla Playhouse run, getting to make his Broadway debut, the intricate staging of the show, his favorite scenes, the profound emotional impact of The Outsiders, how Sodapop Curtis was inspired by S.E. Hinton’s cousin, the milestones that come with being part of an original Broadway cast, nuances of confidence in the industry, imposter syndrome and the necessity of a supportive network to foster self-assurance, his music which can be found on all streaming platforms, and more!

 On this episode I talked with Kevin about his journey into theater, the multifaceted influences that contributed to his artistic development, from his family's love for music to his athletic background, his thought process behind choosing Carnegie Mellon University for drama school, his love and passion for writing his own music, his audition experience for The Outsiders on Broadway and his love for the book which the show does a good job matching the tone of, the impact of reading The Outsiders in school and how the black and white aesthetic and themes resonated with him, writing a poem about masculinity and fathers and sons during a trip to Atlanta, which he later shared with his cast during rehearsals for The Outsiders, the evolution of portraying the character of Bob from La Jolla Playhouse to Broadway, the challenges of creating a complex character and the learning experiences gained, how he prepared to make his Broadway debut, self confidence in this industry, and much more!

I talked with Emma Pittman about her early exposure to theatre, how she became a well-rounded performer who can tackle singing, acting, and dancing on stage, entering Broadway.com’s contest “The Search For Roxie” and winning the show, getting to make her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago, her fresh take on Roxie Hart, what made her want to audition for Back To The Future on Broadway, learning the choreography for a dance heavy show, her audition process for The Outsiders and previously being a fan of the book & movie, adapting a complex narrative to a different medium, the realistic portrayal of the diverse characters The Outsiders, meeting S.E. Hinton (the author of The Outsiders), recording the cast album (OUT NOW), the creative and technical aspects of bringing the musical to fruition, and more! 

On this episode I talked about Liana's early passion for theater, her decision to attend NYU for theater school, her subsequent role in the national tour of Mamma Mia where she played Sophie Sheridan, making a well-known character her own on both Broadway and tour, playing Katherine Plumber in Newsies on Broadway, the insane choreography and dances in Newsies, auditioning for Nessrose in Wicked and booking the tour, studying comedy and improv, her involvement in sketch comedy, the underrated musical Bright Star where she played Margo Crawford, her current role as Lorraine in Back To The Future on Broadway, her experience transitioning from rehearsals to the stage with the intricate effects of the production, bringing the show to a new generation and the heartwarming experience of witnessing parents share their love for the film with their kids, meeting Lea Thompson, and much more!

On this episode I talked with Natalie about her passion for acting and childhood memories, the importance of regional theater in providing opportunities for aspiring actors, her audition experience for Wicked, the emotional rollercoaster of waiting and self-doubt during the process, how she prepared to make her Broadway debut, self-confidence, maintaining a healthy lifestyle while performing 8 times a week on Broadway, performing on a raked stage with a wheelchair, the intricacies of Nessarose’s character arc, portraying Nessa’s transformation and the importance of eliciting empathy from the audience, dream roles, favorite Jonas Brothers songs, and MORE! 

On this episode I talked with Coby about how he discovered his passion for theatre, the atmosphere of the theater community, his experiences at performing arts high school and UCLA, becoming a well-rounded and versatile performer, playing Moritz on the Spring Awakening national tour and the show’s impact on both the cast and the audience, the changing perception of understudies and standbys in the theater industry, how audiences are now celebrating the individuality of each performer they see in a show, his Broadway debut in Brighton Beach Memoirs, taking on the role of Cunningham (standby) in Book of Mormon and the importance of tackling comedy as an actor, understudying Roy and Richard in The Shark Is Broken on Broadway and working with Alex Brightman, Collin Donnell, and Ian Shaw, the importance of being prepared at any moment to deliver a stellar performance, timing, playing Papi in The Band’s Visit on tour, self-confidence as a working actor in the entertainment industry, stepping into Merrily We Roll Along on Broadway where he was welcomed with open arms, his rehearsal process for Merrily, learning the role of Charley, potential upcoming Charley dates, dream roles, and much more!