The Art of Not Making It: with Tiffany Springle Tiffany Springle

Today's guest is Ashley Wool!

This has to be one of my favorite interviews so far on The Art of Not Making It. Honest and pure, Ashley and I get into what it's like when you finally reach Broadway. Once there, you are not only experiencing your Broadway debut, but originating a lead in a new, ground-breaking musical. How do you handle the pressure, excitement, and unknown?

Ashley and I met 11 years ago at an audition and instantly hit it off. We've stayed in touch and it's been so lovely to follow her career as it brings her to this moment.

After years of hard work and living authentically, Ashley is making her Broadway debut as Jessica in How To Dance In Ohio. 

Here's a bit about the show (as quoted from their website):

Based on the award-winning HBO documentary, How to Dance in Ohio is a heart-filled new musical exploring the need to connect and the courage it takes to step out into the world. At a group counseling center in Columbus, Ohio, seven autistic young adults prepare for a spring formal dance—a rite of passage that breaks open their routines and sets off hilarious and heartbreaking encounters with love, stress, excitement, and independence. How to Dance in Ohio is a story about people standing on the cusp of the next phase of their lives, facing their hopes and fears, ready to make a very big first move…and dance.

Reviews have been gushing...
...take a look:

"Groundbreaking. Thoughtful and poetic. This feel-good show is a milestone. "
-The New York Times

"Broadway’s most original new musical. It will stay with you."
-The Daily Beast

"Groundbreaking and big-hearted. A Broadway first."
-Variety

"How to Dance in Ohio makes me believe in Broadway once again."
-Theatrely

Book & Lyrics by Jacob Yandura, Music by Lily Ling, Musical Direction by Mayte Natalio, Choreography by Sammi Cannold, and Directed by Harold Prince.

In a Broadway first, seven actors on the autistic spectrum play the autistic leads. Finally.

But it doesn't just stop with the casting. You can feel the thoughtful choices made in all aspects of the show, from the team compiled (with close to 50 members involved on and off stage making their Broadway debuts), to the resources tab on their website which answers commonly asked questions and misconceptions.

This is a monumental, historical piece of Broadway history, and I'm so excited for Ashley to impact so many people with her art. 

You can catch How to Dance in Ohio at the Belasco Theater, and more details can be found on their website at:
https://howtodanceinohiomusical.com/

Here it is. The Art of Not Making It. 

Hello friends!

Today's episode is pretty special. They say don't meet your heroes. That is, unless they are Michael Rupert. Then you are in for a real treat. It was such a pleasure having Michael on, and he shares some invaluable insight on sustaining a lifelong career in this industry.

Michael John Rupert is an American actor, singer, director and composer. In 1968, he made his Broadway debut in The Happy Time as Bibi Bonnard for which he received a Tony Award nomination and the Theater World Award. He originated the role of "Marvin" in the William Finn musicals March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland. Rupert has been the nominee and recipient of several Tony and Drama Desk awards.

Theater Credits Include:

The Happy Time - Bibi Bonnar (Original Broadway Cast)
Pippin  - Pippin (replacement)
Shakespeare's Cabaret - Michael
March of the Falsettos - Marvin (Original Cast)
Sweet Charity - Oscar (revival)
Mail - Alex
City of Angels - Stine (replacement)
Falsettoland - Marvin (Original Cast)
Falsettos - Marvin (Original Cast)
Ragtime - Tateh (replacement)
Elegies: A Song Cycle - Original Performer
Legally Blonde - Professor Callahan (Original Broadway Cast)
Monarch - Kenneth Sharpe
On The Town - Judge Pitkin (revival)

Directing
In 1997, Rupert directed an Off-Broadway production of  The Lunch Anxieties by Larry Kunofsky at the Harold Clurman Theatre. He directed J. Arlington Meyrelles III's musical, The Stars In Your Eyes, in an Equity workshop production in 1998. Rupert directed Thrill Me: Leopold & Loeb Story (2005) at the York Theatre.
Composing
Rupert composed the music, with book and lyrics by Jerry Colker, to the 1985 Off-Broadway music 3 Guys Naked from the Waist Down, which won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book and was nominated for Outstanding Music.The score for Mail (1988) was also written by Rupert with Colker once again writing the book and lyrics. Rupert wrote the score to Strange Vacation (1998) and collaborated with Allan Heinberg. He composed the score and co-wrote the book and lyrics with Matthew Riopelle for the musical Streets of America (2007).On August 18, 2008 the number "Racing to the Moon" was released Footlight Label as a single featuring three different performances: one by Rupert, another by actor Sebastian Arcelus, and an instrumental version by the guitarist David Timmons. His debut single, "Racing to the Moon" was released on August 18, 2008 on the Footlight label.
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Here it is. The Art of Not Making It. 

Today's guest is the luminous Josh Saleh!

Josh Saleh is a host, gamer, and dog dad! Josh hosts Marvel Let's Play, where he interviews, plays with and showcases Marvel talent, game developers, and fans. His Marvel hosting background includes movie premieres, Marvel gaming tournaments, numerous Comic Con panels, as well as Marvel Minute. When he's not nerding out at Marvel, you can catch him on Amazon as their tech and gaming host, and creating video game content for Adorama!

Upcoming:
Hosting Marvel's San Diego Comic Con! I'm already geeking out.
Dates: Thu, Jul 20, 2023 – Sun, Jul 23, 2023

Josh is also developing his Party Card Game - Change My Mind!
C'mon. Everyone loves a Card Game. Here are more details:

Are you the loudest in the room? The most opinionated?! Change My Mind is a party game for loud people who love to debate! Explode into ludicrous debates and absurd chaos as you try and have the last word!Rank the most absurd categories you'd never thought you'd rank! Use your voice to change the minds of players and have them second guess their rankings. With 150 cards that span across all themes, no topic is safe! Do you have what it takes to change someone's mind?

You can support Change My Mind here:
Kickstarter Link
Socials:
www.JoshSaleh.com
Instagram: JoshSaleh
Twitter/Tik Tok: JoshDSaleh

Josh is the best, and it was awesome chatting with him.
So good it almost gave me the foops.

New episodes of The Art of Not Making It every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Here it is. The Art of Not Making It. 

Howdy!

Today's guest is the AMAZING Chloë Campbell.

Chloë was one of my first friends in NYC. I think I'd just moved to NYC a week prior to us meeting. Despite knowing her for 10+ years, there was so much about her personal career journey I didn't know. It was nice to finally sit down and chat.

I appreciate Chloë so much for giving me some of her time. As you can hear in the interview, she's very busy balancing her roles as a parent and dancer. Both are incredibly time consuming, but she handles it with grace.

She even has her own podcast, Mutha, where she discusses the balancing act of being on Broadway and a parent. Please give her a follow and listen- it's an incredible podcast that definitely serves an overlooked part of the entertainment industry.

Chloë's professional credits include:
Broadway: Hamilton, King Kong, and Tuck Everlasting.
Broadway Tours include In The Heights.
West End London - Mary Poppins, Desperately Seeking Susan, Shoes, and On The Town

Chloë's Podcast: Mutha
Mutha's Insta : @muthapodcast
Chloë's insta : @chloe.s.campbell

New episodes of The Art of Not Making It every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Here it is. The Art of Not Making It. 

Hello hello! Tiffany here.

At the time of this episode's release, I have come down with the flu. Luckily, I have a british robot man to record the introduction.

Robots: they are the future.

It's all fun and games until AI destroys mankind.

In the meantime, we've got a great episode for you today!

STACEY WEINGARTEN is an Emmy-winning multi-hypenate specializing in writing, directing, and producing musical and puppet works, especially for kids/families. She’s worked everywhere from “Sesame Street” to “Avenue Q”, with everyone from Kermit to Julie Andrews, and develops projects that promote social awareness through entertainment. Stacey was represented Off-Broadway last year by “Rescue Rue”, a musical fairytale inspired by her rescue dog. Stacey served as a Puppet Consultant on “Blippi’s Treehouse” (Amazon), Consulting Creative Producer/Series Director/Contributing Writer for “Reading Buddies” S2 (PBS), Co-Creator/Writer of “Monica’s Mixing Bowl” (Independent) as well as “Cone of Shame” (Handmade Puppet Dreams). Other favorite Bookwriting projects include time-travelinʼ sci-fi rock opera “Ludo's Broken Bride”; chanson-infused historical-fiction “5th Republic”; 1890s gender-affirming Storyville tale “Madame” (w/L Morgan Lee). A former DG Fellow, Stacey teaches puppetry at Pace, volunteers as the Children’s Media Association's LA Chapter President, and promises not to put puppets in anything unless it's appropriate.

Stacey Weingarten is directing her play, Runaway Rue, at the Fringe Festival in LA!!! Dates are June 4, 9, 11, 17, 18. You can find more details at RueTix.com

This is a really special episode and I'm grateful to call Stacey a friend.

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Here it is. The Art of Not Making It. 

Today's guest is the amazing Bryan Matechen!
 
Bryan Matechen, a born and bred Pittsburgher (with a flare for style), moved to New York City in 2010 and hit the ground running. Starting as the Costume Coordinator on the hit television show Gossip Girl, where he worked for their final two seasons. Some other credits include Netflix’s: The Politician and Tales of the City, HBO’s: The Other Two, The Plot Against America, Crashing, Amazon’s Z:The Beginning of Everything, Comedy Central’s Broad City, and NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers. 
He’s currently working on his 8th season over at Saturday Night Live as the Film Unit Associate Costume Designer where he has over 150 episodes under his belt. 

It was such a pleasure having Bryan on. One of my first friends in NYC, it's been a joy to follow his journey and cheer him on. He deserves all the success he's achieved over the years. 

I hope you leave this episode motivated and inspired.

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This is the art of not making it.