15 episodes

A career in musical theatre is hard, no matter how wonderful your training is or how developed your skills are, because of the vulnerability it requires, the rejection you have to continually face, plus all the fierce competition at every audition, and the head-games and negative self-talk we get into with ourselves.

The Mental Game of Musical Theatre is all about helping you persevere through the mental challenges that inevitably come up along the way, while you’re pursuing, building, and maintaining your musical theatre career.

Host David Eggers and his esteemed guests - working musical theatre artists at every level and at every point in the journey - share the most intimate details of their experiences while building their musical theatre careers...

- the self-doubt
- the audition nerves (and ways to handle theme)
- the ”almost but not quite” jobs
- the dream jobs
- the Tony awards
- the breaks that seemed like pure luck
- the healthy practices
- the best advice ever received
- things they know now that they wish they knew then

... and so much more in every episode!

SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode! Upcoming guests include: Gavin Creel, Raymond J. Lee, Kelli O’Hara, JoAnn M. Hunter, Francis Jue, T. Oliver Reid, Darren Lee, David Hyde Pierce, Deb Monk, André Ward, Bonnie Milligan, Sutton Foster, Robyn Hurder, Telly Lueng... and many, many more!

LEAVE A TOP NOTCH REVIEW if you like an episode, at all! Please. That will help make this podcast visible to more more people. And the more people we reach, the more musical theatre folks we’ll be able to help to persevere in their efforts toward achieving their musical theatre dreams! Your positive review really does make a huge difference!

Thank you for being here! Now go download the some episodes!

David Eggers
Sign up for info about the upcoming book, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre (Routledge Publishing) here: https://profeggers.com
Follow: @profeggers on IG and TT
Contact: david@profeggers.com

The Mental Game of Musical Theatre David Eggers

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 13 Ratings

A career in musical theatre is hard, no matter how wonderful your training is or how developed your skills are, because of the vulnerability it requires, the rejection you have to continually face, plus all the fierce competition at every audition, and the head-games and negative self-talk we get into with ourselves.

The Mental Game of Musical Theatre is all about helping you persevere through the mental challenges that inevitably come up along the way, while you’re pursuing, building, and maintaining your musical theatre career.

Host David Eggers and his esteemed guests - working musical theatre artists at every level and at every point in the journey - share the most intimate details of their experiences while building their musical theatre careers...

- the self-doubt
- the audition nerves (and ways to handle theme)
- the ”almost but not quite” jobs
- the dream jobs
- the Tony awards
- the breaks that seemed like pure luck
- the healthy practices
- the best advice ever received
- things they know now that they wish they knew then

... and so much more in every episode!

SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode! Upcoming guests include: Gavin Creel, Raymond J. Lee, Kelli O’Hara, JoAnn M. Hunter, Francis Jue, T. Oliver Reid, Darren Lee, David Hyde Pierce, Deb Monk, André Ward, Bonnie Milligan, Sutton Foster, Robyn Hurder, Telly Lueng... and many, many more!

LEAVE A TOP NOTCH REVIEW if you like an episode, at all! Please. That will help make this podcast visible to more more people. And the more people we reach, the more musical theatre folks we’ll be able to help to persevere in their efforts toward achieving their musical theatre dreams! Your positive review really does make a huge difference!

Thank you for being here! Now go download the some episodes!

David Eggers
Sign up for info about the upcoming book, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre (Routledge Publishing) here: https://profeggers.com
Follow: @profeggers on IG and TT
Contact: david@profeggers.com

    Kate Reinders

    Kate Reinders

    KATE REINDERS - From understudy on tour to OG Chicago GLINDA, to High School Musical The Musical The Series’ Favorite Drama teacher, Miss Jen…. Kate Reinders career has stood the test of time.
     
    Did she really take a leave of absence from a Broadway revival in order to do a kids’ show? 
    Did she really miss a performance of said kids’ show in Minneapolis to fly to London to audition for a different Broadway show?  What’s it like doing a sitcom in front of a live studio audience?  And what’s the correlation between comedy and music?
     
    Hear about Kate’s youthful confidence, and not taking no for an answer… following her gut… standing up for herself…and what philosophies continue to guide her.. 
     
    Kate reminds us “It’s all how you think about it…. it’s not life or death…. We don’t really have anything to lose.” She talks about trying to reconnect and remember why you put up with all the stuff that’s not so great in the business.  
     
    And her matter-of-fact concept that, “You could get a job that could change everything… or you could not get it and that would change nothing….” so go for it!
     
    Join me as I laugh along with Kate and we “consider the evidence” of navigating a long and winding trajectory in an industry full of twists and turns and disappointments and challenges… and TONS OF WONDERFUL!!! 
    KATE on INSTA: @KateReinders 
    —-----------------------
    FOLLOW / SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode!
    And if you like this episode, please leave a 5 ⭐️ review!
    It will help make this podcast more visible, and reach more musical theatre lovers! Your positive review really does make a huge difference!
    Thank you for being here! Feel free to share this on your socials. 
    And thank you for listening!
    David Eggers
    ---> Sign up for info about the upcoming book, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre (Routledge Publishing) here: https://profeggers.com
    ---> Follow: @profeggers on IG and TT / Contact: david@profeggers.com
     

    • 41 min
    André Ward (part 2)

    André Ward (part 2)

    André Ward (part 2) - We are back with part 2 of my interview with my dear friend, André Ward! Join us for more incredible stories, wisdom, laughs... and shout-outs to Colman Domingo, Billy Porter, and Katie Finneran!
     
    What was it that helped André step in to owning his own sense of self? How has career changed since he embraced himself fully?
     
    I hope you enjoy this conversation and laugh along with us. Thanks for coming back for part 2! - ProfEggers
     
    Instagram: @theandrelward  
    —-----------------------
    FOLLOW / SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode!
    And if you like this episode, please leave a 5 ⭐️ review!
    It will help make this podcast more visible, and reach more musical theatre lovers! Your positive review really does make a huge difference!
    Thank you for being here! Feel free to share this on your socials. 
    And thank you for listening!
    David Eggers
    ---> Sign up for info about the upcoming book, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre (Routledge Publishing) here: https://profeggers.com
    ---> Follow: @profeggers on IG and TT / Contact: david@profeggers.com
    ***************************************************************************************
     

    • 30 min
    André Ward (part 1)

    André Ward (part 1)

    André Ward (part 1) - This week, join me and my old friend, André Ward. As one of his teachers once said, “André’s a delight… but he talks a lot in class.” And believe me, his stories are not only wonderful and full of wisdom and joy, but filled with a LOT of laughs! 
     
    How did this powerhouse performer, and grounded balanced soul get to where he is today?  How does a whole childhood of pretending he was on Oprah and Donahue, and scripting his own soap operas and making his friends perform them on the playground, translate to a huge Broadway, TV, and film career, and lead to playing Toulouse-Lautrec in the mega-hit Broadway show Moulin Rouge! ?
     
    Learn about his “sometimes crippling insecurity.” And did he really make an entrance swinging in over the audience on a rope? And learn the sage advice, imparted by a beloved broadway “Mama,” that André carries with him to this day! 
     
    I hope you enjoy this conversation and laugh along with us. And come back for part 2! - ProfEggers
     
    Instagram: @theandrelward  
    —-----------------------
    FOLLOW / SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode!
    And if you like this episode, please leave a 5 ⭐️ review!
    It will help make this podcast more visible, and reach more musical theatre lovers! Your positive review really does make a huge difference!
    Thank you for being here! Feel free to share this on your socials. 
    And thank you for listening!
    David Eggers
    ---> Sign up for info about the upcoming book, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre (Routledge Publishing) here: https://profeggers.com
    ---> Follow: @profeggers on IG and TT / Contact: david@profeggers.com
    ***************************************************************************************
     

    • 35 min
    Alli Mauzey

    Alli Mauzey

    Alli Mauzey - Join me and my astounding guest, Alli Mauzey, as she talks about her time at Wicked, Cry-Baby, and her current role of “Pattie Levaco,” the mom, in the Tony Award winning Best Musical: Kimberly Akimbo.
     
    Learn about Alli’s “roundabout way” of getting into the business, after feeling like her schooling maybe didn’t actually set her up the way that she THOUGHT it would, and how she got told NO, but tried again. 
     
    Alli’s gratitude-filled perspective will help you appreciate the process and the extreme effort it takes to get a new musical off the ground, and the contrast of being in some of the best-known mega-hits.
     
    Instagram: @alli_mauzey  Website:  www.allimauzey.com
    —-----------------------
     
    FOLLOW / SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode!
    And if you like this episode, please leave a 5 ⭐️ review!
    It will help make this podcast more visible, and reach more musical theatre lovers! Your positive review really does make a huge difference!
    Thank you for being here, thank you for listening, and feel free to share this on your socials!
    David Eggers
     
    ---> Sign up for info about the upcoming book, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre (Routledge Publishing) here: https://profeggers.com
    ---> Follow: @profeggers on IG and TT / Contact: david@profeggers.com
    ***************************************************************************************
     

    • 36 min
    Tripp Hanson

    Tripp Hanson

    Tripp Hanson - Okay, kids… buckle up for some solid #TruthBombs and life-altering content from my good friend, TRIPP HANSON. Tripp’s life is constantly evolving from a backstory that includes tapping on the street, to traveling the world with Tommy Tune, to helping create Crazy For You, to acupuncture, and now to the Mindmasteryinstitute.com.
    So, join us as we talk about living life with agency and intention, and get a peek into processes that can help you “tell a better story about your life,” all backed up with actual brain science. Tripp reminds us that everything in the universe is Energy…. Including us… and our believing, and our manifesting. Well, to put it bluntly, “This shit is real.”
    For Tripp’s free course that he mentions, click here: Peak Performance Mastery.
    A free mini-course with accompanying journaling prompts, and…BONUS! 3 Guided Meditations to fast track your progress. Morning, Evening and a Moving Meditation, for embodying your capital “S” self on the go!
    Free Course! PEAK PERFORMANCE MASTERY!
    For any questions for Tripp, email him at: learn@mindmasteryinstitute.com
    Tripp’s WEBSITE: https://mindmasteryinstitute.com/
    INSTAGRAM: @tripphansonofficial  |  Facebook: Tripp Hanson
    —-----------------------
    FOLLOW / SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode!
    And if you like this episode, please leave a 5 ⭐️ review!
    It will help make this podcast more visible, and reach more musical theatre lovers! Your positive review really does make a huge difference!
    Thank you for being here! Feel free to share this on your socials. 
    And thank you for listening!
    David Eggers
    ---> Sign up for info about the upcoming book, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre (Routledge Publishing) here: https://profeggers.com
    ---> Follow: @profeggers on IG and TT / Contact: david@profeggers.com
    ***************************************************************************************
     

    • 1 hr 5 min
    Jacqueline B. Arnold (part 2)

    Jacqueline B. Arnold (part 2)

    Part 2 - This week I talk with Jacqueline B Arnold, a versatile triple threat, who is one of the iconic original (and current) stars of Moulin Rouge, about her unconventional path to Broadway… about her personal journey and personal struggle(s)… about the catch 22 of rejection (”you can’t really be that mad about it… but you kinda are…”) and about balance and authenticity.
     
    Be sure to listen to find out what groundbreaking show Jackie booked after showing up at a cattle call with a blurry headshot in which she sported a Leopard Print Jacket, and bleach blonde hair with grown out roots…. And did she really get a callback from singing 8 words….…In a bathroom?
     
    Jackie’s warmth and wisdom permeates right to the heart as she reminds us “You need to remember where you came from,” and does her best to “live Jackie Arnold’s life as much as [she] possibly can.”
     
    Instagram: @jacquelinebarnold
    MMV Talent with Shannon Arnold https://www.mmvtalent.com/ and on Instagram @mmvtalent
    -------------------------------
    FOLLOW / SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode!
    And if you like this episode, please leave a 5 ⭐️ review!
    It will help make this podcast more visible, and reach more musical theatre lovers! Your positive review really does make a huge difference!
    Thank you for being here! Feel free to share this on your socials. 
    And thank you for listening!
    David Eggers
    ---> Sign up for info about the upcoming book, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre (Routledge Publishing) here: https://profeggers.com
    ---> Follow: @profeggers on IG and TT / Contact: david@profeggers.com

    • 27 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
13 Ratings

13 Ratings

U of U Student ,

Pure Gold!

As a theater artist brand new to the game, I keep coming back to this podcast to inspire me and keep me working hard and with joy! The nuggets of advice that each person brings are ~pure gold~ and are always a joy and it’s so valuable to see how each individuals journey become what they now have as amazing careers and lives!

Tripp.HPAcu ,

The juiciest conversations from some of the best in the biz!

I’m in love with David Eggers and his new-ish podcast!! For anyone who cares about musical theatre…heck, ANY theatre, because the issues are really the same…this is an extraordinary deep dive into the life, the art, the business of a life in musical theatre. SO many great guests- and so much incredible wisdom being shared. David obviously knows this world, and the pros he brings on share so openly- it’s a joy!

If you’re a student of musical theatre, bring your journal and a pen! If you’re a professional in musical theatre…bring your journal and a pen. And maybe a glass of something delicious to drink! But don’t miss this FANTASTIC podcast!!

“Broadway doesn’t love you...” ,

The perfect mix of truth and passion

Eggers creates a safe space allowing his guests to be vulnerable and unleash the reality of the business, while still highlighting the beautiful moments of the multicolored grind to “success”. Listening weekly has reminded me to stay true myself while still pushing myself to reach my fullest potential. I encourage anyone who needs a boost of serotonin or a reminder that theatre happens because of the relationships we create, to take a listen!

Top Podcasts In Arts

Add to Cart with Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak
Lemonada Media
Fresh Air
NPR
The Moth
The Moth
99% Invisible
Roman Mars
Snap Judgment Presents: Spooked
Snap Judgment
Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver
iHeartPodcasts