The Salisha Show-Where Broadway Meets Culture

Salisha Thomas
  • 5.0 (7)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

THE SALISHA SHOW offers an intimate look into the lives of Broadway stars, creatives, and changemakers. Hosted by Broadway actress Salisha Thomas, each episode features heartfelt conversations that inspire, entertain, and celebrate the magic of theater and the arts. Tune in for behind the scenes stories, life lessons, and a dose of motivation from the world's stage.

  1. 3D AGO

    Why New York Can Break You and Still Make Your Dreams Come True

    This week, Salisha shares the ultimate New York story that perfectly captures her love hate relationship with the city. From a rat falling from the ceiling during a double date in Harlem to unexpected celebrity encounters in elevators and on sidewalks, Salisha reflects on the chaos, magic, and possibility that define life in New York City. In this solo episode, Salisha talks about  • The restaurant moment that traumatized her  • Why New York looks scarier on TV than it feels in real life  • Running into legends like James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, Carol King, and Hugh Jackman  • The surprising kindness of New Yorkers  • Why this city allows you to reinvent yourself  • Finding gratitude even in uncomfortable seasons This episode is about more than a wild restaurant story. It is about place, identity, and becoming who you are meant to be. New York can kick you across the face. And somehow, it can still be the place where your dreams unfold. CHAPTERS: 00:41 Pregnancy in New York City during the summer 02:31 The Harlem double date gone wrong 04:16 The rat falls from the ceiling 06:04 The mass exodus and trauma pour 08:45 Sharing an elevator with James Earl Jones 11:46 Why New York lets you become who you really are @salishathomas @thesalishashow, www.thesalishashow.com Many thanks to Gotham Network in NYC, TyNia Brandon for writing and laying vocals down for the updated theme song and Big Red Studios for the intro video wherever you watch the latest season of The Salisha Show!

    16 min

  2. FEB 27

    From Wigs to Wow: Embracing Your Authentic Self as a Performer

    This week, Salisha shares a powerful realization about hair, identity, and what it really means to show up fully in the audition room. After taking a commercial class in New York City, a simple question from a casting director shifted the way she saw herself. What started as a conversation about a wig turned into a deeper reflection about confidence, perception, and the subtle ways performers sometimes hide parts of themselves without even realizing it. In this solo episode, Salisha talks about • The unspoken politics of hair in audition rooms • The difference between choosing a look and hiding behind one • How embracing her natural hair changed her confidence • Broadway’s evolving relationship with authenticity • Why being fully yourself can influence how others receive you This episode is a reminder that sometimes the shift is not about changing your talent. It is about changing how you see yourself. When you stop hiding and start choosing intentionally, you may realize you were more than enough all along. CHAPTERS 01:41 Commercial class and unexpected feedback 03:29 The casting director’s honest perspective 05:05 Hiding versus choosing intentionally 05:51 Broadway’s shift toward natural authenticity 08:02 Accepting yourself and being cast as you @salishathomas @thesalishashow, www.thesalishashow.com Many thanks to Gotham Network in NYC, TyNia Brandon for writing and laying vocals down for the updated theme song and Big Red Studios for the intro video wherever you watch the latest season of The Salisha Show!

    10 min

  3. FEB 20

    From Brooklyn to Miss USA: MonaLesa Brackett on Confidence, Loss, and Starting Over

    This week, Salisha sits down with Miss New Hampshire USA, MonaLesa Brackett, for a powerful conversation about faith, resilience, and making history on one of the biggest stages in the country. From competing as a teen in Brooklyn to stepping onto the Miss USA stage at 36, MonaLesa shares the full-circle journey that led her to represent not only her state, but women around the world who have ever felt different, overlooked, or counted out. In this episode, MonaLesa talks about • Competing in pageants as a hijabi woman and redefining representation • Training, fundraising, and preparing for Miss USA in just two weeks • Losing her mother and fighting a seven-year legal battle • Why it is never too late to pursue your dream • Building a real estate business that serves the homeless • Walking away from misaligned relationships and trusting God’s timing This conversation is about more than crowns and titles. It is about alignment, faith, and having the courage to show up exactly as you are. MonaLesa reminds us that your journey does not expire. Your dream does not have a deadline. And sometimes the life you are meant to live is more beautiful than you could have ever imagined. CHAPTERS 02:16 Competing in pageants from Brooklyn to Miss USA 08:27 Facing pushback and redefining representation 11:36 The international support that changed everything 16:26 The work behind Miss USA and the reality of preparation 24:09 It is never too late to start over 29:01 Building a real estate business to house the homeless 37:56 The prayer that changed her life @salishathomas @thesalishashow, www.thesalishashow.com Many thanks to Gotham Network in NYC, TyNia Brandon for writing and laying vocals down for the updated theme song and Big Red Studios for the intro video wherever you watch the latest season of The Salisha Show!

    43 min

  4. FEB 13

    #217- All It Takes Is One Yes: Broadway Auditions, Rejection, and the Moment It Finally Clicked

    This week, Salisha shares some of the worst auditions of her career and the lessons they taught her about resilience, timing, and trusting the process. From cracking on high notes to singing the wrong material in the wrong rooms, Salisha walks through real moments from her journey as a performer. She reflects on rejection, self-doubt, and the long road that led from countless no’s to booking her first Broadway show. In this solo episode, Salisha talks about • Why bad auditions are part of the path and not a failure • Learning your voice, your type, and your timing • How rejection can sharpen clarity rather than crush confidence • Trusting yourself even when doors keep closing • Why one yes can change everything This episode is a reminder for artists, creatives, and anyone building something meaningful that progress is rarely linear. Sometimes the path forward is paved with moments that feel messy, uncomfortable, and discouraging. And sometimes those moments are exactly what prepare you for the right opportunity. CHAPTERS 01:38 Why bad auditions happen to everyone 04:14 Singing the wrong song in the wrong room 06:31 When silence in the room says everything 09:48 Cracking on a Broadway audition 12:03 One yes that changed everything @salishathomas @thesalishashow, www.thesalishashow.com Many thanks to Gotham Network in NYC, TyNia Brandon for writing and laying vocals down for the updated theme song and Big Red Studios for the intro video wherever you watch the latest season of The Salisha Show!

    22 min

  5. FEB 6

    #216- What Happens After You Finally Make It on Broadway with Marisha Wallace

    This week on The Salisha Show, Salisha sits down with Broadway and West End powerhouse Marisha Wallace for an honest and grounding conversation about what it really takes to sustain a life in theatre. From early mornings outside the Actors’ Equity building to starring in iconic productions like Cabaret, Marisha shares the realities of carrying success once the dream arrives. She opens up about leaving New York during a pivotal moment in her life, finding creative freedom abroad, and returning to Broadway with a deeper sense of self, discipline, and purpose. Together, they explore • What changes after you finally make it • The mental and emotional weight of visibility • Why ensemble work builds resilience • Protecting your voice and your body in demanding seasons • Reimagining success beyond applause This conversation is a reminder that success on stage is only part of the journey. The inner work required to hold it is just as important. CHAPTERS  00:02:10 Early Broadway experiences and ensemble life 00:11:18 Leaving New York and listening to intuition 00:17:41 Carrying the pressure of being the lead 00:21:10 Discipline, strength, and protecting your instrument 00:29:26 Identity, growth, and reimagining classic roles 00:37:13 Redefining success beyond the spotlight Check out Marisha's Album! https://www.amazon.com/Live-London-Marisha-Wallace/dp/B0FDGY4T3B Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marishawallace/ @salishathomas @thesalishashow, www.thesalishashow.com Many thanks to Gotham Network in NYC, TyNia Brandon for writing and laying vocals down for the updated theme song and Big Red Studios for the intro video wherever you watch the latest season of The Salisha Show!

    43 min

  6. JAN 30

    #215- If Broadway Auditions Scare You, This Is What You Need to Hear

    On this week's episode, Salisha pulls back the curtain on what Broadway auditions are really like. From crowded open calls filled with anxiety and anticipation to calm, appointment-only auditions with casting teams who already know your work, Salisha shares firsthand experiences from both sides of the audition process. Here, she walks listeners through the differences between open calls and agent appointments, what it feels like to step into rooms with completely different energies, and how learning to take up space changed the way she showed up as an artist. She also reflects on the moment she stopped playing it safe in auditions and chose to take a risk that paid off. Salisha explores • The reality of Broadway open calls versus appointments • How energy in a room can affect your performance • Why taking up space matters more than rushing • What happens when you stop choosing the safe option • How being yourself can be the most powerful audition choice This episode offers an honest look at the audition process and a reminder that casting rooms are not about being perfect. They are about being present, prepared, and unapologetically yourself. CHAPTERS 01:04 Gratitude and life update 02:18 What Broadway auditions are really like 04:40 Open calls versus agent appointments 07:28 Taking risks instead of playing it safe 10:53 The real lesson behind callbacks and rejection @salishathomas @thesalishashow, www.thesalishashow.com Many thanks to Gotham Network in NYC, TyNia Brandon for writing and laying vocals down for the updated theme song and Big Red Studios for the intro video wherever you watch the latest season of The Salisha Show!

    12 min

  7. JAN 23

    #214- How Writing a 250-Page Love Letter Set Me Free

    This week on The Salisha Show, Salisha Thomas shares one of the boldest and most surprising decisions she has ever made and how it became the unexpected turning point that led her toward meeting her husband. Before Andrew, there was someone she cared for deeply, someone who kept her close without offering clarity or commitment. After years of confusion, chemistry, and unanswered questions, Salisha made a choice that defied logic. She wrote him a full 250-page love letter disguised as a memoir and mailed it to him. In this candid solo episode, she reflects on • The emotional toll of waiting for someone who would not choose her • How writing the book became the moment she finally released herself • The freedom that comes from receiving closure, even when it is not the answer you hoped for • How making space opened the door to recognizing her true partner • Why letting go of an illusion allowed her to see what was real • The reminder that holding onto the wrong person can keep you from the right one Salisha’s story is a testament to listening to your inner wisdom, making difficult decisions, and trusting that clarity always creates space for what is meant for you. CHAPTERS00:29 The craziest decision she ever made 01:18 Years of chemistry and confusion 02:27 Writing a 250-page love letter 03:49 His response and instant clarity 06:01 How letting go made space for real love 07:14 Closing thoughts Episode Recorded at: Gotham Production Studios @salishathomas @thesalishashow, www.thesalishashow.com Many thanks to Gotham Network in NYC, TyNia Brandon for writing and laying vocals down for the updated theme song and Big Red Studios for the intro video wherever you watch the latest season of The Salisha Show!

    8 min

  8. JAN 16

    #213- Interview with Rachel Christopher from Cursed Child

    This week on The Salisha Show, Salisha Thomas sits down with Rachel Christopher, the incredible actress redefining magic on Broadway as Hermione Granger in "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." Rachel shares stories about her creative journey, her experiences stepping into iconic roles, and the impact of representation in the wizarding world. From her time in groundbreaking productions like "For Colored Girls" and "Jaja's African Hair Braiding" to her current Broadway success, Rachel opens up about the artistry and challenges behind her performances. Recorded as part of the Gotham Network, this episode celebrates the magic of storytelling, resilience, and diverse perspectives in theater. Special thanks to Gotham Network NYC, TyNia Brandon, and Big Red Studios for their continued support in bringing these conversations to life. Don’t miss this inspiring and heartfelt episode! #harrypotterrepresentation #diversityincasting #blackhermionebroadway #rachelchristopher #musicaltheaterinterviews CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 01:40 - Welcoming Rachel Christopher 03:50 - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child 08:40 - Hermione Granger Character Analysis 14:04 - Hermione’s Hair Journey and Evolution 16:34 - Finding Depth in Character Development 21:03 - British Accent Lesson Tips 23:05 - Motivation and What Keeps You Going 27:28 - Managing Multiple Responsibilities Effectively 31:50 - Importance of Diversifying Your Income Streams 32:40 - The Power of Saying No 33:40 - Building Self-Faith and Confidence 34:20 - Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts @salishathomas @thesalishashow, www.thesalishashow.com Many thanks to Gotham Network in NYC, TyNia Brandon for writing and laying vocals down for the updated theme song and Big Red Studios for the intro video wherever you watch the latest season of The Salisha Show!

    35 min
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About

THE SALISHA SHOW offers an intimate look into the lives of Broadway stars, creatives, and changemakers. Hosted by Broadway actress Salisha Thomas, each episode features heartfelt conversations that inspire, entertain, and celebrate the magic of theater and the arts. Tune in for behind the scenes stories, life lessons, and a dose of motivation from the world's stage.

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