West of Broadway Podcast Broadway Podcast Network

On this episode of West of Broadway, Will & Wendy are shifting focus slightly away from celebrating Musical Theater in Los Angeles and on the West Coast to celebrating Musical Theater FROM Los Angeles. With the recent announcement that the Broadway Industry will be staying closed until 2021, it is now more important than ever that we support arts education. Will and Wendy sit down with Director of Sales and Partnerships for PASSDOOR and one of their Visiting Educators, James Tabeek do discuss how they are working to help change the face of tomorrow’s Broadway by educating the young artists of today.
PASSDOOR The new virtual platform offers intimate dance classes taught by seasoned Broadway performers. Offering over 40 live dance classes per week for aspiring dancers of all ages and skill levels. The emerging company in the New York theatre scene, announced the launch of their virtual platform which hosts professional-level dance classes taught solely by seasoned Broadway performers.
Through the instruction of these notable teaching artists who have appeared in over 100 Broadway shows, students on Passdoor will learn dance techniques, skills and choreography from the comfort of their own home — regardless of personal skill level or age.
With Broadway dark due to COVID-19, PassDoor was born out of the necessity to provide out-of-work performers an outlet for their art — the opportunity to train, connect and share their talents with future generations of dancers. Each Passdoor class is capped at 20 students, therefore allowing the instructors to provide direct feedback live. Classes are offered in the Ballet, Ballet Barre, Broadway Choreo, Children’s Theatre Playhouse, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Theatre Dance and Theatre Jazz modalities, formatted for both adults and children.
“We formed PassDoor out of a need to help displaced Broadway Dancers due to the Pandemic, but quickly discovered it could be so much more. Not only are we providing a space for current professional artists to create and share their craft, but because everything is online, we have an opportunity to change the face of tomorrow’s Broadway by educating the young artists of today that might not have access to theatre or the arts,” said Megan Sikora, Director of Sales & Partnerships of Passdoor.
“The team of teachers PassDoor has assembled are the absolute A-list of Broadway talent. Truly the very best of the best.” ~Denis Jones, two time Tony nominee, Best Choreography "The dancers teaching on PassDoor are among the elite Broadway performers of our time and some of my most favorite dancers in NYC! I’ve repeatedly hired many of them myself to dance on Broadway, network television and many other performances. Their unparalleled talent and experience makes PassDoor absolutely one of a kind." ~Josh Bergasse, Emmy Award winner, Outstanding Choreography
Be sure to follow @ONPASSDOOR @MEGANSIKORA and @JAMESTABEEK on Instagram and while you’re at it feel free to follow @Wendy_Rosoff and @WillArmstrongPR. for the latest in West of Broadway news. BroadwayPodcastNetwork.com/podcasts/west-of-broadway is how you can keep up with us and find past and future episodes. 
Thanks for joining us, until next time, if you’re looking for us, you can find us Just West of Broadway!

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Will & Wendy get a chance to talk to the captivating and brilliant Adam Epstein about his upcoming 11-week online course presented by the Pasadena Playhouse.
11-week Webinar
60-minute virtual lectures every Tuesday at 5:00PM PST
May 12–Jul 21, 2020
The Broadway Musical and America is intended to give students a broad overview of the American musical from Oklahoma to the present. The course situates the form as a distinctly American phenomenon and which both influenced and was influenced by the American political landscape since the end of World War II. The course, which will include special Broadway guests, will survey classic works of musical theater, and we will engage, discuss and think about why the Broadway musical has endured as an important American art form.
Hosted by Adam Epstein, a theatrical producer whose productions have received 46 Tony nominations and garnered 12 Tony Awards, one of which Adam himself received as a producer of Hairspray in 2003. Adam’s other credits include A View From a Bridge, The Crucible, Amadeus, The Wedding Singer and Cry-Baby. In the West End, both his productions of Amadeus and Hairspray earned multiple Olivier nominations and Hairspray was awarded a record 11 nominations, winning four, including Best Musical. An adjunct faculty member of NYU, (which is also his alma mater,) Adam has also been a guest lecturer at Harvard, Columbia and the University of Miami. Adam recently graduated with his Master’s degree in American Studies from Brown University, and he is currently working in political journalism and media.
You can follow Adam on Instagram @Akepstein and while you're at it feel free to follow @Wendy_Rosoff and @WillArmstrongPR. for the latest in West of Broadway news. BroadwayPodcastNetwork.com/podcasts/west-of-broadway is how you can keep up with us and find past and future episodes. 
Thanks for joining us, until next time, if you’re looking for us, you can find us Just West of Broadway!
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On this episode of West of Broadway Will Armstrong and Wendy Rosoff talk with Broadway star Laura Bell Bundy about absolutely everything!
First, Laura Bell shares how her family are navigating the Covid-19 epidemic and her recent personal bout with the disease. Then they discuss Laura Bell's upcoming album and video series centered around women and the challenges facing them today.
From an NYU student to young soap opera actress to originating a role in the hit musical Hairspray, Laura Bell shared her early career experiences and how her journey prepared her for her portrayal of Elle woods in Legally Blonde. The evolution of her process is something that is still shaping and informing the roles she portrays to this day.
Keep up with Laura Bell Bundy on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tick Tock. Just search for @LauraBellBundy.
We hope you enjoy this candid conversation and find inspiration from her insightful approach to life, family and theater. As far as Wendy and Will you can find past episodes of their podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network along side an array of fantastic shows!

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On this episode of West of Broadway, Will Armstrong and Wendy Rosoff connect via ZOOM with Producer and Creator of Rock of Ages Musical to find out how he and the cast are doing and to learn about how this unexpected musical hit found it's way all the way to Broadway and back home to Hollywood.
Matt Weaver and a tenacious team of creatives took a terrific idea and made it one of Broadways most successful and longest running hits of all time. In this very cool episode, Matt Weaver explains how he staffed and cast the show, found multiple theaters to mount and create the musical, amassed funding and sold the film rights to an unproven project all before opening on Broadway!
We also learn how Matt and his team are working to hold things together during this pandemic and how COVID-19 has directly effected one of their beloved cast members.
Matt even shares details about his next musical project with Dominique Morisseau, Ahmir Questlove Thompson, Camille A. Brown and Kamilah Forbes. "Soul Train" the musical is currently in development with an opening set for 2021!
Rock of Ages Hollywood at the Bourbon Room is set to reopen as soon as the quarantine is lifted and life gets back to normal. Until then, keep up with the cast on Instagram at @RockofAgesHollywood!
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On our very first video version of West of Broadway, Will Armstrong and Wendy Rosoff catch up with 2 time Emmy Award-winning choreographer Kathryn (Kat) Burns while she is Sheltering in Place during the coronavirus pandemic. Kathryn discusses her career, shares insight for working performers and pays tribute to the recent loss of her friend and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend colleague, Adam Schlesinger.
Links:
https://www.instagram.com/katmburns/
https://www.instagram.com/wendy_rosoff/
https://www.instagram.com/willarmstrongpr/


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With the COVID 19 Pandemic bringing shows and businesses to a stand still, there isn't much theater news to report but Will Armstrong and Wendy Rosoff wanted to share their conversation with Book of Mormon star Liam Tobin from their Los Angeles run at the Ahmanson Theater. Liam talks about his history with this musical juggernaut and what life is like on the road.
After that, friend of the pod, Joseph Corella of 567Broadway shares some tips to inspire us on our fitness journeys.
We hope that this episode made you smile. Special thanks to our friends at The Ahmanson Theater and Center Theater Group for helping us connect with Liam and if you are looking for some inspiration and motivation, be sure to check out 567Broadway.com
Hope you are all staying safe and healthy and taking this time of extended isolation to rest, recharge.
So on behalf of Will & Wendy, good by for now! But, not for long because, if you're looking for us you'll always find us, just West of Broadway!
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