Kyle Jarrow was nominated for a Tony Award for his brilliant, fully original book of a musical for Spongebob Squarepants: The Musical. His current project is Whisper House, with songs by Duncan Sheik, off-Broadway at 59E59 in New York City. Kyle also leads the indie-pop-rock band Sky Pony with his wife, Tony nominee Lauren Worsham (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder), writes for television and movies, and he’s a dad.
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Laura Heywood Interviews Rob Rokicki and the cast of The Lightning Thief (from the Archives)
Rob Rokicki (composer), Sarah Beth Pfeifer and Kristin Stokes (actors) all made their Broadway debut this season in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson musical. The show has had its own hero’s journey: from one-hour school show, to sold-out off-Broadway run, to national tour, to the Longacre Theatre where it is making its home on Broadway through January 5.
In honor of the show’s Broadway bow, we revisit a conversation from April, the day after the tour played New York’s legendary Beacon Theatre.
Laura Heywood Interviews Joel B. New (Monkey Trouble: Unleashed!)
Joel B. New is the composer of musicals such as “To Hell and Back,” performed at the New York Musical Festival in 2015; McKenzie and the Missing Boy, developed by the Musical Theatre Factory; and the concept album “Cabot Cove,” which is inspired by Murder She Wrote.
His work has been workshopped or performed at many of the best incubators in the country, including Ars Nova, New York Theatre Barn, Prospect Theater Company, and overseas at Broadway au Carré in Paris!
Joel B. New is the winner of the American Theatre Wing’s Jonathan Larson Grant and MAC’s John Wallowitch Award. He also hosts a podcast called “Something New,” dedicated to voices of contemporary musical theatre, which has returned after a two-year hiatus for a special limited run leading up to… “Monkey Trouble: Unleashed,” which Joel describes as “a violent musical comedy,” inspired by two critically obscure films, which will debut October 6 at The Duplex in New York City!
Laura Heywood Interviews Julia Murney (#FiftyFabulousThings)
Julia Murney — of Wild Party, Lennon, and Wicked fame — is celebrating her 50th year of life by doing #FiftyFabulousThings. She is here to celebrate the 50th episode of Laura Heywood Interviews! Julia & Laura’s conversation runs the gamut from growth mindset to Disneyland to philanthropy to a scandal involving Julia, Rosie O’Donnell and the National Enquirer. Plus, unexpected guests Nick Scandalios (The Nederlander Organization) and DNR Studios’ “I Love My Wife” podcast hosts Kelli Carpenter and Ann Steele pop in for multiple simultaneous surprise reunions!
Laura Heywood Interviews Telly Leung (Aladdin, Glee & more)
Telly Leung has been killing it on the Broadway stage for over a decade, with roles in Rent, Flower Drum Song, Pacific Overtures, Godspell, Allegiance, In Transit — and most recently starring for almost two years in the title role in Disney’s Aladdin. He was also a favorite on Glee, as “Wes the Warbler”!
He has been named one of the “Out 100” by Out Magazine, and a “Face To Watch” by The Los Angeles Times — so the world has certainly noticed this incredible man.
Telly is here today to talk about “Sing Happy,” his solo concert that is returning for one night only, September 23 at the Green Room 42, which “takes an intimate and revealing look at the ups and downs of what it takes to be a professional singer, from joyful Broadway openings to a career-threatening event that almost ended it all.”
Laura Heywood Interviews Shoba Narayan (Hamilton, Great Comet)
Just off of a triumphant run as Eliza Hamilton in the National Tour of Hamilton: An American Musical, followed by celebrating her wedding in a fete worthy of the movies, Shoba Narayan has returned to New York, and New York is celebrating. Specifically celebrating at the Greenroom 42 inside the Yotel on 10th Avenue & 40th Street, where Shoba will be performing for one night only in her solo show, PLACES, which will use the songs of Ingrid Michaelson, Coldplay, Beyonce, and more — yes, including Hamilton — to tell the story of her two-year journey across the country and what it means to find home.
Laura Heywood Interviews Brenda Meaney (Little Gem at Irish Rep)
Brenda Meaney is currently starring in “Little Gem” at Irish Repertory Theater as Lorraine, who is juggling roles as the single mother of a pregnant teenager and the only child of aging parents, while trying to stave off her own mental breakdown. But far from a tale of despair, this production is a comedic and poignant three-hander, running 100 minutes with no intermission.
“Little Gem” is playing at Irish Rep through September 8. For tickets and information visit www.IrishRep.org.
Under 35? Get $25 tickets at https://irishrep.org/box-office/greenseats/!
Laura Heywood Interviews Todrick Hall
Todrick Hall is known for a ubiquitous YouTube presence, the epic “Straight Outta Oz” visual album, judging and choreographing for RuPaul’s Drag Race, and countless pop hits including the newly remixed “Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels” with Ciara — and he’s back on Broadway, stealing the show at WAITRESS on Broadway, as the quirky, elfish, history-nerd Ogie. Hardly his first Broadway rodeo, Waitress is Todrick’s fifth Broadway role — he starred in the original production of The Color Purple way back in the early 2000s, before the world-at-large got to know him on American Idol season 9. He has since been seen in Memphis, Chicago, and starring as Lola in Kinky Boots — which is when we first become friends. Todrick is a big-hearted, unapologetic, awe-inspiring figure who dreams big and somehow manages to achieve bigger every time.
Laura Heywood Interviews Rachel Sussman (theatre and event producer)
Rachel Sussman is a Tony Award-nominated producer committed to cultivating dynamic, inclusive theatrical work through collaboration. With credits including What The Constitution Means To Me, The Woodsman, NYMF (Artistic Director), and Audible, she is also the lead producer and co-creator of In a new musical by Shaina Taub about the American women’s suffrage movement. In addition to theatre, Rachel and Laura discuss intersectionality, trans visibility, putting the B back in LGBTQ+, homelessness (specifically Rachel’s work with Covenant House) and even Rachel’s childhood performing with her family dog.