TONY AWARDS ARE BACK!!! #1 Robyn Hurder was robbed. #2 Danny Burstein is perfect. #3 Leslie Odem Jr has a perfect singing voice. #4 we still can’t get over that Wheels Of A Dream … Joe and Dan ARE Jesse Tyler Ferguson clutching his pearls and Kerry Butler sobbing while watching Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra. Broadway’s back!!… is it back? Kind of? Yes!! Dan and Joe breakdown all the emotional, bizarre, and thrilling moments from this year’s (last year’s) ceremony. We talk about the controversies surrounding this years Tony Awards as well. There’s a lot happening in our business right now and we try to shed light on some things you might be reading on Twitter. We just gotta say… if you felt anything besides joy while watching the awards this year, we’re with you. It’s a crazy time. It feels weird to celebrate. But at the end of the day, we’re still little theater geeks watching Tony’s in our living rooms crying while Idina and Kristen sing “For Good”. RIGHT?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the coolest people on the planet is here. Our friend Ali Luff is hanging with us this week!! She’s most famous for being Alex Finke’s dressing roommate in Les Mis. She’s done a few shows… Waitress, Wicked,, a little ditty on Starz right now called HEELZ .. that’s HEELZ with a Z. This was such a fun conversation. Ali walks us through her difficult time leaving Waitress, shooting a TV show during a pandemic, and she inspires all of us to buy a Winnebago.  Her insane resume includes Waitress, Wicked, Scandalous, Escape to Margaritaville, Matlida, Les Mis, Ghost, Mama Mia and a recurring role on New Amsterdam. COME ON!! Ali Luff is a LIFE FORCE. Check us out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MAMA JUNE IS HERE!! Joe and Beth spend plenty of time walking down memory lane this week. What is the backstory of those deviled eggs? IYKYK. Bandstand star and Broadway LEGEND of 13 Broadway Shows Beth Leavel is with us! Devil Wears Prada is right around the corner and we cannot wait to see Beth shine as Miranda alongside friend of the pod, Taylor Iman Jones. From the The Prom, to Drowsy Chaperone, Beth only does shows with weird names. We talk about the buzz of previews with Drowsy Chaperone, the stillness of her Miranda Priestly, and how Nevertheless, she persisted. • • • #broadway #broadwaymusical #broadwaymusicals  #musical #musicals #musicaltheatre  #musicaltheatrelife #theatrelife #theaterlife #theatrekid  #theatrekids #theatrenerd #actorslife  #podcastersofinstagram #broadwaypodcastnetwork  #broadwaypodcast #podcastaddict #broadwaymemes  #bethleavel #theprommusical #theprom #thedrowsychaperone #42ndstreet #mammamia #bandstandbroadway #babyitsyou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have got a story for you that you've NEVER heard this week. I mean COME ON!! Adam Freaking Pascal. Yes, RENT. Yes, AIDA. Yes, he gives us 16 bars of Pity The Child. (this may be an exaggeration) Yes. It was just announced that he's taking PRETTY WOMAN on the road!! We were blown away by his insight and his thoughtfulness. In addition to creating the iconic role of Roger in Rent, Adam has also been seen on Broadway in Cabaret as the (Emcee), Chicago (Billy Flynn), Memphis (Huey Calhoun), Disaster! (Chad) and Something Rotten! (Shakespeare). Listen in for how Cabaret changed Adam's life, how hard it is, even for rockstars, to not quit, and when Joe tells Adam that he was in the audience for one of the craziest nights of Adma's life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Dan and Joe chat about the new Open Access policy just announced by Actor's Equity. The guys take questions, respond to social media comments, and talk about their experience as union and non-union actors. Every stage actor eventually asks the question "when should I join Equity?" It's a wildly personal decision as to when an actor chooses to go from being non-union to being union. This step taken by AEA now allows anyone who has ever worked professionally as an actor or stage manager to join Actor's Equity. What does that mean for you or the actor in your life? Tune in to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NORBERT LEO FREAKING BUTZ IS HERE!!!! 11 Broadway shows. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Rent, Wicked, My Fair Lady... Have you seen Bloodline? Just stop what you're doing and watch the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Tony performance and then binge Bloodline. We can't keep it together this week. Joe is fan boy mess. This was one of our favorite conversations yet. This week we talk with Norbert about how singing in bar bands can be the best vocal training, that time he wept in Jason Robert Brown's bathroom, how the biggest job you ever have might be the least rewarding, and the genius of Jack O'Brien. We talk about his leap from stage to screen and what he learned from Sissy Spacek and Linda Cardellini while working on Bloodline. We have looked up to this man for so long (if you can't tell by Joe's rambling) and we're still blown away that the man spent so much time with us. He was generous, vulnerable, and a WELL of knowledge. his best advice? Don't take any fucking advice. Listen in this week! Check this out for a resume... On Broadway. My Fairy Lady, Thou Shalt Not, Big Fish, Dead Accounts, Catch Me If You Can, Enron, Speed-The-Plow, Is He Dead?, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Wicked, Rent. Most recently, Butz stars in NBC’s Debris series and nabbed a lead role as Rex Foster in the Disney+ adaptation of Tim Federle’s YA novel Better Nate Than Ever. Other TV credits include playing Dr. Byron Hale in David Zabel and Ridley Scott’s PBS series Mercy Street, performing the role of Kevin Rayburn in the Netflix series Bloodline, and playing Paddy Chayefsky on the FX limited series Fosse/Verdon. His film credits include Peter Hedges’ Dan in Real Life, Vera Farmiga’s Sony feature Higher Ground, Craig Zisk’s The English Teacher, and writer-directors Geoff Moore and David Posamentier’s Better Living Through Chemistry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ann Harada is filming a very fancy movie in Ireland!! A Disney movie! A BROADWAY DISNEY MOVIE!!! .. I mean.. Kind of. Broadway vet (and Joe's Cinderella co-star) Ann Harada is with us today to celebrate her 1000th podcast appearance! You've heard Ann on a million shows, but you haven't heard her on a show that is hosted by a Cinderella co-star and an alum of Christmas Eve's Holiday Hunkfest. Dan makes fun of Joe a BUNCH for that this week. Avenue Q, Schmigadoon, Cinderella, M Butterfly, Seussical, Les Mis, 9-5, and possibly 1 million TV credits, Ann Harada has been nonstop. But guess what? It didn't start till she hit 40. Patience is a virtue friends. Patience and an attitude that wouldn't quit, led Ann to preserve through a 12 years between Broadway shows to create one of the most iconic roles in musical theater history.... Christmas Eve... As Dan always says to Joe ... "the more you love someone the more you want to kill them." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re talking to Come From Away and Jersey Boys star De’Lon Grant!! Did you know they're making of movie of Come From Away and the whole cast had to quarantine together in a Times Square? Did you know that even Broadway stars deal with the fear of 'not being enough' and imposter syndrome? Did you know that you can pick up an instrument at any phase of life? Our conversation with De'Lon was hilarious, insightful, and timely as ever. Get pumped for Come From Away's triumphant return to Broadway on September 21st!! De’Lon Grant is an actor and singer currently performing on Broadway in the Tony Award nominated hit musical Come From Away. He spent three years touring domestically and internationally as Berry Belson in the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys and was recently named Best Leading Actor at the 2017 IRNE Awards for his portrayal of Haywood Patterson in Kander and Ebb’s The Scottsboro Boys; a role for which he also received an Elliot Norton Award Nomination.  Some of his other credits include: Frederick Douglass in Douglass (The Wit Theatre, Chicago, IL), Tod Clifton in Invisible Man (The Studio Theatre, Washington, DC and The Huntington Theatre, Boston, MA), Jim in Big River (Lyric Stage Company, Boston; Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, Conway, AR; The Barnstomers, Tamworth, NH), Achilles in Troilus and Cressida(Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Boston, MA), Posthumous/Cloten in Cymbeline (Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Boston, MA), Gaspard in A Tale of Two Cities (The Wheelock Family Theatre, Boston, MA), Kaine in Dessa Rose (The New Repertory Theatre, Watertown, MA) and Sawyer in Harriet Jacobs (Underground Railway Theatre, Boston, MA). De'Lon holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Michigan and a Master in Music with concentration in Musical Theatre Performance from The Boston Conservatory of Music.  In addition to his stage work De’Lon is also photographer specializing in headshot and lifestyle portraits. View some of his portfolio here. To access more of his work visit www.delonphotography.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HE'S BACK BABY!! Is your voice ready for Broadway to return? Are you ready for 8 shows a week of Charlie Price or Prince Topher? Well if you're anything like Dan and Joe you've done basically ZERO singing for the past year. Mike takes us through all the things we need to do to get back in "8 Show a Week" shape. We talk diet, exercise, mental, physical, emotional, ALL THE THINGS that contribute to healthy singing and getting back in the game!!!  Mike Ruckles is one of the most sought after voice teachers in the city. He has worked with Dan for years and Dan is singing better than ever. This week we return to Mr. ruckles to give you an inside scoop on everything singing. Mike was the associate music director on Gentleman's Guide To Love And Murder, he's worked with Sara Bareilles on a TV show, he teaches 9 hours a day, and HE HAS TWO KIDS!! Check back in with the official Guys Who Like Musicals voice teacher this week!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Professor is in! NYU's newest Shakespeare professor joins us this week. Maurice andJoe did Romeo and Juliet together back in 2013 where they bonded over margaritas and The Lord of the Rings. This week we talk about making Shakespeare accessible in 2021, how life as an actor isn't all star studded plays, how Joe literally conned his way into a Shakespeare play on Broadway, and how this "serious" actor found his love of musicals with the help of a little show called Ragtime. Mr. Jones is an New Jersey native and New York based actor. He is a graduate of Rutgers University where he earned degrees in English and Theatre. He holds an MFA from the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver, CO. He possesses a proud penchant for pocket watches, poetry, plums, percussion, potatoes, Pablo Picasso, Oxford commas, and alliteration. NY credits include, Broadway: The Lifespan of a Fact, Saint Joan, The Cherry Orchard, Romeo & Juliet, and Julius Caesar. Off Broadway: Sunday (Atlantic Theater Company), Linda (MTC), Troilus & Cressida, Pretty Hunger (Public Theater), Little Children Dream of God (Roundabout) Regional: Hamlet (Chicago Shakespeare), The Model American, A Legendary Romance (Williamstown) Julius Caesar (Folger Theatre), Lives of Reason (Two River Theater), Butler (Barrington Stage), As You Like It, Ruined, The Taming of the Shrew (Denver Center), The Learned Ladies (NJ Shakespeare) Television: “Blue Bloods”, “Elementary”, “The Good Fight”, “30 Rock”. Film: Winter’s Tale, Romeo & Juliet, And So It Goes • #broadway #broadwaymusical #broadwaymusicals #musical #musicals #musicaltheatre #musicaltheatrelife #theatrelife #theaterlife #theatrekid #theatrekids #theatrenerd #actorslife #podcastersofinstagram #broadwaypodcastnetwork #broadwaypodcast #podcastaddict #broadwaymemes #stevemauricejones #shakespeare #nyu #stellaadler #professor #romeoandjuliet #juliuscaesar #hamlet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Nominee Derrick Baskin showed up in NYC and had literally nowhere to stay. He did, however, have a job at TGI Friday's which is sometimes all you need. Spelling Bee, Memphis, Difficult People, Aint Too Proud, Marshall... COME ON!! His memoir is coming out this year called From Friday's to Broadway... that's not true. But it's a catchy title. This week we talk to a Tony Nominee who was almost a doctor. There are a million different ways to make your path in this industry... sometimes you just got to jump in and move to New York City with a dream. Derrick Baskin received a Tony Nomination and a San Francisco Theatre Critics Circle Award for his star turn as Otis Williams in Ain’t Too Proud. He was last seen in the Oscar‑nominated film Marshall and is best known for his role in the critically acclaimed Hulu sitcom Difficult People and his recurring role on Law & Order: SVU. Other film credits include Annie starring Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx; and Anesthesia starring Glenn Close, directed by Tim Blake Nelson. This award‐winning actor was last seen onstage in The New York Times Critic’s Pick Whorl Inside a Loop and has originated roles in the Tony Award®‐winning Broadway musicals Memphis; Spelling Bee, where he also earned a Drama Desk Award; and Disney’s The Little Mermaid working alongside Oscar‐, Grammy‐, and Tony‑winning composer Alan Menken and Pulitzer Prize author Doug Wright. Baskin’s concert experience includes performances with Wynton Marsalis, Michael Bublé, Wiz Khalifa, and Mariah Carey, and he has written songs on former Beyoncé musical director Divinity Roxx’s debut album, I’m Possible.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOE IS GOING TO BE A MARVEL SUPERHERO!!! Now, that is what they call "click bait". Joe isn't going to be a superhero, but it's hard not to feel that way every time the name BEN SANDS pops up on Joe's phone. Ben Sands a partner at Artists and Representatives Agency in New York and he has been Joe's agent for almost ten years. The relationship between agent and actor is sacred. It is an open, vulnerable, relationship that is also steeped in business. It's best friend, meets business manager, meets artistic partner. We have spoken to many of Ben's clients on this show including Caitlin Houlahan, Kerstin Anderson, Jason Gotay, James Monroe Iglehart, and Courtney Reed. This week we talk with ben about his journey from an undergraduate acting student to NYC intern to partner at one of the most prestigious agencies in the business. Listen in!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If Broadway had a Most Interesting Man in the World ... it might be Moulin Rouge's Ricky Rojas. Born in Chile, raised in Australia and the UK, currently living in France because why not. He's restoring a house from the 1800s, plays and builds guitars, and rocks the greatest mustache Broadway has ever seen. Moulin Rouge's Santiago joins us this week to talk about his journey to musical theater, dancing with a folk Chilean Folk Group, and partnering our best friend Robyn Hurder. Take a good look at his picture, close your eyes, and listen in to the sexiest baritone on the planet.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back with PROFESSOR Telly Leung! Godspell, Aladdin, Rent, Glee, Allegiance, In Transit ... the guy has had an incredible career and he's just getting started. Telly just returned from Godspell at The University of Michigan and Dan and Joe are ready to go back to college so they can be directed by Telly. This is such a joy of a conversation. We talk about why representation matters, the reckoning in our business, creating art, waiting overnight in line for 20$ tickets, and how the greatest buzz for Telly comes from teaching the next generation. We love this man. We love you. Happy Friday. Telly was born and raised in New York City. He grew up in a traditional Chinese home in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. After graduating from Stuyvesant High School he attended Carnegie Mellon University.. Not a big deal :) It was also at CMU that Telly met fellow CMU-alum and KINKY BOOTS Tony-Award Winner, Billy Porter, who returned to his alma mater to direct the main stage production of Sondheim's COMPANY. After casting Telly as Bobby in "Company", Porter made a phone call to his colleagues who were involved in the upcoming Broadway revival of FLOWER DRUM SONG which eventually landed Telly the understudy for Wang Ta.  After playing Bobby in Sondheim's COMPANY in college, Telly would later get the opportunity to work with the legendary Stephen Sondheim in Roundabout's Broadway revival of PACIFIC OVERTURES in 2005. After PACIFIC OVERTURES, Telly originated the role of Boq in the Chicago company of WICKED, collaborating with fellow CMU-alum, Stephen Schwartz. Other Broadway credits include the final company of RENT - where he also got to make his film debut in Radical Media / Sony's RENT: FILMED LIVE ON BROADWAY, which is available on DVD and Blue Ray. After RENT ended its Broadway run, Telly went on an international tour with original RENT stars Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp in RENT: THE BROADWAY TOUR. He would later reprise the role of Angel in RENT at the Hollywood Bowl, directed by Neil Patrick Harris and starring Vanessa Hudgens, Aaron Tveit, Skylar Astin, & Wayne Brady. In 2011, Telly would get another opportunity to collaborate with composer Stephen Schwartz in the Broadway revival of GODSPELL at the Circle in the Square Theater.  Telly was involved in the development of Broadway's ALLEGIANCE, creating the role of "Sammy" alongside Lea Salonga (MISS SAIGON) and George Takei (STAR TREK). ALLEGIANCE is the story of one Japanese-American family's struggles and triumphs during the Japanese Internment of World War II. The musical made its sold-out world premiere at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego in 2012 and premiered on Broadway in the Fall of 2015. In 2016, Telly starred opposite Justin Guarini (American Idol) in IN TRANSIT, Broadway's first a cappella musical with music by Oscar-winner Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Russell Kaplan, Sara Wordsworth and James-Allen Ford, with direction and choreography by Tony-Award Winner Kathleen Marshall.  In June 2017, Telly Leung began his star turn as the title character in Disney’s ALADDIN on Broadway. He would continue to play the role for two years, and his caricature would eventually earn a coveted spot on the wall’s of New York’s historic Sardi’s restaurant. Telly has appeared on television in GLEE (as Wes of the Dalton Academy Warblers), INSTINCT (CBS), ODD MOM OUT (Bravo), DEADBEAT (on Hulu), LAW AND ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT and played Kevin in the pilot of ABC's performing arts drama, LIMELIGHT. He was also heavily featured in the PBS documentary BROADWAY OR BUST as a teacher and performance coach for the Jimmy Awards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We got some stuff to talk about this week. First: We address the bombshell article in the Hollywood Reporter. We need to talk about Scott Rudin. It's a difficult conversation, but we tried our best. Second: There is a growing conversation over casting in Jagged Little Pill. Third: Should Dan get a haircut? Joe thinks no. Will Dan listen? Probably not. Fourth: Apparently whipped coffee has been all over TikTok and Joe thought he invented this morning with some post-ice cream whipped cream. We love you all. Thanks for hanging with us. Check out Christian Lewis' article about Jagged Little Pill below. https://twitter.com/clewisreviews?s=20 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WE GOING TO THE SHIP.. WHAT?! WE GOING TO THE SHIP.. WHAT?! Name that movie :) Dan and Joe read off the tally for the BEST MUSICAL OF ALL TIME 2021 edition. Rent vs West Side Story. The final show down. This week we also talk about The Masters, illegal gambling, cryptocurrency, and, of course, Broadway musicals... these are the things we care about. We keep it short and sweet this week and we'll be back next week with more incredible guests. Till then... listen to the soft baritone of Jim Nance and have yourself a pimento sandwich. If you know... you know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ITS THE FINAL FOUR FINAL COUNTDOWN!!! Nearly ONE THOUSAND people voted on social media this week…. Hamilton vs Rent in the East and Fiddler on the Roof vs West Story in the West. Tune in for the penultimate battle for the title of Best Musical of All Time ... 2021 edition. Two game changing pop culture phenomenons face off as two of the most iconic and revolutionary musicals (both on stage and on screen) battle it out. Is your bracket busted yet? Did you have Cats making it to the sweet sixteen??? Of course you did and we still love you :) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WE'RE BACK with our dear friend Carson Higgins. Dan and Carson met on the National Tour of American Idiot and Carson has stepped into the octagon to argue through the greatest musicals of all time. This week we get to the FINAL FOUR!!! Thank you for all your voting and engagement on social media... check out our instagram page to vote on your picks to make to it to the National Championship of Musical Theater.... and Joe is hoping it WON'T be Hamilton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RENT vs AMERICAN IDIOT, WICKED vs HAMILTON, NEXT TO NORMAL vs SPRING AWAKENING, HAIR vs JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, OKLAHOMA vs HELLO DOLLY. This week is a March Madness Musical Theater THROWDOWN. Dan and Joe argue about the greatest musicals of time. A few important things, 1. We stole this week's idea from Megan Hilty. 2. WE'RE THE NUMBER ONE PODCAST IN BRAZIL!!! No lie. We talk about it this week. We here at Guys Who Like Musicals sits at the intersection of sports and musical theater. YES, it's strange crossroads, but we love March Madness AND we love musical theater. We take the March Madness format and Dan and Joe fight as we get the these shows to the Sweet 16. Check us out this week and tune in next to see who makes it to the Final Four Of Musicals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey. We love you all. This week Dan and Joe a minute to reflect on the past year. From the last shows we saw (Unknown Solider and To Kill a Mockingbird), to Dan’s move across the country, to happy hour with Robyn Hurder, to complete despair and grief, you have all stuck with us during the worst year of our lives and certainly the worst in theatrical history. We know that life could be so much worse for us... we’re healthy, our families are healthy. our unemployment benefits just got extended... it looks like we’re gonna make it. We don’t know the suffering of so many who have lost friends and family members and people who are still recovering from the effects of COVID-19. The theater will return. And GAWD do we miss it... until then... we’re gonna keep taking to you, talking to people we love, and loving musicals. Thank you. Stay tuned for more antics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices