Little Known Facts w/ Ilana Levine - Page 16

George Salazar is best known for originating the role of 'Michael Mell' in Be More Chill (coming to the Signature off-Broadway this summer) and for his Drama Desk-nominated performance in off-Broadway's The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. 

On March 12th 2020 Broadway shows and performances all over the United States came to an immediate halt but the voices of all the artists are going strong while waiting for shows to re- open or mourning the shows that will not be able to come back.

Broadway may be dark for the time being but this week Little Known Facts is bringing you light and joy in the form of Elizabeth Stanley- star of the rock musical sensation, Jagged Little Pill. Elizabeth began her JLP journey with a self-tape in her bedroom. With her camera on a step ladder and the Christmas letter she reads in the play set up on her computer she was able to self tape in her bedroom and send it in to the musicals creative team. That began a journey with this musical that began over 3 years ago. Elizabeth shares stories from first readings to the  rehearsal room to Broadway. 

John Slattery had a moment after college where he was offered a great job in the hotel business and it was tempting - financial security, travel  and lots of other perks. He sat down with his father and asked if he should change lanes from acting to this new job... well, we know what the answer was! This week, Ilana sits down with her long-time friend and star of Broadway, film and television- John Slattery. Go behind the scenes of Mad Men, The Front Page and more plus find out this award winning actor's vocal warm-up tricks!

When he was 11 years old  a teacher sent a sealed letter home to his mother suggesting that Zachary might enjoy doing theater. That was the beginning of a journey that brings us Zachary Quinto who has had an extraordinary career on stage, film and television. He produces too!  From losing his father at a very young age and his friendship with mentor, friend and father figure Leonard Nimoy, Quinto shares intimate truths and little known facts about his life.

He starred as Nicole Kidman's son in the indie hit a?oeMargot At The Weddinga?? and now he has a major role in the new Richard Greenberg play at Manhattan Theater Club. Actor Zane Pais stopped by Ilana's apartment to talk about growing up the son of actors in NYC and his decision to pursue a life in the arts as well!

It's week 2 of previews of The Peeplexed - the new Richard Greenberg play - opening March 3rd at Manhattan Theater Club and Ilana shares some thoughts with her listeners from her dressing room at the theater. Tune in to Ilana's audio journal as she sorts out the preview process and other tales and mishaps as the play transitions from the rehearsal room to the stage.

Tony Award winner Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon) sat down with Ilana and shared stories of growing up in a small suburb in New Jersey and feeling like no one else looked like her and how the unexpected reaction to a solo she sang in kindergarten changed her life forever . Nikki opens up about how the loss of her father changed her so deeply at a very young age and that time she was in London and got a call asking if she might be able to take over in the London production of Mormon -that night- even though she had been out of the Broadway production for quite a while. This is an actress who takes on huge challenges and never stops working on her craft.

It's a special Valentine's Day edition of Little Known Facts. Recently podcast host and Broadway alum Ilana Levine was invited to do a live podcast event at Notre Dame University and she decided to interview her husband, actor Dominic Fumusa. Known for his starring role on television in Nurse Jackie opposite Edie Falco and his starring role on Broadway in Wait Until Dark- Dominic was a perfect fit on the Notre Dame campus because he began his college career a football player but acting quickly became his passion . In a theater filled with Notre Dame students Ilana and Dominic talked about falling in love with theater (and each other), auditions, how sports and acting go together and some other inspiring little known facts along the way.

Growing up in California meant many car rides and Jagged Little Pill was most definitely the soundtrack to and from the various activities his mom drove him to. Now Derek Klena shares what life was growing up in his own version of the Von Trapp Family singers with his musical siblings and a mom obsessed with musical theater. Derek played sports and was in  shows- much like Troy Bolton in High School Musical-  but lucky for us - theater won!  Find out what it's   like starring in Jagged Little Pill 8 shows a week and balancing life as a newlywed. This week on Little Known Facts!

Growing up, Amanda Green's family holiday party guest list included Sondheim, Bernstein and Feinstein to name a few Broadway legends! Not to mention her father was Adolf Green (of the dynamic duo Comden and Green) and her mother was the glorious Tony award winning actress and and founder of the Women's Health Initiative, Phyllis Newman- so from early on her life was a constant flow of the most brilliant artists of their day collaborating and carousing in her living room and her days as a successful writer working with the likes of Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda. This conversation between two old friends covers Amanda's glorious career as a Broadway lyricist with shows like High Fidelity, Bring It On, Hands on a Hardbody and more!

Today's guest, Michael Zegen, can currently be seen starring on the critically acclaimed Amazon series 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' created by Amy Sherman-Palladino. The series is recently won the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, a 2018 Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, the Golden Globe Award for Outstanding Television Series, Musical or Comedy and the Critics' Choice Award for Best Comedy Series. 

Today's guest, Michael Zegen, can currently be seen starring on the critically acclaimed Amazon series 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' created by Amy Sherman-Palladino. The series is recently won the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, a 2018 Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, the Golden Globe Award for Outstanding Television Series, Musical or Comedy and the Critics' Choice Award for Best Comedy Series. 

It is such a beautiful thing to hear stories of actors opening doors for each other but so many things have happened in the career of Daniel J. Watts because of generosity shown to him and the generosity he has shown to others. From Andy Blankenbuehler to Adrienne Warren the list is long and filled with those who were his champions because of his glorious talent and equally glorious heart. He is slaying nightly as Ike Turner in the Broadway musical TINA.

'The Maria Callas of American musical theater,' as Opera News has called her, referencing both her crystalline voice and dramatic, expressive intensity, Melissa Errico is an actress, singer and author. First known for her starring roles on Broadway, her latest album, Sondheim Sublime, was called by The Wall Street Journal 'The best all-Sondheim album ever recorded.' Nothing in her work has been more constant than her association with Michel Legrand. Having starred in his sole Broadway show, 'Amour', she went on to collaborate with him on the iconic album 'Legrand Affair'. After his death in 2019, she was asked to write his eulogy by The New York Times - where she is a frequent contributor- and was then invited to become the sole American performer to participate in the extraordinary two-day memorial to Legrand held in April at Paris' Le Grand Rex Theatre, work that led one critic to announce that, 'Errico is, and will continue to be, the premier interpreter of the musical legacy of Michel Legrand.' This fall 2019, Ghostlight Records reissues her symphonic album, which Legrand arranged & conducted, as 'Legrand Affair Deluxe Edition.'

Ryan J. Haddad is an actor and writer, he is gay and he has cerebral palsy. All of these facts about this extraordinary star of the Netflix series 'The Politician' are part of Ilana's deep dive conversation with Ryan in her latest episode of Little Known Facts. Listen as they discuss his upcoming one man show, Falling for Make Believe (Joe's Pub, January 8-17, 2020), and so much more!

Today's episode features not one, but two stars of the mega-hit Hadestown, Eva Noblezada and Amber Gray.

Today's episode features Ella Rubin, who can currently be seen in THE ROSE TATTOO on Broadway where she stars as Rosa, the daughter of Serafina, who is played by Marisa Tomei. On the big screen she has been featured in THE REWRITE, a film in which she also plays Marisa Tomei's daughter. She can be seen on the small screen in the Hulu series DIFFICULT PEOPLE, Showtime's BILLIONS and UNFORGETTABLE on CBS. Ella studied theater and performing arts at New York's Professional Children's School.

Today's conversation is with Lang Leav- an international best-selling author and social media sensation. She is the winner of a Qantas Spirit of Youth Award and coveted Churchill Fellowship. Her books continue to top bestseller charts in bookstores worldwide. 

Today's conversation is with Lang Leav- an international best-selling author and social media sensation. She is the winner of a Qantas Spirit of Youth Award and coveted Churchill Fellowship. Her books continue to top bestseller charts in bookstores worldwide.