Ilana Levine News

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!

MTC will soon present the world premiere of The Perplexed, written by Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, The Assembled Parties) and directed by MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow (The Cake, The Assembled Parties, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife). The play will begin previews Tuesday, February 11 prior to a Tuesday, March 3 opening night at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

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. 

My Name is Lucy Barton opened just last night, Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). Check out photos from the star-studded red carpet!

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.

Today's top stories: West Side Story pushes back its opening night date, and more!

'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.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) are pleased to announce the full company for the world premiere of The Perplexed, written by Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, The Assembled Parties) and directed by MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow (The Cake, The Assembled Parties, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife).

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. 

Paul Rudd recently hosted the 8th annual Paul Rudd All-Star Bowling Benefit for The Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY).

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 top stories: MTC has its fall benefit today, and more!

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) have announced casting for the world premiere of The Perplexed, written by Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, The Assembled Parties) and directed by MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow (The Cake, The Assembled Parties, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife).

The Paul Rudd All-Star Bowling Benefit raises crucial funds that help send young people who stutter to Camp SAY. Last year's event raised over $200,000, helping children from families-in-need benefit from this life-changing camp experience. More than 70 million people stutter, including 5% of all young children, and approximately 1 in every 100 adults.