Karen Olivo News

On Monday June 22, 2015 Theater People Podcast welcomes Tony nominee Kerry Butler. Currently starring as Hillary Clinton in CLINTON THE MUSICAL at New World Stages, Butler made her Broadway debut in BLOOD BROTHERS before replacing as Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

On Monday, May 25th the Theater People Podcast welcomes Tony-nominated composer Jeanine Tesori. In the interview, she talks of the five-year journey that she took alongside lyricist and book writer Lisa Kron adapting Alison Bechdel's celebrated graphic memior. After a ground breaking Off-Broadway run, the musical is now Tony-nominated and playing at Broadway's Circle in the Square Theater. Tesori and Kron have been nominated together for this year's Best Original Score award; should they win, the pair would become the first all-female writing team in Tony history to take home that the prize.

Throughout his tenure on the late night program, the host has welcomed performances of the casts of Broadway musicals as well as cast members from hit Broadway plays.

On Monday, May 18th, the Theater People Podcast welcomes IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU star Lisa Howard. Lisa made her Broadway debut as Rona Lisa Peretti in the 2006 Tony nominated production of 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. From there she has been seen on Broadway in SOUTH PACIFIC, PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, and 9 TO 5. In IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, Howard has received glowing notices and a Drama Desk Award nomination for her turn as Jenny, older sister of the Bride who's gone out of her way to plan the perfect wedding. Despite acting alongside Broadway favorites like Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, and Sierra Boggess, much has been made of IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU being a star making vehicle for Howard. 

On Monday, May 11 the Theater People podcast welcomes 2015 Tony-nominee, Tony Yazbeck. Currently starring in the critically acclaimed and Tony nominated Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN, Tony opens up about how the role first came to him for the 2008 Encores production, his experience with the pre-Broadway run at Barrington Stage, and how, as a true triple threat, he was particularly suited to play the role on Broadway.

On Monday, May 4, Theater People podcast welcomes 'The First Lady of British Musical Theater,' Olivier Award-winner Elaine Paige. For the episode, Paige discusses her farewell tour, and what exactly she means by 'farewell.' She also talks about the upcoming theatrical release of her recent concert which was filmed at Royal Albert Hall in London. Paige, perhaps best know for originating the roles of Eva Peron in EVITA and Grizabella in CATS, shares her remembrances of how those roles came to her and how they changed her life and career. Paige made her Broadway debut in 1995 as Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber's SUNSET BOULEVARD Sunset Boulevard. She returned to Broadway in the critically acclaimed and Tony award winning 2012 revival of FOLLIES. In the role of Carlotta Campion, Paige received terrific notices for her performance of the showstopping song 'I'm Still Here.'

After 18 months of successful broadcasting, the popular Theater People Podcast has launched a KickStarter campaign to help fund their new season. Having interviewed Broadway greats from Lin-Manuel Miranda to Laura Osnes (twice) to Celia Keenan-Bolger, the Theater People Podcast is one of the most influential and inspiring connections that many theatre fans have with their idols. The podcast has become a valuable resource for students, individuals working to build a career in the performing arts, and theater lovers across the world.

On Tuesday, April 28th the Theater People Podcast welcomes three-time Tony-nominee Martha Plimpton. Perhaps best know for her TV and film work (RAISING HOPE, THE GOONIES, PARENTHOOD, 200 CIGARETTES), she is also a reproductive rights activist and beloved theater star. On the episode she discusses 'Broadway Acts for Women,' taking place Sunday, May 3rd at 54 Below. The event, benefiting A is For..., an organization co-founded by Plimpton in 2012, will feature Patti LuPone, Lena Hall, and Jessie Tyler Ferguson among other Broadway A-Listers. Information and tickets can be found at www.54below.com.

Tomorrow is a day for celebration, musical theatre fans, as Image Entertainment releases THE STEPHEN SONDHEIM COLLECTION. This collection includes some of the most glorious productions of the musical theatre icon's works. Ranging from original Broadway casts to starry-concerts, THE STEPHEN SONDHEIM COLLECTION includes DVDs of five of Sondheim's most influential shows, and a sixth disc of the master's 80th Birthday Concert.

On Monday, April 13th, the Theater People Podcast welcomes ROCKY and ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY star Andy Karl. Karl, who has previously been seen on Broadway in JERSEY BOYS, LEGALLY BLONDE, 9 TO FIVE, and others shot to stardom when he was cast in the title role of Ahrens and Flaherty's $17 million adaptation of the Sylvester Stallone film. Karl reflects on being cast in the role, the physical and emotional toll the role took on him, and the life and career altering journey the experience was for him. He also discusses his excitement to be working alongside Kristin Chenowith in Roundabout Theater Company's ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY (the first Broadway job for which he didn't have to audition), and tells hilarious stories about collaborating with his wife Orfea on the Jerry Mitchell helmed 2007 production of LEGALLY BLONDE.

Hispanic Federation (HF), the nation's premiere Latino nonprofit membership organization, celebrates its 25th Anniversary at a star-studded Annual Benefit Gala and welcomes more than 800 of the nation's leading public officials, community leaders, media celebrities, and corporate elites to support programs and services for the Latino community tonight, April 8.

Tony winner Karen Olivo, who in 2013 decided to leave her New York City life behind for a new start in Wisconsin, is set to make her directorial debut with University of Wisconsin-Madison's University Theatre production of Fugitive Songs. The actress, who lent her voice to a recording of the show in 2012, currently teaches song interpretation at the school.

George Street Playhouse is proud to announce that Karen Olivo, winner of the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Anita in the 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story, will perform on the theatre's mainstage in a special event tonight, April 2, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.

On Monday, February 9 2015, the Theater People Podcast welcomes Keala Settle, Tony nominee for HANDS ON A HARDBODY, currently starring as Madame Thenardier in the Broadway production of LES MISERABLES Keala shares stories from her three years on the road as Tracy Turnblad in the national tour of HAIRSPRAY, making her Broadway debut in PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DESERT, how the HARDBODY Tony nomination changed her life, and how she won the role of Thenardier having never seen a single production of LES MIS. Keala also talks about the darker side of the business, the heartache of HANDS ON A HARDBODY being a a critical failure which resulted in a swift closure,how the HAIRSPRAY tour led to her decision to step away from acting, and her cherished time working as a stagehand while she tried to figure out if she should take another stab at performing.

Today we are celebrating the incredibly accomplished multi-award-winning performer, composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda.

George Street Playhouse is proud to announce that Karen Olivo, winner of the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Anita in the 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story, will perform on the theatre's mainstage in a special event on Thursday, April 2, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.

On Monday January 26, 2015, the Theater People Podcast will release their 30th episode which was recorded live at Fontana's Bar in New York City as part of the NYC Podfest. For the event, Theater People welcomed back two time Tony nominee Laura Osnes (CINDERELLA, BONNIE & CLYDE) and KINKY BOOTS favorite Ellyn Marie Marsh. Laura talked about life after CINDERELLA, the roles she auditioned for but didn't get to play, starring in the upcoming CAROUSEL, raps Lin-Manuel Miranda style, and cruises hilariously through a lightening round. Ellyn Marie Marsh performs a hilarious excerpt from her sold out 54 Below debut solo show 'Inappropriate.'

For the current episode of the Theater People Podcast, host Patrick Hinds interviews Mo Brady and Nikka Graff Lanzarone, hosts of 'The Ensemblist' Podcast. The episode concludes with section of 'The Ensemblist' episode In Tech. Mo and Nikka are both Broadway performers in their own right--Mo is an THE ADDAMS FAMILY alum and Nikka was seen in WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN and as Velma Kelly in CHICAGO.

The Theater People Podcast is delighted to announce that Drama Desk Award Winner, Tony Nominee, and Broadway star, Laura Osnes (CINDERELLA, BONNIE AND CLYDE) and KINKY BOOTS' Ellyn Marie Marsh will guest on Theater People's live podcast on Sunday, January 11th, 2015 at Fontana's in Manhattan.

On Monday, December 29, Theater People podcast welcomes beloved Broadway belter, Lindsay Mendez. Mendez, who is well known for having taken on the role of Elphaba in the Broadway mega-hit WICKED for the show's 10th anniversary, made her Broadway debut as Jan in the 2007 Kathleen Marshall helmed GREASE. She was seen on Broadway in the 2010 Roundabout Theater production of EVERYDAY RAPTURE, as well as the 2011 Broadway revival of GODSPELL before being hand picked by famed director Joe Mantello to star in the off-Broadway Pasek and Paul musical DOGFIGHT at Second Stage. She also memorably appeared alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda in Miranda's short musical 21 CHUMP STREET which was commissioned by the NPR show 'This American Life' and performed at BAM.