The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales Exclusive Podcast Access

A lot has changed since Izzy McCalla first appeared in episode 38 back in 2019 and she’s more than happy to share the latest news in her journey – from her early roles to now playing Marlena in "Water for Elephants." She reflects on how each role built her confidence and prepared her for new challenges, her tendency to gravitate towards ensemble pieces, and her ability to go back and forth between the comedic and dramatic genres. Izzy opens up about the challenges of replacing actors in established shows, the pressure of delivering in front of audiences, and the process of finding inner peace and self-acceptance. She shares an important lesson on being funny on stage, and that nothing kills comedy faster than hesitation and anxiety. Currently playing as Marlena in “Water for Elephants,” she talks about the character’s complexities, and her evolving perspective on love, relationships, and self-worth. She also discusses her Haitian heritage and its personal connection to her role, sharing her family's history and how they immigrated to Haiti with the Danish circus. Izzy gets real as she opens up about vulnerability, self-discovery, her tendency to fix others, and the importance of setting boundaries while maintaining empathy as she navigates emotional growth.
Izzy McCalla first appeared in episode 38 back in 2019 and our special 150th Pride episode in June of 2021. Since then, she has added more credits, including the Paper Mill Playhouse production of “Clue” and “Hercules”, and “Footloose” at the Kennedy Center, and was part of the closing cast of "Shucked" earlier this year. She’s currently part of the recently opened production of “Water for Elephants” as Marlena.

Connect with Izzy:
Instagram: @izzymccalla

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Andrew Samonsky believes that Jerry Garcia’s death (yes that Jerry Garcia) may have instigated his performance career in some way. From being a “deadhead” to becoming a Broadway actor, Andrew opens up about his years of following the Grateful Dead and dealing with drug problems that led him to go to rehab. Lost and feeling helpless, he decided to pray to help find his path. He soon received a letter from his old voice teacher encouraging him to pursue a career in singing, and the rest is history. He looks back on his childhood, his love for singing despite being a shy kid, and how, ultimately, theatre and its community are what saved him during his troubled years. Currently playing as Tadeusz Lempicki in “Lempicka”, Andrew shares the story behind his cosmic connection to the show, which goes all the way back to 22 years ago and a random interaction with the Peace Corps. He discusses the challenges and joys of originating a role, the importance of trust and collaboration between actors and creative teams, and the feeling of gratitude for the opportunity to bring characters to life and how it can impact audiences.
Andrew Samonsky made his Broadway debut in the 2008 production of “South Pacific” and has additional Broadway credits, including “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”, and “Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson”. His TV credits include “Madam Secretary”, “It Could Be Worse”, and “Elementary”. He can now be seen as Tadeusz Lempicki in the Broadway production of “Lempicka”. 

Connect with Andrew:
Instagram: @asamonsky

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TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast


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Ryan Vasquez looks back on his career journey, including living with French acrobats in a seven-bedroom house while doing a show, and eventually booking Hamilton. Playing as many characters as he has in Hamilton was to him just “paid therapy”. Having passed up competing offers to star in Water for Elephants and The Outsiders, he is now starring as Middle Noah in "The Notebook", Ryan opens up about why he chose to be part of the show–believing in its impact and just how it personally hits him hard. He reflects on the various aspects of the show, from having diverse couples portray the different stages of Noah and Allie's relationship to witnessing the audience cry and experience deep emotions during performances. He also discusses the misconception that the show is purely about sadness, noting that it touches on a range of emotions like joy and self-actualization. Ryan also talks about her chemistry with his co-star Joy Woods and how much real life fun they have performing together. Aware that he's stepping into an iconic role, he reveals that he doesn't feel pressured but instead focuses more on the importance of bringing his own authenticity to the character. After all, it’s what motivates him: bringing his “authentic-isms” and self to the world.
Ryan Vasquez can probably reenact all of Hamilton on his own having played multiple roles in the ensemble, including Philip Schuyler, Reynolds, Hercules Mulligan, James Madison, George Washington, Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson, Aaron Burr, and ultimately, the title role of Hamilton himself. He has been in “Wicked” as Fiyero and other roles, and in Broadway's production of “Waitress”. He can be seen on both the big and little screens in “The Good Fight”, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, “Tick, Tick... Boom!”, and “In the Heights”. He can now be seen as Middle Noah in the Broadway cast of “The Notebook”.

Connect with Ryan:

Website: www.ryanvasqueznyc.com

Instagram: @itsryanvasquez


Connect with The Theatre Podcast:

Support the podcast on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast


YouTube: YouTube.com/TheTheatrePodcast


Threads, Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast


TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast


Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast

TheTheatrePodcast.com

My personal Instagram: @alanseales



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Join us for an extraordinary deep dive inside the most transformative decade on Broadway through gripping behind-the-scenes accounts of shows such as Sunset Boulevard, Rent, Angels in America, Chicago, The Lion King, and The Producers - shows that changed the history of the American theater. Host Michael Riedel, author of the best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway, has created a companion podcast featuring his never-before-heard, taped audio interviews with legendary artists from Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim, Patti LuPone, and so many more.
Michael presents the drama behind the decade’s mega-hits and shocking flops, bringing readers into high-stakes premieres, fraught rehearsals, tough contract negotiations, intense Tony Award battles, and more. From the bitter feuds to the surprising collaborations, all the intrigue of a revolutionary era in the Theater District is packed into Singular Sensation. Broadway has triumphs and disasters, but the show always goes on.
Enjoy Singular Sensation: The Podcast everywhere you get your podcasts or use http://bpn.fm/singularsensation to listen and learn more, and be sure to get the book here: https://amzn.to/4cNdfO3.
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You don't have as much time as you think you do, so you better be prepared. At least that’s how Joy Woods lives her life. She shares how she caught the acting bug, starting as a dancer but eventually fell in love with theatre and acting. She looks back on her time in “Little Shop of Horrors”, her audition process in “SIX The Musical” and the sisterhood among cast members. She moved around during the pandemic, “broke, alone and free”, realizing that part of her needed that freedom to grow. Now starring as Middle Allie in Broadway’s “The Notebook”, Joy talks about the different aspects of the show, including the depth of its characters, and the unique experience of performing in a production that resonates deeply with audiences while also invoking intense feelings of nostalgia. She reflects on her personal connection to her character, and the things she’s learned about herself in the process.
Joy Woods made her Broadway debut in 2022, taking over the role of Catherine Parr in “Six The Musical”. She was part of the ongoing hit production of the off-broadway production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” returning to play the role of Audrey in 2023 after originating the role of Chiffon in the original 2019 revival cast. Her additional credits include the 2020 production of “Mac & Mabel” at City Center on Chorus!, the viral “Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical”, and a 2023 production of “I Can Get It For You Wholesale” off-Broadway, and a 2023 production of “Dreamgirls,” which took place at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. She has just opened “The Notebook” on Broadway as Middle Allie. 
Connect with Joy:

Instagram: @joynwoods

TikTok: @joynwoods


Connect with The Theatre Podcast:

Support the podcast on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast


YouTube: YouTube.com/TheTheatrePodcast


Threads, Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast


TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast


Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast

TheTheatrePodcast.com

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Cayleigh Capaldi may have the perfect pitch, but she’s not letting perfectionism get in the way of finding who she is as an individual and as a performer. She delves into her background, growing up surrounded by artists, and how it helped her embrace her talents. She also reflects on her role in “Titanique”, the challenges and joys of portraying Celine Dion, including incorporating her own style while honoring the character's legacy, and how the show helped her grow as a performer. Now part of “Figaro: An Original Musical”, she shares her involvement in the musical and the collaborative process behind recording the album. Cayleigh candidly shares her unique vocal abilities, and what actually happens to her throat muscles when she does a whistle tone. Having millions of views and thousands of followers on her social media, she talks about how it all started during the pandemic, and how she eventually found and established her niche–giving her a new and different avenue to be creative and express herself.
Cayleigh Capaldi is an actress and singer whose performance career started at the age of three and was recording professional vocals by the age of seven. She had her undergraduate studies in music and East Asian studies at Columbia University and trained in acting and performance at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, AMDA, and AADA. She hosted the “Discovery Channel Europe and China's Hangzhou Global Tour”, and has a massive following on social media where she's known for her incredible riff challenges, harmonies, whistle-tone videos, and perfect pitch videos. Her stage credits include “Tatanique”, “Frozen”, “Macbeth”, “Into the Woods”, and “Little Women” among others. Cayleigh can now be heard leading a brand new world premiere cast recording called “Figaro: An Original Musical”.
In addition to her film, TV, and theater credits, Cayleigh has amassed an impressive social media following of over 275K followers. Her fanbase has grown primarily on TikTok, where she has gained over 7 million total likes, 80 million views, and countless viral videos. She is best known for her riff challenges, harmonies, covers, and her musical theater & lifestyle content.

Connect with Cayleigh:

Website: www.cayleighcapaldi.com

Instagram: @cayleigh.capaldi

TikTok: @cayleigh.capaldi

Learn more about Figaro: An Original Musical: https://www.figaromusical.com/


Connect with The Theatre Podcast:

Support the podcast on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast


YouTube: YouTube.com/TheTheatrePodcast


Threads, Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast


TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast


Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast

TheTheatrePodcast.com

My personal Instagram: @alanseales



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