Dear Multi-hyphenate

#97 - Frances Ruffelle & Norman Bowman: Frankie & Beausy Perfect the Cabaret

“It’s really, really important for them to see cabaret, go and see other people… go and see who’s good, go and see who’s bad, go and see what they want to portray because what I have noticed in the past, a lot of young people do a cabaret and you say, “What have you seen, what inspired you?” And a lot of them say, “Well, I haven’t been.” - Tony Winner Frances Ruffelle Frankie and Beausy are an adorable couple… and they work with each other professionally. So, what’s that like? How do you collaborate with your partner and not want to choke them!? In this episode, we discuss…Individuality in the theatreSuccessful and organic networkingHow to work with your romantic partnerFrankie and Norman’s upcoming show at 54 BelowFrances Ruffelle (Frankie) originated the role of Eponine in Les Misérables in London and on Broadway, winning the coveted Tony® Award. Frances has performed in many musicals and plays, including as Roxie in Chicago, Queenie in The Wild Party, and Piaf in Pam Gem’s Piaf. Frances is also a recording artist, composer, and writer.Norman Bowman (Beausy) is currently appearing as Sam in Mamma Mia! in the West End having just finished filming the role of Sir William Herbert in feature film Firebrand alongside Jude Law’s Henry VIII. Other leading roles include Marius in Les Misérables, Danny in Grease, Munkustrap in Cats, and Sky in Guys and Dolls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#96 - Jai Rodriguez: A Thousand Sweet Kisses

“Trail blazers very rarely get to reap the benefits of the very trail they helped blaze.” This conversation with Jai Rodriguez is a perfect conversation when it comes to being a multi-hyphenate. What happens if we get pigeon holed into one thing? Jai had a tough time breaking out of what people thought they knew about him or what he could do after Queer Eye. So how did he lean into the full rounded multi-hyphenate he is now? In this episode we discuss…How he landed the original cast of Queer Eye on Bravo.The multi-hyphenate life he was leading while being a TV star.How he broke out of what people thought they knew about him.Gatekeeping. Understanding the type of life and career you want to exist simulatenously.Avoiding bad professional relationships.Jai's upcoming 54 Below show, A Thousand Sweet KissesEmmy Award winner and Broadway veteran Jai Rodriguez returns home to the NYC stage after 17 years, with his new cabaret show A Thousand Sweet Kisses, chronicling his hilarious journey through love, sex and relationships. Purchase tickets here. Best known as the “Culture Guy” in the groundbreaking original “Queer Eye,” theater audiences first met Jai at the age of 18 when he played Angel in RENT, making him the youngest person ever cast in a leading role in that show. While in NYC, Jai appeared at Lincoln Center in Spinning Into Butter, as Carmen Ghia in The Producers and as Zanna in the cult classic Zanna, Don’t! While performing eight shows a week, Jai became a fixture in nightlife with his popular post modern pop cabaret night at XL called Twisted Cabaret. Since then Jai has become a regular fixture in TV and film guest starring on shows like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Rookie,” “The Magicians,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Fantasy Island,” and as the scene stealing Geoffrey in “Malibu Country” opposite Reba and Lily Tomlin to name a few. Most recently Jai was in the Judd Apatow film BROS and is in “Uncoupled,” which is about to shoot its second season.A Thousand Sweet Kisses is a hilarious and touching musical cabaret featuring Broadway and pop classics as well as never before told behind the scenes stories. Each night will feature a different surprise guest dueting “I’ll Cover You” from RENT with him. Join us for Jai’s unforgettable return to the NYC stage!Featuring special guests Claybourne Elder (Company, “The Gilded Age”) on October 26, Orfeh (Tony Award® and Grammy nominee, Legally Blonde) on October 27, and Dan Amboyer (“Younger,” “Uncoupled”) on October 28.The performance on October 27 will also be livestreamed. For tickets and more information, click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#95 - Sarah Looper: Building A Wine Community

“It’s fascinating how other people, because they don’t feel comfortable with the changes you’re making, feel more comfortable if you are just one thing.” - Sarah Looper, Episode 95 of Dear Multi-HyphenateIf Sarah Looper is anything – she’s herself… but it took a second to get there. After questioning if she was too much because other people told her she was, she finally let that go and became the best artist she can be. She is finding her voice connecting with thousands of people on TikTok educating viewers on the wonders of food and wine through a hysterical and relatable approach. In this episode we discuss…Discovering your own confidenceThe wonders of wine!Being too this, being too thatOvercoming negative experiencesBuilding community through wine. Taking risks and being specific.What is success?Sarah has been in the wine and food world for over twenty-five years. She is a Master Sommelier candidate, a Certified Wine Educator, a Certified Specialist of Wine, and a graduate of the WSET Diploma program. Her passion for wine lies firmly in educating and sharing her knowledge in an open, friendly, and non-judgemental atmosphere. She has been a wine educator for 15 years. She was a lead wine educator at New York City's Murray's Cheese for 9 years and taught specialized Italian wine classes at Astor Center for 4 years. She is an advanced gelato maker and she cooks at home most nights seeking to put her own stamp on classic and regional fare ranging from French haute cuisine to Szechuan. Whenever possible she collects and drinks Champagne, Barolo and German Kabinett Riesling but is an equal opportunity drinker. Sarah is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in History and a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America's Baking and Pastry program. She can be found on Instagram @loopersomm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#94 - Shivani Desai: Don’t Overpitch Yourself

“At its core, fundamentally being a multi-hyphenate is, to me, about exploration and not limiting yourself to one particular thing just because your natural strengths lie in that one particular thing.” -- Shivani DesaiIn this episode, we discuss…The importance of keeping hobbies separate from our hyphens.Starting a new small business. How multi-hyphenating helped get Michael out of a depressive episode.The importance of workflow. The common traps of netweaving. Leaning out and not overpitching yourself. Small, yet important business tactics.When to appropriately accommodate for your clients. It feels like everyday we wake up to news that is painful to read. That is why Shivani believes that art is so crucial in reminding us of the beauty that also exists in this world. She feels so connected to her purpose when she brings people hope, and comfort, and a smile through her work. That is why she’s an actor.Shivani Desai is a 25 year old actor from India currently living in Singapore. Having grown up watching Bollywood cinema, her interest in the arts was sparked at a young age and she has relentlessly pursued the path of making art for a living ever since. Now a working actor, Shivani has starred in short films, TV shows, original plays, music videos, documentaries, and commercials while also working as a model for local magazines and making guest appearances on reality shows and podcasts.Apart from acting, Shivani also runs her own coaching business full-time. Born out of a desire to help actors who live in non-major markets who don’t have access to same business coaching that their fellow actors in LA, NYC, or London do, she transitions actors stuck in the weird limbo between new actor and working actor into kickass business-savvy actors who operate globally. Shivani’s latest venture as an event developer involves taking on the mammoth task of organising an actor’s conference in Las Vegas this November. With this, she feels like she has flourished fully into a multi-hyphenate who is no longer bound by traditional definitions of what it means to be a working professional in the creative field.To her, film and theatre signify the desire to affect change, a means to living truthfully, and an unwavering commitment to the process. Apart from acting, Shivani also enjoys self-portrait photography, cooking and baking, and acrylic painting.You can find Shivani on Instagram @itsshivanidesai Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#93 - Jamie Forshaw: Producing with Passion at Madison Wells Live

“The minute we think we know everything, or do everything… we become irrelevant.” – Jamie ForshawWhat happens when we stop learning? What happens when we stop exploring? That’s what makes Jamie Forshaw’s artistry as a producer with Madison Wells Live extremely personal and special – he doesn’t stop exploring. We as artists always have to keep exploring… and sometimes that exploration heals us from a nervous breakdown or have massive commercial hits on Broadway. In this episode we discuss…Why we do what we doExplorationWhat happens when you meet an idol respectfully?Art healing a nervous breakdownDo coincidences exist?How does a piece speak to Jamie when he is producing a project?Developing The Thing About Jellyfish and JenkinsShow doctors!Not every show needs to go to BroadwayFinding the right theatre for a showJamie Forshaw (Producer) leads Madison Wells Live as their Executive Producer. Under his oversight, Madison Wells Live has developed a robust-but-curated slate of stage productions focused on essential, artist-driven storytelling. Broadway credits include Shucked, The Old Man and the Pool, Company (Tony Award for “Best Revival of a Musical''), Hadestown (Tony Award for “Best Musical''), Pass Over and The Inheritance (Tony Award for “Best Play”). West End: The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Olivier nomination for “Best New Play”). Off-Broadway: Seven Deadly Sins (Drama Desk Award for “Best Unique Theatrical Experience”). Regional: Swept Away. Over the course of his 20+ year career working with an array of internationally recognized producers, including Cameron Mackintosh, Thomas Schumacher, and Michael Cohl, Forshaw has become a sought-after specialist in managing high profile, multi-million dollar budgeted global theater productions. He most recently served as V.P. of Production at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group, where he oversaw its full global roster of First-Class productions. Mr. Forshaw holds an M.F.A. from Columbia University in Theatre Management and Producing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#92 - BroadwayCon 2023 LIVE!

“For anybody that’s struggling or does not believe in themselves, you just have to keep going because one day it will happen and it will be the most glorious thing of your whole lives. So, never stop. Never stop.” – Marla MindelleIt’s BroadwayCon 2023! This special episode is filmed live in front of a BroadwayCon audience. We had such an amazing turn out and I already cannot wait until next year. This panel was loaded with incredible insight so let’s get into it. In this episode we discuss…Why it’s so important being a multi-hyphenate today.Creating Titanique Off BroadwayHaving a better relationship with moneyBonding two seemingly contrasting hyphens but understand they meld perfectlyFailureWorkflow & moreRachel WrightRachel Wright, MA, LMFT (she/her) is a distinguished psychotherapist and renowned speaker with expertise in modern relationships, mental health, and sex. Master’s Degree in clinical psychology. Podcast: The Wright Conversations - A Podcast About Sex, Relationships, & Mental Health. Rachel created the virtual workshop series What You Wish You Learned in School: Sex Ed and co-produced and hosted a show at Green Room 42 in NYC called “One Night Stand: A Night for Sexier & Healthier Broadway.” Previously SHAPE Magazine’s Sex + Relationships Coach and is currently one of mindbodygreen’s article review experts. Featured in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, PIX 11 (NYC), Women’s Health (online and print), Cosmopolitan (online and print) and NBC News Radio, among others. Al SilberAl Silber is an actress, singer, writer and educator. She has performed roles on Broadway, in London's West End, on television and film, and concert stages. In London, she created the role of Laura Fairlie in The Woman in White, played Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof and Julie Jordan in Carousel. In New York, she appeared in Hello Again, Master Class, created the role of Sara Jane in Arlington and as Tzeitel in the Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof.Her novels After Anatevka and White Hot Grief Parade were both published by Pegasus Books in 2018.L Morgan LeeL Morgan Lee (she/her) is a Tony Award® nominated actress and storyteller known for her history-making turn in A Strange Loop on Broadway. In London, she was seen playing famed artist Lili Elbe in a musical adaptation of The Danish Girl currently in development. Other work includes well over a decade of Off-Broadway, Regional, International/National concerts and tours. In the studio, L Morgan was the voice of Ornate Williams in Sugar Maple w. Fred Savage (Osiris Media) and can be found on Joe Iconis' album (Ghostlight Records), The Rainbow Lullaby Album (Broadway Records), and more. @lmorganlee | lmorganlee.comMarla MindelleMarla Mindelle is an actress, writer and composer. 2023 Lucille Lortel Award for Best Performer in a musical for her portrayal of Céline Dion in the hit Off-Broadway musical, Titanique. As a co-writer, Titanique also won the Lucille Lortel for Best Off-Broadway Musical. She has received an Outer Circle Critics Nomination for her portrayal of Sister Mary Robert in the original cast of Sister Act on Broadway. Other Broadway: Stepsister Gabrielle in Cinderella, South Pacific (Broadway) and The Drowsy Chaperone (Kitty, First National Tour). TV: Special on Netflix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#91 - Alex Donnelly: A Numbers Guy

“Be as specific as humanly possible. Don’t tell someone that you want to be a trader. Tell them that you want to be the oil and gas exploration, large cap, single name, U.S. equity derivatives trader because then, the one time a year that position comes up, people remember…”In this episode we discuss… Being there for your inner childCreating positive work experiencesBeing specific with your workHow to start producingFortress Productions and Production Resource GroupAlex joined Production Resource Group (PRG) in early 2018 to help expand PRG’s international presence in TV and Film before transitioning to PRG’s Broadway division in 2020, where he manages the lighting, audio, and video teams from Secaucus, NY. Under Alex’s lead, PRG’s brilliant team of creative visionaries and technologists are truly the masterminds behind the immersive visual experiences that transport Broadway’s audiences to new worlds. Their technological developments have also helped to revolutionize theatrical productions, continuing to create an even more engaging experience at each show, including shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Some Like it Hot, Lion King, & Juliet, Take Me Out, and many more.Alex also owns and manages Fortress Productions, a live events and theatrical production company, and was Founding Executive Director of the Corkscrew Theater Festival, a multi-venue theatrical non-profit in New York City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#90 - Lydia-Renee Darling: Breaking Out of the Scarcity Mindset

“If you’re branching into the U.K. market post Brexit, it’s going to be a nightmare and I don’t say that to dissuade you, just to remind you that what I did was very specific.” - Lydia-Renee DarlingIn this episode we discuss:Pandemic panic! Grad panic! What are the main differences and similarities for multi-hyphenates in the NYC and West End markets?How do you plant your feet when branching into new markets?What happens when you girl-boss too hard?Breaking out of the scarcity mindset.How does multi-hyphenating contribute to cultural preservation?The American DreamThe concept of Ann Bogart’s SatzLydia-Renee Darling is an actor-producer and founder with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Webster Conservatory of Theatre Arts and an MA in Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. As a biracial, second-generation Ghanaian-American, Lydia aims to explore identity, belonging and mental health within heightened worlds and uses live immersive theatre with digital interactive elements to enhance audience impact. #rememberadam, a Zoom short produced, written and acted by Lydia in response to the Kenosha shootings in her home state, was chosen for the Lift Off Sessions festival, First Time Filmmaker Festival and Andromeda Film Festival. A portion of her play, The Thin Gray Line, has been seen at Bob Carter's Actors' Rep and she performed in her short play, Twenty-Five and Other Things, at The Pleasance in the Dear Black People Festival in July 2021. Lydia is the Founder of Oh! (My Gosh) Creative Co., an international DEI audience development and co production company. A systemic lack of access to visibility and guidance in the entertainment industry has resulted in fewer BIPOC professionals, making fewer and fewer BIPOC want to enter the industry… and so the cycle repeats. OMG breaks this vicious cycle of underrepresentation. At Oh! (My Gosh) Creative Co., Lydia produces entertainment featuring marginalized creatives both onstage and backstage and specializes in reaching audiences that reflect the diverse faces of those casts. She most recently served as Associate Producer and Head of Marketing for the UK tour of Vitamin D.Lydia has been part of multiple accelerators for Oh! (My Gosh) Creative Co., which won a first place grant at Do It Now Now’s Black and Good: Build Hustle Grow 2.0. The first of its kind on DEI in entertainment, OMG will launch their virtual publication in January 2024. This is possible due to grant support from Do it Now Now and residency at Somerset House Trust, plus the input, support and mentorship of Rachel at Brick London, Nikita at Local Champions CIC, Louis at 7PK and the ECHO Young Entrepreneurship Accelerator. This is a much-needed publication by underrepresented creatives, for underrepresented creatives. Even if you're not underrepresented in the industry, we'll have stellar tools, takeaways and studies for allies.Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Lydia now splits her time between Chicago and as a commonwealth citizen in London.To keep up with Lydia and Oh! (My Gosh) Creative Co., find her here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydiareneedarling/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-renee-darling/ Website: https://www.lydiareneedarling.comOh! (My Gosh) Creative Co.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohmygoshcreative.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oh-my-gosh-creative-co/Website: https://www.ohmygoshcreative.co  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#89 - Renrick Palmer: Way Your Way to Success

“It’s the people who hang in there the longest who get to reap the benefits.”Sometimes multi-hyphenating in the theatre includes hyphens we didn’t know could affect each other. This amazing episode includes insight from actor – Veteran – writer Renrick Palmer. In this episode, we also discuss…Accepting loveEstablishing relationships and a networkWhere to start in the industryHanging around long enoughRelationships with educatorsKnowing about yourself but being on a journeyHow being in the military has affected his journey in showbusinessRenrick Palmer was born in Kingston, Jamaica. After turning thirteen, his family decided it was time for a change and headed north to New York City where Renrick would eventually finish school. Despite being drawn to the arts, Renrick felt another calling. He soon found himself swearing in as an airman in the United States Air Force. His time in uniform took him around the world, including a tour of duty in the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, exposing him to numerous cultures and experiences most of us seldom have. Not only did this help Renrick develop as a person, it provided him with the foundation for all that soon followed.After leaving service, Renrick enrolled in Long Island University. He obtained a degree in Exercise Science and used it to launch his career. Renrick also graduated from the New York Film Academy and is active with the Public Theater (Military Resilience Foundation). His passion traces back to Shakespeare, fueling his drive to perform.Renrick has numerous accolades and accomplishments to his name, not the least of which being honored to play baseball great Jackie Robinson on the History Channel. He is best known for playing the part of Nelson Green in the off-Broadway Critic’s Pick Play Wedding Band. Never one to rest on his past achievements, Renrick won the Best Actor award at the Ignite Film Festival in 2022 for his portrayal of Hassim in the short film Hold Up.His book War Your Way to Success is currently available here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#88 - Giles Terera: Hamilton & Me

“The only thing you can control is what you take into [the audition], I always like to think, like the work that you’ve done – and as you say – who you are. You can control that, you can work on that. Often we put that to the side and go, what do they want to see? What do they want to hear? What do I need to do in order to be able to impress them enough to get this job? And if you don’t get things, you then go, ‘Oh is it because I’m not X, Y, Z?’ And then the danger is that you can start to change without even really clocking it, and overtime you can drift away from what you originally were.” -- Giles Terera, Episode 88 of Dear Multi-HyphenateThe industry is not just New York or LA. It’s Chicago, it’s D.C. It's Miami. But it’s also across the pond in London. Not only did we have the British Invasion of the 1980’s with Phantom, Les Mis, and more… we continue to have a U.S. and U.K. by way in terms of artist exchanges. Giles Terera, Oliver Award Winner for Hamilton in the West End, gives us incredible information about the West End. And even though we are divided by the Atlantic Ocean, so many constants bring us together, but also there are quite a few things we can learn from each other.In this episode, we discuss:Truthfully staying true to who you are and how it leads to a Broadway / West End debutFearlessnessHow being a reader behind the table helps auditioningMoving to a big city and what you need to knowAgent outreachGiles’ new book Hamilton & MeGiles Terera MBE is award-winning actor, musician, and writer.He trained at Mountview Theatre School and has worked consistently at venues such as the National Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare’s Globe. He is best known for originating the role of Aaron Burr in the London production of the award-winning musical Hamilton, for which he won the 2018 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.His other theatre credits include Rosmersholm, The Tempest, Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon, 125th Street, Rent (West End); Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Hamlet, Death and the King’s Horseman, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other, Troilus and Cressida, Candide, Honk (National Theatre); The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare’s Globe); The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Donmar Warehouse); The Playboy of the Western World (Abbey, Dublin); The Ratpack (West End/international tour); Jailhouse Rock (Theatre Royal Plymouth/West End); The Tempest (RSC); among many others.As a writer his theatre work includes The Meaning of Zong (Bristol Old Vic), The Ballad of Soho Jones (St. James), and Black Matter (Crazy Coqs). As a filmmaker, Terera’s first documentary Muse of Fire, created with Dan Poole, premiered on BBC Four in 2013 and he wrote and directed the concert film Hello Harry! A Celebration.Giles was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honors for services to theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices