Dear Multi-hyphenate

#33 - Michael McElroy: It’s Too Easy To Go Back to the Way Things Were

Journeys are filled with lots of hills and valleys, or valleys of preparation. In those valleys, there are moments that are needed because there is something you have to navigate or move through to appreciate when you're standing on the mountaintop again. Michael McElroy joins Dear Multi-Hyphenate in this emotional, thought provoking, and intense conversation with one of the biggest hearts in the Broadway community. Michael and Michael chat about an artist's response to a pandemic, the future of theatre, creating more inclusive spaces, and honoring diverse voices and lived experiences through artistic training. Michael earned his BFA in Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University. He made his Broadway debut in The High Rollers Social and Pleasure Club. He has since appeared in numerous productions, both on and off-Broadway, and in 2004 was nominated for a Tony Honor for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Big River. He has also been nominated for Drama Desk Awards for Violet and Big River. In 1999, McElroy became the founder and director of the Broadway Inspirational Voices (Tony Award for Excellence in the Theatre), a diverse, non-denominational gospel choir made up of Broadway singers. He currently teaches in the New Studio on Broadway at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.Connect with Michael:
@themichaelkushner
@thedressingroomproject
dressingroomproject.com
 Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#32– Grace McLean: The Bisy Backson

A multi-hyphenate is usually busy, and that's seen as a compliment - but why? And does it have to be a compliment? Great Comet's Grace McLean has a lot of interests all stemming from the same seed, and in this episode, the ferocious Broadway actor and musician chats about her latest endeavour, In the Green, which played Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3's Claire Tow Theater in 2019. Not only was she a performer in this piece, but she wrote it. Michael and Grace connect over being Bisy Backsons (The Tao of Pooh reference) and discuss Michael's latest article for Backstage, regarding self promotion during the time of CoVid-19.Connect with Michael:
@themichaelkushner
@thedressingroomproject
dressingroomproject.com
 Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#31 - Priya Mahendra: The Common Denominator

Priya Mahendra loves show business. After growing up in an Indian household filled with music, she grew up to live the life we see on Entourage, but just recently decided to start performing. She created The Princess Possibility Project, a consciously inclusive video series made during quarantine that brings to life the hopes, constraints, dreams and desires of seven Princesses through their “I Want” songs. Priya comes to Dear Multi-Hyphenate to talk about this incredible project, as well as why she considers herself a 'mega' multi-hyphenate.Connect with Michael:
@themichaelkushner
@thedressingroomproject
dressingroomproject.com
Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#30 - Rona Siddiqui: Fortitude: Seeing An Idea Through

Rona Siddiqui is an award-winning composer/lyricist, orchestrator and music director. As well as music directing the Pulitzer Prize winning A Strange Loop (Michael R. Jackson), she is the recipient of the 2020 Jonathan Larson Grant and the 2019 Billie Burke Ziegfeld Award, and was named one of Broadway Women's Fund's Women to Watch. In this episode, we chat all things musical multi-hyphenation: how to get an idea started, seeing that idea through, uniqueness, mimicry, pastiche, and the pitfalls we can fall into while writing about extremely personal occurrences and relationships. You can catch Rona during streamed Broadway Buskers concerts, which are virtual this year on Tuesday evenings at 7pm ET through October 27 at TSQ.org/BroadwayBuskers. While the concerts are still free, audiences are encouraged to donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund and the Broadway Advocacy Coalition. Connect with Michael:
@themichaelkushner
@thedressingroomproject
dressingroomproject.com
Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#29 - Sophie Thompson: Oddities and Shenanigans

Olivier Award Winning Sophie Thompson has been one of Michael's inspirations since he studied abroad in London and saw her play Mrs. Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer at the National Theatre. Sophie may not think she is a multi-hyphenate, but does Michael have what it takes to convince her? Listen to this absolutely lovely conversations as they talk about the joys of being odd, activism, and a life without social media. Plus, we talk about Sophie's appearance in the virtual play Little Wars, by Steven Carl McCasland which is streaming worldwide from November 3rd - 8th, 2020. Connect with Michael:
@themichaelkushner
@thedressingroomproject
dressingroomproject.com
Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#28 - Tia Altinay: Building A Plane As You’re Flying It

When is it time to explore something knew? There is no letter that falls out of the sky telling you it's time to start your next journey - but there are hints, Universal hints, and conversations that lead you in that direction. Tia Altinay (Mary Poppins, Hamilton) began following impulses when a friend asked her if she wanted to produce. With Broadway performance and producing credits under her belt, Tia takes the lesson from Mary Poppins that anything CAN happen if you let it. She began devoting time to Broadway for Biden and is now going back to school to get her Masters. We never stop learning and Tia is a perfect example of that.Connect with Michael:
@themichaelkushner
@thedressingroomproject
dressingroomproject.com
Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#27 - Mei Ann Teo: Passion & Purpose

Mei Ann Teo is the current Artistic Director of Musical Theatre Factory in New York City. They are a queer immigrant from Singapore making theatre & film at the intersection of artistic/civic/contemplative practice. As an artistic director, they allow budding multi-hyphenates thrive and create new work. Teo is an extremely grounded, soulful, and charming person who allows for some spiritual conversation on art - especially on one of my favorite topics: passion vs. purpose. This episode marks the start of the NEW Dear Multi-Hyphenate with interactive qualities that push the listener into a creative direction designed specifically to get you out of your quarantine rut. Follow @dearmultihyphenate on Instagram for more!Connect with Michael:
@themichaelkushner
@thedressingroomproject
dressingroomproject.com
Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#26 - Anthony Norman: A Good, Consistent Pee Schedule

Anthony Norman (The Prom) is a budding multi-hyphenate who identifies as an actor / musician and coffee enthusiast. Anthony is an incredible, sensitive, and hysterical artist who made his Broadway debut in a different way than he expected. During Quarantine, he is exploring the song writing aspect of himself as well as daily routine and relationship with social media. Follow Anthony on Instagram at @a_norms.Connect with Michael:
@themichaelkushner
@thedressingroomproject
dressingroomproject.com
Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#25 - Brad Oscar: Beshert! It’s a Great Word!

This episode with Tony Nominee Brad Oscar is simply a love letter to the greats of Broadway like Madeline Kahn and Jonathan Freeman. We don't talk much about multi-hyphenating, but if you like two Jewish boys connecting over musical theatre, Broadway debuts, and Beshert moments... this episode is for you. Plus, Brad gives amazing advice for younger artists starting in the industry and Michael talks about the importance of creating your own work, like 54 Celebrates Mel Brooks, which Michael & Brad worked on together.Connect with Michael:
@themichaelkushner
@thedressingroomproject
dressingroomproject.com
Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#24 - Alet Taylor: Punk Ass Bitch

Alet, a punk-ass-bitch (as someone called her in a lingerie store) is a force, but didn't tap into it until she achieved sobriety after going to rehab. "You're going to be extraordinarily productive - the way your brain works," her social worker told her. And it's true. The electricity began after Alet left her end of the line bootcamp rehabilitation center. She is now an incredibly inspiring multi-hyphenate producer, actor, and writer - currently in the process of writing her own content with humor and giggles. This mom of two knows how to have fun, keep focused, and produce.Connect with Michael:
@themichaelkushner
@thedressingroomproject
dressingroomproject.com
Produced by Alan Seales and the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices