From his first role as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast to his current work as an onstage swing in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Riley shares how a childhood love for performing grew into a passion for storytelling and representation. He reflects on standout roles in Cats and Next to Normal, the life-changing moment of winning the Jimmy Awards, and finding his creative home at Shenandoah Conservatory. We also dive into the dedication and adaptability it takes to learn multiple tracks on Broadway.
In this episode, Isaac takes us through their inspiring journey from growing up in Oklahoma with an early love for performance to making their Broadway debut in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. They open up about discovering theatre after starting in ballet, the lessons they learned at Boston Conservatory about resilience and standing out, and the balance between pursuing roles out of passion and taking ones for practical reasons. We also dive into standout experiences like performing in Allegiance, a powerful story centered on the Japanese internment with a predominantly AAPI cast, and the disco-fueled creativity of The Donkey Show. Most importantly, Isaac shares the pride and responsibility of being a non-binary performer on Broadway, the importance of visibility and representation, and why the magic of Cursed Child resonates universally.
On this episode, Bradley reflects on his journey from discovering theater as a kid to becoming part of the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. We chat about the challenges and joys of performing in such a beloved show, including mastering complex scenes, embracing physically demanding roles, and the importance of collaboration with cast and crew. Bradley also opens up about balancing life on and off stage, staying inspired through intense rehearsal schedules, and what it’s like to bring magical stories to life night after night.
Backstage With Becca B. Episode 183 with Hailey Hyde is now LIVE on YouTube! On this episode, Hailey reflects on how a childhood dream of becoming a singer — sparked by her aunts’ Broadway tours and favorite shows like Wicked — led to a growing passion for theater. We chat about her summer program experiences, her love for regional theater, including standout roles in Cats and Frozen, PLUS The Outsiders Musical which is her Broadway debut. She talks about the process of learning multiple tracks, the thrill of being an understudy, and how choreography, community, and careful prep helped her feel ready for her debut. Hailey also opens up about adjusting to life in NYC, overcoming stage nerves, and the value of staying grounded and inspired through it all.
On this episode, Jenna talks about growing up in a Broadway-performing family, her regional theatre journey, and how she’s brought iconic roles like Elsa in Frozen and Fanny Brice in Funny Girl to life with heart and originality. We also chat about her voiceover work with Disney (including Sofia the First), the importance of vocal health, her love for regional theater’s creative freedom, and why mentorship and connection matter so deeply to her. Plus, she shares that she’s joining the national tour of Suffs Musical this fall!
On this episode I talked with Lizzy about her journey as a performer — from falling in love with musical theatre as a kid watching The Wizard of Oz and Smash, to her first big role as Gabriella in High School Musical, to finding her artistic voice at Texas State University with the guidance of incredible mentors. We talked about her first professional experience in Rent in New Orleans, the challenges and growth that came from it, and her exciting Broadway debut in Boop the Musical! Lizzy shares what it was like going through the Boop audition process, including an intense dance call with Rachelle Rak, how she learned the whole show in just a week, and what it means to her to be in the ensemble and understudy both Betty and Trisha. She also talks about the joy of working with legends like Jerry Mitchell, the importance of bringing her own voice to her work, the power of storytelling, and so much more!
On this episode I talked with Alex about Alexander/Aristotle now playing at Company Of Angels through May 10th — emphasizing its intellectual depth and audience engagement, the rich historical connections and cultural experiences tied to Greece, particularly during the Hellenistic period, emphasizing the importance of art and theater in understanding these historical contexts, how understanding Shakespeare and Greek mythology is crucial for appreciating modern storytelling, the transition from mythology to evidence-based thinking marked a significant shift in philosophy and governance, his belief that theatre should challenge viewers with complex ideas and foster discussions, and much more!
Backstage With Becca B. Episode 179 with guest John Kapelos is now LIVE on YouTube. On this episode, I talked with John about the challenges of building theater communities in L.A., his early days in Chicago’s collaborative scene, and how support from his father and a role at Second City helped launch his career, how the digital age has reshaped the entertainment industry and brought more opportunities but also more competition, his thoughts on the evolution of storytelling in film and TV, his current show Aristotle/Alexander at Company Of Angels where he stars as Isocrates, historical narratives, focusing on Alexander the Great and his complex relationship with Aristotle, the psychological layers of leadership, the influence of mentorship, how these ancient stories can still resonate today, and much more!
On this episode I talked with Anika about her journey as a performer including the moments she fell in love with theatre, her initial career path she thought she wanted to pursue, what ultimately guided her toward theatre, her experience in the immersive experience of “The Great Gatsby” in New York, how unique audience interactions are during an immersive show, her education at NYU, getting involved with the For The Record series, FTR’s new venue The CineVita and how special the energy at the venue is, her talented costars in Tarantino: Pulp Rock at The CineVita, preparation for her role as O-Ren in Tarantino: Pulp Rock, advice for aspiring performers in the industry, her singing group with her sisters called The Braganza Sisters and where you can check out their music, her desire to uplift in her work, dream roles, self-confidence, and much more!
Backstage With Becca B. Episode 177 with guest @blockedanddeletedangel is now LIVE on Youtube. On this episode I talked with Emily about all she’s done since the last time we talked, including the life changing experience of performing in her favorite musicals such as “Sunday in the Park with George” at CCAE and “Cabaret” with Altadena Music Theatre, plus performing at Escape Hotel in Hollywood and how that experience was unique as a performer for her. Performing with For The Record Live, emphasizing it’s unique style of immersive theatrical shows, their new traveling venue, The CineVita which is currently in Inglewood, the exceptional talent of the FTR team, the unique atmosphere of The CineVita, and the high stakes involved in productions there, her artistic evolution with her new band, Leopard Skin Dolcinea, upcoming gigs, people who influence her, her desire to play every female Sondheim role and other classic characters, and much more!
On this episode I talked with Alex about how he transitioned from aspiring to be a teacher to discovering his passion for acting during high school, his college experience at Emerson College where he graduated with a BFA in acting, his desire to inspire future theater makers, his audition for Albus Potter in "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," and the supportive atmosphere he encountered, the journey to making his Broadway debut, from the rehearsal process to the excitement of his opening night on Broadway, the unique nature of live theater, where each performance is shaped by audience reactions, making it a distinct experience, insights into his character, Albus, who he portrays as a misunderstood teenager striving for individuality while navigating societal expectations, his enthusiasm for video games, “Next To Normal”, dream roles, the emotional impact of storytelling in theatre, and much more!
On this episode I talked with Erik about his journey into theater, highlighting his early inspiration from his father's role as a high school theater teacher, the unique experience of live theatre, his decision to attend Webster University after auditioning for 19 schools, the significance of campus visits and interactions with current students in determining the right fit for his education, the empowering approach of his professors, which allowed him to take charge of his learning and apply the skills he acquired, his audition experience for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," which began shortly after graduation and involved multiple callbacks, leading to an intense rehearsal process that contributed to his Broadway debut, his ongoing experience in "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," including the excitement of working with new cast members and the creative team's involvement, special connections with the audience, his growth as an actor over the past two and a half years, and how his portrayal of Scorpius has changed, self-confidence in the industry, and much more!
On this episode I talked with Allie about her journey to becoming a theater performer, her early involvement in sports and how her passion for theater was sparked by attending her first Broadway show, her gratitude for her family's support in pursuing the arts, despite their lack of a theatrical background, her path to attending the University of Michigan, which began with a friend's suggestion during a community theater production, theatre workshops she’s had the opportunity to participate in including her favorite workshop, "Fountain of You," her roles in productions of "Sweeney Todd" and "Grease,” her audition for Harry Potter and The Cursed Child which included physical movement tests and multiple callbacks, how she captured the essence of Moaning Myrtle while adding her unique interpretation, the day she made her Broadway debut and the emotional experience of performing in front of a supportive audience, Cursed Child’s appeal to a wide range of theatergoers and the significance of stage door interactions with fans, her dream roles in various Sondheim shows and "Wicked," the supportive nature of the theater community, and more!
On this episode I talked with Ayanna about her background in theatre, including her childhood in the Bronx and her move to Los Angeles, where she attended performing arts schools, the cultural adjustment she faced in LA and her longing for New York, especially during the pandemic, choosing to study at the Manhattan School of Music and appreciating it’s welcoming atmosphere and rich history, the significance of the people and experiences that shaped her artistic journey, her casting experience for "How to Dance in Ohio," which began with a self-tape submission after seeing a casting call on social media, her excitement when she received a callback for the show and the welcoming atmosphere during her final audition, how the show resonated with her post her autism diagnosis, her Broadway debut and experience as a swing in @ohiomusical where she covered five roles, her current role in Harry Potter & The Cursed Child on Broadway where she plays Rose Granger Weasley (the daughter of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger), being part of a new cast who debuted a new version (under three hours) of Cursed Child on Broadway, characteristics of Ron and Hermione that she has made sure to add to Rose Granger Weasley on stage, her favorite bit of magic that happens in the show, her real life Hogwarts house, dream roles she has, her passion for jazz music, and much more!
Backstage With Becca B. Episode 172 with David Schubert, the guest experience manager at the @civilianhotel is now LIVE on Youtube. On this episode I talked with David about travel tips for visitors to New York City, the hotel’s bustling holiday season, the unique atmosphere at The Civilian Hotel where staff members are encouraged to express their individuality, creating a welcoming environment by having genuine interactions with hotel guests, why it’s important the Civilian Hotel serves as a hub for people who have come to New York to see Broadway shows, notable art pieces and decorations throughout the hotel that celebrate the history of theatre, the design of the rooms which maximize comfort and functionality, the hotel’s goal to make trips more affordable and accessible by offering guidance on both paid and free options of activities in New York City, his own appreciation for live performances, influenced by his family's involvement in local productions, and much more!
On this episode I talked with Carly her early experiences in theater, starting at age ten with a role in a YMCA production of "Alice in Wonderland," which ignited her passion for performing, her role as Annie in a community theater production, which solidified her desire to pursue a career in the arts, her diverse musical skills which she credited to her parents' encouragement to explore different instruments and styles, being part of workshops for “Anne of Green Gables” and “Sweetwater” and what it’s like to work on beginning stages of a show and develop characters, her experience on the Theaterworks tours of “The Civil War” and “A Christmas Carol” and how those experiences prepared her for the National tour of “Wicked”, her unexpected journey to audition for the role of Elphaba in "Wicked," her initial believing she was better suited for Glinda than Elphaba, her reaction when she booked the Elphaba standby on tour, what her rehearsal process for the tour looked like, making her Elphaba debut in the same city she first saw “Wicked” on stage in, her interpretation of Elphaba, Elphaba’s growth throughout the timespan of the show, what she does backstage when she’s not on, her dream roles, and much more!
On this episode I talked with Nick about his initial interest in producing and directing before discovering his passion for acting, the importance of storytelling in theater and the supportive role of educators in nurturing talent, his experiences with a high school teacher who recognized his potential and provided him with opportunities, the potential for innovation in the industry, emphasizing a forward-thinking approach to audience engagement, some of the casting challenges re: age Nick faced in the industry, the importance of self-initiative and the need for artists to create their own opportunities, the emotional impact of theater, the collaborative nature of theater, the importance of taking risks and how improvisation has played a role in fostering trust among performers, Nick’s plans for future productions in Los Angeles, and much more!
On this episode I talked with Zoe about her journey into theater, beginning with her early involvement in school plays and community theater, her first performance as Glinda in a mini "Wizard of Oz" production, her training in the performing arts, from voice lessons to dance classes to summer camps, singing vs. dancing, her audition process for the national tour of "Waitress," which and getting to be part of a tour bringing back LIVE theatre after 2020, how she made the character of Dawn her own when understudying her, what she learned on tour with “Waitress” that helped her with “The Prom” tour and is helping her on the “Back To The Future” tour, understudying both Alyssa and Emma in “The Prom” and making her debut as Alyssa in Los Angeles, adapting her learning process in order to understudy roles in shows, touring with “Back To The Future”, seeing the effects that happen on stage come to life before her eyes, her process for learning choreography in dance heavy shows, how she would convince people to see “Back To The Future” on tour, dream roles, and much more!
On this episode I talked with Kendyl about her evolution from aspiring ballerina to a multifaceted performer, her passion for musical theater and the influence of her mentors, when she discovered her love for acting through a local production of Aladdin Jr, which allowed her to combine her skills in dance, singing, and acting, her training in diverse dance styles and vocal genres, as well as experiences with traditional Japanese dance and aerial silks, Kendyl's time at the Boston Conservatory which was marked by challenges, including balancing auditions with attendance policies, ultimately deciding to leave to pursue the opportunity to go on tour with Hamilton, her progression on the Hamilton tour from a dance swing, to a standby for all three Schuyler sisters, to her current lead role as Eliza, the importance of self-advocacy, the emotional complexities of performing, particularly in vulnerable roles, advice she would give to up and coming performers, and much more!
On this episode I talked with Madison about her journey in musical theater, her family's artistic background and the importance of practical experience, attending a performing arts middle school, landing her first professional role at 16, the way pro shots help to make theatre more accessible, her experiences with Off-Broadway productions such as The Fantasticks where she starred as Luisa, joining long-running shows and the creative freedom offered by small theatre’s, the influence of audience perception and the evolving nature of performers, working on The Baker’s Wife at Theatre Row where she played Genevieve, a memorable rehearsal experience that underscored the emotional depth of the songs, the privilege of performing lesser-known works in Manhattan. her audition process for "Wicked," her favorite costumes, the meticulous backstage choreography, coming down in the bubble as Glinda at the top of the show, and much more!