The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

• Ep399 - Jeffrey Seller: Storytelling, Struggle, and the Rise of a Broadway Giant

  From growing up in a modest neighborhood known as "Cardboard Village" in Oak Park, Michigan, to becoming one of the most influential producers in Broadway history, Jeffrey Seller's story is one of resilience, creativity, and a deep love of musical theater. In this candid and insightful conversation, Jeffrey reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his journey—from the early days of Rent to launching Hamilton, and how he’s always championed new voices that challenge the status quo. He opens up about his unique childhood, his bold choices as a young producer, and why he felt compelled to write his new memoir, Theater Kid. We talk about the emotional impact of revisiting his past, his creative process, and the behind-the-scenes decisions that brought shows like In the Heights, Avenue Q, and Hamilton to life. He also shares the significance of working in Times Square since 1986 and what it means to literally see his professional history from the studio window. Jeffrey’s perspective is raw, honest, and deeply inspiring—a must-listen for anyone who loves theater and believes in the power of storytelling. Jeffrey Seller is a five-time Tony Award-winning producer behind landmark musicals including Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights, and Hamilton. He also produced The Cher Show, De La Guarda, and The Inheritance, among others. He is the co-creator of Broadway’s first ticket lottery and a champion for innovation in access and storytelling. His memoir Theater Kid chronicles his remarkable journey from Oak Park, Michigan, to the heights of Broadway. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Jeffrey: Instagram: @sellerj Theater Kid (Memoir) – available wherever books are sold Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheTheatrePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alan's personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alanseales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me at [email protected]. I want to know what you think.

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• BONUS - "The Little Mermaid" Cast & Creatives at Papermill Playhouse

  Dive into a magical behind-the-scenes journey with the cast and creative team of The Little Mermaid, now running at Paper Mill Playhouse through June 29th! This special bonus episode takes you inside the rehearsal room and onstage with the artists who are reimagining the classic Disney tale with heart, humor, and fresh perspective. From the emotional depth of the parent-child relationship to the physical challenges of portraying life under the sea, this production brings new layers to a story we all thought we knew. Hear from director/choreographer Joanne Hunter on how she approached the story from a modern lens, and enjoy candid conversations with the cast as they share what makes this version of The Little Mermaid so special. From bold audition choices to unexpected emotional moments, this episode is a celebration of theatrical creativity and connection. Get your tickets now at https://papermill.org/. Interviewees (in order of appearance): Joanne Hunter – Director & Choreographer Aubrey Mae Davis – Flounder Hillary Fisher – Ariel Haven Burton – Ursula Jared Goldsmith – Scuttle Sean Patrick Doyle – Flotsam Nick Cortazzo – Jetsam Kyle Taylor Parker – Sebastian Graham Rowat – King Triton Lawrence Dandridge – Prince Eric Christopher Gurr – Grimsby Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheTheatrePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alan's personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alanseales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me at [email protected]. I want to know what you think.

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• Ep398 - Molly Griggs: Between Southern Comfort and Broadway Grit

  What starts as a conversation about acting quickly turns into a heartwarming reunion between two North Carolina natives who had no idea they practically grew up next door. Molly Griggs opens up about her Southern roots, early theater experiences at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, and how growing up in Fayetteville shaped her worldview both on and off stage. From MerleFest memories to reflections on leaving—and later embracing—her hometown identity, this episode is full of unexpected nostalgia. Molly also talks about her emotionally charged role in John Proctor Is the Villain on Broadway and why it felt like the universe handed her the script at just the right moment. She reflects on the vulnerability required to bring parts of her younger self to the stage, the tension between people-pleasing and truth-telling, and what it means to play “the one you love to hate” in Netflix’s The Residence. It’s a layered, funny, and refreshingly honest look into how personal growth and performance are deeply intertwined. Molly Griggs is a stage and screen actor currently starring as Bailey Gallagher in John Proctor Is the Villain on Broadway. Her previous credits include Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly!, as well as TV roles in Succession, Servant, Doctor Death, and Netflix’s The Residence, where she plays Lily Schumacher. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSqure.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Molly: Instagram: @mgriggz Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheTheatrePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alan's personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alanseales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me at [email protected]. I want to know what you think.

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• Ep397 - Rob Madge: A Smoke Machine Wish, Tons of Wigs, and a Dream

  Rob Madge grew up staging living room musicals with wigs, smoke machines, and the unwavering support of their parents and grandmother—but what started as childhood play eventually became the viral, heartfelt, and Olivier-nominated solo show My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?). In this episode, Rob shares how those home videos evolved into a theatrical sensation, and how a show born during lockdown has become a powerful celebration of queer joy, family, and radical acceptance—now heading to New York City Center for its limited U.S. debut. We talk about everything from queer theory and comedy as activism to being a theater kid in a small UK village and why their grandmother was the ultimate co-conspirator. Rob opens up about the emotional weight of visibility, the importance of letting kids be themselves, and the unshakable confidence that comes from being loved early and completely. Plus, they reflect on their journey from Gavroche to leading their own story—and the joy of tweaking the show for each new audience. Rob Madge is a writer and performer whose solo show My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?) earned an Olivier Award nomination following its West End run. They began their career as a child actor in Mary Poppins, Oliver!, and Les Misérables, and trained at Sylvia Young Theatre School before studying English Literature at Warwick University. Rob also stars as the Emcee in Cabaret on the West End, and continues to explore themes of identity, family, and theatricality through their writing and performance. Connect with Rob Instagram: @robmadge02 Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheTheatrePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alan's personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alanseales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me at [email protected]. I want to know what you think.

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• Ep396 - Anthony Veneziale & Aneesa Folds: Hip Hop, Humanity, and Hacking the Stage

  Anthony Veneziale and Aneesa Folds return to the podcast with the same brilliance and warmth that made their first appearances unforgettable—this time teaming up to talk about their new boundary-breaking musical, Co-Founders, premiering at ACT in San Francisco. With its Bay Area hip hop roots, tech satire, and cutting-edge stage visuals powered by Unreal Engine, the show challenges both theatrical norms and late-stage capitalism, all while telling a deeply personal story about representation, equity, and belonging. We unpack the eight-year journey behind the show’s creation, how Aneesa came aboard, and how both artists bring authenticity and heart into every moment—onstage and off. We also dive into hip hop’s regional influence on the show’s score, the emotional toll of being labeled a “breakout star,” and why community and kindness are non-negotiable parts of the creative process. And if that’s not enough, we improvise the plot of a musical called Mystical Desperate Zebras. This episode is a celebration of art that disrupts, heals, and uplifts—don’t miss it. Anthony Veneziale is a Tony Award-winning co-creator of Freestyle Love Supreme and co-founder of FLS Academy. He’s known for blending freestyle rap with neuroscience and education to foster creativity and collaboration. Aneesa Folds made her Broadway debut in Freestyle Love Supreme and has since become a standout performer and educator, known for her powerhouse presence and vibrant improvisational skills. Together, they now star in Co-Founders, a new musical blending activism, technology, and Bay Area hip hop culture. Connect with Anthony & Aneesa @twotouchfls (Anthony) @aneesafolds (Aneesa) Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheTheatrePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alan's personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alanseales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me at [email protected]. I want to know what you think.

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