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!