LITTLE ME: Growing Up Broadway

Film and TV star - Luke Islam breaks down his wild ride to fame in episode 77 of LITTLE ME: Growing up Broadway! Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli sits down with his student Luke Islam to talk about his incredible career going from Broadway super fan to one of the most talked about America's Got Talent contestants and his rise to stardom on Disney+' Mighty Ducks, Netflix's movie musical 13 and the upcoming film Theater Camp! Luke Islam shot to national stardom when he appeared on Season 14 of America's Got Talent. After a show stopping performance he received the Golden Buzzer, sending him straight to the Quarter finals as well as viral acclaim, following his success on AGT, he made his professional acting debut as the series regular on the Disney+ series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. He starred in the Netflix musical move, 13: The Musical, this summer he can be seen playing the role of Christopher L in the anticipated film Theater Camp starring Ben Platt. But before Theater Camp hits theaters, Luke will be seen back on stage as "Bobby Strong" in Broadway Workshop/Project Broadway’s main stage production of URINETOWN at theater 555 in NYC! Produced by Marc Tumminelli and The Broadway Podcast Network! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special SPOTLIGHT episode, Marc sits down with Broadway Casting Director, MERRI SUGARMAN to chat about her career and her new book: From Craft to Career, A Casting Directors Guide for the Actor! Merri Sugarman (of Tara Rubin Casting) has cast the Broadway, touring, Chicago, Las Vegas and international companies of Spamalot, Jersey Boys, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Jesus Christ Superstar, It Shoulda Been You, School of Rock, Miss Saigon, A Bronx Tale and Ain't Too Proud. She has also cast for many regional theaters including the Papermill Playhouse, The Kennedy Center, The Stratford Theater Festival, Dallas Theater Center and many others. She is the casting director of the critically acclaimed web series Submissions Only and has many TV and film projects, workshops, labs and developmental readings to her credit, including the musical TREVOR.  Broadway Workshop director, and Little Me host, Marc Tumminelli breaks down the Broadway casting process and everything that is part of Merri's new book From Craft to Career, A Casting Directors Guide for the Actor, now available for pre-order! Buy the Book! https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/from-craft-to-career-9781350276017/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway, Film and TV star - Jean Louisa Kelly joins us for our first episode of 2023! Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli begins 2023 by sitting down with Jean Louisa Kelly who began her career playing title role in a New England summer stock production of Annie, and then went on to make her Broadway debut with the original cast of Into the Woods. Jean tells her Broadway to Hollywood story in this epic episode. Jean Louisa Kelly shot to stardom playing the role of Tia opposite John Candy in the John Hughes hit film Uncle Buck, and went on to play Rowena Morgan opposite Richard Dreyfuss in Mr. Holland’s Opus, and Luisa in the film adaptation of The Fantasticks. More recently, she appeared the Warner Bros film Malignant and in Paramount’s monster hit Top Gun: Maverick. On the small screen, she played Kim Warner in the long-running CBS sitcom “Yes, Dear", and as Nurse Diane on “Mad About You" as well as so many other notable TV and Film Projects. She has recorded multiple albums available across all digital platforms and she is bringing her all new solo show to the Laurie Beechman theater on January 21st! Produced by Marc Tumminelli and the Broadway Podcast Network. https://www.westbankcafe.com/laurie-beechman-theatre Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Minard breaks down his Broadway debut in The Music Man and his life growing up on stage in this week's episode of LITTLE ME: Growing Up Broadway! Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director - Marc Tumminelli sits down with Broadway's Drew Minard to touch down on his remarkable journey performing from the age of 3 in Iowa to touring the United States and the world as the title role in Billy Elliot: The Musical to making his Broadway debut in the hit Broadway revival of The Music Man starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. Produced by The Broadway Podcast and Marc Tumminelli @drew.minard @littlemepodcast @marctumminelli Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The star of Broadway's Almost Famous, Casey Likes sits down with Marc Tumminelli to talk about living his dream 8 times a week in episode 73 of Little Me: Growing Up Broadway! At age of 20, Casey Likes made his Broadway debut playing William Miller in the new musical ALMOST FAMOUS, a role he created in the pre-Broadway run at the Old Globe. Casey breaks down his time working on the creation of Almost Famous and the long road to Broadway as well as his experience at the Jimmy Awards, his high school musicals, his cosmic connection to Les Mis, his childhood stardom in Arizona, his Broadway parents, the cast of Almost Famous, the upcoming films Spinning Gold where he plays "Kiss" legend Gene Simmons and MGM's film Dark Harvest. Produced by Marc Tumminelli and The Broadway Podcast Network. Follow us: @justcaseylikes @littlemepodcast @marctumminelli     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danielle Brisebois, Broadway's first ever "Molly" from the historic original production of Annie shares her "growing up Broadway" story in this week's episode of LITTLE ME! Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli sits down with Academy Award and Golden Globe Nominee, DANIELLE BREISEBOIS who at the age of 7 started her career in film The Premonition before making history in the original Broadway cast of Annie creating the role the youngest orphan, Molly. Danielle went on to join the cast of the hit TV show All in the Family, and then co-starred in its continuation Archie Bunker's Place. She appeared on dozens of TV shows including Hotel, Mr. Belvedere, Murder, She Wrote, Tales from the Darkside, and Days of Our Lives. Danielle is now a very successful songwriter, collaborating on such hits as Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten", and "Pocketful of Sunshine". Danielle breaks down her unbelievable story working in the business and how every moment made her the woman she is today! Produced by Marc Tumminelli and The Broadway Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway star - Alysha Umphress breaks down her childhood performance career in episode 71 of LITTLE ME: Growing Up Broadway. Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director - Marc Tumminelli sits down with friend, Alysha Umphress to talk about her time on Broadway in On the Town, American Idiot, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Bring it On! Alysha shares all the magical moments of her childhood performing in the carnival/fair circuit, recording her epic album "Dynamite" at the age of 8, her local theater productions and so much more in this hilarious episode of LITTLE ME: Growing Up Broadway. Produced by Marc Tumminelli and Broadway Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway's Trevor Braun tells his growing up Broadway story in episode 70 of Little Me: Growing Up Broadway! Little Me Host, and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli sits down with former child actor and current star of off Broadway's THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG - Trevor Braun! Trevor tells his Broadway story, making his Broadway debut as CHIP in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and going on to originate the role of Flounder in Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, Michael in BILLY ELLIOT and the original Broadway cast of THE FERRYMAN. Trevor shares the highs and lows of being a Broadway kid and the incredible and hilarious story of how he got his nickname Treffy White! Produced by Marc Tumminelli and the Broadway Podcast Network https://broadwaygoeswrong.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway and Disney+ Star - Kate Reinders breaks down her career in episode 69 of Little Me: Growing up Broadway! Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli sits down with Kate Reinders who chats about playing the beloved "Miss Jenn" in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series! Kate also shares her early career story growing up doing community and school theater, making the big move to NYC and going on to be part of the the short lived The Adventures of Tom Sawyer on Broadway as well as the Broadway casts of the 2002 Broadway revival of Into The Woods and the 2003 revival of Gypsy where she played Dainty June opposite Bernadette Peters, what it was like starring in Good Vibrations on Broadway and playing Glinda in Wicked as well as her time in Broadway's Something Rotten, and Beautiful! Kate breaks down some wild audition stories, being part of Disney family, being part of Frog and Toad, working with Tim Federle, Olivia Rodrigo, Julia Lester, Sheri Shepard, the joys of motherhood living in Utah and so much more! Produced by The Broadway Podcast Network and Marc Tumminelli. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are joined by the daughter of ANNIE creator Martin Charnin - SASHA CHARNIN MORRISON! Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli sits down with the fashion icon Sasha Charnin Morrison to chat about the world's most famous orphan and what is was like to witness the meteoric rise of the musical phenomenon - ANNIE. Sasha tells her backstage story growing up around Annie and what her experience was watching her father create the mega hit musical and what it's like now maintaining the legacy of the historic show. Marc and Sasha break down the Annie revivals, the sequels, the film versions, casting stories, the new national tour and so much more! Sasha also touches down on her own career in the the fashion world working for such publications Vanity Fair, Seventeen, Allure, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, US Weekly and currently as Style Director of CBS Watch. Produced by Marc Tumminelli and The Broadway Podcast Network. --- @sashacharninmorrison @littlemepodcast @marctumminelli @broadwaypodcastnetwork Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're Back! The Broadway star of Beetlejuice - Elizabeth Teeter tells it all in episode 67 of Little Me: Growing Up Broadway! Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli sits down with the all grown up child star, Elizabeth Teeter to talk about her incredible career starting at 10 years old in the closing company of Mary Poppins on Broadway and going on to work along side Helen Mirren in The Audience as well as the Broadway revival of The Crucible starring Ben Whishaw and Saoirse Ronan and what her life is like playing Lydia in the hit Broadway musical - Beetlejuice. Produced by Marc Tumminelli and The Broadway Podcast Network --- Find out more on instagram @elizabethteeterofficial @littlemepodcast @marctumminelli Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rueby Wood & Aria Brooks share their behind the scenes story of making the newly released Disney+ film - Better Nate Than Ever! Broadway Workshop director and Little Me host, Marc Tumminelli is reunited with Better Nate Than Ever stars - Rueby Wood and Aria Brooks to break down their experience making the new Disney+ film. Marc, who served as the movie's acting/dialogue coach gets Rueby and Aria to open up about their audition process, the first day of filming, what it was like working with co-stars - Lisa Kudrow & Joshua Bassett, their relationship with director Tim Federle, their most challenging and rewarding days on set, the LA and NY premieres, their incredible families and their unbelievable connection "being the same person in different fonts"! Watch Better Nate Than Ever on Disney + Produced by The Broadway Podcast Network and Marc Tumminelli Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The history making original star of Annie, ANDREA MCARDLE is with us to celebrate our 2nd anniversary! In this historic anniversary episode Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli sits down with the Broadway star that started it all for young performers on Broadway - Andrea McArdle. Andrea breaks down her amazing career, the major moments that defined her, the ups and downs, the incredible celebrity encounters, the missed opportunities, and so much more in the 65th episode of Little Me: Growing Up Broadway! Andrea McArdle first captured the hearts of theatergoers everywhere in 1977 when she originated the title role in the mega-musical Annie. As “Annie”, Andrea became the youngest performer ever to be nominated for a Tony Award as Best Lead Actress in a Musical. She also received the Theater World and Outer Critics' Circle Awards for her performance and went on to star when the show was produced on London’s West End. Also, on Broadway, Andrea starred in the Jerry Herman musical Jerry’s Girls alongside Carol Channing and Leslie Uggams, in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express, State Fair; Les Miserables and as Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Andrea also starred as Judy Gardland in the TV movie, RAINBOW on NBC and has dazzled audiences all over the world in her numerous concert appearances. Produced by The Broadway Podcast Network and Marc Tumminelli Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tammy Minoff recounts her time starring on Broadway in The Goodbye Girl and The Will Rogers Follies in episode 64 of Little Me: Growing Up Broadway! Actress, director, writer and producer, Tammy Minoff joins Little Me host, Marc Tumminelli for a hilarious backstage tour of her years starring on Broadway! Tammy unpacks her childhood experince originating the role of Mary Rogers in The Will Rogers Follies directed by the great Tommy Tune and creating the role of Lucy McFadden in Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl opposite Bernadette Peters and Martin Short. Tammy also catches us up on what she has been up to in recent years including writing, directing and starring in the romantic comedy - Limerence! Produced by Marc Tumminelli and The Broadway Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway star of Caroline or Change and Dear Evan Hansen - Samantha Williams tells her Broadway story this week on Little Me: Growing Up Broadway! Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli sits down with Samantha Williams who made her Broadway debut during her junior year of college in the Tony Award-winning hit musical Dear Evan Hansen playing the role of Alana Beck. Samantha tells us her backstage story of going from college student to Dear Evan Hansen and then the life changing experience of playing Emmie in the Broadway revival of Caroline, or Change. Produced by The Broadway Podcast Network and Marc Tumminelli Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samantha Massell spills the tea on her Broadway debut in Baz Luhrmann's La Bohème in this weeks LITTLE ME: Growing Up Broadway! Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli catches up with Samantha Massell who has appeared on Broadway as Hodel in the acclaimed revival of Fiddler on the Roof as well as a child star turn in Baz Luhrmann's Broadway production of La Bohème. Samantha talks about being a child actor growing up in NYC, desperately wanting to be in Annie, working as an assistant to Lin-Manuel Miranda, performing in the Met's children's chorus, remounting the musical Rags, being part of the original cast of Hunchback and eventually finding herself back on Broadway in the same theater where she started her Broadway journey. Produced by The Broadway Podcast Network and Marc Tumminelli Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway child superstar - Eamon Foley breaks down his early career and his quest for a Broadway "Show Jacket" in this weeks LITTLE ME: Growing Up Broadway. Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli sits down with Broadway's Eamon Foley who tells his unbelievable backstage story of working on Broadway starting at nine years old, performing in the original casts of Gypsy, directed by Sam Mendes, Assassins, directed by Joe Mantello, 13! The Musical, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and stopping the show opposite Sherie Rene Scott in Everyday Rapture, directed by Micheal Meyer. Eamon shares what he is working on now, reads a letter from Stephen Sondheim, talks about working with Michael Arden, his time and Princeton and what it's like to be outed in the New York Times at age 11. Produced by The Broadway Podcast Network and Marc Tumminelli Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway's Brandon Espinoza breaks down his 25+ years in show business in the first LITTLE ME episode of 2022! Little Me, Host and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli sits down with Broadway, TV and film actor, Brandon Espinoza who made his Broadway debut at the age of 10 in The Will Rogers Follies, and then went on to star as a kid on Broadway in 90's mega musicals; Les Misérables, and BIG! Brandon also recounts his time on Broadway as an adult in Gypsy, Tuck Everlasting and Spongebob Squarepants. He shares his backstage stories, his celebrity encounters, his time in training in college and so much more. Produced by Marc Tumminelli and the Broadway Podcast Network   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Marc joins the FLOP OF THE HEAP podcast to talk all things Broadway super flop SMILE: The Musical! LITTLE ME: Growing Up Broadway takes a trip away from child stars to celebrate the holiday season and sit down with John Bow of FLOP OF THE HEAP podcast! Little Me host, Marc Tumminelli and Flop of the Heap host, John Bow break down the musical SMILE and everything that went wrong making the show an enormous 80's Broadway flop. They share the inside story of what went right and what went terribly wrong during the creation, original workshops, out of town try out and short Broadway run of Smile: The Musical Smile is a musical by Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Ashman and chronicles the backstage troubles of the fictional 1985 California Young American Miss Pageant. Marc and John have a laugh a minute sharing the behind the scenes stories, reviews and so much more on this special cross over episode! Produced by Flop of the Heap, John Bow, Marc Tumminelli and The Broadway Prodcast Network. More information on Flop of The Heap More information on SMILE: The Musical Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are celebrating the release of Steven Spielberg's West Side Story with star Paloma Garcia-Lee this week on LITTLE ME: Growing Up Broadway! Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli catches up with Broadway, TV and film star - Paloma Garcia Lee, who shares the incredible of story of going from unstoppable Broadway dancer to blowing up the silver screen as Graziella in Steven Spielberg’s all new film of West Side Story. Paloma shares her incredible story of manifesting playing the iconic role of Graziella and how she was able to put her own stamp on it, what it was like filming with legend Steven Spielberg, working with her West Side cast, having to wait nearly two years for the films release, her new life living in LA, her wild connection with the role of Graziella, balancing being part of Moulin Rouge on Broadway while filming West Side Story, filming Fosse/Verdon, working with Sam Rockwell, making her Broadway debut at 17 in Phantom of the Opera, being part of the Broadway casts of Nice Work If You Can Get it, On The Town, ...The Great Comet, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Moulin Rouge. Produced by Marc Tumminelli and The Broadway Podcast Network. https://www.palomagarcialee.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices