Radio Catskill - Curtain Call with Tom Candela

Five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman joins Tom for an in-depth conversation about a lifetime in the theatre. From her first Broadway choreography credit on Crazy for You to her rare dual Tony win for directing and choreographing The Producers, Stroman reflects on the discipline, collaboration, and storytelling architecture that define her work.  They discuss how dance advances character, how musical structure is shaped in rehearsal rooms, and what she learned about collaboration from legends like Kander & Ebb and Stephen Sondheim.The conversation moves from the bold theatricality of The Frogs and the historical weight of The Scottsboro Boys to the genesis of Contact, born from a single image of a girl in a yellow dress on a downtown dance floor.  Stroman speaks candidly about mentorship and her ongoing commitment to developing new voices in the theatre. It’s a thoughtful conversation about craft, risk, and the enduring power of musical storytelling

On this episode of Curtain Call, Tom is joined by local actress, poet, and community advocate Cass Collins for a thoughtful conversation about building a life in the theatre. From her early training in Emerson College’s BFA acting program to founding Boston’s Open Door Theatre, Cass reflects on the realities of navigating the profession beyond the classroom. The discussion explores her performances across the Sullivan Catskills, including work with Catskill Public Theater, Standing People Together, and Farm Arts Collective, her work with theatre artists such as Nick López and Tannis Kowalchuk, and the collaborative spirit that drives devised theatre in the region. 

On this episode of Curtain Call, host Tom Candela welcomes director Lisa Spielman and dramaturg Loren Edelson to discuss Elmwood Playhouse’s production of The Book of Will, Lauren Gunderson’s moving and often humorous play about the race to preserve William Shakespeare’s legacy following his death. Set in 1619, the story follows Shakespeare’s friends and fellow actors as they undertake the monumental task of compiling the First Folio — the collection that saved many of his greatest works from being lost forever. Together, Tom and his guests explore the historical background of the play, the vital role of a dramaturg, the collaborative spirit of theatre-making, and how this timeless story comes to life on stage in Nyack, New York.

On this episode of Curtain Call Tom speaks with a man whose life has been woven into the very fabric of American theatre and music for more than seventy years. From his early days as a music major at New York City’s High School of the Performing Arts… to studying opera directing at Boston University… to working during the explosive Off-Broadway movement of the 1960s alongside some of the most influential voices of the era… Barry Plaxen has truly seen it all. He shares stories of those formative years, what it was like standing at the edge of theatrical history, and how music and performance shaped not only his career—but his way of seeing the world.Today, Barry is the publisher of the Delaware & Hudson Canvas, a vital arts newspaper championing live performance throughout the Catskills, Upper Delaware, and surrounding regions. 

On this episode of Curtain Call, Tom takes listeners inside one of the most meaningful evenings in musical theatre: the Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre. Featuring this year’s winners—lyricist Eric Price and librettist Philip Christian Smith—the conversation explores what it truly means to receive an award that isn’t just recognition for past work, but a vote of confidence in what comes next.  Woven throughout the episode are voices from the ceremony itself, including Susan Stroman, Maury Yeston, John Weidman, Richard Maltby Jr., and Santino Fontana, offering insight into craft, mentorship, and the legacy of Ed Kleban. With performances from The Violet Hour and selections from Smith’s The Charter School Presents: The Medea – A Rap Tragedy, this episode captures the spirit of dedication, belief, and artistic conviction that keeps musical theatre alive and evolving.

On this episode of Curtain Call, Tom sits down with director Willo Hausman for an in-depth conversation centered on her upcoming production of Hair, opening July 9, 2026 at the Byrdcliffe Theater in Woodstock, New York. This is not a nostalgia-driven revival, but a contemporary reimagining that honors the original spirit of Hair while engaging directly with the world we’re living in now. Willo shares her vision for a production rooted in community, choice, collective responsibility, and what she describes as the lived reality of the Aquarian Age.  Willo also talks about her work as founder of The Tivoli Players and Gryphon Pictures, and how her background across theatre, film, and production informs her collaborative approach. 

On this episode of Curtain Call, Tom speaks with playwright Nicca Ray and director Joe Battista about their collaboration on the new play The Cry of the Butterfly, opening in early February at Theater for the New City. The conversation explores how deeply personal material is shaped for the stage, the trust required between writer and director, and the role collaboration plays in bringing new work to life.

This week on Curtain Call, Tom sits down with a remarkable husband-and-wife duo whose work spans classical theatre, regional stages, higher education, and the New York State prison system. Nick López and Jessica López-Barkl bring deeply personal insight into what it means to use theatre as a tool for connection, education, and social impact. The conversation explores Nick’s long-standing work with Rehabilitation Through the Arts, where creativity plays a central role in dignity and transformation inside correctional facilities, alongside Jessica’s award-winning work as a playwright and theatre-maker whose projects explore grief, neurodiversity, and non-verbal storytelling. Together, they discuss collaboration, teaching, responsibility, and the ways theatre can open space for empathy in unexpected places. 

This week on Curtain Call, Tom Candela heads straight to the heart of theatre fandom with a spotlight on BroadwayCon 2026, the three-day celebration where fans, artists, and creators come together in the center of Times Square to share their love of Broadway. Joining the conversation is Melissa Anelli, CEO and founder of Mischief Management, the producing force behind BroadwayCon. With new venues, expanded programming, and the introduction of BroadwayCon’s first-ever Drag Ball benefiting Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, this year’s event marks an exciting new chapter in BroadwayCon’s evolution.Also joining Tom is actor, writer, and advocate Erin Quill, a member of the original Broadway company of Avenue Q and a longtime voice for equity in casting. This year, Erin takes the BroadwayCon stage not as a panelist, but as a guest performer as part of Friday’s AANHPI-focused event, celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander artists and stories. Together, they explore the power of speaking up, the importance of representation, and how fandom can become a bridge—connecting loving audiences with the artists and stories that inspire them

This week on Curtain Call, Tom sits down with performer Drita Kabashi and director Meghan Finn to talk about A Trojan Woman — a one-woman theatrical adaptation of Euripides’ The Trojan Women, often considered the first anti-war play in Western theatre. Drita Kabashi carries the entire production in this one woman show, stepping into ten different characters under the direction of Meghan Finn, Artistic Director of The Tank. Together, they share how this ancient story continues to feel urgently modern, and why its message of loss, endurance, and humanity still matters today — making this a powerful way to begin Curtain Call’s first episode of 2026!

This special Holiday Best-Of edition of Curtain Call brings together some of the most inspiring voices and moments from recent seasons.  Tom looks back to some of his favorite episodes, celebrating the artists, storytellers, and creative visionaries who are shaping our region’s theatre and arts community. From bold innovators and cultural advocates to devoted champions of local storytelling, this episode offers a rich tapestry of conversation, creativity, and connection. It’s a heartfelt look back, a hopeful look ahead, and a reminder that theatre isn’t just something we watch — it’s something we share, protect, and pass along.

This week on Curtain Call, Tom welcomes Joanna Sherman and Michael McGuigan of Bond Street Theatre, an internationally recognized company dedicated to promoting peace, human rights, and mutual understanding through the arts. Founded in 1976, Bond Street Theatre has brought theatre-based programming into refugee camps, post-conflict regions, prisons, schools, and communities rebuilding after trauma in more than forty countries worldwide. In this in-depth conversation, Sherman and McGuigan share the origins of the company, its mission-driven work, and how theatre becomes a powerful tool for education, healing, and connection in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

On this week’s episode of Curtain Call, Tom sits down with Catherine Montesi, a theatre maker, journalist, and arts advocate whose work spans accessible performance, community storytelling, and public service. Catherine shares her experiences as an ensemble member with Bluelaces Theater Company, where she helps create multi-sensory productions designed for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. She also discusses her time with Story Pirates, her commitment to accessible theatre, and her work with the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance.

This week on Curtain Call, Tom Candela sits down with actor and playwright Douglas Taurel, the creator of the acclaimed one-man show The American Soldier. In this moving episode, Tom and Douglas explore the real wartime letters and unforgettable characters that bring to life the sacrifices of veterans and the families who love them.This is theatre that changes people—opening conversations and shining a light on the invisible wounds of war. 

On this week’s Curtain Call, host Tom Candela sits down with multi-talented writer, actor, and composer Keith Varney, whose new one-man play Ten Times I Should Have Known I Was Autistic is premiered at the United Solo Theatre Festival. Through humor, honesty, and deeply personal storytelling, Keith retraces ten overlooked moments from his life that suddenly snap into focus through the lens of a late-in-life autism diagnosis. Together, Tom and Keith explore the emotional clarity that comes with understanding one’s neurodivergence, the years of masking that preceded it, and the liberating process of transforming private realizations into bold, public art.The conversation also takes a detour into Keith’s joyful geek side — including his comedic role-playing podcast Wisdom of One, a spoof of Dungeons & Dragons.

This week on Curtain Call, host Tom Candela sits down with three of the creative minds behind one of Off-Broadway’s most talked-about new musicals — Vape! The Grease Parody. Joining the conversation are writer Catie Hogan, director Jack Plotnick, and lyricist and additional book writer Danny Salles, who share the story of how this high-energy spoof of Grease battled legal hurdles, embraced satire, and found its way to the New York stage. With humor as sharp as its social commentary and a heart as big as its laughs, Vape! reimagines the beloved classic for a TikTok generation — one vape cloud at a time.

This week on Curtain Call, host Tom Candela welcomes writer and director Mimi McGurl, actor Jess Beveridge, and musician Douglas Rogers, the creative team behind Lucy Joseph—the acclaimed original performance from Farm Arts Collective, returning by popular demand after a sold-out summer run. The piece tells the story of Lucy Ann Joseph Israel Lobdell, a 19th-century gender non-conforming pioneer whose remarkable life speaks directly to today’s ongoing conversations about identity and self-expression.Listeners will also be treated to original live music by Douglas Rogers, including a moving rendition of Stephen Foster’s “Hard Times.” Together, Mimi, Jess, and Douglas share insights into their creative process, the historical inspiration behind the work, and the emotional power of blending music, movement, and storytelling to bring Lucy’s story to life. Lucy Joseph is both a theatrical triumph and a timely reflection on courage, authenticity, and the human spirit.

This week on Curtain Call, host Tom Candela welcomes back his longtime friend and celebrated theatre artist Gabriel Barre, whose latest directorial project, the brand-new Off-Broadway musical REUNIONS, opens at City Center Stage II on November the 2nd.  Tom and Gabe also look back on an extraordinary career that has taken Gabe from Barnum, to Starmites, Forever Plaid, Amazing Grace, The Wild Party, and beyond. Join them for stories, laughter, and a celebration of artistry, collaboration, and lifelong creative connections.

This week on Curtain Call, Tom spotlights a dynamic duo whose love story began center stage. Opera soprano and arts consultant Rebekah Diaz and celebrated baritone Graham Fandrei first met performing in La Bohème and went on to tour South Florida with concerts that blended classical and musical theatre favorites. Together they founded Magic City Opera, a company built on the belief that opera should be vibrant, social, and accessible to all—pairing short, experiential performances with community connection and conversation.

Step into a world of intrigue, laughter, and theatrical suspense as host Tom Candela sits down with Frank Marquette, the creative mind behind Murder Café and Theatre on the Road. What began as one actor’s leap of faith into the world of dinner theatre has become a 27-year journey filled with family, creativity, and countless unforgettable performances. Hear all about Frank's incredible evolution — from his humble beginnings to his newly published memoir, The True Story of Murder Café.