“Explore and expose yourself to all aspects of the craft.” - Chatting with THE WHO'S TOMMY’s Sharrod Williams!
“Explore and expose yourself to all aspects of the craft.” - Chatting with THE WHO'S TOMMY’s Sharrod Williams!

I would like you to meet Sharrod Williams. Sharrod will be performing in the ensemble of The Who’s Tommy at the Kennedy Center (directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes). Mr. Williams has been seen on Broadway in Cats (Pouncival), and Tuck Everlasting and in the Chicago company of Hamilton. This triple threat has also performed in over 40 states on national tours. The sky is the limit for this talented young man, and I honestly feel the best is yet to come for Sharrod. It was such an honor to have the chance to interview him!

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Christopher PetersonKevin Ray Johnson
"You alone are your biggest obstacle." - Chatting with MEAN GIRLS's Christine Shepard!
"You alone are your biggest obstacle." - Chatting with MEAN GIRLS's Christine Shepard!

I would like you to meet the wonderful Christine Shepard. Christine can currently be seen performing in the Ensemble of Mean Girls on Broadway at The August Wilson Theatre. Before making her ensemble debut, she was a swing in Head Over Heels on Broadway. She will be receiving a BFA in commercial dance and a minor in Business this spring from Pace University. Student by day, Broadway performer by night. It was quite an honor and privilege for Christine to take time out of her busy schedule to give me the chance to interview her!

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BroadwayChristopher PetersonKevin Ray Johnson, Christine Shepard, Mean Girls
Prominent Broadway NYNW Theatre Festival Falls Victim to Fake News Campaign
Prominent Broadway NYNW Theatre Festival Falls Victim to Fake News Campaign

When I, a staunch feminist journalist, learned of the blog championed by Stephanie Iscovitz, Alexandria Balsamo, Devyn White, and Abby Judd, I was ready to jump to my computer and write an article standing for women’s rights in the entertainment community. The article that you’re about to read stands up for those same women, but with a different message after reviewing the facts.

The scattered social media testimonies of these women alleged various financial improprieties that when matched with receipts and supporting emails indicate that many of their assertions are deceptive. The facts unraveled the site disseminated throughout social media by Stephanie Iscovitz as a labyrinth of misleading comments geared towards creating unrest and damaging a project that by numerous accounts adds much-needed industry guidance within the arts community, The New York New Works Theatre Festival.

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New YorkChristopher PetersonLiz Abere
Five Young Performers Who Are Killing It Right Now
Five Young Performers Who Are Killing It Right Now

A little over a year ago I had the privilege of writing about five young artists this country should know! I received a lot of excellent feedback about that article and thought it would be a cool idea to turn this into a yearly thing. There is nothing more rewarding than working with kids in theatre. There are some fantastic communities in this country that is producing some amazing young talent. Here are another five young artists you should know about in this country!   

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High School, College TheatreChristopher PetersonKevin Ray Johnson
“Know your technique and always be open to keep learning!” – Chatting with WEST SIDE STORY’s Juan Caballer Prades!
“Know your technique and always be open to keep learning!” – Chatting with WEST SIDE STORY’s Juan Caballer Prades!

I would like you to meet the talented Juan Callaber Prades. This triple threat will be performing in the Lyric Opera in Chicago’s production of West Side Story (a show he has performed previously at The Barrington Stage) where he’ll be playing the role of Tiger and understudy for the role of Chino. Some other recent credits include Jerome Robbins Broadway 30th Anniversary Reunion, as well performing in Evita at The Asolo Repertory Theatre and Riverside Theatre, and Guys and Dolls at The Old Globe Theatre and The Asolo Repertory Theatre. Juan has an amazing presence on the stage that draws you to him. It was a complete honor to have the chance to interview this fantastic triple threat of a performer!

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ChicagoChristopher PetersonKevin Ray Johnson, West Side Story
“Sequel the Musical” at the PIT and the Magnet Theater
“Sequel the Musical” at the PIT and the Magnet Theater

Ever wonder what happened to the characters of your favorite musicals after the curtain closes? Well, so have the creative team behind ‘Sequel the Musical”, and improv show that improvises a sequel to a Broadway musical of the audiences choosing. When asked about how the idea came to be, creator, Rachel Zeolla said “I got into musical improv because of my love for musical theater, so I tried to create a show that encompassed both of those things. There are so many amazing stories in musical theater, and I felt like it would be fun, and hysterical, to explore where else those stories could go in their sequels.” The team has improvised anything from “Phantom of the Opera” to “Footloose” and has even improvised four different versions of “The Sound of Music.”

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New YorkChristopher PetersonMax Berry
From Front of House to Center Stage - Chatting with HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD’s Sarita Amani Nash!
From Front of House to Center Stage - Chatting with HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD’s Sarita Amani Nash!

Let me tell you, I have had the privilege of doing interviews for OnStage Blog for well over a year now, and some stories are just so amazing, surreal, and inspiring. Some of these interviews and hearing these artist stories strongly remind me that if you work hard for your dreams, your dreams will work hard for you.

With that said it is my honor to introduce you to the wonderful Sarita Amani Nash.

Sarita is making her Broadway debut in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts 1 & 2) at the Lyric Theatre. What makes her debut so special is that for four years before making her Broadway debut on the Lyric Theatre Stage, Sarita’s ‘survival’ job was ushering at the Lyric Theatre. The very people that she was showing to their seats at the Lyric are now sitting in those very seats watching her perform on the Lyric stage in Harry Potter 8 times a week. How cool is that? Some stories truly write themselves, and I feel this is only the first chapter for this amazing young actress.

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Broadway, New YorkChristopher PetersonKevin Ray Johnson, Sarita Amani Nash
"Leave the attitude at the door and show up excited!" - Chatting with BEETLEJUICE’s Jill Abramovitz!
"Leave the attitude at the door and show up excited!" - Chatting with BEETLEJUICE’s Jill Abramovitz!

I would you like to meet the talented Jill Abramovitz. Jill is currently on Broadway in Beetlejuice, which recently began previews at the Winter Garden Theatre, playing the role(s) of Maxine Dean, June, and Ensemble. Jill has also been previously seen on Broadway in Fiddler on the Roof, Cinderella, 9 ot 5 and Martin Short’s: Fame Becomes Me. I am a huge fan of her and this show, so to have the chance to interview Jill is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

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Broadway, New YorkChristopher PetersonKevin Ray Johnson, Jill Abramovitz, Beetlejuice