The Roundtable with Robert Bannon

Daniel and Patrick Lazour — the award-winning brother songwriting team known as The Lazours — join Robert Bannon on The Roundtable to talk about their moving new musical, Night Side Songs. Inspired by Susan Sontag’s idea of illness as “the night side of life,” the folk-infused theatrical work brings together the perspectives of patients, caregivers, doctors and researchers, exploring what happens when illness changes the way we understand time, family and one another. The piece was commissioned and developed by American Repertory Theater before making its way to Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3, where it played the Claire Tow Theater earlier this year. The Lazours talk about the extensive research behind the musical, creating songs around subjects that can be difficult to put into words, and why communal singing became such an important part of the experience. They also celebrate the original Off-Broadway cast album, released August 21, featuring Robin de Jesús, Brooke Ishibashi, Jonathan Raviv, Kris Saint-Louis and Mary Testa. It’s a thoughtful conversation about theater, mortality, care — and the remarkable ability of music to create connection when words alone aren’t enough. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #TheLazours #NightSideSongs #DanielLazour #PatrickLazour #Broadway #OffBroadway #MusicalTheatre #Theatre #LincolnCenterTheater #LCT3 #CastRecording #BroadwayWorld #BroadwayPodcastNetwork Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when modern dating becomes completely unhinged? Jon Rudnitsky, Delilah Napier and Lucy Powers join me at The Roundtable to talk about FLOATING CAROUSEL, the award-winning dark comedy taking on love, sex and the absolute insanity of dating in modern-day New York City. Inspired by real-life dating disasters — including the incredible discovery that Delilah and Lucy had BOTH gone on a first Hinge date with the same man — Floating Carousel follows a Gender Studies grad student, a messy philanderer, an in-denial Sugar Baby, an aspiring cabaret artist and a professional cuddler as their lives collide in one increasingly wild web of relationships. Written and directed by Napier and Powers, the film features an incredible ensemble including Dylan Baker, Jessica Hecht, Catherine Curtin, Michael Cyril Creighton, Gus Birney, Reg Rogers and Jon Rudnitsky, and took home the Ultra Indie Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Woodstock Film Festival. We get into where these crazy stories came from, turning dating nightmares into comedy, making independent film, Jon stepping into this wonderfully messy world — and what Floating Carousel has to say about trying to find actual human connection in the swipe-right era. BUT WAIT… THERE’S MORE. 👀 We also have a BIG SURPRISE COUPLE UNVEILING during the conversation! Two familiar faces are joining the Floating Carousel family — and they’re revealing it right here at The Roundtable! 🎠🎬 Come for the dating disasters. Stay for the surprise. Catch The Roundtable with Robert Bannon on BroadwayWorld, Broadway Podcast Network, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & more. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #FloatingCarousel #JonRudnitsky #DelilahNapier #LucyPowers #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm #Comedy #DarkComedy #ModernDating #NYC #WoodstockFilmFestival #Film #Movies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before Margaritaville became an empire, before Parrot Heads became a culture, and before Jimmy Buffett became one of music’s most beloved icons, there was a group of musicians helping create a sound — and a lifestyle — unlike anything else. On this episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, filmmaker John H. Cunningham joins Robert to talk about his new feature documentary, Occupational Hazard: The First Coral Reefers, an intimate, funny, and revealing look at the wild early years of Jimmy Buffett and the original Coral Reefer Band. Set against the colorful backdrop of 1970s and early-'80s Key West, Occupational Hazard digs into the musicians, friendships, studio sessions, touring adventures, and sometimes chaotic lifestyle that helped shape Buffett's unmistakable sound. Through rare and never-before-seen archival footage and candid interviews with the people who were actually there, the film tells the origin story behind the phenomenon that would eventually become Margaritaville. And there are some serious names along for the ride. Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges narrates, while the documentary features voices including Kenny Chesney, Mac McAnally, songwriter Keith Sykes, original Coral Reefers, producers, tour personnel, and others who witnessed those formative years firsthand. Cunningham has a personal connection to this story, too. He first saw Buffett and the Coral Reefers perform in 1977 and moved to Key West the following year. Today, he's a filmmaker and USA TODAY bestselling author of the 12-book Buck Reilly Adventure Series. What began as an effort to capture part of the Coral Reefers' history ultimately grew into a feature documentary preserving stories from an era — and from people — that Cunningham knew couldn't be allowed to disappear. Robert and John talk about discovering the stories behind the songs, the beautiful chaos of those early touring years, Buffett's relationship with the musicians who helped build his sound, the magic of Key West, and why Jimmy Buffett's legacy goes much deeper than margaritas, beaches, and flip-flops. Occupational Hazard: The First Coral Reefers is in its theatrical run now, with a U.S. and Canadian digital release planned for November. As Buffett told his friends near the end of his life: "Keep the party going." Occupational Hazard shows us where that party began. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #OccupationalHazard #JimmyBuffett #JohnCunningham #CoralReeferBand #CoralReefers #Margaritaville #ParrotHeads #JeffBridges #KennyChesney #MacMcAnally #KeyWest #MusicDocumentary #MusicHistory #JimmyBuffettFans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway powerhouse Julia Murney is back at the Cape Playhouse — and this time, she’s ringing the bell at one of musical theatre’s funniest competitions! On this episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, Julia joins Robert to talk about starring as Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, now playing at the historic Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Massachusetts through September 19. The Tony Award-winning musical features music and lyrics by William Finn, a book by Rachel Sheinkin and additional material by Jay Reiss. This new Cape production is directed by Broadway favorite Claybourne Elder and choreographed by Jeffrey Gugliotti. Julia leads a terrific company that includes Tatianna Córdoba, Raymond J. Lee, Evan Tyrone Martin, Viveca Chow, Khadija E. Sankoh, Cody Jamison Strand, Joel Waggoner and Alex Wyse. And if you know Spelling Bee, you know the audience is part of the fun — volunteers enter the competition alongside the cast, making every performance just a little unpredictable. For Julia, the Cape Playhouse is familiar territory. She previously took on one of musical theatre’s great roles there, Mama Rose in Gypsy. This time around, she gets to trade Rose’s ambition for Rona Lisa Peretti’s spelling lists, trophies and memories of her own championship glory. Of course, Julia’s career goes far beyond the Cape. Broadway audiences know her as Elphaba in Wicked and from Lennon, while her acclaimed performance as Queenie in Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party earned her a Drama Desk nomination. Her stage credits also include Between the Lines, Falling, Time and Again, A Little Night Music, Ragtime and Evita, along with television appearances including Sex and the City and the Law & Order universe. Robert and Julia talk about returning to the Cape, finding the comedy and heart inside Spelling Bee, working with Claybourne Elder and this wildly talented company, and the incredible career that has made Julia Murney one of Broadway’s most distinctive voices. Because beneath all the hilarious words, awkward adolescents and dreaded DING!, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee remains a show about something we all understand: wanting to belong, wanting to win — and figuring out that sometimes losing isn't the end of the world. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee plays the Cape Playhouse through September 19, 2026. Tickets & Show Information — The Cape Playhouse For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #JuliaMurney #SpellingBee #The25thAnnualPutnamCountySpellingBee #CapePlayhouse #Broadway #Wicked #TheWildParty #MusicalTheatre #ClaybourneElder #BroadwayWorld Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when three strangers head into the woods looking for an escape—and find connection, loneliness, laughter, and a little Britney Spears instead? Canadian-born, Brooklyn-based playwright Stephen Sheffer joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable to talk about his new play, Lean-To, making its world premiere Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters in New York City. Presented by New Light Theater Project and Pendragon Theatre and directed by Jesse Jou, Lean-To follows an overprepared hiker and a not-so-prepared couple who find themselves sharing a rustic shelter in the woods. As they bond over Britney Spears, shared supplies, and their mutual desire to get away from city life, an unexpected connection begins to form—but something else may be brewing around the campfire. Part comedy and part tender drama, Lean-To explores loneliness, our need for human connection, and what happens when we leave the noise of everyday life behind. Stephen tells us how a real night spent in a lean-to during the depths of COVID inspired the play, why forests and wild spaces continue to show up in his writing, and his fascination with what he calls “grounded existentialism.” We also talk about the idea of humans being part of nature rather than separate from it—and why protecting our wild spaces feels especially urgent right now. Stephen's work has been seen at Ars Nova, Rattlestick Theater, Cherry Lane Theatre, HERE Arts Center, Hartford Stage, The Flea, and more. His plays include SOS, Private Property, the award-winning Back To Mine, The Spark, and IRMPOV SHOW. He's also a screenwriter, performer, teaching artist, and founding member of NYC's long-running Dirty Little Secrets Improv Show. Lean-To runs September 10–October 10 at 59E59 Theaters for a limited Off-Broadway engagement. It’s theater, nature, Britney Spears, and a conversation about why—even when we run away from everything—we still need each other. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #StephenSheffer #LeanTo #OffBroadway #59E59 #59E59Theaters #NYCTheater #NYCTheatre #Theater #Theatre #Playwright #NewYorkTheater #NewLightTheaterProject #PendragonTheatre #BroadwayWorld #BroadwayPodcastNetwork #BritneySpears Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Few groups captured the sound, style, and energy of late-’80s and early-’90s pop quite like Exposé. With Jeanette Jurado, Gioia Bruno, and Ann Curless, the groundbreaking trio became one of the defining female groups of the era, blending pop, dance, freestyle, and powerhouse vocals into a sound that helped shape a generation. Their debut album, Exposure, became a massive success and made Billboard history when Exposé became the first group to score four Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 from a debut album. What followed was a remarkable run on the charts, millions of records sold, international success, and a catalog that remains part of the soundtrack of an entire era. Decades later, Jeanette, Gioia, and Ann continue to perform together, bringing that unmistakable Exposé energy to audiences around the country — and proving that their bond, their voices, and their place in pop history have endured. Now Exposé joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable to talk about their incredible journey, surviving and evolving in the music business, the legacy they created together, and what it means to still share the stage all these years later. Exposé performs Saturday, September 19 at 8 PM at Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #Expose #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #PopMusic #Freestyle #DanceMusic #MusicLegends #80sMusic #90sMusic #Detroit #SoundBoardDetroit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert was back to school for his first day, so Adrienne Garzillo jumped into the host seat for a very special Roundtable! Broadway favorite Jelani Remy is here to talk about the 5th annual NextGen Spotlight, the one-night-only Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit he is directing and hosting at The Green Room 42 on September 17. Jelani shares what it means to help shine a light on Broadway’s next generation, the importance of mentorship and community in the theater, and why supporting the lifesaving work of Broadway Cares continues to matter. And, of course, Adrienne and Jelani have plenty of fun along the way! For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #TheRoundtable #JelaniRemy #AdrienneGarzillo #BroadwayCares #BCEFA #NextGenSpotlight #Broadway #Theatre Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Myles Erlick has spent his career doing a little bit of everything — Broadway, television, film, dance, and now country music! After starring in Billy Elliot the Musical, The Next Step, and Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, Myles is stepping into the spotlight as a singer-songwriter with his new album, HANDCRAFTED. Myles joins Robert on The Roundtable to talk about the new record, finding his sound, making Nashville home, and what inspired this next chapter. We get into the stories behind the songs, working with Dann Huff and David Huff, the journey from acting to recording artist, and why this music feels so personal to him. It’s a great conversation about growing up in the business, following where your creativity takes you, and introducing the world to a whole new side of Myles Erlick! For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #MylesErlick #HANDCRAFTED #CountryMusic #Nashville #WestSideStory #BillyElliot #TheNextStep #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a life. What a career. And OH, does he have stories! Two-time Tony Award nominee Bill Russell — the brilliant writer behind Side Show, Pageant, Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens and so much more — joins The Roundtable to talk about his brand-new memoir, Still, Bill: Gay Adventures From Cowboyland to Broadway. From growing up an effeminate gay kid in the Black Hills of South Dakota surrounded by cattle, guns, sports and church… to finding his way to Broadway and the West End, Bill has lived a LIFE. We talk about the shows, the people, the heartbreaks, the laughs, being gay then and now, and the wild road that got him here. This one is Broadway history, queer history, and a whole lot of fun with a man who has spent decades telling our stories. Bill Russell is still here. Still creating. Still telling the truth. And yes — he is STILL, BILL! ❤️🌈 For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #BillRussell #StillBill #SideShow #Broadway #MusicalTheatre #QueerBroadway #LGBTQ #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #BroadwayWorld Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when Broadway gets louder, heavier, and a whole lot more punk? Matt Copley is about to show us! The Michigan-based recording artist, theatrical producer, and creator behind the viral Broadway Does Punk series is taking the phenomenon from your screen to the stage for the first time ever! Copley has built a massive following by taking songs from shows like Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, The Greatest Showman and more and completely reinventing them as full-throttle pop-punk and rock anthems. His interpretations have generated more than 16 million Spotify streams and hundreds of thousands of followers. Now, Broadway Does Punk LIVE hits New York City’s Abrons Arts Center October 2–3 for a limited run featuring a full-band, full-production rock experience. As the show describes it: a stage built like a Broadway musical — and a Broadway musical built like a concert. Matt joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk about turning Broadway favorites upside down, building Broadway Does Punk into a viral sensation, his rock roots, taking the project LIVE, and why musical theatre sounds pretty damn good with some distortion behind it! If you love Broadway AND rock & roll, this one's for you. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #MattCopley #BroadwayDoesPunk #BroadwayPunk #Broadway #MusicalTheatre #PopPunk #RockMusic #TheatreTok #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What the world needs now… is a little more Burt Bacharach! On this episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, we are celebrating one of the greatest songbooks in American music with John Pagano and Adrian Galante from the acclaimed musical revue Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon. John Pagano has a connection to this music that very few people can claim. For 26 years, he was the featured male vocalist in Burt Bacharach’s touring band, traveling the world and performing alongside the legendary composer. Bacharach became more than a collaborator — he was Pagano’s mentor and friend. John joins us to share memories of the man behind the music and what it means to continue singing these songs today. Then there is Adrian Galante, the brilliant Australian pianist, clarinetist, arranger and musical director helping introduce Bacharach’s music to a whole new generation. Galante co-created Going Bacharach and created the show’s arrangements and orchestrations, finding fresh ways into classics we have known and loved for decades. And what songs they are: “Walk On By,” “Alfie,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?,” “A House Is Not a Home,” “That’s What Friends Are For,” “What the World Needs Now Is Love” and so many more. Going Bacharach brings three powerhouse vocalists together with a five-piece band for a musical journey through Bacharach’s extraordinary career. After acclaimed engagements in New York and Chicago, the show returns Off-Broadway this fall at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater, beginning September 9. We talk about Burt, the stories behind the music, John’s decades performing alongside him, Adrian’s fresh arrangements, and why these songs still sound unlike anything else ever written. This one is for the music lovers. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #GoingBacharach #BurtBacharach #JohnPagano #AdrianGalante #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #OffBroadway #BroadwayWorld #Bacharach #WhatTheWorldNeedsNow #WalkOnBy #CloseToYou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You have definitely seen him on your feed — and now Daniel Coffman is at The Roundtable! Daniel Coffman has become a social media sensation thanks to his wildly entertaining “Bathroom Broadway” videos, transforming a simple three-panel bathroom mirror into his own personal stage. His singing, dancing, comedy, and unapologetic joy have connected with a massive online audience, with his Instagram following now topping 1.5 million. Daniel joins Robert to talk about how the videos began, what it feels like when something you created for fun suddenly takes off, and the person behind all of those viral performances. He also opens up about balancing creativity with real life, his work in interiors and home staging, and why authenticity has been such an important part of connecting with his audience. And his viral success has taken him well beyond the bathroom! Daniel recently brought his unique performance style to Românii au talent — Romania’s Got Talent — where his wonderfully unconventional act caught the judges’ attention. It’s a fun conversation about Broadway, social media, finding your people, embracing what makes you different, and what can happen when you stop worrying about looking silly and simply have a good time. Catch Daniel Coffman on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, available on BroadwayWorld, Broadway Podcast Network, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and more. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #DanielCoffman #BathroomBroadway #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #Viral #ViralVideos #Broadway #MusicalTheatre #Instagram #SocialMedia #ContentCreator #BroadwayWorld #BroadwayPodcastNetwork #BPN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yuriy Sardarov, Laura Lapidus, and Tedra Millan join The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk all about To Have & To Hold! The trio takes us inside the project, what first drew them to the story, and the chemistry that makes it all work. They talk about finding the humor and humanity in the material, building relationships between their characters, and what audiences can expect. Yuriy also talks about his career and life after his memorable run as Brian “Otis” Zvonecek on Chicago Fire, while Laura and Tedra share their own journeys and what made this project one they wanted to be part of. It’s a fun, easy conversation about the work, the people behind it, and what happens when the right group of artists comes together to tell a story. Catch the full conversation on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, available on BroadwayWorld, Broadway Podcast Network, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and more. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #ToHaveAndToHold #YuriySardarov #LauraLapidus #TedraMillan #ChicagoFire #BroadwayWorld #BroadwayPodcastNetwork #BPN #Entertainment #Actors #Interview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ruby Garnet is doing it ALL! The actress, writer, producer, director, and Marine veteran joins Robert on The Roundtable to talk about her new Western, Dogwood! Ruby stars as Harriet Beckwith, a widowed mother fighting to protect her family and her future in the aftermath of the Civil War. The film also stars Eric Roberts and James Storm. Ruby talks about creating the film, stepping both in front of and behind the camera, bringing this Western to life, and the wild journey that took her from serving in the Marines and as a federal intelligence officer to making movies! It’s a conversation about taking chances, telling your own stories, and betting on yourself. Come hang with us! For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #RubyGarnet #Dogwood #EricRoberts #JamesStorm #Western #IndieFilm #Film #Movies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when some of the world’s most celebrated playwrights are asked to put American democracy onstage? Jay Wahl, Executive Director of Vermont’s historic Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable to talk about Women+ on the Edge of Democracy, an ambitious new playwright commission bringing together 36 female-identifying writers from around the world — from Pulitzer, Tony and Emmy winners to Olivier and Oscar nominees — to explore democracy through original short plays and monologues. Conceived by Wahl and led by the Flynn Center in partnership with the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the project is about much more than creating new theater. The works will be collected in an anthology, with performance rights waived so theaters and communities across the country can present the pieces free to the public ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The goal? To create spaces for conversation, disagreement, listening and connection at a moment when democracy can feel particularly messy. Jay takes us behind the scenes of how the project came together, why women+ playwrights are at the center of the conversation, and why live theater remains such a powerful place to wrestle with the issues shaping our country. He also talks about his own journey in the arts, his leadership of the Flynn since 2021, and his belief in creating work that reaches beyond traditional theater walls and brings communities together. In Jay’s words, a scrappy team is making the whole thing happen — and in many ways, the messiness of creating Women+ on the Edge of Democracy may be the perfect metaphor for democracy itself. It’s theater. It’s politics. It’s community. And it’s a conversation about what happens when artists are given the space to ask big questions about who we are, where we are headed, and what democracy means right now. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #JayWahl #WomenOnTheEdgeOfDemocracy #FlynnCenter #TheFlynn #SusanSmithBlackburnPrize #Democracy #Theater #Theatre #Playwrights #WomenInTheatre #AmericanTheatre #NewPlays #PerformingArts #ArtsAndCulture #MidtermElections #CivicEngagement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the political world you built your life around suddenly changes—and you’re forced to figure out who you are without it? Playwright John Harney joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable to talk about his timely new play, Somewhere, Virginia, making its world premiere September 8–12 as part of Theater for the New City’s 14th Dream Up Festival. The drama follows Clare, an ambitious congressional chief of staff who abruptly walks away from Washington following the 2024 election and disappears from the lives of those around her. When she unexpectedly summons three former colleagues to an old house in the Virginia countryside, the reunion forces them to confront careers and relationships changed by the election—and the question of what comes next. Meanwhile, an unseen mother upstairs and the history buried in the land outside give the story an almost haunting presence. Harney talks with Robert about creating a play that wrestles with politics without simply becoming a political play, the complicated relationships among these four Washingtonians, and how America's past continues to echo through its present. Directed by Anna Rebek, the 90-minute production stars Jake Steinberg, Janelle Clayton, Chase Cortland Erwin, and Laura Whittenberger. Somewhere, Virginia plays September 8–12, 2026 at Theater for the New City in New York City. Tickets are $18. Tickets and show information at the Dream Up Festival For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #JohnHarney #SomewhereVirginia #DreamUpFestival #TheaterForTheNewCity #TNC #NewYorkTheatre #OffOffBroadway #NewPlay #Playwright #Theatre #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can’t stop the beat — and Amy Rodriguez is ready to bring Tracy Turnblad back to life! Amy Rodriguez joins The Roundtable to talk about starring as Tracy in OFC Creations’ upcoming production of Hairspray. After previously taking on the iconic role on the national tour, Amy is stepping back into Tracy’s dancing shoes for a brand-new production in Rochester, New York. We talk about returning to a character she knows so well, what Tracy means to her now, the joy (and stamina!) of Hairspray, and why the show’s message of acceptance, representation, and standing up for what’s right still hits just as hard today. OFC Creations kicks off its 2026–2027 Broadway in Brighton Series with Hairspray, running September 24 through October 11 at the OFC Creations Theatre Center. Directed by Eric Vaughn Johnson and choreographed by Jasón N. Wells, the production brings together professional performers from across the country for one of musical theatre’s ultimate feel-good shows. For tickets and more information, visit OFC Creations. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #AmyRodriguez #Hairspray #HairsprayMusical #TracyTurnblad #OFCCreations #BroadwayInBrighton #RochesterNY #MusicalTheatre #Theatre #Broadway #YouCantStopTheBeat #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s morphin’ time… but this time, there’s a mystery to solve! Sean C.W. Johnson, beloved by fans as Carter Grayson, the Red Lightspeed Ranger on Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue, joins us at The Roundtable as he gets ready to hit the New York stage with Cristi’s Case Crackers. Sean has built a career that goes far beyond the Ranger suit, with credits including My Little Eye, CSI: Miami, JAG, 7th Heaven, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and more. Now he’s jumping into the outrageous world of Cristi’s Case Crackers, the murder-mystery comedy series that mixes classic whodunit storytelling with pop-culture parody, big characters and plenty of unexpected twists. We talk about stepping onto the stage, joining the Case Crackers family, the enduring love for Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue, and what it’s like to have fans still celebrating Carter Grayson more than 25 years later. From saving the world to solving a murder, Sean C.W. Johnson is still ready for action! For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #SeanCWJohnson #PowerRangers #PowerRangersLightspeedRescue #RedRanger #CarterGrayson #CristisCaseCrackers #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #NYCTheatre #OffBroadway #Theatre #MurderMystery #PowerRangersFans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, one question followed one of Saturday Night Live’s most recognizable characters: “Is Pat a man or a woman?” More than 30 years later, We Are Pat is asking a much bigger question. Julia Sweeney, who created and played Pat on SNL, and director Rowan Haber join Robert on The Roundtable to talk about the documentary and the complicated legacy of a character that became a pop-culture phenomenon. Rowan brings together trans and nonbinary voices to examine Pat through a contemporary lens, while Julia looks back openly at creating the character, what Pat meant at the time, and how her own understanding has evolved in the decades since. The conversation goes beyond whether Pat “aged well.” We talk about comedy, intention versus impact, gender, representation, the changing cultural landscape, and what can happen when an artist is willing to revisit their own work instead of running away from it. It’s thoughtful, funny, sometimes uncomfortable, and exactly the kind of conversation We Are Pat was made to start. Catch Julia Sweeney and Rowan Haber on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, available on BroadwayWorld, Broadway Podcast Network, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and more. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #WeArePat #JuliaSweeney #RowanHaber #SNL #SaturdayNightLive #ItsPat #Pat #Documentary #LGBTQ #TransVoices #Nonbinary #QueerFilm #QueerStories #GenderIdentity #RepresentationMatters #Comedy #PopCulture #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #BroadwayWorld #BroadwayPodcastNetwork Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know Dyllón Burnside from his unforgettable work as Ricky on the groundbreaking series Pose — but this time, Dyllón is telling his own story. Dyllón joins Robert on The Roundtable for a candid conversation about his debut album, Genesis, and the deeply personal journey behind the music. At the center of the conversation is “Garden,” the album’s bold lead single. Written from Eve’s perspective in the Garden of Eden, the song takes imagery that has been used for generations to talk about temptation, shame, and sin and turns it into something rooted in intimacy, freedom, sensuality, spirituality, and queer liberation. Dyllón opens up about growing up in the church, finding his own relationship with faith, and what it means to finally take control of the narrative after years of bringing other people’s stories to life on stage and screen. We also talk Pose, representation, Black queer artistry, the journey of creating Genesis, and why this new chapter feels like more than an album — it feels like a declaration of exactly who Dyllón Burnside is as an artist. It’s honest. It’s grown. It’s spiritual. And yes — we went there. Catch Dyllón Burnside on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, available on BroadwayWorld, Broadway Podcast Network, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and more. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #DyllonBurnside #Genesis #Garden #PoseFX #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #BroadwayWorld #BroadwayPodcastNetwork #NewMusic #BlackQueerArtists #QueerMusic #LGBTQArtists #QueerJoy #BlackMusic #MusicInterview #ArtistSpotlight #NewAlbum #DetroitMedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes an interview becomes something more than an interview. Tony Award winner Laura Benanti joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable for a chat that is equal parts hilarious, vulnerable, thoughtful, and wonderfully unfiltered. Benanti is bringing her acclaimed one-woman comedy show, Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares, to George Street Playhouse for a limited engagement August 26–30 at the Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater in New Brunswick. Following an acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe run and two sold-out Off-Broadway engagements, the show mixes original songs and storytelling as Benanti takes on motherhood, people pleasing, aging, marriage, and the sometimes messy work of figuring yourself out. But this conversation goes much deeper than promoting a show. Laura and Robert talk about what happens when the need to please everyone starts to disappear, the freedom that can come with getting older, motherhood, career, vulnerability, and learning to laugh at the parts of ourselves we once tried so hard to hide. And because this is Laura Benanti, even the deepest moments somehow find their way back to laughter. It is the kind of conversation The Roundtable was made for: two artists talking openly about life, the business, and all the complicated stuff in between. There are big laughs, some unexpectedly emotional moments, and the reminder that sometimes the funniest people are funny precisely because they are willing to tell the truth. Nobody Cares stars and was created by Benanti, features songs co-written by Todd Almond, and is directed by Anne Tippe. The 65-minute show plays George Street Playhouse August 26–30, 2026. Tickets and information for Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #LauraBenanti #NobodyCares #BroadwayWorld #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #GeorgeStreetPlayhouse #Broadway #TonyAwards #Theatre #NewJersey #NewBrunswick #Motherhood #Comedy #BroadwayInterview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For five seasons, Outer Banks has taken viewers on one wild ride — treasure hunts, family drama, romance, danger, and enough twists to keep fans guessing until the very end. Now, as the Netflix hit wraps its run, Julia Antonelli joins Robert on The Roundtable to celebrate the show that became a global phenomenon. The fifth and final season arrived August 20, bringing the adventure to a close after a run that Netflix says generated nearly 200 million views across its first four seasons. Julia has been part of the Outer Banks family from the beginning as Wheezie Cameron, younger sister to Sarah and Rafe and a member of one of the show's most complicated families. She talks with Robert about joining the series at a young age, watching both herself and the cast grow through the years, stepping back into Wheezie's world for the final season, life on the set, and what it feels like to say goodbye to a show with such a passionate fanbase. It’s a fun look back at the Kooks, the Pogues, the Camerons, and the ride that changed Julia’s life — plus what she hopes comes next as she begins a brand-new chapter beyond the Outer Banks. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #JuliaAntonelli #OuterBanks #OBX #WheezieCameron #Netflix #OuterBanksNetflix #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #BroadwayWorld #Pogues #Kooks #TVInterview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Half Sephardic, half Ashkenazi, a third-generation Holocaust survivor, and raised Modern Orthodox on Manhattan’s West Side, Daniella Rabbani has built a career where Jewish tradition meets a thoroughly modern artistic life. From studying at the Stella Adler Studio and being encouraged by Adler’s grandson Tom Oppenheim to carry forward the legacy of Yiddish theater, to appearances in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Ocean’s 8, to performing at Lincoln Center and The Town Hall—Daniella’s journey has always brought her back to her roots. Now, she’s preparing a new klezmer album and asking a fascinating question: What exactly is Jewish music in 2026? Daniella joins Robert on The Roundtable to talk Yiddish theater, motherhood, acting, Jewish identity, her new music, and why preserving tradition doesn’t mean keeping it stuck in the past. 🎙️ THE ROUNDTABLE WITH ROBERT BANNON For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. Watch and listen to The Roundtable on BroadwayWorld, Broadway Podcast Network, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and more. #DaniellaRabbani #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #BroadwayWorld #Yiddish #YiddishTheater #Klezmer #JewishMusic #JewishCulture #JewishArtists #NewMusic #Broadway #TheMarvelousMrsMaisel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Someone once told Jeff Ryan he was going to fail in life because he was a “mooch.” So naturally... he made a movie about it. Jeff Ryan joins Robert Bannon at The Roundtable to talk about Mooch, the new New Jersey-set crime comedy he wrote, directed and stars in — and yes, the title comes from a very real insult that somehow stuck with him long enough to inspire an entire film! Jeff plays Shane, a struggling almost-30 caddie who gets caught stealing from a wealthy nightclub owner. Instead of calling the cops, the guy gives him a job: become his private investigator and dig up dirt on his wife. Obviously, things get messy from there. We talk about turning pieces of your own life into comedy, making a truly independent film, writing a character who is kind of a disaster but you still want to root for, and wearing approximately ALL the hats behind the camera. Plus, Mooch comes with one seriously nostalgic soundtrack featuring Aaron Gillespie, Kellin Quinn, Derek Sanders, Cassadee Pope, Spencer Chamberlain, JT Woodruff, John Vesely of Secondhand Serenade and more. From being called a mooch to writing, directing and starring in a movie called Mooch... Honestly? That's one hell of a comeback to an insult. Jeff Ryan is at the table, Mooch is out now, and we've got a lot to talk about! The Roundtable with Robert Bannon is available on BroadwayWorld, the Broadway Podcast Network, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & more! For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #JeffRyan #Mooch #MoochMovie #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #IndieFilm #IndependentFilm #CrimeComedy #ComedyFilm #Filmmaking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For more than 50 years, HIROSHIMA has created a sound unlike anyone else—blending jazz, R&B, pop, soul and traditional Japanese instrumentation into music that has reached audiences around the world. On The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, we sit down with HIROSHIMA co-founder Dan Kuramoto for a conversation about the band’s incredible journey, creating a sound and identity all their own, the influence of Japanese culture on their music, and what has kept HIROSHIMA going for more than five decades. We also talk about the songs, the stories, the legacy—and what it means to still be onstage doing what they love. And Detroit, we get to see them LIVE! HIROSHIMA is headed to The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, bringing their unmistakable sound to one of the Motor City’s most iconic summer stages. From “One Wish” to a musical legacy spanning generations, Dan Kuramoto has stories to tell—and we’re talking about it all at The Roundtable! For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #DanKuramoto #Hiroshima #HiroshimaBand #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Filmmaker Meriem Sakrouhi joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable to talk about her deeply personal new short documentary, Mon Taxi, which made its world premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Festival. Inspired by Meriem’s relationship with her late father, Mon Taxi turns an everyday ritual — a phone call home — into a moving exploration of grief, memory, family, migration, and the ways we continue talking to the people we love even after they’re gone. Meriem talks about transforming something so personal into art, her journey from architecture to filmmaking, and why this eight-minute film carries a story much bigger than its runtime. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #MeriemSakrouhi #MonTaxi #Tribeca #Tribeca2026 #Documentary #IndependentFilm #MoroccanCinema #Filmmaker #Grief #Family Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Judge-Russo is doing a little bit of everything — and doing it all with a whole lot of heart. He joins Robert on The Roundtable to talk about starring as Drew in the acclaimed Off-Broadway musical Music City, now playing at St. Luke’s Theatre. Set inside the world of an East Nashville honky-tonk, the show mixes a gritty story of brothers chasing a music career with songs from multi-platinum, Billboard chart-topping songwriter J.T. Harding, whose hits have been recorded by Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker and more. But Music City is only one part of Jonathan’s story. An award-winning actor and producer, his career has taken him from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, American Rust, Law & Order: SVU and FBI: Most Wanted to Lincoln Center, Irish Rep, Signature Theatre and stages across the country and in London. He’s also the founding artistic director of Animus Theatre Company, which has produced more than 50 plays, musicals, festivals and readings, and a founding producing partner of Noble Heart Films. We’re talking about the wild ride of Music City, stepping into a musical as an actor who didn’t come from the traditional musical-theatre lane, creating your own opportunities, producing, film, television, theatre and what keeps an artist going through all the different chapters of a career. It’s a great conversation about the work, the hustle and the many ways to build a life as an artist. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #JonathanJudgeRusso #MusicCity #OffBroadway #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #Theatre #Broadway #CountryMusic #Actor #Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are saxophone players — and then there is Kirk Whalum. The Grammy Award-winning artist joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable for a conversation celebrating a career filled with soul, jazz, gospel, and unforgettable collaborations. From his acclaimed solo work to sharing the stage and studio with some of the biggest names in music, Whalum has spent decades creating a sound that is unmistakably his own. Of course, millions know that saxophone too — Kirk delivered the unforgettable solo on Whitney Houston’s iconic recording of “I Will Always Love You.” But his story goes far beyond one legendary musical moment. Kirk and Robert talk about the music that shaped him, the role faith continues to play in his life and artistry, the power of collaboration, and what keeps him inspired after decades of making music. It’s warm, soulful, funny, and a perfect addition to our Summer BBQ Playlist on The Roundtable. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #KirkWhalum #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #Jazz #SmoothJazz #Gospel #WhitneyHouston #IWillAlwaysLoveYou #GrammyWinner #SummerBBQPlaylist #MusicInterview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Maltese actor joins Robert Bannon to talk playing Mikiel Mizzi, working alongside Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham Carter, and bringing a piece of Malta’s history to the Enola Holmes universe. Actor Joe Azzopardi pulls up a chair at The Roundtable to talk about stepping into the wildly popular world of Netflix’s Enola Holmes 3! Azzopardi stars as Mikiel Mizzi, a member of the Partito Anti-Riformista fighting for a free Malta who becomes an important part of Enola’s latest adventure. The new film takes Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) to Malta, where Sherlock’s disappearance sends her into another dangerous mystery. Joe talks with Robert about what it meant to have Malta take center stage in such a huge international production, bringing Mikiel to life, and the very real history and questions of Maltese independence woven into the film. We also get into life on set, the massive Enola Holmes fandom, and what it’s like sharing the screen with Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Louis Partridge and this incredible ensemble. Plus, Joe takes us behind the scenes of his journey as an actor, how his theatre background still influences his work on camera, and what comes next after joining one of Netflix’s biggest film franchises. It’s movies, Malta, mystery and a whole lot of fun at The Roundtable! For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #JoeAzzopardi #EnolaHolmes3 #Netflix #TheRoundtable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Mean Girls star joins The Roundtable to talk bringing the hit musical to Cape Cod, life on stage, and making the iconic show her own! It’s about to get SO FETCH in the Cape! 💕🎭 Lizzy Tucker joins Robert on The Roundtable to talk all things MEAN GIRLS and bringing the beloved musical to audiences on Cape Cod! Lizzy takes us inside the world of the show — the comedy, the music, the characters we all know and love, and what it takes to keep that famous Mean Girls energy fresh every night. We also talk about her own journey as a performer, life on stage, the joy of connecting with audiences, and getting to be part of a story that has become a true pop-culture phenomenon. And YES — we talk about the fans, the laughs, and why, after all these years, everybody still wants to sit at the Mean Girls table. Lizzy is funny, talented, charming, and an absolute blast to chat with. Cape Cod, get ready — the Plastics are coming! Watch our full conversation on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, available on BroadwayWorld, Broadway Podcast Network, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and more. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #MeanGirls #LizzyTucker #MeanGirlsMusical #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #Broadway #MusicalTheatre #CapeCod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes an interview turns into a conversation, and sometimes that conversation goes completely off the rails in the BEST possible way! Singer-songwriter Ivory Layne joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable for a chat that is equal parts music, storytelling and absolute hilarity. Ivory is a true multi-hyphenate — an artist, songwriter and producer who has built a career between Nashville and London while developing a pop sound that is completely her own. She has collaborated with acclaimed writers and producers including Shane McAnally, Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna and Jimmy Robbins, written for artists including Tom Grennan, Cory Asbury and Harper Grace, and shared stages with Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, NEEDTOBREATHE, Andy Grammer, Ben Rector and The Script. Now she has even more to talk about. Ivory's newest single, “Saint,” arrived July 24, following 2026 releases “Skim” and “Roam” and her 2025 EP Part-Time Jobs Near Me. “Saint” comes with the perfectly Ivory hook and attitude of you make my ex look like a saint — and yes, we absolutely get into it. And Ivory is taking the music on the road! After summer dates, she heads out this fall as the special guest for Andrew McMahon's “An Evening with Andrew McMahon and His Piano,” with stops including Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Charlotte, Orlando, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Houston, Dallas and several California dates. We talk songwriting, making music independently, the stories behind the songs, touring, the wonderfully weird life of being a working artist — and then we laugh. A lot. Ivory is quick, funny, completely herself and exactly the kind of guest who makes us forget we're supposed to be conducting an interview. This one was an absolute BLAST. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #IvoryLayne #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #Saint Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway icon Ellen Greene joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon for a rare and unforgettable conversation celebrating 40 years of Little Shop of Horrors. As she travels across the country meeting fans and revisiting one of the most beloved musicals of all time, Ellen looks back on the role that made theatre history.How did she discover Audrey? What inspired her unforgettable voice, mannerisms, and heart? What was it like collaborating with legendary creatives Howard Ashman, Alan Menken, Frank Oz, Jim Henson, and the incredible team that brought Little Shop from a tiny stage musical to an enduring cultural phenomenon?Ellen shares stories from the rehearsal room, reflects on the lasting impact of Audrey, and opens up about why this character continues to resonate with audiences four decades later. It's an intimate look at the creation of one of musical theatre's most iconic performances from the woman who originated it.I was also thrilled to tell Ellen that I'll be moderating one of the stops on her anniversary tour, and I truly can't wait to celebrate this remarkable legacy with audiences in person. It was a full-circle moment for this theatre fan and one I'll never forget. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #Izza #ANightAtTheBallet #NewMusic #PopMusic #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #MusicInterview #FemaleArtists #IndependentMusic #NewMusicAlert Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tadhg McMahon joins Robert Bannon to talk about stepping into the gritty world of Hell’s Kitchen, playing Cliffie, and being part of MGM+’s new crime drama The Westies. We’re heading straight into 1980s Hell’s Kitchen for this one! Actor Tadhg McMahon joins Robert on The Roundtable to talk about his role as Cliffie in the new MGM+ crime drama The Westies. Created by Narcos creator Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, The Westies dives into the world of the infamous Irish-American gang that ruled a piece of New York City’s underworld. The series features a powerhouse cast led by J.K. Simmons, alongside Tom Brittney, Titus Welliver, Sarah Bolger, Allen Leech and more. Tadhg takes us behind the scenes of the series, talks about bringing Cliffie to life, working inside this huge ensemble, and what it’s like stepping into a story filled with loyalty, violence, family, power and some seriously complicated characters. We also get to know the man behind the role. The Irish-born, Toronto-based actor trained at Dublin’s Gaiety School of Acting and has appeared in projects including the Oscar-nominated Brooklyn, The Girlfriend Experience, In the Shadow of the Moon and more. It’s crime, New York, acting, Irish roots and a whole lot of fun with Tadhg McMahon on The Roundtable! For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #TadhgMcMahon #TheWesties #MGMPlus #TheRoundtable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway favorite Kennedy Caughell is stepping into the spotlight with her debut solo album, Just the Beginning — and she joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk all about it!Currently starring as Jersey in the national tour of Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, Caughell has built one incredible résumé. From Broadway appearances in Paradise Square, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 to taking on powerhouse roles including Elphaba in Wicked, Carole King in Beautiful, Elsa in Frozen, and Jenna in Waitress, Kennedy has become one of musical theatre’s most exciting and versatile voices.Now, she’s bringing that voice to Just the Beginning, released by Center Stage Records. Produced by Caughell alongside Robbie Rozelle and Brian Spector, the album brings together classic and contemporary musical theatre, songs connected to Kennedy’s own theatrical journey, and three world premiere recordings.And yes — we have to celebrate the team, because our friends Robbie Rozelle and Yasuhiko Fukuoka are part of Kennedy’s musical world. We LOVE when talented friends collide!The album includes music from Wicked, Beautiful, 9 to 5, Waitress, Paradise Square, Company, The Notebook, Violet, and Annie Get Your Gun. Kennedy is also joined by an impressive group of guest artists including Jason Gotay, Ben Fankhauser, Shoba Narayan, and Isaiah Bailey.The title track, “Just the Beginning,” comes from the new musical Far from Canterbury, with music and lyrics by Danny K. Bernstein, and received an exclusive first listen through BroadwayWorld ahead of the album’s release.Kennedy joins Robert for a conversation about finally creating an album of her own, choosing songs that tell her story, the Broadway roles that have shaped her, collaborating with an incredible team of musicians and artists, life on the road with Hell’s Kitchen, and why — after everything she has already accomplished — this really is just the beginning. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. Watch The Roundtable with Robert Bannon on BroadwayWorld and YouTube, and listen on BPN, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts. #GoodGuyWithAGun #PhilipLabes #MicahOKonis #HalRosenfeld #MusicalTheatre #Broadway #ConceptAlbum #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The acclaimed Washington, D.C.-based trio — violinist Kendall Isadore, violist Dawn Johnson, and cellist Élise Sharp — have built a sound that brings together classical music, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, hip-hop and pop. From Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center to a special performance connected to the 2021 Presidential Inauguration and a global Wimbledon campaign, The String Queens have taken their signature sound to some pretty incredible stages. Now they are stepping into an exciting new era with “Troubled Liberty,” featuring the legendary voice of Nikki Giovanni. Released in June, the song marks the trio's first original composition and explores freedom, resilience, sacrifice and the generations who came before us. Robert sits down with The String Queens to talk about their journey, turning the music we know and love into something completely their own, representation in classical music, their work as educators, and what comes next as they continue bringing soul to the strings. They play everything from Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin to Michael Jackson, The Beatles and Harry Styles — and trust us, you have NEVER heard these songs quite like this! Authentic. Soulful. Orchestral. Meet The String Queens! For more info, visit The String Queens. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. Watch and listen to The Roundtable with Robert Bannon on BroadwayWorld, Broadway Podcast Network, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and wherever you get your favorite shows! #TheStringQueens #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #TroubledLiberty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you take America’s political divide, gun culture, family drama, a magical weapon and some seriously funny musical theatre writers and throw them all together? You get Good Guy With a Gun! — and this one is WILD. Robert sits down with creators Philip Labes and Micah O’Konis, along with Musical Director and Executive Music Producer Hal Rosenfeld, to talk about the creation of this irreverent new musical comedy and its star-studded concept album. The story follows NRA lobbyist Ron Barkley and his liberal daughter Jenna. After Ron is confronted at gunpoint, he prays to God for help — and receives a magical gun that turns people conservative. Jenna eventually fights back with a magical weapon of her own: a megaphone that turns people liberal. Yes. You read all of that correctly. But underneath the laughs is a very real conversation about politics, family, ideology and just how divided we’ve become. The idea actually began after Labes himself was held at gunpoint. He started developing the concept with his then-roommate O’Konis, and the pair spent years writing the book, music and lyrics. After workshops at Second City Hollywood and Z Space in San Francisco, they teamed with Rosenfeld to bring the music to life on a full concept album. And WHAT a cast they assembled. Chris Sullivan, Kimiko Glenn, Anthony Rapp, Yvette Nicole Brown, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Jason Alexander, Richard Kind, Kristen Schaal and Paul Walter Hauser are among the voices bringing Good Guy With a Gun! to life. Rosenfeld brings some major musical credentials of his own, with work across more than 300 film, television and gaming projects and credits connected to The Greatest Showman, In the Heights, Only Murders in the Building, Top Gun: Maverick and Broadway's Sweeney Todd. We talk about finding comedy inside a subject this serious, writing satire when the country is so politically divided, assembling that ridiculous cast, taking the project from an idea between friends to a fully produced album — and where Good Guy With a Gun! goes from here. It’s smart. It’s ridiculous. It’s political. It’s musical theatre. Basically… we had plenty to talk about. Good Guy With a Gun! is available now on digital streaming platforms. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. Watch The Roundtable with Robert Bannon on BroadwayWorld and YouTube, and listen on BPN, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts. #GoodGuyWithAGun #PhilipLabes #MicahOKonis #HalRosenfeld #MusicalTheatre #Broadway #ConceptAlbum #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you heard Sydnie Christmas sing once, chances are you remembered her. The powerhouse vocalist captured hearts around the world when she won Britain’s Got Talent in 2024, delivering the kind of huge, emotional performances that made audiences stop and listen. But winning the show was only the beginning. Now Sydnie is entering an exciting new chapter with new music, a new album, and live shows on both sides of the Atlantic — and she joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk all about it. Following the success of her chart-topping debut album My Way, Sydnie has been introducing audiences to the artist she wants to be with new releases including “Run” and “Lean on You.” She is now teasing her latest single, “Spirit,” ahead of her forthcoming album The Artist. It is an exciting evolution for a performer many first discovered singing some of the biggest songs ever written. This time, audiences are getting an even deeper look at Sydnie Christmas the recording artist — her sound, her choices, and the music she wants to make as her career continues to grow. And that voice was made to be heard live! Sydnie returns to the United States for a run of August performances, including City Winery Philadelphia, Sony Hall in New York City, and the Center for the Arts of Homer in New York. Her return to Sony Hall comes after two sold-out performances at the venue last year. Before Britain’s Got Talent, Sydnie spent years working as a performer, including musical theatre and Starlight Express. That journey makes everything happening now even sweeter. This wasn't an overnight dream — it was years of work meeting one extraordinary moment. Robert sits down with Sydnie to talk about the whirlwind since BGT, finding her own musical identity, her new songs, the upcoming album, performing for audiences around the world, returning to America, and where she hopes this incredible ride takes her next. And listen — we LOVE Sydnie Christmas around here. The voice? Insane. The personality? A joy. We are so excited to catch up and celebrate everything she has going on! For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #SydnieChristmas #TheArtist #Spirit #LeanOnYou #BritainsGotTalent #BGT #NewMusic #SonyHall #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pop artist, songwriter, producer and creative director Izza is building a world all her own with her new EP, A Night at the Ballet: Act I. The seven-song project takes the elegance and drama of classical ballet and flips it into a bold, modern pop experience filled with fashion, attitude and plenty of theatrical flair. Izza brings together her worlds of music, dance, fashion and visual design for a project that feels distinctly her own. There is plenty happening underneath all that glamour, too. Izza tackles everything from ambition and competition to friendship fallouts, dating in your twenties, female empowerment and finding your identity. Now Izza joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable to talk about the new music, creating A Night at the Ballet, building the visual world surrounding the project, taking control of her career, and what comes next. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #Izza #ANightAtTheBallet #NewMusic #PopMusic #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #MusicInterview #FemaleArtists #IndependentMusic #NewMusicAlert Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Okay, New Yorkers… you might want to look away. 😂 Filmmaker Pete Ferriero joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk about his deliciously controversial new documentary, The Best Pizza Is in LA — and yes, he is absolutely prepared to defend that title! A New Jersey native now living in Los Angeles, Ferriero set out to challenge one of the most sacred food beliefs around: that great pizza belongs to New York. His journey takes him across L.A. exploring the city’s exploding pizza scene, from classic slices to Detroit, New Haven and other styles that have found a home on the West Coast. And he brought some pretty great people along for the ride! The film features Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green, Ray Romano, Lindsay Price, and acclaimed chefs including Nancy Silverton, Brooke Williamson, Stephanie Izard, Joe Sasto and more. We talk about what inspired Pete to make the film, the classic LA vs. NY pizza rivalry, the incredible chefs and personalities he met along the way, and whether he can actually convince this East Coast crowd that the best pizza really IS in L.A.! The Best Pizza Is in LA was released July 28 and is available to rent or buy across major digital platforms. Watch The Best Pizza Is in LA trailer For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #PeteFerriero #TheBestPizzaIsInLA #Pizza #LosAngeles #NewYorkPizza #LAPizza #FoodDocumentary #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer, director and editor Christopher Piñero joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk about his psychological horror short The Prowler. Starring Aaron Dominguez (Only Murders in the Building, The Inspection, Shaft), The Prowler takes what seems like a familiar home-invasion setup and turns it on its head. As fear, paranoia and shifting perception begin to take over, both the character and the audience are left questioning what is actually real. Christopher talks about his love of psychological horror, the influence of Puerto Rican folklore, building suspense without giving too much away, and what inspired him to explore the idea of fear itself becoming the villain. The film has made its way through the genre festival circuit with screenings at Panic Fest and the Chattanooga Film Festival, and was selected for the LA Shorts International Film Festival, an Academy Award®- and BAFTA-qualifying festival. We also talk about Christopher wearing multiple hats as writer, director and editor, working with Aaron Dominguez, and where he hopes to take The Prowler next. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. Watch The Roundtable with Robert Bannon on BroadwayWorld and YouTube, and listen on BPN, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and wherever you get your podcasts. #TheProwler #ChristopherPinero #Horror #PsychologicalHorror #HorrorFilm #IndieFilm #LATShorts #Filmmaker #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #BroadwayWorld Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jackpot! 🎰 Lorraine Ziff joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, and this conversation was an absolute BLAST! Known to her growing online audience as the “Goddess of Slots,” Lorraine has turned her love of casino gaming into a whole new adventure, bringing viewers along for the wins, the losses, the excitement, and those moments when you’re just ONE SPIN away from something big! But there is much more to Lorraine than the casino floor. We talk about her journey as an actress and producer, how the Goddess of Slots came to be, building a community online, the wild world of slot content, and why people can’t get enough of watching someone else chase that jackpot. Lorraine is funny, fearless, completely herself — and she had us laughing from beginning to end. Whether you’re a casino regular or wouldn’t know a bonus round if it hit you in the face, this is one fun conversation! Come meet the woman behind the slots and find out why Lorraine Ziff is betting on herself! 🎰💰✨ For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #LorraineZiff #GoddessOfSlots #Slots #SlotMachines #Casino #CasinoLife #Gaming #Jackpot #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #BroadwayWorld #Interview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pour a glass — because we’re heading to Napa! Nick Corirossi and Armen Weitzman join The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk all about The Napa Boys, the hilariously absurd comedy that takes the idea of the big Hollywood movie franchise and turns it completely on its head. Nick directs, while Nick and Armen co-wrote and star as Jack Jr. and Miles Jr., two members of the legendary — and completely made-up — Napa Boys franchise. This time, a mysterious figure known as “The Sommelier” sends the gang on another wine-soaked adventure, joined by Puck, a young podcaster who just happens to be their biggest fan. And the cast is WILD! Sarah Ramos, Mike Mitchell, Chloe Cherry, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, DJ Qualls, Ray Wise, David Wain, Paul Rust, Riki Lindhome, Natasha Leggero, Beth Dover and many more pop up along the way. We talk with Nick and Armen about creating this ridiculous universe, sending up movie sequels and franchise culture, assembling that incredible comedy cast, premiering the film at TIFF’s Midnight Madness, and just how strange things got while making The Napa Boys. It’s Sideways meets a completely unhinged comedy franchise — and you may never look at a glass of wine the same way again. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #TheNapaBoys #NickCorirossi #ArmenWeitzman #MagnoliaPictures #Comedy #IndieFilm #TIFF #WineCountry #SarahRamos #MikeMitchell #KevinSmith #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #BroadwayWorld Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Things are getting deliciously deadly on The Roundtable! Actress Karen Cliche joins us to talk about her role as Alison in Eli Roth’s brand-new horror film Ice Cream Man, hitting theaters nationwide August 7! From the twisted mind behind Cabin Fever, Hostel and Thanksgiving, Roth’s latest takes an idyllic summer town and turns it upside down when a mysterious ice cream man begins serving children sweet treats with some seriously horrifying consequences. Ari Millen stars as the Ice Cream Man alongside Karen, Benjamin Byron Davis, Dylan Hawco, Sarah Abbott and more. Karen takes us behind the scenes of the wild new horror film, working with Eli Roth, stepping into this very bloody world, and what audiences can expect when Ice Cream Man arrives on the big screen. Plus, we talk about Karen’s career, her journey as an actor, and what’s next! 🍦 ICE CREAM MAN🎬 Directed by Eli Roth🎭 Starring Ari Millen, Karen Cliche, Benjamin Byron Davis & more📅 In Theaters August 7 For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #KarenCliche #IceCreamMan #EliRoth #Horror #HorrorMovies #IceCreamManMovie #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #BroadwayWorld #MovieInterview #NewMovies #HorrorFans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For more than two decades, Kindred the Family Soul has created the soundtrack to love, life, family, and soul. Now, the Grammy-nominated duo is hitting the road and making a stop at The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre in Detroit, and they're joining The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk about it all. Known for their signature blend of classic soul, R&B, and heartfelt storytelling, Kindred has built a devoted following with songs like "Far Away," "Where Would I Be (The Question)," "Stars," and "Magic Happen." Their music celebrates real relationships, faith, resilience, and the beauty of growing together—making them one of the most beloved duos in modern soul music. In this joyful conversation, we discuss life on the road, what fans can expect from their upcoming Detroit performance, the secret to their incredible musical and personal partnership, and why their message of love and authenticity continues to resonate with audiences around the world. Don't miss this uplifting conversation with one of R&B's most enduring and inspiring acts before they light up the stage in the Motor City! For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #KindredTheFamilySoul #TheAretha #Detroit #RandB #SoulMusic #LiveMusic #TheRoundtableWithRobertBannon #BroadwayWorld #BroadwayPodcastNetwork #YouTube #Spotify #ApplePodcasts #iHeartRadio #DetroitEvents #Concert Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

R&B icon Case joins us on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon as he celebrates an incredible 30 years in the music industry and gears up for a special performance at the legendary Yoshi's Oakland. From timeless classics like "Touch Me, Tease Me," "Happily Ever After," and "Missing You" to the music that continues to define grown-folk R&B, Case has built a career rooted in authenticity, soul, and unforgettable storytelling. In this candid conversation, we look back at his remarkable journey, the evolution of R&B over the past three decades, what it means to still be connecting with audiences after 30 years, and why performing live remains one of his greatest passions. We also preview his upcoming celebration at Yoshi's and discuss what's next for one of the genre's most respected voices. If you love real R&B, legendary voices, and stories from an artist who has stood the test of time, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #Case #RandB #Yoshis #SoulMusic #TouchMeTeaseMe #HappilyEverAfter #MissingYou #TheRoundtableWithRobertBannon #BroadwayWorld #BroadwayPodcastNetwork #Detroit #MusicLegend #Interview #Podcast #YouTube #Spotify #ApplePodcasts #iHeartRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Independent film takes center stage on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon as we celebrate the inaugural Left Turn Film Festival, presented by the historic Ojai Playhouse. The one-day showcase shines a spotlight on daring new voices in cinema, featuring acclaimed independent films Situations, $Positions, and Crumb Catcher, along with live filmmaker conversations following each screening. The festival was created to champion boundary-pushing storytellers and give audiences an intimate look inside today's independent film movement. Joining us are the filmmakers behind three of the festival's standout selections. Greg Vrotsos, making his feature writing and directing debut with Situations, discusses crafting an intimate, character-driven drama about a Los Angeles photographer navigating a relationship in free fall. Vrotsos also stars in the film alongside Fiona Dourif, Melora Walters, and P.J. Byrne, bringing years of experience from projects including Orange Is the New Black, Twin Peaks, and Mayans M.C. into his first feature behind the camera. We also spotlight Brandon Daley's $Positions, a tense, darkly funny thriller that follows a Midwestern family whose lives spiral after a risky cryptocurrency investment turns into an all-consuming obsession. The film has earned praise for capturing the anxiety and uncertainty of modern financial culture with equal parts suspense and satire. Finally, we dive into Chris Skotchdopole's offbeat thriller Crumb Catcher, a wildly original genre-bending film that follows newlyweds whose honeymoon is interrupted by an eccentric blackmail scheme involving a bizarre kitchen invention. Equal parts suspense, comedy, and horror, the film has become a favorite on the festival circuit for its unique voice and unforgettable performances. From creating films outside the studio system to finding audiences through festivals like Left Turn, this is a fascinating conversation about taking creative risks, telling authentic stories, and why independent cinema continues to thrive. Watch now on BroadwayWorld, YouTube, Broadway Podcast Network, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and wherever you enjoy The Roundtable with Robert Bannon. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #LeftTurnFilmFestival #OjaiPlayhouse #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm #Situations #GregVrotsos #DollarPositions #BrandonDaley #CrumbCatcher #ChrisSkotchdopole #FilmFestival #Filmmakers #MovieTalk #BroadwayWorld #BroadwayPodcastNetwork #TheRoundtableWithRobertBannon #RobertBannon #YouTube #Spotify #ApplePodcasts #iHeartRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning filmmaker Lynn Dow joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to celebrate the powerful independent film Bull Street. Inspired by true events, Bull Street tells the story of a successful attorney forced to return home after her father's passing, only to discover her family's land and legacy are at the center of an emotional legal battle. It's a moving story about faith, family, justice, resilience, and the importance of preserving history for future generations. Lynn shares what inspired her to tell this deeply personal story, the journey of bringing an independent feature to life, and why authentic storytelling continues to matter. We also discuss the incredible response the film has received, the challenges and rewards of independent filmmaking, and what's next as Bull Street reaches audiences across the country. It's an inspiring conversation with a filmmaker using her voice to create stories that entertain, challenge, and uplift. Watch now on BroadwayWorld, YouTube, Broadway Podcast Network, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and wherever you enjoy The Roundtable with Robert Bannon. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on Instagram @RobertMBannon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maxwell Beer and Mitch Marois stop by The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to celebrate the launch of MATCHBOOK FEST 2026, an exciting new five-week festival transforming New York City's historic Greenwich House Theater into a home for bold new ideas, developing works, and unforgettable live events. Produced by Mix & Match Productions, the festival brings together established artists and rising voices for readings, concerts, conversations, workshops, and one-of-a-kind theatrical experiences—all designed to give audiences a front-row seat to the creative process. Robert sits down with Maxwell and Mitch to discuss why they created MATCHBOOK FEST, the importance of giving artists a place to experiment, and how they're building a community where creativity, collaboration, and discovery come first. They also share what audiences can expect throughout the festival, the challenges of launching a brand-new arts event, and why supporting new work has never been more important. It's an inspiring conversation about taking chances, creating opportunities for artists, and lighting the spark for the next generation of theatre. Watch and listen to The Roundtable with Robert Bannon on BroadwayWorld, the Broadway Podcast Network, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and more. For more information, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on Instagram @RobertMBannon. #MatchbookFest #MatchbookFestival #MaxwellBeer #MitchMarois #GreenwichHouseTheater #OffBroadway #Theatre #NewWorks #BroadwayWorld #BroadwayPodcastNetwork #TheRoundtableWithRobertBannon #RobertBannon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For more than two decades, Naturally 7 has amazed audiences around the world by creating the sound of an entire band using nothing but their voices. From unforgettable performances with Michael Bublé to sold-out tours across the globe, the group continues to redefine what vocal music can be. Roger Thomas stops by The Roundtable for a fun conversation about the power of brotherhood, staying together through the years, life on the road, and what keeps Naturally 7 pushing forward. We also preview the group's upcoming appearance at Detroit's Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, where they'll join Hiroshima for an unforgettable night of music on August 26. It's a conversation filled with laughs, incredible stories, and plenty of appreciation for one of the most unique vocal groups in the world. 🎙️ Watch/listen on BroadwayWorld, Broadway Podcast Network, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and more. For more info, go to RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on IG @RobertMBannon. #Naturally7 #RogerThomas #TheRoundtable #RobertBannon #BroadwayWorld #Brotherhood #Acappella #Music #Detroit #TheAretha #Hiroshima #VocalMusic #Interview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer, director, and playwright Darcy Thompson joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to discuss his hilarious new play, Doughboys. Set during World War I, the farcical comedy follows three women who disguise themselves as men to enlist, leading to outrageous adventures, unexpected friendships, and plenty of laughs along the way. After a sold-out run in New York, the production is now heading to the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where audiences around the world will experience Darcy's unique blend of comedy, heart, and history. Darcy also shares his journey as a writer and director, the inspiration behind Doughboys, and why he's drawn to stories filled with humor, humanity, and the unexpected. Plus, he reflects on his creative career, from award-winning short films like Jack Turbo and Heartache to creating the fantasy podcast Dragon's Rest, and what's next as he continues building exciting new worlds for audiences on stage and screen. Watch and listen to The Roundtable with Robert Bannon on BroadwayWorld, the Broadway Podcast Network, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and more. For more information, visit RobertBannon.com and follow Robert on Instagram @RobertMBannon. #DarcyThompson #Doughboys #EdinburghFringe #FringeFestival #TheRoundtableWithRobertBannon #Broadway #Theatre #Playwright #Director #Comedy #BroadwayWorld #BroadwayPodcastNetwork #Interview #NewPlay #WorldWarI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices