TPAC's Arts Appetizer Podcasts

John Schiappa, Sharaé Moultrie, and Ben Biggers from the touring cast of "Girl From The North Country" join TPAC's Kristin Horsley to discuss their experiences on Broadway and on tour.

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Micah-Shane Brewer, Nashville Repertory Theatre artistic director. In this episode, we explore the unique vision behind their original production of "A Christmas Carol." Discover the inspiration, creative decisions, and the magic of bringing this classic story to life in a new light. Micah-Shane discusses the challenges and triumphs of this project, the original music he composed for the piece, and gives a sneak peek into future productions. Don't miss this behind-the-scenes journey of reimagining a timeless classic, playing at TPAC's Polk Theater from December 1-17, 2023.

Join us for a lively and touching episode of the InsideOut podcast, featuring the cast and creators of the Broadway show "Mrs. Doubtfire." We delve into conversation with original cast members and the musical's co-composer, Nashville's own Wayne Kirkpatrick, to explore the rollercoaster journey of this heartwarming production. Revel in stories and laughter with Rob McClure, the mastermind behind the title role Mrs. Doubtfire, and gain insights from Aaron Kaburick and David Hibbard. From the show's thrilling Broadway debut to its sudden hiatus due to COVID-19, and its current, rapturous reception on tour. Don't miss the chance to listen to this captivating panel discussion, distilled from a pre-show Arts Appetizer event on November 8, 2023.

An inside look at one of TPAC's most successful educational programs, Season for Young People, this podcast uncovers more than 40 years of presenting live professional theatre, exclusively to school children. We hear from Tennessee teachers, a graduating high school senior, professional touring artists, and members of TPAC's education department to discuss the benefits and impact that the Season For Young People has had on classrooms to build confidence, encourage self-expression, and nurture an appreciation for the arts across the entire state and beyond.

Learn about life on the road with the Broadway National Tour of SIX featuring Zan Berube, Amina Faye, and Cecelia Snow from the Boleyn company and hosted by Nashville's Tosha Marie. Tosha is the dance studio owner of TMProductions, who hosted the 2023 open call auditions in Nashville. The cast members give an in-depth look at what touring is like, the extensive work that goes into being an alternate, and the joys of being a part of this empowering all-female cast!

Cast members from Les Misérables: Devin Archer, Gregory Lee Rodriguez, and Jenna Burns join TPAC's Community Engagement team to discuss performing in the show in 2022.  Find out what it's like to perform in a show in it's 40th year of production, while getting a behind the scenes look at how these performers get in the zone 8-times a week. Jenna Burns, a Belmont graduate, discusses what it's like to be back performing on a Nashville stage.  The TPAC InsideOut Podcast is produced by Kristin Horsley and Nivedhan Singh with editing and mixing by Tim Horsley.

Local film expert and Nashville Film Festival Education and Engagement Manager, Sarah Childress, unpacks the film Pretty Woman as it relates to the broadway tour of the dynamic new musical. Hear Nashville native and touring cast member, Graham Keen talk about his return to the TPAC stage after 15 years, and the joys and challenges of being a "swing" on an engagaing production like this.   The TPAC InsideOut Podcast is produced by Kristin Horsley and Nivedhan Singh with editing and mixing by Tim Horsley.

Acclaimed stage and film actor/writer, LeLand Gantt, discusses his one-person show; Rhapsody in Black. Hear Gantt delve into the process around creating this deeply personal, funny, and strikingly relevant piece about the internal journey of the Black Perspective in America.   The TPAC InsideOut Podcast is produced by Kristin Horsley and Nivedhan Singh with editing and mixing by Tim Horsley.

Learn about the Nashville High School Musical Theatre Awards, or Spotlight Awards, with Cassie LaFevor, TPAC's Director of Education Enrichment. Then, hear from the 2022 Outstanding Lead Performers - Angelis Gonzalez of Ravenwood High School who won for their performance in "Matilda The Musical" and Alexander Benton of John Overton High School who won for his performance in "Something's Rotten!" - about their experiences performing at TPAC and on Broadway at The Jimmy Awards. The TPAC InsideOut Podcast is produced by Kristin Horsley and Nivedhan Singh with editing and mixing by Tim Horsley.

Kashif Andrew Graham, Vanderbilt University's Outreach Librarian for Religion and Theology at Vanderbilt Divinity Library, joins a discussion of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork and Academy Award® winner Aaron Sorkin's adaptation, To Kill a Mockingbird, with touring cast members Melanie Moore (Scout Finch) and Yaegel T. Welch (Tom Robinson). The TPAC InsideOut Podcast is produced by Kristin Horsley and Nivedhan Singh with editing and mixing by Tim Horsley. Special thanks to the Broadway Booking Office NYC and the producers of To Kill A Mockingbird.

Nashville theater professional David Ian Lee leads a conversation with Come From Away cast member Jeremy Woodard; Kevin Tuerff, the detoured passenger upon whom Jeremy's character is based; and volunteer coordinators Kevin Hopkins and Jake Turner, who assisted the passengers in Gander, Newfoundland on September 11, 2001.

Sasha Hutchings from the touring Broadway show Oklahoma! talks with TPAC's Kristin Horsley and Nivedhan Singh about the production, reimagined for the 21st century and the Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Musical.

TPAC's Kristin Horsley and Nivedhan Singh talk with John Hoomes, the CEO and Artistic Director for Nashville Opera, and writer Marcus Hummon about the world premiere of the new folk opera, Favorite Son.

TPAC's Kristin Horsley hosts a discussion about the Fisk Jubilee Singers and TPAC's new film, "Walk Together Children: The 150th Anniversary of the Fisk Jubilee Singers." Panelists include musical director Paul T. Kwami, singer Ariana Okhuozagbon, film director Jon Royal, Nashville Public Television program manager Jessica Turk, and TPAC's Executive Vice President of Education and Community Engagement Roberta Ciuffo-West. The discussion is part of the InsideOut of the Lunch Box series with Vanderbilt University's Office of Community Relations. 

In this special episode, TPAC's Kristin Horsley speaks with three 2020 Spotlight Awards recipients as well as the Director of the Spotlight Awards, TPAC's Cassie LaFevor!  The Spotlight Awards are presented in partnership with Lipscomb University with special thanks to Kraft CPAs. 

In this episode, TPAC's Kristin Horsley talks with Nashville Shakespeare Festival's Sam Ashdown about his vocal and acting training and how he stays fit to perform Shakespeare's leading men. 

Introducing TPAC InsideOut's "Warming Up With" series! In this series, we talk with artists about their training and experiences in the performing arts, and learn how they care for their instruments and prepare for performances. In this episode, Kristin Horsley speaks with Rashad Rayford about his journey beginning in spoken word, to acting, to public speaking.  https://www.rashadthapoet.com/

Introducing TPAC InsideOut's "Warming Up With" series! In this series, we talk with artists about their training and experiences in the performing arts, and learn how they care for their instruments and prepare for performances. In this episode, we're warming up with guitarist Tim Calhoun who discusses his experiences working in the recording studio, on stage, and in the orchestra pit.  Tim Calhoun is a professional guitarist, and commercial guitar instructor at Trevecca Nazarene University. After his foundational development at the University of Miami, Tim spent the next 25+ years as a performing guitarist and session musician in both NYC and Nashville. He played and/or recorded with CMA, AMC, CMA, and Grammy nominated/winning artists such as Jo Dee Messina, Trisha Yearwood, Kathy Trocolli, Mylon Lefevre, Ronnie McDowell, Bo Didley, The Temptations, Phil Keggy, Jo-El Sonnier and many others. He has performed in orchestras for TPAC, Studio Tenn, Chaffin's Barn, Lipscomb University, and on stage at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. As a session musician, his guitar work has been featured on commercials for Coke, Kroger, Macy's, and Six Flags. 

Introducing TPAC InsideOut's "Warming Up With" series! In this series, we talk with artists about their training and experiences in the performing arts, and learn how they care for their instruments and prepare for performances. First up is Helen Huang, a Chinese-born soprano with a wide range of musical interests, spanning from baroque to the present day. Below is the song Helen performs in this episode. You can learn more about Helen at HelenHuangSoprano.com    我住长江头 (I live at the source of the Yangzi River)    我住长江头， 君住长江尾。 日日思君不见君， 共饮长江水。 此水几时休?  此恨何时已?  只愿君心似我心， 定不负相思意   I live at the source of the Yangzi River You live at the tail of the Yangzi River.  Every day I think of you, but I don't see you.  We drink the same Yangzi water. When will the river stop running? When will this torture end? All I want is for you to think of me too, So I won't love in vain. 

In this episode, TPAC's CEO Jennifer Turner talks with Metro Nashville Public Schools' principal of the year, Dr. Ricki Gibbs. Dr. Gibbs discusses his school, Warner Arts Magnet Elementary, and its unique arts partnership with TPAC. Their conversation is pulled from a recent Salon Series event presented on Zoom.  

In this special episode, Kristin Horsley speaks remotely with Dr. Jim Jackson, Psychologist and Research Professor in the Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, about his work and research, and helps guide us toward healthy practices during this ongoing crisis.

On this TPAC 20, Kristin Horsley speaks with Nashville Opera's CEO and Artistic Director John Hoomes about their upcoming performances of Rigoletto April 9 and 11 here at TPAC. 

On this Arts Appetizer, Kristin Horsley speaks with My Fair Lady cast members Adam Grupper and Kevin Pariseau, dialect coach and community member Jill Massie, as well as TPAC's Lattie Brown. They discuss everything from the different dialects in London, to teaching students here in Nashville, their careers, and more.  My Fair Lady held performances at TPAC February 4-9, 2020. 

In this episode, Kristin Horsley speaks with CATS cast members Adam Richardson and Maria Failla as well as Maegan Phan, co-owner of Mewsic Kitty Cafe. The conversation includes everything from singing offstage, to the changes from the original production, to the choreography.  CATS performed in Nashville November 19-24, 2019. 

In this Arts Appetizer discussion, Kristin Horsley speaks with TPAC staff member Daniel Harris and The SpongeBob Musical's Cody Cooley and Stephen Kallas about the audition process, the intricate staging, and more. The SpongeBob Musical was performed at TPAC November 5-10, 2020. 

In this Arts Appetizer, Jeremy Painter speaks with community partner and Metro Schools African Dance Teacher Normalanga "Nomi" Eniafe and Once on This Island cast member Tyler Hardwick about the importance of this show, the onstage seating, and so much more. Once on This Island was performed at TPAC October 15-20, 2019. 

On this TPAC 20, Kristin Horsley speaks with Kris Lythgoe, Executive Producer of 'Aladdin and His Winter Wish' and Founder of Lythgoe Family Give Kids Panto. Kristin and Kris speak about growing up in a theatrical family, what Panto is, and much more! 

Kristen Horsley spoke with TPAC's new President and CEO, Jennifer Turner, during an Arts Appetizer earlier this year. On this podcast, Jennifer speaks about her experience, hopes for the future, and answers some questions from patrons as we gear up for the 2019-20 Broadway season. 

Kristin Horsley spoke with Miss Saigon's Emily Bautista and Anthony Festa about bringing the grand production (helicopter included) around the country, audience reactions, and more on this TPAC 20. Miss Saigon came to TPAC June 4-9, 2019.  

Cast member and Tennessee native Analisa Leaming talks about taking the show on the road with Broadway legend Betty Buckley, plus dating and relationship specialist Betty Russell shares her experiences as a modern day matchmaker.

Cast members Tari Kelly and Edward Staudenmayer join TPAC's Kristin Horsley and Daniel Harris from the TPAC Box Office to discuss how they got involved with theatre, the audition process, and what to do when things go wrong on stage.

TPAC's Kristin Horsley and writer and communications professional Joe Pagetta join "A Bronx Tale" cast member Frankie Leoni to discuss being a kid actor in a musical and growing up Italian American.

TPAC's Kristin Horsley discusses "A Bronx Tale" and growing up Italian American with cast members Richard H. Blake and Joe Barbara, Mangia Nashville owner Nick Pellegrino, and Angel Celucci from the Amerigo Vespucci Society. 

Cast members Alma Cuervo and Ilda Mason join community partner Ramon Cisneros to discuss the different dance styles in "On Your Feet!" and the careers of Emilio and Gloria Estefan. 

TPAC's Kristin Horsley speaks with Nashville native Jeremy Benton and Franklin resident John Conrad Schuck from "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" about performing in their hometowns, their favorite Nashville spots, and bringing a holiday show to audiences across the country.

TPAC's Kristin Horsley speaks with Trista Moldovan who plays Carlotta in the touring production of "The Phantom of the Opera" about working with her husband, spending holidays on the road, and bringing this iconic show to life.

Cast members Evan Alexander Smith and Sid Solomon join Ben Oddo from Nashville's The Ben & Morey Show to discuss why plays don't tour as often to performing physical comedy live.

Cast members Jonathon Timpanelli and Jesse Sparks join pit musician Lynn Keller and local community member Tim Calhoun about being musicians in a Broadway show to how they each got into their careers.

Cast members Desi Oakley and Bryan Fenkart discuss everything from the coherency of the cast to working with songwriter and composer Sara Bareilles.

Bowling Green, Kentucky, native Bronson Norris Murphy, who plays The Phantom, join fellow cast member Sean Thompson, and Christi Dortch, TPAC's Executive Vice President of Programming to discuss the demanding roles in "Love Never Dies" and how touring productions are curated for TPAC's season.

Brentwood, Tennessee, native Ginna Claire Mason, who plays Glinda, joins Vanderbilt Musicologist James Lovensheimer to discuss what it's like to be a standby for a Broadway show, the intricate costumes in "Wicked," teaching musicology, and more.

Cast members Richard LaFleur and Anne Marie Snyder of "Cabaret" discuss what it's like to be a quadruple threat as a singer, actor, dancer, and instrumentalist. Plus, country singer JT Hodges discusses his transition to acting in a theatrical production.

Cast and creative members Christopher M. Howard, Ashlee Duprè, and Sean Maurice Kelly join Nashville Ballet's Artistic Director and CEO Paul Vasterling to discuss developing a show, creating dance numbers, and the Nashville Ballet.

Cast members Amanda Naughton and Michael Winther join graphic novelist Janet K. Lee and TPAC's Akil Lyle discuss the road life of a standby performer, the graphic novel that inspired the Broadway production, and more.

Nashville native and co-writer of "Something Rotten," Wayne Kirpatrick, joins music director Brian Kennedy to discuss songwriting, producing the show, and more.

Cara Kilda, animal wrangler for "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" and Dr. Julie Lounds Taylor of Vanderbilt Kennedy Center discuss everything from handling rats on tour to the affects of autism on everyday life.

Cast members Julia Osborne and Melody Betts discuss performing in the iconic musical, and Holly Johnson of Catholic Charities of Tennessee shares Nashville's history as a refugee city. 

Cast members Megan Loomis and Ruth Pferdehirt talk about the exciting art and choreography of the quick change and playing several characters in one show. Plus, genealogist Cinamon Collins discusses the surprising work of researching family histories.

During the 20th Anniversary Tour of "RENT," TPAC's Kristin Horsley learns the ins and outs of producing the show from the musical's executive producer Stephen Gabriel, and cast member David Merino talks about being inspired by the show before playing his dream role of Angel.

TPAC's Kristin Horsley talks with the creative team behind Studio Tenn's "Evita," the first locally-made production featured on TPAC's annual Broadway season. The one-of-a-kind production starred Broadway's Eden Espinosa, Anthony Crivello, and Ben Crawford with Nashville-based talent Rene Millan and Mia Rose Lynne. "Evita" played Nashville Sept. 9-18, 2016.