Beltline to Broadway
The Beltline to Broadway podcast blends behind-the-scenes insights, fascinating interviews, and stories from the stage. From the vibrant stages of Raleigh, North Carolina's Beltline to the iconic theaters of Broadway, this show celebrates the magic of live performance, the talent that powers it, and the passion that fuels it all.
Episodes
June 24, 2025 • 25 mins
This episode of the Beltline to Broadway podcast, hosted by Lauren Van Hemert, spotlights a new production of Hairspray at Thalian Hall in Wilmington, NC. What makes this production unique is its powerful blend of Broadway alumni, live TV experience, and hair-raising (literally) design, brought together by the Opera House Theatre Company.
Melissa VanPelt is a native of Memphis TN and a graduate of AMDA(The American Musical and D...
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June 6, 2025 • 45 mins
Eric Woodall joins the pod squad to discuss the 2025 Tony Awards season, with reflections on Broadway trends, productions, performers, and predictions across various categories.
Eric Woodall is a nationally respected theater director, casting professional, and arts leader with deep roots in both Broadway and regional theater. Currently serving as the Producing Artistic Director of Theatre Raleigh, Eric is known for his visionary...
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May 26, 2025 • 24 mins
In this thoughtful and heartfelt episode, host Lauren Van Hemert sits down with acclaimed actor, producer, and musician Brandon Victor Dixon to discuss his artistic journey, advocacy, and newly released single, "Maybe." Known for roles in Hamilton and The Color Purple, Dixon opens up about the soulfulness behind his music, the importance of civic engagement, and the power of storytelling in creating social change.
The episode serv...
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May 14, 2025 • 31 mins
Ali Stroker joins the pod squad for an honest, inspiring conversation about breaking barriers on Broadway and beyond. From her historic win for Oklahoma! to navigating an industry not always built for inclusivity, Ali shares how she turned challenges into opportunities.
Ali Stroker is a Tony Award-winning actress, singer, and advocate who has made history as a trailblazer for performers with disabilities. In 2015, she broke ne...
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April 30, 2025 • 32 mins
The incomparable Carmen Cusack—Tony-nominated star of Bright Star, Wicked, and Flying Over Sunset joins the pod squad. She shares the fascinating arc of her career, from training as an opera singer to finding her authentic voice in roles that defy genre conventions. She also offers a behind-the-scenes look at her artistic process as she prepares for an immersive concert at Theatre Raleigh. With humor, honesty, and soul, Carmen Cusa...
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April 17, 2025 • 21 mins
Whether in soap operas or stage work, it’s all about honoring the craft, respecting the audience, and telling stories that matter. Hear what John Wesley Shipp and David A. Gregory say about their journey from meeting on One Life to Live to facing off in the courtroom drama, Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.
John Wesley Shipp is a veteran actor best known for his dynamic range across television and stage. He originated the role of The Fl...
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April 8, 2025 • 25 mins
Robert Ariza (Hamilton, Spring Awakening) and Maya Jacobson (Fiddler on the Roof) join the podsquad to discuss how even quirky cult musicals like Little Shop carry deeper critiques of capitalism and power. While early in their careers, both actors bring insight into how the stage can be a space for healing, rebellion, and storytelling that transcends language and background.
Robert Ariza is a dynamic and versatile stage actor kno...
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April 4, 2025 • 23 mins
In this heartfelt episode of Beltline to Broadway, host Lauren Van Hemert sits down with four-time Emmy Award-winning actress Kim Zimmer to discuss her latest role in The Trip to Bountiful at Theater Raleigh. Kim also opens up about her personal journey with breast cancer, the resilience required to work in daytime television, and what it's like to portray complex women on stage and screen.
Kim Zimmer is best known for her iconic ...
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March 25, 2025 • 23 mins
Dana Costello joins the pod squad to discuss how performing in Suffs built her confidence on and off the stage, the importance of regional theater, and her long-running involvement with the upcoming musical Joy. Dana is performing in the Theatre Raleigh production of The Trip to Bountiful alongside four-time Emmy Award-winner Kim Zimmer.
Dana Costello is a talented actress and vocalist known for her work in theater, television, an...
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March 20, 2025 • 21 mins
Megan McGinnis joins the pod squad to reflect on her dual career as an actor and director, her experience touring, and the challenges of performing opposite a demon with issues on the national tour of Beetlejuice. Whether you're a longtime Beetlejuice fan or new to the musical, this conversation offers a heartfelt and entertaining glimpse behind the scenes.
Megan McGinnis is a talented actress and singer currently touring with the...
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March 11, 2025 • 20 mins
Miki Abraham joins the pod squadd to share their journey with Shucked, from its early days as The Hee Haw Musical to Broadway and beyond. They discuss the evolution of the production, the creative team's commitment to adapting the show to its performers, and the empowering experience of playing Lulu. We also explore deeper themes of identity, representation, and the importance of showing up authentically in the theater industry. Pl...
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March 4, 2025 • 27 mins
Norbert Leo Butz and Lauren Kennedy reunite to reflect on their journey as the original Cathy and Jamie in The Last Five Years. They share behind-the-scenes stories about the show's development, including how Jason Robert Brown shaped the music around their performances. The conversation explores the challenges of performing such an emotionally intense two-person musical, the struggles of engaging audiences with its unconventional ...
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February 25, 2025 • 24 mins
Author Carol de Giere (Defying Gravity) joins the podcast to explore the fascinating history and unsung stories behind Pippin. Hear how Stephen Schwartz developed the show as a student at Carnegie Mellon, about his creative clashes with legendary director Bob Fosse, and how the 2013 revival reimagined the production (and ending) for a new generation. Carol also shares insights into Schwartz’s songwriting process, his musical influe...
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February 18, 2025 • 19 mins
Jason Robert Brown joins the podcast to discuss the complexities of adapting books and movies into musicals, the differences between stage and screen storytelling, and the evolving landscape of Broadway. He also reflects on his musical influences, his collaboration with Theatre Raleigh's Lauren Kennedy, and the creative process behind his eclectic body of work.
Jason Robert Brown is an acclaimed composer and lyricist known for his...
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February 11, 2025 • 31 mins
Multihyphenate Erin Sullivan joins the podcast to discuss the historical weight of Marilyn Monroe, the challenges of portraying such a beloved and complex figure, and the personal and artistic risks taken to keep her one-woman show, With Love, Marilyn, fresh for international audiences.
Erin Sullivan is a seasoned actress, singer, and writer with a career spanning over 30 years in theater. Originally trained in musical theater, sh...
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August 28, 2024 • 45 mins
Nik Waker joins the pod squad to discuss the importance of representation in theater, the impact of ADHD on his creative process, and the power of storytelling as a grounding force. From his early days finding solace in the stage to starring in Broadway hits like Hamilton and Spamalot, Walker shares candid insights into his experiences. He also discusses his latest role in Theatre Raleigh's Bull Durham: The Musical.
Nik Walker is ...
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Julie Benko joins the pod squad to discuss her career trajectory from understudy to Broadway star and her take on Jane Eyre. From being overlooked at her showcase to starring on Broadway, she highlights the unpredictable nature of success in theater.
Julie Benko is an award-winning actress, singer, and writer known for her breakout role as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl and her work in Harmony, Les Misérables, and Fiddler on the Roof....
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Bekah Brunstetter, the book writer behind Broadway’s highly anticipated musical The Notebook, joins the pod squad to dive into the creative process of adapting Nicholas Sparks’ beloved novel for the stage. Hear what she says about the intersection of theater and video games, the challenges of writing for Broadway versus regional theater, and how artists navigate creative freedom while handling industry criticism.
Bekah Brunstetter...
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February 5, 2024 • 22 mins
Sammi Cannold joins the pod squad to discuss disability representation in theater, the creative process behind adapting the documentary into a stage production, and the broader impact of inclusive storytelling in the industry.
Sammi Cannold is an acclaimed theater director known for her innovative and immersive storytelling. A rising star in the industry, she has been recognized for her work on productions that push the boundarie...
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Actor, lawyer, and advocate Sean Hayden joins the pod squad to open up about how landing a dream role in Billy Elliot led to a full-blown mental health crisis. Through his podcast Stage Combat: A Mental Health Story, he aims to spark a larger conversation about how theaters can better protect and support their artists.
Sean Hayden is a multi-talented performer, attorney, and mental health advocate whose career spans Broadway, tele...
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