Beltline to Broadway

Beltline to Broadway

Based inside the beltline in Raleigh, North Carolina, Lauren Van Hemert is an award-winning podcaster who has been covering regional theater for over three years. She has been called a "pioneer" for her community-based approach to cultural arts reporting and candid conversations about diversity and inclusion in the theater industry. Her guests have included Tony Award-winners, Broadway veterans, international recording artists, and television icons, including Eric Woodall, Lauren Kennedy, Robert Hartwell, Karen Ziemba, and Ed Asner. Van Hemert is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association, Society for Professional Journalists, and the Broadway Makers Alliance. Her goal is to create a forum for theater lovers that is grounded in empathy and humanity.

Episodes

Ep. 101: Celebrating Juneteenth and the Fire of Freedom

June 14, 2021 • 30 mins
About the Guests Mike Wiley - Acclaimed actor and playwright Mike Wiley has spent the last decade fulfilling his mission to bring educational theatre to young audiences and communities across the country. Through his performances, Wiley has introduced countless students and communities to the legacies of Emmett Till, Henry “Box” Brown, and more. His recent works include a one-man play based on Tim Tyson’s memoir ‘Blood Done Sign My...
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Ep. 100: Celebrating 100 Episodes of Beltline to Broadway

June 7, 2021 • 25 mins
Be sure to vote for Beltline to Broadway in Indy Week's Best of the Triangle Reader's Poll (Best Facebook Page). https://indyweek.com/indy-weeks-best-of-the-triangle/best-of-the-triangle-2021/ (Click this link to vote for all your favorite businesses and organizations.) Episodes Mentioned in this Podcast https://beltlinetobroadway.org/podcast/ep-1-burning-coals-artistic-director-jerome-davis-on-ashe-in-johannesburg-and-thea...
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Ep. 99: Andre Jordan Talks Diana, Equity, Diversity, and So Much More

June 1, 2021 • 34 mins
About the Guest Andre Jordan is making his Broadway debut in DIANA. National Tours: SHREK THE MUSICAL (Donkey), LEGALLY BLONDE (Carlos), JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (Zebulon). Regional: WORKING, MAMMA MIA, and AIDA. Web Series: THE QUEENS PROJECT (YouTube). Twitter: @cinnabonzjordan. Instagram: @manchair5. Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode https://dctheatrescene.com/2020/07/23/when-will-dc-audi...
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Ep. 98: (Re)Opening Doors at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts

May 23, 2021 • 22 mins
It was just a few weeks ago that I had the chance to walk into the Duke Energy Center for the first time in 14 months. I wasn’t there for a show, but I was there to chat with its Director Kerry Painter and take a tour. Just this month, the complex opened its doors to patrons with in-person symphony and pine cone music performances starting up again for the first time in just over a year. And while patrons returning to the venue wil...
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Ep. 97: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Godspell with the Original off-Broadway Cast

May 17, 2021 • 22 mins
In honor of GODSPELL's 50th anniversary, Lauren Van Hemert interviews original cast members from the musical's first production at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Hear stories from all those who are alive today: Peggy Gordon, Joanne Jonas, Robin Lamont, Sonia Manzano, Gilmer McCormick, and Stephen Nathan. Also joining them will be the original music director Stephen Reinhardt. Links: https://caroldegiere.com/the-godspell-experienc...
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Ep. 96: Sound Up with Tony Award-Winning Sound Designer Rob Kaplowitz

May 10, 2021 • 25 mins
About the Guest Robert Kaplowitz has spent the last twenty-five years designing sound and composing music for theater, and has been honored with an Obie for Sustained Excellence in Sound Design and a Tony for Fela! His musical Minors premiered at the Lantern Theater in Philadelphia; he also creates installation art, runs Nine Hostage Arts in Philly, teaches at Princeton, is an ambassador for the Prague Quadrennial, and loves his fa...
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Ep. 95: Where Can I Go? Candid Conversations with Survivors of the Holocaust

April 25, 2021 • 25 mins
For many of us, it is difficult to comprehend the overwhelming enormity of the Holocaust and the 6-million Jews who were murdered by the Nazi regime during WWII. The historical trauma that impacted generations of displaced people and their families following the Holocaust, is the subject of the film WHERE CAN I GO? executive produced by Raleigh-Cary Jewish Family Services in partnership with The Justice Theater Project. The film is...
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Ep. 94: Save Our Stages, Where Do We Go From Here?

April 20, 2021 • 40 mins
Back in December, Congress passed a $2.3 trillion spending bill that included more than $900 billion in pandemic relief. This was known as Save Our Stages and those monies were to be distributed by the Small Business Association. But no sooner did the SBA portal open on April 8, it shut down, leaving venues frustrated and confused, to say the least. The situation seems ever-changing and fluid and to help us make sense of where we g...
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Ep. 93: Racism and AAPI Representation in Theatre

April 4, 2021 • 35 mins
About the Guest Thao Nguyen is an Actor/Singer who is comfortable on both the operatic and musical theatre stage. Nguyen is acclaimed by critics for his "velvety baritone and his ease and grace on stage." Most recently: Off-Broadway, The English world premiere of Tropical Angels with Musical Theatre Factory and the Taipei Cultural Center in Taiwan. As a champion of new music in the classical world, Nguyen was delighted to b...
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Ep. 92: A Candid Conversation with Ashlee Latimer (aka Mx. Thief)

March 23, 2021 • 19 mins
About the Guest Ashlee Latimer is a producer and writer based in New York City. Co-producing projects include: The Inheritance (Broadway), Once On This Island (Tony Award), The Jungle (West End), and Be More Chill (Broadway, Off-Broadway). In addition to her work with Hunter Arnold's production company, TBD, Ashlee has assisted artists such as Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton) and Tim Federle (High School Musical: The Musical: The...
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Ep. 91: Mike Anthony Talks Life at Hamilton

March 15, 2021 • 37 mins
When Mike Anthony moved to New York City to become an actor, he’d imagined being under the bright lights of Broadway, living a life full of fame and fortune. Instead, he took a job not on stage for a Broadway show, but behind its bar, and found a life full of meaning. Hear what Anthony has to say about his experiences at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York and just how transformative theater can be. To purchase a copy of Anthon...
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Ep. 90: Carlita Victoria on Darkness Rising, Mental Health, and More

March 8, 2021 • 35 mins
Carlita Victoria was last seen on stage in the North Carolina Theatre production of Kinky Boots just over a year ago. She is a singer and dancer who has performed all over the world. But behind her captivating smile and infectious laugh, she has struggled like so many with us with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. And that is why she founded Darkness Rising, which helps Black performers begin conversations with family, coworkers, and ...
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Ep. 89: Robert Hartwell Talks Homecomings, History, and Resilience

March 1, 2021 • 23 mins
Earlier this year it was announced that in addition to his busy schedule running a successful business, as well as renovating a historic home, that North Carolina native Robert Hartwell would also be taking on a key role with North Carolina Theatre. Hear what he has to say about coming home, reframing history, and finding his calling. About the Guest Robert Hartwell is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Broadway Collective wh...
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Ep. 88: Addiction, Recovery, and the Power of Storytelling

February 15, 2021 • 32 mins
About the Guest Brian Westbrook was born and raised in Henderson, NC. He studied piano, voice, theatre, and dance at Appalachian State University. From 2000 – 2009 Brian worked and performed with Shadowbox Live in Ohio. Since returning to North Carolina he has directed and performed with many theaters in the area including Henderson Rec Players, Raleigh Little Theatre, North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre, and Theatre in the Par...
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Ep. 87: Coloring, Musicals and Mindfulness with Coloring Broadway's Andrea Koehler

February 8, 2021 • 30 mins
Want to color? Join us for our next virtual community coloring night, which is February 10th. The event is free but registration is required. For more information visit our https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-hamiltines-coloring-night-tickets-139009534259 (event page). About the Guest Andrea Koehler is known by many names – That Coloring Lady, the Asker of Hard Questions, the Singer of Show Tunes – but, by far, her favorite is t...
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Ep. 86: Fight Choreography Explained by Jeff A.R. Jones, Heather Strickland, and Tara Nicole Williams

January 27, 2021 • 27 mins
About the Guests Jeff. A. R. Jones has served as Resident Designer for Carolina Ballet for 17 years where he designed sets and/or costumes for many of the company's original works beginning with the company’s first new work, Dancers in a Gypsy Style, and continuing with such shows as Messiah, The Kreutzer Sonata, Carmen, Cabaret and Des Images. He created the scenery for Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Firebird, Tempest...
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Ep. 85: Arts North Carolina's Nate McGaha Explains the Save Our Stages Act

January 18, 2021 • 38 mins
On December 27th, President Trump signed H.R. 133 (Save Our Stages) into law, which provides billions of dollars of relief to arts venues, organizations, museums, and cinemas. There is significant relief for the arts contained in the bill including an extension of Federal Pandemic Unemployment programs (with an additional $300 to all weekly benefits), $284 billion for forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans (allowing man...
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Ep. 84: One-on-One with Ed Asner

January 7, 2021 • 21 mins
About the Guest Ed Asner has been an enduring presence in television, film and stage for 60 years. Developing his craft in Chicago and New York, Ed established himself as a solid and versatile performer, regularly featured in roles on the big screen and in such landmark television series as “The Outer Limits”, “Gunsmoke”, “The Wild Wild West”, “Ironside”, and “Mission Impossible”, totaling more than 100 television credits. In the ’...
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Ep. 83: On Board the USS Christmas with Riley Hough

December 13, 2020 • 25 mins
About the Guest Riley Hough is an actor from Raleigh, North Carolina who has been chasing his career professionally since age 10. His recent credits include roles in Vice Principals, The Resident, and Yes God Yes, and completed a BFA Acting track at UNCG. He also spent a summer training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. For more information visit www.rileyhough.com. Connect with Us Facebook – @rduonstage Twitter –...
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Ep. 82: Reopening London’s West End

October 5, 2020 • 35 mins
About the Guest Luca Molinari started London Theatre Review in 2018 with the idea of sharing reviews, news and interviews. For more information visit https://www.londontheatrereviews.co.uk/ (https://www.londontheatrereviews.co.uk/). Resources https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ (The National Theatre) https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/ (Nimax Theatres) Connect with Us Facebook – @rduonstage Twitter – @rduonstage Instagram – @...
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