Celebrating extreme excellence in theater, film and tv, this podcast takes listeners all over the world on a journey behind the scenes featuring never-before-heard stories from Academy Award winners, Tony Award winners, Golden Globe Award winners, and so much more. Co-Hosts Eila Mell, bestselling author (The Tony Awards: A Celebration of Excellence in Theatre) and renowned podcast host, and Bruce Gotleib, who has never met an Awards show he doesn’t like, take guests through their experience of being nominated and subsequently winning their award(s), highlighting interesting and intimate details about their awards experience that will leave everyone happy to be a part of the experience. Visit http://bpn.fm/behindtheawards to learn more.
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August 12, 202633 min
#180 - Tom Fontana Presents!
Writer/Show Runner Tom Fontana joins Behind the Awards to give us the breaking news on his latest venture: Tom Fontana Presents! Some guests include Edie Falco, Mariska Hargitay and Julianna Margulies. Tom also takes a trip down memory lane to discuss his hit shows St Elsewhere, OZ and Homicide: Life on the Street and working with the likes of Denzel Washington, Howie Mendel, Robin Williams and Rita Moreno.
Access his show here: https://tomfontana.substack.com/
Also in this episode - Whitney Houston Barbie release and others who have been iconically made into Barbies; Tina Turner, Wonder Woman, Susan Lucci, Deidre Hall.
Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y.
Connect with Eila and Bruce:
Instagram @behind_the_awards
Eila @eilamell
Bruce @cominghomewithbruce
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 5, 202644 min
#179 - Bradley Jaden - Stars in Les Miserables
Bradley Jaden joins Behind the Awards to chat about his 20 year run with Les Miserables and ending this tour at the iconic Radio City Music Hall. Bradley shares his early start and friendship with Sir Cameron Mackintosh and what it’s like to be in the center of a Mackintosh surprise guest appearances which took the internet by storm. Bradley also shares the lengths he went to be in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends with Bernadette Peters & Lea Salonga. You can catch Bradley through August 9th as Javert in NYC, next up is Japan as Billy Flynn in Chicago.
Also in this episode - Ariana Grande departs London's 2027 Sunday in the Park with George Revival
Bradley Jaden is making his New York stage debut at Radio City starring as Javert in the world Arena tour of Les Miserables to critical acclaim (now through Aug 9).
Jaden has starred around the globe as Javert on this world tour as well as in the West End in starring roles in Les Miz, Sondheim’s Old Friends, Wicked, Shrek and Camelot. He was the youngest actor to ever be cast as Javert at the age of 29
Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y.
Connect with Eila and Bruce:
Instagram @behind_the_awards
Eila @eilamell
Bruce @cominghomewithbruce
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 29, 202648 min
#178 - Talia Suskauer - Defys Gravity and Takes a Walk on the Moon
Actress Talia Suskauer joins Behind the Awards to discuss her new show A Walk on the Moon based on the hit film starring Diane Lane. Talia is also known for playing Elphaba and gives us the low down on all things Wicked including a no fly show and how quickly she becomes green. Talia also talks about starring in the National Tour of Parade and what it’s like to see the country on the road.
Also in this episode - Hadestown Pro-shot now playing in Theaters. Sam Pauly, Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney take their final bows in The Great Gatsby.
Talia Suskauer has played Elphaba full-time in both the Broadway and National Touring companies of Wicked. Most recently, Talia returned from touring the country as Lucille in the Tony Award-winning revival of Parade. Other New York credits: Be More Chill (Broadway), Be More Chill (Signature Theater). Regional: Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (Ogunquit), Dot in Sunday in the Park with George (Axelrod PAC), Louise in Gypsy (Goodspeed Opera House), Little Women (Jo), The Secret Garden (Lily). Film/TV: FBI: “Most Wanted,” “31 Candles”. Talia has performed solo shows around the country and has performed at Carnegie Hall. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Penn State University. For Nona. @taliasuskauer
Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y.
Connect with Eila and Bruce:
Instagram @behind_the_awards
Eila @eilamell
Bruce @cominghomewithbruce
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 22, 202655 min
#177 - Breton Tyner-Bryan - Favorite Dance Movies
Director/Choreographer Breton Tyner-Bryan stops by Behind the Awards to discuss her film “Rhythm or Smooth”. From Ballroom to Ballet this film touches not only these styles but the NYC Dance vibe. We also cover our must see Dance Movies such as Center Stage, All That Jazz, West Side Story, Dirty Dancing and more so grab your popcorn!
Also in this episode - Eila & Bruce visit Are You Now or Have You Ever Been at NY City Center starring, Michael McKean, Brooks Ashmanskas, Norbert Leo Butz, T.R. Knight, Harry Lennix, Bob Odenkirk, and Molly Ringwald
Breton Tyner-Bryan is a New York City based multi award winning director, writer, actor, choreographer, editor, and former professional ballet dancer with Canadian roots. Known for her lifelong fascination with time travel, humor, historical interiors, and classic automobiles, she writes and directs character driven stories across the dark comedy, metaphysical science fiction, and musical genres.
Her films have received more than 150 international awards, including honors for Best Director, Best Editor, Best Narrative Short, and Best Dance Film. OC Movies, TV & Streaming compared her work to Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan and HBO's Room 104, calling it "an impressionistic fantasy with eye catching visuals, a fresh take on storytelling." Film Threat described her films as "a stylish and crafted presentation" that "succeeds in telling an engaging and intriguing story," while Unseen Films praised her work as "a delight for the eye and ear, a visual feast." A classically trained ballet dancer and award winning filmmaker, Tyner-Bryan grew up in the theater in Hartford, Connecticut and serves as a creative director for Grammy Award winning musicians. As an actor, her credits include The Penguin (HBO), Manifest (Netflix), Gossip Girl (HBO Max), Billions (Showtime), Divorce (HBO), The Knick (Cinemax), Great Kills (Tubi), and numerous independent films.
She has taught filmmaking, choreography, and dance at New York University, Fordham University, Smith College, Berklee NYC, Broadway Dance Center, Joffrey Ballet School, The Place (London), Dance Base Scotland, San Francisco State University, LINES Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. She served as the 2024–2025 Teaching Artist in Residence and Arts Entrepreneurship Fellow at the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development in residence at the NYU Production Lab. She holds an M.A. in Filmmaking from New York University, a B.F.A. in Ballet Performance from the University of Utah, and trained at the School of the Hartford Ballet.
Current directing projects include RHYTHM OR SMOOTH, THERE AND NOW, THE SCAFFOLDER'S WIFE, TAKE YOUR TEETH OUT, I DREAM OF HAZEL, and additional feature films and television projects in development. She is also attached as the book writer of a forthcoming musical adaptation of a feature film and an original television series.
Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y.
Connect with Eila and Bruce:
Instagram @behind_the_awards
Eila @eilamell
Bruce @cominghomewithbruce
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 15, 202648 min
#176 - Maryann Plunkett - For Love of The Stage
Tony Award Winning Actress Maryann Plunkett stops by Behind the Awards to discuss her new play The Loved Ones now playing through August 2nd at The Irish Repertory Theater. Maryann also takes us back down memory lane and shares some tales of her time with Sunday in the Park with George, Me & My Girl, and The Notebook. Maryann also gives us a sneak peek into the upcoming Richard Nelson play We’ll See at The Public along side her husband Jay O. Sanders.
The Loved Ones Tickets - https://irishrep.org/
Also in this episode - Emmy chatter, plus a huge congrats to our former guest Carlos Manuel Vesga on his Emmy nomination for Best Support Actor for Pluribus.
Maryann Plunkett currently starring as Nell in The Loved Ones at the Irish Repertory Theater originated and was nominated for a Tony Award for the role of Older Allie in The Notebook. Additional Broadway includes Agnes of God, Sunday in the Park....
Me and My Girl (Tony Award), The Crucible, St. Joan, A Man for All Seasons and The Seagull. Off-Broadway: Deep Blue Sound (Obie) at Clubbed Thumb, Dublin Trilogy (Irish Rep), The Lucky Ones, Aristocrats, Richard Nelson's 12-play Rhinebeck Panorama. Films: Showing Up, Little Women, MAD, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Family Fang. Much TV. Founding member Portland Stage. Coach and mentor.
Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y.
Connect with Eila and Bruce:
Instagram @behind_the_awards
Eila @eilamell
Bruce @cominghomewithbruce
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 1, 202634 min
#175 - Drew & Lea Lachey - Label.less Back By Popular Demand
Label.less Creators Drew & Lea Lachey come back to Behind the Awards to update us on their hit show Label.less now running at The Duke on 42nd Street. This show which is currently in its 8th year continues to evolve and touch audiences with their profound stories, music and choreography. Drew shares how his experience in Rent on Broadway as well as their past in the POP world with 98 Degrees influenced their approach to this show.
Get Ticket Here - https://www.labellessmusical.com/tickets
Drew Lachey - Drew Lachey's an accomplished singer, dancer and actor. Drew first rose to prominence as a member of the Motown pop group 98 Degrees. The group recorded four successful albums and sold more than nine million records worldwide. Drew made his Broadway debut playing the role of Mark Cohen in Rent. His latest Broadway credits include the role of Patsy in Monty Python’s Spamalot and Corny Collins in Hairspray with the PCLO. Drew became a household name when he took home the infamous mirror ball trophy on Dancing with the Stars (season-two champion, season-five co-host) and later took his dancing talents on the road with 3 North American tours of Dancing with the Stars and was asked to come back and be apart of the All-Star season. Drew also hosted the primetime ABC show Dance War with Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli, The Miss USA Pageant, HGTV's $250,000 Challenge and America Sings for GMC. After a decade break 98 Degrees is back together and recently toured with NKOTB and Boyz II Men on the "Package Tour", "My2K Tour" and the "98 Degrees at Christmas" tours in the fall of 2017 and 2018. Drew also starred in UPTV's "Guess Who's Coming to Christmas" and A&E's "Lachey's Bar". Drew also consults with the Cincinnati Film Commission on films being produced around Cincinnati.
Lea Lachey was born and raised in Cincinnati, OH and began working professionally at 11 on the "King and I" National Tour. After being awarded a full dance scholarship to Marymount Manhattan College in NYC she went on to work with the world renowned Radio City Music Hall Rockettes as a dancer and assistant choreographer. Whether it is doing “Singing in the Rain” with the Santa Barbara CLO, the Disney NYC World Premiere of Hercules or the Missy Elliott video for “I Can’t Stand the Rain” Lea has always taken pride in being a versatile dancer and expects the same from her students. Lea's choreography credits include 98 Degrees (Today Show, Good Morning America, Mtv, VH1, Miss Teen USA, NFL ProBowl and NBA All-star game). Her live stage credits include the Nickelodeon ‘All That” Tour, 98 Degrees “Heat It Up” Tour, 98 Degrees “Revelation” World Tour and Creative Director for Jessica Simpson’s “Reality” Tour. Lea is currently Co-Director of the School for Creative and Performing Arts Musical Theater program and co artistic director of Lachey Productions which is bridging the gap between student and professional performer. Her work was showcased in the Exhale Dance Tribe shows "Love Letters" and "Rapture" at the Aronoff which included Lachey Arts performers. Lea's choreography was on display this past summer on the US national My2K tour as well as in 2013 with 98 Degrees as part of the NKOTB, 98 Degrees, Boyz II Men "Package Tour". Over the last several years, Lea has had the honor of working as choreographer and dance consultant on multiple films. "Carol" staring Academy Award winning actress Cate Blanchett and Kyle Chandler, "Miles Ahead" starring Golden Globe winning actor Don Cheadle and Emayatzy Corinealdi and A Christmas Melody directed by and starring Grammy winner Mariah Carey and Lacey Chabert. You can also catch her as a guest DJ on Q102.
Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y.
Connect with Eila and Bruce:
Instagram @behind_the_awards
Eila @eilamell
Bruce @cominghomewithbruce
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 24, 202644 min
#174 - Michael Chernus - Takes a Stab at True Crime
Actor Michael Chernus joins Behind the Awards to deep dive embodying the personal of Serial Killer John Wayne Gacy in Peacock’s Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. Fans of Michael’s work also will recognize him from the hit Apple TV show Severance as well as Orange is the New Black. Michael touches on how is Theater roots helped him take on one True Crime’s most famous subjects.
MICHAEL CHERNUS is an acclaimed stage and screen actor known for his versatility across film, television, and theater. Born and raised in Rocky River, Ohio, he studied at The Juilliard School’s Drama Division and has built a distinguished career originating roles in world premieres by some of contemporary theater’s most celebrated playwrights, including Adam Rapp, Annie Baker, Brooke Berman, John Belluso, Noah Haidle, Molly Smith Metzler, Jessica Goldberg, Julia Jordan, Bess Wohl, and Lisa Kron. In 2011, he won an Obie Award and received a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for his performance in In the Wake at The Public Theater. Most recently, he appeared in Well, I’ll Let You Go at The Space at Irondale in Brooklyn.
Chernus currently stars as John Wayne Gacy in Peacock’s critically acclaimed limited series Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, a dramatic retelling of one of America’s most infamous criminal investigations that centers on the victims, their families, and the pursuit of justice. The series marks his first leading television role and has garnered widespread praise for his transformative performance.
On television, Chernus is perhaps best known for his role as Ricken Hale in Apple TV+’s Emmy Award-winning phenomenon Severance. Additional television credits include Amazon Prime Video’s Dead Ringers opposite Rachel Weisz, Patriot, Easy, Tommy, Manhattan, Ramy, Perpetual Grace, LTD, Orange Is the New Black, and The Big C.
His film credits include Out of My Mind, Werewolves Within, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Captain Phillips, The Bourne Legacy, Men in Black 3, Mistress America, The Kindergarten Teacher, and numerous acclaimed independent features.
Beyond acting, Chernus has contributed to storytelling through appearances on This American Life and Radiolab. He also serves on the Advisory Board of SPACE on Ryder Farm, an artist residency and working organic farm in Brewster, New York, founded by his wife, Emily Simoness.
Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y.
Connect with Eila and Bruce:
Instagram @behind_the_awards
Eila @eilamell
Bruce @cominghomewithbruce
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 17, 202619 min
#173 - Jackson Parker Gill - An 11 Year Old Broadway Star!
Immediately after taking over the role of The Little Boy in Ragtime, Jackson Parker Gill stops by Behind the Awards to discuss life as a working kid actor. Jackson shares what it’s like to be an understudy on Broadway, the audition process, his dream roles and what it was like to play Gavroche in the National Tour of Les Miserables.
Also in this episode - Sherie Rene Scott Returns to Broadway in The Rocky Horror Show as Magenta.
SO excited for his Broadway Debut! National Tour: Les Miserables (Gavroche). Regional: A Christmas Story (Randy), Beauty and the Beast (Chip), Seussical (Jojo), Bye Bye Birdie (Randolph). TV: “Impractical Jokers.” Love and thanks to his family, Mom, Dad, CESD, Broadway Dance Theatre, and all the BDT Teachers! Give a follow @jacksonparkergill
Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y.
Connect with Eila and Bruce:
Instagram @behind_the_awards
Eila @eilamell
Bruce @cominghomewithbruce
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 10, 202651 min
#172 - Carlos Manuel Vesga - Pluribus
Actor/Writer Carlos Manuel Vesga joins us on the heels of Season 1 of Apple TV’s hit series Pluribus. Carlos details working with Vince Gilligan and Rhea Seehorn as well as creating the character of Manousos.
Also in this episode - Eila & Bruce chat about the 2026 Tony Awards hits and misses.
Carlos-Manuel Vesga, is a Colombian theater, film, and television actor. He is recognized for his role in the 2010 Colombian telenovela Amor sincero, playing Samuel Medina, as well as in the 2013 series La prepago, where he played the role of Alejandro Sanjuán. Since 2025, he stars in the Apple TV series Pluribus as Manousos Oviedo.
Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y.
Connect with Eila and Bruce:
Instagram @behind_the_awards
Eila @eilamell
Bruce @cominghomewithbruce
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 5, 202643 min
#171 - 2026 Tony Special #5
Eila & Bruce bring you the fifth and final installment of their 2026 Tony deep dive. They are joined by expert Matt Stashin and share who will win and who they want to win in the following categories: Lead Actor of a Musical, Lead Actress of a Musical, Scenic Design of a Musical, Best Musical, and Best Play.
Also in this episode - Eila, Bruce & Matt give their Top 10 Performances of the 2026 Season!
Sara Chase, Stephanie Hsu, Caissie Levy, Marla Mindelle, Christiani Pitts, Nicholas Christopher, Luke Evans, Joshua Henry, Sam Tutty, Brandon Uranowitz, dots, Soutra Gilmour, Rachel Hauck, Dane Laffrey, Scott Pask, Schmigadoon!, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, Ragtime, Titaníque, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Chess, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, The Lost Boys, The Balusters, Giant, Liberation, Little Bear Ridge Road
Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y.
Connect with Eila and Bruce:
Instagram @behind_the_awards
Eila @eilamell
Bruce @cominghomewithbruce
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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