Develop Your Character

This episode features Joshua and Kira Turchin. Joshua has been called a musical-theater wunderkind; at only 13, he is a singer, actor, dancer, writer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and podcast host. Kira, as his mom, has supported all his endeavors, from his early performing experience in Camp Broadway to professional auditions, encouraging him to “just have fun” and not let rejection get him down. Having become a performer after honing his precocious musical skills—before he could reach the piano keys, he would embellish his dad’s playing by copying his rhythms—Josh stresses the importance of being a “multi-hyphenate,” and developing as many different skills as possible: “You never know what they’ll want and you never know what you want, so you just do what you want, so you just do what you love,” he says. “I do think a bunch of kids from my generation are taking this to heart.” Kira also notes how Joshua has matured as a result of his experiences: “We used to say that everything you need to know to be successful in life, you’re learning through theater, and I truly believe that.” A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Produced by Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales. Edited by Derek Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features Jenna Gavigan, who has been acting professionally for more than half her life. She made her Broadway debut in Sam Mendes’ acclaimed revival of Gypsy and has appeared on screen and on stages across the country. A Columbia University graduate, she’s also a writer, the author of the middle-grade novel Lulu The Broadway Mouse and Lulu The Broadway Mouse: The Show Must Go On. A fourth-generation New Yorker, she started auditioning in primary school and experienced disappointment (which inspired Lulu’s story) before being cast in a show starring Bernadette Peters and a movie starring Liam Neeson and Laura Linney, which led to more movie and TV work. “I am very good at crying as an actor, and that has served me very well in the television and film world,” she quips. While she acknowledges that stage and screen work pose different challenges, she says, “In the end, it’s all about listening and understanding your place in the scene, and your character’s place in the scene.” A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Produced by Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales. Edited by Derek Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features Justin Greer, a performer, choreographer and educator who has eight Broadway productions to his credit, and is also a full-time arts specialist at New York’s prestigious Dalton School, where he teaches dance and theater to students in kindergarten through third grade. Pegged as a talented singer at an early age, he was soon bitten by the musical theater bug; he would dance around the house listening to cast recordings, while taking part in high school productions gave him a “bold sense of being bigger than oneself.” He began auditioning for local productions in Pittsburgh while still studying at Carnegie Mellon University and soon found himself cast in dance roles. As a teacher, he views dance as a form of self-expression— “I believe that movement is a child’s first language”—and believes that professionals “also need to be able to express themselves and further the narrative using whatever the discipline is.” He also stresses the communal nature of theater, as an intensely A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Produced by Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales. Edited by Derek Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features Casey Nicholaw, the Tony Award-winning director and choreographer who has been called “the King of Musical Comedy,” with credits including Mean Girls, The Prom, The Book of Mormon, The Drowsy Chaperone and Disney’s Aladdin. Casey discusses his journey from a kid who “didn’t really fit in in high school” to an aspiring performer to a visionary known to extract exuberant performances in joyful productions, often showcasing youthful casts. “I just look for talent and energy and enthusiasm and optimism,” he tells us, also stressing the importance of being a well-rounded performer, while being true to your distinctive gifts and personality: “I respond to someone who’s in their skin, who’s confident and knows who they are.” While he always considers how nervousness can affect auditioning performers—and concedes that the industry is getting even more competitive—he also advises them to have fun, while getting as much experience as possible. “Meet as many people as you can,” he says, adding, “You just never know how many people are going to deliver for you later in life.” A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Produced by Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales. Edited by Derek Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Camp Broadway presents Develop Your Character hosted by Elysa Gardner who talks with theatre insiders about ideas to help culture-loving kids and aspiring artists become great performers at every stage of their lives. This episode features Tara Rubin, president of Tara Rubin Casting, who serves as the casting director of Disney’s Aladdin, Dear Evan Hansen, Ain’t Too Proud, Sing Street, The Phantom of the Opera and a very long roster of other Broadway and regional productions, films, television shows and concert events. Originally from St. Louis, MO, her instinct for talent was sparked by a progressive 3rd grade teacher who introduced her to films that showed her what “perform-ability” looks like. As a casting director her role is “to serve the imagination of the creative team and find the right person to tell the story they want to tell.” Having cast hundreds of actors of all ages, she stresses the importance of having fun—especially for child actors. She also encourages parents to remember that the process of having a good audition is success in and of itself—whether the child gets the job or not. And, not every child who is good at singing and dancing should pursue it professionally. Keep it fun. Develop Your Character is produced by Camp Broadway for the Broadway Podcast Network. For more information, visit campbroadway.com or post a comment about this episode on our Facebook page. A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Produced by Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales. Edited by Derek Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Camp Broadway presents Develop Your Character hosted by Elysa Gardner who talks with theatre insiders about ideas to help culture-loving kids and aspiring artists become great performers at every stage of their lives. This episode features Melissa Errico, award-winning actress, recording artist and essayist for the New York Times. Melissa grew up in a home that valued education and encouraged making learning fun. By high school she was interested in “the adventure of the arts” and started auditioning. She started working professionally by age 18 and has since balanced her career on stage, television and film with her role as wife and mother of three talented children. She discusses the difference between achievement and accomplishment, as well as encourages young artists to focus more on mastering skills, pursuing self-initiated work and living life to the fullest. “Our actual life is as important as the art—everything is co-mingled.” Develop Your Character is produced by Camp Broadway for the Broadway Podcast Network. For more information, visit campbroadway.com or post a comment about this episode on our Facebook page. A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Produced by Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales. Edited by Derek Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Camp Broadway presents Develop Your Character hosted by Elysa Gardner who talks with theatre insiders about ideas to help culture-loving kids and aspiring artists become great performers at every stage of their lives. This episode features Dara Paige Bloomfield, actress, educator, and producer of Growing Up Broadway, a series of cabaret concerts featuring Broadway’s former and current child performers. Dara set her sights on Broadway at age 5 after seeing Cats and by age 9 she was cast in the original production of Ragtime, where she learned the value of teamwork. While she continued to work professionally during her tween and teen years, she embraced the importance of having a “normal” life. Inspired by actress/writer Lily Tomlin who told her to “make your own work,” Dara leveraged her early experience and her natural organization skills into a producing career that now enables her to work both on stage and behind the scenes. Her advice to aspiring young performers and their parents—“Don’t let auditioning and performing take over your life. Being an actor alone isn’t the thing that will make you an interesting person.” Develop Your Character is produced by Camp Broadway for the Broadway Podcast Network. For more information, visit campbroadway.com or post a comment about this episode on our Facebook page. A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Produced by Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales. Edited by Derek Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Camp Broadway presents Develop Your Character hosted by Elysa Gardner who talks with theatre insiders about ideas to help culture-loving kids and aspiring artists become great performers at every stage of their lives. This episode features Lisa Mitchell, Director of Education for Disney Theatrical Group, where she oversees Disney Musicals in Schools, a national program committed to developing sustainable theatre programs in schools that don’t have one. The program is currently in 400 schools across 26 cities and positively impacts over 43,000 students annually. Lisa discovered theatre as a student whose academics were significantly improved through engaging in school productions. Today she is one of Broadway’s thought leaders advancing the field of educational theatre. Lisa discusses the important role that teaching artists play in classrooms and offers practical advice for educators who want to provide theatre arts instruction to their students. She believes that the most important resource is “human creativity” and encourages kids who are interested in the arts to “try everything.” By engaging in the theatre in school or after school, kids will see that there are so many aspects to the field and many personal benefits they will receive whether or not they aspire to a career in the sector. Camp Broadway’s Develop Your Character podcast is available on the Broadway Podcast Network and iTunes. For more information on Camp Broadway’s many youth-focused programs, visit campbroadway.com or post a comment about this episode on our Facebook page. A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Produced by Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales. Edited by Derek Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Camp Broadway presents Develop Your Character hosted by Elysa Gardner who talks with theatre insiders about ideas to help culture-loving kids and aspiring artists become great performers at every stage of their lives. This episode features Ruthie Fierberg, Senior Features Editor for Playbill where she creates informative behind-the-scenes stories, artist interviews, and multimedia features, and hosts Playbill's “Live from the Red Carpet” specials on Broadway's opening nights. She's also led Talks at the New York's 92nd Street Y, BroadwayCon, and more.  Ruthie’s passion for the theatre began at age 2 when she started her journey of creative discovery through the theatre arts. She found her career path at Barnard College when she became a writer and the theatre editor of the Columbia University newspaper. Since then she has become a prolific contributor to many national publications and a role model for many young professionals. She shares her advice about the importance of authenticity, preparedness and being informed about all aspects of the field one wants to pursue. Camp Broadway’s Develop Your Character podcast is available on the Broadway Podcast Network and iTunes. For more information on Camp Broadway’s many youth-focused programs, visit campbroadway.com or post a comment about this episode on our Facebook page. A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Produced by Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales. Edited by Derek Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Camp Broadway presents Develop Your Character featuring Elysa Gardner, hosting candid conversations with theater educators, industry insiders and savvy parents, who discuss ideas to help culture-loving kids and aspiring artists become great performers at every stage of their lives. This episode features Tasha Partee, playwright, performer and recipient of the 2019 Inspiring Teacher Award presented by The Broadway League Foundation at the National High School Musical Theater Awards, popularly known as the Jimmy® Awards. She currently serves as Upper School theater director at Lawrence Woodmere Academy on New York’s Long Island. Her student, Andrew Barth Feldman, won the 2018 Jimmy® Award for Best Performance by an Actor, and has been starring in the Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen in the title role for the past year. Tasha shares her childhood quest to become a teacher and her discovery that theatre could be the path to pursuing her passion in education. As a theatre arts leader, she emphasizes how engagement in theatre is a crucial element of a well-rounded education and a unique way for students to learn 21st century skills—collaboration, effective communication and the ability to listen to others. She also shares her optimism for millennial age artists whose creativity and activism are helping to dismantle the perceptions society has about today’s young people. Camp Broadway’s Develop Your Character podcast is available on the Broadway Podcast Network and iTunes. For more information on Camp Broadway’s many youth-focused programs, visit campbroadway.com or post a comment about this episode on our Facebook page. A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Produced by Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales. Edited by Derek Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices