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Join us for an hour of sparkling fascination and contagious joy as LaRaisha DiEvelyn Dionne, the 2023 Mama’s Next Big Act winner, takes us on an electrifying journey through their vibrant life. Daughter of O’Bryan, one of Soul Train’s pioneer artists, and raised in a creative family, she’s a nomadic visionary with a knack for chameleon-like transformations. Having earned their Master of Fine Arts from Wayne State University, LaRaisha is a multi-hyphenate artist, spanning Theatre, TV/Film, Voiceover, Music, and Dance. From soulful performances as Billie Holiday to rocking roles in RENT and American Idiot, she’s a storytelling powerhouse. Dubbed LaRadiant for her Chekhov-inspired radiance, LaRaisha believes in the healing power of storytelling. “Journey To The Center” is her creation, directed by David T. Loudermilk with music direction by Yasuhiko Fukuoka. The evening weaves together: life, hope, possible tears, and lots of belting into a unique tapestry of connections with the audience. Be renewed, grounded, and joyful as LaRaisha and some of her friends take you on a soul-stirring adventure. And don’t forget to check out her sophomore album, “Safe in Here,” available on all streaming platforms for a dose of musical magic!

In this episode, we say goodbye to 2023 and I'm bringing along five amazing artists to help me do just that! Saloon Singer Christopher Collette is a fresh face on the New York cabaret and nightclub scene. His most recent show, “Come Fly with Me: Songs of Travel, Trips, Tours & Treks” was an acclaimed success at The Laurie Beechman Theater in November. A classical pianist by training, he stepped out from behind the keyboard and took center stage in 2018 with his debut performance “This Could be the Start of Something Big: A Saloon Singer is Born” at the Beechman. Subsequent shows took the old-school crooner to Palm Springs, California where he staged multiple productions that celebrated the enduring tunes from the extensive catalogue of the Great American Songbook and America musical theater. Previously, Collette headlined at the Beechman with his revue of Stephen Sondheim’s works, “Old Friends: Merrily Rolling Along in the Meanwhile.” Additionally, this past summer he mounted a workshop reading of Kander & Ebb’s songbook, “One Good Break” and has been a guest at Jim Caruso’s “Cast Party” at Birdland. He studies voice with Neal Harrelson-Keyes and has participated in master classes with Marilyn Maye, Faith Prince, and Alex Rybeck Prince Fleet was born in Akron Ohio where he started his show business career at the age of 5 singing with a local orchestra. Fleet went on to appear in many musicals at the Goodyear Musical Theater. Prince Fleet was a ballet dancer in New York and studied at American Ballet Theater, Ballet Arts and master classes at Julliard. FRANK FERRANTE (Actor/Writer) Please visit his website: https://www.eveningwithgroucho.com/frank-ferrante Kimberly Hawkey's Please visit her website: https://www.kimberlyhawkey.com/

Happy New Year! Have you set your artistic goals for 2024? Join Dr. Judi Bloom and Richard Skipper as they hep you with Creativity, with a dose of therapy! We will also be joined y three artists who trly do set oals and achieve them! Dr Judi Bloom is a practical, interactive, solution-focused therapist specializing in relationships and in navigating through major life transitions. For 3 decades she has treated patients of every background and helped them work through a wide variety of personal challenges. Sally Darling: Record librarian at KABC, LA. Much stage directing, including The Consul with Frances Breeze (Francesca Palmieri in the original with Patricia Neway) Narration with symphony: The Carnival of the Animals, Façade (solo, no rests!) 2016 Hanson Award, 2017 Bistro Award, nominated for MAC female singer award five years consecutively, 2017 - 2021 Sang ‘They’re Either Too Young or Too Old’ at the Cabaret Convention 2019 Narrated over 250 books for The Talking Book program for the Library of Congress and for Recorded Books. Currently: “Tales and Cocktails with Sally Darling”, Wednesdays at 6. Extraordinary experience: I witnessed the Ceremony of the Keys in the Tower of London from the Constable’s flat.  Meg Flather's recent Hammerstein & Sondheim: CAREFULLY TAUGHT was also nominated for a BroadwayWorld Award. Meg has released eight CDs of her original music and has authored two books: Home Shopping Diva. . . Lessons, Lyrics and Lipstick and Hold On Tight . . . a love story. Meg proudly serves as the North American Brand Ambassador for StriVectin Skincare. Meg debuts The Brick Room Tour—her series revisiting five shows she has created and performed in Don't Tell Mama's Brick Room BARBARA MINKUS began her show business career in NYC in Julius Monk’s review, Bits and Pieces.

  Marieete Hartley and Jerry Sroka's screenplay tells the slightly fictionalized details of their later-in-life romance and marriage. Directed and executive produced by Don Scardino, executive produced by Hartley and Sroka, co-executive produced Matthew Bennett, produced by Jeff Hardwick and Tim Mann, associate produced by Dana L. Williams. The film will open in limited theatrical release on December 8, 2023 at Theatrikos Theatre Company in Flagstaff and Sedona Film Festival Theatre in Arizona, The Village East Angelika in New York City, Reading Cinemas Town Square in San Diego, CA, and Galaxy Theatres Monroe in WA. Watch the trailer HERE Humor drives the rom-com’s themes, including on-line dating, technology use, and Hollywood humiliation especially for aging actors, anchored by poignant and serious life issues derived from For more information, please visit: www.ouralmostcompletelytruestory.com Mariette began acting at the age of ten with the legendary Eva Gallienne and John Houseman. Her numerous theatre appearances, Lion in Winter at the Colony, Cabaret, Broadway, Sylvia, MTC, Ancestral Voices, Lincoln Center, Enchanted April, Pasadena Playhouse, Measure for Measure, King John, Public Theatre. She toured with Copenhagen and The Sisters Rosenzweig for which she earned a Helen Hayes Award and the League of American Theatres National Touring Award. She made her screen debut in Sam Peckinpah’s classic western, Ride the Country with Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea. Her best-selling autobiography, Breaking The Silence is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  Jerry Sroka  played mostly witches. Short witches. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, he appeared in the film version of Godspell and in the Broadway and Boston stage productions.  He has appeared at the Woodstock Playhouse among many others

Patti Bottino Bravo: https://www.pattibottinobravo.com/ Born in the Bronx, NY of Puerto Rican descent, actor and singer Adrian Christian first came to public attention on the New York stage and in small roles in TV and film. While singing in nightclubs, an early recording drew an audience but offered limited opportunity, so he set his sights to Los Angeles, and Gospel music. An EP and a national tour followed, culminating with the release of his epic music film short, “A Song For You” in 2023. It garnered Adrian eleven film festival nominations and has won three awards, including Best Actor and Best Music Video by the LGBTQ Unbordered Film Festival. During his tour, his philanthropic efforts brought him back to Puerto Rico to his people, where he gathered a team to build rooftops onto homes after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Ray DeForest: Successful, award winning entertainment industry professional celebrating 37 years as a SAG-AFTRA member. Actor, singer, producer, writer, Drag Queen, Ray tirelessly advocates for the LGBTQ community through his work with SAG-AFTRA at conventions, and on committees with the union, namely the National and New York Local LGBTQ committee and the President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Safety Sexual Harassment Workgroup.  He has been a TV host for cable and nationally syndicated shows and currently has a streaming series, Doris Dear’s Gurl Talk, on Broadway on Demand. Ray also serves on boards of nonprofit theaters and raises monies for LGBTQ centered charities. Ray’s motto “A dress doesn’t get you anywhere, It’s the LIFE you live in the dress that matters.” Camille Diamond: https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Camille-Diamond/ Ann Talman: https://www.anntalman.com

In this episode, we say goodbye to 2023 and I'm bringing along five amazing artists to help me do just that! Saloon Singer Christopher Collette is a fresh face on the New York cabaret and nightclub scene. His most recent show, “Come Fly with Me: Songs of Travel, Trips, Tours & Treks” was an acclaimed success at The Laurie Beechman Theater in November. A classical pianist by training, he stepped out from behind the keyboard and took center stage in 2018 with his debut performance “This Could be the Start of Something Big: A Saloon Singer is Born” at the Beechman. Subsequent shows took the old-school crooner to Palm Springs, California where he staged multiple productions that celebrated the enduring tunes from the extensive catalogue of the Great American Songbook and America musical theater. Previously, Collette headlined at the Beechman with his revue of Stephen Sondheim’s works, “Old Friends: Merrily Rolling Along in the Meanwhile.” Additionally, this past summer he mounted a workshop reading of Kander & Ebb’s songbook, “One Good Break” and has been a guest at Jim Caruso’s “Cast Party” at Birdland. He studies voice with Neal Harrelson-Keyes and has participated in master classes with Marilyn Maye, Faith Prince, and Alex Rybeck Prince Fleet went on to appear in many musicals at the Goodyear Musical Theater. Prince Fleet was a ballet dancer in New York and studied at American Ballet Theater, Ballet Arts and master classes at Julliard. Fleet studied film and tv acting at the Huntington Acting School and with several acting coaches. Fleet has appeared in many film and television shows. Prince Fleet has toured nationally. On Dec 9th 2016 he received STAR 407 on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.  FRANK FERRANTE (Actor/Writer) iPlease visit his website: https://www.eveningwithgroucho.com/frank-ferrante Kimberly Hhttps://www.kimberlyhawkey.com/

While cancer has silenced Russ Lorenson's voice, San Francisco's Favorite Crooner is on the path to recreating his musical magic, culminating in the eagerly anticipated release of his never-before- heard live album, 'Standard Time: Live in New York,' available now on the airwaves on December 1 (San Francisco, CA) October 30, 2023 - Russ Lorenson, acclaimed as "San Francisco’s Favorite Crooner," is set to enchant audiences worldwide with his latest album, "Standard Time: Live in New York." The record, a captivating live jazz-cabaret experience, is set to be released on December 1, 2023, under the independent label LML Music. A passionate champion of The Great American Songbook, Lorenson has been captivating audiences across the United States and Europe with his burnished tenor and warm charisma. He has previously released three critically-acclaimed albums, including two Christmas albums that garner heavy radio rotation nearly two decades after their release. His second holiday album, In The Holiday Spirit, was given 4 stars by Downbeat, and included in their “Best Albums of 2015.” In 2021, Lorenson faced a life-altering diagnosis of HPV-positive tonsil cancer. Through early detection, he overcame this significant health challenge and is now in remission. While cancer may have taken away his ability to sing, it hasn't silenced his voice. With profound gratitude and a sense of purpose, Lorenson is now channeling his creative energies into a flurry of activities, including the reintroduction of his back catalog, a children’s book inspired by his fan favorite holiday track, "Jingles, The Christmas Cat," and, notably, his first album in 8 years, "Standard Time: Live in New York." "Standard Time: Live in New York" offers a glimpse into Lorenson's captivating live performances in the iconic Metropolitan Room, New York, recorded in 2008. 

We celebrate a book that book marries art and science with a new and exciting collaboration between one of the world’s leading creativity scholars and an internationally renowned musical theatre composer. This book will help readers tap into their creativity and unleash their own creative potential as they start their careers. Blending cutting-edge research, juicy anecdotes, lived experience, hands-on activities, and gentle advice, authors James C. Kaufman and Dana P. Rowe take readers on a journey to explore and enhance their own creativity. Each chapter addresses a key aspect of creativity, from how to overcome blocks to understanding one’s personal strengths all through the lens of Musical Theatre characters along with insights from those within the industry. Kaufman and Rowe shatter creativity myths (such as the tormented artist or having one big break) that may be harming the reader’s potential growth. Probing questions, fun quizzes, and engaging exercises will help the reader reflect on the material and develop strategies for their next step. All throughout, the readers can learn from the tales of Sweeney Todd, Maria Von Trapp, Alexander Hamilton, Christine Daaé, and countless others to inspire their own creativity. This book is ideal for aspiring theatre professionals, students of performing arts, and theatre and creativity scholars.

For Immediate Release: THE SEASON: STRAIGHT UP WITH A TWIST! A benefit for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 rd - 7:00 SHOW at DON’T TELL MAMA, 343 W 46 th St, NYC $30 Cover Charge - includes 1 raffle ticket (add’l raffle tickets - $10 each, 3/$25) $20 Minimum (must include 2 drinks), Food Menu Available, Cash Only Doors Open at 6:15 Reservations - donttellmamanyc.com Join MAC Award winner GOLDIE DVER and a stellar lineup of performers for a sophisticated soirée, and celebrate the holidays in style! We’ll be decked out in our finest baubles, bangles and beads—so bring your bling to the party as well! Indulge in 90 magical minutes of marvelous music, merriment, and martinis (shaken, not stirred)! Bring your funny bone…and leave the triggers home! In the true holiday spirit of sharing love and bestowing gifts, it was important to Goldie that this show be a benefit for children in need. St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which focuses on children with cancer, has special meaning for Goldie. Remembering the impact of being hit with those three words, “You have cancer” 17 years ago, she can only imagine how hard it is for a parent to hear those same words regarding their child. And when a child is treated at St Jude’s, there is no cost to the families for treatment, housing, or transportation - so families can be together and support each other during this most difficult and challenging time. To that end - Goldie has tapped into the generosity of the cabaret community. Watch to learn more! 

Josefina López (Writer/Director/Producer/Performer/Author/Activist/Shaman) is best known for authoring the play and co-authoring the 2002 SUNDANCE AWARD WINNING film Real Women Have Curves. López started her writing career at 17 and has had over 130 productions produced of her many plays throughout the country. She has been working as a professional screenwriter in Hollywood for over 30 years with countless development deals and screenplay assignments. She has worked with many established producers like Norman Lear (All In the Family) and Michael McDonald (American Crime) to bring Latinos to television. Born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico on March 19, 1969, Josefina López was five-years-old when she and her family migrated to the United States and settled in the East Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights. López was undocumented for 13 years before she received Amnesty in 1987 and eventually became a U.S. Citizen in 1995. She is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago, has an MFA in Screenwriting from UCLA’s School of Film/Television and Theater, as well as a Diplôme de Cuisine from Le Cordon Bleu, Paris, France. López has also attended the New School of Cooking in Culver City, CA where she studied cuisine with a California touch and making pastries, and at the Gourmandise Cooking School in Santa Monica, CA where she studied chocolate making, bread making, pasta making and pastries. Josefina López is the Founding Artistic Director of CASA 0101 Theater. 

Eddie Shapiro grew up singing music from every cast album he could get his hands on. He is the author of Here’s to the Ladies: Conversations with More of the Great Women of Musical Theater, Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater, A Wonderful Guy: Conversations with the Great Men of Musical Theater, Queens in the Kingdom: The Ultimate Gay and Lesbian Guide to the Disney Theme Parks, and hundreds of articles in magazines with much shorter and more sensible titles than his books. He lives in New York City and Los Angeles. “Another delightful gathering of the voices of women of Broadway” — Library Journal In the follow-up to Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater, theatre journalist Eddie Shapiro sits down for intimate, career-encompassing conversations with yet more of Broadway's most prolific and fascinating leading women. Full of detailed stories and reflections, his conversations with such luminaries as Barbara Cook, Kelli O'Hara, Heather Headley, Faith Prince, Stephanie J. Block, Tonya Pinkins, and a host of others dig deep into each actor's career -together, these chapters tell the story of what it means to be a leading lady on Broadway over the past fifty years. This new volume brings more fly-on-the-wall opportunities for fans to savour, students to study, and even the unindoctrinated to understand the life of the performing artist. Key Features:  Includes nineteen unique and career-encompassing conversations with Broadway's leading women  Features a chapter of conversations honoring the late Marin Mazzie  Offers a behind-the-scenes look at the inner lives of musical theater veterans  Ranges from Barbara Cook to Tonya Pinkins, from Faith Prince to Charlotte Amboise

The day before gathering around the turkey, gather around the nearest jukebox to celebrate National Jukebox Day! As Americans flock to their hometowns for Thanksgiving, many will head out to neighborhood bars and restaurants. They will catch up with friends and family and celebrate by playing great songs on their local jukebox. The name jukebox is thought to originate from places called ‘juke houses’ or ‘jook joints.' In the early 1900s, people congregated in these establishments to drink and listen to music. In 1889, Louis Glass and his partner William S. Arnold invented the first coin-operated player in San Francisco. They were both managers of the Pacific Phonograph Co. Formally known as the nickel-in-the-slot machine, the player included a coin operation feature on an Edison phonograph. However, it played a limited selection of songs without any amplification. Glen Kelly is a music arranger and composer. He is best known for his musical theatre arrangements for Broadway shows including Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Book of Mormon and Aladdin. Nicolas King has been performing since age 4. He was seen first on Broadway in 'Beauty & The Beast', then in 'A Thousand Clowns' opposite Tom Selleck, and 'Hollywood Arms' directed by Hal Prince, all before age 12. Tess La Bella https://tesslabella.com/about-tess-labella/ Seth Sikes www.instagram.com/sethsikes Steve March-Torme https://www.stevemarchtorme.com Mystery Guest Richard Holbrook