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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Check latest episodes from Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb podcast
Brandon Contreras - Born to Lead
2026/09/30
Broadway’s Brandon Contreras joins Behind the Awards to dish on his career thus far after recently taking over the role of Charles in Operation Mincemeat. Brandon shares the thrill of staring in both Titanique Off Broadway and Titanic at New York City Center. Brandon also talks about being in Almost Famous and working with Cameron Crowe, Drew Gehling and Anika Larsen. Brandon shares some future dream roles.
Also in this episode - Annie is back on Broadway and Eila & Bruce have casting ideas for Hannigan, Rooster and Lily
Brandon Contreras is New York City born & raised creative. He was last seen causing absolute chaos as “Cal” in the Off-Broadway/International hit, Titanique. Before that, he made his Broadway debut rocking out and originating in Tom Kitt and Cameron Crowe’s, Almost Famous.
Some other theatrical favorites include Titanic and Road Show at the historical and honorable City Center Encores!, In the Heights (1st National Tour), Jerry Springer: The Opera (The New Group), Beauty & the Beast (Drury Lane), Bhangin’ It! (La Jolla Playhouse), You Deserve to be Here (Roundabout Theatre Workshop) and the regional premiere of The Play that Goes Wrong (Pioneer). FILM/TV include: The upcoming feature film, “There She Goes” with Rachel Leigh Cook and Utkarsh Ambudkar, “WeCrashed”, “Mr. Robot” and “Awkwafina is Nora from Queens.”
Outside of performing, Brandon is also a freelance director, writer, filmmaker & choreographer for multiple collaborative art pieces. With over 1.6 Million followers across all social media platforms, he is the co-creator of the award-winning Queer platform, The HomoSapien Experience. @OhHey_Brandon @TheHomoSapienExperience – BrandonContreras.com
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
Jay Jackson AKA Laganja Estranja - From RuPaul’s Drag Race to Jawbreaker the Musical
2026/09/23
Drag Race Alum and Choreographer Jay Jackson aka Laganja Estranja joins Behind the Awards to chat about her latest project, Choreographer of the Jawbreaker the Musical workshop. The cult film has been turned into a musical by the films creator Darren Stein and lead by one of the original “Flawless Ones” Rebecca Gayheart. Laganja also tells us about her upcoming Fall 2027 project; Co-Choreographing Miss Step at Playwrights Horizons. Of course we got some Drag Race tea too!
Get tickets to Jawbreaker the Musical - https://www.hudsontheatre.com/index.html
Jay Jackson (Laganja Estranja) is a world renowned LGBTQIA+ icon most known for her choreography, music and cannabis advocacy. A U.S. Presidential Scholar in The Arts, Jackson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance and choreography from the California Institute of the Arts and launched to stardom after being selected to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race. Since then, Jackson has performed on numerous television shows and for artists such as Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, Jennifer Lopez, LeAnn Rimes, and Christina Aguilera. Other choreography credits include Miley Cyrus, Brooke Candy, “Trixie & Katya Live,” “Miss Step,” and McDonalds.
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
Elizabeth Stanley - Keeping Us on the Edge of Our Seat!
2026/09/16
Tony Nominee Elizabeth Stanley joins Behind the Awards to talk about her brand new thriller Disruption now playing at The Pershing Square Signature Center as well as the hit musical Jagged Little Pill. Elizabeth shares what it was like to work with Alanis Morissette on such iconic music. Disruption is playing through October 4th and you can catch Elizabeth alongside John David Washington, Conrad Ricamora, Joe Tippett and Irene Sofia Lucio.
Get tickets here: https://www.disruptionplay.com/
Also in this episode - Eila & Bruce see Paranormal Activity on Broadway
Elizabeth Stanley is an award-winning actor, singer, and musician, best known perhaps for her work on Broadway, recently starring in the Alanis Morissette musical Jagged Little Pill, earning nominations for the Tony Award, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle, as well as a Grammy Award for the original cast recording.
Elizabeth has captivated New York theater audiences ever since her Broadway debut as “April” in the revival of Sondheim’s Company directed by John Doyle, and has since played an eclectic array of comedic and dramatic, classic and contemporary leading ladies including roles in the Broadway revival of On the Town(Drama Desk nomination), Million Dollar Quartet, Cry-Baby, and James Lapine’s production of Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along (Encores). Last year, The New York Times nodded to her performance as Vera in the City Center’s gala production of Pal Joey as “Best Theater of 2023.”
Other credits include as The Nurse in Hello, Again (Transport Group, Drama League Award), F**king A(Signature Theatre), and starred opposite Vanessa Williams and Santino Fontana in Sondheim’s Anyone Can Whistle in Concert at Carnegie Hall with MasterVoices and recently as Luisa in Maury Yeston’s Nine opposite Steven Pasquale at The Kennedy Center. Elizabeth also starred as Francesca in the First National Tour of Jason Robert Brown’s The Bridges of Madison Country, and as Kira in the First National Tour of Xanadu.
Equally present on screen, Elizabeth appears in Season 3 of Katori Hall’s P-Valley and was a recurring guest star on the FX series Kindred and HBO Max’s Gossip Girl. Other guest appearances include The Equalizer, New Amsterdam, Younger, Blue Bloods, N0S482, FBI, The Get Down, The Affair, Black Box, Made in Jersey, Fringe, and Company (PBS Great Performances).
As a concert soloist, she appeared last season with the San Diego Symphony conducted by Rob Fisher, and in a new symphonic production of Ragtime with The Boston Pops conducted by Keith Lockhart. She has also performed with Colorado Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Ocean City Symphony, New York Pops Underground, and many solo engagements.
Elizabeth is a graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.
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
Broadway Fantasy Draft
2026/09/09
Behind the Awards is joined by Kristin Hopkins, Ashley Hufford and Alan Seales to select our Fantasy Broadway Lineup. From Rising Star to Legacy Performer, from Director to Costume Designer we cover it all! Listen along and make your selections! Did names like Idina Menzel, Bob Fosse, Caissie Levy or Debbie Allen make the lists? Listen to find out!
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
To Have and To Hold is on Fire!
2026/09/02
Playwright and Actress Laura Lapidus alongside casemates Tedra Millan (Leopoldstadt) and Yuriy Sardarov (Chicago Fire) join Behind the Awards to deep dive their new Off Broadway hit To Have and To Hold. Inspired by Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew this play brings Kate & Bianca into modern day.
Get your ticket here: https://www.tohaveplay.com/
Also in this episode - Remembering Dolly Parton and Tim Curry and the legacy they leave behind.
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
Fall Preview with Matt Koplik
2026/08/26
The new Broadway season is here, and the awards race is already taking shape! On this fall preview episode of Behind the Awards, host Matt Koplik of The Broadway Breakdown joins the conversation to break down the most anticipated new shows, major stars, returning favorites, and early contenders to watch as the road to Broadway’s awards season begins. What could be the season’s biggest hits—and which productions might emerge as awards-season favorites?
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
#181 - Matt Copley - Broadway Does Punk
2026/08/19
Matt Copley is a musician, theatrical producer, and TikTok creator behind Broadway Does Punk, a viral music project that transforms iconic Broadway songs into high-energy pop-punk and rock anthems. What began as a series of online videos has grown into an audience of more than 370,000 TikTok followers and over 16 million Spotify streams, with fans consistently asking one question: When can we see this live?
October 2nd & 3rd, Broadway Does Punk will make its live debut with three performances at Abrons Arts Center, featuring an all-star lineup of Broadway talent.
Get Tickets Here - https://www.abronsartscenter.org/programs/broadway-punk
Also in this episode - Cats: The Jellicle Ball closes on Broadway!
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
Tom Fontana Presents!
2026/08/12
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
Bradley Jaden - Stars in Les Miserables
2026/08/05
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
Talia Suskauer - Defys Gravity and Takes a Walk on the Moon
2026/07/29
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
Breton Tyner-Bryan - Favorite Dance Movies
2026/07/22
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
Maryann Plunkett - For Love of The Stage
2026/07/15
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
Drew & Lea Lachey - Label.less Back By Popular Demand
2026/07/01
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
Michael Chernus - Takes a Stab at True Crime
2026/06/24
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
Jackson Parker Gill - An 11 Year Old Broadway Star!
2026/06/17
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
Podcast reviews
Read Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb podcast reviews
4.3 out of 5
7 reviews
★★★★★
Fascinating Poscast! 2026/04/26
Outstanding Podcast! Highly recommend!
I really enjoy this podcast. The hosts, Eila and Bruce, are very knowledgeable in all aspects of theatre and ask interesting questions that consistent...
★★★☆☆
JDP1891 2024/06/20
Great intent, bad content
This is a great idea for a podcast, but the hosts are constantly factually wrong about what they say. The “expert” for the Tonys was wildly uninformed...