The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

• Ep391 - Erika Henningsen: From Mean Girl to Sandra Dee and Everything Between

  Erika Henningsen opens up about the real ups and downs of a life in the spotlight, from early rejection to career-defining roles. Known for originating Cady Heron in Mean Girls on Broadway, Erika dives into the emotional rollercoaster of auditioning, the shift from seeking audience approval to prioritizing collaboration, and why working with people she admires—like Jonathan Groff and Alex Timbers in Just In Time—makes all the difference. She also shares what it’s like to voice animated characters in Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss, and how she’s currently balancing stage work with her new Netflix series The Four Seasons, where she stars alongside Steve Carell and old friend Tina Fey. With heart, humor, and hard-earned wisdom, Erika brings honesty to the realities of navigating the business—and the joy of finding creative freedom along the way. Erika Henningsen originated the role of Cady Heron in Broadway’s Mean Girls, earning a Drama Desk nomination. Other stage credits include Les Misérables, Joy, and Just In Time, in which she currently stars as Sandra Dee. Her voice work includes Charlie Morningstar in Prime Video’s Hazbin Hotel and Bethany in Helluva Boss. On screen, she appears in Peacock’s Girls5Eva and Netflix’s The Four Seasons. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Erika: IG: @erikahenningsen Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheTheatrePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alan's personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alanseales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me at [email protected]. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Ep390 - Julia Lester: Acting with Carell, Singing with Sondheim

  Julia Lester brings heart, humor, and honesty to this deep-dive into her journey from a theatre-loving kid in LA to a Tony-nominated Broadway star. She talks about growing up surrounded by performers, how Into the Woods became a defining chapter in her career, and the surreal moment when Stephen Sondheim personally approved her audition tape. Julia also shares the backstage magic of working with legends like Phillipa Soo and Gavin Creel, and how those experiences shaped her as both an artist and collaborator. Currently starring in the Off-Broadway play All Nighter, Julia reflects on the thrill of originating a role, her love of well-crafted comedy, and why staying true to the text is so important to her process. She also opens up about her identity as a queer woman, her hopes for future creative opportunities, and what it’s been like stepping into the world of television again — this time as Steve Carell’s daughter in Netflix’s upcoming The Four Seasons. Julia Lester is a Tony-nominated actress best known for her breakout Broadway role as Little Red in Into the Woods. She starred as Ashlyn Caswell in all four seasons of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Disney+, appeared in Hulu’s Prom Dates, and recently performed in I Can Get It for You Wholesale at Classic Stage Company. She’s now starring Off-Broadway in All Nighter and appears in Netflix’s The Four Seasons alongside Steve Carell and Tina Fey. Connect with Julia: Instagram: @julialester TikTok: @jujthefirst Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheTheatrePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alan's personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alanseales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me at [email protected]. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Ep389 - Erich Bergen: He Can Doo-Doo This!

  From recreating music videos on VHS as a kid to being cast by Clint Eastwood with no callback, Erich Bergen’s path in entertainment has always been uniquely his own. In this episode, he shares the early influences that sparked his creativity—like turning Brio trains into the New York subway system—and how his love of producing was hiding in plain sight even as he pursued a performance career. Erich also opens up about getting fired from Jersey Boys only to land Gossip Girl a week later, and the call that led him to originate a role in Boop! on Broadway after years of stepping into shows that had already opened. With warmth, humor, and an eye for the details that make live performance special, Erich reflects on what it means to balance ego with humility, how to protect the laughs without sacrificing story, and why the audience must always come first. This is a candid and inspiring conversation with someone who’s experienced just about every twist and turn show business can offer. Erich Bergen is known for his performances as Bob Gaudio in both the Broadway and film versions of Jersey Boys, as Blake Moran in Madam Secretary, and on stage in Waitress and Chicago. He is also a producer of large-scale live events and currently stars as Raymond in Boop! The Musical on Broadway. Connect with Erich: Instagram: @erichbergen Twitter: @erichbergen Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠TheTheatrePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alan's personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@alanseales⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me at [email protected]. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Ep388 - Norm Lewis: Fame, Failure, and the Phantom Mask

  From church choir in Eatonville, Florida, to becoming the first Black Phantom on Broadway, Norm Lewis opens up about his unique path to the stage. He shares how early dreams of a tennis career turned into a life in music and theatre, and the surprising way a cruise ship job launched it all. In this candid conversation, Norm reflects on near-misses, bold moves, and the audition advice that changed his life. We also discuss his current role in Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, a rarely produced Off-Broadway play making a powerful return. Norm dives into the emotional depth of playing a character reckoning with failure and legacy, and how the story echoes his own questions about longevity, identity, and purpose in the industry. Plus, we talk about the importance of representation, founding Black Theatre United, and why mentorship is such a vital part of his mission today. Norm Lewis is a Tony, Emmy, and SAG Award-nominated performer known for his Broadway roles in The Phantom of the Opera, Porgy and Bess, Sweeney Todd, Les Misérables, Once on This Island, and Chicken and Biscuits. His screen credits include Da 5 Bloods, The Good Fight, Pose, and NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live. He is a founding member of Black Theatre United and currently stars Off-Broadway in Ceremonies in Dark Old Men. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Norm: @normlewis777 on Instagram Black Theatre United: blacktheatreunited.com Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TheTheatrePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠ Alan's personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@alanseales⁠⁠⁠ Email me at [email protected]. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Ep387 - Ana Gasteyer: From SNL to Broadway and Beyond

  From opera student to comedy icon to Broadway belter, Ana Gasteyer’s career has been anything but ordinary. In this candid conversation, Ana opens up about her winding path through improv comedy, the creative chaos of Saturday Night Live, and why live performance continues to mean so much in a media-saturated world. She shares the real backstage realities of SNL’s 50th anniversary, the challenges of being taken seriously as a vocalist after finding fame through sketch comedy, and how she’s now channeling everything she's learned into writing two musicals. Ana also dives into what motivates her today, how she stays grounded while juggling career highs and creative fears, and why collaboration with longtime friends keeps her energized. Plus, she shares hilarious stories about surviving technical disasters onstage, her love for Christmas, and why hard work always seems to pay off — even when the path looks nothing like you planned. Ana Gasteyer is an actress, singer, and comedian known for her six-season run on Saturday Night Live, where she originated beloved characters like Martha Stewart, Margaret Jo of NPR's Delicious Dish, and one-half of the Culps alongside Will Ferrell. On Broadway, she starred as Elphaba in Wicked, Mrs. Peachum in The Threepenny Opera, and most recently Queen Aggravain in Once Upon a Mattress. She is also a celebrated jazz vocalist with albums including Sugar & Booze, and has starred on screen in Suburgatory, American Auto, Wine Country, and more. Connect with Ana Instagram: @anagasteyer TikTok: ⁠@anagasteyer⁠ Twitter/X: ⁠@AnaGasteyer⁠ Stream the Once Upon a Mattress cast album everywhere you listen to music, or get the CD here Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: ⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast⁠⁠ ⁠⁠TheTheatrePodcast.com⁠⁠ Alan's personal Instagram: ⁠⁠@alanseales⁠⁠ Email me at [email protected]. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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