BbB S2E8 - Writing Through Grief with Justin Payne and Dani Cleveland

BbB S2E8 - Writing Through Grief with Justin Payne and Dani Cleveland

Omaha Natives and writers of "Heaven Come Home" and "Little Brown Boy" share their experiences writing about grief, focusing on love, and sharing their unique voices.

BbB S2E7 - Marketing Your Musical with Holly Reed

HOLLY REED is the owner and Creative Director of Reed Creative Group, an award-winning design studio, and CEO of MusicalWriters.com, a resource to encourage and equip new musical theatre writers. In addition to bringing over 20 years experience in creative direction, marketing and brand consulting for the non-profit, startup, and entertainment industries, she is also a speaker, writer, and coach to aspiring entrepreneurs and dreamers of all sorts.

BbB S2E7 - Talking Tony Awards with Anant Das

Anant Das (“un-nunth”) (He/Him) is a two-time Tony Nominated theatre and film creative producer and CEO of Broadway Boxed Up, the longest-running theatre-themed subscription box with a focus on elevating BIPOC, Deaf, and disabled theatrical voices, connecting fans with the Broadway world, and reimagining theatregoers’ relationship with merchandise. He is a Co-Executive Producer of “Summoning the Spirit” which made its film premiere at the Miami Film Festival in March 2023. He is a co-producer of NEW YORK, NEW YORK, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL, and THE PIANO LESSON on Broadway, KINKY BOOTS Off-Broadway, as well as Associate Producer of WINDFALL Off-West End. In addition, Anant has experience as an investor with A STRANGE LOOP (Tony Award Winner for Best Musical), FAIRYCAKES, the Museum of Broadway, and the Broadway Makers Marketplace (the first Broadway Pop-Up Shop for fans, by fans). With a background in financial valuation, computer science, and as a consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Anant is passionate about the intersection of theatre, tech, and finance, as well as energized to increase access to both theatrical opportunities and theatre education. Recognized as one of the “Class of 2019’s Best & Brightest” by Poets&Quants, Anant’s interest in exploring how innovation can disrupt the arts began when he attended the top ranked public high school in the US. He is a 2022 member of both the TEDxBroadway Young Professionals cohort and the Theatre Producers of Color and serves as a Board Member of the New York Theatre Workshop’s 4th Street Bar Association.

S2 E5 Melissa Leilani Larson

Melissa Leilani Larson (she/her) is a mixed-race Filipino playwright based in Salt Lake City. Her adaptation of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE sold out its entire run at the Hale Center Theater Orem earlier this year; it will appear at the Texas Shakespeare Festival in July and at a number of theatres across the country next season, and will be published by StagePartners. Mel wrote the book for the new musical RELATIVE SPACE, featuring songs by rising music star Kjersti Long. Other recent productions include THE POST OFFICE and THE ORPHANAGE at Liahona Prep; MESTIZA, OR MIXED at Plan-B Theatre; GIN MUMMY at Mesa Community College; PERSUASION at Utah Valley University; SWEETHEART, COME at Tabor College; LITTLE HAPPY SECRETS at InHouse Theatre; BITTER LEMON at Adobe Theatre. Other plays include PILOT PROGRAM, MOUNTAIN LAW, LADY IN WAITING, and MARTRS’ CROSSING. Mel’s film work includes: JANE AND EMMA and FREETOWN and the shorts “Patience” and “Iscariot.” Accolades include: 2022 AATE Distinguished Play award, the IRAM Best New Play award, two Salt Lake City Weekly Arty awards, four AML drama awards and the Mayhew award. Mel is a Bay Area Playwrights Festival finalist (2023 Honorable Mention), a Portland Center Stage finalist, and an O’Neill semi-finalist. She is a member of the Plan-B Theatre Lab, Honor Roll!, and the Dramatists Guild. MFA, Iowa Playwrights Workshop. melissaleilanilarson.com [http://melissaleilanilarson.com/]

ByB S2E5- Jahnna N. Malcolm

Two of their shows, Parcel from America and Allie Kazan premiered last year. Their 11 musicals include Chaps! and Dogpark: the Musical (Concord Theatricals); Holmes and Watson Save the Empire (Ovation Award for "Best Small-Cast Musical"); Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin's The Doll People; and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical (Broadway Licensing), which has been produced by more than 200 theaters since its premiere in 2016. Jahnna is co-author with Malcolm of more than 130 books for young adults (www.jahnnanmalcolm.com). She is a member of the Dramatists Guild and Actors Equity. Malcolm is an award-winning narrator of nearly 300 audiobooks (www.malcolmhillgartner.com) member, SAG-SFTRA, ASCAP, AEA). Please see: www.ParcelFromAmericaMusical.com www.alliekazan.com www.bestchristmaspageantevermusical.com www.jahnnanmalcolm.com www.malcolmhillgartner.com Facebook: ParcelFromAmerica