Stephanie Klemons' I Wanna Be Like You!

Jack O'Brien’s I Wanna Be Like You!

Jack O'Brien is a theater legend whose work spans genres and across the globe. He's directed classic Shakespearean plays (incuding Henry IV, MacBeth starring Ethan Hawke and more on Broadway), original Tom Stoppard epics (The Coast of Utopia, The Invention of Love and more on Broadway) and some of the greatest musical comedies of the contemporary era (Hairspray, Shucked and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels)! Having directed more than 50 Broadway productions and 4 Tony Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Award he received in 2024), Jack has become one of the most prolific directors to ever work onstage. His work in the regional theater has not gone unnoticed either, having served as the Artistic Director of The Old Globe for 25 years overseeing the world premieres of Sondheim & Lapine's Into the Woods, and August Wilson's The Piano Lesson! Now, he's making his acting debut alongside Lisa Kudrow in the final season of the HBO comedy The Comeback! We get to talking all about that, his podcast with screenwriter Alan Fox, Notes With Jack, and his upcoming projects! A very special epsiode-Jack O'Brien's I Wanna Be Like You!

Stephanie Klemons' I Wanna Be Like You!

Stephanie Klemons is currently the Associate Choreographer for Hamilton (Broadway, National Tours and UK) as well as Heathers Off Broadway. She also appeared in the original Broadway casts of Hamilton, In The Heights (for which she also served as the Dance Captain) and If/Then! As a choreographer she worked on Rock & Roll Man, In the Heights (Kennedy Center), and numerous commercials and music videos. We get to talking about what it was like being in the room where it happened helping create the movement of Hamilton and In the Heights, working with Andy Blankenbuehler, the extent of an Associate Choreographer's job---- especially on a long running, international Broadway hit and much more!

Grace Yurchuk's I Wanna Be Like You

Grace Yurchuk is a singer/songwriter and musical theater composer, and a 2024 graduate of NYU Steinhardt (B.M., Classical Vocal Performance). She is best known for Caesar: The Musical, as well as her self-produced theater-pop songs like “30 Seconds” and “Mixed Messages.” Grace built her audience for Caesar by sharing each draft for the show online as it was written, as well as other peeks into her creative process. She funded the show’s studio cast EP through a Kickstarter campaign which was selected as a Kickstarter “Project We Love,” ultimately surpassing its goal and raising over $36,000. In addition to her work as a composer, she runs a private songwriting studio, mentoring artists as they develop and release original music. Across all of her projects, she is driven by a commitment to storytelling and bringing original work to life. Instagram: @graceyurchuk, TikTok: @itsthegraceplace

Alejo Vietti's I Wanna Be Like You!

Alejo Vietti is our first costume designer on the show! His work is currently represented on Broadway in the Tony Award nominated Titanique which he's been a part of since it's premiere in NYC. Other Broadway credits include SMASH, Holiday Inn, Allegiance and Beautiful: the Carole King Musical! Originally from Argentina, Alejo has worked with some of the most prominent costume designers to ever work in the industry including Ann Roth and Bob Crowley! He also worked as an associate to Jess Goldstein on the original Broadway production of Jersey Boys! We get to talking about what it means to tell a story through costumes, the most challenging style to design, and wokring with Meryl Streep, John Goodman, and Christopher Walken on The Seagull!

Jim Borstelmann's I Wanna Be Like You!

Jim Borstelmann is a Broadway veteran having been in the original casts of The Producers, The Addams Family and many more. Jim was in the ensemble of the 1996 revival of Chicago starring Ann Reinking, Bebe Neuwirth and Joel Grey which is still on Broadway holding the record for the longest running Broadway revival. A self taught dancer, Jim made his Broadway debut working under the legendary Jerome Robbins having been a swing in Jerome Robbins' Broadway. His most recent Broadway appearance was in 2023 in New York, New York, marking his 4th Broadway collaboration with former guest and Broadway icon Susan Stroman. We get to discussing all of those credits, Mel Brooks stories, the keys to being a successful Broadway swing, and more!