Original Broadway Cast

Episode 6 - Jason Graae

In the latest episode of #OriginalBroadwayCast [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/originalbroadwaycast?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXv3qv-U8TCujm9y-paa7NlHM--bCP9fklqXWNZUa0hlwf7XFrktI-rgLalRw5GhsdJDiodsoewMbFE6RAuhB5CGBTiS9hGboepTHTG3c-lfUkXzdCYabcuB9_purvq5aAorJ8k8jCx0-TYkizOkwTdlKsxAd9lXl7_pGR1xY54OR6aoZnpUTsTp1Ks5PLicmaYpoZqoy384v_GvEwVFkhA&__tn__=*NK-y-R], Gus Gordon welcomes Broadway mainstay Jason Graae Jason starred in the Broadway productions of A Grand Night For Singing, Stardust, Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?, and Falsettos. His Off- Broadway credits include Forever Plaid, Olympus on My Mind, Snoopy, Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (Drama Desk Nomination- Best Actor in a Musical), and many more. Jason played the Wizard in the National Tour of Wicked and Harry Houdini in the Los Angeles production of Ragtime. He has appeared on dozens of musical theatre recordings, including the original or studio cast recordings of Forever Plaid, Drat the Cat, Lucky Stiff, and Olympus on My Mind and several solo albums for producer Bruce Kimmel. He has appeared in countless television shows, and was the voice of Lucky the Leprechaun in TV commercials for Lucky Charms cereal in the 1990’s. We hope you enjoy this conversation between Gus and Jason. __________________________________________ FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS! https://www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network JOIN PODCAST PALS! – https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrownetwork FIND US ON TWITTER – https://twitter.com/frontrowreviewz FIND US ON INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/frontrownetwork __________________________________________ Please enjoy this episode of ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST and as always, we’ll see you in the front row!

Episode 5 - Bill Hayes

In the latest episode of #OriginalBroadwayCast [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/originalbroadwaycast?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXv3qv-U8TCujm9y-paa7NlHM--bCP9fklqXWNZUa0hlwf7XFrktI-rgLalRw5GhsdJDiodsoewMbFE6RAuhB5CGBTiS9hGboepTHTG3c-lfUkXzdCYabcuB9_purvq5aAorJ8k8jCx0-TYkizOkwTdlKsxAd9lXl7_pGR1xY54OR6aoZnpUTsTp1Ks5PLicmaYpoZqoy384v_GvEwVFkhA&__tn__=*NK-y-R], Gus Gordon welcomes entertainment legend Bill Hayes. Gus had the chance to meet Bill when they both appeared in a concert version of the Stephen Sondheim musical Follies at The Little Theatre on the Square back in 2007. Bill Hayes burst onto the early national television scene in Olsen & Johnson’s 1949 madcap series Fire-Ball Fun-for-All.  From there he was tapped by producer Max Liebman to be a featured singer on Your Show of Shows starring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca (1950-1954).  Bill made his Broadway debut in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Me and Juliet, and followed with a gold record for “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” (over 4,000,000 sold). Bill headlined the first national tour of Bye, Bye Birdie as Albert Peterson, and has headlined musicals in major theatres across the country. He is best known for playing Doug Williams on Days of Our Lives opposite his lovely wife Susan Seaforth Hayes. Bill joined the show in 1970, and still makes regular appearances to this day to the delight of his countless fans. We hope you enjoy this conversation between Gus and Bill.

Episode 4 - Allen Kendall

In the latest episode of ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST, Gus welcomes another good friend of his that made his way to the Great White Way, Allen Kendall! Allen made his Broadway debut in 2015 in Amazing Grace, a musical adaptation of the 2007 film telling the story of William Wilberforce, who led the struggle to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire, spurred on by his mentor the pastor John Newton, a former slave trader that wrote the iconic spiritual song. Allen also toured with Phantom of the Opera for 8 years and toured with Annie for 3 years.... a production that ended at Madison Square Garden with Kathy Lee Gifford in the cast! Allen's Regional credits include 33 Variations, Les Miserables, and The Full Monty. He also appeared on the web series Rules of Cool. Join this incredible conversation not only about Allen's incredible career on the stage but also about how theatre can inspire and help anyone find their true self and place in the world. Welcome to the show Allen!

Episode 3 - Michael Gruber

In the latest episode of ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST, Gus welcomes a good friend of his from high school and an incredibly accomplished veteran of the Broadway Stage: Mr. Michael Gruber. Michael was born and raised in Cincinnati. Throughout his school years, Michael had a love for acting as he was constantly surrounded by acting and music. He was in various school plays such as Hello, Dolly! and Pippin. From college on, Michael pursued acting, singing, and dancing on stage with much critical acclaim. His Broadway credits include Munkustrap in Cats (Broadway), the Tin Man in Wizard of OZ, Don Lockwood in Singin' in the Rain, Riff in West Side Story, Cousin Kevin in Tommy, Judd Fry in Oklahoma!, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Billy Crocker in Anything Goes, and Mike in the final company of A Chorus Line (Broadway). Michael and Gus talk all this and much more in a converstaion you simply have to hear!

Episode 2 - Jim Walton (Part 2)

Episode 2 of the Front Row Network's newest show, ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST, is the continuation of Gus's talk with Broadway legend Jim Walton. Gus and Jim discuss his journey to Broadway and the amazing story of Merrily We Roll Along. Join us for part 2 of this amazing interview.