The BSB Podcast

Get ready for a theatrical disaster unlike anything you've ever seen before, and thankfully, that is very much the point. The Players Guild of Dearborn is bringing the delightfully outrageous musical Disaster! to the stage, bringing a hilarious mash-up of ’70s disaster movies, over-the-top characters, and some of the biggest pop hits of the disco era. With earthquakes, tidal waves, questionable decisions, and plenty of musical mayhem packed into one wildly entertaining production, Disaster! knows exactly what kind of ride it wants to take its audience on. Leading the charge is director Brian Townsend, who took time out of his busy schedule to sit down with us and talk about what audiences can expect!
In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Brian Townsend discusses how he brought all that chaos together onstage in Disaster! From balancing rapid-fire comedy with musical numbers to creating the show's larger-than-life world, directing this musical requires keen timing and a willingness to embrace the ridiculous. But Townsend talks more about the joys than the challenges of directing this musical for the Players Guild of Dearborn. He talks about the passion that every cast and creative team member brought to this production, and why he can't wait to welcome audiences to sit back, laugh, sing along, and enjoy every wonderfully disastrous moment.
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What happens when the story we think we know about a person beloved by so many is turned on its head? That question sits at the heart of Aping Jane, a thought-provoking new production making its World premiere at Tipping Point Theatre. Written by Aurora Real de Asua and directed by Julia Glander, the play takes a fresh, provocative look at the life, legacy, and complicated mythology surrounding one of literature’s most recognizable figures, Jane Goodall. Rather than simply revisiting familiar territory or telling it in a traditional theatrical style, Aping Jane invites audiences to reconsider the stories we inherit, the people who get to tell them, and the ways history can be reshaped through imagination and perspective.
In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Aurora Real de Asua and Julia Glander discuss what it's like to bring this developmental production to Tipping Point Theatre! With Real de Asua bringing the words to the stage and Glander shaping those words into a theatrical experience, the production becomes a fascinating meeting of playwright and director, two artists approaching the material from different creative angles while working toward the same compelling vision. Real de Asua discusses her inspiration for the play, while both guests talk about the impact that Jane Goodall had on their lives. What are the challenges of a developmental show? Check out this interview to find out all those answers and more!
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What happens when a simple idea for bringing people together becomes something much bigger? For Jonathan Bricklin, the answer is Little People Social Club, an upcoming space built around connection, community, and the idea that the right gathering can turn strangers into something more meaningful. As the club's creator, Bricklin has helped shape an environment that is about more than simply showing up; it is about creating opportunities for people to connect, share experiences, and become part of something. But most importantly, it's about inclusion, with a space designed with Little People in mind. 
In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Jonathan Bricklin shares the inspiration behind Little People Social Club, what he hopes the club can offer its members, and how he turned an idea into a real-world community. How has his experience of creating many successful ping-pong clubs across New York City influenced how he approached Little People Social Club? What vibes and design is he bringing to this latest venture? We also take a closer look at what makes the concept unique and why creating spaces where people can come together remains so powerful, especially today.
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Theater has always had the power to confront the moment we are living in, and playwright Migdalia Cruz brings a particularly distinctive voice to that conversation. Through her work, Cruz has explored the complexities of identity, power, history, and the human experience, creating theater that invites audiences to look at familiar issues from unexpected perspectives. Her participation in Women+ on the Edge of Democracy places that voice within a larger theatrical conversation about democracy, representation, and women navigating an increasingly complicated world. The project brings together playwrights and artists who use theater to examine the forces shaping society, and Cruz’s contribution adds another compelling perspective to that dialogue.
In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Migdalia Cruz discusses her work, her creative process, and what drew her to Women+ on the Edge of Democracy, offering insight into how playwrights can use their craft not simply to tell stories, but to challenge audiences to think, question, and engage with the world around them. She discusses how she wanted to flip what it means to be a political play, instead focusing on comedy as a device to deliver her larger message.
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Some musicals tell a story while others make history feel alive. Suffs does the latter with a striking combination of powerful music, dynamic performances, and inventive stagecraft that transforms a pivotal chapter of American history into something immediate and theatrical. With its score driving the story's emotional heartbeat, the musical uses music not simply to move the plot forward, but to give its characters distinct voices and its larger themes urgency and momentum. Equally impressive is the production’s stagecraft, which creates a world that can shift seamlessly between intimate personal moments and sweeping historical events. From the ensemble's movement to the visual design surrounding them, every element feels carefully orchestrated.
In this episode of the BSB Podcast, hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko are once again joined by guest Emily Brown to continue their discussion of the North American touring production of Suffs the Musical! How does this music add to the overall feel of the show? Was there a specific number or song that these three were drawn to? How did the set and costumes work together to deliver the all-important message at the core of Suffs the Musical? Listen to this podcast episode to find out!
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When democracy, identity, and the voices that shape our society are constantly questioned, theater can do something remarkably simple—and remarkably important: make us listen. That idea is at the heart of Women+ on the Edge of Democracy, a project that brings together writers and artists to explore the complicated realities facing women and marginalized voices in an increasingly fractured world. Among those contributing to this important artistic conversation is playwright Susan Miller, whose work has long shown theater's ability to turn larger social questions into deeply personal stories. With Women+ on the Edge of Democracy, Miller joins a collective exploration of what it means to have a voice, to fight to be heard, and to navigate a world where democratic ideals can feel both essential and fragile. Her participation adds another distinctive perspective to a project built on conversation, creativity, and the stage's power to challenge audiences.
In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Susan Miller discusses her work with Women+ on the Edge of Democracy, what drew her to the project, and how theater can create space for difficult questions while encouraging audiences to see the world around them in new ways. She also discusses what it's like to be part of a project like this one that joins voices and brings them to communities across the country during such a divisive time.
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Some transformations go beyond a costume change, which the opening show of the 313 Presents Broadway season would definitely know about! In Mrs. Doubtfire the Musical, one of comedy’s most unforgettable characters springs to life onstage with wigs, outrageous disguises, plenty of heart, and a whole lot of theatrical chaos. Based on the beloved film, the musical follows Daniel Hillard, a struggling actor and devoted father who will do almost anything to remain close to his children, even if that means becoming their hilariously unconventional nanny, Mrs. Doubtfire. Beneath the laughs and larger-than-life antics, however, is a story about family, love, and the lengths we go to for the people who matter most. A talented ensemble brings that story to the stage, including Alanis Sophia, whose performance adds another memorable voice to this energetic musical world. With its blend of comedy, heartfelt moments, and infectious music, Mrs. Doubtfire proves that sometimes the most unexpected disguises can reveal who we really are. We caught up with Alanis Sophia to talk about what audiences can expect from this touring production!
In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Alanis Sophia talks about what it's like to step into a beloved world like Mrs. Doubtfire and how the musical has elevated the story of the Robin Williams-led film. With a singer-songwriter background and having grown up in the music industry, how do those personal experiences impact her role as Lydia Hillard? It isn't always easy to play a 15-year-old on stage when you're 25, so how does she find the truth in this character? Check out this fun interview to find out more!
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History can feel distant, separated by the expansiveness of time and the story on the page, until the lights come up and the people who changed it stand right in front of you. SUFFS the Musical brings the fight for women’s suffrage roaring to life with powerhouse performances, infectious music, and a story that refuses to sit quietly in the history books. But this is no dusty civics lesson. With its bold theatricality and contemporary pulse, SUFFS turns the struggle for women's right to vote into something immediate, emotional, and surprisingly exhilarating. The result is a musical that reminds audiences that progress has never been as simple as a date in a textbook; it has always been driven by people willing to speak up, push back, and demand to be heard. The power and strength of the story in this musical made it a must-have for the BSB Podcast!
In today's episode, hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko are joined by special guest Emily Brown to discuss what the story behind SUFFS the Musical means to them. With both hosts having seen this before on Broadway, some more than once, they are able to provide an interesting perspective on what the show looked like in NYC compared to how it transitioned to a touring musical. Has the emotional journey that these characters go on changed at all? Find out in this fun episode of the BSB Podcast!
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The lights go down, the silence settles in, and somewhere inside Hill House, something is waiting. Shirley Jackson’s chilling tale comes alive onstage in The Haunting of Hill House, a theatrical experience where atmosphere can be as terrifying as the ghosts themselves. With its creaking corridors, unsettling shadows, psychological tension, and ever-growing sense of dread, the play transforms the theater into a place where nothing, and no one, feels entirely safe. As the characters venture deeper into Hill House, the line between what is real and what is imagined blurs, creating a deliciously unnerving night of theater. This is the kind of production that doesn't simply ask audiences to watch the haunting; it invites them to feel it. Farmington Players is excited to welcome audiences into Hill House, and we had the chance to talk to the director of this production, J.R. Spaulding, and one of the cast members, Mackenzie Conn, about what audiences can expect from this show!
In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Spaulding and Conn discuss what drew them to the production and how familiar they were with the world of The Haunting of Hill House before being cast. While the director approached the show with a clean slate, Conn has loved the original film for years. Which approach works best for bringing this world to life? How does a show such as The Haunting of Hill House come together technically? Check out this interview to find out!
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In theater, there are moments when the lights come up, and a story doesn’t simply unfold; it grabs you by the collar and asks you to look a little closer at what it means to be human. That is the space Human Things inhabits. Now playing Off-Broadway, the production dives into the messy, emotional, and often unpredictable territory of human connection, where vulnerability can be as powerful as any grand theatrical spectacle. Among the performers bringing that world to life is Rebeca Robles, whose onstage presence gives the production an immediacy that is impossible to ignore. With every glance, pause, and emotional turn, Robles helps create a theatrical experience that feels less like watching characters from a distance and more like being invited into their lives. In Human Things, the emotions are close, the stakes feel personal, and Robles is right in the middle of it all, turning the ordinary complications of being human into compelling theater. While it's currently in previews, we sat down with the actress and producer to learn what it's like to bring Joshua Owen's play to life.
In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Rebeca Robles talks about what it's like to have a role written specifically for you, and how that led to bringing Human Things to the stage off-Broadway at the West End Theatre. She talks about her journey into the arts and how her husband, who is also the playwright, supported her in that adventure, and how it also helped shape some aspects of this play. What is it like to pull double duty as both actor and producer on a show? Check out this interview to learn more!
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