Behind The Scenes With Theresa Rose

So happy I was able to get to chat in the studio with Tricia Alexandro. She is an incredibly insightful Actress, Writer and Personal Trainer that I adore. We talked about her Mom’s sex education lessons, LA bus systems, and her new show at The Barrow Group called PERP by Lyle Kessler. She has worked at The Brrow Group before in The Unrepeatable Moment (the New York Times described her performance as “boldly acted; a high point of the show”), and in a one-woman show she wrote called Snapshot, directed by Seth Barrish, with music by Peter Eldridge. Her additional credits include: We, the Invisibles at The Humana Festival (ATL), The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe (Cape May Stage), and The Goddess (Looking Glass Theatre). Alexandro is a member of The LAByrinth Theater Company’s Intensive Ensemble and Bob Krakower’s Manhattan Film Institute. She regularly performs monologues she’s written at Naked Angels Tuesdays at 9, and Bowery Poetry Club. Her latest films include: CODA, Dinner & DNA (

My guest is the brilliant actor/writer Ned Van Zandt. As an actor, Ned has been able to seamlessly cross over and work on some incredible projects in Film, Television and Theater (Broadway "The Iceman Cometh"). As a writer, I have been lucky enough to see some of the development of his one man show that he created called, "DEL VALLE." Ned and I talk about his early beginnings, his years of experience as an actor, and his upcoming movie, "The Iron Orchard." Other notable work as guest actor: "Daredevil 3," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Power," "The Blacklist," HBO's "All The Way," "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," "Nurse Jackie," and "Lost."

I always learn so much when I spend time with the Tiffan. She has a wonderful true soprano trained voice and has been able to do musical theatre in New York, regionally, and has been touring recently with Million Dollar Quartet in the role of Dyanne. We were able to talk about her training, tour life, TV opportunities and the great shows she’s been able to do such as Law & Order: SVU, The Perfect Murder, South Pacific, The Music Man, Camelot, Annie, Kiss Me Kate and Flipside: The Patti Page Story.

He’s a treasure and drops jewels of insight constantly. I was so lucky to chat with friend and actor Matt Mundy. Matt has been lucky enough to work in New York City theater as well as some of the best regional theaters throughout the country such as Cincinnati Playhouse, Portland Stage, South Carolina Rep and has been a part of such shows as A Prayer For Owen Meany, Much Ado About Nothing, The Baby Dance, Buyer and Cellar, Swiss Family Robinson, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Last Five Years, Adults Only, The Glass Menagerie, Red,and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He has a great singing voice, worked in film, done voice over work, improv, hosting gigs, and now has a new youtube channel series called "Mundy on Monday". Seriously, we could have talked forever. 

I was delighted to chat with my friend Tricia Baron.  I first got to know Tricia as a performer, then a Musical Director, and I have been overjoyed to see her success grow with her work as a Freelance Photographer. Her work has been featured with TheaterMania, Met Opera Guild, New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, and Congregation Rodeph Sholom. Tricia has photographed events at such venues as Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, and numerous Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Cabaret theaters around New York City.

I had the most wonderful conversation with Drag Queen Chelsea Piers. Chelsea Piers was created by my fellow New Yorker and friend Justin Nako. As the Winner of the “Breakthrough Artist” at the 2013 Glam Awards, for over five years Chelsea has headlined shows at the Crown & Anchor and Stonewall Inn. She has made several appearances on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live and starred in last falls TV show Shade: Queens of NYC on Fusion TV. Chelsea and I were able to talk about her work, the multitasking that goes into a routine or show, the joys and struggles of Drag, as well as her upcoming shows.

My guest is the truly talented Actress and Solo Show performer Ann Talman. Ann has performed in such Broadway hits as The Little Foxes with Elizabeth Taylor and The Women with Cynthia Nixon. She has worked with many companies either in New York or regionally: Second Stage, Long Wharf, Center Stage, New Group, Soho Rep, Huntington Theatre, St Louis Rep, Ensemble Studio Theatre and Primary Stages, as well as in iconic television shows such as Seinfeld, Murphy Brown, and Law & Order. Ann created the Solo Show “Woody’s Order”, which then became an award winning Short Documentary that is going to Cannes in May 2018.  Ann and I talked about her work in the theater, what led her to write and produce her own story, as well as her future endeavors. www.anntalman.com

I adored spending time with the luminescent Artistic Director of Naked Angels Jean Marie McKee. Naked Angels, for over 30 years, has been the creative home for many colleagues for which Jean-Marie is a founding member. She is also the founder of it’s educational program, 3T. We were able talk about her history with Naked Angels, 3T, where the company is today, its future endeavors, and the wealth of talent that has come out of the membership such as Fisher Stevens, Joe Mantello, Kenneth Lonergon, Gina Gershon, Marisa Tomei, Ilana Levine, and David Marshall Grant.

I laughed so much with these two gentlemen, Graeme Gillis and RJ Tolan, members of the Ensemble Studio Theatre and the co-artistic directors of the EST Youngblood program. Plays by current and former Youngblood playwrights have been performed on Broadway and in London's West End (Robert Askins' TONY-nominated "Hand to God," which premiered at EST/Youngblood), at The Royal Court Theatre, Lincoln Center, Playwrights Horizons, Second Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Mark Taper Forum, the Vineyard Theater, the Atlantic Theater Company, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater and many others, including award winners such as Annie Baker's "John," "The Flick" and "The Aliens," and Amy Herzog's "4000 Miles," and have been adapted by film and television companies, including alumni Lucy Alibar's "Juicy and Delicious" which was adapted into the Cannes Caméra d'Or-winning film "Beasts of The Southern Wild." They graciously talked to me about the beginnings of the program, their involvement in EST, as well as achievements

My guest is the very talented actor, Sam Gilroy. Not only is Sam a classically trained actor, he is a budding writer, and comic book connoisseur. Sam and I were able be talk about being an actor, the training that goes into that, and his work in theater, tv and film. He has been able to be a part of projects such as "Et Tu," "Netflix," "Beautiful Creatures," "Fuente Ovejuna," "Billions," "Michael Clayton," "Adults Only," "Blue Bloods," "Roman Israel," "Esq." and the upcoming season 2 of 'The Imposters" on Bravo.

My guest today is my new friend, stage manager Denise Yaney. With more than 30 years experience as a production stage manager and stage manager. She is a treasure to anyone who has a question of the who, what, and where of the show. As a company member Circle Rep, she was a part of the original, ground breaking play, "As Is." Denise has also stage managed such shows as "Redwood Curtain," "A Moon for the Misbegotten," "Major Barbara," "American Buffalo," "Good People," "A Delicate Balance," and the acclaimed, just-closed production of "Little Foxes."

My seventh guest is a longtime friend of mine, Joe Tantalo. He is the Artistic Director and Director of the Godlight Theater Company. One of the things that make the company so unique is its mission statement of bringing new and old books to the stage by creating original adaptations of modern classical literature from the 20th and 21st centuries. In its history, the company has received 10 Drama Desk nominations, as well as a Special Drama Desk Award. Joe and I were able to discuss our beginnings at SCSU and the productions he has directed such as "Wait Until Dark," "Poor Superman," "A Clockwork Orange," "Fahrenheit 451," "Blindness," "In the Heat of the Night," "One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest," "The Pilo Family Circus,: Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-Five" and "Cool Hand Luke."

My sixth guest is Fight Director, actor, and teacher Ron Piretti. He was able to tell me about his start in acting and how it has developed thru the years while delving into stage combat. Ron was engaging to talk you about the different styles of the craft and shows he has worked on, such as many versions of Romeo and Juliet, The Miracle Worker, In The Heights, Bengal Tiger at the Bagdad Zoo, The Last Ship and his Broadway debut in West Side Story. I was delighted to chat with him about his experiences and his work with The Performing Arts Project and his teaching at The Barrow Group.

My fifth guest is the spectacular singer Gabrielle Stravelli. Gabrielle and I talked about her beginnings in performing and songwriting, her experience at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and what it’s like to tour with Wynton Marsalis. She was also able to talk about her life changing experience with the US State Department's American Music Abroad program for 2015/2016. She has worked with wonderfully acclaimed musicians and we got to dish about the facets of storytelling thru song along with discussing Gabrielle’s gorgeous new album Dream Ago.

My fourth guest is Farrah Crane, a producer, writer, teacher, dancer and actress. Having grown up in the Appalachian region of the country, Farrah started off as a dancer before moving to the Big Apple. We were able to discuss her transitions into producing and acting, while teaching the next generation at The Barrow Group. It was great to laugh and talk with Farrah about the many different hats one wears as an artist. 

My third guest was Dean Imperial, a screenwriter, published playwright, and actor. Dean and I discussed what sparked his interest into becoming a writer and how it has moved his career forward. He has been able to have some of his plays published and produced, such as Naked Eyes, The Needle ThroughThe Arm Trick, The Sit, and The Woman From 43 and The Core Artist Ensemble produced evening of one acts, Adults Only. Dean had just begun writing for Imposters for the Bravo channel when we got to have a lovely chat that we recorded on September 15, 2016.

My second guest was Cindy Gutterman, a three-time Tony Award Winning Producer.  Cindy was great in sharing stories of her experiences of how she got started and what it’s like to make the choices of being a Broadway Producer. With her husband and Co-Producer, Jay, they have gone on have such hits as Spring Awakening (Tony win), Glengarry Glen Ross (both Broadway revivals, one Tony win), Race, The Addams Family, All The Way (Tony win), You Can’t Take It With You, An Act of God, and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. We were able to get together and joyfully record this on August 8, 2016.

My first guest was Howell Binkley, two-time Tony Award Winner for Lighting Design. ("Jersey Boys" & "Hamilton") I was so thrilled to record this with him on June 24, 2016.