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A career in musical theatre is hard, no matter how wonderful your training is or how developed your skills are, because of the vulnerability it requires, the rejection you have to continually face, plus all the fierce competition at every audition, and the head-games and negative self-talk we get into with ourselves. The Mental Game of Musical Theatre is all about helping you persevere through the mental challenges that inevitably come up along the way, while you’re pursuing, building, and maintaining your musical theatre career. Host David Eggers and his esteemed guests - working musical theatre artists at every level and at every point in the journey - share the most intimate details of their experiences while building their musical theatre careers... - the self-doubt - the audition nerves (and ways to handle theme) - the ”almost but not quite” jobs - the dream jobs - the Tony awards - the breaks that seemed like pure luck - the healthy practices - the best advice ever received - things they know now that they wish they knew then ... and so much more in every episode! SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode! Upcoming guests include: Gavin Creel, Raymond J. Lee, Kelli O’Hara, JoAnn M. Hunter, Francis Jue, T. Oliver Reid, Darren Lee, David Hyde Pierce, Deb Monk, André Ward, Bonnie Milligan, Sutton Foster, Robyn Hurder, Telly Lueng... and many, many more! LEAVE A TOP NOTCH REVIEW if you like an episode, at all! Please. That will help make this podcast visible to more more people. And the more people we reach, the more musical theatre folks we’ll be able to help to persevere in their efforts toward achieving their musical theatre dreams! Your positive review really does make a huge difference! Thank you for being here! Now go download the some episodes! David Eggers Sign up for info about the upcoming book, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre (Routledge Publishing) here: https://profeggers.com Follow: @profeggers on IG and TT Contact: david@profeggers.com
Episodes
Thursday Oct 05, 2023
Thursday Oct 05, 2023
JOANN M HUNTER (part 1) - the legend herself! A prolific dancer and performer turned choreographer, Joann’s been dazzling us on stages around the world for many, many years, and she shows no signs of stopping!
Join us to learn about her unique and wild story…from being born in Japan, to dropping out of high school and moving to New York on her own at age 17! Find out what incredible lessons she learned from dancing with Jerome Robbins himself. And just how many times was she typed out for Cats? Do students today even know who Liberace is? And what did a notable director say to her at an intermission that resulted in her giving her notice that very night?
Join me for a joy-filled discussion about Joann’s epic journey, and what she’s learned about both sides of the business. And settle in… it’s a two parter! So, as Joann herself says, “Bring some wine, and listen!”
INSTAGRAM: @joann_m_hunter | WEBSITE: joannmhunter.com
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Follow / Subscribe so you never miss an episode!
And please take 2 minutes to leave a 5 ⭐️ star review if you like this episode!
It will help make this podcast more visible, and reach more musical theatre lovers! Your positive review really does make a huge difference!
Thank you for being here! Feel free to share this on your socials!
David Eggers
---> Sign up for info about the upcoming book, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre (Routledge Publishing) here: https://profeggers.com
---> Follow: @profeggers on IG and TT / Contact: david@profeggers.com
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Part 2: Technically my first guest ever (recorded in summer of 2021) is Tony-winning star of stage and screen, writer, composer, activist, and self-admitted “hot mess,” GAVIN CREEL!
Come along as Gavin and I talk about his arrival in NYC, his harrowing Broadway debut, and all the twists and turns and pitfalls along the way that have led to his brand new one-man show WALK ON THROUGH!
What is the tin rabbit? And how does that resonate in Gavin’s life? What experience(s) sent him into a #ShameSpiral, and which “quirky” Broadway vet helped him snap out of it with some sage advice: “It’s all bull$h!+” ?
Gavin’s unique perspective will help you all realize that “ultimately the encouragement you need more than anything…is from within.”
Gavincreel.com | Gavin's new musical: https://www.walkonthrough.com/
Insta: @realgavincreel | Insta: @walkonthroughmusical | TikTok: @realgavincreel
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FOLLOW / SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode! And please take 2 minutes to leave a 5 ⭐️ review if you like this episode!
It will help make this podcast more visible, and reach more musical theatre lovers! Your positive review really does make a huge difference! Thank you for being here! Feel free to share this on your socials!
David Eggers
---> Sign up for info about the upcoming book, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre (Routledge Publishing) here: https://profeggers.com
---> Follow: @profeggers on IG and TT / Contact: david@profeggers.com
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Technically my first guest ever (recorded in summer of 2021) is Tony-winning star of stage and screen, writer, composer, activist, and self-admitted “hot mess,” GAVIN CREEL!
Come along as Gavin and I talk about his arrival in NYC, his harrowing Broadway debut, and all the twists and turns and pitfalls along the way that have led to his brand new one-man show WALK ON THROUGH!
What is the tin rabbit? And how does that resonate in Gavin’s life? What experience(s) sent him into a #ShameSpiral, and which “quirky” Broadway vet helped him snap out of it with some sage advice: “It’s all bull$h!+” ?
Gavin’s unique perspective will help you all realize that “ultimately the encouragement you need more than anything…is from within.”
Gavincreel.com | Gavin's new musical: https://www.walkonthrough.com/
Insta: @realgavincreel | Insta: @walkonthroughmusical | TikTok: @realgavincreel
---------------------------
FOLLOW / SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode!
And please take 2 minutes to leave a 5 ⭐️ review if you like this episode!
It will help make this podcast more visible, and reach more musical theatre lovers! Your positive review really does make a huge difference!
Thank you for being here! Feel free to share this on your socials!
David Eggers
---> Sign up for info about the upcoming book, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre (Routledge Publishing) here: https://profeggers.com
---> Follow: @profeggers on IG and TT / Contact: david@profeggers.com
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
RAYMOND J LEE is currently performing in Sweeeny Todd on Broadway! Ray’s career seems to be non-stop on the stage and on TV, commercials and voice overs, yet he somehow balances career with being a husband and father!
Ray reveals his unique journey as a Korean-American pop-voiced theatre actor who refused to be boxed you in. His philosophy? ”Do your thing, and then let them decide where to put you.” But getting to that mindset was a journey… Was he really supposed to be a doctor? And what exactly is a #TokenCall? Does he actually treat his nerves to a milkshake after an audition?
Ray’s refreshing take on having fun and keeping the joy in such a daunting career will help us all. Because, “the more you live… and do the fun things… the more resilience you build up to this career.” And maybe with Ray’s help, we can “learn to LET THINGS GO - as Elsa said.”
**It should be stated that since recording with Ray, several things have progressed…. The Brittney Musical arrived on Broadway and sadly already closed… we’ve had advances in casting with Seymour and Elphaba… who knows… maybe Ray is the secret… he speaks things into reality during this podcast. So listen up… what else might he prophesy?
INSTA: @raymondjlee // Twitter: @raymondjlee
Voice over INSTA: @rayleevo
Voice over site: www.rayleevo.com
Voice over Twitter @rayleevo
----
FOLLOW / SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode!
And PLEASE leave a 5 ⭐️ review if you like this episode!
Positive reviews help make this podcast more visible, more able to help musical theatre performers persevere in their efforts toward achieving their dreams! Your positive review really does make a huge difference!
Thank you for being here! Feel free to share this on your socials!
David Eggers
---> Sign up for info about the upcoming book, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre (Routledge Publishing) here: https://profeggers.com
Follow: @profeggers on IG and TT / Contact: david@profeggers.com
Thursday Sep 14, 2023
Thursday Sep 14, 2023
Kelli O'Hara (part 2) - Tony Award winner, Emmy and Grammy-nominated actress Kelli O'Hara has established herself as one of Broadway's greatest leading ladies. It’s her perspective on life, art, craft, and the importance of curiosity and discomfort that keeps her going in the biz.
Find out how her determination and initial lack of awareness helped her succeed!
Did she really have the audacity to crash an audition? Who was that mysterious man who played the piano for her? How does a sassy joke in the audition room lead to a starring role? And what seed planted 21 years ago bore fruit just this past year... and this coming Broadway season?
My two-part episode with Kelli will leave you asking yourself, “What am I, rather than what am I not?” and inspire you to, “Wake up, get up, and show up!”
INSTAGRAM: @kelliohara / TWITTER: @kelliohara
Apple Music / Spotify / Amazon Music
Thursday Sep 14, 2023
Thursday Sep 14, 2023
Kelli O'Hara (part 1)- Tony Award winner, Emmy and Grammy-nominated actress Kelli O'Hara has established herself as one of Broadway's greatest leading ladies. It’s her perspective on life, art, craft, and the importance of curiosity and discomfort that keeps her going in the biz.
Find out how her determination and initial lack of awareness helped her succeed!
Did she really have the audacity to crash an audition? Who was that mysterious man who played the piano for her? How does a sassy joke in the audition room lead to a starring role? And what seed planted 21 years ago bore fruit just this past year... and this coming Broadway season?
My two-part episode with Kelli will leave you asking yourself, “What am I, rather than what am I not?” and inspire you to, “Wake up, get up, and show up!”
INSTAGRAM: @kelliohara / TWITTER: @kelliohara
Apple Music / Spotify / Amazon Music
Sunday Sep 10, 2023
Sunday Sep 10, 2023
-
the self-doubt
-
the audition nerves (and ways to handle theme)
-
the "almost but not quite" jobs
-
the dream jobs
-
the Tony awards
-
the breaks that seemed like pure luck
-
the healthy practices
-
the best advice ever received
-
things they know now that they wish they knew then
David Eggers
Hi! Thanks for checking out my show, The Mental Game of Musical Theatre!
I started this show (and the book by the same title!) because too many people spend too much money & time to develop the skills for a career in musical theatre...
Only to find out they aren't prepared for the mental challenges that come with pursuing, building, and maintaining that career.
Having been a working actor (in 10 Broadway musicals), director, and choreographer in musical theatre for 25 years... before becoming an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre...
I am excited to bring this podcast (& book) to you!