Interviews

HIS BRILLIANT CAREER…CONTINUED Twelve years ago, Stage and Cinema’s Gregory Fletcher interviewed Santino Fontana for his 2011 performance in Roundabout’s Sons of the Prophet, for which he won a Lucille Lortel, Obie, and Outer Critics Circle Award. The New York Times theater critic Charles Isherwood raved about Fontana’s “sensitive performance” and introduced him as “one…

TITAN OF LAUGHS Drew Droege has stepped into the role of Ruth, Rose’s mother, after Titaníque’s first year of performances at Off-Broadway’s Daryl Roth Theatre. He’s performed two solo shows in New York at the Soho Playhouse: Bright Colors and Bold Patterns, and Happy Birthday Doug. In L.A., he’s done Die Mommie Die!, Bitches, The…

A WALLER OF STRENGTH The Creeps is a one-woman show created by and starring Catherine Waller, a native of Auckland, New Zealand. At Playhouse 46 at St. Luke’s, an intimate black box arena configuration that’s only a few rows deep, be prepared for six creeps onstage to speak directly to you. And they’ll expect a…

A COTTAGE BUILT FOR LAURA BELL BUNDY Currently running on Broadway for a limited run is the very funny bedroom farce, The Cottage by Sandy Rustin, directed by Jason Alexander, and with the stellar cast of Laura Bell Bundy, Eric McCormack, Lili Cooper, Nehal Joshi, Alex Moffat, and Dana Steingold. A send-up of the old-fashioned…

JASMINE GRACEFULLY BLOOMS Making her Broadway debut in Here Lies Love, triple-threat Jasmine Forsberg plays Maria Luisa and “Imelda’s Inner Voice.” Prior to this run, she played Jane Seymour in the first national tour of Six. Other credits include Off-Broadway’s Greenwich House Theater where she performed in Broadway Bounty Hunter, and regionally in the world…

AN ACTOR WHO WILL CHARM THE JOEY PANTS OFF YOU Joe Pantoliano, affectionately nicknamed Joey Pants, has a recognizable face and voice from decades of TV and film — too many to mention, but perhaps the most notable include The Goonies, La Bamba, Empire of the Sun, Midnight Run, The Fugitive, Bad Boys, Bound, U.S….

ON THE EVE OF ENLIGHTENMENT Melvin Richard  “Dakin”  Matthews has had a major theatrical presence on the west coast, the east coast, and at many regional theaters inbetween. He’s also made a multitude of appearances on TV and film — the list is over 250 credits. He’s currently performing at Lincoln Center Theater’s Vivian Beaumont Theater in…

EMILIO SOSA WEARS A GREAT ATTITUDE Has there ever been a costume designer for five Broadway productions in one season? Not just that, but with Tony Award nominations for Good Night, Oscar and Ain’t No Mo’. Meet costume designer extraordinaire Emilio Sosa, who had a chance in a very busy week to speak with Stage…

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR CAREER With the dynamic production of Champion at the Metropolitan Opera, directed with flair by James Robinson, and choreographed with a festive revelry by Camille A. Brown, three male singers play the protagonist Emile Griffith — the international prize-winning boxer of the 1960s and 70s, who also happened to be…

AN ANGEL IN NEW YORK, AND NEW YORK, NEW YORK Angel Sigala was born and raised near Mexico City. His parents moved the family to the U.S. when he was ten years old, and he quickly dove into learning English. Eight years later, he attended Temple University and majored in Theater, Film and Media Arts,…

FROM THE BAILEY OF JOY At Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row onf West 42nd Street, Stage and Cinema’s Gregory Fletcher spoke with Shanel Bailey, who stars in the first New York revival of Lynn Nottage’s professional debut Crumbs from the Table of Joy. Originally produced by Second Stage in 1995, the play clearly shows why so many…

ACE YOUNG AT HEART At The Tank theater on West 36th Street, Stage and Cinema’s Gregory Fletcher spoke with Ace Young who stars in Off-Off-Broadway’s Vatican Falls, the controversial play written and co-directed by Frank J. Avella which closely examines the Catholic sex abuse scandal while telling real survivor stories and exploring the fictional journey…

GETTING TO THE MEAT OF HER CAREER Michele Ragusa is blessed and touched by the theater Gods — they’re real, trust us. Her career in theater is simply glowing, full of variety, and seemingly constant, conquering both musical comedy and drama. Her resume of credits is thrilling: On Broadway, Michele has recently created the role…