{"id":261,"date":"2016-04-15T19:56:24","date_gmt":"2016-04-15T19:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mgs.performerstuff.com\/?p=261"},"modified":"2017-09-22T21:35:07","modified_gmt":"2017-09-22T21:35:07","slug":"broadways-backbone-brad-bradley-podcast-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/broadways-backbone-brad-bradley-podcast-2\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Essentials: Broadway’s Backbone – Brad Bradley Podcast"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Broadway’s Backbone – Brad Bradley Podcast<\/h3>\n
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Written by Andrea Canny<\/p>\n

April 6, 2016<\/p>\n

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Broadway\u2019s Backbone<\/em> <\/a>is a podcast dedicated to the men and women of the ensemble: the chorus of dancers, singers, and actors that are the foundation of every Broadway musical.\u00a0 These often-unsung gypsies are the hardest working people \u2018on the boards\u2019 and are Broadway\u2019s backbone. Each episode interviews a Broadway vet about their life, career and dreams, but also delves into other real-life topics that aren\u2019t always shared.\u00a0 The life of a gypsy maybe full of passion, but is not always filled with glamour. Each guest shares intimate details about their journey. Broadway\u2019s Backbone is hosted by Brad Bradley, a Broadway Performer himself. It\u2019s a real look into the life of which so many kids dream. This podcast is in honor of the folks of the ensemble and the people who plan to become them.<\/p>\n


Q: What inspired you to create Broadway\u2019s Backbone?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: I was visiting close friends in Maine, and we were all listening to the Broadway Channel on Sirius radio.\u00a0 All the interviews were with stars or celebrities that made Broadway seem so unobtainable. I said that there should be a program that featured the kids of the chorus because after all that is what the majority of folks will be. My friends encouraged me to make it happen myself, and the podcast began.<\/p>\n

Q: What is your goal in sharing these stories on the show?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: The initial purpose of Broadway\u2019s Backbone was to give back to the theatre community that has given me so much and to celebrate the folks in the ensemble. There is so much I wish I knew at a young age. With this podcast, I feel I can share insight with future theatergoers and performers.<\/p>\n

Q: Can you elaborate on why sharing this information is so important?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: I\u2019ve spent the last several years doing regional theatre and getting to know the young \u2018up and comers.’ They were so interested in my Broadway stories, and it shocked me. To me, I was \u201cjust\u201d in the ensemble. I then realized I had to get the word \u201cjust\u201d out of my vocabulary. It\u2019s honestly not something I believe, but since I hear \u201che\u2019s just a dancer\u201d or \u201che\u2019s only in the chorus\u201d all the time, it\u2019s become what I expect people to think.\u00a0 I want to change the stigma of the ensemble being in the background and put them in the spotlight for once.<\/p>\n

Q: Who in your career has inspired you in the way you want to inspire others?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: I got the gift of working with the great Chita Rivera, and she talked to me at length about the importance of paying your dues.\u00a0 She said everyone should go through the chorus. This is where the craft is perfected, and discipline is formed.<\/p>\n

Q: What are some of the sensitive or real topics you touch on in these interviews?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: I think it\u2019s important for people interested in the theatre to listen because it sheds light on the fact the even successful performers on Broadway have the same insecurities and self-doubt just like anyone else. Bullying, weight issues, anxiety and feelings of failure are part of everyone\u2019s story.\u00a0 The difference is, this podcast shows examples of powering through these issues and taking control of one’s path and passion.<\/p>\n

Q: What do you feel your podcast offers that others don\u2019t?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: This show isn\u2019t a sugar coated take on this profession. The guests are raw yet passionate. I ask people about the grit and the suffering and the real life of it, the stuff no one else talks about. That being said, the foundation of everyone\u2019s story is love for the craft and gratitude. (And a lot of laughter!)\u00a0 When hearing about someone\u2019s struggles and downfalls and then that\u2019s followed up by a story of performing on the Tony\u2019s or recording a cast album, everyone is humanized.<\/p>\n

Q: Any parting words to those \u2018Broadway hopefuls\u2019 who may be listening and wanting to follow in the footsteps of your guests?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Broadway or a successful theatrical career anywhere in the world is obtainable, and I wanted to give listeners an extra tool to make that happen.\u00a0 At the end of the day, even though the spotlight is on my guest, they are sharing their inspiration to the next youth or elder who will be in the spotlight. (Or perhaps lifting or dancing behind the person in the spotlight.)<\/p>\n

Check out\u00a0Broadway\u2019s Backbone<\/em> here:\u00a0Podcast with Broadway veteran, Brad Bradley<\/a><\/p>\n

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Brad Bradley<\/strong>‘s Broadway credits include the original casts of \u201cSpamalot\u201d, \u201cPeople in the Picture\u201d, \u201cAnnie Get Your Gun\u201d (w\/ Bernadette Peters & Reba McEntire) \u201cThou Shalt Not\u201d, \u201cSteel Pier\u201d and closing Broadway cast of \u201cBilly Elliot\u201d. Brad starred as Patsy opposite Gary Beach\u2019s & Richard Chamberlain\u2019s King Arthur on the 1<\/i>st<\/sup><\/i>\u00a0National Tour of \u201cSpamalot.\u201d\u00a0 NYC – \u201cI am Harvey Milk\u201d, “Chita: A Legendary Celebration,\u201d and \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d. Recent roles include Bert in \u201cMary Poppins\u201d, Igor in \u201cYoung Frankenstein\u201d, Phil in \u201cWhite Christmas,\u201d and Spats in\u00a0 \u201cSugar\u201d. At age 12, Brad was a back up dancer for Michael Jackson in the Pepsi commercial.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Andrea Canny<\/strong> is a professional entertainer (31 years), writer, director, producer, studio vocalist, vocal performance\/cabaret coach, adjudicator as well as cabaret artist who is currently writing a book on\u00a0integrity in the entertainment business.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [...]","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":262,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[261,260,269,256],"tags":[6,12,50,39,53,331,329,8,308,52,328,325,321,56,10,330,14,316],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=261"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}