Living the Dream with Rory O'Malley

Siobhan talks to Rory about making her way from the London theatre scene to SUNSET BOULEVARD on Broadway opposite Glenn Close and eventually to Los Angeles. Siobhan has had a very unique experience during her career including reality tv shows, taking time off to study fashion, and a serious health scare.  She has found a way to stay centered through all of it by having a meditation practice.

Wes Taylor (ROCK OF AGES, ADDAMS FAMILY, SMASH) talks about his early success right out of college and how it had its pros and cons. He immediately had a great role on Broadway but realized years later that the business doesn't usually operate that way.  Wes and Rory have an honest conversation about being up for the same role and how they managed their disappointment with that specific project. Wes is incredible creative and shares hiss secret on writing projects for himself and how he gets them made.

Taran (SNL, HAMILTON, KILLING GUNTHER) and Rory talk about their shared experience of playing King George III in HAMILTON on Broadway.  Taran walks us through his years in Groundlings, through his audition for SNL and his experience on that iconic show. He also explains how he and his equally successful wife, Cobie Smulders, balance work life and family. Taran talks about his latest project, the film KILLING GUNTHER, which he wrote, directed and stars in with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Jimmy is the host of the very successful podcast NEVER NOT FUNNY and his new podcast PLAYING GAMES with JIMMY PARDO. Jimmy started as a stage actor but found his calling in standup comedy and began touring the country eventually ending up at The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. He tells Rory about his early days in the business and how juggles his comedy career and family life. Jimmy has a real love of Broadway and explains to Rory how they were almost in the movie DREAMGIRLS together.

Nicole Parker (MADtv, WICKED, FAME BECOMES ME) talks with Rory about her path to success in the improv and sketch comedy world which landed her in the cast of MADtv and set her in stone in the eyes of the industry as a comedic actress, even though her first passion for performing came from musical theater. Nicole eventually made her way to Broadway and even performed as Elphaba but she has found herself having to decide between the two worlds her entire career. She is a hilarious human being with incredibly unique stories including one about her high school's production of INTO THE WOODS that you will never forget.

Edi Patterson (VICE PRINCIPALS on HBO) talks with Rory about coming up in the comedy world through the Groundlings and how she became a master at improvisation and sketch. Edi and Rory worked together on the TV show PARTNERS with Kelsey Grammer and Martin Lawrence, and quickly became pals.

Amber Iman (HAMILTON, SOUL DOCTOR, SHUFFLE ALONG) talks with Rory about growing up in the Atlanta theater scene with her actress mother. Amber went to Howard University on a full academic scholarship and then went back to her hometown to get her start but after years of "playing it safe" was give an ultimatum by loved ones to break out of her comfort zone and move to the big apple.  Rory and Amber talk about her ups and downs in New York City and her love of NICKELBACK.

Rory answers listener's questions and replays his converation with his buddy Josh Gad. Josh is currently starring in the movie MARSHALL about Thurgood Marshall and will be seen later this year in THE ORIENT EXPRESS.

Jeff Greenberg is the Emmy Award winning casting director for MODERN FAMILY, CHEERS, FRASIER and many more groundbreaking hit TV series. He got his start in the business as a stage actor and made his way in casting through the LA theatre scene. Jeff's stories about casting Kirstie Alley in CHEERS and letting Lisa Kudrow go from FRASIER (she booked FRIENDS the next year) are priceless examples of the crazy nature of this industry.

Barrett Foa (NCIS:LA, Avenue Q, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) was born and raised in NYC so his love for theater naturally led him to Broadway, but winding up on one of TV’s longest running TV shows was a little more of a surprise. Barrett explains how he moved to LA and within weeks found himself on NCIS: LA and how he has navigated the transition from Broadway to TV.

Mo Brady (The Addams Family, Smash, The Ensemblist) talks with Rory about his move from Broadway ensemble to Video and Social Media Producer for a major charity, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Mo explains how he came to embrace a change in career and “hung up his tap shoes”. His podcast, The Ensemblist has given him an outlet to continue in the performing world and share stories of his fellow Broadway ensemble members. The new season of The Ensemblist starts October 1st!  

Marilu Henner (Taxi, Evening Shade, Chicago on Broadway) talks to Rory about her amazing career and how she went from the first ever production of Grease to TV star, to Broadway star and then health & wellness book mogul. Marilu has done it all and remembers every single bit of it due to her Highly Superior Auto-Biographical Memory that gives her the ability to know what she was doing every single day of her life. She is a remarkable woman who loves her family and is full of energy and joy. 

Joseph Leo Bwarie, who played Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys on Broadway and all over the country, reminisces with Rory about the old days while seated in the very theater where they met many years ago.  Joe is talking over as co-Artistic Director for the Garry Marshall Theatre where both he and Rory got their start in Happy Days the Musical working for their mentor, Garry Marshall. Joe walks us through his journey to getting the role of Frankie Valli, his 9 years playing the part and his recent decision to take on his biggest role yet- Artistic Director at a theater he loves dearly.

Meet Hamiltour’s Eliza! The super talented Solea talks about booking this dream job just six weeks after graduating from college. Solea is an incredibly sweet and humble young woman who initially had a hard time believing it when they asked her to play Eliza, but has learned to embrace it and remember that she worked hard for it. Her boyfriend Ryan Vasquez is also a cast member on the tour and recently went on for the first time as the understudy for Hamilton.  Solea describes what it feels like to have an onstage kiss with the person you love and how they deal with working together. She also shares her harrowing story about a health scare that she feared would end her career before it started. Her enthusiasm for life is infectious and her wonderful career is only getting started.

Rubèn Carbajal (Hamiltour's John Laurens/Philip Hamilton) is ecstatic to be back in his hometown of Los Angeles performing at the Pantages where he grew up seeing plays that inspired him to get into acting including In The Heights starring Lin Manuel Miranada. His story of getting into Hamilton involves an open call, Mandy Gonzalez, and a hilarious tricked played on him by his agents. Rory and Rubén talk about their Jesuit education, handling rejection, and the moment that Rory tries to make Rubén smile on stage every show.