Elsie Cast

I interview Rise producing director Rosemary Rodriguez about her work on the show. Mostly we gush about Auli'i Cravalho.  Because obviously. Find out more about Rosemary at www.rosemaryrodriguez.com Please subscribe to Elsie Cast and tell your friends about the podcast. Check out my shop on Zazzle.     

I talk to Ricky Winowiecki, CEO of Ann Arbor Tees about his long-standing relationship with Starkid, Darren Criss, Elsie Fest and Computer Games. Ann Arbor Tees has done merch for all four groups since 2011, and we got into the weeds about the technical aspects of providing merch for a group of crazy creative people. Ricky also took me through the development of Elsie Fest merch from design to the merch booth, and tells me some of his favorite moments from the two Elsie Fests he's attended. If you are dying to know who designed the merch for each Elsie Fest so far, this is the podcast for you! And don't miss the sale going on now until (probably) May at store.darrencriss.com! That sale includes official Elsie Fest merch!!! Info and tickets for Solve-It Squad For now, you can get your Elsie Cast merch at my shop on Zazzle, because I can't afford inventory, but as soon as I can, I'll be Team Ann Arbor Tees for sure!   

I interview Renee Grassi, youth librarian and long-time fan of Leslie Odom, Jr. We talk about Leslie, Smash, Hamilton, Glee, Spongebob, Rise, Boys in the Band, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and the joys of national tours. Among other things.  The episode ends with my recording of Lost Boys Life (Computer Games feat. Auli'i Cravalho) from Elsie Fest 2017. (Happy Birthday, Chuck!) Support the podcast by checking out my shop. 

I interview Camilla about loving Lea Michele. Along the way, we talk about Glee, what to do when your stan makes a show that terrifies you, Elsie Fest, Corey Cott, Alex Newell, Once On This Island, The Band's Visit, Casey Cott, Darren Criss and so much more! The episode ends with Darren Criss singing Duck Tales. (Prepare yourself for end-of-Elsie-Fest-feels). Support the podcast by visiting my shop on Zazzle.

First I talk about that video from Oscar night. You know, the one where they talk about Elsie Fest.  Then, I get to interview Matt Steele and Michael Steele (pictured) about their love of Lea Salonga. We stan and stan and talk about the importance of art in education and stan some more. They really are the biggest Lea Salonga fans.  The episode ends (as always) with a song from Elsie Fest 2017. Fittingly, it's "A Whole New World" sung by Darren Criss and Ingrid Michaelson.  Here's Matt Steele's video: I'm Lea Salonga's Understudy His YouTube channel is: www.youtube.com/twogaymatts More about Michael Steele at mikesteeleonline.com Don't forget to subscribe to Elsie Cast and check out my shop!   

I'm so excited to bring you my 40th episode!  I interview Patrick Keohane, the Online Presence Manager for TDF.  www.tdf.org The episode ends with Norm Lewis singing "What's Going On" at Elsie Fest 2017.  Support the podcast by taking a look at my shop. 

First I ramble about my own experiences at Broadwaycon, including the opportunity to meet Elsie alum Ari'el Stachel (pictured.) Then there's a snippet of a sing-along, a whole bunch of interviews, and finally some audio from the panels for The Band's Visit and Ahrens and Flaherty (including singing from Christy Altomare and Alex Newell.) Special thanks to all my guests: Ethan and Lyra Tim Alexis Sarah Gigi Mardie Samantha Abbie Thanks to Ann Arbor Tees and Sparkle! Designs for giveaway items.  Check out my Zazzle Store to keep all those giveaways free! 

This weekend was Broadwaycon. It was amazing. But I'm an introvert, and cons take a lot out of me. So instead of trying to stay up all night editing a podcast, I planned ahead and sent my Trusty Correspondent to the Darren Criss & Computer Games shows back in December. Heidi came on the show to tell me all about it, and she brought interviews with fans and a few songs from the show!  So sit back, relax, and listen to the sounds of the Homework Release Party. Thanks as always to Darren Criss, Ricky Rollins, and Jordan Roth for Elsie Fest. Find out more: www.elsiefest.com Special thanks to Heidi and everyone else whose voice appears on this show, especially Darren, who knows me so well. You can buy lots of cool merch (including the shirt Heidi delivered to Darren that Chuck says is "awesome") at my shop.  Donate to The Criss Project here. Or buy their merch here.  #MakeMoreArt

This episode is a bit different. Instead of an interview, Dr. Drama and I discuss Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. We had a really fun conversation and I learned some things. SPOILERS DISCUSSED through Season 3 episode 7.  TRIGGER WARNING for discussions of mental health issues as portrayed on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. More specific warnings in the podcast after the spoiler alert (because warnings include spoilers.)  If you need help you can reach the Suicide Prevention Helpline here: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Or the National Alliance for Mental Illness here: https://www.nami.org/ Also in this episode: All the details about finding me at Broadwaycon, news from Elsie alums, and at the end of the episode is my recording of Darren Criss singing Cough Syrup at Elsie Fest. Support the podcast by checking out my shop: Zazzle.com/ElsieCast

First, my review of Once On This Island. Can you believe I saw so many awesome things recently that I forgot to review The Greatest Showman?  Then, my interview with Janie and Amy from PetsofBroadway.org. We have a blast talking about...well, pets and Broadway. And make sure you listen all the way to the end so you don't miss my recording of Keala Settle and Darren Criss singing This Is Me at Elsie Fest. My stupid iPhone recording does not do justice to the experience of hearing that live, but it's something. Support the podcast by checking out my shop at Zazzle.com/ElsieCast

In the intro, I celebrate ALL the new things this weekend, and reveal the identity of the person who's going around telling people he knows me when he actually doesn't.  Then, I interview Broadwaycon Programming Director Sierra Fox. Find out everything you need to know about Broadwaycon!  And we end with my recording of Darren Criss singing Cabaret at Elsie Fest 2017.  Support the podcast by shopping on Zazzle.  The shirt Darren has is this one. 

An announcement of my upcoming celebration for 1,000 Twitter followers! (Thank you, thank you, thank you!) Then I interview Lou from StarKid Corner. We talk about being a StarKid fan, what it's like to love something that mostly happens in another country, the odd circumstance of being with some of the Warblers when they found out about Cory Monteith's death, and the responsibility of having an online following. Basically, Lou is just awesome, it's my first international interview, and you get to listen to her British accent!  And we go out on my recording of "Teenage Dream" from Elsie Fest. Support the podcast and help me pay for more giveaways by buying some things in my shop. 

The continuation of my conversation with Jenna Ushkowitz. I went back a minute or two so you could remember where we left off.   Then, in tribute to Jenna's favorite musical, my recording of Darren Criss singing "I Dreamed a Dream" at Elsie Fest.   Links: Epic Fail: http://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/mi3ke-3c603/Infinite-Positivities-with-Jenna-Ushkowitz Concert for America: https://www.facebook.com/pg/ConcertForAmerica/videos/?ref=page_internal (Jenna's is Hartford, CT)  Elsie Cast merch: http://www.zazzle.com/elsiecast?rf=238651255312043182&CMPN=share_dblst&lang=en&social=true        

My review of The Band's Visit followed by the first half of my conversation with Jenna Ushkowitz. Jenna and I talk about her appearance at Elsie Fest, growing up on Broadway, her first boyfriend (I'm so jealous), her new podcast Epic Fail, and of course Glee.  Find Epic Fail here.  And Hello Again here.  Find Elsie Cast merch in my shop.  The photo on this episode is Jenna's headshot from the Playbill for The King and I. 

I interview Jennifer Lyn, the woman behind Jeremy-Jordan.com and a professional usher who works at Waitress 8 shows a week. We talk about how she became an usher and what it's like, how she got to know Jeremy, and along the way we get to Elsie Fest, Darren Criss, Supergirl, Hillary Clinton, and Beyonce.  http://jeremy-jordan.com Buy Elsie Cast merchandise in my shop.  The shirt mentioned on the show is available here: https://www.zazzle.com/z/yno9u?rf=238651255312043182