Behind the Curtain with Joe Brown
Bradshaw Performing Arts Center
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This podcast is presented by The Bradshaw Performing Arts Center and features conversations with people who are involved in all things performing and cultural arts. A behind the scenes look at what goes into creating live entertainment from the point of view of musicians, theatre and dance professionals, artists, and much more.
Available episodes
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May 4, 2021
Michael Pizzi: Producing and Artistic Director of Sandhills Repertory Theatre
*MICHAEL PIZZI* has been performing since age 6 when he sang “Edelweiss” in his first grade concert. He received his Equity card from Goodspeed Opera House playing Lewis Morris, delegate from NY, in 1776. Other roles included Fezziweg in A Christmas Carol (Fords Theatre), Pirate/Smee u/s in "Peter Pan" (North Carolina Theatre), Judge Turpin & Pirelli in two different "Sweeney Todd’s", Peter (Fulton Opera House, Lancaster PA) & Judas in two different "Jesus Christ Superstar’s" & three times the privilege of playing Sancho Panza in Man of La Mancha (his favorite musical). He enjoys singing in cabaret style which allows him the chance to sing some of his favorite songs of characters he will never be able to play!
Currently, he is Producing and Artistic Director of the *Sandhills Repertory Theatre*, bringing all NYC and Broadway talent to the Sandhills, with a percentage of ALL show net profits funding performing arts in Moore County schools. He is also the creator and producer of the Special Broadway Camp for children with special needs in the Sandhills.
Besides being an artist, Michael is an occupational therapist, a health and wellness lifestyle coach and co-owner of the NC organization Sandhills Adaptive Living (SAL). Michael splits his time between Pinehurst and NYC.
www.sandhillsrep.org
www.wellsongsproject.com
Apr 19, 2021
Abigail Dowd: Singer/Songwriter
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Abigail Dowd grew up under the longleaf pines in the Sandhills region of North Carolina. * Her upcoming album “Beautiful Day” releases on April 23, 2021. Recorded live with a full band at the Fidelitorium, the album was produced by Grammy nominated engineer/mixer Jason Richmond.*
Known for her storytelling and command of an audience, she has been called "a writer of the highest caliber” (The All Scene Eye). Her soulful voice and unique classical guitar style combined with the edgy bass of Jason Duff caught the attention of Acoustic Guitar Magazine, which described their album “Not What I Seem”: “The guitar-driven introspective folk of the 1970s [as] a touchstone, but so are blues and roots rock ’n’ roll.”
Pulling from her heritage of storytelling and determination, Dowd weaves hints of Celtic melodies with the soulful gospel of the south to create a sound that dances between folk, rock and blues.
Visit to learn more: www.abigaildowd.com
Apr 6, 2021
Dr. Jonathan Drahos: Director of Theater at UNC Pembroke
Jonathan is a professor and Director of Theatre at University of North Carolina Pembroke and also the owner and creative director of Uprising Theatre Company who is responsible for the production of Shakespeare in the Pines each summer in the Village of Pinehurst.
Uprising Theatre Company
UNCP Theatre Program
Mar 22, 2021
Joyce Reehling: Film, TV, and Broadway Stage Actor
Joyce, originally from a small town in Maryland, spent 30 years in New York City working as an actress working in theatre, TV, and film.
She appeared in the original cast of Fifth of July and Prelude to a Kiss on Broadway, and notable off-Broadway productions such as The Hot L Baltimore, the Miss Firecracker Contest, and the runner stumbles.
As a member of Circle Repertory Company, Joyce had a chance to work with some big-name actors such as William Hurt, Christopher Reeve, Debra Monk, Swoosie Kurtz, Jeff Daniels, Alec Baldwin, and Mary Louise Parker.
She also did many TV and Radio commercials, most famously she was the original “Doctor Mom” in the popular Robitussin TV commercials and the voice for IKEA’s radio commercials.
Her TV work included such shows as Law & Order, Ed, Kate and Allie, NYPD Blue, and Cosby as well as numerous daytime dramas. Lastly, her film credits include Longtime Companion, Lorenzo’s Oil, and Roommates.
Joyce is a proud member of Actors Equity and the Screen Actors Guild. She and her husband now live in Pinehurst, NC where she writes for the local newspaper, The Pilot and has performed locally a couple of times with the Judson Theatre Company, the Sandhills local professional theatre.
Mar 8, 2021
Lori Lorion: Artist and College Professor of Visual Arts
Lori Lorion is the Program Coordinator and Professor of Visual Arts at Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, NC. A talented artist herself, Lori's passion for art is matched only by her love of teaching. We discuss the many places Lori has lived and worked that has influenced her life in art and her approach to art education. We also discuss how important nurturing creativity is for both children and adults and how modern technology provides many non-traditional outlets for individual expression.
Check out the virtual gallery, "Retrospective" by Lori Lorion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgg0Eej85UI
Feb 15, 2021
Dr. John Dempsey: President of Sandhills Community College
Dr. John Dempsey has been President of Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, NC for the past 27 years. He is widely known for his leadership and fundraising abilities, however, the culture he has created over the years at the College and in this Community is perhaps his most important legacy. A large part of this is his love and support of the arts. We discuss how important the arts can be to a community and how he believes the new Bradshaw Performing Arts Center can lead the way.
Jan 28, 2021
Baxter Clement: Musician and Owner of Casino Guitars
Baxter Clement is a musician and owner of Casino Guitars in Downtown Southern Pines, NC. Baxter is a musical genius whose quirky nature and passion for music is infectious. He attended the O'Neal School, the North Carolina School for Performing Arts for high school where he studied classical guitar and then went on to earn a full scholarship to Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music. After graduation he moved to New York, worked as a pit musician on Broadway and created a band which found a good bit of success, The Blondes, Inc. He later toured with Richard Lloyd, formerly of Television. He returned to North Carolina in 2006, opened a teaching studio (Sandhills School of Performing Arts) and finally pursued his passion for finding beautiful guitars by opening Casino Guitars. www.casinoguitars.com
Jan 13, 2021
Morgan Sills: Executive Producer of Judson Theatre Company
Morgan Sills is the Executive Producer of Judson Theatre Company and has lived NYC and worked extensively in many roles for Broadway Theatre productions. As one of the only professional theatre companies in the Sandhills of North Carolina, Morgan has been able to bring big names in an array of productions that have taken place at The Bradshaw Performing Arts Center (BPAC). We discuss Morgan's trajectory to Broadway and then his reasoning for starting his own theatre company. We also discuss how COVID19 has effected Broadway's workforce and the theaters themselves.