Breaking Broadway with Kerry Butler
Ever wonder how to break into the business of Broadway? From how to get an agent to how to navigate open calls, we cover it all. This podcast is an insider’s roadmap to making it on Broadway.
Kerry Butler is a Tony nominated actress who made her Broadway debut in 1993 in Blood Brothers, before starring in shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Les Mis, Hairspray, Little Shop, Xanadu, Rock of Ages, Catch Me If You Can, Disaster!, and Mean Girls. She has numerous on screen credits such as 30 Rock, Cupid, The Mindy Project, Blue Bloods, and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. She was last seen as Barbara Maitland in Beetlejuice on Broadway.
Connect with Kerry via Instagram @kerrybutler1 and TikTok @kerrybutlernyc. For coaching and teaching, visit kerrybutlercoach.com, email kerrybutlercoach@gmail.com or follow @kerrybutlercoach on Instagram.
Produced by Alan Seales, Dori Berinstein and Kimberlee Garris. A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network.
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S3 EP13 I Can Cook Too, with Katie Webber & Dav...
I have been doing a series on side hustles, because people don’t talk about how much an actor’s salary can fluctuate. There could be one great year, and then a few years where you barely make money acting. That’s normal. This week we have Katie Webber and David Josefsberg: Actors who between the two of them have been in over 20 Broadway shows! They both found side hustles they love that work around their audition schedules AND tap into their other talents and creativity.
17 min
27
S3 EP12 What You Want, with Laura Bell Bundy
Laura Bell Bundy is about to star on Broadway in The Cottage! She has been acting in this business since she was eleven, when she starred in Ruthless! Off-Broadway. (She had some very famous understudies.) We have the best time catching up and hearing all her wonderful advice for performers- AND learning all about her business and activism that is so important to her- Womxn of Tomorrow.
39 min
28
S3 BONUS - Welcome to the Theater, with 2023 To...
Dream of getting a Tony on Broadway? Here are some words of advice from this year's Tony nominees, including Nikki Crawford, Wendell Pierce, Kevin Cahoon, Kevin Del Aguila, Jordan Cooper, Jen Weber, James Ijames, Eva Price and many more!
32 min
29
S3 EP11 - It's Corn with Robert Horn
Robert Horn, the Tony nominated writer of Shucked and classic tv shows Designing Women, Teen Beach Movie and so many others, tells us what the creative team looks for during auditions. And, why you may have given the best audition, but still not have gotten the part!
38 min
30
S3 EP10 - When Opportunity Knocks with Bonnie M...
Bonnie Milligan tells us how she went from open calls to getting a Tony nomination for Kimberly Akimbo on Broadway.
29 min
31
S3 BONUS - Nothing else but you…Tony, Tony
The 2023 Tony Nominees share the tough times they made it through before becoming a nominee. We spoke live with Nikki Crawford, James Ijames, Kevin Cahoon, Julia Lester, Lorna Courtney, NaTasha Yvette Williams, and Miriam Silverman just days after the nominations were announced. Get ready to be inspired!
13 min
32
S3 EP9 - Who Taught Her Everything She Knows? w...
We have Tovah Feldshuh, star of Funny Girl, as our guest. Tovah celebrates a milestone this month - 50 years being on Broadway! Listen as she shares her unconventional journey to getting on Broadway and decades of incredible stories along the way.
42 min
33
S3 EP8 - Gonna Sell Some Cookies, with Dana Ste...
Once you have made it on Broadway are you set? NO! We are always hustling! Dana talks about how she kept her “day” job while performing on Broadway. The dry spells can be long, so we all have to have other ways to make a living.
26 min
34
S3 EP7 - At the Ballet, with Aurore Joly and Da...
This week we have Aurore Joly, a dancer who lived and trained in Paris alone at a very young age, talking about her journey to New York. She is also my pilates instructor, and she helped me be able to do 8 shows a week with an injury. We ALSO have Dana Steingold on to talk about getting through 8 shows a week in Beetlejuice, and we may bring up the competition we had going to win the coveted Most Shows award.
44 min
35
S3 EP6 - FEARLESS with Mandy Gonzalez
This week we have my dear friend - the fearless Mandy Gonzalez. Mandy has starred in so many amazing broadway shows - Wicked, Hamilton, and In the Heights to name a few. Mandy talks about getting her start in theater, and how she was able to do 8 shows a week in Hamilton while being a mom AND going through cancer treatments. She is a survivor. Join us for this truly inspirational episode.
42 min
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S3 EP5 - Feed Me Seymour, with Katie Webber
This week we have triple threat Katie Webber on. Not only has Katie been in 9 broadway shows, but she is also a trained holistic nutritionist. Performers are athletes. She talks about how best to fuel our bodies to be able to do eight shows a week.
24 min
37
S3 EP4 - BREATHE with David Josefsberg
David Josefsberg has been in 9 broadway shows- most recently he had the great pleasure of playing my husband in Beetlejuice. 😂Staying on the topic of doing 8 shows a week- I interviewed David to find out his tricks.
24 min
38
S3 EP3 - Consider Yourself(Tape) - Part 2, with...
I found Andrew through Instagram and LOVED their content! Andrew breaks down the do’s and don’ts of self tape auditions from the casting director’s perspective. Whether it is for TV, film or theater, Andrew discusses the differences and shares how to nail the self tape.
19 min
39
S3 EP2 - Consider Yourself(Tape) - Part 1, with...
I found casting director Andrew Fem‘s instagram and LOVED their content! Andrew breaks down the do’s and don’ts of self tape auditions from the casting director’s perspective. Whether it is for TV, film or theater, Andrew breaks down the differences and shares how to nail the self tape.
24 min
40
S3 EP1 - When You’ve Got It, Flaunt It, with An...
I have my dear friend and Broadway darling Angie Schworer (Currently in Some Like it Hot) on to let us know how she has the stamina and energy to keep going from show to show. Angie gives us all the tips on how to get it, and how to flaunt it eight times a week!
26 min
41
S2 EP10 - It’s A Hard Knock Life - Part 2, with...
As someone who gets rejected pretty much every day, I have always felt comfort in hearing other people’s rejection stories. My advice is know that rejection is just part of being an actor and try not to take it personally. This episode will feature stories from Laura Bell Bundy and Telly Leung.
17 min
42
S2 EP9 - It’s A Hard Knock Life - Part 1, with ...
As someone who gets rejected pretty much every day, I have always felt comfort in hearing other people’s rejection stories. My advice is know that rejection is just part of being an actor and try not to take it personally. This episode will feature stories from Constantine Maroulis and Ann Harada.
11 min
43
S2 EP8 - What’s the story morning glory? - Part...
Find out how to work social media to market yourself. Our guest is the incredibly knowledgeable Bret Shuford - Broadway Actor, Create Life Coach and one half of the Broadway Husbands. You do not want to miss this one!
24 min
44
S2 EP7 - What’s the story morning glory? - Part...
Find out how to work social media to market yourself. Our guest is the incredibly knowledgeable Bret Shuford.
25 min
45
S2 Bonus - BEETLEJUICE CAST EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE...
The ghost-with-the-most is returning to Broadway! Barbara Maitland herself goes behind the scenes with Alex Brightman, Elizabeth Teeter, David Josefsberg, Adam Dannheisser, and Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer! She gets the inside scoop on all things Beetlejuice with answers to never-before-asked questions, funny back-stage anecdotes and rituals... all while having a few chuckles along the way.
25 min
46
S2 EP6 - A Fresh Take, with Director Sammi Cannold
In this episode we talk to Sammi Cannold about her journey to becoming a director - from putting on shows with shampoo bottles as a kid, to going to Stanford to study theater, to landing on Forbes Magazine’s 30 under 30 in Hollywood and Entertainment list. Listen to Sammi talk about what she looks for at auditions, her process as a director, and the fresh take she’s been bringing to the industry through site-specific musical theater productions.
31 min
47
S2 EP5 - I’m just a Broadway Baby! - Part 2, wi...
This episode features more of my conversation with my friend from Beetlejuice, Presley Ryan, and her mom Kim. We also have some VERY special guests. Spoiler alert - it’s my parents!
30 min
48
S2 Ep4 - I’m just a Broadway Baby! - Part 1, wi...
I ask my friend from Beetlejuice, Presley Ryan, and her mom Kim all about getting into the business as a kid and what it’s like being the youngest person in the room.
21 min
49
S2 Ep3 - A New Lens, with Schele Williams
In this episode we're joined by Schele Williams, director of the upcoming revival of AIDA. We explore looking at the world and theater through a post-COVID lens, talk about her children’s book Your Legacy, in which she looks at slavery through a new lens - and as always we get some great audition advice.
47 min
50
S2 Ep2 - Learn Your Lessons Well - Part 2, with...
We continue our interview with Kaitlin Hopkins from Bat Boy fame and currently the head of the Musical Theatre program at Texas State University. In this episode she talks about the mental wellness program she founded and shares with universities around the world.
16 min