http://www.thelynneshow.com/Audio/Podcasts/Show_640_%20Stephanie_Larkin_1_24_21.mp3

1-24-21 Interview with the extraordinary Stephanie Larkin, who is the poster child for the adage when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Beginning ballet school at 2 and “adoring” it, Stephanie thought she’d be a dancer. An injury at 13, left her with 6 years of surgeries. Spending her teenage years on crutches, and unable to walk, altered what would have been the natural trajectory of her life. Nudged by her mother to purse another early passion, music, Stephanie began by learning violin. She majored in music, where she learned to “play everything.” She now beleived that her career would simply be in music, as composer and performer. But life had another lemon to throw in her path, a lemon which became another opportunity for Stephanie to discover how versatile she is. Listen for enjoyment and inspiration to the way this intrepid woman turns adversity into opportunity. Stephanie doesn’t make lemonade, she makes champagne.

9-27-21 Actor, Choreographer, Director Jim Weaver is the Artistic Associate and Director of Education at Westcoast Black Theater Troupe. In this interview Jim talks about his life and his current project, directing the upcoming production of the musical revue Eubie. Like many artists, Jim always knew he wanted to be a performer. Unlike many however, he talked his parents into providing acting lessons when he was ten years old and, by the time he was fourteen, he had an agent and was a working actor. Listen to this veteran describe his journey from fourteen year old model, spokesperson and actor, to chorus, dance captain, choreographer, director and artistic associate . Also hear him talk about the exciting and moving, (in the physical sense) production of Eubie.
FYI in conjunction with all of the theaters in Sarasota, WBTT is requiring proof of vaccination, or proof of a negative Covid test within 72 hours, and the wearing of masks – the audience will also be social distanced

1-25=21 Carrie Seidman Passionate, talented and courageous Carrie Seidman is a dancer, a journalist, a cancer survivor, and parent of child with mental health issues. She discovered her passion for dance at three years old while watching her older sisters do what she was “too young “to do. Although assured that she could not begin to study until she was five Carrie managed to bully her teacher into letting her begin at “almost five.” And that tenacity is the hallmark of her life. Soft spoken and basically shy Carrie has a will of iron. She has survived everything life has thrown at her and emerged victorious. A graduate of Columbia University’s School of Journalism, Carrie has been a journalist for 40 years: a full time staff writer for the New York Times, Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, Albuquerque Journal and Albuquerque Tribune. For the last 10 years she wrote and incredibly popular column for the Sarasota Herald Tribune. Now, she’s created a new venue for her writing. She says “ Well, thanks to popular demand, I’ve caved and set up a newsletter on Substack.com to serve as a new platform for my writing and musings on Sarasota, community, family, creativity and connection. Please consider checking it out at https://carrieseidman.substack.com/welcome and I’d be grateful if you’d spread the word. I have missed you my readers!!

The Anatomy of an Artist Series with Lynne Bernfield
can be heard and downloaded https://thelynneshow.com/Audio/Podcasts/Show_628_1_14_21_Carolyn_and_Howard_SJT.mp3
1-14-21 Interviews with Carolyn Michel and Howard Millman.
On Sunday, January 31, 3:00 the first show of the brand new Sarasota Jewish Theater season will feature Carolyn, directed by Howard, performing Women I Have Loved featuring monologues from her favorite characters, and stories from her career, ranging from Sid Caesar and Broadway to performances in Regional Theaters and 24 seasons with Asolo Rep.
Carolyn Michel has had a storied career, from her success as a baby ballerina, to the early days at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, to performing with Sid Caesar on Broadway and on tour, major performances in Regional Theaters across the country, and 24 seasons on the Asolo stage.
Howard J. Millman was Producing Artistic Director of the Asolo Repertory Theatre from 1995 until he retired in 2006. Prior to rejoining the Asolo in 1995 he was Producing Artistic Director for Geva Theatre in Rochester, New York, Executive director of Pittsburgh Public Theatre and Managing Director of the Asolo. From 1968 to 1980. .
Today is Carolyn’s birthday, a great birthday gift would be buying a ticket and supporting the theater.
Get tickets at https://jfedsrq.org/events,

1-27-20 Interview

1-6-20 Interview

1-6-20 Interview
Joe Plummer describes himself as an “entertainer,” and it is certainly an apt description. Listen to him describe his surprising career as a singer, dancer, actor, playwright, songwriter and director although he never had a lesson or any training. And come to the First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota Tues 1/21 to Sat 1/25 to see him co-star as Louis Armstrong with Marta Mckinnon as Lil Hardin in “Lil and Louis,” a play by Jo Morello which tells the story of their love affair. Tickets at www.LILandLOUIS.com

11-12-19 Interview

7-8-19 Interview

1-1-19 Interview

6-24-19 Interview

6-3-19 Interview

6-3-19 Part 3 of my interview with Ballet Master Robert de Warren begins with a description of the frightening climax to his tour with Iran’s National Folklore Organization to celebrate America’s Bicentennial and his departure from Iran as that country descended into chaos. It goes on to describe his seven year tenure with La Scala in Milan which Rudolph Nureyev chose him to lead: a star studded period during which Robert choreographed and designed ballets for the world’s most prestigious dancers and for which Princess Margaret was the Ballet’s patron. It concludes with a description of the ironic way Robert began his 13 years leading the Sarasota Ballet Company.

3-27-19 Interview

5-27-19 In the 2nd part of my interview Robert de Warren talks about his studies with The Royal Ballet School, his early work with the Royal Opera Company, his first choreography with the Royal Ballet Choreographic workshop, his time with the Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Berlin Companies where he was finally able to dance principle roles. He talks about his first meeting with Rudolph Nureyev who would become his dear friend and sponsor, the injury to the sesamoid bones in his feet which threatened to end his career and his life, and how, at the Shahs’ request, he took over the National Ballet of Iran, later becoming Founder of Iran’s National Folklore Organization, where he documented and recorded previously unseen tribal ceremonies. It ends with his description of the both glorious and disastrous tour of America that he made with the troupe and his painful discovery of what would soon happen in Iran.

5-20-19 Interview
Dancer, Choreographer, Ballet Master, Scenic and Costume Designer, Producer, Director, educator, author and Artistic Director of the most prestigious Ballet Companies in the world Robert de Warren, is one of the legendary, illustrious, celebrated and influential members of the international ballet community. In Part 1 of my interview this erudite, entertaining, gifted man describes his early life; his birth in Uruguay, his childhood in Montevideo, meeting his beloved Jacqueline, his career in banking and the serendipitous way he discovered, at age 16, that he was meant to be a ballet dancer.

4-28-19 Interview

4/29/19 On May 6 2019 “The New York Theatre Barn is honoring co-founder and board member Sheilah Rae with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her exceptional contributions to musical theatre as a writer, composer, lyricist and performer for over 50-years, and her outstanding service and vision for New York Theatre Barn for more than a decade”. Sheilah found her life path very young. During the performance of “South Pacific” 5 year old Sheilah told her mother that she was “going to do that.” Her parents arranged for her to study dance with the renowned Edna McRae. Since Ms McRae also required that her students know music, 6 year old Sheilah began piano lessons. She was soon studying dance, piano, music theory and violin at the Chicago Conservatory of Music. She got her first role on Broadway in “Fiddler on the Roof” right out of college and never stopped adding to her arsenal of talents and accomplishments. Listen to this multi-talented, effervescent woman talk about a career in which she has done everything. And hear a song from one of her musicals (“I Married Wyatt Earp,” now called The Belle of Tombstone) lyrics by Sheilah and music by Michele Brourman.

1-24-19 Interview

1-28-19 Florida Studio Theater Associate Artist Catherine Randazzo bounded into life. She decided to play the piano at two, by four she was demanding that her family listen while she described and acted out her dreams, but that was just the beginning. A good student, she was also an actor, a singer, a dancer, a volleyball star, president of school government, member of the chorus/choir, accompanist to same. There isn’t room on the page for all of her skills and accomplishments, all of which was achieved with a positive, open, self-deprecating, warm energy. Listen to this, talented, charming, remarkable woman talk about a life in which everything is possible

11-19-18 Interview
11-19-18 By the time he was 9 years old Jeff Calhoun knew what he wanted to do: he wanted to be Dick Van Dyke, he wanted to be Fred Astaire, he wanted to join the Ernie Flat dancers on the Carol Burnet show. He wanted to be a dancer! It was, he says, “in his DNA.” And, as if it was meant to be, a series of circumstances propelled him on the path of dancer, choreographer and director of musicals. Listen to unexpected way he became the protégé of the amazing Tommy Tune and the remarkable series of happenstance’s that led to his directing such musicals as Jekyll and Hyde, Grease, Big River, Bonnie and Clyde – The Musical, Newsies, and Pulse. And luckily nor us he is back at the Asolo, teamed once again with the incomparable Noah Racey, to direct the Broadway classic Music Man. Listen to this thoughtful, generous, self-deprecating man talk about a life spent “imagining” for the theater.

10-8-18 Interview

10/8/18 Susan Angerman’s mother taught her to sew when she was eight years old, she made her doll’s clothes and her own clothes. She was passionate about Dance, especially Ballet, and at fourteen became part of the Charleston Ballet Company, where her sewing came in handy because, in this small company, dancers had to make their own costumes. Although she loved to dance, when it was time to move towards a career as a dancer, she knew that it was not the life for her. She studied design at the French Fashion Academy, where she then taught for several years. Finally deciding that costuming for the theater provided the perfect opportunity to combine her skills and interests, she went to work for the “most prestigious costume shop in New York,” getting freelance work and building a resume. After many years as costume shop manager, she has created a new career as an image consultant and is once again taking freelance costuming jobs; come see her costumes at Florida Studio Theater’s cabaret production of “Unchanged Melodies”

2-11-19 Interview

Many artists describe themselves and their work with one or a few adjectives, they’re a writer, a painter, a musician, an actor, a singer, a dancer; they work with light or sound or design. Eliza Ladd uses all these adjectives and more to describe herself and her art. She has spent her life exploring every possible way a person can express themselves creatively. Although she didn’t know how she was going to use all the skills she pursued, Eliza followed her curiosity and instinct and has created an art which synthesizes all of the skills she studied, trained in and developed. Listen to this spontaneous, guileless, breathless woman describe a journey for which there was no roadmap, a life in which she had to be her own guide and in which she created an Art which is uniquely her own

7-30-18 Interview

Actor, singer, dancer, musician, educator Kyle Blanzel realized that he was performer when his 2nd grade costar, Mrs. Claus, sang his line instead of hers and he went on with the show, just like a professional. Years of training and understudying Joe Kinosian, one of the writers of Murder for Two, in the National Tour of the show, made him the absolutely best choice to portray the role/s (12) he is currently playing in the Florida Studio Theater production. Don’t miss this!