Show Notes
Two-time Grammy Award nominee Lisa Lampanelli was known for more than 30 years as “Comedy’s Lovable Queen of Mean.” A constant on the comedy scene, with countless tours, 13 NBC “Tonight Show” appearances, and sold-out performances at Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall under her belt, she became well-known for her roasting skills, publicly lambasting everyone from David Hasselhoff to Flavor Flav to Pamela Anderson on Comedy Central. In 2016, Lisa decided to do something a little different. She wrote “Stuffed,” a four-person play about food and body-image issues, which enjoyed two off-Broadway runs! Her charitable efforts -- she raised $130,000 for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis during season 5 of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” and won $50,000 for the same organization on Fox’s “Celebrity Weakest Link” – are among her proudest achievements. She is currently serving as Associate Producer of “The People Versus Lenny Bruce," which has begun performances Off Broadway at Theatre Row now until June 28th!
More from I Wanna Be Like You with Elbi Cespedes
Steven Skybell has become most well known as Tevye in the Yiddish version of Fiddler on the Roof which has done multiple NYC runs since 2019. Next up he'll be starring Off Broadway in the new play Aftermath by David Zax which starts performances at A.R.T./NY’s Mezzanine Theatre with performances beginning October 19th! Most recently he was seen on Broadway alongide Bebe Neuwirth in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club as Herr Schultz! His other Broadway credits include The Full Monty, Wicked, Pal Joey and many more! He'll reprising the role of Tevye in the Yiddish version in 2027 at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles!
Chad Beguelin is a Tony Award nominated lyricist whose work has been seen on stage and screen! Most notably him and writing partner composer Matthew Sklar wrote The Prom (which was adapted into a Ryan Murphy helmed Netflix film starring Meryl Streep), Elf the Musical and The Wedding Singer! He also wrote additional lyrics alongside Alan Menken for the Broadway adaptation of Disney’s Aladdin (still running on Broadway having recently celebrated 11 years) finishing the work of an inspiration of his, Howard Ashman! Most recently, he penned his first novel Showmance which was released in 2024! We get to discussing his entire career, the new musical he’s working on with the creative team of The Prom and more!
Larry Fuller is a Tony Award nominated choreographer who’s career in the theater spans decades on and offstage. His work as a choreographer includes the original Broadway productions of Evita, Sweeney Todd, and Merrily We Roll Along! As a performer himself, he was a swing in the original Broadway cast of West Side Story, the original production of The Music Man and Funny Girl starring Barbra Streisand! We get to discussing it all as well as his new book to be released in the spring of 2027!
Timothy Hughes is gearing up to star in the upcoming Broadway musical Wanted! Some previous Broadway credits include the original Broadway casts of Frozen and Hadestown, the latter earned him an article in The New York Times regarding his height (6'7"). Most recently on screen he was featured alongside Lisa Kudrow in the final season of HBO's The Comeback. Another major screen credit is The Greatest Showman, where he played Strong Man. You may have also heard his voice on Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis' concept album Warriors singing We Got You alongside Joshua Henry! Other Broadway credits include Chaplin, Sweeney Todd (2023) and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child!
Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf is cellist with more than 20 Broadway credits. She currently plays in the pit of The Great Gatsby on Broadway! Some of her theater credits include the original Off Broadway production of The Last 5 Years, The Bridges of Madison County, A Little Night Music (2009 revival) and many others. In 2021, she released her debut album Music of Broadway For Cello and Piano which featured new orchestrations of music by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Alan Menken and many more! We discuss all of that, the quote Elaine Stritch gave her for her website, and even get a LIVE CELLO PERFORMANCE IN STUDIO!