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LWAG Video Interviews

TELEPHONE STORIES!

After two years of interviews, investigation and my partner’s tireless writing, I feel compelled to share Telephone Stories with you all!
Season One: The Trials of Michael Jackson.
Premiering on May 12- Check it out!

Listen HERE!

Episode 88: Stage director, dramaturg – Sara Widzer

Sara Widzer is my guest, this week. Sara and I met once-upon-a-time, during a production of Faust. I had a tie-on beard. That’s how long ago. She’s since gone on to direct in A houses across the country. Directorial style, the process, and politics in opera are all on the table, along with a whole bunch more interesting stuff. Enjoy, and thanks for listening!

Xmas 2017

I’m taking the holiday off, but I’ll be back with great interviews again, beginning the first week of January. In the meantime, check out my new daily podcast, “The Artist’s Almanac” at www.theartistsalmanac.org.

Thanks for your continued support, and Happy Holidays to you all!

Omar

Episode 87: Soprano and KUSC radio host – Jennifer Miller

Jennifer Miller is my guest this week. Jen and I go back to 2009, where we performed together in a production of Faust- she as Marguerite and me as Faust. That’s us in the picture, way back then. Jen has since moved on to KUSC, where she hosts a show entitled, “California Classical All Night.” “How do you make a living when you get out of music school” is a constant theme on my show, and this episode is no exception. Jen’s at the beginning of her radio career, and she’s killing it! Enjoy!

Episode 86: Comedian, entrepreneur, filmmaker, author, and all-around polymath – Louise Palanker

Louise Palanker is a true polymath. Comedian, author, performer, radio host, and entrepreneur are just a few words to describe her many fields of expertise, and we talk about it all in this great episode. She was also a witness for the prosecution and her eventual (and current) husband, Ron Zonen, during the Michael Jackson trial in 2005- and yes, we talk about that, along with sexual harassment at The Comedy Store, working on shows from That’s Incredible to Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, and a whole bunch of other stuff, too. I loved talking with Louise, and I bet you’ll love listening to her- enjoy!

Episode 85: Mezzo-soprano, illustrator, expert meditator – Veronica Christenson

Veronica Christenson has been a colleague of mine at the LA Opera for over a decade, and this was my chance to have a few minutes with this lovely lady all to myself. She’s a world-class mezzo, but that’s not the only reason I wanted to chat… she’s also a student of Shaolin Kung Fu Meditation! I’ve dabbled both in martial arts and meditation, and I’m thrilled to have her on the show to teach me more about it all! Try meditation, folks. It’ll change your life- Enjoy!

Episode 84: Composer, pianist, arranger, producer – Stephen Edwards

Composer, arranger, producer, Stephen Edwards is on the show! With more than 175 soundtrack and composer credits to his name, Stephen is one of Hollywood’s most productive composers. He’s also written classical compositions, most notably his Requiem For My Mother, which received performances both at Carnegie Hall and the Vatican. Stephen is a great guy, and there’s a lot to learn about, here! Enjoy!

Me, me, me.

In case you missed it, I was on the Choir Chat Podcast! John C. Hughes graciously let me ramble on and on about anything but music. We cover politics, healthcare, coastal “elitism”, fraud syndrome, and I probably mentioned that I like singing in choirs in passing, as we quickly move on to the state of the arts in America and lack of government funding, or something like that. I think I even started interviewing him at one point, and as far as I know, he didn’t turn off the mics, or anything. It’s all here. Just me. Me, me, me.

Episode 83: Singer, producer, composer – Ron Dante

Singer, producer, composer, Ron Dante is my guest this week! You know him as the voice of the Archies and their smash-hit single, “Sugar Sugar.” But did you know that he co-produced, along with the Schuberts, the Tony Award-winning musical, Ain’t Misbehavin’? Or that he produced NINE of Barry Manilow’s albums? Or that he was the editor of the Paris Review for almost a decade? Or that he’s writing and producing a new musical with Rupert Holmes?? Me neither! But I do now- and you will too, when you hear all the details, right here on LWAG! Enjoy!