Makin’ It Happen: A Career in the Performing Arts
Makin’ It Happen: A Career in the Performing Arts podcast gives you inside information on how to break into the professional performance arts industry; on stage including Broadway, in film, on television, commercials, print, voice over and more. Host, Leesa Csolak features a line-up of professional performers, directors, musical directors, choreographers, casting directors, agents and managers as well as parents of minors; all here to help you understand their world, their journey and how you, too can be a part of it all. For more information on how to create, curate and navigate a career in the performing arts, visit https://www.lbctalent.com
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Episodes
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
Episode Overview
In this enlightening episode of Making It Happen, join host Leesa Csolak as she discusses the intricate world of the performing arts industry from the unique perspective of a parent. Speaking with guest Teresa Pfefferle, mother of a young performer, listeners will gain practical strategies and valuable insights for helping their child seamlessly break into this incredibly competitive field.
Episode Highlights
Listeners will learn about the rigors of auditioning, rehearsing, and fulfilling professional commitments as a young artist. Teresa shares her personal experiences, comparing the dynamics of professional pursuits with that of school plays, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining open communication and balance with your blossoming talent. Hear firsthand accounts of the challenging and rewarding journey of fostering a child's artistic passion without compromising their academics or personal growth.
Additional Insights
Tune in as we discuss the importance of decision-making and finding a balance that works specifically for your family. This episode provides a profound and invigorating peek into the world of showbiz parenting, filled with invaluable advice on managing roles, dealing with agents, preparing children for auditions, and more. We also address managing the pressure of schooling and personal development amidst pursuing passion, highlighting the benefits of distance learning programs.
Pave Your Way To Broadway
Dig deeper into the world of Broadway in a special segment featuring the mother-daughter duo of Broadway hopeful Lila Pfefferle and her mom, Laura. Learn about their collaborative process, the challenges and shifts brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, and their anticipation for Lila, soon to turn 18, stepping into the professional world of auditions.
Helpful Resources
Connect with us on social media at ttrigas and follow Lila's journey on lila_pfefferle. For more information about online courses to aid your break into the performing arts industry, visit lbctalent.com.
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
In this episode of "Making It Happen: A Career in the Performing Arts," we present an engaging conversation with Teresa Pfefferle, the driving force behind her child's successful performing career. Hosted by Leesa Csolak, this episode unveils the intriguing roller-coaster journey of parenting a child actor, offering practical advice, insights and a peek into the intricate world of child acting.
From the bustling streets of New York to the pressures of casting rooms, Teresa shares her firsthand experiences and valuable insights about the performing arts industry. Our discussion explores various aspects, including casting auditions, managing agents, legalities, and obtaining the required education for child actors.
The episode also highlights the unique challenges faced by parents nurturing their children's talents at an early age. Whether you are a parent of a budding performer or you are intrigued by the performing arts scene, this episode is an essential listen. Dive deep into the world of child acting, learn about behind-the-scenes terms such as "callback" and "being on hold," and unearth practical information about the actual experiences on set.
We also emphasize the crucial role the parents and the entire backing team play in ensuring the child's success in the industry, from staying updated about industry trends to fostering constant training, even outside of auditions. Join us as we unravel the exhilarating yet challenging narrative of Teresa's journey in the child acting industry and learn invaluable tips on nurturing your child's performing arts dreams.
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Dive into the captivating episode of 'Making it Happen: A Career in the Performing Arts' with Leesa Csolak and actor, dancer, and singer Curtis Holland. Known for his contributions on Broadway, Holland shares insights into breaking into the performing arts industry, finding professional representation, and establishing a successful career.
In the episode Holland shares his journey in the performing arts, from experiencing his early encounters with musical theater to embarking on a vocal training journey.
Listen to this enriching episode that uncovers essential elements for pursuing and thriving in a performing arts career. Find out how genuine love for the arts, hard work, persistence, and readiness to evolve, contributes to success in any given field. This narrative truly resonates with anyone wishing to make it big in any industry.
Also, get rare glimpses into Holland's professional space transformation, handling unexpected career changes, interpreting the importance of 'fit' in casting, and understanding the diverse forms of success beyond Broadway.
The episode winds down, outlining the significance of authenticity, and the need to express oneself while savoring the journey, despite the challenges the industry presents.
Join us on Sundays at 8 p.m. Eastern for more insightful dialogues on succeeding in the performing arts industry. For more nuggets, follow us at LeesaCsolak_ LBCTalent.
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
In the latest episode of 'Making It Happen', our podcast tailored for budding performers, we explore Broadway artist Curtis Holland's journey in the performing arts. From his initial steps at arts schools and dance companies, to making the top 20 on FOX's So You Think You Can Dance television show, to his successful career on Broadway, Curtis reveals the trials and triumphs of his path.
Worthwhile for performers at all levels, this eye-opening discussion also dives into the nuances between competitive and recreational dance spaces, and how each contributes to a performer's skill set. Tune in for an honest look into the performing arts industry.
Drawing upon Curtis's experiences, we explore different ways to climb professional ladders and how persistence, individual growth, and learning are key.
Subscribe to 'Making It Happen' to stay updated with more inspiring stories and a realistic reflection of the performing arts industry.
Sunday Dec 10, 2023
Sunday Dec 10, 2023
Join Leesa Csolak as she interviews guest, JoAnn Shober , mom of singer, actress, dancer, Quinn Fucci.
Quinn has been represented by an agent since a young age of five. She is now 14 years old, and is repped by a huge bi-coastal agency and is auditioning for top national and worldwide projects.
The change in her representation occurred after her mom took Leesa's online course, Professional Kids & Teens 101: A Primer for Parents during the pandemic and worked with Leesa one on one.
JoAnn shares what it takes to have a young child performer auditioning regularly, and working on sets for commercial work, commercial print, film, and television as well as auditioning for Broadway.
If you have a child or teen who loves to sing, dance or act, you do not want to miss this episode.
Tune in to listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch on my YouTube channel at ‘makin’ it happens with Leesa Csolak.
#LBCTalent #MusicalTheater #filmactor #televisionactor #TalentedKids #TalentedTeens #Singerslife #DancersLife #ActorsLife #Singer #Dancer #Actor #prokids #proteens #kidscastingcall #CareersInThePerformingArts #LeesaCsolak #OnlineCourses
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Please welcome, Meg Paul, ballet & Broadway dancer and presently associate artistic director for world-renowned contemporary ballet company, Complexions and the Complexions Academy director.
If you are a parent of a young dancer specializing in and passionate about ballet and contemporary dance, this episode will give you insight and an opportunity to see into the life of an extremely successful dance artist at the top of her field. Learn what it takes and the perspective, drive and grit necessary to win.
Meg shares her early days as a dancer, her mother’s trust in her to travel on tour at a young age and the details of how she landed on Broadway in Movin’ Out. She goes on to explain how she navigated the industry and how her and her husband created their own dance agency, World Arts, Inc.
A former principal dancer for the Joffrey Ballet in NYC, she has been a professional performer, a choreographer, a director, a business woman, an educator and mentor, and an advocate for dancers of all ages. She has taught at the college level and has been instrumental in melding the worlds of ballet and Broadway through the National City Stars of Ballet & Broadway in Detroit.
A huge thank you to you, Meg for joining me to kick off Season 3 of Makin’ It Happen: A Career in the Performing Arts.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch on youtube -Subscribe and Like @makinithappenwithleesacsolak
@megpaul_dance @complexions_ballet @complexions_academy
For more information on how to curate a professional career in the arts, Watch the full versions of the Podcast on YouTube or Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Sunday Oct 01, 2023
Sunday Oct 01, 2023
Guest Annie Nunes shares how her daughter, Norah Nunes landed the role of Young Anna in the National Tour of Disney's Frozen, the Musical, the steps she took as a parent to offer her young daughter opportunities beyond her small town in Texas, and how she navigated it.
If you have a young child or teen who can perform acting, singing, or dancing and is asking to get on bigger stages, listen and learn from a mom who made it happen for her young daughter.
Norah was just seven years old when she booked the role and spent this past Summer happily singing, dancing and acting on the 'big' stage across the country.
You can do this for your child, too. Check out all the ways I can help guide and inform you about how this elusive industry functions from the inside out and how you, too can give your child opportunities to perform on stages, including Broadway, in film, on television and much more.
Subscribe, Download, Like, and Follow
For more information visit https://www.lbctalent.com Instagram: @leesacsolak_lbctalent Facebook, Threads, TikTok, Twitter: @leesacsolak
Follow Norah @norahsingseverywhere
#frozenbroadway #frozen #disneysFrozen #younganna #broadwayshow #broadway #careersintheperformingarts #performingarts
Sunday Jul 30, 2023
Sunday Jul 30, 2023
2024 Emmy Award Winner, Choreographer, Karla Puno Garcia is making huge waves as the 'it' girl for new works in the stage performance world and for TV and film.
Based in NYC, Karla most recently was the first Filipina and First woman of color to choreograph the Tony Awards. Her work is seen in the Opening Number and the tribute to Joel Grey and John Kander.
This past spring, Karla co-choreographed DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES at the Atlantic Theater. She also completed Season 3 of the Starz Network series Power Book III: Raising Kanaan as lead choreographer.
Favorite choreography credits include additional scenes in the Netflix film Tick, Tick ... BOOM!, directed by Lin Manuel Miranda; ENCORES Off-Center production of GONE MISSING; the world premiere of Other World at Delaware Theatre Company; Somewhere at the Geva Theatre; Duncan Sheik and Kyle Jarrow’s Noir at the Alley Theatre, and IN THE HEIGHTS at VA Rep, where she received the Artsie for Best Choreography.
Her choreographic style pays homage to musical theater pioneers like Jack Cole, Jerome Robbins, and Bob Fosse while adding a modern-day edge. Upcoming projects are RENT at Theatre Aspen and an exciting NYC nightlife experience called TIPSY WHISPERS.
For more info and videos of her Choreo, visit www.karlapunogarcia.com and follow her on socials @karlapunagarcia
Take Class with Karla https://www.broadwaydancecenter.com/faculty/karla-puno-garcia
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Guest actor, singer, dancer, Kurt Csolak shares details of what it takes to understudy a leading role on Broadway. Having had his debut just one week prior to this interview, Kurt explains his methods and preparation leading up to taking the stage at the August Wilson Theatre in NYC as Nick Arnstein in the hit musical revival of Funny Girl.
Playing opposite the phenomenal Julie Benko as Fanny Brice, Kurt discusses not only the physical processes of the days leading up to the performance but the emotional and mental focus necessary to excel when given rehearsal time is limited and sporadic.
Understudies are the super heros of all live theater and keep the shows running in the event of an absence. Balancing a very featured ensemble role eight shows a week and being prepared to step into a leading role can seem daunting. Kurt gives tips and tricks to making sure a performance can be successful and enjoyable despite the stressors surrounding it.
Subscribe, Download, Like, and Follow Kurt @kurtcsolak
For more information visit www.kurtcsolak.com
Sunday Jul 09, 2023
Sunday Jul 09, 2023
Listen as Keerati Jinakunwiphat shares her journey becoming a professional choreographer and dancer, A.I.M. dancer/choreographer, named one of Dance Magazine's 25 choreographers to watch, and being the first Asian female choreographer to create for New York City Ballet and much much more.
The past few years have been particularly busy for Keerati, whose parallel careers as a dancer and choreographer essentially launched simultaneously. Shortly after graduating from SUNY Purchase with a BFA in dance in 2016, she became an apprentice with A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, joining the company full-time in 2018 and creating her first major commission, Big Rings, for her colleagues there a year later.
While continuing to dance with A.I.M, she has since made works for companies nationwide, including PARA.MAR Dance Theater, Houston Contemporary Dance Company, Whim W’Him, New Victory Dance, and more.
Born in Chicago, IL, Jinakunwiphat credits her Thai family’s support for her various endeavors as essential to where she is today.
Follow Keerati on socials @thekeeratikid
Leesa Csolak
In Her Own Words...
"I have been obsessed over the course of the past forty years about why the performance industry is such a closed-door industry with no real information available to the average person. The idea of trying to ‘break into’ the business is thwarted by most parents and adults throughout the United States and abroad, honestly due to the lack of available honest and true information.
Of those who are in the business whether just starting or successfully navigating a career, many remain confused and travel blindly. Much of which breeds a sense of fear and subsequent ownership of what knowledge and understanding they have, creating the need to keep information close to the chest.
As a professional in the industry, an entrepreneur, and a parent of three children, one of whom dabbled at a young age and the other two who successfully worked in many aspects of the child, teen and now are in the adult professional performance industry working on Broadway, in Film and Television, Commercials and Voice Over successfully. (Thank you, Claire, at Gilla Roos, NYC and Shirley, Dave, and Laura of Shirley Grant Management for the early years) I have vowed to change that mantra."
My ground-breaking Online Courses, 'Professional Kids & Teens 101; A Primer for Parents' and 'Professional Biz 201; Young Adults, College Students & Grads' teach everything you need to know to create, curate and navigate this elusive industry. I share inside information that no one else will to not only get your career or your child or teen's career started but I give you all the tools you need to secure professional representation (getting a manger or agent).
If you are looking to do this right the first time and not get lost trying to navigate this business by trial and error, I am your best resource. My track record speaks for itself as I have helped 100's of clients bridge from being talented in Acting, Dance and or Voice into the professional career they always dreamed of... If you are a parent of a talented child or are considering a life in the arts yourself, this is THE door into succeeding in this industry.
My podcast gives you inside info featuring a line-up of professional performers, directors, musical directors, choreographers, casting directors, agents and managers; all here to help you understand their world, their journey and how you, too can be a part of it all.
You, too can have the career of your dreams.
Don't let anyone tell you, you can't.