A celebration of all the holiday classics, ’Twas The Night is a feel-good homage to the original poem, set in a world with security alarms, cell phones, and a little Christmas magic. Parents Ian and Margaret are having a serene Christmas night, their two children dreaming of sugar plums in the next room, when a series of noises and crashes cause concern that Margaret’s younger brother is playing a holiday prank. But who, really, arose such a clatter? In the end, the whole family remembers that it’s never too late to say what you mean and that the spirit of Christmas is stronger than ever.
Listeners of 'Twas the Night are encouraged to donate to The Actors Fund, supporting their mission of fostering stability and resiliency, and providing a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan.
Visit twasthenightplay.com for more information.
Credits
Aneesa Folds as Margaret
Michael Paul Smith as Ian
Nik Walker as Nick
Fergie L Philippe as Max
Lexi Garcia as Julie
James Monroe Iglehart as Santa
Christopher Jackson as Narrator
Eddy Lee as News Announcer, Dispatcher, more
Additional voices by
Patrick Hinds and Gillian Pensavalle
Written and directed by Michael Paul Smith
Production management by Leah Cornish for Mischief Media
Additional music provided by Matt Wilson Christmas Tree-O
Communications by Tori Bryan for Mischief Media
Graphics for 'Twas The Night by Jordan Edwards for Mischief Media
Website by Jenson Neal and Jordan Edwards
Produced by Mischief Media and Jenson Neal
Executive Producer Gillian Pensavalle
Special Thanks To:
Melissa Anelli, Founder and CEO of Mischief Media
SAG-AFTRA
The Actors Fund
The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that helps everyone— performers and those behind the scenes—who works in performing arts and entertainment, serving more than 17,000 people annually. Programs include social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and employment and training services. Visit www.actorsfund.org to learn more.
As we wrap up our chat, Alexander Ferguson (Hamilton Broadway) takes questions from the fantastic Patreon Peeps. He explains why he thinks Hamilton isn’t actually a history piece, talks about the characters he relates to the most, tells me why he turned down the opportunity to be on MasterChef, and speaks the truth about why our friends can be so inspiring.
This week, Alexander Ferguson (Hamilton Broadway) talks about his experience taking a leave from the Broadway company to spend a few months on tour in Australia and New Zealand including adorable koalas, terrifying spiders, Flight of the Conchords, incredible restaurants, and loving audiences. And yes, we finally get to Alexander’s impressions! We talk about his viral YouTube videos, how he figured out he could actually *do* so many impressions, and the many influences and inspirations behind his sense of humor. Plus, more about Alexander’s animation, filmmaking, and other creative endeavors.
Alexander Ferguson has been with Hamilton since 2018. From the Angelica Tour to Broadway to Australia and New Zealand and back to Broadway again, he’s been Man 5 and he’s played Hamilton, Burr, King George III, Laurens/Philip, James Reynolds, and Philip Schuyler. A creator through and through, Alexander is also a talented impressionist, animator, and filmmaker. This week, Alexander explains his journey from regional theatre to Hamilton, including all the personal growth he’s experienced along the way.
In this episode, Nikisha Williams explains her transition from Woman 5 to coming back as Eliza full time (even after she thought she was done with Hamilton entirely) and how she brings her experience as an educator to the role of Eliza. Plus, we go in on our unabashed love of all things fall including but not limited to: cute autumn outfits, why everyone needs to lighten up about pumpkin spice lattes, and our favorite scary movies. Nikisha is kind of an expert considering she co-hosts the Talking Horror podcast, which you should definitely check out!
I’m so excited to welcome Nikisha Williams, who currently plays Eliza Schuyler on the Philip Tour, to the podcast!
Prior to joining Hamilton in 2018, Nikisha gained a ton of experience performing in musicals and operas across the country. Oh! She was also a high school choir teacher! Yep, Nikisha has a masters degree in Choral Conducting and a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal performance so she has the unique ability to bring her experience as an educator to the role of Eliza.
This week, Nikisha talks about her journey as both a teacher and a performer: from auditioning multiple times to get into her vocal performance program, to leading an award-winning all girl high school a cappella group, and how her students got her into Hamilton.
A firm believer in taking care of your mental health and meeting yourself where you are, Nikisha also talks about the strength of the women in the show and the strength of her Eliza specifically. For example, her version of “That Would Be Enough” isn’t begging Hamilton to stay, but about getting these two determined people on the same page.
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"It's a Man's Man's Man's World"
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Brandee Danielle Huston (Hamilton Broadway's Hair Supervisor) wraps up her episodes with more questions from The Patreon Peeps. Brandee explains how and why Hamilton sets her up for success, debunks the very wrong idea that hair and makeup is "stupid girl stuff", talks about her favorite and most challenging hairstyles she's worked on, and her goals of working in other aspects of theatre somewhere down the line. We also discuss Brandee's activism, the importance of therapy, and why the world is wide enough for both New York *and* Chicago-style pizza.
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Brandee Danielle Huston loves being Hamilton Broadway's Hair Supervisor, but it wasn't an easy journey getting there. As Brandee tell us in this episode, things are a lot different for people of color, women, LGBTQ+ folks, and those in women-dominated fields. From poor work conditions to pay disparities to unpleasant interactions, there is inequity all over this industry. It's so important making someone feel confident going on stage, and the work is very personal, but that isn't always acknowledged. Since working at Hamilton, though, Brandee finally feels like she's been set up for success. Brandee tells us how she got there, and walks us through how she earned the trust of the cast as a white woman working with BIPOC hair.
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aBrandee Danielle Huston is currently the Hair Supervisor at Hamilton Broadway, and has been in the entertainment industry her entire life. She grew up in a 5th generation carnival concession business and has been working since she was two years old. Inspired by painting people's faces at carnivals, she started working in theatre, and when she saw that there was a job in fixing the Santa beards for the famous Rockettes show and she thought, "Why am I not doing THIS?!" Brandee did everything from pushing boxes backstage, electrical work, sound, handling props, driving a forklift, you name it... all while going to cosmetology school. There's not a guidebook for breaking into the industry and working with the unions but this episode is definitely a very good start.
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This week, Julian Ramos (Hamilton LA, And Peggy, Philip Tour) is back with a love letter to New York, New York: both the city and the musical. He tells us about the tap number on the beam, what instruments he actually knows how to play, and why the one and only John Kander is the coolest person he has ever met.
Plus, more love and stories from his time with Hamilton, what it was like working with Lin-Manuel Miranda again on another show, and the inspirations behind his fantastic sense of style.
New York, New York Original Broadway Cast Recording
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The effervescent Julian Ramos is back on the podcast! He was first on back in 2018, when he and Fergie Philippe came on together during rehearsals for the Philip Tour. Julian spent over four years touring with Hamilton, and his story with the show is incredible. He recently made his Broadway debut in New York, New York and is truly living his dreams, which all started with a certified meet-cute with living legend Susan Stroman.
This week, Julian tells me about growing up in Indiana, falling in love with musical theatre, and then moving to New York City to pursue his career. He even worked as a host at The Public Theater when Hamilton was there, seating people like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, and Oskar Eustis.
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In the final episode of this three part series, Cristina Lundy and Fergie L. Philippe bring it home in a way only the two of them can. We kick off the Patreon Peeps and they’re off and running talking about The Muppets, Sesame Street, Othello, unexpected takes on Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet set in a nursing home, for example), favorite Shakespeare take downs, movies we can't believe haven't been turned into musicals yet, and the idea of kids putting on Hamilton Jr.
Shakespeare Lexicon and Quotation Dictionary, Vol. 1: Volume 1
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This week we bring back #YayHamlet! Cristina Lundy and Fergie L. Philippe talk about the similarities between Hamilton (the musical) and the works of Shakespeare, and why actors need to honor those pieces in the same way. Hint: no need to overact it; all the words are right there on the page. And they're not saying it's easy! Fergie used to think he had to do Shakespeare in a British accent because FANCY. We also talk about an unrealistic need for all works of art to be perfect and right and accurate when in reality, so much of it is about writers being inspired by, as Cristina says, "the influences that pollinate them as artists."
Plus! Dream casting! Cristina and Fergie cast Hamilton actors in a slew of Shakespeare plays, they cast a Ted Lasso Much Ado About Nothing, and then we cast Ted Lasso characters in Hamilton.
A Tribe Called Quest ft. Busta Rhymes - Scenario (LP Mix)
The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act
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Nope, the title of this episode is not a typo. My dear friends Cristina Lundy and Fergie Philippe are back on the podcast, this time together! We explain it all in the episode but they both had so much more to say so we thought we'd have a little party.
Quick refresher: Fergie recently ended his five year run as Mulligan/Madison (both on tour and on Broadway) and Cristina Lundy is currently a dresser for the Broadway company as well as the Artistic Director of the New York Shakespeare exchange.
In the first of three episodes, we talk about the 2023 Tony Awards, Fergie's experience performing at the show, how the writer's strike affected the evening, and the fact that HISTORY WAS MADE with BIPOC and non-binary folks taking home so many awards.
Fergie and Cristina are both massive Shakespeare nerds (that's a compliment!) so these are very Bard-heavy eps. This week we talk a lot about modern adaptations like Ten Things I Hate About You (1999) and Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (1996).
Alright, dear listeners, get ready for an absolutely bananas episode of The Hamilcast. Fergie L. Philippe, my lovely friend, is rounding out his big return to the podcast aka our booze-fueled lovefest.
This week, Fergie dives more into his experience with Camelot on Broadway: his audition process, his stage combat experiences, and his big dream of bringing the lost Muppets in Camelot idea to life. Plus, Fergie goes in on why Sweeney Todd is his favorite show of all time and his ultimate dream role.
We round out this episode talking about ADHD, neurodiversity, the importance of therapy, more Hamilton discussion, and Fergie gives his expert opinion on how to plan the perfect Disney vacation.
It's been a blast hanging with Fergie for these episodes and I hope you had as much fun as we did.
Catch up with all things Fergie:
#107: We tell your story // Part One
#108: We tell your story // Part Two
#129: I came as soon as I heard // #LasVegust Part One
#300: James Monroe Iglehart and Friends Take Over the Podcast to Celebrate 300 Episodes!
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Fergie L. Philippe is back for another round this week and yes... I mean that both figuratively andddd literally. Choices were made by two very good and excitable ADHD-ridden friends, dear listener!
In this episode, we tackle important issues such as the writer's strike, theater contracts, negotiations, and misconceptions about creative jobs. Fergie shares his personal journey with Hamilton, from identifying primarily with Mulligan in 2017 to fully embracing the vibe of Madison. We explore the nuances of these characters, including Fergie's embodiment of both Hercules Mulligan and his slave, Cato, as well as the different dynamics between his Madison and various Jeffersons. And of course, this led us to a conversation about how the context of the show has evolved since 2016 and it will only continue to change as the world around us does the same.
Catch up with all things Fergie:
#107: We tell your story // Part One
#108: We tell your story // Part Two
#129: I came as soon as I heard // #LasVegust Part One
#300: James Monroe Iglehart and Friends Take Over the Podcast to Celebrate 300 Episodes!
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Note: These episodes are brought to you by Everclear and whiskey. Not an ad, just an admission.
I'm thrilled to have my dear friend Fergie Philippe back on the podcast. Fergie is a multi-talented artist – an actor, writer, director, and puppeteer – who recently concluded his five-year run as Hamilton's Mulligan/Madison in February 2023. Starting from the Philip Tour and making his way to Broadway, Fergie considers these episodes as his post-mortem reflections on his time with the show.
This week, Fergie delves into the experience of not just meeting but working with his heroes, which happened when he was cast as Lord Sagramore in the Broadway adaptation of Camelot by Aaron Sorkin. Fergie also opens up about his post-Hamilton life after Broadway, sharing stories about performing to the seat he once sat in as a fan, his last show that never happened, and how he knew it was the right time to move on.
Plus lots of love for the inimitable Philip company, the unbreakable friendships formed through Hamilton (both on and offstage) and the feeling that everyone is just getting started.
Fergie and I go way back and below you'll find all of his previous episodes on The Hamilcast:
#107: We tell your story // Part One
#108: We tell your story // Part Two
#129: I came as soon as I heard // #LasVegust Part One
#300: James Monroe Iglehart and Friends Take Over the Podcast to Celebrate 300 Episodes!
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Morgan Anita Wood is back for round two. After a bit of a scary start, Morgan was off and running with the And Peggy Tour and this week she talks about the tour leaving Puerto Rico and setting up shop in San Francisco. Morgan tells us about her experience with the Eliza Company and then coming back, or as she says, coming home to her And Peggy Company. She started as Woman 5, a role that is very close to her heart and led to some unbreakable bonds. But there was something about Eliza that really made Morgan really wanted to tell that story eight times a week. Morgan has been through a lot with Eliza, and she explains her strong connection to the role, how it's healed her, and what she's learned from the woman whose strength and courage reminds Morgan of her own mom.
Morgan Anita Wood is currently playing Eliza on the And Peggy Tour, and has been with Hamilton since 2018 when she started playing Woman 5. Morgan grew up in Indiana and was performing as young as three years old. She always had the passion for and the clarity about what she wanted to do at a very young age. She came from a family of creatives, performers, and what she calls "artistic minded people." Her determination led her to an internship at Telsey, one of the leading casting offices in the country and the office that casts Hamilton. There's an excellent chance they cast your favorite musical/play/movie/TV show/commercial/the list goes on. Morgan learned about the business as she crossed paths with people like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jonathan Groff and after months behind the scenes, she was confident and ready when her audition (at Telsey!) finally came. From that internship to ending up in the hospital the night of her Hamilton Puerto Rico debut, Morgan takes us on quite a journey.
This week, Jason Arrow wraps up his three episode series. In his first two episodes, Jason told us about his life story thus far: he was born in South Africa, moved to Western Australia when he was about five years old, and first did theater as a teenager.
His Hamilton story starts in 2019, and it's been so fun to hear about Jason's adventures with the show. He talked about the energy from the audience, especially during a time when the Australian production of Hamilton was the only one in the world happening. We laughed about the fun moments he's been able to find on stage and he reflected on what it was like for Lin-Manuel Miranda to see the Australian company for the very first time in 2023.
As we wrap up our conversation, we talk about Rage Against the Machine, the importance of First Nations actors on stage (and particularly in Hamilton), why Jason chose psychology books over a history lesson, and we compare Mario Kart preferences. But first, this episode starts with Jason talking more about his personal take on Alexander including how and why it changes and evolves.
Jason Arrow has played Alexander Hamilton in Australia, New Zealand, and as of September 2023, he'll be in Manila in the Philippines in the Asian premiere for Hamilton.
This week, Jason continues the story of his Hamilton journey: from hearing the audience erupt when he walked on stage for the very first time, to their last performance in Brisbane, and when Lin-Manuel Miranda finally (finally!) made it to Australia to see Hamilton. It was a long time coming but it was worth the wait and wait actually worked out in their favor!
Jason also talks about fun moments he's found as Hamilton and how they've evolved over time (hint: tom cat). Plus, you'll hear about Jason's love of gaming, his still very strong connection to Aaron Burr, and stories from the stage door.
Lin-Manuel Miranda Hamilton interview with Leigh Sales | In The Room: Full Episode | ABC TV + iview
Jason Arrow and I spoke in April 2023, right after he ended his run as Alexander Hamilton in Australia. Since recording, the company had a very limited run in New Zealand, and as of September 2023, Jason will be in Manila in the Philippines performing in the Asian premiere of Hamilton.
Here's one of the many interesting thing about Jason: for a guy who first connected with Burr, he has a lot of Hamilton traits. Jason started doing theatre as a teenager, mostly just a hobby at first. He was doing community shows while studying computer science, graphic design, and film/tv theory. He realized very quickly that he belonged *in front* of the camera.
Jason went to the prestigious Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and that's where he learned about this show called Hamilton. It sounded really incredible but he was very busy and didn't have the time to commit to falling in love with such a layered piece while still in school. And then 2020 came around and changed everything.
Tamar Greene (Hamilton Broadway's George Washington) is a classical trained pianist, an opera singer, a voice teacher, a founding member of Ham4Progress, and a guy who appreciates the revitalization that comes with embracing the unexpected. That's what his three episodes have been all about. Tamar started his career in music literally hiding behind a piano because it was easier on his stage fright. For years, he resisted accepting his vocal talent. So, he got a bachelor's degree in computer information systems but the music stuff was still nagging at him. On his way to class, he'd walk the halls of the music department, admiring the beautiful pianos and listening to other vocalists and thinking, "you know maybe I *could* make a living in music."
Tamar embraced everything he was interested in and now he's accepted that he can be passionate about all of it. Being in bands like Bitchin' Kitchen means he learned, as he says "the business of the business." - traveling, booking, splitting the door money with the band, all that stuff. A degree in computer information systems means that he could put on concerts during lockdown without worrying about the tech side of things. So I guess what I'm saying is that Tamar Greene knows what he's talking about and he also walks the walk so you should take what he says to heart.
This week, Tamar talks about performing orchestral versions of South Park Songs, his favorite SNOBs (Saturday Night on Broadway), leading with love, and he unexpectedly walks us through his Washington's mental and emotional arc leading up to One Last Time. Plus, Tamar talks about grappling with the colonizing slave owning history of the founding fathers, the power of a Black man playing George Washington, and how this ties into his role as an original member of Ham4Progress.
Orchestral Versions of South Park Songs
Jonas Kaufmann - Turandot, Atto III: "Nessun Dorma"
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Tamar Greene (Hamilton Broadway's George Washington) talks about checking in with yourself to reassess and possibly change course, which can actually be very rejuvenating. In fact, that's what led him to musical theatre, from auditioning in stairwells to going out on tour and eventually landing on Broadway. Remember the guy who didn't think he could sing or make it professionally as a musician? Seems like a lifetime ago.
And of course, we dive into his long history with Hamilton. He went from knowing nothing about the show and turning down tickets to see it, to winning the lottery and falling in love with it, then passing on a callback after years of auditions, to finally stepping into the role of Washington in Chicago and making the transition to Broadway. So get ready, because this week you're gonna hear about how Tamar made his way to acting on stage, something that has yet to come up in his long list of interests and career choices.
Tamar Greene, Hamilton Broadway's current George Washington, returns to The Hamilcast! Tamar was first on the podcast back in 2019 when I saw Hamilton in Chicago and threw a big party recording with the cast. Those are episodes 181-185 if you're interested. That party was so much fun but it's hard to do a deep dive with someone in those recordings, so it's always nice to be able to sit down one on one and really get into it... and that's exactly what's happening with Tamar because he's been on a JOURNEY. Tamar's mother was a singer and a pianist who ended up retiring as a nurse, and his father was a DJ and promoter focusing on Jamaican artists. He owned a record store and threw parties and events in the community. Growing up, Tamar and his nine siblings all had to learn an instrument. He chose the piano because, as he says, it was easy to hide behind. Throughout Tamar's life, the people around him kept encouraging him to sing but he fought them every step of the way. Even as he was studying for his BA in Computer Information Systems (which he has, by the way), he found himself wandering the halls of the music department... always drawn to this life he didn't know how to live. Is it even possible to do music professionally? What does that look like?
#HamiltonCHI Episodes: Party in Chicago!
Tamar Greene - National Anthem at Chicago Bulls Game
Othmar Schoeck - Rastlose Liebe, Tamar Greene (tenor)
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