SCOTT SCHWARTZ
Scott Schwartz on Reimagining Dear Evan Hansen and Bay Street Theater's Milestone 35 Year Anniversary!
This time around, I sit down with SCOTT SCHWARTZ, Artistic Director of Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, as the iconic East End theater celebrates a landmark 35th anniversary season! Scott gives us an exclusive look at directing Bay Street's bold, reimagined production of the Tony Award-winning phenomenon "Dear Evan Hansen". We talk about what it takes to strip down a massive Broadway hit for an intimate stage, bringing out the raw humanity and emotion in the story, and why this show still resonates so deeply today.
Plus, Scott reflects on 35 years of artistic excellence at Bay Street Theater—how the institution has evolved, what makes Sag Harbor audiences so special, and what lies ahead!
Whether you already have your tickets for Dear Evan Hansen or love hearing how legendary regional theaters operate behind the scenes, you won't want to miss this conversation!
Thank you to Scott and Bay Street Theater for making the time to make this happen and thank you all for supporting The Kyle Petty Show and live theater here on Long Island! 💜
LISA NASO
From Page to Stage: Bringing a One-Act to NYTF with Lisa Naso
How do you take a raw idea and turn it into a premiering play in the heart of the New York theater scene?
In this episode, I sit down with playwright Lisa Naso to celebrate the upcoming premiere of their brand-new one-act play, "LADIES," running this month at the New York Theater Festival.
As a non-binary artist navigating the modern theater landscape, Lisa shares a beautifully candid look at their creative journey. We explore the triumphs and hurdles of the writing process, the vulnerability of putting your words into the hands of actors, and the crucial (but rarely talked about) art of managing expectations with your creative team.
In this episode, we discuss:
How to find the core message of a one-act play.
Moving from the solitary writing phase to the collaborative rehearsal room.
Actionable strategies for maintaining healthy communication and boundaries with cast and crew.
What to expect when premiering a show in a major NYC festival.
Connect with the Guest:
Instagram: @lisa_naso // @ladiestheplay
Donate to the Kickstarter by scanning the QR code in the video!
Support the Podcast: If you loved this episode, please leave a 5-star review and subscribe!
STEVEN CHARLES
What happens when you step into the glitter, the wig, and the shoes of one of musical theater's most iconic characters?
In this episode, I sat down with actor Steven Charles to discuss his journey playing Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Steven shares the vulnerable, intense, and transformative experience of taking on such a powerhouse role. We dive into what it’s like to learn to be comfortable portraying a totally different version of yourself, while simultaneously discovering the surprising, deeply human similarities you share with the character.
Beyond the makeup and the wig, Steven talks about what theater truly means to him and why live performance is such a vital part of our lives.
And, because no episode of The Kyle Petty Show is complete without some laughter, we wrap up with a hilarious, unfiltered debate on the unspoken rules of Instagram etiquette for ALL folks.
In this episode, we discuss:
Becoming Hedwig: Steven Charles on the vulnerability and the emotional weight of bringing Hedwig to life.
Finding the Mirror: Learning to embrace a character who is vastly different from you, only to find your own reflection in them.
The Heart of Theater: A candid look at why the stage means so much to Steven and the power of theatrical storytelling.
The Social Media Rules: A hilarious breakdown of modern Instagram etiquette—what's acceptable and what's a total "no-go."
This was a SUPER fun one that you don't want to miss. Catch Steven in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" at Smithtown Performing Arts Center on July 25, July 30, and August 1st and tell them Kyle sent you!
ZACH LEVY
It was soooooooo nice reconnecting with Zach Levy, who is rehearsing for Jesus Christ Superstar at CAP Syosset AND has been my buddy since the beginning of my Long Island Theater experience - so this was wildly special and nice to chat 1:1. 🥰
Here’s a bit of what we chatted about:
🎭 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at CAP Syosset and his experience rehearsing for Caiaphas
😂 We swapped some funny LI Theater stories - SO MUCH FROM THE CAP DAYS!
🐱 We spent some time fangirling over the production of CATS at CM and the show in general
🎮 AND we played a little ‘This or That’
Thank you again to Zach for spending the time with me and thank you all for supporting The Kyle Petty Show and live theater here on Long Island! 💜
CHRISTINE BOEHM
I had the best time chatting with Christine Boehm one-on-one for the first time in years! She directed THE 39 STEPS which is currently running at Theatre Three in Port Jefferson until May 3rd in addition to countless other productions on Long Island AND she has spent plenty of time on stage too!
Here’s a bit of what we chatted about:
🎭 THE 39 STEPS and what it was like directing 4 cast members to play over 150 characters!
😂 We swapped some funny LI Theater stories
🗣️ The return of her LI Theater themed podcast “Feelin’ L.I.T.”
🎮 We played a little ‘This or That’
Thank you again to Christine for spending the time with me and thank you all for supporting The Kyle Petty Show and live theater here on Long Island! 💜
JESS ADER-FERRETTI
I have known Jess Ader-Ferretti for years upon years and I can very confidently say my favorite role of hers is MJ Healy in Smithtown Performing Arts Center’s production of Jagged Little Pill! It was so wonderful to chat with her and catch up! 💜🥰🎉
Here’s a bit of what we chatted about:
🎭 Jagged Little Pill! Why playing the role of MJ Healy is important to her and how some of the friendships that were formed/reinforced helped her during the creative process
⭐️ Her favorite moment in the show that she isn’t a part of!
🎲 A little “This or That”
🎭 Some favorite/funny theater memories
Thank you again to Jess for spending the time with me and thank you all for supporting The Kyle Petty Show and live theater here on Long Island! 💜
CHRISTINE FITZGERALD
I finally got the pleasure of chatting with the wonderful Christine Fitzgerald of Our Love Fitz and thoroughly enjoyed myself! She is passionate about theater and working with children with disabilities and is quite open and transparent about the challenges she faces and how she applies it to her work. Christine has done wonderful work on and off the stage and it was my pleasure getting to know her more!
Here’s a bit of what we chatted about:
🎭 Our Love Fitz! This is not your ordinary theater group and we discussed the reasons why
👶 Why Children’s Theater is so important to her
👻 “BOO!” A Musical Adventure and how we are supporting those in the disabled community
🙌🏽 Her side initiative HAVEN and how we build community within community
Thank you again to Christine for spending the time with me and thank you all for supporting The Kyle Petty Show and live theater here on Long Island! 💜
DOMENICK NAPOLI
I got to see Domenick Napoli perform in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at the Cultural Arts Playhouse in Syosset last September and loved everything I heard and saw - which is why the second I noticed he was starring in School of Rock at the Cultural Arts Playhouse in Merrick, I had to reach out. I had the best time connecting with him during this conversation! Not only is he massively talented, but he is kind and funny too!
Here’s a bit of what we chatted about:
🎭 School of Rock! Why playing the role of Dewey Finn is important to him and some of the challenges he faced during the rehearsal process
⭐️ His favorite moment in the show that he isn’t a part of!
🎲 A little “This or That”
🎭 Some favorite/funny theater memories
🎸 He’s in a band called 39 Smooth with a single coming in May - and I’ve got a teaser!
Thank you again to Domenick for spending the time with me and thank you all for supporting The Kyle Petty Show and live theater here on Long Island! 💜
THURSDAY LIVE 3/26 with DOMENICK NAPOLI
Here’s what’s on the docket:
🗣️ Chatting about Cats at CM and Jagged Little Pill at Smithtown
🗣️ Chatting with Domenick Napoli who is starring in CAP Merrick’s production of “School of Rock”
🎸 A teaser of the new single from 39 Smooth - a Long Island based band including Domenick Napoli
🐝 What’s The Buzz?! - Long Island Theater news including shows opening and closing
If I miss your theater or production or would like to hear your project featured, reach out via Instagram DM (@thekylepettyshow) or via email at kyle@thekylepettyshow.com and I’ll make sure it gets a shout in the next live!As always, thank you for supporting this project and live theater on Long Island! 💜
*Special feature*
EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LONG ISLAND THEATERS AND THEIR PERFORMERS
Sometimes it feels there is a disconnect between Long Island Theater performers and the theaters they perform in and I think it’s important to chat about 🙃
There was a situation with a Children’s Theater production and a Long Island based theater that was brought to me that I felt needed to be addressed - but I also see this as an opportunity to discuss the disparity between Children’s Theater performers vs. Mainstage performers as well as ALL Long Island Theater performers and their respective theaters. 👀
Let’s begin conversation that is conducive to a productive result! I hope this can be the beginning of that. 💜
Shea McMahon
Shea McMahon has apparently had beef with me for months and this only came to light when we shared the stage during A CHRISTMAS CAROL at CM Performing Arts Center - so I’m absolutely chuffed that she decided to spend some time with me on The Kyle Petty Show! Here’s a bit of what we chatted about:
🎭 Everything Cats at CM Performing Arts Center! From her attachment to the show, to the rehearsal process, all the way to her inspiration for the set design!
⭐️ Her experience performing for children and why it resonates with her
👀 A bit about her experience thus far in Descendants at The Argyle Theater
❎ The disparity between how Children’s Theater performers are treated vs Mainstage performers
🎲 A little “This or That”
🎭 Some favorite/funny theater memories
You’ll hear this in the conversation, but my cheeks hurt after this one! I had an absolute blast and I’m so glad Shea has forgiven me 😂 thank you again for spending the time with me and thank you all for supporting The Kyle Petty Show and live theater here on Long Island! 💜
Patrick Campbell
This conversation was a loooooong time in the making! I’m so glad we were able to make this happen. Here’s some of what I got into with Patrick Campbell:
🎭 His experience directing the Long Island premiere of Jagged Little Pill at Smithtown Performing Arts Center
🧐 What his creative process looks like and what drew him to directing this show
🛜 His amazing, beautiful website PATRICKCAMPBELLDIRECTOR.COM and some of the intention behind it
🎲 A little “This or That”
🎭 Some favorite/funny theater memories
I had an amazing time connecting 1:1 with this amazing human and I’m overjoyed that we finally found the time to chat. Thank you again to Patrick for spending the time and thank you all for supporting The Kyle Petty Show and live theater here on Long Island! 💜
Jae Hughes
It was a pleasure to catch up with one of my besties Jae Hughes! 🎉
There was no shortage of things to discuss!
Here’s a glimpse at what we chatted about:
🎭 The 39 Steps at Theatre Three
⭐️ Their involvement with Starkid and how they got involved
👀 A super secret ANNOUNCEMENT!
🎭 Carriage House Players and their love for Shakespeare
🎲 A little “This or That”
🎭 Some favorite/funny theater memories
This one was a blast and I’m so glad we got to do this. Thank you again Jae for spending the time and thank you all for supporting The Kyle Petty Show and live theater here on Long Island! 💜
Michael Verre
It was a pleasure and an honor to reunite and perform with Michael Verre during CM’s “Somewhere Beyond the Sea” cabaret last August/September and I’m super happy we got to continue the fun on The Kyle Petty Show! 💜
Here’s a bit of what we chatted about:
🎼 The original music he writes
🧐 Some insight behind his creative process
🎭 His new original musical
🎭 Some of his favorite/funniest theater memories
🎲 A little “This or That” game
Needless to say, this one was a blast! Thank you again Michael for spending the time with me and thank you ALL for supporting The Kyle Petty Show and live theater here on Long Island! 💜
Thursday Live 2/26
OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE NEW KYLE PETTY SHOW! 🎉
Here’s what’s on the docket:
🗣️ Chatting with Michael Verre
🗣️ Catching up with Jae Hughes - with a very special (and secret 🤫) announcement
🕺🏽 A performance from Michael Verre
🎭 Long Island Theater news including shows opening and closing
If I miss your theater or production or would like to hear your project featured, reach out via Instagram DM (thekylepettyshow) or via email at kyle@thekylepettyshow.com and I’ll make sure it gets a shout in the next live!
As always, thank you for supporting this project and live theater on Long Island! 💜
Thursday Live 2/12
WE ARE AWARE THAT THERE WAS NO AUDIO IN THE BEGINNING - I’M AN OLD MAN DOING MY BEST HERE! START AT 4:44 AND WE’LL BE GOOD!
The Kyle Petty Show live podcast pilot continues! 👋🏽 Here’s what’s on the DOCKET:
💃🏽 Fun conversation with my boy Matthew Surico
🎭 Long Island Theater shows opening and closing
I guarantee that I don’t have information for every theater on Long Island, but you can help with that! If you know of something coming up, let me know via DM on Instagram (@thekylepettyshow) or by dropping me an e-mail at kyle@thekylepettyshow.com!
As always, thank you for supporting this project and for supporting live theater here on Long Island! 💜💙💜
Matthew Surico
We THINK (lots of review would be needed) that he is the first person to appear twice on The Kyle Petty Show and that seems completely apropos (see what I did there? A little rhyming action for you!) for how much he has contributed to the ✨brand✨ over the years! With this conversation we discussed a few things!
🎭 Monty Python's Spamalot which opens this Saturday, February 14th at 7:30pm at CM Performing Arts Center!
🎭 The Jon Rivera Tribute Show on Sunday, February 15th at 6pm at CM Performing Arts Center!
😂 One of his favorite and funny moments onstage!
🤷🏽♂️ A little 'This or That' game
🌞 His plans for the summer! (Wild that we are even talking about that already, but this man is BUSY!)
Thank you as always to Matthew for being down to clown!
Thursday Live 1/29
Hey ya’ll! 👋🏽 I’m back with another episode of The Kyle Petty Show!
💃🏽 Great conversation with Melissa Rapelje
🎉 Shout-out to the CM Teens cast of Once Upon a One More Time
🎭 Long Island Theater shows opening and closing
🎭 Audition information!
Melissa Rapelje
I had the pleasure of chatting with Long Island famous choreographer Melissa Rapelje and we had the best time!
Thursday Live 1/15
SURPRISE! I went live to discuss upcoming productions and auditions - and share highlights from my conversations with KEITH JONES and KIERNAN URSO! 🎉
Kiernan Urso
KIERNAN URSO was finally able to swing into The Kyle Petty Show and we got to chat about what it's like to be a full-time company member at Theatre Three as well as his experience starring in the upcoming production of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, running on the mainstage at Theatre Three from January 17th to February 8th!
Keith Jones
I'm so glad that KEITH JONES decided to spend a little time with me to chat about their experience directing the upcoming production of LEGALLY BLONDE at CM Performing Arts Center, running from January 17th to February 1st!