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I love today's conversation but I hope it isn't an entirely a self-serving time for me to geek out about something I love. When I was 8 years old I became obsessed with Rent, the musical by Jonathan Larson that became a super hit in the mid 90s. Meanwhile across the state another kid, today's guest Danny Kornfeld also knew every word to the original broadway cast recording and fell in love with the show. Cut to 2016 and that young Renthead is playing the staring role in the show's 20th anniversary tour and today he's talking to me all about how that dream came true. Danny Kornfeld is a talented actor and his staring role in Rent comes after extensive performance experience, studying theater at Syracuse University, and moving to New York City to pursue a career in the theater. It was incredible to get to hear about what led Danny this role as well as explore the reflections that art have on his life and how they've inspired him to be himself more fully in real life. He is so thoughtful around his approach to his work and what it brings to the world. One of his favorite lines from Rent is “Give in to love, or live in fear". In my latest newsletter where I sent my recent reflections on love. The relevance of this line now in our current world shows the relevance Rent still has socially and politically 20 years later. I'm grateful the podcast allows me to connect with interesting people with similar interests like Danny and I'm real excited to see him perform tonight (on the day this is published I'm going to the show here in Detroit). I know regardless of your relationship to the piece you'll enjoy this tangental conversation, but warning, it might make you a new Renthead too...

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Notes from the show:

-Danny's  Website | Instagram | Twitter

-RENT soundtrack — how we were both first introduced to and fell in love with RENT... La Vie Boheme is one of our favorite numbers

-We talk about Jonathan Larson, the original playwright and composer for RENT

-Some shows we mention and Danny recommend's seeing:: Fun Home,  Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Dear Evan Hansen & The Spring Awakening 

-Books we mention:: Zen and the Art of Happiness, Stargirl, Sex at Dawn

-Movies we mention:: Inside Out, Sing Street, The Green Mile

-Restaurants Danny is loving:: Blue Nile (in Michigan), NOPA (in San Francisco), The Handpulled Noodle (in NYC), Ras Ka (in Fort Collins)

-Things Danny is listening to:: Savage Love podcast, Radio Lab, Bon Iver's new album, Nights Like This song

Cool Things to Check-Out:

-In April come hang with me and other past pod guests at The Good Festival in Philadelphia

-In June I'll be hanging with the Wanderlust Fam in Vermont -- come hang with us!

-Sign-up for my newsletter to get updates on where I'll be and what I'm loving!

-Join the listener Facebook Group

-Get my book Let It Out: A Journey Through Journaling or leave a review if you have read it.

“If I’m not being true to myself how can I be true to someone else’s journey.”

“The opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation.”

“Give in to love, or live in fear.”

"We always are focusing on what’s not right in our lives when so much is right.”

“Pieces that transcend us to those kind of places are worth noting and celebrating.”

“The job of an actor is to tell all the stories of the world...and to live them truthfully.”

“Passion is something that can’t be taught.”

I am so excited to announce that Theater People has partnered with the fab folks at TodayTix to create a brand new podcast called Broadway Backstory. Each episode tells the story of how a show develops from an idea to a full Broadway production. We get the behind-the-scenes story directly from the people who lived it - the concievers, actors, directors, producers, composers, and more. Season 1 will feature stories from "In the Heights", "Fun Home", "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee", "The Secret Garden", "Legally Blonde", and the Deaf West production of "Spring Awakening". And the best part: You, our listeners, get to vote on our 7th show! We've picked another 5 shows for you to vote on, and the most popular wins! We'll get to work interviewing everybody we can find who was involved with the show!Episodes 1 and 2, which premiere on Tuesday, November 15th, tell the incredible true backstory of the Tony-winning "In the Heights."

The Legendary three-time Tony nominee talks "Fun Home," The secrets to having a long career, and we even talk politics! Rebecca made her Broadway debut in the original Broadway cast of "The Phantom of the Opera"--She was a Christine standby before eventually taking over the role full time. Other highlights from her amazing career on Broadway include Lily in "The Secret Garden," Magnolia in "Showboat,"Maria in "The Sound of Music," and Marian in "The Music Man."

Two time Tony winner Michael Cerveris invited us to his dressing room at the Circle in the Square Theater to talk 'Fun Home,' 'Tommy,' Assassins,' and more! One of the Broadway's great leading men, Michael is funny, charming, and generous with the stories!

The Tony nominated composer of "Fun Home" talks her five-year journey with the piece -- how she and book writer Lisa Kron worked tirelessly to turn Alison Bechdel's graphic novel into the groundbreaking Tony-nominated musical. She also shares stories from her tremendous career composing the music for such shows as "Violet," "Caroline, or Change," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," and "Shrek."