The Chicago Theater-Makers Podcast

Welcome to The Chicago Theater-Makers Podcast; The show where we go behind the curtain with the actors, playwrights, directors, choreographer, designers, creatives and producers shaping Chicago’s one-of-a-kind theater scene.Every episode we sit down with the folks who make this city’s stages come alive. Whether you’re a theater pro, a curious audience member, or just love a good backstage story...This podcast is for you!

The Chicago Theater-Makers Podcast is a arts podcast hosted by John Michael Coppola, with 63 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

John Michael Coppola hosts The Chicago Theater-Makers Podcast, a arts show with 63 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #12

  Financial Wellness with guest Eddie Patel, CFP!

  Aug 17, 202647 minS3

  As we continue our series on National Wellness Month, this week’s episode focuses on financial wellness. And with that, today’s guest is one of Chicago’s top certified financial planners. He began his early career path as a professional poker player. You could say it was there where he learned patience, steady handedness, and when to make the right moves. Leveraging his success, and earnings, he launched Zen Wealth Management in 2009 with that unique perspective on risk, strategy, and decision-making under pressure. Today, following the acquisition of 8 accounting firms, his team oversees nearly $250 million dollars in client wealth and delivers tailored financial strategies to more than 1,400 clients of all income levels. And as a thank you for listening to today’s episode, he is offering a free entity consultation. Should it be determined that it would benefit you to form an entity (such as an LLC) he is offering a 25% discount on his services to help you form that new entity. You can contact him at egp@eddiepatel.com. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Eddie Patel. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

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  Episode #11

  Vocal Wellness with guest Dr. H. Steven Sims!

  Aug 10, 202643 minS3

  As we continue our National Wellness Month series, today's episode we're talking all about vocal health with someone you might call "ENT to the stars of Chicago (and those performers passing through)”. He is the division head for laryngology at Rush University, Medical Center. Singing since a very young age, his fascination with the power of the human voice peaked his interest early on and he considers his passion for helping people use their voice in various ways as forever rewarding. He has been my and my family’s ENT for most of my time here in Chicago and I’m honored that he took the time from his busy schedule to join us. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. H. Steven Sims. Now let’s go to the top of the show!

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  Episode #10

  National Wellness Month Kickoff with guest Rachel Coppola!

  Aug 3, 202637 minS3

  August is National Wellness Month and today’s episode kicks off our month long series, where each week we will interview a wellness practitioner aligned with the theater-making community. And with that, today’s guest is a former Broadway dancer turned yoga, instructor, who has become one of the most well respected teachers in the North Shore of Chicago. Originally from Maplewood, New Jersey, she received her BFA from University of the Arts in Philadelphia and had set her sights on modern dance before the opportunity to audition for summer stock presented itself. It was booking that job where she decided to change course and set her sights on Broadway, touring internationally with such shows as West Side story, Carousel, and the show on which we met, the European tour of 42nd Street before making her Broadway debut in Swing! From there, she followed up this success with the 1st National Tours of Kiss Me, Kate and Thoroughly Modern Millie. She obtained her yoga teacher certificate in 2009 and has trained students both in the studio setting and privately ever since. Her website, rachelcoppolayoga.com offers a few free meditation and short yoga practices along with a video subscription channel. And as a thank you for listening to today’s episode, you’re invited to visit her website to get one month of free, unlimited yoga videos . Simply click the link in our show notes to hop over there and use the code “ podcast ” in order to redeem this special offer exclusively for listeners of our podcast! I’m delighted to bring you today’s conversation with my wife Rachel Coppola. Now let’s go, to the top of the show!

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  Episode #9

  Rose Theatrics' "Jagged Little Pill"

  Jul 27, 202632 minS3

  Today’s guest is the founder of Rose Theatrics, a theatre company dedicated to creating meaningful and diverse opportunities for performers across the Chicagoland area while providing high-caliber and accessible theatre to the surrounding communities. She is a theatre educator, director, producer, and speech coach based in the south suburbs of Chicago and serves as the Director of Speech & Theatre at Marian Catholic High School, where she has spent the past decade helping students discover their voices through performance, storytelling, and public speaking. As a director, her work extends beyond traditional theatre into competitive performance, where her students have earned multiple top finishes at the Illinois High School Association State Finals, including state championships in Performance in the Round and Group Interpretation. Particularly drawn to theatre that explores human connection, resilience, and personal transformation, through Rose Theatrics, she continues to build spaces where artists can grow, connect, and tell stories that matter. Whether directing a musical, coaching students for competition, or developing new work, she believes the arts have the power to help people better understand themselves and one another. Rose Theatrics' production of “Jagged Little Pill” runs July 31st through August 9th. For more information and tickets, please visit this link! I hope you enjoy my conversation with Laura Rose Hilger. Now let’s go, to the top of the show!

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  Episode #7

  Nervous Breakdown in G Minor with guest Lewis Rawlinson!

  Jul 13, 202647 minS3

  Today’s guest is a Chicago-based cellist and theatre artist, who graduated with Honors from Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts with a Bachelor of Musical Arts Degree in Cello Performance and Arts & Public Policy. As an actor, he has appeared in such varied shows as High Fidelity, bare: a pop opera, Fun Home, Triassic Parq , Godspell, The Addams Family, Les Misérables, and Urinetown . As a cellist, he has played with orchestral ensembles and indie/folk artists world-wide, and here in Chicago, has played cello for many productions with companies such as Music Theatre Works, Porchlight Music Theatre, Marriott Theatre and The Goodman Theatre. His solo show, Nervous Breakdown in G Minor , has been seen at The Den Theatre, Theo Cabaret Theatre, and the Winnipeg Fringe Festival. But, this weekend July 17th - 19th, you can catch it as part of at Steppenwolf's LookOut Series. For more information and tickets to Nervous Breakdown in G Minor, please visit the link in our show notes. I hope you enjoy today’s conversation with Lewis Rawlinson. Now let’s go, to the top of the show!

  ListenShow Notes

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