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!

#theatre #theater #localtheatre #longislandtheatre #longisland #sagharbor #baystreet #dearevanhansen

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!

#longisland #longislandtheatre #theatre #hedwig #smithtown

From Page to Stage: Bringing a One-Act to NYTF with Lisa NasoHow 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 // @ladiestheplayDonate 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!Follow on Instagram: @thekylepettyshow

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! 💜

#longisland #LongIslandTheater​ #theaterpodcast #LITheater #nassaucounty #nassau #cap #culturalartsplayhouse #syosset #jesuschristsuperstar #jcs #kylepetty​ #thekylepettyshow​ #entertainment​ #goodvibes​ #goodtimes​ #personality

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! 💜

#longisland #LongIslandTheater​ #theaterpodcast #LITheater #suffolkcounty #suffolk #the39steps #portjefferson #theatrethree #kylepetty​ #thekylepettyshow​ #entertainment​ #goodvibes​ #goodtimes​ #personality​

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! 💜

#longisland #LongIslandTheater​ #theaterpodcast #LITheater #jaggedlittlepill #smithtown #smithtownpac #suffolkcounty #kylepetty​ #thekylepettyshow​ #entertainment​ #goodvibes​ #goodtimes​ #personality​

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! 💜

#longisland #LongIslandTheater​ #theaterpodcast #LITheater​ #boo #suffolkcounty #suffolk #kylepetty​ #thekylepettyshow​ #entertainment​ #goodvibes​ #goodtimes​ #personality

I’m back with two fantastic ladies - JESS ADER-FERRETTI and CHRISTINE FITZGERALD - and we got into a number of different topics! 🎉Here’s what’s on the docket:🗣️ Chatting with Jess Ader-Ferretti about her experience rehearsing for and performing in Jagged Little Pill at Smithtown🗣️ Chatting with Christine Fitzgerald of Our Love Fitz about the importance of Children's Theater and cultivating community in Long Island theater🎸 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 closingAs always, if you are interested in my full conversations with Jess and Christine, they will be up on Thursday April 9th at 10pm on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts - all easily found on the website at www.thekylepettyshow.com. If I miss your theater or production during WHAT'S THE BUZZ and 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! 💜#longisland #longislandtheater #community #podcast #kylepetty #thekylepettyshow