The first episode of Camelot Theatre's new podcast, "Where Broadway Meets Talent," was released on Spotify July 10. 

Situated with microphones, surrounded by wires and discussing theatrical topics related to the second podcast episode of their new series, “Where Broadway Meets Talent,” Camelot Theatre staff are ushering in a new, conversational way for audiences to get to know the actors, designers and directors behind their numerous staged productions.

Releasing their first podcast episode July 10, Camelot’s Executive Director Dann Hauser, Artistic Director Gwen Overland and Marketing and Video Production Manager Brian O’Connor hope to cover what’s happening in the Rogue Valley’s theatre community and capture the personalities of creatives that theatergoers often don’t get to see.

“This is a great way to give a different perspective to the show, because we can put the marketing out there and tell you ‘it’s going to be dancing, it’s going to be chorus lines, it’s going to be a ship on the stage’ or anything else, but this gives us the ability to talk to the cast and crew and directors and get their perspective,” Hauser said. “The audience can see the other side of the curtain and get a flavor of what’s happening backstage.”

“It’s that desire to see, ‘what’s the story, what’s beneath this,’ and they don’t always get that,” Overland said.

The theatre’s foray into the audio-based digital medium began with behind the scenes interviews with the cast and crew of “Anything Goes, Camelot’s recent musical that wrapped up at the end of July.

“I thought the first one was pretty solid, but I think the next one will be better and we can just build and build,” O’Connor said. “With this format, it’s more intimate and we have more time to be able to discuss what it is we’re doing.”

Each of the three podcasters bring their own ideas and experience, but O’Connor’s background in radio broadcasting and technical aptitude with audio mixing and editing greatly aids the recording process.

“Technology-wise, it’s all Brian — this is his baby and we just put the headsets on and talk,” Hauser said.

“I’m once again behind the microphone where I’m most at home,” O’Connor said. “I’ve been doing radio for 36 years; I started when I was 15 and I was doing character voices on a local morning show … it’s been a big part of my entire life.”

The “Where Broadway Meets Talent” podcast is set to come out on the 10th of each month with approximate hour-long productions. The episodes not only feature interviews with the crew and cast involved in the theatre’s current productions, but also serves to shine a spotlight on the region’s performing arts scene as a whole.

“I think it offers us an opportunity for people to take notice that grassroots theatre is affordable and you can have a nice evening,” Overland said. “We’ve been doing this (theatre) for a long time and it’s a thrill to do something new.”

For the second episode of the podcast, Camelot staff are set to discuss the recently-announced 2025 season, which will feature 11 shows including “City of Angels,” “The Glass Menagerie,” and “Guys and Dolls.”

“Broadway is our niche as a theatre; OSF (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) has Shakespeare, Oregon Cabaret Theatre has cabaret-type productions where they serve food, so everyone has their own niche,” Hauser said of the theatre’s selections for the 2025 season. “I think people will really enjoy it.”

Staff at the theatre has long-ranging plans and ideas for the podcast, one of which being the opportunity to go mobile and record almost anywhere.

“What I like about this is this is very mobile; we can take this to a sponsor or Aruba,” O’Connor said.

“We’re not stuck with a stage; this goes anywhere we want,” Hauser said.

Other ideas for the podcast include bringing in repeat guests and doing occasional livestream podcasts.

“There’re so many uses and I think that’s what we’re just so giddy about … the fact that we don’t know everything that will happen out of it, but we have a sense that it will,” Overland said.

To check out the “Where Broadway Meets Talent” podcast on Spotify, visit bit.ly/3YsNLAN.