Podcast: West of Broadway Welcomes Young Actor, Jacob Laval and Alan Seales from BPN

It's curtains up on another episode of West of Broadway. I'm Broadway Veteran Will Armstrong and this is a continuation of our Broadway Con Series. That's right, the West of Broadway crew went all the way to NYC for the 5th annual Broadway Con. We met celebrities, broadway fanatics and some innovators really changing the way broadway fans connect with their favorite shows and personalities.

While walking the Marketplace floor, we ran into someone I just had to interview. Maybe you've seen the Netflix special John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch? If not, put it on your must-watch list because it's fantastic. The show features the comedy of John Mulaney and some amazing guest cameos from comedian Richard Kind to The Talking Head's David Byrne, actor Jake Gyllenhaal and the iconic Annaleigh Ashford! The show also features a cast of incredibly talented kids. One of the stands outs is a young man named Jacob Laval and he was walking the Marketplace floor with his mom and his sister and I just had to interview him. ...

John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch now streaming on Netflix and be sure to catch him on HBO's the Plot Against America and since we recorded this interview he filmed several other segments for Sesame Street! I think the world of this kid and I'm excited to see what he accomplishes. You can keep up with Jacob on Instagram: @jacobLaval

Broadway Con was so much fun and I got to see and speak with so many incredible people. Someone I was particularly excited to talk to is a fellow theater podcaster who is not only creating fantastic content himself but he's leading the way for other theater podcasters and providing a platform for creators to host and share their content in one perfect place. Alan Seales is the co-founder of The Broadway Podcast Network, a one-stop-shop for all your favorite musical theater themed podcasts.

It was such a pleasure to meet and speak with Alan Seales. I encourage you all to check out his show " The Theater Podcast with Alan Seales and all the programing available on BroadwayPodcastNetwork.com.

And, here's an exciting update. Since this episode was recorded, West of Broadway has joined the family of programing at Broadway Podcast Network so I encourage you to find us on their site along with a slew of entertaining and unique podcasts for theater fan.

That brings us to the end of the show. Thank you so much for listening! Special thanks to Broadway Con, Jacob Laval and Alan Seales. Like I said, you can find past and future episodes of West of Broadway on BroadwayPodcastNetwork.com and you can find me on social @WillArmstronpr across all platforms and coming up very soon, we'll be announcing our new co-host and a ton of new and exciting interviews on the show.

So until next time be well and if you're looking for us, you can find us Just west of Broadway.

ABOUT WEST OF BROADWAY

Theater veteran Will Armstrong and theater enthusiast Lara Scott discuss the vibrant musical theater scene on the West Coast, covering movie musicals, region productions, national tours, and more with the cast, crew, producers, and supporters who make it all happen. If you want a lighthearted celebration of musical theater, you can find it all West of Broadway!

Lara Scott

When she's not co-hosting West of Broadway can be heard on the radio in Southern California on K-Earth 101. Lara is also the host of The World Chart Show, an internationally syndicated Top 40 countdown, and her voice has been used on programs for Bravo, VH-1, the Olympic Encore on Universal Sports, and in-flight programming for Delta Radio and Air Force 1. She is also a weekend lounge host on Martin In the Morning, where she plays Standards from The Great American Songbook.

Born in Southwest Florida, Lara headed to Oregon after high school. She got into radio in Bend, Oregon, after calling a local station on a dare from a friend, and then continued her broadcasting career in Portland. After graduating with a B.S. in Philosophy from Portland State University, she moved to San Francisco to become the music director and nighttime air personality at KZQZ/95.7. She then spent almost seven years as the midday host at KYSR/Star 98.7 in Los Angeles, followed by almost a decade in mornings and middays at KFSH/95.9 The Fish.

Her passion for preservation and history led her to Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo, a historic theater that shows classic films on the big screen every weekend, and she now serves on their advisory board. The theater was also featured in her first book, From the Corner of Hollywood and diVine: Your Guide to 30 Old Hollywood-Inspired Spots in Southern California. She is the co-host, along with Oscar-winning filmmaker James Moll, of the Classic Movie Recall podcast, and reviews films from the Golden Age of Hollywood every week.

Lara was a 2008 President's Volunteer Service Award winner, which was presented by recording artist Michael W. Smith on behalf of President George W. Bush for her charity work. In her free time, she can be found hanging out with her young son and daughter, snowboarding, shopping at vintage and thrift stores, chanting at yoga class, and attending lots of concerts and films.

Will Armstrong

Will Armstrong started dancing at the age of 2. He started working professionally at Walt Disney World fresh out of High School. After several years in Orlando he set sail with Norwegian Cruise Lines performing in Will Rogers Follies, Greese, Crazy for You and 42nd Street.

When he returned to land, he joined the 1st national tour of Victor/Victoria with Toni Tennille of Captain and Tennille fame. At the end of his 52-week American tour, Will traveled east to perform at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea in various stage productions where he danced, sang and made wonderful friends.

Will's Broadway debut was in 2002 as a chorus member in the Broadway revival of 42nd Street with Tom Wopat of The Dukes of Hazard and Tony Award winner Beth Leavel from the Drowsy Chaperone. After 42nd Street closed, Will filmed Susan Stroman and Mel Brooks movie musical The Producers before taking his final performing job as an ensemble member of The World Famous Radio City Christmas Spectacular. After Will stepped away from performing he joined the support team of the 1st National tour of Wicked before bringing it to the Pantages Theater for a 5 year residency.

Will now owns his own public relations agency where he puts the skills he learned in the entertainment industry to work creating exciting and original strategies that put smiles on his clients faces.