• 142. Composing Original Musicals with Zoe Sarnak
    Oct 27 2026
    Where does an original musical begin? Drama Desk nominated and Larson Award winning composer, lyricist, and writer, Zoe Sarnak, takes us inside her wonderfully unconventional journey from studying molecular biology at Harvard to creating musicals like The Lonely Few and Broadway's upcoming Galileo. They get into the art and science of composing, finding the emotional truth of characters, and the importance of leaving room for discovery as an original musical takes shape. Zoe shares how she develops multiple musicals simultaneously, finds melodies in subway rides and walks through the city, and approaches a creative process that leaves room for imperfection, growth, and change. They also dig into the complicated relationship between AI and original artistry, what makes human storytelling irreplaceable, and the difference between achieving the Broadway dream and allowing it to define your worth. This is a conversation about following the work you can’t help but make, trusting your curiosity, and remembering that the most compelling stories are the ones that keep revealing something new about what it means to be human. ZOE SARNAK is a Drama Desk nominated and Larson Award winning composer, lyricist, and writer. Works include GALILEO (with Danny Strong and Michael Weiner) opening at the Shubert Theatre this year, NY Times Critic’s Pick THE LONELY FEW (with Rachel Bonds), EMPIRE RECORDS (with Carol Heikkinen), PARTICLE FEVER (with David Henry Hwang and Bear McCreary), A BEAUTIFUL MIND (with Sarah Treem); and others soon to be announced. Sarnak was named to the 2024 Broadway Women's Fund "Women to Watch" list and her music has been featured by the NY Times, The Guggenheim, the BBC and more. @zoesarnak Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠Schedule a session here! Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h et 5 min
  • 141. Inside the Mind of a Showrunner with Sonja Warfield
    Oct 20 2026
    What happens when you stop treating your career like a straight line and start trusting where your artistry actually takes you? This week, Jennifer sits down with writer, producer, and "The Gilded Age" co-showrunner and executive producer, Sonja Warfield, to talk about a creative career that has spanned comedy, drama, development, and showrunning. Sonja shares how improv led her to writing, the path to her first television writing job on "Will & Grace," what a showrunner actually does, and why so much of building a lasting career comes down to developing your voice and staying open to where it leads. They also get candid about the projects that never get made, prioritizing life outside of the work, separating your identity from your job title, and learning not to attach yourself to outcomes. With takeaways about kindness, flexibility, and embracing the pivot, this episode is a reminder that there is no color-by-numbers version of an artistic career and sometimes the unexpected path is the whole point. Sonja Warfield is a television writer/producer and author whose credits include her work on the Emmy Award-winning NBC sitcom Will & Grace as well as BET’s hit comedy The Game. Currently, she’s the Emmy-nominated Executive Producer and Co-Showrunner for the HBO’s highly awarded drama, The Gilded Age. Over the course of her 20+ year career, Sonja’s also earned credits from a diverse range of television shows including Disney Channel’s popular Liv and Maddie; BET’s Zoe Ever After, which featured pop star Brandy; the animated series She-Ra for Dreamworks/Netflix, where she also penned an original song; and the ABC comedy Jake in Progress. She’s developed and written pilots/projects for ABC, NBC, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Lifetime, Universal TV, Sony Pictures Television and HBO. She is currently adapting the novel, The Davenports, in partnership with Susan Fales-Hill for Alloy Entertainment, WBTV and Amazon Prime, which they will Executive Produce.In addition to television and film, Ms. Warfield is author of the entertaining, empowering and inspiring book Get Your Butt Off My Couch (And Your Hand Outta My Wallet), a woman’s guide to getting rid of her deadbeat husband, boyfriend or boo-thing. Sonja and her book have been featured on numerous radio and television programs including The Dr. Phil Show. Ms. Warfield has a B.A. in Cinema/Television-Critical Studies from the University of Southern California where she has taught television writing. She is represented by Anonymous Content. Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠Schedule a session here! Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 min
  • 140. Casting Director Mini-Series: Making an Impression That Lasts with Gayle Keller
    Oct 13 2026
    What makes a casting director remember you? This week, Jennifer sits down with casting director, Gayle Keller, whose nearly 30-year career in TV and film has given her a front-row seat to what makes an actor stand out. Gayle gets super specific about what she’s watching for in an audition, what makes a self-tape work, why truthfulness and instinct matter more than getting every choice “right,” and how an audition that doesn’t lead to the job can still lead to years of being called back. They also dig into the relationship between actors and casting directors, how Gayle discovers new talent, why she still sees theater as one of the most powerful ways to get on someone’s radar, and what actors can do to stay in a casting director’s orbit. Because, as Gayle reminds us, while actors are trying to find casting directors, casting directors are trying to find you, too. An independent New York casting director who has worked the past 25 years casting television and film. Some recent film credits include - The Comeback King ( release date Feb. 2017) The Mastermind, Poetic License, Showing Up (2024 winner of the Independent Spirit award for Casting), Certain Women, The Big Sick, Hustlers ( Artios nomination for Comedy Feature Casting), First Cow, The King of Staten Island, The Bubble, Problemista, Please Don’t Destroy and Babes.Some tv credits include - Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Bored ToDeath, Louie (nominated for two Emmys), Inside Amy Schumer, At Home With Amy Sedaris, Crashing, What We Do In The Shadows (nominated for Emmy and won Artios for Best TV Comedy series), Betty, Flatbush Misdemeanors, Life & Beth, Big Door Prize, Fantasmas and The Chair Company and Big Mistakes. A proud member of CSA, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and Local 817. Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠Schedule a session here! Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h et 1 min
  • 139. Playwright Mini-Series: The Stories Only You Can Write with Joceyln Bioh
    Oct 6 2026
    What if becoming the writer you’re meant to be starts with letting go of the writer you think you’re supposed to be? As part of our Playwrights Mini-Series, playwright and performer Jocelyn Bioh gets wonderfully real about finding her comedic voice, walking away from writing when it wasn’t working, and eventually returning to it on her own terms. She takes us inside a process that is far less romantic than it is disciplined: writing plays in the hours before restaurant shifts, outlining before she sits down, working quickly when time is limited, and rewriting School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play 36 times before finding its ending. We talk about not being precious with your words, knowing when to cut what you love, following the ideas that won’t leave you alone, and protecting the time and space original work actually requires. It’s a conversation about trusting your voice, staying flexible about what an artistic life can look like, and remembering that sometimes the work that changes everything begins when you finally give yourself permission to write like yourself. ___________________________________________________ Jocelyn Bioh is an award-winning, Tony Award-nominated Ghanaian-American writer/performer from New York City. Her most recent work for the theater, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (MTC), premiered on Broadway in 2023 and earned five Tony nominations, including Best Play, along with nominations from the Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle. The play launched a multi-city U.S. tour in 2024 and made its UK debut at the Lyric Hammersmith Theater in London in March of 2026. Bioh’s other written pieces include Merry Wives (Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park, PBS Great Performances and HBO’s Reopening Night); Nollywood Dreams (MCC Theater); and the multi-award-winning School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, originally produced at MCC Theater in 2017-18, which has gone on to have over 75 regional productions and premiered in the UK in 2023 and is due to have its long awaited Broadway debut in the Fall of 2026 directed by 2 time Tony nominee Whitney White. Named one of Variety’s 2024 “Screenwriters to Watch,” TV credits include “Russian Doll,” Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It” (Netflix), “Tiny Beautiful Things” (Hulu), “The Acolyte” (Disney+), and she is writing the live-action film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Once on This Island for Disney. Awards: Creative Capital Award Recipient (2026), Horton Foote Prize (2024), Dramatist Guild Hull-Warriner Prize (2024 and 2018), Steinberg Playwright Award (2020), Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Adaptation (2022), Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award (2018) Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play (2018), Tow Foundation Playwriting Fellow (2017). ___________________________________________________________ Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠Schedule a session here! Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 min
  • 138. But What Do You Actually Want with Jennifer Apple
    Sep 29 2026
    What if the career you’ve been chasing isn’t actually the career you want? In her first official solo episode, Jennifer gets vulnerable about stepping outside her own comfort zone to unpack something she keeps seeing in her coaching sessions: artists working SO hard toward the things they've been told they're supposed to want, without stopping to ask, Wait, do I actually want this? From Broadway and representation to booking the job and feeling “behind,” Jennifer breaks down how to get underneath the shoulds, understand the why behind what you want, and use your core values to make choices that actually feel like yours. So grab a notebook, get ready to ask yourself some potentially uncomfortable questions, and see what comes up when you let yourself be really honest about what YOU actually want. ______________________________________________________________ Jennifer Apple is an actor, coach, writer, and podcast host from NYC, who is in playful pursuit of truth, vulnerability, & empathy in the arts. She originated the role of Anna in the 10x Tony Award-winning "The Band's Visit" First National Tour and received the Elliott Norton Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical for Dina in "The Band’s Visit" at the Huntington/SpeakEasy Stage. With performances at regional theaters like The Huntington Theatre, Shakespeare & Company, Chautauqua Theater Company, American Conservatory Theater, Goodspeed Musicals, and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Jennifer has made her mark on both stage and screen, with TV credits including a recurring role on "Law & Order: SVU" and "New Amsterdam." She has an MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater, has workshopped numerous new plays and musicals, and lent her voice to multiple original cast recordings. Jennifer’s mission as a sought after acting coach is to empower others to embody their truest selves, so they can confidently and authentically express themselves with integrity in everything they do. She specializes in helping artists find new monologues through Monologue Sourcing, teaches strategy for breaking down text, and prepares folks for BFA/MFA auditions and last-minute auditions. She also teaches masterclasses and workshops virtually and in-person for schools, universities and theater programs all around the country, specifically within the framework of her Empowered Artist Intensive container. Jennifer is the founder and executive director of the Empowered Artist Collective, a community for women and non-binary artists to help foster sustainable and thriving careers in the arts. She hosts the Empowered Artist Collective Podcast, sharing valuable insights and advice for artists at all stages of their journeys. Discover more at www.JenniferApple.net or www.EmpoweredArtistCollective.com and follow her journey on Instagram at @JenniferApple_ and the podcast at @EmpoweredArtistCollective. ______________________________________________________________ Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠⁠Schedule a session here! ⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    17 min
  • 137. Director Mini-Series: Creating the Conditions for Magic with Danya Taymor
    Sep 22 2026
    You can’t direct magic into existence, so how do you create the conditions for it to happen? Tony Award-winning director Danya Taymor takes us inside her process behind The Outsiders, John Proctor Is the Villain, and a directing practice rooted in preparation, play, instinct, and finding the alchemy of a room. She shares why she never wants to shut down an idea, how physical exercises and deep trust help build an ensemble, and why theatre is ultimately an act of collective belief where everyone has to care. Danya gets candid about staying open while trusting your gut, uplifting the next generation of directors, and developing the audacity to say, “You need to see my version.” And for the actors listening, Danya pulls back the curtain on what actually catches her attention in an audition, including the singular, unteachable quality that makes her want to keep watching. This episode is a reminder to trust what only you can bring, stay open to what you can’t predict, and let the magic become something bigger than anything you could have created alone. Danya Taymor became the youngest woman to win the Tony Award for Direction for her work on The Outsiders, which won four Tony Awards including Best Musical and is currently running on Broadway and in the 1st National Tour. She received a second consecutive Tony nomination and won the Drama Desk Award for John Proctor is the Villain, which starred Sadie Sink and was nominated for seven Tony Awards including Best Play. In 2021, she made her Broadway debut with Antoinette Nwandu's Pass Over which was the first play back on Broadway after the 18 month covid shutdown. Danya's production of Pass Over was filmed in collaboration with Spike Lee, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is streaming on Amazon Prime. She directed the world premiere of Will Arbery's Pulitzer finalist Heroes of the Fourth Turning for which she won the Obie Award and the Callaway Award. Other recent work includes: John Proctor is the Villain (Royal Court, West End Transfer 2027), Trophy Boys by Emmanuelle Mattana (MCC), Jonah by Rachel Bonds (Roundabout), Endgame by Samuel Beckett (Gate Theater, Dublin), Evanston Salt Costs Climbing by Will Arbery (New Group), Daddy by Jeremy O. Harris (New Group, Almeida, UK), queens by Martyna Majok (LCT), Wyoming (Lesser America) and My Daughter Keeps Our Hammer (The Flea) by Brian Watkins, and The Sensuality Party by Justin Kuritzkes (New Group). Other upcoming work includes the world premiere of Will Arbery's Spite House. She received the Cullman Award for Extraordinary Creativity from Lincoln Center and received a BA from Duke University. Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠Schedule a session here! Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h et 2 min
  • 136. What We Wear Tells A Story with Qween Jean
    Sep 15 2026
    Season 4 is here, and we’re kicking things off in studio with Tony Award-winning costume designer, activist, and storyteller Qween Jean in a conversation about what happens when you stop waiting to be chosen and start trusting what you bring to the room. Together, they get candid about knocking on theatre doors before anyone knew Qween's name, trusting the instincts that became her artistic signature, advocating for herself and her collaborators, and learning to speak up without fearing it will cost her the next job. From Cats: The Jellicle Ball to Liberation, Qween offers a joyful, practical reminder that building a creative career isn’t just about getting the opportunity. It’s about knowing who you are when it arrives. Haitian storyteller, human rights activist, and celebrated costume designer, Jean designed the feline fashion for Cats: The Jellicle Ball (opening on Broadway in spring 2026), for which she won a Tony Award and an Obie Award. Projects she has created designs for include Liberation (Broadway), Oh Happy Day, Saturday Church, Swamp Dwellers, Wedding Band, Macbeth in Stride, Walden and Donja R. Love’s new film Home. Jean founded Black Trans Liberation, an organization that provides fellowship, food, groceries, and housing resources for the transgender and gender nonconforming community. She is the co-author of Revolution is Love: A Year of Black Trans Liberation, a visual and narrative celebration of an activist movement. Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? Schedule a session here! Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h et 4 min
  • 135. Casting Director Mini-Series: Building Worlds Onscreen with Bess Fifer, CSA
    Sep 23 2025
    What’s the secret to building longevity in casting while protecting your creative vision? In the final episode of Season 3, Jennifer sits down with Emmy-nominated independent casting director, Bess Fifer, to dig into the realities, responsibilities, and rewards of the work. Bess shares candid insights about navigating the freelance hustle, redefining success on your own terms, and why even with hit shows like Severance on her résumé, stability in this industry isn’t guaranteed. Together, they discuss practical tools for actors, from how to approach self-tapes with a strong perspective, to the importance of framing and sound, to why asking thoughtful questions can actually signal professionalism rather than overstepping. This episode closes out Season 3 with a reminder that building a creative life is about finding your version of success, showing up with generosity, and trusting that good work will be recognized. About Bess: Bess Fifer is a highly acclaimed casting director whose work on Apple+’s SEVERANCE has earned her two Emmy nominations and solidified her reputation as a leader in the industry. Known for her dedication to authentic, diverse, and inclusive casting, Bess has also been recognized for her groundbreaking contributions to Netflix’s IT’S BRUNO, for which she won the 2020 Artios Award for Excellence in Casting – Short Form Series. Operating from New York, Bess has significantly shaped careers across both film and television, bringing a fresh and inclusive perspective to independent features like LINGUA FRANCA and THE LIGHT OF THE MOON, as well as major TV series including ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA on Showtime. Her commitment to representation and inclusivity has made her a sought-after collaborator in the industry. Bess Fifer's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@castingbybess Bess's Website: ⁠fifercasting.com Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠⁠Schedule a session here! ⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h et 5 min