On this episode of Curtain Call, Tom speaks with writer and performer Ismael Loutfi to explore his deeply personal and unexpectedly layered solo show, Heavenly Baba, now playing Off-Broadway at SoHo Playhouse. What began as a stand-up set has evolved into a powerful piece of storytelling—one that examines family, faith, identity, and the complicated relationship between a son and his deeply devoted father.

This week on Curtain Call, Tom speaks with Paul Adams, founder and Artistic Director of Emerging Artists Theatre. From his early days in New York—experiences that inspired his solo show The Cleaning Guy—to his Off-Broadway play Doris Day: My Secret Love, Adams reflects on a career built on observation and storytelling. The conversation then turns to the work Adams has devoted more than three decades to—creating opportunities for other artists through Emerging Artists Theatre and the Spark Theatre Festival, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary with performances through April 26th.

This week on Curtain Call, Tom sits down with acclaimed director Scott Ellis for an in-depth conversation that goes far beyond the résumé. From his early days as a Broadway performer to his evolution into one of the most respected directors working today, With insight drawn from productions like She Loves Me, Tootsie, and Twelve Angry Men, this episode offers a thoughtful look at what it truly takes to bring a story to life on stage. The conversation also turns to Ellis’s latest work, Fallen Angels by Noël Coward, now playing in New York City.