The Roundtable with Robert Bannon

What the world needs now… is a little more Burt Bacharach!

On this episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, we are celebrating one of the greatest songbooks in American music with John Pagano and Adrian Galante from the acclaimed musical revue Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon.

John Pagano has a connection to this music that very few people can claim. For 26 years, he was the featured male vocalist in Burt Bacharach’s touring band, traveling the world and performing alongside the legendary composer. Bacharach became more than a collaborator — he was Pagano’s mentor...

You have definitely seen him on your feed — and now Daniel Coffman is at The Roundtable!

Daniel Coffman has become a social media sensation thanks to his wildly entertaining “Bathroom Broadway” videos, transforming a simple three-panel bathroom mirror into his own personal stage. His singing, dancing, comedy, and unapologetic joy have connected with a massive online audience, with his Instagram following now topping 1.5 million.

Daniel joins Robert to talk about how the videos began, what it feels like when something you created for fun suddenly takes off, and the person behind all of those viral perfor...

Yuriy Sardarov, Laura Lapidus, and Tedra Millan join The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk all about To Have & To Hold!

The trio takes us inside the project, what first drew them to the story, and the chemistry that makes it all work. They talk about finding the humor and humanity in the material, building relationships between their characters, and what audiences can expect.

Yuriy also talks about his career and life after his memorable run as Brian “Otis” Zvonecek on Chicago Fire, while Laura and Tedra share their own journeys and what made this proj...

Ruby Garnet is doing it ALL!

The actress, writer, producer, director, and Marine veteran joins Robert on The Roundtable to talk about her new Western, Dogwood! Ruby stars as Harriet Beckwith, a widowed mother fighting to protect her family and her future in the aftermath of the Civil War. The film also stars Eric Roberts and James Storm.

Ruby talks about creating the film, stepping both in front of and behind the camera, bringing this Western to life, and the wild journey that took her from serving in the Marines and as a federal intelligence...

What happens when some of the world’s most celebrated playwrights are asked to put American democracy onstage?

Jay Wahl, Executive Director of Vermont’s historic Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable to talk about Women+ on the Edge of Democracy, an ambitious new playwright commission bringing together 36 female-identifying writers from around the world — from Pulitzer, Tony and Emmy winners to Olivier and Oscar nominees — to explore democracy through original short plays and monologues.

Conceived by Wahl and led by the Flynn Center in partnership with the Susan Smith Blackbur...

What happens when the political world you built your life around suddenly changes—and you’re forced to figure out who you are without it? Playwright John Harney joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable to talk about his timely new play, Somewhere, Virginia, making its world premiere September 8–12 as part of Theater for the New City’s 14th Dream Up Festival.

The drama follows Clare, an ambitious congressional chief of staff who abruptly walks away from Washington following the 2024 election and disappears from the lives of those around her. When she unexpectedly summons three former colleagues to an old h...

You can’t stop the beat — and Amy Rodriguez is ready to bring Tracy Turnblad back to life!

Amy Rodriguez joins The Roundtable to talk about starring as Tracy in OFC Creations’ upcoming production of Hairspray. After previously taking on the iconic role on the national tour, Amy is stepping back into Tracy’s dancing shoes for a brand-new production in Rochester, New York.

We talk about returning to a character she knows so well, what Tracy means to her now, the joy (and stamina!) of Hairspray, and why the show’s message of acceptance, representa...

It’s morphin’ time… but this time, there’s a mystery to solve! Sean C.W. Johnson, beloved by fans as Carter Grayson, the Red Lightspeed Ranger on Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue, joins us at The Roundtable as he gets ready to hit the New York stage with Cristi’s Case Crackers.

Sean has built a career that goes far beyond the Ranger suit, with credits including My Little Eye, CSI: Miami, JAG, 7th Heaven, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and more. Now he’s jumping into the outrageous world of Cristi’s Case Crackers, the murder-mystery comedy series that mi...

For years, one question followed one of Saturday Night Live’s most recognizable characters: “Is Pat a man or a woman?”

More than 30 years later, We Are Pat is asking a much bigger question.

Julia Sweeney, who created and played Pat on SNL, and director Rowan Haber join Robert on The Roundtable to talk about the documentary and the complicated legacy of a character that became a pop-culture phenomenon.

Rowan brings together trans and nonbinary voices to examine Pat through a contemporary lens, while Julia looks back openly at creating the character, what Pat me...

You know Dyllón Burnside from his unforgettable work as Ricky on the groundbreaking series Pose — but this time, Dyllón is telling his own story.

Dyllón joins Robert on The Roundtable for a candid conversation about his debut album, Genesis, and the deeply personal journey behind the music.

At the center of the conversation is “Garden,” the album’s bold lead single. Written from Eve’s perspective in the Garden of Eden, the song takes imagery that has been used for generations to talk about temptation, shame, and sin and turns it into something roo...

Sometimes an interview becomes something more than an interview. Tony Award winner Laura Benanti joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable for a chat that is equal parts hilarious, vulnerable, thoughtful, and wonderfully unfiltered.

Benanti is bringing her acclaimed one-woman comedy show, Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares, to George Street Playhouse for a limited engagement August 26–30 at the Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater in New Brunswick. Following an acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe run and two sold-out Off-Broadway engagements, the show mixes original songs and storytelling as Benanti takes on motherhood, people pleasing, aging, marriage, and the sometimes messy work of figuring yo...

For five seasons, Outer Banks has taken viewers on one wild ride — treasure hunts, family drama, romance, danger, and enough twists to keep fans guessing until the very end. Now, as the Netflix hit wraps its run, Julia Antonelli joins Robert on The Roundtable to celebrate the show that became a global phenomenon. The fifth and final season arrived August 20, bringing the adventure to a close after a run that Netflix says generated nearly 200 million views across its first four seasons.

Julia has been part of the Outer Banks family from the beginning as Wheezie Cameron, younger si...

Half Sephardic, half Ashkenazi, a third-generation Holocaust survivor, and raised Modern Orthodox on Manhattan’s West Side, Daniella Rabbani has built a career where Jewish tradition meets a thoroughly modern artistic life.

From studying at the Stella Adler Studio and being encouraged by Adler’s grandson Tom Oppenheim to carry forward the legacy of Yiddish theater, to appearances in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Ocean’s 8, to performing at Lincoln Center and The Town Hall—Daniella’s journey has always brought her back to her roots.

Now, she’s preparing a new klezmer album and asking a fas...

Someone once told Jeff Ryan he was going to fail in life because he was a “mooch.”

So naturally... he made a movie about it.

Jeff Ryan joins Robert Bannon at The Roundtable to talk about Mooch, the new New Jersey-set crime comedy he wrote, directed and stars in — and yes, the title comes from a very real insult that somehow stuck with him long enough to inspire an entire film!

Jeff plays Shane, a struggling almost-30 caddie who gets caught stealing from a wealthy nightclub owner. Instead of calling the cops, the guy gi...

For more than 50 years, HIROSHIMA has created a sound unlike anyone else—blending jazz, R&B, pop, soul and traditional Japanese instrumentation into music that has reached audiences around the world.

On The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, we sit down with HIROSHIMA co-founder Dan Kuramoto for a conversation about the band’s incredible journey, creating a sound and identity all their own, the influence of Japanese culture on their music, and what has kept HIROSHIMA going for more than five decades.

We also talk about the songs, the stories, the legacy—and what it means to sti...

Filmmaker Meriem Sakrouhi joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable to talk about her deeply personal new short documentary, Mon Taxi, which made its world premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Festival.

Inspired by Meriem’s relationship with her late father, Mon Taxi turns an everyday ritual — a phone call home — into a moving exploration of grief, memory, family, migration, and the ways we continue talking to the people we love even after they’re gone.

Meriem talks about transforming something so personal into art, her journey from architecture to filmmaking, and why this eight-minute film carries a story mu...

Jonathan Judge-Russo is doing a little bit of everything — and doing it all with a whole lot of heart.

He joins Robert on The Roundtable to talk about starring as Drew in the acclaimed Off-Broadway musical Music City, now playing at St. Luke’s Theatre. Set inside the world of an East Nashville honky-tonk, the show mixes a gritty story of brothers chasing a music career with songs from multi-platinum, Billboard chart-topping songwriter J.T. Harding, whose hits have been recorded by Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker and more.

But Music City is only one...

There are saxophone players — and then there is Kirk Whalum.

The Grammy Award-winning artist joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable for a conversation celebrating a career filled with soul, jazz, gospel, and unforgettable collaborations. From his acclaimed solo work to sharing the stage and studio with some of the biggest names in music, Whalum has spent decades creating a sound that is unmistakably his own.

Of course, millions know that saxophone too — Kirk delivered the unforgettable solo on Whitney Houston’s iconic recording of “I Will Always Love You.” But his story goes far beyond one legend...

The Maltese actor joins Robert Bannon to talk playing Mikiel Mizzi, working alongside Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham Carter, and bringing a piece of Malta’s history to the Enola Holmes universe.

Actor Joe Azzopardi pulls up a chair at The Roundtable to talk about stepping into the wildly popular world of Netflix’s Enola Holmes 3!

Azzopardi stars as Mikiel Mizzi, a member of the Partito Anti-Riformista fighting for a free Malta who becomes an important part of Enola’s latest adventure. The new film takes Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) to Malta...

The Mean Girls star joins The Roundtable to talk bringing the hit musical to Cape Cod, life on stage, and making the iconic show her own!

It’s about to get SO FETCH in the Cape! 💕🎭

Lizzy Tucker joins Robert on The Roundtable to talk all things MEAN GIRLS and bringing the beloved musical to audiences on Cape Cod!

Lizzy takes us inside the world of the show — the comedy, the music, the characters we all know and love, and what it takes to keep that famous Mean Girls energy fresh every night. We also ta...

Sometimes an interview turns into a conversation, and sometimes that conversation goes completely off the rails in the BEST possible way! Singer-songwriter Ivory Layne joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable for a chat that is equal parts music, storytelling and absolute hilarity.

Ivory is a true multi-hyphenate — an artist, songwriter and producer who has built a career between Nashville and London while developing a pop sound that is completely her own. She has collaborated with acclaimed writers and producers including Shane McAnally, Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna and Jimmy Robbins, written for artists including Tom Grennan, Cory Asbury an...

Broadway icon Ellen Greene joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon for a rare and unforgettable conversation celebrating 40 years of Little Shop of Horrors. As she travels across the country meeting fans and revisiting one of the most beloved musicals of all time, Ellen looks back on the role that made theatre history.
How did she discover Audrey? What inspired her unforgettable voice, mannerisms, and heart? What was it like collaborating with legendary creatives Howard Ashman, Alan Menken, Frank Oz, Jim Henson, and the incredible team that brought Little Shop from a tiny stage musical to an enduring cultural phenomen...

Tadhg McMahon joins Robert Bannon to talk about stepping into the gritty world of Hell’s Kitchen, playing Cliffie, and being part of MGM+’s new crime drama The Westies.

We’re heading straight into 1980s Hell’s Kitchen for this one! Actor Tadhg McMahon joins Robert on The Roundtable to talk about his role as Cliffie in the new MGM+ crime drama The Westies.

Created by Narcos creator Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, The Westies dives into the world of the infamous Irish-American gang that ruled a piece of New York City’s underworld. The series...

Broadway favorite Kennedy Caughell is stepping into the spotlight with her debut solo album, Just the Beginning — and she joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk all about it!
Currently starring as Jersey in the national tour of Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, Caughell has built one incredible résumé. From Broadway appearances in Paradise Square, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 to taking on powerhouse roles including Elphaba in Wicked, Carole King in Beautiful, Elsa in Frozen, and Jenna in Waitress, Kennedy has become one of musical theatre’s most exciting and versat...

The acclaimed Washington, D.C.-based trio — violinist Kendall Isadore, violist Dawn Johnson, and cellist Élise Sharp — have built a sound that brings together classical music, R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, hip-hop and pop. From Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center to a special performance connected to the 2021 Presidential Inauguration and a global Wimbledon campaign, The String Queens have taken their signature sound to some pretty incredible stages.

Now they are stepping into an exciting new era with “Troubled Liberty,” featuring the legendary voice of Nikki Giovanni. Released in June, the song marks the trio's first original compositi...

What happens when you take America’s political divide, gun culture, family drama, a magical weapon and some seriously funny musical theatre writers and throw them all together?

You get Good Guy With a Gun! — and this one is WILD.

Robert sits down with creators Philip Labes and Micah O’Konis, along with Musical Director and Executive Music Producer Hal Rosenfeld, to talk about the creation of this irreverent new musical comedy and its star-studded concept album.

The story follows NRA lobbyist Ron Barkley and his liberal daughter Jenna. After Ron is confronted at gun...

If you heard Sydnie Christmas sing once, chances are you remembered her.

The powerhouse vocalist captured hearts around the world when she won Britain’s Got Talent in 2024, delivering the kind of huge, emotional performances that made audiences stop and listen. But winning the show was only the beginning.

Now Sydnie is entering an exciting new chapter with new music, a new album, and live shows on both sides of the Atlantic — and she joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk all about it.

Following the success of her chart-topping debut album My W...

Pop artist, songwriter, producer and creative director Izza is building a world all her own with her new EP, A Night at the Ballet: Act I.

The seven-song project takes the elegance and drama of classical ballet and flips it into a bold, modern pop experience filled with fashion, attitude and plenty of theatrical flair. Izza brings together her worlds of music, dance, fashion and visual design for a project that feels distinctly her own.

There is plenty happening underneath all that glamour, too. Izza tackles everything from ambition and competition to friendship fallouts, dating...

Okay, New Yorkers… you might want to look away. 😂

Filmmaker Pete Ferriero joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk about his deliciously controversial new documentary, The Best Pizza Is in LA — and yes, he is absolutely prepared to defend that title!

A New Jersey native now living in Los Angeles, Ferriero set out to challenge one of the most sacred food beliefs around: that great pizza belongs to New York. His journey takes him across L.A. exploring the city’s exploding pizza scene, from classic slices to Detroit, New Haven and other styles that have...

Writer, director and editor Christopher Piñero joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk about his psychological horror short The Prowler.

Starring Aaron Dominguez (Only Murders in the Building, The Inspection, Shaft), The Prowler takes what seems like a familiar home-invasion setup and turns it on its head. As fear, paranoia and shifting perception begin to take over, both the character and the audience are left questioning what is actually real.

Christopher talks about his love of psychological horror, the influence of Puerto Rican folklore, building suspense without giving too much away, and what i...

Jackpot! 🎰 Lorraine Ziff joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, and this conversation was an absolute BLAST!

Known to her growing online audience as the “Goddess of Slots,” Lorraine has turned her love of casino gaming into a whole new adventure, bringing viewers along for the wins, the losses, the excitement, and those moments when you’re just ONE SPIN away from something big!

But there is much more to Lorraine than the casino floor. We talk about her journey as an actress and producer, how the Goddess of Slots came to be, building a community online, t...

Pour a glass — because we’re heading to Napa!

Nick Corirossi and Armen Weitzman join The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk all about The Napa Boys, the hilariously absurd comedy that takes the idea of the big Hollywood movie franchise and turns it completely on its head.

Nick directs, while Nick and Armen co-wrote and star as Jack Jr. and Miles Jr., two members of the legendary — and completely made-up — Napa Boys franchise. This time, a mysterious figure known as “The Sommelier” sends the gang on another wine-soaked adventure, joined by Puck, a young podcaster wh...

Things are getting deliciously deadly on The Roundtable!

Actress Karen Cliche joins us to talk about her role as Alison in Eli Roth’s brand-new horror film Ice Cream Man, hitting theaters nationwide August 7!

From the twisted mind behind Cabin Fever, Hostel and Thanksgiving, Roth’s latest takes an idyllic summer town and turns it upside down when a mysterious ice cream man begins serving children sweet treats with some seriously horrifying consequences. Ari Millen stars as the Ice Cream Man alongside Karen, Benjamin Byron Davis, Dylan Hawco, Sarah Abbott and more.

Karen take...

For more than two decades, Kindred the Family Soul has created the soundtrack to love, life, family, and soul. Now, the Grammy-nominated duo is hitting the road and making a stop at The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre in Detroit, and they're joining The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk about it all.

Known for their signature blend of classic soul, R&B, and heartfelt storytelling, Kindred has built a devoted following with songs like "Far Away," "Where Would I Be (The Question)," "Stars," and "Magic Happen." Their music celebrates real relationships, faith, resilience, and the beauty of growing...

R&B icon Case joins us on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon as he celebrates an incredible 30 years in the music industry and gears up for a special performance at the legendary Yoshi's Oakland. From timeless classics like "Touch Me, Tease Me," "Happily Ever After," and "Missing You" to the music that continues to define grown-folk R&B, Case has built a career rooted in authenticity, soul, and unforgettable storytelling.

In this candid conversation, we look back at his remarkable journey, the evolution of R&B over the past three decades, what it means to still be...

Independent film takes center stage on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon as we celebrate the inaugural Left Turn Film Festival, presented by the historic Ojai Playhouse.

The one-day showcase shines a spotlight on daring new voices in cinema, featuring acclaimed independent films Situations, $Positions, and Crumb Catcher, along with live filmmaker conversations following each screening. The festival was created to champion boundary-pushing storytellers and give audiences an intimate look inside today's independent film movement.

Joining us are the filmmakers behind three of the festival's standout selections.

Greg Vrotsos, making his feature writing and...

Award-winning filmmaker Lynn Dow joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to celebrate the powerful independent film Bull Street.

Inspired by true events, Bull Street tells the story of a successful attorney forced to return home after her father's passing, only to discover her family's land and legacy are at the center of an emotional legal battle. It's a moving story about faith, family, justice, resilience, and the importance of preserving history for future generations.

Lynn shares what inspired her to tell this deeply personal story, the journey of bringing an independent feature to life, and...

Maxwell Beer and Mitch Marois stop by The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to celebrate the launch of MATCHBOOK FEST 2026, an exciting new five-week festival transforming New York City's historic Greenwich House Theater into a home for bold new ideas, developing works, and unforgettable live events. Produced by Mix & Match Productions, the festival brings together established artists and rising voices for readings, concerts, conversations, workshops, and one-of-a-kind theatrical experiences—all designed to give audiences a front-row seat to the creative process.

Robert sits down with Maxwell and Mitch to discuss why they created MATCHBOOK FEST, the importance of gi...

For more than two decades, Naturally 7 has amazed audiences around the world by creating the sound of an entire band using nothing but their voices. From unforgettable performances with Michael Bublé to sold-out tours across the globe, the group continues to redefine what vocal music can be.

Roger Thomas stops by The Roundtable for a fun conversation about the power of brotherhood, staying together through the years, life on the road, and what keeps Naturally 7 pushing forward. We also preview the group's upcoming appearance at Detroit's Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, where they'll join Hiroshima for an unforgettable night o...

Writer, director, and playwright Darcy Thompson joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to discuss his hilarious new play, Doughboys. Set during World War I, the farcical comedy follows three women who disguise themselves as men to enlist, leading to outrageous adventures, unexpected friendships, and plenty of laughs along the way. After a sold-out run in New York, the production is now heading to the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where audiences around the world will experience Darcy's unique blend of comedy, heart, and history.

Darcy also shares his journey as a writer and director, the inspiration behind Doughboys...