What's the Tea, MD?
A podcast for musical theatre artists with a unique perspective: through the eyes of the music director! Join Delano Mendoza (music director, actor, singer, voice/acting teacher) & Margo Mikkelson (music director, singer, actor) as they spill the tea on all things MT.Think of this like a vocal class, an acting coaching, a leadership coarse, a music directing mentorship, and an entertaining storytime all wrapped into one show. There's a little something for everyone! Along with sharing from our own experiences, we will have guests from all over to discuss important topics that come up in the audition and rehearsal...
A Wrap on 2026!
Wowie! Can you believe we're at the end of 2026!?
Thank you for joining us in for the first year of our podcast! We love getting to share our experiences and stories with you, and we're so grateful you're here.
Join us for a recap on things we learned as actors, music directors, and humans throughout the challenging, yet rewarding year of 2026.
Wishing you a fantastic holiday season. We'll see you in 2027!
So You Wanna Be a Music Director?
Ready to be inducted into the super secret society that magically turns you into a music director?
Just kidding. But if you know of one, please let us know!
Music directors wear many hats during the course of an audition, rehearsal, and performance process. So what skills are necessary to be a successful music director? How do you find opportunities to build these skillsets and make connections in the industry?
Gather round the table and join us for a spot of tea as we shed light on these questions and much, much more!<...
Are Music Directors the Cast Voice Teacher?
MD = Voice Teacher?
We may be wading into controversial waters here, but it's an important question to consider. Should MDs have a vocal background? Are MDs expected teach voice in a vocal coaching? Who makes the rule!? HELP!
Join us for a delicious cuppa and a nice chat as we unpack this topic.
Pop/Rock is the New Black
But whyyyyyy!?
Not all musical theatre is created equal, and pop/rock is one of those categories that actors don't always love to sing. "Because, like, how are you supposed to pick a pop/rock song, let alone act it?"
Honestly, you might be making it harder than it needs to be. We want to un-complicate the whole pop/rock ask for you and propose some simple ways to find material that feels right.
Grab a cuppa and listen uppa. We're breakin' it down for you!
Subscribe to the podcast and...
Busting Audition Myths
Wanna know the real tea?! Audition myths are alive and well, and most of them are not worth your time.
Yeah, you read that right! Don't waste your time worrying about the perfect outfit or singing the "do not sing list" song. Save your energy for the things that matter: showing who you are, telling a story, and being a complete badass!
Join us for tea time and chat as we bust a long list of audition myths!
Hosted by Delano Mendoza & Margo Mikkeslon.
All Things Actor Therapy
Our co-host, Delano, had an "epic adventure" in NYC, taking Lindsay Mendez and Ryan Scott Oliver's Actor Therapy Summer Intensive!
Join Margo for a spot of tea as she interviews Delano, asking him about his biggest takeaways, working with broadway professionals, the final showcase, and so much more.
As always, the tea is hot and should be enjoyed promptly! Why wait!?
Follow us on IG (@whatistheteamd) and subscribe to the podcast to stay up to date!
Behind the Casting Table
Auditions and callbacks are finished, and the directing team begins piecing the puzzle together. So what are the conversations like behind the table? How do we decide who goes where?
Join us for an insightful conversation on the casting process of a show. over a hot cuppa!
Why Doesn't My Voice Always Sound Good?
It's opening week and the voice isn't voicing. *sigh*
Voice problems can be so frustrating, and they tend to happen at the most inconvenient times. We're going to break down some of the variables that are in your control, and chat about the things that, well, you just have to work through.
Time for a spot of tea. Won't you join us?
Don't forget to follow us on IG (@whatistheteaMD) and subscribe to the pod to stay up to date!
Imposter Syndrome & the Artist with Barbara Jurgensmeier
That little voice in your head calling you a fraud? Yeah, it's time to evict them.
Let's be real; imposter syndrome sucks. Joined by special guest, Barbara Jurgensmeier, the tea trio (see what we did there) unpacks what it might look like, how it can feel, and possible ways to cope with the frustrating feelings of inadequacy. And don't forget, you're a badass!
Barbara Jurgensmeier is a Kansas City based music therapist, vocalist, music director, and collaborative pianist.
Dress up your tea and settle in for this invaluable convo and hang.
...
An Extra Sip - Acting the Song Tip #1
Sometimes one cuppa isn't enough-a. See what we did there?
Margo shares one of her favorite acting the song tips in this extra sip! Enjoy!
Follow us on IG (@whatistheteamd) and subscribe to the podcast to stay up to date.
The Power of the Warm-Up
Group warm-ups are VITAL. We're not just telling people what to sing; we're building something bigger. And that's the tea.
A well-executed warm-up sets the foundation for the ensemble (and the soloists) to build upon. It's laying the concrete before adding the framework. Join us for tea as we chat about their fruitful benefits and how we can go about incorporating them into our rehearsal routine.
Do you have your tea with or without milk? You'll find out how Margo and Delano prefer their tea in this episode!
Follow us on IG (@whatistheteamd...
Choosing an Effective Audition Cut
The audition notice says 16 bars. But which 16 bars make sense? What does the casting panel want to see?
Crafting an audition cut can be fun when you have some good starting points. Join Delano and Margo for a hot cuppa as they share their tips on creating a cut that is both authentic and captivating.
It's tea time!
Follow our IG (@whatistheteamd) and subscribe to the podcast to stay up to date with the latest.
Winning Behaviors in the Rehearsal Room
It's all about the vibes. And in a rehearsal room, there are behaviors that make the vibes ELECTRIC, and actions that bring the whole mood down. The way we show up - from the production team to the cast and everyone in between - can make a huge difference in how the rehearsal process goes.
Tea time is nigh! Grab a cuppa and settle in; we're ready to spill.
Subscribe to the pod and follow us on Instagram (@whatistheteamd) to stay up to date with our latest episodes.
Acting the Song: Whose Job Is It Anyway?
Some might say that working on acting the song is exclusively the director's job. But what about all of the details in the music that inform the story? And doesn't the story inform the vocal choices to be made?
Oooh, there's a lot to break down here. Do you have your tea? Ours is ready, and it's time to spill.
Don't forget to subscribe to the pod and follow our instagram: @whatistheteamd
Singing the Ink
Sheet music can be a gold mine for the singing actor, providing a map for the character's journey. So how do we find these clues? How important is it to sing EXACTLY what's written? When is there room for freedom? Answers coming your way.
The kettle is hot. Tea time is here!
Follow the podcast to stay up to date with our latest episodes!
Building an Audition Book That Makes Sense
Smaller audition books are all the rage! Who has time to shuffle through 30 songs that haven't been touched since senior recital to find the perfect audition piece? Focusing on who YOU are as a person and artist will help you find the best material - you will SHINE!
Join Margo and Delano as they discuss ways to build an efficient, concise, and compelling audition book that shows the best of you.
You'll be on your way to building the perfect book, and we'll be sipping our tea!
Don't forget to follow the pod...
The Ensemble Sound (Pt 2) - Technical Skills
Let's get in the weeds. How do we help the ensemble discover and portray the story behind the pitches on the page? Teaching notes alone isn't enough. Our duty is to develop and arm our casts with as many tools as we can to empower them to go further. That starts with US.
Some useful ideas, tools, and food for thought coming your way. It's tea time.
The Ensemble Sound (Pt 1) - Leadership
Most music directors GUSH over a tight, clean ensemble sound. So what goes into making that happen? Before we get in the weeds over the technical aspects of teaching and directing the ensemble, we gotta talk about leadership. We work with humans, not machines, and that should be the heart of everything we do.
Have a seat, grab some tea, and let's chat.
To Belt or Not to Belt, That is the Question!
Let's BELT. Or, maybe not? Should I belt this song? Do I need to belt in every audition? We're in an age where musical theatre continues to be written higher and higher, and they want it LOUD. So, does that mean we need to belt everything? There is nuance, and we're here to spill the tea.
Subscribe to stay up to date with our latest episodes!
Top 5 Audition Mistakes
We want actors to SUCCEED! Auditioning can be scary, we know. Listen as we uncover some of the most common mistakes we see actors make and provide strategies to improve them. Don't worry, we also share our most embarrassing audition moments. Subscribe to the pod to stay up to date with our latest episodes!
