Black Hair in the Big Leagues
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114 episodes
Stephanie Alexandria drops by Black Hair in the Big Leagues with Host, Salisha Thomas Weiss! She was awarded Top 40 under 40 at Stony Brooke University, she is an award-winning journalist and writer/producer at MSNBC! Stephanie sings, acts, has a great sense of humor and is a beacon of confidence. Follow her online @stephanie_alexandria Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matthew Sims Jr. visits long time friend Salisha Thomas on Black Hair in the Big Leagues! Currently on tour with The Wiz and about to make his Broadway debut in the Marquis Theater in The Wiz Revival, Matthew Sims Jr. is the most hilarious, full of life, well rounded performer having done commercials, tv/film, cruise lines, plenty of Regional Theater, Broadway Inspirational Voices, singing with John Legend, and more! He's also been on tour with The Book of Mormon, and the Wiz. Go see The Wiz on Broadway for a limited run beginning March 29th at the Marquis Theater in Times Square! Follow Matthew @matthewsimsjr and www.matthewsimsjr.com Follow host, Salisha Thomas @salishathomas and www.salishathomas.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Black Hair in the Big Leagues welcomes the incomparable Gabrielle Beckford to the show! Host, Salisha Thomas sits down with former cast mate of Once Upon a One More Time on Broadway, Gabrielle Beckford. Gabrielle made a splash with her Broadway debut as the character, Rapunzel; smashing stereotypes and while giving a new twist to a classic. Hearing her story of wanting to see herself in the characters of the stories she watched growing up and how she gets to BE the representation that she wished she had, is nothing short of inspiring. See Gabrielle Beckford LIVE this February 5, 2024 at Chelsea Table and Stage as she makes her solo debut in New York City. Produced by Salisha Thomas, this production will be live in person as well as streaming worldwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Black Hair in the Big Leagues welcome back Aisha Jackson! If you don't know, she was one of the first episodes to kick off the entire podcast (EP 2)!!! In this episode, Host, Salisha Thomas sits down with Aisha in the dressing room of The Marquis Theatre on Broadway during loadout...aka after Once Upon a One More Time (the musical powered with the music of Britney Spears) had taken it's final bow. A truncated version of this episode is available on youtube at www.youtube.com/itsmesalish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Phylicia Pearl Mpasi from the upcoming Blockbuster hit, The Color Purple graces us with her presence here on Black Hair in the Big Leagues. Recorded just DAYS before the release of what's sure to be her star turn, Phylicia sits down with host, Salisha Thomas and talks about her journey from The Lion King on tour and on Broadway to writing for the TV show, The Rise of the Pink Ladies, to landing the role of the century: Young Celie in The Color Purple. Phylicia talks about declaring what she wanted, writing it down, having a fierce belief in herself and her dreams, and walking with purpose as she watched (and is watching) it all come to pass. This episode will leave you feeling inspired and on fire to enter the new year with the excitement of what's possible for your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
American Idol's Justin Guarini stops by Black Hair in the Big Leagues with host, Salisha Thomas Weiss for an episode of laughter and nostalgia. Justin recently closed his run as Prince Charming in Once Upon a One More Time at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway. In addition to performing live in front of 30 Million viewers during American Idol season 1 and landing in the top two, Justin has also gone on to have an impressive career on Broadway, headlining 7 shows. He is the author of Audition Secrets and you may have caught him in a series of Dr. Pepper commercials as Lil Sweet. Book Justin for coaching, workshops, speaking and more at www.JustinGuarini.com and follow him on social media @justinguarini. For the video version of this episode, click here. Follow host, Salisha Thomas Weiss @salishathomas or go to www.salishathomas.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hello! Salisha Thomas here! And I'm excited to share that I making my Theater producing debut of a play written by this week's guest on Black Hair in the Big Leagues: Gail Burton! Gail is a thought leader, public intellectual, director, and a writer. She is a trained and experienced practitioner of the techniques developed to affect radical social change and help bring about social jutice, peace, and empowerment of people whos voices have too often been silenced. Her life's work has been focused on social activism and the uses of theater for radical social transformation. The piece that Gail Burton is currently writing is called Truth: a Biofictional Choreopoem. And we have a crowdfund where we are aiming to raise $55,000. It's only been one week and we've already raised more than half of the money! This is HUGE! Be a part of our story, and donate to our crowdfund (and check out the project!) at http://www.truthplay.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Martina Sykes is Royalty among us. She was in Motown the Musical on tour and on Broadway, Raindogs, Rent, Hairspray, and is currently on tour with Lion King as Shenzi! Her brother is Ephraim Sykes, also a major talent in the industry so clearly the Sykes Family has something special running through their veins. She created a nonprofit called the HeART Mission as well as The Sykes Scholarship. Welcome to Black Hair in the Big Leagues Martina Sykes! Follow her @ladysykes1 Follow host, Salisha Thomas Weiss @salishathomas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host, Salisha Thomas sits down with Actress turned Businesswoman Shalita Grant on this week's episode of Black Hair in the Big Leagues. She is the founder and creator of Four Naturals Hair products. Her acting credits include (but are not limited to) TV shows NCIS, Santa Clarita diet, Mercy Street, and You. She was nominated for a Tony award for her role in Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike. After a physically damaging experience to her hair on set of a hit TV show, she left the show and made a product that has changed the game for her. Now she's on a mission to help others! Check out Four Naturals HERE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The one and only Jocelyn Bioh graces Black Hair in the Big Leagues with her presence this week for our 100th Episode!!!!!!! She is the woman who wrote School Girls: The African Mean Girls Play, and Nollywood. She's a playwright with Manhattan Theater Club and Atlantic Theatre Company. She's a resident playwright at Lincoln Center. She adapted Marry Wives for Shakespeare in the Park which was turned into a documentary on HBO Max. The musical soon to hit Broadway starring Amber Iman called Goddess, was written by Jocelyn Bioh. In addition to her incredible contributions to the art in New York and beyond, she is also an actor and has performed on and off Broadway (OBC for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.) Ohio State and Columbia University grad, Jocelyn Bioh is one of the founders of the Black Women on Broadway instagram account. Follow her @blackwomenonbroadway, @jjbioh Follow host, Salisha Thomas Weiss @salishathomas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Black Hair in the Big Leagues, host Salisha Thomas sits down with celebrity stylist, Sophie Rose (Gutterman). She's been in the hair industry for over 10 years, is California based (but travels), and has worked for Italian Vogue, Hollywood Reporter, Harper's Baazar, Maybelline, Christian Dior, Karlie Kloss, Gwyneth Paltrow, and more! Sophie has styled hosts on ESPN and MTV, and done hair on Red Table Talk, Good Morning America, and the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The list goes on and on! She loves using Zotos Professional on her clients (including Salisha!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aurelia Michael Holmgren joins the Black Hair in the Big Leagues lineup with host, Salisha Thomas Weiss. Aurelia is a Motivational Speaker, Dancer, a body builder, a major voiceover artist (booking gigs like McDonald's, Hulu, and Netflix!) and the creator of Voice On Demand. She swung the Donna Sumer Musical on Broadway. She's the associate choreographer for the upcoming Wonderful World coming soon to Broadway! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode was recorded during the Broadway Revival run of 1776 with a full cast of Women and Nonbinary actors and a whole lot of People of Color. Originally, 1776, a show about the making of the Declaration of Independence was performed by a cast of all white men (and a couple of women to play their wives). In this episode of Black Hair in the Big Leagues, Salome B Smith and Imani Pearl Williams joins host, Salisha Thomas. Imani Pearl Williams (she/her) toured with Pippin and Pretty Woman and made her broadway debut in 1776! Salome B Smith played Crystal in the off Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors and also made her broadway debut in 1776! We welcome them both to Black Hair in the Big Leagues! Follow them @imanipearlz @siloam_12 Host, Salisha Thomas (Weiss) @salishathomas, www.salishathomas.com Also, if you're interested in trying Innersense Organic Beauty as mentioned in the first half of this episode, click HERE and use code SALISHA15 to get 15% off your first order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Greg and Joanne Starkman join the lineup for Black Hair in the Big Leagues with host, Salisha Thomas making history as the show's first guests who are not people of Color. And it is not by mistake. Greg and Joanne are the creators of a product line called INNERSENSE Organic Beauty. Innersense is all clean ingredients, there isn't a bunch of crap in it, and you get a LOT of bang for your buck. The bottles seem to last longer than expected; Because they aren't watered down, a little goes a long way! Innersense works on ALL hair types. Just ask Salisha, it's her new favorite product. By using it regularly, you truly can reach your curl potential. It brings the BEST out of them! Check out their website for more information on the company and to buy your own! Want 15% off your first order? Click here and use the code: SALISHA15 at check out. We hope you love them as much as we do. Follow Innersense on IG @innersenseorganicbeauty and go to their website: at www.innersensebeauty.com. Follow Host, Salisha Thomas @salishathomas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The One and Only Curl Doctor, Shai Amiel graces us with his presence this week on Black Hair in the Big Leagues with host, Salisha Thomas. Shai has been in the business of hair (and in particular, CURLS) for over 20 years and it shows in his work. Getting in his chair at Capella Salon in Studio City is the equivalent of seeing the original Broadway cast of Hamilton: it feels like a moment in time, like history, a PRIVILEGE. Enjoy this episode as he humbly breaks it down on how to care for your tresses and how he decides which products are good (and healthy!!) to use on hair (hint: he prefers products with CLEAN ingredients) and which ones are big no no's and why. But don't just take our word for it here. Go and check out his page on Instagram @shaiamiel. He's got a ton of before and after photos that will have you scrolling for hours. (And yes, your host, Salisha Thomas is on there too.) At the time of this recording, host Salisha Thomas had JUST been introduced to the world of "Clean" hair products. And now, as of today many months later, she swears by Innersense. If you'd like a 15% discount on your first order of Innersense products, go to www.innersensebeauty.com and type in code: SALISHA15 at checkout. For 15% off your first order of Innersense Organic Beauty products, CLICK HERE! and type in code SALISHA15 for 15% off your first online purchase. Follow Salisha @salishathomas or go to www.salishathomas.com Follow Shai @shaiamiel or get an appointment at Capella Salon in Studio City, California. (TIP: Make your appointment in ADVANCE!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From the 'And Peggy' cast of Hamilton on tour, Marja Harmon who's currently starring as Angelica Schuyler visits Black Hair in the Big Leagues with host, Salisha Thomas! Marja is a light! A graduate of USC, she was in God Friended Me, Jessica Jones, and Madam Secretary. She's toured with The Lion King as Nala, and was on Broadway in Cat On a Hot Tin Roof and The Book of Mormon. Yes, she is the bomb. Follow Marja on Instagram at @missmarjaharmony or check her out on the Hamilton tour currently touring the country! Follow host, Salisha Thomas @salishathomas or on www.salishathomas.com. Black Hair in the Big Leagues is a part of The Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Broadway Star and founder of BIA, Black Hair in the Big Leagues welcomes Michelle West to the show!!!!! She's performed in Regional Theaters all over the country including Sacramento Music Circus, Walnut Street; She's Toured with Memphis and Aladdin, and made her Broadway debut in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. During her time as a Swing in Tina, she built a Fitness and Nutrition Coaching Business called BIA. Check her out at www.bianutrition.com/connect and on instagram @chelleywest. Check out host, Salisha Thomas at @salishathomas! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We welcome stylist to the stars, Kendall Dorsey to Black Hair in the Big Leagues today! Kendall Dorsey’s cliental includes Saweetie, Kelly Rowland, Alicia Keys, Solange, Lizzo, and so many more and recently created Rihanna’s iconic “traditional Aaliyah inspired sweep” style. Kendall is an expert on curly hair and and a Color Wow ambassador! Follow Kendall on IG @kendalldorsey1 Follow Host Salisha Thomas @salishathomas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Emancipation, The Watchmen, Lovecraft Country and now Oscar shortlisted celebrity stylist Andrea "Mona" Bowman stops by Black Hair in the Big Leagues with host, Salisha Thomas. Other credits of Andrea's include working with Regina King, Anna Kendrick, working on Respect, Gifted, Just Mercy, Women of the Movement and Pitch Perfect 3. In this episode, Andrea discusses how her love for hair and helping others with their found her. She talks about hair health, and how when she was an underclassmen in college, one of the upper classmen teamed up with her forming a badass collaboration. Follow her Oscar journey on IG @andreamonab Follow host, Salisha Thomas @salishathomas or on www.salishathomas.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Joining this week's episode on Black Hair in the Big Leagues with Salisha Thomas is Kelley Nicole Girod. Hailing from Louisiana and with an MFA in playwriting from Columbia, she's the founder and executive director of Obie award winning Fire This Time Festival. It's a huge writing factory for new works by black writers of all genders. And she’s the editor of the anthology: 25 plays from the Fire this time festival— a decade of recognition, resistance, resilience, rebirth, and black theater. They’ve helped develop over 80 playwrights. Follow @firethistimefestival and @salishathomas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dawn L Troupe joins Black Hair in the Big Leagues with Host Salisha Thomas. An actor, singer, artist mother, director, writer, and producer who has performed at just about every major regional house in the United States including but not limited to ART, Cal Shakes, Joes Pub, Hill Barn, Berkeley Rep, and Theatreworks, to name a few. And now Dawn has made her Broadway debut in the revival of 1776! Salisha here! Dawn is truly the gem of the earth. Dawn Troupe was there when I got my Equity Card back in 2014 in my first professional show, Once On This Island at Theatreworks in the Silicon Valley. She played Mama Euralie and was the most nurturing, loving, warm, and inviting soul--on stage as well as off stage. Follow Dawn on socials at www.dawnltroupe.com and IG @dawnlt Follow Salisha Thomas @salishathomas or www.salishathomas.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Gisela Adisa from 1776 on Broadway joins the Black Hair in the Big Leagues lineup with host, Salisha Thomas. Gisela is a Broadway, television, commercial, and voiceover actress. Some of her stage credits include the National Tour of Sister Act, she made her Broadway debut in Beautiful the Carole King Musical, and was nominated for an Ovation Award for her performance as Eartha Kitt in Lights Out: Nat King Cole, and at the time of this recording has been killing it in 1776 on Broadway as Robert Livingston. Gisela is a star, currently killing it at life, and we can't wait to see what she does next! Follow Gisela Adisa on IG @imgisela. Follow host Salisha Thomas on IG @salishathomas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nikki Crawford and Adrianna Mitchell join this week's episode on Black Hair in the Big Leagues with host, Salisha Thomas! They are currently starring in the FAT HAM playing at the Public Theatre in New York City. Get your tickets Here. Nikki Crawford graduated from Carnegie Melon has been all over TV, film, and theater. She's performed live from regional houses across the country and has been on television in Criminal Minds, Pretty Little Liars, Malcom in the Middle, and let's not forget Martin, Living Single, and A Different World to name a few! Adrianna Mitchell graduated from Spellman and American Conservatory Theater. She's an actress, writer, and director. She's been on Blacklist, Bull, The Good Fight, Queens, Harlem's Kitchen, and Snowfall, and more! Follow them at @nikkicrawford917 and @adriannamitchell_. Follow host, Salisha Thomas @salishathomas and www.salishathomas.com FAT HAM is a co-production between The Public and National Black Theatre, and reinvents Shakespeare’s masterpiece Hamlet with a black, queer, and southern twist. It explores questions of identity, family, and trauma in a delectable comic tragedy directed by The Public’s Associate Artistic Director Saheem Ali. The show stars Marcel Spears (CBS’s The Neighborhood) as the show’s modern day Hamlet– Juicy, a queer, Southern college student. Set at a backyard BBQ complete with Southern soul food , this is NOT your typical Hamlet retelling (it even ends in a drag performance). But it’s an important, thought provoking play that I hope you’ll come check out. Nikki Crawford plays Tedra (based on Hamlet’s Mother Gertrude) and Adrianna Mitchell plays Opal (based on Ophelia) and they are wonderful, fun, and integral parts of this retelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Roger Q. Mason (Playwright) (they/them) joins Black Hair in the Big Leagues with host, Salisha Thomas. They were recently touted by The Brooklyn Rail as "quickly becoming one of the most significant playwrights of the decade." Their playwriting has been seen on Broadway at Circle in the Square (Circle Reading Series); Off and Off-Off-Broadway at MCC Theatre with Carnegie Hall, La Mama ETC, New York Theatre Workshop, New Group, The Fire This Time Festival, Dixon Place, American Theatre of Actors, Flea Theatre, and Access Theater; and regionally at McCarter Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, Steep Theatre, Serenbe Playhouse, Theatre Rhinoceros, Open Fist Theatre Company, EST/LA, Coeurage Theatre, Rogue Artists Ensemble, Son of Semele, and Skylight Theatre. Roger is an honoree of the Kilroys List; the Chuck Rowland Pioneer Award; the Fire This Time Festival Alumni Spotlight; and the Hollywood Fringe Festival Encore Producers Award. Mason’s films have been recognized by the British Film Institute Flare Festival, Lonely Wolf International Film Festival, SCAD Film Festival, AT&T Film Award, Atlanta International Film Festival, Webby Awards, and Telly Awards. They've screened at the British Film Institute Flare Festival, Lonely Wolf International Film Festival, Inside Out Festival (Toronto), SCAD Film Festival, Hollyshorts, Outfest and Outfest Fusion, Rio LGBT Film Festival (Brazil), Bentonville Film Festival, Outshine Film Festival, and the Pan African Film Festival. Mason serves as an associate producer on Discovery+ docuseries BOOK OF QUEER and researcher for Freeform/Disney’s HOW WE GOT HERE. Mason holds degrees from Princeton University, Middlebury College, and Northwestern University. They are a member of Page 73's Interstate 73 Writers Group and Primary Stages Writing Cohort, the co-host of Sister Roger's Gayborhood podcast with Lovell Holder, and the lead mentor of the New Visions Fellowship and Shay Foundation Fellowship. Roger Q. Mason will premiere their much-anticipated play Lavender Men with Skylight Theatre Company and Playwrights’ Arena in Los Angeles, August 6-September 4. Directed by Lovell Holder, this genre-pushing play courageously re-imagines one of America’s most beloved historical icons, President Abraham Lincoln, through a queer person of color’s storytelling lens. The production will also be accessible to a national audience via streaming performances beginning August 20. Visit www.LavenderMenPlayLA.com for more information and to purchase tickets. Follow Roger @rogerq.mason Follow Host, Salisha Thomas @salishathomas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tony Nominated actor, Sidney DuPont graces Black Hair in the Big Leagues with host, Salisha Thomas! He is an actor, dancer, a cinematographer, director, and award winning screenwriter. He has toured with Memphis, a Chorus Line, and Beautiful as well as doing the Australian and Broadway companies of Beautiful and is now starring in Paradise Square on Broadway for which he has received his very first Tony Award Nomination. Sidney DuPont is kind, fun, talented and radiates "Black Boy Joy." And when he is on stage, he pours every ounce of his soul into every role he takes on. Follow his journey on Instagram at @sidneydupont! You're going to love him! Follow host, Salisha Thomas on her blog at www.salishathomas.com or on IG @salishathomas Black Hair in the Big Leagues is part of the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We recorded with Tyla Collier literally in 2020 and the audio got damaged. BUT WE HAVE FINALLY RECOVERED IT!!!! SO SO happy to share this episode with you all. Tyla is an actor, singer, dancer, and an award winning Voiceover artist and audiobook narrator. Tyla is such a sweet, talented, and kind spirit in the Broadway community and currently on tour with Hadestown! Follow her journey at @tyla_collier and check out www.tylacollier.com. Follow host, Salisha Thomas @salishathomas or read the blog at www.salishathomas.com. Black Hair in the Big Leagues is part of the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Powerhouse Joaquina Kalukango joins Black Hair in the Big Leagues with host Salisha Thomas this week! She is currently starring in Paradise Square, bringing down the house 8 times a week playing Nelly. The show is fantastic. She is PHENOMENAL. She was also in the Godspell Revival, Hollar if Ya Hear Me, The Color Purple, and the original Broadway cast of A Slave Play. Not to mention When They See Us, Mahalia, One Night in Miami, and Lovecraft Country. Follow her journey @joaquinakalukango! Follow host, Salisha Thomas @salishathomas and read the blog at www.salishathomas.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A graduate from Princeton AND Yale, Lileana Blain Cruz joins Black Hair in the Big Leagues with host, Salisha Thomas. Lileana is the director of The Skin of Our Teeth on Broadway which also happens to be her Broadway directorial debut!!!! Go to the Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center in NYC to catch the show and follow Lileana @LileanaBlainCruzofficial or her website at www.lileanablaincruz.com. Follow Host, Salisha Thomas @salishathomas or her blog at www.salishathomas.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
