Host Tom Alvarez sits down with veteran performer Craig Meyer, best known for his acclaimed Elton John tribute show, in a lively podcast that begins with Meyer calling in from a cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic. Meyer shares his journey from Southern California to Carmel, Indiana, where his passion for theater and music took shape, leading to a career spanning Broadway, TV, film, and international touring. Now based in Atlanta, he explains how his Elton John tribute evolved into an 18-year global success focused on theatrical storytelling rather than impersonation. The conversation also previews his upcoming New Year’s Eve return to Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael, reflects on lessons learned touring with Barry Manilow and Frankie Valli, and explores his latest project, the AskMoDo App, created to help musicians evaluate gig opportunities.

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In this conversation, we dive into the magic and evolution of the Indiana Repertory Theatre’s beloved A Christmas Carol, from its imaginative Tom Haas staging—where actors and minimal props bring Dickens’ world to life on a snowy, sloped stage—to the behind-the-scenes realities of trap doors, rehearsal challenges, and mountains of fake snow. Former director Richard shares the pressure and pride of guiding a production that everyone else in the room had performed for years, the subtle artistic updates made over time, and the influence of new directors like Cara Hihn, whose own childhood experiences at IRT helped shape her inclusive vision. The discussion expands into how theater has long championed representation, diversity, and authenticity in casting, the collaborative joy of working with artists, and the importance of leadership in setting a positive creative environment. We talk about the casting process in the age of Zoom, the resilience of the IRT during COVID—producing streamed productions while many theaters shut down—and the emotional return of audiences craving community. The conversation closes with reflections on the irreplaceable value of live performance, especially in the age of AI, and how theater continues to offer shared human experiences no technology can replicate.

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Part 1 -- Tom welcomes back singer and songwriter Anthony Nunziata to highlight his December 13 holiday fundraising concert at Broadway United Methodist Church, benefiting Actors Theatre of Indiana, Kids Dance Outreach, and the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus. They reflect on Anthony’s many Indiana performances and his growing connection to the city’s arts community.

Anthony shares what he admires about each beneficiary, noting that Kids Dance Outreach will again open the show. The concert will feature music from his new Christmas album, his vinyl release, and special collaborations — including a duet of “The Prayer” with rising local soprano Nicole Soprano.

He also updates Tom on his creative projects: a new original album, a Christmas album of 13 songs, an upcoming Live at Café Carlyle recording, and a newly announced children’s TV show co-created with talent from Sesame Street. They also touch on his collaborations with his twin brother, producer Will Nunziata, and his recent songwriting trip to Tuscany.

Part 2 of the conversation brings together leaders from three Indianapolis arts organizations—Actors Theatre of Indiana (ATI), Kids Dance Outreach (KDO), and the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus (IMC)—to discuss their upcoming collaborative benefit concert organized by arts supporters Michael Schafer and Jeffrey Brinkman.

Host Tom Alvarez guides Judy Fitzgerald, Michael Johnson, and Stephen McCoy through a discussion of how the project came together, their organizations’ missions, and their growth within the local arts community. Each shares a brief history of their group, the challenges of building visibility, and how their backgrounds as performers shape their leadership.

They emphasize collaboration, community impact, and mutual admiration while previewing the December 13 performance at Broadway United Methodist Church featuring all three organizations as well as New York performer Anthony, with proceeds benefiting their nonprofits.

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