Noah Hadland Is Subbing Seven Broadway Shows at Once.

He didn’t get there by sending cold emails and waiting.

He got there by running after a stranger with a stick bag outside the Book of Mormon stage door. By sight-reading act one of MJ on Broadway with 45 minutes of prep. By buying the right person a beer in 2019 and not asking for anything until 2023 — when that same person handed him a Broadway chair.

Noah is 30 years old. He’s subbing Ragtime, The Great Gatsby, Just in Time, Wicked, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Chess, and Death Becomes Her. And in this episode, he breaks down exactly how he built that — the networking, the touch problem of juggling multiple shows, how to take a conductor’s note without pushing back, and what he’d tell his 22-year-old self who came out of NYU convinced he should already be playing Hamilton.

Watch the full episode above.

Building a theater career and want the roadmap? I wrote the book. Broadway Bound and Beyond is at broadwayboundbook.com

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock is the drummer for Cats: The Jellicle Ball on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre. He is also the founder of Broadway Drumming 101 and the author of Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career.

His Broadway credits include Memphis, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud, and Cats: The Jellicle Ball, with additional credits spanning tick, tick…BOOM!, The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, and subbing on Rent, Motown, Evita, Avenue Q, and the Hadestown tour.

Clayton has appeared on The View, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the Tony Awards. He has performed with artists ranging from Chuck Berry and Ben E. King to Kristin Chenoweth and Norm Lewis.

www.claytoncraddock.com

He came out of NYU convinced he should already be playing Hamilton.

He isn’t playing Hamilton.

He is subbing seven Broadway shows at once.

That didn't happen because he sent the right email. It happened because he ran after a stranger with a stick bag outside the Broadway stage door of Book of Mormon. That stranger was Dan Berkery.

They talked, stayed in touch, and built a real relationship. So years later, when MJ on Broadway had an emergency — the sub tested positive for COVID 90 minutes before curtain and nobody else was available — the call went to Dan. Dan was already booked. But he knew exactly who to pass the name to. Noah ran to H&M in Times Square to grab black clothes, got to the theater with 45 minutes to spare, flipped through the charts, and sight-read act one of MJ on Broadway in front of a live audience. One conversation outside a stage door changed everything.

Over time, his name got around. Now he's one of the busiest subs on Broadway — currently covering seven shows, and by the time you read this, maybe eight or nine. The seven: Ragtime, The Great Gatsby, Just in Time, Wicked, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Chess, and Death Becomes Her. That's not luck. That's years of showing up, staying ready, and never burning a bridge.

He’s still learning. Still building. And I have no doubt that his own Broadway chair is coming — it’s just a matter of time.

In this episode, Noah breaks down exactly how he built his career.

We get into the networking — not the theory of it, the actual mechanics of how relationships in this industry form and pay off years later. We talk about the touch problem: what it actually takes to juggle seven shows without dropping any of them. How to take a conductor’s note without pushing back. And what he’d tell the 22-year-old version of himself who came out of school thinking he was already behind.

He wasn’t behind. He just hadn’t started yet.

Noah Hadland: https://www.instagram.com/noahhadland/

If You’re Not Subscribed Yet, I’m Asking You Now

If you’re already a subscriber — thank you. You’re the reason this show keeps going.

If you’re not, I’m asking you to subscribe today. Free or paid. Every subscription helps cover the production of this podcast and keeps it alive. This is an independent show built for working musicians and people who want to become one. That only works if people show up for it.

Subscribe. It matters more than you know.

Subscribe now

Two Resources If You’re Serious About This

The first is free.

The How to Land a Broadway Gig Roadmap breaks down how the industry actually works — the key players, how sub lists function, how to build relationships that lead somewhere. Grab it instantly at broadwayboundbook.com/roadmap when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

The second is The Broadway Sub Playbook — $7.99 at signaturebrandworks.com.

From the moment you get the call to show day. How to study the score, build your sub book, take the conductor’s notes, and walk into that pit like you belong there.

Want the full picture? Broadway Bound and Beyond is available everywhere books are sold online. Signed copy at signaturebrandworks.com.

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock is the drummer for Cats: The Jellicle Ball on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre. He is also the founder of Broadway Drumming 101 and the author of Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career.

His Broadway credits include Memphis, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud, and Cats: The Jellicle Ball, with additional credits spanning tick, tick…BOOM!, The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, and subbing on Rent, Motown, Evita, Avenue Q, and the Hadestown tour.

Clayton has appeared on The View, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the Tony Awards. He has performed with artists ranging from Chuck Berry and Ben E. King to Kristin Chenoweth and Norm Lewis.

www.claytoncraddock.com

Share Broadway Drumming 101

Thank you for being a longtime listener of Broadway Drumming 101.

I’ve been thinking about doing more solo episodes for a while, and I’m finally starting today.

Over the past week, I’ve been deep in rehearsals for Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and this version is even stronger than what we did at PAC. Everything feels sharper and more focused. We officially open on April 7th, and I’m excited for people to see it.

READ: Two Icons of New York, Ready for Broadway’s ‘Jellicle Ball’

At NAMM, I brought up a topic that doesn’t get talked about enough:

How careers really begin.

For me, it wasn’t Broadway. It wasn’t some audition. It was a hotel gig in New Rochelle, playing the same 20 songs every other Friday night.

A connection from that gig led me to a tour.
That tour opened the door to subbing.
And subbing eventually brought me to Broadway.

In this new solo episode, I break down:

• Why saying yes early in your career matters
• Why showing up beats just posting
• How small gigs compound over time
• And how to know when it’s time to start saying no

If you caught my talk at NAMM, this episode goes even deeper into that topic.

READ:

And if you’re serious about building a real career in theater, get my book:

Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career.

You can order it right now on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
If you want a signed copy, go to SignatureBrandWorks.com.

Listen to the new solo episode.
Pick up the book if you’re interested.
And I hope to see you at the Broadhurst!

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock is the drummer for the upcoming Broadway musical Cats: The Jellicle Ball, opening at the Broadhurst Theatre on April 7th. He is also the founder of Broadway Drumming 101 and the author of the forthcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career.

His Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Memphis, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, along with extensive subbing on shows such as Rent, Motown, Evita, Avenue Q, and the Hadestown tour.

Clayton has appeared on The View, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and has performed with artists ranging from Chuck Berry and Ben E. King to Kristin Chenoweth and Norm Lewis.

www.claytoncraddock.com

Joe Bergamini on Subbing, Broadway Reality, and Building a Real Music Career

In this episode of the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast, I sit down with Joe Bergamini—drummer, educator, author, and one of the most thoughtful voices in the drum world.

Joe has subbed on more than 15 Broadway shows, toured nationally, taught for decades, and written some of the most respected drum books out there. But what really stands out is how clearly he talks about what it actually takes to build a sustainable life as a working musician.

We dig into what subbing on Broadway is really like, how learning music note-for-note early on prepared him for theater work, and how teaching, touring, rock bands, and saying yes to the right gigs quietly shaped his career. Joe also shares stories from his early club days and why preparation, curiosity, and relationships matter more than hype or shortcuts.

This is an honest, practical conversation for drummers who care about longevity.

Here are just a few books he has written:

Speaking at NAMM – January 24

I’ll be expanding on many of these ideas in person at NAMM:

Building a Career in Theater Music
Saturday, January 24
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Hilton California A

If you’re attending NAMM and curious about Broadway, touring, subbing, networking, contracts, and the real financial side of being a working musician, I hope you’ll stop by.

Broadway Bound and Beyond

My upcoming book, Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career, goes deeper into many of the topics we talk about here—how musicians actually get hired, how careers are sustained, and what no one explains when you’re starting out.

Get on the list at:
www.broadwayboundbook.com

Subscribe and Stay Connected

If you’re getting value from these conversations, make sure you’re subscribed to Broadway Drumming 101 so you don’t miss future episodes and articles.

If you know a musician trying to figure out their next move, share this episode with them. Subscriptions and reviews help more working players find the show.

Share

Thanks for listening and for supporting the Broadway Drumming 101 community.

Clayton Craddock is the drummer for the upcoming Broadway musical Cats: The Jellicle Ball, opening at the Broadhurst Theatre on April 7th. He is also the founder of Broadway Drumming 101 and the author of the forthcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career.

His Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Memphis, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, along with extensive subbing on shows such as Rent, Motown, Evita, Avenue Q, and the Hadestown tour.

Clayton has appeared on The View, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and has performed with artists ranging from Chuck Berry and Ben E. King to Kristin Chenoweth and Norm Lewis.

www.claytoncraddock.com

In this episode, I sit down with drummer Tom Jorgensen. He’s been playing drums on the Beetlejuice national tour for the last three years. Tom talks about what makes the Beetlejuice drum book one of the most physically demanding on the road and how Shannon Ford’s original approach set the tone for everything that followed.

We dig into:

• The sheer physical challenge of playing Beetlejuice eight times a week and how Tom reworked his setup and grip to survive it.

• The philosophy he learned from jazz legend Michael Carvin — “It’s not about what you’re playing, it’s about what you’re doing” — and how that mindset keeps every performance fresh.

• His time touring with Postmodern Jukebox, cutting his teeth on cruise ships, and what those experiences taught him about endurance, posture, and musical adaptability.

• Lessons from working with Rich Mercurio and Nadia DiGiallonardo on Waitress, and the moment that turned a sub gig into his first big break.

• The balance between consistency and creativity on tour — how to avoid burnout, stay healthy, and keep the show locked in night after night.

• Why gratitude and discipline are non-negotiable for musicians who want longevity on the road.

Tom’s story is a reminder that Broadway drumming isn’t just about chops — it’s about mindset, focus, and knowing how to serve the show every night.

For more: https://www.tomjorgensensound.com

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe now

Subscribe at BroadwayDrumming101.com and pre-order my new book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career at BroadwayBoundBook.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Beetlejuice National Tour

• Shannon Ford

• Michael Carvin

• Rich Mercurio

• Nadia DiGiallonardo

• Postmodern Jukebox

• Waitress First National Tour

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock is the drummer for the upcoming Broadway revival of Cats: The Jellicle Ball, opening at the Broadhurst Theatre on April 7th. He is also the founder of Broadway Drumming 101 and the author of the forthcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career.

His Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Memphis, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, along with extensive subbing on shows such as Rent, Motown, Evita, Avenue Q, and the Hadestown tour.

Clayton is currently on tour with The Rock Orchestra and has appeared on The View, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and has performed with artists ranging from Chuck Berry and Ben E. King to Kristin Chenoweth and Norm Lewis.

www.claytoncraddock.com

Today’s guest is a little different. Usually, I feature drummers on this podcast, and we’ve had some incredible ones—plus music directors like Nate Patten and music coordinators like Michael Aarons and Michael Keller. But this time, I wanted to bring on someone I’ve known and played with for the past ten years, a true “Piano Man” and multi-instrumentalist who has made his mark on Broadway and beyond: Matthew Friedman.

Matthew isn’t just a pianist—he’s a singer, a bandleader, a composer, and yes, even a drummer. He was “The Piano Man” in the national touring company of Movin’ Out and has performed with the legendary Lords of 52nd Street, Billy Joel’s original band. He’s also been part of Broadway productions like Jersey Boys and Smokey Joe’s Café, while leading his own group, Matthew Friedman & Stiletto.

In this episode, we talk about:

• His early start in music and the influences that shaped him.

• How he made the leap from being an attorney to a full-time musician.

• The highs and lows of touring life—from first-class gigs to rough bus-and-truck runs.

• Stories from his time on Broadway, including connections to past podcast guest Jon Berger and future guest Joe Bergamini.

• What it means to be more than just a player in the pit—how to lead, adapt, and thrive as a versatile instrumentalist.

Matthew has great stories, big insights, and a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed in this business—not just as a drummer, but as a full-fledged musician and bandleader.

Some clips of me playing a fun gig with him several years ago:

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, and The Gospel at Colonus (featuring Kim Burrell). As a skilled sub, he has contributed his talents to notable productions, including Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, and the national tour of Hadestown, among many others. He has also appeared on major shows including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards. He has performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton is the author of the forthcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career, the only guide you’ll need to succeed in the competitive world of musical theater.

Sign up to be the first to know when the book drops: www.BroadwayBoundBook.com

He proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock at www.claytoncraddock.com

In this episode, I talk with Michael Manasseh, the drummer for the current Hadestown national tour. Michael shares his unique path from studying economics at Columbia University to landing gigs on Broadway tours, and how his early training shaped the versatile musician he is today.

We talk about:

• How growing up in Boston, church music, and early jazz studies shaped his drumming identity

• His college years at Columbia, balancing academics with student theater, and realizing music could become a career

• The turning point of joining Muse (Musicians United for Social Equity) and mentorship with John Clancy, which led to his first big break on the Shrek tour

• What it’s like playing Hadestown night after night—the mental and physical demands, the freedom to improvise, and why it feels like “jazz theater”

• Stories from the road, including near-misses with quick costume changes, learning directly from orchestrators, and pulling influences from Art Blakey to Mark Guiliana

• His perspective on the business side of Broadway, the economics of touring shows, and why relationships—not transactions—drive opportunities for drummers

Michael’s story highlights not just the technical side of playing drums on a major tour, but also the importance of balance, community, and adaptability in building a long-term career in theater.

If you’re a drummer looking to break into Broadway—or just want to hear what life is really like behind the kit on a national tour—you won’t want to miss this conversation.

More about Michael: https://www.michaelmanassehmusic.com/

Leave a comment

If you want to understand how to make a lasting career in this business — not just play the music — my upcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career dives deep into both the art and the industry.

Subscribe to Broadway Drumming 101 so you don’t miss Michael’s episode and other conversations that go beyond the notes.

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, and The Gospel at Colonus (featuring Kim Burrell). As a skilled sub, he has contributed his talents to notable productions, including Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, and the national tour of Hadestown, among many others. He has also appeared on major shows including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards. He has performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton is the author of the forthcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career, the only guide you’ll need to succeed in the competitive world of musical theater.

Sign up to be the first to know when the book drops: www.BroadwayBoundBook.com

He proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock at www.claytoncraddock.com

Originally posted November 2021

Paul Pizzuti has over fifty years of experience playing shows, making him one of the most seasoned and respected drummers on Broadway. He’s a musician everyone should listen to when it comes to understanding what it takes to build and sustain a successful career playing Broadway musicals.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Playing the musical Candide

• Landing the original Godspell

• Handling a performance during the 1977 New York City blackout

• Working on the original Evita

• Why Merrily We Roll Along closed quickly but became a classic

• How a chain of small connections led to a seven-year run on Cats

• Sight-reading the TONY Awards show

• Leaving the business altogether for a short period of time

• Being the China Club house drummer on Wednesday nights

• Recording the cast albums for Assassins and Crazy For You

• Working on Gypsy with Patti LuPone

• Observing the transition from no monitors in Broadway pits to personal monitoring systems

Partial list of Paul’s Broadway and concert credits:

• She Loves Me

• Far Away Places: Live at 54 Below w/ Patti LuPone

• The Other Duke: Tribute to Duke Pearson

• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

• Merrily We Roll Along

• Another Monday Night

• The Lady with the Torch w/ Patti LuPone

• Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, in Concert from Carnegie Hall

• Pacific Overtures

• Big Band Blues

• Into the Woods

• The Frogs / Evening Primrose

• Kiss Me, Kate

• Fifteen-Year Anniversary w/ Betty Buckley

• Big

• A Christmas Carol

• Crazy for You

• Assassins

• Cats

• …and many more

I just released a free PDF every working musician needs—and it’s not just for drummers.

It’s called “20 Smart Questions to Ask Before Saying Yes to Any Gig,” pulled straight from my upcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career. This book is packed with tools, insights, and real-world advice to help you navigate the ups and downs of a music career.

This checklist will help you:

• Avoid gigs that aren’t worth your time

• Spot red flags before you commit

• Make sure the money, the people, and the music are right

• Say no with confidence—or yes with clarity

Grab your free copy here:
👉 https://www.broadwayboundbook.com/book-launch-checklist

Sign up to be notified when the book launches this fall. Paid subscribers will get an advance copy, a signed edition, and a big discount.

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, and The Gospel at Colonus (featuring Kim Burrell). As a skilled sub, he has contributed his talents to notable productions, including Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, and the national tour of Hadestown, among many others. He has also appeared on major shows including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards. He has performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton is the author of the forthcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career, the only guide you’ll need to succeed in the competitive world of musical theater.

Sign up to be the first to know when the book drops: www.BroadwayBoundBook.com

He proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock at www.claytoncraddock.com

In this episode, I sit down with drummer and Hawaii native Pili Fronda, and fair warning: you might learn more about Hawaiian history, food, geography, and culture than you bargained for. And I’m not mad about it…because I love Hawaii as much as Pili does. This conversation might’ve started out about drums, but before we even hit the 10-minute mark, we were deep in the mountains of Maui, eating poke in Vegas, dodging cliffs on the road to Hana, and breaking down what it really means to grow up Hawaiian.

Pili shares powerful insight into his upbringing, the meaning behind his full name (which you're going to want to hear him pronounce), and how the cultural values instilled in him shaped not just his character, but his entire musical path. We also talk about the community-centered spirit of the islands, the way music is woven into Hawaiian education, and how Pili’s musical influences—from reggae to Latin percussion to gospel—led him to the national tour of Mrs. Doubtfire.

Later in the episode, we dig into his process for landing that tour gig straight out of college, how he prepared for it, and what it takes to thrive on the road. This is an inspiring conversation with a young musician who’s doing things the right way, with humility, discipline, and heart.

For more about Pili: www.pilifronda.com

And if you're looking to build your own career in musical theater, I’ve got something coming for you. Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career is almost finished, and I can’t wait for you to read it. This book breaks down everything I’ve learned over decades in the industry, what it takes to get the gig, keep it, and grow beyond it.

Sign up for our email list at www.BroadwayBoundBook.com to stay updated on the release.

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, and The Gospel at Colonus (featuring Kim Burrell). As a skilled sub, he has contributed his talents to notable productions, including Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, and the national tour of Hadestown, among many others. He has also appeared on major shows including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards. He has performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton is the author of the forthcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career, the only guide you’ll need to succeed in the competitive world of musical theater.

Sign up to be the first to know when the book drops: www.BroadwayBoundBook.com

He proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock at www.claytoncraddock.com

Originally released in 2021, this episode is a masterclass in what it really takes to make it on Broadway and beyond. Jake Goldbas was at the time, the drummer for Dear Evan Hansen. He shares his incredible journey from growing up in Connecticut to playing for some of the biggest names in music, including Aretha Franklin, Patti Austin, and The O’Jays.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• How a subway bucket drummer sparked Jake’s passion for rhythm

• The power of preparation when subbing on Broadway

• Why being early (not just on time) sets you apart in the business

• Valuable lessons from legends like Bernard Purdie

• The reality of building trust as a sub and making the right impression

If you’ve ever wondered how to break into the Broadway scene, this episode gives you a front-row seat to the mindset, hustle, and professionalism required.

Sign up at BroadwayBoundBook.com for updates on Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career.

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, and The Gospel at Colonus (featuring Kim Burrell). As a skilled sub, he has contributed his talents to notable productions, including Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, and the national tour of Hadestown, among many others. He has also appeared on major shows including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards. He has performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton is the author of the forthcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career, the only guide you’ll need to succeed in the competitive world of musical theater.

Sign up to be the first to know when the book drops: www.BroadwayBoundBook.com

He proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock at www.claytoncraddock.com

What does it take to go from high school marching band to playing drums for major Broadway tours? Meet Jaren Angud, a versatile percussionist whose journey has taken him from ska cover bands in garages to international stages with Disney and beyond.

In this episode, Jaren and I dive deep into his story:

• How a high school French horn mishap led him to drums

• Playing in ska and punk bands before discovering theater music

• Why he originally planned to be an engineer, not a musician

• The moment he decided to pursue music seriously and how grad school shaped his path

• Landing national and international tours like Flashdance The Musical and Beauty and the Beast

• Touring across the U.S. and overseas—from Cairo to Qatar—and what it taught him about culture, travel, and resilience

• What life is like as the drummer for the First National Tour of Back to the Future: The Musical

• How he and his wife turned RV living into a full-time touring lifestyle

• Managing fitness, routine, and mental focus while on the road

• Advice for drummers who want to break into the Broadway world: versatility, preparation, and mindset

Jaren’s story is full of practical advice, real-life insights, and inspiring lessons about saying “yes” to opportunities and staying ready for the big call.

Mentioned in this episode:

• His early influences: Travis Barker, ska bands, and marching percussion

• Transitioning from music education to performance

• Why being a “total drummer” is the key to success

• Tips for navigating long-haul touring, from budgeting to health

• The reality of subbing on Broadway and how Jaren prepared for Back to the Future

Whether you’re a drummer dreaming of Broadway, a musician navigating freelance life, or someone curious about the touring lifestyle, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.

And if you’ve ever dreamed of building a theater career of your own, my new book is almost here.

Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career is launching soon.

Get your name on the list at BroadwayBoundBook.com to be among the first to grab a copy when it drops.

Thanks for listening!

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. As a skilled sub, he has contributed his talents to notable productions such as Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, and Hadestown (tour), among many others. He has also appeared on major shows, including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock here: www.claytoncraddock.com

In this classic conversation (initially released in November of 2021), I had a chat with Jesse-Ray Leich. We talked about his journey from a small town in Rhode Island to becoming a respected Broadway drummer. Adopted from Ecuador and raised in North Kingstown, Jesse-Ray’s musical path began at age four with a small drum kit from his parents, and he never looked back.

Jesse-Ray shares personal stories about:

• Growing up in a musical and supportive family

• Early inspiration from pop-punk bands like Paramore and Green Day

• His college years at the University of Rhode Island and navigating tough financial decisions

• How he landed his first national tour with Motown the Musical right after graduation

• Lessons learned on the road during Something Rotten! and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical

• Breaking into Broadway through relationships and persistence, leading to KPOP and Mr. Saturday Night

• The importance of being a good hang offstage, not just a solid player

This episode is packed with practical advice and real talk about what it takes to build a career in musical theater, especially as a drummer.

Key Takeaways

• You don’t have to live in New York City to start your path toward Broadway, but you do have to put in the work and reach out

• The right connection at the right time can open major doors

• Being reliable and easy to work with is often more important than being flashy behind the kit

• Touring can be a grind, but it's also an education

• Stay ready, because you never know when the opportunity will come

Connect with Jesse-Ray

• Instagram: @jesserayleich

• Website: www.jesseraydrums.com

If you’ve ever dreamed of building a theater career of your own, my new book is almost here. Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career is launching soon.

Get your name on the list at BroadwayBoundBook.com to be among the first to grab a copy when it drops.

Thanks for listening!

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, and The Gospel At Colonus. As a skilled sub, he has contributed his talents to notable productions such as Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, and Hadestown (tour), among many others. He has also appeared on major shows, including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, Ben E. King and Kim Burrell.

Clayton proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock here: www.claytoncraddock.com

We’re closing in on 100 interviews here at Broadway Drumming 101, and we’re just getting started. We’ve got a great lineup ahead.

Upcoming episodes include conversations with:

• Pili Fronda

• Michael Manesseh

• Matthew Friedman

• Joe Bergamini

• Tom Jorgensen

• Trevor Holder

We're also re-releasing some Broadway Drumming 101 Classic Episodes you may have missed, featuring:

• Jesse-Ray Leich

• Jake Goldbas

• Paul Pizzuti

• Dena Tauriello

• Larry Lelli

• Rich Rosenzweig

• Elena Bonomo
  …and many more.

Be sure to subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. And subscribe to the Broadway Drumming 101 YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes video content.

In this episode, I talk with Augusto Oropeza, the drummer on the national tour of Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations. He shares what it’s really like playing this music night after night, life on the road, his transition from an IT career into full-time performance, and the story of how he landed the gig in the first place.

We discuss:

• How he went from auditing the show to joining the cast on tour

• The challenges of split-week travel and three-city weeks

• Why he left behind a steady job in cybersecurity to chase his dream

• His influences—from Jonathan Moffett and Vinnie Colaiuta to Karen Carpenter and Sheila E

• What it takes to stay healthy and injury-free on tour

• The importance of networking, versatility, and being a good hang

• The reality of drum booths, tight pits, late-night DoorDash, and finding community on the road

• How Cirque du Soleil and musical theater sparked his passion for live performance

This is an honest and inspiring look at what it means to live the touring musician’s life.

Support the show by visiting our merch store: merchandise.broadwaydrumming101.com

And if you’ve ever dreamed of building a theater career of your own, my new book is almost here.

Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career is launching soon.

Get your name on the list at BroadwayBoundBook.com to be among the first to grab a copy when it drops.

Thanks for listening!

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. As a skilled sub, he has contributed his talents to notable productions such as Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, and Hadestown (tour), among many others. He has also appeared on major shows, including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock here: www.claytoncraddock.com

Originally released: October 2021

In this classic episode, I talk with Dennis Arcano—an all-around force in the musical theater world: Educator / Audio Engineer / Synth & Drum Programmer / Composer. He's subbed on shows like Death Becomes Her, tick, tick...BOOM!, Altar Boyz, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Jagged Little Pill, and more.

Dennis and I go way back, and in this episode, we talk about how he broke into the scene, from his first professional gig at Candlewood Playhouse to subbing on Broadway. He shares how a single connection led to his first Broadway subbing gig on Follies, and how that eventually led to touring tick, tick...BOOM! with his wife alongside him.

He gets into:

• How to properly prepare for a subbing gig (and what not to do)

• His path as a multi-instrumentalist and why that matters

• Why it’s important to play like the drummer you're subbing for

• His philosophy on groove, gear, teaching, and building trust in the pit

• What it was like to come back to Broadway years later for Jagged Little Pill

This episode is a masterclass in professionalism, humility, and the power of staying ready. Whether you’re a drummer looking to break into the Broadway scene or someone who wants to understand what it really takes to make it, this is one worth going back to.

Listen now and subscribe to the podcast for more inspiring and honest conversations with the drummers behind the shows.

Get more from Broadway Drumming 101 in the Substack app

Available for iOS and Android

Get the app

And grab your copy of my book: BroadwayBoundBook.com

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. As a skilled sub, he has contributed his talents to notable productions such as Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, and Hadestown (tour), among many others. He has also appeared on major shows, including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock here: www.claytoncraddock.com

In this episode, Clayton chats with drummer Patrick Phelan IV, the current touring drummer for the Shucked First National Tour. Patrick shares how a random hangout in NYC led to his first Broadway subbing opportunity and how he's since built a career full of friendship, groove, and grit.

We dive into his musical upbringing in Wisconsin, studying classical percussion at UW–Eau Claire, and how his early decision to leave veterinary studies for a life behind the drum kit changed everything. Patrick talks about balancing eight shows a week, playing pickleball and golf to stay sane on the road, and bleeding all over his snare in Dallas — literally.

Patrick also opens up about:

• His deep love for Yacht Rock and why he dreams of touring with Michael McDonald or Christopher Cross

• Learning to play entire shows from Vimeo videos (with no charts!) — like his recent tour with Clay Aiken & Ruben Studdard

• Why subbing on Shucked led to a national tour

• Playing music for music’s sake—not just for the show

Whether you’re a drummer, a theater musician, or someone trying to figure out how to break into the Broadway world, this episode is packed with real advice, honest stories, and some good laughs.

Featured Topics:

• Getting into musical theater through friendship and trust, not just auditions

• Classical chops meeting country-pop grooves on Shucked

• Why networking isn’t just schmoozing—it’s about real human connection

• Staying musically inspired while playing the same show night after night

• The role of joy, artistic outlets, and “pretending you’re at your own rock concert” when playing in isolation

About Patrick Phelan:
Outside of Broadway, Patrick has toured internationally with Americana band Them Coulee Boys, recording the album Die Happy, which charted on the American Radio Album charts. He played for the Grammy-nominated Jazz Ensemble 1 at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and performed at PASIC with the UWEC percussion quartet. Patrick also teaches private lessons in drum set, concert percussion, and piano.

Connect with Patrick:
Instagram: @patrickphelan4
Email: patrickphelan4@gmail.com

Check out the Broadway Bound and Beyond book and merch!

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. As a skilled sub, he has contributed his talents to notable productions such as Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, and Hadestown (tour), among many others. He has also appeared on major shows, including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock here: www.claytoncraddock.com

In this classic episode of Broadway Drumming 101, I chat with the multi-talented percussionist Joshua Mark Samuels, whose Broadway journey spans from singing and dancing as a child in California to holding down chairs in some of the biggest shows on Broadway and Radio City.

We initially chatted in October of 2021, but I wanted to share this episode again. It’s funny, thought-provoking, and incredibly informative.

Episode Highlights:

• Early Musical Roots: Josh shares stories of growing up in L.A., starting drum lessons at the age of two and a half, and learning music theory from his legendary uncle, Dave Samuels.

• Dual Passions: How Josh navigated his love for both performing on stage and playing in orchestras, eventually fusing both into a career in musical theater.

• Cruise Ship Hustle: Becoming a music director at age 21 and realizing pit drumming was his true calling.

• Move to NYC: Josh recounts his unexpected relocation to New York and how one subway ride introduced him to Broadway drummer Gary Seligson, kick-starting his networking journey.

• Landing Marvelous Wonderettes & Godspell: Hear how obsessive preparation, transcriptions, and laser-focused practice helped Josh build a strong reputation as a sub.

• Radio City Christmas Spectacular: What it’s really like to play 200+ shows in two months with the Rockettes—and why this gig is one of the most demanding in the business.

• Subbing Philosophy: Learn why being effective matters more than being right, how to take notes without ego, and why watching the conductor is non-negotiable.

• Building a Career: Josh offers insight into the importance of relationships, people skills, and being someone others want to be around, on and off the bandstand.

Key Takeaways:

• “Subbing is a people game. It’s not just about chops—it’s about trust.”

• “Obsessive preparation isn’t about showing off—it’s about honoring the gig.”

• “You don’t succeed on Broadway because you’re the best player. You succeed because you’re the best fit.”

About Joshua Mark Samuels:
Josh currently holds the drums/percussion chair at Maybe Happy Ending on Broadway. His resume includes work on notable productions such as Beetlejuice, Aladdin, Miss Saigon, Jersey Boys, Chaplin, Godspell, A Bronx Tale, and Sunset Boulevard, among others. He’s performed all three percussion books (drums, timpani, mallets) at Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular, and he's a respected clinician and educator with presentations at NYU, Carnegie Mellon, Rutgers, and Temple University.

He proudly endorses Vic Firth, Sabian Cymbals, MalletKat, and TreeHouse Drums.

Website: joshuamarksamuels.com

Subscribe to Broadway Drumming 101 on your favorite podcast platform, and visit BroadwayDrumming101.com for more content, resources, and merch.

Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with fellow musicians and theater fans!

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. As a skilled sub, he has contributed his talents to notable productions such as Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, and Hadestown (tour), among many others. He has also appeared on major shows, including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock here: www.claytoncraddock.com

Frank Zambrano didn’t take the traditional path to a Broadway tour, but that’s exactly what makes his journey so inspiring.

In this episode, Frank shares:

• Why his biggest advice is to get out of the musical theater bubble

• The pivotal role the Broadway Percussion Seminar played in his development

• A quote from Clint de Ganon that changed his mindset forever

• How his second chance to play Kimberly Akimbo became a story of preparation, grit, and follow-through

• What it took to turn theme park gigs and months of shadowing into a Broadway pit opportunity

Whether you’re an aspiring pit musician or just someone chasing a dream, Frank’s story is packed with the kind of real-world advice that doesn’t get taught in school.

Listen now and hear how Frank made his second shot count.

Subscribe now

Subscribe to our YouTube channel – help us reach 1,000 subscribers by the end of June:
👉 youtube.com/BroadwayDrumming101

If you’ve found value in the deep dives, the interviews, or the book chapters I’ve been previewing, here are a few ways to keep it all going:

• Subscribe to the newsletter if you haven’t already.

• Become a paying subscriber if you believe this content matters.

• Share this site with any musician who needs to hear it.

1. Become a Paid Subscriber

You can stay connected and get every post, video, and early chapter release.

Subscribe now

2. Grab Some Merch

T-shirts, hoodies—every purchase helps fuel the work.

Shop here: Broadway Drumming Merchandise!

3. Contribute Directly

Want to help support the book and platform? You can:

• Buy Me a Coffee

• Send contributions through: PayPal

• Send a Check

Make it payable to:

Broadway Drumming 101 Inc.

4287 Katonah Ave, Suite 309

Bronx, NY 10470

To all the new free and paid subscribers. Thank you! Your support, whether financial or simply by reading, sharing, and spreading the word, means everything to the team at Broadway Drumming 101.

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. As a skilled sub, he’s contributed his talents to Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, Hadestown (tour), and many more. He has also appeared on major shows, including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock here: www.claytoncraddock.com

Originally recorded in October of 2021, this conversation with Sammy Merendino is a standout. Sammy is a Broadway veteran with decades of experience under his belt and a reputation for being one of the most reliable and musical drummers in the business.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Growing up in Akron, Ohio, and playing in several bands during his formative years.

• What it was like auditioning for Chubby Checker and getting an 18-month tour.

• The importance of playing live and playing with older and better players.

• Going to a cattle call for a Billy Idol tour and his many second-place finishes.

• How a $2.75 beer at the Prince Street Bar catapulted him to another level where he became the go-to guy for drum programming in New York City.

• Meeting Larry Blackman and recoding ‘ Single Life’ and eventually programming the drums for their breakout album “Word Up.”

• Working on commercials in the morning, then off to do sessions with Hall and Oates in the afternoon, and Cameo later at night.

• How he met Cyndi Lauper and got the drum chair at Kinky Boots.

This is the kind of episode that every drummer trying to break into theater should hear. Sammy is full of practical wisdom, and his calm, grounded approach is something a lot of players can learn from.

Sammy has recorded and/or performed with many top artists, including Cameo, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Foreigner, Lou Reed, Aretha Franklin, Ziggy Marley, Hall & Oates, The Beach Boys, Pat Metheny, Joan Osborne, Anita Baker, Sophie B. Hawkins, Carly Simon, Paul Rodgers, and many others. He has played on numerous Grammy-winning recordings and over 1,000 commercials and television themes, including Monday Night Football with Hank Williams Jr., Nightline, World News Tonight, and ABC Golf.

Currently residing in Harlem, Sammy's turn-of-the-century brownstone is home to a state-of-the-art recording studio. Complete with Pro-tools HDX, Neve/API/BAE/ mic pre's and EQ's, vintage microphones, and compressors, his drums are always set up, and mic'd - ready to go!

If you’re serious about making a career in Broadway drumming, don’t miss this one.

Subscribe to Broadway Drumming 101 wherever you listen to podcasts, and visit broadwaydrumming101.com for more interviews, resources, and stories from the pit.

Subscribe now

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. As a skilled sub, he’s contributed his talents to Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, Hadestown (tour), and many more. He has also appeared on major shows, including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock here: www.claytoncraddock.com

🎧 Episode #94: Frank Pagano – From Glen Rock to Broadway, and Everywhere in Between

In this in-depth, wide-ranging conversation, drummer, percussionist, and vocalist Frank Pagano discusses a career spanning four decades, which includes recording sessions with legends, world tours, and Broadway pit work for over a dozen shows.

Key Highlights:

• "You can’t practice experience—you’ve got to get it." Frank opens the episode with advice every young musician needs to hear: play with as many people as possible, in every style you can.

• Glen Rock beginnings: How a school assembly changed Frank’s life, and how his early band with Jimmy and Jerry Vivino (of Conan O’Brien and The Fab Faux) set him on his musical path.

• Broadway before subbing: Frank shares how his first Broadway show was Leader of the Pack, and how the success of that show at The Bottom Line led to a surprising jump to Broadway—with no prior subbing experience.

• Why personality matters: The moment he was told at a Broadway audition, “If John Miller says you can play, I believe it—I just wanted to make sure you weren’t an asshole.”

• Life in the pit vs. on the road: Frank reflects on what it means to have one foot in the Broadway world and one in the touring world, and why that balance has worked for him.

• Learning from the greats: From Joe Morello to Justin DiCioccio, Frank discusses the lessons that stuck—and the ones he wasn't ready for at the time.

• Working with icons: Frank shares what it was like to record with Bruce Springsteen, Laura Nyro, and over 20 Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.

• The subbing philosophy: Why subbing someone else's show isn't about playing “your best”—it's about replicating their show, exactly as the cast and band know it.

• Advice for today’s aspiring Broadway musicians: “There’s no shortcut. Make yourself available. Go where the music is. Make real connections. Be reliable. Be likable. Do your homework.”

Frank’s perspective is a masterclass in career longevity, versatility, and professionalism. Whether you’re just getting started or trying to stay in the game, this is a must-listen.

🎧 Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you stream.

Subscribe and share with anyone chasing the Broadway dream.
Visit BroadwayDrumming101.com for more interviews, videos, and resources.

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. As a skilled sub, he’s contributed his talents to Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, Hadestown (tour), and many more. He has also appeared on major shows, including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock here: www.claytoncraddock.com

We're bringing back a Broadway Drumming 101 Classic episode with Joe Choroszewski—a musician whose Broadway and live performance resume is as deep as it is diverse.

Joe has been on drums for The Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring The Rockettes for the past three seasons, performing hundreds of shows at one of the most iconic venues in the world. Before that, he spent an entire decade (2009–2019) anchoring the Off-Broadway hit Avenue Q at New World Stages, helping extend the legacy of the Tony Award-winning production long after its Broadway run.

As a Broadway sub, Joe is in rare company—having performed on more than twenty Broadway productions, including The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, Beetlejuice, Frozen, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, Legally Blonde, Jagged Little Pill, Ain’t Too Proud, Newsies, and more.

Joe also stepped in to take over the drum chairs for Finding Neverland in 2016 and Promises, Promises in 2010, finishing the final runs of both Broadway productions. He was the drummer for the Off-Broadway run of Avenue Q and on tour, he performed in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Patrick Cassidy. Joe was also on the first national tours of Avenue Q and Monty Python’s Spamalot.

In this episode, Joe shares insights from:

• His time working with major artists like Heather Headley, Ariana DeBose, Cheyenne Jackson, Sutton Foster, and Chita Rivera

• Backing cabaret icons like Natalie Douglas, Christina Bianco, and “Kenn Boisinger” (Michael West)

• Playing for household names like Mario Cantone and Real Housewives star Luann de Lesseps

• And his long-standing involvement in Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit events

Beyond Broadway, Joe’s played everywhere—from symphony halls (Princeton Symphony, Allentown Symphony) to cruise ship showbands (Carnival and Norwegian), weddings to worship bands, jazz trios to hard rock cover groups. He’s also helped shape new musicals in development and has been a go-to regional drummer for ACT of Connecticut and Ridgefield Playhouse concerts.

Education Spotlight:
Joe holds a degree in Jazz Studies from the prestigious University of North Texas College of Music, where he studied for six semesters with drum legend Ed Soph. He continued his private study with another legend—Tommy Igoe—in New Jersey and is featured on Igoe’s best-selling instructional DVD Great Hands For A Lifetime. Joe has been teaching privately for over 25 years and continues to share his knowledge as a guest clinician at schools and studios.

Offstage, Joe lives in Somerset County, NJ, with his wife Giana, their three boys, and three dogs. He’s an avid runner, a vintage drum collector, and a passionate Major League Baseball fan.

Leave a comment

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. As a skilled sub, he’s contributed his talents to Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, Hadestown (tour), and many more. He has also appeared on major shows, including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock here: www.claytoncraddock.com