Back when we were all stuck inside and Broadway had gone quiet, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the great Warren Odze—a true Broadway and NYC studio veteran. Re-listening to this interview in 2025, I’m reminded just how rich and inspiring Warren’s stories are. Things have changed for the better since we first recorded, but this conversation holds up stronger than ever.
Warren has played in an incredible list of Broadway shows, including:
🎭 The Life
🎭 Civil War
🎭 Kat and the Kings
🎭 Seussical
🎭 Thoroughly Modern Millie
🎭 Lennon
🎭 Come Fly Away
🎭 The Wedding Singer
🎭 Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
🎭 Rocky
🎭 An American In Paris
🎭 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
🎭 King Kong
In this episode, Warren talks about:
Growing up in Long Island and discovering the magic of drumming
Why seeing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show blew his mind—and how that moment helped launch his music career
Studying at the Manhattan School of Music during a golden age for jazz and classical training
Playing NYC clubs in the '70s and '80s, hauling drums through dangerous subways, and working 6 nights a week
Studio stories: recording jingles, subbing on Broadway, and why "every piece of music was handmade"
Navigating the caste system of NYC musicians—from the A-list cats to the club date scene
His first big Broadway break (The Life), and how a free jazz gig led to a steady theater chair
How he kept things fresh after hundreds of shows: “Do no harm. Save the patient.”
🎙️ This interview is packed with wisdom, hustle, and hilarious throwbacks—from terrifying subway hauls to playing on the Dick Cavett Show (and yes, Miles Davis was in the building).
Warren is living proof that being versatile, professional, and prepared can take you far, even if it means carrying your gear across town in a blizzard.
🟡 Listen to the full episode now and hear about a NYC drumming life well-lived—and still going strong.
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