In this episode, Darion and Alana take it all the way back to their high school theater days—where the love of the stage (and plenty of backstage drama) first began. Darion shares how coming from the world of choir opened the door to discovering musical theater, while Alana reflects on always dreaming of being a star from day one. Together, they swap stories about cast drama, embarrassing mishaps, and the messy, chaos of being young theater kids. It’s a nostalgic, hilarious trip down memory lane filled with laughter, lessons, and the reminder of just how far they’ve come since those high school spotlights.

This week on Into the Industry, hosts Darion Matthews and Alana Knobel welcome Broadway actors Hannah Solow, Julian Manjerico, and Tony Macht. The conversation explores their work in the acclaimed production Oh, Mary!, as well as the personal and professional journeys that brought them to the Broadway stage. Together, they reflect on the challenges and opportunities of building a career in New York City, the lessons learned along the way, and other projects that have shaped their paths as artists.

this week’s episode dives into the glittering (and sometimes gritty) world of cabaret in NYC! Darion and Alana share their experiences performing in, producing, and surviving the wild ride of putting on a show in the city’s most iconic and underground cabaret spaces. What works, what flops, and what makes it all worth it? Let’s get into it.

#CabaretLife #NYCTheater #IntoTheIndustryPodcast #BroadwayTalk #CabaretSpaces #BehindTheScenes

In this episode of Into the Industry, Alana and Darion chat with Broadway company manager Andrew McLaughlin, who pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to keep a Broadway show running. From his surprising past as a professional magician to breaking down ticket prices, union contracts, and the wild world of company management, Andrew brings stories, smarts, and a little bit of facts.

In this episode, Darion and Alana sit down for a no-holds-barred conversation about the not-so-glamorous side of living the artist life in NYC: survival jobs. Whether it was working in food service, folding clothes in retail, or juggling three side gigs just to make rent, they've been there. They share funny, frustrating, and all-too-relatable stories from their early years in the city — jobs that helped keep the lights on while auditions, rehearsals, and big dreams stayed center stage.

“We weren’t living the dream — we were working the brunch shifts because of the dream,” Alana says, summing up the grind so many theater artists know all too well.

If you've ever served coffee in your show shoes or clocked in after an audition meltdown, this one’s for you.

🎭 EPISODE 1: SCAMDA, Was Musical Theater School Worth It?

Darion & Alana reunite with a college classmate to spill the tea on theater school! 🎓 What worked, what didn’t, and how it really shaped their careers in the biz.

✨ Drama, laughs, and some real talk about the price of a BFA.

#IntoTheIndustry #TheaterLife #MusicalTheater #BFArealness #PodcastLaunch

🎭 Into the Industry 🎤 Hosted by Darion Matthews & Alana Knobel

Step backstage with Broadway makeup designer Darion Matthews and theater producer/manager Alana Knobel—two longtime friends and full-time theater nerds—as they peel back the curtain on life in the performing arts.

From backstage beauty secrets to contract chaos, career highs to hustle culture, Into the Industry is your all-access pass to the real stories behind the spotlight. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just dreaming of your name in lights, we’re here to help you make sense of this wild, wonderful world we call "the industry."

👠 Glitter. 🎭 Grit. 💼 Real talk. Welcome to the theater—like you’ve never heard it before.