Dec 14, 2021
As I’m growing up, my Grandmother, Moo, tells me stories of her life growing up in New York. She talks about the museums, Central Park, and plays on Broadway.
She says to me, “Someday, you’ll be able to see your first play on Broadway, and you’ll never forget it.” Yet I’m sitting there thinking, “That’s nice, Moo, but I’m an athlete. Sports is my thing.”
Plus, I’m not really interested in theater... until after college when I find myself in New York watching a Broadway play for the first time.
And you know what? Moo was right! It was everything she said it was going to be and more. The lights. The stage. The music. All of it was an absolute delight.
You never forget your first play on Broadway. The story of that first play and every play I’ve seen since has stuck with me and has earned a permanent place in my memory bank.
My guest Ryan Bauer-Walsh knows a thing or two about stories on and off stage. As an actor, singer, and artist, he creates stories as part of his life’s work.
In this episode, we talk about a love for bringing stories to life through various artistic mediums, using times of chaos to experience greater growth and creativity, tastefully telling someone else’s story through art, and how comforting memories of a mom led to the first lullaby album for the LGBTQ+ community.
What you will learn in this episode:
Who is Ryan?
Born in Minnesota, Ryan Bauer-Walsh is a writer, actor, composer, colorblind artist, and community activist based in New York. As an artist, he started with murals at age 12 and works in watercolor and acrylic. His pieces can be found in private collections across the country and have been featured in Neon Days, American Morning, The New York Times, The Coterie Opera, and the New York City Opera. In addition to large-scale art, he’s the illustrator of several books.
Ryan has also performed on stage and screen in shows like Les Misérables, Billy Elliot, Miss Saigon, and The Deuce on HBO. He sang the U.S. national anthem at the Chicago White Sox’s ballpark and in front of 50,000 people at the internationally-televised Chicago Marathon. Currently, he’s producing the world’s first LGBTQ+ lullaby album and a gender-neutral clothing line.
Links and Resources: