Ep396 - Anthony Veneziale & Aneesa Folds: Hip Hop, Humanity, and Hacking the Stage

Anthony Veneziale and Aneesa Folds return to the podcast with the same brilliance and warmth that made their first appearances unforgettable—this time teaming up to talk about their new boundary-breaking musical, Co-Founders, premiering at ACT in San Francisco. With its Bay Area hip hop roots, tech satire, and cutting-edge stage visuals powered by Unreal Engine, the show challenges both theatrical norms and late-stage capitalism, all while telling a deeply personal story about representation, equity, and belonging. We unpack the eight-year journey behind the show’s creation, how Aneesa came aboard, and how both artists bring authenticity and heart into every moment—onstage and off.

We also dive into hip hop’s regional influence on the show’s score, the emotional toll of being labeled a “breakout star,” and why community and kindness are non-negotiable parts of the creative process. And if that’s not enough, we improvise the plot of a musical called Mystical Desperate Zebras. This episode is a celebration of art that disrupts, heals, and uplifts—don’t miss it.
Anthony Veneziale is a Tony Award-winning co-creator of Freestyle Love Supreme and co-founder of FLS Academy. He’s known for blending freestyle rap with neuroscience and education to foster creativity and collaboration. Aneesa Folds made her Broadway debut in Freestyle Love Supreme and has since become a standout performer and educator, known for her powerhouse presence and vibrant improvisational skills. Together, they now star in Co-Founders, a new musical blending activism, technology, and Bay Area hip hop culture.

Connect with Anthony & Aneesa

• @twotouchfls (Anthony)
• @aneesafolds (Aneesa)

Connect with The Theatre Podcast:

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