Ep445: Brian Anthony Moreland: Naive Enough to be Brave Enough

Alan sits down with Broadway producer Brian Anthony Moreland for a candid, high-energy conversation about the realities of commercial theatre. Brian shares the fascinating story of how he caught the theatre bug playing Santa Claus in the third grade , his formative years at a performing arts boarding school , and his early career as a non-union dancer dealing with the exhausting audition grind in New York City. He opens up about the pivotal moment he decided to pivot to producing, starting with a grueling five-and-a-half-year journey to bring Thoughts of a Colored Man to Broadway. Alan and Brian pull back the curtain on the industry's economic pressures, debating Broadway financials, escalating production costs, and what it truly takes to balance commercial viability with meaningful, artistic storytelling.

The conversation centers deeply on Brian’s extraordinary relationship with the work of August Wilson. He recalls the serendipitous train ride to Pittsburgh that led to him producing the record-breaking revival of The Piano Lesson , and how Denzel Washington personally asked him to lead-produce his next Wilson project. Brian breaks down the profound themes of identity, healing, and family preservation driving his latest production at the Barrymore Theatre, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, sharing delightful insights into working with legendary director Debbie Allen and the joyful, nurturing energy that stars Taraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer bring to the rehearsal room. Finally, Brian takes on the 60-second plot challenge, pitches a classic musical, and reflects on the timeless power of theatre as a space where you can be anything.

Brian Anthony Moreland is a transformative Broadway producer dedicated to shaping the contemporary cultural landscape through visionary, inclusive storytelling. Originally from California, he began his career as a performer before transitioning into producing. His impressive Broadway repertoire includes the ground-breaking global hit Othello starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, the record-breaking revival of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson, The Wiz, The Lifespan of a Fact, Sea Wall / A Life, and The Sound Inside. A respected industry leader, Moreland serves on the Board of Governors of The Broadway League, where he co-chairs the Multicultural Task Force. He also holds leadership roles as a Trustee for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a Trustee of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, a Board Director for NYC Tourism and Conventions, and is an active member of the Theatre Development Fund (TDF).

Connect with Brian:

• IG: @therealbrianmoreland

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