Little Known Facts With Ilana Levine

Jamaal Fields-Green is a multi-hyphenate talent, with experience and accolades across acting, singing, writing, and directing. A Musical Theatre graduate, Jamaal refined his theatrical skills and began to craft his identity as an artist during his time at the prestigious Hartt School. Most recently, he starred as Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical on the West End. A globally recognised role, Jamaal’s portrayal showcases his ability to embody a character and is a testament to his deep understanding of his craft across music and acting. Prior to MJ the Musical, Jamaal brought to life the characters of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in the Chicago company's rendition of Hamilton: An American Musical and appeared on TV with appearances on Freeform’s That Thing About Harry and Chicago PD. Beyond acting, Jamaal wrote and directed an award-winning short film - The Inevitable - and recently released an EP of original songs titled ‘What Was the Reason’. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch

Rafael Monserrate is an accomplished Producer and Director with more than two decades of experience creating acclaimed unscripted and narrative content. He has executive produced and directed over a dozen television series, including History Channel’s Alone, the award-winning survival series hailed by The New Yorker as “the best reality show on television,” now in its 13th critically acclaimed season and streaming on Netflix. A two-time feature film director, his credits include Peel (Sony Pictures), starring Emile Hirsch and Amy Brenneman. His work spans large-scale competition formats, intimate documentaries, and character driven narrative films, unified by a cinematic sensibility and a commitment to emotional truth. Most recently, he directed, executive produced, and completed production on Teenhood, a four-part docuseries of unprecedented access to four American teens over 50 transformative days. He is currently developing The Colony, a feature film exploring the formative years and ideological

Rosie Glen-Lambert is a bicoastal theatre director originally from Los Angeles and currently based in Brooklyn. She is the Artistic Director and Founder of The Attic Collective, an award-winning Los Angeles based theatre company. Rosie is also a proud Kilroy who fights for and believes in the importance of gender parity in the American theatre. Rosie was recently the associate director of Babbitt, written by Joe DiPietro, directed by Christopher Ashley, and starring Matthew Broderick (La Jolla Playhouse, Shakespeare Theatre Company). Recent directing work includes Swallows (La Mama), The Robots: A New Chamber Opera (Project [BLANK]), नेहा & Neel (Wagner New Play Festival), and a benefit performance of Love Letters (La Jolla Playhouse, Featuring Matthew Broderick and Ellie Kemper). Rosie was a 2025 Director for Moxie Arts NYC's Incubator Lab. Rosie received her MFA in directing from UC San Diego. Hailey McAfee is an actor, writer, director, and associate artist of The Attic Collective. Recent acting credits

Liz Tuccillo was a writer on "Sex and the City" and co-authored the bestselling book "He's Just Not that Into You." She went on to create the WB TV series "Related" and worked on the TV shows Smash, Sweetbitter, Alaska Daily and American Sports Story. She was the showrunner for HBO's Divorce for its third season and is currently the showrunner and creator of "Best Medicine," an adaptation of the British Doc Martin, starring Josh Charles that was recently picked up for its second season. She has developed television and film with Will Smith, Ali Wentworth, Chelsea Handler, Debra Messing, Lauren Graham among others at Warner Bros, NBC, ABC, Starz, Peacock, Shondaland, Amazon, Fox, and Fx. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nina White stars as Jenny in You Got Older off Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Nina is known for her Broadway-debut performance as Teresa in the Tony Award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo, reprising the role from the show's Off-Broadway premiere with Atlantic Theatre Company. She is also starred in the pre-Broadway world premiere and Broadway transfer of the musical The Queen of Versailles, playing the daughter of star Kristin Chenoweth; and she also starred as Olive Ostrovsky in the 2025 revival of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Kennedy Center in D.C. On-screen, she can be seen in Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Amazon Prime) and A Different Man (A24). University of Michigan alum. She loves to knit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Belle Burden is the author of the best selling book- Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage. Belle holds a BA from Harvard College and a law degree from the New York University School of Law. She lives with her children in New York. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ryan Spahn is a Drama Desk Award–winning actor and writer. Select Off-Broadway: Richard II (Red Bull), Danger and Opportunity (East Village Basement), The Antiquities (Playwrights Horizons), Jordans (The Public), Merry Me (NYTW), Good Enemy (Audible), Jane Anger (New Ohio), Summer & Smoke (CSC), Daniel’s Husband (Westside), Moscow x6 (MCC), Exit Strategy (Primary Stages), Gloria (Vineyard). Select TV/Film: Sub/liminal, Zero Day, Elsbeth, AHS: Delicate, Succession, Modern Love, The Bite, Chicago P.D. Ryan co-wrote the feature film He’s Way More Famous Than You and wrote the play Inspired By True Events (Concord Theatricals, Theatrely’s “Best of 2024.”). Juilliard graduate and the first teenaged Borg on Star Trek: Voyager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CLINT RAMOS is an award-winning creative director, designer, and producer. Most recently, he produced Theater Group Asia’s sold-out production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, starring Lea Salonga, Arielle Jacobs and featuring a cast of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans. He currently serves as the Visual Director for Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City, where he reimagines the entire Lincoln Center campus each summer into a vibrant stage for more than 300 events that serve New York City’s diverse communities. He also serves as Artist-in-Residence at Lincoln Center. Ramos was a lead producer of the groundbreaking Broadway musical Here Lies Love, and is currently the Producing Creative Director for Encores! at New York City Center. There, he has spearheaded acclaimed projects including Billy Porter’s reimagining of The Life, The Light in the Piazza featuring Ruthie Ann Miles, and Jelly’s Last Jam. As a designer, Ramos has created over 200 productions across theater, opera, and dance. His Broadway credi

Bradley Whitford, a classically trained stage actor, gained fame as “Josh Lyman,” on NBC’s 'The West Wing,' which earned him his first Emmy award in 2001. He went on to win Emmys in 2015 and 2019 for his work in 'Transparent' and 'The Handmaid’s Tale' and is grateful to have had the opportunity last year to direct the show’s fifth season penultimate episode, “Allegiance.” He is currently filming “The Diplomat” alongside his West Wing co- star, Allison Janney. Whitford appeared in AMC’s limited series 'Parish' alongside Giancarlo Esposito, a drama about a taxi driver whose life is upended after picking up a Zimbabwean gangster. He also starred in the independent film 'I’ll Be Right' There with Edie Falco and completed work on Netflix’s limited series 'The Madness,' opposite Colman Domingo. He is also known for his work in the Oscar-nominated films 'Get Out,' 'The Post,' 'Scent of a Woman,' and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 'tick, tick… BOOM!' Whitford also produced the documentary, 'Not Going Quietly,' about the life

Sam Tutty is an Olivier Award winning actor and singer. Following his graduation from drama school he originated the role of Evan in the Tony Award Winning Musical, DEAR EVAN HANSEN, in the West End. His performance garnered widespread acclaim from critics, eventually going on to receive numerous awards, including Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical at the WhatsOnStage Awards, Most Promising Newcomer at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards and a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in Leading Role in a Musical in 2020. Being aged 22 at the time, he is one of the youngest winners of this prestigious theatrical award in history. Following its sell-out run at The Kiln Theatre, Sam transferred the role Dougal in the new two-hander musical ‘TWO STRANGERS’ to the Criterion Theatre in the West End, directed and choreographed by Tim Jackson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Arianna Davis stars as series regular ‘Madonna’ in the new NBC cheerleading comedy Stumble opposite Kristin Chenoweth and Taran Killam.  Filling the current void of cheerleading media which dominated the early aughts and 2010s, Stumble is being prioritized by NBC as its next big comedy. Arianna’s character, a curvy, Black college cheerleader with a chronic illness, is a breath of fresh air in the on-screen cheerleading space which has long been devoid of diverse representation. Arianna is a true triple threat – in addition to acting, she is a professional dancer who started dancing at just two years old, as well as a singer-songwriter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Frances Turner is a dynamic performer who brings complexity and authenticity to every role. Turner stars opposite Walton Goggins in Prime Video’s hit series Fallout, from creator Jonathan Nolan. Currently in its second season, Turner returned as 'Barb Howard', the pre-apocalyptic wife of Goggins’ 'Cooper Howard' and key player in Vault-Tec Corporation. After its first four weeks, season two already ranks as the sixth most watched season ever on Prime Video and is even higher rated than season one.  Turner is also known for her work on Prime Video’s The Boys, NBC’s New Amsterdam, and her standout turn as a series lead in The Man in the High Castle, produced by Scott Free and created by Frank Spotnitz. Additional credits include ABC’s The Finest, directed by Regina King, and Netflix’s After film franchise. Before embarking on her acting career, Turner built a successful foundation as a corporate attorney. A graduate of Cornell University and Georgetown University Law Center, she practiced law at a major firm

Jonathan Tolins is the showrunner and executive producer of the critically acclaimed CBS drama ELSBETH, which returns for its third season.   Tolins has been an executive producer on THE GOOD FIGHT on Paramount+, co-executive producer on “Schmigadoon!” and co-producer on “Queer as Folk,” along with producer credits on EAST NEW YORK, BRAINDEAD and PARTNERS on the Network. Other TV credits include the Tony Awards, the Academy Awards, “Grease Live!” and “A Christmas Story Live!” Additionally, Tolins was a producer and co-writer with Seth E. Bass for the films “Martian Child” starring John Cusack and “The Twilight of the Golds,” based on his Broadway play and starring Brendan Fraser and Faye Dunaway. Tolins is best known as the author of one of the 10 most produced plays in America in 2016, “Buyer & Cellar,” which won the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Solo Show and was named “Best Unique Theatrical Experience” by the Off-Broadway Alliance during its record-breaking run at the Barrow Street Theatre. The show al

Dawn Porter is an acclaimed American documentary filmmaker and founder of Trilogy Films, known for her storytelling on social justice, history, and cultural icons. Her celebrated documentaries, including Trapped, John Lewis: Good Trouble, and The Lady Bird Diaries, air on platforms like HBO, Netflix, Amazon, Apple, CNN, PBS and others. Another film from Porter’s recent work, Luther: Never Too Much, highlights the life and legacy of Luther Vandross. Produced with Sony Music Entertainment, Jamie Foxx’s Foxxhole, and Colin Firth’s Raindog Films, this intimate portrayal of the Grammy-winning artist was recently released in theaters and premiered on CNN/MAX on January 1, 2025. Her recent work, The Sing Sing Chronicles won the Best Documentary Emmy at the 46th annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards. Porter’s achievements are widely recognized. A three-time Sundance film festival Alum, her film Gideon's Army was nominated for an Emmy and an Independent Spirit Award and won the prestigious Ridenhour Prize as well as

Maggie Doyne is co-founder of the BlinkNow Foundation and Kopila Valley Children’s Home and School in Surkhet, Nepal. At age nineteen, she used her babysitting money and worked with the local community to build a home for orphaned children in war-torn Nepal. In 2010, she and her team opened a school for five hundred of the region’s most impoverished children. Throughout the past decade, BlinkNow and Kopila have worked to deepen and grow the organization through grassroots community development efforts. Her work has been championed by Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist Nicholas Kristof and the Dalai Lama, among others. The story of BlinkNow’s beginnings has been featured on the Huffington Post, VH1, MTV, and DoSomething.org. Maggie was named Glamour magazine’s Woman of the Year and was used as an example for her groundbreaking work at the Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy. In 2015, she was named CNN Hero of the Year. Maggie’s story carries a message of hope, love, and the possibility of how the smallest indivi

Marc Shaiman is a renowned American composer, lyricist, arranger, and music producer known for his work across film, television, and theater. Shaiman began his career as a musical director and arranger for Bette Midler before expanding into film scoring. He gained prominence with his work on films such as When Harry Met Sally, The Addams Family, Sister Act, City Slickers, A Few Good Men, Sleepless in Seattle, The American President, and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, on television with SNL, and on recordings with Harry Connick Jr. and Mariah Carey. Shaiman earned widespread acclaim for co-writing the Broadway musical Hairspray alongside his longtime co-lyricist Scott Wittman. The duo has also co-created the musicals Catch Me If You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Some Like It Hot, and Smash. He has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards and has won a Tony, two Emmys, and two Grammys. Marc Shaiman is celebrated for his versatile, emotionally resonant music and his ability to blend classic musi

Nicholas Clar is an Ohio native actor and content creator. Alumni of Kent State University School of Theatre and Dance, Neighborhood Playhouse and Atlantic Theatre Company Acting School. Nicholas has worked with Cleveland’s Playwright’s Local and Ceaser’s Forum among other New York and North East Ohio theatre companies. Nicholas has been on staff at Little Known Facts Podcast since 2019. @iamnickclar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a celebrated run off-Broadway and rave reviews, Irene Lucio has returned to the role of Isadora in the groundbreaking play. LIBERATION explores the universal themes of freedom, identity, and resilience, set against the backdrop of historical and contemporary struggles for justice. Isadora is an Italian immigrant filmmaker who entered a green-card marriage. New York Theatre Guide called her performance “sharp and witty… toggling back and forth between humor and heartbreak with natural ease.” Irene is perhaps best known for her role in Jeremy O. Harris’ award-winning play SLAVE PLAY where she starred as Patricia and played the role in all four forms of the show. She also wrote a Spanish series titled ‘SúperEllas’ for Canela TV. A show for children about Latina trailblazers, it won the Best Non-English Program – Family Programming at the 48th Annual Gracie Awards. As a Latinx woman born and raised in Puerto Rico, Irene seeks roles which showcase the importance of diverse representation in the arts. Fl

Christiani Pitts has starred on Broadway in Two Strangers Carry A Cake Across New York, King Kong and A Bronx Tale. She recurred on Starz's "Power Book III:Raising Kanan" and starred in the Netflix feature "Resort To Love." Other credits include : Dead Ringers, Blue Bloods, The Good Fight, Evil and Elementary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julia Mattison is a writer, songwriter, actor, and musical comedian who co-wrote the lyrics and music for the Broadway musical, Death Becomes Her. Her projects with Noel include Is Anyone Alive Out There? (Audible Theater), Noel and Julia’s Wayward Brainchildren (Joe’s Pub), “Brooklyn Sound” (Streamy Award winner, Webby Award nominee), Ruby Manger Live! (54 Below), and multiple musical commercials for Olay. She and Joel Waggoner are the unhinged minds behind the viral holiday sensation “Advent Carolndar” (@adventcarolndar on Instagram), featured on NPR, in The New Yorker, on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, and more. Noel Carey co-wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical, Death Becomes her. His Off-Broadway credits include: Is Anyone Alive Out There? (co-book/music/lyrics; Audible Original), Olay: The Road to Glow (co-book/music/lyrics). NYC: Noel and Julia’s Wayward Brainchildren (co-music/lyrics), Ruby Manger Live! (co-music/lyrics). TV/Film: “Brooklyn Sound” (co-creator/songwriter; 2016 Streamy for Best