Get your Sheabills ready and pour yourself a show-stopping cocktail—preferably in a souvenir theatre cup! Shea’s Performing Arts Center presents Cast Party, the ultimate theatre podcast for both stage lovers and audience members alike. Hosts Ken, Julianna, and Rita pull back the curtain on all things live performance, from Broadway buzz to behind-the-scenes secrets and the storied history of Shea’s. Whether you’re geeking out over your favorite musical, swapping backstage stories, or dishing on the drama (on and off stage), Cast Party keeps you entertained, informed, and always in the spotlight. So, take your seat, raise the curtain, and we’ll meet you at the Cast Party!
Ken Liszewski is the Director of Institutional Giving at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, where he helps lead the Elevate Shea’s Capital Campaign. He works across the community to build the relationships and support that keep Shea’s growing and full of energy. A 30 Under 30 honoree, Ken plays a key role in shaping Shea’s fundraising strategy as the organization gets ready for its 100th anniversary in 2026. Ken holds BA degrees in Communications and Political Science from Canisius University, along with an MS in Communication and Leadership with a focus in nonprofit management, also from Canisius.
Julianna Tracey is so excited to co-host Cast Party! She is the Development Coordinator at Shea’s PAC and an actress, hoping to share all her theatre knowledge! Julianna holds a BFA in Music Theatre and a BA in History from SUNY University at Buffalo. Some of her favorite credits include Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! (Duckling/Little Old Lady, Theatre of Youth), Drunk Murder Mystery (Swing, Drunk Theatre Buffalo), Titanic (Kate Mullins/Mrs. Astor, Starring Buffalo), The Folks at Home (Alice/Brittany, Alleyway Theatre), Violet (Violet, SUNY UB Music Theatre), White Christmas (Tessie/Snoring Woman, The Historic Lockport Palace Theatre), The Music Man (Alma Hix, The Historic Lockport Palace Theatre), and Disney's The Little Mermaid (Adella/Ensemble, The Historic Lockport Palace Theatre). You can also see her this February in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Pseudolus, O’Connell & Company). Keep up to date with her on Instagram: @jmt0429.
Rita Sirianni serves as the Administrative Manager at Shea’s Performing Arts Center. She has worked in a variety of roles at numerous theatre companies throughout the country such as the Kimmel Cultural Campus (Philadelphia, PA), Walnut Street Theatre (Philadelphia, PA), Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center (Waterford, CT), Hangar Theatre (Ithaca, NY), and locally at Shakespeare in Delaware Park and the Lancaster Opera House. Rita studied Theatre and Movement with the Moscow Art Theatre School and National Theatre Institute. She also earned her BA in Theatre and English at Case Western Reserve University. When not at work, you can see Rita perform on the Buffalo Comedy Collective House Team and ComedySportz Buffalo.
Episode 1: Cast Party of the Century
Episode 3: Behind the Curtain with A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder's Marc Sacco and Kari Drozd
Episode 4: Behind the Curtain with BFR's Chad Williams
Episode 6: Operation New Season!
Episode 10: Cast Party is at the Gate
Episode 12: Bubbles, Baker Street, and Burn Books
Episode 13: Behind the Curtain with Shea's Ricky Needham
Episode 14: Behind the Curtain with Shea's Bill Hedrick
Episode 15: Behind the Curtain with Shea's Michelle Merlo
Episode 1: Be Our Guest
Episode 2: Harvard Slam
Episode 3: The Cher-isode
Episode 4: Think Of...The Tony
Episode 6: SHOUT!
Episode 7: If I Could Turn Back To The Future
Episode 8: Behind the Curtain with Shea's Mary Oshei
Episode 11: Back to Season
Episode 12: The Start of Something New
Episode 13: Great Expectations
Episode 14: Behind the Curtain with Shea's Albert Nocciolino
Episode 15: Behind the Curtain with 43 North
Episode 16: Behind the Curtain with Chelsea Gill
Episode 17: Holding Space For Good
Episode 20: 'Twas The Night Before 'Twas
Episode 21: Behind the Curtain with Vinny Murphy
Podcast Producer: Cassandra Lippert
Intro Music: Jon Michael Ogletree
Audio Mixer: Dave Leonhardt
Logo Design: Akasya Crosier
Marketing: Bridget Neeson & Rachael Fedor
