Feel-Good Interview Series: Tony-Award Winner Actress Carmen Cusack - 11 Things to Know About This Broadway Star Including What Network She Binges On

By Markos Papadatos

Tony-winning actress Carmen Cusack recently starred as Bernie in the Off-Broadway production of "Pen Pals" opposite Gina Torres. Carmen is a multiple-award winner and is known for her acting and singing work in such musicals as "Bright Star" and "Flying Over Sunset." Did you know? She is the wife of Emmy award-winning actor Paul Telfer of "Days of Our Lives." She shared 11 things with us.

Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem – the Co-Founders of The WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER – Announce the Honorees for the Women’s Media Center’s 21st Anniversary Women’s Media Awards to be held on Thursday, March 5th in TriBeca, NYC

Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem – the Co-Founders of The WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER – have announced the honorees for the Women’s Media Center’s 21st Anniversary Women’s Media Awards to be held on Thursday, March 5th, at the Tribeca Rooftop in New York City. The WMC AWARDS are presented to outstanding leaders and champions for women in media.

The Women’s Media Center’s 21st Anniversary Women’s Media Awards Honorees are: Margot Wallström, Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, Barbara Kopple,Paola Ramos, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Julie F. Kay and Chandra Childers. Here's why:

• Margot Wallström, Sweden’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the first United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, will be honored with the WMC Robin Morgan Sisterhood is Powerful Award.
• Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, President & CEO, Knight Foundation, will be honored with the WMC Pat Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award.

Grammy Winner & Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee to Serve as Guest Speaker and Be Honored at BergenPAC Annual Event Celebrating Women's History Month

Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) is proud to announce that legendary Grammy winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee DARLENE LOVE will be honored and serve as the distinguished guest speaker at the annual Women's Spring Luncheon, taking place on March 24, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. on the bergenPAC Taub Stage at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood. Tickets to attend are $200.00 and sponsorships are available by visiting bergenpac.org/springlunch.

This highly anticipated event with limited seating recognizes Women's History Month, highlighting Darlene Love's outstanding contributions to music and her enduring impact on the community.

"Beth in Paris!" - A Women in Mid-Life Starts Her Journey in Paris - Can She Live the Life of Emily? Part 1 French Lessons

By Beth Abramson Brier

Editor's Note - Beth is a frequent contributor to SuzeeBehindtheScenes. Due to certain circumstances, she has left the stability of New Jersey to live in Paris for a bit.

Paris.  

No, that’s not quite right.  
Paris!  (Yes, that’s better).  
Paris!  The mere mention of the city* conjures up Emily’s adventures of glamour, fashion, amor, and that certain, yet elusive,  “je ne sais quoi”.  So when my husband and I had an opportunity to live in Paris we were packed and ready. But really, were we ready? 

Feel Good Interview Series: Accomplished Actor Penelope Ann Miller Most Recently of the Film "After All" — 9 Things to Know About Her

By Markos Papadatos

Golden Globe-nominated actress Penelope Ann Miller is known for her acting work in such feature films as "Carlito's Way," "The Artist," and "Kindergarten Cop." A few years ago, she played First Lady Nancy Reagan in the biopic movie "Reagan" opposite Dennis Quaid as President Ronald Reagan.  Most recently, she stars as the matriarch Verna in the film "After All." She shared 9 facts about herself.

Feel Good Interview Series: Get to Know the Young Actor Calista Craig of "Stranger Things"— 10 Things to Know About Her Including What She Watches

By Markos Papadatos

Calista Craig is known for playing Mary in the fifth and final season of "Stranger Things" on Netflix. She shared 10 interesting and exciting things about herself.

Her Favorite Movies

“I watched ‘The Notebook’ for the first time in the summer and I loved it,” she admitted. “I love any rom-coms. I would watch anything like that!”

Feel Good Interview Series: Brayan Nicoletti of "The Bold and The Beautiful" - 10 Things to Know About Him Including the Favorite Movies of this Cinema Fan

By Markos Papadatos

Brayan Nicoletti stars as the new R.J. Forrester in the CBS daytime drama "The Bold and the Beautiful," which is the most popular soap opera in the world. In the 2024 horror film "Woodbridge," he played the role of Anthony.

Nicoletti shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself. 

Bryan's Favorite movies

His favorite movies include David Fincher’s “Seven,” as well as “Inception,” and “The Prestige.” “I am a big Christopher Nolan fan,” he admitted. “I also love Martin Scorsese and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’.” “While my favorite movies tend to change, I'm just a fan of cinema in general,” he admitted.

Bookends in NJ is Brimming with Fabulous Female Authors and More - See and Meet Susan Lucci, Lisa Rinna, Valerie Bertinelli, Jennie Garth, McKenzie Mitchell, Gina Gershon, Sasha E. Sloan, Corinne Baily Rae and Others

Bookends in NJ offers the opportunity to get your book signed, meet the author and get a pic with some of the best and most popular authors in the US. The lineup coming up is tremendous, there are so many astounding and accomplished females coming with books to help inspire, inform and entertain you.

In addition to the females, there are also the likes of Andrew Yang and Steve Shirripa also coming.

The store, located on the main  street in Ridgewood NJ at 211 East Ridgewood Ave, offers ample parking, close proximity to the train station and a welcoming environment. It's also about a 45 minute drive from the city.

Feel Good Interview Series: Morgan Fairchild - 10 Things To Know About This Accomplished Actress - And What She Might Have Been Had Acting Not Been Her Success

By: Markos Papadatos

Acclaimed actress Morgan Fairchild is known for her acting work in the primetime soap operas "Dallas," "Flamingo Road," as well as "Paper Dolls" and "Falcon Crest." She also guest starred in "Murphy Brown," "Two and a Half Men," "Roseanne," "Cybill," and "Friends" (where she played the on-screen mother of the late Matthew Perry.) Most recently, she returned to the CBS soap opera "The Bold and The Beautiful" as Dorothy "Dottie" Bright after a 17-year absence. Fairchild shared 10 interesting and exciting things about herself.

The Creative Coalition Hosted its 19th Annual Spotlight Initiative Awards at 2026 Sundance Film Festival Honoring Rosanna Arquette, Anthony Bregman, Giancarlo Esposito, Rob Lowe, Iliza Shlesinger and Benedict Wong - PHOTOS

On January 24, The Creative Coalition hosted its 19th Annual Spotlight Initiative Awards at Buona Vita in Park City, Utah, honoring Rob Lowe, Gemma Chan, Rosanna Arquette, Anthony Bregman, Giancarlo Esposito, Iliza Shlesinger and Benedict Wong. Additional attendees included Alex Borstein, Yvette Nicole Brown, Katherine McNamara, Tom Welling, Jimmy O. Yang and Aasif Mandvi. The event convenes the Festival’s most notable filmmakers, talent and industry leaders for an evening celebrating independent film’s power to provoke, challenge, and inspire. The Spotlight Initiative Awards honors artists and storytellers show work embodies creative risk, originality and social impact with this year's Honorees representing a dynamic cross-section of talent.

"Freedom for a Night" - The Untold Stories of the Real Housewives of Greek Mythology by Caytha Jentis Runs Feb 19-22, 2026 at the Theater for the New City - A Feminist Circus Stage Play with Amazing Aerialists

Freedom for a Night, a fun feminist, genre-bending circus stage play written by Caytha Jentis and choreographed by Maia Ramnath, will have four performances February 19–22, 2026 at Theater for the New City.

Through aerial performance, spoken word, song, and dance, the iconic “dangerous” women of ancient Greek mythology step out of the shadows and reclaim their narratives. Characters including Medea, Medusa, and Circe tell their stories in their own words, challenging the myths that defined them and the systems that silenced them.

“Tonight, every myth will be unmade. Every woman will rise again,” declares the show’s host Artemis, played by Kendall Rileigh*.

The cast features some of New York City’s top aerialists and performance artists, including Troy Lingelbach (Dionysus), Caytha Jentis (Agave), Caitlin Borek* (Thelxiepeia), Maia Ramnath (Medea), Elena Delgado (Circe), Amara (Medusa), and Summer Lacy (Hecate).

"Hollywood East" is Booming - New Studios are Popping up all over NJ and the Tri-state Area - A Sampling of What's Coming to NJ - Like Netflix. 1888 (Paramount), Lionsgate and What's Here,

By Allyson Schiller

No one can say that the motion picture industry has had it easy these past few years. After the boom of work post- Covid, we fell into a time of oversaturation of the market. Productions that had been paused got back on their feet, regularly slated work continued and many studios tried to push out as much new content as possible. The industry then went into contract negotiations with various unions such as SAG-AFTRA, the Writer’s Guild, and IATSE, leading to months-long strikes and work stoppages. On top of this, there were fires in LA that paused production, studios decided they wanted to make less content overall, and the threat of AI became imminent. (Photo Left - Lionsgate/Great Point in Newark rendering)

Review of the Bruce Movie "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" - An Exceptional Portrayal of the Nebraska Album Slice of Springsteen's Life Which Will Resonate with Many Non-Fans as Well - Now Streaming

By Suzee
As a Jersey girl, I want to see "the Bruce movie" -  the day after it came out. (It's streaming now). A total super fan of The Boss, our friend Kevin decided to get a bunch of people - a good crowd of over 30, to see it opening weekend, at a theater down the shore near where Bruce lives. Because where else would we see it?

And Kevin made it an event. We had a tailgate for it. Yes, we had a tailgate at a movie theater parking lot. Kevin's daughter, who is also a fan, because his reach spans generations, made a meme out of the tailgating pic.

Feel Good Interview Series: The Versatile Actress Kathleen Chalfant Of "Familiar Touch", "Pen Pals", "The Copenhagen Test" and More - 10 Things to Know About Her

By: Markos Papadatos

Acclaimed actress Kathleen Chalfant's role in "Familiar Touch,"  has earned her critical acclaim and Oscar buzz from movie critics. She also starred in the Off-Broadway show "Pen Pals" last year, and she will be starring in the Off-Broadway play "The Dinosaurs." Most recently, she played the role of St. George in the espionage thriller series "The Copenhagen Test" opposite Simu Liu. Her character was the Boss in charge of the Orphanage. 

New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) Congratulates 10 Members with Projects at Sundance Film Festival - Online Streaming Available

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is pleased to announce that 10 projects from 10 members have been officially selected for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The festival will take place in person in Park City, Utah, from January 22 – February 1. Online festival screenings will be available January 29 – February 1.

NYWIFT is a vibrant community of approximately 2,000 media professionals working across every facet of the entertainment industry. The NYWIFT member projects premiering at Sundance are:

Review: Pen Pals Off Broadway is A Delightful, Engaging Look at the Lives Of Two Very Strong Women - Running through March 15, 2026 with A New Cast Every 2 Weeks

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

I might be a little partial to the story in Pen Pals because I am a Jersey Girl, and I live near Secaucus. And I had a pen pal when I was in grade school.

But even if I wasn't, I think anyone - especially women - would be engrossed in the correspondence between the two ladies in Pen Pals, playing at the  DR2 Theatre, 103 East 15th Street at Union Square East in New York City through March 15th, 2026. When I went to see Pen Pals, Maureen McCormick (aka Marcia Brady) played the American "Bernie" and Sharon Lawrence played British "Mags". 

Meet Actress/Producer Mikaela Phillips of Series, Films and Podcasts - What Zavier and the Nightkeeper is About - and Why She Kept Her Australian Accent

Mikaela Phillips started her journey in entertainment at the age of 6, This is a woman who knew what she wanted to do in life, and now she is a successful actor and producer. She has produced films and series independently and for the likes of Netflix, ViacomCBS, MTV and more. 

An Australian native, she started her career as a host on Afterbuzz TV USA. She then became well-known for starring as Faith Morgan in the TV Drama Series Counter Play (2016–2018), which she also executive produced alongside her mother, writer/director Chrys Phillips. 

Mikaela tells us about her inspiration, her words for others and about new newest film.

Feel Good Interview Series: Three Time Daytime Emmy Winner Rick Hearst of General Hospital and So Much More Shares 10 Things About Himself

By Markos Papadatos

Rick Hearst is a three-time Emmy award-winning actor. He is known for playing Scott "Scotty" Banning in "Days of Our Lives," Alan-Michael Spaulding in "Guiding Light," Matt Clark in "The Young and The Restless," Whip Jones in "The Bold and The Beautiful," and more recently, Ric Lansing in "General Hospital."

Rick's Favorite Movies

His favorite movies include “The Godfather I and II” and “Jaws.” “I have a very diverse section of films that I am enjoy,” he said.

Feel Good Interview Series: Meet Broadway Star Emily Skinner Recently in Pen Pals - 11 Things To Know About Her

By Markos Papadatos

Broadway performer and Tony Award-nominated Emily Skinner is known for starring in the Off-Broadway show "House of McQueen," opposite Luke Newton of "Bridgerton" as the title character, where she played fashion designer Alexander McQueen's mother Joyce, and her performance earned her rave reviews from fans and critics alike.

Most recently, she starred in the Off-Broadway show "Pen Pals," where she played the role of Bernie opposite her real-life best friend Donna Lynne Champlin. Skinner shared 10 interesting and fun things about herself.

Feel Good Interview Series: Hunter McVey of '9-1-1 Nashville' — 10 Things to Know About This Model, Actor, Podcaster and Entrepreneur - Including What Sport he Played Competitively

By: Markos Papadatos

Hunter McVey is one of the male leads on the new hit ABC procedural drama series "9-1-1 Nashville," where he plays Blue Bennings. McVey was born in Franklin, Tennessee, and attended Virginia Tech University. He is an established entrepreneur, host of the Wholesome Degenerate Podcast, model, actor, and successful influencer and endorser on all social media platforms. He shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself.

Favorite Movies

He listed “Happy Gilmore,” “Caddy Shack,” “Talladega Nights,” “Twist,” “James Bond,” and “Harry Potter” as his favorite movies, as well as the occasional rom-com.

Feel Good Interview Series: Get to Know Actor Sam Page from Christmas Movies, Mad Men, The Bold Type and More - 10 Things to Learn About Him

By Markos Papadatos

You might know Sam Page from the 2025 Great American Family holiday movie "There's No Place Like Christmas" opposite Cindy Busby. But this prolific actor is also know for his many other roles, such as in "The Bold Type," “All My Children,” “Mad Men,” Desperate Housewives,” “House of Cards,” “Switched at Birth,” “Scandal,” and “Gossip Girl,” among others. Page shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself.

Sam's Favorite Movie

His favorite movie is “Miller’s Crossing” by the Coen Brothers. “I would argue that it’s the perfect film,” Page said. “I highly recommend it!”

Feel Good Interview Series: Sharna Burgess of "Dancing with the Stars" and "Pen Pals" Off-Broadway - 10 Things to Know about this Australian Dancer/Actor

By Markos Papadatos

Sharna Burgess is an Australian ballroom dancer who is known for her dancing work as a professional dancer on "Dancing with the Stars." 

Most recently, she made her Off-Broadway debut, and she starred in the Off-Broadway show "Pen Pals" as a British character Mags opposite Paige Davis (TLC's "Trading Spaces") who played Bernie. Burgess shared 10 interesting, fun and exciting things about herself.

 

Sharna's Favorite Movies

The classics “Hello, Dolly!” and “Singin’ in the Rain” are two of her favorite movies. “The stories are magical, and the films are just beautiful,” she admitted.

Feel Good Interview Series — Get To Know Robbie Simpson of "Finding Mr. Christmas", TV, Broadway & Host of "The Breakdown" Podcast - 9 Things to Know

By: Markos Papadatos

Robbie Simpson, who hails from New York is an actor, director and producer. He is host of the very popular Broadway podcast, "The Breakdown". He also competed in Season 2 of "Finding Mr. Christmas." The show is hosted by Jonathan Bennett ("Mean Girls") with Melissa Peterson serving as a judge. It's streaming on Hallmark+. Simpson shared nine interesting and fun things about himself.

Robbie's Favorite Movies

His favorite movie of all time is “The Wizard of Oz.” “I used to watch it with my family, and to this day, it’s my favorite movie,” he admitted.

Feel Good Interview Series: 10 Things to Know about Davey Fisher of Hallmark's "Finding Mr. Christmas'" - Including what World Record He Broke

By Markos Papadatos

Davey Fisher was one of the 10 contestants in Season 2 of the hit Hallmark reality series "Finding Mr. Christmas," which is hosted by Jonathan Bennett.

Most recently, on December 30th, Fisher shattered the world record for most walking lunges at Aviation Park in Redondo Beach, California.

Fisher shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself.

Davey's Favorite Movies

On his favorite movies, he said, “I have to lean towards comedies because that is where my heart lies. Probably ‘Step Brothers’ for a comedy, and ‘Terminator 2’ was super nostalgic in my childhood. There are so many. I’ve always thought ‘The Departed’ is really pretty.”

SuzeeBehindtheScenes Holds Holiday Mingle and Jingle Party in Midtown Manhattan - Photos

SuzeeBehindtheScenes held a "Holiday Mingle and Jingle" at Route 66 Cafe in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Guests from all aspects of the entertainment industry and influencers mixed and mingled and enjoyed an array of delicious foods prepared by the cafe's chefs. 

This year, SuzeeBehindtheScenes will close the year reaching nearly 1.6 million views, with 5-6000 readers visiting the site per day. With over 1500 articles, the site is known for its celebrity interviews and its support of new filmmakers and creatives as well as non-profits. Next year, the focus will be showing the work of more females, as well as highlighting the productions going on in NJ - what is now becoming known as "Hollywood East". In the coming years, NJ has at minimum Netflix, Paramount and Lionsgate building huge production facilities in the state among other studios already here or with plans to build. 

PHOTOS

The 2025 Collaboration Awards Held in New York City: Honored Women Helping Women - in Partnership with the Women in the Arts and Media Coalition- See Honorees

The 2025 Collaboration Awards: Women Working with Women  honored outstanding artists creating new interdisciplinary work in theater, film and dance on December 8, 2025 in New York City. The gala, produced by the Women in the Arts & Media Coalition (WAM Coalition), honored outstanding partnerships between professional women from different specializations across the arts and media industries. The event, held in the Fred and Adele Astaire Ballroom at the Houghton Hall Arts Community in Manhattan, was presented at a time when opportunities for both women and the arts are under threat.

 

(Above Photo: Sibyl Reymundo-Santiago is presented the Community Collaboration Award by Terry Lawler credit Ken Howard Photography)

Feel Good Interview Series: Orion Smith of 'The Conjuring: The Last Rites' - 10 Things to Know About Him

By Markos Papadatos

Orion Smith is one of the stars in "The Conjuring: The Last Rites," who plays Young Ed (the younger version of Patrick Wilson's character) opposite Madison Lawlor (who plays a Young Lorraine). This rising star shared 10 interesting and fun things about himself.

Orion Smith's Favorite Movies

On his favorite movies, Orion shared, “I really like ‘Interstellar.’ I love ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and ‘Dr. Strangelove’.”

Feel Good Interview Series: Caitlin Houlahan of "Only Murders in the Building" and 'Mare of Easttown" - 10 Things to Know About Her

By: Markos Papadatos

Caitlin Houlahan is known for her acting work in “Only Murders in the Building,” “American Rust” and “Mare of Easttown.”

Presently, she is starring in the Off-Broadway show “Not Ready for Prime Time,” where she is playing Jane Curtin.

Houlanhan shared 10 interesting and exciting things about herself.