Feel-Good Interview Series - Actor and Model Zane Holtz of Hallmark, Katy Keene and More - Six Things to Know About Him

By Markos Papadatos, "Powerjournalist"

You may know the talented actor and model Zane Holtz from his role as KO Kelly on the CW's Katy Keene and Riverdale. But he has numerous roles on other series and films such as NCIS, All Rise, From Dusk to Dawn - The Series where he played Richie Gecko.

This native of Vancouver, Canada starred in his first original Hallmark film Twas the Night Before Christmas opposite Torrey DeVitto in 2022. (Editor's note - this is a must-see movie... bringing together history and literature with a Christmas theme.)

What Zane Holtz Watches

Holtz's favorite series to binge-watch is Mayor of Kingstown. "I actually watched that while I was in production for Twas the Night Before Christmas. That was the last one I watched and I really enjoyed it," he said.

Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival To be Held April 26th & 27th, 2023 - Submissions Now Open and "Evening with Oscar" Party Set for March 10th

The successful and growing Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival is entering its 12th year with a live, in - person festival for 2023.  This year the festival will again be presented in-person with film screenings in downtown Ridgewood at the Ridgewood Bow Tie Cinema Warner Quad, 190  East Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood NJ (and other venues TBD) April 26th and April 27th 2023. Opening Night Red Carpet on the 26th, Red Carpet on the 27th and Closing Night Party on the 27th.

Feel-Good Interview Series: Five Things to Know about General Hospital's Tajh Bellow

By Markos Papadatos, "Power Journalist"

Emmy nominee Tajh Bellow stars as Dr. TJ Ashford in the hit ABC daytime drama "General Hospital." You may also know him from his other roles on TV, such as in NCIS, Bosch, The Middle, 9-11 Lone Star, Girl Meets World and many more.

Last year, Bellow made Emmy history by becoming the first-ever male actor to be nominated in the newly-formed gender-neutral Emmy category for "Outstanding Younger Performer in a Drama Series."

Brad Forenza's Around the Sun Scripted Podcast Series Complete Season 2 Now Available: Piper Laurie Stars in Season Finale Joining Cast of Richard Kind, Caroline Aaron, Mindy Cohn, Jennie Kwan, Taylor Purdee and Bruce Vilanch

 

Around the Sun—the hit, scripted podcast series starring iconic talent from stage and screen—wrapped its second season of radio plays with a special episode January 2023 that starred Three-time Oscar nominee Piper Laurie (The Hustler, Carrie, Children of a Lesser God) and series creator Brad Forenza. Also starring in Season 2, with the completed season available now wherever you listen to podcasts are:  Richard Kind (The Watcher), Caroline Aaron (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,  Adassa ( Encanto), Mindy Cohn (The Facts of Life),Richard Kline (Three’s Company) Jennie Kwan (California Dreams, Avatar, The Last Airbender), Taylor Purdee (Killian and the Comeback Kids) and Bruce Vilanch (Get Bruce). Listen to all episodes here or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Feel-Good Interview Series: Meet Actor and Model Joseph Cannata - Seven Things to Know About Him and What You Can See Him In

 

By Markos Papadatos

Actor and model is a fixture on TV. He's been in several series, and anyone who watches holidays movies is sure to know him from his many roles. Joseph Cannata starred in the holiday film A Brush with Christmas opposite Jillian Murray, which premiered on Great American Family in 2022. You may have also seen him in A Perfect Match, Snowbound for Christmas, Christmas Wedding Runaway Holiday, Hometown Holiday or The Good Witch among others.

What Joseph Watches

His favorite films include The Count of Monte Cristo, Catch Me If You Can, and Gladiator. "Gladiator is what ignited my passion to become an actor," he admitted.

Feel-Good Interview Series: Meet Actor Marc Blucas: Seven Things to Know about him and Who He Did the "Maverick High-Five" With

By Markos Papadatos, Power Journalist

Marc Blucas is a busy actor. He's got three projects in the works, Quiet in the Works and One Heart, which are both movies. He's also starring in a new series called Walter and the Boys. You may have seen him in many other movies and series including Buffy The Vampire Slayer and in the 2022 Great American Family film A Christmas... Present" opposite Candance Cameron Bure.

What Marc Watches

His favorite series to binge-watch is Homeland, and he also liked such limited series as Mare of Easttown (starring Kate Winslet) and Dahmer starring Evan Peters.

15th Annual Origin 1st Irish Theater Festival is Full of Activities, Films, Readings and More by Irish Creatives - Mostly In-Person January 2023 in NYC and Beyond

The 15^th annual Origin 1^st Irish Theatre Festival returns to a mostly in-person format, running three weeks from Monday January 9 to Tuesday January 31.Participating theatres and cultural organizations in New York include 59E59 Theaters, the Irish Repertory Theatre, the Irish Arts Center, the cell, Ryan’s Daughter and Symphony Space in Manhattan; the NY Irish Center in Queens, and An Beal Bocht in The Bronx. 

The LIBBY SHOW: Christmas Episode 2022: Traditions, Movies we Love and Interviews with Christmas Movie Actors

On the Holiday Episode of Season 2 of The LIBBY Show: Lunch with the Ladies, the ladies talk about their family holiday traditions. They also give suggestions on some of the best movies to watch. Then, host Suzanne Ordas Curry goes on the road at Christmas Con and brings you some interviews with some of your favorite Christmas movie actors. Hear what Eric Mabius, Caroline Rhea, Jen Lilley, Ashley Williams and others think about the phenomenon of the success of happy holiday flicks and how they are happy to be a part of it. View the episode on Youtube now  HERE. Coming soon to IWOMANtv where you can view Season 1. 

Feel-Good Interview- Actor Jillian Murray Talks about What She Watches, How She Unwinds and the Defining Moments in Her Career and Life

By Markos Papadatos, PowerJournalist

 Actress Jillian Murray stars in the new holiday movie on Great American Family, A Little Women's Christmas. You can also see her in A Brush with Christmas opposite Joseph Cannata, which premiered this season on Great American Family.

She previously starred opposite Trevor Donovan in Prescription for Love, and she will star opposite Robert Palmer Watkins ("General Hospital") in the Netflix film "Uglies."

What Jillian Murray Watches

Little Steven's Sixth Annual Policeman's Ball To Be Held in NYC December 2022, Benefits Two Charities with Gary U.S. Bonds and Max Weinberg Orchestra Set to Perform

Hear some absolutely fantastic music, mingle with a whole lot of interesting people and raise money for a great cause at Little Steven's Policeman's' Ball. This is the sixth annual event which benefits the NYPD's "With Arms Wide Open" non-profit for children with special needs as well as The Detective Endowment Association (DEA) for widows and children. It is the first time back in person since the pandemic.

Feel-Good Interview Series: Meet George Krissa of Hallmark's The Holiday Sitter - Five Things to Know About Him

By Markos Papadatos, "PowerJournalist"

Actor George Krissa chatted about his new movie The Holiday Sitter, which premiered on Hallmark December 2022, as part of Countdown to Christmas. He stars opposite Jonathan Bennett. This marks the first time that a Hallmark holiday flick revolves around a same-sex couple.

In The Holiday Sitter, Sam (played by Jonathan Bennett) is a workaholic bachelor who babysits his niece and nephew before the holidays when his sister and her husband have to go out of town. Completely out of his element, he recruits help from their handsome neighbor Jason (George Krissa) and finds himself in an unexpected romance.

Author and Emmy-Award Winning Actor from The Sopranos and The White Lotus Michael Imperioli On a Book Tour for His Debut Fiction Novel: The Perfume Burned His Eyes - See Him in NJ on December 11

 You've watched  him on The Sopranos and most recently got to see him in a different role on the hit HBO Max limited series The White Lotus - all the rage at the water cooler! Now, meet him IN PERSON at Bookends Bookstore in Ridgewood NJ, a short train ride out of New York City. He'll be there to sign copies of his book, The Perfume Burned His Eyes, a fascinating coming of age novel set in NYC. Bet you didn't know that that in additional to being an Emmy-award winning actor he is also a published author.  And he also wrote 5 episodes of The Sopranos. He will be at Bookends to sign a copy of his debut novel which just came out in paperback. 

Interview: Actress Erica Hubbard of "My Perfect Wedding" - Who Inspires Her, What Her Big Break Was, How she Founded a Charity and What's Next for Her

Erica Hubbard is a talented, beautiful actress that is now seeing lead roles coming her way, and no wonder - she's been acting since a very young age and has quite the resume. Right now, you can see her as the lead in "My Perfect Wedding", now streaming. However, her IMDB lists over 50 credits, including a long stint on the TV Series "Lincoln Heights" and dozens more appearances on the big and small screen. We were lucky enough to catch up with Erica to find out more about her career, her life, what she enjoys and her amazing charity.

SBTS: When did you know you wanted to be an actor? Was there any female that inspired you? 

Feel-Good Interview Series: Six Things to Know About John Brotherton of Fuller House and Hallmark Channel's Christmas Movies - What He Watches and What He'd Be Doing if He Wasn't Acting

By Markos Papadatos, "Powerjournalist"

Hallmark actor and Fuller House star John Brotherton stars in the new Hallmark Christmas film Christmas on Cherry Lane. He also stars in 2022's Hallmark film Lights, Camera, Christmas! In this new original film, a holiday movie production comes to town in need of a costume designer, Kerry, a local shop owner, steps into the role and crosses paths with the film's charming star Brad.

Favorite series to binge 

His favorite series to binge-watch is Dahmer -- Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, The Terminal List, Succession, and Yellowstone. "We just finished that. Dahmer was incredible and disturbing all at the same time," he said. "I can't wait for 'Yellowstone" to come back out, I love that show."  

John Edwards Holds Live Zoom Event Called "As The Spirit Turns" with As The World Turns' Martha Bynre and Gulding Light's Kim Zimmer Dec 8: Conversations and Readings

John Edward will be your Guiding Light for a 2.5 hour virtual event that is being called  “As The Spirit Turns.”

Psychic Medium John Edward will be sitting in conversation with daytime icons Martha Byrne (Lily from As The World Turns) and Kim Zimmer (Reva from Guiding Light) For the first hour.  John will moderate the conversation and facilitate audience questions and more for these two daytime tv icons. This is a one of a kind event that has never been done before and it’s John’s first time getting to sit down with Martha and Kim to chat and interview them; John states that he is very excited for this.

Feel-Good Interview Series: Five Things to Know about Actor Shannon Kook from Hallmark's A Big Fat Family Christmas, The 100 and Degrassi - Including How He Feels about Asian Voices on Screen

By Markos Papadatos

South - African born Actor Shannon Kook stars in one of the Hallmark Channel's new Christmas movies A Big Fat Family Christmas. However, you may recognize this classically-trained actor (Canada) from some of his many other roles on the big and small screens. You may know him from The Conjuring, Degrassi - The Next Generation,  The 100, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Nancy Drew, and many more. 

What He is Doing Now

ChristmasCon22 by That's4Entertainment Comes to NJ December 2022 - Meet Your Favorite Actors from Holiday TV Movies, Engage in Activities and Get that Holiday Feeling

Christmas Con 22, a production of That's4Entertainment is coming! This year's in-person con is  December 8, 10, 11, 2022 to the New Jersey Expo Center in Edison, NJ (about an hour out of NYC).  If you are a fan of all the  wonderful heartwarming and always happy ending Christmas movies on TV - and a fan of all things Christmas you will love Christmas Con! More Info: https://www.thats4entertainment.com/christmasconnj. 

I've been to the two cons in New Jersey I will tell you you will leave singing Christmas carols and with a happy merry feeling. 

Feel Good Interview: Get to Know Cameron Mathison of Home Sweet Christmas, A Merry Christmas Wish, General Hospital and So Much More

By Markos Papadatos

Photo Credit Left: ABC, Craig Sjodin

Acclaimed actor, presenter, and host Cameron Mathison chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos. He is the star of "Home Sweet Christmas"  which premiered on Great American Family, where he stars opposite Jill Wagner. You can also see him on General Hospital as Drew Cain as well as in many of your favorite TV and Christmas movies. 

What Cameron Watches

While he is not a big scary movie guy, he enjoyed watching "The Black Phone" with Ethan Hawke. "It wasn't too scary, so I liked that," he admitted. "The new 'Top Gun: Maverick' gave me chills. The whole family went with me to se e it, and we watched the first one to remind us a little bit."

NJPAC for the Holidays and Year Round - A Very Electric Christmas, Boys II Men, Hip Hop Nutcracker, Alton Brown, Paw Patrol and More

Looking to do something fun for the holidays? New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark NJ, less than an hour from New York City offers a great deal of entertainment for the family. Following is information on some of NJPAC's upcoming shows, but always check the website as more shows are continuously added. Visit NJPAC.org.

Photos: Katonah Classic Stage's 2022 Production of Noel Coward's Private Lives Starring Trent Dawson

Katonah Classic Stage presented PRIVATE LIVES, this fall at Bedford Hills Community Center in October 2022. 

Founder Trent Dawson, Lea Dimarchi, Dawn Vanessa Brown, Jonathan Fielding and Brenda Withers starred in this funny, riveting, edge-of-your seat drama about two couples that well, couldn't live or live without each other. To learn about future plays visit Katonah Classic Stage. 

Feel Good Interview: Actress Joey Marie Urbina Talks about Her Big Break on FX's Snowfall, Her Inspiration, What She Watches and More

Houston-born actress Joey Marie Urbina is making headway into her career. Viewers can see her as "Xiamara" on the last three seasons of FX's Snowfall. But she's done so much more -  including several films - and there's much more ahead for this talented actress. Suzee Behind the Scenes sat down for an interview with Joey Marie. Read on to find out how she got where she is, and what woman from a very popular sitcom inspired her at the beginning of her journey. 

SBTS: What was your big break?

Joey Marie Urbina: Snowfall gave me my big break. I remember leaving my audition thinking, “Wow, I’m definitely not getting this job!” This was right before the pandemic hit and auditions were still in person. I remember my manager calling me and saying I got it, my knees hit the ground. My role started off as a one day co-star but I have now been recurring on the show for three seasons. Grateful.

Photos: Axial Theater of New York's Production of John Logan's Never The Sinner

The Axial Theater Production of John Logan's Play Never the Sinner premiered mid-November at the Bethanny Arts Community Center outside of New York City in Ossining NY. 

The play, which follows the true story of a child named Bobby Franks, who was killed in Chicago early last century, was sold-out many nights.

Audience members called the play "Brutal,", "Powerful.", "Beautifully executed" and "Tightly-directed. The relevance to what is going on today cannot be missed.

Interview: Five Questions for Actress Mindy Cohn - She Talks about her New Role in Brad Forenza's Around the Sun Podcast, The Facts of Life and a New Venture

Exclusive to SuzeeBehindtheScenes

The incredibly talented and fan favorite Mindy Cohn appears in this season of Around the Sun, a podcast series of fun, interesting and thought-provoking dramas (all averaging 10 minutes) created by Brad Forenza. It is now available wherever you listen to podcasts with new episodes dropping every Wednesday throughout fall. Visit Around theSun . Mindy Cohn is in Episodes 5 and 7.

Feel-Good Interview Series: Meet British Actor Will Kemp from Hallmark Movies - Five Things to Know About Him

Interview by Markos Papadatos

You may have seen Will Kemp in Hallmark movies The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango, Jolly Good Christmas, Love, Romance and Chocolate, The Christmas Waltz or even the Princess Switch 3. But his prolific British actor has had several other roles, including on the series Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce or Spinning Out. Expect to see more of him soon in your favorite TV movies. Read on to find out more about this talented actor.

What Will Kemp Watches - He is a Star Wars Fan

Regarding his favorite movies, Kemp said, "I have been in preparation for a job that I am in at the moment, so to be honest, I haven't gone to the cinema as much as I would like so my research is character-driven.