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!
Episode 1: coming April 4th
Episode 2: coming April 18th
Ken Liszewski is the Associate Director of Institutional Giving at Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, New York, where he helps to lead the Elevating Wonder Capital Campaign, a $50 million initiative to transform Shea's Campus and the entire Theatre District. A 30 Under 30 awardee, he plays a key role in Shea’s fundraising efforts, preparing for its 100th anniversary in 2026.
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. Most recently, she served as the Assistant Director for Starring Buffalo’s CATS. Other past favorite credits include 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 (Featured Ensemble, The Historic Lockport Palace Theatre), The Music Man (Alma Hix, The Historic Lockport Palace Theatre), and The Little Mermaid (Adella/Ensemble, The Historic Lockport Palace Theatre). You can also see her this spring in Don't Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus! The Musical! (Little Old Lady, Theatre of Youth). You can keep up to date with her on Instagram: @jmt0429.
Rita Sirianni serves as the Executive Assistant 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.
Podcast Producer: Cassandra Lippert
Podcast Editor: Shelby Converse
Intro Music: John Michael Ogletree / Intro Audio Mixer: Dave Leonhardt
Logo Design: Akasya Crosier
Marketing: Bridget Neeson
