The next episode of the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast features a great conversation with Michael Manasseh, drummer and percussionist for the most recent North American tour of Hadestown.
Michael’s musical journey started at the age of five and has taken him through an impressive range of experiences. From big band and small combo work at The Rivers School in Weston, MA, to prestigious jazz programs like The NEC Jazz Lab, Berklee’s Five-Week Jazz Workshop, and the Vail Jazz Workshop, he built a deep foundation in multiple styles. In college, he studied under Vince Cherico, Bruce Barth, David Gibson, and Don Sickler, and played in 11 theater productions, including In The Heights, Head Over Heels, and Pippin. He eventually graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Economics and Mathematics.
What made this conversation stand out was Michael’s curiosity about not just drumming, but the business side of Broadway. He talked about joining a co-producing team for Lumpica, helping to fundraise for the production, and learning firsthand how tight the margins are in theater. From the massive cost of putting up a show to the weekly expenses that can make or break a production, Michael brings a perspective that every theater musician should hear.
If you want to understand how to make a lasting career in this business — not just play the music — my upcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career dives deep into both the art and the industry.
Subscribe to Broadway Drumming 101 so you don’t miss Michael’s episode and other conversations that go beyond the notes.
