In this episode, I sit down with Michael Manasseh, the drummer for the current Hadestown national tour. Michael walks us through his unique path—from studying economics at Columbia University to carving out a career as a professional musician—and how his early training gave him the versatility he brings to Broadway today.
We cover:
Growing up in Boston, church music, and jazz studies that shaped his drumming identity
College years at Columbia, balancing academics with theater, and realizing music could be a career
How joining Muse (Musicians United for Social Equity) and mentorship with John Clancy led to his first big break on the Shrek tour
What it’s like playing Hadestown every night—the physical and mental grind, the room for improvisation, and why it feels like “jazz theater”
Road stories: near-misses with quick changes, learning directly from orchestrators, and pulling inspiration from Art Blakey to Mark Guiliana
The business side of Broadway touring—the economics of the road, and why relationships matter more than transactions
Michael’s journey is about more than chops. It’s about balance, community, and adaptability—the keys to building a sustainable career in theater.
If you’re a drummer looking to break into Broadway—or just curious what life behind the kit on a national tour is really like—you’ll want to hear this one.
More about Michael:
https://www.michaelmanassehmusic.com/
Subscribe to Broadway Drumming 101 on YouTube so you don’t miss Michael’s story and other conversations that go beyond the notes. And if you want to go even deeper, my upcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career explores both the art and the business of making it in this industry.
Great story.