What does it really take to go from playing ska in a garage to touring the world with hit Broadway shows?
Meet Jaren Angud, the drummer behind the First National Tour of Back to the Future: The Musical. In this episode of the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast, we dive into his incredible journey:
How a French horn mishap pushed him to the drums
The ska and punk roots that shaped his style
His leap from engineering dreams to a full-time music career
Landing major gigs like Flashdance and Beauty and the Beast
Life on the road—from Cairo to Qatar—and what touring really looks like
Tips for staying fit, focused, and financially smart while touring
His secrets for breaking into Broadway and mastering versatility
If you’ve ever dreamed of playing for major tours or wondered how to thrive as a freelance musician, this conversation is packed with actionable advice, inspiring lessons, and stories from the road.
👉 Plus: Get on the list for my upcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career at BroadwayBoundBook.com.
Leave a comment
Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.
Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, and The Gospel at Colonus (featuring Kim Burrell). As a skilled sub, he has contributed his talents to notable productions, including Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, and the national tour of Hadestown, among many others. He has also appeared on major shows including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards. He has performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.
Clayton is the author of the forthcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career, the only guide you’ll need to succeed in the competitive world of musical theater.
Sign up to be the first to know when the book drops: www.BroadwayBoundBook.com
He proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.
Learn more about Clayton Craddock at www.claytoncraddock.com
