What It Takes to Last on Broadway, and Other Things I Shared on The Writer's Block

From Steve Gadd to Cats: The Jellicle Ball, here's what I've learned about building a career that lasts

I recently spoke with Matt Robinson on his Substack show, The Writer’s Block, and I had a great time.

We covered a lot of ground. I talked about discovering the drums as a kid and the players who shaped me: Steve Gadd, Steve Smith, Steve Jordan, and Tony Williams, plus the soul, funk, jazz, rock, and early hip-hop I grew up on. We got into my years on tick, tick... BOOM!, Memphis, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud, and Cats: The Jellicle Ball.

We also talked about something I don’t think gets discussed enough: the discipline it takes to deliver the same show at a high level eight times a week. I shared lessons from my mentors, the story behind my book Broadway Bound and Beyond, and what I’m building now through C.R.A.D. Global Ventures and Cincopated Publishing.

Matt is a thoughtful interviewer, and his show features writers, artists, musicians, and creative people of every kind. If you enjoy conversations about the creative life, his Substack is worth your time.

👉 Watch the full interview here

Clayton Craddock: From Drums to Broadway | The Writer’s Block Interview

👉 Subscribe to Matt Robinson’s Writer’s Block

Thank you, Matt, for having me. And thank you all for watching!

About Clayton Craddock

Clayton Craddock has spent 26 years in musical theater, most recently as the drummer for Cats: The Jellicle Ball at the Broadhurst Theatre. Now based in Las Vegas, he is the founder of Broadway Bound and Beyond, host of the Broadway Drumming 101 podcast, and author of Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career. He teaches musicians the career skills nobody teaches them.

His Broadway credits include Memphis, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud, and Cats: The Jellicle Ball. He has also played tick, tick…BOOM! and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, and subbed on Rent, Motown, Evita, Avenue Q, and the Hadestown tour.

He has appeared on The View, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the Tony Awards, and has performed with Chuck Berry, Ben E. King, Kristin Chenoweth, and Norm Lewis.

www.claytoncraddock.com