The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside
Episodes
53. Management, Money, & the Long Game with Garen Scribner
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Stage Rightside, James sits down with longtime friend and manager Garen Scribner for a candid conversation about life after d...
52. Your Son is Probably Gay (and other news)
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I read my latest Substack essay aloud and share some of the DMs it sparked—thoughtful, funny, and occasionally surprising. I also t...
51. Cats, Books, & Ballet Chaos
24 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Stage Rightside, James checks in from rehearsal season—with a purring cat, a recovering back spasm, and plenty of opinions. As ABT...
50. Mid-Career Moves with Cassandra Trenary
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talk with my dear friend and fellow dancer Cassandra Trenary about what it means to leave a dream — not because it’s broken, bu...
49. Avatar Needs a Gay Focus Group
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
James talks about his upstate writer's retreat and why Avatar needs a gay focus group.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-stage-...
48. Happy New Year! and a Short Story
01 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
James wishes Stage Rightside listeners a Happy New Year, tells tales of his Christmas, and reads a brand new kids' story called "Johnny Newcas...
47. Holiday Special with Isabella Boyston and a very Nutcracker Substack!
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James does a post-show Nutcracker download with ABT Principal ballerina Isabella Boylston and reads his very first essay for Substack.Support this pod...
46. Summer RECAP with James Whiteside
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James talks about Met Season with ABT, Vail Dance Festival, and staging his ballet "New American Romance" in Mexico City.Support this podcast ...
45. Giselle with Cassandra Trenary
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James talks to ABT Principal dancer Cassandra Trenary about their performance of Giselle at the Metropolitan Opera House and her decision to leave ABT...
44. Swan Lake with Catherine Hurlin
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James talks to ABT Principal Dancer Catherine Hurlin before and after their performance of Swan Lake at the Metropolitan Opera House.Support this podc...
43. Special Tour Episode with James, Reid, & Harriet
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, James recaps the Spring touring season, accompanied by costume designers Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung.Support this podcast...
42. All About Training with James Whiteside
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James talks about his early years in dance, his training, and his first years as an apprentice in a big ballet company.Support this podcast at — htt...
41. Costumes, costumes, COSTUMES! With Reid & James
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James and Reid talk about ballet costumes; faves, mishaps, and least faves!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-stage-rightside-with-...
40. Straight Guys at the Gym
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James chats about which female roles he'd want to dance, what he did on his layoff from ABT, and why straight men at the gym annoy him.Support thi...
39. Tr*mp's Kennedy Center
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James chats about Tr*mp's Kennedy Center, the WAP en pointe, and drunk gay people.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-stage-righ...
38. How I Got Into ABT
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James talks about a typical rehearsal day, what he eats, and... poop in the tiles?!?!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-stage-right...
37. Baby's First Solo Episode!!!
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James chats with himself about Smile 2, Rose Gray, and being a gay gay gay person who only plays straight people. Big wahhhh!Support this podcast at —...
S07E02 - Reid Bartelme
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James and Reid talk noodles, circle j*rks, Beyonce, and Alien Romulus.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-stage-rightside-with-james...
S07E01 - Michael Breeden
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michael returns for the first episode of 2025! We chat about Sasha DeSola, resolutions, Darci Kistler's beautiful penche, Unity Phelan, the Nutcra...
S06E06 - Michael Breeden
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
James chats with Michael about becoming a repetiteur (someone who teaches ballets from scratch), retiring from Miami City Ballet, and their early days...
S06E05 - Jake Roxander
29 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
James chats with ABT Soloist Jake Roxander about being in a family of ballet dancers, heightism in dance, and his dream roles.Support this podcast at ...
S06E04 - Chloe Misseldine
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
James chats with ABT's newest Principal Dancer, Chloe Misseldine, about her ascent, her dream roles, and who she would kiss, marry, or kill.Suppor...
S06E03 - The Retirees
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
James chats with retiring ABT corps de ballet members Alex Basmagy, Kiely Groenewegen, and Lauren Post about their careers and what they're doing ...
S06E02 - Thomas Forster
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
James chats with ABT Principal Dancer Thomas Forster about his training, dealing with rejection, and reality TV.Support this podcast at — https://re...
S06E01 - Skylar Brandt
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
James chats with ABT Principal Dancer Skylar Brandt about the Summer Season, why Swan Lake is her nemesis, and reviews.Support this podcast at — htt...
Season 6 Preview!
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Stage Rightside is BACK in 2024 with new guests and some old favorites. Join James from his dressing room at the Metropolitan Opera during America...
Designer Jean-Marc Puissant
05 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James chats with costume and set designer Jean-Marc Puissant about his early work and creating the designs for Alexei Ratmansky’s “Of Love and Rag...
Xander Parish: Mariinsky Star
08 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James chats with British dancer Xander Parish about his rise to principal dancer at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg. They discuss hot topics ...
Beatriz Stix-Brunell
02 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Royal Ballet principal dancer, Beatriz Stix-Brunell, discusses self expression and the so-called ballerina mystique. She and James test out their Aust...
Arthur Pita: South African Portuguese Brit
24 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James chats with choreographer Arthur Pita, with whom he had worked on the horror dance play “The Tenant”. They discuss “Showgirls”, disco dan...
Marcelino Sambé, You Stay!
22 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James chats with Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Marcelino Sambé about his rise to principality, his injury and how to find beauty in a bleak world. ...
Harper Watters: Queen Bee of Houston Ballet
10 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
James chats with Houston Ballet soloist Harper Watters LIVE on Instagram in this special quarantined edition of The Stage Rightside. They talk about ...
Megan Take the Wheel
11 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
NYCB Soloist, Megan LeCrone, drives James home from rehearsal and an impromptu Stage Rightside ensues. Premier Dance Network website James Whitesi...
Stage Rightside Returns!
03 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Stage Rightside is BACK for Season 4! Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside - Instagram James Whitesid...
Mark Morris Makes Dances
08 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
James grills dance maker Mark Morris on music, nail clippings, New York City, queer life, and more on The Stage Rightside. Prepare to be entertained b...
Kevin McKenzie on Directing
18 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
James kicks off Season 3 of the Stage Rightside with ABT's Artistic Director of 25 years, Kevin McKenzie. They chat training, directorship, and ha...
Hip Hip Hoorayvid Hallberg!
07 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
James chats with fellow ABT principal dancer, David Hallberg. They babble on about Arizona iced tea, returning from injury, mild insanity, and Dear Ev...
Executive Realness
30 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
James gets the T from ABT Executive Director Kara Medoff Barnett. They chat about feminism, ABT in the digital age, the Tonys, and the future of Ameri...
The Cat Wranglers
23 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Kyle Pickles and Ashley Baer are ABT's Company Managers. They have the difficult task of wrangling these cats! They chat with James about touring ...
Susan for a Bruisin
16 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
James kikis with Principal Ballet Mistress, Susan Jones. They chat about the ideal corps de ballet woman, her favorite ballets to stage, working with ...
Jamar You or Jamaren't You?
02 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
James sits down with Alvin Ailey's Jamar Roberts. They discuss Mariah Carey, being a competition kid, Revelations, and protein powder. Not to ment...
Trockadero Gigglefest
26 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
James sits down with longtime friend, Matthew Poppe of les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the drag ballet company. They dish on pointe shoes, tech...
The CocoMotion
19 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
James returns to the Stage Rightside in the first episode of Season 2. He interviews fellow ABT principal dancer, Cory Stearns on Youth America Gra...
Truly Julie
08 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
James sits down with American prima ballerina-turned-directress, Julie Kent. They wax poetic about humble beginnings, the future, Mikhail Baryshnikov,...
10 ~ Female CORPSeographer
24 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
James speaks with ABT Corps de Ballet member, Gemma Bond about the Corps, choreography, coasters, and girls vs. women. Premier Dance Network webs...
09 ~ Rena is the Most
17 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
James speaks with ABT's head of wigs and makeup department, Rena Most. They dish on theater makeup, haunted houses, and their makeup/hair pet pee...
08 ~ Etoiles of ABT: Gillian & Marcelo
10 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
James speaks with ABT Principals Gillian Murphy and Marcelo Gomes about humble beginnings, keeping it fresh, and their Summer plans. Premier Dance Net...
07 ~ Uptown, Meet Jack Ferver
03 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
James speaks with downtown show-maker Jack Ferver about his new show, "I Want You To Want Me", among other things, like Return to Oz, Madonna,...
06 ~ The Ratmansky is the Limit
27 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
James talks to ABT artist in residence, Alexei Ratmansky (who inexplicably calls him "Jim") about Russia, Britney Spears, and roles he missed ...
05 ~ Reid & Harriet
20 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
James speaks with fashion/costume designers Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung about fashion, AOL screen names, off brand Italian hairspray, and queer pol...
04 ~ The Ellas
13 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
James conducts his first dressing room interview with fellow ABT principal dancers Isabella Boylston and Stella Abrera. James Whiteside website ABT w...
03 ~ James provides a sneak peek int ABT's Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House
11 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
James dishes the dirt on what roles he'll be dancing, and with whom, this Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House with ABT. Next episode, Ja...
02 ~ James dives into the purpose of the podcast.
10 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
James discusses what to expect during the first season of The Stage Rightside. You'll hear about upcoming guests and get a humorous look at the wo...
01 ~ Getting to know James
09 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
James discusses what to expect during the first season of The Stage Rightside. You'll hear about upcoming guests and get a humorous look at the wo...