BELLA Boss: The Broadway Issue
By Lynette Barbieri + Jennifer MacLellan
In this Broadway Issue, we spotlight the visionaries who bring ambition and artistry to center stage. From producers and performers to designers and creative entrepreneurs, these professionals redefine what it means to lead with passion and purpose. Their journeys remind us that success begins with courage, creativity, and the belief that every role on stage or behind the scenes has the power to inspire.
NATALIE WEISS
Photography By Michael Carlo
New York, NY
Riffsky Business LLC, Founder, Vocal Coach, Performer, Social Media Content Creator
Broadway demands both resilience and reinvention. What moment in your career forced you to bet on yourself the hardest, and how did it shape the role you are in today?
While on tour with Les Misérables as a swing (an offstage understudy), I created a web series called Breaking Down The Riffs. It started as a passion project, a “pop singing for dummies” approach to iconic riffs and runs and quickly grew into something far bigger than I ever expected. What began backstage as a creative outlet became a defining piece of my career.
If Broadway is often called the heartbeat of New York, what do you believe your role adds to that pulse, and how would you describe it to someone who has never stepped foot inside a theatre?
My career path is niche, equal parts accidental and intentional. A performance video of mine went viral in 2006, leading to an international career as a concert performer, vocal coach, Broadway actor, mentor, entrepreneur, talent recruiter, and social media creator. Over time, teaching shifted from a side job to a primary focus, though performance is still central to who I am. My work spans from private coaching to casting, performing, mentoring young talent, creating digital content, and beyond. This fall, I will be teaching and performing in Alabama and Wyoming before heading to Australia and New Zealand.
How has your personal journey, with all its challenges and triumphs, influenced the way you show up as a leader and creator in this industry?
I surround myself with a supportive community and consider myself a connector of people. This industry comes with highs and lows, but I remind myself often that my passion became my career. Seeing growth in a student or watching them light up with hope continues to inspire me. I do my best to learn from every experience and pass that knowledge on to the next generation.
JYM BENZING
Photography By Jhon Catano
New York, NY
Jym Benzing Casting, Casting Director and Producer
Broadway demands both resilience and reinvention. What moment in your career forced you to bet on yourself the hardest, and how did it shape the role you are in today?
As a former professional actor and dancer, I understood the perspective of performers, which proved invaluable when I transitioned into casting. After years of working in-house at leading agencies, casting work shifted more toward freelancers. Drawing on my industry connections and experience, I took the leap and opened my own agency. My life in theatre instilled discipline, empathy, and resilience, qualities that gave me the courage to evolve and ultimately bet on myself.
If Broadway is often called the heartbeat of New York, what do you believe your role adds to that pulse, and how would you describe it to someone who has never stepped foot inside a theatre?
Theatre is collaborative, with the audience as vital as the performers, creatives, and crews. My role is to discover and champion talent. There is nothing like the experience of being fully present in a live performance, surrounded by strangers yet connected by the magic unfolding onstage.
How has your personal journey, with all its challenges and triumphs, influenced the way you show up as a leader and creator in this industry?
This industry is built on resilience. Rejection is part of the process for both performers and casting directors. I move from project to project, balancing time, resources, and opportunities. I have learned to always be ready for what is next, prepare for slow seasons, and above all, lead with kindness.
BRIAN SCOTT LIPTON
Photography By Andrew Werner
New York, NY
Chief Theatre Critic at Cititour.com | Editor at Large (former Editor in Chief) at TheaterMania.com
CitiTour.com | TheaterMania.com
What moment in your career forced you to bet on yourself the hardest, and how did it shape the role you are in today?
In 1986, I quit my job as a lawyer after only three months to pursue journalism with no prospects, no clips, and nothing but belief in myself as a writer. Over time, editors and publications took a chance on me, and within a few years, I was writing celebrity interviews and theatre reviews, work I am still passionate about 35 years later.
If Broadway is often called the heartbeat of New York, what do you believe your role adds to that pulse?
As a critic, I aim to help audiences understand what a show is about and why it may or may not be worth their time and money. With ticket prices higher than ever, my role is to give context and perspective, helping people make informed choices.
How would you describe Broadway to someone who has never stepped foot inside a theatre?
Broadway is my religion. It is like stepping into a sacred space where people gather with a shared belief in the transformative power of art and entertainment, whether for two hours or for a lifetime.
How has your personal journey, with all its challenges and triumphs, influenced the way you show up as a leader and creator in this industry?
I am proud of championing new voices, giving writers with little experience the opportunity to publish early in their careers. Many of those writers have gone on to become respected editors and critics, which is one of the most rewarding legacies of my journey.
