Peeking Behind the Curtain: Recent Episodes
Broke People Play Festival
A theatre podcast exploring the creative arts community at New York University hosted and produced by The Broke People Play Festival. Co-hosts Connor McKenna and Mary Cecilia Walker interview past and present collaborators from the Festival and dive into conversations about zoom theatre and the creative innovation happening at NYU.
The festival! The festival! It's almost here! Come join Connor as he chats with the writer of this season's Don and Bell: Harris Singer! A BPPF veteran, Harris is a man if many talents. Listen in as the two discuss his new play and his life as an artist.
Play Synopsis
Don and Bell are having a bit of a crisis, or at least one of them thinks it's a crisis and the other simply exists as crisis. It's Marriage Story meets slacker comedies from the 2000's. It's your relationship on LSD. It's your dads love story but post-modern. It's trash, but it's our trash. Have fun contemplating your choices, but maybe that's the issue. Stop contemplating and just jump, right? At least that's what Bell thinks.
The Artist
Harris Singer is (usually) a New York City (but currently Atlanta) based actor, playwright, designer, poet, and model. Born in Georgia, he moved to New York City to study and was at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where he pursued drama at the Playwrights Horizons Theatre Studio. He recently went farming across America to learn about sustainable living. He currently is in the process of spontaneous combustion, but also trying to start a community farm for the houseless community in Atlanta, write a poetry collection about escaping family in all its forms, and maybe, just maybe, getting some acting and playwriting in there as well. You can find his most recent visual work, an animation called Ground Orange, as well as a continuous project “monologue a week”, on his YouTube channel. Harris is often in pursuit of inspiration and friends, so feel free to contact him through his Instagram @wacky.inflatablefanman, his Twitter @wackyfanman, or his email harris.singer@nyu.edu.
Come join Connor as he chats with the creative minds behind Tilly Birdbones: Leah Plante-Wiener and Mary Cecilia Walker. That's right, Mary will be on the other side of the table this episode. Listen to the trio chat about what it takes to take a heavily physical play and make it a success on zoom.
Play Synopsis
Tilly Birdbones is the story of a girl turning into a bird. Tilly Birdbones is about carving out your own place in the world, the mess that is loving and being loved and letting go, and learning what it means to truly belong. Tilly Birdbones is a fairy tale for adults who seek warmth and wonder in their everyday lives. Tilly Birdbones is a call to hold your loved ones a little bit closer and a little bit tighter. Tilly Birdbones is whatever you may find within it.
The Writer
Originally from Montreal, Canada, Leah Plante-Wiener (she/her) is a junior in NYU’s dramatic
writing program. She is beyond overjoyed to be produced for a second time by the Broke People; her play Marguerite and the Girls was featured as part of the Fall 2020 one-act festival. In her spare time, she enjoys being Broke People’s marketing director and spending an absurd amount of time of Instagram to fulfill her role, observing the pigeons in Washington Square Park—whom she would like to thank for their role in the creation of Tilly Birdbones—and hatching various plans to secure an American green card. (For legal reasons, that last bit is a joke.)
Come join in on the fun as Mary and Connor chat with the creative team of There Are No Diving Pools in Hell: Aliza Cosgrove, Akshita Bawa, and Aryan Bhattacharjee! They chat about working as a team and delve into the complexities of working on a play centered on trauma and healing.
Play Synopsis
There Are No Diving Pools in Hell is a play exploring sisterhood, maternal influence, and healing. Centered around half-sisters Thea and Brie, the play follows the recovery of the two in both physical and emotional extremes as they unpack their childhoods together, having both been raised by an overbearing mother who pressured them in their respective careers and hobbies.
The Artists
The Directors
Akshita Bawa is an MPS candidate at ITP, Tisch School of Arts. From New Delhi, India and, currently living in Brooklyn, NYC, she has successfully completed her undergraduate degree in Bachelors of Fashion Technology from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi followed by an intensive 8 week-filmmaking program at the New York Film Academy, Battery Park, NYC. She is passionate about filmmaking and over the years has made a couple of her own short films as well as collaborated with various fellow artists and production houses. Currently, she is exploring the realm of journalism and interactive filmmaking as well as directing her first play with Broke People Play Festival.
Aryan Bhattacharjee is an undergraduate freshman pursuing a major in Performance Studies at Tisch. He is excited by the prospect of giving a voice to little-known but profoundly human stories and hopes to meet the unique, slightly quirky minds who want to do the same.
This week's episode is nothing but laughter as Mary and Connor are joined on the podcast by the creative minds behind one of this season's full lengths, Rocket Play! The writer is a familiar voice to fans of the podcast, Broke People Co-President, Emma Baxter, and the director none other than the multi-talented Ava Moore.
Play Synopsis
Rocket Play is a witty and thought-provoking dark comedy, set in a spaceship about to launch to the Moon. An anxious group of rookie astronauts sits strapped-in and waiting for liftoff. Amidst their downtime chatter, they become suspicious about holes in their training and begin to reconsider their mission.
The Artists
The Writer
Emma Quinlan Baxter (she/her) is a senior at NYU studying Dramatic Writing with minors in Comedy and Irish Studies. She writes for theatre, film, and TV and also writes and performs comedy in various forms. She is one of Broke People Play Festival's Co-Presidents and also writes and directs for the festival. She also recently joined NYU sketch/variety comedy team Friends with Dads and is a member of Invisible Disco Productions's Writers' Collective. In addition, she was part of the Paula Vogel Mentors Project, through which her work was produced by Found Theater Co in Philadelphia. She has interned for Saturday Night Live, Big Beach, producer Jenna Segal, documentary researcher Sheila Maniar, and Writers Theatre of New Jersey. And she loves dogs a freakish amount.
The Director
Ava Moore is a junior at NYU, studying Drama at Stella Adler. From London, she has always harbored a deep love for all things theater, and is delighted to be directing her first show. Rocket Play is a witty and thought-provoking dark comedy, set in a spaceship about to launch to the Moon.
Mary is chatting with the crew from Coffee Shop Werewolf today! The writer is none other than hr co-host Connor McKenna and the director is Jillian Roche. It's a rollercoaster of a conversation, so make sure to strap in!
Play Synopsis
Coffee Shop Werewolf follows the fresh-out-of-college Eloise as she starts working her first job at a cafe near her hometown. After hearing her co-workers joking that their boss is a werewolf, Eloise takes this idea and runs with it by writing a mystery novel based on the idea that her boss, Roman, is in fact a monster. Unfortunately, her coworkers find the book she wrote about them and decide to have a little fun: by making her think everything she wrote was true and blurring the line between reality and fantasy.
The Artists
The Writer
Connor McKenna (He/him/his) is a current junior at NYU Tisch studying dramatic writing and linguistics. He is an aspiring playwright and dramaturg, as well as one of the Co-Presidents of Broke People Play Festival. Previous works with Broke People include The Irish Play (Director) and What Can I Help You With? (Playwright).
The Director
Jillian Roche is a sophomore film & television student at Tisch. Outside of school, she is a Co-Head of the Photo/Video department of the Fusion Film Festival, a member of After School Improv, and a Writer/Performer for Free Beer Sketch Comedy. She hopes to one day write and produce for children's television.
Come join Connor as he talks to the creative team of Promise of Tomorrows: Charlotte Nash and PBHTH's very own Mary Cecilia Walker! They delve into the nuances of mental health and taking agency in our bodies and our places in the world.
Play Synopsis
Two sister souls try to find their place in a world that isn't built for them.
The Artists
The Writer
Mary Cecilia Walker is a multi-hyphenate artist based in NYC. Having been born and raised in the island community of Barbados, Mary enjoys traveling and making new connections. Currently training at NYU Tisch Drama, she hopes to one day carve a place for herself in the entertainment industry, in whatever form that might take. Her work through Broke People has kept her busy but invigorated. She loves what she does, and she thanks those who have helped her shape her craft and herself.
The Director
Charlotte Nash currently studies Performance Studies at NYU Tisch and is an integral part of the Broke People family. Having grown up in the UAE, Charlotte enjoys learning and experiencing different cultures and their art forms. She loves working on new projects with new collaborators and is always up for a lively discussion into the finer details of theatre and what it means.
Come join Mary as she chats with the brilliant minds behind this season's One Act Festival finale, Zoom You, Sònia Victoria Werner, and Ariana Montoya. Follow them as they explore what it means to have agency as a female artist and how the state of the world influenced the creation of this play!
Play Synopsis
Zoom You leverages the platform to examine post-isolation connection through a choose-your-own-adventure interactive VR experience, putting the lives and fates of the Zoom Humans (Zoomans) in the audience's hands.
The Artists
The Writer
Sònia Victoria Werner, or Vikki for short, is a multilingual actress, playwright, singer, producer, and filmmaker studying at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting (NYU Tisch Drama). Vikki strives to embody growth, purpose, and humanity in her life, hoping to discover meaningful answers to previously unanswered questions through art. She’d love to thank Mary (and Connor) for having her on the podcast once again (!), Ariana and the wonderful cast for bringing her work to life in the most inspiring ways, and her family for their love and support. Instagram: @svikki.w
The Director
Ariana Montoya is a first-year at Tisch Drama, studying at Playwrights Horizons Theatre School. Ariana is incredibly excited and honored to be making her directorial debut with Broke People through her work on Zoom You!
This week, we've got the creative team of Blood Back, Priya Ele Rinkus, and Ian Janowsky, on the podcast! Listen to us chat about this riveting play and learn more about the inspirations behind Priya and Ian. There's also some talk about Halo and some fanfiction?? Tune in for a laugh!
Play Synopsis
Blood Back is a play that explores the events of a party through two later police interviews.
The Artists
The Writer
Priya is a current freshman in the Dramatic Writing program at NYU. She is from New Jersey but loves the city, as well as movies and live music. This is her first time as part of Broke People.
The Director
Ian Janowsky (he/him) is a sophomore actor, musician, and director studying at NYU Tisch Drama. When he isn't working on a project, he enjoys consuming all the media there is on the planet and staring at blank essay docs that he hasn't turned in yet. He's probably doing that right now, not writing an essay. Or maybe watching a movie! Or both at the same time.
We've got a special introductory guest this week! Tune in to find out who and then hop straight into the engaging chat Mary has with the writer and director of this season's one-act, Speed Date; or, come here often?, Anike Sonuga and Kyra L Moskowitz. They dig into the rehearsal process, working with great actors, and taking up space as artists.
Play Synopsis
Speed Sate (or, come here often?) is a play about two people (maybe even soulmates, one might say) who keep meeting each other in different lifetimes but can't seem to stay together. Wonder why that is.
The Writer
Anike is a second year in Tisch Drama at Playwrights Horizons Theatre School. While Anike has acted in a Broke People Play before (the searcher is Lost), this is her first play being put on for the festival. Very excited about the spring festival!!
The Director
Kyra Moskowitz (she/her) is an actor-writer-director, currently finishing up her BFA in Drama at NYU Tisch. She began studying with Atlantic Acting Studio, where she played Friar Lawrence in Romeo & Juliet, before heading to Berlin to complete the NYU Actor Training Program there. She has written and directed two short films, entitled The Type, and Shrink, She Said, Shrink Again, about fatphobia and eating disorders. While acting is her first love, writing and directing have become equally fulfilling opportunities for her, and she is extremely grateful to have the opportunity to direct Speed Date. or, come here often? with such talented people.
We're back with another creative team from this season's festival! Joining us in the zoom room is Juvenal Morales and Sofia Lopez Arredondo, writer, and director of the timely Before Existence Came To Kill Us. This is an episode you're not going to want to miss. We discuss being artists of color, exploring a world not built for you, and Juvenal and Sofia touch on where they draw their inspiration and strength.
Play Synopsis
This is a story about two siblings who explore a world we do not remember. But they begin to realize the reality of the real world, so Ana prepares Julian for what to expect.
The Artists
The Writer
Juvenal Morales (He/Him) is a Mexican-American multidisciplinary artist from Los Angeles, California based in New York City. As a young artist in training, he feels the need to question the world we live in and find the different artistic ways to challenge the “norms.” Whether through acting, directing, or writing. Juvenal is a sophomore at NYU Tisch School of Drama in the Playwrights Horizon Theatre School. He truly believes that no matter who you are or where you come from, your dreams are always valid. Juvenal plans on expanding his artistic process through collaboration and finding the necessary tools to become a successful artist.
The Director
Sofia Lopez Arredondo (they/she) is a multidisciplinary artist from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, currently based in New York City. Working across disciplines, in their art practice, they aim to explore topics such as mental health, gender violence, lesbianism, religion, and the mestize identity. Sofia is a freshman at the NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study, working towards building a concentration titled ‘Home: domesticity, settler colonialism, and the performance of identity’. They cite their artistic drive as stemming from their upbringing within the colors and nuances of Mexican culture whilst grappling with their identity as a queer person, and also from witnessing their mother in her practice of the art of parenthood. Sofia is excited to continue their artistic journey within NYU, and make connections within the vibrant community of artists and creators around them.
The Spring Festival is fast coming upon us! For the first time, Broke People is going behind the curtain wink wink to talk to the creative teams behind the plays of this season's festival.
Starting us off is the writer and director of the one-act play Getting It Over With, Josh Ewing and Avery Wood! Tune in to hear them chat about what the rehearsal process has been like so far and what this play means to them.
This week, we have Broke People veteran and Shakespeare aficionado Alexandra Hess on the podcast! She talks about her work on Ella Lee Davidson's Francois and gives us an inside look into her process as a director and artist!
Alexandra Hess is a director, actor, and writer based in New York City and Washington D.C. She is a junior at NYU Tisch and studies English and American Literature at CAS (College of Arts and Sciences). Alexandra has trained with the Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute through NYU and at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in D.C. Recently she has directed Francois with the Broke People Play Festival and Much Ado About Nothing with the Pop-Up Players where she also serves as treasurer of the board.
Come join us for a lively conversation with artist Grace Zofia Alberti. Flying high off of her/they turn as a writer last season, she/they wrote the stunning Stella, she/they are participating in this season's festival as an actor. Have a ball listening in as she/they dive into her/their process and talks about where she/they hope to go with her/their artistry in the years to come!
My name is Grace Zofia Alberti. I am a second year in Playwrights Horizons Theatre School as well as a Creative Writing minor in CAS. I am (ahem) a multi-hyphenate, as they call us - I really, fully enjoy every single aspect of theatre, from directing to design to performing to writing to stage management to publicity to dramaturgy to whatevertheheck. It is all my favorite. As a kid, I performed in lots of embarrassing community, school, and children's theatre, but in 2016, at the age of 15, I figured out that while I LOVED theatre, I was very, very bored by it in the way it had been made available to me, and thus, started a non-profit theatre company with my friends called Ad Astra Theatre Troupe (www.adastratroupe.org)! With it, I directed two shows, a production of Peter/Wendy by Jeremy Bloom in 2017, and a play I co-wrote called Uprising with Lale Davidson and Jul LeCours (my now writing partner) in 2018. We were invited to tour Uprising to two other venues later that year, and the play is now in the process of being re-drafted as we feel Older and Smarter than our teenage writer selves. In 2019, Ad Astra performed an adaptation of Trojan Women by Jul LeCours and Padraig Bond, in which I was both producer and Hecuba. Last winter, pre-COVID, Jul (my writing partner) and I ran a two-session writing workshop with the company, and they're still making work, having been passed on to younger students. Ad Astra's 5th season is currently in motion! Since then, it's been mostly college theatre nonsense (co-direction of the play Earthquakes in London with My Le), you, my Broke Theatre Fest (Actor - Complementary, something rather than nothing; Writer - Stella), and some voice over work for Jul's animated play if this is bad don't tell me, available on YouTube
Come join Mary and Alex as they catch up and chat about his career and thoughts on the theatre industry and where it is headed!
Alexander Oleksy is an NYC based director and teaching artist originally from The Woodlands, TX. Currently studying Educational Theatre at NYU Steinhardt, Alex focuses on developing new, experimental works and devising performance from interviews and found artifacts. He has devised and directed two documentary plays, On Beauty and How to Own a Gun in America, and has directed other verbatim works for Luna Stage (Another Number in the Pool) and the Verbatim Performance Lab (Portraits Election 2020, COVID-19). As a teaching artist, Alex has facilitated and led Solo Show Workshops and aided artists of all ages in developing their own voice in an autoethnodramatic style. Directing credits include: Strange Happenings in the School Library (Luna Stage), The Eleventh Floor (Luna Stage), the searcher is Lost (Broke People), Shutter Speed (Uproar x WNYU), Seussical the Musical (Lamplighters NYU).
Come listen as Connor interviews Mary and Charlotte, the Co-Director Liaisons for Broke People and directors in their own right. What is directing like at a place like NYU and how do you find your voice as a director?
Connor, Emma, and Mary chat about the original reason Broke People was founded: Writers!
Mary sits down to chat with Vikki, writer of last season's The Searcher is Lost and fellow e-board member!
Connor and Mary chat about "Zoom Theatre". What is it? Where is it headed? Is it here to stay?
A look inside the Executive Board of Broke People Play Festival! The members' discovery of the club and how they came to be involved with the festival.
Get a sneak-peek into the new Broke People podcast: Peeking Behind the Curtain and meet the hosts, Connor McKenna and Mary Cecilia Walker!