Playwrights Horizons Archive: Recent Episodes
Playwrights Horizons
Playwrights Horizons alum Laura Heisler discusses her character, Aubrey, what she considers her typical roles, and what it means to play "more animal, less human." Original music by Darron L West. Produced by 2013/14 Marketing Resident Nicole Dancel. (2013/14 season)
Back for her third show at Playwrights Horizons, THE PATRON SAINT OF SEA MONSTERS, Blackburn prize winner Marlane Meyer talks about returning to Playwrights Horizons, her own Patron Saint, and why writing just may have saved her life (and someone else's). Original music by Darron L West. To watch a shorter, video version of this interview, visit http://youtu.be/pA_oGJwDtfo (2013/14 season)
MR. BURNS' Obie Award-winning composer Michael Friedman discusses his role in the play's development and the fascinating intersection of "The Simpsons" theme with Bernard Herrmann.
Music: Mr. Herrmann's score from "Cape Fear." (2013/14 season)
MR. BURNS playwright Anne Washburn on the origin of the play, its unique development process, and how "The Simpsons" came to represent the high culture of the future. Music from "Cape Fear" by Bernard Herrmann. (2013/14 season)
To view a shorter, video version of this conversation, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR01Ez6kFZw
MR. BURNS actor Colleen Werthmann discusses playing a Simpson, the process of creating the show, and moonlighting as a comedy writer. Produced by 2013/14 Marketing Resident Nicole Dancel. (2013/14 season)
FAR FROM HEAVEN's Raymond, Isaiah Johnson, recounts his experience growing up military, working with Al Pacino in THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, and discusses the benefits of originating a role in a major new musical at Playwrights Horizons. Featuring original music by Scott Frankel, lyrics by Michael Korie. Produced by 2012/13 season Marketing Resident Katie Stoppiello.
The composer and lyricist of the musical FAR FROM HEAVEN, based on the 2002 film written and directed by Todd Haynes, discuss the genesis of the piece, their fruitful collaboration with Kelli O'Hara, and how Playwrights Horizons has become their artistic home. Featuring music from the production. (2012/13 season)
Playwright Tanya Barfield and Obie Award-winning director Leigh Silverman discuss Barfield's play THE CALL, international adoption, and the struggle to write. THE CALL was a co-production between Playwrights Horizons and Primary Stages. (2012/13 season)
Listen to Tony Award nominated actress Kerry Butler, star of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and XANADU, talk about performing for ice cream, her common ground with Daniel Day-Lewis, and her personal connection to her role in THE CALL. Produced by 2012/2013 season Marketing Resident Katie Stoppiello. (2012/13 season)
Actor Matthew Maher on thinking critically about the movies from an early age, and how it feels to be originating a role in an Annie Baker play, THE FLICK. Produced by Marketing Resident Katie Stoppiello. (2012/2013 season)
THE FLICK author Annie Baker discusses her writing process, her love of film, and how she came to understand the fascinating lingo of movie theater employees. (2012/13 season)
Actor Jeremy Strong discusses his character in THE GREAT GOD PAN, the role theater plays in his busy television and film schedule, and the artists that have inspired him along the way. Produced by Marketing Resident Katie Stoppiello. (2012/2013 season)
THE GREAT GOD PAN author Amy Herzog on the joys of memory plays, dodging hot-button issues, and why it's (sometimes) necessary to torture your characters. (2012/13 season)
Actress Reyna de Courcy discusses her character in THE WHALE, how she's supported herself as an actor in the city, and the effect LeVar Burton and "Reading Rainbow" had on her decision to act. Produced by Marketing Resident Katie Stoppiello. (2012/2013 season)
"Most of the plays that I write, I think, come out of a deep fear to write the play." Sam Hunter on THE WHALE's central character, writing as a window to the soul, and what scared him about writing a play whose protagonist is a 600-pound man. (2012/13 season)
DETROIT author and Obie Award winner Lisa D'Amour discusses the origins of her play -- how it was shaped by her childhood, and how the piece itself fits into her body of work. (2012/13 season)
Listen to an interview with the Playwrights Horizons 2011/12 Season Residents (Marketing, Directing, Literary, Casting, Musical Theater, Development, and Stage Management) discussing their experiences at Playwrights Horizons. A co-production by 2011/12 Season Marketing Resident Lianne DiFabbio, 2012 Summer Marketing Resident Dave Ciano, and 2012/13 Season Marketing Resident Katie Stoppiello. For more info on the Playwrights Horizons Theatrical Fellowship Program, visit https://www.playwrightshorizons.org/jobs/internships/
Lee Tergesen, Don in RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN, discusses his role as the lone male in Gina Gionfriddo's comedy, why it's not necessary to be the fixer, and why he's so glad to be working with director Peter DuBois. Produced by 2011/2012 Season Marketing Resident Lianne DiFabbio. Music by Jennifer O'Connor. (http://jenniferoconnor.net)
RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN playwright Gina Gionfriddo discusses the evolution of her play (and the issues it explores), her secret love of true crime stories, and her fascination with Wendy Wasserstein's THE HEIDI CHRONICLES. (2011/12 season)
Music by Jennifer O'Connor. (http://jenniferoconnor.net)
Actress Jennifer Mudge talks to Marketing Resident Lianne DiFabbio about the meaning of food, the significance of mealtime, and playing her own granddaughter in THE BIG MEAL. (2011/12 season)
BIG MEAL playwright DAN LeFRANC discusses his love of restaurants and theatrical experimentation, and how Time is the family's natural antagonist. (2011/12 season)
Tony Award nominee Bobby Steggert, Justin in ASSISTANCE, discusses his own experiences with horrible bosses and how he takes inspiration from his fellow actors. Produced by Marketing Resident Lianne DiFabbio. (2011/12 season)
ASSISTANCE author Leslye Headland discusses coming to terms with her past, the role of the Absurdists in translating her experiences to the stage, and why Playwrights Horizons is the perfect home for her work. (2011/12 season)
MAPLE AND VINE's Dean, Trent Dawson, discusses nostalgia, researching the 50s, and how costume helps make the character. Produced by Marketing Resident Lianne DiFabbio. (2011/12 season)
Playwright Jordan Harrison discusses the joys of escaping to "a place where you can live in color" in MAPLE AND VINE.
MILK LIKE SUGAR's Angela Lewis talks to Lianne DiFabbio about the creation of her character Annie, her process as an actress, and her loyalty to her hometown of Detroit. (2011/12 season)
MILK LIKE SUGAR author Kirsten Greenidge discusses the play’s dissection of race in the community, the theme of pregnancy in her work, and the source of her indelibly-etched characters.
AUBREY DOLLAR on playing a lovestruck molecular biologist, TV vs. the stage, and getting "blinded by science" in Itamar Moses's COMPLETENESS. Produced by 2011 Summer Marketing Resident Diana Levy. (2011/12 season)
An interview with ITAMAR MOSES on the origins of his "sexy science play" COMPLETENESS, boning up on molecular biology and computer science, and what constitutes his "A" material. (2011/12 season)
Listen to a podcast with the eight 2010/11 Season Residents (Directing, Literary, Casting, Musical Theater, Development, and Stage Management) discussing their experiences at Playwrights Horizons. A co-production by 2010/11 Season Marketing Resident Casey York and 2011 Summer Marketing Resident Diana Levy. For more info on the Playwrights Horizons Theatrical Fellowship Program, visit https://www.playwrightshorizons.org/jobs/internships/
Casey York talks to THE SHAGGS' actress Annie Golden about her experience singing with The Shirts, making the transition to acting, and her familiarity with New England bands. (2010/11 season)
SHAGGS creators Joy Gregory, Gunnar Madsen, and John Langs discuss their 11-year journey with the show, their fascination with the subject matter, and what it's like to listen to the actual Shaggs. (2010/11 season)
Casey York talks to GO BACK TO WHERE YOU ARE actor Brian Hutchison about his role, what it's like to work with director Leigh Silverman and David Greenspan, and how he manages to keep his cool in this business. (2010/11 season)
Author DAVID GREENSPAN discusses how ancient theater resembles our own, the subtle shifts of GO BACK TO WHERE YOU ARE, and why teaching theater to five year-olds just isn't his thing. (2010/11 season)
Actress Kristen Bush, KIN's Anna, talks to Casey York about how she prepares for her role and her journey from Kansas to the Big Apple. (2010/11 season)
Author Bathsheba Doran talks about working in television, writing for the Irish, and tweaking the romantic comedy genre in KIN. (2010/11 season)
A SMALL FIRE's Celia Keenan-Bolger on her fellow cast members, working on new plays and musicals, and playing a bridesmaid and bride-to-be in back-to-back plays. (2010/11 season)
A SMALL FIRE author Adam Bock on the pleasures of working in the theater, his amazing cast, and his productive relationship with director Trip Cullman.
Actress Katharine Powell, AFTER THE REVOLUTION's Emma, talks to Casey York about what attracted her to the play, the close-knit cast, and her misadventures in the NYC restaurant industry. (2010/11 season)
AMY HERZOG on family politics, the joys of Netflix, and the evolution of AFTER THE REVOLUTION. Original music by Fitz Patton.
Justin Wildung interviews actors Zachary Booth and Preston Sadleir, who discuss their roles as twin brothers otto and OTTO in Edward Albee's ME, MYSELF & I. (2010/11 season)
Excerpts from a conversation between Artistic Director Tim Sanford and author Edward Albee about his play ME, MYSELF & I (2010/11).
Mariana Elder (book), Chris Miller (music) and Nathan Tysen (lyrics) discuss their production of THE BURNT PART BOYS. (2009/10 season)
Author Kia Corthron discusses her play A COOL DIP IN THE BARREN SAHARAN CRICK. (2010/11 season)
A conversation with playwright Bruce Norris and director Pam MacKinnon about their production of CLYBOURNE PARK. (2009/10 season)
Actress Eisa Davis talks yoga, her character in Melissa James Gibson's THIS, and preserving her family's rich legacy. Produced by Marketing Resident Courtney Beam. (2009/10 season)
Author Melissa James Gibson and director Daniel Aukin discuss their production of THIS. (2009/2010 season)
Actress Heidi Schreck on switching hats between acting and writing, her character in CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, and why kidney transplant centers make for great inspiration. (2009/10 season)
Annie Baker and Sam Gold on the incestuous nature of Park Slope (Brooklyn), why fonts matter, and assembling the close-knit cast of CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION.
Actor Stephen Kunken discusses his relationship with reality television, the brass tacks of being a journeyman actor, and what it’s like to be in the middle of the maelstrom that is Theresa Rebeck's OUR HOUSE. OUR HOUSE was presented by Playwrights Horizons as part of the 2008/09 season.
Author Theresa Rebeck (NBC's "Smash") discusses the media and her play OUR HOUSE (2008/09), concerning a TV reality show gone horribly awry.
INKED BABY author Christina Anderson on chicken feet, the mix of the personal and the political in INKED BABY, and the joys of nabbing one's first off-Broadway production. (2008/09 season)
Author Evan Smith discusses the moments, people, and places that inspired his play THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION. (2008/09 season)
KINDNESS author Adam Rapp talks about his cast, the Decathlon of writing, and why directing films is more exhausting than basketball. (2008/09 season)
John Dempsey, Rinne Groff, and Michael Friedman discuss their collaboration on the new musical SAVED (2007/08), based on the movie about the inhabitants of a Christian school who challenge the status quo.
Director Anne Bogart discusses the production of Sarah Ruhl's DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE. Anne talks about technology, the classroom vs. the rehearsal room, and what it’s like to work with the play’s acclaimed lead actor, Mary-Louise Parker. (2007/08 season)
Jordan Harrison discusses DORIS TO DARLENE, a cautionary valentine (2007/08 season) in Playwrights Horizons' very first podcast.
Staff interview with Adam Greenfield, Literary Manager at Playwrights Horizons. Interview conducted by Eric Winick, Director of Marketing, in 2003. Adam discusses his role at the theater, and the theater's role in the ever-expanding and never less than challenging field of new play development.