The Subtext: Recent Episodes
American Theatre
From AMERICAN THEATRE magazine, a podcast where playwrights talk to playwrights about the things usually left unsaid. In a conversation that dives into life's muck, we learn what irks, agitates, motivates, inspires and - ultimately - what makes writers tick. (This feed is for the Subtext from 2018 onwards. For old episodes of the Subtext from 2015 to 2017, visit https://thisstage.la/category/the-subtext)
This month Brian talks to the author of 'Light Switch' and 'Berrywild' about autism, mentorship, and learning to live alongside cringe.
This month, Brian talks to Andrea Stolowitz, a playwright and librettist with dual U.S./German citizenship who talks about her complex relationship with home.
The playwright and director from Hawaii and Nevada discusses ‘Death Play,’ ‘Sumo,’ yearning, loneliness, and the wisdom of accepting loss.
The playwright and founding artistic director of a site-specific theatre discusses going from studying computer science at MIT to honing in on his artistry.
The playwright, originally from Wisconsin, discusses her company, influences, exposure therapy, and the challenges of being an 'emerging' artist.
The playwright, screenwriter, and musician talks about juggling various projects, how to manage the emotional ups and downs in an unpredictable career path, and the value of teaching.
The playwright behind ‘Committed’ and ‘Apologies to Lorraine Hansberry (You Too August Wilson)’ shares their journey from aspiring corporate defense attorney to playwright.
This 10-year anniversary special turns the tables, as playwright Crystal Skillman interviews host Brian James Polak about how his podcast helped him redefine playwriting success.
The Brooklyn-based playwright discusses childhood theatre memories in Cincinnati, the continued gender imbalance in the American theatre, and experiences working on iconic projects.
A life-changing course with Paula Vogel, San Francisco, post-grad revelations, The Kilroys, joy, and loss on this episode of “The Subtext.”
The Bronx-born playwright talks Fornés, trauma-informed writing, and parenthood as a writer.
The Minneapolis-based playwright discusses the importance of intentional audience engagement in diverse and unconventional theatre spaces.
A republished Subtext as tribute to its subject, Rachel Jendrzejewski, a Minneapolis-based interdisciplinary artist and writer who died last week after a battle with cancer.
The L.A.-based Colombian playwright, performer, and teaching artist talks about sources of inspiration from the Latine theatre canon and about building close artistic relationships.
Brian talks to the Minneapolis-based playwright about learning from criticism, connecting with collaborators, and finding his voice.
The writer of 'Funny, Like an Abortion' and 'The Night Witches' talks about long commutes, writing science plays, and the parts she wishes she'd been able to play in school.
The writer of 'Issei, He Say' talks about making plays from her family's life, feeling the pressure to tell immigrant stories, and rebalancing her priorities.
This month Brian talks with the award-winning playwright about how he went from technician to playwright, and how to find the real drama behind a true historical event.
This month Brian talks with playwright, director, and performer Aya Ogawa about “hacking away with a machete” toward a career and directing their own work.
This month Brian talks with the playwright, producer, Fire This Time Festival founder, and Apollo Theater director of new works about drama, balance, and Louisiana history.
This month Brian talks to the Southern-born writer about her journey through acting to playwriting, what her parents taught her, and her own parenting.
This month Brian speaks with the playwright about striving to write one play a year and drawing inspiration from various roles and identities.
This month Brian speaks with the Playwrights' Center core writer and co-artistic director of Minneapolis's Red Eye about chance encounters and her relationship to future thinking.
This month Brian talks to the acclaimed actor about the ups and downs of her career, why and how she wrote her first play, and whether she feels she can claim the title 'playwright.'
This month Brian talks to the writer of 'Alma' and 'In His Hands' about narration, inspiration, family ties, and Julio Cortázar.
This month Brian talks to the busy playwright and TV writer about sketch comedy, grad school, and the audition that changed her path.
This month Brian speaks with the busy playwright about dramatizing Idaho, promoting the film of 'The Whale,' and working on a new play at Steppenwolf.
This month Brian talks to the writer and producer about pivoting from teaching, feeling stuck in development hell, and championing local storytellers.
This month Brian talks to playwright Mashuq Mushtaq Deen about building a writing career, pushing audiences out of their comfort zone, and finding his place in the theatre.
This month Brian talks to the Mexican American playwright about his educational path, his early years in New York, and his process for writing poetic plays.
This month Brian talks to the Minnesota playwright about her Hmong American roots, having cancer in graduate school, and learning to live in the moment.
This month Brian talks to the writer and director about his Midwestern roots, his writing journey, and his artistic collaborations.
This month Brian talks to a writer inspired by the music his parents made when he was young, as well as by the diverse biographies and interests of the playwrights he admires.
This month Brian talks to Charly Evon Simpson about discovering theatre, learning to be vulnerable, and becoming a playwright both on paper and in life.
This month Brian talks to Nathan Alan Davis about growing up with performer parents and how his own parenting influences his work.
This month Brian joins playwright Nancy Garcia Loza at Chicago's Understudy book shop to talk about writing, family, and holding on to memories.
This month Brian talks to MJ Kaufman, the co-writer of 'A Transparent Musical,' about their evolving sense of home, their creative instincts, and their dog, Milkshake.
Brian talks to the NYC-based theatremaker about the intersection of writing and directing, what his family thinks of his plays, and differences between the U.S. and his native Canada.
This month Brian talks to the Bay Area playwright about the writing process, battling imposter syndrome, and redefining success.
The D.C. columnist and playwright talks about how writing is like making cotton candy, how 'MILF Manor' is like Greek drama, and how an editor can help you find the parade.
This month Brian talks to the 'Fat Ham' playwright about the art-loving family he came from and the communities he's found in theatre and in Philly.
The playwright of 'Montag' and 'THUNDERBODIES' talks about insisting on sustainability, identifying as a writer, and the art of listening.
This month Brian talks to playwright and screenwriter Eric Reyes Loo about his educational and familial journeys, and the elusive definition of success.
This month Brian talks to Vichet Chum, writer of 'Bald Sisters' at Steppenwolf, about how Texas's competitive culture shaped him and about how his Cambodian American parents feel about his work.
This month Brian talks to the author of 'tokyo fish story' and 'brownsville song (b-side for tray)' about panic, curiosity, and the earned laughs average.
This month Brian talks to the busy writer-director about his background, the supportiveness of Chicago's theatre scene, and his penchant for large-cast plays.
In this episode, Brian talks to a longtime friend and colleague about her circuitous path from and back to the Pine Tree State, and what that journey has meant for her as a writer.
This month Brian talks to the writer/performer of 'Where We Belong,' inspired by her experiences as a Native person loving, studying, then questioning Shakespeare.
This month Brian talks to the former NYU playwriting professor about growing up in Texas, intuition vs. intellect, and the elusive art of the 10-minute play.
This month Brian talks to the 'Yoga Play' author about the absurdism of real life and how her globally forged voice meets contemporary American life.
This month Brian talks to the prolific and decorated playwright about her early struggles and triumphs, and that time she got stuck in the Lincoln Center bathroom.
This month Brian talks to the producing artistic director of Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis about supporting writers, following a unicorn, and teaching doctors to write.
For this special reported episode, Brian goes deep on the actor-writer and her very personal new play, 'Tomorrow Will Be Sunday.'
This month the author of 'August: Osage County' and 'The Minutes' talks about acting, writing, the mystique of Chicago, and the heartbreak of Oklahoma.
In this special episode, recorded live in Madison, Wisc., Brian interviews the poet/playwright who wrote 'The Mytilenean Debate' for Forward Theater.
For this special episode in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Brian compiles messages from theatre artists in the U.S., the U.K., Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine.
Brian talks to the playwright, whose new play 'King James' is playing at Steppenwolf, about war, sports, and writing what you want.
Brian talks to the Queens-based playwright about her New England roots and her approach to balancing work and mental health.
This month Brian talks to the creator of Jomama Jones about the books and music that saved him as a child, and how they led to the books and music he's making now.
For the final episode of 2021, Brian talks to the writer of 'Suicide Forest' about roles that are different than, and closer to, their true self.
This month Brian talks to the author of 'Doubt' and 'Moonstruck' about the struggles of his early years and the hard-won wisdom of his later ones.
This month Brian talks to the Brooklyn-based playwright about fighting back against abuse, hustling past gatekeepers, and finding her authentic voice.
This month Brian talks with the playwright and audio dramatist about 'The Honeycomb Trilogy,' guardian angels, and 'Doctor Who.'
This month Brian talks to the Philly writer of 'Babel' and 'The Arsonists' about playwriting, parenting, and risk.
This month, a talk with with a playwriting legend, whose most apocalyptic recent works are being released this week as podcasts.
This month Brian talks to the writer of 'M. Butterfly,' 'Yellow Face,' 'Chinglish,' and 'Soft Power' about Joe Papp, hate crimes, and the ironic uplift of surviving a flop.
This month Brian talks to the playwright of 'Water by the Spoonful' and 'In the Heights' about her new memoir, 'My Broken Language.'
This month Brian surveys playwrights, directors, dramaturgs, and critics about the works they just can't shake, and why.
This month Brian talks with the playwright of 'The Moors' and 'Collective Rage' about how writing for TV inspired her write a novel about the theatre.
This month, a check-in with the playwrights who first called in last March to see how they've fared in the intervening 10 months.
This month Brian talks to the playwright/poet/marketer who's the driving force behind the New Play Exchange.
The actor/playwright behind a trove of popular literary adaptations talks about her inspiration, and about her non-Austen work.
This month Brian talks to playwright and author David Adjmi about family pressure, falling behind, and filling a niche.
This month Brian talks to the Chicago-based playwright, activist, and healer about the transition points in her life and career.
This month Brian hands the mic to Playwrights' Center's Jeremy Cohen and a panel of multi-platform writers.
In this solo episode, Brian reflects on the podcast's origins, frets about the future, and finds hope in an elder's advice.
The award-winning playwright records the joys and challenges of daily life on a farm in rural Oregon during the pandemic lockdown.
This month, an anthology of scenes and monologues from 15 plays whose premieres were cut short by COVID-19.
A special bonus episode features voicemails from playwrights all over the country about this extraordinary historical moment and how they're faring.
The playwright of 'Plano' and 'Heroes of the Fourth Turning' talks about Dallas theatre, existential crisis, and the difference between love and empathy.
The playwright of 'graveyard shift' talks about football, spoken-word poetry, and finding a home in the theatre.
The writer of 'Thirst' and 'All the Natalie Portmans' talks about her Louisiana upbringing, starting out in fan fiction, and why she writes about cornered women.
Brian James Polak talks to the playwright of 'Dance Nation' and 'You Got Older' about memory, pain, and first drafts.
The former prison guard-turned-actor discusses how he found his writing voice, and how your biggest advocates can come from the most unexpected places.
The playwright of 'Hearts Like Fists' has interviewed more than 1,000 playwrights on his website. Now it's his turn to be interviewed.
The NYC-based playwright talks about the time she juggled 5 day jobs, and how 'Law & Order' helped her quit them.
The author of 'Open' and 'Mary and Max' talks about how comic books influence her plays (and her marriage).
The playwright talks about being forbidden from performing growing up and learning how to be his authentic self.
The three playwrights discuss the importance of building and maintaining relationships in this industry.
The playwright of 'Somebody's Daughter' and 'Surely Goodness and Mercy' talks about how private school almost broke her and how August Wilson shaped her thinking.
The playwright of 'Luna Gale' and the new 'Twilight Bowl' discusses the perfect day job and that time she slept in Mary Rodgers's apartment.
The award-winning playwright talks about early inspirations, breakthroughs, and how Naomi Iizuka pushed to write look inward to find her voice.
The playwright talks about growing up the border and his play 'La Ruta,' currently running at Steppenwolf Theatre.
The prolific playwright talks about his newest play 'Rightlynd,' his adopted hometown of Chicago, and how he handles rejection.
The great playwright and educator talks about her ambitions for her own work and for the art form she loves.
He's written more than 300 two-minute plays, but the artistic director of Chicago's Neo-Futurists doesn't consider himself a playwright. Brian James Polak finds out why.
Brian James Polak interviews the playwright/professor about writing science-based plays and fostering the next generation of writers.
Brian James Polak interviews the author of 'Teenage Dick' about disabled representation onstage, and also about writing 'structure-less joke-fests.'
Brian James Polak interviews the prolific playwright/activist about her new play 'Red Bike' and theatre as an audience engagement tool.
A chat with the playwright and professor about his career in New York, Minneapolis, and Chicago.
This month's episode is super-long because Brian James Polak traveled to the Humana Festival and spoke to two playwrights that were getting world premieres there.
This month, playwright Brian James Polak travels to Milwaukee, Wisc., to interview Catherine Trieschmann, the writer of 'How the World Began' and 'One House Over.'
In this podcast episode, an interview with the playwright of 'We're Gonna Be Okay' and 'Orange Julius.'
On the first episode of American Theatre's newest podcast: Playwright Brian James Polak interviews Paula Vogel Playwriting Award winner Antoinette Nwandu.
Introducing a new podcast to American Theatre's network: the Subtext, where playwright Brian James Polak interviews playwrights about what makes them tick.