Audio – AMERICAN THEATRE: Recent Episodes
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This month Woodzick discusses musical parody and gender-expansive revivals with an artist who researches vocal pedagogy.
This month, the editors talk with the acclaimed actor about modernized classics, language, and how 'Oppenheimer' led him back to the stage.
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 Woodzick talks to the Chicago actor about their wide-ranging résumé, roles they'd still like to play, and a death-grip-defying audition.
This month we talk to the writers of 'N/A' and 'The Ask,' 2 new plays about intergenerational conflict and common ground among liberals and progressives.
This month Brian talks to the writer of 'Alma' and 'In His Hands' about narration, inspiration, family ties, and Julio Cortázar.
This month Woodzick talks with the cabaret star about what makes an actual weirdo, how to give comfort without hope, and what's on their bucket list.
This recording from the TCG conference in Chicago highlights a new AT essay series with panelists Jocelyn Prince, Martine Kei Green-Rogers, PennyMaria Jackson, and Charlique Rolle.
This month Brian talks to the busy playwright and TV writer about sketch comedy, grad school, and the audition that changed her path.
Woodzick talks to the multi-hyphenate performer about his love of movie musicals, his creative instincts, and how he honed the art of cabaret.
On this special episode, Kelundra and Gabriela talk to some of their favorite drag performers and check in with critic Naveen Kumar.
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.
Woodzick talks to the performer and composer about his queer superhero musical 'Lizard Boy,' rooting for underdogs, and blending artistic genres.
This special podcast episode featuring panelists Shepsu Aakhu, Myesha-Tiara, and Xavier Custodio, moderated by Carla Stillwell, was recorded live from The Understudy in Chicago.
On this Broadway-themed episode, Rob and Alli check in with busy critic Brittani Samuel and talk to choreographer siblings Rick and Jeff Kuperman about their innovative work on 'The Outsiders.'
This month Brian talks to the writer and producer about pivoting from teaching, feeling stuck in development hell, and championing local storytellers.
Woodzick talks to the nonprofit leaders about meeting each other through theatre, founding an inclusive organization, and empowering autistic and neurodivergent individuals.
On this Chicago-themed episode, Rob and J.R. talk to the actor-director duo about staging August Wilson's solo play, 'How I Learned What I Learned,' and check in with arts journalist Mike Davis.
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.
Woodzick talks to the Denver theatremaker about original-practices Shakespeare, centering queer folks in 'The Laramie Project,' and using the classics to prevent violence.
On this episode, Rob talks to the writer-composer team about their new horror-comedy musical 'Teeth' and checks in with Bay Area critic David John Chávez.
This episode features a monologue by Raquel Almazan, performed by Jose Febus, dramatizing the community activism of Young Lords organizer Jose Jiménez.
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.
On this episode, 3 playwrights discuss their development experience as past winners of the Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition.
This episode features a monologue by C. Quintana, performed by Sol Marina Crespo, dramatizing how the Puerto Rican activist fell in love with the library.
This episode features a monologue by Christin Eve Cato, performed by Annie Henk, imagining a meeting between a Puerto Rican factory worker and an elected official.
Woodzick talks to the multi-hyphenate theatre artist and musician about interrogating androgyny, self-mythologizing, and making their web series 'Sad Han.'
This episode features a monologue by Nelson Diaz-Marcano, performed by Hiram Delgado, imagining an interview with the great Puerto Rican percussionist and bandleader.
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.
On this episode, the playwright and director-choreographer team discuss their new 'Illinoise' musical, and New Yorker critic Helen Shaw surveys the theatre festival lineup.
This month Brian talks to the writer and director about his Midwestern roots, his writing journey, and his artistic collaborations.
On this episode, Woodzick talks to theatremaker Rodney Hicks, who will direct 'Passing Strange' at Portland Playhouse this Spring.
On this episode, Rob and J.R. talk to Topher Payne about Hallmark and holiday traditions, plus Kelundra interviews longtime critic Linda Armstrong.
This month Woodzick talks to the Bay Area playwright about political disillusionment, the liberation of basic income, and the sacred space of theatre.
The writer of 'Stereophonic' talks about his obsessions with detail and destruction, and North Carolina correspondent Lauren Van Hemert fills us in on the Research Triangle theatre scene.
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 Woodzick talks to mutli-hyphenate performer Michael Urie ahead of his return to Broadway in 'Spamalot.'
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.
On this episode, Rob and Gabriela celebrate this season's most-produced plays and playwrights with surprise guests Heidi Schreck and Selina Fillinger.
This month Woodzick talks to the Seattle-based director about creating a safe yet accountable rehearsal room, taking Shakespeare off a pedestal, and embracing body hair.
This month Brian talks to Nathan Alan Davis about growing up with performer parents and how his own parenting influences his work.
On this episode Kelundra and J.R. talk to the Atlanta playwright about Chicago's month-long celebration in her honor, the value of community-driven storytelling, and her new play 'Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard.'
This month Woodzick talks to performer and producer Danny Marin about telling stories with nuance and advocating for a better industry.
This month Brian joins playwright Nancy Garcia Loza at Chicago's Understudy book shop to talk about writing, family, and holding on to memories.
On this episode we talk to playwright Mike Lew and director Moritz von Stuelpnagel about taking 'tiny father' from audio to audience and catch up with critic J. Wynn Rousuck about the Contemporary American Theater Festival.
This month Woodzick talks to writer and educator Seayoung Yim about self-love, care-filled casting, and America's recent obsession with Korean culture.
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.
This month we host a special conversation about the search process that led NYC's Rattlestick Theatre to hire its new artistic director, Will Davis.
This month Woodzick talks to the queer and trans performer about reviving '1776,' developing a non-binary rom-com musical, and honoring their trans experience onstage.
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.
On this special pre-Tony Awards edition, we talk to the playwrights nominated for 'Cost of Living' and 'Between Riverside and Crazy,' and to Playbill's Diep Tran.
This month Brian talks to the Bay Area playwright about the writing process, battling imposter syndrome, and redefining success.
This month Woodzick talks to the Southern storyteller and social impact strategist about the clear parallels between making theatre and making a difference.
We talk to writer/director/trickster Ty Defoe about directing 'Rent' for the next generation, building community ties, and moving beyond land acknowledgements. Plus: a check-in with Denver reporter John Moore.
This month Woodzick talks with Chicago theatremaker Will Wilhelm about taking up more space as a trans non-binary artist, centering gender-imaginative stories in the canon, and finding resilience through the work.
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.
The Omaha-based director talks about theatre's collective brain, doing queer art on Catholic campuses, and how to break through the gender binary in casting.
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 Woodzick talks with the writer of 'Amani' about Black futures, expansive visions of gender, and how an archivist can be an activist.
This month Woodzick talks to Denver-based director and playwright Mykai Eastman about EDI work, directorial philosophy, and audience engagement.
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 Woodzick talks to the leader of Boulder's square product theatre, who also teaches theatre at Hamilton College, about making and training theatre without perpetuating damage.
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 Woodzick talks with the singer-songwriter-dancer about his new show and album 'English With an Accent,' an allegory about immigration and transformation.
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.
A conversation with Joel Grey, Tovah Feldshuh, Caissie Levy, Michael Arden, and Bess Wohl about portrayals of Jewishness and antisemitism on New York stages.
This month Woodzick talks to the singer-songwriter about growing up gay, playing the guitar, looking for role models, and her new musical, 'F*ck7thGrade.'
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.
On this episode we broke the news that Nottage's 'Clyde's' will be the most-produced play of the season, then welcomed her and fellow prolific scribe Gunderson on to talk shop.
This month Woodzick talks to the multi-hyphenate, multi-spirited Nigerian American poet and performer about their new book 'Black Body Amnesia.'
On this episode we talk to the outgoing (in all senses) artistic director of Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage as she enters her 25th and final season.
On this episode we talk to actor/playwright Daniel K. Isaac about his epic new play 'Once Upon a (Korean) Time' and about the untold histories that inspired it.
On this episode, Woodzick speaks to 2 non-binary actors currently performing in repertory at Utah Shakespeare Festival.
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.
After our July break, we return for an interview with the writer-director-performer of 'The Nosebleed.'
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 week, we share our live TCG conference session with arts journalist Sharon Eberson, City Theatre co-artistic director Monteze Freeland, and Quantum Theatre founder Karla Boos.
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 Woodzick talks to the founder of the Bearded Ladies Cabaret about her origin story, gender cannibals, and the fine art of hosting.
This week we talk to the playwright of 'Alma' and 'In His Hands' about intimacy, religion, poetic realism, and Mario Kart.
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 week the editors discuss theatre's role in dispelling the fears and misconceptions surrounding abortion with Alison Leiby and Justice Hehir.
This month we talk to the administrator, activist, and casting professional about amplifying trans talent, rethinking the canon, and prioritizing mental health.
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 episode we talk to playwright Karen Hartman, who currently has 3 plays making NYC premieres in 59E59's first VOLT Festival.
For this special reported episode, Brian goes deep on the actor-writer and her very personal new play, 'Tomorrow Will Be Sunday.'
This week our guest is TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's artistic director Tim Bond, now directing August Wilson's 'Gem of the Ocean' there.
In this reboot of their podcast for AT magazine, Woodzick talks to Seattle-based writer-performer Sara Porkalob, who will next appear in '1776.'
On this episode, the editors talk to the founding artistic director of Mixed Blood Theatre, Jack Reuler, and his soon-to-be successor Mark Valdez about leadership, social justice, and the future of theatre.
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.
On this episode the editors talk to the director of the drama '7 Minutes' about labor, management, and new-play development .
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.
The editors speak to the playwright of ‘Dream Hou$e,’ a new play about gentrification, sisterhood, and reality TV, now onstage at Long Wharf Theatre.
The editors speak to the playwright of 'Amerikin,' a new play about white supremacy, now onstage Houston's Alley Theatre after repeated pandemic delays.
Brian talks to the Queens-based playwright about her New England roots and her approach to balancing work and mental health.
This week the editors talk to the artistic director of New York Theatre Workshop about his long and influential tenure there, which will end in June.
The editors speak to the new artistic director of Southwest Shakespeare in Arizona about claiming the classics for all people everywhere.
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.
Peter Marks and Elisabeth Vincentelli gather one more time to remember their recently departed co-host, Terry Teachout.
This week we say farewell to associate editor Jerald Raymond Pierce and talk to Steppenwolf Theatre's new co-artistic directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis.
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.
For the final podcast of the year, the editors plumb the year-end thoughts and feelings of critics from the New York Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.
For the critics' final episode, they consider the life and legacy of Sondheim and reflect on how theatre has grown and changed in the 4 years they've been podcasting.
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.
The stars of 'Dana H.' and 'Is This A Room' talk about their approach to 2 very different but similarly challenging real-life characters.
This month Brian talks to the Brooklyn-based playwright about fighting back against abuse, hustling past gatekeepers, and finding her authentic voice.
For this episode, the editors talk to the artistic director of Atlanta's True Colors Theatre about the city, the theatre, and the art form.
The playwright of 'Middletown' and 'Thom Pain' talks about his new Ibsen adaptation, 'Gnit,' the often winding pursuit of the self, and the lessons of community.
This month the critics talk to the star of 'Hadestown' about darkness and empathy, and share their theatregoing highlights.
In this episode we talk to critics on both coasts (with JR holding down the Midwest) about criticism, in-person theatre, and Twitter vs. TikTok.
This month Brian talks with the playwright and audio dramatist about 'The Honeycomb Trilogy,' guardian angels, and 'Doctor Who.'
This week we talk to the leader of the West Coast powerhouse about the tough years just page and what lies ahead.
This month Brian talks to the Philly writer of 'Babel' and 'The Arsonists' about playwriting, parenting, and risk.
This week the critics speak to James Lapine about his new memoir of writing 'Sunday in the Park With George' with Sondheim, and talk up some shows they've seen.
This week our guest is the resident playwright of Dallas's Cara Mía Theatre, who talks about her urgent manifesto 'Your Healing Is Killing Me.'
This week we look back on a busy month of theatre news and talk to playwright travis tate about their play 'Queen of the Night.'
The critics happily return to talking about actual live, in-person theatre, as well as the vagaries of variants and vaccination policies.
A dialogue with Tamilla Woodard, chair of acting at Yale School of Drama, and Carl Cofield, chair of grad acting at NYU Tisch.
After a hiatus, the critics return with a look back at a tumultuous year and a look ahead to reopening on Broadway and beyond.
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.
The critics look back on a year without live, in-person theatre as they go through their mailbag.
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 the hosts talk to an award-winning colleague about gatekeeping and pandemic-era criticism.
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 week the critics talk to two theatre artists about the choices they've made and the field they hope to return to.
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.
Should the government create an arts and culture ministry? And what happens when there' s no one to laugh along with?
On this month's episode the critics discuss the recent Tony noms (and the controversy around them), their varied digital theatre diets, and some theatres' plans to tentatively reopen.
This month Brian talks to playwright and author David Adjmi about family pressure, falling behind, and filling a niche.
This week: the steep and rocky road back to normalcy for theatres of all sizes, and the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's lifelong love for the arts.
This month Brian talks to the Chicago-based playwright, activist, and healer about the transition points in her life and career.
This week the critics talk to the grass-roots campaign Be An Arts Hero and discuss shows they've seen, including last week's Democratic convention.
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 critics return to consider when theatre will return, how to cover it when it does, and how not to succumb to Zoom despair.
The critics talk to Tamilla Woodard, co-artistic director of Working Theater, about her experience of racism in the theatre and her recommendations of how to fight it.
This pre-pandemic conversation with the exciting helmer behind 'Endlings' and radical stagings of 'Ragtime' and 'Carmen' holds hope for the art form.
The award-winning playwright records the joys and challenges of daily life on a farm in rural Oregon during the pandemic lockdown.
The critics talk with Jeremy Wein of Play-PerView, take a question about theatre safety, and recommend shows they've viewed.
This week the critics debate streamed and recorded theatre vs. live, and dip into the reader mailbag.
This month, an anthology of scenes and monologues from 15 plays whose premieres were cut short by COVID-19.