American Theatre's Offscript

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The official podcast of AMERICAN THEATRE, the national publication for the American not-for-profit theatre. Range of topics include playwright interviews, critical roundtable discussions and the latest shows coming up as recommended by our staff.

AMERICAN THEATRE


    • May 13, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 168 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The American Theatre's Offscript podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in the theatre world. Hosted by a team of passionate and knowledgeable individuals, this podcast provides insight, interviews, and discussions that are both informative and entertaining. The opening prologues add a personal touch to each episode, and the choice of guests is consistently spot on. Whether you are discovering new writers or learning more about established ones, this podcast offers a wealth of information and inspiration.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the diversity of topics covered. From interviews with renowned playwrights like Paula Vogel to discussions on important issues like transgender restrooms and actor wages, Offscript delves deep into various aspects of the theatre industry. The hosts bring their own unique perspectives to these topics, making for engaging conversations that keep listeners coming back for more.

    Another highlight of this podcast is the quality of its interviews. The hosts have a knack for asking thought-provoking questions that elicit insightful responses from their guests. Whether it's hearing about the creative process behind a play or gaining insights into the challenges faced by theatre artists, these interviews provide invaluable knowledge and inspiration for anyone involved in or simply passionate about theatre.

    While this podcast excels in many areas, one possible drawback is its focus primarily on New York theatre. While there are occasional discussions on regional theatre, it would be great to see more coverage on productions outside of New York City. This would provide a more comprehensive view of the theatre landscape across the country and showcase voices from different regions.

    In conclusion, The American Theatre's Offscript podcast is an essential listen for anyone interested in staying up to date with the theatre world. It offers engaging conversations, insightful interviews, and thought-provoking discussions that enrich the theatre conversation. Although it could benefit from increased coverage outside of New York City, it remains an invaluable resource for both theatre makers and enthusiasts alike.



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    Latest episodes from American Theatre's Offscript

    Offscript: Danya Taymor & Knud Adams's Ensemble Ethos

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025


    This month we talk to 2 Tony-nominated directors who specialize in new plays, and catch up with tireless critic Chris Jones for a recap of the Broadway season.

    Offscript: George C. Wolfe's Dreams and Defiance

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025


    This month we talk to the 6-time Tony-winning director about 'Gypsy' and his miraculous career, and the editors introduce our Spring print issue.

    Offscript: Nilo Cruz's Search for Beauty

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025


    In this episode, Gabriela talks to the Pulitzer-winning playwright about his new triple-play in Miami, and Rob checks in with LA Times arts reporter Ashley Lee.

    Offscript: What Mfoniso Udofia and Awoye Timpo Find in ‘The Grove'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025


    This month we speak to the playwright and director of a new play at the Huntington, and check in with NY Times critic at large Maya Phillips.

    Offscript: A Shot of ‘Eureka Day' and a Visit to Seattle

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025


    This episode features a chat on the stage of Manhattan Theatre Club with playwright Jonathan Spector, and a check-in with Seattle Times arts writer Gemma Wilson.

    Offscript: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Puppet

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024


    For 2024's holiday podcast, Gabriela visits with the merry makers behind 'Rudolph' at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, and Rob chats with critic Bill Hirschman about the state of South Florida theatre.

    Offscript: David Henry Hwang's Mistaken Identity

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024


    In a recent conversation with publications director Kelundra Smith, the 'Yellow Face' playwright talked about progress in representation and the unfairness of criticism.

    Offscript: Chicago Shakes With the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024


    In this month's Offscript, we hear from three leaders who bring the world together through Shakespeare and new work. Plus, we learn about a new generative arts journalism fellowship.

    Offscript: Chukwudi Iwuji's Cyrano Is Larger Than Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024


    This month, the editors talk with the acclaimed actor about modernized classics, language, and how 'Oppenheimer' led him back to the stage.

    Offscript: Political Theatre With Mario Correa & Matthew Freeman

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024


    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.

    Offscript: Mapping Our Theatre Futures

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2024


    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.

    Offscript: Pride Month Party

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024


    On this special episode, Kelundra and Gabriela talk to some of their favorite drag performers and check in with critic Naveen Kumar.

    Grown in Chicago: Creating Your Community

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2024


    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.

    Offscript: Fight Like ‘The Outsiders,' Dance Like the Brothers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024


    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.'

    Offscript: Harry Lennix & Ken-Matt Martin Rediscover August Wilson in Chicago

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2024


    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.

    Offscript: Michael R. Jackson & Anna K. Jacobs Write With Bite

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2024


    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.

    Offscript: Kendeda at 20 With Tarell Alvin McCraney, Madhuri Shekar, and a.k. payne

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024


    On this episode, 3 playwrights discuss their development experience as past winners of the Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition.

    Offscript: Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury Feel the ‘Illinoise'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024


    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.

    Offscript: Merry Y'allmark with Topher Payne

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2023


    On this episode, Rob and J.R. talk to Topher Payne about Hallmark and holiday traditions, plus Kelundra interviews longtime critic Linda Armstrong.

    Offscript: David Adjmi in Stereo and 3 Dimensions

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2023


    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.

    Offscript: Heidi Schreck and Selina Fillinger, Women on Top

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2023


    On this episode, Rob and Gabriela celebrate this season's most-produced plays and playwrights with surprise guests Heidi Schreck and Selina Fillinger.

    Offscript: Pearl Cleage Speaks Her Truth

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2023


    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.'

    Offscript: Revisiting the NICU with Mike Lew and Moritz von Stuelpnagel

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023


    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.

    Offscript: Searching for the Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2023


    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.

    Offscript: Will Martyna Majok & Stephen Adly Guirgis Go to the Tonys?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2023


    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.

    Offscript: Ty Defoe Is Planting the Seeds

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2023


    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.

    Offscript: How Is This Time for Jews Onstage Different From All Others?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2022


    A conversation with Joel Grey, Tovah Feldshuh, Caissie Levy, Michael Arden, and Bess Wohl about portrayals of Jewishness and antisemitism on New York stages.

    Offscript: Most-Produced With Lynn Nottage & Lauren Gunderson

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2022


    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.

    Offscript: Molly Smith and the Next Revolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2022


    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.

    Offscript: Daniel K. Isaac and the Tales We Tell

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2022


    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.

    The Subtext: Where Madeline Sayet Belongs

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2022


    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.

    Offscript: How Aya Ogawa Writes on Bodies in Space

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2022


    After our July break, we return for an interview with the writer-director-performer of 'The Nosebleed.'

    The Subtext: More Than 10 Minutes With Gary Garrison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2022


    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.

    Offscript: Live From Pittsburgh

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2022


    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.

    The Subtext: Dipika Guha Is a Seeker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2022


    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.

    Theatrical Mustang: John Jarboe's Genderful Performances

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2022


    This month Woodzick talks to the founder of the Bearded Ladies Cabaret about her origin story, gender cannibals, and the fine art of hosting.

    Offscript: Benjamin Benne's Questions of Faith

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022


    This week we talk to the playwright of 'Alma' and 'In His Hands' about intimacy, religion, poetic realism, and Mario Kart.

    The Subtext: Lynn Nottage, Learning From Every Job

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2022


    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.

    Offscript: What We Talk About When We Talk About Abortion

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2022


    This week the editors discuss theatre's role in dispelling the fears and misconceptions surrounding abortion with Alison Leiby and Justice Hehir.

    Theatrical Mustang: Ada Karamanyan Would Like More, Please

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022


    This month we talk to the administrator, activist, and casting professional about amplifying trans talent, rethinking the canon, and prioritizing mental health.

    The Subtext: Jeremy Cohen's Magical Gifts

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2022


    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.

    Offscript: Karen Hartman's Triple Feature

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2022


    For this episode we talk to playwright Karen Hartman, who currently has 3 plays making NYC premieres in 59E59's first VOLT Festival.

    The Subtext: In the Middle With Heather Raffo

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022


    For this special reported episode, Brian goes deep on the actor-writer and her very personal new play, 'Tomorrow Will Be Sunday.'

    Offscript: Tim Bond's Healing Journey Through the American Century Cycle

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022


    This week our guest is TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's artistic director Tim Bond, now directing August Wilson's 'Gem of the Ocean' there.

    Theatrical Mustang: How Sara Porkalob Builds Power

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022


    In this reboot of their podcast for AT magazine, Woodzick talks to Seattle-based writer-performer Sara Porkalob, who will next appear in '1776.'

    Offscript: Mixed Blood Is in Good Hands

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022


    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.

    The Subtext: Tracy Letts's Moments of Recognition

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2022


    This month the author of 'August: Osage County' and 'The Minutes' talks about acting, writing, the mystique of Chicago, and the heartbreak of Oklahoma.

    The Subtext: Live With Amy Quan Barry

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2022


    In this special episode, recorded live in Madison, Wisc., Brian interviews the poet/playwright who wrote 'The Mytilenean Debate' for Forward Theater.

    Offscript: Mei Ann Teo Finds Strength in the Collective

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2022


    On this episode the editors talk to the director of the drama '7 Minutes' about labor, management, and new-play development .

    The Subtext: Voices of Ukraine

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2022


    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.

    Offscript: Eliana Pipes's 3-Theatre ‘Dream Hou$e'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2022


    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.

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