Arena On Air

Donatella Galella has written an history of Arena Stage that spans 3 decades. We sat down to with her to discuss the book and Arena Stage.   America in the Round: Capital, Race, and Nation at Washington D.C.'s Arena Stage by Donatella Galella

We sit down with Haysam Kadri and Hend Ayoub to talk about A Thousand Splendid Suns at Arena Stage. 

Carey Perloff (former Artistic Director at American Conservatory Theater) and Bill Rauch (former Artistic Director at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) join us for a conversation about being in the seat of Leadership and then stepping away AND the productions they are directing right here at Arena Stage — A Thousand Splendid Suns and Mother Road.

In this episode of Arena on Air, Artistic Director Molly Smith and Arena Stage Trustee David Bruce Smith talk about David's involvement and support of Arena Stage along with the children's book he wrote, "Abigail & John," about the second First Lady of the United States and her husband.   "Abigail & John" available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Abigail-John-David-Bruce-Smith/dp/194849602X

Get the inside scoop on Ken Ludwig's Dear Jack, Dear Louise from actors Amelia Pedlow and Jake Epstein who play the title characters.  Learn more about this world-premiere love story, the characters and the actors' own experiences. 

In this mini episode we talk with Director of Institutional Relations, Shayla Hines about our annual Military Thanksgiving event. Every year we welcome military families for a Thanksgiving dinner and show. We also welcomed one of the families in attendance this year to talk about impact this event has had on their lives.

Bring on the #Fansies! We welcomed our amazing cast of Disney's "Newsies" to talk about staging this fan favorite in the round. Guests: Wyn Delano, Michael Hewitt, Daniel J. Maldonado, Joe Montoya, Emre Ocak, Tro Shaw, Lucy Spring and Luke Spring.

We sit down with "Right to be Forgotten" actors John Austin, Guadalupe Campos and Shubhangi Kuchibhotla to talk about the world-premiere play and how we navigate the wild world of online privacy in the 21st Century.

On this episode we sit down with Jayne Atkinson (who plays the legendary Ann Richards in our summer production of Ann) and director Kristen van Ginhoven to talk about the production and how it’s moving audiences to take action and how it’s never too late to bet on yourself. As Ann Richards so aptly stated "Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels." Guest co-host Kate Thompson, Arena Stage Publications Coordinator.

Technical Director Natalie Bell and Senior Director of Operations Marissa LaRose sit down with us to discuss the experience of being a woman in the production field. Inspired by creative women everywhere, Grace Anastasiadis and Suzanne Beal from Rep Stage share their experiences in creating the Women in Theater Conference.To learn more and to register for the Women in Theatre Conference, visit: https://www.repstage.org/women-in-theatre/index.html

Join us for another Arena Civil Dialogue, where prominent dialogue starters and moderator discuss the possibilities of designer babies. Presented by Exelon.

Take a dive into the world of JQA, with an interview with the playwright and director of this upcoming Power Play, Aaron Posner, as well as Literary Manager Naysan Mojgani, as we chat about how this play came to be. Get the inside scoop from three actors sharing the role of JQA as well, as we hear from Jacqueline Correa, Phyllis Kay and Joshua David Robinson.

In this episode we talk with Deputy Artistic Director and director of "The Heiress," Seema Sueko and actors Laura C. Harris and Jonathan David Martin about why this play now.

Join us for another Arena Civil Dialogue, where prominent dialogue starters and moderator discuss how democracies are lost and saved.

On this episode we sit down with Kleptocracy playwright, and former House of Cards series writer, Kenneth Lin and actors Chrisopher Geary and Max Woertendyke to talk about this world-premiere play. Kenneth gave us an inside look into what it’s like to write about a country and people that are in the news on the daily and Chris and Max shared what it’s like to play these living people and tell this story.

Join us for a very special conversation between Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Woolly Mammoth Artistic Director Maria Manuela Goyanes to talk about leadership in the arts. Particularly representation in leadership roles throughout the country.

Join us for another Arena Civil Dialogue, where prominent dialogue starters and moderator discuss what it means to be in a community.

What is a costume? In this episode of Arena on Air, we sit down with Costume Director Joseph P. Salasovich to talk about what goes into creating the amazing and oftentimes intricate costumes you see on stage.

We sit down with José Carrasquillo (Director of Artistic Programming, Ford's Theater, Kelley Crandall d'Amboise (Resident Casting Director & Artistic Coordinator, Signature Theater), Matt Torney (Associate Artistic Director, Studio Theatre) and Victor Vazquez (Casting Director, Arena Stage) to chat about being inclusive in casting and the larger obligations that casting directors have around the country.

Join us as we chat with the people who are bringing Indecent to life at Arena Stage! Guests include Director Eric Rosen and Music Direction/Performer Alexander Sovronsky and Actors Ben Cherry, Maryn Shaw and Susan Lynskey.

Join us as we get to know Corbin Bleu, Soara-Joye Ross and Parker Esse as they dive into the world of Anything Goes! In this episode, they share parts of their process' preparing for the show, the rehearsal room experience and what we can look forward to in this gold standard musical.

Join us for a look into the Arena Civil Dialogue event, held on October 14, 2018 in the Molly Smith Study. Learn from prominent dialogue starters Ellen P. Goodman, Maggie Jackson, Maurice Turner and Neema Singh Guliani as they talk about the changing digital world around us can effect our well-being.

Arena on Air is back with a brand new episode featuring a special LIVE podcast of a post-show discussion featuring Christian Gregory (Dick Gregory's son), and performers Edwin Lee Gibson (who plays Dick Gregory in "Turn Me Loose") and John Carlin. Led by Literary Manager Naysan Mojgani, Christian Gregory discussed the life and legacy of his father, Dick Gregory.

The world-premiere musical, Dave, opens this summer at Arena Stage. We sat down with six of the fabulous cast members to talk about bringing the show to D.C., other hobbies that keep them grounded and what it's like working on innovative theater. Featuring: Josh Breckenridge, Sherri L. Edelen, Rachel Flynn, Kevin R. Free, Mamie Parris and Jamison Scott.

Episode Six: Forever YoungWe sit down and chat with Camp Arena Stage art enhancers, Building Bridges Across the River and Washington Performing Arts to get a better understanding of the lasting impact that the arts have on youth. Check out our guests:Kerry McGee, (Camp Arena Stage Art Enhancer) We Happy Few http://www.wehappyfewdc.com/Jonathan Tuzman, (Camp Arena Stage Art Enhancer) Pianist http://yourpianobar.com/Jamila Madyun, (Camp Arena Stage Art Enhancer) Stitched with Style https://www.instagram.com/jmilamila/?hl=en Irfana Jetha Noorani (Deputy Director) and Kimberly E. Douglas (Director of Theater Operations & Programming), Building Bridges Across the River http://www.thearcdc.org/partners-programs/building-bridges-across-river-bbar Trisha Taylor (Assistant Director Of Education), Washington Performing Arts https://www.washingtonperformingarts.org/

What makes a great show? To celebrate the recent 2018 Helen Hayes Awards, Casting Fellow F. Binta Barry talks to us about the importance of diversity on stage and making sure every voice is heard. 

When one thinks of a wedding at Arena Stage, they typically imagine it staged as a scene in a play with an actor playing the role of a bride or a groom...but did you know that these stages have been hosts to actual weddings? In this episode, we talk to Events and Rentals Manager, Betsy O'Keefe about Arena Stage's role as an event space to weddings, proms, conferences...and even a Bengal tiger?

Anita Maynard-Losh shares her behind-the-scene experiences working on Snow Child, the new musical premiering this month at Arena Stage and tells us why she'd rather have lunch with Lillian Hellman than Tennessee Williams.

What does it take to bring a show to Broadway? Find out from Arena Stage’s Executive Director himself, Edgar Dobie! You will also learn about his unexplainable love for hippos, what it takes to run a non-profit and MORE.

In our first episode, we sit down with Allen Lee Hughes Fellow alumna, Juliette Carrillo. The Two Trains Running director discusses her personal connection to August Wilson, her career as a director and playwright, and the importance of following your bliss.