Embracing Arlington Arts Talks

Learn about the magic behind projection set design. Zavier Taylor talks about his love for design and working with some of the major theater companies in the region.

Listen to the first Native West Virginian playwright who shares his talents with his debut at the Contempory American Theater Festival. His background as a Vietnamese West Virginian will create a state of awe as he recounts his journey. 

Don't miss this charming interview with the talented composer and musician Oren Levine who is performing his review as part of the District Fringe Festival. https://www.districtfringe.com/

Enjoy a delightful and inspiring interview with Tracey Erbacher, co-founder of District Fringe, a new theater experience for those who dare to love creativity and emerging artistry!

Our conversation with the talented vocalist Kemi Adegoroye will have you falling in love with her tunes and passion for music!  Keep up with her releases! http://apple.co/4lwPX2W    

Listen to Sam Morales and Julian Elijah Martinez the leads from CATF's production of Magdalene. You will be left in deep thought as they reflect on the power of love and how women can script out their own stories of forgiveness. 

Dr. Aaron Anderson reveals the tough work of a stunts and fight director for his upcoming project Happy Fall a Queer Stunt Spectacular playing as part of the Contemporary American Theater Festival. 

Listen to Kevin Kling talk about his roots in Minnesota and living with a disability. His storytelling talents can't be missed at the Contemporary American Theater Festival!  

Listen to a fasinating conversation with actor Glenn Morizio and scenic designer Se Oh from CATF's Happy Fall a Queer Stunt Spectacular!  

Listen to the talented George Salazar as he goes deep to talk about his multiple roles in Signature Theater's production of the Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical. 

Lisa Loomer (Real Women Have Curves) talks about her latest project Side Effects, which premieres at the Contemporary American Theater Festival. You will be inspired by the prolific playwright's insights into real women and real world challenges! 

Listen to an inspiring and insightful interview with Ronald Eli and Deidra LaWan Starnes as they talk about their collaboration with August Wilson's The Piano Lesson at 1st Stage. 

Catch our interview with Stephen Gregory Smith who gives us all the behind-the-scenes scoop on the 28th Columbia Pike Blues Festival. 

Listen to Ibi Owalabi talk about her early influences as a queer artist and the amazing shows scheduled at Woolly Mammoth Theater for World Pride.

What are your three wishes? Don't miss this charming interview with the talented lead actors from Creative Cauldron's Aladdin--Odette Gutierrez del Arroyo and Brian Dauglash. The show is almost sold out so don't miss your chance to see the show. https://www.creativecauldron.org/buy-tickets.html

Listen to the talented cast from King James playing at Round House Theater. The conversation with Dr. Dominick Shattuck, Gregory Perri, and Blake Morris will have you caught up in the world of men's friendships. 

Laugh, laugh, and laugh so more. Listen to the director, co-set designer, and cast members from The Play That Goes Wrong from The Little Theater of Alexandria.

Listen to the warm and charming song writer, singer, and actor Tom Goss who shares his love for quirky lyrics, DC hot spots, and furry bears! 

Listen to our next installment of the special podcast series for the artistry of World Pride. An interview with Lucy will have you in awe as she talks about death defying stunts in her one-woman circus show. Special thanks to Equality NoVa for underwriting the series.

Listen to the creative team of NextStop Theatre Company as they talk shop about the behind the scenes task of staging an energetic, funny, and foot frenzy show like Footloose the Musical! 

Learn about the exciting artistry at Theater Alliance's World Pride Hub! Go to their website and get your tickets fast. https://bit.ly/PrideHubTIX You will be inspired by the interview with Theo Yu and Aria Velz.

Daniel Manzoni, founder of Festival Argentino USA shares his passion for all things Argetine! The annual festival brings together music, dance, and great delicacies from the South American favorite.

Mexodus' Helen Hayes winner for best actor in a musical, Brian Quijada, shares his vision for the brilliant spoken word musical that can't be missed! 

Listen to Theater Washington's Jan Du Plain as she shares stories of her early discovery of theater and the leadership she provides in making the Helen Hayes Awards ceremony shine! 

Husband, father, writer and director of Private Jones shares much about the inspirations in his personal life and artistry. Learn about the ten-time nominated musical Private Jones from Signature Theatre.

Noah Mutterperl shares his early experiences as a young actor in his parent's basement to his double nomination for Helen Hayes Awards acting credits in American Psycho and The Woman in Black.

You will be inspired by the talent of the Poetry Out Loud Competition. Listen to the Education Program Manager of the Poetry Foundation, a former national champion and the current representative from the Silver State!

Listen to the talent behind American Psycho from Monumental Theater. Listeners will be intrigued about the challenges of portraying a rampant serial killer on stage!

Listen to an energetic and inspirational interview with the artists behind She Persisted, a musical about the contributions of legendary women in the United States at Adventure Theater. The show has garnered eight Helen Hayes Awards nominations!

Listen to Rachel Cahoon, Nicky Kaider, and Leela Aviles-Dawson the talented actors nominated for their roles in The Sound of Music, Jersey Boys, and Chorus Line. 

Listen to Broadway actress Meliss Errico, as she shares her artistry in creating The Story of a Rose: A Musical Reverie on the Great War.

Matthew Powell shares his early love for dance and his experiences as the Artistic Director of NovaBallet Center for Dance. He spotlights the company's upcoming production of Don Quixote.     

Listen to the director, creators, and lead actor of Professor Woland's Black Magic Rock Show.   

Learn about the Virginia Storytelling Alliance and the talents of Jeanna Lee and Sara Brady. Keep up with the Alliance's diverse storytelling talent and local performances. https://virginiastorytellingalliance.org/

Learn about ExPats Theater's newest production Testosterone, a biting satire about toxic masculinity. Director Karin Rosnizeck shares her journey into theater and her approach towards directing a modern take on a classic fable. Gary DeBreuil playing the role of the bad son, Raul, tranforms himself into the archetype of the thuggish male! Listeners of Embracing Arlington Arts Talks get 50% off their tickets with the code HALF. Don't miss this show!

Listen to an interview with Silhouette Stage's creative team for Kinky Boots including Director, Jeremy Goldman and Choreographer, Jeremy McShan. They share their early beginnings in the theater and their ability to deliver a show that leaves the audience dancing in the aisles. 

Internationally acclaimed playwright José Rivera directs his profoundly intimate tragicomedy that asks what it means to be human as we embrace the technology of our future – and it embraces us. Aislin needs constant support in her later years, and her care is placed in the hands of an AI robot-caregiver – designed to look and sound human – named Stacy. The unexpected relationship that blossoms between them sparks questions of what it means to have a soul, what defines humanity – and what happens when those definitions begin to shift.

Listen to Laura Connors Hull and Miss Kitty as they talk about love and loss and new beginnings with their debut show at Creative Cauldron--Steel Magnolias.   

Listen to Anthony Green the director of Gay Soul Food serve us a heavy helping of Gay Soul Food. Catch his latest production at Anacostia Arts Center!

Ink artist Andy Gomez Reyes shares his story about the love for body art that has driven his career. His artistry is showcased by Avant Bard in their production of The Margriad (or the tragedy of Queen Margaret after William Shakespeare), March 6-29, 2025 at Gunston Arts Center.

Eric Hissom spotlights his role in Job, Signature Theater's psychological thriller with a shocking and breathtaking ending that will leave audiences breathless. Don't miss the Off-Broadway sensation and New York Times Critic's Pick that skewers the insidiousness of the internet, the meaning of work, and the menace behind the social media smile. 

Encore Stage and Studio showcases young artists for Flip the Script with Jamila's Table--a show that follows the life of a young African American restaurant owner striving to bring success and pride to her family on the Columbia Pike corridor in Arlington, Virginia. We learn about the project through an entertaining and inspiring interview with Elizabeth Bell and John Monaco, two student artists and Madeline Langston, Programming Director of 20 years.  

Listen to the Artistic Director of Mosaic Theater as he invites theater lovers to their 10th Anniversary event--Spark! Reg Douglas provides insights about the current theater landscape, his training and mentorship in the theater, and he reveals some surprises for Spark.

GUAC is a deeply moving play about a father's love, activism, and passion to make a difference. The interview with Manuel Oliver will leave your spellbound and running to see the story of his son's tragic loss at Parkland High School. Fearless, funny, and pulling zero punches, GUAC is a tour-de-force theatrical experience about a father turned activist. 

Listen to the director of Theater Alliance's latest production The Garbologist, Shanara Gabrielle, and one of its cast members, Yesenia Iglesias. The show is a quirky comedy about the labor and laughs of a group of santitation worker buddies who discover there is more to life than trashing talking and trash pickups!   

Listen to Janet Kopenhaver as she bids farewell to Embracing Arlington Arts Talks with an interview by the new host Carlos Velazquez. Janet talks about her successes, hopes for the future of Embracing Arlington Arts, and her new work in Ashville, NC. We invite our listeners to send a congratulatory message to Janet at https://bit.ly/JanetKFarewell

The Managing Director of Signature Theatre returned to the show to give us all the details about the four remaining productions this season (including "Job," "In the Heights," and "Hedwig and the Angry Inch"), as well as information on several different ticket offers and options. Additionally, hear her thoughts on how the theater industry has evolved and changed over the last 5-7 and specifically changes Signature made to its production schedule. This episode also marks Janet Kopenhaver's last as the host of "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" so it was so appropriate to have Maggie as the last guest since she was the absolute first guest in 2017. 

Author Raymond Goode joined us on the "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" podcast to talk about his new book entitled "Through Their Eyes" which is a collection of real-life stories he has collected over the years. He also gave us details about the unique way he brings these stories to life on stage using several different art genres. Also hear snippets of his own story, the many hurdles he has had to overcome, and what his next book will be about.