GATHER ROUND!

Cocktails with the Canon is an interview-based podcast series, by The Old Globe and co-hosted by Artistic Associate Lamar Perry and Literary Manager/Dramaturg Danielle Mages Amato, that seeks to interrogate the American theatre canon. Presented through a series of conversations with various artists about their experiences with the “traditional” Western canon of dramatic literature, the podcast explores how that canon includes and excludes certain writers, groups, and aesthetics, ultimately asking the question: how can we expand the canon and create access for all? The podcast also investigates the playwrights’ personal stories and their hopes for the American theatre, as well as the works that are considered canon within their individual communities. Listeners should walk away from Cocktails with the Canon feeling like they’ve just left a night at the theatre and a gathering with their community over drinks and food.   MEET THE HOSTS Lamar Perry (he/him/his) is a Queer Black director, producer, and writer. He recently served as the associate director on I Gotta Home as part of Roundabout Theatre Company’s Refocus Project. His other recent projects include the audio plays Punchbowl Spaces and The Family Sound (Blindspot Collective/La Jolla Playhouse) and a developmental workshop of Run/Fire (Cygnet Theatre Company). He also served as the assistant director on the world premiere of Katori Hall’s The Hot Wing King directed by Steve H. Broadnax III at Signature Theatre. Recently he taught and directed first-year M.F.A. acting candidates in a devising-theatre workshop at UC San Diego. He is a 2020–2021 member of the Roundabout Directors Group and a 2020 National Alliance for Musical Theatre Observer. @mrlamarperry.   Danielle Mages Amato holds an M.F.A. in Dramaturgy and a Ph.D. in Drama and Theatre from UC San Diego. She currently works as Literary Manager and Dramaturg at The Old Globe. She is a past president and board member of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas. She spent four years as the dramaturg and literary manager of Studio Theatre in Washington DC. At the Globe, she has overseen eight years of the Powers New Voices Festival and has dramaturged world premieres of plays by Sam Hunter, JC Lee, Matthew Lopez, Itamar Moses, Anna Ziegler, and others. She is the author of The Hidden Memory of Objects, a novel published by Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins. Follow The Old Globe on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @TheOldGlobe. And follow @mrlamarperry and @daniellemamato on social media!

This week on the season finale of Gather Round!, we take a trip to our next-door neighbor Mexico with the lovely Lupita Roman, who shares with us her family’s Christmas traditions. Joined by Globe Teaching Artist Valeria Vega, we examine her stories through laughter, and of course talks of food, as we wind down this season.    A note about this episode: In order to honor the land and traditions of the communities welcomed to Gather Round!, we fully make space for stories to be told in other languages. Please note that portions of this episode were recorded in Spanish and then translated into English. Every effort was made to maintain the respect that this language deserves and the traditions of the Mexican community.

On today's episode we dive into the celebration of Eid with our guest Habiba Begum and her nephew Aqeel Karkeen as they take us on a journey from Quetta, Pakistan all the way here to San Diego. We're graciously—and virtually—welcomed into their home and their community's celebration.   A note about this episode: In order to honor the land and traditions of the communities welcomed to Gather Round!, we fully make space for stories to be told in other languages. Please note that portions of this episode were recorded in a dialect of Farsi and then translated into English. Every effort was made to maintain the respect that this language deserves and the traditions of the Muslim community.

This week on Gather Round! we spend some time with a member of the Globe's family, Sheila Lipinsky, chatting about Hanukkah. A native San Diegan, Sheila recounts some of the history of the Jewish community here as well as discusses the idea of Tikun Olam.

This week on Gather Round! we spend some time talking Christmas, chosen family, and community service with Lavada England from the House of Restoration Community Connection Inc. TRIGGER WARNING: This week's episode contains mentions of addiction and rehabilitation services. Check out her work at www.hofrcc.org or follow her @vadajinspire on Instagram. As always follow The Old Globe on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @TheOldGlobe. Follow @mrlamarperry and @Laura.Zablit on social media.

This week on Gather Round! we welcome guests Waood Naddaf and Rita H. Abdal to take us on a journey all over the world, from Bagdad to San Diego, as we discuss celebrating Christmas within the Chaldean community.   A NOTE ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In order to honor the land and traditions of the communities welcomed to Gather Round!, we fully make space for stories to be told in other languages. Please note that portions of this episode were recorded in Arabic and then translated into English. Every effort was made to maintain the respect that this language deserves and the traditions of the Chaldean community.   Follow The Old Globe on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @TheOldGlobe.   Follow @mrlamarperry and @Laura.Zablit on social media.

In the world premiere of Gather Round!, hosts Lamar and Laura dive into the purpose behind this interview series as well as their own hopes and wishes for the San Diego community. They are joined by San Diego legend Ms. Billie Greene to explore Southern African American Christmas rituals from San Diego all the way to Tennessee.   Follow The Old Globe on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.   Follow @mrlamarperry and @Laura.Zablit on social media!

Gather Round! is a short-form limited podcast series, co-hosted by Artistic Associate Lamar Perry and Arts Engagement Programs Manager Laura Zablit, that celebrates the holiday traditions and rituals of various San Diego communities during the winter season. Told through conversations with community partners who recall their childhoods, favorite recipes, and the rich history of their lives, Gather Round! makes space for partners to share their stories authentically and in their own languages. Audience members are guided through Christmas, Eid, Hanukkah, and many others as Lamar and Laura offer some light and laughs to the San Diego community.   MEET THE HOSTS   Lamar Perry (he/him/his) is a Queer Black director, producer, and writer originally from Connecticut who came to the Globe by way of the Classical Theatre of Harlem. His recent projects include the audio plays Punchbowl Spaces and The Family Sound (Blindspot Collective/La Jolla Playhouse). He also served as the Assistant Director of Katori Hall’s The Hot Wing King directed by Steve H. Broadnax III at Signature Theatre. Last fall, he taught and directed first-year M.F.A. acting candidates in a devising-theatre workshop at UC San Diego. He is a 2020–2021 member of Roundabout Theatre Company’s Directors Group and a National Alliance for Musical Theatre Observer. Follow him on social at @mrlamarperry.   Laura Zablit (she/her/hers) is a journalist, interactive performer, and arts organizer who currently manages arts engagement programs. Born and raised in San Diego, she has worked within the local queer, refugee, and immigrant communities, developing artistic programs and collaborative storytelling practices onstage and online. She earned a bachelor of fine arts in Drama and completed a bachelor of arts in Journalism at New York University. Follow her on social at @laura.zablit