in 1: the podcast

Theatre is back and so is the podcast! This week, we return from a long hiatus to cover a topic that is being discussed in theatres around the country: the elimination of 10 out of 12 tech rehearsals and the move to a 5 day work week. Cory sits down with organizers from nomore10outof12s.com to…

This week we've got another band of awesome designers for Happy Hour #9 as we discuss the one-year anniversary of the pandemic. We are joined by Scenic Designer Rachel Hauck, Lighting Designer Amith Chandrashaker, Scenic & Costume Designer Jacob Climer, and Scenic Designer Amy Rubin. The gang talks about how they are feeling emotionally and physically and the toll the past 12 months has had on their lives as well as their take on streaming/filmed theatre, the newly energized union membership, whether audiences will want escapism or not after this time, and how designers may return to projects that were designed pre-Covid with their new post-Covid personalities and world views. Before that, Cory sits down with podcast host Ethan Steimel to talk about his podcast, Artistic Finance, and why artists talking about money is such an important topic. It may feel like a depressing week, but there's a lot of laughs and fun in this episode so blow off some steam and know everyone is feeling the same way you are!

The podcast is back with another Happy Hour and we are hopping over the Atlantic this time to chat with some amazing designers based in the UK. Before that, however, Howell Binkley's long-time associates Ryan O'Gara and Amanda Zieve join us to talk about the newly created fellowship in Howel's name and the upcoming March 1st deadline to apply. Then it's on to the roundtable with Lighting Designer Tim Deiling, Scenic & Costume Designer David Farley, Lighting Designer Lucy Carter, Scenic Designer Chiara Stephenson, and Scenic Designer Andrew Edwards. They share with us how the Covid pandemic has affected the UK theatre community, the difference in governmental responses between the US and UK, how British designers are coming together to support each other, and what the long-term effects may be. Tim tells us about the Broadway shutdown which occurred mere hours before the opening night of Six and what happened when they attempted to reopen a socially distanced version of the show last year. The gang also discusses the NHS and how that has impacted the vaccine rollout, why theatre still isn't considered essential in either country, how the lack of a designer's union in the UK has forced more individuals to take action and what silver linings may come out of this time. Grab a pint, fry up some chips, and enjoy this bloody good new episode!

Today's very special guest is technically not a designer, but she brings together ALL the design elements which makes her the perfect person to talk to. For Episode 103 we are hanging with Production Stage Manager, Anna Robb! Anna's most recent job before Covid was wearing multiple hats on the 250 million dollar extravaganza The House of Dancing Water in Macau where she served as Production Artistic Coordinator, Technical Manager, And PSM, which involved calling 500 cues and managing 83 backstage crew member and 91 onstage performers, not to mention copious amounts of flying, diving, scuba, fountains, and motorbikes. Working with Franco Dragone from its inception, she's sharing stories of how the project came together, what a 3-month tech process looks like, and the specifics of how a show of this size is run night after night. But there's more! Anna also tells us about her time as Stage Manager on Cirque du Soleil's LOVE, how Covid has affected the arts both where she's from (Australia) and where she lives (Hong Kong), how she manages it all as a working mother, and the genesis of the website she created, TheatreArtLife. Anna has so much fascinating info to share and such a unique perspective and we're thrilled to have her!

2020 was a wack year for all of us. On top of a pandemic sweeping the globe, the United States was finally forced to reckon with the racism entrenched in its heritage, ignited on May 25, 2020 with the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police. Rocked by a firestorm of protests, and with little entertainment or escape due to Covid-safety protocols, a group of theatre designers, directors, actors, managers and technicians, produced an open letter titled 'We See You White American Theatre', and laid it square in the public eye. The letter detailed the many transgressions accumulated toward theatre-makers identifying as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, by the predominantly white American theatre in the United States, and has reverberated through management structures, teaching institutions and theatre producing organizations at all levels prompting a new, thorough, unavoidable level of public conversation and accountability. Joining Alan to discuss these topics is award-winning Scenic & Costume designer and activist Clint Ramos, Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor Adjunct in Theater Management for Yale School of Drama and General Manager of Yale Repertory Theatre Kelvin Dinkins, Jr, and Managing Director of the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts at Northwestern University Al Heartley.

This year will be one for the history books for all of us, but it will be of particular significance for our guest today, Scenic & Lighting Designer Edward Pierce. He is joining Cory and Jen in this brand new episode to break down his roller coaster of a year. It began with his design and involvement in the one-night-only presentation of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird' at Madison Square Garden for 20k NYC public school students, but quickly took a turn in March when Eddie contracted a serious case of Covid19 which left him in a medically induced coma for five weeks and the recipient of an experimental treatment that may have saved his life. Thankfully, fully recovered and healthy again, he was elected the new President of United Scenic Artists, now tasked with leading the approximately 5k union members through this unprecedented time and into the uncertainty of 2021. Eddie is breaking down all of it from what he hopes to bring to the industry in his new leadership role, how his brush with death has affected his outlook on life and the necessity of art, and other wonderful stories and anecdotes from ‘Wicked', ‘Angels in America' and how he essentially created the role of Scenic Supervisor. Eddie has a great outlook on life, on theatre, and what's in store for all of us beaten down by this year and we are thrilled to bring you this Christmas gift!

Before we take 2020 out and bury it in the backyard, we can't let the year go by without checking in on one of our favorite guests, Lindsay Jones! For a guy who spends most months away from home, this year has been a major adjustment for our resident travel expert. He is chatting with Cory (and Jen!) about what it's been like being home for 9 months, how his relationship with his family has changed during this time, how he's embraced LA as a walking city, what he misses most about travel, and what traveling may look like when we eventually go back to work. We are also talking about Lindsay's recent Tony Noms for ‘Slave Play', and his designs for the podcast ‘The Imagine Neighborhood', and a radio play version of ‘A Streetcar Named Desire.' Also, Lindsay teaches Jen about uber eats, Cory talks about finally having lounge access in a year where no one is flying, and Jen regales us about getting takeout from New York's famed restaurant Rao's. AND we premiere new theme music written by Lindsay in honor of crossing 100 episodes!

Barriers to entry are everywhere, from grade school, to college, and beyond. How can we change that? What we've been told is that hard work and elbow grease are all you need, but the actual fact is that it takes much more than that to reach “success”. With this in mind, it was a privilege this past summer to have a candid conversation with 3-time Tony Nominated Costume Designer Toni-Leslie James. With credits ranging from Footloose to Come From Away, Jelly's Last Jam to Bernhardt/Hamlet, and The Wild Party to The Scottsboro Boys, hear about her decades-long journey from young, bright-eyed student at Ohio State in the late seventies, to multi-award nominated costume designer. Get your notebooks ready… class is in session.

The podcast is back this week with Changing the Landscape-Episode 4: Barrier to Entry. There's a lot of discussion about barriers to entry later in the journey toward success as a designer, but really, the most basic entry point, grade school, has some pretty high barricades of its own. In this episode, Alan Edwards speaks with three high school arts teachers in Rochester, New York: Christine Sargent, Trish Annese and Marcy Gamzon. These educators share what they've seen in their decades of experience, what they know now that they didn't know then, and what we can do to make this career more available to people of color, and young people in general.

The COVID-19 crisis has forced so many designers into an unpredictable and scary situation, but it's especially difficult for artists living in the states who are not US citizens. Today on episode 100, we are sitting down with 4 immigrant designers to discuss how they have been affected by the shutdown and about the formation of the See Lighting Foundation to help artists in need. Cory and ‘Changing the Landscape' producer Alan Edwards chat with Cha See, Rodrigo Muñoz, Yee Eun Nam, and Ntokozo Fuzunina Kunene about the difficulties non-citizens are facing including the inability to collect unemployment, the rules surrounding work visas that prevent them from seeking out other work which could lead to possible deportation, and how this administration's callous and hostile behavior towards immigrants has affected their lives. The group also reexamines the idea of the American dream and the notion that this is a country built by (and made great by) immigrants, whether that America still exists, why they persevere in the face of such adversity, and why, ultimately, calling America their home is important in their journey as an artist. The contribution of artists from all over the world is critical to the theatre community to ensure we keep telling stories that reflect our diverse makeup and give voices to other cultures. Please enjoy this important conversation and then visit seelightingfoundation.com to learn more and help in any way you can. 

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Sunday with this bite-sized bonus episode with Brad Nelms from We Make Events North America to discuss their current campaign and the upcoming day of action on Sept 1 entitled Red Alert Restart. The goal of the movement is to raise awareness for the RESTART Act currently sitting in Congress which would help out businesses facing economic hardship from the COVID crisis as well as push for badly needed Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. The Arts & Culture sector in this country accounts for 877 billion dollars in economic value and 4.5% of the US GDP. Millions of entertainment workers have no jobs to return to yet and Theatre, Concerts, Tours, Live Music Events, and Festivals are all in desperate need of help to survive. Brad is here to tell us all of the ways you can get involved to make our voices heard. And let's see those buildings Red!

Changing the Landscape returns this week with part two of our interview with Steve Jones, former Director of Production at the Apollo Theatre in New York City. Steve tells us how he went from a young lighting programmer at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, to a well-seasoned Director of Production at the Apollo Theatre… with a whirlwind eighteen-year stint working with music legend and icon Harry Belafonte in between. He's sharing stories from the filming of 'We Are the World', to how he reshaped the culture and expectations of a predominately Black crew when the Apollo became a Local 1 IATSE House and what happened when Rev. Al Sharpton called him with an extraordinary request. And Steve and Alan discuss why Black artists are continually forced to fight preconceived notions about their skill level and talent and how to fight those misconceptions.

Changing the Landscape is back this week with Episode 2: Perception of the Unknown. In this episode, the first of two parts, Steve Jones, former Director of Production at the Apollo Theatre in New York City, sits down with Alan to tell us where he came from. Beginning with his origins in Flint, Michigan where he started taking part in theatre activities in grade school, Steve started taking theatre seriously after a sports injury sidelined him for the remainder of his college career. He walks us through his experiences in applying for grad schools, leaving Flint, MI, and his first big-time job in New York City at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

The podcast is about to hit 100 episodes, but before that milestone, we are pleased to present a brand new mini-series entitled ‘Changing the Landscape: Examining Race in Theatrical Design.' Guest hosted by Lighting Designer Alan Edwards, this multi-part series will ask the questions where are the theatrical designers of color in history? Why has the roster appeared to grow only recently? What are the challenges of going from grade school to professional? And is there anything that can be done? In this first episode, ‘It's Not That We Don't Exist', Alan sits down with Cory to discuss the impetus of the mini-series and then talks with Lighting Designer Kathy Perkins who tells us about her path from Mobile, Alabama to the world of professional design, why she decided to document and write about Black theatre-makers, how she thinks schools can do better at recruiting and seeking out young Black students, and whether she believes there is a shortage of Black designers or just a perception problem. She is a great and knowledgable voice to kick off the series and we hope you'll join us over the coming weeks as Alan speaks with educators and designers such as Toni-Leslie James, Steve Jones, Luqman Brown and more. 

It's the end of week 10 of quarantine which means it's time for another Happy Hour and episode #99! Joining Cory and Jen this week arre Associate Scenic Designer Erica Hemminger, Associate Lighting Designer Jessica Creager, Costume Designer Linda Cho, and Lighting Designer Japhy Weideman. As parts of the world slowly start to open up, the group shares their feelings on venturing further out from home and how New York (and North Carolina where Japhy is) are starting to feel a little different. We hear stories on how Erica (heading up Derek McLane's studio) continues to work on future productions of 'Moulin Rouge' and other shows even as we wait to see when theatre will return, Jess tells us about being 4 days out from freezing 'Company' on Broadway when everything shut down, Japhy shares stories of working with the great Terrence McNally, sadly one of the first high profile deaths related to Covid19, and Linda makes a loaf on Sourdough LIVE on air! It's a podcast and a cooking class! It's peak quarantine cliches! What are you waiting for??

The pandemic has raised a host of questions regarding current and future contracts, pay schedules, working conditions, health insurance, union dues and many other topics and Carl Mulert is back with us to help wade through it all. Carl is the Business Rep for Live Performance for United Scenic Artists, and he joins us, along with Jen Schriever and Bradley King, to break down what we know about how theatre will come back (very little) and what questions will need to be answered before that happens (quite a lot.) Carl also shares with us conversations being had regarding streaming rights, a very important distinction in how the different USA contracts are legally binding, and how the lack of leadership from the federal government is making it difficult to establish guidelines for how venues will be able to reopen. Knowledge is power so tune in and power up with this important episode!

We're back this week with another Quarantine Happy Hour featuring Scenic Designer Mike Carnahan, Production Designers Rob Bissinger and Anita La Scala, Scenic Designer Donyale Werle, Costume Designer Paloma Young, and Lighting Designers Jeff Croiter and Jen Schriever! After checking in as to how everyone is doing at the end of week 7, the group dives in to discuss what kind of work is appropriate to do before a contract, how people are engaging with future work, they discuss the newly released Barrington Stage plan for their summer shows, and whether everyone is having crazy dreams (hint: yes). Paloma tells us how the pandemic threw a wrench in her wedding plans, Mike recounts getting the last flight out of Brazil in March, and Donyale explains how she's essentially been preparing for a quarantine her entire life. There are surprise appearances from babies and dogs, Rob shares details on a secret hobby and Jeff brings a really big bottle of Gin!

The world remains shut down but our Happy Hour rages on here at the podcast with episode 96. This week we've got Scenic Designers Adam Koch and Paul dePoo, Projection Designer Alex Koch, Costume Designer Andrea Hood, and Lighting Designers Amanda Zieve and Jen Schriever. The group shares their feelings on what changed this week as everyone started thinking bigger picture about the theatre industry as a whole and what our jobs might look like when they come back.  Everyone shares their shutdown stories, where they are getting their news, whether audiences will want to come see a show, how we can help graduating young designers, and of course a check-in on everyone's unemployment status. Pour whatever you've got lying around and come join the party!

The madness and mayhem continues this week with our third Quarantine Happy Hour. Joining Cory and Jen is Arnulfo Maldonado, Sarah Laux, Adam Honoré, Palmer Hefferan, Nevin Steinberg, and Artistic Dir of Philidelphia Theatre Company Paige Price. Paige gives us insight into what it's like trying to keep a regional theatre afloat during this crisis and how she is approaching difficult decisions about furloughing staff, canceling shows, selecting a new season, and managing audience expectations. We expand on last week's conversations regarding digital options for theatre and discuss Williamtown's plan to produce an all audio season and what it would mean to stream/live broadcast more theatre. The gang also discusses wiping down groceries, whether we've all become hypochondriacs, if anyone is feeling the need to be creative right now, some Unemployment success stories (woohoo!) and Sarah tells us all a joke! Come for the company, stay for the comedy!

In what is fast becoming a tradition, the podcast is back with an all new episode and an all new Quarantine Happy Hour. This week, Cory sits down with Anna Louizos, Wilson Chin, Alejo Vietti, Isabella Byrd, Clint Ramos, Tyler Micoleau and in1 all star Jen Schriever! The gang checks in on each other and everyone discusses routine vs not routine, watching the news vs turning it off, how everyone is eating, cooking, working out and passing time and what they miss the most being stuck at home. There's a report back from the large United Scenic Artist Wingspace Salon this week, some good news about union dues and healthcare payments, and the group discusses when we might get back to work, what the world of regional theatre might look like post Covid-19, what kind of shows writers will be creating, how art has typically responded to mass world events in history, and whether we've seen the end of shaking hands and (gasp!) the double cheek kiss. You've got nothing better to do so grab a glass and join the happy hour!

In times of need and uncertainty, we turn to our friends for comfort, so it only made sense that we gathered a slew of friends of the pod to come together for a Quarantine episode of the podcast. Joining Cory for a Friday night drink is Buist Bickley, Darron West, Caite Hevner, Beowulf Boritt, Jason Lyons, Jen Caprio, Jen Schriever, Jason Lyons and Bradley King. Everyone shared how they are coping with the new normal caused by Covid-19 and how it's taking its toll on everyone's personal and professional lives. They chat about the work lost, the uncertainty of work in the future, and what it means for the theatre community at large. We hear from the parents of the group as to how they are working through this time with their young children, Beowulf tells us about making masks on his grandmother's old sewing machine, Jason tells us how he's working to continue the important education of his students and Bradley offers useful info on behalf of United Scenic Artists. And everyone shares what they are reading and watching to pass the time. There's a lot of laughs and a lot of love in this group and it's just a small slice of what all designers are feeling these days. Enjoy listening in on the chat while staying HOME and staying safe!

This week we are sitting down with Projection Designer and bespectacled wonder-woman Olivia Sebesky! She is currently a Knight of Illumination nominee for her work on the lastest Aerosmith concert and she's here to tell us the journey of that design including a 35-minute preshow retrospective of the band and the massive undertaking of clearing all the rights for every frame of footage. She's also sharing stories about her other recent concert designs including Hootie and the Blowfish and James Taylor. Cory and Olivia discuss her theatrical work on shows like 'Jerry Springer' and 'Me...Jane' and discuss a whole host of topics facing projection designers including content budgets, software costs, to program or not, how she divides up the work among her team, and how to find the balance of how much video to incorporate into a show. She tells us how (friend of the show!) Justin Townsend may be responsible for her career and why by the time you listen to this, she will have spent some quality time with a Beluga whale!

Today we are sitting down with Scenic (and occasional Costume) Designer Arnulfo Maldonado! Arnulfo takes us through the creation of some of his recent designs including 'A Strange Loop', the first regional production of 'Indecent' at the Guthrie, his Lortel winning design for MTC's 'Sugar in Our Wounds' and his cornfield surround for 'Bobbie Clearly.' He tells us why he is attracted to the "magic of a void" and how his designs often become the distillation of many ideas into one strong visual. He also has great stories about working on Ursula's tentacles as an assistant of George Tsypin's on 'The Little Mermaid' and how Peter Sellers became obsessed with his model figures. And he takes us through an entire design process from reading the script to the final design and the various tools he uses. He's one of the hottest set designers in New York with shows on nearly every major Off-Broadway stage and today he is talking to us!

He's back for round number 4! It's our annual check-in with Lindsay Jones! He's telling us all about his new Fitbit and gym membership and how that has led to a healthier lifestyle while working on the road. (And a skinnier Lindsay!) Then Cory shares his recent experience of flying Business and (finally!) getting lounge access and how things fared on his trips with Latam, Southwest, Singapore Air and Alitalia. Lindsay teaches us why everyone needs to know about Rule 240, his thoughts on neck pillows, how to sleep better on an airplane, and how the AA mechanic strike has affected his travel and his elite status. Cory shares how he nearly got a $1k voucher from Delta then it's another deep dive into rental car insurance as they try to determine whether Cory has been breaking the law for years. It's 2 hours of travel woes, tips, highs, and lows. And we have our first cat on the podcast!

This week we are sitting down with Emmy Nominated Scenic Designer Jason Sherwood! Jason is nominated for the production design of 'RENT Live' and he gives us the full deep dive into his set for this groundbreaking production. From it's development along side Michael Greif, to figuring out audience locations and camera blocking, to how to transition the story from place to place, Jason is giving us the inside scoop on all of it. He and Cory also touch on a whole host of topics including social media use, the keys to staying positive, Jason's live music work with Sam Smith, Sara Bareilles and the Spice Girls, how he's achieved so much before his 30th birthday, and much much more. Prepare for an eye opening, candid chat with a designer who clearly sleeps very little and works very hard. AND, true stories from a 6'-6" guy trying to squeeze into a Broadway theatre seat. Jason is easily one of the most in demand theatrical designers working today and he's spending over two hours giving us a window into his world. Enjoy!

The podcast is back from a long hiatus for (hopefully!) an all new batch of episodes. This week, we are sitting down with Lighting Designer and recent Obie Award winner Isabella Byrd. Isabella discuses with us the genesis of her design for 'The Light Shining in Buckinghamshire' and how that show helped catapult her into greater visibility. She also shares insights into her work on 'The Thanksgiving Play', 'Seascape' and 'The Tale of Despereaux'  and if she feels a paradigm shifting in regards to gender parity on creative teams. Isabella and Cory also discuss her time at Chance Magazine and the Prague Quadrennial, how to make theatre marketing photos reflect the shows better, how she learned restraint working with designers like Jane Cox and Tyler Micoleau, and the challenge for young designers to separate the drafting process from the design process. And, MONTHS later (sorry!), Corry announces the winner of the giveaway contest for Clifton Taylor's book.

This week we are sitting down with Lighting Designer Clifton Taylor to discuss he new book, Color & Light: Navigating Color Mixing in the Midst of an LED Revolution. He tells us where the idea for the book came from, the process of writing about a technology that is rapidly evolving and what he hopes readers will get out of it. Clifton and Cory dive into various color topics including using saturation to convey darkness, why certain colors can appear onstage just because of how our eyes work, and using an audience's preconceived relationship with colors to a designer's advantage. They also spend a great deal of time talking about the transition from gel based color to LED sources and how that affects the documenting and recreating of shows, how designers communicate with their programmers, and managing a wealth of fixture types and possible colors while time in the theatre remains as limited as always. It's the wild wild west of color right now with an ever shifting landscape of available options and Clifton is here to make sense of it all. And BONUS...listen for your chance to win an autographed copy of the book!

If you've seen 'The Band's Visit' you know how exquisite that show sounds, but while we couldn't get the entire band to visit us at in1, we have the man who makes that music shimmer, it's Tony Award winning Sound Designer Kai Harada! Kai drops by to discuss his design for that show and the challenges he faced with roving musicians, additional musicians under the stage, an incredibly nuanced score and often very subtle performances from it's stars. Speaking of subtle, he also let's us in on secrets from his intimate design in the round for 'Fun Home' and discusses how he made the Hudson theatre rock for 'Head Over Heels.' Cory and Kai also chat about his musical background, where he thinks the worst seats are in a theatre for sound, why sound designers end up designing mainly plays or musical but rarely both, and how young sound designers can market themselves for what is essentially an invisible art. Put on your best pair of headphones and spend the next 2 hours listening to the wisdom of one of the best!

It's a Christmas miracle and a brand new episode this week as we sit down with Costume Designer Alejo Vietti AND a very special guest, Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller! Jessie is probably most known for having originated the role of Carole King in the Broadway production of "Beautiful", and all her fabulous clothes came from the mind of this week's guest. Listen in as Alejo and Jessie reminisce about their first meeting, what was going through their heads during fittings, how they worked together to develop the look of Carole, how the costumes evolved over the show's journey to Broadway and tons of other stories, anecdotes, and backstage insight. Prepare for a one-of-a-kind chat that exemplifies how clothes inform a character, how an actor can inform the clothes, and how designer and performer can come together to create a winning collaboration. AND Alejo regales us with stories of designing costumes for the Rockets, how his Argentinian background played into his clothes for Evita, how he went from law school to costume designer and he and Cory geek out over their love of film scores. Cozy up to the fire and enjoy this holiday treat! Happy New Year!

This week's brand new episode is with Sound Designer Jessica Paz! Jessica shares with us wild tales from her summers at the Delecorte Theatre with stories and insights from her recent designs for 'Othello' and 'Twelfth Night' as well how the sound department battles wind, rain, helicopters and yes raccoons. That Othello featured an all female design team, (recently featured in the NY Times) and she shares her thoughts on something that is both a great achievement but also shouldn't have to be. Cory and Jessica chat about advancements in speaker technology being used on the 'Dear Evan Hansen' tour, how she works with a mixer to find the perfect sound for a show, and the continued push to get all designers, especially Sound Designers, proper credit and respect.

Bake some spongecake, pull out your six string and spend a balmy summer weekend with 'Escape to Margaritaville' Scenic Designer Walt Spangler! On this week's new episode, Walt is telling us about the genesis of his tropical design that included a research trip to Key West, an actual Jimmy Buffet concert, and how the design changed over time from it's La Jolla premier and it's multi-city tour leading up to Broadway. Cory and Walt also talk about his design for the whimsical 'Tuck Everlasting' and how his iconic set for 'Desire Under the Elms' came to be with giant boulders and a house floating over the stage. Walt takes us through his design process through script sketches, model and sculptural work, and recounts presenting his first ideas to directors like Casey Nicholaw and Robert Falls. And hear the true life story of how a new piece of scenery was conceived, built, painted, and installed over the weekend of Margaritaville's final previews. Grab something cold and fruity  and let the sound of this week's chat fill your private cabana. (you did reserve a cabana right??)

He's baaaaack! In what has quickly become an annual tradition, Lindsay Jones is back again this summer to continue chatting about all things travel and life on the road. This week we're talking about airline classes, how to beat Priceline at their own game, what day of the week and what time you should book your flight, why you're waiting at Penn Station in the wrong location, how to negotiate a travel budget with the theatre, and the differences and simple joys of TSA Pre-check, Global Entry, and Clear. Lindsay tells us why you should NEVER fly Spirit Airlines, why the pre-check line keeps getting longer and longer, and the fact that Basic Economy is so bad, even LORT theatres don't want you flying it. And he swears anyone is allowed to use the bathrooms in first class, though in1 is not responsible for your legal fees. And we're talking Collaborator Party 2018! Lindsay gave up his dinner break to share his secrets so don't let his starvation be in vain and hit play now!

What's the buzz with Episode #81? The buzz is all about Art Director and Scenic Designer Melissa Shakun! Melissa was the Art Dir. for NBC's 'Jesus Christ Superstar Live' and she's giving us all the behind the scenes stories of turning Jason Ardizzone-West's stunning design into a reality. Hear about all the sand that never made it to broadcast, how the set was built and installed in record time and why the final crucifixion was so difficult to accomplish. Melissa talks about the difference between Prod. Design and Art Direction and how designing for episodic TV differs from theatre with examples from her time on 'The Americans', 'The Jim Gaffigan Show', 'Mysteries of Laura' and 'Blindspot.' She's got great stories about blowing out windows with fire boxes, shooting scenes under the Astoria Pool, how to make Brooklyn look like 1980's Washington DC and how she helped transport Seaworld visitors to Antartica as part of the Art Direction team for the Empire of the Penguin ride!

Lumos Maxima! It's opening weekend for 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' on Broadway so we're sitting down with a true lighting wizard, Neil Austin! He's tight lipped about the secrets of the show but he does share with us how it has felt to be working on such a cultural phenomenon and when he realized this was to be no ordinary show. He's also telling us about squeezing light into Christopher Oram's beautiful yet boxed in set for 'Hughie' and how he created both the Sun and the Moon in the Park Avenue Armory for 'Macbeth.' Cory and Neil also spend a great deal of time discussing the design industry in the UK and how social programs like the NHS make it easier for younger designers to develop careers as well as the difference between United Scenic Artists, the Association of Lighting Designers, and British Equity. There's talk about strong British backlight, why good haze is so important, and an important discussion about the #savestagelighting campaign and how the new EU 2020 Lighting Regulations could have a devastating impact on theatrical lighting. Grab a pint of butterbeer and enjoy this brand new episode!

It's Episode #79 and we are seizing the day and sitting down with Tony Award winning Lighting Designer Jeff Croiter. Jeff has a wide ranging career and we're talking about all sorts of projects. Cory and Jeff discuss his recent design of the Big Apple Circus and how one goes about lighting jugglers, horses and the Flying Wallendas as well as his new relationship with Penn & Teller and what goes into lighting two of the most famous magicians in the world. He also discusses the prominent role lighting played in “Bandstand” and how he got 75 old fresnels to change color all night long and of course we're talking about the genesis of his design for “Peter and the Starcatcher” and how it has become a genre of design in itself. Other topics include how smaller gigs led to his Broadway career, how he cues quickly and efficiently in the theatre, and we get a surprise appearance from Willa the dog and the lovely and talented Kate Wetherhead!

This week's episode is brought to you by the number 78 as we sit down with Emmy Award winning Costume Designer for Sesame Street, Brian Hemesath! Direct from Kaufman Astoria Studios, Brian is sharing with us stories and fun facts about costuming the humans on the show while trying not to get too star struck surrounded by Elmo, Big Bird and the entire gang. He breaks down how the costume department approaches each new season of shows, deals with clothing celebrity guest stars, makes sure the human clothes play nice with the puppet clothes and other tales and tidbits. Brian and Cory also chat about his 10+ years spent at Saturday Night Live and a typical week in costume world at SNL from table reads, fittings, research, rehearsals, and pre-tapes to the organized chaos of the live show and how he became the go to costume designer for Andy Sandberg and the Lonely Island sketches. And if THAT isn't enough, the guys chat about Brian's Broadway debut designing 'Honeymoon in Vegas' as well as the challenges and problems facing costume designers often forced to front their own money on clothing and issues surrounding receipts, reimbursements, credit cards and cc debt, and ideas to mitigate the pressure placed on designers. From Bert to Ernie, to Mother Lovers, to flying Elvis's…this episode has it all including a trip down memory lane to a dairy farm in Iowa. Sweep those clouds away!

It's episode #77 and we are sitting down with Projection Designer Aaron Rhyne! Aaron's work can currently be scene eight times a week on Broadway with his vibrant, lush and transformative imagery on display in 'Anastasia.' Cory and Aaron chat about the genesis of that design including finding the right tone and style for the content, how he researched and documented real life locations on a trip to Europe, how the projections flow and transition so seamlessly with the other scenery onstage and the moment the cast and creative team first saw his stunning Act 1 finale reveal of Paris. They also chat about his work on 'Gentleman's Guide..'.and how video came to play a role in such a traditional period piece, and his recent run of work on 'Frozen,' 'Tangled,' and 'Beauty and Beast' for Disney Theme parks and cruise ships. Aside from specific shows, he also shares his thoughts on the projection design process, integration with other departments and how he is teaching the next generation of projection designers at his alma matter, Fordham University.

We are rounding out 2017 with episode #76 and a fantastic chat with two-time Tony Nominee, Jane Cox! Jane has exploded a lot in the past couple years with her lighting designs for such diverse shows as 'The Color Purple', 'Jitney', 'Amélie', and 'Machinal' and she's chatting about all of them. She tells us about her long-standing relationship with John Doyle and their collaboration on shows like 'Color Purple', 'Road Show', and 'Allegro' as well as her projects with Sam Gold like 'The Flick' and the recent 'Othello', which saw her trying to light an enclosed army bunker with zero conventional theatre lights. Cory and Jane also chat about her new role as the head of the Princeton theatre department, how she's using that position to help create more diverse creative teams, and her path from Dublin to New York. And stick around till the end to hear how she ended up touring with Bob Dylan!

For our 75th Episode we present a very special group of designers. In 1989, a panel was held at the Museum of the City of New York as part of their "Direct from Broadway" series featuring some of the most influential lighting designers of the 20th century: Tharon Musser, Peggy Clark, Abe Feder and Jeff Davis, moderated by the man who followed the leads set by these pioneers and continued their legacies...Ken Billington. For the first time in nearly 30 years, hear these luminaries (pun intended) discuss their work, their process and what is was like paving the way in a design field that was just in it's infancy. Thanks for listening for 75 episodes and enjoy this special holiday treat!

It's episode #74 and we're sitting down with Set Designer Luke Cantarella. Luke's designs run the gamut from musicals to plays, opera to exhibitions, and an emerging field called Design Anthropology, where design is used to shed light on social and societally issues through exhibits or interactive experiences. One such project, entitled '214 Sq Ft,' involved designing a replica motel room meant to reflect the living conditions of low income families in Orange County and the transient spaces that often become their permanent residencies. Cory and Luke also chat about designing larger than life musicals like 'Follies' for Repertory of St Louis and 'All Shook Up' at The Muny. Other topics include Luke's eye-opening experience of designing projections only for Goodspeed's current production of 'Rags,' how he totally changed his design process only a couple years ago, and what he tries to impart on his students at Pace University. And finally, they discuss something every designer can relate to, 'sad designer face.' But don't be ;-( be ;-) because it's a brand new episode!

The podcast is back and we're not pulling any punches. Today we sit down with recent Tony Award winner Bradley King to discuss his lighting design for 'Natasha Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812.' He traces the journey of the design from Ars Nova, where the plot was hardly more than chandeliers and lightbulbs, all the way to his massive, immersive design at the Imperial Theatre. Hear how he and director Rachel Chavkin developed the look of the show over 4 different iterations, how he ushered in the role of "Automated Light Bulb Winch Programmer" and what it's like winning a Tony for your Broadway debut. Bradley is also very active in the 829 union negotiations and he and Cory discuss the recently updated LORT contract and review the various expenses for which designers on the road can be reimbursed. And he discusses being a young designer with a growing family and how that impacts his life and work decisions. Heat up the dumplings, pour yourself some Borsht, and join us for a great chat!

This week Sound Designer and Travel Aficionado Lindsay Jones is back for another installment of his guide to traveling and working on the road. This go round, Cory and Lindsay tackle the moral and practical realities of boycotting travel companies who's politics you disagree with by discussing recent incidences with Delta and Uber. Other hot topics includes the best way to rent a car, why you should sign up for every car rental and hotel loyalty program, the best way to pack a suitcase, what to do if your suitcase doesn't arrive when you do, how to get a hotel room upgrade like a total baller and Lindsay tries to convince Cory to never ever check a bag. As a founder of The Collaborator Party, Lindsay also discusses the American Theatre Wing's decision to re-instate the Sound Design Tony and what that means for the party going forward. AND Lindsay claims once and for all that he is in fact not John Malkovich, though in1 can neither confirm nor deny that claim.

We close out April this week with Set Designer and current Lortel nominee Rachel Hauck! Aside from being a busy designer, Rachel is also a member of the Off-Broadway committee of designers that recently helped spearhead the first collectively bargained agreement ever for Off-Broadway. Now that the contract has been voted on, she joins us to discuss the nuts and bolts of how it came together, some of the most exciting terms of the agreement, and how the USA membership banded together to take such an historic step. Cory and Rachel also discuss reading a script for the first time, how she talks to directors who don't yet know what they want, why "just" can be a dirty word in early design conversations and whether theatre design can be molded to fit a standard work week schedule. And hear how Rachel went from being an LA based designer working in television, including an ill-fated TV show called 'Woops!' about a group of kids who accidentally set off a nuclear bomb, to becoming a full time designer for theatre. Lastly, Rachel gives us the most fascinating answer ever to, "What job would you do if your profession went away."

Episode 70 is direct from Cory's kitchen and it's with Lighting Designer Paul Toben. Paul is currently in town serving as the Associate LD for the new Broadway musical 'War Paint,' but he's with us today to do some deep excavating into the true nature of being a working designer. Cory and Paul trace their 10 year friendship and explore topics such as varied career paths, how he measures personal and professional success, how he finds happiness and fulfillment through his work, and how theatre can play a role in our extremely divisive political climate. Paul also shares insight from working with great designers like Ken Billington, Paul Gallo and Kevin Adams, recalls what it felt like designing a Broadway show in his twenties, and tries to tackle the question all designers ask themselves from time to time: "Do I still love what I do?" And lastly, no conversation with Paul is complete without touching on his other great passion in life, Baseball.

Cory has a day off out of town with little to do but sit and chat with another awesome designer, so this week we bring you a brand new episode with Sound Designer and very distinguished gentleman, Alex Hawthorn! Aside from following in the footsteps of past guests with fantastically groomed facial hair (Mr Zinn and Mr Nigrini), Alex is one of the leading Associate Sound Designers on Broadway, on the cutting edge of new advents in sound design technology. Fresh off his collaboration with Ken Travis on "In Transit," Alex discusses the myriad of difficulties in finding the right sound for Broadway's first a capella musical. With in-ear monitors for every cast member, a backstage mixer, hundreds of cues that only the performers hear, and no band to hide behind, the sound design plays a starring role. Alex and Cory also discuss the optics of where the Sound Designer sits during tech and how that can help shape the ongoing discussion about sound as a craft vs art. And they bounce around to other topics including the revolutionary approach to how you hear the performers at 'Aladdin', the transition from associate to designer, how sound designs are adjusted for touring productions, and naturally, the best BBQ in Kansas City!

This week's guest is Projection Designer Peter Nigrini! Peter is currently represented on Broadway with 'Dear Evan Hansen' and he takes us through the process of creating over 4000 pieces of video content and how he blended reality with artistry in creating the social media pages that make up the bulk of the projected content. He and Cory also discuss how a projection designer prepares for tech, how to prepare a director for the process of working with projections, why where the projection tech table is located matters, and how he came to join the creative team of 'If/Then' as the show was reconceived for the National Tour. And Peter muses on how the world of Instagram has turned every casual photographer with a phone into a content creator, using imagery to tell a story and shape a narrative Enjoy!

It's 2017 and we're going to Hollywood! Or at the very least, bridging the gap between theatre and film as we sit down with the man responsible for the look of the Academy Awards, the NBC Live Musicals, and over 35 Broadway shows, it's Scenic Designer Derek McLane! Derek keeps busy on both coasts and around the world but he's with us today to give us insight into his work. He tells us about designing 4 years of Oscars broadcasts from how he begins the design, the unique parameters the show presents, how he embraces both grand and intimate gestures, and how he keeps it fresh from year to year. Derek and Cory also chat about his various designs for the NBC musicals from 'The Sound of Music' and how they nearly built the Alps on top of a roof on Long Island, to December's full scale backlot set for 'Hairspray' and the months of work it took figuring out how to lay out the various sets. Also packed into this episode are stories from Derek's work with The New Group, how he balances work and three kids, and he teaches us all about fly fishing!

Just before we say good riddance to 2016, the podcast is back with one more episode with Lighting Designer and four-time Tony Nominee Japhy Weideman. Japhy is fresh off the hit show 'Dear Evan Hansen,' and he tells us about the challenges and nuances of lighting a musical in a black void filled with projected imagery. Cory and Japhy also talk about his style and approach to lighting with examples from his work including 'Bright Star', 'The Nance', 'Dead Poet's Society', 'Macbeth' and 'The Visit.' He talks about his love of strong single sources, why focus is an important time of discovery, and how he uses a American/European hybrid magic sheet. As if he weren't busy enough, Japhy is about to tackle his biggest Broadway design yet with this Spring's upcoming 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' and he let's us in on how he is preparing for the show he describes as "essentially two giant musicals." Enjoy!

We're mixing up the format again this week as we sit down not with a designer, but with the man in charge of handling the contracts for ALL designers, it's United Scenic Artists Business Rep for Live Performance, Carl Mulert. Carl is the go-to-guy for all contract and union related issues for designers working in theatre and he's with us today to talk about everything you've always wanted to know about USA but were afraid to ask. Cory and Carl cover a multitude of topics including when to join the union, how to join, the different kinds of contracts covered by the union, how collective bargaining and negotiations work, how pension and welfare contributions work, how the union can help you, and how YOU can help strengthen the union. They also briefly discuss the difference between working in the US and working in the UK where designers are not covered by a union. This episode is a must listen for young designers going into the business and probably a good refresher for existing members. There's a common phrase among designers who need assistance or have questions navigating their contracts..."Call Carl," over the next two hours, it should become clear why. Enjoy!

We interrupt your August to get you in the room with the guy who created the Room Where it Happens...it's "Hamilton" Set Designer David Korins! David and Cory chat about the evolution of his Tony nominated set for the cultural phenomenon and the myriad of ideas, inspirations, and evolutions that led up to the set we see today. He also takes us into the design process for "Grease Live" and how he and Tommy Kail created an immersive, interactive world that set a new bar for live television musicals. Other topics include David's strong social media presence and how he's using Instragram to reveal a part of the process not usually shared, how he's grown his studio into a full-service design firm with often over a dozen employees, how he utilizes his array of assistants and associates, and how setting new goals each year helps inform the projects he takes on and the relationships he pursues. David is a giant in the world of scenic and production design with projects ranging from theatre to retail, to film and TV, to restaurants and industrials, but if you want to hear a Non-Stop account of What Comes Next, why he wouldn't be Satisfied to Take a Break, and how he continues to Blow Us All Away, then Meet Him Inside our exclusive interview. Boom!

This week we welcome back the very first guest to ever sit down for an interview, it's the return of Sound Designer Lindsay Jones! But this is no ordinary episode. Lindsay is the undisputed king of travel tips, tricks, hacks, secrets, and every other solution to making life on the road as stress free as possible and he joins us today to share with us his wealth of knowledge and experience. Cory and Lindsay chat about airline preferences, loyalty miles, perks and upgrades, best and worst airports, booking websites, what to do if your flight gets canceled, car rental insurance and a whole host of other related topics. They talk about the thankless job of Company Manager and the role they play in making travel arrangements for designers. And as an added bonus, Lindsay shares with us a fascinating tale from his current show 'Privacy' at the Public Theatre, which may or may not involve a certain US Citizen living in an undisclosed location in Russia. If you're a designer who travels a lot, this episode is required listening and will hopefully be the first in a series with Lindsay as he helps everyone learn how to save the tears for opening night, not the Delta terminal.