Play On! Podcast

A few months ago, we had the chance to speak with Melinda Pfundstein, director of “The Book of Will,” and Lauren Gunderson, the playwright of “The Book of Will.” We spoke about the legacy of Shakespeare, the unique challenges of adapting a real-life story to the stage, and the stories of incredible women, both in this play and in Shakespeare’s works.“The Book of Will” plays in the Engelstad Theatre through September 5. Get your tickets now at bard.org.

In this episode, we talk to Curt Tofteland, founder and producing director of Shakespeare Behind Bars, an organization which serves incarcerated adults and youth using exclusively the works of William Shakespeare, and TJ Penrod, a founding member of Off the Cuff Comedy Improvisation and a Juvenile Justice Program Facilitator here in Utah.A few resources to get you started:https://www.shakespearebehindbars.org/links/https://www.npr.org/2013/04/22/178411754/teaching-shakespeare-in-a-maximum-security-prisonhttps://www.folger.edu/shakespeare-unlimited/solitary-prisonhttps://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/712889.Shakespeare_Insidehttps://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/12643731http://www.cc.com/video-clips/agw4nc/the-colbert-report-the-word---bardhttps://www.marinshakespeare.org/shakespeare-in-prison/Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Spotify | Subscribe on Google Play

In this episode, we talk to Tim Sailer and Stefanie Resnick, who recently finished a four-month run playing Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in our Shakespeare-in-the-Schools educational tour of Macbeth, about tour life, love, and the experience of playing this iconic Shakespearean couple.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Travis Curtright and Mary Curtright, founders of Shakespeare In Performance at Ave Maria University in Florida, to discuss love, both in Shakespeare’s plays and the lives of those that perform his works, their production research process, and what they lovingly call “troupe life.” We also get a visit from Queen Elizabeth I herself—you’ll have to listen to find out what she has to say!

In this episode, we talk to Fred Adams, founder of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Sam White, founder of Shakespeare in Detroit and director of “Twelfth Night” in our upcoming 2019 season, about the joys, challenges, and similarities of starting Shakespeare companies in 1961 and 2013, what they're looking forward to in 2019, and what, exactly, ought to be done with the character Fabian in "Twelfth Night."

Artistic Director Brian Vaughn, Director of this season's regional premiere of Shakespeare in Love discusses how the Festival acquired the rights, his inspiration for the show, and his insights into creating the world of William Shakespeare.

Lighting Designer Kirk Bookman discusses his inspiration for his designs, including this season's productions of Guys and Dolls, Treasure Island, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Tavern

Elizabeth Marquis, Devery North, and Miriam Michaels, our Technician, Company Manager, and Stage Manager discuss the impact the Shakespeare-in-the-School's tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream has had on themselves and the students they visited.

Cast members Madison Kist and Stephanie Resnick from Shakespeare-in-the-Schools gave us an update on their tour experience as they approached the midpoint for the tour.

A conversation with the Utah Shakespeare Festival Education Director Michael Don Bahr about the importance of artistic partnerships and how those partnerships can strengthen the community.

Shakespeare-in-the-Schools cast members, Luke Sidney Johnson and Mara Lefler discuss their experiences in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and talk about their time as students at Southern Utah University.

Cast members for the Shakespeare-in-the-Schools tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Alexis Baigue, Brandon Burk, and Karen Thorla, discuss their experiences at the Festival and expectations for the upcoming tour.  

Britannia Howe, director of the Shakespeare-in-the-Schools touring production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, discusses her vision for this year's tour.

John Plumpis and John Wascavage talk about their experiences during this season's production of The Cocoanuts.

Actors Jeff Cummings and Rex Young discuss their roles and experiences in this season's production of Julius Caesar.

J.R. Sullivan, director of this season's production of The Odd Couple, discusses his experience during the production process.

Jim Poulos and Tasso Feldmen discuss portraying two of the four Marx Brothers in this season's production of The Cocoanuts.

Paul Helm and John Wascavage discuss their experience performing in the new Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre in this season's production of Murder for Two.

Brad Carroll, director of Murder for Two, discusses his experience directing this production in the new Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre.

Director Joseph Hanreddy discusses his vision behind this season's production of Julius Caesar.

Kim Martin-Cotten and Ben Livingston discuss their experiences playing Beatrice and Benedick in this season's production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Actors Sam Ashdown and Larry Bull discuss their experiences over the past three years performing in Henry IV Part One, Henry IV Part Two, and Henry V.

Festival Artistic Director David Ivers discusses his experience directing this season's production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Elizabeth Broadhurst and Eddie Lopez discuss their experiences at the Utah Shakespeare Festival for the 2016 season. Elizabeth and Eddie play Mary and Bert in this seasons production of Mary Poppins. They also appear in this seasons production of Henry V. 

Karen Azenberg discusses her experiences directing the 2016 production of Mary Poppins.

BJ Jones discusses his experience directing the 2016 production of The Three Musketeers.

Director Melissa Rain Anderson discusses her experience during the 2016 season of the Utah Shakespeare Festival as the director of The Cocoanuts.

Artistic Director, Brian Vaughn, discusses his direction for Henry V, the evolution of the characters and why it's important that the Utah Shakespeare Festival gives it's audience a chance to see all the history plays in succession.

A conversation with Actress Allie Babich who plays Hamlet in the Shakespeare in Schools touring production. Learn about the life on the road as a Shakespeare performer. 

A conversation with Frank Honts, director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival's Educational tour of Hamlet. 

Enjoy a special Halloween episode of the Play On! Podcast here at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. 

Actor, Chris Mixon sits down with us to discuss his roles here this season at the Festival. 

Check out the latest episode with sound designer, Brad Berridge. Brad designed for both Dracula and The Two Gentlemen of Verona for our fall season. 

Our incredibly talented musicians for this season's production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona, chat with us about gypsy jazz.

Jesse Berger, director of this season's Dracula, sits down with us to discuss his introduction into the arts, his approach to this classic tale and the symbolism throughout.

Enjoy another great episode with the brilliant Robynn Rodriguez, director of this season's, The Two Gentlemen of Verona. 

Enjoy a special episode with Ian Doescher who is the author of Shakespeare’s Star Wars. 

Talented actresses, Betsy Mugavero and Kelly Rogers, discuss their hilarious roles in this season's production of Charley's Aunt. 

Check out the newest episode with Allie Babich and Christine Jugueta from this season's production of South Pacific. 

Festival Co-Artistic Director and Director of this season's production of Charley's Aunt, David Ivers, discusses his role as Antonio Salieri in this season's, Amadeus. 

Check out another great episode from the Festival's Properties Directors, Ben Hohman & Marielle Boneau. 

Talented actresses, Melinda Pfundstein & Natasha Harris sit down with us to discuss their roles in this season's production of The Taming of the Shrew. 

Sam Ashdown and Larry Bull chat with us about their roles as King Henry and Hal in this season's production of Henry IV Part Two. 

In this special extended episode, we sit down with accomplished actor, Tony Amendola. 

Festival Sound Designer, Joe Payne, sits down with us to discuss his concepts for this season's Shakespeare productions. 

Associate Education Director Josh Stavros, sits down with us to discuss his direction for this season's Greenshow. 

Enjoy another great episode featuring this season's leads from Charley's Aunt! 

Michael Doherty, Aaron Galligan-Stierle and Eric Weiman sit down with us to discuss each of their characters in this season's production of The Taming of the Shrew. 

Brad Carroll sits down with us to discuss his direction for this season's production of South Pacific. 

Sharon Ott, Director of this season's King Lear chats with new podcast voice, Frank Honts. 

Director, J.R. Sullivan sits down with us to discuss his direction for the 2015 production of Amadeus.