Playdate

Happy Halloween! In this week's spooky episode of Playdate, Julia and Kait discuss viewing John Proctor through a 2023 lens, fanaticism, and what Milo and Twix the cats have to say about it! Enjoy- and thanks for joining us for season 3!

On this week's episode of Playdate, Julia and Kait are joined by actor and musician David Bays to discuss Annie Baker's play The Aliens. The talk of the importance of men's mental health, the struggles of addiction, and the familiarity of artists talking in a coffee shop. Enjoy!

Kait and Julia sit down this week to discuss Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonergan. They discuss the difficulties of the workplace, the difficulties of moral ambiguity, and of course, Elton John!Enjoy! 

On this episode of Playdate, Julia and Kait discuss the intricacies of face and Commedia, dinnertime shenanigans, and what makes One Man, Two Guvnors such a unique farce. Enjoy! 

Julia and Kait sit down to discuss one of the funniest plays that has been on Broadway in 2023, Peter Pan Goes Wrong. From the writers of The Play Goes Wrong, Julia and Kait discuss the hilarious mash up of a beloved story, with a community theatre struggling to perform it. They talk about the challenges of farcical comedy, this particular take on the story of Peter Pan, and what kinds of productions they want to see. Enjoy!

Julia and Kait are joined by a very special guest for this week's episode: Playdate's very own Social Media Manager (performer & educator), Noelle Elise Crites! In this episode, the 3 friends do an extremely deep dive on one of Shakespeare's more famous and beloved work, Hamlet. They talk about Hamlet's grief vs. narcissism, modern adaptations of this work, and why some argue this is one of his most infamous plays. Please enjoy!

On this week's episode of Playdate, Julia and Kait sit down and discuss John Logan's Peter and Alice. they discuss the vast array of plays and entertainment on Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan, their personal connections to the respective stories, and the beautiful way Logan takes these classic stories and attributes them to the complications of real adult life. Enjoy!

Kait and Julia are joined by Clevland based playwright, actor, and director David Hansen to discuss his beautiful and tragic play I Hate This. David takes Julia and Kait on a deep dive of his writing process, his decision to write this particular play, and this play's significance in his life and the lives of others. Please enjoy!

Julia and Kait finish off pride month by discussing Larry Kramer's semi autobiographical 1980's hit play, The Normal Heart. They talk about the issues within the LGBTQIA+ community that still persist, the impact of the AIDS epidemic and its effect 40 years later, and Larry Kramer's incredible life. Enjoy!

Julia and Kait kick off Pride Month sitting down with playwright Hayley St. James and their play For Leonora, or, Companions. Julia and Kait learn about Hayley's inspiration for the play, the influence of dragons in Hayley's work, and, of course, Boston Creme Pie! Please enjoy and happy Pride!

Kait and Julia switch things up on this episode of Playdate! They discuss the style of Theater of the Absurd, provide a background on what to expect from absurdist plays, and their opinions on absurdist plays from the perspective of a playwright and a director.  Enjoy!

Julia and Kait tackle another one of Paula Vogel's iconic and award winning plays, How I Learned to Drive. They discuss the importance of sex education in the school system,  the importance of the order in which the play occurs, and the importance of speaking up against domestic abuse and child endangerment. Enjoy!

Julia and Kait are joined this week by multi-disciplinary performing artist Avery LaMar Pope to discuss his play Stand Trial. This incredibly honest interview dives into Avery's history as a playwright, his inspiration for this show, and why it is so important to tell this story right here, right now. Enjoy!

Julia and Kait sit down this week to discuss the modern adaptation of Shakespeare's Richard III: Teenage Dick. They discuss the translation into a modern story and compare and contrast the original with this very clever reimagining. Enjoy!

Julia and Kait do a deep dive of one of Shakespeare's beloved history plays: Richard III. Both Kait and Julia watched different versions of this play and take this episode to compare and contrast each version, while breaking it down with the script. Enjoy! 

On this week's episode of Playdate, Julia and Kait are joined by Jack Levenberg to discuss Paula Vogel's  award winning play Indecent. They discuss the relevance this play still holds in our world today. Jack's history with this play helps shed some light on why this story is still important to be told. Enjoy!

Kait and Julia are back for a brand new season of Playdate! They are joined for their first episode of 2023 by actor and producer Ben Williamson to discuss Lewis Black's romantic comedy One Slight Hitch. In this episode we discuss the weight this show holds in Julia and Ben's separate theatre making journeys, the importance of well written dialogue in plays, and the important changes we would want to make before seeing this show produced. Please enjoy a hilarious start to Act III with us here at Playdate!

Happy Halloween! For this very spooky episode of Playdate, Julia and Kait wrap up Season 2 by discussing one of the Bard's creepiest works, The Scottish Play. They talk about the history behind the theatrical curse of Macbeth, the differences between this work and some of his more romantic works, and why Macbeth and Lady M are the sexiest couple in history. Enjoy, and we will see you back here for season 3!

Kait and Julia are joined this week by host of the Musicals With Cheese podcast Jesse McAnally. They discuss the dramatic comedy Burn This by Lanford Wilson on this weeks episode, touching on queer themes in the world of plays, the differences between “stealing the show” and “being” the show, and Jesse's experience seeing this play live for its Broadway revival in 2019. Enjoy! 

Julia and Kait are joined by special guest, NYC and Boston-based playwright Hayley St. James to discuss their play A Godawful Small Affair. They discuss living through the pandemic as people and artists, queer recognition in straight plays, and the impact that the band Coldplay and the musical Something Rotten has had on Hayley's journey as a playwright. Enjoy!

Julia and Kait discuss one of Annie Baker's most popular plays, The Flick. They chat about the stylistic use of subtext in the dialogue, the changing relationship dynamic between the three main characters, and Massachusetts culture! Enjoy!

Julia and Kait sit down with their special guest, Playdate's own Terry Peters! When Terry isn't editing the podcast, he is an active member of the theatre community. They discuss Red by John Logan and break down the struggles of being an artist, the importance of respecting the younger generation, and the connections between classical art and classical music. Enjoy! 

On this week's episode of Playdate, Julia and Kait break down a great theatrical contemporary classic: Tracy Letts' August: Osage County. They discuss the intricacies of family dynamics, the importance of reaching out for help, and the complexities of love. Enjoy! PLEASE NOTE: This play contains depictions of sexual assault. If you or anyone you know needs help, you can reach the National sexual assault hotline at 1(800) 656-4673.

In the newest episode of Playdate, Kait and Julia discuss one of Tom Stoppard's most famous plays, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. They chat about some of the logistic difficulties of performing this piece, the impact of Shakespeare's Hamlet on theatrical repertoire, and, as always, Hank Azaria. Enjoy!

Julia and Kait talk about the incredible playwright Nick Payne and one of his most famous works, Incognito, on this weeks episode of Playdate! They chat about the power of the human brain, the complexity of Payne's writing, and the importance of queer representation in plays. Enjoy! 

Kait and Julia do a deep dive into part II of Tony Kushner's masterpiece Angels in America. They discuss the importance of sympathizing with characters you might normally disagree with, the intersection of government and religion, and the importance of providing basic human rights to oppressed communities. Enjoy!

Kait and Julia celebrate pride by reading one of the most influential LGBTQ+ pieces in theatrical history, Angels in America by Tony Kushner. They discuss the impact of the AIDS epidemic and it's impact still felt today, the importance of LGBTQ+ representation in theatre, and the vitalness of acceptance within ourselves and our lives. Enjoy!

For the first time ever, Playdate is covering a MUSICAL! Kait and Julia are joined for the crossover of a lifetime with the one and only Rachel Covey. Rachel sits down to discuss her new musical, her journey into playwrighting and composing, and gives listeners some insight into her production's process and what is coming up next.  Enjoy!

Julia and Kait take a brief intermission to interview some special guests: each other! Get to know your hosts and some of their childhood, their introduction to theatre, and what makes them qualified to host a podcast. Enjoy this very special episode of Playdate!!Check out Julia Black's brand new play Everything Feels Like the End of the World here: https://www.broadwayworld.com/long-island/article/Dont-Tell-Amys-Production-Of-EVERYTHING-FEELS-LIKE-THE-END-OF-THE-WORLD-Premieres-Virtually-20220501?fbclid=IwAR18hQSwjfp6t2oltVwYDeASK5Jk_TNcb5haUe8Uug6YKxESCmmzmFmrGU0Get tickets to Hole in the Wall Theater's production of She Kills Monsters here: https://hitw.org/tickets/

Kait and Julia return to discuss part II of Stephen Adly Guirgis'a play The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. They talk about the usage of mental health in this play and how it can alter your views on the characters, the idea of your “fate” or “destiny” and if it is real, and some ideas on how they would like to see the show staged. Enjoy part II of this April special! 

In the first part of this two part April special, Julia and Kait discuss Stephen Adly Guirgis's play The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. They discuss the parallels between this play and the stages of grief, self-destruction tendencies, and the racial undertones of the characters within the play. Enjoy! 

Julia and Kait are joined once again by their amazing friends from the Brotakus Podcast! This week, the four of them sit down to discuss Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice. They discuss the influence this piece has on the story of Peter Pan, the racist undertones within the show, and the beauty of being young. Enjoy! 

Julia and Kait are joined by the illustrious Ashley Griffin to discuss her BRAND NEW play The Opposite of Love, described to be, "If 'Pretty Woman' was a 'Black Mirror' episode, sans tech". They discuss the importance of sex education, the challenges and thrills of writing a two-hander, and sex positivity in 2022. Check out www.ashleygriffinofficial.com for more information and updates about this play as it develops throughout year. Enjoy!

Katie and Julia read the Aaron Posner's incredible adaptation of The Seagull, written by Anton Chekhov, entitled Stupid Fucking Bird. Along with their enjoyment of swearing on the podcast, they discuss the importance of self care, society's idolization of "the grind", and the absolute heartbreak of self-harm. Dig deep and ask the hard hitting questions this week on Playdate, enjoy! 

Playdate is back and better than ever with love filling the air! This week, Kait and Julia discuss Shakespeare's most famous and beloved play filled with love, violence, and heartbreak. They talk about the career of Leonardo DiCaprio, different tools to understand and dissect his infamous language, and  a breakdown of why this play has become so misunderstood...all in time for Valentines Day! 

Julia and Kait discuss Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag. They discuss their very "fleabag" weeks, the importance of reaching out when someone is grieving, and the main differences between the stage play and the screenplay. Enjoy!

Julia and Kait sit down with playwright Ashley Griffin to discuss her play Trial. They chat about Ashley's writing process during this play and discuss the importance of opening up conversations about topics like abuse and suicide.CONTENT WARNING: Gaslighting, Physical, Emotional, and Sexual Abuse, and Suicide. Listeners discretion advised. 

In this episode of Playdate, Julia and Kait break down Kimberly Bellflower's play John Proctor is the Villain. They discuss the history of the play The Crucible and how it fits into this story, the character of John Proctor, the warning signs of gaslighting, and the impact sexual assault can have on the victims. Trigger Warnings include sexual assault  and grooming. If you or anyone you know needs help, you can call the sexual assault telephone hotline at  (800) 656-HOPE. That's (800) 656-4673. 

in this week's episode, Kait and Julia sit down with Lauren Teller and Avery Norris to discuss The Wolves by Sarah Delappe. They reflect on their own personal production of this play as well as the importance of female playwrights in the industry as a whole, and the industry in its representation of women. Enjoy!

Julia and Kait are joined this week with the Frankly, I Love Movies Podcast to discuss the film to stage adaptation of The 39 Steps. They discuss the differences between the movie and the play and which medium they believe to be a better fit for this particular piece of art. Enjoy!

On this week's episode of Playdate, Julia and Kait discuss the play Other Desert Cities by Jon Robin Baitz. They discuss the dynamics of family, the power of language, and the importance of discovering your own self-worth. Enjoy!**Advertisement music: The Right Direction by Shane Ivers**

Kait and Julia dive into a theatrical classic written by Tennessee Williams. They discuss the impact William's has made on American theatre, their opposing views on the play, and the ways they would like to see this show performed in 2021. Enjoy!  

On part II of this pride month special, Julia and Kait continue their discussion on The Inheritance (Part II) by Matthew Lopez. They discuss the intimate relationships between characters and the way their choices influence their lives. Enjoy!

Kait and Julia do a deep dive this week into The Inheritance: Part I by Matthew Lopez. In this two part episode special, they discuss the LGBTQIA+ community as it fits into our society, the AIDS epidemic, and the history of this beautiful community. Stay tuned for Part II!

Julia and Kait kick off a very special Pride Month with the analysis and conversation about “A Kid Like Jake” by  Daniel Pearle. They are joined by their friend Levi Denton-Hughes this week to discuss gender identity and acceptance among young people. Enjoy! 

On this episode of Playdate, Kait and Julia are joined by Abby Rose Morris from the More Than Tracy Turnblad podcast to discuss the stigma around fat characters and actors in the theatrical industry. Enjoy!

Julia and Kait dig deep on this episode of Playdate; In this episode, they discuss the definition of "fact", the power of language, and a weird obsessions with the Sears Franchise. Enjoy

Julia and Kait are joined by the Brotakus Anime Club Podcast  hosts, Hal and Pax, as they discuss the Dungeons and Dragons play entitled She Kills Monsters. They discuss their experiences with the show, their D&D adventures, and the heart inside this adventurous show. Enjoy!

Kait and Julia dive into one of William Shakespeare's most beloved comedies: Much Ado About Nothing, on this special April Fools episode of Playdate. Enjoy!

Kait sits down to discuss one of the worlds most notorious playwright: William Shakespeare. She dives into his personal life, his professional works, and his mysterious legacy ahead of next weeks discussion of Much Ado About Nothing. Enjoy!

Kait and Julia are joined by the wonderful Family Court Vision podcast (Jack and Lauri Levenberg) to discuss the play The Great Leap by Lauren Yee. They also touch on the portrayal of sports in theatre, diversity in sports, and much more. Enjoy!