Standby for Places

Following the brilliant BEN FRANKLIN: AN INGENIOUS LIFE, playwright and actor Ray Flynt, and director Eric Sciotto sit down with Alexandra Kopko to discuss this entertaining and informative story.

Playwright and performer Ray Flynt brings Benjamin Franklin to life in this brilliant audioplay, based on his one man show. Directed by Eric Sciotto and also featuring Gabi Van Horn, Kevin Sebastian, and Dana Watkins.

Co-creator Margie Zarcone sits down with Burning Leaves playwright, Tom Rowan to discuss the play along with some of the moral and ethical questions it poses.

Co-creator Margie Zarcone sits down with Burning Leaves playwright, Tom Rowan to discuss the play along with some of the moral and ethical questions it poses.

In Tom Rowan's “Burning Leaves", a gay actor moves from New York for a fresh start as a drama teacher in a Midwest high school and discovers that starting fresh may be harder than anticipated.Directed and sound designed by Graydon Gund. Featuring David Gow as Matt Leland, Brett Temple as Jesse Wade, Maren Maclean as Jane Potter, Paige okey as Alicia Hogan, Jonathan Stewart as Carl Wade, and Anna Stefanic as the bus announcer.

To kick off Pride month we're bringing together a collection of your favorite queer writers at the internet's hottest club!Featuring Franco Pedicini as Tennessee Williams, Kyle Marra doing Shakespeare's sonnet 29, Michael Iannucci as Oscar Wilde, Wynn Harmon as Truman Capote, Chris French doing Shakespeare's sonnet number 20, Alexandra Kopko as Patricia Highsmith, Larry Phillips as Joe Orton, Torian Brackett as James Baldwin and hosted by Angela Mansberry. Directed by Graydon Gund.

Co-creator Margie Zarcone sits down with "Alice in Wonderland" director Jackie Vetter. They chat about psychology, underscoring, and the importance of arts in schools.

Co-creator Margie Zarcone sits down with "Alice in Wonderland" director Jackie Vetter. They chat about psychology, underscoring, and the importance of arts in schools.

This week on Standby we revisit a classic with Alice Gerstenberg's adaptation of Lewis Carrol's story about a girl that travels through a looking glass and what she finds on the other side.Directed and sound designed by Jackie Vetter with sound editing by Graydon Gund. Featuring Karlee Jane as Alice, Taylor James Hopkins as Lewis Caroll and the White Rabbit, Gabi van Horn as Cheshire Cat and Humpty Dumpty, Megan Murphy as March Hare, Gryphon, and Two of Spades, William Burns as Mad Hatter, Mock Turtle and Five of Spades, Margie Zarcone as Door Mouse, Seven of Spades, and Duchess, Isma'il Q. Bronson, as Caterpiller and King of Hearts, Dana Watkins as Tweedle Dee and Red Queen, Devon Yates as Tweedle Dum and White Queen, Alexandra Kopko as Queen of Hearts, and David Coleman II as Knave of Hearts and Frog Footman.

Sit down with co-creator Margie Zarcone and playwright Lydia Nightingale to talk 'Party Talk', Lydia's diverse writing content, and what it means to follow your truth.

Marie and Dave have an intimate conversation as a friend's party begins to wind down. The boundaries are set as we listen into these two navigate their way through primal desires and intellectual fortitude. Written by Lydia Nightingale, starring Maranda Rust as Marie and Jake Blakeslee as Dave. Directed and edited by Dunya J. Karam.content warning: discussions are of a sexual yet not explicit nature.

Ensemble member Alexandra Kopko sits down with "Stripping Lord Byron" playwright, Kirt Shineman. They dig into Lord Byron and celeb culture, and ponder the shelf-life of secrets.

Ensemble member Alexandra Kopko sits down with "Stripping Lord Byron" playwright, Kirt Shineman. They dig into Lord Byron and celeb culture, and ponder the shelf-life of secrets.

In 1824, after Lord Byron's death, five of his closest friends gather to decide the fate of Lord Byron's memoirs. They decide whether to publish the manuscript or not. Is it suitable for public consumption? If they publish the memoirs, lives might be ruined. What are the damning secrets his friends need to protect?A new play by Kirt Shineman, directed and designed by Graydon Gund. Featuring the voices of Wynn Harmon as John Murray II, Gary Hilborn as Thomas Moore, Kevin Sebastian as John Cam Hobhouse, Amanda Brooke Lerner as Augusta Leigh, Caitlin Clothier as Lady Byron, and Alexandra Kopko as Bridget McBurney.

Co-creator Freda Mattea talks to Nygel D. Robinson and Asa James about the process of conceiving and creating When The Sun Goes Down? They dive into some of the songs individually and discuss the meaning of the title and how that translates to being Black in America today.

Co-creator Freda Mattea talks to Nygel D. Robinson and Asa James about the process of conceiving and creating When The Sun Goes Down? They dive into some of the songs individually and discuss the meaning of the title and how that translates to being Black in America today.

‘When the Sun Goes Down' is a comparison between the state of African American's during slavery and the state of us now. The sun going down used to signify the end of the work day. What will it look like when the metaphorical sun goes down and we are all able to just be? Written, produced, and performed by Nygel D. Robinson in honor of Black History Month.

Our fist ITGR of Season 3 brings in three of our interpreters from last week's "A Selection of Sonnets": Alexandra Kopko, Patrick Pizzolorusso, and Anna Stefanic. They talk all things Bard, from their favorite plays and characters, to some not-so-memorable productions, and even a debate on where Pete Davidson may fit into Shakespeare's plays.Subscribe to our Patreon to hear the full episode!

To kick off our THIRD SEASON, we bring to you A Selection of Sonnets; a collection of some of William Shakespeare's iconic work. Featuring the voices of Dunya J. Karam, Alexandra Kopko, Benjamin Mandell, Patrick Pizzolorusso, and Anna Stefanic.

Please enjoy this special holiday episode of A Christmas Carol by, Charles Dickens.Adapted and Directed by, Margie ZarconeStarring:Dana J. Watkins as ScroogeWilliam Burns as Fred/Charity Solicitor #1/Marley/Broker #1/PoulterorPatrick Pizzolorusso as Bob Cratchit/Young Adult Scrooge/BoyAnna Mae Gordon as Narrator/ Ghost of Christmas PresentJalissa Fulton as Narrator/Ghost of Christmas Past/Peter Cratchit/Tiny Tim/Old JosieFreda Mattea as Mrs. Cratchit/Belle/WomanMargie Zarcone as Charity Solicitor #2/Janet/Broker #2

Just in time for Thanksgiving, board member Ben Mandell is joined In the Green Room by John and Zack Walsh to spill the tea on their ever so serious satire Family Secrets Drama.

Standby for Places brings you a satirical Family Secret Drama written by the Brothers Walsh (John & Zack), and just in time for Thanksgiving too. Listen in as this family and their offbeat neighbors reveal secret after secret, making other familial dynamics look like a delicious piece of cake. This play features Ernest E. Peeples as Father, Nancy Hays as Mother, Michael Warker as Son, Zack Walsh as Little Son, Anna Mae Gordon as Female Neighbor, and Warren Watkins as Male Neighbor. Music by Morgan Wardlaw with direction and editing by Dunya J. Karam.this episode does feature strong language and sexual themes

This time In the Green Room everything is On the Table. Join ensemble member Alexandra as she sits down with playwright/poet and actress Diana Arnold, fellow players Morgan Wardlaw and Ken Barnett, and director Dunya J. Karam as they talk about Standby's most recent piece On the Table and what it's like working in an industry that everyone has been touched by.

Breaking the fourth wall, Diana Arnold (playwright and actress) carries us with her from table to table during a busy night at work in the service industry with the help of Ken Barnett and Morgan Wardlaw. Diana gracefully guides the audience through hilarious customer interactions, personal anecdotes, and poignant moments by sharing with us her two decades of experience at the city's best restaurants. Music by Morgan Wardlaw (featuring a Sondheim parody). Directed and mixed by Dunya J. Karam.

To finish off our wonderful Spooky Season, we bring you DRACULA, the thrilling tale of the original vampire! For more information on the cast, please visit our website; standbyforplaces.com.

Join us as we continue to bring you the most thrilling tales! Table of Contents: The Outsider, performed by PJ Sosko. The Music of Erich Zann, performed by Patrick Keeffe. The Yellow Wallpaper, performed by Mary Seidel. The Birthmark, performed by Benjamin Mandell. Sound design and effects by Freda Mattea and Graydon Gund.

Every year, we all get super excited for October, because October means pumpkins, trick or treating, and of course, SCARY STORIES! This episode has three spooky stories full, performed and sound edited to make sure you get the ultimate spooky experience! "The Pale Man" performed by Dana Watkins, "The Voice in the Night" performed by Anna Stefanic, "The Striding Place" performed by Anna Mae Gordon. Sound edited by Freda Mattea and Graydon Gund.

Dramatic readings of some of Edgar Allan Poe's most chilling short stories! The Masque of the Red Death, performed by Alexandra Kopko. The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, performed by Torian Brackett. The Black Cat, performed by Gabi Van Horn. The Oblong Box, performed by Patrick Pizzolorusso, Landor's Cottage, performed by E. James Ford. The Tell Tale heart, performed by Kevin Sebastian. The Raven, performed by Margie Zarcone. Sound edited by Sean McGinley

Margie Zarcone and Ben Mandell sit down with Marisa Flores, star of The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, to talk about villains, summoning devils, and to settle the great debate: Shakespeare Vs. Marlowe.

In Christopher Marlowe's play, Doctor Faustus is a scholar living in Wittenberg, Germany. Feeling that he has reached the ends of all traditional studies, he decides to pursue magic, and has his servant Wagner bring him Valdes and Cornelius, two men who can teach him how to perform magic incantations.Directed, edited, and sound designed by Megan St. Amand, with dramaturgical assistance by Tim Briggs, and sound design assistance by Ren Bell. Featuring Marisa Flores as Dr. John Faustus, Ren Bell as Mephistopheles, Lauren Brooke Ellis as Wagner, Chorus, and Wrath, Tim Briggs as The Pope, Scholar #1, Lucifer, and Gluttony, Lauren Emily Wayland as the Evil Angel, Envy, and Lechery, Dominic Hoskins as Cornelius and The Emperor, Karla Rennhofer as Scholar #2, Robin, The Horse-Coarser, and Pride, Tasha Berol as Friar, Covetousness, and The Duchess of Vanholt, Emily Donn as The Vintner, The Clown, and Valdes, Sammie James as Ralph, The Knight, and Sloth, and Juliana Egley as The Old Man, The Good Angel and The Duke of VanholtAll music composed by Shane Ivers and obtained on silvermansound.org. Tracks used include Helena's Lament, Unfolding Mirrors, A Few Moments Later, and Dark Side of Mars. All sound effects were obtained on freesound.org.

Gabi Van Horn, director of Big Love by Charles Mee, joins Dunya J. Karam In The Green Room to discuss Standby For Places' latest production!

Written by Charles Mee, directed by Gabi Van Horn. What do you get when you mix fifty brides, fifty grooms and an Italian country manor? Blood and murder, naturally. Charles Mee, the playwright, drew inspiration for Big Love from The Suppliants by Aeschylus -- AKA the "original" western play -- creating a modernized tale of sisterhood, obligation, gender norms and LOVE that sticks to your ribs.

Playwright Kimi Handa Brown and director Francesca Hsieh join host Alexandra Kopko In The Green Room to discuss their latest play, Shakespearean Support Group!

Shakespearean Support Group author Kimi Handa Brown and director Francesca Hsieh join Alexandra Kopko In The Green Room, where they discuss the rehearsal room and vibe, mental health, and Shakespearean characters

What happens to the leftover characters after the “end of play”? When we close the books, who is left to survive after the story? In Shakespearean Support Group, we follow some of our favorite side characters from some of Shakespeare's most famous works as they learn how to make sense of their traumas and survive outside of their stories. Written by Kimi Handa Brown, directed by Francesca Hsieh. Starring Lauren Neser as Helena, Jayna Blazer as Rosalind, Aathaven Tharmarajah as Benvolio, Danny Borba as Valentine, Robert Scott Smith as Daniel, Latoya Cameron as Julia, Ben Young as Horatio, and Kimi Handa Brown as Miranda. Music by Benjamin Stanford.

Tartuffe director Benjamin Mandell and actor E. James Ford join Co-Creator Margie Zarcone In The Green Room to discuss Tartuffe by Molière, acting styles, hot takes on line readings, and more!

Hypocrisy! Sacrilege! Lechery! Join Molière on his farcical examination of French gentility. This week, in Part II, the conclusion! Orgon is faced with the reality of an imposter in his home. Now on the side of the rest of his family, he must rid his house of Tartuffe's poison. Will Valere and Mariane's marriage be saved? Has Elmire gone too far? Whatever happened to that lockbox of papers in Orgon's desk? Tune in for all the answers!Starring: Matthew Corry, Malcolm Minor, Benjamin Mandell, William Burns, E. James Ford, Casey Bradley, Anna Mae Gordon, Margie Zarcone, and Jalissa FultonDirected by Benjamin Mandell

Hypocrisy! Sacrilege! Lechery! Join Molière on his farcical examination of French gentility. This week, on Part 1: Orgon and Madame Pernelle are under Tartuffe's spell, while the rest of the family clamors to convince them of the truth. Will Mariane get passed off? Will Elmire have to pull a wicked stunt? Can Damis count on his inheritance? Dorine seems to know the truth, but nobody seems to want to listen. Tune in to find out, look out for Part 2, for the riveting conclusion!Starring: Matthew Corry, Malcolm Minor, Benjamin Mandell, William Burns, E. James Ford, Casey Bradley, Anna Mae Gordon, Margie Zarcone, and Jalissa FultonDirected by Benjamin Mandell

Co-creator Margie Zarcone sits down with Vista Grande playwright, Derek Liakos to talk about location, inspiration, and writing trauma.

Standby for Places wraps up Pride month with Vista Grande, by Derek Liakos, directed and sound designed by Graydon Gund. Featuring Michael Iannucci as Michael and Mary Seidel as Juliet. In a remote town in the New Mexico desert, a man and his estranged adult daughter reunite for the first time, thirty-five years after he abandoned his family.

Alexandra Kopko sits down with Eric Sciotto, director of The Little Shop of Horrors, and talk about the process of creating an audio play and the differences between directing for the stage and for the radio.

Director Eric Sciotto brings the 1960's original film straight to your home with this radio play adaptation of The Little Shop of Horrors, which follows the lives of some quirky Skid Row friends as a strange and unusual plant enters their lives. Starring: KJ Herwig, Kris Ivy Haynes, Gavin Lodge, Ray Flynt, Erik Scott Romney, Toby Yatso, Roxy York, Pam Murphy, CJ Garbin, Rachel Bahler, Sydney Stephan, Hayley Cassity, Alexander McConkie, Nicolas Fernandez, Alexandra Kopko, Freda Mattea, and Cole Newburg.

Jae W. B. (playwright and actor of A Room Full of Bitches), sits down with our New Works Coordinator, Dunya J. Karam, to discuss their new play! Only on Standby For Places.

Standby for Places continues to celebrate Pride Month by welcoming you to A Room Full of Bitches written by and featuring Jæ W. B, directed by Mika Kauffman, featuring William “Jada Valenciaga” Bailey, Elijah Caldwell, and Claire Evans, featuring the track The Vibes by Audiobinger and sound by Dunya J. Karam.V and her man are going through some hard times. You see, ever since she found out that he stepped out of their relationship and had some unanticipated consequences, things have not been the same. Good thing her crew is there to ki and help her through it!This episode includes explicit language and sexual themes

Co-creator Margie Zarcone is joined by Larry Phillips, writer and co-star of Talent is Sexy to chat taking inspiration from real life, being a writer/ actor, and of course...talent.

Standby for Places presents, Talent is Sexy by Larry Phillips, directed and sound designed by Graydon Gund with original music by Anna Stefanic. Featuring Franco Pedicini as Cal, Larry Phillips as Noah, Pheobe Leonard as Jessica, Tom Magill as Seth, and Lauren Lebeouf as Keri-Ann.Cal and Noah meet on a dating app. Cal and Noah have a coffee date. Cal and Noah hit it off. Cal wishes Noah wasn't an actor. Talent is Sexy is a tender comedy about the sacrifices we make for love and art.

Alexandra Kopko (Standby For Places Ensemble Member, Director, and latest ITGR host) is joined by Lauren T. Mack, who adapted and starred in Cyrano de Bergerac. Together they talk about the play, how they navigated adapting the play from portions of the original text, and what it's like being perceived and not wanting to be perceived.

Standby for Places presents Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand. Adapted by Lauren T. Mack and directed by Lana Russell, with sound editing by Graydon Gund and original music and sound design by Marlena Mack.Featuring: Issa Best as Christian, ensembleLauren T. Mack as Cyrano de Bergerac, First Marquis, various cadetsMiss Sandra Mhlongo as Cuigy, Second Marquis, Bellerose, a poet, De Guiche, various cadetsChris Rivera as Le Bret, a poet, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, a page, the Monk, various cadetsRivka Rivera as Roxane, various cadets, Spanish OfficerAngie Tennant as Ragueneau, Ligniere, Valvert, a page, Duenna, various cadets Soldier and poet Cyrano de Bergerac is in love with Roxane, but he's too ashamed to admit it because of his big nose. When a cadet, Christian, falls for Roxane, he asks for Cyrano's help in sharing his feelings. Cyrano writes love letters signed with Christian's name, and Roxane doesn't realize that it's Cyrano's words she falls for.

Happy Pride! To celebrate, we gathered the creatives behind some of our pride plays coming out this month to talk about what pride means to them and answer some listener questions.

Enrique Huili joins us once again to discuss his play Leurana with Co-Creator Margie Zarcone.

Standby for places presents Leurana by Enrique Huili. Directed and sound designed by Graydon Gund with original music by Haunted Ghost. Featuring Carmen Borla as Leurana, Enrique Huili as Jean, William Burns as the son, and Margie Zarcone as the daughter.In the aftermath of their children’s murders, Jean and Leurana struggle to navigate their life together. While Jean seeks to find redemption, Leurana resists his forgiveness. As their relationship crumbles, they are plagued by visions of their dead children and are forced to confront the ever-present question: Can they forgive one another?