TABLEWORK: How New Plays Get Made

In this episode Amber talks with Erika and Caitlin about why they decided to start producing! In an effort to fill a gap in the art ecosystem of Atlanta, they became producers. They refer to the artists they serve as Producer Playwrights. Tune in to learn about how SheATL is empowering playwrights and theatre artists of all kinds to produce their own work. And check out the SheATL festival in September!

In this episode Amber and Tori talk about self-producing, how she was trained to do her own work and how you can train with her through Atl Original Works! Check out this episode for amazing tidbits about producing, directing, and creating shows. Tori Weddell of Atl Original Works is not only excited to produce your next piece, she wants to train you too! To learn more, check out this interview with the awesome Tori Weddell and get involved with Atl Original Works. There's an empty stage waiting for your next story.

On this episode Amber talks with Vivian Bang, an actor and creator working in Atlanta, about her journey into acting and experimental theatre, and how that ride took her all the way to Los Angeles. Now that she's in Atlanta, she's been gathering community (a third place) through her new collective Performance Jam. Hear her talk about what they do, what they've been cooking and how they built their collective. Listen now to hear about the ups and downs (mostly the ups) of producing your own work on a tight budget! What is the value of gathering community and why should we bother? To find out why, check out this episode now.

On this episode Amber talks with Ken Cerniglia about the dramaturgy of Musical Theatre, Creative Producing and finally, the Business of being a Dramaturg. With years of experience in making Musicals for Disney, Ken has spent his career in Dramaturgy. Now as a full time freelance dramaturg, he has developed some exciting tools for negotiating contracts and pay. Listen now to hear about how he builds a process for a musical, how he leads by serving and how he negotiates his pay on behalf of all artists.

In the final episode of our Series on Vernal & Sere Theatre, Amber interviews Movement Choreographer, Education Director, Actor, and V & S co-founder Erin Boswell. We ask the question: What is experimental theater? And discuss the many acting techniques and methods Erin uses in her work as a theatre maker and devisor. We also talk about how a movement choreographer or director might work with a team and the tools she uses for actor care and consent. It's been a joy diving into the world of V&S to find out how they do their work. Thanks for joining us for Part III of Vernal & Sere Theatre with Erin Boswell!

In Part II of this series Sawyer and Amber talk about Vernal and Sere Theatre's recent production of LEAR by Young Jean Lee, Sawyer's continued development of THE GLASS ESSAY by Anne Carson, and his translation of UBU ROI. In an effort to uncover the ways Sawyer approaches theatrical storytelling, Amber investigates his process, his approach to audience and how he creates work. Thank you for joining us for this conversation with Sawyer Estes!

In this episode Amber talks with Sawyer Estes, a director, dramaturg, playwright and company member of Vernal & Sere Theatre. Vernal and Sere was founded in Atlanta, Ga in 2016 by five company members: Sawyer Estes, Erin Boswell, Lindsay Sharpless, Erin O'Conner and Katherine Barnes. This team produces new work (like Hurricane Season), adaptations (like the upcoming Glass Essay or Ubu Roi), and powerfully conceived shows like (4:48 Psychosis and Lear). No matter what they are up to, this team of explorers is on a journey I am super enjoying going on with them. They are highly collaborative and bring a special energy to everything they do. I hope you will enjoy this conversation with Sawyer as much as I enjoyed having it. Stay tuned for Part 2!

In this episode I talk with Fig LeFevre, a dramaturg, educator, playwright, drag artist and fellow queer! We discuss the nature of Queer, it's definition, how we apply it to our work and finally, how it connects to everything we do. We discuss intimacy coordination and consent, dive deep into working with actors and their unique and invaluable contribution and speak in detail about Theatre of the Oppressed Forum Theatre, a class that Fig recently taught for the WTP community. Considering the nature of queer, we also discussed the idea of succession, ageism and making way for the next generation. Tune in folks to hear about approaching dramaturgy from a queer lens!

In this episode Amber talks with Rebekah Suellau, a dramaturg, educator and former staff member of Working Title Playwrights. Rebekah was the Associate Development Artist from 2018-2020 and was pivotal in the re-structuring and development of WTP programming. One of the programs we focused on the most is our Monday Night Development Workshops, a foundational program. Rebekah and Amber talk in depth about the Rules of Engagement we created and why, and break down the reasons for why we believe that talkbacks and feedback are essential to new play development. Rebekah does an exceptional job of outlining and explaining all the facets of this work. Tune in to learn more about the Art of Giving and Receiving Feedback, an essential part of New Play Dramaturgy!

On this episode Amber talks with visionary Artistic Director (of True Colors Theatre in Atl, GA) Jamil Jude about how he is revolutionizing the way the American Theatre interacts with new Black work - by creating an incredible program with five other collaborating partners across the country called The Drinking Gourd: Black Writers at Work. Listen to hear him announce the first two commissions of that program as well as new play plans that are cooking up for next season! We talk about the gestation of that program and how it came to be, the work of the incredible team at True Colors and how Jamil makes his schedule work as a freelance artist, Artistic Director and dad. We also talk about the road to long term sustainability for non profit theatre and how PWIs (Predominantly White Institutions) need to crawl before they can walk.

In this episode, Amber chats with George Staib, a new collaborator and founder of Staibdance about dramaturging dance, artist care and artist agency as well as how we share leadership. We discuss the ways in which Staibdance has evolved over the years, how George keeps the work and creative process fresh and exciting, and how the dancers he works with have become his collaborating partners. We also discuss our developing dance dramaturgy collaboration on Staibdance's newest piece ARARAT. And finally, we talk about competition and the art of letting go.

In this episode Amber talks with Lynde Rosario, a new play dramaturg who wears many hats: Director of Fellowships at the Playwright's Center, President of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA), and Impact Accessment Director at the National New Play Network. We discuss the vibrant creative community being nurtured in Minnesota, the LMDA conference and the resources the organization offers. the importance of collective questioning to create more inclusive structures, and finally - what artists need most from the American theatre.

In this episode Amber talks with actor and playwright Heather Raffo about her process developing a new theatrical platform about migration in her play TOMORROW WILL BE SUNDAY. They talk about how Heather uses her acting tools for writing, and loves to create plays that challenge her like her "own purpose-built ferrari”; as well as the play as a body; her experience as the McKnight Resident at the Minneapolis Playwrights Center; and we ask a few key questions: Can we de-center where we think plays need to be ultimately?; How can we start a conversation with producers?

Long time collaborators Daryl and Amber talk about their relationship as playwright and dramaturg; the metaphor of playwright as a baby chicken held in a dramaturgs palm; how being an actor impacts the way Daryl creates her work; the ways moderation can serve the playwright; exploring storytelling through podcast, novel and theatre in non- traditional spaces; Both of their personal medical journeys and Daryl's developing story of women in medicine and women doctors with Autism; developing a deeper audience understanding of new plays and play development; the sacred energetic connection that happens between humans in live spaces; and a shout out to NPX (newplayexchange.org).

In this episode Matt and Amber talk about New play programming at Matt's Artistic home Theatrical Outfit, his background in dance and current work in dance dramaturgy, and the need for more kindness in all of our rehearsal and development rooms.

On this episode, Angela and Amber talk about dramaturgy as a way of inhabiting the world, the NPD as resource developer, and dramaturgical tools being infinite! We ask the question of the American Theatre: Why do we only want to survive? And how does Capitalism continue to impact our ability to create?As we dive deeper we talk about intuition, trust and that the playwright really does know and have the tools already. We all have the tools! Angela encourages everyone to be their own kind of dramaturg, and think outside any box. Don't worry about fitting in. Journey to seeing and then seeing through.

Amber and Addae talk openly about new play dramaturgs and creative practice, some of Addae's favorite development structures including the WTP Ethel Woolson Lab, creating and developing community around the work of playwrights and the need for a dramaturg in new development spaces. Tune in to learn about how new plays get made!