This is a Classic: The Expand the Canon Theatre Podcast

This month's two shorter plays: Pleasure by Rachilde and Three Women by Sylvia Plath!If you're looking for a play that reveals how the pursuit of sensuality can both liberate and ensnare… then Rachilde's Pleasure is the two-hander of your dreams. An intimate, delicate, and emotionally charged conversation between two young lovers, Pleasure offers feminist undertones with a dangerous and erotic edge. The play's themes of sexual politics, youthful desire, and the consequences of indulgence are as timely today as they were in its origins in the Belle Époque. Fans of Sarah Kane, Sam Shepard, and Edith Wharton alike will delight in its dark twists and lush poetry, making this a standout choice for a contemporary or a classical season.If you're looking for an achingly lyrical play probing the complex beauty and pain of pregnancy… consider this dramatic poem that brings Sylvia Plath's raw emotionality to the stage. Interweaving three contrasting perspectives, this piece wrestles with childbirth, loss, and motherhood as perceived by a trio of women. One welcomes a wished-for and beloved child; another comes to terms with a miscarriage; the third gives her child up for adoption following the trauma of sexual assault. The resulting chorus paints a sharp and unflinching portrait of having, or losing, a child. Three Women is a daring piece to engage a community in conversation around the choices and agency of reproductive rights arcing towards glimmers of hope and healing.Hosted by Skye Pagon and Emily LyonSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

We're back to expanding the canon! The 5 curators for our 5th List are here to dish about what makes this year's list of plays special. Not only are they plays of a different ilk, but we have WAY MORE this time for you to dig into! Dive in with Emily Lyon, Triza Cox, Skye Pagon, Kalina Ko, and Gagarin for another year of plays that are CLASSICS. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for an ensemble-lead choreopoem that explores the Black experience in the entertainment industry… consider Spell #7 by celebrated playwright Ntozake Shange. Set in the late 70s in St. Louis, Missouri, the play welcomes us into a world not too far from our own, forcing us to reckon with the realities of the “isms” in creative spaces. The play takes us through the lives of 9 characters who are fighting to discover themselves as artists in a society that sees them as one dimensional after-thoughts. Using a mixture of lush poetry and stylized choreography (and guided by a literal magician), the ensemble explores the effects of blackface and violence against Black women in the entertainment industry and beyond. Hosted by Shannon Corenthin and Skye PagonMonologue by Terra ChaneySupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking to explore the transactional nature of relationships when status is on the line… consider this tender-hearted hilarious romp complete with gossip, political intrigue, and romantic complications. Social prestige and customs maintain the delicate ecosystem that is the royal court, but when Moncade, the King's sensitive and widely beloved favorite, is cast out, chaos ensues. As Moncade reckons with his status, the courtiers around him scheme to advance their own agendas using witty prose and undeniably shady tactics. With themes of inner beauty, integrity, and finding meaning within the ordinary, Le Favori calls into question our social ties and asks us what it means to truly value friendship.Hosted by Skye Pagon and Gagarin.Scene by Dorothea Gloria and Samanthia Nixon.Dramaturgy by Sierra RosettaSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a lush, poetic drama with a powerhouse queer heroine and an intersectional view of indigeneity… consider this moving piece from an eminent Chicana dramatist. Josefa is a pillar of her rural community - unflappable, benevolent, formidable, respected. Why then is there a fresh bloodstain on her floor? As the rest of the village women gather for a ritual to find husbands, Josefa is trapped in her house, frantically trying to prevent her secret from being revealed. This play is a harrowing, verdant exploration of the creation and keeping of a queer utopia, and what it costs to protect it. Capturing the poetry and cultural interrogation of Tennessee Williams with a distinctly feminist viewpoint, Day of the Swallows examines the secrets we're forced to keep and the lengths we go to hide them.Hosted by Gagarin and Skye Pagon.Dramaturgy by James La Bella.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a whirling political drama centering a mother's feminist awakening… consider this dreamlike exploration of familial ties and civic responsibility. Nearly two years after the killing of her son, Sujata continues to struggle with his involvement in the uprising that resulted in his death. She embarks on a journey to understand her son and in doing so comes to recognize her own oppression as a mother, wife, and woman. Reminiscent of Brecht's The Mother, this powerful and deeply human play examines grief, love, and the cost of revolution.Hosted by Gagarin and Kalina KoMonologue by Shubhra PrakashSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for an irreverent class comedy featuring a gritty female lead… consider this romp of mistaken identities by the 18th century master of dialogue, Hannah Brand. The willful and mischievous Adelinda is set to marry the wealthy Count D'Olstain – much to her weary parents' relief. The only problem – Adelinda is already secretly married to a lowly servant! Schemes and mistaken identities abound, lost children are returned, and some snooty parents get a rightful scolding in this comical and quippy caper about the lengths we go to for a happily ever after. Hosted by Emily Lyon and Kalina Ko.Edited by Steven BaekScene Performed by Madeline Egan Addis and Desireé BaxterSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a tragi-comedy where the lyric insight of Virginia Woolf meets the electric cruelty of Hedda Gabler… consider this post-war portrait of a woman created and creating through destruction. Claire Archer attempts to transcend the constraints of modern life through the breeding of new plants, despite a literal Tom, Dick, and Harry trying to stop her. As the blossoming of her latest creation approaches, her sanity is called into question and tensions around her unique way of life explode. A piece that is by turns devastating philosophical portraiture, droll farce, and scathing feminist cry, The Verge comes together in a pressure cooker analysis of prescribed womanhood. Hosted by Emily Lyon and Kalina Ko.Edited by Daniel OpkaraMonologue performed by Gwen KelsoSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a plot-twist-filled farce with bold schemes to fight prejudice… consider this comedy from the elusive Irish playwright, Alicia Sheridan Le Fanu. When the eldest daughter of an upper-class English family marries an Irishman, she is cast out and the whole family is thrown into disarray. But what if that Irishman comes back to prove himself to the family… disguised as a distinguished secretary? What secrets does he uncover? Can the family ever look past their own bias and reconcile? Full of comedic mix ups and shocking plot twists, Sons of Erin shines a light on the nonsensical nature of prejudice.Hosted by Emily Lyon and Shannon Corenthin. Scene performed by Madeline Egan Addis and Sam Ogilvie. Edited by Erica Ricketts.For more info on the Le Fanu family, visit: https://www.lefanus-online.org/history.htmlSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a madcap Comedy of Errors with chaotic Gen-Z wit…consider this arch, rollicking take on love and freedom from German dramatist Charlotte Von Stein. Once upon a time, Menonda was happily in a relationship – until her brother, bent on destroying all romantic love, got between her and her beloved. Now, due to a mistaken kidnapping and several misplaced identities, she finds herself held captive under the same roof as both her jilted lover and her bumbling brother. Will the lovers reunite? Will the kidnapping be avenged? Does anyone know what's going on? A confetti of comedy's favorite pleasures served up with a healthy dose of camp, this is the perfect piece for any theater looking to engage a younger crowd in the classics.Hosted by Gagarin and Shannon Corenthin.Scene performed by Nazlah Black and Danielle Cohn. Edited by Steven Baek. Dramaturgy by James La Bella. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

This season, we have 8 partner companies diving into our 2023 list with us and producing readings. We were honored to have 4 of our New York partners represented –– Jessie Austrian from Fiasco Theater, Nicola Murphy Dubey from Irish Repertory Theatre, Lou Moreno from INTAR Theater, and Devin Brain from The Acting Company. Director of Outreach and Development Triza Cox lead the panel, digging into the state of classic theatre and why this work is important. Recorded live at Caveat NYC on January 22, 2024, this is Part 2 of 2.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a dramedy about reframing your life and learning to fall in love (with yourself) again… consider this powerful Chinese play about love, loss, and artistic identity. Taking place in West China during the Sino-Japanese War, Heaven Challenges centers around Shih Kun-Yi, a housewife who has given up her love of painting to serve her husband. When he divorces her in an attempt to climb the social ladder, Shih Kun-Yi must discover how to fall in love all over again: with herself, her art, and her friends who are just as lost as she is. If the confrontation of gender roles in Ibsen's A Doll's House speaks to you, dive into this striking tale.Hosted by Kalina Ko and Shannon CorenthinSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

Now that we've released our 4th list and have 36 featured plays by historic women playwrights, our curators get together to dish about our favorite plays. Recorded live at Caveat NYC on January 22, 2024, this is Part 1 of 2.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you always wished you could see Lady Macbeth take on Don Juan… consider this reimagining of the Don Juan myth from a celebrated Ukrainian author. Donna Anna is looking to transcend her position in society, and an ineffectual Don Juan might just be her ticket out – inciting an impassioned game of cat and mouse. Told in the Spanish Golden Age tradition, this play's masquerade balls, moody cemeteries, and sword fights will keep an audience in joyful suspense until its surprising conclusion. With complexity, romance, and modern-sounding verse, Ukrainka examines the power struggles that still hold sway in our relationships today.Hosted by Gagarin and Skye PagonSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for an atmospheric romance where the truest love story is one with home and community… consider this heartfelt struggle between new and old. After 30 years in the Big City, Antonio Lozano returns with his adult children to his village in Mexico, focused on innovating farming practices in his rural home. The cosmopolitan meets the pastoral, conflict abounds, and the entire valley must decide whether to adapt to a modernized future or to stick with traditions steeped in history. Addressing globalization, romanticized change, and our relationship to the environment, this sensitive story asks us what it truly means to return home. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels of Folger Theatre joined us for a panel last year after we released our 2022 list. Enjoy this replay of her conversation with Artistic Director Emily Lyon on what makes a classic, what their value is today, and how to use them going forward.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking to blend the political intrigue of Shakespeare's histories with the visceral drama of a Greek tragedy… consider Catherine Bernard's tight verse play featuring a moral yet conflicted Queen trapped in a tragic love quadrangle. Caught between her heart and her sense of place, Laodamia, the Queen of Epirus, has always lived a life of self sacrifice– until she falls in love with her sister's betrothed. Set against the backdrop of an impending revolution, this tragic love story is as much about deep sisterly bonds as it is about political intrigue. As her feelings conflict with the world's expectations and the whole court is thrown into chaos, Laodamia must decide whether to follow her heart or her sense of duty. Tense, vibrant, and a true vehicle for a powerhouse female actor, this play will keep you in suspense until the last climactic second.Hosted by Emily Lyon and Shannon Corenthin.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a live-wire take on fossil fuel and the American labor system… consider this incendiary drama exploring the intersection of racism, capitalism and environmentalism. Set against the backdrop of a rural coal mine, a young Black man struggles to confront his heritage when his white father arrives to survey the mine his white daughter is set to inherit. A tack-sharp look at systemic violence and ultimately a plea towards empathy, it is a perfect drama for the Miller or O'Neil slot in your season. Hosted by Mary Candler and Shannon CorenthinThanks to Greg Phelps for editing this episode!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

Island Shakespeare Festival, off the coast of Seattle, has committed to produce THREE YEARS of Expand the Canon plays! ISF Artistic Director Olena Hodges chats with Hedgepig's Artistic Director Emily Lyon –– who is directing the first ISF partnership play, A Bold Stroke for a Husband –– about the 'bold' move to partner with us and produce these titles. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a farcical skewering of the aristocracy that evokes an Arrested Development for the 18th century… consider this contemporary roast of old-money values. The notable Von Ahnensoltz family deigns to allow a bourgeois gentleman to marry their noble daughter… and pay off all their debts, of course. However, their daughter isn't sold, instead creating delicious chaos with her formerly affianced… and delicately, sort of, sticking it to the man. Dusty heraldry, fashionable hypochondria, and, of course, debt abound in this frothy class commentary that would elevate the Tartuffe or Imaginary Invalid slot of any season.Hosted by Emily Lyon and Skye Pagon.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for an ethereal folk story about the perils of love and loneliness… consider this elusively modern take on a traditional Chilean folktale. Legend has it that long ago, three lonely women lived in harmony alongside a lake – until their lives were altered forever by a mysterious stranger with whom they each fell in love. Driven to extremes by forbidden love and the gendered constraints of their world, the women struggle with their new worldviews and each other, leading this tightly wound story to its haunting climax. Aguirre's elegiac masterpiece is grounded by its portrait of the realities of female loneliness in a patriarchal society, making it as raw and intimate as it is otherworldly.Hosted by Skye Pagon and Mary Candler!ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

Repertorio Español has a festival of Golden Age Classics –– and this summer, they're all by women! Emily and Gagarin chat with director Kathleen Capdesuner, who's directing our 2020 List play, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz's Los Empeños de Una Casa. Like most shows at Repertorio, it will be performed in Spanish –– but Kathleen shares her vision for how this show (of course!) is for everyone! The production runs July 14, 15, 16, 22, & 23 in New York City. Tickets at https://repertorio.nyc/expandthecanon.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for the German Jane Austen's riff on a marriage plot where the impressionable ingenue turns out to be a shrewd strategist… consider this fresh, delicate romantic comedy. Löwenberg needs his Uncle's approval for his intended marriage to Anna, but he knows he'll never get it from such an avowed bachelor... unless he can trick his Uncle into falling in love with his beloved himself! But the plan works a little too well. After ridiculous miscommunications, deceptions, and delightful physical interludes, Anna emerges as a self-possessed agent of her own fate and Princess Amalie ensures that her leading lady has the last laugh. Hosted by Shannon Corenthin and Skye Pagon.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a wistful story about immigration, identity, and the American dream… then dive into the powerful yet sparse world of Wakako Yamauchi's And the Soul Shall Dance. Set in Great Depression Era California, this play follows two Japanese immigrant families and their young daughters as they struggle to make ends meet, integrate into US society, and survive the whims of nature and each other. United by circumstance, the women find solace in each other, building bonds despite their differing impressions and traumas, and savoring the art that makes their souls dance. Intimately specific yet universally felt, this historical family drama illuminates the realities of immigration, labor struggles, and gender inequities that still resonate today.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

We initially connected with Roundabout Theatre's Refocus Project in 2021, when they used the first Expand the Canon list to create their first Refocus list! Now we have even more crossover, including both working with curator Kalina Ko.Emily and Kalina chat with Roundabout's Literary Director Anna Morton about the origin of Refocus, how they've grown, and the necessity of programs that grow our understanding of theatre history and legacy. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking to gamble on love with this multi-generational comedy featuring headstrong heroines and aging Romeos… consider this raunchy Restoration Comedy about sex, marriage, and consent. The ripened, spry, and sometimes lecherous Sir Cautious Fulbank and Sir Feeble Fainwou'd used their money and status to land young wives. But both wives had young suitors they already loved… who are trying to win them back! While the old men gamble, bribe, and swindle, the young suitors assume double identities, dance with a Devil(!), and put their livelihoods on the line –– with plenty of help from their crafty ladies. Delight in this unapologetic critique of capitalism and patriarchy while asking: are our motives in love and partnership ever truly altruistic?ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsHosted by Mary Candler and Gagarin!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

This Is A Classic returns! And we have new voices! Listen in to get to know our new curators. This season we're covering all the plays in the 2022 Expand the Canon List, as well as serving up exciting interviews with other incredible artistic leaders whose work is adding to our knowledge of the classics. Episodes will air weekly on Wednesdays! Expandthecanon.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking to tackle race, imperialism, and the prejudice of the Western world towards African countries… consider this mesmerizing masterpiece. Set in a rural Christian mission in an unnamed African country, this play explores the complexities of navigating personal relationships across racial divides when every decision you make is inherently political. Intricate, atmospheric, and shimmering with emotional truth, this play is as relevant to our modern world now as it was fifty years ago.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsHosted by Skye Pagon and Emily Lyon.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a Restoration play with even more hijincks than Merry Wives of Windsor… consider this energetic, bawdy comedy that centers around the tricksy courtship of the clever Clarabell and the rakish Rightwit. Through a series of deceptions, plots, pranks, and manipulations, they find a way to be together – and manage to marry off everyone else in the cast as well. Complete with doltish country suitors, deceitful women, trusting husbands, untrusting fathers, and trendy dances, this play covers all the best staples of the Restoration. The plot itself is simple, and yet the events that lead us along the way are delightfully frothy, foolish, and fun.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsThis episode is hosted by Mary Candler, Emily Lyon... and two special guests, ensemble members Sara Hymes and Greg Phelps! The scene is performed by Skye Pagon & Jory Murphy. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you want a high-octane alternative to Two Gentlemen of Verona… consider this tight rollercoaster of a poetic play instead. Here, two of the closest friends fall deeply in love with the same woman. Spurred on by an Iago-like character, the plot careens toward a tragic end – yet each character reflects on the ramifications of their actions, which makes it all the more impactful. Fall in love—and out—with this epic tale of romance and duty. Undeniably, the poetry of this play is one of its biggest strengths, so be careful of confusing it with the Bard! Bonus: with some minor cuts to avoid a puzzling suicide, this tragedy could easily be presented as a dark comedy!ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsEpisode hosted by Skye Pagon and Emily Lyon. Scene performed by Javan Nelson and Madeline Addis.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

Victoria Collado is a Cuban-American director who lead our reading of A Happy Country in 2021's Expand the Canon festival! We loved her insights and approach to the play, discussing its translation, and her reasons that this Maruxa Vilalta play is a classic. She chats with Skye Pagon and Shannon Corenthin. ExpandtheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipshttps://www.victoriacollado.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're seeking a play about revolution where the family drama is the political drama… consider this powerful portrait of love, protest, class, and voyeurism. This play follows the recently impoverished Jiménez family in an unnamed Spanish-speaking country as complex conversations are brought to the foreground by the arrival of a tourist staying in their home. How do you balance your activism with your desire to just live? Do you fight for your family, or your country? And how do you be an ethical tourist in a culture that is not your own? This play leaves an audience asking all the right questions and drawing their own timely parallels.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsEpisode hosted by Skye Pagon and Shannon Corenthin. Scene performed by Mariana Mondragón and Reza Salazar.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a fun rom-com where your wingman is a flock of wingwomen… consider this witty Restoration comedy. A rollicking, hilarious, and touching tale of Mrs Rich, the wealthy widow of a banker, who wants to marry a Lord to improve her social status. She listens to all the wrong people for advice– eventually leading her straight into the arms of a notable rogue. Through sparkling discourse, interwoven with a moving subplot, Mrs. Rich's friends and brother-in-law come to her rescue in the nick of time and prevent their friend (and a few other women) from throwing it all away for an undeserving man.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsThis episode is hosted by Mary Candler and Shannon Corenthin, and the scene is performed by Desiree Baxter and Rachel Schmeling.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a clever class comedy by a Noel Coward contemporary… consider this zany play that takes on tradition, marriage, and capitalism. The spoiled but sweet Wanru has a watchful father… who she is desperate to avoid when sneaking in her hot new boyfriend. In this story, family is often run like a business and financial prospects are important across the board – but not everyone is clearly showing their cards. Wanru's Dad keeps trying to run her love life like a business, Yanhua gets the world's worst proposal, and everyone's trying to keep up the face of tradition... even if it's just a show. Chinese comedic playwright Yang Jiang brings light, love, and clarity to this relatable family situation.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsThis episode is hosted by Emily Lyon and Mary Candler, and the scene is performed by Dorothea Gloria and David Huynh.Family Tree: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jq5XvtvQw1tott2PED5D-FGIK-WPMhLe/view?usp=sharingSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

Catherine Boyle is a professor, as well as one of our favorite translators. You may know her from our 2020 list, having translated Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz's House of Desires. Luckily for us, she's been working on a title from our 2021 List – Ana Caro's Valor, Agravio, y Mujer!For more information on Out of the Wings, visit: https://outofthewings.org/Mary and Skye host this fun conversation about translations!ExpandtheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you want a scorned heroine who is determined to live in a revenge tragedy but accidentally finds herself in a comedy… consider this Spanish Golden Age play. With cross dressing, love triangles, swordplay, and soaring verse, this is a celebration of women's agency. Doña Leonora dresses like a man and crosses Europe to get revenge on her ungrateful ex who left her unmarriageable. Along the way, she manipulates others in her sphere (often through the clever use of funny voices) causing confusion and antics – and ends up with a triumph that she deems better than any murder.*Disclaimer: we had an audio mishap, so bear with us –– Skye's audio gets better 7 minutes in!ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsThis episode is hosted by Skye Pagon and Mary Candler, and the monologue is performed by Ashley Kristeen Vega.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for something a bit lighter in your Ibsen or Shaw slot… consider this deft comedy where the girl finally learns to stand up for herself. An enjoyable romp through Bourges, France, this play speaks to anyone who has gotten stuck in a relationship with someone truly selfish. Henri, the idealized love of Francoise, is “a central role without precedent in French literature” – yet whom is easily recognized in contemporary life. Ahead of its time, George Sand delivers this delightful, snide jab at the aristocracy that seems a precursor to Oscar Wilde's cutting humor. Join us in rooting for Françoise as she gains the self worth to say adieu. ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsThis episode is hosted by Emily Lyon and Shanon Corenthin, and the scene is performed by Gagarin and Sara Hymes.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

Director and Founder of CLASSIX Awoye Timpo sits down with Mary & Shannon (amidst directing Alice Childress' Wedding Band at TFANA!) to talk about her work –– and what makes Efua Sutherland's Foriwa a classic.CLASSIX was created by theatre director Awoye Timpo to explode the classical canon through an exploration of Black performance history and dramatic works by Black writers.https://www.theclassix.org/*Note: we will link to Reclamation, the podcast Awoye mentions, as soon as it's publicly released! Check back here soon!*ExpandTheCanon.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a story about a small community and love akin to Our Town... consider this play about how an overlooked outsider and two powerful women can shake a community out of a slump. Set in a small Ghanaian village, a love story emerges, challenging the town to reconcile tradition with modernity. Relatable across the globe, this sweet yet brave look into a slice of Ghanaian life shows what it takes to rebuild a community — hope, courage, and open hearts.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsThis episode is hosted by Mary Candler and Shannon Corenthin, and the scene is performed by Terra Chaney and Shariba Rivers.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

Lots to look forward to -- including SPECIAL GUESTS and a DISCOUNT CODE! Alice Childress' Wedding Band (from our 2020 List!) is being produced at Theatre for a New Audience in Brooklyn this April & May. Use code PigPal65 for discount tickets. We chat with director Awoye Timpo, who also leads Classix (https://www.theclassix.org/our-vision) about Alice Childress and why she's a classic!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you want to take on the pandemic, privilege, and systemic racism with grace and heart… then you need to look to Alice Childress. A compassionate yet candid look at the complexities of prejudice, Wedding Band focuses on love and the forces that try to tear it down. The play follows Julia, a Black woman, through the complexities of an interracial relationship in 1918 Charleston, South Carolina. This generous community of Black women navigate an Influenza outbreak, war abroad, and war at home.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsThis episode is hosted by Mary Candler and Shannon Corenthin, and the scene is performed by Terra Chaney and Javan Nelson.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're dreaming about a combination of the musical folklore of Hadestown and Oklahoma… Spunk is a theatrical event (with music). An expansion of her well-loved short story (but with a more joyous ending), this play centers on the relationship between a married woman and a loveable wandering musician named Spunk. It is a humorous, moving portrait of a small-town Black community in the 1930s. Filled with music, magic, and folklore, Spunk manages to be epically theatrical whilst remaining grounded and endearingly quotidien. It is a love letter to small towns, the Black communities in the South, and the wanderers and romantics in us all.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsThis episode is hosted by Mary Candler and Skye Pagon, and the scene is performed by Shannon Corenthin and Sam Kiley.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're interested in the intersection of art and politics… consider these one-act plays! In Restless Night, two college students debate the virtues of creating art or abandoning it all to become a political activist -– both coming close to understanding each other, though not seeing eye to eye. A Hell of Her Own delves into similar questions: is rebellion more virtuous than being… well, virtuous? Women are at the center of these two beautiful, thoughtful slices of life – and both have the exact same breakdown of actors to make doubling easy.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsThis episode is hosted by Emily Lyon and Skye Pagon, and the scene is performed by Dorothea Gloria and Elizabeth Roberts.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you thought LGBTQ+ culture was invented in the 1960s, think again… Witty, tragic, and vibrant, The Drag is an exquisite portrait of the existing LGBTQ+ community of the 1920s. Mae West crafts an eloquent history lesson mixed with joyful celebration. The Drag shows the perils of “conversion therapy” and the criminalization of homosexuality, while simultaneously presenting in delightful clarity the same joys, losses, warmth, and transgressive counter-culture that our LGBTQ+ family feels to this day.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsThis episode is hosted by Skye Pagon and Shannon Corenthin, and the scene is performed by Basil Rodericks and Royston Scott.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking to engage a white audience in Black Lives Matter conversations… consider this heartbreaking yet love-filled family portrait. This play was “the first attempt to use the stage for race propaganda in order to enlighten the [white] American people relative to the lamentable condition of the millions of Colored citizens in this free republic,” according to the program for the first production in NYC in 1916. Rachel, a young Black woman in love, wonders if she could endure having kids of her own given the racism she and the children in her neighborhood face everyday. Though certainly a tragedy, this play also shows Black love and Black joy in this historically important piece.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsThis episode is hosted by Mary Candler and Shanon Corenthin, and the scene is performed by Jamal James and Samanthia Nixon.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you put The Seagull, A Doll's House, and Mrs. Warren's Profession in a blender… you get this thoughtful dramedy about a woman's true value. Our charming protagonist, Olga, is a successful painter, a wit, and, it turns out, a victim of sexual assault. Revelations of her past subvert her romantic future and ultimately lead her to end up with a kind man who values her soul rather than her body. Anima (or Her Soul) reminds us of the negative implications of patriarchal norms on both men and women. Step into this quirky, disarming, and award-winning play for an examination of who we're really seeking.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsThis episode is hosted by Emily Lyon and Shanon Corenthin, and Olga's monologue is performed by Madeline Addis.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're thinking of producing The Taming of the Shrew… consider this play, featuring five bold women with strength and agency instead. While Olivia takes on various unattractive qualities to un-suit her various suitors (despite her frustrated father's attempts to marry her off), Laura and Victoria are wooing each other – yet competing with each other – both in an effort to best Don Carlos. Bold Stroke for a Husband has the levity and hijinks of a Shakespearean comedy with the feminist attitudes of a much more modern piece, combining the best of Shrew and Twelfth Night in one tight, funny, uplifting narrative.ExpandTheCanon.combit.ly/HedgepigMembershipsEpisode hosted by Emily Lyon and Mary Candler. Scene performed by Sara Hymes and Greg Phelps.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you're looking for a restoration play that tackles the patriarchy (comedically, of course)… you've met your match. A star vehicle for a charismatic actor, this 1700's Moliere-esque comedy by Susanna Centlivre deftly ridicules hypocrisy, greed, hubris, and the absurdity of women's position as property. Anne Lovely has not one but four bizarre male guardians who must give consent to her marriage, and Colonel Fainwell is determined to win each over through the clever use of disguises. With insightful satire, physical comedy, and modern humor, this tight plot keeps an audience in joyful suspense until the final moment.Skye and Mary walk through this comical plot (#invisibelt), the possible lore of Susanna Centlivre's career, and reasons why this comedy is a classic. Hedgepig Ensemble members Jory Murphy and Andrew Hutcheson perform a scene!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

If you wish Twelfth Night's love triangle was a love octagon… meet this passionate and thrilling comedy. House of Desires is a 1600's romantic farce about two siblings involved in a variety of romantic entanglements. Originally written in Spanish, it is a wonderfully witty comedy of errors full of clear-sighted female protagonists, clever servants, and the folly of ambitious men.Emily and Shannon unpack Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz's fascinating life and the plot of this hilarious play. And Hedgepig Ensemble member Basil Rodericks performs a monologue from Catherine Boyle's translation!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

Meet your hosts – Mary, Emily, Skye, and Shannon – as they take you through why Expand the Canon came to be, how they each ended up in this conversation, and what you can expect from future episodes!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations