TNT artFORUM

This week, award winning writer, Crystal Skillman has some great conversations and share some fun laughs with Vida and Hannah. The trio discuss women in Theater, growing up under the male gaze, and how Theater should be seen as a Holy Place. ARTIST BIO CRYSTAL SKILLMAN Crystal is an award winning writer who creates darkly funny, high-concept work with heart and edge. As a playwright she is a four time NYT Critics' Pick, as well as an award-winner as a bookwriter for the musical MARY AND MAX (with composer Bobby Cronin ), and her comic book credits include work for Marvel and “Adventure Time”. You can listen to the popular audio drama KING KIRBY (with writer Fred Van Lente) released from Broadway Podcast Network this year. A passionate believer in art and activism, Crystal is the author of the play RAIN AND ZOE SAVE THE WORLD, a coming of age story of two teenage climate activists, which has been optioned for a premiere next year and political thriller PULP VÉRITÉ (The Kilroys) presented earlier this year at the Playwrights' Center in the Ruth Easton New Play Series. Upcoming work in television includes the animated series EAT FIGHTER (Based on her WebToon comic), the YA animated series COSMIC CRITTERS, and the musical half hour comedy OVERNIGHT SUCCESS (Co-Conceiver Lauren Elder, Kampfire Films). Crystal's new audio drama THE MAGICIAN'S MAGICIAN will launch this fall. Crystal's play Rain and Zoe Save the World premiered at the West End's Jermyn Street Theatre Feb 10th through March 12. Directed by Hersh Ellis featuring original music by Bobby Cronin. Her musical Postcard American Town in San Diego State University runs April 29th through May 5th Crystal on IG and twitter @crystalskillman …… Thank you for checking out TNT: artFORUM. Subscribe to hear more of what is next for The New Theatre. This podcast is produced, edited, and directed by Hannah Sikora and Kaelen Williams. Theme music by Julian Evans www.julianevans.info

'Red Bike' Playwright, Caridad Svich and Director/Writer, Kareem Fahmy talk to TNT about working and developing new works in the theatre industry- what needs to change and where to start. Caridad discusses how to make climate aware art with a transmedia design in mind. Kareem goes on to say that artists are the vanguard to change. – and so much more in this discussion with TNT Artistic Director, Nathaniel Shaw. ARTIST BIOS: Caridad Svich received a 2012 OBIE for Lifetime Achievement. Her work as a playwright, translator, lyricist, and essayist has been seen in print, live and digital stages at diverse venues across the US and abroad. Key plays in her extensive repertoire include 12 Ophelias, Iphigenia Crash Land Falls…, Red Bike and The House of the Spirits (based on Isabel Allende's novel). Theatrical digital world premieres in 2021 have included The Book of Magdalene at Main Street Theater, Houston, and Theatre: a love story at Know Theatre, Cincinnati. Memories of Overdevelopment was developed at The Goodman Theatre's Future Labs Reading Series this summer. As a screenwriter, her first feature film (as co-screenwriter, based on her play) Fugitive Dreams has been seen at the Fantasia, Austin, Tallinn Black Nights, Manchester (UK) and Maryland Film Festivals. Among her recognitions are an American Theatre Critics Association Primus Prize, the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award, and National Latino Playwriting Award (which she has received twice). She has edited several books on theatre. She most recently authored a book about Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Routledge). Her second feature film Abilene (as screenwriter) is currently in post-production. Her new book Toward a Future Theatre was published in December 2021 by Methuen Drama. Follow Caridad on Twitter @Csvich. Make sure not to miss their new play THE HOUSE ON THE LAGOON, based on Rosario Ferre's novel, premieres at GALA Theatre in Washington D.C. February 3-27, 2022. …… Kareem Fahmy is a Canadian-born director and playwright of Egyptian descent. His plays, which include American Fast, A Distinct Society, Dodi & Diana, Pareidolia, The In-Between, and an adaptation of the acclaimed novel The Yacoubian Building, have been developed at Atlantic Theatre Company, The Denver Center, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Northlight Theatre, The Magic Theatre, Capital Repertory Theatre, New York Stage & Film, and more. Current commissions: Artist Repertory Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Colt Coeur. Former Sundance Theatre Lab Fellow, Yaddo Literature Fellow, Phil Killian Directing Fellow (OSF), and TCG Rising Leader of Color. Co-founder/Chair of the Middle Eastern American Writers Lab at The Lark. MFA (Theatre Directing), Columbia. www.kareemfahmy.com …… Thank you for checking out TNT: artFORUM. Subscribe to hear more of what is next for The New Theatre. This podcast is produced, edited, and directed by Hannah Sikora and Kaelen Williams. Theme music by Julian Evans www.julianevans.info

In this episode Vida and Nathaniel discuss where to begin when deconstructing the old theatrical model. Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director of Mass Cultural Council, walks them through how he believes artists are the ones to begin the work. They talk fundraising, non-profit boards, and how to hold companies accountable to the “purpose.” – The work begins now. Michael J. Bobbitt is an award-winning theater director, choreographer, and playwright who has dedicated his professional career to arts leadership. He began his tenure as Executive Director of Mass Cultural Council in February 2021 and is the highest-ranking cultural official in Massachusetts. Bobbitt serves on the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) Board of Directors, the National Assembly of State Arts Agency's (NASAA) Board of Directors, and was selected for artEquity's BIPOC Leadership Circle. He is the former Artistic Director of the New Repertory Theater in Watertown, Massachusetts and the Adventure Theater in Maryland. Bobbitt gained extensive experience in nonprofit arts management by training at Harvard Business School's Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management, The National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Program, and Cornell University's Diversity and Inclusion Certification Program. As a director and choreographer he has worked nationally and internationally. As a writer his plays have been published by Concord Theatricals, Broadway Publishing, and Plays for Young Audiences. Bobbitt is the recipient of the Excel Leadership Award (Center for Nonprofit Advancement), the Emerging Leader Award (County Executive's Excellence in the Arts and Humanities), and Person of the Year Award (Maryland Theatre Guide), along with eight Helen Hayes Awards. Facebook – Michael J. Bobbitt Twitter - @mbobbitt IG - @michaeljamesbobbitt massculturalcouncil.org Facebook Twitter https://massculturalcouncil.org/blog/racial-equity-plan-launched/ - Racial Equity Plan —----- Community Shoutout and News – Live Arts - Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau Jan 14th -30th in Charlottesville @ livearts Writers Den at the new Brewers Cafe Location ! Virtual All through January - open mic night @ thewritersdenrva @ roscoeburnems – Richmond's first Poet Laureate @brewerscafe —----- Thank you for checking out TNT: artFORUM. Subscribe to hear more of what is next for The New Theatre. Follow us on all social media platforms for updates on what's next for The New Theatre! Like what you hear? Have questions for Vida and Nathaniel? Follow and message us on socials or email us at info@ thenewtheatrerva . org. This podcast is produced, edited, and directed by Hannah Sikora and Kaelen Williams. Theme music by Julian Evans www.julianevans.info

In this episode co-hosts Vida & Nathaniel talk to Warren Adams, co-founder of the Black Theatre Coalition and Smada Media Group about the origin of the BTC, how data analysis is vital to storytelling and change, the connection between artistic expression and historical record - all leading to the origin of BTC. Grab your notebook because Warren drops some fast facts that you don't want to miss. Lots to talk about after this episode so make sure to tweet, comment, share, review, email us your thoughts to keep the conversation going. Thank you for checking out TNT: artFORUM. Subscribe to hear more of what is next for The New Theatre. Follow us on all social media platforms for updates on what's next for The New Theatre! Like what you hear? Have questions for Vida and Nathaniel? Follow and message us on socials or email us at info@thenewtheatrerva.org. This podcast is produced, edited, and directed by Hannah Sikora and Kaelen Williams. Theme music by Julian Evans www.julianevans.info Warren Adams Smada Media Group Black Theatre Coalition https://blacktheatrecoalition.org/ Instagram @warrenadams1976 Twitter @warrenadams

Featuring guests Philip Crosby and Katrinah Carol Lewis. The inaugural episode of the TNT Art: Forum features our guests Phillip Crosby, Executive Director of the Richmond Triangle Players and Katrinah Carol Lewis, Artistic Director of Museum Theatre at Colonial Williamsburg. Our co-hosts Nathaniel Shaw and Vida Williams sit down with them to discuss the genesis of their careers in the city of Richmond and the future of it's arts community. A city full of complex history, these four discuss how to examine and grow by using our tools of creativity and community. Thank you for checking out TNT: artFORUM. Subscribe to hear more of what is next for The New Theatre. Follow us on all social media platforms for updates on what's next for The New Theatre! Like what you hear? Have questions for Vida and Nathaniel? Follow and message us on socials or email us at info@ thenewtheatrerva . org. This podcast is produced, edited, and directed by Hannah Sikora and Kaelen Williams. Theme music by Julian Evans www.julianevans.info Episode One was recorded at Common House: Richmond. Follow Phil and his work at The Richmond Triangle Players www.rtriangle.org IG: @TrianglePlayers Facebook: facebook.com/rtriangle https://www.facebook.com/rtriangle/ Katrinah IG: @ katrinahcarol