WORD for WORDcast

Percival Everett has said: “Since telling the South Carolina State Legislature in 1989 that I couldn't continue my address because of the presence of such a conspicuous sign of exclusion [the confederate flag], I have not really considered South Carolina.” This is a wickedly subversive story, about symbols and their meaning. "The Appropriation of Cultures" was written in 1996, and published in Everett's 2004 story collection, Damned If I Do, by Graywolf Press.WORD for WORDcast is Word for Word Theater Company's podcast. We specialize in bringing works of literature to the stage, using every word of a text in a dynamic, evocative style that preserves the original beauty of the prose or poetry. To maximize your experience, we recommend listening with headphones or good stereo speakers.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please consider a donation at zspace.org/pod. We are committed to paying the creative staff a profession rate for their work.Credits:Directed by Rami MargronCast:Cassidy Brown*Artis FountaineSafiya Fredericks*Gwen Loeb*David Everett Moore*Composer: Marcus ShelbySound Design: Elton BradmanDramaturg, Line Producer: Lindsay JenkinsProduction Assistant: Kelley Ho*Member, AEAPerformed by permission of the author.This episode also features a conversation between director Rami Margron, composer Marcus Shelby, and dramaturg Lindsay Jenkins following the story.

It's our incredible pleasure to announce the upcoming second season of the WORD for WORDcast!Join us on Thursday, July 22 as we release Season Two's first episode, “The Appropriation of Cultures” by Percival Everett. It will be available on our website at zspace.org/pod, as well as on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and most other major podcasting services.This wickedly subversive story is directed by Rami Margron with a talented cast consisting of Cassidy Brown, Artis Fountaine, Safiya Frederick, Gwen Loeb, and David Everett Moore. Renowned jazz artist Marcus Shelby composes original music and the grammy-nominated Elton Bradman provides sound design. A crew of Lindsay Jenkins (Line Producer), and Kelley Ho (Production Assistant), were instrumental in bringing this work to completion.As of now, Season Two's schedule also includes:"A Pair of Eyeglasses" by Anna Maria Ortese - directed by Rotimi Agbabiaka - releasing in two parts on August 26 and September 2"Home" by George Saunders - directed by Sheila Balter - releasing on October 7"Raymond's Run" and "Blues Ain't No Mockin Bird" by Toni Cade Bambara - directed by Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe - releasing on November 4We hope that you'll join us as we continue to bring your favorite short stories from the stage to the airwaves (and smart phones, and home computers…)

“Citizen” by author Greg Sarris, tells the story of Salvador, born in the U.S., raised in Mexico; son of an American Indian mother and a Mexican father. He has returned to California to find his mother, or rather, her grave. Working in the fields and ranches around Santa Rosa, he meets his mother's family, encountering both kindness and opportunism, as well as glimmers of hope. An American citizen, who speaks no English, Salvador procures his proof of citizenship and begins to discover his true identity, and what it means to belong.WORD for WORDcast is Word for Word Theater Company's podcast. We specialize in bringing works of literature to the stage, using every word of a text in a dynamic, evocative style that preserves the original beauty of the prose or poetry. To maximize your experience, we recommend listening with headphones or good stereo speakers.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please consider a donation at zspace.org/pod. We are committed to paying the creative staff a profession rate for their work.Credits:Directed by Gendell Hing-HernándezCast:Carlos Aguirre* - Marco, Eduardo, EnsembleCarolyn Dunn - EldineMarie-Claire Erdynast - Lily, Candy, EnsembleRodrigo García - SalvadorEdie Flores - Salvador's Father, Al, Ioncencio, EnsembleRegina Morones - Catarina, Ofelia, EnsembleRyan Tasker* - Mike, EnsembleDavid R. Molina: Sound Design, Original Music, Editor and Mix EngineerImpuritan: Additional Original Music ("Light is Mortal Too")Carlos Aguirre: Heart Beat BoxRas K'Dee: Additional Original Music (“Buscando”)Imani Champion*: Line ProducerDesirée Alcocer: Production AssistantColm McNally: Production Manager Joe Moore: Sound EngineerAndrew Burmester: Marketing and Distribution*Member, AEAIncluded in this podcast after the story is a conversation with Author Greg Sarris, Director Gendell Hing-Hernández and Word for Word Co-Artistic Director JoAnne Winter

“Citizen” by author Greg Sarris, tells the story of Salvador, born in the U.S., raised in Mexico; son of an American Indian mother and a Mexican father. He has returned to California to find his mother, or rather, her grave. Working in the fields and ranches around Santa Rosa, he meets his mother's family, encountering both kindness and opportunism, as well as glimmers of hope. An American citizen, who speaks no English, Salvador procures his proof of citizenship and begins to discover his true identity, and what it means to belong.WORD for WORDcast is Word for Word Theater Company's podcast. We specialize in bringing works of literature to the stage, using every word of a text in a dynamic, evocative style that preserves the original beauty of the prose or poetry. To maximize your experience, we recommend listening with headphones or good stereo speakers.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please consider a donation at zspace.org/pod. We are committed to paying the creative staff a profession rate for their work.Credits:Directed by Gendell Hing-HernándezCast:Carlos Aguirre* - Marco, Eduardo, EnsembleCarolyn Dunn - EldineMarie-Claire Erdynast - Lily, Candy, EnsembleRodrigo García - SalvadorEdie Flores - Salvador's Father, Al, Ioncencio, EnsembleRegina Morones - Catarina, Ofelia, EnsembleRyan Tasker* - Mike, EnsembleDavid R. Molina: Sound Design, Original Music, Editor and Mix EngineerImpuritan: Additional Original Music ("Light is Mortal Too")Carlos Aguirre: Heart Beat BoxRas K'Dee: Additional Original Music (“Buscando”)Imani Champion*: Line ProducerDesirée Alcocer: Production AssistantColm McNally: Production Manager Joe Moore: Sound EngineerAndrew Burmester: Marketing and Distribution*Member, AEAIncluded in this podcast is after the story are two tracks featuring cast member Carlos Aguirre:Tourai - Emcee Infinite and Nezbeat (collaborator and producer)The Fall - Emcee Infinite, produced by Keith Pinto

"The 14 Mission" is a gritty Christmas story about loneliness and friendship by San Francisco writer Anita Cabrera. On Christmas Day, a man takes a crosstown bus to visit his best friend. The man remembers his own life as a drunken outcast, so troubled he was once thrown off the bus he is now riding. As the bus ride proceeds and he traverses the neighborhoods of San Francisco, he considers what he owes his friend.WORD for WORDcast is Word for Word Theater Company's podcast. We specialize in bringing works of literature to the stage, using every word of a text in a dynamic, evocative style that preserves the original beauty of the prose or poetry. This is an ongoing series, upcoming stories are “Citizen” by Greg Sarris (1/14 and 1/21), and “Books and Roses” by Helen Oyeyemi (2/14, 2/21, and 2/28).To maximize your experience, we recommend listening with headphones or good stereo speakers.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please consider a donation at zspace.org/pod. We are committed to paying the creative staff a profession rate for their work.Also included in this podcast is an interview with author Anita Cabrera and director Stephanie Hunt by Vanessa Flores, Word for Word Core Company Member.Credits:Directed by Stephanie HuntCast:Robert Ernst* ** - Ron / GypsyRosie Hallett* - Sherri / EnsembleDorian Lockett* ** - Bus Driver / EnsembleAlexander Pannullo* - Skinhead Ed / EnsembleAmy Prosser* ** - Mother / EnsembleJomar Tagatac* - MelvinMichael Torres* ** - Pelican PeteSound Design: Drew YerysLine Producer: Krys SwanProduction Manager: Colm McNallySound Engineer: Joe MooreMarketing and Distribution: Andrew Burmester*Member, AEA**Member, SAG/AFTRA

"The Homeless" is the third and final part of E.M. Forster's "The Machine Stops." As it opens, we find Kuno threatened with Homelessness for his transgressions against The Machine.  Written in 1909, this story is a dystopian look at the future, where everyone lives underground, is controlled by "The Machine," and communicates with each other over vast distances through glowing blue plates. WORD for WORDcast is Word for Word Theater Company's new podcast. We specialize in bringing works of literature to the stage, using every word of a text in a dynamic, evocative style that preserves the original beauty of the prose or poetry. This will be an ongoing series, with upcoming stories planned by Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Alice Munro, Tobias Wolff, Helen Oyeyemi, and George Saunders (rights pending). Stay tuned for an announcement about our next story.To maximize your experience, we recommend listening with headphones or good stereo speakers.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please consider a donation at zspace.org/pod. We are committed to paying the creative staff a profession rate for their work.Credits:Directed by Gendell Hing-HernándezCast:Carla Gallardo - The Attendant/EnsembleSusan Harloe* - VashtiDavid Everett Moore* - KunoBrian Rivera* ** - The Speaker/EnsembleRyan Tasker* - The Machine/EnsembleSound Design and Original Music by David R. MolinaSound Engineer - Joe MooreProduction Manager - Colm McNallyStage Manager - Tyler Miller Dramaturgy - Delia MacDougallMarketing and Distribution - Andrew BurmesterPodcast volunteer - Carly Dreame Brethe*AEA **SAG/AFTRA

In "The Mending Apparatus," part 2 of E.M. Forster's "The Machine Stops" we find Vashti shocked by her son Kuno as they grapple with their conflicting views of The Machine.  Written in 1909, this story is a dystopian look at the future, where everyone lives underground, is controlled by "The Machine," and communicates with each other over vast distances through glowing blue plates. WORD for WORDcast is Word for Word Theater Company's new podcast. We specialize in bringing works of literature to the stage, using every word of a text in a dynamic, evocative style that preserves the original beauty of the prose or poetry. This will be an ongoing series, with upcoming stories planned by Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Alice Munro, Tobias Wolff, Helen Oyeyemi, and George Saunders (rights pending).To maximize your experience, we recommend listening with headphones or good stereo speakers. Be sure to subscribe or tune in for part three, "The Homeless," released on  10/1/20.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please consider a donation at zspace.org/pod. We are committed to paying the creative staff a profession rate for their work.Credits:Directed by Gendell Hing-HernándezCastCarla Gallardo - The Attendant/EnsembleSusan Harloe* - VashtiDavid Everett Moore* - KunoBrian Rivera* ** - The Speaker/EnsembleRyan Tasker* - The Machine/EnsembleSound Design and Original Music by David R. MolinaSound Engineer - Joe MooreProduction Manager - Colm McNallyStage Manager - Tyler Miller Dramaturgy - Delia MacDougallMarketing and Distribution - Andrew BurmesterPodcast volunteer - Carly Dreame Brethe*AEA **SAG/AFTRA

We are thrilled to premier the WORD for WORDcast, a podcast from the Word for Word theater company. We specialize in bringing works of literature to the stage, using every word of a text in a dynamic, evocative style that preserves the original beauty of the prose or poetry. This podcast will be an ongoing series, with upcoming stories planned by Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Alice Munro, Tobias Wolff, Helen Oyeyemi, and George Saunders (rights pending).Our featured story is "The Machine Stops" by E.M. Forster. Written in 1909, this is a dystopian look at the future, where everyone lives underground, is controlled by "The Machine," and communicates with each other over vast distances through glowing blue plates. To maximize your experience, we recommend listening with headphones or good stereo speakers. Be sure to subscribe or tune in for parts two and three, "The Mending Apparatus" (released 9/24) and "The Homeless" (released 10/1).If you've enjoyed this podcast, please consider a donation at zspace.org/pod. We are committed to paying the creative staff a profession rate for their work.Credits:Directed by Gendell Hing-HernándezCastCarla Gallardo - The Attendant/EnsembleSusan Harloe* - VashtiDavid Everett Moore* - KunoBrian Rivera* ** - The Speaker/EnsembleRyan Tasker* - The Machine/EnsembleSound Design and Original Music by David R. MolinaSound Engineer - Joe MooreProduction Manager - Colm McNallyStage Manager - Tyler Miller Dramaturgy - Delia MacDougallMarketing and Distribution - Andrew BurmesterPodcast volunteer - Carly Dreame Brethe*AEA **SAG/AFTRA

Announcing the WORD for WORDcast! We are gearing up for our September 17 release. The debut episodes will feature “The Machine Stops” by E.M. Forester.Written in 1909, this is a dystopian look at the future, where everyone lives underground, is controlled by “The Machine,” and communicates with each other over vast distances through glowing blue plates.  Released in 3 parts:  September 17: "The Air-Ship"September 24: "The Mending Apparatus"October 1: "The Homeless"Directed by Gendell Hing-HernándezCarla Gallardo - The Attendant/EnsembleSusan Harloe* - VashtiDavid Everett Moore* - KunoBrian Rivera* ** - The Speaker/EnsembleRyan Tasker* - The Machine/EnsembleSound Design and Original Music by David R. MolinaSound Engineer - Joe MooreProduction Manager - Colm McNallyStage Manager - Tyler Miller Dramaturgy - Delia MacDougallDirector of Marketing and Distribution - Andrew BurmesterPodcast volunteer - Carly Dreame Brethe*AEA **SAG/AFTRAIf you liked what you heard please consider making a donation at zspace.org/pod to help us support the artists and technicians who make this work possible.