Podcasts about Chicago Dramatists

Actor Eric Simonson joins Rick Kogan to talk about his book, “Between the Lines: Steppenwolf’s Seagull and A Reluctant Actor’s Journey Back to the Stage,” and upcoming appearances at Steppenwolf on the 10th and Chicago Dramatists on the 11th.

A multi-hyphenate theatre maker who views her solo work as an artistic extension of the social justice work she has been committed to for the last thirty years. Arlene's award-winning solo works tour throughout the United States and internationally. Many of these works are an exploration of disability in our culture. As an actor she has performed on stages big and small in LA and Chicago and has worked in film, and television (Some of it good- Most of it bad). As a playwright she is the recipient of a Chicago Cultural Center Theatre Residency, a 3 Arts/UIC Fellowship, a Millennium Parks Grant from The Boeing Company Charitable Trust, a LA Ovations & a LA Garland Award. Her work has been a finalist in New Plays from Heartland, and a semi-finalist for Blue Ink Award, O'Neill Play. Her writings have been featured in Ms. Magazine, Huffington Post, Medium, Paramanu Pentaquark, En Posse Review, True Stories About Love - Chicago Story Press and Women of Letters Anthology by Penguin Press. She has a Doctorate degree from UCLA, teaches writing and performing and coaches across the country. Arlene is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists where she developed the Solo & Story curriculum. Her soon-to-be released new book Writing & Performing the One-Person Show will be published by Northwestern University Press 2025. Finally, she is to her knowledge the only actor to have appeared in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure AND Dougie Howser, M.D. in the same 24 hours.

In this episode of the poetry edition, Steven Peterson talks about his poem “Summer Drums.” Steven writes poems and plays in Chicago. A selection of his poems are in the anthology Taking Root in the Heart (Paraclete Press, 2023). His recent poems appear in Alabama Literary Review, The Christian Century, Dappled Things, First Things, Reformed Journal, and elsewhere. His plays have been produced around the USA and he is currently a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/reformed-journal/message

Stephanie Kline is a playwright from Arlington, VA. She is a Marine Corps veteran, former Air Force dependent, and served as an Army civilian and defense contractor. Her short plays have won multiple competitions and festival selections, including selection to the NYC Players' Theatre 2021 Short Play Festival with a four-night, off-Broadway run of ‘Torture Chamber.' Her first full-length stage play-in-progress, a drama about the military's treatment of servicemembers with PTSD, was selected for the 2023 Chicago Dramatists' Scene Showcase. Stephanie is a Dramatists Guild member and studied playwriting at the Kennedy Center, DC's Shakespeare Theatre Company, and Chicago Dramatists.

Stephanie Kline is a playwright from Arlington, VA. She is a Marine Corps veteran, former Air Force dependent, and served as an Army civilian and defense contractor. Her short plays have won multiple competitions and festival selections, including selection to the NYC Players' Theatre 2021 Short Play Festival with a four-night, off-Broadway run of ‘Torture Chamber.' Her first full-length stage play-in-progress, a drama about the military's treatment of servicemembers with PTSD, was selected for the 2023 Chicago Dramatists' Scene Showcase. Stephanie is a Dramatists Guild member and studied playwriting at the Kennedy Center, DC's Shakespeare Theatre Company, and Chicago Dramatists.

Hi there, Episode 100, woohoo!!! Today I am honored to be arts calling Alvaro Saar Rios and Mabelle Reynoso! Alvaro Saar Rios is a Texican playwright living in Chicago. His plays have been performed in New York City, Mexico City, Hawaii, Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee and all over Texas. He has received playwriting commissions from various organizations, including Kennedy Center, Chicago Children's Theatre, First Stage, Houston Grand Opera, Honolulu Theatre for Youth, Purple Rose Theatre Company, Houston Community College, Zoological Society of Milwaukee and Omaha's Rose Theater. His award-winning play Luchadora! is published by Dramatic Publishing Inc. Other plays include On The Wings of a Mariposa, Unmuted, Bienvenidos a Milwaukee/Welcome to Milwaukee, and Carmela Full of Wishes. Alvaro holds an MFA in Writing for the Stage and Screen from Northwestern University. He is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and Playwright-InResidence at Milwaukee's First Stage. Alvaro is a proud veteran of the US Army and an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. https://www.alvarosaarrios.com Twitter & Instagram: @realCrazyMex Sign up for Alvaro's newsletter, El Chisme here: http://eepurl.com/hKLScn -- Mabelle Reynoso (she/her/ella) is a multidisciplinary storyteller who has devoted her artistic career to building connections in communities through storytelling. Mabelle is a two-time winner of the California Young Playwrights contest ("Santa Does a Mitzvah"; "Dreaming Pancho Villa"). Since 2004, Mabelle has been a teaching artist for the nonprofit arts education organization Playwrights Project. Her own art is largely informed by her work with underserved and marginalized populations, including Spanish-speaking immigrants, expectant teens, foster youth, and justice-involved youth and adults. Mabelle's recent playwriting commissions include Olympia Family Theatre (The Secret Garden, 2022), TuYo Theatre (Mercado de Miedo, 2022), and San Diego Symphony (Noel Noel 2022). She is a recipient of the 2021 ReImagine: New Plays in TYA grant for her play, "¡Lotería: Game On!" sponsored by Write Now, The Kennedy Center, and the Children's Theatre Fund of America. Her play “The Scariest Movie”, co-authored with her 11-year-old son, was published by Dramatic Publishing Inc. in the anthology “I Have a Story” (2021). Her play "The Sunset Tour" was the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE) 2022 Playwrights for Change winner and will be published in the forthcoming Best Plays of 2023 by Smith & Krauss. In addition, Mabelle is a member of TuYo Theatre where she leads Pa' Letras, a workshop for emerging Latinx playwrights. She has been a guest lecturer at San Diego State University, University of San Diego, and Southwestern College, and has presented at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), the National Latinx Writers Gathering, and the William Inge Theatre Festival. Mabelle also co-hosts the podcast Hey Playwright. She has a BFA from New York University, an MFA from the School of Visual Arts, and is currently pursuing her PhD in Education for Social Justice at the University of San Diego. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild, TYA/USA, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Mabelle was proudly born in Tijuana, Mexico. Stop what you're doing and go listen to Hey Playwright! Mabelle's incredible podcast with Tori Rice! https://heyplaywright.com/ "Theatre is for all of us." "Theatre is going back to its roots, smaller, portable, effective." Arts Calling is produced by Jaime Alejandro (cruzfolio.com). If you like the show: leave a review, or share it with someone who's starting their creative journey! Your support truly makes a difference! Go make a dent: much love, j https://artscalling.com/welcome/

In this episode of the Poetry Edition, Rose Postma interviews Steven Peterson about his poem “Proclaiming Psalm 19 from a Lakeside Dock.” Steven is poet and playwright living in Chicago. His recent poems appear in Alabama Literary Review, America, The Christian Century, and other journals. He is currently a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/reformed-journal/message

Today I talked to Richard Fulco about his novel We Are All Together (Wampus Multimedia, 2022). Stephen Cane is a guitarist – he's already walked out on one band to join another one that subsequently falls apart. He gets himself to New York City to try to rejoin his first band, the one headed by his best friend and former bandmate, Dylan John. It's 1967, drugs and girls are everywhere, Dylan is on the verge of becoming a rock n' roll star, and Stephen makes some extremely poor choices. When Dylan quits just before a big show, Stephen is given a huge opportunity, but it doesn't take long before he starts making more bad decisions. He's in turmoil, as is the entire country, and his choices in love and loyalty cause him to spiral into self-doubt. Is being a rock star worth losing everything he holds dear? Richard Fulco's first novel, There Is No End to This Slope (Wampus Multimedia) was published in 2014. He received an MFA in playwriting from Brooklyn College where he was the recipient of a MacArthur Scholarship. His plays have either been presented or developed at The New York International Fringe Festival, The Playwrights' Center, The Flea, Here Arts Center, Chicago Dramatists and The Dramatists Guild. Richard's one-act play Swedish Fish was published by Heuer Publishing and his stories, poetry, interviews and reviews have appeared in The Brooklyn Rail, Failbetter, Across the Margin, Fiction Writers Review and American Songwriter (among others). Richard is a member of the Pen American Center where he is also a mentor in the Prison Writing Mentorship Program. For six years, he wrote about music on his blog, Riffraf. He teaches creative writing and English at an independent high school in New Jersey. Richard interviews writers for his “5 Questions” series at www.richardfulco.com. When he's not writing and teaching, Richard is playing basketball with his twins, Chloe and Connor, watching the Mets play, riding the Peloton bike, or listening to vinyl. G.P. Gottlieb is the author of the Whipped and Sipped Mystery Series and a prolific baker of healthful breads and pastries. Please contact her through her website (GPGottlieb.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Today I talked to Richard Fulco about his novel We Are All Together (Wampus Multimedia, 2022). Stephen Cane is a guitarist – he's already walked out on one band to join another one that subsequently falls apart. He gets himself to New York City to try to rejoin his first band, the one headed by his best friend and former bandmate, Dylan John. It's 1967, drugs and girls are everywhere, Dylan is on the verge of becoming a rock n' roll star, and Stephen makes some extremely poor choices. When Dylan quits just before a big show, Stephen is given a huge opportunity, but it doesn't take long before he starts making more bad decisions. He's in turmoil, as is the entire country, and his choices in love and loyalty cause him to spiral into self-doubt. Is being a rock star worth losing everything he holds dear? Richard Fulco's first novel, There Is No End to This Slope (Wampus Multimedia) was published in 2014. He received an MFA in playwriting from Brooklyn College where he was the recipient of a MacArthur Scholarship. His plays have either been presented or developed at The New York International Fringe Festival, The Playwrights' Center, The Flea, Here Arts Center, Chicago Dramatists and The Dramatists Guild. Richard's one-act play Swedish Fish was published by Heuer Publishing and his stories, poetry, interviews and reviews have appeared in The Brooklyn Rail, Failbetter, Across the Margin, Fiction Writers Review and American Songwriter (among others). Richard is a member of the Pen American Center where he is also a mentor in the Prison Writing Mentorship Program. For six years, he wrote about music on his blog, Riffraf. He teaches creative writing and English at an independent high school in New Jersey. Richard interviews writers for his “5 Questions” series at www.richardfulco.com. When he's not writing and teaching, Richard is playing basketball with his twins, Chloe and Connor, watching the Mets play, riding the Peloton bike, or listening to vinyl. G.P. Gottlieb is the author of the Whipped and Sipped Mystery Series and a prolific baker of healthful breads and pastries. Please contact her through her website (GPGottlieb.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Roger Q. Mason (Playwright) (they/them) joins Black Hair in the Big Leagues with host, Salisha Thomas. They were recently touted by The Brooklyn Rail as "quickly becoming one of the most significant playwrights of the decade." Their playwriting has been seen on Broadway at Circle in the Square (Circle Reading Series); Off and Off-Off-Broadway at MCC Theatre with Carnegie Hall, La Mama ETC, New York Theatre Workshop, New Group, The Fire This Time Festival, Dixon Place, American Theatre of Actors, Flea Theatre, and Access Theater; and regionally at McCarter Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, Steep Theatre, Serenbe Playhouse, Theatre Rhinoceros, Open Fist Theatre Company, EST/LA, Coeurage Theatre, Rogue Artists Ensemble, Son of Semele, and Skylight Theatre. Roger is an honoree of the Kilroys List; the Chuck Rowland Pioneer Award; the Fire This Time Festival Alumni Spotlight; and the Hollywood Fringe Festival Encore Producers Award. Mason's films have been recognized by the British Film Institute Flare Festival, Lonely Wolf International Film Festival, SCAD Film Festival, AT&T Film Award, Atlanta International Film Festival, Webby Awards, and Telly Awards. They've screened at the British Film Institute Flare Festival, Lonely Wolf International Film Festival, Inside Out Festival (Toronto), SCAD Film Festival, Hollyshorts, Outfest and Outfest Fusion, Rio LGBT Film Festival (Brazil), Bentonville Film Festival, Outshine Film Festival, and the Pan African Film Festival.  Mason serves as an associate producer on Discovery+ docuseries BOOK OF QUEER and researcher for Freeform/Disney's HOW WE GOT HERE. Mason holds degrees from Princeton University, Middlebury College, and Northwestern University. They are a member of Page 73's Interstate 73 Writers Group and Primary Stages Writing Cohort, the co-host of Sister Roger's Gayborhood podcast with Lovell Holder, and the lead mentor of the New Visions Fellowship and Shay Foundation Fellowship. Roger Q. Mason will premiere their much-anticipated play Lavender Men with Skylight Theatre Company and Playwrights' Arena in Los Angeles, August 6-September 4. Directed by Lovell Holder, this genre-pushing play courageously re-imagines one of America's most beloved historical icons, President Abraham Lincoln, through a queer person of color's storytelling lens. The production will also be accessible to a national audience via streaming performances beginning August 20. Visit www.LavenderMenPlayLA.com for more information and to purchase tickets. Follow Roger @rogerq.mason Follow Host, Salisha Thomas @salishathomas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thinking Cap Theatre's Artistic Director Nicole Stodard Ph.D talks with Brian Herrera, Associate Professor of Theatre at the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University, and Anne Garcia-Romero, Associate Professor of Theatre in the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre at the University of Notre Dame. BRIAN HERERRA's BIO Brian Herrera is, by turns, a writer, teacher and scholar - presently based in New Jersey, but forever rooted in New Mexico. Brian's work, whether academic or artistic, examines the history of gender, sexuality and race within and through U.S. popular performance. He is author of The Latina/o Theatre Commons 2013 National Convening: A Narrative Report (HowlRound, 2015). His book Latin Numbers: Playing Latino in Twentieth-Century U.S. Popular Performance (Michigan, 2015) was awarded the George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism and received an Honorable Mention for the John W. Frick Book Award from the American Theatre and Drama Society. With Stephanie Batiste and Robin Bernstein, Brian serves as co-editor of “Performances and American Cultures” series at NYU Press. Also a performer, Brian's autobiographical storywork performances (including I Was the Voice of Democracy and TouchTones) have been presented in venues large and small across the United States, as well as Beirut and Abu Dhabi. Brian is a longstanding contributor to the Fornés Institute, a project committed to preserving and amplifying the legacy of María Irene Fornés. He has also worked closely with ArtEquity, an organization committed to creating and sustaining a culture of equity and inclusion through the arts; with Theatrical Intimacy Education, a group researching, developing, and teaching best practices for staging theatrical intimacy; and with The Sol Project, an initiative dedicated to producing the work of Latinx playwrights in New York City and beyond. He serves on the Director's Council of the DramaLeague and on the boards of Clubbed Thumb and Bard at the Gate. Brian is presently at work on several scholarly book projects: Next! A Brief History of Casting, a historical study of the material practices of casting in US popular performance; Starring Miss Virginia Calhoun, a narrative portrait of a deservedly obscure early 20th century actress/writer/producer; and Fornés in Context, an anthology (co-edited with Anne García Romero and under contract with Cambridge University Press) documenting the life, work and legacy of playwright María Irene Fornés. He also publishes the #TheatreClique Newsletter. ANNE GARCIA-ROMERO'S BIO Anne García-Romero's plays include: Staging the Daffy Dame, Lorca in New York, Mary Domingo, Provenance, Paloma, Earthquake Chica, Mary Peabody in Cuba, Desert Longing, Juanita's Statue, Girlus Equinus and Santa Concepción. Her plays have been developed and produced most notably at the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theatre, the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, The Goodman Theatre, Denver Center Theatre, The Mark Taper Forum, Hartford Stage, Borderlands Theater, National Hispanic Cultural Center, Nevada Repertory Company, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Kitchen Theatre, and South Coast Repertory. She has also written for Peninsula Films, Elysian Films and Disney Creative Entertainment. Her translation of The Gröholm Method by Jordi Galcerán has been produced in Los Angeles and London. She's been a Jerome Fellow at the Playwrights Center of Minneapolis as well as a MacDowell Colony fellow. She is an alumna of Chicago Dramatists and of New Dramatists in New York City. She is a founding member of the Latinx Theatre Commons, where she contributes to The María Irene Fornés Institute. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-cap-theatre/support

Capítulo 034: On this episode of Ocu-Pasión we are joined by writer, actor, singer and producer, Sandra Delgado. Listen in as we discuss reimagining Latin history on stage and creating  the Sandra Delgado Experience: "A big band music spectacular with a lil bit of dancing, a lil bit of storytelling and a whole lot of joy."Sandra Delgado is a Colombian-American writer, actor, singer and producer born and raised in Chicago. She is best known for her play La Havana Madrid, which enjoyed sold-out runs at Steppenwolf and Goodman Theatre, and most recently in a co-production with Teatro Vista and Collaboraction. It was featured in the New York Times and CNN, received recognition as one of the best plays of 2017 by New City Chicago and Time Out Chicago, the Time-Out Audience Award for Best New Work, and the Alliance of Latinx Theatre Artists (ALTA) Award for Best Production.  Sandra is also a respected veteran of the stage, with a career spanning two decades. In addition to her work at artistic homes, Teatro Vista and Collaboraction, she has been seen on stages across Chicago including The Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Victory Gardens and About Face. Recent highlights include the titular role in La Havana Madrid, La Ruta at Steppenwolf and starring off-Broadway in the Public Theatre's production of Oedipus el Rey as Jocasta.  Sandra is a 2021 United States Artists Fellow, serves on the board of the Chicago Public Library, served on the City of Chicago's Cultural Advisory Council (2019-2021) and is a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists. She is an Illinois Arts Council Fellow in Literature, a recipient of the 3Arts Award, the Joyce Award, The Theater Communications Group (TCG) Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowship in the Extraordinary Potential Category, a three-time Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events grantee, and a 3Arts 3AP Project Grantee, and received the 2017 Latina Professional of the Year Award from the Chicago Latino Network. Ms. Delgado is Goodman's Playwrights Unit and a TCG Young Leader of Color Alum. She is one of the twenty women of Chicago arts and culture honored in Kerry James Marshall's mural RUSH MORE on the facade of the Chicago Cultural Center.Her latest project, The Sandra Delgado Experience, a fusion of music and storytelling will premiere this spring. Follow Sandra:Website: https://www.sandradelgado.net/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yosoysandradelgado/https://linktr.ee/ms.sandradelgadoOcu-Pasión Podcast is a heartfelt interview series showcasing the experiences of artists and visionaries within the Latin American/ Latinx community hosted by Delsy Sandoval. Join us as we celebrate culture & creativity through thoughtful dialogue where guests from all walks of life are able to authentically express who they are and connect in ways listeners have not heard before.Delsy Sandoval is the Host and Executive Producer of Ocu-Pasión. If you want to support the podcast, please rate and review the show here. You can also get in touch with Delsy at www.ocupasionpodcast.comFollow Ocu-Pasión on Instagram: @ocupasionpodcast www.instagram.com/ocupasionpodcastJoin the Ocu-Pasión Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/5160180850660613/Visit www.ocupasionpodcast.com for more episodes.https://linktr.ee/Ocupasionpodc

Gilman was the first American playwright to win an Evening Standard Award. She serves on the advisory board for Chicago Dramatists. She has received the 2008 Harper Lee Award. Her most widely known works are Spinning Into Butter, a play that addresses political correctness and racial identity, and Boy Gets Girl, which was included in Time Magazine's List of the Best Plays and Musicals of the Decade.

An award-winning librettist, a lyricist, and the Chicago Rep for the Dramatists Guild of America. Cheryl has been a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists since 2008, and serves as the company's Director of New Musical Theatre Development. She has co-written more than a dozen musicals that have been developed and showcased at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Music Theater Conference, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Works and the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Her original novelty songs have been featured on Good Morning America, the Today Show, and NPR's Morning Edition. On this episode Cheryl breaks down the architecture of musical theatre, explains how getting someone to like a musical is like getting them to like sushi and shares Stephen Sondheim's affinity for perfect rhyme. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as we interview Roger Q. Mason. Mason (they/them) is an award-winning writer, performer, and educator known for using history's lens to highlight the biases that separate rather than unite us.  Mason was recently dubbed by The Brooklyn Rail as "quickly becoming one of the most significant playwrights of the decade."  Their playwriting has been seen on Broadway at Circle in the Square (Circle Reading Series); Off and Off-Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop, New Group, The Fire This Time Festival, Dixon Place, American Theatre of Actors, Flea Theatre, and Access Theater; and regionally at McCarter Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, Steep Theatre, Serenbe Playhouse, Theatre Rhinoceros, Open Fist Theatre Company, EST/LA, Coeurage Theatre, Rogue Artists Ensemble, Son of Semele, and Skylight Theatre.  They are an honoree of the Kilroys List; the Chuck Rowland Pioneer Award; the Fire This Time Festival Alumni Spotlight, and the Hollywood Fringe Festival Encore Producers Award.  Mason's films have been recognized by the SCAD Film Festival, AT&T Film Award, and Atlanta International Film Festival.  They've screened at Hollyshorts, Outfest, Lonely Wolf Film Festival, Reeling Film Festival, Bentonville Film Festival, Outshine Film Festival, and the Pan African Film Festival.  Mason holds degrees from Princeton University, Middlebury College, and Northwestern University.  They are a member of Page 73's Interstate 73 Writers Group, Primary Stages Writing Cohort, the co-host of Sister Roger's Gayborhood podcast, the co-founder/lead mentor of the New Visions Fellowship for Black Trans and Gender non-conforming playwrights, and the lead mentor of The Shay Fellowship for emerging black solo performers.

Join us as we interview Roger Q. Mason. Mason (they/them) is an award-winning writer, performer, and educator known for using history's lens to highlight the biases that separate rather than unite us. Mason was recently dubbed by The Brooklyn Rail as "quickly becoming one of the most significant playwrights of the decade." Their playwriting has been seen on Broadway at Circle in the Square (Circle Reading Series); Off and Off-Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop, New Group, The Fire This Time Festival, Dixon Place, American Theatre of Actors, Flea Theatre, and Access Theater; and regionally at McCarter Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, Steep Theatre, Serenbe Playhouse, Theatre Rhinoceros, Open Fist Theatre Company, EST/LA, Coeurage Theatre, Rogue Artists Ensemble, Son of Semele, and Skylight Theatre. They are an honoree of the Kilroys List; the Chuck Rowland Pioneer Award; the Fire This Time Festival Alumni Spotlight, and the Hollywood Fringe Festival Encore Producers Award. Mason's films have been recognized by the SCAD Film Festival, AT&T Film Award, and Atlanta International Film Festival. They've screened at Hollyshorts, Outfest, Lonely Wolf Film Festival, Reeling Film Festival, Bentonville Film Festival, Outshine Film Festival, and the Pan African Film Festival. Mason holds degrees from Princeton University, Middlebury College, and Northwestern University. They are a member of Page 73's Interstate 73 Writers Group, Primary Stages Writing Cohort, the co-host of Sister Roger's Gayborhood podcast, the co-founder/lead mentor of the New Visions Fellowship for Black Trans and Gender non-conforming playwrights, and the lead mentor of The Shay Fellowship for emerging black solo performers.

At the heart of most performance practice is storytelling. How can the arts impact the climate narrative? What can individuals and institutions do to make a difference when it comes to climate change? We'll speak with a variety of artists, activists and experts about their work in shaping the story on climate and then close out with our featured artist, Nefertiti Abdulmalik, also known as SolAR Lightbeam. Be sure to visit our website pivotarts.org and click on "Get Updates" to stay  informed about Pivot Arts or follow us @PivotArts.EPISODE 1: RESHAPING THE CLIMATE NARRATIVE GUESTS:Annalisa Dias (she/her) is a Goan-American transdisciplinary artist, community organizer, and award-winning theatre maker working at the intersection of racial justice and care for the earth. She is Director of Artistic Partnerships & Innovation at Baltimore Center Stage and a Co-Founder of Groundwater Arts. Prior to joining BCS, Annalisa was a Producing Playwright and Acting Creative Producer with The Welders, a DC playwright's collective; and a Co-Founder of the DC Coalition for Theatre & Social Justice. For more information on the Green New Theatre Initiative visit: groundwaterarts.com/green-new-theatreHans Detweiler (he/him) Senior Director, Development at Jupiter Power LLC, has a demonstrated history in renewable energy project development. As vice president of development at Clean Line Energy, he directed development of long-distance overhead transmission line projects for wind power. He also oversaw development of a 1,000-MW wind farm in New Mexico, served as director of state policy for the American Wind Energy Association and was deputy director for energy and recycling at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.Kristin Idaszak (she/they) is a two-time Playwrights' Center Jerome Fellow and the former Shank Playwriting Fellow at the Goodman Theatre. Idaszak has received commissions from the Goodman, EST/the Sloan Foundation, Cleveland Play House, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, and TimeLine Theatre. Her play SECOND SKIN received the Kennedy Center's Paula Vogel Playwriting Award and the Jean Kennedy Smith Playwriting Award, and her play ANOTHER JUNGLE was a Relentless Award Honorable Mention. She was the Kennedy Center Fellow at the Sundance Theatre Lab. She is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and adjunct faculty at The Theatre School at DePaul University and Northwestern University. SolAR*, Nefertiti Abdulmalik (she/her) raised on Chicago's Northside, recently presented her video animation work Portal to New Earth as part of the 2021 Pivot Arts Festival. She has always been drawn towards the arts and nature. Her current focus is to create works that illustrate nature and how it is interconnected. Nefertiti holds a BFA in Animation from DePaul University and is now beginning her career as a performing artist, combining her love for music, dance, animation and storytelling. By blending together animated visuals, music and story, she shares messages of human empowerment, imagination and nature connection.Episode 1 was produced and edited by Julieanne Ehre with original music by Andrew Hansen and sound engineering by Hannah Foerschler.The Pivot Arts Podcast is made possible by FLATS, a Chicago based apartment community.Mentions in Episode Include:"All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis"  Edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson"Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds" by Adrienne Maree BrownGroundwater ArtsIllinois' Stretch CodeHeat Pump Technology

Hi there, This is Jaime Alejandro and today I am arts calling playwright Alvaro Saar Rios to talk about his origin story, creative process, and so much more!! Alvaro Saar Rios is a Texican playwright living in Chicago. His plays have been performed in New York City, Mexico City, Hawaii, Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee and all over Texas. He has received playwriting commissions from various organizations, including the Kennedy Center, Chicago Children's Theatre, First Stage, Houston Grand Opera, Honolulu Theatre for Youth, Purple Rose Theatre Company, Houston Community College, Zoological Society of Milwaukee and The Rose Theater. Rios' award-winning play Luchadora! is published by Dramatic Publishing. Other plays include On the Wings of a Mariposa, The History of Mexicans in 10 Minutes, The Day the Music Came Back and Carmela Full of Wishes. He holds an M.F.A. in writing for the stage and screen from Northwestern University. Rios is a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists and playwright-in-residence at Milwaukee's First Stage. He is also a proud veteran of the U.S. Army and an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Alvaro is currently adapting Matt de la Peña's bestseller Carmela Full of Wishes for the stage. It will premiere in Omaha, Nebraska in January 2022 and in Chicago in April 2022. Visit www.alvarosaarrios.com for more information. Follow him on Twitter @realCrazyMex! -- Arts Calling is produced by Jaime Alejandro at cruzfolio.com. If you like the show, review and share the podcast, your support truly makes a difference! Check us out for more podcasts about the arts and original content! Make art. Much love, j

“Child, I said dust mites of opportunity -- Lord help us, Jesus.” Roger Q. Mason (they/them) is an energy like no other. When they were twelve years old, Mason felt the most free when standing on stage -- which was taken away by queer shaming and gener policing. After spending years, reclaiming what they lost, Mason became versed in writing, though they kept performing and writing separate. “At that time, I was interested still in being a man of letters -- so I still had a very two dimensional literary relationship to writing. I hadn't quite understood that writing was a blueprint, at least for theatre, I hadn't understood writing as a blueprint for performance.” Mason always identified as a multi-hyphenate, yet was socialized into ignoring that aspect of their artistry. Eventually, they found the freedom of expression to become the multi-faceted they are today. Today, Mason continues to promote freedom of expression by helming the New Visions Fellowship, an innovative and rigorous year-long professional development program created to support emerging Black trans and gender nonconforming (TGNC) playwrights. The 2021 New Visions Fellowship playwrights will each be awarded $5,000, fully funded by National Queer Theater, to develop a play, musical, or performance experience of their design and choosing. National Queer Theater will host a professionally cast and directed reading of their play at the end of the program. They will also have the opportunity to participate in professional development sessions covering a wide range of artistic topics. In addition, they will receive a five-year complimentary membership to The Dramatists Guild including access to contracts, business advice, and career services, to help protect the artistic and economic integrity of their work. Take some Meyer Lemons and turn it into Meyer Marmelade and listen to this episode where Michael and Mason speak on the Auteur, Queer relationship to dramturgy, and how multi-hyphenating is much like gender, blurring the lines of the binary -- and so much more.  Roger Q. Mason (they/them) is an award-winning writer, performer and educator known for using history's lens to highlight the biases that separate rather than unite us. Mason's playwriting has been seen on Broadway at Circle in the Square (Circle Reading Series); Off and Off-Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop, New Group, The Fire This Time Festival, Dixon Place, American Theatre of Actors, Flea Theatre, and Access Theater; and regionally at McCarter Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, Steep Theatre, Serenbe Playhouse, Theatre Rhinoceros, Open Fist Theatre Company, EST/LA, Coeurage Theatre, Rogue Artists Ensemble, Son of Semele, and Skylight Theatre. They are an honoree of the Kilroys List; the recipient of the Chuck Rowland Pioneer Award; the Fire This Time Festival Alumni Spotlight, and the Hollywood Fringe Festival Encore Producers Award; and a finalist for the Geffen Writers' Room, Lark Playwright's Week and the Screencraft Play Award. Mason's films have screened at the Outshine Film Festival, Rochester International LGBTQ Film Festival, and the Pan African Film Festival. They've been recognized by the AT&T Film Award and Atlanta International Film Festival. Mason holds degrees from Princeton University, Middlebury College, and Northwestern University. They are a member of Page 73's Interstate 73 Writers Group, the co-host of Sister Roger's Gayborhood podcast, and the co-founder/lead mentor of the New Visions Fellowship for Black Trans and Gender non-conforming playwrights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this installment, we take a look at "From the Bridge," an early screenplay by acclaimed playwright and educator Emilio Williams! We discuss his journey from expat college student from Spain to contented writer and teacher, and all the stops in between. CAST: Evin McQuistion as Bill Chris Popio as William/Italian language tape/professor's note Samra Teferra as Aunt Pam/bar patron/nurse Mary Margaret McCormack as Alicia Benjamin Rezko as Tom/Priest Find Ben and Mary Margaret on Instagram @benrez33 and @mackycormacky Hear more from Emilio on Chicago Dramatists' Sound and the Journey podcast here: https://thesoundandthejourney.transistor.fm/episodes/s-2_e-5-the-sky-beyond-the-skies-feat-emilio-williams-alexandra-meda THEME MUSIC: Sneaky Snitch by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4384-sneaky-snitch License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“We have to embrace all of who we are, the mistakes, the good part, the bad part. I mean, it is who we are. I think there's some valuable lesson. There is some source of inspiration that can help another person.” - Dionna Griffin Failed it! Fam, we have an amazing guest who is such a light in the improv world. Get ready to hear the crazy journey that Dionna Griffin went through as she strived to overcome failure by embracing her true self. In today's episode, Dionna talks to us about: How fearing a huge pivot in her life was exactly what she needed How a stint in jail changed her life The importance of sharing failures   Links from show discussions: Improve it!'s Laugh Break Dionna Griffin's Website Dionna Griffin's Instagram   About the Guest: Dionna Griffin-Irons is a writer, comedy producer, and the longtime former Director of Talent Diversity and Inclusion for The Second City U.S. and Canada.  She's delighted to share her story on the "You Failed It" podcast. For two decades, she's used her inclusion and belonging strategy "finding your truth voice" in boardrooms, prisons, shelters, classroom spaces, and stages, to create personal transformation around leadership, empathy, and resilience. As an instructor and consultant, Griffin-Irons has facilitated 200+ workshops to corporations, organizations, and students around the globe including Embassy Norway and Latvia, using improvisation as a creative tool for social change. Her work has been featured on ABC, NBC, American Theatre Magazine, Diversity Journal, and with University of Chicago's TEDx, The Incredible Unknown.   Griffin-Irons teaches at DePaul University in the Computer Digital Media program, core faculty with Story Studio Chicago, Chicago Dramatists, and The Second City Film School nurturing the next wave of storytellers. Her signature class "Telling Your Truth" has helped students and professionals who fear the writing process, go from one page to 15 pages in a month. #slaytheegoandwrite   About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She's a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! podcast on Instagram @learntoimproveit and facebook, and you can follow Erin personally on Instagram @keepinitrealdiehl here. You can also check out improve it! and how we can help your organization at www.learntoimproveit.com. We can't wait to connect with you online!  

Video Performance Available: facebook.com/QuarantinePlayers About the Play Karen’s a klutz. After getting into another car accident (on Halloween), her insurance agent gives unusual advice: she should visit a famous astrologer to find out why she’s so accident-prone. The hunky astrologer tries to convince Karen that they are meant to be together. Should Karen believe him? And what about her again off again booty call Nick? Find out who Karen chooses, why her sister can't choose a paint color, and why it is a really bad idea to propose to someone on a baseball field. Watch Ditching Destiny on Halloween by Laura Lewis Barr. Script Available on New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/plays/12295/ditching-destiny-halloween-or-bride-cant-decide Director: A.J. Campbell The Cast Karen - Stacy McCargo Laurie - Mikayal Trimpey Richard - Spencer Dooley Nick - Richardo Padilla Ethan - Cameron Lee Conlan Charles/Mark Doug Henderson Stage Direction/Patti/Reporter/Becky/Attractive Fan - Barrie Alguire Usher & Stage Direction- A.J. Campbell About the Playwright New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/1430/laura-lewis-barr Laura Lewis-Barr has been writing, directing, performing and teaching theatre for over 15 years. Laura’s play Chernobyl's Fire won the Playwrights First Award and was a finalist in the O'Neill Theatre Center National Playwrights Conference Competition and Steppenwolf Theatre’s “First Look.” Marvelous Tales, was recently published by YouthPlays and The Vase is published with Heartland Plays. Her play, Cloistered Honey was recently made into a low budget film through Inspirare Productions. "Cloistered Honey" has been an official selection at the Red Dirt International Film Festival (nominated for Best Writing - Drama) and the Eugene International Film Festival (Awarded Best Screenplay – Feature.) It was recently picked up for distribution by The Bosko Group. Cloistered Honey (early draft) was seen as part of “The Next Big Thing Festival” in NY. Darwin’s Dilemma was seen in Circle Theatre’s New Play Fest. Darwin was also featured in the St. Tammany One-Act Competition and Steel Beam Theatre’s “New Play Series.” Recent productions of Laura’s work include: Chernobyl’s Fire; Addicted to Mars (Pittsburgh New Works Festival—“intriguing and carefully drawn…. Lewis-Barr’s writing drives the production.” Pittsburgh Post Gazette); Golden Chalices (LoveCreek Productions and The Riant Theatre in New York); Dove Killers (the side project in Chicago-- “riveting” Windy City Times). A dozen other plays, including Re-writing History thru a Fly’s Eye, The Vase, and The Dangers of Catnip have had readings and productions in Chicago and California. Laura’s Masters Degree in Drama is from San Francisco State University. Before her move to the country, (to work as Artistic Director/Theatre Professor at Sauk Valley College) Laura was a member of the Playwrights Collective and Chicago Dramatists. About the Quarantine Players Video: facebook.com/QuarantinePlayers Podcast: anchor.fm/qplayers (available on iTunes, Stitcher, Breaker, Spotify, google podcast and more.) Quarantine Players are a group of directors, playwrights, actors, and technicians from all over the U.S. who have gathered to keep the ghost light on for you. We work to create weekly podcasts and video staged readings of NEW plays. We work hard to put the spotlight on new playwrights and actors. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/qplayers/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/qplayers/support

Jill Stuck, owner of Storytown Improv in Chicago, talks to Jessica about How to be a Midwestern Woman. We talk about whether you can trust nice people, if it's ok if no one likes you, and the love language of pie. Performer, writer, and teacher Jill Olson Stuck is the founder and producer of Storytown Improv.  She is a graduate of the improvOlympic and Second City Conservatory programs, and has performed with iO, Second City's Skybox Theater, Moving Dock Theater Company, Redtwist Theatre, and WNEP with Seven Deadly Plays and 365 Sketches.  She studied playwriting at The Chicago Dramatists, and her writing credits include Mayfly: A Collection of Short Plays, Left Unnamed (The 5th Annual Women's Performance Art Festival with Stockyards Theatre Project), and Eleanor in American Machine and Other Works. Jill teaches with Dream Big Performing Arts Workshop, and The Laughing Academy, and has served as Program Coordinator for This Is ME and Child Whisperer for The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. She holds a BA in Theater Arts from Towson University, where she graduated Cum Laude. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/midwesternwoman/support

"Anyone Can Whistle," music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents, tells the story of a small town mayor, who, in an attempt to draw tourists, creates a “fake” miracle. Weber’s guests include Victoria Bussert (director, Music Theatre Program; professor of theatre, Baldwin Wallace University), Cheryl Coons (director, Music Theater Program, Chicago Dramatists) and Porchlight’s Casting & Company Manager Christopher Pazdernik (Director of the inaugural production of the Porchlight Revisits series, "Anyone Can Whistle") discussing this Sondheim show that has rarely been produced since its opening but its score has endured, becoming a much performed part of Sondheim's canon including the title song, "Everybody Says Don't" and "There Won't Be Trumpets." Edited by Austin Packard Originally premiered Saturday, July 2, 2020 at Facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre ( https://app.redcircle.com/shows/b5ad8de4-802f-4e56-974c-413004ccc672/ep/Facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre ). New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT! Watch with video at YouTube.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre ( https://app.redcircle.com/shows/b5ad8de4-802f-4e56-974c-413004ccc672/ep/YouTube.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre )

Damon Kiely is a professional director and writer, as well as a full time professor of directing and acting for DePaul's Theatre School. He has directed for Next Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, A Red Orchid Theatre, American Blues Theatre, Chicago Dramatists and Route 66. His world premiere adaptation of Thieves Like Us was produced by the House Theatre of Chicago and the Theatre School. He served as the Artistic Director of American Theater Company from 2002 to 2007.  Prior to moving back to Chicago he produced, directed and taught in New York City. In New York he directed for the Public Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, the Ontological Theater, Adobe Theater Company, PS122, Ensemble Studio Theater and New Dramatists. Damon also served as the Artistic Director for Real Time Theater and was a Producing Director at the Ontological-Hysteric Theater as well as the Associate Artistic Director for the Children's Theater of Maine. He is a winner of the 2000-02 NEA/TCG Career Directing Program, the 2000 Drama League Fall Directing Program and the 1997 Princess Grace Award. He lives in Edgewater with his wife Jennifer and their children, Isabella and Fi​nnegan.

Welcome to the first episode! In this episode, we'll chat with talented theatre director Georgette Verdin about tons of things: being an artistic director, managing ADHD at home, communication in relationships, working through shame, structure vs spontaneity, etc. Check it out!   Georgette is a Chicago-based director, theater and speech educator and arts integration specialist. She is also the proud Managing Artistic Director of Interrobang Theatre Project, a critically-acclaimed storefront theater known for its gutsy productions, tackling socially-relevant topics. In 2019, Interrobang was honored with the prestigious Broadway in Chicago Emerging Theatre Award. Georgette has taught kindergarten through college in her hometown of New Orleans, as well as Chicago where she has resided since 2009. She was the founding theater teacher at Polaris Charter Academy - an Expeditionary Learning School in Chicago's West Humboldt Park neighborhood - where she taught full-time for eight years. Select directing credits include TRIBES (Nina Raine), Jeff Awards recommended productions of OUT OF LOVE (U.S. Premiere, Elinor Cook), GRACE, RECENT TRAGIC EVENTS (Craig Wright) and TIME STANDS STILL (Donald Margulies), as well as the 2013 & 2016 Yale Drama Series winners, STILL (Jen Silverman) and UTILITY (Emily Schwend). Georgette has also worked with Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Facility, and Chicago Dramatists among others. Upcoming projects include associate directing Mat Smart's world premiere, EDEN PRAIRIE, 1971 (Raven Theatre) and directing the world premiere of SEXBOT (Interrobang Theatre Project). Georgette holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA and a Master in Directing from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. She is an associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.   Check out Interrobang Theatre Project at www.interrobangtheatreproject.com     Original music for this trailer was composed by Christopher Aaron Knarr. You can find more of his work at www.ChristopherAaronKnarr.com. Podcast Artwork design by Joseph Ramski. For inquiries, please contact him directly at jramski3@gmail.com  

On this week’s TQC intro, Jonah reports on seeing Oprah and Michelle Obama at Oprah’s 2020 Vision tour, and Renessa reports on an (unofficially) queer yoga class. Queer News & Culture topics include Black History Month, Zaya Wade’s coming out, and Ru Paul on SNL. We also share the winners of the Shaquanda Will Feed You hot sauce contest!Our guest this week is Roger Q. Mason, who is a Black, Irish, Filipino, queer, gender non-conforming writer/performer, director and producer. His work has been shown at theatres like the New York Theatre Workshop, New Group Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, and the American Theatre of Actors. He’s the 2020 recipient of the Chuck Rowland Pioneer Award, presented by Celebration Theatre and the City of West Hollywood. We hear about his love for stories, use of gender pronoun identification as an act of protest, and the rebirth of his inner showgirl, Taffeta, who he plays in his 2020 play “Lavender Men.” The play is a historical fantasia which follows Taffeta, a self-proclaimed "fabulous queer creation of color," who invades the private world of Abe Lincoln to confront issues of visibility, race and LGBTQ+ inclusion that still challenge us today. Donate by March 7th to the GoFundMe to help support the “Lavender Men” production at Skylight Theatre: https://tinyurl.com/rkmnppw. Roger’s charisma is undeniable, and his storytelling is colorful. Buckle up because you’re in for a ride for this interview!*****INTERVIEW BEGINS AT 00:23:05*****Song: "American Pie" by Shea DiamondShow Links:Roger Q. Mason: https://www.rogerqmason.comGoFundMe for “Lavender Men” premiere at Skylight Theatre: https://tinyurl.com/rkmnppw Roger’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/RogerQMasonRoger’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rogerq.mason/"Queer Playwright/Performer Roger Q. Mason Receives 2020 Chuck Rowland Award": https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/Queer-PlaywrightPerformer-Roger-Q-Mason-Receives-2020-Chuck-Rowland-Award-20200129?utm_source=New+E-Blast+List&utm_campaign=bb4dfd73e7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_02_01_01_12&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2c4cb4a61a-bb4dfd73e7-530845693Shaquanda Will Feed You hot sauce giveaway winners on Instagram: @briangryphon @Mandoandtheworld @elissabethh @Colriv84

Riff Raff Revolution is back for a THIRD SEASON!Huy Nguyen is an actor/writer/director based in Chicago. Listen to his journey where in he quits his day job and doubles down on his craft. He and can be seen performing with improv ensemble, Poster Child, and as part of the comedy duo, BLASIAN. Recent stage credits include work with TUTA (Associate Company member), Black Button Eyes Productions, Bower Theatre Ensemble, Collaboraction, and Chicago Dramatists. His TV/Film credits include Better Call Saul, Chicago Med, and Conrad. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, he studied drama at the University of Washington. He is represented by Lily’s Talent and BNB-Chicago and is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA. Follow him on Instagram @huy_nguyen8 for 90% cat content. His love and many thanks go Erin and Max.This is a KnaveryInk podcast.

TRANSCRIPT: This story is written by Richard Lyons Conlon. Richard is a playwright by day who's thrilled to be included in the Gateways story-writing series. A Resident Playwright Alumnus at Chicago Dramatists and proud member of the Dramatists Guild, Richard has written over thirty-five plays, which have won some prizes, had some productions, and been … Continue reading Gateways: “Dr. Maladroix’s Advanced P.E. Class” by Richard Lyons Conlon read by John Weagly →

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM EVERYONE AT DAGGER CAST! This episode we feature the very talented Davette J. Franklin who produces UWW FEST, an annual festival that specializes in Horror. It consists of 11 short plays with a supernatural theme and will be on stage THIS WEEKEND at Chicago Dramatists (1105 W. Chicago Ave). Lindsey and Bryan also give the new IT the Dagger Cast treatment. This one is action packed folks! Buy your tickets to UWW fest athttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/uwwfest-tickets-71166560097

Fouad Teymour, an Egyptian creative and playwright, has an amazing background, as he is a professor in engineering at IIT in addition to his creativity in the theatre world. Teymour was a Network Playwright at Chicago Dramatists from 2010-2017 and is currently a member of the Writer's Studio. His play Blue Fish in A Tall Clear Vase is being produced in November 2017 by Three Cat Productions. Other performances/readings of his plays include: The Night Jesus Joined the Revolution (Silk Road Rising); An Afternoon With My Mother, Blue Fish in A Tall Clear Vase (Three Cat Productions), and several plays discussed in Chicago Dramatists First Draft series.We sat with him and spoke about the origins, journey, and future plans. His play "Twice, Thrice, Frice..."  is going live on Oct 1st! Get tickets: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/1005886Music: Bassel & The Supernaturals

Born and raised in Japan, Izumi came to the states to learn performing arts at age of 18. She double majored in dance and theatre design at State University of New York, Buffalo. Right after the graduation, she moved to Chicago to attend the master program at Northwestern University, focusing on costume and scenic design. Soon after completing the program in 2009, she started working as a freelance costume/makeup designer in Chicago. She has joined Red Tape Theatre as an ensemble member in 2012, where she has designed all productions since such as Skriker, Elephant’s Graveyard, Lear, Madam Barker, and Hamlet is Dead. She has also designed costumes for production with Griffin Theatre, A Red Orchid, The Gift, The Music Theatre Company, The Hypocrites, Lifeline, Strawdog, Albany Park Theatre Project, Steep, Porchlight Music, CPS Shakespeare at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Building Stage, Marry-Arrchie, Two Pence Shakespeare, Evanston Dance Ensemble, Wheaton College, Sideshow, TUTA, Raven Theatre, and Buzz 22. Her makeup designs appeared in the productions with Theo Ubique Cabaret (Cats, Non-Equity Jeff Award for Artistic Specialization), and Chicago Dramatists. She has served as a costume staff/designer at National High School Institute for last 7 years. Izumi is honored to receive Michael Maggio Emerging Designer Award 2014.

On this week's episode, ALERT - Update on where to see Tea With The Dames. Six theatres announced their upcoming seasons. American Theatre Magazine's Top 10 Most-Produced Plays and Top 20 Most-Produced Playwrights. Goodman Theatre in partnership with Chicago Dramatists name four writer for their Playwrights Unit. More regional auditions are accepting applications. JOIN THE MAILING LIST SEASON ANNOUNCEMENTS Theater at the Center, IN Purple Rose Theatre Company, MI Austin Shakespeare, TX Austin Playhouse, TX The Black Rep, MO Eugene O'Neil Theater Center, CT ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS American Theatre Magazine's Top 10 Most-Produced Plays American Theatre Magazine's Top 20 Most-Produced Playwrights Goodman Theatre in partnership with Chicago Dramatists select writers for their Playwrights Unit REGIONAL AUDITIONS Theatre Bay Area General Auditions, CA UPTA, TN SOMETHING I HAD TO SHARE WITH YOU Update on where to view Tea With the Dames Show Score THANKS FOR LISTENING AND HAVE A CREATIVE DAY!

This week, Meghan Beals, the Artistic Director of Chicago Dramatists, tells me about working with a legacy, being just a part of a process, building the new American canon, and that it's okay not to know.   Music by SJ Roberts: Find more at sjroberts.bandcamp.com

Angela is an actor and arts accessibility advocate originally from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Previous Chicago acting credits include work with Chicago Dramatists, Pride Films & Plays, Something Marvelous, and The Comrades. Before relocating to Chicago, Angela worked Off-West End as General Manager of London's Finborough Theatre and performed in the 60-city national tour of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs with Dallas Children's Theater. She is a proud company member of both The Comrades and Jackalope Theatre Company where she serves as Director of Audience Engagement.

Meet Bec! Bec Willett is an Australian, Chicago-based director, designer, and writer. She has worked on projects with an array of Chicago theatre companies, including 20% Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, City Lit, Dandelion Theatre, Actors’ Gymnasium, MMPACT Solo Jams, Prologue Theatre, Three Cat Productions, The Residents, and Waltzing Mechanics. She is alumni of Directors Lab West and critic for Perform.ink. To find out more about her work and upcoming projects, please visit becwillett.com. click here for iTunes episode

Week 17 of THE APPROXIMATELY 20-MINUTE VARIETY HOUR was recorded live at Chicago Dramatists on June 19, 2017. This week: Soapanovaletta, A Teeny, Tiny Soap Opera Telanovaletta Bad Poetry Corner With Jokes, Including A Visit From Harold Barnyard Classics Cooking With Joy America's Got Limericks Lottery of the Absurd This week's episode of THE APPROXIMATELY 20-MINUTE VARIETY HOUR is written by Trina Kakacek and Michael John Kelly, with contributions by Michael Herzovi, Mark Kater, and Thomas J. Misuraca. Small Fish Radio Theatre Ensemble: Cat Dean, Michael Herzovi, Michael John Kelly, and Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates. Special Guests: Mark Kater and Sharon Phillips. Directing, music and sound design by Trina Kakacek. Additional music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium is produced by Trina Kakacek and Michael John Kelly.

Week 16 of THE APPROXIMATELY 20-MINUTE VARIETY HOUR was recorded live at Chicago Dramatists on June 19, 2017. This week: Once Upon A Thespinarium, A Flash Fairy Tale To Keep You Dreaming This Week in Alternative Facts Cooking With Joy Word of the Week The Assisters Lottery of the Absurd Tabby Flufferwinkle Cat's Private Eye This week's episode of THE APPROXIMATELY 20-MINUTE VARIETY HOUR is written by Trina Kakacek and Michael John Kelly, with contributions by Thomas J. Misuraca and Mark Kater. Small Fish Radio Theatre Ensemble: Cat Dean, Michael Herzovi, Michael John Kelly, and Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates. Special Guests: Mark Kater and Sharon Phillips. Directing, music and sound design by Trina Kakacek. Additional music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium is produced by Trina Kakacek and Michael John Kelly.

Week 15 of THE APPROXIMATELY 20-MINUTE VARIETY HOUR was recorded live at Chicago Dramatists on June 19, 2017. This week: Soapanovaletta, A Teeny, Tiny Soap Opera Telanovaletta Bad Poetry Corner With Jokes, Including A Visit From Harold Cooking With Joy Word of the Week Barnyard Classics Lottery of the Absurd This week's episode of THE APPROXIMATELY 20-MINUTE VARIETY HOUR is written by Thomas J. Misuraca, Mark Kater, Trina Kakacek, and Michael John Kelly. Small Fish Radio Theatre Ensemble: Cat Dean, Michael Herzovi, Michael John Kelly, and Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates. Special Guests: Mark Kater and Sharon Phillips. Directing, music and sound design by Trina Kakacek. Additional music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium is produced by Trina Kakacek and Michael John Kelly.

Week 14 of THE APPROXIMATELY 20-MINUTE VARIETY HOUR was recorded live at Chicago Dramatists on June 19, 2017. This week: Once Upon A Thespinarium, A Flash Fairy Tale To Keep You Dreaming Middle Aged Fantasy Uncle Bottom's Truth Telling Minute The Assisters Soapanovaletta, A Teeny, Tiny Soap Opera Telanovaletta This week's episode of THE APPROXIMATELY 20-MINUTE VARIETY HOUR is written by Trina Kakacek and Michael John Kelly. Small Fish Radio Theatre Ensemble: Cat Dean, Michael Herzovi, Michael John Kelly, and Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates. Special Guests: Mark Kater and Sharon Phillips. Directing, music and sound design by Trina Kakacek. Additional music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium is produced by Trina Kakacek and Michael John Kelly.

(http://www.advanceyourart.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/imgres.jpg) Kevin Depinet (http://www.kevindepinetstudio.com/) is a Chicago based Set designer. He has designed shows for Steppenwolf, The Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, The National Theatre of Great Britain, The Royal George Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, The McCarter Theatre, The Court Theatre, The Arden Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory, Denver Theatre Center, Writers Theatre, Drury Lane, Yale Repertory, Indiana Repertory, American Players Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Mark Taper Forum, Glimmer Glass Opera, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Paramount Theatre, Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, and Saint Louis Repertory Theatre. He also designed scenery for Michael Mann’s Film Public Enemies (Universal Studios). He was the Associate designer for the original tony award winning August: Osage County and recently Mother Fucker with a Hat, and Of Mice and Men on Broadway. Kevin Will be designing Bob Falls Iceman Cometh at the Brooklyn Academy of Music this winter and Recently designed Detroit at London's National Theatre. He is also an adjunct professor of design at DePaul University. He studied at Ball State University and the Yale School of Drama. Kevin Depinet has numerous upcoming productions lined up this year including La Boheme at Glimmerglass Opera Co. in June, Ragtime National tour in October, and many more. To learn more, visit his personal website at www.kevindepinetstudio.com (http://www.kevindepinetstudio.com/) . http://xlscenic.com (http://xlscenic.com/) / XL Scenic is a Chicago based stage design production company founded by two award winning theatrical scenic designers, Kevin Depinet and Todd Rosenthal, to create unique, immersive theatrical environments that enthrall and teach. Kevin Depinet's successful examples Les Miserables at Paramount Theatre directed by Jim Corti "This is mostly due to a truly breathtaking setting from Kevin Depinet — who treats the ever-willing Paramount like it's Peter Gelb's Metropolitan Opera" - Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune "The production’s staggeringly grand and complex set, the work of Kevin Depinet and Jeffrey D. Kmiec (wonderfully lit by Jesse Klug), sets the tone. With a turntable sage, a sweeping staircase that at moments rotates into a massive city wall, and a giant “halo” suspended from the rafters that serves as a revolving catwalk, it suggests the nine circles of Hell as described by Dante." - Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times http://www.kevindepinetstudio.com/#/les-miserables/ (http://www.kevindepinetstudio.com/#/les-miserables/) MythBusters Exhibition Behind the Scenes: Design and Graphics Accustomed to working with theater sets, Todd Rosenthal, John Dalton and Kevin Depinet describe the particular challenges -- and advantages -- of designing MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition. https://youtu.be/2Yri5TkYbpo (https://youtu.be/2Yri5TkYbpo) MARY POPPINS | KEVIN DEPINET INTERVIEW Kevin Depinet talks about the creative process and how he managed many renowned shows at the Paramount Theatre in Chicago, including Marry Poppins, Cats, . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m-Bo58H9A0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m-Bo58H9A0) Podcast file Show Notes How Kevin Depinet would introduce himself in a party [00:00] Kevin Depinet's advice on how to pull a successful networking [00:55] The story behind how Kevin Depinet became a set designer [01:57] Inspirations from education guidance [03:18] Interest in business aside from theatre training [04:50] Influences to get in to business [05:13] Entrepreneurial skills he learned [05:59] The power of people management [06:13] Experiential Learning after finishing school [07:20] How Kevin Depinet established his personal and professional growth with great opportunities [08:00] Suggested practices for overcoming fears [09:46] Kevin...

The Adventures of Skater Girl by Trina Kakacek is a compilation of five episodes recorded live at Chicago Fringe Festival, Victory Gardens Theater, and Chicago Dramatists in Chicago from September 2012 to March 2014. The Adventures of Skater Girl featured the talents of Cat Dean, Michael Herzovi, Erik Hetman, MJ Kelly and Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates. Direction by Trina Kakacek. Sound design by Trina Kakacek and MJ Kelly. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium is produced by Trina Kakacek and MJ Kelly.

Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium presents a Live Podcast Recording of INTOXICATED, recorded at Chicago Dramatists. Featured work: INTOXICATED BY YOU - a song by MJ Kelly. PROVERBS - a short play by Donna Latham. LAMENT OF A FAILED ALCOHOLIC - a poem by Rex McGregor. I FIND YOU INTOXICATED... I MEAN INTOXICATING - a short play by Helen Valenta. PINK THE CASHMERE SWEATER - lyrics by Trina Kakacek, musical interpretation by King Max. A GREAT CABBAGE - a short play by Wendy Schmidt. COME BY RUNNING - a song by King Max. HOW WE BEGAN - a short story by Richard Ballon. HEMLOCK MARTINI - a short play by Seth Freeman. NEW WEATHER - a poem by Christopher Locke. And the final episode of THE ADVENTURES OF SKATER GIRL by Trina Kakacek. Thespinarians: Cat Dean, Michael Herzovi, MJ Kelly and Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates. Musical Director: Max Evrard. Associate Artist: Erik Hetman. Directed by Trina Kakacek. Sound Design by Trina Kakacek and MJ Kelly. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium is produced by Trina Kakacek and MJ Kelly. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium: Portable Theatre for the Ear. On the web at www.smallfishradio.com. Like Us on Facebook!

Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium presents a Live Podcast Recording of its first horror show: A GRISLY FEAST. Featured work: LULLABY FOR MY LITTLE BOY - a poem by Thomas J. Misuraca. THE LATE MRS. CHADWICK - a short play by Phoebe Roberts. THE SKINNY MAN - a short play by Scott T. Barsotti. BENEATH THE WINDOW - a short story by Richard Ballon. FLATTENED FAUNA BAR AND GRILL - a song by Jim Gustafson. THE CURSE OF THE HORNED BABBY - a short play by Lisa Dillman. And a horrific episode of THE ADVENTURES OF SKATER GIRL by Trina Kakacek. Featured Talent: Cat Dean, Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates, Michael Herzovi, and Michael John Kelly. Guest Artists: Erik Hetman and Max Evrard. Direction and Sound Design by Trina Kakacek. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium is produced by Michael John Kelly and Trina Kakacek. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium: Giving Voice to Small Fish in the Big Pond. On the web at www.smallfishradio.com. Like Us on Facebook!

Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium presents a Live Podcast Recording of 'ATLAS INTERRUPTUS, A Collection of Journeys Without A Map." Featured writers: Short Plays by J. Weintraub, Will Cooper, Lisa Dillman, and Trina Kakacek; a Spoken Word Performance by Lisa Scott; a Mini Musical, book, music, and lyrics by Tom Weber, an Original Song by Michael John Kelly. Featured Talent: Cat Dean, Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates, Michael Herzovi, and Michael John Kelly. Guest Artists: Erik Hetman, Eleanor Katz, Linda Solotaire. Thespinarian In Training: Aeneas Hemphill. Direction and Sound Design by Trina Kakacek. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium is produced by Michael John Kelly and Trina Kakacek. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium: Giving Voice to Small Fish in the Big Pond. On the web at www.smallfishradio.com. Like Us on Facebook!

Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium presents a Live Podcast Recording of 'WHAT ABOUT LOVE?" Featured writers: Poetry by Will Cooper; Short Plays by Helen Valenta, Peter Thomas, James McLindon, Wendy Schmidt, and Trina Kakacek; Spoken word performances by M.T. Cozzola and Michael Herzovi; Musical performances by Time and Trouble, featuring Tom Weber, Linda Solotaire, and John Lauler. Featured talent: Cat Dean, Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates, Michael Herzovi, and Michael John Kelly. Direction and sound design byTrina Kakacek. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium is produced by Michael John Kelly and Trina Kakacek. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium: Giving Voice to Small Fish in the Big Pond. www.smallfishradio.com.

Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium presents its latest podcast episode, THE ADVENTURES OF SKATER GIRL AND OTHER STORIES, recorded live from the 2012 Chicago Fringe Festival on Saturday, September 8, 2012. This episode features three short plays: PURE MADNESS by Walt McGough, BODY FARM by Laurel Haines and THE ADVENTURES OF SKATER GIRL - EPISODE ONE by Trina Kakacek; two spoken word performances: SMALL SNAIL by Janna Sobel and TEQUILA IN A TEACUP by Lisa Scott; and a poem: APE by Will Cooper. Small Fish Radio Theatre Thespinarians: Cat Dean, Michael Herzovi, Michael John Kelly, and Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates. Directing and Sound Design by Trina Kakacek. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium would like to thank Chicago Fringe Festival, Chicago Dramatists, and Sound Advisor Max Kakacek. Special thanks to Chicagoland Methodist Senior Services for providing rehearsal space. Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium is produced by Trina Kakacek and Michael John Kelly. For more information, visit www.smallfishradio.com.

The perfect pairing. Susan Goss, Chef/owner of West Town Tavern is partnering with Chicago Dramatists to present a delicious dinner before the show. Chef Goss also shares seasonal favorites from the cookbook West Town Tavern Contemporary Comfort Food. Virginia Nugent discusses the exciting new plays premiering onstage at Chicago Dramatists along with delicious dishes from her native Australia. www.westtowntavern.com www.chicagodramatists.org… Read more about this episode...

The perfect pairing. Susan Goss, Chef/owner of West Town Tavern is partnering with Chicago Dramatists to present a delicious dinner before the show. Chef Goss also shares seasonal favorites from the cookbook West Town Tavern Contemporary Comfort Food. Virginia Nugent discusses the exciting new plays premiering onstage at Chicago Dramatists along with delicious dishes from her native Australia. www.westtowntavern.com www.chicagodramatists.org… Read more about this episode...

Our guests on this week's podcast are Monty Cole and Brian Loevner, two of the three members of the Chicago Commercial Collective -- a new entity in town that plans to produce commercial remounts of non-profit shows that would otherwise "close too soon." Monty and Brian talk with Anne Nicholson Weber about the genesis of the collective, their plans for the future, and their inaugural production -- a remount of Keith Huff's A Steady Rain, which the collective is producing in association with Chicago Dramatists where the show was originally developed and premiered.

This week's podcast is something a little different. Last month, the League of Chicago Theatre's hosted an event at Chicago Dramatists centered on a new book called Outrageous Fortune: The Life and Times of the New American Play, which was recently published by Theatre Devleopment Fund. Outrageous Fortune is a study of the lives of America playwrights, the relationship between playwrights and non-profit producers, and the process by which new plays get produced. The book has caused something of a stir in theatrical circles.