Podcasts about playwrights

Send your questions or provocations to Adam or Budi here!In this episode Adam is joined by Steven Gaultney, our resident playwright and dramaturg, to discuss the notion of storytelling as a form of liberation. Support the showIf you enjoyed this week´s podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. To submit a question: Voice- http://www.speakpipe.com/theatreofothers Email- podcast@theatreofothers.com Show Credits Co-Hosts: Adam Marple & Budi MillerProducer: Jack BurmeisterMusic: (Intro) Jack Burmeister, (Outro) https://www.purple-planet.comAdditional compositions by @jack_burmeister

In this episode of Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby speaks with Cole Hayley, a theatre artist known for his innovative work and dedication to the Canadian theatre scene. Cole shares insights into his creative journey, the challenges and triumphs of working in theatre, and his latest projects. This episode explores: Cole's path into theatre and his artistic influences. The challenges of creating and sustaining theatre work in Canada. Insights into his latest projects and what excites him most. Thoughts on collaboration and artistic growth. Advice for emerging theatre artists. Guest:

Send us a textIn Jerusalem, at the Western Wall, a traumatized Israeli soldier gets into a debate with a rabbi about prayer notes stuck into cracks in the Wall, while nearby air raid sirens wail a warning.Bernadette Armstrong directs Gary Lamb and Dennis Gersten.Peter Prizel is the playwright. He is the author of two fiction books, The FermentedSavior and An Angelic Folly. He also writes poetry. Based in Bedford Falls, New York, he received a Master's Degree from Fordham University.Support the showFounded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse is a Theater Podcast- like the radio dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. The Playhouse launched on September 15, 2020. At the time, Open-Door Playhouse provided Playwrights, Actors and Directors a creative outlet during the shutdown. Since its inception. Open-Door Playhouse has presented Short and One-Act plays from Playwrights across the country and internationally. In 2021 Open-Door Playhouse received a Communicator Award for Content for the Play Custody and in 2023 the play What's Prison Like was nominated for a Webby Award in the Crime & Justice Category.Plays are produced by Bernadette Armstrong, Sound Engineer is David Peters, sound effects are provided by Audio Jungle, and music from Karaoke Version. All plays are recorded at The Oak House Studio in Altadena, CA. There's no paywall at the Open-Door Playhouse site, so you could listen to everything for free. Open-Door Playhouse is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and if you would like to support performances of works by new and emerging playwrights, your donation will be gratefully accepted. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the Podcast Stage. We strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising one-act plays and ten-minute shorts that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. To listen or to donate (or both), go to https://opend...

This month we talk to the 6-time Tony-winning director about 'Gypsy' and his miraculous career, and the editors introduce our Spring print issue.

The writer of 'Issei, He Say' talks about making plays from her family's life, feeling the pressure to tell immigrant stories, and rebalancing her priorities.

Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2023   WHEN OPINIONS DIFFER: Whose play is it? Where does it leave the playwright when the director or designer or dramaturg has a different vision?   Featuring Jane Harrison, Lee Lewis, and Chris Mead   Chair: Wesley Enoch

Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2023   CONTENT WARNING/CANCEL CULTURE: We're living in an age when a media storm can shut down a show or even a festival. When the purpose of theatre is often to disrupt and to challenge societal norms, how do writers and producers walk the ever-evolving line to avoid cancellation?   Featuring Suzie Miller, Van Badham, and Suzy Wrong   Chair: Lee Lewis

Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2023   Playwrights Melanie Tait and Sarah Carroll have a conversation about their careers and writing journeys.   ***   https://www.currency.com.au/authors/sarah-carroll/ https://www.currency.com.au/authors/melanie-tait/

Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2023   STORY AS COMMODITY: Theatre is not just about entertainment, it is also a powerful vehicle for breaking down taboos and secrecy by bringing real-life stories to an audience who might otherwise be at a distance from some issues.   Featuring James Elazzi, Declan Furber Gillick, and Tiffany Wong   Chair: Wesley Enoch

Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2023   GO YOUR OWN WAY: Being selected for a mainstage season is often viewed as the end goal for a playwright. But some of the most exciting theatre is created when a playwright teams up with a director to stage their own work.   Featuring Kenneth Moraleda, Jordan Shea, and Noëlle Janaczewska   Chair: Kate Gaul

Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2023   Finegan Kruckemeyer talks with Eva Di Cesare about his life, work, and influences. This episodes features readings from his plays.   ***   https://www.currency.com.au/authors/finegan-kruckemeyer/ https://www.currency.com.au/authors/eva-di-cesare/

Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2023   MIND THE POTHOLES: How does writing for, and working with, regional theatre companies compare with their city cousins? What role does geography play?   Featuring Karla Conway, Leland Kean, and Emily Steel   Chair: Marion Potts

Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2023   Playwrights Alana Valentine and JoJo Zhou have a conversation about their careers and writing practice.   ***   https://www.currency.com.au/authors/jojo-zhou/ https://www.currency.com.au/authors/alana-valentine/

Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2023   GROUP CHATS/HOME TRUTHS: A conversation about the power of theatre to heal, to connect and to give voice to those whose voices are not always heard. Featuring Mahdi Mohammadi, Margot Politis, Liza-Mare Syron. Chair: Donna Abela    

Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2023   Keynote Address by Andrea James - Are You Brave Enough?   ***   https://www.currency.com.au/authors/andrea-james/

Send us a textThe classic tale of The Little Matchstick Girl is beloved, but also...depressing? That's why the protagonist has decided to take matters into her own hands. Can she avoid her tragic fate without derailing her entire story?  A comedy about rewriting your own narrative.Bernadette Armstrong directs Gloria Tsai as The Little Match Girl, Matthew ScottMontgomery as The Duke, and Matt Foyer as The Narrator. Kevin B. is the playwright. His most recent play, The Jelly Bean, was a selection at the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. His other plays include American Strippers, Does It Rain on Mars?,, James Franco and Me: An Unauthorized Satire, Kill the Virgin, The Italian Wife, We Ride at Dawn or Whenever, Beautiful Beautiful Cleopatra, and more. He is also an actor, director and producer.Support the showFounded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse is a Theater Podcast- like the radio dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. The Playhouse launched on September 15, 2020. At the time, Open-Door Playhouse provided Playwrights, Actors and Directors a creative outlet during the shutdown. Since its inception. Open-Door Playhouse has presented Short and One-Act plays from Playwrights across the country and internationally. In 2021 Open-Door Playhouse received a Communicator Award for Content for the Play Custody and in 2023 the play What's Prison Like was nominated for a Webby Award in the Crime & Justice Category.Plays are produced by Bernadette Armstrong, Sound Engineer is David Peters, sound effects are provided by Audio Jungle, and music from Karaoke Version. All plays are recorded at The Oak House Studio in Altadena, CA. There's no paywall at the Open-Door Playhouse site, so you could listen to everything for free. Open-Door Playhouse is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and if you would like to support performances of works by new and emerging playwrights, your donation will be gratefully accepted. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the Podcast Stage. We strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising one-act plays and ten-minute shorts that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. To listen or to donate (or both), go to https://opend...

Send us a textSupport the showFounded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse is a Theater Podcast- like the radio dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. The Playhouse launched on September 15, 2020. At the time, Open-Door Playhouse provided Playwrights, Actors and Directors a creative outlet during the shutdown. Since its inception. Open-Door Playhouse has presented Short and One-Act plays from Playwrights across the country and internationally. In 2021 Open-Door Playhouse received a Communicator Award for Content for the Play Custody and in 2023 the play What's Prison Like was nominated for a Webby Award in the Crime & Justice Category.Plays are produced by Bernadette Armstrong, Sound Engineer is David Peters, sound effects are provided by Audio Jungle, and music from Karaoke Version. All plays are recorded at The Oak House Studio in Altadena, CA. There's no paywall at the Open-Door Playhouse site, so you could listen to everything for free. Open-Door Playhouse is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and if you would like to support performances of works by new and emerging playwrights, your donation will be gratefully accepted. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the Podcast Stage. We strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising one-act plays and ten-minute shorts that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. To listen or to donate (or both), go to https://opend...

Today, Shannon TL Kearns and I talk about the complex journey to understand masculinityA former fundamentalist who became the first openly transgender man ordained to the Old Catholic priesthood, Shannon TL Kearns believes in the transformative power of story. As an ordained priest, a playwright, a theologian, and a writer, all of his work revolves around making meaning through story. He is the co-founder of QueerTheology.com. His first book is In the Margins: A Transgender Man's Journey With Scripture. He has three books forthcoming: No One Taught Me How To Be A Man: What a trans man's experience reveals about masculinity, Come and See: A Youth Devotional, and Reading the Bible Through Queer Eyes (co-written with Brian G. Murphy).Shannon was a Humanitas New Voices Fellow for 2022 and was a recipient of the Playwrights' Center Jerome Fellowship in 20/21 and he was a Lambda Literary Fellow for 2019 (in playwriting) and 2022 (in screenwriting) and a Finnovation Fellow for 2019/2020. He is a sought after speaker on transgender issues and religion as well as a skilled facilitator of a variety of workshops. You can follow Shannon on all the socials @shannontlkearns. Preorder No One Taught Me How To Be a Man wherever you buy books. You can join Shannon's newsletter crew on his website, shannontlkearns.comSupport the show

Since we've taken a little break from the podcast, we thought it would be a good time to catch up and give you a summary of everything we've got going on so far this year. Strap yourself in and get ready to get involved with some writing resources which take your playwriting to the next level this year!Check out www.londonplaywrightsblog.com for more information.

In this episode, Gabriela talks to the Pulitzer-winning playwright about his new triple-play in Miami, and Rob checks in with LA Times arts reporter Ashley Lee.

This month Brian talks with the award-winning playwright about how he went from technician to playwright, and how to find the real drama behind a true historical event.

Send us a textAfter the death of his father, a grief-stricken Hamlet is plagued by psychotic delusions making him think several others have died and that he is at fault. He finds comfort in an unexpected source: the dearly not departed Ophelia.Rachel Berney Needleman directs Kim Hlavac as Ophelia and Omari Williams asHamlet.Allie Costa is the playwright. Remarkably prolific, her many, many plays include Two Girls, Rise Up, Boxes Are Magic, This Used to Be My Playground, Mindstream, A Taste of the Future, Music of the Mind, Safe Distance, and more. She is also a director and actor.Support the showFounded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse is a Theater Podcast- like the radio dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. The Playhouse launched on September 15, 2020. At the time, Open-Door Playhouse provided Playwrights, Actors and Directors a creative outlet during the shutdown. Since its inception. Open-Door Playhouse has presented Short and One-Act plays from Playwrights across the country and internationally. In 2021 Open-Door Playhouse received a Communicator Award for Content for the Play Custody and in 2023 the play What's Prison Like was nominated for a Webby Award in the Crime & Justice Category.Plays are produced by Bernadette Armstrong, Sound Engineer is David Peters, sound effects are provided by Audio Jungle, and music from Karaoke Version. All plays are recorded at The Oak House Studio in Altadena, CA. There's no paywall at the Open-Door Playhouse site, so you could listen to everything for free. Open-Door Playhouse is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and if you would like to support performances of works by new and emerging playwrights, your donation will be gratefully accepted. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the Podcast Stage. We strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising one-act plays and ten-minute shorts that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. To listen or to donate (or both), go to https://opend...

Send us a textAudrey Cefaly streamed into the Playwright's Spotlight after I had the pleasure of seeing the production of her play Alabaster at The Fountain Theatre in Los Angles. This is first time I've had the opportunity to talk to the playwright after seeing their work. We discuss asking big questions, making changes throughout the play's evolution, how much design is on the page, knowing the rules of the card game, and refraining from hardwiring stage directions to allow creative freedom. We also delve into stripping the work down to its core, the use of hashtags, writing poetic dialogue, stillness in storytelling and other way finders, and the use of overlapping and dual dialogue. We wrap it up writing regional, the use of hypnotic language, the purpose of an artistic statements, and her toolbox of playwright vocabulary and "How to Playwright." It's a great conversation that went on for another thirty minutes after I stopped recording. Won't let that happen again. Enjoy, and be sure to go catch Alabaster at any of the theaters below.Audrey Cefaly is an alumna of the Playwrights' Arena cohort at Arena Stage, a recipient of the Walter E. Dakin Fellowship from the Sewanee Writers Conference, and a Dramatist Guild Foundation Traveling Master. She is published by Concord Theatricals, Smith & Kraus, and Applause Books. Her plays have been produced by Cincinnati Playhouse, Florida Studio, Florida Rep, Gulfshore Playhouse, Signature Theatre, and many others. Her play Alabaster received an 11-city Rolling World Premiere, the largest in National New Play Network history and is now playing at The Fountain Theater in Los Angeles until March 30th.For tickets to Alabaster at The Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles, CA - https://www.fountaintheatre.com/events/alabasterFor tickets to Alabaster in Grand Rapids, MI, through March 8, 2025 -https://actorstheatregrandrapids.org/programming/coming-soon/alabaster/For tickets to Alabaster in Charolette, NC, through March 16 - https://charlottecultureguide.com/event/430227/alabaster-by-audrey-cefalyTo watch the video version of this interview, visit -           https://youtu.be/pcJSzLrAk-IWebsite and Socials for Audrey Cefaly -www.audreycefaly.comSubstack - https://audreycefaly.substack.comBluesky - @audreycefaly IG - @alcefaly X - @alcefaly Websites and socials for James Elden, PMP, and Playwright's Spotlight -Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods                  - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods       - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir        - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlSupport the show

The March 2025 episode of "In a Manner of Speaking" is the first to feature a playwright. Paul Meier discusses how playwrights hear their characters voices with Pulitzer Price-nominated James Still. 

From MPR News, Art Hounds are members of the Minnesota arts community who look beyond their own work to highlight what's exciting in local art. Their recommendations are lightly edited from the audio heard in the player above. Want to be an Art Hound? Submit here.One-act plays in WinonaDaryl Lanz, owner of Chapter Two Books in Winona, is glad to see Theatre Du Mississippi's One Act Play Festival returning for a second year. Playwrights from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa submitted original work earlier this winter, and the winning four short plays will be performed together to make a performance running about two hours.The result is a grab-bag of comedy and drama by regional writers ranging from 10 to 50 minutes. Shows will be performed at the Valencia Arts Center's Academy Theatre in Winona this weekend and next, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.  A family of artistsVisual artist Fawzia Khan of Hopkins recommends the exhibit “Reflections and Conversations: Monica Rudquist and Jerry Rudquist” at the Catherine G. Murphy Gallery at St. Catherine University in St. Paul. Assistant professor Monica Rudquist explores the relationship between her ceramic art and paintings by her late father, Jerry Rudquist (1924-2001), who taught painting at Macalester College for 42 years. On the gallery's second floor, Sophia Gibson — an honors student of Monica's — extends the legacy one step further by curating an exhibit of Jerry's portraits. The exhibit runs through March 16, with an artist talk by Monica Rudquist on March 5 at 6:30 p.m. There will also be a screening and panel discussion of the short film “The Painted Eye,” which documents Jerry Rudquist's painting process on March 12. In the East Gallery, Monica Rudquist's deconstructed and reassembled bowls, plates and cylinders reflect the shape and textures of her father's work.  “Both artists deconstruct objects and put them together in new ways to create imaginary forms and leave the marks of their hands on the works,” Khan said. Pining for the fjordsDiane Hellekson, retired writer and former art critic for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, was inspired by the mixed media exhibit “Sund: Notes from the Sea” showing at Form + Content Gallery in Minneapolis. Minneapolis artist Moira Bateman created works reflecting on her summer 2024 residency in Ålvik, Norway, and on the human impact of its fjords. The exhibit includes found objects pulled from the fjords, textiles and an audio element that immerses listeners in the sounds of the sea and underwater noise pollution. The exhibit is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through March 8, with an artist coffee reception on Saturday, March 1 from noon to 3 p.m. Hellekson called it an intimate show that gave her a feeling of  “wonder and curiosity.” She says you have to look closely at each piece and see “What is this? Oh my gosh. This is a plastic bag, and you find out that Moira dug it out from among some rocks in a fjord in Norway, and yet, here it is in this strange, deteriorated condition on the wall of a gallery.”“And it makes you think [how] this thing probably was there for years, and yet, if Moira hadn't plucked it out, it would have kept breaking down, and all these little shards of plastic would have gone on to pollute and end up in some animal's belly. It's very emotionally affecting, and yet it's also beautiful.” 

Send us a textTwo senior citizens, both windowed, meet at a senior citizen event at a Holiday Innconference room. They engage in humorous banter and then discuss their former spouses, each deeply affected by their loss.Bernadette Armstrong directs Gary Lamb as Jesse and Camille Ameen as Sara.Curt Strickland is a  playwright who recently received a masters degree in playwriting from Lesley University's graduate program. Inspired by August Wilson, Curt is finishing up his 5th play in a ten play opus on American, each play set in a different decade. You can view other plays by Curt at the New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/68843/curt-strickland and view his political and cultural essays at curtsview.com, Curt is a landscape photographer, and a former owner at Great American Art, one of the largest commercial art corporations in the nation. Curt believes that Art should serve to heal, inspire, provoke, challenge and to offer hope – but most of all to connect, to remind us of our common humanity. Curt recently was awarded the William Faulkner Literary playwriting prize for his full length play, 1968, and Curt just published his book: Democracy Under Siege: (Essays on the Trump Years, 2017-2024).In 2020, Curt received a double lung transplant, an event that had profound effects on both his writing and his life. This experience is the basis of a new play he is developing entitled Double Lung.Support the showFounded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse is a Theater Podcast- like the radio dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. The Playhouse launched on September 15, 2020. At the time, Open-Door Playhouse provided Playwrights, Actors and Directors a creative outlet during the shutdown. Since its inception. Open-Door Playhouse has presented Short and One-Act plays from Playwrights across the country and internationally. In 2021 Open-Door Playhouse received a Communicator Award for Content for the Play Custody and in 2023 the play What's Prison Like was nominated for a Webby Award in the Crime & Justice Category.Plays are produced by Bernadette Armstrong, Sound Engineer is David Peters, sound effects are provided by Audio Jungle, and music from Karaoke Version. All plays are recorded at The Oak House Studio in Altadena, CA. There's no paywall at the Open-Door Playhouse site, so you could listen to everything for free. Open-Door Playhouse is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and if you would like to support performances of works by new and emerging playwrights, your donation will be gratefully accepted. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the Podcast Stage. We strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising one-act plays and ten-minute shorts that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. To listen or to donate (or both), go to https://opend...

Theater has the power to heal, connect, and transform—especially in times of crisis.In this special introductory episode kicking off our 5th season, we speak with John Freedman and Brandice Thompson from the Center for International Theatre Development (CITD) about the resilience of theater in Ukraine as the region marks three years of conflict. We discuss the enduring impact of war on artists, the vital legacy of founder Philip Arnoult, and how CITD's Linkages Play Exchange has made this season possible—leading into episodes 1 and 2, featuring Ukrainian playwrights Dmytro Ternovyi and Anna Halas. This conversation underscores the urgent need for artistic solidarity and the profound ways theater amplifies voices that must be heard.To learn more about CITD's initiatives and discover ways to connect, support or host a staged reading, please explore:• Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings• Theatre of Playwrights, Kyiv• Linkages-UkraineAlso referenced in this episode:• The podcast adaptation of the acclaimed anthology A Dictionary of Ukrainian Emotions in a Time of War• AMERICAN THEATRE speaks to Philip Arnoult Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month we speak to the playwright and director of a new play at the Huntington, and check in with NY Times critic at large Maya Phillips.

Send us a textComing appropriately shortly before Valentine's Day Together chronicles the entire timeline of a love story of two people who were meant for each other. There will be evidence of their love for years to come.Sue Gisser directs David Andrew Calvillo as Kyle and Leah Jarvik as Lauren.Playwright Michael Sams is an established playwright in his native Australia. Hisprevious plays include Hunters and The Specialists. He is also an actor. He received his Master's Degree from Macquarie University. His plays have been performed in Sydney, New York, and Dubai.Support the showFounded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse is a Theater Podcast- like the radio dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. The Playhouse launched on September 15, 2020. At the time, Open-Door Playhouse provided Playwrights, Actors and Directors a creative outlet during the shutdown. Since its inception. Open-Door Playhouse has presented Short and One-Act plays from Playwrights across the country and internationally. In 2021 Open-Door Playhouse received a Communicator Award for Content for the Play Custody and in 2023 the play What's Prison Like was nominated for a Webby Award in the Crime & Justice Category.Plays are produced by Bernadette Armstrong, Sound Engineer is David Peters, sound effects are provided by Audio Jungle, and music from Karaoke Version. All plays are recorded at The Oak House Studio in Altadena, CA. There's no paywall at the Open-Door Playhouse site, so you could listen to everything for free. Open-Door Playhouse is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and if you would like to support performances of works by new and emerging playwrights, your donation will be gratefully accepted. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the Podcast Stage. We strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising one-act plays and ten-minute shorts that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. To listen or to donate (or both), go to https://opend...

This month Brian talks with playwright, director, and performer Aya Ogawa about “hacking away with a machete” toward a career and directing their own work.

Spinning Tree Theatre's annual festival stages three short plays, written by local teenagers, with professional-level resources. This year's performances will take place Friday through Sunday at Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center.

In this episode of The BETWEEN Podcast, we explore the challenges of sacred connection... especially for men. Shannon TL Kearns is a transgender man who believes in the transformative power of story. As an ordained priest, a playwright, a theologian, and a writer all of his work revolves around making meaning through story. Shannon's first book In the Margins: A Transgender Man's Journey With Scripture is available now from Eerdman's Books. He has three books forthcoming: No One Taught Me How To Be A Man: What A Trans Man's Experience Reveals About Masculinity (Broadleaf), Come and See: An Invitation To A Radical Encounter With Jesus A Youth Devotional (Hodder Faith), Reading the Bible Through Queer Eyes (HarperOne, co-written with Brian G. Murphy).  Shannon is a recipient of the Louisville Pastoral Study Grant for 2025/2026, the Humanitas New Voices Fellowship for 2022, a Playwrights' Center Jerome Fellowship in 20/21 and he was a Lambda Literary Fellow for 2019 in playwriting and in 2022 for screenwriting. He was a Finnovation Fellow for 2019/2020. He is a sought after speaker on transgender issues and religion as well as a skilled facilitator of a variety of workshops.  Shannon co-founded QueerTheology.com with Brian G. Murphy. Since its start in 2013, this work has reached more than two million people all over the world through videos, articles, and online courses and community. Their Queer Theology podcast is the longest running LGBTQ+ Christian podcast.  Selected recognition: Winner of the ScreenCraft Pitch competition, finalist for Bull City Film Festival for his pilot Transformed. Winner of the New Hope Film Festival for best premium/tv script. He's been a playwright in residence at the Inge House, participated in the Seven Devils' Playwright Conference and the Great Plains Theatre Conference. He was a semi-finalist for the O'Neill and a finalist for the Blue Ink playwriting award. Shannon's plays include Laughing, Flexing, Dying, The Stories We Tell At The End Of The World, Body+Blood, in a stand of dying trees, Line of Sight, Twisted Deaths, The Resistance of My Skin, and Who Has Eyes To See.   Shannon's Website: https://www.shannontlkearns.com/

This episode features a chat on the stage of Manhattan Theatre Club with playwright Jonathan Spector, and a check-in with Seattle Times arts writer Gemma Wilson.

Send us a textThis interview is a long time coming. I am extremely grateful for Adam taking the time to come on to share his knowledge. I'm sure if time allotted, we could easily could've had a three hour conversation, and I promise we will do at least one more episode. In this talk, we discuss his decision to write a book about playwriting from a letter-writing perspective, common questions he is asked, marketing and approaching theaters, dealing with rejection, finding opportunities, and negotiating compensation. We also discuss applying to Julliard, structure, considering your audience, the Math of Playwriting, monologues as a marketing tool, how changing characteristics might affect approach, the strategy of revealing information, the traps of questions and answers in dialogue, and the benefits of (earned) reversals. Playwrights of any level will walk away with something from this conversation. I look forward to the next conversations with Adam, because I will walk away so much the wiser. Enjoy!ADAM SZYMKOWICZ's plays have been produced throughout the U.S., Canada, and around the world. He was the premiere Resident Playwright at The Chance Theater in Anaheim, CA and the first playwright to participate in Bloomington Playwrights Projects' Square One Series. He has been to The Orchard Project and to JAW at Portland Center Stage, served twice as Playwright in Residence at the William Inge Center, and twice as a Dramatists Guild Fund's Traveling Masters. Adam received a Playwright's Diploma from The Juilliard School's Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program and an MFA from Columbia University where he was the Dean's Fellow. Plays include - Deflowering Waldo, Pretty Theft, Food For Fish, Incendiary, Clown Bar, Rare Birds, Marian Old Fashioned Cold Fusion, The Parking Lot, The Night Children, When Jack Met Jill, and Heart of Snow. His monologue book, Small Explosions came out from Applause in early 2023. His playwriting book, Letters To A Young Playwright came out from Applause in fall of 2024.He has interviewed 1100 playwrights on his blog.To watch the video format of this episode, visit -https://youtu.be/4ZiQuC1g7-wLinks to resources mentioned in this episode -TCG (Theatre Communications Group) -https://www.tcg.orgThe Chance -https://chancetheater.comWebsites and Socials for Adam Szymkowicz -https://www.adamszymkowicz.comI Interview Playwrights (Blog) -http://aszym.blogspot.com/2021/06/1100-playwright-interviews.htmlFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/adamszymkowiczIG - @aszymkowiczWebsites and socials for James Elden, PMP, and Playwright's Spotlight -Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods                  - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods       - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir        - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlSupport the show

This episode we are joined by Tony nominee and Drama Desk and Theatre World Award winning actor Tom Pecinka!  Tom made his Broadway debut in Stereophonic which he also was a part of at Playwrights Horizons.  He has numerous New York and Regional credits including Ghosts at Williamstown with Uma Thurman, which he also starred in the movie The Kill Room with.  We talk with Tom about making his stage debut as a kid in The Wizard of Oz (FUN FACT: turns out that Tom and I did the show together!  He was the Scarecrow and I was Dorothy!), working with Uma Thurman, performing at the Tonys, working on Stereophonic, what he hopes to work on in the future and much more! 

The interview with today's guest, Laura Shamas (Chickasaw Nation) on her world premiere play Four Women in Red happened several days before the Los Angeles Fires (i.e., Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Kenneth Fire, and the Hurst Fire). The play was originally scheduled to premiere on January 17th, 2025, at the Victory Theatre Center in Burbank, California where performances were supposed to continue through February 23. As of January 11th, 2025, the Victory Theater Center announced that “With members of the cast, creative team and audience impacted by the wildfires, The Victory Theatre Center has canceled the previously announced January 17 opening of Four Women in Red, a new play by Laura Shamas about the current crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. A revised performance schedule will be announced at a later date.” Four Women in Red is about four resilient Native American women searching for missing friends and relatives in the face of apathetic sheriffs and dwindling clues. Touching on variety if critically important issues such as MMIW, settler colonial violence, and this moving new play celebrates the power of community as the women seek answers against all odds. While the interview references the January and February theater dates for the play, American Indian Airwaves is releasing the program because the fires are profoundly impacting all living relations (human and non-human), including Indigenous peoples involved with Four Women in Red and Indigenous throughout the region. The following are some support organizations providing relief and support for Indigenous peoples impacted by the fires. • UAII headquarters, 1453 W Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90026, is asking for the following items to be donated: Water, diapers, Snacks, N95 masks, Zip ties, Gauze, Saline flushers & Syringes for insulin, Band aids, Sharps containers, Tampons & pads, batteries, flashlights, Pet food, Jackets & Blankets, Hygiene products, and First Aid Supplies. • Spoon Fed Company, owned by Jacob Spoonhunter, is “making small food care packages (on Friday, Jan. 10) to those who were effected [sic] by the fires as well as the first responders,” according to the company's Instagram. Spoonhunter is Northern Arapaho, Navajo, and Seminole. Go to the Instagram page for any donations or email: spoonfedco@gmail.com. • Chef Stephanie Pyet DeSpain, Prairie Band Potawatomi and winner of “Next Level Chef,” told her Instagram followers that she and other chefs will be doing a pop-up to feed community members. A plan will come out in the next few days, she said. Pyet announced on Jan. 10 on Instagram that she is teaming with Island Smoke N Grill through Go Fund Me to distribute meals for first responders and displaced families. If anyone wants to donate, volunteer, or needs some food to eat, direct message her on Instagram or email: info@pyetsplate.com. • Meal + Donations for Our Indian Firefighter Crews. Suggested Donation Items: Chapstick, Body Wipes, Tylenol, Liquid in Powers, Protein Shakes or Bars, Nutritional Bars, Meat Sticks, Nuts (Trail Mix), and other nutritional snack items easily portable. Contact: Tencha (626) 409-7895 or Cheryl (562) 229-2005. Guest: Laura Shamas (Chickasaw Nations), is an accomplished Native American author, essayist, poet, journalist, playwright, and the recent recipient of the Los Angeles New Play Project (LANPP) grant for the play Four Women in Red which was first developed by Native Voices, the only Actors' Equity theater company in the country dedicated to developing and producing new plays by Native artists. Archived programs can be heard on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/burntswamp American Indian Airwaves streams on over ten podcasting platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Audible, Backtracks.fm, Gaana, Google Podcast, Fyyd, iHeart Media, Mixcloud, Player.fm, Podbay.fm, Podcast Republic, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tunein, YouTube, and more.

This month Brian talks with the playwright, producer, Fire This Time Festival founder, and Apollo Theater director of new works about drama, balance, and Louisiana history.

Send us a textThe inevitable part of life, losing someone we love. How much time off from work is fair and just? What happens when the law dictates your allowable grieving time, what are your rights? Law vs human emotion. Which would you decide? Listen in to hear what transpires between an employee and her boss. Will sympathy prevail?"Kim Hlavac directs Goreti da Silva as Tara and Kim Hlavac as Beth.Matthew Moore is the playwright. With a career spanning over fifteen years, Moore has accumulated numerous awards for his work. Exceptionally prolific, Moore's many previous plays include The Fish and the Worm, Superman and the Optometrist, 21 Forever, Misty's Gifts, A Little Blue, The Standing Ovation, and more.Support the showFounded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse is a Theater Podcast- like the radio dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. The Playhouse launched on September 15, 2020. At the time, Open-Door Playhouse provided Playwrights, Actors and Directors a creative outlet during the shutdown. Since its inception. Open-Door Playhouse has presented Short and One-Act plays from Playwrights across the country and internationally. In 2021 Open-Door Playhouse received a Communicator Award for Content for the Play Custody and in 2023 the play What's Prison Like was nominated for a Webby Award in the Crime & Justice Category.Plays are produced by Bernadette Armstrong, Sound Engineer is David Peters, sound effects are provided by Audio Jungle, and music from Karaoke Version. All plays are recorded at The Oak House Studio in Altadena, CA. There's no paywall at the Open-Door Playhouse site, so you could listen to everything for free. Open-Door Playhouse is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and if you would like to support performances of works by new and emerging playwrights, your donation will be gratefully accepted. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the Podcast Stage. We strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising one-act plays and ten-minute shorts that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. To listen or to donate (or both), go to https://opend...

Send us a textThis week I had the pleasure of having a fascinating conversation with Allison Gregory on this recent episode of Playwright's Spotlight and her approach of writing about historical and mythological characters and exploring outside their known stories. We delved into the philosophy of "when we are", letting the story find us, the power of the #2 pencil and writing longhand, stealing from the best, obtaining the rights to other's works and public domain. We also discuss commissioning adaptations, tried and true material, embracing constructs, and knowing the audience of children's theatre. It's a wonderful chat I hope everyone feels motivated and inspired by. Enjoy!Allison Gregory's work has been produced nationally and internationally for multigenerational audiences by a fusion of professional theaters, academic stages, and nontraditional spaces. She has received commissions and development from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Kennedy Center, South Coast Repertory, Indiana Repertory Theatre, the Playwrights' Center, the Skirball Foundation, Geva Theatre, Seattle Rep, ACT Theater, Orlando Shakes, the National New Play Network (NNPN), Hedgebrook, the New Harmony Project, and Banff Playwrights Lab. Her plays range from satires centering on underrepresented historical figures to contemporary interpretations of mythology, intimate dramas, and exuberant, innovative theatre for young people. Her plays are published by Dramatic Publishing, Playscripts, Concord Theatricals, Smith & Krauss, and Rain City Press and include – Not Medea, Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook, and Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt.To watch the video format of this episode, visit -https://youtu.be/B9pW5OH7L14Links to resources mentioned in this episode -Child's Play -https://www.childsplayaz.orgSeattle's Children's Theare -www.sct.orgWebsite and Socials for Allison Gregory - Website-www.allisongregoryplays.comFacebook-https://www.facebook.com/allison.gregory.71Websites and socials for James Elden, PMP, and Playwright's Spotlight -Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods                  - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods       - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir        - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlSupport the show

Three San Antonio playwrights were chosen to present their unpublished plays before an audience in an informal setting as part of the Teatro Salon series.

For 2024's holiday podcast, Gabriela visits with the merry makers behind 'Rudolph' at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, and Rob chats with critic Bill Hirschman about the state of South Florida theatre.

Send your questions or provocations to Adam or Budi here!Robert Barry Fleming is the Executive Artistic Director of Actors Theatre of Louisville, KY. They have a varied portfolio and a wealth of experience as an artistic leader/administrator, producer, director, choreographer, performing artist, teacher and coach. Their directing/choreography credits include Laura Kaminsky's transgender journey contemporary opera As One (KY Opera); the world premiere of Jonathan Norton's I Am Delivered't (Dallas Theatre Center/Actors Theatre of Louisville co-production); the world premiere of Grace, a new musical by Nolan Williams, Jr., and Pulitzer Prize nominee Nikkole Salter (Ford's Theatre) which was honored as a Broadway World Winner for Best Direction of a Musical and Best Choreography of a Play or Musical; the Humana Festival of New American Plays Professional Training Company's production of Vivian Barnes, Jonathan Norton and Gab Reisman's Are You There? Robert's original ballet suite Hydra for Program 4 mixed repertory (Louisville Ballet); The world premiere of Idris Goodwin's Ali Summit (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Once On This Island (Actors/Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park co-production), Native Gardens (Cleveland Play House), NEXT TO NORMAL (Tantrum Theater), The Royale (CPH), Destiny of Desire (OSF), Caroline Or Change (Tantrum Theater), and Between Riverside And Crazy (CPH). Robert formerly served as Director of Artistic Programming at Arena Stage and Associate Artistic Director at Cleveland Play House. Arena Stage world-premieres commissioned, developed and/or championed under their watch include the 2017 Best Musical Tony-winner, Dear Evan Hansen, Mary Kathryn Nagle's Sovereignty, John Strand's The Originalist, Katori Hall's Blood Quilt, Karen Zacarías' Destiny of Desire and the 2017 Pulitzer Prize winner, Sweat by Lynn Nottage.  Robert was an Associate Producer for the Off-Broadway premiere of The Two Character Play by Tennessee Williams, starring Amanda Plummer and Brad Dourif. Robert is a proud member of the Professional Non-Profit Theatre Coalition (PNTC) planning committee endeavoring to evolve our relationship with governmental support for the arts as well as, our SDC, AEA, and TCG collectives working in solidarity for an equitable and sustainable praxis for our arts ecosystem. Support the showIf you enjoyed this week´s podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. To submit a question: Voice- http://www.speakpipe.com/theatreofothers Email- podcast@theatreofothers.com Show Credits Co-Hosts: Adam Marple & Budi MillerProducer: Jack BurmeisterMusic: https://www.purple-planet.comAdditional compositions by @jack_burmeister

This month Brian talks to the Southern-born writer about her journey through acting to playwriting, what her parents taught her, and her own parenting.

The whole gang is back together as Dave asks the riveting question: "What the hell is wrong with playwrights?" Not surprisingly, the groupies tangent off into various streams of consciousness. Also, Broadway Brian gives a review on the Broadway musical, "Swept Away".

Send us a textThree friends open Christmas crackers at a holiday party. Two contain the usual paper crowns and bad jokes. The third contains something that's absolutely terrifying.Bernadette Armstrong directs a cast that includes Noelle Evangelista, Matt Foyer,Cynthia Gravinese Brown, Kevin Carr, and Gilbert Glenn Brown.John Leslie is the playwright. He is a Los Angeles-based actor and writer.  Hisacting credits include 19 seasons as the corrupt Senator Alfred Winston in Theater Forty's production of The Manor at Greystone Mansion. His last appearance was in The Explorer's Club, also with Theater Forty. As a writer, he adapted Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest for Wicked Lit. His short story Trick was recently published in the anthology Ghosts, Echoes, and Shadows. He combined acting and writing for The Soft Click and Other Stories, his one-man show about his years as a substitute teacher.Support the showFounded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse is a Theater Podcast- like the radio dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. The Playhouse launched on September 15, 2020. At the time, Open-Door Playhouse provided Playwrights, Actors and Directors a creative outlet during the shutdown. Since its inception. Open-Door Playhouse has presented Short and One-Act plays from Playwrights across the country and internationally. In 2021 Open-Door Playhouse received a Communicator Award for Content for the Play Custody and in 2023 the play What's Prison Like was nominated for a Webby Award in the Crime & Justice Category.Plays are produced by Bernadette Armstrong, Sound Engineer is David Peters, sound effects are provided by Audio Jungle, and music from Karaoke Version. All plays are recorded at The Oak House Studio in Altadena, CA. There's no paywall at the Open-Door Playhouse site, so you could listen to everything for free. Open-Door Playhouse is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and if you would like to support performances of works by new and emerging playwrights, your donation will be gratefully accepted. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the Podcast Stage. We strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising one-act plays and ten-minute shorts that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. To listen or to donate (or both), go to https://opend...

In a recent conversation with publications director Kelundra Smith, the 'Yellow Face' playwright talked about progress in representation and the unfairness of criticism.

Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, and Eugene O'Neill get plenty of spotlight on the ELA curriculum stage. And sure, it's well-deserved! But they aren't the only incredible American playwrights to pick up a pen in the last century. If you're looking for some contemporary plays to share with your students, and you're struggling to find ones that fit your vision AND fit the maturity level of your kiddos, I've got a quick idea for you today. So here it is. You've got your stack of A Streetcar Named Desire or Death of a Salesman ready for your students, as always, AND you have a series of Pulitzer-Prize winning contemporary playwright snapshots to share. It's the classic "yes AND" combination that comes straight from the improv playbook. Each snapshot will let students learn about an award-winning contemporary playwright by exploring their background, learning about the play which won them a Pulitzer, and then watching a little bit of that play. You'll get to showcase a diverse range of writers and topics, and you can avoid moments in the plays which might be too intense or mature for the age of your students. My deep dive down the Youtube rabbit hole leads me to believe that most award-winning plays feature at least SOME scenes that are rated PG. It's a little like First Chapter Fridays, except for plays. You're introducing your students to a much wider world than the single lens on theater that whatever your assigned play can provide (wonderful though it may be!), by showcasing complementary work regularly. At the same time, you can work through a whole class read with rich literary merit (that your school has already purchased and approved.) So how can you get started quickly and easily? That's what today's episode is all about. I'll walk you through how I created some of these snapshots - which I'll share with you - and then you'll be ready to create more of your own if you want to go further. Go Further:  Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Grab the Contemporary Playwrights Snapshots: https://spark-creativity.kit.com/0c32caad5f  Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram.  Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the ‘gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you!      

This month Brian speaks with playwright about striving to write one play a year and drawing inspiration from various roles and identities.

Our take on the top 10 most-produced plays and top 20 most-produced playwrights in America this season, based on the annual list generated by American Theater Magazine. We discuss what we expected, what surprised us, and how this list reflects the current state of theater in America. Here are the lists so you can follow along! Top 10 most-produced plays in America in 2024-25 Top 20 most-produced playwrights in America in 2024-25

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Attorney Jalene Mack, America's Favorite Entertainment Attorney, and discussed ten tips on developing your business and avoiding signing a contract that can ruin your dream.  There are bad contracts, and there are scam contracts.  Tell us the difference between the two. Where can you go if you don't have much money for legal advice? Ten tips on how to develop your Business #1 Identify Your Project#2 Make sure you have a Plan#3 Form a Team#4 Prepare a Budget#5 Form a Business Entity#6 Get an EIN#7 Open a Business Bank Account#8 Protect Your Assets#9 Contracts#10 Marketing Jalene is not only an entertainment attorney but this industry renaissance woman and ARTivist has successfully integrated the demanding roles of wife, mother, TV & Film producer, writer, actress, playwright, and author of The Business of Stage, Screen & in Between, Entertainment Attorney Jalene Mack's Practical Advice for Performers, Playwrights & Producers by keeping the focus on her long-term goal “to make an impact on the entertainment industry.”  From her base in Houston, she has expanded her reach into the film centers of Las Vegas, NV, Miami, FL, Atlanta, GA, Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, Chicago, IL, Baltimore, MD, New Orleans, LA and the UAE. Ms. Mack's legal skills in Arts & Entertainment include a wide range of matters regarding Film & Television (scripted and unscripted), from development through distribution, Theater, Music, Books, Performing Artists, Contracts, Film Finance, Distribution, Federal Trademark & Copyright Registration and more. Jalene has served as either Producer or Production Attorney on over three dozen or more films and TV series. A few recent films she produced/executive produced or served as production attorney include Senior Moments, The Pillow Case (BET+), Staycation (ALLBLK), Friend Zone (Tubi), One Crazy Christmas (BET+), The Great Divide (BET+) and My B.F.F. (Aspire). Hip Hop Family Christmas and its sequel, Hip Hop Family Christmas Wedding (VH-1), Safe Room (Lifetime), and North of the 10 (BET+), were filmed in L.A., Chicago, and the UAE. A few clients, former or present, include Steve Harvey, Rushion McDonald, Tommy Davidson, Kim Burrell, AJ Johnson, Kiana Dancie, LeToya Luckett, Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles, Kenny Smith, Carl Payne, Greg Carter, Datari Turner, Rhyan LaMarr, Jilly Anais to name just a few. In addition, she's compiled a long list of acting credits in over 40 productions, including Better Call Saul, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and AllBLK's Houston drama 5th Ward, a hit television series of two seasons. Look for her alongside Jamie Foxx in The Burial out on Amazon Prime. She even won a Hollywood & Africa Prestigious Award (HAPA) for Best Supporting Actor for BET's film Christmas Belles. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. You can find Jalene on all social media and professional platforms: @JaleneMack. Websites: www.jalenemack.com, www.mpac-arts.org #AMI #BEST #STRAW  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.