Podcasts about playwriting

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 461st episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: How do you keep your audience on STAGE with your main character? Check out our new development program at Manhattan Rep: Manhattan Rep's Play Production Workshop: https://www.manhattanrep.com/workshop AND... All my Playwriting and Actor Services are 20% off at Checkout with the coupon code: YESYOUCAN Playwriting Coaching Premiere Playwriting Coaching Script Consultations Short Play Script Consultations Script Reviews and more! Go to: https://www.manhattanrep.com   Also, Check out Manhattan Rep's INSTAGRAM for more on Manhattan Rep's Celebration of 20 Years, with videos from out productions and so much more! @manhattanrepertorytheatre   MY PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING - A year long program where I help you write a perfect play, and teach you everything you need to know about Playwriting and connecting your plays to theatres and producers.  Now 20% off with the Code:" YESYOUCAN Book it here:   https://www.manhattanrep.com/premiere   My Fantastic Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program Let us help you self-produce your best play in New York City or anywhere in the world. Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

Send us a textIsrael López Reyes swung by the studio before the opening of his recent commission to discuss his background leading up to it and his success as an Angeleno playwright. We discuss his journey from actor to playwright, how he fell into theatre and his discovery to figuring out story and telling stories that matter. We unpack the evolution of emerging playwrights, the process and approach to character, the elements of structure, learning from the Greats, mastering the craft as well as tricks and tools, and the equation and formula to playwriting. We also touch on community as a market, raising stakes, receiving commissions, the purpose of a mentor, and writing for your "species." It's an impactful conversation that every playwright can benefit from. Enjoy!Israel López Reyes is a playwright and actor born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. He is currently a commissioned writer with the Latino Theater Company as part of the Circle of Imaginistas. In addition to The Little King of Norwalk other worka includes Queen of Califas, South Gate and The Rehabilitation of Walter. His plays have been developed with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Black Swan Lab/Latinx Play Project, the Latinx Theatre Alliance Los Angeles, Company of Angels, LA City College New Visions New Voices, and the Latino Theater Company at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. He received his B.A. in English from Southern Methodist University and his M.F.A. in Acting from UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television. He has also taught courses in theater at UCLA School of Theater Film & Television and Los Angeles City College.For tickets to The Little King of Norwalk at the Latino Theater Company, September 25th - November 2nd, visit -  https://purchase.latinotheaterco.org/EventAvailability?EventId=345&ref=bookNow&scroll=timeAndDatesTo watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/IgzoQwjQ7r0Website and Socials for Israel López Reyes -IG -  ⁨@IsraelLopezreyes⁩  Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk 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 LACPFest - www.lacpfest.comSupport the show

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 460th episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: Playwriting in this Brave New World!   Check out our new development program at Manhattan Rep: Manhattan Rep's Play Production Workshop: https://www.manhattanrep.com/workshop   AND... All my Playwriting and Actor Services are 20% off at Checkout with the coupon code: YESYOUCAN Playwriting Coaching Premiere Playwriting Coaching Script Consultations Short Play Script Consultations Script Reviews and more! Go to: https://www.manhattanrep.com/   Also, Check out Manhattan Rep's INSTAGRAM for more on Manhattan Rep's Celebration of 20 Years, with videos from out productions and so much more! @manhattanrepertorytheatre MY PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING - A year long program where I help you write a perfect play, and teach you everything you need to know about Playwriting and connecting your plays to theatres and producers.  Now 20% off with the Code:" YESYOUCAN Book it here:   https://www.manhattanrep.com/premiere   My Fantastic Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program Let us help you self-produce your best play in New York City or anywhere in the world.   Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

Follow Joe Weinberg @OverthinkingTheatre on TikTok and Instagram. Follow The Present Stage on Instagram at @thepresentstageThe Present Stage: Conversations with Theater Writers is hosted by Dan Rubins, a theater critic for Theatermania and Slant Magazine. You can also find Dan's reviews on Cast Album Reviews and in The New Yorker's Briefly Noted column.The Present Stage supports the national nonprofit Hear Your Song. If you'd like to learn more about Hear Your Song and how to support empowering youth with serious illnesses to make their voices heard though songwriting, please visit www.hearyoursong.org

The new play "The Other Americans" was written by John Leguizamo, and stars Leguizamo as a laundromat owner in Queens who is grappling with secrets and trying to keep his business afloat. Things come to a head when his son, Nick, played by Trey Santiago-Hudson, returns from a stay at a mental health facility. Leguizamo and Santiago-Hudson discuss the play, which is running at the Public Theater through October 19.

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 459th episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: The Wow Moment Revisited! Go to Manhattanrep.com! All my Playwriting and Actor Services are 20% off at Checkout with the coupon code: YESYOUCAN Playwriting Coaching Premiere Playwriting Coaching Script Consultations Short Play Script Consultations Script Reviews and more! Go to: https://www.manhattanrep.com/ Also, Check out Manhattan Rep's INSTAGRAM for more on Manhattan Rep's Celebration of 20 Years, with videos from out productions and so much more! @manhattanrepertorytheatre   MY PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING - A year long program where I help you write a perfect play, and teach you everything you need to know about Playwriting and connecting your plays to theatres and producers.  Now 20% off with the Code:" YESYOUCAN Book it here:  https://www.manhattanrep.com/premiere My Fantastic Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program Let us help you self-produce your best play in New York City or anywhere in the world. Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

In this episode, we explore three essential books on the craft of playwriting: Letters to a Young Playwright by Adam Szymkowicz, Playwriting with Purpose and Writing Adaptations and Translations for the Stage by Jacqueline Goldfinger. The discussion covers practical advice for early-career and emerging playwrights, from developing characters and writing dialogue to adapting works for stage performance, all enriched with insider tips and real-world insights from award-winning dramatists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From award-winning writer Sarah Schulman, a longtime social activist and outspoken critic of the Israeli war on Gaza, comes The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity (Penguin, 2025). This book is a brilliant examination of the inherent psychological and social challenges to solidarity movements, and what that means for the future For those who seek to combat injustice, solidarity with the oppressed is one of the highest ideals, yet it does not come without complication. In this searing yet uplifting book, award-winning writer and cultural critic Sarah Schulman delves into the intricate and often misunderstood concept of solidarity to provide a new vision for what it means to engage in this work—and why it matters. To grapple with solidarity, Schulman writes, we must recognize its inherent fantasies. Those being oppressed dream of relief, that a bystander will intervene though it may not seem to be in their immediate interest to do so, and that the oppressor will be called out and punished. Those standing in solidarity with the oppressed are occluded by a different fantasy: that their intervention is effective, that it will not cost them, and that they will be rewarded with friendship and thanks. Neither is always the case, and yet in order to realize our full potential as human beings in relation with others, we must continue to pursue action towards these shared goals. Within this framework, Schulman examines a range of case studies, from the fight for abortion rights in post-Franco Spain, to NYC's AIDS activism in the 1990s, to the current wave of campus protest movements against Israel's war on Gaza, and her own experience growing up as a queer female artist in male dominated culture industries. Drawing parallels between queer, Palestinian, feminist, and artistic struggles for justice, Schulman challenges the traditional notion of solidarity as a simple union of equals, arguing that in today's world of globalized power structures, true solidarity requires the collaboration of bystanders and conflicted perpetrators with the excluded and oppressed. That action comes at a cost, and is not always effective. And yet without it we sentence ourselves to a world without progressive change towards visions of liberation. By turns challenging, inspiring, pragmatic, and poetic, The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity provides a much-needed path for how we can work together to create a more just, more equitable present and future. Sarah Schulman is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, nonfiction writer, and AIDS historian. Her books include The Gentrification of the Mind, Conflict Is Not Abuse, and Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987–1993, and the novels The Cosmopolitans and Maggie Terry. Schulman's honors include a Fulbright in Judaic Studies, a Guggenheim in Playwriting, and honors from Lambda Literary, the Publishing Triangle, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, the American Library Association, and others. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, New York, Harper's Magazine, The Atlantic, The Nation, The New Republic, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Schulman holds an endowed chair in creative writing at Northwestern University and is on the advisory board of Jewish Voice for Peace. 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

From award-winning writer Sarah Schulman, a longtime social activist and outspoken critic of the Israeli war on Gaza, comes The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity (Penguin, 2025). This book is a brilliant examination of the inherent psychological and social challenges to solidarity movements, and what that means for the future For those who seek to combat injustice, solidarity with the oppressed is one of the highest ideals, yet it does not come without complication. In this searing yet uplifting book, award-winning writer and cultural critic Sarah Schulman delves into the intricate and often misunderstood concept of solidarity to provide a new vision for what it means to engage in this work—and why it matters. To grapple with solidarity, Schulman writes, we must recognize its inherent fantasies. Those being oppressed dream of relief, that a bystander will intervene though it may not seem to be in their immediate interest to do so, and that the oppressor will be called out and punished. Those standing in solidarity with the oppressed are occluded by a different fantasy: that their intervention is effective, that it will not cost them, and that they will be rewarded with friendship and thanks. Neither is always the case, and yet in order to realize our full potential as human beings in relation with others, we must continue to pursue action towards these shared goals. Within this framework, Schulman examines a range of case studies, from the fight for abortion rights in post-Franco Spain, to NYC's AIDS activism in the 1990s, to the current wave of campus protest movements against Israel's war on Gaza, and her own experience growing up as a queer female artist in male dominated culture industries. Drawing parallels between queer, Palestinian, feminist, and artistic struggles for justice, Schulman challenges the traditional notion of solidarity as a simple union of equals, arguing that in today's world of globalized power structures, true solidarity requires the collaboration of bystanders and conflicted perpetrators with the excluded and oppressed. That action comes at a cost, and is not always effective. And yet without it we sentence ourselves to a world without progressive change towards visions of liberation. By turns challenging, inspiring, pragmatic, and poetic, The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity provides a much-needed path for how we can work together to create a more just, more equitable present and future. Sarah Schulman is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, nonfiction writer, and AIDS historian. Her books include The Gentrification of the Mind, Conflict Is Not Abuse, and Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987–1993, and the novels The Cosmopolitans and Maggie Terry. Schulman's honors include a Fulbright in Judaic Studies, a Guggenheim in Playwriting, and honors from Lambda Literary, the Publishing Triangle, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, the American Library Association, and others. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, New York, Harper's Magazine, The Atlantic, The Nation, The New Republic, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Schulman holds an endowed chair in creative writing at Northwestern University and is on the advisory board of Jewish Voice for Peace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/lgbtq-studies

From award-winning writer Sarah Schulman, a longtime social activist and outspoken critic of the Israeli war on Gaza, comes The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity (Penguin, 2025). This book is a brilliant examination of the inherent psychological and social challenges to solidarity movements, and what that means for the future For those who seek to combat injustice, solidarity with the oppressed is one of the highest ideals, yet it does not come without complication. In this searing yet uplifting book, award-winning writer and cultural critic Sarah Schulman delves into the intricate and often misunderstood concept of solidarity to provide a new vision for what it means to engage in this work—and why it matters. To grapple with solidarity, Schulman writes, we must recognize its inherent fantasies. Those being oppressed dream of relief, that a bystander will intervene though it may not seem to be in their immediate interest to do so, and that the oppressor will be called out and punished. Those standing in solidarity with the oppressed are occluded by a different fantasy: that their intervention is effective, that it will not cost them, and that they will be rewarded with friendship and thanks. Neither is always the case, and yet in order to realize our full potential as human beings in relation with others, we must continue to pursue action towards these shared goals. Within this framework, Schulman examines a range of case studies, from the fight for abortion rights in post-Franco Spain, to NYC's AIDS activism in the 1990s, to the current wave of campus protest movements against Israel's war on Gaza, and her own experience growing up as a queer female artist in male dominated culture industries. Drawing parallels between queer, Palestinian, feminist, and artistic struggles for justice, Schulman challenges the traditional notion of solidarity as a simple union of equals, arguing that in today's world of globalized power structures, true solidarity requires the collaboration of bystanders and conflicted perpetrators with the excluded and oppressed. That action comes at a cost, and is not always effective. And yet without it we sentence ourselves to a world without progressive change towards visions of liberation. By turns challenging, inspiring, pragmatic, and poetic, The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity provides a much-needed path for how we can work together to create a more just, more equitable present and future. Sarah Schulman is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, nonfiction writer, and AIDS historian. Her books include The Gentrification of the Mind, Conflict Is Not Abuse, and Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987–1993, and the novels The Cosmopolitans and Maggie Terry. Schulman's honors include a Fulbright in Judaic Studies, a Guggenheim in Playwriting, and honors from Lambda Literary, the Publishing Triangle, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, the American Library Association, and others. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, New York, Harper's Magazine, The Atlantic, The Nation, The New Republic, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Schulman holds an endowed chair in creative writing at Northwestern University and is on the advisory board of Jewish Voice for Peace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/politics-and-polemics

From award-winning writer Sarah Schulman, a longtime social activist and outspoken critic of the Israeli war on Gaza, comes The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity (Penguin, 2025). This book is a brilliant examination of the inherent psychological and social challenges to solidarity movements, and what that means for the future For those who seek to combat injustice, solidarity with the oppressed is one of the highest ideals, yet it does not come without complication. In this searing yet uplifting book, award-winning writer and cultural critic Sarah Schulman delves into the intricate and often misunderstood concept of solidarity to provide a new vision for what it means to engage in this work—and why it matters. To grapple with solidarity, Schulman writes, we must recognize its inherent fantasies. Those being oppressed dream of relief, that a bystander will intervene though it may not seem to be in their immediate interest to do so, and that the oppressor will be called out and punished. Those standing in solidarity with the oppressed are occluded by a different fantasy: that their intervention is effective, that it will not cost them, and that they will be rewarded with friendship and thanks. Neither is always the case, and yet in order to realize our full potential as human beings in relation with others, we must continue to pursue action towards these shared goals. Within this framework, Schulman examines a range of case studies, from the fight for abortion rights in post-Franco Spain, to NYC's AIDS activism in the 1990s, to the current wave of campus protest movements against Israel's war on Gaza, and her own experience growing up as a queer female artist in male dominated culture industries. Drawing parallels between queer, Palestinian, feminist, and artistic struggles for justice, Schulman challenges the traditional notion of solidarity as a simple union of equals, arguing that in today's world of globalized power structures, true solidarity requires the collaboration of bystanders and conflicted perpetrators with the excluded and oppressed. That action comes at a cost, and is not always effective. And yet without it we sentence ourselves to a world without progressive change towards visions of liberation. By turns challenging, inspiring, pragmatic, and poetic, The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity provides a much-needed path for how we can work together to create a more just, more equitable present and future. Sarah Schulman is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, nonfiction writer, and AIDS historian. Her books include The Gentrification of the Mind, Conflict Is Not Abuse, and Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987–1993, and the novels The Cosmopolitans and Maggie Terry. Schulman's honors include a Fulbright in Judaic Studies, a Guggenheim in Playwriting, and honors from Lambda Literary, the Publishing Triangle, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, the American Library Association, and others. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, New York, Harper's Magazine, The Atlantic, The Nation, The New Republic, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Schulman holds an endowed chair in creative writing at Northwestern University and is on the advisory board of Jewish Voice for Peace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textFilmmaker turned playwright, David Kohner Zuckerman, dropped into Playwright's Spotlight to talk about the World Premiere of his play Parallel Process. In this interview, we talk unpack his journey from film to stage and how it affect his writing, his approach to naturalism and honesty to his writing, and how his acting and directing applied to his writing. We also touched on his collaborating with his cast, how rehearsals affected his structure, and being a first time playwright. We end on the struggles of unanticipated recasting, the logistics of Equity, approaching naturalism and realism as a playwright, and pacing on the page.As always, it's a discussion that touch on a new subject I think everyone will benefit from. Enjoy!David Kohner Zuckerman is a playwright and veteran filmmaker whose credits include A Perfect Christmas, Strictly Sexual, and Chump Change. The World Premiere of his play Parallel Process opens at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles September 19th and runs through October 26th.For tickets to Parallel Process at the Odyssey Theater visit - https://www.parallelprocesstheplay.com/To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/qbxPgofKxs4Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk 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 LACPFest - www.lacpfest.comSupport the show

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 458th episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: OH MY GOD, WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ACTION AND EVENTS ONCE AGAIN! Check out Manhattan Rep's INSTAGRAM for more on Manhattan Rep's Celebration of 20 Years, with videos from out productions and so much more! @manhattanrepertorytheatre Special Back to School Sale! All my Playwriting Services are 20% at manhattanrep.com with the Coupon Code at checkout: YESYOUCAN Don't miss out and get some feedback and help, and SAVE 20%!   Book a SCRIPT CONSULTATION - Get Productive Feedback and Next Steps! https://www.manhattanrep.com/script-consultation   Book a SHORT PLAY SCRIPT CONSULTATION  https://www.manhattanrep.com/short-script-consultation MY PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING - A year long program where I help you write a perfect play, and teach you everything you need to know about Playwriting and connecting your plays to theatres and producers.  (And in this sale 20% off!) Book it here:   https://www.manhattanrep.com/premiere   My standard Playwriting Coaching! Write a play in 10 coaching sessions! https://www.manhattanrep.com/playwriting-coaching My Fantastic Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program Let us help you self-produce your best play in New York City or anywhere in the world. Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 457th episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: How to Start a Play    SPECIAL PROMOTION ON:  MY PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING - A year long program where I help you write a perfect play, and teach you everything you need to know about Playwriting and connecting your plays to theatres and producers. WITH A DISCOUNT CODE below at Checkout - Save 20%! IWRITEPLAYS Book it here:  https://www.manhattanrep.com/premiere   Check out Manhattan Rep's INSTAGRAM for more on Manhattan Rep with videos from our productions and so much more! @manhattanrepertorytheatre The Playwright's Reading Room on Zoom starts 9/10!  Come develop your play with me and some of Manhattan Rep's best actors!  Book it at the link below: https://www.manhattanrep.com/reading-room Book a SCRIPT CONSULTATION - Get Productive Feedback and Next Steps! https://www.manhattanrep.com/script-consultation   Book a SHORT PLAY SCRIPT CONSULTATION  https://www.manhattanrep.com/short-script-consultation   My Fantastic Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC   Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program Let us help you self-produce your best play in New York City or anywhere in the world.   Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

Send us a textPlaywright Stuart Brown streamed into Playwright's Spotlight for a second time after technical difficulties with sound, but I hope delved a little deeper this time around. We discuss the Connecticut Theatre Market, being a critic and a playwright and how the former affected the latter, honesty as a critic, and advice to theatre companies on getting critics in seats. We also explore how being a critic helped his writing when he began to pursue playwriting, keeping your audience engaged, implementing twists and what makes a good one, and what makes a three dimensional character. We wrap things up learning curves and openness to making improvements, the success of the Questions game in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, his approach to Murder Mystery and keeping it simple, and writing a red herring and whether or not there are rules. We close it up discussing his online Broadway radio station - SoundsofBroadway.com. It's a question filled conversation with a plethora of information. Enjoy!Stuart Brown is an award-winning Connecticut playwright whose 10-Minute works have been staged in his home state as well as California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Texas and via the British podcast, Theatrical Shenanigans. He is a theater critic with the Outer Critics Circle and the Connecticut Critics Circle and also runs the 24/7 online Broadway radio station, SoundsofBroadway.com, featuring the best from Off-Broadway, Broadway, and London stages. Plays included The Suitcase, House Hunted, and his newest play Lady Jigsaw received a staged reading at the Square One Theatre in Stratford, CT on July 10 and will lead the Chestnut Playhouse Theater's 5th annual Playwriting Festival on September 5th. For tickets to Lady Jigsaw at the Chestnut Street Playhouse on Sept. 5, visit -https://www.chestnutstreetplayhouse.org/For tickets to an evening of Stu's nine 10-minute plays at The Arts at Angeloria's on Sept. 12, visit, https://www.theartsatangelorias.com/To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/R5wJb0RrRO0Websites and Socials for Stuart Brown -http://stuartjbrown.com/IG: @stuartjbrown_authorWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk 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 LACPFest - www.lacpfest.comSupport the show

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 456th episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: Play Creation Takeaways from 20 Years of Manhattan Rep! Check out Manhattan Rep's INSTAGRAM for more on Manhattan Rep's Celebration of 20 Years, with videos from out productions and so much more! @manhattanrepertorytheatre The Playwright's Reading Room on Zoom starts 9/10!  Come develop your play with me and some of Manhattan Rep's best actors!  Book it at the link below: https://www.manhattanrep.com/reading-room Book a SCRIPT CONSULTATION - Get Productive Feedback and Next Steps! https://www.manhattanrep.com/script-consultation   Book a SHORT PLAY SCRIPT CONSULTATION  https://www.manhattanrep.com/short-script-consultation MY PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING - A year long program where I help you write a perfect play, and teach you everything you need to know about Playwriting and connecting your plays to theatres and producers. Book it here:  https://www.manhattanrep.com/premiere My Fantastic Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program Let us help you self-produce your best play in New York City or anywhere in the world. Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

Sister Bliss started out DJing on London's gay club scene, before co-founding Faithless in 1995 and became one of the few women of her generation to help shape UK dance culture. Faithless have sold more than 20 million albums and amassed close to a billion streams. 30 years on from the hit dance anthem Insomnia, she joins Nuala McGovern to discuss their latest album - Champion Sound.Too many recommendations, not enough implementation - these are the findings of the latest report into maternity services in England, from the Health Services Safety Investigations Body. It has pressed pause on its own investigation to make way for a new government rapid review to be led by Baroness Valerie Amos. So why are the findings of multiple reports and reviews not yet leading to change? Nuala finds out with BBC Social Affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan, and maternity campaigner Emily Barley, who lost her own daughter due to maternity failings in 2022.Winner of the Women's Prize for Playwriting 2022, Karis Kelly's play Consumed is described as a pitch-black and twisted comedy of dysfunctional family dynamics, generational trauma and national boundaries set in Northern Ireland. Currently well-received on stage at the Edinburgh Festival, Karis explains why she chose to focus her story on the lives of four generations of women from the same family.You might love your local river, but enough to marry it? One woman felt so strongly about protecting the River Avon in Bristol that she took part in a wedding to it...she is part of a group of women bathers and activists who want the watercourse to have the right to be free from pollution. Megan Trump, or Mrs Meg Avon as she is now known, and Charlotte Sawyer are in the Woman's Hour studio.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Send us a textPlaywright. Screenplay Writer, and Novelist Lawrence C. Connolly streamed into Playwright's Spotlight and, as always, we touched base on many topics not covered in previous episodes. It never ceases to amaze me. In this discussion, we delve into adapting a novel and the allegory of Frankenstein, staging multiple locations on stage, the process of outlining a five-act play, approaching cross-talk amongst multiple characters, and the musicality of dialogue. We also we unpack flow state. the magic writing, staging and graphics on the stage as well as letting dialogue drive the dialogue and how to eliminate parentheticals. We wrap with the evolution of his writing career, the Doorway Effect, the Pittsburgh Market, and his approach of lighting and sound on the page. It's just another insightful episode where you'll walk away with more playwriting knowledge. Enjoy!Lawrence Connolly is a novelist, screenwriter, and playwright. He is a writer on the podcast Mystery Theatre by Prime Stage Theatre which premiered his adaptation of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, and he was recently commissioned a play based on the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe, opens in November 2025 at Pittsburgh's New Hazelett Theatre.To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/cjzOiW27laAResources mentioned in this episode - Pittsburgh Public Theater - https://ppt.orgWebsites and Socials for Lawrence Connolly -https://lawrencecconnolly.comFB - https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceCConnollyIG - @lawrence_c_connollyWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk 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 LACPFest - www.lacpfest.comSupport the show

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 455th episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: Stories from 20 Years of Manhattan Rep! Check out Manhattan Rep's INSTAGRAM for more on Manhattan Rep's Celebration of 20 Years, with videos from out productions and so much more! @manhattanrepertorytheatre   The Playwright's Reading Room on Zoom starts 9/10!  Come develop your play with me and some of Manhattan Rep's best actors!  Book it at the link below: https://www.manhattanrep.com/reading-room   Book a SCRIPT CONSULTATION - Get Productive Feedback and Next Steps! https://www.manhattanrep.com/script-consultation   Book a SHORT PLAY SCRIPT CONSULTATION  https://www.manhattanrep.com/short-script-consultation   MY PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING - A year long program where I help you write a perfect play, and teach you everything you need to know about Playwriting and connecting your plays to theatres and producers. Book it here:  https://www.manhattanrep.com/premiere   My Fantastic Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC   Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program Let us help you self-produce your best play in New York City or anywhere in the world. Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

Nev Fountain is an award-winning writer, chiefly known for his work on the BBC sketch show Dead Ringers in both TV and radio incarnations. He has also contributed to many other programs, including Have I Got News for You and Newzoids. He is a principal gag writer for satirical magazine Private Eye and contributes to every issue. He first came to write for Doctor Who when he script-edited the BBC online story "Death Comes to Time" in 2001, and has gone on to write some of Big Finish's most popular audios, including "The Kingmaker" and "Peri and the Piscon Paradox." His books include The Mervyn Stone Mysteries, The Fan Who Knew too Much, and its sequel, Lies and Dolls, which was released in July. Nev talks with me about how he got his start writing radio comedy, the challenges of writing comedy even about very serious events, writing for various forms and media, leaving room to be surprised as you're writing, and more. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 04:02 Teachers encouraged Nev; family humor shaped his view. 08:21 Comedy influences: The Young Ones, Blackadder, Hitchhiker's Guide. 12:27 Breaking into radio comedy. 16:03 Playwriting taught Nev what makes audiences laugh—live. 20:22 Writing comedy about tragic events; satire offers relief and perspective. 24:23 Dead Ringers' hiatus, revival, and Jon Culshaw's Tom Baker calls. 28:47 Sketches with Ozzy Osbourne, behind-the-scenes stories from TV comedy. 33:46 Nev's serendipitous first Doctor Who project, "Death Comes to Time." 39:23 The process and impact of "Death Comes to Time" explained. 46:31 Challenges and expectations of writing “big” stories in franchises. 52:18 Emphasizing medium-specific storytelling; novels, radio, TV all differ. 58:14 Enjoying creative surprises; writing unfolds beyond outlines or plans. Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in writing, theatre, and Doctor Who.   If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Check out the full show notes--with videos of Nev's work and links to his books—at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you're tired of waiting for “someday”—which is NOT a day of the week—to get unstuck and step toward your creative dream, we should talk. Https://fyc.quest/Contact        

‘A ceasefire breaks like a paper chainthey killed a forest to make.'- from Crisis Talks by Hayley Ricketson. In this episode of 3CR's Spoken Word show which aired on Thursday 21 August 2025, you will hear poet Hayley Ricketson talk about politics, performance and playwriting.Hayley Ricketson is a poet, playwright and probably writes most from the impetus that the personal is political – and the political is personal. She discovered spoken word poetry when living in London and has been a Slam finalist in London and Melbourne, and is currently lucky enough to be part of the Melbourne Slamalamadingdong Poetry Team. Playwriting is her love language but overall she loves creative writing and expression in all its forms, particularly when it's communicating something honest, human and maybe a bit funny. Poems written and performed by Hayley Ricketson in this episode:Crisis TalksSweet NoteSpoken word and poetry come from the heart and touch on all the topics peculiar to the human condition. As such there may be content in this show that could cause distress. Please practice self-care when listening and seek help if you need it. CreditsRecorded, produced and edited by Indrani Perera.Thank you to Hayley Ricektson for sharing her poetry and to you for listening! 

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 454th episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: Developing Your Plays!   The Playwright's Reading Room on Zoom starts 9/10!  Come develop your play with me and some of Manhattan Rep's best actors!  Book it at the link below: https://www.manhattanrep.com/reading-room   Book a SCRIPT CONSULTATION - Get Productive Feedback and Next Steps! https://www.manhattanrep.com/script-consultation   Book a SHORT PLAY SCRIPT CONSULTATION  https://www.manhattanrep.com/short-script-consultation   MY PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING - A year long program where I help you write a perfect play, and teach you everything you need to know about Playwriting and connecting your plays to theatres and producers. Book it here:  https://www.manhattanrep.com/premiere   My Fantastic Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC   Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program Let us help you self-produce your best play in New York City or anywhere in the world.   Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 453rd episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: Constant and Never-Ending Improvement - Revisited!   The Playwright's Reading Room on Zoom starts 9/10!  Only 2 out of 4 slots left! Come develop your play with me and some of Manhattan Rep's best actors!  Book it at the link below: https://www.manhattanrep.com/reading-room   Book a SCRIPT CONSULTATION - Get Productive Feedback and Next Steps! https://www.manhattanrep.com/script-consultation   Book a SHORT PLAY SCRIPT CONSULTATION:  https://www.manhattanrep.com/short-script-consultation   MY PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING - A year long program where I help you write a perfect play, and teach you everything you need to know about Playwriting and connecting your plays to theatres and producers. Book it here:  https://www.manhattanrep.com/premiere   My Fantastic Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC   Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program Let us help you self-produce your best play in New York City or anywhere in the world.   Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

Send us a textAngelica Cheri swung by Playwright's Spotlight after leaving the rehearsals of her Broadway play Wanted only to jump into the rehearsals for the West Coast Premiere of her play Burta Burta. She was wiling to share her insights of the craft. We delve into the rehearsal process, approaching rewrites and the importance of dramatic truth, finding opportunities and landing an agent, changes to pieces from a thesis to premieres to publication. We also touch on the trick of raising stakes, the structure of a song in musical theatre, magical realism and laying breadcrumbs, achieving foreshadowing, playwriting vs musical theatre, and how analytics can rename a play. We wrap it up discussing the struggles with the business of playwriting as well as with the craft itself, the differences between structure vs form, approaching character and the math in human emotion, and, finally, creative license. It's a talk chock full of nuggets of theatrical knowledge that I took a lot from. Enjoy.For tickets to the West Coast premiere of her play Berta Berta that which runs through August 25th at the Echo Theater Company in Los Angeles, visit https://www.echotheatercompany.com/berta-berta.Angelica Chéri is a playwright, bookwriter, lyricist, screenwriter and poet. Her plays include Phenomenal Woman, Maya Angelou; The Seeds of Abraham; The Sting of White Roses; Crowndation; and The Wiring & the Switches. She and collaborator Ross Baum received the Richard Rodgers Award for their musical Wanted (formerly titled Gun & Powder), which is heading to Broadway next season. She received her BA in Theater from UCLA, MFA in Playwriting from Columbia University and MFA in Musical Theater Writing from NYU.To watch the video format of this episode, visit https://youtu.be/ul3ThJixBRkLinks to resources mentioned in this episode - Playwright's Bill of Rights - https://www.dramatistsguild.com/rightsThe Richard Rogers Award - https://www.artsandletters.org/rodgers-awardThe O'Neill - https://www.theoneill.org/monte-cristo-awardNational Alliance for Musical Theatre - https://namt.orgCleveland Arts Prize - https://clevelandartsprize.orgTheatrical Works Worldwide - https://www.theatricalrights.comWebsite and Socials for Angelica Cheri -www.angelicacheri.comIG - @angleicacheriFB - https://www.facebook.com/angelicacheriWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk 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 LACPFest - www.lacpfest.comSupport the show

How does an idea become a musical? How do you write both a play and a musical soundtrack at the same time? How does a musical that you've finally written wind up on a real stage with real actors?Kaylee Killingsworth and Kenady Sean have answers.In this episode, Emmeline sits down with two-thirds of the creative team behind Beyond Perfection, a new musical about our human desire for perfection and our love-hate relationship with reality. Just days before their New York City debut, Kenady and Kaylee get candid about the winding path to the stage, from initial table reads to a complete script revision. They also discuss the value of perseverance, the fine line between constructive criticism and debilitating criticism, and how this version of Beyond Perfection is, without a doubt, their best one yet. Plus, hear a sneak peek of the musical itself!To learn more about Beyond Perfection: The Musical, visit the official website or follow the musical on Instagram. To learn more about Kenady Sean and her upcoming projects, visit her official website or follow her on Instagram. To follow Kaylee's musical and creative journey, visit her official website or follow her on Instagram.For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 452nd episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: Writing from your Heart!   The Playwright's Reading Room on Zoom starts 9/10!  Only 2 out of 4 slots left! Come develop your play with me and some of Manhattan Rep's best actors!  Book it at the link below: https://www.manhattanrep.com/reading-room   Book a SCRIPT CONSULTATION - Get Productive Feedback and Next Steps! https://www.manhattanrep.com/script-consultation   Book a SHORT PLAY SCRIPT CONSULTATION  https://www.manhattanrep.com/short-script-consultation   MY PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING - A year long program where I help you write a perfect play, and teach you everything you need to know about Playwriting and connecting your plays to theatres and producers. Book it here:  https://www.manhattanrep.com/premiere   My Fantastic Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC   Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program Let us help you self-produce your best play in New York City or anywhere in the world.   Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

Katie checks in with playwright (N/A, Tail! Spin!, Commander, Santa for President), screenwriter (Dark Waters), and former Congressional aide, Mario Correa.

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 451st episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: Your Playwriting Super Super-Power! My Special CRAZY DISCOUNT PAGE for Script Consultations, Playwriting Coaching, and PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING, good until Monday night July 28, 2025 at Midnight.  https://www.manhattanrep.com/playpod   Book a SHORT PLAY SCRIPT CONSULTATION  https://www.manhattanrep.com/short-script-consultation   Published on Amazon: Ridiculously Wacky Plays by Ken Wolf https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DW9G9W5C My NEW Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC Everything you need to know to write great plays! Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program   Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

Send us a textEpisode 100! Thanks for supporting us on this journey. We would love to hear how this podcast may have helped you with your creative endeavors.To celebrate this milestone, Rick Elice of Jersey Boys, Peter and the Star Catcher, Water for Elephants, The Addams Family, The Cher Show, and the upcoming Princess Bride Musical, was gracious enough sit in the Spotlight (TWICE) after a botched first recording. We owe this opportunity to Cameron Scott who put this entire thing into motion. Be sure to check our his episode as well.In this discussion, Rick shares his journey to becoming a Tony-Award winning playwright, the origin of Jersey Boys, writing devices and exercises, working backwards, the need for great stories and compelling characters, and the gift of luck. We also delve into stage directions and the difference to Author's Notes, multipurpose props and set pieces, The Princess Bride and meeting William Goldman, organizing principles, the economy of storytelling, and the difference in stage versus film. We wrap up with memory plays and "reliable" narrators, theatre as a medium of metaphor, and the benefits of working on multiple projects. It was an extreme honor to have Rick on the podcast. He is extremely humble and shares some amazing stories I know you will enjoy.To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/u2llPIM9sSYLinks to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Pepper's Ghost - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepper's_ghostSlade School - https://www.ucl.ac.uk/slade/Samuel French (Concord Theatricals) - https://www.concordtheatricals.com/Musical Theatre International - https://www.mtishows.com/Theatrical Rights Worldwide - https://www.theatricalrights.com/Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk 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 LACPFest - www.lacpfest.comSupport the show

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 450th episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: The 450th Episode - 8 Year Anniversary Best of The Playwriting Podcast - Mega Podcast! Yes, don't miss out! My Special CRAZY DISCOUNT PAGE for Script Consultations, Playwriting Coaching, and PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING and more, good until Monday night July 21, 2025 at Midnight.  Save up to $1255.00! https://www.manhattanrep.com/playpod   Book a SHORT PLAY SCRIPT CONSULTATION  https://www.manhattanrep.com/short-script-consultation   This was just published on Amazon: Ridiculously Wacky Plays by Ken Wolf https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DW9G9W5C   My NEW Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC Everything you need to know to write great plays! Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program   Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

Send us a textPlaywright and performer, Ashley Griffin, swung by the studio to sit in the Playwright's Spotlight before her West Coast Premiere of her Off-Broadway play The Opposite of Love. It's a compelling conversation that tackles so many aspects of playwriting, that the title of the thumbnail became a struggle. In this discussion, we breakdown her playwriting origins, learning lessons from mentors, overcoming technical challenges, magical realism and heightened language, and achieving the goal of giving a gift to the audience. We also unpack recognizing issues, characters having objectives, knowing where you're going, and using language like magic. We wrap it up by exploring - determining beats, separating yourself as a playwright/actor/director in your own work, how acting assists writing, organic dialogue, punctuation as sheet music, and the benefits of locking opposite characters in the same room. Ashley gives a plethora of insight in such a short amount of time. Every playwright will walk away with at least one nugget of knowledge if not a bagful. Enjoy!The West Coast premiere of her play The Opposite of Love opens July 25th through August 31st at The Hudson Backstage Theater in Los Angeles. Tickets can be purchased at - https://www.onstage411.com/newsite/boxoffice/cart.asp?orgin=guest&show_id=7383&skin_show_id=&runall_id=176397  Ashley Griffin is a writer and performer. Her work has been produced and/or developed at New World Stages, Manhattan Theater Club, and Playwrights Horizons amongst others. She received the WellLife Network Award and a county commendation for her off-Broadway play Trial. She holds a BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and has trained at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theater.To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/XaEV3GfqwfYLinks to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Santa Monica Playhouse - https://www.santamonicaplayhouse.com/Websites and Socials for Ashley Griffin -www.ashleygriffinofficial.comYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ashleygriffinBlank Paige by Ashley Griffin - https://www.amazon.com/Blank-Paige-Ashley-Griffin/dp/B0CKPVPT9VThe Spindle by Ashley Griffin - https://a.co/d/8JjdNm3IG - @ashleygriffinofficialWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk 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 LACPFest - www.lacpfest.comSupport the show

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 449th episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: The Utter Joy of 40 years of Playwriting!!   My Special CRAZY DISCOUNT PAGE for Script Consultations, Playwriting Coaching, and PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING, good until Sunday night July 13, 2025 at Midnight.  Save up to $1255.00! https://www.manhattanrep.com/playpod   Book my Q and A on Wednesday July 16 - 6:30 pm to 8pm on ZOOM at: My New Theatrical Literary Agency: https://www.kenwolfliterary.com/education   Book a SHORT PLAY SCRIPT CONSULTATION  https://www.manhattanrep.com/short-script-consultation   This was just published on Amazon: Ridiculously Wacky Plays by Ken Wolf https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DW9G9W5C My NEW Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC Everything you need to know to write great plays! Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program   Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

Send us a textI invited Joel Trinidad onto the Playwright's Spotlight after reading about his journey. He streamed in while on tour for his acting performance of Romeo and Juliet as part of a fringe fest in South Dakota. In our conversation, we discussed acquiring an artist visa, producing your own work, the definition of success, the structure of a musical, and the importance of networking and finding opportunities. We also discussed using your cast to fill seats, imposter syndrome, submissions and rejections, pay-to-play, and staging a musical table read. It's a great conversation on a universal approach of getting into the business and what defines success. Enjoy!Joel Trinidad is a theater professional from the Philippines, whose body of work has granted him Permanent Residency status in the US as an “alien of extraordinary ability and achievement.” He has penned a dozen original librettos, most of which have been successfully produced and in his home country. Titles include BREAKUPS & BREAKDOWNS; AFTER EVER AFTER; GUADALUPE: THE MUSICAL and FAIRY TALE RESCUE, to name but a few. He's also written more than a hundred short plays. His latest musical (created with composer Luke Simnett) is the two-person comedy A TALE OF TWO (based on A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens), which premiered in London in July 2024. To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/RMvyG0tS1PsLinks to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - TDF - https://www.tdf.org/discount-ticket-programs/NYC Playwrights - https://www.nycplaywrights.org/#google_vignetteTheatre Resources Unlimited - https://truonline.org/Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk 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 LACPFest - www.lacpfest.comSupport the show

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 446th episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: Playwriting Secrets I learned from Play Production - Part Two! My PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING - A 1 Year program! https://www.manhattanrep.com/premiere   My New Theatrical Literary Agency: https://www.kenwolfliterary.com/   Book a Script Consultation!  https://www.manhattanrep.com/script-consultation Book a SHORT PLAY SCRIPT CONSULTATION  https://www.manhattanrep.com/short-script-consultation This was just published on Amazon: Ridiculously Wacky Plays by Ken Wolf https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DW9G9W5C My NEW Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC Everything you need to know to write great plays! Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program   Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

In this episode, hosts Jordan Ealey and Leticia Ridley interview director and playwright Robert O'Hara about his approach to his craft, his experience as a Black artist in the theatre industry, and how he leans into discomfort.

Lunar Eclipse is a production of Second Stage running at The Pershing Square Signature Theater through June 22nd. For more information, please visit www.2st.com. Follow The Present Stage on Instagram at @thepresentstageThe Present Stage: Conversations with Theater Writers is hosted by Dan Rubins, a theater critic for Theatermania and Slant Magazine. You can also find Dan's reviews on Cast Album Reviews and in The New Yorker's Briefly Noted column.The Present Stage supports the national nonprofit Hear Your Song. If you'd like to learn more about Hear Your Song and how to support empowering youth with serious illnesses to make their voices heard though songwriting, please visit www.hearyoursong.org

Ken Wolf, Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City, presents the 445th episode of THE PLAYWRITING PODCAST. Episode Story Topic: Playwriting Secrets I Learned from Play Production!   Manhattan Rep's Play Production Program: https://www.manhattanrep.com/play-production-program   My PREMIERE PLAYWRITING COACHING - A 1 Year program! https://www.manhattanrep.com/premiere   My New Theatrical Literary Agency: https://www.kenwolfliterary.com/   Book a Script Consultation!  https://www.manhattanrep.com/script-consultation   Book a SHORT PLAY SCRIPT CONSULTATION  https://www.manhattanrep.com/short-script-consultation   This was just published on Amazon: Ridiculously Wacky Plays by Ken Wolf https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DW9G9W5C   My NEW Playwriting Book on Amazon!  The Complete Fantastic Play Series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT6LQWZC Everything you need to know to write great plays!   Email: How2WritePlays@yahoo.com

In this episode, Jordan and Leticia interview Lydia Diamond and learn about her career as a playwright and her hopes for expanding Black theatre.

Send us a textBroadway marketer turned playwright Cameron Scott came onto Playwright's Spotlight after I received his submission to PLAY Noir to talk about his later-in-life start to playwriting. In this conversation, we delve into what the definition of a writer is, a play being a living thing, audio plays vs stage plays and a play's transition from audio to stage, and setting time aside and finding opportunities to write. We also discuss staging in unconventional locations, being a minimalist playwright, overnight success, and the new trend of streaming Broadway shows. It's great, energetic conversation that proves it's never too late to start. Just write. Enjoy!Cameron Scott has worked with Broadway's top producers to create brand campaigns for well over 100 productions including 17 Tony Award-winning Best Plays, Best Musicals, and Best Revivals. He has recently turned to writing plays of his own. Since the fall of 2022, he has had plays produced from the coasts of California to Connecticut, among them a Best in Festival winner at Wilmington Drama League and the winning play from Delaware at ESTAFest 2023. He has had work published in multiple anthologies including an excerpt from his play Uphill which was published in The Best Men's Stage Monologues 2023 by Smith & Kraus. His latest audio drama West PalmReaders appeared internationally on the Apple Podcasts Charts in 49 countries last summer, including multiple #1's in Drama and thirteen Top 10's in Drama, including in the USA.  Mr. Scott has worked with professional and amateur theater companies alike such as Legacy Theatre in Connecticut, The Road Theatre Company in North Hollywood and Rhode Island Stage Ensemble.  Other plays include Forty Years Kings first produced in Delaware last February and a new audio drama Happ's Last Tape to be produced and to debut this October. To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/BHb_NvBv-D8Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - The Road Theatre Company - https://roadtheatre.orgNew Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org/get-startedWebsites and Socials for Cameron Scott -https://www.amazon.com/Best-Mens-Stage-Monologues-2023/dp/1575259737West Palm Readers -https://campfireradiotheater.podbean.com/e/west-palm-readers/That Day is Coming, Everyday is Coming -https://open.spotify.com/episode/0COYxfxyXpdTnK3GxULtoR?go=1&sp_cid=5b49ce7785316807430e118f8097c8c2&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktopWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk 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 LACPFest - www.lacpfest.comSupport the show

Del Shores joins the Exchange along with Gwen Overland, artistic director of the Camelot Theatre in Talent.

Send us a textReturning playwright Faye Widjaja and her cohort, Sohoni Sawant, dropped by the studio after having streamed in from her original interview just over two years ago to discuss the journey and evolution of her play A Minor Inconvenience from the Lenaea High School Theatre Festival to the Hollywood Fringe. It's an insightful journey I hope every playwright at any stage can pull a nugget of knowledge.  We explore their journey from the original production and obstacles at Lenaea to the 2025 Hollywood Fringe, from where it was then and to where it is now. We delve into grants from Broadway Licensing to a scholarship from the Hollywood Fringe, the evolution of the play between Lenaea and Fringe, the difficulties of writing a "timed" show, embracing different versions, the simplicity of theatre, and marketing a short run. Everyone can learn a little something from this conversation. Let us know what you pulled from it. Enjoy!For tickets to A Minor Inconvenience at the Hollywood Fringe, visit - https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/9750?tab=ticketsTo watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/W5re9eFvJ-gLinks to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Lenaea High School Theatre Festival - https://www.lenaea.orgBroadway Licensing - https://broadwaylicensing.comHollywood Fringe - https://www.hollywoodfringe.orgThe Actor's Company - https://www.theactorscompanyla.com/the-other-spaceSocials for Faye Widjaja and Sohoni Savant -IG - @aminorinconvenienceIG - @sourlesspicturesIG - @fayewidjajaIG - @sohani.sawantWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk 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

Send us a textJohn Farmanesh-Bocca swung by The Playwright's Spotlight to talk about his latest Shakespeare adaptation Lear Redux: A Quantum Fantasia. Throughout this conversation we discuss his journey into becoming an adaptive playwrights of the Classics, how he breaks them down, unpacks them, and the puts them back together to serve a modern audience without losing the original story and, sometimes, the original language. We discuss how much preparation he does before moving into collaboration and the use of conversation, his use of archetypes, writing whimsy, and how his acting and dance classes helped make him a better writer. We close on the current accessibility of theatre and the importance of advocacy for the arts. John's charm and passion shine through out this interview. I think you'll walk away with a lot. Enjoy.For tickets to Lear Redux: A Quantum Fantasia at the Odyssey Theater in Los Angeles through July 13th, visit  https://odysseytheatre.com/whats-on/lear-redux/John Farmanesh-Bocca is a multi-award-winning Iranian-American theater director, choreographer and playwrite who is best known in the U.S. and abroad for his modern adaptations of ancient theatrical works. He is the founder of the award-winning Not Man Apart – Physical Theatre Ensemble, ranked by Backstage in 2014 as one of the “13 most innovative physical theater companies in the world,” for which he now serves as emeritus director. Some of his award-winning physical theater adaptations include - Pericles Redux, Wish I Had A Sylvia Plath, Titus Redux, As/Is, Hercules Furens, and Tempest Redux. To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below - https://youtu.be/OahUQhbBRVMLinks to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -Not Man Apart - https://www.notmanapart.comRuskin Group Theatre - https://www.ruskingrouptheatre.comThe New American Theatre - https://www.newamericantheatre.comWORD Theatre - https://wordtheatre.orgSocials for John Farmanesh-Bocca's companies -IG - @notmanapartIG - @newamericantheatreIG - @ wordtheatreIG - @odysseetheatreWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk 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

SummaryIn this episode of the Johnson City Living Podcast, host Colin Johnson engages with Anne G'fellers-Mason, the program manager at the McKinney Center in Jonesborough, who runs the StoryTown Radio Show. They discuss Anne's deep roots in Johnson City, her passion for storytelling, and the importance of preserving local history through oral narratives. The conversation explores the growth of Jonesborough as a cultural hub, the process of playwriting, and the significance of community engagement in the arts. Anne shares insights on the challenges and joys of storytelling, as well as advice for aspiring playwrights. The episode concludes with a look at upcoming events and the future of storytelling in the region.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Johnson City Living Podcast00:57 Growing Up in Johnson City02:56 The Art of Storytelling06:02 Jonesborough: The Storytelling Capital09:12 The StoryTown Radio Show12:14 Theater and Playwriting in Jonesborough14:58 Researching and Writing Plays17:59 The Jackson Theater and Local Arts21:10 Community Events and Growth in Jonesborough24:07 Collecting Stories from the Community27:04 The Future of Podcasting and Storytelling29:48 Closing Thoughts and Future Goalshttps://mckinneycenter.com/storytown

Jordan and Leticia interview Canadian playwright, director, and educator Djanet Sears, hearing about her unique approach to dramaturgy and an in-depth look at Black theatre in Canada.

Send us a textLongtime-listening playwright Brad McEntire streamed into the Spotlight to discuss his experience and approach to the craft. We discuss the exercises and lessons from studying under Will Power at Southern Methodist University and the Dallas Theatre Center, playing with the rhythm of dialogue, what beginning playwrights don't do or practice, and whether or not you can achieve impossible stage directions with a small budget. We also delve into his background as a literary manager, his process of one-person shows and the difference between solo performances and personal stories, the one-person structure as well as playing with different structures, tackling solo long-form improv, staging your own one-person show and finding opportunities for them. We wrap things up with the flaws of rewriting on stage and his podcasts - The Cultivated Playwright and Brad McEntire Plays and - and the difficulty of monetization. Brad's energy is contagious and his insight is valuable. Enjoy!Brad McEntire is a playwright, solo performer, and stage director. He is the author of more than a dozen plays, including Que Sera Giant Monster, I Brought Home a Chupacabra, Dinosaur and Robot Stop a Train, Raspberry Fizz, Langdon the Seasonal Barista, I Have Angered a Great God and The Yeti in the Airport Lounge among others. He is a satellite member of The Playwrights' Center and studied playwriting with Will Power as part of the Dallas Playwrights Workshop at Southern Methodist University. He has toured his original one-person shows Cyrano A-Go-Go, Chop, Robert's Eternal Goldfish and The Beast of Hyperborea performing in venues and festivals all over North America. Since 2008 he has served as artistic director of the small-batch theatre company Audacity Theatre Lab, and in 2015, McEntire served as the first theatre-artist-in-residence at the Kathy George Indie Artist Residency in Ashford, Oregon. He holds a B.F.A. from the College of Santa Fe and a M.A. from Texas Woman's University. He has a YouTube channel where he talks about theatre, including playwriting and solo performance.To watch the video format of this interview, visit - https://youtu.be/m1U8hBL9S50Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Playwrights' Center - https://pwcenter.orgJerome Fellowship - https://pwcenter.org/programs/jerome-fellowships/McKnight Fellowship - https://pwcenter.org/programs/mcknight-fellowship-in-playwriting/Dallas Theater Center - https://dallastheatercenter.orgUndermain Theatre - https://www.undermain.org/New York City Fringe - https://frigid.nyc/new-york-city-fringe/Edinburgh Fringe - https://www.edfringe.comMinnesota Fringe - https://minnesotafringe.orgHollywood Fringe - https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/Elgin Fringe Festival - https://www.elginfringefestival.comWebsite and socials for Brad McEntire -www.bradmcentireplays.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/BradMcEntireIG - @dribblefunkAmazon - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Brad-McEntire/author/B00IX2B7P4?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueSupport the show

Jordan and Leticia interview arts journalist and playwright Kelundra Smith about the cultural landscape of theatre criticism and what it means to tell authentic Black stories.

Send us a textRickerby Hinds swung by the Playwright's Spotlight prior to the premiere of his "last' play. We unpack various topics including Hip Hop Theatre, being a self-taught playwright, writing without arrogance, earning your audience, and the use of poetry, spoken word, rap, and movement and dance. We also discuss lessons in editing, metaphors and similes, achieving layers, character introductions, unwritten dialogue, and what choreography on the page looks like. We wrap it up with his venue and purpose at Riverside Studios, commissioning a play, the rehearsal process, and his approach to developing characters. Similarities in look and sound to Denzel Washington, I half expected Denzel to bust out and say, "It's actually me, Denzel." I also had the opportunity to catch this play prior to this episode dropping. If you're in the LA area, I highly recommend checking it out. It's a definite crowd pleaser with lots of audience participation. Even if you can't see the production, I'm sure you'll be charmed by this episode. Enjoy.For tickets to The Last Play By Rickerby Hinds, visit - https://www.latinotheaterco.org/thelastplayRickerby Hinds is one of the pioneers of Hip-Hop Theater. He received his MFA in playwriting from UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television where he was awarded the coveted Audrey Skirball-Kenis Award for best play for an unprecedented two years. He is the past chair of the Department of Theater Film & Digital Production at the University of California, Riverside and founding director of Riverside Studios. He is a Fulbright Fellow, and his work has toured Romania, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Turkey and his native Honduras, as well as numerous venues throughout the US. His play Dreamscape received a record six 2016 Los Angeles NAACP nominations, winning three, including “Best Director.”To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below - https://youtu.be/nRqv3XWmcAgLinks to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Latino Theatre Company - https://www.latinotheaterco.orgUniversity at California, Riverside - https://www.ucr.eduWebsite and Socials for Rickerby Hinds -https://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/rickerbyFB - https://www.facebook.com/kerby.hinds/IG - @rickerby.hindsWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk 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

In this episode, Leticia and Jordan interview Whitney White about her journey in theatre, her artistic craft, and the potentials and possibilities of Black theatre.

Jack Ciapciak is a New York based Playwright & TV Writer originally from St. Louis, Missouri. He studied Acting and Playwriting at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, earning a BFA in Dramatic Writing and the 2017 Goldberg Prize for his thesis play Naming The Dog. In 2022 his fiancé Jack Lorentzen died from an undiagnosed heart condition on Christmas Eve at the age of 30. Jack discusses his experience with grief, hoping to help others in their journey too. Reality Life with Kate Casey What to Watch List: https://katecasey.substack.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/katecasey Twitter: https://twitter.com/katecasey Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katecaseyca Tik Tok: http://www.tiktok.com/itskatecasey Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113157919338245 Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/shop/katecasey Like it to Know It: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/katecaseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode of Unglossy, Tom and Jeffrey sit down with Keenan Scott II, a prolific playwright, poet, actor, director, and producer from Queens, New York. Keenan delves into his artistic journey, beginning with his early passion for visual arts and comic books, and transitioning into poetry and performance as he navigated his formative years in Maryland. His experiences at open mic nights in D.C. were pivotal, shaping his creative expression and laying the groundwork for his future in theater. Keenan also discusses the genesis of his renowned play, "Thoughts of a Colored Man," which started as college monologues aimed at authentically representing Black experiences absent from mainstream theater.The conversation further explores the complexities and challenges of bringing a play to Broadway. Keenan sheds light on the logistical and financial hurdles, including navigating the influential theater families that control Broadway venues. Despite these challenges and the abrupt end to his play's run due to COVID-19, Keenan's work continues to make a significant impact. Looking ahead, he shares his excitement for future projects through his company, Project Toy Entertainment, aiming to fuse various artistic mediums and empower new creative voices. His advice to emerging artists—to believe in themselves and embrace perseverance—is a testament to his journey and dedication to the arts."Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Merrick Chief Creative Officer, Tom Frank, hip hop artist and founder of Pendulum Ink, Mickey Factz, and music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/Send us a textSupport the show