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25 episodes with stage directors
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2 episodes with stage directors
2 episodes with stage directors
2 episodes with stage directors
2 episodes with stage directors
This is a 3 part mini Casting Director series, sponsored by Casting Networks.PAUL SCHNEE is originally from Wilmington, Delaware and is a graduate of Kenyon College. After graduating, Paul worked at ICM for agent Sam Cohn, then as assistant to director Mike Nichols. He and Kerry formed Barden / Schnee Casting in 2008. Paul is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, The British Film and Television Academy, and The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. He lives in Brooklyn NY with his wife and daughters.In this episode, we talk about all things ACTORS including:• How he chooses to bring actors for roles• How many actors does he request self tapes from• Does he go through submissions himself or is it someone from his team• How actors can stay on his radar• What projects he's casting now• If he watches actor reels• Directing a project that's premiering at TribecaGuest:IMDb WebsiteMother, May I have a Kidney? - TribecaCasting Networks Sponsor:For a limited time, we're offering listeners $65 off a Premium Annual membership. Use the code “MENTORSMIC”at checkout. Or if you're not ready to commit, take advantage of our 14-day free trial, which unlocks full access to all Casting Networks features so you can start submitting to casting calls right away. Terms and conditions apply. Visit https://www.castingnetworks.com/promo-codes/ to learn more.Steps on how to redeem: Visit www.castingnetworks.comClick on the ‘Join Now' button Complete the Talent Registration form and follow the steps to verify your email and create your profile Proceed to checkout, leaving the' ‘Pay Yearly' option selectedEnter ‘MENTORSMIC' in the promo code field, click “Apply” to complete checkout.Don't wait! This offer expires soon!Host:Instagram:@MentorsontheMic@MichelleSimoneMillerTwitter:@MentorsontheMic@MichelleSimoneMFacebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemicWebsite: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.comYoutube:https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelleIf you like this episode, check out:Becoming Casting Director Erica Hart ("THAT DAMN MICHAEL CHE," "GODFATHER OF HARLEM," "THE BOLD TYPE")Becoming... award-winning Casting Director Bernie Telsey ("The Color Purple," "The Idea of You," "Hamilton," "SMASH," "Wicked," "The Gilded Age"
Carefully Taught: Teaching Musical Theatre with Matty and Kikau
Kikau and Matty chat with the remarkable Valeria Accetta, who is the Head of Musical Theatre at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her recommendation is an app called the Healthy Minds App and a book called Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer. Valerie is a member of Actor's Equity Association, an Associate Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and an Estill Master Trainer in Estill Voice Training. As an Equity actress, Valerie played Margy Frake in the First National Tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's State Fair, starring John Davidson. She has performed in numerous other musicals including the title role in Cinderella, Maria in The Sound of Music, and Lady Larkin in Once Upon a Mattress, and she performs regularly in concerts and cabarets. She first began her studies in musical theatre at the University of Miami and received a BA in Musical Theatre Pedagogy from Otterbein University and an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Check out this podcast replay of our one on one conversation with 2023 Tony Award Winner Michael Arden hosted by SDCF and the Museum of Broadway. Interviewed by SDC Executive Director Laura Penn, this conversation focuses on Michael's expansive career to date including a deeper dive into his work as an artist and practice as a director. We held this conversation in March 2024. The video and audio was recorded by Michael Weir supported by the Maria Torres Emerging Artists Foundation. Transcript available upon request. Michael Arden (Director) was awarded the 2023 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for his production of Parade starring Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond, which will have a national tour beginning early 2024. Michael was also Tony nominated for his revivals of Once On This Island and Spring Awakening. Michael wrote and directed Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol which played the Nederlander Theatre last Holiday season and starred Jefferson Mays. Michael will helm the new Stephen Schwartz and Lindsey Ferrentino musical The Queen of Versailles starring Kristin Chenowith and a new musical adaptation of the cult film The Lost Boys. Other directing credits include: Maybe Happy Ending at the Atlanta Alliance, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, and site specific works: American Dream Study and ALIEN/NATION with his company The Forest of Arden. Arden has been named on Variety's Impact List and is the winner of an NAACP Award for best direction of his revival of Merrily We Roll Along at the Wallis Annenberg in Los Angeles. In addition to directing theater in America and around the globe, he regularly directs “The Connors” on ABC, and has appeared in numerous features and TV shows, most notably: Grey's Anatomy, Bride Wars, Anger Management, Source Code, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. On stage, Arden has appeared on Broadway in Big River; The Times, They Are A-Changin', and King Lear. Arden is a Presidential Scholar in the Arts and alumni of the Interlochen Arts Academy and The Juilliard School. Michael and longtime creative and design partner Dane Laffrey founded AT RISE CREATIVE, a production company that strives to create groundbreaking live experiences with an emphasis on design and innovating technologies. Photo credit: Laura Penn has been Executive Director of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) since 2008. This year, she was appointed by President Biden to serve as a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Most recently, she was elected to the Board of the Entertainment Community Fund. Under her leadership, SDC's Membership has grown more than 100%, a result of her work expanding jurisdictions; leading bold and successful negotiations; and furthering the Union's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives and political engagement. She serves on the General Board of the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) and is an active member of DPE's Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industry Coordinating Committee (AEMI). She is co-Chair of the Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds, the first woman to hold a leadership position with this coalition of 18 influential unions representing workers on Broadway. Laura serves on the Tony Awards Administration Committee and is a Tony Voter. She served as a panelist for the New York State Council for the Arts, for more than a decade was a site evaluator for the National Endowment for the Arts, was Vice President of the League of Resident Theatres, and was two-term Chair of the Seattle Arts Commission. Recognized with Seattle's Distinguished Citizen Medal, she is an advocate for civic dialogue and public participation and has been dedicated throughout her career to the idea that artistic excellence and community engagement are intrinsically connected. Laura previously served as an arts executive for Intiman Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre and began her career at D.C.'s Arena Stage, Living Stage Theatre Company. She currently teaches Labor Relations in the graduate program at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale.
Dr. ‘Niyi Coker, Jr., is a Professor and the Director of the School of Theatre, Television, and Film (TTF) at San Diego State University in California, which is ranked by the Hollywood Reporter as a top 10 Film production program. ‘Niyi has served as Visiting Artistic Director to several theatre companies including: K3 at Malmo Hogskola in Sweden, the National Theatre of Nigeria and The Black Box Theatre in Bermuda. He's also the founding Artistic Director of the African Arts Ensemble in New York City. ‘Niyi's plays include: Ouray, written in collaboration with the Southern Ute Tribal Council. Commissioned and sponsored by the British Council, it toured England. And also Preemptive, a drama about Islamophobia, initially developed at the Indiana University Playwrights lab and staged at London's West End Shaw Theatre. ‘Niyi's Off-Broadway writing and directing credits, include, Booth! a musical on the reflections of Edwin Booth after the assassination of Lincoln (written in collaboration with Barbara Harbach & Jonathan Yordy); Miriam Makeba-Mama Africa–the musical,” about the struggles of the anti-apartheid singer and civil rights advocate. ‘Niyi's also made features and documentary films, including Black Studies USA, and Pennies for the Boatman. His most recent documentary Ota Benga – Human at the Zoo, is the true story of an African kidnapped from the continent and put on display at the Bronx Zoo. ‘Niyi is the Founding Director of the Africa World Documentary Film Festival which is in its 14th season. The festival screens in numerous countries worldwide. He's the author of 2 books, The Music and Social Criticism of African Musician Fela Kuti, and Ola Rotimi's African Theatre: The Development of an Indigenous Aesthetic. Further, ‘Niyi has contributed numerous chapters and articles to books, journals and magazines. 'Niyi's a full member of the Society for Stage Directors and Choreographers, and he's also a recipient of the Kennedy Center Merit Award in Directing.
Ashley Jana is a singer/songwriter, producer, and engineer whose music has independently garnered over 60 million streams. Her original music has been featured on HBO, NBC, Showtime, Lifetime, Bravo, Vice, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, CNN, TLC, TNT, Oxygen, and more. 20 of her original songs have been featured on the hit show “Dance Moms”, with her song “Feels So Good”, co-produced with Grammy winner Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins landing on the hit show "Empire”. She also wrote the topline melody of "Jelly Jelly" for K-pop sensation TWICE, the topline melody of "Scelgo Ancora Te" for Italian superstar Giorgia, and most recently, the song "Trouble" for America's Got Talent Allstar, Daneliya Tuleshova. Ashley works out of her home studio, where she provides a wide range of online music production services, and she recently completed production for the world premiere album version of her new musical, co-written with Will Nunziata, FIGARO: An Original Musical. WILL NUNZIATA is a NYC-based award-winning director, writer, and creator of theatre, concert, television, and film. Film: The Old Guitarist (Writer, Director). Awards: London Movie Awards (Best Short Film, Best Director), New York Movie Awards (Best First Time Director of a Short), Paris Film Awards (Best First Time Director of a Short), among others.. Screenplay: Lillith (Winner of Best Original Screenplay, 2023 Hollywood Blood Horror Festival and Winner of Best Horror Screenplay, 2024 New York Screenplay Competition). Theatre: Figaro: An Original Musical (Director, Co-Book Writer - West End 2025), White Rose: The Musical (Director - off-Broadway 2024, West End 2025), An Entirely Ordinary Town: A New Musical (Director), Faygele: A New Play (Director), By The End Of Tonight (Director), Little Black Book: A New Musical (Co-Creator). Miss Peggy Lee (Director, Writer, Co-Conceiver) starring Tony Award winner Cady Huffman. Award: Broadway World Best Director. Concerts: Will has written and directed shows for Tony Award winner Lillias White, Platinum recording artist Jackie Evancho, Grammy Award nominee Clint Holmes, to name a few. For twenty years Will performed professionally, singing across the country and around the world with his twin brother, singer-songwriter Anthony Nunziata, culminating in co-headlining Carnegie Hall with the NY Pops Symphony Orchestra. Will is a proud graduate of Boston College and member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Union. Figaro: An Original Musical Set in mid-1800s Italy, Figaro: An Original Musical is the hauntingly beautiful tale of Sienna, a young woman who dreams of singing but feels imprisoned by her life on her father's farm. When a chance encounter with two young orphans thrusts her into the life of a traveling performer, she meets the handsome Figaro, who promises to make all her dreams come true - but there is always a price to fame. Part love story, part mystery, Sienna's journey to discover herself and live the life she always wanted is fraught with twists and turns until it culminates in a moment that will change the course of her life forever.
Bonny & Robyn welcome Jon Royal to the podcast for the final episode of Season One! Jon Royal is a director, teaching artist, and facilitator who is based in Nashville, TN. In 2004 he received a fellowship to study with Ming Cho Lee and Constance Hoffman, forever changing his approach to art, work, and life. Since then, he has directed, or appeared in productions for In Other People's Shoes, First Stage, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Nashville Children's Theatre, Nashville Repertory Theatre, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Actor's Bridge Ensemble, Street Theatre Company, Berry College, Nashville School of the Arts, and other organizations. In 2016, he was a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation's National Observership Class, in which he had the privilege of working with Liesel Tommy on the Public Theatre's production of Party People. In 2019 he was named Best Theatre Director by the Nashville Scene. Recently, he has begun working behind the camera, directing the concert documentary Walk Together Children: The 150th Anniversary of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, which has been distributed nationally by PBS, and producing The Creswell Story, a student driven film project that studies the history of Nashville's Arts Middle Magnet School for the Performing Arts and its namesake. Jon has been working with youth and students of all ages for over thirty years. He's currently on the faculty of Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts where he teaches Devising Through Community Building. He's also a part of a national design team that develops Shakespeare and Social Justice curriculum for high school classrooms around the country. He facilitates workshops for RACE FORWARD's Government Alliance on Race and Equity cohorts, helping public servants engage with artistic practice to deepen their sense of collaboration in their work. Jon is currently the recipient of Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation's Lloyd Richards New Futures Residency, where he is an artist in residence at St Louis Black Repertory Company. Special thanks: Berg (music)
Thinking Cap Theatre's Artistic Director Nicole Stodard talks with Stephen Burdman, founder of New York Classical Theatre about producing and directoring Shakespeare's problematic play The Taming of the Shrew. STEPHENS'S BIO Stephen Burdman founded New York Classical Theatre in 2000 and is the vision behind the creation of Panoramic Theatre. Originally from Los Angeles, he earned a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and planned to become a doctor. During college, Stephen auditioned for a production of Hamlet, and discovered his passion for Shakespeare. That experience completely changed the course of his life. Stephen founded NY Classical to give all people the chance to discover classical masterpieces as he did. Stephen has directed nearly half of Shakespeare canon. To date, he has directed 38 productions for NY Classical. Some of his favorites include: Cymbeline (performed by 7 actors), The Importance of Being Earnest (Two-Ways), Romeo & Juliet (6 actors), The Rivals, The Winter's Tale, Measure for Measure, The Seagull, A {15-Min!} Christmas Carol, Playing Moliere, Henry V (in The Battery and, via ferry boat, Governors Island), Hamlet, King Lear, Misalliance, Mary Stuart, Scapin, and The Triumph of Love. Stephen attended the National Theatre Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center and later received an MFA in Theatre Directing from the University of California, Irvine. In 1989, he was selected to participate in the first young theatre artist exchange with the (former) Soviet Union and has been a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society since 1994. Stephen received the 2022 Sidney Berger award from the Shakespeare Theatre Association for outstanding talent and commitment to the works of William Shakespeare. He has also been a panelist with the National Endowment for the Arts, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, The Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation. He lives in Central Harlem with his wife, Adena, and son, Zeke. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-cap-theatre/support
Texas State University's Richard Robichaux, a professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, joins the Big Ideas TXST podcast to discuss his career path, teaching acting for television and movies and his upcoming projects. A native of East Texas, Robichaux George Pappas on David E. Kelley's “Big Shot” with John Stamos and Yvette Nicole Brown on Disney+. Later this year he will appear in the feature films “The Long Game,” which won the audience award at SXSW, as well as “Hit Man,” a new film with Glen Powell. Other film credits include “Ocean's 8” with an all-star cast and “Where'd You Go Bernadette?” with Cate Blanchett. Robichaux has worked on five films with award-winning director Richard Linklater, including “Boyhood,” which was nominated for six Academy Awards and won the Golden Globe for Best Picture. His theatre credits include the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C., Yale Repertory Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and great theatres in New York, California and everywhere in between. Last fall he directed “The Thin Place” at the Zach Theatre in Austin. As a speaker and educator Robichauz is a passionate advocate for arts education. He has been a guest artist and teacher at many of the top programs in the country including Yale University, Juilliard, Pennsylvania State University and the University of California San Diego where he was the Arthur and Molli Wagner Endowed Chair in Acting. During his tenure at UCSD it was ranked the No. 3 program in the world by the Hollywood Reporter. He has delivered keynote addresses and conducted masterclasses for students and teachers at dozens of conferences, festivals and schools. He is also a judge for the College Television Awards presented by the Emmys. He is a member of the Television Academy, SAG-AFTRA, Actors Equity and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. FURTHER READING:Lone Star roots bring Richard Robichaux to Texas State theatre facultyRichardRobichaux.com
U Guys, this very special Bonus episode highlights the co-writers and director of the stunning new musical, FIGARO. Songwriter Ashley Jana and co-writer and director Will Nunziata come together to share their experience creating this new show, including recording an entire cast album, ahead of the show's world premiere concert on March 4th at the Greenroom 42 in New York City. Listen to the World Premiere Recording album streaming on all digital platforms starting March 1st. Ashley Jana is a singer/songwriter, producer, and engineer whose music has independently garnered over 60 million streams. Her original music has been featured on HBO, NBC, Showtime, Lifetime, Bravo, Vice, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, CNN, TLC, TNT, Oxygen and more. 20 of her original songs have been featured on the hit show "Dance Moms", and her song, "Feels So Good", co-produced with Grammy winner Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins was featured on the hit show "Empire". Will Nunziata is a NYC-based award-winning director, writer, and creator of theatre, concerts, television, and film. He is a proud member of The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and is a graduate with a B.A. in Theatre from Boston College. Follow Figaro on Instagram: @figaromusical Follow Ashley on Instagram: @ashleyjanamusic Follow Will on Instagram: @willnunzofficial Follow the pod on Instagram: @ohmypoduguys Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We are excited to bring you this new podcast series, The Art of Collaboration. This series will focus on directors and choreographers in conversation with some of their collaborators on a specific production. This series will explore the ins and outs of these processes, both the finer details as well as overarching ideas about what goes into a productive collaboration on a show. In this inaugural episode, Director Alex Timbers, Costume Designer Catherine Zuber, and Lighting Designer Justin Townsend are interviewed by Foundation Director Dani Barlow to discuss their experience working together on Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Learn more about this episode's guests below. Bios: Alex Timbers (Director) is the recipient of Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and London Evening Standard Awards, as well as two Obie and Lortel Awards. Broadway credits include Gutenberg the Musical; Here Lies Love; Moulin Rouge!; Just For Us; Beetlejuice; David Byrne's American Utopia; Oh Hello with Nick Kroll and John Mulaney; The Pee-wee Herman Show; Peter and the Starcatcher; and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (also bookwriter). For television, he co-created Amazon's “Mozart in the Jungle” (Golden Globe Award) and has helmed the Netflix specials “John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous,” “Ben Platt: Live at Radio City,” and most recently “John Mulaney: Baby J” (2023 Emmy Award nomination). His debut picture book, Broadway Bird, set in an all-animal version of Broadway, is published by Macmillan. @alextimbers Justin Townsend (Lighting Designer): His professional lighting design work includes such productions as: Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award); Jagged Little Pill (Tony Nomination); American Psycho (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Henry Hewes Award); The Humans (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award); Here Lies Love, (Drama Desk Award, Public Theater); Vietgone, (MTC); Pretty Filthy, (Civilians); Mr. Burns, a Post Electric Play, Milk Like Sugar, (Playwrights Horizons); Odyssey, A Winter's Tale, (Public Works at the Delacorte Theater); Venus, (Signature Theater); Unnatural Acts, Mother Courage, and Galileo (Classic Stage Company) Catherine Zuber (Costume Designer) Broadway: Moulin Rouge, (Tony Award, Olivier Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), Mrs. Doubtfire, My Fair Lady, (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), Oslo, War Paint (Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), King & I, (Olivier Award, Tony Award), Fiddler on the Roof, Golden Boy. South Pacific (Tony Award); The Coast of Utopia (Tony Award); The Light in the Piazza (Tony Award); Awake and Sing! (Tony Award); The Royal Family (Tony Award); Gigi (Drama Desk Award). Metropolitan Opera: Rigoletto, Porgy & Bess, Il Barbieri di Siviglia, Les Contes d'Hoffman, Comte Ory, L'elisir d'Amore, Otello, Dr. Atomic, Roméo et Juliette. 2016 Induction: Theater Hall of Fame. Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation: Founded in 1965, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) exists to foster, promote, and develop the creativity and craft of stage directors and choreographers. SDCF's mission is to create access to the field, to connect artists to each other and to the public, and to honor these artists' theatrical legacies. The centrality of directors and choreographers in theatre and the impact they have on other artists' careers—from playwrights to designers to actors—makes SDCF's services essential to the wider theatre industry's continued health and vitality. Through its dynamic educational programming, including Observerships, Fellowships, public panels, and day-long symposia, SDCF serves the needs of directors and choreographers at every stage of career. www.sdcfoundation.org
For another installment of "When the Production is the Adaptation," Melissa is joined by Marcia Milgrom Dodge aka "MMD" to discuss her production and revival of Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the Olney Theatre Center. In this episode, we discuss:The origins of the "MMD" moniker"Smuggling in deeper meaning"Redesigning and imagining a Disney-branded showHow MMD has been a constant champion of diverse casting And more!Resources MentionedOlney Theatre's production directed by MMDDramaturgy and research for MMD's productionLicensing the musicalAbout Our GuestMarcia Milgrom Dodge is a Tony, Drama Desk & Astaire Award nominated director & choreographer for her “stirring & lovingly staged” Broadway/Kennedy Center revival of Ragtime. Most recently, MMD was the American Show Director for Tokyo Disneyland's 40th Anniversary Parade Harmony In Color! For Television, MMD appeared as herself in Disney+ Encore!; choreographed The Muppets in an Emmy-winning episode of Sesame Street and choreographed Elmo & The Noodle Family in Elmo's Wild West video, delighting children of all ages. MMD's bold new approaches to classic plays & musicals-- plus a few world-premiere musicals-- have been seen worldwide, from major regional theatres throughout the USA & Canada to Fredericia, Denmark to Seoul, S. Korea to Blackpool, England and even Muskat, Oman. Devoted to developing the next generation of theatre artists, her Directing Musicals workshops are geared for early-career Directors and Actors as well as for Theatre Lovers. MMD is also wife to Tony, mother to Natasha & a proud member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society. Connect with Our Guestmarciamilgromdodge.comRead & Recommend Tony Dodge's plays on New Play ExchangeInstagramConnect with host Melissa Schmitz***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter***101 Stage AdaptationsFollow the Podcast on Facebook & InstagramRead Melissa's plays on New Play ExchangeConnect with Melissa on LinkedInWays to support the show:- Buy Me a Coffee- Tell us your thoughts in our Listener Survey!- Give a 5-Star rating- Write a glowing review on Apple Podcasts - Send this episode to a friend- Share on social media (Tag us so we can thank you!)Creators: Host your podcast through Buzzsprout using my affiliate link & get a $20 credit on your paid account. Let your fans directly support you via Buy Me a Coffee (affiliate link).
Sydney Skybetter sits down with artist Raja Feather Kelly to talk about his work in live performance. The two consider airport security and the end of the world, and Raja shares how his personal experiences and creative work shape one another. About Raja: Choreographer/Director Raja Feather Kelly is the artistic director of dance-theatre-media company the feath3r theory (founded in 2009). In 2018 the feath3r theory merged with New Brooklyn Theatre. Raja has been awarded a Creative Capital Award (2019), a National Dance Project Production Grant (2019), a Breakout Award from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (2018), Dance Magazine's inaugural Harkness Promise Award (2018), the Solange MacArthur Award for New Choreography (2016), and is a three-time Princess Grace Award winner (2017, 2018, 2019). He was born in Fort Hood, Texas and holds a B.A. in Dance and English from Connecticut College. Read the transcript, and find more resources in our archive: https://www.are.na/choreographicinterfaces/dwr-ep-10-code-switch-a-conversation-with-raja-feather-kelly Like, subscribe, and review here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dances-with-robots/id1715669152 The Dances with Robots Team Host: Sydney Skybetter Co-Host & Executive Producer: Ariane Michaud Archivist and Web Designer: Kate Gow Podcasting Consultant: Megan Hall Accessibility Consultant: Laurel Lawson Music: Kamala Sankaram Audio Production Consultant: Jim Moses Assistant Editor: Andrew Zukoski Student Associate: Rishika Kartik About CRCI The Conference for Research on Choreographic Interfaces (CRCI) explores the braid of choreography, computation and surveillance through an interdisciplinary lens. Find out more at www.choreographicinterfaces.org Brown University's Department of Theatre Arts & Performance Studies' Conference for Research on Choreographic Interfaces thanks the Marshall Woods Lectureships Foundation of Fine Arts, the Brown Arts Institute, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for their generous support of this project. The Brown Arts Institute and the Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies are part of the Perelman Arts District.
This week, playwright, poet, and author Pearl Cleage discusses her life and career with Remy Bumppo Theatre Artistic Director Marti Lyons. Remy Bumppo staged Cleage's Blues for an Alabama Sky in the fall of 2023. This conversation originally took place September 26, 2023 and was recorded live via Zoom. AWM PODCAST NETWORK HOME More about the speakers: Pearl Cleage (she/her/hers) is an Atlanta-based writer whose plays include POINTING AT THE MOON, WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS, FLYIN' WEST, BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY, and BOURBON AT THE BORDER, commissioned and directed by Kenny Leon at the Alliance Theatre. She is also the author of A SONG FOR CORETTA, written in 2007 during Cleage's time as Cosby Professor in Women's Studies at Spelman College. Her play, THE NACIREMA SOCIETY REQUESTS THE HONOR OF YOUR PRESENCE AT A CELEBRATION OF THEIR FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS, was commissioned by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and premiered in 2010, in a joint production by the ASF and Atlanta's Alliance Theatre, directed by Susan Booth. Her plays have also been performed at Arena Stage, Hartford Stage, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Huntington Theatre, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the Long Wharf Theatre, Just US Theatre, True Colors Theatre, Bushfire Theatre, the Intiman Theatre, St. Louis Black Repertory Company, and Seven Stages. She is also an accomplished performance artist, often working in collaboration with her husband, writer Zaron W. Burnett, Jr. They have performed at the National Black Arts Festival, the National Black Theatre Festival, and colleges and universities across the country. Cleage and Burnett also collaborated with performance artists Idris Ackamoor and Rhodessa Jones on the script for THE LOVE PROJECT, which premiered at the National Black Theatre Festival in 2008, and is currently touring the country. Cleage is also an accomplished novelist. Her novels include “What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day,” a New York Times bestseller and an Oprah Book Club selection, “I Wish I Had a Red Dress,” “Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do,” “Babylon Sisters,” “Baby Brother's Blues,” “Seen It All and Done the Rest,” and “Till You Hear from Me.” She is also the author of “Mad at Miles: A Blackwoman's Guide to Truth,” a groundbreaking work of race and gender, and “We Speak Your Names,” a praise poem commissioned by Oprah Winfrey for her 2005 celebration of legendary African American women and written in collaboration with Zaron Burnett. Cleage has also written for magazines, including “Essence,” “Vibe,” “Rap Pages,” and “Ms.” In addition to her work as the founding editor of “Catalyst” magazine, a literary journal, she was a regular columnist for the Atlanta Tribune for ten years, winning many awards for her thought-provoking columns. She has also written for TheDefendersOnLine.com. Cleage has been awarded grants in support of her work from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Fulton County Arts Council, the Georgia Council on the Arts, the Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs, and the Coca-Cola Foundation. Her work has earned her many awards and honors, including an NAACP Image Award for fiction in 2008. Pearl Cleage is represented by Ron Gwiazda at Abrams Artists Agency in New York City. Her website is www.PearlCleage.net. She also maintains a Facebook fan page. www.pearlcleage.net. Marti Lyons (she/her/hers) most recently directed the world-premiere of Galileo's Daughter by Jessica Dickey at Remy Bumppo, Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberly at Northlight Theatre, Wife of a Salesman by Eleanor Burgess at Milwaukee Rep, Sense and Sensibility adapted by Jessica Swale at American Players Theatre and the world-premiere of John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower at Studio Theatre in D.C. Marti's other productions include The Niceties by Eleanor Burgess at Writers Theatre; Cymbeline at American Players Theatre; The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe and both the stage and audio productions of Kings by Sarah Burgess at Studio Theatre; the world-premiere of How to Defend Yourself by liliana padilla, a Victory Gardens and Actors Theatre of Louisville co-production; Cambodian Rock Band by Lauren Yee at Victory Gardens and City Theatre; Witch by Jen Silverman at Geffen Playhouse and Writers Theatre (LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Direction); Native Gardens by Karen Zacarías at Victory Gardens; Botticelli in the Fire by Jordan Tannahill at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company; I, Banquo at Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Title and Deed by Will Eno at Lookingglass Theatre Company; Laura Marks' Bethany and Mine at The Gift Theatre. Marti is also an ensemble member at The Gift Theatre, and a member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. martilyons.com
This week on the podcast is part 2 of our interview with dancer and theatrical choreographer Martín Céspedes. He has performed on Broadway tours of shows such as Man of La Mancha, The King and I, and South Pacific. He's also danced at the Kennedy Center with the Washington National Opera, as well as in concert performances with Earth, Wind and Fire and The Bee Gees. As a choreographer his credits include musicals at Porthouse Theatre, Cleveland Musical Theatre, the Great Lakes Theater and the St. Louis Repertory Theater. If you have an interest in working professionally in dance and theatre, you'll want to hear Martín's positive message and approach to arts entrepreneurship!In this episode:Imagine stepping into the world of renowned choreographer Martín Céspedes, where art and entrepreneurship merge seamlessly. With our conversation revealing the secrets to his award-winning choreography, you'll find yourself immersed in his meticulous research process, influenced by music and the inspirations he draws from genres of dance to enhance his craft. Martín also talks about his associations with the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and the Actors' Equity Association, shedding light on the crucial role they play in his profession.In the latter half, the spotlight turns to Martín's personal journey and the profound influence the classic musical West Side Story had on his career. You'll discover how this iconic show continues to shape modern theater trends. As we venture beyond the stage, Martín shares his experiences choreographing for other platforms such as animation and film, and discusses the role of different unions in these areas. We conclude our talk with his invaluable advice for budding artists and entrepreneurs, and a thoughtful discussion on making arts more accessible to a wider audience. Get ready for an enlightening and inspiring ride through Martín's world of dance, theater, and art entrepreneurship.Show Notes: https://www.artsentrepreneurshippodcast.com/episodes/229-martin-cespedes-dancer-and-choreographer-pt-2-of-2
Today we released part 1 of our interview with dancer and theatrical choreographer Martín Céspedes. He has performed on Broadway tours of shows such as Man of La Mancha, The King and I, and South Pacific. He's also danced at the Kennedy Center with the Washington National Opera, as well as in concert performances with Earth, Wind and Fire and The Bee Gees. As a choreographer his credits include musicals at Porthouse Theatre, Cleveland Musical Theatre, the Great Lakes Theater and the St. Louis Repertory Theater. If you have an interest in working professionally in dance and theatre, you'll want to hear Martín's positive message and approach to arts entrepreneurship!In this episode: Ever wondered how a professional dancer transitions into choreography? Join us as we chat with Martín Céspedes, a renowned dancer, theatrical choreographer, and arts entrepreneur with an impressive resume, and find out what it takes to make it in the world of choreography and theatre production.Discover how Martín navigated the challenges and triumphs of his fascinating career, from his early days in New York City to working on big-ticket projects like feature films and masterclasses. Martín also shares valuable insights on the importance of unions like the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) in ensuring fair pay and benefits for artists, and how personal relationships can lead to exciting opportunities in the industry. Don't miss this captivating conversation with a true master of his craft!Show Notes: https://www.artsentrepreneurshippodcast.com/episodes/228-martin-cespedes-dancer-and-choreographer-pt-1-of-2
Watch this and all episodes ad free by joining the ITBR Cafe for only $5 a month! patreon.com/ivorytowerboilerroom Today we welcome a special theatrical guest, Cristina Duarte who joins Andrew in the ITBR! She is a director, actor, and instructor (SDC. SAG/AFTRA . AEA). She and her colleagues call her an “actor's director.” She was born in Portugal, and at the age of 7 immigrated to the U.S. with her mother. She has more than 20 years of professional experience. She is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. She has directed an array of productions in NYC and Santa Fe. As a director, she loves to tell stories about our complex and courageous humanity. She has taught acting and directing at Marymount Manhattan College, Brooklyn College, Hunter College, Queens College, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, and the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. She also performs in the ensemble for Saturday Night Live. Cristina reveals what her career is like as an actor's director. She shares her days as a student in the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, and how it has changed overtime now that she teaches there. She explains how as a teacher, she is there to guide her students to be working actors, and as a director, she is the eyes and ears of the audience. Be sure to visit Cristina's website: https://www.cristinaduartedirector.com/ Support Cristina's YouTube Channel, @theactorsdirector: https://www.youtube.com/@theactorsdirector Follow Cristina on Instagram! @actorsdirector Head to Broadview Press, an independent academic publisher, for all your humanities related books. Use code ivorytower for 20% off your broadviewpress.com order. To subscribe to The Gay and Lesbian Review visit glreview.org. Click Subscribe, and enter promo code ITBR to receive a free copy with any print or digital subscription. Order from @mandeemadeit, mention ITBR, and with your first order you'll receive a free personalized gift! Follow That Ol' Gay Classic Cinema on Instagram, @thatolgayclassiccinema. Follow ITBR on IG, @ivorytowerboilerroom, TikTok, @ivorytowerboilerroom, and Twitter, @IvoryBoilerRoom! Thanks to the ITBR team! Andrew Rimby (Executive Director), Mary DiPipi (Chief Contributor), and our Spring 23 Interns (Andrea, Kaitlyn, Rosie, Sara, and Sheila) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ivorytowerboilerroom/support
This week Melissa is joined by her brilliant friend Alex Mallory to talk about her original translation and adaptation of Frank Wedekind's German play, Spring Awakening, which she also produced as an MFA Directing student. In this episode, we discuss:Why Alex decided to write this adaptation for her MFA Directing Lab (when she really didn't have to)What was missing from other English translations of Spring Awakening that prompted Alex to write her ownWhat German translations Alex wants to tackle in the futureHow community-building is the cornerstone of Alex's love of theatreAnd more!Resources MentionedThe Metal Shop Performance LabDE-CRUITAbout Our GuestAlex Mallory is the director of The Metal Shop Performance Lab, founded with the mission to create theatrical events that foster radical community-building and authentic exchange between artists and audiences. She uses intersectional, anti-oppressive rehearsal processes to create conditions for productive conversations on personal and collective histories of violence in both rehearsal and performance spaces. Alex's directing work investigates personal and political agency and examines the resilience of the mind and body through human connection. Alex also facilitates healing-centered engagement for military veterans as the Chicago Regional Coordinator for DE-CRUIT. She has worked with the veteran community for over a decade with the Veteran Artist Program, The Telling Project, and as director of Takeo Rivera's choreopoem Goliath, which toured for seven years in New York and California. Alex has served as Co-Artistic Director of Poetic Theater Productions and as Director of Culture Project's Women Center Stage Initiative. She has an MFA from Northwestern University and a BA from Stanford University. Alex is an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.Connect with Our Guestalexmallory.com For Spring Awakening inquiries, email alex@themetalshop.org Connect with host Melissa Schmitz***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter***101 Stage AdaptationsFollow the Podcast on Facebook & InstagramRead Melissa's plays on New Play ExchangeConnect with Melissa on LinkedInWays to support the show:- Buy Me a Coffee- Tell us your thoughts in our Listener Survey!- Give a 5-Star rating- Write a glowing review on Apple Podcasts - Send this episode to a friend- Share on social media (Tag us so we can thank you!)Creators: Host your podcast through Buzzsprout using my affiliate link & get a $20 credit on your paid account. Let your fans directly support you via Buy Me a Coffee (affiliate link).
Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Director and one of the American Theatre Magazine's 10 Rising Black Woman+ to Watch in Theatre, Danielle (Dani) Barlow talks about her career as an Arts Manager and the work of SDCF. Topics discussed include being in the room when it happens, networking, grad school, mentors, finding your purpose, and allowing yourself to be curious. Edited by Justin Payne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We are excited to bring you this podcast series, Choreographers in Conversation. This series allows choreographers to interview other choreographers whose work excites them as a way to learn more about their craft and preserve the stories of these exciting artists in our industry. In this episode Choreographer and Creative Director Ellenore Scott interviews Choreographer Camille A. Brown to hear more about her career and where her love of dance and choreography comes from, what inspires her, working with collaborators, and how Camille approaches her work with ranges in size and types of stages. They also discuss Broadway debuts, the preproduction process, and staying true to yourself in your work. Bios: Camille A. Brown: Broadway: for colored girls… (7 Tony award nominations including Best Direction of a Play and Choreography), Choir Boy (Tony & Drama Desk Nominee), Once on This Island (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Chita Rivera Nominee), A Streetcar Named Desire. Off Broadway and regional: Much Ado About Nothing (Audelco Award), Toni Stone (Audelco, Lortel Nominee), Bella (Playwrights Horizons, Lucille Lortel Nominee, Audelco Award), Fortress of Solitude (Lucille Lortel Nominee); tick, tick...BOOM! (Encores!). The Wiz (MUNY), Stagger Lee (DTC); Once (Pittsburgh CLO). Opera: Fire Shut Up in My Bones (co-directed with James Robinson- Bessie nomination), Porgy & Bess, Champion. Television: Harlem (Amazon Prime), Nike/Jordan commercial. Jesus Christ Superstar Live” (NBC). Film: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Netflix). Company: Bessie winning Camille A. Brown & Dancers. Awards: Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Choreography, ISPA's Distinguished Artist, Dance Magazine Award, Guggenheim, Doris Duke Artist, Princess Grace Statue Award, Jacob's Pillow Award, and New York City Center, USA Jay Franke & David Herro Fellow, TED fellow, Kennedy Center's Next 50, Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellowship www.camilleabrown.org Ellenore Scott (she/her) is a New York based choreographer and creative director. Broadway: Funny Girl, Mr. Saturday Night. Off-Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors, Titanique. Other choreography credits include: So You Think You Can Dance?, Single All the Way (Netflix), Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical. Scott's work has been seen at The Bushwick Starr, The Old Globe, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, McCarter Theatre, Cherry Lane Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Cape Fear Regional Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre. As a performer, Scott appeared in numerous television shows (Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Smash, The Blacklist, Glee!) and was a finalist and All-Star on So You Think You Can Dance? Scott is the Artistic Director of ELSCO Dance, a contemporary-fusion dance company. As a content creator, Scott makes lifestyle, dance and comedy videos for over 1 million followers on TikTok. @helloellenore https://www.ellenorescott.co/ Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation: Founded in 1965, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) exists to foster, promote, and develop the creativity and craft of stage directors and choreographers. SDCF's mission is to create access to the field, to connect artists to each other and to the public, and to honor these artists' theatrical legacies. The centrality of directors and choreographers in theatre and the impact they have on other artists' careers—from playwrights to designers to actors—makes SDCF's services essential to the wider theatre industry's continued health and vitality. Through its dynamic educational programming, including Observerships, Fellowships, public panels, and day-long symposia, SDCF serves the needs of directors and choreographers at every stage of career. www.sdcfoundation.org
Fresh in the middle of her trip from New York for the West Coast Premiere of her new play Broken Story, playwright Cyndy A. Marion stopped by a Playwright's Spotlight for an in-house interview. In this episode, we discuss transitioning from director to playwright, learning structure, taking creative license when writing about real life events, honesty in marketing, and what makes theatrical staging. We also talk about complex sets and inspiring designers as well as adding action to dialogue, musicality in a monologue, writing surprises, repping yourself, and making the work. This discussion is a great resource for playwrights who may be considering a bicoastal production as well as the usual approach to the craft. I hope you enjoy this episode.Cyndy A. Marion is the Producing Artistic Director of The White Horse Theater Company for which she recently directed the world-premiere production of her play YOU ARE PERFECT. She is a Board Member of The Players, Co-Founder of the Producers Circle and a member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society as well of the The Dramatists Guild. Her new play, BROKEN STORY, is currently running its West Coast Premiere at The Sherry theater in the North Hollywood Arts District.To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -https://youtu.be/64yZmoZuzh0Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Emily Owens Press Agent -http://www.emilyowenspr.comWhite Horse Theater Company -https://www.whitehorsetheater.com/The Sherry Theater -https://www.thesherry.org/New Play Exchange -https://newplayexchange.org/Dramatists Play Service -https://www.dramatists.comThe Players -https://theplayersnyc.org/Socials for Cyndy A. Marion -Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cymarionTwitter - @cymarionIG - @cyndy.marionWebsites 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
Joan Kane (director, writer, performer, educator) recently performed her script of Almost 13 in the Edinburgh Festival Fringereceiving a five-star review. She also got favourable reviews for her direction of Safe and what do you mean in New York and Edinburgh. She is the founding Artistic Director of Ego Actus Theatre Company. Off Broadway, she directed Sycorax at HERE, Play Nice! at 59e59 theatres, and I Know What Boys Want at Theatre Row. She directed Six Characters in Search of an Author in Oslo, Norway and Kafka's Belinda in Prague. Joan was awarded Best Director in the United Solo Festival where she has directed six pieces. She was named to the Indie Theatre Hall of Fame by nytheatre.com. She has also directed plays and readings at the Lark, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Urban Stages, Workshop Theatre, Nylon Fusion, Abingdon Theatre, Oberon Theatre, the Samuel French Short Play Festival, T. Schreiber Studio, and many others. Joan is an alumni of the LaMama directing and playwriting symposiums in Umbria, Italy. She is a member of the Playwright/Director unit at Actor's Studio, the League of Professional Theatre Women, the Dramatists Guild, and the Society of Stage Directors & Choreographers Some key points from our interview:· How she believes that being broken is ok · How in the summer of 1969 she witnessed a gang member being murdered and she was then raped by the murderer to silence her· How she became a selected mute after these traumas, as she was too scared to speak out· How a friend encouraged her to go for therapy at high school as she was having obtrusive dreams· How she was encouraged at a writing retreat in Italy to share her story· How it took her many years to write her story down due to shame and denial· How writing has been her escape from trauma and her therapy too· How she's passionate about storytelling and wrote “Almost 13” which are her memories of a young girl's violent summer in Brooklyn and plays all 10 characters herself · How she believes we can all have horrible things happen to us, but we can survive them too Review of Almost 13 - “Joan Kane sets an example to others to face up to their stories and to be prepared to share them in order to disseminate, perhaps dissipate and gain some healing through the process”Hosted by Madeleine Black, the show will share stories of all the amazing people Madeleine has met on her own journey as an author/speaker and these stories will heal, motivate, inspire and bring hope when they share their wisdom and knowledge with her.She really believes in the power that comes when we share our stories, that in fact we are not story tellers but story healers. Tune in to discover what helped them to stay unbroken and together we will discover that none of us are broken beyond repair.You can find out more about Madeleine, her story and her memoir, Unbroken, from her website: https://madeleineblack.co.uk/You can listen to the full extended series of incredible stories on https://www.buzzsprout.com/1386718 Short of time but want to tune in?Watch Short Vlog Versions on our You Tube Channel HERE
***This episode is brought to you by Cinapse. Cinapse is an app that streamlines workflows for film and television crews, cast members, and studio employees. What they are building is truly game changer and I'll be doing a deep dive with them in the upcoming weeks. Follow them @cinapse for more.*** Barbara Whitman is a theater producer who made her Broadway debut producing A Raisin in the Sun, starring Sean Comb and Phylicia Rashad, An impressive lady, she has won multiple Tony and Drama League Awards for producing musicals like Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Fun Home, The Humans and of course, A Strange Loop, which I was lucky enough to see on Broadway back in August. In 2021, she established the Barbara Whitman Award at Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, SDCF for sure. The award will be given annually to a female, trans, or non-binary early career director. Currently, Barbara is producing Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright's new play, GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR, starring Sean Hayes. The play will open on Broadway Spring 2023. A native New Yorker, Barbara attended NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study and received an MFA in Theatre Management and Producing from Columbia University. With roots in the theater, it's no surprise that's she's built a career around this art form. She has a deep passion for story, and especially for outlier stories that live outside the more commercial broadway fare. Gems from our chat include: How the definition of a producer has evolved The importance of introducing audiences to live theater Tips on how to get started producing theater Xoxo CG
We are excited to bring you this podcast series, Choreographers in Conversation. This series will allow choreographers to interview other choreographers whose work excites them as a way to learn more about their craft and preserve the stories of these exciting artists in our industry. In this episode Sam Pinkleton interviews Annie-B Parson. The two discuss the experience of choreographing for musicians and opera, being a choreographer not a dancer, and how one collaborates or doesn't with dancers and musicians. Sam asks Annie-B about how she prepares for a project, who she makes dance pieces for, and how she thinks teaching influences her work. Additionally, the two talk about Annie-B Parson's new book called The Choreography of Everyday Life that was published on October 11th, 2022. They also reiterate that choreographers are for more than carrying a couch across the stage. Annie-B Parson: Annie-B Parson is a choreographer. She has made choreography for rock shows, marching bands, movies, museums, objects, television, augmented reality, opera, ballet, theater, symphony orchestras, string quartets, and a chorus of 1,000 amateur singers. She has made dance and stagings for the work of David Byrne, David Bowie, Lorde, St. Vincent, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Wendy Whelan, Laurie Anderson, Suzan Lori Parks, Spike Lee, Jonathan Demme, Salt ‘n Pepa, Esperanza Spalding, David Lang, Anne Carson, and the Martha Graham Dance Co. Annie-B is the artistic director of Big Dance Theater. Annie-B just published a new book on October 11, 2022 called The Choreography of Everyday Life. https://www.bigdancetheater.org/founders-directors/ Sam Pinkleton: Sam Pinkleton is a Tony Award-nominated theater and dance maker. His work on Broadway includes Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Machinal, Heisenberg, Significant Other, Amélie, and Macbeth. His recent work includes Jeanine Tesori and David Henry Hwang's Soft Power, the youth-led civic spectacular Runaways in Central Park and collaborations with the Dutch National Opera, Carnegie Hall, BAM, Virgin Voyages, The Civilians, Swing Left, and Cirque du Soleil. He is currently directing the world premiere of Noah Diaz' You Will Get Sick for Roundabout Theater Company. He does not own any dance shoes. sampinkleton.com Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation: Founded in 1965, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) exists to foster, promote, and develop the creativity and craft of stage directors and choreographers. SDCF's mission is to create access to the field, to connect artists to each other and to the public, and to honor these artists' theatrical legacies. The centrality of directors and choreographers in theatre and the impact they have on other artists' careers—from playwrights to designers to actors—makes SDCF's services essential to the wider theatre industry's continued health and vitality. Through its dynamic educational programming, including Observerships, Fellowships, public panels, and day-long symposia, SDCF serves the needs of directors and choreographers at every stage of career. www.sdcfoundation.org
In this episode of The Artist Inclusive Podcast, host Anna Rosa and Shanga Parker are joined by Dominic Taylor. Dominic is a Professor in the UCLA Department of African American Studies, as well as the Vice Chair of Graduate Studies and Professor at the UCLA Department of Theater. Dominic is a scholar of African-American theater and a writer-director whose work has been seen across the country. He is the former associate artistic director of Penumbra Theatre Company in St. Paul, Minn., one of the premiere African-American theaters in the country. There he utilized his unique culturally specific play development process called OKRA. As a scholar, Taylor's training began under the tutelage of George Houston Bass and his Research to Performance Method (RPM) at Brown's Rites and Reasons Theatre. In the summer of 2014, Taylor was part of the Consortium on African-American Aesthetics at Emory University. Nearly 20 years ago, he was part of the original group of artists and scholars gathered at August Wilson's “The National Black Theatre Summit: On Golden Pond.” Taylor was part of the cohort that presented a paper on aesthetics. Previously, Taylor was an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He has also taught at Bard College and City University in New York; Columbia College of Chicago; Bennington College and Brown University. Taylor is an alumnus member of New Dramatists. He received his bachelor's and master of fine arts degree from Brown University and is a member of Stage Directors and Choreographers, a board member of the Givens Foundation for African American Literature and an associate artistic director of America-in-Play. Take a listen to this episode of The Artist Inclusive Podcast for a look into what it means to truly follow artistic impulse.Website: Artist Inclusive https://www.hollandcreative.io daniel@hollandcreative.io IG: https://instagram.com/conversioncopydesign https://www.dashofcopy.com anna@dashofcopy.com IG: Dash of Copy (@dashofcopy) • Instagram photos and videos
Well well well, look who's back in your feed! Tits and Teeth, hosted by yours truly, Jen Thiessen and Kyla Musselman, is back with more interviews with some of theatre's best artists working in Canada, on Broadway and around the world. So let's begin!Tracey Flye is one of Canada's most iconic director/choreographers, and we are thrilled to have her on the podcast today. Tracey's career is legendary with credits that span countries, styles, and genres. We learn more about Tracey's ‘herstory' in the industry, how the mentorship she received throughout her career pushed and benefited her artistry, and, we introduce and discuss a new organization to Canadian theatre, the Canadian Guild of Stage Directors and Choreographers (CGDC).Some highlights from Tracey's amazing career include: Once, We Will Rock You, War Horse (Res. director Mirvish Productions) Kiss Me Kate, Evita (choreographer, Stratford Festival) West Side Story (director/choreographer Rainbow Stage) Evita, West Side Story (Vancouver Opera) Reprint (director, Musical Stage Co.), and Ring of Fire (director, Theatre Aquarius and The Citadel Theatre).Tracey has also been at the helm of the Ross Petty Panto for the past decade serving as their magnificent and hilarious director and/or choreographer.So come along for the ride, get those tits up, those teeth out and enjoy this episode of Tits and Teeth Podcast.
In this episode, Jennifer talks to Dani Barlow about what it means to be a theater manager. Dani shares helpful tips for creating change, fostering a network of your peers, and having a vision. They break down the various types of positions on the arts administrative side of things, responsibilities and skillsets that are useful in these roles, and the necessity of these individuals for the creative process. About Dani: Dani Barlow (she/her) is a theater manager who currently serves as the Director of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation in New York City. Prior to SDCF she serves as Interim Associate Producer at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in DC. She received her Master of Fine Arts from Yale School of Drama in 2020 and during her time there she held the positions of Associate Director of Development and Alumni Affairs for Yale Repertory Theatre and Yale School of Drama, Company Manager of Yale Repertory Theatre, and Yale Management Fellow at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. She has also worked in different administrative capacities prior to graduate school at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Round House Theatre, and Studio Theatre. SDC IG: @sdcfoundation Want to coach with Jennifer? Schedule a session here! https://appt.link/jenniferapple Monologue Sourcing Promo Link! https://empoweredartistcollective.com/podcastpromo Learn more: https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/podcast EAC IG: @EmpoweredArtistCollective EAC TikTok: @EmpowerArtistCollective EAC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredartistcollective/ Check Out Our Merch! https://www.empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com/ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com
Super stoked to announce new guest, Heather Grayberg, to The Story!Heather Grayberg, originally from Southern New Jersey, is an Arts Executive, Consultant, and Director/Choreographer now residing in Chester County. She is the Executive & Programming Director of the newly founded organization, The Hub for Arts and Culture based in Chester County as well as the Executive Artistic Producer of Revival Productions & Chester County School of the Arts located in Coatesville, PA. She has a B.M. in Musical Theatre from Westminster College of the Arts and a Master's Degree in Arts Management and Executive Leadership from Rider University. Heather has been performing for over 25 years and has been seen on creative teams throughout the region as a Director/Choreographer of over 50 productions. She is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographer's Society, a theatrical union. In addition to creating inspiring artistic experiences in both arts education and performance, Heather is passionate about arts advocacy and accessibility. You can find Heather and her projects here:Facebook: Revival ProductionsWebsites:www.revival-productions.comwww.ccschoolofthearts.comwww.chestercountyartsculture.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-story/donations
We are excited to bring you this podcast series, Choreographers in Conversation. This series will allow choreographers to interview other choreographers whose work excites them as a way to learn more about their craft and preserve the stories of these exciting artists in our industry. In this episode, Maria Torres, Director/Choreographer/SDCF Trustee interviews Director/Choreographer, Jerry Mitchell to learn more about his career, what brought him to the theatre, the work that he is passionate about, the current state of our industry, and what he hopes for the future. Jerry Mitchell: Jerry Mitchell (Director/Choreographer, Kinky Boots) made his Broadway and West End debuts as Director/Choreographer of Legally Blonde, which won the Olivier Award for Best Musical. He was also nominated for both the Tony® and Drama Desk Awards for his choreography for Legally Blonde, as well as the Drama Desk Award for his direction. A Tony® winner for his dazzling choreography created for the first revival of La Cage Aux Folles, Jerry was also nominated for that Award for choreographing Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hairspray, Never Gonna Dance, and The Full Monty. For Broadway, Jerry also choreographed Catch Me If You Can, and revivals of Charlie Brown, Rocky Horror Show, and Gypsy (starring Bernadette Peters), and for Off-Broadway and film, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Jeffrey. Other film work includes In & Out, Camp, Drop Dead Gorgeous, and Scent of a Woman. Twenty years ago, Jerry conceived and created Broadway Bares, a comedy burlesque show performed annually for the charity Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Jerry proudly serves as a Board member of BC/EFA and annually as the Executive Producer of Broadway Bares, with a book, website and satellite productions in Las Vegas and London. Cumulative fundraising efforts have resulted in more than $10 million raised for the charity. Next up: directing and choreographing The Honeymooners on Broadway. Maria Torres: Maria Torres' extensive career as director, choreographer, instructor, and Producer began as a critically acclaimed performer, contributing choreography while performing in the film Dance, with the six-time Tony-nominated Broadway musical Swing and Me!. Torres was nominated for a 2018 Ovation Award for Best Choreography for Luis Valdes' Zoot Suit, is a Lucille Lortel & Carbonell nominee of Four Guys named Jose', The Donkey Show and Celia, the musical based on the life of the late Cuban singer Celia Cruz. Torres received accolades as Associate Choreographer for the Broadway & Touring productions of On Your Feet, the Oscar-nominated film Enchanted, the musical film Idlewild, the showcase for the Tony Award-winning In The Heights, and as a resident choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance. Torres also co-conceived, choreographed, and directed the Magic Of Salsa Kingdom and Off-Broadway hit Latin Heat. Recently, she directed and choreographed the new musical Havana Music Hall, Sol of El Barrio, and served as dance consultant for Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway. Torres is an Artist in Residence at The Rosetta LeNoire Amas Musical Theater, Trustee of Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), a proud executive board member of the Stage Directors, and Choreographers Society, and the League of Professional Theatre Women. Her life is documented in the Dance Oral History Project at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
June is always a busy time for New York City with two major events taking place: one is of course the month-long Gay Pride celebration and the other is the biggest day of the Broadway season -- the Tony Awards. And today's guest ticks off both of those boxes. Jerry Mitchell is a prolific Broadway Director and choreographer as well as a gay advocate with shows like Broadway Bares and Kinky Boots, just to name a few. He is also an eight-time Tony nominee, but he is quick to point out that he's lost out on the award six times. In our conversation, he discusses his creative career, full of fascinating anecdotes, and shares the importance of knowing our worth as artists, loving what we do on and off stage, and the value in saying "yes." Subscribe to WINMI and get bonus episodes with Jerry on Supercast Check out the podcast website and follow WINMI on Instagram or Twitter --------------- Why I'll Never Make It is a top 25 theater podcast hosted by Off-Broadway actor and singer Patrick Oliver Jones and is a production of WINMI Media, LLC. It is a part of Helium Radio Network and a member of the Broadway Makers Alliance. Background music in this episode is by John Bartmann (Public Domain) and Blue Dot Sessions (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License). Everybody Say Yeah! You've heard what Jerry has to say about Kinky Boots. Now listen as the musical force behind this Tony-winning show is interviewed by ABC News in Australia. Cyndi Lauper has been a source of celebration and inspiration for music lovers since the 1980s. Then she turned her talents to theater, writing the music for this international smash hit. This Month's Artist Spotlight: Broadway Bares Broadway Bares' 30th anniversary celebration, originally set for June 21, 2020, was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The in-person event is set to return this month and will more bodacious dancers, fierce queens, and sexy starlets. Broadway Bares was created in 1992 by Mitchell, then a Broadway dancer, as a way to raise awareness and money for those living with HIV/AIDS. In Broadway Bares‘ first year, Mitchell and six of his friends danced on a New York City bar and raised $8,000. Since then, Broadway Bares has raised more than $21 million for Broadway Cares. “Every dollar donated during Broadway Bares helps those across the country affected by HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and other critical illnesses receive healthy meals, lifesaving medication and more,” Broadway Cares Executive Director Tom Viola said, referring to last year's online presentation. “As we look toward better and brighter days ahead for everyone, I'm so glad that everyone chose to twerk from home with us.” Final Five with Jerry Mitchell Nine years ago, Jerry Mitchell received the Abbott Award, a lifetime achievement award from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation. The award is named in honor of renowned director George Abbott and is presented to a director or choreographer in recognition of lifetime achievement. That same year he was also nominated for two Tony Awards for choreography and direction in Kinky Boots. Since then he has lived another lifetime of experiences and shows like On Your Feet, Becoming Nancy, Pretty Woman, and the many subsequent incarnations of Kinky Boots. Read more insights and experiences from Mitchell on the WINMI Blog. Follow Jerry - IBDB | Instagram
Carefully Taught: Teaching Musical Theatre with Matty and Kikau
On our final episode of the semester, we interview Katie O'Halloran (she/her) and Vinh Nguyen (he/him). Katie is a Dublin-based, interdisciplinary director and creator from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her work celebrates theatricality, examines the materiality and effects of borders and confines, and prioritises a thorough probing of the text. She fuses her love of analyzing language with detailed vocal and physical work, as she firmly believes that “actors write with their bodies”. She holds a BFA (Hons) in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory (concentrations in Directing, Acting, Songwriting) and an MFA (Distinction) in Directing from The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art. Vinh is a multi-faceted theatre maker, educator, and EDI consultant based in the San Francisco Bay Area/Ohlone Native Land. He has performed with companies such as 42nd Street Moon, San Jose Stage, Bay Area Musicals, Cabrillo Stage, and Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre. During his time in San Diego to pursue his graduate studies, Vinh performed in concerts with The Old Globe Theatre, San Diego Symphony, and Kristin Chenoweth at the Music Box Theatre. As a director, Vinh aims to critically examine and reinterpret the American Musical Theatre cannon for a modern audience. He is also invested in and has contributed to the creation of new works that spotlight BIPOC voices and diverse cultural experiences. Selected world premieres include: Mr. Holland's Opus (by BD Wong and Wayne Baker), Gold: The Midas Musical (by Min Kahng for Bay Area Children's Theatre), and The Emeryville Horror (Same Boat Theatre Collective, the Bay Area's first & only environmental justice theatre company). Vinh will be directing the musical Company for South Bay Musical Theatre and the musical Allegiance for Palo Alto Players this upcoming season. Vinh is a passionate advocate and consultant for the causes of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and anti-racism in the theatre, having contributed to EDI efforts of companies such as: South Bay Musical Theatre, Hillbarn Theatre, 42nd Street Moon, and Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory. He is the Manager of Youth and Family Programs at Montalvo Arts Center and an adjunct professor at his alma mater, San Jose State University. Vinh received an MFA in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University. Membership includes: the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society (SDC), Equity Membership Candidate Program (EMC), and the Musical Theatre Educators' Alliance (MTEA).
Kwame Kwei-Armah is British actor, playwright, director and broadcaster. In 2018 he was made Artistic Director of the Young Vic, where he has directed Twelfth Night and Tree. From 2011 to 2018 he was previously the Artistic Director of Baltimore Center Stage where he directed: Jazz, Marley, One Night in Miami, Amadeus, Dance of the Holy Ghosts, The Mountaintop; An Enemy of the People, The Whipping Man and Things of Dry Hours.Other work as a director includes: Tree (Manchester International Festival), Twelfth Night, Comedy of Errors, Much Ado About Nothing, Detroit'67 (Public Theatre, New York), The Liquid Plain (Signature Theatre, New York and Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Porgy and Bess (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra) the Olivier Nominated One night in Miami for Best New Play 2016 (Donmar Warehouse) and One Love (Birmingham Repertory Theatre). As a playwright his credits include Tree (Manchester International Festival, Young Vic), One Love(Birmingham Repertory Theatre), Beneatha's Place (Baltimore Center Stage) Elmina's Kitchen, Fix Up, Statement of Regret (National Theatre) Let There Be Love and Seize the Day (Tricycle Theatre). Kwame was Artistic Director for the Festival of Black arts and Culture, Senegal, in 2010. He conceived and directed the opening ceremony at Senghor National stadium. He was an Associate Director of the Donmar Warehouse and has served on the boards of the National Theatre, Tricycle Theatre, and Theatre Communications Group. Kwame was the Chancellor of the University of the Arts London from 2010 to 2015, and in 2012 was awarded an OBE for Services to Drama.In 2012, 2013 and 2014 Kwame was named Best Director in City Paper's Best of Baltimore Awards and in 2015 was nominated for the prestigious Stage Directors and Choreographers Zelda Fichandler Award for Best Regional Artistic Director. In 2016 he was awarded the Urban Visionary Award alongside House Representative Elijah Cummings by the Center for Urban Families for his work in the Baltimore community. In 2019 he was the Chair of the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting. Kwame is a patron of Ballet Black and a visiting fellow of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In this episode of fluency durell speaks with highly sought after artist and intimacy coordinator Ann C. James. Ann James has an extensive career in international stage direction and theatre education spanning over three decades. James recently made her debut as the first Black Intimacy Coordinator of Broadway for Antoinette Nwandu's Pass Over. James is an expert in the burgeoning industry of intimacy direction and institutional consent culture for national arts organizations. In addition to her Broadway credit, she served as Intimacy Director and Sensitivity Specialist for the provocative Off-Broadway productions of Moises Kaufman's Seven Deadly Sins by Tectonic Theatre Project and Seize the King produced by Classical Theatre of Harlem. On the West Coast, James provides consultation and intimacy coordination for the television and film industry most recently working with Rashida Jones, Mark Wahlberg, Issa Rae, Will Ferrell and Cynthia Enrivo. Her intimacy work has featured James as an expert voice for Theatre Communications Group, HowlRound, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, and Lincoln Center's Directors Lab West. Her company, Intimacy Coordinators of Color,has partnerships with ArtsEquity, TimesUp, and A.R.T./New York. James is in the second year of her studies as America's first MFA in Performance Pedagogy with an emphasis in Afrocentric Intimacy Pedagogy at Loyola Marymount University.
Jonathan Moscone is a champion of arts and activism. A long-time theater director and current Chief Producer at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), he has devoted his career to interweaving arts organizations with civic life and community in an impactful way. With his Civic Engagement practice at YBCA, Moscone has created youth fellowships, artist residencies in the City's public schools, programs to help artists lead financially sustainable lives, and ballot measures to restore city funding to arts and homeless family services. He also serves on numerous community boards, such as the Alice Waters' Edible Schoolyard Project, the Homeless Prenatal Program, and leads the San Francisco Grants for the Arts advisory panel. Moscone's gratifying career would not be complete without his extensive experience in theater production. Before his time at YBCA, Jonathan was the Artistic Director of the California Shakespeare Theater in Berkeley and Orinda for 16 years. He works throughout the Bay Area as a freelance director, putting on shows like "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby" for CalShakes in 2005, Bruce Norris' "Clybourne Park" for the American Conservatory Theater (ACT) in 2011, and "Candida" (2011), for which he won the San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Award as Best Director of the year. In 2009, Moscone received the inaugural Zelda Fichandler Award from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation for his transformative work in theater. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the ACT's Masters of Fine Arts Program. All successes aside, Jonathan Moscone is one of the kindest people one has the privilege of meeting. He is smart, funny, and genuinely himself in any setting. His down to earth temperament has not only made him an affable director, but a beloved leader in his community. Artists contribute so much to a community's vitality, and through YBCA, Moscone is utilizing his talents and passions to lead the way in Bay Area arts activism. For more information about Jonathan Moscone, please visit: https://ybca.org/person/jonathan-moscone/ Meet Jonathan Moscone!
Creativity is for Everyone with Nik WhitcombJoin us as we talk about better book reports,, performing in The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences, and the importance of remembering the power of make-believe. On this episode, Nik Whitcomb joins me for a chat on the opening night of the world premier for The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences! He is having a wonderful time playing the character of Patrick Star in front of very enthusiastic audiences at The Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, MO. Nik talks about performing in The SpongeBob Musical, his podcast, and shares a story about how a desire for being better at book reports set him on his creative path. We also talk about what he's learned about acting from being a casting director, and the importance of remembering to have fun and play. Creativity is for everyone!Nik and I talk about:- His background and current projects - Performing in The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences - Nik's Podcast The Come Up with Nik Whitcomb - How wanting to be better at book reports started him on his artistic journey- His shyness as a child, and creative drama's influence on helping him speak up - That creativity is for everyone! - How to reach Nik (see links below) Guest Bio: Nik Whitcomb is a host, theatre artist, content creator, and emerging thought leader born and raised in Omaha, NE. He was named a "Theatre Worker You Should Know" by American Theatre Magazine and is a Core Ensemble Member with the Performing Arts Collective at The Union for Contemporary Art. Nik is the creator and host of an online multi-platform talk show "THE COME UP with Nik Whitcomb" which provides a unique opportunity for the audience to spend quality time with working artists and hear how artistic work can be fuel to change the world. Nik is also an Associate Member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Union, a winner of two Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards, and an actor that has appeared on both stage and screen.Connect with all things Nik: https://www.nikwhitcomb.com/The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences: https://thecoterie.org/THE COME UP with Nik Whitcomb Podcast: www.THECOMEUPwithNikWhitcomb.comConnect with Story and HorseFacebook: @storyandhorseInstagram: @storyandhorseSign up for our newsletter the Weekly Canter and receive creative resources and inspirations direct to your inbox: https://storyandhorse.ck.page/weeklycanterWebsite: www.storyandhorse.comPodcast: www.thestoryandhorsepodcast.com Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/storyandhorse)
This week on Movement Guidance we have Rachel Leigh Dolan! She is a 2 time Helen Hayes Award Winning Choreographer. As a choreographer, some of her favorite credits include Annie at Olney Theatre Center, James and the Giant Peach at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Carousel at Arena Stage, and working as an Associate Choreographer for Step One Dance Company on Holland America Cruise Line. She is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, is a founding faculty member at the innovative private performing arts secondary school, The Academy at Metropolitan School of the Arts, and she is also the Founder and Artistic Director of best8. You can also catch her teaching weekly at Broadway Dance Center. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram: @movementguidance
Geno Carr is a professional actor, singer, director and educator who starred in the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away on Broadway. He starred Off-Broadway in the musical satire Bush Wars and has been seen in the national tours of Grease, Phantom and The Buddy Holly Story. He has appeared in leading roles in numerous plays and musicals regionally at The Old Globe, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Lyric Opera San Diego, Maine Shakespeare Festival, Heritage Theatre Festival and many others. In addition to having served for two years as Assistant Professor of Theatre and Resident Artist at Stephens College in Columbia, MO, he has also taught at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA and currently serves on the Theatre Arts faculty at Grossmont College in San Diego, CA. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Hartwick College with a dual BA in Music and Theatre Arts, holds an MFA in Theatre from Sarah Lawrence College and is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Matthew Gardiner is the newly appointed Artistic Director of the Tony Award winning Signature Theatre. The Washington Post has called him “One of the top young musical-theater directors in the land.” At Signature, Gardiner has directed or choregraphed over 25 productions including revivals of classic and contemporary musicals, new works, and world premieres and of course many musicals by Stephen Sondheim, as part of Signature's special commitment to producing the great master's work. Over the past year, amid a global pandemic that has made live performance nearly impossible, Matthew has worked to ensure Signature continues to engage audiences with bold and exciting new online content, while also actively working to expand its reach. Matthew is the recipient of three Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Director of a Musical and has been honored with over a dozen nominations. He holds a BFA in Directing from Carnegie Mellon University and is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Dan Kovalik, author and human rights and labor lawyer, talks to us about the intersection of labor and climate change, and how extreme weather is affecting the U.S. where workers are forced to work in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. We also talk about how empowering federal oversight agencies and worker unionization could alleviate working conditions and work in tandem with other policies to mitigate the effects of climate change.China Dickerson, political strategist and National Political Director for Forward Majority, talks to us about news that U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a major abortion case that could ultimately cut off abortion access in dozens of states, what this means for reproductive rights, the intersection between culture, religion and white supremacy in these decisions, and how these restrictions will particularly harm black and brown communities.Dr. Sheila Vakharia, deputy director of research and academic engagement for the Drug Policy Alliance, joins us to talk about how the Biden administration is trying to reach a middle ground on how to confront the opioid epidemic and drawing fire in the process from across the ideological spectrum, and how harm reduction approaches to the epidemic will yield better results than another drug war.Kristine Hendrix, member of the board for Second Chances, which deals with incarcerated individuals and those recently released, contributor to the Truth-Telling Project and "We Stay Woke" podcast, and treasurer for Carla Coffee Wright for U.S. Senate, talks to us about cities implementing universal basic income programs and whether they are enough to keep people out of poverty, vaccine mandates, and the impact of COVID-19 on child care workers and the children they look over.Pam McKinnon, theater director, artistic director for the American Conservatory Theater, and executive board member of Stage Directors and Choreographers, talks to us about the play “Toni Stone”, about first woman to play baseball in the Negro Leagues, the first woman to play professionally in a men's league, and the importance of telling these often neglected stories.
We're back with even more great Fantasia Festival coverage. Both Rachel and Dakota did solo interviews with directors who had their films screened at the best genre film festival in Canada. Dakota talked with Mark O'Brien, the director, writer and star of the Canadian horror film The Righteous. They talked about what horror films influenced Mark, finding the right cast members in two Canadian icons and getting to talk with Justin Chon about being a triple threat while he acted in Blue Bayou. Rachel talked with Travis Taute, the director of the South African action thriller Indemnity. They talked about the stigma of mental health, especially in men of colour, the grizzly side of firefighting that isn't talked about and struggling to figure out how to shoot an action film when you can't have actors too physically close to one another. The Righteous 02:30-25:00 Indemnity 26:00-54:30 If you haven't already, listen to episode 161: Fantasia Fest Interviews - Glasshouse and Alien on Stage Directors. Listen to episode 163: Fantasia Festival 2021. Read Rachel's interviews with Riz Ahmed and Simu Liu. Check out Rachel's website for more great reviews and follow her on Twitter. Listen to Contra Zoom on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Overcast, RadioPublic, Breaker, Podcast Addict and more! Please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Send us a screenshot of your 5 star rating and review to contrazoompod@gmail.com and we will send you free swag! Thank you Eric and Kevin Smale for creating the awesome theme music and Stephanie Prior for designing the logo. Follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/contrazoompod/message
Montreal's Fantasia Festival is going on until August 25th. We had the chance to talk to the directors of two films being screened. Glasshouse, directed by Kelsey Egan, is a South African film about a family living in a green house during a pandemic that causes people to lose their memories and a mysterious stranger appears that upends the families tight bond. We also chatted with Danielle Kummer and Lucy Harvey, the directors of the documentary Alien on Stage. The doc follows a group of bus drivers in Dorset, England as they are mounting a stage production of the classic horror film Alien and how it became an unlikely hit. Follow Kelsey Egan to get updates on Glasshouse. Visit Alien on Stage's official website to learn more about the film. Fantasia Reviews: Art Kabuki by Dakota and Rachel, Tombs of the Blind Dead by Dakota. Check out Rachel's website for more great reviews and follow her on Twitter. Listen to Contra Zoom on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Overcast, RadioPublic, Breaker, Podcast Addict and more! Please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Send us a screenshot of your 5 star rating and review to contrazoompod@gmail.com and we will send you free swag! Thank you Eric and Kevin Smale for creating the awesome theme music and Stephanie Prior for designing the logo. Follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/contrazoompod/message
Share this episode >>> Https://thisischelseajohnson.com/197 How do you want to impact the world as an artist? You are making waves, whether you acknowledge it or not. You get to decide the nature of the waves you make. Sometimes we can underestimate our impact and power as artists to effect change, and that is one of the biggest opportunities we can potentially miss on our artistic journey. This week, Director/ Teacher/ Advocate, David Connolly reminds us that change and awareness begin when we openly communicate and try to learn how others navigate through the world instead of forcing them into a mold. Conversations lead to understanding and that is where change begins. Is the fear of failure stopping you from venturing into this new chapter in your life? Is your goal more important than the feeling of being embarrassed? Being afraid that things wouldn't work out as planned is valid. David reiterates that sometimes healthy fear is a good thing, but we shouldn't let that stop us from pursuing something we are passionate about. Use your voice as an artist and bring your life experiences to create change! In this episode: Inspiring someone means being part of the army that allows people to remember that we are more the same than we are different. Trauma is not what happened, it's how you're dealing with what happened. How having a support system impacts your success as an artist. The difference between diversity and inclusion is taking the time to break the mold and learn how others navigate the world. The importance of apprenticeship and continuously learning in improving as an artist. A little about David: David Connolly is a recipient of The Premier of Ontario's Award of Excellence in Applied Arts who holds an Honours Bachelor Degree in Musical Theatre Performance from Sheridan College. Immediately upon graduating, David made his Broadway debut and became the first and only amputee to ever perform there. Thirty years later, the double below-knee amputee remains an optimistic, highly creative idea generator of whose life Dance Magazine wrote, “demonstrates the quintessential balancing act between career and community service.” In January, 2020, David curated and moderated the first-ever disability inclusion panel at BroadwayCon in New York City to help develop actionable steps to improve disabled representation in arts. He is also an Ambassador for the Shriner's Hospital for Children, and the War Amps Child Amputee Program. For twelve-years, he served as Creative Producer for Fashion Cares in support of the AIDS Committee of Toronto, and has volunteered for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, Easter Seals, Project Angel Food and The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre for Children's Mental Health. As the Associate Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment, he has led the creation and implementation of Drayton's Youth Education Program, an Actor's Fund of Canada Benefit Cabaret Series and helmed over thirty productions including the Canadian regional theatre premieres of Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Mama Mia! and Newsies. For the screen, David has directed and choreographed several series for CBC Kids as well as projects for CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS and two feature films by director, Deepa Mehta. He has collaborated with artists including Katy Perry, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, kd lang, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Brightman and many others. As an Educator, he has been an Adjunct Professor and Advisor to the Musical Theatre Performance Programs at Sheridan College, Randolph College, Fanshawe College, St Lawrence College and VanderCook College. He is a recipient of The Waterloo Region Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement, and proud member of The Directors Guild of Canada, ACTRA, Equity and The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Follow David! Online: www.DavidWConnolly.com Facebook: DavidWConnollyTO Twitter: @DavidConnollyTO Instagram: DavidWConnolly
About the Guest Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj is a Milwaukee-based, multi-disciplinary, American Theater Artist and Advocate. Mr. Maharaj was hailed in The New York Times for his award-winning play Little Rock, was selected as a New York Times Critics Pick. He is currently the Associate Artistic Producer of Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Mr. Maharaj's playwrighting residencies include the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, New Orleans Writer's Residency, Alliance Theater, Arkansas Repertory Theater, Crossroads Theater, Amas Musical Theater, Triskelion Arts, the 2020 Resident Playwright of the Letter of Marque Theatre, is a member of Theater Now's 2021 Virtual Musical Theater Writer's Group, a 2021 Season Finalist in The Downtown Urban Arts Festival in New York City, the inaugural playwright for the Theatre Raleigh New Works Reading Series, and a finalist for the 2021 Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference. Mr. Maharaj has been honored with many awards for his body of work in the American Theater including the prestigious Woodie King Jr. Award, four Vivian Robinson AUDELCO Awards, Barrymore Award, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Theatrical Moment of the Year, The New York International Fringe Festival Overall Excellence Award, Theater Communications Group Directors Grant and Playwriting Grant, Recipient of the 2020 National Alliance for Musical Theater Fifteen-Minute Musical Theater Challenge Award, he was a semi-finalist for the 2021 Blue Ink Playwriting Award Competition presented by American Blues Theater. He has been featured in numerous articles and interviews in notable industry publications such as The American Theater Magazine, The New York Times, The Yale School of Drama / Repertory Theater Review, The Dramatist, The Uptown Magazine, Playbill, Broadway World, The Daily News, The New York Post, The New York Beacon, The Philadelphia Sun, Time-Out New York, Harlem News, Amsterdam News, and The Stage Directors and Choreographers Journal for his work as a theater practitioner and leader. As a storyteller, Mr. Maharaj has worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and at many of our nation's top Regional Theaters including the Bernard B. Jacobs, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, The Public, Second Stage Theatre, Soho Playhouse, Classical Theater of Harlem, New Federal Theater, New World Stages, Nuyorican Poets Café, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Lark Play Development Center, Theatre Row, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Portland Stage, Actors Theater of Louisville, Alabama Shakespeare, Signature Theater, Theater Works, Goodman Theater, The Kennedy Center, Arkansas Repertory Theater, Perseverance, and New Freedom Theater. After his graduate studies at Brooklyn College, Mr. Maharaj was awarded a Masters of Fine Arts Degree from Brooklyn College. Mr. Maharaj is a proud alumnus of the Actors Studio Playwrights and Directors Unit, Lincoln Center's Directors Lab, and Theater Communication Group's Rising Leaders of Color in the American Theater. He has served as the Artistic Director of New Freedom Theater in Philadelphia as well as the Artistic Director of Rebel Theater. Mr. Maharaj founded the Voices at the River, an African and Latino American Playwrights New Works Festival hosted at Arkansas Repertory Theater. Mr. Maharaj is represented by Michael Moore of Michael Moore Agency Literary and Creatives. Connect with Beltline to Broadway Facebook – @beltlinetobroadway Twitter – @beltlinetobroadway Instagram – @beltlinetobroadway Web http://www.rduonstage.com/ (www.beltlinetobroadway.com) Support this podcast
America’s Work Force Union Podcast welcomed International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 Business Manager/Financial Secretary Jason George to the show. He discussed his introduction to the labor movement, how the members of Local 49 adapted to the pandemic and how labor will be affected by the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The stage industry has been devastated by the pandemic, but is getting back on their feet. Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Executive Director Laura Penn provided an update on the state of the stage industry and the various ways it has changed since one year ago.
Internationally renowned theater choreographer and director, SERGIO TRUJILLO is the first ever Latinx recipient of the Tony Award for Best Choreography. He was honored with the Tony in 2019 for AIN’T TOO PROUD: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS. Additionally, he won the 2015 Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer for MEMPHIS. Sergio was previously nominated for several awards including a Tony Award for ON YOUR FEET!, Drama Desk Awards for HANDS ON A HARDBODY, LEAP OF FAITH, MEMPHIS, and JERSEY BOYS, a Lucille Lortel Award for SAVED, and received an Ovation Award for EMPIRE. He made his Broadway debut in 1999, dancing in JEROME ROBBINS’ BROADWAY. As a dancer, he has performed on Broadway in GUYS AND DOLLS, VICTOR/VICTORIA, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, and FOSSE. Sergio made his choreographic debut in 2005 with Broadway’s ALL SHOOK UP. His success expanded from there with JERSEY BOYS — which continues to grow in popularity worldwide. In 2011, four of his productions ran simultaneously on Broadway: NEXT TO NORMAL (2010 Pulitzer Prize), THE ADDAMS FAMILY, MEMPHIS (Olivier Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, NAACP Award, Drama Desk Award nomination, Astaire Award nomination), and JERSEY BOYS (Greenroom Award, Olivier Award nomination, Drama Desk Award nomination, Dora Award nomination, Outer Critics Circle Award nomination). Adding to his list of Broadway choreography credits are SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL (Chita Rivera Award, NAACP Award nomination), A BRONX TALE (Chita Rivera Award nomination), and GUYS AND DOLLS (Astaire Award nomination). Recent directing credits include Cirque Du Soleil’s PARAMOUR currently playing in Germany, ARRABAL for American Repertory Theater (Elliot Norton Award for best direction), the North American tour of FLASH DANCE THE MUSICAL, and the Broadway concert of GLORIA ESTEFAN & MIAMI SOUND MACHINE. Sergio is bringing a number of Latinx musicals aimed at bringing forth the stories of the Hispanic Culture in America. Some of his favorite future productions include: WAITING FOR SNOW IN HAVANA based on the book of the same title by Carlos Eire, LIVES IN LIMBO based on the book by Roberto Gonzales, REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES based on the play by Josefina Lopez, and CASA DE LAS FLORES inspired the Netflix Series by Manolo Caro. He has introduced audiences to his choreography in many noteworthy Off-Broadway shows including INVISIBLE THREAD for Second Stage, ROMEO & JULIET for The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park, A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN and KISMET for New York City Center Encores!, THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK for Dodger Stages, and BARE: A POP OPERA for the American Theatre for Actors. Sergio works and resides in New York City. He is proud to be the first choreographer ever invited to serve as a voting member of the American Theatre Wing’s Advisory Committee for the Tony Awards, is an avid supporter of and serves on the advisory boards of R.Evolution Latina and New York Theatre Barn, and is an active member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Sergio is Colombian born, and was raised in Toronto. He studied science at the University of Toronto, and later pursued further education by attending chiropractic school. Recently he was distinguished as one of the Top 100 Colombians in the world by President Juan Manuel Santos and was voted as one of the top 50 Creative Colombian Artists in the world by Forbes Magazine. Since 1990, he has been in a loving and inspiring relationship with actor Jack Noseworthy. They married in 2011 and were ecstatic to welcome their baby boy, Lucas Alejandro Truworthy, in March 2018. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Pam MacKinnon (TW:@pammackinnon) is a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award winner and she is no stranger to the Bay Area, having directed Victor Lodato’s 3F, 4F at Magic Theatre in 2005 and Amélie, A New Musical at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2015. MacKinnon grew up in Toronto, Canada as well as just outside Buffalo, New York. She majored in economics and political science at the University of Toronto and UC San Diego, and briefly pursued a Ph.D. in political science, before turning to her other passion: theater. Since then, MacKinnon has become one of American theater’s most beloved directors, a supporter of new American playwrights, and a leading interpreter of playwright Edward Albee’s work. She is an alumna of the Drama League, Women’s Project Theater, and Lincoln Center Theater’s Directors Labs. She is also Executive Board President of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC). MacKinnon has directed multiple plays on Broadway, including Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, starring Tracy Letts, Amy Morton, Carrie Coon, and Madison Dirks. MacKinnon won a Tony Award for her direction, and the play received the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. Other Broadway productions include Bruce Norris’s Clybourne Park (Obie Award for Excellence in Directing); Amélie, A New Musical; the world premiere of David Mamet’s China Doll with Al Pacino; Wendy Wasserstein’s The Heidi Chronicles with Elizabeth Moss; and Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance with Glenn Close and John Lithgow. MacKinnon has also directed extensively off Broadway at Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Theatre Club, and Roundabout Theatre Company, as well as around the country at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company, San Diego’s Old Globe, and Washington, DC’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.
Pam MacKinnon (TW:@pammackinnon) is a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award winner and she is no stranger to the Bay Area, having directed Victor Lodato’s 3F, 4F at Magic Theatre in 2005 and Amélie, A New Musical at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2015. MacKinnon grew up in Toronto, Canada as well as just outside Buffalo, New York. She majored in economics and political science at the University of Toronto and UC San Diego, and briefly pursued a Ph.D. in political science, before turning to her other passion: theater. Since then, MacKinnon has become one of American theater’s most beloved directors, a supporter of new American playwrights, and a leading interpreter of playwright Edward Albee’s work. She is an alumna of the Drama League, Women’s Project Theater, and Lincoln Center Theater’s Directors Labs. She is also Executive Board President of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC). MacKinnon has directed multiple plays on Broadway, including Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, starring Tracy Letts, Amy Morton, Carrie Coon, and Madison Dirks. MacKinnon won a Tony Award for her direction, and the play received the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. Other Broadway productions include Bruce Norris’s Clybourne Park (Obie Award for Excellence in Directing); Amélie, A New Musical; the world premiere of David Mamet’s China Doll with Al Pacino; Wendy Wasserstein’s The Heidi Chronicles with Elizabeth Moss; and Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance with Glenn Close and John Lithgow. MacKinnon has also directed extensively off Broadway at Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Theatre Club, and Roundabout Theatre Company, as well as around the country at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company, San Diego’s Old Globe, and Washington, DC’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.
Recorded September 27, 2020 We check in with our friends in Bulgaria, a part of our International Stage Directors Exchange, to see how they've been navigating theatre-making during the pandemic. We were intrigued to hear about the new opportunities that are bringing together their state and independent theatre scene. Gabriel Stelian-Shanks (Artistic Director) and Nilan (Associate Artistic Director) are joined in conversation by Panic Button Theatre's Vasilena Radeva and Nathan Cooper, and Momo Theatre Company's Vessilin Dimov for an insider look into theatre beyond our shores. This conversation is brought to you by the Trust For Mutual Understanding. IN CONVERSATION, The Drama League's acclaimed series of discussions with the directors changing the face of theater, television, and film, is now online! The process of creating art is revealed in these intimate, surprising, and wide-ranging conversations with award-winning creators from around the world. The artists in this video have donated their time and fees to help provide much-needed aid, relief, and programs for stage directors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You can help! Click here to donate. This program is made possible by Trust for Mutual Understanding, learn more: http://www.tmuny.org/ Learn more about our International Stage Directors Exchange: http://www.dramaleague.org/programs/international-exchanges Learn more about Panic Button Theatre: https://www.facebook.com/panicbuttontheatre/ Learn more about Theatre Company Momo: https://www.facebook.com/TheatreCompanyMOMO/ Editing services donated by: https://catalinmedia.com/
On today’s episode, the past and present of Yiddish theater collide as we explore the life and performance of renowned Yiddish musician and comedian Mickey Katz. We are joined by Ben Liebert, who is making his return to Folksbiene! Live on Thursday, October 8th with A Bisl Borscht: A Tribute to Mickey Katz. Ben Liebert is an actor, director, and business coach, based in New York City. He played Motl in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish and Boq in Wicked on Broadway and has directed such shows as Into the Woods and the Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). He is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association and associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Ben gives us a breakdown on the life of Mickey Katz, from his musicianship, his yiddish parodies, and why his music is so important today. Later, Ben reflects on his time as a cast member in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, and discusses his time as a director during the COVID19 pandemic.
Welcome to the first episode! In this episode, we'll chat with talented theatre director Georgette Verdin about tons of things: being an artistic director, managing ADHD at home, communication in relationships, working through shame, structure vs spontaneity, etc. Check it out! Georgette is a Chicago-based director, theater and speech educator and arts integration specialist. She is also the proud Managing Artistic Director of Interrobang Theatre Project, a critically-acclaimed storefront theater known for its gutsy productions, tackling socially-relevant topics. In 2019, Interrobang was honored with the prestigious Broadway in Chicago Emerging Theatre Award. Georgette has taught kindergarten through college in her hometown of New Orleans, as well as Chicago where she has resided since 2009. She was the founding theater teacher at Polaris Charter Academy - an Expeditionary Learning School in Chicago's West Humboldt Park neighborhood - where she taught full-time for eight years. Select directing credits include TRIBES (Nina Raine), Jeff Awards recommended productions of OUT OF LOVE (U.S. Premiere, Elinor Cook), GRACE, RECENT TRAGIC EVENTS (Craig Wright) and TIME STANDS STILL (Donald Margulies), as well as the 2013 & 2016 Yale Drama Series winners, STILL (Jen Silverman) and UTILITY (Emily Schwend). Georgette has also worked with Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Facility, and Chicago Dramatists among others. Upcoming projects include associate directing Mat Smart's world premiere, EDEN PRAIRIE, 1971 (Raven Theatre) and directing the world premiere of SEXBOT (Interrobang Theatre Project). Georgette holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA and a Master in Directing from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. She is an associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Check out Interrobang Theatre Project at www.interrobangtheatreproject.com Original music for this trailer was composed by Christopher Aaron Knarr. You can find more of his work at www.ChristopherAaronKnarr.com. Podcast Artwork design by Joseph Ramski. For inquiries, please contact him directly at jramski3@gmail.com
This episode, was recorded at a live One-on-One Conversation event sponsored by Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation on April 8th, 2019. The event, entitled “STATE OF THE ART: DIRECTING SHAKESPEARE IN THE AMERICAN THEATRE” featured directors Davis McCallum and Erica Schmidt, and was moderated by SDC Foundation Trustee Ethan McSweeny.
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