Podcasts about steep theatre

Anne Marie Mitchell – Senior Vice PresidentAnne Marie has been with Reputation Partners since 2023. She has 25+ years of experience as a communications consultant, strategist, educator, and trainer. Throughout her career, Anne Marie has specialized in employee and leader communications as a consultant working with leaders at Fortune 100 companies as well as in-house with companies including Sara Lee, Case Corporation, ComEd, Rand McNally and others. She is a specialist in helping C-Suite leaders deliver impactful messages that retain and motivate employees during times of crisis and culture transition. Fluent in Spanish and having lived and worked in Europe, Mexico and South America, Anne Marie is particularly adept at supporting organizations with complex, global workforces.  She is co-president of The Publicity Club of Chicago (PCC) and serves on the board of Steep Theatre in Chicago's Edgewater district.   Tweed Thornton is a dedicated leader driven by a passion for social impact and organizational excellence. As the founder and CEO of Four Star Initiatives (FSI), Thornton has led his company since 2017 to make significant contributions to nonprofit organizations such as the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, the Alliance for Regional Development, Collaboraction Theatre Company, the Publicity Club of Chicago, and WTTW. FSI's work includes community and media outreach, event planning, meeting facilitation, operational growth, and strategic development.Before establishing FSI, Thornton served as Executive Director at the City Club of Chicago for eight years, during which time he oversaw a tripling of membership and events. His tenure was marked by notable achievements, including attracting prominent national speakers, highlighted by a joint forum featuring U.S. Senators Richard Durbin and John McCain.Today, Thornton is a sought-after speaker and organizer for panels, podcasts, and other thought leadership discussions. Thornton specializes in bringing people together to create future action. Committed to giving back, he serves various nonprofits as a volunteer, including as President of the Board of Directors for the Association of Consultants to Nonprofits.Publicity Club of ChicagoGolden Trumpet Awards Thank you for listening to "Can You Hear Me?". If you enjoyed our show, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform.Stay connected with us:Follow us on LinkedIn!Follow our co-host Eileen Rochford on Linkedin!Follow our co-host Rob Johnson on Linkedin!

Emily McConnell is a collaborator, designer, educator, and researcher based in Chicago. She has been the resident costume designer at the CCPA Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University since 2007, designing almost 100 productions during that time all while managing the costume shop and teaching and supervising students. Starting in the fall of 2024, she will also be serving as the Program Director for Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies and the Curriculum Coordinator for Technical Theatre. She has been an Artistic Associate at Steep Theatre since 2011 and worked as a freelance designer in Chicago theatre since 1999 with credits including The House, Northlight, Oak Park Theatre Festival, Lifeline Theatre, and The Gift. Her research into collaborative methods in theatrical design has presented that research at conferences including the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and the American Theatrical Costume Association, and her writing has been published in HowlRound Theatrical Commons and Theatre Design and Technology Magazine. She holds a BA in Drama from Dartmouth College and an MA in Theatre Design from Northwestern. Key Takeaways: Proximity is not enough – gaining new knowledge and expanding your awareness is essential to progress Be mindful of the identities present in the spaces you are in (including your own) Determine the priorities of everyone in the room – ask yourself how you can support these goals Transparency is key to resolving conflicts in the workplace Honesty should be the starting point Present the problem, not the solution Mutual investment in collaboration will bring about the best outcome Authenticity means being honest and open about your strengths, vulnerabilities, and limitations Guest's Media Recommendations: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley __ Find Guest's work: Emily's Website: https://www.emilymccdesign.com/ Emily's Blog: https://www.emilymccdesign.com/blog __ For more of Michael's work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay __ Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify. Editing and co-production of this podcast by Nina Kissinger. Email info@incognitotheplay.com with questions or comments about the show!

On this edition of The Arts Section, host Gary Zidek catches up with vocalist Emmy Bean to talk about the intriguing story of Connie Converse, a musician who by all accounts was ahead of her time. Bean and a group of Chicago-based musicians will pay tribute to Converse with a special performance. The Dueling Critics, Kelly Kleiman and Jonathan Abarbanel, reviewed Steep Theatre's production of A CASE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. Later in the show, Gary revisits his interview with chef Jason Hammel, the co-founder of Chicago's renowned Lula Cafe.

Tina El Gamal is an artist, educator, and arts administrator in Chicago. She believes in the power of a good story, and a good cup of coffee.Tina El Gamal (she/they) is a Chicago-based actor, director, educator, and arts administrator. They hold a BFA in Acting from the University of Illinois at Chicago.Recent acting credits include: Measure for Measure (u/s) (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); the U.S. premiere of Light Falls (u/s, perf.) (Steep Theatre); Passage (u/s, perf.) (Remy Bumppo); Young Playwrights Festival (Pegasus Theater); Twice, Thrice, Frice... u/s (Silk Road Rising); Much Ado About Nothing (Oak Park Festival Theatre); the Chicago premiere of I Call My Brothers (Interrobang Theatre Project), and the world premiere of Through the Elevated Line (u/s) (Silk Road Rising). Tina was featured in Newcity Mag's Players 50 2022. When she isn't performing and directing for stages across Chicago, Tina serves as the Managing Director of Jackalope Theatre Company. She is represented by Big Mouth Talent. You can find her on insta @streetlightcleopatra."

Mike Stephen discusses the “We Will Chicago” plan and its criticisms with City Bureau reporters Jerrel Floyd and India Daniels, talks to local photographer Marty Perez about his 40 years of music photography and his new book called Kill a Punk For Rock & Roll: 1976-2019 Photographs, and chats with Peter Moore, artistic director at Steep Theatre, about that theater company's new grant from the City of Chicago.

Jon Beal (he/him) has been acting, performing and fight directing in Chicago for over 10 years. Acting credits include Victory Gardens, Chicago Shakespeare, Trap Door, The House Theatre, The Hypocrites, Strawdog Theatre, and Raven Theater. Jon is also an artist associate at The Lyric Opera of Chicago, where he has appeared in over 20 productions. Fight and blood credits include Cardboard Piano at TimeLine Theatre (Equity Jeff Award), Theatre Wit, Paramount, Black Button Eyes, The Hypocrites, BoHo Theater, Silk Road Rising, Goodman, Victory Gardens, Steep Theatre, Muse of Fire, and Jackalope. For more, visit jonbeal.com.

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

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

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

In this, the final episode of Half Hour's second season, the five hosts look back on two years of insightful, candid, and inspiring conversations with Steppenwolf ensemble members, activists, and vital voices in the American theater. Then, Cliff Chamberlain interviews Steppenwolf's incoming Co-Artistic Directors, Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis, at the very beginning of their tenure.Interview begins at 17:12 Originally from Chicago, Glenn Davis is an accomplished actor and producer. He garnered widespread acclaim for his performance in the world premiere of ensemble member Rajiv Joseph's Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo at L.A.'s Kirk Douglas Theatre, and transferred with the production to Broadway, where he starred alongside Robin Williams. Davis joined the ensemble in 2017, where he has performed most recently Downstate by ensemble member Bruce Norris in Chicago and at the National Theatre in London. Additional Steppenwolf performing credits include You Got Older, The Christians, fellow ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brother/Sister Plays and Head of Passes, and the Steppenwolf for Young Adults production of A Lesson Before Dying. Audrey Francis is an acclaimed actor, director, teaching artist, and co-founder of Black Box Acting. Audrey Francis attended The School at Steppenwolf in 2004, and since then has been acting professionally in Chicago, working with an array of companies in the storefront and regional theater scene. Audrey became a Steppenwolf ensemble member in 2017 and has performed in ten productions with the company to date, including The Doppelgänger (an international farce), Dance Nation, The Fundamentals, Between Riverside and Crazy, and The Herd. Francis has also been in many acclaimed independent films, namely Knives and Skin, Later Days, Signature Move, and the award-winning web series Distant Learners. Her most recent directing credits include Plano with First Floor Theatre, The Invisible Hand at Steep Theatre, and the audio play of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.Learn more at Steppenwolf.orgWant to get in touch? Email halfhour@steppenwolf.orgA transcript of this episode can be found HERE

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

Today’s episode features Chicago actor and mindset coach, Tony Rossi.    Tony is a Chicago actor having worked with Steep Theatre, Broken Nose Theatre, Eclipse Theatre, Factory Theatre, and others.  Commercial work includes BUNN, Ortiz, Fanatics, and CD One Price Cleaners. As a certified speaker and coach, he loves helping his peers recognize their self-worth and see things differently with the things that make us super stressed. He further discusses these themes in both his podcast, the Tony Rossi Show, as well as published articles written for Backstage.com.   Interview highlights How Tony got into acting  What his dreams were before he discovered acting  How acting helped him with his low self esteem as a teenager Rejection he faced from his top choice and back up acting schools A struggle he’s still having as an actor - despite being in Chicago for nine years Why he thinks acting is an “unfair industry” What we tend to forget when comparing ourselves to our peers Why acting will never be enough for Tony    Links referenced  Tony Rossi  Tony Rossi Show Podcast - a self-care podcast for actors  iTunes Spotify  Facebook Instagram Acting website  Coaching website (sign up for his free actor self-care emails!)  Theatres mentioned Factory Theatre Broken Nose Theatre  Steep Theatre Out Front Theatre (Atlanta) Next Door Chicago Boston references Stage Source  Slate Casting Make sure to connect with us!  Facebook Instagram  More about Dream Team:  Dream Team Productions Facebook Instagram  Dream Team Talent Agency Website Instagram Facebook  Vilma Llaguno Instagram   Thank you for listening - and don't forget to dream out loud :)

Gary welcomes director Jonathan Berry and actor Jessica Dean Turner from the new hit play Red Rex to the Booth today. Written by Ike Holter as the newest in his Rightlynd series of plays, Red Rex is is receiving a world premiere by Steep Theatre and is being presented in their 55-seat space at 1115 W. Berwyn through March 30. Gary called it "one of the most moving, thought-provoking and beautifully produced plays he's seen in many a season." The production is about members of a Chicago storefront theater company who are working on a new play being presented by a Chicago storefront theater company. Jonathan discusses the meta nature of directing this project at Steep, where he's been an ensemble member for many years, having directed there since 2007. Jon describes one of the themes of the play: "The theatre community can create its own center of focus, obscuring, entirely, the actual world just outside the door." Jonathan and Jessica talk about the play's other themes, including equity and inclusion, inadvertent and subtle acts of racism, shining a light on the pretentiousness of some creative processes, and the deep humor and humanity with which Ike Holter treats each of his characters. It's a discussion that will make you want to run, don't walk, to the see Red Rex at the Steep. Jessica talks about her theatre training in the very intensive program at the University of Illinois - Urbana, and how the rigorous nature of the program prepared her for the life of a working actor. As a non-Equity actor striving to make a career in the burgeoning off-Loop theatre scene, Jessica is frank in her assessment of the challenges and struggles that entails. The commutes are long, the pay is low, and the competition is steep(!) But Jonathan and Jessica both emphasize what most audiences already know - the Chicago style of acting exemplifies a fierceness and passion fueled by the daily grind that is the nature of a life in the theatre. Gary offers a play idea with the news story of 183 Amtrak passengers stranded for 37 hours in a snowstorm in the Oregon wilderness. Jonathan has been on plenty of delayed Amtrak trips and describes the mounting stress among the passengers as "a Lord of the Flies mentality." The dramatic possibilities are endless! Jessica also teaches at the Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts), training young performers. ChiArts is a public 4–year college preparatory visual and performing arts high school located in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. Operated by the Chicago Public Schools district, the school opened for the 2009–10 school year. She's also worked as an actor-patient at Northwestern Medical School where she helped train doctors to treat a variety of conditions and symptoms. A great acting exercise. Kiss of Death: Ethel Ennis - Celebrated Singer Who Walked Away from Fame: Ms. Ennis was a highly respected jazz singer in the 1950s and 60s. Ella Fitzgerald stated that Ms. Ennis was her favorite young vocalist, and Frank Sinatra called her "my kind of singer". But Ethel grew disillusioned with the demands placed on young divas, and she eschewed national celebrity for a quieter life in her hometown of Baltimore, where she earned the unofficial title of Baltimore's "First Lady of Jazz." Ethel Ennis was 86. Read the full NYTimes obit here. Check out her beautiful rendition of My Foolish Heart on YouTube.      

Have you ever felt like you weren’t as far as you should be in your acting career? While I always catch myself doing this to a certain degree, I remember it being really bad three years ago…. I was watching the 2016 Tony Awards. And I saw someone I knew. (In Hamilton….) CUE THE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS… What’s wrong with me? Why am I not getting results?? But you don’t need to know someone in Hamilton to start comparing yourself to your peers. This week we’re going debunk some myths about comparison, plus give you a perspective on why you’re doing better than you think. It’s all on episode #50 of the Tony Rossi Show. I have a gift for you….   How would you like to get on a live call with me this weekend? ...and next weekend? ……..and every weekend for a month? FOR. FREE :)   For the first time, I’m offering a 30 day free trial to the #notperfect Family. You’ll have access to our weekly “Refresh and Reset” calls, a private facebook community, plus links to all previous call recordings, normally reserved for paying members only. Use the promo code “stillenough” (case sensitive) at checkout and jump on our next call! Click here to join!   Want more free content? Sign up for my email list and get all my free content in one place. And if there's any discounts - you'll be among the first to hear about it :) www.tonyrossicoaching.com    Books.... Wanna listen to the books we talk about the show?   An audible membership gives you one credit a month to use on any book you want. Credits rollover to the next month, and you get to keep the books forever! To get your first book for FREE visit www.audibletrial.com/tonyrossishow and sign up for a 30 day trial. (Keep the book even if you don’t keep the membership!) Previous episodes to check out: Episode #48 - The Beautiful Gifts Actors and Single People Have to Offer   Friends of Tony!  Nick Christopher Brad Bass David Weiss   Places Tony likes:     Vagabond School of the Arts:     Broken Nose Theatre Article: At the Table wins big at the Jeffs Article: Chris Jones, 4 Star review Steep Theatre   Other stuff to check out! Fanatics Commercial (with a swanky, #notperfect guym wearing a Cubs jersey),,, Are we connected? (We totally should be….) Facebook: facebook.com/tonyrossicoaching Instagram: @tony.rossi Twitter: @_tonyrossi   Special thanks! Shoutout to Nellie Osborne, the sound editor of the Tony Rossi Show. (Yup. That's why I sound so good.) For editing services (or just to see who this Nellie is), head over to https://eleanorosborne.org/   Wanna be a contributing donor to the podcast?? Head over to www.patreon.com/tonyrossi to learn more!   Hey...you're enough. Without all those things you want and deserve. You're enough. Like, today.   #notperfect #stillenough

In honor of Chicago Theatre Week and the Year of Chicago Theatre, this week Laura and Joelle are joined by six members of Steep Theatre in their newly opened Boxcar venue. Steep is the quintessential storefront theatre and is committed to producing new and under-produced plays that tell the stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Their current sold out production Red Rex is about a small theatre company embarking on an explosive new play with the hope of finally breaking it big and has already been named one of Chicago Tribune's top 10 Chicago shows for 2019. Located at 1115 W. Berwyn, you can find this intimate theatre just two doors down from the Berwyn El Station. To view episode show notes, please click here. 

Joanie Schultz came to WaterTower Theatre in December of 2016. Before WaterTower, Joanie served as Associate Artistic Producer at Victory Gardens Theater, as part of the Leadership U One-on-One Fellowship funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation administered through TCG, the national non-profit regional theatre service organization. She is also a freelance director, with recent productions at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Studio Theatre, The Cleveland Play House, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, and Victory Gardens Theater.  She was a Drama League Fellow, The Goodman Theatre Michael Maggio Director Fellow; the SDSF Denham Fellow; and Lincoln Center Theatre Directors Lab participant.  She is an ensemble member at Steep Theatre, Artistic Associate at Victory Gardens Theater, and artistic cabinet member at Studio Theatre in Washington, DC.  She is currently on adjunct faculty in directing at Columbia College and University of Chicago.  She received her B.A. in Theatre/Directing at Columbia College and her M.F.A. in Theatre Directing from Northwestern University. This interview was recorded by Mark David Noble, July 25, 2017 in the offices of WaterTower Theatre. For more information, please visit: http://www.watertowertheatre.org Intro and exit music was provided by James Vernon, from the James Vernon Trio recording, House of Jazz. Photo by Joe Mazza

Jonathan Berry, director of Steep Theatre's hit production of Festen, and Peter Moore, Steep's Artistic Director and a member of the cast, join Anne Nicholson Weber to discuss Steep Theatre's recent successes, including their riveting staging of the play adapted from the Dogme 95 film Festen (which was released in the U.S. as The Celebration).