Podcasts about teatro vista

Christmas came early this year! We are dropping this episode a few days ahead of schedule to commemorate the 180th anniversary of the release of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.   The multi-talented Lavina Jadhwani stops by to discuss her adaptation of A Christmas Carol, which was first produced when her script was discovered on New Play Exchange. In this episode, we discuss:Adapting a well-known story for the stage, making it unique, and being faithful to the original textLavina's approach to adapting for the stageHow surviving cancer gave her a different perspective of her workthe Bollywood film list Lavina curated for Melissa on the spotAnd more!Resources MentionedA Christmas Carol by Lavina Jadhwani is playing at the Guthrie and Penobscot Theatre during the 2023 holiday season.New Play Exchange Nothing For the Group substackAbout Our GuestLavina Jadhwani is a Chicago-based director, playwright, and activist. Directing credits include Guthrie Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, PlayMakers Rep, the Rep of St. Louis, Asolo Rep, Mixed Blood, the Neo-Futurists, the Gift, Teatro Vista, Silk Road Rising, and Rasaka Theatre Company, where she served as Artistic Director for seven years. As a playwright, her work has been seen at the Guthrie, the Goodman, the Gift, East West Players, Cincinnati Shakes, and Indianapolis Shakes, and more. Lavina serves on the boards of the National New Play Network and the Chicago Inclusion Project. She is a proud cancer survivor, dog mom, and child of immigrants. She got her BFA/MA at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama and her MFA at The Theatre School at DePaul University.Connect with Our Guestlavinajadhwani.comRead & Recommend Lavina's plays on New Play ExchangeFacebookInstagramConnect 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).

Interview: We talk to star of stage and screen Desmin Borges about The Theatre School,  Minneapolis Children's Theatre Company, Peter Brosius, improvising and workshopping new works at Teatro Vista, Dennis Začek Sandy Shinner,  Victory Gardens, phonetic pillows, Arthur Lessac's work, speaking creatively through rhythm instead of words, Ann Wakefield, Ric Murphy, John Leguizamo aka Johnny Legs, winning a preschool talent show televised on Telemundo with his rendition of La Bamba, growing up in a barber shop, losing his dad to cancer at age 15, Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity by Kristoffer Diaz, The Buddy Holly Story musical with Janey Lauer, Barry Brunetti, Dominic and Eugene, The Room Upstaris, Stephen Belber's Tape, Tokoloshe, stereotyping of Latine actors, Brian Cox, Boleros for the Disenchanted, being #1 on the call sheet.

Chris Acevedo (he/him) is an actor, performer and voice-over artist in Chicago. His credits include work with Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Filament Theatre, First Floor Theatre, Raven Theatre, A Red Orchid, Court, Lookingglass, The Gift, Teatro Vista and many others. He received a BA in Theatre from Florida State University and is a graduate of The School at Steppenwolf. He is represented by Grossman & Jack Talent.

Playwright, composer, and actor Brian Quijada joins the Slipperhood to talk all about the yellow brick roads that led him to create his new musical "Somewhere Over the Border," which recently received a Rolling World Premiere! Brian shares about his musical influences, the real life family origin of "Somewhere Over the Border," what Oz means to him and more!Show Notes:Brian's websiteDown the YBP Etsy ShopPatreon - DTYBPInstagram: @downtheyellowbrickpod#DownTheYBPTara: @taratagticklesEmKay: @emshray

Chicago Reader theater and dance editor Kerry Reid tells host Jacoby Cochran about plays she's most excited about for fall. Kerry's Picks: The Twenty-Sided Tavern at Broadway Playhouse Trouble in Mind at TimeLine Theatre The Locusts from the Gift Theatre at Theater Wit Jacoby's Picks: 1919 at Steppenwolf Enough to Let the Light In from Teatro Vista at Steppenwolf The Wizards at APO Cultural Center Blue Heaven at Black Ensemble Theater Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Capítulo 040: On this episode of Ocu-Pasión we are joined by electronic music producer/composer, DJ, theatrical actor, and an award-winning clown/mime, Marvin Quijada (a.k.a. Silent Marvin).  Listen in as we discuss immersive plays and interactive theater experiences, the beauty of silent story telling, and creating Teatro Vista's new moving graphic novel, Detective Q. Marvin Quijada (a.k.a. Silent Marvin) is an electronic music producer/composer, DJ, theatrical actor, and an award-winning clown/mime. His most recent music composition credit is Kid Prince & Pablo, which was performed at The Kennedy Center in 2019. He also forms one-half of the electronic clown duo, Sound + Fury, which garnered him a Best Performer Award by the Alliance of Latinx Theatre Artists in 2018. You can catch him in Teatro Vista's upcoming production of The Dream King, which is his newest silent play.Follow Marvin:https://www.instagram.com/silentmarvin/https://www.silentmarvin.com/https://www.instagram.com/teatrovista/https://www.teatrovista.org/Ocu-Pasión Podcast is a heartfelt interview series showcasing the experiences of artists and visionaries within the Latin American/ Latinx community hosted by Delsy Sandoval. Join us as we celebrate culture & creativity through thoughtful dialogue where guests from all walks of life are able to authentically express who they are and connect in ways listeners have not heard before.Delsy Sandoval is the Host and Executive Producer of Ocu-Pasión. If you want to support the podcast, please rate and review the show here. You can also get in touch with Delsy at www.ocupasionpodcast.comFollow Ocu-Pasión on Instagram: @ocupasionpodcast www.instagram.com/ocupasionpodcastJoin the Ocu-Pasión Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/5160180850660613/Visit www.ocupasionpodcast.com for more episodes.https://linktr.ee/Ocupasionpodcast

Today's guest's: - Lorena Diaz and Wendy Mateo, Co-Artistic Director, Teatro Vista.

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

Capítulo 029: On this episode of Ocu-Pasión we are joined by Teatro Vista's Co-Artistic Directors Wendy Mateo and Lorena Diaz.  Listen in as we discuss pushing the boundaries of digital theatre, creating a safe space for artists to explore, and a sisterhood that has lasted over two decades. Teatro Vista, Theatre With A View is firmly committed to sharing and celebrating the riches of Latino culture with all Chicago theatre audiences. This commitment stems from the belief that there are as may similarities as there are differences, and that perhaps the answer to breaking down the walls of prejudice and stereotypes lies in understanding these differences. Ultimately, it is through this "view" that Teatro Vista intends to bridge the gap between Latino and non-Latino cultures in Chicago.Diaz and Mateo are a “multihyphenated jefa” comedy duo who have enjoyed their creative partnership for more than 20 years. They co-founded (with six other partners) their own content creation studio, Chicago4Real, and co-host their livestream show Bochinche at Nite on the studio's Twitch channel. They have co-written and directed several films including Good Mothers (official selection of HBO NY Latino Film Festival and the Chicago Latino Film Festival), Sunset 1919, written by J. Nicole Brooks in collaboration with Lookingglass Theatre, and Identified, produced by Full Spectrum Features. As Dominizuelan, they performed nationally for years and pursued several independent projects, including co-writing and starring in the comedy web-series Dominizuelan Consulate, created in collaboration with Fred Armisen, producer/director Alice Mathias and Mas Mejor Productions.Diaz (she/her/hers), a “Made in Chicago” hybrid of Peruvian Indigenous descent and American Latino swagger, has bounced between Chicago's theater and comedy scenes for 15 years. She is familiar to Teatro Vista audiences for portraying Carolina in the company's acclaimed 2018 world premiere The Madres by Stephanie Alison Walker. She subsequently co-directed Teatro Vista's 2019 premiere of Walker's sequel, The Abuelas. Her many other collaborations include work with Jo Cattell and Steppenwolf 1700 (Tumbao, a live radio play), iO Chicago (People in the City), Mike Oquendo Productions, Goodman, Playground Theatre and The Second City. She is most commonly known for her work over six seasons as the snarky Nurse Doris on Dick Wolf's Chicago Med, Fire and PD franchise.Mateo (she/her/hers) is a Chicago-based comedian, actor, writer, director and filmmaker. Mateo has been seen throughout the city's stages including Lookingglass Theatre, where she is an artistic associate, Steppenwolf 1700 and Playground Theater. Her directing credits include the 2018 play Not for Sale 2.0 by Guadalis del Carmen at UrbanTheater Company. On TV she performs in shows like NBC's Chicago PD, as guest star Chicago Med, and as “Ronnie” in the forthcoming Station Eleven on HBO. Aside from her focus on expanding representation in media, Mateo is also an equity, diversity, and inclusion consultant and facilitator with the Nova Collective and her own consulting company, Ina Consulting. Follow Lorena & Wendyhttps://www.instagram.com/itslorenadiaz/https://www.wendymateo.com/https://www.instagram.com/itswendymateo/ Follow Teatro Vistahttps://www.teatrovista.org/https://www.facebook.com/TeatroVista/https://www.instagram.com/teatrovista/https://www.youtube.com/user/TeatroVistaChicago 

On this episode, David and Joey chat with the newly appointed Co-Artistic Directors of Teatro Vista in Chicago, Lorena Diaz and Wendy Mateo, about shared leadership, how joy can be your currency, and their incredible 20+ year relationship. Lorena Diaz, a "Made in Chicago" hybrid of Peruvian Indigenous descent and American Latino swagger, has bounced between Chicago's theater and comedy scenes for 15 years. She is familiar to Teatro Vista audiences for portraying Carolina in the company's acclaimed 2018 world premiere The Madres by Stephanie Alison Walker. She subsequently co-directed Teatro Vista's 2019 premiere of Walker's sequel, The Abuelas. Her many other collaborations include work with Jo Cattell and Steppenwolf 1700 (Tumbao, a live radio play), iO Chicago (People in the City), Mike Oquendo Productions, Goodman, Playground Theatre and The Second City. She is most commonly known for her work over six seasons as the snarky Nurse Doris on Dick Wolf's Chicago Med, Fire and PD franchise. Wendy Mateo is a Chicago-based comedian, actor, writer, director and filmmaker. Mateo has been seen throughout the city's stages including Lookingglass Theatre, where she is an artistic associate, Steppenwolf 1700, and Playground Theater. Her directing credits include the 2018 play Not for Sale 2.0 by Guadalis Del Carmen at UrbanTheater Company. On TV she performs in shows like NBC's Chicago PD, as guest star Chicago Med, and as "Ronnie" in Station Eleven on HBO. Aside from her focus on expanding representation in media, Mateo is also an equity, diversity, and inclusion consultant and facilitator with the Nova Collective and her own consulting company, Ina Consulting. Connect with Lorena (she/her) https://www.instagram.com/itslorenadiaz/?hl=en Connect with Wendy (she/her) https://www.wendymateo.com/ https://www.instagram.com/itswendymateo/?hl=en Follow Teatro Vista https://www.teatrovista.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TeatroVista/ https://twitter.com/TeatroVista https://www.instagram.com/teatrovista/ https://www.youtube.com/user/TeatroVistaChicago Connect with David (he/they) http://www.davidmendizabal.com/ https://www.instagram.com/its_daveed/ Connect with Joey (they/them) https://www.instagram.com/mxjoeyreyes/ https://twitter.com/mxjoeyreyes Follow The Sol Project http://www.solproject.org/about-us.html https://www.facebook.com/solprojectnyc/ https://www.instagram.com/solprojectnyc/ https://twitter.com/solprojectnyc This episode was mixed and edited by Iris Zacarías (she/they) https://www.iriszdesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/irismarcelina/

Ensemble member Sandra Marquez sits down with Cliff Chamberlain for this insightful and inspiring conversation. Marquez shares stories from her singular childhood in the Central Valley of California, and reflects on her journey in Chicago theatre—and how she hopes to make it easier for the next generation of actors. Plus, Marquez talks about her legendary performances as Clytemnestra, and what it was like to play that single role over the course of four years and three productions. Interview begins at 3:43.Sandra Marquez joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble in 2016, where her acting credits include: Nora in A Doll’s House, Part 2, The Roommate, The Doppelgänger (an international farce), Mary Page Marlowe, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, A Streetcar Named Desire, Sonia Flew and One Arm. Directing credits at Steppenwolf include La Ruta and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. At Teatro Vista, where she is a longtime company member and former Associate Artistic Director, she directed Fade, My Mañana Comes, Breakfast Lunch & Dinner and Our Lady of the Underpass. She is the recipient of a Jeff Award for her work in Teatro Vista’s A View from the Bridge. Marquez completed a three-year arc playing Clytemnestra in Court Theatre’s Iphigenia Cycle (Iphigenia at Aulis, Electra and Agamemnon).Learn more at Steppenwolf.orgWant to get in touch? Email halfhour@steppenwolf.orgA transcript of this episode can be found HERE

Katie Barberi began her professional career at age ten. After having sustained a successful career as a teen aged actress in Hollywood, she then embarked on a second career: acting in Latin-American "telenovelas." It is a little known fact that Latin "soaps" are actually aired in over 40 countries as prime-time series. This afforded Katie the opportunity to become a very well known prime-time actress in the Latin market. She is 100% bilingual (English and Spanish) and is very grateful to have the benefits of being a part of two different cultures. Katie is now considered a Veteran of the Telenovela Genre, having completed nineteen of them for Televisa, Telemundo and Univision. Katie is also very proud to have this year completed over three hundred episodes and seven seasons of the Nickelodeon International mega-hit "Grachi" and its United States version for Nickelodeon, "Every Witch Way." In both English and Spanish, Katie played the funny, shoe obsessed mother of "Maddie/Matilda", "Ursula." Katie also completed a pilot this year for Red Dove Media called "The Blexicans", in which she plays proud Mexican matriarch Lydia Ortega alongside Rick Najera, Marla Gibbs, Richard Gant and Rolonda Watts, among others. Katie has been very excited to return to the stage, debuting in Chicago in October of 2018 in "Hundreds and Hundreds of Stars" (fka "Felons and Familias") at the Goodman Theatre, fulfilling a lifelong dream of stepping on the stage of the legendary theatre where so many of the artists Katie admires have performed before her. Katie will next star in the world premiere of "The Abuelas" at Victory Gardens for Teatro Vista, written by Stephanie Alison Walker. "The Abuelas" Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

MUSE LIVE! Special Guest VIDA'S Tanya Saracho: On today's MUSE Live! Mike Sandoval welcomes the Creator/Executive Producer of STARZ Vida, Tanya Saracho. Vida is currently on its' third and final season of the show. Saracho is a Chicago playwright who currently writes for Television (HBO's "Looking," "Girls," and "Devious Maids."). Named "Best New Playwright" by Chicago Magazine, Saracho has had plays produced at: Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Goodman Theater, Steppenwolf Theater, Teatro Vista, Teatro Luna, Fountain Theater, Clubbed Thumb, NEXT Theater and 16th Street Theater. Saracho was named one of nine national Latino "Luminarios" by Café magazine and given the first "Revolucionario" Award in Theater by the National Museum of Mexican Art. She is currently in development with HBO and has commissions with the following theatres: Goodman Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre, Two Rivers Theatre, Denver Theater Center, South Coast Rep. Tanya is also a successful Spanish Voice-Over artist and a SAG/AFTRA actress. You can watch the final season of STARZ Vida by clicking the link https://www.starz.com/us/en/series/37707/episodes?season=1 Host: Mike Sandoval For more coverage, follow MUSE at: Website: https://www.musetv.net Website: https://www.culturallyobsessed.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MUSETVNews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/culturallyobsessed Twitter: @MUSETV1 Twitter: @Culturallyo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musetv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CulturallyObsessed ©2020 MUSE --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musecast/support

Sideshow by Coni Koepfinger :Koepfinger’s SIDESHOW opened in 1996 as a finalist in the “Upstairs Théatre New Play “ Contest; it was revived in 2015 in the New York “Unfringed Festival “ ... please join me as we welcome the Chicago cast of “Koepfinger’s Sideshow “ under the direction of Andrew J PondSynopsis: When a child has complications, every parent must make a choice. When family drama, self-doubt and medical and spiritual options seem to collide, will the couple accept advice from someone they know or a being from another dimension?Bio’s:Christopher John Grella is happy to be involved in such a unique play. Past projects have included: The Winter's Tale, 4x2, Change the Night Owl, Midsummer Night's Dream, Psycho Beach Party, Lady Macbeth, Emma, Unmatched, The Masque of the Red Death and Pride & Prejudice.Jessica Lauren Fisher is a founding member and the casting director for Eclectic Full Contact Theatre. She has performed throughout the Chicago and Indiana area in theatre, musicals, and opera playing everything from mice to men. Favorite roles include Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde, Adele in Die Fledermaus and Sarah Daniels in Spinning into Butter. She has been a teaching artist for over 10 years and has directed and choreographed shows for people of all ages. She is ever grateful to her family and her partner in everything Andrew. LVYA Mom!Christopher Wayland, originally from Baltimore, MD, currently works and resides in the Chicago area. There, he has worked at Porchlight Music Theatre, Marriott Theatre, 16th Street Theatre, Raven Theatre, Stage Left Theatre, First Folio Theatre, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Griffin Theatre, Teatro Vista, Haven, and Lifeline Theatre. Regionally he has worked at THEATREWORKS, Spotlighters Theatre, Fells Point Corner Theatre, and Baltimore Shakespeare Factory. His television credits include neXt (FOX), Chicago Med (NBC) and APB (FOX). Christopher received an MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University, is a proud member of SAG-Aftra, and is represented by Gray Talent GroupJane Vincent is very happy to be part of this wonderful production. Jane has performed on stages throughout Chicagoland for many years. She is also known as a writer, having written a young adult novel, a stage play, and two screenplays, which are in pre-production, and as a producer.Joshua Stewart A former student at Columbia College Chicago has been looking for an opportunity to get back into theater after a long hiatus. Much Ado About Nothing (Actors Equity of Columbus), You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Into The WoodsKaeley Osterman is the Resident Stage Manager with Eclectic Full Contact Theatre. Her recent credits include Charley’s Aunt (SM, St. Sebastian’s Players), Richard III (SM/Costume Designer, EFCT), and Proof (Costume Designer, MadKap Productions). She is also a voice actor on the podcast Throwing Shade (EFCT). She has a BA from Huntington University.Andrew J. Pond moved to Chicago in 2002 from South Florida, where he had studied with the likes of Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, José Quintero, and Charles Nelson Reilly. While there, he taught and directed at both InterAct Summer camp, and the Miami Shores Theatre's summer camp. Since moving to Chicago from the tropics (for the weather), he has worked extensively as an actor, director, and playwright with several children’s theatres, is a founder of Eclectic Full Contact Theatre in Chicago, teaches drama classes for all ages, is an Elvis impersonator, juggler, magician, balloon artist, plays with puppets, does Muppet voices, performs stand-up comedy, and has a degree in philosophy so he can use words like “epistemology” at parties.Other than that, he is completely normal. Thanks to Jessica, his partner in all things.

Sideshow by Coni Koepfinger :Koepfinger’s SIDESHOW opened in 1996 as a finalist in the “Upstairs Théatre New Play “ Contest; it was revived in 2015 in the New York “Unfringed Festival “ ... please join me as we welcome the Chicago cast of “Koepfinger’s Sideshow “ under the direction of Andrew J PondSynopsis: When a child has complications, every parent must make a choice. When family drama, self-doubt and medical and spiritual options seem to collide, will the couple accept advice from someone they know or a being from another dimension?Bio’s:Christopher John Grella is happy to be involved in such a unique play. Past projects have included: The Winter's Tale, 4x2, Change the Night Owl, Midsummer Night's Dream, Psycho Beach Party, Lady Macbeth, Emma, Unmatched, The Masque of the Red Death and Pride & Prejudice.Jessica Lauren Fisher is a founding member and the casting director for Eclectic Full Contact Theatre. She has performed throughout the Chicago and Indiana area in theatre, musicals, and opera playing everything from mice to men. Favorite roles include Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde, Adele in Die Fledermaus and Sarah Daniels in Spinning into Butter. She has been a teaching artist for over 10 years and has directed and choreographed shows for people of all ages. She is ever grateful to her family and her partner in everything Andrew. LVYA Mom!Christopher Wayland, originally from Baltimore, MD, currently works and resides in the Chicago area. There, he has worked at Porchlight Music Theatre, Marriott Theatre, 16th Street Theatre, Raven Theatre, Stage Left Theatre, First Folio Theatre, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Griffin Theatre, Teatro Vista, Haven, and Lifeline Theatre. Regionally he has worked at THEATREWORKS, Spotlighters Theatre, Fells Point Corner Theatre, and Baltimore Shakespeare Factory. His television credits include neXt (FOX), Chicago Med (NBC) and APB (FOX). Christopher received an MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University, is a proud member of SAG-Aftra, and is represented by Gray Talent GroupJane Vincent is very happy to be part of this wonderful production. Jane has performed on stages throughout Chicagoland for many years. She is also known as a writer, having written a young adult novel, a stage play, and two screenplays, which are in pre-production, and as a producer.Joshua Stewart A former student at Columbia College Chicago has been looking for an opportunity to get back into theater after a long hiatus. Much Ado About Nothing (Actors Equity of Columbus), You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Into The WoodsKaeley Osterman is the Resident Stage Manager with Eclectic Full Contact Theatre. Her recent credits include Charley’s Aunt (SM, St. Sebastian’s Players), Richard III (SM/Costume Designer, EFCT), and Proof (Costume Designer, MadKap Productions). She is also a voice actor on the podcast Throwing Shade (EFCT). She has a BA from Huntington University.Andrew J. Pond moved to Chicago in 2002 from South Florida, where he had studied with the likes of Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, José Quintero, and Charles Nelson Reilly. While there, he taught and directed at both InterAct Summer camp, and the Miami Shores Theatre's summer camp. Since moving to Chicago from the tropics (for the weather), he has worked extensively as an actor, director, and playwright with several children’s theatres, is a founder of Eclectic Full Contact Theatre in Chicago, teaches drama classes for all ages, is an Elvis impersonator, juggler, magician, balloon artist, plays with puppets, does Muppet voices, performs stand-up comedy, and has a degree in philosophy so he can use words like “epistemology” at parties.Other than that, he is completely normal. Thanks to Jessica, his partner in all things.

We are thrilled to be part of the launch of the "Year of Chicago Theatre", helmed by the Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events (DCASE) Commisioner, Mark Kelly. Mark at the Chicago Jazz Festival Mark joined us to talk about this first-ever City initiative that is "calling on the world to recognize the power of Chicago Theatre." Partnering with the League of Chicago Theatres and all of the individual theatres, the goal is: "to be a Chicagoan, you are welcome into a Chicago Theatre." From the City's press release: "To truly fall in love with Chicago, you must go to our theaters. This is where the city bares its fearless soul. From joy to heartache and every feeling in between, Chicago theatre tells stories that evoke big emotions. Stories that take risks, inspire awe, ask tough questions – and dare audiences to do the same. Through Broadway musicals or storefront plays and improv, the energy of the city comes alive in our theaters. And with a diverse collection of over 250 dynamic theaters throughout our neighborhoods, there’s always a seat waiting for you...The Year of Chicago Theatre will also encourage dialog within Chicago’s theatre and philanthropic communities around inclusion and equity issues – and will seek to expand the geographic scope of Chicago theatre, especially on the city’s south and west sides." Sandra Marquez - photo credit Joe Mazza We also welcome to the show an important member of the theatre community, actress and director Sandra Marquez. Most recently we saw her brilliant direction of Isaac Gomez's play, "La Ruta" (episode 89) and her wonderful performance in Jen Silverman's "The Roommate" with Ora Jones. Marquez is a longtime member of Teatro Vista, the only equity Latino theatre company in the midwest. She has also been a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble since 2016. She is on the faculty at Northwestern University, teaching acting and voice. She is in rehearsal to play Nora in Steppenwolf's production of "A Doll's House, Part 2". Previews start Jan. 31. Can't wait to see her in this. Hear Sandra and Mark's takes on what makes theatre here so special. "We are doing new work all the time, everyone supporting and pushing each other to do gutsy and innovative work...We have more world premieres than anywhere else." Chicago Theatre Week is coming up from Feb. 7 - 17, with theatres of all sizes offering tickets from $15 to $30. Click on this link for a complete schedule of some really great shows. Learn about Mark's fascinating job at DCASE, which presents theatre, music, art, and other mostly free cultural events to 28 million people annually and awards grants across a wide spectrum of the arts. One of his goals is to encourage more support for the vitality of Chicago arts organizations, financially and otherwise. Hear some fascinating stories about Mark and Sandra's backgrounds and other interests. As in Mark is a drummer and Sandra once tried to join a convent. And you don't want to miss Mark's story about pretending to be a celebrity so he could sit in the actual Booth One at the Pump Room back in the day. Kiss of Death: Marc Hauser World-renowned photographer Marc Hauser was a friend and a guest on our show. Read about him in Mark Brown's excellent obituary for the Chicago Sun-Times, which surprisingly quotes Marc's Booth One interview. He was a remarkable talent and character. We will all miss him. Here is a link to our interview with him. If you check out the show notes, you will see several of his iconic images. The photo above is Marc with Gary and Roscoe in his studio.

Paid Actor and host, Trena Bolden Fields, welcomes Kristoffer Diaz to the show.  Kristoffer Diaz is a playwright and educator living and working in Brooklyn. Full-length titles include The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Welcome to Arroyo’s, The Upstairs Concierge, and The Unfortunates. Awards: 2011 New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award; finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; winner, 2011 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play; winner, 2011 OBIE Award, Best New American Play; and the inaugural Gail Merrifield Papp Fellowship from The Public Theater (2011). His work has been produced, commissioned, and developed at The Public Theater, Dallas Theater Center, Geffen Playhouse, Center Theatre Group, The Goodman, Second Stage, Victory Gardens, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Actors Theatre of Louisville, American Theater Company, The Atlantic, InterAct, Mixed Blood, The Orchard Project, Hip-Hop Theater Festival, The Lark, Summer Play Festival, Donmar Warehouse, and South Coast Repertory, among many others. He has written short work for the 24 Hour Musicals and the 24 Hour Plays on Broadway. Kristoffer was one of the creators of Brink!, the apprentice anthology show at the 2009 Humana Festival of New American Plays. He is a playwright-in-residence at Teatro Vista; a resident playwright at New Dramatists; a co-founder of the Unit Collective (Minneapolis); the creator of the #freescenes project; and a recipient of the Jerome Fellowship, the Future Aesthetics Artist Regrant and the Van Lier Fellowship (New Dramatists). Kristoffer holds a BA from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, an MFA from NYU’s Department of Dramatic Writing, and an MFA from Brooklyn College’s Performing Arts Management program.

J. and K. fail to disagree even one iota about this revival of Frank Loesser's musical satire from the early 1960s. Then J. picks Arthur Miller's A View From The Bridge at Teatro Vista, and K. picks Avenue Q at the Mercury Theater.

Backstage Wicked, Teatro Vista, and more. Chicago's Theatre News is hosted by Dustin Mote