First public performance of a work
POPULARITY
Categories
In this episode we discuss the "Supergirl" world premiere live stream, the brand new "One Week to Go" featurette, early rave reviews from "Supergirl" screenings, James Gunn's "Superman" continuing to chart in the Top 10 on streaming platforms, "My Adventures With Superman" Season 3 Episode 2 "Mobile Suit Toyman", Supergirl and Krypto coming to Fortnite, Supanova Sydney's Supergirl cosplay and exclusive movie sneak peek, the IMAX and Odeon featurettes promising a galaxy-spanning space fantasy, Superman Celebration 2026 highlights, the latest Superman-related comic solicitations for September 2026, your favorite Bizarro designs, and much more.
HFF26: World Premiere: Freedom in Limbo @ The Madnani Theater – 8 out of 10! Good Show! LA Theatre Bites Recommended! June 20 - 24, 2026. www.latheatrebites.com
HFF26: Day for Knight Productions presents: World Premiere: Strange Beings @ The Broadwater – 8.2 out of 10! Good Show! LA Theatre Bites Recommended! June 21 - 27,2026. www.latheatrebites.com
Take the first half hour of Morning Live to go!
Send us Fan MailBen and Sara talk a lot about superheroes! Saturn has to endure it!Every big announcement from PlayStation's June State of PlayEverything announced in Summer Game Fest 2026XBOX Games Showcase 2026 Recap: The Return of Exclusives, World Premieres, and Anniversary HardwareEverything Announced at Nintendo Direct June 2026Xbox is closing down Hellblade creator Ninja TheorySupport the showPATREON: http://www.patreon.com/thegorgeDiscord: discord.gg/K8A6SG2Big Gay Nerds: https://soundcloud.com/biggaynerdsBackground music: DJ CUTMAN: https://music.djcutman.com/Broke for Free: https://brokeforfree.comVisager: https://visager.bandcamp.comAdventuria: https://adventuria.bandcamp.com/INTRO: https://soundcloud.com/zak235Ben's BlueSky: thegorgepodcast.bsky.socialSara's BlueSky: radioinactivity.bsky.socialE-mail: thegorgepodcast@gmail.com
HFF26: World Premiere: The Secrets of Uvhash-Ra @ The Hobgoblin Playhouse - 5.7 out of 10! Bad Show! Bad Show! June 4 - 26, 2026. www.latheatrebites.com
HFF26: Ghosttown @ McCadden Place Theatre - 7 out of 10! Average Show! June 19- 26, 2026. www.latheatrebites.com
HFF26: World Premiere: The Roommates @ Bad Ladder – 6.5 out of 10! Below Average! June 5 – 28, 2026. www.latheatrebites.com
En esta nueva edición de VUELTA RÁPIDA GT no hemos contado con la presencia de Ramón Biosca ni la del Becario Edu Sánchez, pues ambos están disfrutando del WRC de Portugal junto a Hyundai, pero han entrado por teléfono y nos han contado qué tal lo están pasando. También hemos hablado con el Master of the Universe de la competición, Charly Barazal, que nos ha contado cositas de la F1 y los bandazos de la FIA. En el estudio hemos estado Antonio Guzmán, Julián Corrales y Miguel Ángel Linares hablando de la actualidad y de los viajes de Guzmán, que ha estado en Seúl (Corea del Sur), con Mercedes en la World Premiere del nuevo Clase C EQ, nueva berlina eléctrica del fabricante alemán que llega con muy buenos argumentos y hablamos de la reunión que tuvimos con Ola Kälenius, CEO Mundial de Mercedes-Benz que nos dejó interesantes reflexiones. Antonio también estuvo en el exclusivo circuito de AMG único en el mundo y en la primera brand store de Maybach en el mundo. Pero como no tuvo suficiente se pegó un salto a Beijing, donde acompañó a EBRO y el grupo Chery en su convención anual en el Autoshow Beijing 2026, donde hubo bastantes novedades. Pero las que más nos gustaron fueron los restyling de los EBRO s400, S700 y S800, el nuevo motor HEV Turbo que llega al S400 y el nuevo eléctrico de EBRO que llega para revolucionar el segmento B+. ¡No te lo puedes perder!
APEX Express is a weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. This Pride Month—queer and trans AAPI community strength. On this episode, host Miata Tan is joined by guests from three organizations building queer AAPI community on their own terms. They explore what it's like to find joy, organize together, and show up for each other in this moment. QTViệt Cafe Collective Learn more about QTViệt Cafe Collective and their new documentary Đồng Quê: Of the Same Womb Website | Instagram | Join the Collective Catch the film at an upcoming screening: June 14 — World Premiere | 22nd Annual Queer Women of Color Film Festival | Presidio Theater, San Francisco June 20 — Screening + Q&A with filmmaker Sage Tran | Hosted by the Q Corner | San Jose Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride (QHIP) Learn more about QHIP and their upcoming workshops, events, and campaigns Instagram | Website | 5th Annual Elk Grove Pride Lavender Phoenix (LavNix) Learn more about Lavender Phoenix and their Leadership Exchange program Website | Instagram | Leadership Exchange Program Previous Episodes A Conversation with Lavender Phoenix: The Next Chapter — March 26, 2026 Trans & Queer Hmong Rise: Organizing in Central California — October 24, 2024 8 Years of QTViệt Cafe! — August 22, 2024 Transcript [00:00:00] Miata Tan : Hello and welcome. You're tuning in to APEX Express, a weekly radio show uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. I'm your host, Miata Tan. We're nearly halfway through June, and Pride Month is in full swing. Pride is a time to celebrate, honor, and dig into the deep political history of queer and trans communities. And tonight, [00:01:00] we're zooming into a few distinct queer Asian American communities right here in Northern California. First, we'll hear from a collective of queer and trans Vietnamese artists, activists, and organizers based in the Bay Area, who have a brand-new documentary out this weekend. Then we'll dive into the political organizing of queer and trans Hmong communities in Fresno and Sacramento. And we'll close out the show with a queer Asian American community leader and some different ways that you can get involved this summer. Okay, let's get into it. First up, my conversation with QTViet Cafe Collective. And before you ask, no, QTViet Cafe is not a brick-and-mortar cafe that serves coffee. They are a Bay Area-based creative cultural hub for queer and trans Vietnamese liberation through gatherings, art showcases, cultural programming, and more. QTViet Cafe is a part of Asian Refugees United, [00:02:00] and tonight we'll be discussing their new documentary, Dong Hoi: Of the Same Womb. It is premiering this Sunday, June 14, as part of the 22nd Annual International Queer Women of Color Film Festival in San Francisco. Dong Hoi asks viewers what it means to return to a homeland, to a community, to yourself. Here's my conversation with the QTViet Cafe Collective. Miata Tan: Thank you all so much for joining me today on APEX Express. Sage, perhaps you can start us off. would you be able to introduce yourself and share a little bit about what the QTViet Cafe Collective is? Sage Tran: My name is Sage. I use they/them pronouns. One of filmmakers/digital archivists for QTViet Cafe Collective. we are a cultural hub where we focus on, diasporic themes around intergenerational Vietnamese and identity and queerness. We do a lot our [00:03:00] events and workshops and gatherings around food, remembrance, and, our gay and they selves. Miata Tan: Lovely. Jessie, who are you and what brought you to QTViet? Jessie Nguyen: Sure, my name is Jessie, and my pronouns are they or Jessie, and I've been part of the collective since, 2018. I think I found the collective in a place in my life when I was really searching for ways to, bring an intersection to all parts of my identities, QTViet Cafe Just like Sage said, it's a creative hub, it's a cultural hub that is really dedicated to uplifting queer and trans Viet liberation through ancestral practices , different, forms of art and intergenerational connection. yeah, I just really appreciate the ways that QTViet Cafe has just been so dedicated to our, art and then also uplifting our art to really, bring forth community, organizing work, solidarity [00:04:00] work and our own, like, queer and trans Viet excellence Miata Tan: Love that. Jean, could you share a little bit about yourself as well? Jean Pham: Thanks for having us here. my name is Jean Pham. I use they/them pronouns. i've also been a part of QTViet Cafe since 2018 when I had first moved here to the Bay Area. Like Sage and Jessie had shared, QTViet Cafe is, it's a really special space. I think as d- diasporic Vietnamese, speaking broadly, like culturally we experience being displaced on many different levels. Um, when people say that it's a cultural hub, really tangible in a, in a lot of the activities and things that we do. we've hosted like art residencies. We cultural dinners. We have language groups. QTViet Cafe, it really exists to fill a need. and I think part of that need brought us, to the culmination of this specific project, to bring us back into Vietnam Miata Tan: Yeah, lovely. And we can pick up from there your trip to Vietnam. this, was captured by Sage recently in a documentary. Sage, could you speak more about what, this new doco is about? where did this project come [00:05:00] from? Sage Tran: this project emerged from a collective hunger for wanting to return back to the motherland. for years of doing a lot of gathering here, specifically in the Bay Area, we've been able to stay rooted in the territories here. And, we all came to a consensus like , what would it be like to gather a bunch of us and connect with our siblings, brother, sisters, family, chosen fam out in the motherland? that became a seed that we cultivated, planted, tend to, and we fundraised with a lot of community support to get about 13 of us out uh, Vietnam. maybe Jessie can talk a little bit more about this, but Hai and Ma are the, folks who founded QTViet Cafe Collective [00:06:00] Jessie, Ma, and Hai. They all three went to Vietnam in 2022 and built a lot of beautiful connections of like local drag artists, queer trans collectives out there. That's kind of what birthed Dong Khoi. Miata Tan: so I've been lucky enough to, watch the film already. Donghui is the name of the documentary, but it's also the name of the performance that came together Jesse, perhaps you can speak to this this journey more and I know QTViet C- Cafe's been around since 2016, this project goes back, a few years as well Jessie Nguyen: Yeah, sure. I can speak a little bit about that and just chiming into, like, what Sage already shared. there was a small group of collective members that that came up with the idea of, like, what would it be like for us as, queer and trans Viet diasporic folks to go to the homeland. the original intent was for that trip to happen in 2020. And it [00:07:00] actually, because of the pandemic, I think obviously things were, logistically it just didn't work, but that, dream, like, surfaced again, so the question came up about, like, what would it be like for us to travel together to the homeland as a collective and also share our art, to , connect with other Viets in Saigon. You know, when we're in the Bay, so much of our work is really centered around gathering communities around our food, our art, and our stories. And so it really made sense for us to think about what would that look like in Vietnam. And so in 2022, as Sage was mentioning, me, Hai, and Ma,, went to Saigon and just kind of explored, like, what is the creative scene like and were able to connect queer and trans Viet artists who are doing insanely inspiring creative work. we connected with folks from the Baxiu Collective, and they're a group of, queer and trans Viet artists who are doing drag in different, performance spaces in queer bars in Saigon. And then I think in that moment we're like, “Wait, we would love to [00:08:00] collaborate with you.” from that unfolded, a, a year-long , like, planning of, what would it look like for us to do a shared showcase together. And so we identified built relationships with a queer bar in Saigon. and then so leading up to the homeland trip, we planned this showcase where it would be a mix artists from our collective and artists from their collective, and then a whole, a whole performance that unfolded. And I think in the year of 2023, that year I think we ended up fundraising, about 50K in order to really subsidize and support the whole journey of getting us to Vietnam. Like, stipending artists and creatives that we were collaborating with. it was, one of the biggest projects I think that QTViet has ever been a part of and really undertaken, and I think it definitely is, like, a huge highlight for, like, my time with QTViet. Miata Tan: Lovely, and it's so beautiful to see it all come together in the documentary. Jean, could you speak to your experience? I understand this was [00:09:00] your first time ever visiting Vietnam Jean Pham: Yes, it was my first time visiting Vietnam. so I had a well of emotions in terms of the lead-up to it. Like Jesse was sharing, you know, originally the plan was we were gonna go in 2020. That had to shift, you know, shelter in place and everything. A lot of the work that we do is reconnection, right? as diasporic Vietnamese being displaced from our ancestral land, as queer and trans people, um, a big rallying point for many of us is feeling displaced from our own families. And so part of, like, returning back together is fighting against it. It's like, what if we reconnect ? You know, what if we re- reunite? You know, w- if we're traveling together as queer community, we can really see and understand what it's like to be uh, Vietnam for ourselves. And so it was really, like h- it had this like gravity around it, and I think it made me really nervous but also excited. that being said, you know, a lot of other folks who are part of our cohort, even though they had gone to Vietnam before, a lot of them had also shared this is their [00:10:00] first time going without family, And we're going specifically towards, queer and trans community in Vietnam, which is also a departure from their other experiences too. Jessie Nguyen: Can I just add something? Because I just really loved what Gene shared. I just think that, yeah, I think that you really spoke to something there about how we can spend our whole lives, like, having this understanding of homeland that is actually quite disconnected from our queerness and our transness. And similar to, like, many other folks in the collective, like, I have been to Vietnam, multiple times before, but never in the context of centering my queerness and transness because I just wasn't sure, like, what felt safe. You know, without having, like, fluency in the language or even knowing, like, how to express my queerness in Vietnam. Oftentimes it just felt… I felt pretty invisibilized there, you know, because, like, being there with family, I just show up as, like, a, a family member, There's so much that is a part of me that is expressed through my queerness and my transness that [00:11:00] is that isn't as visible. And so I think that being in a space as a collective gave us permission to do and to feel deeply woven into our cultural experience was, like, in- in- incredibly liberating. Miata Tan: Yeah. That's really beautiful, Jessie. I also noticed in the film your aunt was also, part of it as well, so you were able to hold that familial side of yourself as well as the queer side. Could you speak more to that? Jessie Nguyen: Yeah. I was just watching the documentary yesterday too, and I was like, oh my gosh, I– it was so sweet that my aunt had a moment in that documentary. the thing that I was really interested in was trying to weave my connection with my family to, like, my connection with, like, my chosen queer family, And I think that became very possible when, we did the homeland trip. I'm, I'm not fluent in Vietnamese, and I'm especially not fluent in trying to articulate what it means to be queer and [00:12:00] Vietnamese. And so the idea of inviting QTViets to my aunt's home was, like, a way to be like, “Hey, this is who I and here are my– here's my community.” And maybe if I can't actually, like, articulate that, like, I I want my aunt to, like, feel that sense of, like, care and connection of my community. And then to me that felt like a way of inviting my Vietnamese family to this part of my life. I think that it's, it's oftentimes hard to even do that here in the Bay. You know? Like, the connection that I have to my blood family and then my connection to my chosen family here in the Bay, like, can feel quite separate. keeps me coming back to QTViet is that we always make space for that intergenerational connection that doesn't invisibilize our queerness and our gender identity . Miata Tan: Sage, could you speak more to this theme of family? It seemed to be really core to the documentary tell us about how that felt as the director, like being behind the [00:13:00] camera but also part of the QTViet team on this trip? Sage Tran: directing and being behind the camera had a lot of challenges. I think there's something where I'm not sure if y- like folks can relate to this, but when you are filming something with your iPhone or on your camera, there's a connection and a disconnection that happens at the same time. You're not able to fully present, but you are. I was straddling the line of like is this shot looking beautiful and also crying I think there was a moment where we were in a taxi or Grab car, and it was Hai, Jesse, and Jesse's aunt, she was dropping some heavy moments, and I just remember we're all crying in the car while the Grab driver is like blasting music, and it's like a super bumpy road. People are honking at us, and it was just like such a funny and rocky, symbolic, memory I just was like, “Wow, I can't [00:14:00] believe I'm getting to document this” like historical moment, not only for Jesse, but just like for the collective and what does it mean for folks who are queer and trans that can't have moments like this. It's just like kind of a reminder to slow down and being like, ” Okay,” am I getting to embody this moment while holding the stabilization of the camera?” And I think still I find that to be a challenge, but a, a really fun dance of filmmaking, directing and being there. Miata Tan: Yeah, definitely. I can't imagine trying to keep the camera still while you're bawling your eyes out. Sage Tran: Yes. Miata Tan: Jean, we've talked a now about this connection of blood family and found family as well. could you speak a bit to the QTViet Cafe family that sort of came together on the trip, but also this wider, Vietnamese, queer community you were able to find over there in Saigon? Jean Pham: Every step of the way it felt really [00:15:00] good because when, like, you know, we were traveling together as this, this giant mass of just gay people. and so I always felt like, oh, I could kinda be off guard, I understand that, like, for a lot of Korean trans people, w- when traveling we're on high alert, there's just a lot of unpredictability. There is safety in numbers. There's safety in communities. I felt like, you know, the QTViets have my back. There was a bigger group that came together in SFO, and we just t- all booked the same flights. And then there were some people who were coming, like, a little bit later. I had been with QTViets at that point for about six or seven years, and so there was a lot of trust already built. With the Saigonese Viets, it, it was like a, just a natural kinship. You know? It was like, it was also as if like we were just friends off the bat or there was just this shared understanding. We had a gathering, and I think this is featured in the documentary. after gathering, people were just kind of, getting to know each other in in their flat, and they were teaching us how to walk in heels, and it was so lovely. And I remember thinking like, “Oh gosh, what music do I play here? How do I set the mood?” But the, th- I think the reality is, [00:16:00] you know, Rihanna is like a common language, like among gay people. Everyone under like … It was, it was funny 'cause like, you know, I would, you know, I would play music that I would just listen to. Like, they're just, pop girlies that would play in the States. And, yeah, gay people, like, they, they just love a diva no matter where you are. And so that that was really nice. But r- truly, like, the DIY drag scene in Saigon is huge, and it c- it's, like, so varied. And, I do wanna shout out, like, all the queens and the Baxio Collective and all the trans artists who really helped, make our show and, like, really helped hone in our craft. And they were pr- they were strict, you know? They were like, “You have to come here early, and you have to come in, like, days before. And we're gonna have to practice over and over again.” And they had, like, really specific notes on how to make the show better. And so it was interesting as a culture exchange they were learning, how we were operating in terms of how we organize and a- I think a lot of the spoken word, slam poetry style that, like, some of our members were bringing. And from them, we were [00:17:00] learning a lot of the theatrics on really how to, like, have a show and really think, holistically about all the different components. Miata Tan: Jessie, could you speak more to the show? Uh, what did it look like? How did it feel? Jessie Nguyen: So back in 2022 was when we discovered that there is actually one queer bar in Saigon, and it's in District 4. this bar called Bar Zinga. And it's, like, in this alleyway. It's pretty divey. And so when we were there in 2022, we actually spent uh, New Year's there, and we got to know the owner, and we got to know, like, what they envisioned for the space, which is they've been using it as a space for, drag, drag performances, music sets, and things like that. And we're like, “Oh, wait. Maybe this could be a good spot for us to do something for QTViet.” And So essentially the vision for the show was for us to collaborate with, Babel and Yat, who are the co-founders of Bạc Xỉu Collective, they are incredible, like, production artists and drag artists. we [00:18:00] invited folks from the collective, if they wanted to share some of their art as well. And so we had… Let's see. I remember Irene, who is one of the poets and also, like, OG QTViets, shared, some poetry, and then we had also Hai sharing some erotica. Me, Hai, and Lan did a ao dai fashion runway show. and then there was, Oh, Judy and Hiroshi who did, like, a whole, like, lô tô, so that was, like, based off of, like, like a Vietnamese game, and they did a whole performance on that. yeah. So it was kind of, like, cool to be in this space and inviting folks from the community to come in, and it was a full house. people were feeling so nervous, but the, also the energy of, like, I can't believe this is happening. You know? that the art that we've created in the Bay, that we get to share it in Saigon. Miata Tan: So beautiful. yeah, it's really nice to see this, cross-cultural, international, connection that you've built with, the folks in Vietnam. Sage, could you speak more to, the [00:19:00] documentary itself, what you hope viewers will take away from the film, and especially seeing depiction of, of queer joy in the performance? Sage Tran: I think what I hope viewers take is like the power of remembering and the power of remembering with community. Cause I think like also editing this film, I'm like, I remember exactly what y'all said word for word. It's like ingrained in my head. I think there was something that, Jean, you said in… You said something where like it doesn't matter if you're Vietnamese, it doesn't matter where you were born. It matters and it doesn't, but also like there's so many cross-cultural connections and parallels that, tie us all together. And I think, on the theme of remembering and leaning into our joy and our creativity, there's so much that can unlock with, just living our truths. I think, yeah, I think that's what I hope viewers take away with Miata Tan: Beautiful. and the documentary will be premiering, this [00:20:00] June, as part of QSMAP here in the city in San Francisco. We have A little bit of time here, so I'd love to talk about, uh, what else QTViet has on the horizon, campaigns, workshops, other performances. Jean, Jessie, would either one of you be able to speak to this? Jessie Nguyen: The only thing that is really on my mind around QTViet is that we are celebrating our 10-year anniversary in September. And I don't know what that's gonna look like, but I think that it definitely is gonna be a invite and just a opportunity for us to reflect on everything that we've been able to cultivate as a collective, and also just to notice, like, how much we've evolved. I think that when so many of us joined in 2016 to 2018, we were, younger queers who were really looking for community and maybe felt pretty isolated. And I know that, like, where I am today, my connection to my Vietness and my queerness, like, feels so deeply ingrained. And a [00:21:00] huge part of that is because of having a container like QTViet. I was also gonna talk about Ordinary People, because it's actually a show that we're doing a audio visual storytelling performance that is led by one of the QTViet members, Jop, uh, Nguyen. And it's gonna include, several other QTViet members that are gonna be, contributing as, like, a band. there have been music and songs and videos and animations and, yeah, lots of different elements to really bring to life, like, what it feels like for our parents to, experience their homeland, their escape, their journey here, and then also how we really, how we connect to that story. Miata Tan: Thank you for sharing, Jessie. Sadly, this interview is airing after the Ordinary People performance, but I'll play a little snippet in a bit. Jean, final question. with this 10-year anniversary of QTViet Cafe, how do you see your recent [00:22:00] adventures informing your work? How you organize, how you gather Jean Pham: I think after the trip, there was, like, a re-invigoration of, purpose honestly, like, a new wave of renewed energy and also new people who were joining the space. we started practicing a lot more solidarity work. I think almo- almost immediately after returning, there were a few events that was in solidarity with, Palestine. And as we were returning from the trip, last year was also the 50th anniversary of the war in Vietnam ending, and so we used that as an opportunity to draw connections between how, the conditions of the Vietnam War was truly, like, politically activating for a lot of young people in the '60s, similarly to um, the genocide uh, Palestine was politically activating for people now, uh, and how, like, have a shared struggle. with 10 years of QTViet Cafe, I think it's more evident that QTViet is an, like, entity, a group that needs to exist. and we always invite people to join us. if anyone's listening who is diaspora queer and trans Vietnamese, is looking [00:23:00] for community, you know, looking for language classes or, like, just, uh, ways to build, you know, we're always more than happy to join people. You know, last year, Jessie and a a couple other friends organized this amazing trip to New York. there was really this big energy around uniting all the different scattered parts of QTViets all over and coming together and understanding that, you know, we, we all, um, um, have a lot in common. and so I, I do think that was really uplifted and highlighted in our trip, this feeling of, like, you know, we're not- we're actually not so alone, and there's so many of us, and we're, like, we're all so powerful. Miata Tan: Beautiful. I think that's a perfect place to end. Thank you all so much for joining me today Jessie Nguyen: Yay. Thank you so much Sage Tran: Thank you so much. Thank you. Jean Pham: I know, this is so lovely. Thank you. Miata Tan : That was Sage Tran, Jean Pham, and Jessie Nguyen with the QTViet Cafe Collective. Their new documentary, Dong Hue: Of the Same Womb, premieres this Sunday, June 14th at the Presidio Theatre in San Francisco. That's part of the 22nd Annual International Queer Women of Color [00:24:00] Film Festival, this year featuring 47 films, 10 world premieres, all totally free and open to the public. so if you're in the Bay, this is well worth your time. You can also catch QTViet Cafe's new documentary in San Jose on Saturday, June 20th at a screening hosted by the Q Corner, followed by a Q&A with Sage Tran, the filmmaker that you just heard from. For links to these events and more about QTViet Cafe and how you can get involved in the collective, check out the show notes for this episode. That's on our website at kpfa.org/program/APEXexpress Coming up next, queer and trans Hmong communities in California's Central Valley. But first, here's a taste of Ordinary People, a recent live performance by QTViet Cafe recorded in Oakland last month. Miata Tan : [00:25:00] [00:26:00] [00:27:00] That was a live recording from Ordinary People by the QTViet Cafe Collective, in Oakland last month. This is APEX Express, a weekly radio show uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Tonight, in honor of Pride Month, we're turning our attention to queer Asian American communities right here in Northern California: who they are, how they organize, and the future they are fighting for. Miata Tan: My next guests are Shai Chang and Christine Thao from Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride, also known as QHIP. QHIP grows out of Hmong Innovating Politics, a grassroots advocacy group based [00:28:00] in Fresno and Sacramento, and focuses on building community and political power for queer and trans Hmong communities in California's Central Valley. Here's my conversation with Shai and Christine. Miata Tan : You both so much for joining me today on APEX Express. Could you share a little bit about yourself? Who are you, and what is your work with Hmong Innovating Politics? Shai Chang: Hi, my name is Shai, pronouns are they and them. I'm trans, non-binary, also Hmong, located in Yokuts Valley, Fresno, California. the work that I do in Hmong Innovating Politics is that I am a community organizer. I'm the Fresno Trans and Queer Community Organizer, I work specifically in the program called Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride, or QHIP, Q-H-I-P. And we do a lot of really great work with our trans and queer, in particular, like, intersectional folks, people of color within our, our communities and our members and our base to organize to fight, fascism, racism, also, like, transphobia and forms [00:29:00] of hate, moving us towards social justice and liberation. Miata Tan : It's really important work, and I'm excited to get into more of what, Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride looks like, Christine, could you share a little bit about yourself? who are you, and how long have you been with, HIP and QHIP? Christine Thao : Thank you so much for inviting my name is Christine Thao. I use she/they pronouns, and I am currently here on Nisenan, occupied Nisenan land here in the South Sacramento area. my role is the Sacramento, Trans Queer Community Organizer. And so I came into HIP, back in 2020, so during the COVID pandemic, and, um, I came on board as the administrative assistant. um, in 2024, I transitioned into the community organizer role. Miata Tan : Lovely. Yeah. Can't wait to get into the work that you do and the campaigns. to ground us in the history of, Hmong communities in America, Shai, could you speak to, who [00:30:00] the Hmong Americans are? I know that Fresno and Sacramento is home to some of the largest populations of Hmong people in the States. Shai Chang: Yeah, definitely. so the Hmong communities are from Southeast Asia, very much like indigenous folks that live within the mountain ranges and the hills. and the reason why we came to America was because of the Secret War the war that happened in Southeast Asia. one of our community members General Vang Pao was involved within this war and then pulled in the rest of the Hmong community to be part of this it is to say that, like many of our young men during that time was pulled into the war, and they were 13, maybe even 14, 15, and younger who were, pulled into the war to fight for America, um, with the promise of that America was going to give them a place that they could call home it was in 1975 where the war ended and, that's when the military went ahead and was able to, because of Ronald Reagan signed, um, a letter for immigration for, [00:31:00] these Hmong folks and refugees to come into the United States. Miata Tan : Yeah, perhaps you can take us back to then, 2018 when, QHIP sort of came to life. what was the need that you were seeing for, queer and trans Hmong people in, in specifically Fresno and, and Sacramento where you all are based? Shai Chang: the way Hmong communities have always existed was very much to be lay low, you know, not be sticking your head out. And so to be very clear, it's that we are still struggling, economically. we are still very much struggling racially. The ICE attacks definitely impacted our communities we are still very much immigrants and still very much not necessarily having a place of home. But internally is that the Hmong community still very much holds on to, like, the, the traditions. And so they're very patriarchal, um, very strict gender roles, and because of these things have then developed into, gender-based violence [00:32:00] as, like, trans and queer folks, it's that we definitely do experience another deeper layer of the oppressions, especially also in our community because there isn't actually any language in Hmong to talk about what trans or queerness is, where there's no exact word to describe, like, gay or lesbian and things like that. So there is definitely, like, an erasure that also has happened, and in the Hmong community is actually very conservative. Uh, But HIP was already a very progressive organization. And so it was in 2018 because of Hmong innovating politics coming to Fresno. it was at the Hmong New Years, I saw them. I was like, “Oh my gosh, I know who you are. I love you. Like, if there's anything I can do, please let me know,” ‘ Mai Thao was able to pull me in. It was like, “Hey, I want you to do something with us.” and with- was then funded three thousand dollars through HIP, to be able to go ahead and organize for whatever it means for me to trans queer Hmong work. during that time, it grew from, like, me, three people to having, like, fifteen people, [00:33:00] meet, once a week for three hours, and then another three hours we would go out and hang out. and so it really became this place for a social space for particularly, and, and I will name it, it's that majority of the folks in that space was gay cis Hmong men. And it wasn't until a year later from that first time that we first met in 2018 to we had a really hard conversation about our future, about the political work that that we should be doing. and so I've been with HIP for four years, and we've officialized during that time QTPIP to be a program, within HIP, and yeah, it's been really good. I don't have to worry about funding and things and organizing around that front end, and HIP has been able to be s- very supportive in being able to see that, and we can really work on the ends of what does it mean for us to organize around liberation and being on the ground with our community Miata Tan : Yeah, definitely. It's interesting to hear about the progression from [00:34:00] perhaps a group that was maybe more apolitical moving into that political space. Shai Chang: we've also been, struggling still even now to land on what it means for us to fight more intersectionally. that's where, like, QHIP and Queer Hmong and intersectional pride comes from, right? Is this word intersectional, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, is that We do have these cross identities that exist within ourselves. And so would love to have Christine talk more about what actually this issue is within not just Hmong communities, Hmong and trans queer communities. Christine Thao : Thank you, Shy. so Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride, we officially launched the program back in 2024. our QHIP program, It is open to young people between ages, 18 to 25. uh, young trans queer folks. Some go to college. Some, currently looking to be employed. Young people who are impacted, [00:35:00] young people who want to get involved, right, who, who do care about, this work, and who care about social justice, it's a eight-month program And our gatherings are, we call them our huddles, our QHIP huddles. And they're, we do them about biweekly, I can speak a little bit for Sacramento. we've been meeting up at a cafe. We also use our office space. And, this is just a really a moment in time for our members to, bring up and have critical conversations about things that are happening in their lives or things that they're seeing in their community. Miata Tan : Perhaps you could speak more to the organizing piece. What does this look like? Um, what sort of work are y'all up to? Shai Chang: Some of the ways in which we have organized, in our community is through the framework of BBB. It's our belong, believe, become, and it sounds really cheesy, but this is really how we mobilize our people, we know as trans and queer people, especially as a person of color, we don't know and have enough spaces of [00:36:00] belonging. we actually have a, such a hard time believing in ourselves, and because of that, we have such a hard time in becoming. And this sounds like the story of literally just transitioning. when you Transition is that you really need to have a space of, believing in yourself. You need to have a space in which you can belong, where you are safe, and then through that you can actually become and this person that you have always wanted to be. This is how we mobilize and organize our members and our community because once they start practicing this ability to be able to believe in themselves, have the spaces for them to organize and organize with other people. and to figure out, like, , what is our campaign strategy? What is the ways in which we wanna win in our community, right? And Uh, in gender-affirming care in Fresno and the Central Valley was very, very hard. many of the times folks will have to go to, like, the bigger cities like LA SF to get their care that they needed. We need actual, like, [00:37:00] materialistic wins for our communities so that way they can get to where they need to be. when I'm talking about Materialistic things, it's that, we need them to be housed. We need them to have the affordable, uh, care. We need them to have, the affirming care that they are needing, we know how hard it is for, in particular, trans and queer people to be able to afford literally anything. and it's so much more harder for them to find a career or a job, in a place where they actually also can live and exist through their identities. we've seen the, impacts of, ICE and immigration on our own communities these were, like, the works that were coming out constantly for our communities to fight for, these kind of justice issues, through these ways, we've been able mobilize and move our people to what does it mean for us to actually start thinking about a campaign strategy for us to win some kind of materialistic need and, of course, we work with youths a lot, right? So where is our youth justice at? And this is literally our youth justice, right? We're having our young people share their voices. We [00:38:00] have our young adults organizing in the community, um, doing protestings, and fighting against the system. in particular, more recently, this, board of supervisor in Fresno County banned and denied, LBGTQ books in the Fresno County libraries. and we've organized to get people to show up to write letters and to really be there, and hundreds of people shown up and yet they still continue to, not hear their own constituency and their own community They continuously vote against us. that's why HIP is political, right? Is that we have our civic engagement side, is that, okay, well, it sounds like we need to vote them out, right? And that's what is it mean, and that's what it's about now. Miata Tan : Yeah, I hear you. It sounds like you're really helping to build political power within Hmong communities in, in Fresno and Sacramento. I'm curious, what has wins look like, uh, for your groups there? how have, you perhaps helped to show those material, changes [00:39:00] for your young people? Shai Chang: Uh, to be honest, it's not much, We're still very new into formed more as a social group in 2018, and just finally became, you know what? Let's be political as f***. Let's be authentic as f***, you know? y'all really wanna make trans and queer identities political, Then let's be political. and we've just started mobilizing, moving around those kind of things and identities only just more recently, right? As Christine mentioned, in But the wins that we can really claim a name is that we have a 100% retention rate for our members. yeah. Um, we have tripled the amount of members that we had since then. and we are so excited for us to be able to, like, move and mobilize with our people intentionally and not just like, “Oh, we just need to be here for critical mass,” it is a two-part, right? It's that, one, we need critical mass. We And the other part of this is that we [00:40:00] people to come in intentionally to be a part of this movement work. I actually went to present about QHIP more recently, and they asked, “Oh my gosh, is there any, like, open meetings that you have flyers about? Like, when do y'all meet? And then, like, do you have a flyer for that? And I can share it with, my members.” And I was like, “Actually, we do meet, and it– we do meet biweekly on Fridays. The members themselves are holding the space for the meeting. and so I can ask them about that, but I also wanna let you know that it's not necessarily an open invitation for folks to just come in whenever they want.” We want people to come in intentional, and we want people to engage intentionally. And this is how we want us to move away from this autopilot into being able actively making changes and fights for our communities that will win us materialistic wins. Obviously in this administration, in the Trump administration, um, it has not been easy. just two years ago, they actually closed, the only LGBTQ [00:41:00] homeless shelter in Fresno, and a lot of folks now have, like, a hard time understanding where to go and what and how to navigate it. the Fresno, like, LGBTQ center also closed their doors for, like, the first time in, like, a long And so there is a lot of different impacts as impacting our community, from, like, LGBTQ centers closing, LGBTQ-serving organizations slowing down, And the way that our members and our community and our base have been organizing is As a community resource with one another is that like, ” Hey, I have an extra bed. Y'all can come sleep and crash ” there.” you hungry?” Let's go get food.” Right? Really checking with each other and also being able to ask our community for funding as So HIP, we were able to organize and did a fundraiser back in March 50K. That's huge we also know there are impacts that also is beyond us, too. it was with this past, like, Hmong New Year [00:42:00] that we did, that we wanted to do a Hmong New Year action, an action to really fundraise for our families who were detained by ICE. And so we did a mutual aid fundraiser, asking our community members to donate money, and we were able to raise… we only did it for, like, three hours, and we were able to raise $700. So we're like, ” What if we kept going?” Right? And that's where our fundraiser for 50K came from. so there is, like, ways in which we are trying to organize and mobilize our communities. And, to be very honest is that HIP and, QVIP is not necessarily a direct service organization and not necessarily in that way. I think many of the times people see HIP as like, “Oh, you're here to save us,” we're not that, right? We're really here to mobilize with our community, uh, we have our youth organization over in Edison High School, they were pushed into a small classroom, storage room, actually, for band and also, sports as well. And so it, it was being disruptive a lot. one of our [00:43:00] previous, like, young adult members recognized that, and they were like, ” Sh-uh, Shy and HIP, Please, can y'all do something about this issue?” And we're like, “No.” But we'll do it with you, right? and so we came in, we taught them about organizing, and literally those youths were able to organize themselves to have a classroom now, they remember that. They hold onto that, right? Regardless if we were here or not, they will still be able to know that and hold onto And so it's very much like that as well with our members, is that we want them to be able to organize within among themselves without having the need of, of HIP and entities being able to, have the, have the solution for them Miata Tan : mm, that makes a lot of sense. Really being able to work with community and give them tools so then they can continue to build is something really powerful that, you do at both HIP and QHIP. I'm curious, with this very challenging political moment that we're living through, not only for queer and trans folks, but immigrant communities as [00:44:00] well, how are you holding this, this pain alongside, trying to also celebrate and honor your communities, um, and especially your queer and trans community members? Shai or Christine, Christine Thao : At HIP we have what is called third spaces, and third spaces are heart spaces. these are, spaces where our young people, they continue to, build their organizing. They get to organize with one another and with HIP, to hold space to build community, to build belongingness, To show up, be present, make connections. is also a space where our young people, they get to decompress as well, in a world where it feels so chaotic, we do a lot of, the hard stuff with organizing, but then organizing can be so fun. and our young people, they get to see both sides, right, get to experience that. What I'm holding onto is being [00:45:00] engaged and getting involved, it is, Um, How can we connect our young people, to our community partners, right? To make those connections, to build deeper, this year it looks like us, being more intentional about our capacity and who we are, building out with, um… I'm on, I'm currently on the planning community for Elk Grove Pride, and so, uh, our young people are also a part of that, where they get to lead a role, and create, spaces of celebration, right? there's A lot of different opportunities our young people are also involved in, and, it, it is that wanting our young people to, feel empowered to get involved in these spaces as well. Miata Tan : Yeah. Lovely. Thank you so much, Christine. It sounds like you're really able to create, a beautiful space and community for your young people. Shy, uh, to close out, I'd love to know what's on the horizon for QHIP. It's Pride Month. unfortunately this episode is airing after Fresno Pride, but, perhaps you could [00:46:00] speak a little bit to that and what else is on the horizon. Shai Chang: Sure thing. the first thing I need to say is Happy Pride Month. so Happy Pride Month, everyone. Fresno always hosts their Pride parade, always the first Saturday of, of the Pride month it is On Saturday, June 6. Pride parade over at Tower District in Fresno. it's gonna be very fun. It's super exciting. We will be marching in there all together, and the theme for this year is, Pride Without Border. we're gonna be Extra powerful in calling out all of the different, struggles that our intersectional folks are all facing and being able to march together in liberation. what's also coming up next is, I- I'm foreseeing it to happen probably next month or in August, is that we will have a third space event to really celebrate Pride. we spend all our energy to be part of the Pride parade preparing our members and supporting them, but we haven't necessarily celebrated QHIP's [00:47:00] own Pride, you know, we work very politically in election works, and so we always have a bunch of these like, door hangers, Vote yes on Prop 3,” things like that, right? And so we have so much of those paper, and so what we usually do during this, like, Pride event that we do in QHIP is that we- we use these as an opportunity for us to do trash drag. it's an opportunity for us to get glammed out everyone gets to participate creating this, like, image through the trash drag. And so we're excited to be able to do that, so please keep on the lookout. Miata Tan : Sorry, why is it called trash drag? I'd love to know. Shai Chang: It's because, like, we had s- you know, this much f- okay, we, we have a lot of flyers from the our elections, And especially this year. You know how in, in the mail you'll get so much, like, ” Vote for this person, vote for this person.” all of this is all paper that is then thrown away without any second thought. and we will make them, and we'll make, like, thousands of copies , right? But we never are able to pass it all out. what we do is that we will go ahead and reuse them one last time for [00:48:00] them to have an opportunity for them to shine, We'll have them split up into teams, and then use all the different trash that they can gather and use, and glue them, tape them , staple them to make a dress, to make an outfit for this one person that they're gonna designate to be the drag mother for their team. Miata Tan : I love that. That sounds like so much fun. Shai Chang: Yeah. We're gonna be doing it in Fresno and also in Sacramento, so we'll figure out a ways for everyone to be involved. Miata Tan : Oh, how wonderful. Christine, could you speak to what events are coming up in Sacramento for us? Christine Thao : We are also having, um, Elk Grove Pride on June 20th. It's from 5:00 to 9:00. it's gonna be at the Elk Grove Laguna Town Hall. And so community is very welcome to attend. It is a free event. Think of it like, kind of like a resource gathering with, um, some really amazing performances we have, a lot of like, BIPOC TQ, artistes, and then also vendors [00:49:00] as well. So please show up and, would love to, to meet folks and connect with folks in these spaces. Miata Tan : Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing, Christine, and we'll be sharing all the details of how you can get involved and learn more about QHIP and HIP at the end of this episode as well. Thank you both so much for joining me today. Shai Chang: Thank you so much for having me. Miata Tan: That was my conversation with Shai Chang and Christine Thao at Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride, also known as QHIP Miata Tan : this is APEX Express on 94.1 KPFA, a weekly radio show uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. To close out tonight's show, I have one final guest. Cynthia Fong is the lead organizer at Lavender Phoenix, also known as LavNix, A Bay Area organization building power for queer and trans Asian and Pacific Islander communities. You may have heard of them. Their new executive director joined us on [00:50:00] air just a few months ago. Here's a short conversation with Cynthia Fong on Queer Joy, community power, and what LavNix has coming up this summer Cynthia Fong: Thank you so much for having us. My name is Cynthia. I use they/them pronouns, and I'm here with Lavender Phoenix. Lavender Phoenix, we build trans, non-binary, queer API power through organizing in the Bay Area. We work with our members to demand true solutions to care and safety, and we're excited to be here with you all. Miata Tan : I'm so excited to close out the episode with you. And as we're in Pride Month, I hoped you might be able to share a little bit about queer joy and how Lavender Phoenix is celebrating that at the moment, honoring each other. Cynthia Fong: Yeah, absolutely. Especially in times like this, times of escalated violence against our communities, we know that queer joy, queer resistance, and queer power are truly antidotes to the systems that are making us sick. For us, that means in our work, we fight for care not cops, [00:51:00] we fight for budgets that truly reflect the needs of our people, we fight for a free Palestine, and we fight to abolish ICE. If you agree with all of the things that I just said we also do a lot of leadership exchange programs, and that is where we really cultivate that belonging and community in our trans and queer API community. Miata Tan : Oh, I love that. Could you share a little bit more about the leadership exchange with our listeners? Cynthia Fong: Yeah, absolutely. This is one of our time-honored traditions. It's called the Queer Leadership Exchange, it's also known as LEX. And this program will run for two weekends in July. we aim to provide training on fundamental organizing skills, trans and queer history in the Bay Area, and really to provide an opportunity for trans and queer Asian and Pacific Islanders to connect with, with each other in a space that's made by and for us. We invite you to apply if you are trans or queer [00:52:00] and if you identify as Asian or Pacific Islander. Our deadline is July 1st. And in these two weekends, we usually gather with about 20 to 30 folks, and it's really interactive. We have a mix of activities that we invite people to, to skill up on and, and really to become the leaders that our movements need. Miata Tan : Love that. Could you share a little bit about some leaders you've seen come out of these programs? Like, what does that look like? How are they, helping to, to organize community? Cynthia Fong: the folks who graduate from our LEX program, it, it's really a wide range of people, whether it's trans and queer APIs at work in other nonprofit sectors. It's also our folks who may be supporting our community in other ways, like as artists, as students, educators, as therapists. We see a lot of people take these skills and translate them into a variety of different sectors that we know trans and queer API people… we're everywhere, more and more so now. And we would [00:53:00] love every single one of us to be grounded in our histories when we do that work. And not only our histories, but also in a firm sense of belonging with one another, to know that we're not alone, to know that there are other trans and queer Asians and Pacific Islanders here in the Bay Area, all of whom share these values of wanting to build working class power. Miata Tan : that's so nice, a more multi-generational, multi-sector, Cynthia Fong: And, you know, we take it as an opportunity, too, for us to build with other organizations and people who, who are like-minded. We don't take it for granted. We know the Bay Area is a place where it's very diverse, where We are actively fighting for what values we believe in and whose agenda we are willing to put in power. And so we really welcome a wide range of people. No matter where you are, the real important thing is you, you share our values. you believe in true solutions to care and safety that are not rooted in systems of policing or incarceration Miata Tan : [00:54:00] That's really powerful. to close this out , Could you share a little bit more about what's on the horizon for Lavender Phoenix later in the year? You mentioned a few of the campaigns, Care Not Cops. perhaps if you wanna dive into some of those. Cynthia Fong: Yeah, absolutely. Um, we are joining a really big coalition of people from Alameda to Sacramento to San Francisco, all of whom are paying a lot of attention to our budgets, when you say Care Not Cops, we see our budgets to really be that moral document that show us where our priorities are. For us, June is Pride Month, but it's also budget season, Um, it gives us a really big opportunity to be as loud as we can about what we believe. and in San Francisco with $16 billion, it's quite shameful that we have our community partners like the San Francisco Community Health Center, Lyric, our youth programs being defunded, all the while new jails are being opened, all the while the police are getting new toys, they're [00:55:00] showing us that the money exists but it's not for us. And so we join the voices that are demanding for a people's budget, and we know that that's gonna be an ongoing fight. We've been in it for a few years now, and we plan to continue. In terms of our organization, we're actually super excited to say we have 100% of our membership really diving into what the next five years looks like for us. Folks may remember we came onto APAICS to announce a name change a few years ago. We were formerly known as API Equality Northern California. We came on APAICS a few years ago to share that we've changed to Lavender Phoenix, and we anticipate some new changes on the horizon being announced at the end of the year as well, hopefully with deeper clarity about what the next five years will look like for us. Miata Tan : Ooh. Interesting. It's not a new name change, is it? Cynthia Fong: No, no. We, we're gonna stay… We're keeping the t- we're keeping our name. We love our name. We love the history in our name. But it's really just the theory of [00:56:00] change, you know? I think our moment today is very unique, very different, very politically tumultuous, and we wanna be sharp. We wanna know what we're organizing for, what we're organizing against, and, and what it means for us to build power. Our last theory of change process is what resulted in us focusing on leadership programs, leadership development. It is also where we decided that healing is really important for our people. It's also where we decided that safety is really important for our people. And so I anticipate that it's gonna be a deepening not, not a change, but a deepening of how we orient to this bigger picture of our movement for liberation and justice. Miata Tan : So beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing, Cynthia. Um, it was really lovely to speak with you. Cynthia Fong: Yeah, absolutely. Thank you so much. I, hope to come Back soon. Miata Tan : That was Cynthia Fong with Lavender Phoenix. If you want to learn more about LavNix, we sat down with their team earlier in the year. Find that episode and their leadership exchange program in the show notes. Tonight, we also heard [00:57:00] from the QTViet Cafe Collective and Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride. Links to all of these organizations and their upcoming work are at kpfa.org/program/APEXexpress. This is APEX Express KPFA, airing every Thursday evening at 7:00 PM. Thank you for tuning in tonight APEX Express is a proud member of the Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality, a network focused on long-term movement building, capacity infrastructure, and leadership support for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders committed to social justice. Learn more at aacre.org. This program produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Isabel Li, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Miata Tan, Preeti Mangala Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's show was produced by me, Miata Tan. Get some rest y'all. The post APEX Express – 6.11.26 – Pride, Power, and Queer AAPI Voices appeared first on KPFA.
Beyond the Gun – Creative Partnerships There's a distinct difference between being cast as an actor in a theatre production and working as a creative collaborator and developing your own work. This session examines how actors can step into producing and move into the developmental life of a project—contributing ideas, shaping the script, and influencing the work as it develops. Actors such as Ngoc Phan, Nicholas Brown, Julia Robertson, Amy Ingram, and Cameron Hurry have expanded their work into producing, writing and directing. This conversation explores how actors can evolve their practice, build a reputation for meaningful creative input, and become initiators and collaborators whose contributions extend beyond performance into the heart of the work itself. Amy is a multi-award-winning actor and theatre-maker based in Brisbane, later this year she will appear in the return season of Pride And Prejudice at QTC and the World Premiere of Suzie Miller's Strong Is The New Pretty touring Nationally. Ngọc is an award-winning actor, director and playwright. Her diverse theatre work includes Vietgone, Boy Swallows Universe and Good Grief (Queensland Theatre), Laurinda (MT), Love Stories (Brisbane Festival/QPAC), Horizon (Playlab Theatre), Medea (Shock Therapy Productions), We're All Gonna Die, Away, A Streetcar Named Desire and Stunt Double (The Farm). Julia Robertson is a multidisciplinary theatre maker, director and actor living and working on Gadigal land. She is the Artistic Director of the award-winning devising group Little Eggs Collective, a recipient of the Ensemble Theatre's Sandra Bates Award for Directing, and a Young Artists Program finalist with Opera Australia. Julia was recently nominated for Best Direction of a Musical at the Sydney Theatre Awards for The Producers (Hayes Theatre Co. / Riverside Parramatta). In 2026, Julia will direct the premiere production of STELLA, The Musical in Melbourne, as well as The Addams Family for Hayes Theatre Co. She will also work as Movement Director on 84 Charing Cross Road for the Ensemble Theatre, and as Assistant Director on Suzie Miller's new work Strong Is the New Pretty for Sydney Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre and Brisbane Festival. Nicholas Brown is a NIDA graduate who has forged an impressive international career across film, television and theatre as an actor, writer, singer, songwriter and leading man with major roles in Bollywood films, Australian drama and as a much-loved ABC Play School presenter. He plays a lead role in upcoming Alex Proyas science fiction musical film R.U.R. As a playwright, Nicholas won the prestigious Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting in the 2024 NSW Premier's Literary Awards for his play Sex Magick which was performed in the 2023 Griffin Theatre season. It was also nominated for a 2025 AWGIE and a 2024 Sydney Theatre Award. Cameron Hurry is a Brisbane based actor and writer. He completed his actor training at the University of Southern Queensland. Cameron's theatre credits include: Pride and Prejudice (Queensland Theatre Company), Unconditional (Playlab Theatre), Three Little Words (Ad Astra), Twelfth Night (4MBS Brisbane Shakespeare Festival), Dance Nation (THAT Production Company), Grand Horizons (PIP Theatre), Frankenstein (Fractal Theatre), Macbeth (JUTE Theatre), Picnic at Hanging Rock (Brisbane Arts Theatre), and Aladdin and the Mysterious Magical Lamp, Jane Eyre, Little Women, Shadowlands (Harvest Rain Theatre Company). His film and television credits include: Spit, Boy Swallows Universe, The Bureau of Magical Things, Young Rock, and Wanted. Cameron has received the Matilda Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role – Independent Production (Grand Horizons) and has a proud member of MEAA for 20 years.
On this episode of The Neil Haley Show, Neil The Media Giant Haley sits down with the creative team behind "Kevin's Series of Unfortunate Events," the buzzy comedy episode making its world premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Festival. Joining Neil are director and co-creator Rex Glensy, writer and co-creator Asad Moghal, and actor Jake Watkins, who stars as the hopelessly optimistic Kevin."Kevin's Series of Unfortunate Events" is episode four of Patterns, an ambitious eight-episode comedy anthology series co-created by Glensy and Moghal. The concept is unique: every episode stands alone as its own self-contained story, but all eight connect into one shared universe. A minor character in one episode might be the lead in another, so viewers can enjoy a single episode on its own or watch the full series for the complete picture. The episodes span wildly different comedic styles, from traditional sitcom to slapstick to a full original musical, all unified by what the creators call "universal camp," an over-the-top-yet-grounded tone in the tradition of Monty Python and Absolutely Fabulous.In this episode, Kevin braves a relentless string of disastrous dates, convinced that persistence will eventually lead to love. Jake Watkins shares how he first auditioned for the role of Kevin back in 2020, why the character's hope and tendency to see the best in people mirror his own personality, and how Asad Moghal's writing made the role click. Moghal reveals that the dating disasters are drawn from his own real-life dating history, calling the series his own form of therapy, including the date who turned out to be fifty years older than his profile photo. Rex Glensy explains his directing philosophy: comedy was always the line, and the moment a scene stopped being funny and turned threatening, that was a story for another show. Neil even opens up about his own post-divorce dating war stories, proving the episode's themes hit home far beyond any one community.The conversation also explores the rest of Kevin's journey through the Patterns universe. Watkins appears in three of the eight episodes, including episode six, "Back to School," and the season finale, episode eight, a full musical featuring all original songs and Watkins doing his own vocals, structured as a comedic singing treasure hunt with Kevin and his frenemy Foster.The team discusses the thrill of being selected for Tribeca, one of the top film festivals in the world, where only a small number of shows make the TV section out of thousands of submissions. "Kevin's Series of Unfortunate Events" has its red-carpet world premiere in a primetime slot, with screenings on June 7, June 8, and June 14 in New York City, and Q&A sessions at every screening. The second screening sold out so quickly that the festival added a third. Tickets are available to the public through the Tribeca Festival website in the TV section.And there's much more on the way: all eight episodes of Patterns are fully shot, along with an entire eight-episode prequel series, Patterns: Origins, giving distributors sixteen ready-made episodes and roughly eight hours of content. The team expects to announce streaming distribution following the Tribeca premiere.Follow Jake Watkins on Instagram at @jakeybaby, writer Asad Moghal at @asadmoghal, and director Rex Glensy at @rexglensy. For tickets and screening information, visit the Tribeca Festival website and search the TV section for "Kevin's Series of Unfortunate Events."Don't miss this hilarious and heartfelt conversation about modern dating, finding the funny in life's worst moments, and the breakout series everyone will be talking about after Tribeca.
I had the opportunity to interview Marcus L.A. Garrett at The Walt Disney Concert Hall to discuss is amazing performance “On The Seashore “.Escape from the craziness of life and immerse yourself in Sound Waves, a program that ebbs and flows with brilliant meditations on water, the source of all life.As the finale to the Master Chorale's 2025/26 season, Sound Waves presents you with a rare moment of peace to escape from the noise of the world, complete with five breathtaking works that will immerse you in the beauty of music and natureWhether it's Reena Esmail's Malhaar : A Requiem for Water – featuring an immersive video installation that transforms the Walt Disney Concert Hall into a cocoon of light and motion, Eric Whitacre's lush Water Night, or Shenandoah – an American folksong, arranged by James Erb – a flowing river of deeply beautiful sound tapestries –this night has been created just for you.Also featured are two World Premieres that were written specifically for the Master Chorale. The first is Hyowon Woo's powerful SUM (숨), which will bathe you in a transcendent 'sound bath for the soul,' complete with 62 singers spread throughout the Hall, interweaving human voices with Korean percussion and resonant singing bowls.The evening also includes the world premiere of On the Seashore by American composer Marques L. A. Garrett. Unfolding as voices rise and recede like waves, this piece set to a beautiful Indian poem, cascades in a surge that crests in a breathtaking sonic climax.Leave the chaos behind and enter the world of Sound Waves – a sanctuary where serenity takes hold, blood pressure slows, noise dissolves and the senses are fully indulged in a deeply rich experience that only an ensemble of the Los Angeles Master Chorale's caliber can deliver.Breathe.Relax.Let Sound Waves Wash Over You.
World Premiere: O: A Rhapsody In Divorce @ Outside In Theatre - 8.7 out of 10! Great Show! LA Theatre Bites Recommended! June 1 - 16, 2026. www.latheatrebites.com
Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. at The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, The Berkshire International Film Festival will present a screening of ‘The Choice.'Yotam Haim was an Israeli hostage mistakenly killed by IDF troops after escaping Hamas captivity in Gaza.The documentary film, ‘The Choice,' follows his mother, Iris Haim's search for meaning. The search led her to Dr. Edith Eger, an Auschwitz survivor whose story reshapes Iris's path to healing.‘THE CHOICE,' is directed by John David Coles who joins us now along with Iris Haim and her son, Tuval.
Conversations with the Cast and Creators Bringing New Legends to the Galaxy In this second green‑carpet special from the World Premiere of The Mandalorian and Grogu, Tony speaks with the actors and filmmakers who expand the galaxy with new characters, new conflicts, and new emotional stakes. From seasoned legends to fresh faces, each guest shares what it means to step into the Star Wars universe — and how this film pushes Din and Grogu's journey into bold new territory. Thanks to Lucas Film for the audio. Featuring Jonny Coyne, Mathew Willig, Lee Isaac Chung, Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Famuyiwa, and Jon Favreau, this episode captures the heart, humor, and craft behind the film.
Skywalking Through Neverland: A Star Wars / Disney Fan Podcast
Learn all about The Mandalorian & Grogu from the creatives that worked on the film! Thanks to Fangirls Going Rogue, Sarah and Richard had the opportunity to visit the Adelphi Base set and Mandoverse prop-house, speak with creatives including Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, AND attend the World Premiere. We bring it all to you with special guest Tricia Barr (Fangirls Going Rogue). Hear fun behind-the-scenes stories about Grogu, Sigourney Weaver, runaway mouse droids, giant jungle sets, and how the filmmakers are continuing George Lucas' vision of a lived-in Star Wars galaxy. Composer Ludwig Göransson, production designers Doug Chiang and Andrew L. Jones, prop master Josh Roth, and visual effects supervisor John Knoll discuss bringing The Mandalorian from Disney+ to the big screen. Plus, Imagineer Asa Kalama talks about the role of Star Wars music inside Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. And finally, we share footage and reactions from the World Premiere, along with our non-spoiler review of The Mandalorian & Grogu! Jon Favreau & Dave Filoni INTERVIEW: Behind the Scenes of The Mandalorian & Grogu | Star Wars https://youtu.be/IRO4Q26whFY PODCAST SPONSORS Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you.
Limited is back, and possibly better than ever?? This weekend marks the World Premiere of Omens of the Third Age and with it the return of competitive limited and draft play. This Nationals season will have competitors drafting the latest Lightning themed set, alongside Callings, Pro Tour Las Vegas and more. So what is this limited set shaping up to be all about?! Find out in this episode with Hayden and Pankaj. Special Thanks to our Tome of Fyendal Patrons: Derrick Correia Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ArsenalPass Review Us: https://ratethispodcast.com/arsenalpass Email: arsenalpassfab@gmail.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClhUUppHaVDBUOJHXL-a0EQ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6H2Y8uTHZaVgxpjhnTBn6n?si=R6Uya7paT_e2HOr4n2KC-w X: @Fyen_Dale (Hayden) X: @EthnicSmoke (Pankaj) Hosts: Hayden Dale & Pankaj Bhojwani
In this special interview episode, Erin talks with Director Rex Glensy, Writer Asad Moghal, and Actor Jake Watkins to discuss the episode, "Kevin's Series of Unfortunate Events," from the eight-episode series PATTERNS. "Kevin's Series of Unfortunate Events" is about dating in the digital world, which feels nearly impossible, and for Kevin (Jake Watkins ), it truly is. Kevin is a hopelessly earnest romantic whose optimism far outweighs his self-awareness. By day, he works as a school's Online Safety Salamander. By night, he subjects himself to a relentless series of disastrous dates, convinced that persistence alone will eventually lead to love.The episode will have its World Premiere at Tribeca as part of its Indie TV Narrative Showcase. More information can be found here: https://tribecafilm.com/films/kevin-s-series-of-unfortunate-events-2026You can follow us on Letterboxd at: https://letterboxd.com/itsafandomthing/Consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/itsafandomthingpod.For links to our social media, visit our website: https://itsafandomthingpod.com/You can follow Fergie on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@schroederandfergsCover art by Carla Temis.Podcast logo by Erin Amos.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Learn all about The Mandalorian & Grogu from the creatives that worked on the film! Thanks to Fangirls Going Rogue, Sarah and Richard had the opportunity to visit the Adelphi Base set and Mandoverse prop-house, speak with creatives including Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, AND attend the World Premiere. We bring it all to you with special guest Tricia Barr (Fangirls Going Rogue). Hear fun behind-the-scenes stories about Grogu, Sigourney Weaver, runaway mouse droids, giant jungle sets, and how the filmmakers are continuing George Lucas' vision of a lived-in Star Wars galaxy. Composer Ludwig Göransson, production designers Doug Chiang and Andrew L. Jones, prop master Josh Roth, and visual effects supervisor John Knoll discuss bringing The Mandalorian from Disney+ to the big screen. Plus, Imagineer Asa Kalama talks about the role of Star Wars music inside Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. And finally, we share footage and reactions from the World Premiere, along with our non-spoiler review of The Mandalorian & Grogu! Jon Favreau & Dave Filoni INTERVIEW: Behind the Scenes of The Mandalorian & Grogu | Star Wars https://youtu.be/IRO4Q26whFY PODCAST SPONSORS Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you.
Today on She's All Over the Place , we are bringing you a massive indie film exclusive on the exact day of its Cannes Film Festival World Premiere! We sit down with Emmy and BIFA-nominated writer, director, and editor Reuben Hamlyn to discuss his highly anticipated new film, "Sunday's Children ". The project introduces us to a dark, formally playful love story. We follow Dennis (an entitled optimist desperate to become a father) who spends a weekend falling for Kasia (a worn-down realist who firmly believes God warned her never to have children). Reuben takes us behind the scenes of his artistic vision, breaking down: The Power of Solipsism: How our deep desires can blind us to the ultimate autonomy and agency of those around us. Empathy for Flawed Characters: Unpacking the creative resistance to representing "bad" characters, and why exploring their psychology is vital to avoiding dehumanization. The Road to Cannes 2026: What it takes to move from a critically acclaimed, award-winning feature debut like Another Body to a prestigious La Cinef selection at the Cannes Film Festival . This episode is an absolute must-listen for indie filmmakers, cinephiles following the Cannes lineup, and anyone fascinated by complex psychological storytelling. Links & Resources: Check out the official trailer for the film: Sunday's Children Trailer on Cannes Festival Media Keep up with the festival line-up and screenings: Festival de Cannes Official Site Follow the host and show updates: https://www.chonacas.com/links/ Subscribe and Review: If you loved this deep dive, rate She's All Over the Place on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!
Fangirls Going Rogue: Star Wars Conversation from a Female POV
The Mandalorian and Grogu is almost here! We have a packed episode that includes highlights from a special pre-launch event hosted by Disney with the creative minds behind the magic, including Ludwig Göransson (Music By), Doug Chiang (Production Designer), Josh Roth (Prop Master), and John Knoll (VFX Supervisor); exciting information about Galaxy's Edge at Disney Parks in Florida and California, details from the movie's World Premiere, a non-spoiler review of The Mandalorian and Grogu. Composer Ludwig Göransson, production designers Doug Chiang and Andrew L. Jones, prop master Josh Roth, and visual effects supervisor John Knoll discuss expanding The Mandalorian from Disney+ to the big screen. From Ludwig Göransson's iconic Mandalorian theme and massive new orchestral score, to Doug Chiang's philosophy of balancing classic Star Wars aesthetics with fresh new ideas, this episode dives deep into the artistry behind the film. The team also shares stories about building practical sets, designing new props and weapons, creating stop-motion droids, and filming stunning Razor Crest miniature shots using cutting-edge LED technology. Plus hear fun behind-the-scenes stories involving Grogu, Sigourney Weaver, runaway mouse droids, giant jungle sets, puppeteers, and how the filmmakers continue George Lucas' vision of a lived-in Star Wars galaxy. Be sure to check back next week for a detailed spoiler-filled discussion about the movie! Related Tricia Barr recaps The Mandalorian and Grogu preview screening. Our full roundtable interview with Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau Our Maul – Shadow Lord review episode with special guest Teresa Delgado Donate to Starlight Children's Foundation through LiningUp.net Worldbuilding In Maul – Shadow Lord from Hyperspace Theories podcast Maul – Shadow Lord Breakdown and Music Analysis via Skywalking Through Neverland Social Media Fangirls Going Rogue Threads | Instagram Tricia Barr Threads | Instagram Sarah Woloski Threads | Instagram Richard Woloski Threads | Instagram Facebook Public | Private You must answer the 3 questions to join the Private Facebook group!
World Premiere: ANTIGONE @ ANTAEUS - 8.7 out of 10! Great Show! LA Theatre Bites Recommended! MAY 10 - JUNE 15, 2026. www.latheatrebites.com
Let's talk all things hype and excitement for The Mandalorian and Grogu with interviews live from the red carpet premiere. Featuring our friends:Will and Grayson of Determined Focus PodcastJake "Pizzabeard" HollandNick "Codename Fulcrum" WilliamsMollie and Alex of Star Wars ExplainedFollow and message us on Instagram to get 15% off your first purchase at rsvlts.com!Follow TTM on social media: thankthemakerpod.comDonate to "WHAT CHOICE? - Star Wars Fans For Abortion Access" at gofundme.Follow the hosts on social media:Adam RussellNick GhanbarianWilliam Ryan KeyMike ForesterJason ChiodoAhsoka, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, The Book of Boba Fett, The Bad Batch, The High Republic, #makesolo2happen, The Mandalorian, Star Wars Visions, Anime, Star Wars Anime, Disney Gallery, Galactic Starcruiser, Halcyon, Chandrila Star Line, Galaxy's Edge, Rogue Squadron, Disney+ Day, Hondo Supply, Armor Party, Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars Celebration, Star Wars Black Series, Temuera Morrison, Black Krrsantan, Tosche Station, Danny Trejo, Fennec Shand, Ming-Na Wen, Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker, Cad Bane, Princess Leia, Vivien Lyra Blair, Carrie Fisher, Tales of the Jedi, Cassian Andor, Bix Caleen, Brasso, Luthen Rael, Mon Mothma, Vel Sartha, Cinta Kaz, Dedra Meero, Syril Karn, Orson Krennic, Ryan Gosling, Mia Goth, Maul, Darth Maul, Sam Witwer
THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU is right around the corner! Can you believe a new Star Wars is upon us after seven years?! We have been very busy in the lead-up to this film. We were extremely lucky to receive and Invitation from Lucasfilm to tour the Mandalorian Archives where they keep many props, and models from both the series and the film! We were also very lucky to be invited to participate in an virtual roundtable interview with non other than JON FAVREAU and DAVE FILONI alongside other incredible fan-creators! This was such a special moment with some great insight from both Dave and Jon! Additionally, Jon gets a Nice-Guy-Award for going out of his way to answer all of our questions after time ran out!As if all of that wasn't enough, we were able to attend the World Premiere of the film! The social and review embargoes are officially lifted so stick around and get some first impressions. Can't wait to discuss this movie!THIS IS THE WAY!Extremely special thanks to Disney and Lucasfilm for the opportunity! We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we enjoyed participating in it! We were very fortunate to share the round-table with some of our community friends, among them: Father. Son. Galaxy., Fangirls Going Rogue, Skytalkers, Talking Bay 94, Coffee With Kenobi, Jedi News, Fantha Tracks, and Space Waffles.• • •TRIAD Of The FORCE is a STAR WARS+ podcast hosted by Gus, Nani, & Chase—Puerto Rican and queer creators sharing deep dives, and heartfelt conversations from a galaxy far, far away. Featured on the STAR WARS CELEBRATION Podcast Stage (2022 & 2023), we explore STAR WARS, fantasy, comic books, and other POP-culture media honestly. We engage in inclusive commentary across film, TV, books, comics, and beyond with humor, critical analysis, and cultural perspective (without the toxicity).Follow TRIAD Of The FORCE at:BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/triadoftheforce.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/triadoftheforce/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TriadoftheForce/If you like us, get some merch and help the channel:TeePublic: https://www.teepublic.com/user/triad-of-the-force• • •Acknowledgement: The Intro and Outro music is the Triad of the Force Theme, composed and performed by Grushkov with full permission for use by Grushkov (https://linktr.ee/Grushkov).• • •This channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.
WE WERE THERE! Back from Los Angeles, we are still pinching ourselves. It's been 5 long years since a Star Wars movie hit the big screen, and being at the world premiere of The Mandalorian and Grogu at the historic Chinese Theater was an absolute dream.From staying in Santa Monica and diving into secret Imagineer tours (no photos allowed, but we have stories!) to meeting legendary creators like Doug Chiang and Ludwig Göransson, this trip was a massive milestone for us.We break down the entire trip report, give our spoiler-free first reaction to the movie, and hang out with the best community in the galaxy.This is the way.
Conversations with the Creative Forces Behind the Film Recorded on the green carpet at the World Premiere, this episode of Byte brings listeners directly into the excitement surrounding The Mandalorian and Grogu. from the carpet arethe filmmakers, designers, performers, and artists who shaped the movie — from the earliest concept sketches to the final mix. Featuring Dave Filoni, John Knoll, Doug Chiang, Andrew L. Jones, Brendan Wayne, Ludwig Göransson, and Sarah Finn, this episode captures the passion and precision behind bringing Din Djarin and Grogu to the big screen. SAVE 17% ON PLUS
Jason is in Hollywood for the world premiere of "The Mandalorian and Grogu!" The red carpet, the stars, and the movie! Plus, Jason orders room service, and Britney Spears gets up to things at a restaurant in the Valley See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
We were in attendance at the premiere of the new Paula Radcliffe film, Chasing Stars, and we were joined by the film's director Pat Odom, to hear more about its making. We close the show with a Q&A that Paula gave with British running great Steve Cram. Watch Paula Radcliffe - Chasing Stars now on YouTube. On this episode of Marathon Talk: 00:00 - Intro 06:10 - Still reflecting on the 2026 TCS London Marathon 25:26 - Deena speaks with director Pat Odom, the man behind the lens of Paula Radcliffe - Chasing Stars 49:21 - Q&A from the premiere of Paula Radcliffe - Chasing Stars Links & References: Abbott World Marathon Majors Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Marathon Talk Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Martin Yelling | Instagram Deena Kastor | Instagram Pat Odom | Instagram
Composer, conductor, and producer Peter Askim joins Seth Boustead to discuss building vibrant communities around contemporary classical music through the NC State 10-Year Premiere Project, the NEXT Festival of Emerging Artists, and his work with orchestras across North Carolina.From commissioning dozens of World Premieres to mentoring emerging composers and reimagining how audiences experience new music, Askim shares his vision for the future of the orchestra and the artists shaping it.This is the first in a two-part episode. MUSICThe Raw Heart of the Spinning World by Peter AskimThe Inheritors Overture by Allison Loggins HullNowruz for Orchestra by Adeliia FaizullinaSinfonietta of Dreams movement III: There by Jeff ScottWebbings and Circles by Nahre Sol
With the Missouri Chamber Music Festival's 16th season on the horizon, Nina Ferrigno, the festival's dynamic executive director and a talented pianist, takes center stage in this episode. The theme for this year, 'Hope is the Thing with Music,' reflects a beautiful synergy between music and the poetic words of Emily Dickinson. Ferrigno passionately discusses how the festival aims to weave together these two art forms, creating a rich tapestry of sound and meaning that will resonate with audiences.The episode dives into the nitty-gritty of the festival's planning process, with Nina sharing her excitement about new partnerships and the artistic direction she envisions. The collaboration with the Sheldon Concert Hall marks a significant milestone for the festival, providing a premier venue that enhances the concert experience. As she outlines the concert lineup, listeners are treated to a sneak peek of what to expect, from unique programming to premiering new works that promise to captivate and inspire.Listeners will also appreciate Nina's candid reflections on her journey through music and how it has shaped her life. Her insights into the rehearsal process and the collaborative nature of chamber music highlight the importance of connection and communication among musicians. This episode is not just an overview of the festival; it's a heartfelt celebration of the power of music to evoke emotion and foster community. So, whether you're a seasoned concert-goer or new to the world of chamber music, you'll want to tune in and get excited about the festival running from June 10th to 21st. Grab your tickets and join this musical adventure![00:00] World Premiere Teaser[00:28] Show Welcome and Quote[01:50] Theme Hope and Dickinson[03:49] Festival Turning Point[08:24] Tickets Dates and Venue[09:44] Concert 1 Enchanted Ground[11:59] Concert 2 Musicians Wrestle[16:33] Concert 3 Arianna Quartet[19:17] Concert 4 World Premiere[27:09] How Musicians Are Chosen[31:35] Sponsor Break[32:13] Nina's Musical Roots[38:55] Chamber Music Behind Scenes[43:26] Final Thanks and Sign OffTakeaways:Nina Ferrigno passionately connects music and poetry, highlighting Emily Dickinson's influence on this year's festival theme, "Hope is the Thing with Music."The Missouri Chamber Music Festival's 16th season promises a stellar lineup, featuring world-class musicians and unique performances from June 10th to 21st.Nina's new role as Artistic Director allows her to focus on artistic vision, freeing her from operational duties and bringing fresh energy to the festival.The festival will feature exciting collaborations with the renowned Sheldon Concert Hall, creating a vibrant new home for the concerts this year.Understanding the nuances of chamber music, Nina emphasizes the importance of collaboration, eye contact, and trust among musicians during performances.The premiere of a commissioned piece called "Memoria" by composer David Werfelman will explore the multifaceted nature of memory, adding depth to the festival's offerings.Home Page - Missouri Chamber Music (MOCM) & Festival InformationThe Sheldon - MOCM Single TicketsMetrotix - MOCM Season 16 TicketsFacebook - MOCMInstagram - MOCMMOCM - YouTube ChannelThis is Season 9! For more episodes, go to stlintune.com#mocm #chambermusic #calyxtrio #stlouischambermusic #worldpremiere #missourichambermusicfestival #thesheldon
Great. Then depressed. Then great again. Stephen Dubner gets the full story from David Lang; we also hear from some fans, and the New York Philharmonic's president. The math and the aftermath of wealth of nations. (Part two of a series.) SOURCES: David Lang, composer and professor at the Yale School of Music. Matías Tarnopolsky, president and C.E.O. of the New York Philharmonic. RESOURCES: "Finally, an Opera About Economics," by Stacey Vanek Smith (Bloomberg, 2026). "The Little Match Girl Passion," by David Lang (2023). The Wealth of Nations, by Adam Smith (1776). EXTRAS: "David Lang's the wealth of nations," series by Freakonomics Radio (2026). "In Search of the Real Adam Smith," series by Freakonomics Radio (2022). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
World Premiere: Keep Yourself Safe, or U-Haul Play @ MiViDa – 6.9 out of 10! Below Average! April 30 - May 3, 2026. www.latheatrebites.com
It isn't often you get so many genre icons in one movie, but so is the case with the Ready or Not sequel, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. The 2019 original sent Samara Weaving's star soaring and now, in film two, she's joined by two other actors who have achieved “scream queen” status. It's Sarah Michelle Gellar and Kathryn Newton. While in Austin celebrating Ready or Not's World Premiere at SXSW 2026, Gellar and Newton visited the Collider interview studio for a Collider Ladies Night conversation to cover their journeys to the Ready or Not franchise, and to tease their hopes for their futures in the genre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
World Premiere: Warsaw @ International City Theatre - 8.2 out of 10! Good Show! LA Theatre Bites Recommended! May 1 – 17, 2026. www.latheatrebites.com
A Note from Jacob: Since my conversation with Matt, the 2026 Janice Jam at Sony Hall is OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT! I am thrilled to welcome back my friend, actor Matt DeAngelis, to Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar for an exclusive conversation! Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Matt grew up on showtunes and Boston sports. Matt studied theatre at the University of Southern Maine and The Boston Conservatory before heading down Route 95 to NYC in 2004. In June 2009, Matt got the call to make his Broadway debut in the Tony-winning production of HAIR with Tony Award winner Diane Paulus at the helm. Matt continued with that production, “Across the Atlantic Sea,” to the West End in the role of “Woof,” then launched the first national US Tour of HAIR, and was seen back on Broadway in the “Summer of Love” revival of HAIR. Following his time with the hippies, Matt launched the first national tour of Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT as the “Representative from Jingletown”. Matt's cross-country adventures continued in 2014 with the first national tour of ONCE, where he played “Svec” and five instruments. Over the last five years, Matt has been a veteran of almost 2,000 performances. Thankfully, Matt returned home to Broadway (again with Diane Paulus) in the hit musical WAITRESS, where he starred opposite Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller, two-time Grammy winner Jason Mraz, and seven-time Grammy nominee and the show's composer, Sara Bareilles. He then toured the country with the WAITRESS National Tour as Earl opposite his real-life wife, Christine Dwyer, as Jenna. Upon returning from the road, Matt was a part of developing the World Premiere of The Secret Life of Bees at The Atlantic Theatre Company, directed by Tony Award winner Sam Gold. He also appeared in Orpheus Descending at Theatre for a New Audience. Matt DeAngelis also started the Janice Jam in memory of his mother, Janice, who passed from metastatic breast cancer in 2022. This annual event channels the magic of Broadway to honor those we've lost, uplift those fighting, and fund critical research. This event serves as a yearly celebration of Janice, her love for theater, and raising money for those affected by metastatic breast cancer. An all-star group of performers is joining Matt and his wife, Christine Dwyer, this year. Ari Axelrod, Ashley Loren, Carrie St. Louis, Cassadee Pope, Derek Klena, Donald Webber Jr., Eric Michael Krop, Justin Matthew Sargent, Kara Lindsay, Laurie Hernandez, and Norm Lewis are all expected to participate in the show. On this exclusive edition of The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Matt DeAngelis spoke about how Janice Jam partnered with Masquerade and previewed the sold-out event. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
In this episode of the Film Ireland podcast, Gemma Creagh sits down with Dungannon actor Fra Fee to chat about his impressive catalogue of work that spans stage, film & TV, while delving into those key moments that shaped his career.From his breakout screen role as Courfeyrac in Les Misérables to performances in local films including Animals & Boys From County Hell, Fra has built a strong presence on screen, balancing indie projects against large-scale productions like Hawkeye on Disney+ & Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon.Now, Unchosen is available to stream on Netflix, in which he plays the enigmatic & manipulative Sam. Fra discusses his approach to this complex, morally ambiguous role, the contrast in working across different mediums, & how he develops a character from script to performance.This podcast has been made possible with the support of the Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland Stakeholders Fund.Listen now to the podcast on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast & Amazon, subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts or watch the original recording back:https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-actor-fra-fee-unchosen-rebel-moon-hawkeyeAbout Fra FeeImmediately after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, Dungannon actor Fra landed a role in the West End production of Dirty Dancing. Since then, he has worked consistently across stage & screen. Recently, Fra Fee starred in the leading role of Emcee in the Olivier Award-winning production of Cabaret in the West End. Fra also appeared in Jez Butterworth's critically acclaimed run, The Ferryman at the Royal Court Theatre, London's West End & on Broadway. Fra won the 2018 WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Play, for his role in the show. Fra's other theatre credits include Translations & As You Like It, both at the National Theatre, the World Premiere of The Wind in the Willows, & the title role in Candide at the Menier Chocolate Factory. On screen, Fra is known for his portrayal of Courfeyrac in Tom Hooper's film adaptation of Les Misérables. In 2021, he appeared as Kazi in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He worked with director Zack Snyder, starring as Balisarius in Rebel Moon Part 1 & 2. He also had roles in Animals, Boys From County Hell, Pixie & The Laureate.UnchosenAll six episodes are available to stream on Netflix now.Molly Windsor & Asa Butterfield (Sex Education) star alongside Christopher Eccleston, Siobhan Finneran, & Fra in the series from Intergalactic writer/creator Julie Gearey. This psychological thriller takes viewers behind the closed doors of a fictional conservative religious sect.Unchosen follows Rosie, who lives in a cloistered Christian community with her husband, Adam (Butterfield) & their daughter. The fateful arrival of the mysterious Sam, an escaped prisoner, throws into relief the reality & restraints of Rosie's world: Perhaps her hidden religious community doesn't have her best interests at heart. As cracks begin to appear in Rosie & Adam's marriage, Sam presents himself as Rosie's savior. But with his dark criminal past, where does the greatest danger lie - with the cult, or with Sam?Sam is an escaped convict who was arrested as a teen for a deadly crime. He quickly integrates himself into the fellowship & uses his powers of coercion to become a pillar of the community. While balancing an affair with Rosie & flirtation with Adam, Sam lives in fear of being sent back to prison. “He is fiercely intelligent, highly manipulative, & able to get what he wants by abusing other characters' insecurities or their weaknesses,” Fee tells Tudum. “A lot of the time, I don't think it's necessarily premeditated. He's just very reactionary & a real survivor.” Figuring out how to play Sam was a lesson in embracing the grey areas. Because the character's intentions were often murky & complex, Gearey encouraged Fee to never “fully dot the i's or cross the t's” in scenes. “There always had to be room for an alternative intention,” Fee explains. Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.So make sure to subscribe and listen back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The MusicaNova Orchestra presents its “Calming Waters” concert Saturday, May 9th at 7pm at the Tempe Center for the Arts. The program features music from Finland and Ukraine to Peru and Singapore, including the World Premiere of the version for saxophone and orchestra of My Cross by Carter Pann. Music Director Warren Cohen and guest saxophonist Christopher Creviston spoke with KBACH's Greg Kostraba about the concert. Tickets for these concerts are available at tempecenterforthearts.com.
In this episode of Let Us Be Idiots, the following content in this exact order begins with the Mocking MS Now segment. Quickly followed by a phone call between Matteo Pascale and John LoCicero, aka Big Chief. Which began about the St. Patrick's DayParade, only to become The Twilight Zone. Matteo Pascale givesan on-air film review of My Father's Dairies, directed by Ado Hasanović, which was screened at MEDFILM FESTIVAL IN NEW YORK, hosted by THE ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE. The film review concludes with audio of Matteo Pascale asking two questions during the Q&A after the screening at The Italian Cultural Institute to the director, Ado Hasanović, about his film My Father's Dairies. This episode closes out with what was live on the street and recorded in Tompkins Square Park, featuring Steve Girard and Phil 987, which is the perfect blend of what makes Let Us Be Idiots so original. Steve Girard discussed his latest film, ‘CRAIGHEAD.' Crediting the many individuals featured on this episode in order: Nicky Petito, John LoCicero aka Big Chief, Ado Hasanović, Steve Girard, and Phil 987. 'CRAIGHEAD's World Premiere will be on May 7th, 2026,at 8:00 pm at Essence Bar & Grill (1662 Atlantic Ave) in Brooklyn, New York. 21+ Free Admissionand COME SPEND A NIGHT ON THE TOWN with three subterranean Siamese ground-dwellers! Flanked by his two brutish brothers, each lacking what the other possesses only in scraps, a tenderloin triplet must reach beyond his armless grasp in the pursuit of Liberty. Don't step over this cracked grimeybottle... there's lightning in it! (Runtime 16 min) ***Outro Rap lyrics were written and performed by @jdange23 and the beat was produced by Matteo Pascale.***All other content can be found on the website:https://www.crooklyncomedy.com/Crooklyn Comedy and Let Us Be Idiots Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/user?u=66644629Social media links:Main Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatteoPascaleCrooklyn Comedy Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrooklynComedyMain Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comedianmatteopascale/Crooklyn Comedy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crooklyncomedy/Let Us Be Idiots Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letusbeidiots/Matteo Pascale's Website:https://www.crooklyncomedy.com/
Theatre By The Sea's announcement of the 2026 season is the subject of this week's program with Karen Kessler, General Manager, and Vinnie Lupino, Box Office Manager. We talk about this summer's musicals and listen to some of the very popular songs from Little Shop of Horrors, Grease, Titanic, and the World Premiere of You've Still Got A Friend. For more information, you can call (401) 782-8587 or go to www.theatrebythesea.com
What are the 4Qs? (1) Three favorite films. (2) An underrated film. (3) An overrated film. (4) A lesser-known film people should seek out. R. Scott McHenry wrote and directed the short film, “Sentient,” that had its World Premiere at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2025. Scott took home the Grand Jury Award for Best Short Film – Thriller as well as the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Director – Thriller! I've I’ve already seen Scott's follow-up film and it's fantastic! And speaking of fantastic follow-ups, please enjoy Scott’s 4 Questions! Follow Scott on Instagram at @rsmchenry Watch Sentient HERE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Links DIF Podcast Website – DIF Instagram – DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Website Sherman Oaks Film Festival Film Invasion Los Angeles
Elevated Magazines-Lifestyles, Jetsetter, Yachts, Automotive, Luxury Real Estate, Home & Design, Art
Welcome to the Elevated Magazines Luxury Report Your weekly guide to the most significant developments in luxury real estate, automotive, yachting, travel, and the lifestyle that defines the upper tier of the good life. Whether you're in Sydney, London, Miami, or Manhattan Beach — this is Elevated. Let's get into it.The Elevated Luxury Report is your weekly guide to the most significant developments in luxury real estate, automotive, yachting, travel, and the lifestyle that defines the upper tier of the good life, powered by Diamond Spas and Pools, DiamondSpas.com.This week: The 2027 BMW 7 Series makes its world premiere simultaneously in Beijing and New York City — and it's the most significant update to BMW's flagship sedan in the model's history. Plus the luxury real estate markets moving this spring from Miami Beach to Manhattan Beach to Mayfair. The Mediterranean superyacht season opens with Croatia emerging as the destination of the moment. Lamborghini confirms the Revuelto Roadster, the Corvette ZR1X continues to rewrite the American performance car conversation, and Lucid Air answers range anxiety once and for all.This week, Elevated launches two new international editions — Elevated England and Elevated Australia — available soon at ElevatedMagazines.com.That's the Elevated Luxury Report for the week of April 23rd, 2026 powered by Diamond Spas and Pools, DiamondSpas.com, unmatched quality, custom fabrication, and sustainability. We'll be back next week with more from the world of luxury real estate, automotive, yachting, travel, and the life well lived. This is Elevated. ElevatedMagazines.com. Until next time.
Welcome Back, Listeners! R. Scott McHenry wrote and directed the short film, “Sentient,” that had its World Premiere at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2025. Scott took home the Grand Jury Award for Best Short Film – Thriller as well as the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Director – Thriller! And… spoiler alert… I've already seen Scott's follow-up film and it's fantastic! Follow Scott on Instagram at @rsmchenry Watch Sentient HERE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Links DIF Podcast Website – DIF Instagram – DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Website Sherman Oaks Film Festival Film Invasion Los Angeles
As Watches and Wonders 2026 opens its doors in Geneve, we are honored to be joined by the talented Guido Terreni, CEO Parmigiani Fleurier since 2021. During his tenure, Guido has worked hand in hand with Michel Parmigiani, the famed watchmaker known within the industry as he man with Golden Hands due to his unmatched skill in restoring complex, historically important timepieces. Together, they have honed the unique appeal of the luxury watchmaker, Parmigiani Fleurier, building on 30 years of history and creating timepieces the excel in craftsmanship and epitomize "Private Luxury". Listen in as Guido and your host, Jeremy Oster, reveal the extraordinary third World Premiere in a series of everyday complication timepieces showcasing the brand's expertise in mechanical excellence with creative application of the "Rattrapante" complication as perfected in the brand's famous GPHG-winning Chrono and PF Split-Seconds Chronograph models. The new PF Chronograph Mysterieux is a work of mechanical genius. Turning an elegant 40mm 3-hand watch into a mono-pusher chronograph with the push of a button is the perfect expression of technical mastery combined with incredible discipline in consistent design which is why Parmigiani Fleurier today is considered one of the watch industry's most highly respected brands the world over. Guido shares incredible insights into the legacy of Parmigiani Fleurier as the brand celebrates its 30th Anniversary in style. We discuss the incredible technique used to create the new pieces which feature remarkable hand-hammered dials. Only 30 pieces of each of the 3 versions will be produced by the Manufacture making this collection extremely rare. As always, the conversation is free-flowing and filled with rare insights as only the CEO of the brand could offer. We greatly thank Guido Terreni and all at Parmigiani for making this episode possible for the listeners of Keeping Time. Thanks as always to co-host and producer Doug Hoyt. Thanks to all of our listeners. Suggestions for future guests? Feedback? Email keepingtime@osterwatches.com. If you enjoy Keeping Time podcast please do consider rating and reviewing so others can discover the podcast and share with your friends. Visit the Keeping Time Podccast blog page for corresponding photos and the complete podcast listing.
In this What's On Disney Plus Podcast episode, Roger discusses some of today's biggest Disney+ news, including: 20th Century Studios Adapting “99 Nights In The Forest” Roblox Video Game Into A Movie https://whatsondisneyplus.com/20th-century-studios-adapting-99-nights-in-the-forest-roblox-video-game-into-a-movie/ “The Rookie” Renewed For A Ninth Season “Will Trent” Renewed For A Fifth Season https://whatsondisneyplus.com/will-trent-renewed-for-a-fifth-season/ “Travis Japan Summer Vacation In The USA” Disney+ Release Date Announced https://whatsondisneyplus.com/travis-japan-summer-vacation-in-the-usa-disney-release-date-announced/ “The Devil Wears Prada 2” World Premiere to Livestream on Hulu & Disney+ https://whatsondisneyplus.com/the-devil-wears-prada-2-world-premiere-to-livestream-on-hulu-disney/ What did you think of today's Disney+ news? Let me know below
In this What's On Disney Plus Podcast episode, Roger discusses some of today's biggest Disney+ news, including: 20th Century Studios Adapting “99 Nights In The Forest” Roblox Video Game Into A Movie https://whatsondisneyplus.com/20th-century-studios-adapting-99-nights-in-the-forest-roblox-video-game-into-a-movie/ “The Rookie” Renewed For A Ninth Season “Will Trent” Renewed For A Fifth Season https://whatsondisneyplus.com/will-trent-renewed-for-a-fifth-season/ “Travis Japan Summer Vacation In The USA” Disney+ Release Date Announced https://whatsondisneyplus.com/travis-japan-summer-vacation-in-the-usa-disney-release-date-announced/ “The Devil Wears Prada 2” World Premiere to Livestream on Hulu & Disney+ https://whatsondisneyplus.com/the-devil-wears-prada-2-world-premiere-to-livestream-on-hulu-disney/ What did you think of today's Disney+ news? Let me know below
In this What's On Disney Plus Podcast episode, Roger discusses some of today's biggest Disney+ news, including: 20th Century Studios Adapting “99 Nights In The Forest” Roblox Video Game Into A Movie https://whatsondisneyplus.com/20th-century-studios-adapting-99-nights-in-the-forest-roblox-video-game-into-a-movie/ “The Rookie” Renewed For A Ninth Season “Will Trent” Renewed For A Fifth Season https://whatsondisneyplus.com/will-trent-renewed-for-a-fifth-season/ “Travis Japan Summer Vacation In The USA” Disney+ Release Date Announced https://whatsondisneyplus.com/travis-japan-summer-vacation-in-the-usa-disney-release-date-announced/ “The Devil Wears Prada 2” World Premiere to Livestream on Hulu & Disney+ https://whatsondisneyplus.com/the-devil-wears-prada-2-world-premiere-to-livestream-on-hulu-disney/ What did you think of today's Disney+ news? Let me know below
We're back! FINALLY! And what better way to kick off the first episode of 2026 than with a LIVE episode from WonderCon! In perfect Con fashion, this episode has some audio issues. Our apologies. But the show must go on! For this year's WonderCon show I decided to bring not only my dear friend and director of Demonetize, Alex Watson, but a few of our cast members as well! We were thrilled to have Matty Cardarople and Janine Hogan join us for this year's episode. Our film Demonetize is about to have it's World Premiere at Panic Fest in Kansas City on April 12th, and we thought it would be great to showcase a little more of the film. We talked about how the film and the cast came together, favorite moments on set, ghost hunting the set (which was haunted), letting the actors improvise, and Matty shows everybody why he's the best podcast guest ever. Thank you for those of you the joined us in Anaheim! I'm always so grateful for those of you that stick around for our show. Thank you to WonderCon for having us back once again. A huge thanks to Alex, Matty, and Janine for taking the time to join me as well. And an extra special thanks to Vanella Drake and Chris Dotson who luckily filmed the episode so it wasn't entirely lost. Enjoy the episode!
The release of 2001: A Space Odyssey marked an important moment in the development of cinematic science fiction, combining large-scale visual effects with a narrative that addressed themes of human evolution, artificial intelligence, and space ...
The SXSW Film and TV Festival is one of the largest of its kind in the world. In a typical year, thousands of fans arrive in downtown Austin, TX to partake in a couple of weeks of great music, technology, and film. For this special episode of The Hollywood Outsider, we take you along for our annual deep dive into the heart of the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival portion, and even further into the films themselves. Over the course of several days, the 2026 SXSW Film and TV Festival screened numerous features, TV premieres, many from first-time filmmakers (consisting of World Premieres, North American Premieres, and US Premieres), shorts, virtual reality exhibits, AI advancements, and other works. These films were selected from thousands of overall submissions, and – while we can't see them all – we have a nice sample to share with you of what came out of this stellar lineup of independent and popular films and television series. Over 25 films are on our docket this year, and we review them all (including Ready or Not 2, Family Movie, Phoenix Jones, Rock Springs, Obsession, Stormbound, Normal, They Will Kill You, Chili Finger, Ugly Cry, and more), as well as snippets from panels and a whole lot more! So sit back and relax. You're about to experience The 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival from the comfort of your own home. Discussed on this episode of The Hollywood Outsider Movie and TV Podcast: Thoughts on the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival Reviews of over 25 films, TV episodic premieres, and panels screened at the festival. Our personal awards from the festival Please support The Hollywood Outsider and gain immediate access to bonus content, including Patreon exclusive podcast content like our Bad Movie Night by visiting Patreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsider Be sure to join our Facebook Group Follow us on X @BuyPopcorn Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe via RSS