Boston Podcast Players

Hi everyone out there in isolation! This is an emergency season of the podcast. Everyone's lives have been disrupted by Covid19, including playwrights, and we want to check in to see how people are coping. We extended the offer to the Boston playwriting community to record yourself and another theatremaker checking in with one another and send it to us at bospodplay@gmail.com and we'd put it on the podcast, which would otherwise be idle. We have our first two takers! MJ Halberstadt talking with Caity-Shea Violette Manuel Lopez talking with Charmaine Santiago Galdón Listen in on their convos. If you want to join in, please do so. Stay safe! Support local playwrights, now more than ever!

The final (yes, final) playwright of Season 2 is Kira Rockwell, a Texas native who has come to our fair city and is thriving, with more awards in the past year than you can shake a stick at. She casts her empathetic eye towards girls living in the Texas foster care system in The Tragic Ecstasy of Girlhood. Stay tuned to the very end for an important announcement about the podcast! Mentioned: Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Fresh Ink Theatre, The Winchester Mystery House, Paula Vogel Co-Host Pascale Florestal Cast Charlie was played by Tatiana Chavez Izzy was played by Tatiana Gill Mercy was played by Tonasia Jones Audi was played by Stephanie Castillo Amber was played by Olivia Cote Stage Directions read by Pascale Florestal

This week we lead a band of intrepid adventurers on an expedition to make a fictional podcast series about a roleplaying group. Roll for initiative and may the D20 be with you. Brandon Crose is a playwright with +2 Charisma who is drawn to making making ambitious multimedia projects such as his acclaimed roleplaying podseries The Ordinary Epic. He joins us to talk audio drama, 31 plays in 31 days, roleplaying games similar to but legally distinct from Dungeons and Dragons, podcasts, Welcome to Night Vale., and a possible/probable Season 2 that you, yes YOU, can help make happen. Mentioned: The Ordinary Epic Podcast, Second Shift Podcast, 31 plays in 31 days, The Ordinary Epic Patreon Campaign, One Minute Play Festival Note: The local writer of a serialized series of plays whose name I couldn’t remember is Pheobe Roberts with her Mrs. Hawking Steampunk Mystery Caper series. Co-Host John Minigan Cast Emo & Thack were played by Rachel Belleman Athena were played by Caitlin Gjerdrum (pronounced JARE-drum) Marcus & Benedict were played by Brandon G. Green Daniel & Merrick were played by Michael Hisamoto Dominic & Caelus were played by Eliott Purcell Production Jordan Stillman was the Executive Producer Brad Smith was the Technical Producer Sound Design by Matthew Lightbound Music by Tiven Weinstock and Bradley Jordan Directed by Stephanie LeBolt

Audrey Pillsbury is a recent graduate of MIT, that well-known theatre school. In college she wrote and produced Jade Bracelet, a musical about two daughters growing up with their Chinese mom. Along with co-host Howard Zilber of the Open Theatre Project, we talk to Audrey about representation, musicals, webseries, and the minimum science requirements for technology schools. Mentioned: Open Theatre Project, Asian-American Playwright Collective, MIT Theater, Killing Eve, 10 Things I Hate About You Co-Host Howard Zilber Cast Mei was played by Christina Chan Amy was played by Karla Lang Jaden was played by Kim Klasner Chris Russell was played by Michael Mandanas Directed by Mikey DiLoreto The singing voice of Jaden was J.L.Y. The singing voice of Amy was July The singing voice of Chris was Mikey Angelo The Sound Engineer was Louis Ng of Lenson Productions Songs Produced by Herbert Waltl of HYPERIUM Conservatory

MJ Halberstadt's new play Deal Me Out will be part of Boston Playwrights' Theatre's 2019-20 season. It's the story of a longtime standing board game group falling apart due to internal dislikes coming to a head in the aftermath of the 2016 elections. Co-host Ethan Warren joins us as MJ talks about site specific plays, knitting, the crucial different between a comma and a semicolon, Ranked Choice Voting, and board games. Lots of board games. Mentioned: Boston Playwrights' Theatre, Emerson College, Museum of Fine Arts, Unity Games, Ranked Choice Voting Co-Host Ethan Warren Cast Dez - Jon Vellante Oberon - Joe Ruscio Cleo - Chelsea Ruscio Agatha - Kim Klasner Kay - Ella Mock Lucien - Maurice Palmer Stage Directions read by Pascale Florestal

The latest episode features first time playwright Sophia Koevary, a writer/actress/model/comedian whose play Dropout draws the portrait of a woman who joined the military after her mother dies, but returns home to a small Massachusetts town unexpectedly. With guest co-host director Sierra Grabowska, we talk to Sophia about military regulations, flying, modeling, theatre in Israel, and more. Mentioned: TCSquared, U.S. Army, Shit Faced Shakespeare, South Shore Playwright Showcase Co-Host Sierra Grabowska Cast

And we are BACK to our usual format, highlighting one local playwright per episode. This month's featured playwright is Liana Asim, who has put together an epic opera along with her husband Jabari and a few musical collaborators about the life of the slave rebellion leader Nat Turner. BROTHER NAT: RISE. REVOLT. REDEMPTION. had a concert performance last October, which is where the gorgeous excerpt in the episode came from. The piece will be performed again this month at the New York Musical Festival, July 15 & 17. IMPORTANT! You can learn more and support this endeavor by donating here: www.nymf.org/festival/2019-events/brother-nat/ Guest co-host Laura Neill and I talk with Liana about digging through history for inspiration, putting together musicals, and getting a late start on playwriting. Mentioned: New York Musical Festival, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, The Boston Foundation, Emerson College Co-Host Laura Neill Cast

It’s Part 2 of this conversation about the business of playwriting featuring four early career playwrights (David Fristrom, Jackie Martin, James Wilkinson, and Sharisse Zeeronian) and three theatre experts (Company One’s Ilana Brownstein, playwright Patrick Gabridge, and Boston Playwrights’ Theatre’s Kate Snodgrass). In this episode, we ask the experts to each impart one key lesson to our early career playwrights, something they don’t know or have not considered. We talk about the long game of theatre, representing the world around you, and fostering a personal playwriting network. We then go and talk about some key decisions a playwright might make in the formative stages of their careers. And also, we unveil the Boston playwrights’ resource cheat sheet I created to aid local playwrights, featuring opportunities, groups, and useful information that playwrights should know. Guys, these episodes are something I’ve been very proud to produce. I hope this helps someone out there in some way. If you’d like to support this podcast and its future endeavors, I’ve compiled a list of 17 ways you can help out the podcast. Some of which are as simple as hitting “Like” on Facebook. Of course there’s our Patreon page too if you’re really feeling generous… Mentioned: Company One, Boston Theatre Marathon, Boston Playwrights Theatre, New Play Exchange, Rabbit Reviews Boston, Boston Playwrights Resource Cheat Sheet, Fresh Ink Theatre, Trek in the Park, New Play Alliance The Playwrights David Fristrom Jackie Martin James Wilkinson Sharisse Zeroonian The Panel Ilana Brownstein, Company One Patrick Gabridge, Playwright Kate Snodgrass, Boston Playwrights Theatre

In Season 1 of this podcast, I interviewed a group of playwrights who would be deemed “early career”. None of us had extensive work mounted on professional stages. In Season 2, I’ve been interviewing more established playwrights, and that’s been great. But, I wanted to remember the plight of the early career playwright, those who have not learned yet how to place their work into the hands of theatres and are confused as to what they need to do to further their careers. In this episode, I’ve assembled four self-identifying early career playwrights, Jackie Martin, David Fristrom, James Wilkinson, and Sharisse Zeeronian. I’ve had each of them come prepared to ask the one burning question they have about the business of playwriting. To help answer them, I’ve assemble a panel of experts: Ilana Brownstein of Company One, playwright Patrick Gabridge, and Boston Playwrights Theatre’s Kate Snodgrass. The conversation that ensues I hope will be a valuable resource to playwrights of all experience levels. It contains much of the information that I wish I had 15 years ago. Part 1 of 2. Mentioned: Company One, Boston Theatre Marathon, Boston Playwrights Theatre, New Play Exchange, Rabbit Reviews Boston, Exiled Theatre, Playwright Marketing Binge, Play Submission Helper The Playwrights David Fristrom Jackie Martin James Wilkinson Sharisse Zeroonian The Panel Ilana Brownstein, Company One Patrick Gabridge, Playwright Kate Snodgrass, Boston Playwrights Theatre Readers Rachel Belleman Melissa Bergstrom Christina Chan Austyn Davis Greg Hovanesian

Patrick Gabridge is Boston’s new play scene’s Mr. Everything. From penning commissioned site specific work in historical sites, to being the New England region’s Dramatists Guild rep, to creating the Playwrights Marketing Binge email list, Patrick is juggling a lot of balls at once. It’s fitting that his play Mox Nox is about sleight of hand. It’s a sci-fi blended family drama with stage magic in its origin. Guest co-host Courtney O’Connor, Associate Artistic Director of the Lyric Stage, joins us to talk to about, well, everything. Commissioned work, career arcs, site specific work, fostering relationships, the long game of playwriting, the new play ecosystem, and the need for fringe productions to court disaster and go for broke. This episode is a LOT. Be here for it. If you want to see Patrick’s work, check out The Nature Plays at Mt. Auburn Cemetery on June 1-9 Mentioned: Lyric Stage, Dramatists Guild, New Play Exchange, Playwright Marketing Binge, Brown Box Theatre, Evan Northrup, Plays in Place, Martha Patterson Co-Host Courtney O’Connor Cast Mira – Marge Dunn Pike – Cam Torres DeeDee – Becca A. Lewis Amanda – Austyn Davis Stage Directions – Courtney O’Connor

Charlotte Meehan writes multimedia pieces that play with form and speak about today’s issues, but she insists it isn’t surreal but how she views the world. Her play Cleanliness, Godliness, and Madness: A User’s Guide is a prime example. Written to be performed by her company, Sleeping Weazel, it might seem like a broadside attack on Trumpism but it’s rooted in Meehan’s family history. Guest co-host Kate Snodgrass, yes Kate Snodgrass of Boston Theater Marathon and Boston Playwright’s Theatre, joins the podcast to look through Meehan’s life growing up in an ultraconservative upbringing while also enjoying trips to New York City to see the latest shows. If you want to see an event Meehan is putting together, check out The Audacity: Women Speak. March 28–April 6, 2019 at the Boston Center for the Arts. This show has contributions by many female playwrights, and will highlight the real stories of womxn’s experiences with gender biased treatment and sexual harassment, systemic misogyny and sexism, and assault and rape. Mentioned: Sleeping Weazel, Boston Theater Marathon, Boston Playwright’s Theatre Co-Host Kate Snodgrass Cast Grace – Veronica Anastasio Wiseman Mary – Stephanie Burlington Daniels Stage Directions - Charlotte Meehan Recorded at Boston Playwrights Theatre

This month we are talking to Manuel Lopez, a bilingual Boston playwright by way of the Dominican Republic, Washington Heights, and Lawrence. His play Morir Soñando introduces us to El Cuco, a Latin American boogeyman/trickster type which Lopez intertwines into the lives of a group of friends. Like Livian Yeh last episode, Mani was involved in Artists' Theater of Boston’s This Place/Displaced, and he talks about the process of pairing up with a community partner for inspiration for his play which he wrote in verse because the assignment wasn’t difficult enough or something. Former featured playwright Jecenia Isis Figueroa joins us as co-host, and together we talk about bilingual theater, life as an immigrant, writing in verse, Buzz Lightyear, and the challenges of moving from New York to Boston as a kid. Plus we try stump him with the Fictional Latinx Bostonian question. Mentioned: Artists' Theater of Boston, TCSquared, Escena Latina Teatro, Boston Red Sox

Happy New Years everyone! We are now in a post Crazy Rich Asians world, people. On this episode we have not one but two but THREE Asian-American playwrights living in Boston between the host, featured playwright Livian Yeh, and co-host Christina Chan. We talk about Yeh’s examination of Maoist China Nightfall, acupuncture, the architect Maya Lin, superheroes and/or romance novels, translating plays into Chinese, housing in Boston and Asia, and the Asian-American Playwright Collective, which was co-founded by the three of us (and others). Mentioned: Artists Theater of Boston, Fresh Ink Theater, Boston Playwrights Theatre, Asian-American Playwright Collective

The newly retired high school drama teacher and playwright John Minigan is this month’s featured playwright, bringing his O’Neill Award finalist Queen of Sad Mischance. Carrying over from last month’s episode is the mini-theme of women slowly losing their mind and the caretakers who, well, have to take care of them. In this case, its a renowned feminist academic and the student of color who comes in to help her finish her book before it’s too late. In the interview we talk Shakespeare, academia, Centastage’s Write On! program, and more. And do we break down Massachusetts High School Drama Festivals from the early ‘90s? Yes, yes we do. Season 2 of Boston Podcast Players is supported in part by the Bob Jolly Charitable Trust. Also thanks to Patreon donor Melissa Fristrom and The Depot reading series for producing the excerpt. Co-Host Brandon Crose, The Ordinary Epic podcast. Cast Kym was played by Elizabeth Reynolds Beverly was played by Shaler Wright Roy was played by Eric Michaelian Stage Directions were read by Kristen Rowe

This month’s featured playwright is the amazing Laura Neill, who has packed a lot of accomplishment already in her short career. Don’t Give Up the Ship was produced by Fresh Ink Theatre in 2017. We talk 18th century seamen, townies of the Hamptons, Opera Divas, Iron Chef playwriting, and so much more. Plus: co-host Haley Fluke explains dramaturgy! Laura’s play Winter People is being produced in December by Boston Playwrights Theatre December 6-16! Go here for more information. Season 2 of Boston Podcast Players is supported in part by the Bob Jolly Charitable Trust. Also thanks to Patreon donor Melissa Fristrom. Cast

Say hello to Melissa Bergstrom and Kate Marple of The Perpetual Visitors Theatre Company. Together they bring us their unique brand of documentary playwriting with their play, The Big Work, which you can download on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. They interviewed dozens of people across their country about their feelings about their jobs and weaved their words together into a fascinating play which talks about how people really feel about their work. They also put out the Identity Tales podcast which you can download for free. Season 2 of Boston Podcast Players is supported in part by the Bob Jolly Charitable Trust. Also thanks to Patreon donor Melissa Fristrom. Cast Play excerpt provided courtesy of The Perpetual Visitors Theatre Company.

Season 2 begins with Michael Bradford's Fathers & Sons, a play about a young African-American couples' struggles to cope with the loss of their missing child. Michael is the head of the Dramatic Arts department at the University of Connecticut, and Artistic Director of Connecticut Repertory Theatre. In our interview, we talk about playwriting from both the playwright's POV and the producers POV, writing bigger than you know, and how to stalk a playwright. We are joined by co-host Anne Flammang of the new play reading series The Depot. Season 2 of Boston Podcast Players is supported in part by the Bob Jolly Charitable Trust. Also thanks to Patreon donor Melissa Fristrom. Cast Marcus Goldwater.....Nikolai Fernandez Yvette Goldwater......Angela Hunt

Boston Podcast Players debuts on Wednesday, September 5! Here is a short preview of what's to come! Boston Podcast Players Season 2 is supported by a grant from the Bob Jolly Charitable Trust. You can support the podcast on our Patreon page. Theme Music by Tom Deis (tomdeismusic.com).

There's no featured playwright this week. Instead Mara and Greg sit and recap the first season and look forward to the next season. We find out what Mara's been up to in Seattle. (Quite a lot, as it happens.) We talk about our favorite moments of Season 1, and we look ahead to season 2. Yes, we will be doing a season 2! There will be changes! We have started talking to exciting people and setting things up! It should be up in the fall. Boston Podcast Players is supported by a grant by the Bob Jolly Charitable Trust.

In this episode we talk with featured playwright, poet, and all around creative Jecenia Isis Figueroa about writing bilingually, going for raw emotion, and drawing inspiration for her intense play from the Boston Marathon bombing. Bonus: TFW you realize that you can't think of a single fictional Latino Bostonian. Not. A. Single. One. Then we listen to her short play Dirty Laundry, in which a couple deal with the fallout of crimes committed by their son. For more information about Jecenia, see her blog Mastering My Pieces. Cast Luz La Costa - Inés De La Cruz Ernesto La Costa - Juan Pedro Paniagua Susanne Smith – Jecenia Isis Figueroa Stage Directions read by Allyson Lazar Please be advised: Explicit content included