Token Theatre Friends
Arts & Culture Podcasts
A community of BIPOC theater enthusiasts offering opportunities for theatre lovers to discover and engage with the works of artists we love. We bring a fresh perspective to the performing arts, exploring new work from underserved artists in our weekly web series and podcast, as well as our features and reviews. We don’t talk about representation, we are representation.Become a contributor on Patreon at www.patreon.com/tokentheatrefriends.
A community of BIPOC theater enthusiasts offering opportunities for theatre lovers to discover and engage with the works of artists we love. We bring a fresh perspective to the performing arts, exploring new work from underserved artists in our weekly web series and podcast, as well as our features and reviews. We don’t talk about representation, we are representation.Become a contributor on Patreon at www.patreon.com/tokentheatrefriends.
Location:
United States
Genres:
Arts & Culture Podcasts
Description:
A community of BIPOC theater enthusiasts offering opportunities for theatre lovers to discover and engage with the works of artists we love. We bring a fresh perspective to the performing arts, exploring new work from underserved artists in our weekly web series and podcast, as well as our features and reviews. We don’t talk about representation, we are representation.Become a contributor on Patreon at www.patreon.com/tokentheatrefriends.
Twitter:
@TokenTFriends
Language:
English
Contact:
2126095900
Episodes
Ep. 52: Security, Stability, and South Asians in Theater (Ft. Ramita Ravi)
6/24/2022
In this episode, Isabel speaks to Ramita Ravi, actor and dance captain in Bhangin' It. The La Jolla Playhouse musical, written by Mike Lew and Rehana Lew Mirza, with music and lyrics by Sam Willmott and Deep Singh, made its world premiere in San Diego from March 20th - April 17th, 2022. Ramita speaks on how the show's process makes space for South Asians and consultancy in theater, and how she challenges the "starving artist" trope by creating ARTSWRK, the professional network for artists....
Duration:00:55:01
Ep. 51: To the Moon and Back (Ft. Jackie Burns)
5/13/2022
In this episode, Jose speaks to performer Jackie Burns. The actor is currently starring in a musical adaptation of A Walk on the Moon where she plays Pearl, a woman grappling with her life choices during the summer of 1969. Burns, known for her roles in If/Then and Wicked, talks about her love for the 1999 film that inspired the musical, as well as what it feels like to return to the stage in the era of Covid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Duration:00:26:44
Ep. 50: A Map to Making Music (Ft. Anthony McGill & Weston Sprott)
5/13/2022
In this episode, Jose speaks to clarinetist Anthony McGill and trombonist Weston Sprott, who also run Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program (MAP). The program is designed to recruit students from underrepresented communities in an effort to increase diversity in classical music. To celebrate the program's 30th anniversary, the students and faculty have put together a special concert at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine on May 14. McGill and Sprott talk about what drew them to...
Duration:00:44:15
Ep. 49: License to Be Human (Ft. Fernanda Santos)
4/27/2022
In this episode, Jose speaks to Fernanda Santos. The trailblazing, multilingual writer is known for her powerful journalism and intimate storytelling. Now she's also a musical writer with ¡Americano! which tells the real-life story of Tony Valdovinos, a young man who discovers he's undocumented and fights to remind people why he belongs in the US. Santos spoke about the kind of stories that draw her, as well as the immigrant saudade that comes with being split between two worlds. Learn more...
Duration:00:43:24
Ep. 48: H*tler's Tasters (Ft. Michelle Kholos Brooks)
4/21/2022
In this episode, Jose speaks to playwright Michelle Kholos Brooks about her play H*tler's Tasters (we reviewed the first New York production in 2018), her tragicomic look at the young women who were ready to give their lives for the infamous Nazi führer. As the play returns to New York stages, Kholos Brooks speaks about her research and the fascinating grey areas in which her characters exist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Duration:00:46:37
Ep. 47: Immigrant Songs (Ft. Jaime Lozano)
4/7/2022
In this episode, Jose speaks to composer Jaime Lozano about his career and upcoming performances. On April 15, Lozano will take the stage at Lincoln Center's American Songbook series with Songs by an Immigrant, featuring music from his acclaimed song cycle performed by Latinx guest artists. Lozano also spoke about his process, what he wants young composers to know, and shared his passion for cooking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Duration:00:45:10
Ep. 46: 7 Minutes to Change the World
3/24/2022
In this episode, Jose speaks to the director and cast of 7 Minutes. The Waterwell production is a translation of Stefano Massini's play, making its American debut at HERE Arts from March 17 - April 10, 2022. Director Mei Ann Teo speaks about what drew them to the play, while actors Nicole Ansari, Jojo Brown, and Ebony Marshall-Oliver comment on what it's like to work in an ensemble constituted exclusively by BIPOC women. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Duration:00:42:41
Ep. 45: Pipes' Dreams (Ft. Eliana Pipes)
3/17/2022
In this episode, Jose speaks to playwright Eliana Pipes. Her play Dream Hou$e is in the midst of a rolling premiere in Atlanta, Connecticut, and Maryland. In Dream Hou$e, sisters Patricia and Julia deal with the recent death of their mother as they are left to decide whether they should sell their childhood house or not. Pipes talks about how the gentrification of her childhood neighborhood inspired her to write the play, as well as showcasing female characters onstage. Learn more about your...
Duration:00:35:27
Ep. 44: Finding the Right Words (Ft. Marjan Neshat)
3/3/2022
In this episode, Jose speaks to actor Marjan Neshat, one of the stars of English. The play by Sanaz Toossi takes place in a classroom in Iran, where the students prepare to take the TOEFL, in order to prove their proficiency in English. When she was eight years old, Neshat and her parents moved from Iran to the United States where she found a way to embrace the new culture through her love of performing. In the play, she stars as a teacher who constantly reminds her pupils to speak in...
Duration:00:38:42
Ep. 43: Growing Up (Ft. Mia Pinero)
2/24/2022
In this episode, Jose speaks with recording artist/actor Mia Pinero. Pinero is currently starring in Dipika Guha's Yoga Play at PlayMakers Repertory in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The actor speaks about what draws her to the characters she plays. Later this spring, Pinero will release her first solo album. Growing Up is a collection of songs that showcase Pinero's eclectic tastes and interests. From Childish Gambino, to Sondheim, and John Mayer, Pinero's melodious voice takes the listener...
Duration:00:36:37
Ep. 42: Addressless (Ft. Martin Boross & Jonathan Payne)
2/11/2022
In this episode, Jose speaks with playwright Jonathan Payne and director Martin Boross about Addressless. In the digital experience, attendees play a game where they learn about the many causes/consequences of housing insecurity. Boross first staged the show in his native Hungary, where he leads the revolutionary troupe STEREO AKT. Payne joined the project in its transfer to the United States, the two collaborated transatlantically via Zoom and share what that experience was like. Learn more...
Duration:00:38:01
Ep. 41: A Journey in the Dark (Ft. Martín Bondone & Carlos Armesto)
2/10/2022
In this episode, Jose speaks with playwright Martín Bondone and dramaturg Carlos Armesto about Odd Man Out. The site-specific/international co-production takes place in complete darkness, audience members are blindfolded and experience the story of Alberto, a blind artist traveling to Argentina. Armesto and Bondone talk about their backgrounds and how they found their way into making theater, as well as the importance of creating works that defy expectations of what a play should be like....
Duration:00:47:19
Ep. 40: A Lesson in Crafting Opera (Ft. Laquita Mitchell)
1/19/2022
In this episode, Jose speaks to world renowned soprano Laquita Mitchell. This month she stars in On Site Opera's Lesson Plan, an adaptation of Georg Philipp Telemann's Der Schulmeister which takes place on Zoom. During the pandemic, in addition to performing, Mitchell has hosted a series of conversations with artists and thinkers she admires, which in addition to being a delight, are often enlightening. Mitchell spoke about what she's learned, seen, and heard during the last two years, and...
Duration:00:37:02
Ep. 39: I'm Just a Teenage Dick, Baby (Ft. Mike Lew & Gregg Mozgala)
1/18/2022
In this episode, Jose speaks to playwright Mike Lew and actor Gregg Mozgala about Teenage Dick. The high-school-set play is a hilarious adaptation of Richard III in which Mozgala plays the title Dick, a young man who exacts revenge on those who have bullied and mocked him for his cerebral palsy. Lew and Mozgala talk about returning to the stage, how they found humor in one of the Bard's darkest plays, and what it means to be a working parent in theater. This production of Teenage Dick is a...
Duration:00:47:26
Ep. 38: Reopening Shakespeare in the Park (Ft. Jocelyn Bioh & Saheem Ali)
12/20/2021
In this episode Jose speaks to playwright Jocelyn Bioh and director Saheem Ali, who star in the documentary "Reopening Night" (available on HBOMax from Dec. 20). The film by Rudy Valdez follows the talented troupe led by Bioh and Ali who brought back Shakespeare in the Park following the Covid-19 theater shutdown. Bioh and Ali look back at their thrilling summer and reflect on how their artistry has been informed by the pandemic and share their wishes for theater in 2022. Learn more about...
Duration:00:37:56
Ep. 37: Historias del West Side & Panamá (Feat. Ilda Mason)
12/20/2021
In this episode, Jose speaks to actor Ilda Mason, who is making her big screen debut in Steven Spielberg's sumptuous retelling of West Side Story. Mason talks about how she ended up starring in four different versions of the beloved musical, as well as her upbringing in Panamá. Mason is also an artist in residence at Abingdon Theater Company and spoke about the joy she feels when she is collaborating with other artists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Duration:00:38:17
Ep. 36: Black Feminist Video Game (Feat. Victoria Collado and Darrel Alejandro Holnes)
5/22/2021
In this episode, Jose speaks to the creative minds behind "Black Feminist Video Game." In the play, Jonas, a biracial teenager with autism, learns about feminism through a classic video game. Playwright Darrel Alejandro Holnes talks about discovering a safe space in gaming. Director Victoria Collado explains how the digital world lent itself to an immersive theatrical experience. "Black Feminist Video Game" is a production by The Civilians, with a rolling digital premiere at 59E59, Center...
Duration:00:41:12
Ep. 35: Shadow/Land: Part Play Part Poem
5/21/2021
In this episode, Brittani and Alexi review Shadow/Land at the Public Theater. The show explores the relationship between a mother and daughter who are forced to stay in New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina engulfs the city. Both Brittani and Alexi agree that the piece is part play, part poem as they recite their favorite lines. The poetic language clearly outlined the systemic barriers that put black people's lives at risk during Hurricane Katrina. You can listen to the play for free here. The...
Duration:00:32:54
Ep. 34: The Immigrants
4/24/2021
In this episode, Alexi and Murtada talk about the March on Broadway organized by the Actor’s Equity Association. They discuss the need for systemic reform to prevent future manifestations of abusive behavior within the theatre industry. Both hope that this reckoning is just the beginning of an industry-wide effort towards transformational change. The friends also review the film Limbo directed by Ben Sharrock and the play Honduras written by Sara Farrington. Both pieces portray the...
Duration:00:31:48
Ep. 33: Messy Characters/Meaningful Theatre
4/15/2021
In this episode, Alexi and Juan review Romeo Y Julieta at The Public Theater. The show’s bilingual translation reminded Alexi of the chismes in his family spilling the tea (some might say he himself is the chisme). Both agreed that maybe it was best to leave behind the old English and bring this Shakespeare classic into a full Spanish telenovela setting. The friends also reviewed Twenty-Six by Ang Bey. The show was part of Jouska Play Works New Play Showcase at Simpatico Theatre. Juan points...
Duration:00:37:51