Teacakes & Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists

Triggering Love - featuring Robert O'Hara (he/him) Featuring award winning playwright and Tony Award nominated theater director Robert O'Hara | he/him This creative conversation kicks off with frank discussions of the practical and physical: this industry is tough, success is not promised, and backstage Broadway is far from glamorous. In short, it's a job! Robert and Will connect on the value of voicing the risks to young artists early - "It's a profession, not a hobby." This leads to an interrogation of trigger warnings in general and specifically with regards to Robert's hotly publicized direction of Jeremy O. Harris' SLAVE PLAY on Broadway. Will takes the opportunity to ask Robert about the difference of developing new work when directing MACBETH at The Denver Center. Robert suggests approaching all projects like new plays, a project that has never appeared before, by bringing a personal perspective to every choice that is made. Only by making informed, personal choices can audiences learn who you are and clarify your artistic voice. After a rigorous discussion of reality, Robert's brave tarot pull explores how to shepherd grace personally and professionally. In Teacakes and Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists, host Will Wilhelm (they/them) welcomes an artistic crush for an intimate chat and a reading. Each episode features a new queer guest discussing art, life in our industry, and their dreams and intentions while the world of performance waits in the wings. Together, they hold space to summon more inclusive, exciting, and queer-friendly ways to create. As the candle burns low, Will offers their guest a unique tarot reading to give them greater insight on a personal journey. It's one part cocktail party and one part slumber party that will leave you stirred but never shaken. Teacakes & Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists is produced by Island Shakespeare Festival as part of the Shakespeare Playground Series. The series presents socially distanced programming that upholds ISF’s mission of accessible Shakespeare that embraces intersectional storytelling and artistic excellence. Find out more at islandshakespearefest.org! Co-Created by Will Wilhelm (they/them) and Erin Murray (she/her) Graphic Design by Ray Kathryn Morgen (they/them) Theme Song: Raro Bueno by Chuzausen, licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. Audio & Mixing: Nigel Saskrotch (they/them)

Protecting Softness - featuring Jéhan Òsanyin (they/them) Featuring theater director, actor, playwright, storyteller, and lead facilitator of earthseed Jéhan Òsanyin | they/them Our evening begins as Will invites Jéhan to illuminate the audience about their company, earthseed, which is committed to decolonizing theater through examining the wilderness as the quintessential scene partner and inspiration. This leads to a fruitful discussion about what theatre artists too often fight to control when preparing to perform and what they unknowingly yield when sitting in community. Will then seizes the opportunity to ask Jéhan about their one-person show, "Yankee Pickney," as Will prepares for their own one-person show, "Gender Play, or what you Will." Besides one-person show development, the two discover a shared mischievous delight in titling their gender defiance - Jéhan enjoys "Gender Vacillator" whereas Will prefers "Gender Traitor." Jéhan speaks openly about the heartbreak and new resolve they have felt in equal parts while creating Art in a capitalistic American society especially in the wake of the pandemic. As the cards of chance flip, we hear a valuable conversation around relishing rest and peace after a lifetime of holding labor in high regard. In Teacakes and Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists, host Will Wilhelm (they/them) welcomes an artistic crush for an intimate chat and a reading. Each episode features a new queer guest discussing art, life in our industry, and their dreams and intentions while the world of performance waits in the wings. Together, they hold space to summon more inclusive, exciting, and queer-friendly ways to create. As the candle burns low, Will offers their guest a unique tarot reading to give them greater insight on a personal journey. It's one part cocktail party and one part slumber party that will leave you stirred but never shaken. Teacakes & Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists is produced by Island Shakespeare Festival as part of the Shakespeare Playground Series. The series presents socially distanced programming that upholds ISF’s mission of accessible Shakespeare that embraces intersectional storytelling and artistic excellence. Find out more at islandshakespearefest.org! Co-Created by Will Wilhelm (they/them) and Erin Murray (she/her) Graphic Design by Ray Kathryn Morgen (they/them) Theme Song: Raro Bueno by Chuzausen, licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. Audio & Mixing: Nigel Saskrotch (they/them)

De(a)ftly Queer - featuring Joshua Castille (he/him) Featuring Deaf performance artist and actor Joshua Castille | he/him Get ready for an effervescent exchange as Josh shares his experience as a queer and Deaf actor who has done it all from the Broadway stage to the Hollywood screen. Jokes and anecdotes bubble throughout the interview as Will learns more about the Deaf community culture and how it mirrors and deviates from queer community culture. Josh tells stories about his process when part of a large cast of Deaf actors like Deaf West's Spring Awakening and as the only Deaf actor in ACT Seattle's Tribes before delving deeper into the embrace he receives from fellow queer actors. All seriousness aside, Will and Josh then reveal their lesser known skills and niche interests as a reminder that people contain multitudes beyond their artistry and identities. In the reading, we look to the future (with a cameo by Lisa Frank's tarot) by sourcing inner strength and trusting ourselves when faced with other's expectations. Check out the video of this sparkling dialogue at www.gender-play.com! In Teacakes and Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists, host Will Wilhelm (they/them) welcomes an artistic crush for an intimate chat and a reading. Each episode features a new queer guest discussing art, life in our industry, and their dreams and intentions while the world of performance waits in the wings. Together, they hold space to summon more inclusive, exciting, and queer-friendly ways to create. As the candle burns low, Will offers their guest a unique tarot reading to give them greater insight on a personal journey. It's one part cocktail party and one part slumber party that will leave you stirred but never shaken. Teacakes & Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists is produced by Island Shakespeare Festival as part of the Shakespeare Playground Series. The series presents socially distanced programming that upholds ISF’s mission of accessible Shakespeare that embraces intersectional storytelling and artistic excellence. Find out more at islandshakespearefest.org! Co-Created by Will Wilhelm (they/them) and Erin Murray (she/her) Graphic Design by Ray Kathryn Morgen (they/them) Theme Song: Raro Bueno by Chuzausen, licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. Audio & Mixing: Nigel Saskrotch (they/them)

Celebrating Curiosity - featuring Michael J. Bobbitt (he/him) Featuring theater director, choreographer, playwright and Executive Director of Mass Cultural Council Michael J. Bobbitt | he/him The subject of structure, from institutions to boards to families, appears throughout this week's sparkling conversation. Will kicks off by asking Michael how his intersectionality across race, artistry, and sexuality informs the organizational reforms and redesigns he now leads as an artist turned executive administrator. Michael explains that he is learning to trust his artistic curiosity when approaching hard questions and inherited systems within art institutions. He continues by outlining how Theatre will need young people with new ideas and a friendly embrace to technology in order to welcome audiences back instead of waiting to go back to normal - or, as he points out, "theater of the late-1900s." In the tarot reading, Michael generously shares his hopes and dreams for his son in this tender conversation with the cards. When it comes to structure, the melodious dialogue between Will and Michael sustains a rejection of rigidity in favor of astute suppleness. In Teacakes and Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists, host Will Wilhelm (they/them) welcomes an artistic crush for an intimate chat and a reading. Each episode features a new queer guest discussing art, life in our industry, and their dreams and intentions while the world of performance waits in the wings. Together, they hold space to summon more inclusive, exciting, and queer-friendly ways to create. As the candle burns low, Will offers their guest a unique tarot reading to give them greater insight on a personal journey. It's one part cocktail party and one part slumber party that will leave you stirred but never shaken. Teacakes & Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists is produced by Island Shakespeare Festival as part of the Shakespeare Playground Series. The series presents socially distanced programming that upholds ISF’s mission of accessible Shakespeare that embraces intersectional storytelling and artistic excellence. Find out more at islandshakespearefest.org! Co-Created by Will Wilhelm (they/them) and Erin Murray (she/her) Graphic Design by Ray Kathryn Morgen (they/them) Theme Song: Raro Bueno by Chuzausen, licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. Audio & Mixing: Nigel Saskrotch (they/them)

Featuring Artist, Activist, Scholar, Birder, and Author P. Carl | he/him : Will dives into conversation with P. Carl through the desire to know about the origins of Howlround Theatre Commons - an online forum and non-profit that seeks to support developing theatre practitioners and facilitate dialogue between artists and administratives within the performing arts field. Then, P Carl discusses the satisfactions and struggles with transitioning as a mature adult and writing his book "Becoming a Man." The pair unite on their shared interest in solo performance before Will gives him a tarot reading focused on grieving the past, accepting the present and looking towards a bright future. In Teacakes and Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists, host Will Wilhelm (they/them) welcomes an artistic crush for an intimate chat and a reading. Each episode features a new queer guest discussing art, life in our industry, and their dreams and intentions while the world of performance waits in the wings. Together, they hold space to summon more inclusive, exciting, and queer-friendly ways to create. As the candle burns low, Will offers their guest a unique tarot reading to give them greater insight on a personal journey. It's one part cocktail party and one part slumber party that will leave you stirred but never shaken. Teacakes & Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists is produced by Island Shakespeare Festival as part of the Shakespeare Playground Series. The series presents socially distanced programming that upholds ISF’s mission of accessible Shakespeare that embraces intersectional storytelling and artistic excellence. Find out more at islandshakespearefest.org! Co-Created by Will Wilhelm (they/them) and Erin Murray (she/her) Graphic Design by Ray Kathryn Morgen (they/them) Theme Song: Raro Bueno by Chuzausen, licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. Audio & Mixing: Nigel Saskrotch (they/them)

Featuring Artistic Director of National Queer Theatre Adam Odessa-Rubin | he/him : Will and Adam discuss the origins of NQT and America's only theatre festival dedicated to new plays by LGBTQ artists from countries that criminalize queer and trans people. Nobody's gonna break NQT's stride as this summer's festival will go forward as planned only outside on the bustling streets of New York! After grabbing the deets to our new NYC summer plans happening June 22-26, Will reads Adam a special three-card tarot spread that reminds us all to celebrate our own origin stories and how far we've come. Head to NationalQueerTheatre.org for festival and ticket info. As Will wishes listeners a prideful hot grrl summer, we share info about our next T&T episode!

Featuring the Inaugural Artistic Director of The Perelman Performing Arts Center and former Artistic Director of Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Bill Rauch | he/him : Will is pleased to welcome Bill to this very special bonus episode. We begin by ruminating on the cyclical nature of storytelling feeding queerness and queerness feeding storytelling. Bill shares the trials and triumphs of being the first openly gay AD of OSF while urging all listeners to see the potential for outreach in even the most abrasive feedback. Will asks Bill to consider how directing his lifelong passion project, 2018’s genderqueer OKLAHOMA!, has forever changed his artistry. With the coming of the Winter Solstice, Will asks Bill to look ahead and expound on the future of The Perelman before a surprising end of year tarot spread.

Featuring bilingual actor, writer, poet and artivist, Meme García | they/them : Will and Meme launch into a discussion on the frustrating and harmful trappings of conservatory training and actor “types.” Thankfully, they are able to bond over the shared freedom and personal growth offered through inhabiting Shakespeare’s many characters. Even if a person is not a Danish prince, everyone can understand existing on the sheer scale outlined by Hamlet. Conversations around magic, perfectionism, and accountability ensue before the pulling of the cards.

Featuring award winning playwright and TV writer MJ Kaufman | they/them: Will asks MJ the ultimate queer Theatre paradox: do we start by creating new plays about contemporary queerness or uncovering the queer roots in old works? Then MJ discusses creating Trans Lab, a writers collective dedicated to emerging trans voices, and the importance of bringing more diverse trans perspectives to the fore so that no one writer is expected to speak for all. Will and MJ dream of a day when mundane trans stories can flood the shelves before an epic tarot reading.

Featuring actor, director, and Associate Artistic Director of Great Lakes Shakespeare Theater and Idaho Shakespeare Festival Sara Bruner | she/her: Sara generously shares her thoughts and experiences surrounding the ever-evolving concept of Gender both in her life and greater American cultural contexts. When it comes to constructing character, gender is not fixed, rather it can go in waves or be “dialed up or down” depending on the role and their journey. Will and Sara muse upon the irrelevance of asking “was that a boy or a girl?” and what ingredients are missing from the cake that is American Theatre.

Featuring dramaturg, critic, producer, and playwright Linnea Valdivia | she/her: Will starts with the question we all want to know: what is a dramaturg??? After we listen with bated breath, Will and Linnea discuss her Howlround article, “Queering Theatre Criticism” which placed responsibility on the critic to understand queerness in order to inform the audience. Then the pair discusses working on the 2018 gender-bending production of OKLAHOMA! at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the mindfulness required when queering classics, and the cultural costs of losing small theatres due to COVID closures.

Featuring published poet, spoken word performer, and actor, Kevin Kantor | they/them : Will welcomes Kevin to celebrate the publication of their latest collection of poems, “Please Come Off-Book.” Together they discuss life in a rehearsal process as TGNC actors and the pressure to appear androgynous or offer up non-binary identity as commodity. Before a bespoke tarot read, Kevin explains how both poetry and queerness are as anti-Capitalist as they are captivating.

Featuring independent casting director and casting associate for The Playwrights Realm Ada Karmanyan | she/her: Ada shares her experience with casting the entirety of the 2019 Play On! Series - 36 contemporary translations of Shakespeare’s works commissioned by Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Will and Ada discuss her American Theatre Magazine article, “Unicorn at the Soup Factory,” which details her experience as a TGNC casting director helping more TGNC actors get seen, while marshaling creative teams to think more inclusively.

Featuring Broadway actor Jordan Barbour | he/him: Jordan Zooms with Will from inside his blanket fort to discuss the importance of queering the canon. Together, these two Libras discuss bringing their authentic self to a role instead of “disappearing” and offering advice as to what to do with moody and brooding actor guys who don’t know how to receive the many alternative portrayals of masculinity that exist.

Featuring multi-disciplinary artist blending the lines of theatre, dance, and film, Christian Bufford | he/they : Will peppers Christian with questions about life as a multi-disciplinary artist. Christian stresses the need for balance when navigating so many mediums while also finding a balance amongst their passions. Achieving balance through producing, executing through inventing, Christian celebrates the staying power of collaboration and never apologizing for paying attention. An artist should always find a way to bring their self to the work regardless of their designated role or position. Parental guidance suggested: episode includes kissing *shocked face emoji*

Welcome to the Space Between and say hello to your host, Will Wilhelm! Pour yourself a glass and slip off your shoes (unless they are essential to your outfit) as we embark on an exciting series of chats with some of Will’s nearest, dearest, and queerest artistic crushes. After a tête-à-tête, Will reads a tarot card and a sonnet to cozily conclude time well spent conjuring pathways to a gender inclusive future of the arts and the cosmos!