Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals

On today’s show, I speak with playwright, producer, and photographer Garlia Cornelia Jones.  I’ve known Garlia for about 13 years and in that time she has actively created space for Black voices in New York City. But her work in this space has roots beyond New York, going back to her time at Indiana University and continuing through today with her work at The Public Theater. Our conversation begins with her children telling us what a producer does, transitioning into the project she is currently working on, and diving into her artistic family’s influence on her life. 

For a full transcript of today's episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:05:55] Say Their Names Project
[00:23:44] Fire this Time Festival
[00:23:45] Blackboard Plays
[00:23:46] Harlem 9
[00:23:47] Liberation Theatre Company
[00:23:50] The Movement Theatre Company
[00:24:29] The Classic Theatre of Harlem
[00:24:33] National Black Theatre
[00:24:42] Negro Ensemble Company
[00:26:57] Marian Rice Players
[00:31:41] Parent Artists Advocacy League
[00:40:31] School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play
[00:47:51] Broadway Inspirational Voices

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On today’s episode, I speak with Sara Jean Ford, a Broadway actor most recently seen in Cats. We discuss her early life in a professional children’s chorus, her experience stepping into established roles on Broadway, and why being in the Cats revival was so. very. hard. Sara also offers some great insight into being a working actor while simultaneously being a single mom and all that that entails.

For a full transcript of today's episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:02:20] Revival Cast Recording of The Fantasticks 
[00:06:18] Arts Council Center of Conejo Valley 
[00:06:25] Young Artists Ensemble 
[00:10:43] Carnegie Mellon University
[00:14:00] Demetrius Grosse
[00:42:27] Will Reynolds
[00:42:33] Fred Ebb Award

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On another very special episode of "Brenden and Brian Explain Musicals to me that I Should Know, But Don't" we dive into all things Wild Party.  And not just a singular Wild Party, no, no, two different versions that just happened to premiere in New York City during the same 2000 season.  Join us as they break down the differences between Andrew Lippa's Wild Party and Michael John LaChiusa's Wild Party and how exactly they came to exist at the Exact. Same. Time. 

For a full transcript of today's episode please visit beyondthelightspodcast.com

Special thanks to Brandon Wei for this episode's artwork!

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed within this episode are our own and do not represent the position, strategy, or brands of any theatrical organization.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:01:19] Wild Party by Andrew Lippa
[00:01:33] Wild Party by Michael John LaChiusa
[00:03:07] "Wild Party" by Joseph Moncure March
[00:05:37] O’Neill Center
[00:05:48] The Public Theater
[00:31:21] Tony Performance of LaChiusa’s Wild Party

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Patrick Musni is currently the Props Master at the Curran in San Francisco. He takes us through the all-encompassing job of a house props master, his journey to becoming a union member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, what life is like as a touring stagehand, and just how long it took to build the San Francisco production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

For a full transcript of today's episode please visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:1:02] IATSE
[00:01:38] The Curran 
[00:03:16] War Memorial Opera House
[00:07:47] The National Theatre of London
[00:14:14] San Francisco Opera
[00:38:32] Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – San Francisco

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Velina Hasu Houston is an award-winning writer of plays, opera, film, tv, novels--the list goes on and on.  We talk about what it was like growing up as a mixed-race woman in Kansas and how that has informed her writing, her use of magical realism and whether or not she has a ghost in all of her plays, and the kinds of plays she thinks we will see AFTER Covid.

For a full transcript of today's episode please visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:01:10] Matcha Book
[00:15:28] Manhattan Theatre Club
[00:16:10] TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
[00:39:51] Hero Theatre
[00:40:16] Hero Votes
[00:48:35] Road Theatre Company
[00:48:54] Zoom Series

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Brad Caleb Lee is a visual dramaturge working in both the US and Europe.  We discuss how he went from pursuing a business degree in Alabama to becoming a sought-after theater maker in Europe, the difference between working in opera vs theater, and what exactly the term “visual dramaturge” means. Brad's resume is extensive and our conversation truly shines a light on the diversity of work a theater-maker can pursue within the industry.

For a full transcript of this episode please visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:08:46] Prague Quadrennial
[00:09:52] World Stage Design
[00:11:20] United States Institute for Theatre Technology
[00:16:56] 36Q – Prague Quadrennial 2015
[00:17:08] 36Q – Prague Quadrennial – 2019
[00:27:38] Scene Change
[00:41:01] Tom Waits’ Blood Money
[00:43:30] Filament Theater
[00:55:15] Decameron Opera Coalition

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On today’s episode, I speak with Laurel Parrish from the Wardrobe Department at Wicked.  Laurel and I discuss what it’s like to be a dresser on Broadway, the ins and outs of quick changes, and costume fabric care. Our conversation is a unique look at what happens backstage at a Broadway show and she shares some great advice for anyone looking to work in a production wardrobe department. Laurel also provides a few fun Wicked wardrobe facts that you won't want to miss, so stick around until the very end.

For a full transcript of today's episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:03:43] University of California at Santa Barbara
[00:5:42] Roundabout Hidden Career Paths
[00:38:23] AtmosKlear
[00:41:56] LaDuca
[00:43:50] Dior Dress

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Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link which I may earn a small commission from if you make a purchase.

Jon Lawrence Rivera is the co-founder and artistic director of Playwrights' Arena in Los Angeles; a theater dedicated to "to discovering, nurturing and producing bold new works for the stage written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights."

On today's episode, Jon and I discuss his early life in the Philippines and Australia and how those experiences shaped the kinds of stories he seeks to tell. We also delve into the new play process and the journey a new play takes from page to stage.

For a full transcript, please visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:00:55] Playwrights' Arena
[00:04:23] Here Lies Love
[00:21:16] New Pages Lab
[00:46:03] LGBT Center of Los Angeles
[00:47:41] About March at the LGBT Center of Los Angeles
[00:49:25] Tickets to March at the LGBT Center of Los Angeles

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I come from the world of new plays and Shakespeare, but my musical knowledge is...lacking. Prior to joining a Broadway marketing team, I attended MAYBE a musical a year? Now, I LOVE musicals, they just were never in my theatrical world...but the longer I worked in the commercial theater industry, the more I realized I was out of my musical depth.

So, I decided to enlist my friends Brenden Rogers and Brian Dumbreski to teach me the ways of all the musicals that didn't make it through my pre-2014, One-Musical-A-Year filter, and thus this special bonus episode of "Brenden and Brian explaining The Little Shop of Horrors to Me" was born.

For a full transcript of today's episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Special thanks to Brandon Wei for this episode's artwork!

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:01:47] Off-Broadway Cast Recording
[00:01:49] Broadway Cast Recording
[00:01:51] 1986 Film - Director's Cut
[00:03:24] Maries Crisis
[00:03:32] Off-Broadway Production
[00:04:40] Ellen Greene
[00:20:31] Desperate Housewives Episode List
[00:21:10] Audrey II Puppets
[00:25:21] Howard Ashman Documentary
[00:33:43] Lee Wilkof and Ellen Greene – Suddenly Seymour
[00:41:46] Howard Ashman Papers
[00:49:03] Ellen Greene on the Standard Drama Awards

Additional Recommendations from Brian
Little Shop of Horrors Cartoon
Broadway Cast performs at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

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On this episode, I speak with Jenny Grace Makholm and Matthew-Lee Erlbach two of the co-founders of Be An Arts Hero. 

The Arts and Culture sector employs 5.1 million people and provides $877 billion value added to the economy.  It adds more value than transportation, agriculture, or tourism, and is a cornerstone of the larger U.S. economy, making up 4.5% of the GDP. 

Be an Arts Hero is an intersectional grassroots campaign comprised of Arts & Culture workers, Unions, and institutions in the United States pushing the Senate to allocate proportionate relief to the Arts & Culture sector of the American economy. 

Jenny and Matthew are here to break down the numbers and discuss steps we can all take to help save this vital piece of our nation's economy.

For a full transcript of today's episode visit beyondthelightspodcast.com.

Mentioned in this Episode
[00:6:17] National Assembly of States Arts Agencies
[00:21:41] The Dawn Act
[00:28:50] The Brookings Institute Study
[00:34:26] Be An Arts Hero – Get Involved
[0034:46] Call Your Senator Database
[00:34:54] Call Your Senator Script
[00:36:05] Email Your Senator
[00:36:28] Social Media Graphics

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