BroadwayRadio

The Stagecraft podcast is hosted by Jan Simpson. It is a series of interviews with playwrights (and musical book writers) of shows opening on Broadway and off-Broadway.

Guest: Donja R. Love

DONJA R. LOVE (Playwright) is an Afro-Queer playwright, poet, and filmmaker from Philadelphia. He’s the recipient of the 2018 Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award, the 2017 Princess Grace Playwriting Fellow, a Eugene O’ Neill 2018/2017 National Playwrights Conference finalist, The Lark’s 2016 Van Lier New Voices Playwriting Fellow, The Playwrights Realm’s 2016-2017 Writing Fellow, the 2016 Arch and Bruce Brown Playwriting Award recipient, and the 2011 Philadelphia Adult Grand Slam Poetry Champion. His work has been developed at Manhattan Theatre Club, Rising Circle Theatre, The Lark, and The Playwrights Realm. He’s the co-founder of The Each-Other Project, an organization that helps build community and provide visibility, through art and advocacy, for LGBTQ People of Color. Select stage plays include: a trilogy which explores Queer Love* during pivotal moments in Black History, The Love* Plays (Sugar in Our Wounds; Fireflies; In The Middle), and soft. Select film work: Modern Day Black Gay (web series), and Once A Star (short film). Training: Juilliard, Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program

Donja R. Love: Website | Twitter

Donja R. Love, the author of “Fireflies,” which is playing at the Atlantic Theater’s Linda Gross Theater through Nov. 11.

 

 

Host: Jan Simpson | [email protected] | Facebook | Twitter

Broadway & Me

JAN SIMPSON is the Director of the Arts and Culture Journalism Program at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, and also writes for TDF Stages, American Theater and has her own blog at Broadway & Me.

Listen to the episode here:

On this episode of BroadwayRadio’s “Tell Me More,” Matt Tamanini talks to three-time Tony nominee Rebecca Luker, who is currently one of the three stars leading Premieres’ Inner Voices 2018. Inner Voices is an evening that consists of three different solo musicals. It is running now through November 17th at the TBG Mainstage Theatre on 36th Street – between 8th & 9th Avenues.

In this episode, Rebecca and Matt talk about the the collaboration necessary between an actor, writer, and director in a one-person show; what types of roles she would like to tackle outside of the traditional, refined roles that she often plays; and how she and her husband Danny Burstein help each other when preparing for roles.

Premiere’s Inner Voices 2018

http://www.premieresnyc.org/

Contact Rebecca:

http://www.rebeccaluker.com/

Twitter: @RebeccaJLuker

Contact Matt:

Twitter: @BWWMatt

Instagram: @BWWMatt

Theme music provided by www.bensound.com

Listen: Reviews are in for “The Waverly Gallery,” Rudin’s Shows are Swapping Theaters, and Michelle Williams to Join “Once on this Island”

“Today on Broadway” is a daily, Monday through Friday, podcast hitting the top theatre headlines of the day.

Any and all feedback is appreciated: [email protected] (James Marino) or [email protected] (Matt Tamanini)

Theatre World Awards Announce Date

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Theatre-World-Awards-Announced-for-Monday-June-3rd-2019-20181025

Jimmy Awards Announce Date

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/The-Jimmy-Awards-to-Celebrate-This-Years-Rising-Stars-on-June-24th-20181025

1) Critics Weigh in on “The Waverly Gallery” on Broadway

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-What-Did-Critics-Think-of-Elaine-May-In-THE-WAVERLY-GALLERY-On-Broadway-20181025

2) Scott Rudin Plays Musical Chairs on Broadway

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-HILLARY-AND-CLINTON-To-Play-Broadways-Golden-Theatre-KING-LEAR-Will-Now-Reign-At-The-Cort-20181025

Michelle Williams to Join “Once on this Island”

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Destinys-Childs-Michelle-Williams-Will-Join-the-Cast-of-ONCE-ON-THIS-ISLAND-20181025

3) Ok, Matt, what else do we have to talk about today?

West End “Company” to Receive Cast Album

https://twitter.com/BazBam/status/1055572906057568256

Wendell Pierce to Lead All-Black “Death of a Salesman” in West End

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Marianne-Elliott-To-Direct-DEATH-OF-A-SALESMAN-On-The-West-End-in-2019-20181025

William Finn Writing Music for “Emperor’s New Clothes” Animated Special on HBO

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/HBO-to-Premiere-THE-EMPERORS-NEWEST-CLOTHES-with-Original-Songs-by-FALSETTOS-William-Finn-20181025

“The Goldbergs” to Perform “Fiddler” Tribute on Annual Broadway Episode

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE-GOLDBERGS-to-Perform-FIDDLER-ON-THE-ROOF-For-Annual-Broadway-Tribute-Episode-20181025

Lin-Manuel Miranda Pledges Help to Drama Book Shop

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Lin-Manuel-Miranda-Does-His-Part-for-the-Drama-Book-Shop-20181025

Listen: Drama Book Shop to Shutter Location in January, Dianne Wiest is Doing Beckett in the Park Dressed as What?, and “Chess” to Finally Play Russia!

“Today on Broadway” is a daily, Monday through Friday, podcast hitting the top theatre headlines of the day.

Any and all feedback is appreciated: [email protected] (James Marino) or [email protected] (Matt Tamanini)

1) The Drama Book Shop will Reportedly Close Next Year

https://www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/popular-broadway-bookstore-close-after-rent-hike

2) Dianne Wiest is Doing Free Performances is in the Park this Week

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/dianne-wiest-is-doing-beckett-in-a-park-this-week-for-free-dressed-as-a-rock-102318

3) Ok, Matt, what else do we have to talk about today?

Kyle Beltran, Marin Ireland, Kristolyn Lloyd to Lead Atlantic’s “Blue Ridge”

https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/Kyle-Beltran-Marin-Ireland-Kristolyn-Lloyd-and-More-Star-in-Atlantics-BLUE-RIDGE-20181024

MTC Will Hold “Trans Visibility In The Theatre” Panel, Following “The Nap” Next Week

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/MTC-Will-Hold-Trans-Visibility-In-The-Theatre-Panel-Following-Performance-of-THE-NAP-20181024

Dear Mr. Trump: I’m Transgender And I Have A Few Things I Want You To Know

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/alexandra-billings-donald-trump-transgender_us_5bcde493e4b0a8f17eeee021

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen to Host NBC’s “A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy”

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/NBC-to-Premiere-A-LEGENDARY-CHRISTMAS-WITH-JOHN-AND-CHRISSY-20181024

“Chess” to Debut in Russia Next May

https://www.broadwayworld.com/russia/article/CHESS-Comes-to-Russia-For-the-First-Time-Ever-20181024

On this special episode, Matt Tamanini talks to Ashley Bruce, who is currently playing Mary Delgado (and many others) in the national tour of “Jersey Boys.” Ashley is one of just three women on stage in the show every night, even though there are more than 50 female characters in the show. They talk about the craziness that ensues backstage to make all of that theatrical magic happen. Ashley shares why Orlando will be such a special tour stop for her and her husband, and, she explains why actors from the UK can do perfect American accents, even though American actors aren’t generally as good.

The national tour of “Jersey Boys” will play the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, FL from October 30th-November 4th.

“Jersey Boys” National Tour

Tour Schedule: http://www.jerseyboysinfo.com/tour/schedule.html

Dr. Phillips Center Tickets: https://www.drphillipscenter.org/events/tickets/2018/jersey-boys/

Contact Ashley:

Twitter: @Ashley1Bruce

Contact Matt:

Twitter: @BWWMatt

Instagram: @BWWMatt

Listen: The Civilians to Present Michael Friedman’s “The State of The Union Songbook” on Election Night, Tony Kushner Talks “West Side Story” Film, and New Look at “Mary Poppins Returns”

“Today on Broadway” is a daily, Monday through Friday, podcast hitting the top theatre headlines of the day.

Any and all feedback is appreciated: [email protected] (James Marino) or [email protected] (Matt Tamanini)

Tell Me More: Marc Kudisch on the Honesty of “Girl from the North Country”

https://broadwayradio.com/blog/2018/10/23/tell-me-more-episode-16-marc-kudisch-on-the-honesty-of-girl-from-the-north-country/

1) The Civilians to Present Michael Friedman’s “The State of The Union Songbook” on Election Night

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Green-Room-42-Presents-Michael-Friedmans-THE-STATE-OF-THE-UNION-SONGBOOK-20181023

2) Show and Casting News

Full Cast Announced for Second Stage’s “Superhero”

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Thom-Sesma-Julia-Abueva-and-More-Join-Kate-Baldwin-and-Bryce-Pinkham-in-SUPERHERO-20181023

“Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of Tomorrow” Extends at Ars Nova

https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/RAGS-PARKLAND-SINGS-THE-SONGS-OF-THE-FUTURE-Extends-Through-November-10th-at-Ars-Nova-20181023

Tony Kushner Talks “West Side Story” Remake

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tony-Kushner-Reveals-Exciting-New-Details-On-Steven-Spielberg-Remake-of-WEST-SIDE-STORY-20181023

3) Recommendations

Five Elphabas Belt “The Wizard and I”

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/A-Week-of-WICKED-Five-Elphabas-Belt-It-Out-in-The-Wizard-And-I-20181023

Teal Wicks, Christine Dwyer, Donna Vivino, Carolina Bowman and Lindsay Mendez

New Look at “Mary Poppins Returns”

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-Get-a-Glimpse-of-the-Music-and-Magic-of-MARY-POPPINS-RETURNS-20181023

Listen to the episode here:

On this episode of BroadwayRadio’s “Tell Me More,” Matt Tamanini talks to three-time Tony nominee Marc Kudisch about the Public Theater’s Off-Broadway production of Conor McPherson and Bob Dylan’s play with music “Girl from the North Country.”

In the conversation, Marc talks about the open rehearsal process led by writer and director McPherson, why he is so drawn to this play, and the danger for audiences if they come into a show with too rigid of expectations. “Girl from the North Country” is currently slated to play the Public through December 23rd, and when asked about a potential further life for the show on Broadway, Marc gave what might be the best possible answer to that question.

Also, as a warning, Kudisch mentions the name of one of Suzan-Lori Parks’ Red Letter Plays (“Fucking A”) that he was in last year at the Signature Theatre, so consider yourself forewarned for the profanity.

The Public Theater’s “Girl from the North Country”

https://www.publictheater.org/Public-Theater-Season/Girl-from-the-North-Country/

Contact Marc:

Twitter: @MarcKuds

Contact Matt:

Twitter: @BWWMatt

Instagram: @BWWMatt

Theme music provided by www.bensound.com

Listen: Perhaps Broadway Goers are Quite as Rich as We Thought, James Monroe Iglehart Departs “Little Shop,” and “Ghost Brothers” Gets a Makeover!

“Today on Broadway” is a daily, Monday through Friday, podcast hitting the top theatre headlines of the day.

Any and all feedback is appreciated: [email protected] (James Marino) or [email protected] (Matt Tamanini)

Robbie Rozelle Named A&R Director at Broadway Records

https://twitter.com/divarobbie/status/1054384411976835072

1) Study Shows Broadway League’s Household Income Stats Are Misleading

http://utahtheaterbloggers.com/28307/average-broadway-attendee-earns-222120-annually-not-quite

2) Last Week’s Broadway Grosses

https://www.broadwayworld.com/grosses.cfm

3) In Other News

James Monroe Iglehart Departs DC’s “Little Shop”

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Michael-James-Leslie-Replaces-James-Monroe-Iglehart-in-DC-LITTLE-SHOP-OF-HORRORS-20181022

Premieres’ Inner Voices 2018 Began Performances Last Night

https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/Premieres-Inner-Voices-2018-Featuring-Rebecca-Luker-Finn-Douglas-And-Farah-Alvin-Begins-Performances-Today-20181022

Stephen King and John Mellencamp to Redevelop “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County” for Licensing

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Stephen-King-and-John-Mellencamp-Will-Redevelop-GHOST-BROTHERS-OF-DARKLAND-COUNTY-for-Licensing-20181022

Listen: Reviews for Broadway’s “The Ferryman” and “Lifespan of a Fact” and Off-Broadway’s ‘Gloria: A Life,” and “Be More Chill” Heading for the Big Screen”

“Today on Broadway” is a daily, Monday through Friday, podcast hitting the top theatre headlines of the day.

Any and all feedback is appreciated: [email protected] (James Marino) or [email protected] (Matt Tamanini)

“Come from Away” Becomes Longest Running Canadian Musical in Broadway History

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/COME-FROM-AWAY-Becomes-Longest-Running-Canadian-Musical-on-Broadway-20181021

This Week on Broadway: October 21st, 2018

https://broadwayradio.com/blog/2018/10/21/this-week-on-broadway-for-october-21-2018-apologia/

1) “The Ferryman” Officially Opened on Broadway Last Night

http://www.playbill.com/article/what-did-broadway-critics-think-of-jez-butterworths-london-hit-the-ferryman

2) “Be More Chill” Film in the Works

https://deadline.com/2018/10/be-more-chill-movie-shawn-levy-greg-berlanti-film-auction-broadway-musical-1202486576/

3) More Reviews are in for “Lifespan of a Fact”

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-What-Did-Critics-Think-of-Daniel-Radcliffe-Cherry-Jones-and-Bobby-Cannavale-In-THE-LIFESPAN-OF-A-FACT-20181018

4) This Week’s Theatrical Schedule

Monday, October 22nd

Opening: “School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play” Off-Broadway from MCC

https://www.mcctheater.org/shows/17-18_season/schoolgirls/index.html

Opening: “Plot Points In Our Sexual Development” Off-Broadway from LCT3

https://www.lct.org/shows/plot-points-our-sexual-development/

Tuesday, October 23rd

Opening: “Indiana Pale Ale” Off-Broadway from the Manhattan Theatre Club

https://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/2018-19-season/india-pale-ale/

Previews: The Prom on Broadway at the Longacre

https://theprommusical.com/

Previews: “Thom Pain (based on nothing)” Off-Broadway from Signature Theatre

https://www.signaturetheatre.org/shows-and-events/Productions/2018-2019/Thom-Pain-(based-on-nothing).aspx

Wednesday, October 24th

Previews: “Little Shop of Horrors” Broadway Center Stage Production at the Kennedy Center

http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/TTBCA

Thursday, October 25th

Opening: “The Waverly Gallery” on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre

https://thewaverlygalleryonbroadway.com/

Previews: “Mike Birbiglia’s The New One” on Broadway at the Cort Theatre

https://thenewone.com/

Opening: “The Niceties” Off-Broadway from Manhattan Theatre Club

https://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/2018-19-season/the-niceties/

Previews: “The Hard Problem” Off-Broadway from Lincoln Center Theatre

https://www.lct.org/shows/hard-problem/

Friday, October 26th

Previews: “The Other Josh Cohen” Off-Broadway at the West Side Theatre

http://otherjoshcohen.com/

Sunday, October 28th

Closing: “Desperate Measures” Off-Broadway

http://www.desperatemeasuresmusical.com/

Closing: “The True” Off-Broadway from the New Group

https://www.thenewgroup.org/thetrue.html

Closing: “Uncle Romeo Vanya Juliet” from Bedlam

http://bedlam.org/whats-on/uncle-romeo-vanya-juliet/

5) In Other News

Reviews for “Gloria: A Life” Off-Broadway at the Daryl Roth Theatre

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-What-Did-Critics-Think-of-GLORIA-A-LIFE-20181019

Robert Cuccioli to Lead Goodspeed’s “A Connecticut Christmas Carol”

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Robert-Cuccioli-to-Lead-Goodspeeds-A-CONNECTICUT-CHRISTMAS-CAROL-Hunter-Foster-Directs-20181019

Peter Filichia, James Marino, and Michael Portantiere discuss Apologia @ Roundabout Theatre Company, One Christmas Eve (part of FringeNYC), Girl From The North Country @ The Public, Midnight at The Never Get @ York Theatre Company, Sea View Playwright’s Theatre production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and La Femme Theatre Productions of Tennessee Williams’ A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur @ Theatre at St. Clements.

 

This Week on Broadway has been coming to you every week since March 16, 2009. It is the longest running Broadway and theatrical podcast with more than 400 shows giving thousands of reviews and hundreds of interviews.

Subscribe to BroadwayRadio in iTunes by CLICKING HERE.

———————————-

If you would like to listen to the podcast, click on the arrow in the player below.

 

Panel:

Peter Filichia | [email protected] | Facebook

PETER FILICHIA is a theater journalist and historian with a number of books, his most recent is, “The Great Parade”, available everywhere. His columns appear at MTI, Masterworks Broadway, Broadway Select and many other places.

James Marino | [email protected] | Twitter | Facebook

BroadwayStars

Michael Portantiere | [email protected] | Facebook

MICHAEL PORTANTIERE is a theater reviewer and essayist. He is also a theatrical photographer whose photos have appeared in The New York Times and other major publications. You can see his photography work at FollowSpotPhoto.com.

 

Notes and links for the podcast.

Pre: 

 

Reviews: 

PF + MP + JM: Apologia @ Roundabout Theatre Company (Starring Stockard Channing‎) The Laura Pels Theatre, 111 West 46th Street, through December 16, 2018

MP + PF: The Lifespan of a Fact @ Studio 54, through January 13, 2019

— The Nonfiction Novel by Truman Capote

— The Story Behind a Nonfiction Novel By GEORGE PLIMPTON in The New York Times

PF: One Christmas Eve (part of FringeNYC) @ Village School, through Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Schondeikkan Productions in Association with The Journey Company

Writer: Gretchen Cryer, Lynne Halliday, James Hindman, Arlene Hutton, and Craig Pospisil, Song by Gretchen Cryer

MP + JM: Girl From The North Country @ The Public, Newman Theater, 425 Lafayette Street, through December 23, 2018

Written and directed by Conor McPherson, with music and lyrics by Bob Dylan.

Peter’s review: This Week on Broadway for October 7, 2018: Bernhardt / Hamlet

PF: Midnight at The Never Get @ York Theatre Company, 619 Lexington Avenue, through November 2, 2018

— Marc Miller’s reviews at TalkinBroadway

— Lets have more from Mark Sonnenblick!

Mark Sonnenblick is a composer, lyricist, and scriptwriter, although not always at the same time. Collaborations include Midnight at The Never Get (Bistro Award, MAC Award Nominee “Show of the Year”), Independents (“Best Production” FringeNYC, “Critics’ Pick” New York Times), Dragons Love Tacos (TheatreworksUSA), Twenty Minutes Or Less (Washington National Opera), Ship Show (Yale Institute for Music Theatre), Stompcat in Lawndale (Ars Nova Ant Fest), Wheel of Misfortune (Denver Center for the Performing Arts), and Bunkerville (Yale DRAMAT, BSU Discovery Festival winner). He won a 2018 Jonathan Larson Grant and is a three-time finalist for the Kleban Award. Mark has developed work at The Johnny Mercer Writers Colony (Goodspeed Musicals), UCross Foundation, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, The John Duffy Institute (Virginia Arts Festival), Composers and the Voice (American Opera Projects), and The Johnny Mercer Songwriting Project.

 

MP: Sea View Playwright‘s Theatre production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot on Staten Island, through October 28, 2018

PF: La Femme Theatre Productions of Tennessee Williams’ A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur @ Theatre at St. Clements, 423 Wes[...]