Firehouse Forum Podcast

Kim Jones Clark and Louise Ricks

We're having a blast talking about upcoming summer shows! First, CJ Bergin is the only actor appearing in all three of Quill's Richmond Shakespeare Festival productions, topping the summer off with a star turn as the noble Orlando in AS YOU LIKE IT, opening July 6th. Then Maggie Roop joins us in the wake of the casting announcement for CRIMES OF THE HEART, Virginia Rep's summer offering at Hanover Tavern, opening July 20th. Maggie's been busy directing shows and cooking up plans with her Yes And! Entertainment partner Matt Shofner, but is looking forward to dusting off those acting chops to star in the classic Beth Henley family comedy.

We've been neglecting dance for far too long here at Firehouse Forum so we've brought two choreographers into the studio to talk about making some upcoming productions really move! Emily Berg-Poff Dandridge is going to be one of the dancers for Virginia Rep's WEST SIDE STORY, opening in two weeks, but she also happens to be the choreographer for our own PRELUDES. Richmond Triangle Players' go-to guy for fun projects, Justin Amellio, drops in to talk about directing and choreographing A CHORUS LINE. Also: a special announcement in the Intro. Intrigued?

After a couple of weeks trying to coordinate with Katrinah Carol Lewis, we finally caught up with the celebrated star of many an award-winning production and got her talking about her Richmond directorial debut, TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, now running at TheatreLAB. That's after Tyler Stevens ruminates on the challenges of stepping into another actor's role, and that role is only one of the most iconic in theater history: Romeo in Quill's ROMEO & JULIET. Summer is here and Firehouse Forum is going to be talking about all the hot shows coming up!

We're posting a day late because of *reasons* and the episode was going to be a one-two punch of TheatreLab but nope, because *schedules.* We're not complaining, though, because we have two great directors on the show: theater stalwart Melissa Rayford talking about GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES, opening at TheatreLAB on June 4th, and Billy Christopher Maupin interrupted in the midst of putting the final polish on PRELUDES, the musical fantasia that opens TODAY at Firehouse Theatre. Both talk about directing shows that are NOT Godspell, as well as many other fascinating theatery things.

A very busy actress and a very busy executive director sound off on this week's podcast. Rachel Hindman has been working non-stop since the beginning of the year and opens this weekend in ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID at Swift Creek Mill Theatre. In the wake of THE NORMAL HEART, Phil Crosby is squeezing two special events in at Richmond Triangle Players before A CHORUS LINE opens in June. Drop by for a tribute to John Knapp and Tim Gilham on Saturday or the RTP Season Announcement party next Tuesday -- both are sure to be a grand time! The sound quality is a little rough in parts for this episde -- sorry about that! It's all Dave's fault, not Ryan's, just so you know who to curse at!

Susan Braden and Cailin Lindsay are two relative newcomers to Richmond but they are making their marks on the local theater scene. In addition to music directing our blockbuster upcoming musical, PRELUDES, Susan regularly performs a show she wrote and developed called "Because I Can, Sir!" You'll hear about that and find out just what cholangiocarcinoma means. Cailin is the new resident stage manager at Firehouse, cutting her teeth with us on PRELUDES, but she has already distinguished herself in town since her graduation barely a year ago.

For our lucky 13th episode, Firehouse Forum welcomes long-time RVA favorite, Jill Bari Steinberg, who joins a knock-out ensemble cast in Cadence Theatre's APPROPRIATE, opening this weekend. We also sit down with Levi Meerovich, the playwright who concocted the alien comedy, ONE IN FOUR, that wraps up this weekend at Firehouse and who will also be starring in the upcoming PRELUDES, our spring musical. From seasoned vets to new puppies, we talk to 'em all!

Our twelfth episode features a great conversation about Virginia Rep's world premiere RIVER DITTY and the development of new work in general with the eloquent and debonair Nathaniel Shaw. We also were able to grab 10 minutes with the insanely busy Michael Jarett amidst a month where he is designing the lights for at least 6 shows around Richmond. We talk balancing the work load and about THE NORMAL HEART, opening this weekend at Richmond Triangle Players. So much going on in this town!

Firehouse Forum dives into the theater deep end with Josh Chenard, director of MOTH (and not THE MOTH, as I mistakenly say several times). This latest two-hander from TheatreLAB opens this weekend. Josh also directed DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS for Firehouse and is a pretty happy guy despite all the heavy stuff he tackles on stage. We also check in with Amy Wight, producer of the RTCC awards, to hear what's in store for the Artsies 11th annual celebration (11th Artsies, 11th podcast episode, get it?)