Firehouse Forum Podcast

Firehouse's AN OAK TREE has its press opening tonight, kicking off a burst of shows opening in April. We preview them all with Jerry Williams, theater critic and proprietor at Sifter (http://www.tvjerry.com/). But first, we chat with Cooper Sved, actor, director, and one of the many fine work-study students that make Firehouse run (mostly) smoothly. He's assistant directing Quill's ROMEO & JULIET, opening this weekend, and will be directing EDWARD ALBEE'S AT HOME AT THE ZOO at Firehouse in May. From the brightest young stars to the grizzled old RVA vets, Firehouse Forum covers the range!

The Firehouse Forum podcast slims down to just two guests this episode. First, we talk to Mark Lerman, the director of Firehouse's AN OAK TREE, which opens on April 4th. Then we chat with Amy Berlin, whose name almost rhymes with Mark's and whose latest project definitely does as she's set to star in LUCKY ME opening on April 6th at Chamberlayne Actors Theatre. As with many of the folks we talk to, these two are both multi-hyphenates with acting, directing, teaching, producing, writing, and many other skills under their belts. Lots of fun stuff to talk about and two great shows folks should go see.

It's all women this week as veteran actress and CultureWorks program manager Terry Menefee Gau joins counselor Camille Adams in previewing the important work we'll be doing at the #MeToo Monologues event this weekend (March 18, 6pm) at the Firehouse. We also get the low-down on Swift Creek Mill's DAMES AT SEA with young up-and-comer Anne Michelle Forbes and talk ROMEO & JULIET with beloved veteran Melissa Johnston Price of Quill. It's a lot of content and conversation packed into less than an hour!

We're extremely lucky to have some fantastic guests on our Lucky 7th episode! We are honored to welcome this week's first guest, Founding Artistic Director of the Firehouse Theatre Project, Carol Piersol, whose 5th Wall Theatre Company is in the midst of producing three projects: I AM MY OWN WIFE at RTP's Robert Moss Theatre, PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES at TheatreLAB's Basement space and MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT at Maggie Walker High School. Then Richmond favorites Chris Hester and Landon Nagel both talk about their current and upcoming projects: Chris has JOHN AND JEN with HATTheatre and will be doing THE NORMAL HEART for RTP later this Spring, while Landon is appearing in WINGS currently at Firehouse and will be the star of AN OAK TREE, our next show opening in April. These are some busy folks with interesting things to say and lots of cool projects to talk about. It's an overstuffed hour of local theater news and insight!

The Acts of Faith festival is always the busiest time in the local theater world. We've got 3 people who represent 4 Acts of Faith shows between them plus a staged reading of a brand new play. Margarette Joyner founded Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company which is staging FREE MAN OF COLOR at Pine Camp. She is also an understudy for RAISIN IN THE SUN at VA Rep. Brandon Carter is one of the stars of THE CHRISTIANS at Cadence and Chandler Hubbard plays Judas in CORPUS CHRISTI at RTP. Chandler also wrote a show called ANIMAL CONTROL that's getting a staged reading this weekend at Glave Kocen Gallery. 

And, of course, WINGS is opening at Firehouse so you gotta come see that!

It's a Brave New Podcast episode with 10 extra minutes of content, required to handle three exceptional RVA theater pros, all who have talents that extend well beyond the stage. The Forum starts off with Alex Wiles who stars as Lenina in Quill's BRAVE NEW WORLD, opening at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen this weekend, and who is also the motivating force behind Virginia Voice's live performance description program. Then Alex and I both talk to Bianca Bryan whose dulcet tones are heard daily as The Voice of WCVE 88.9 radio and who is starring in Firehouse's WINGS, which will be opening in two weeks. Finally, we talk to Richmond theater legend, Alan Sader, who is starring in TheatreLAB's I'M GONNA PRAY FOR YOU SO HARD, also opening this weekend. Too much talent to contain in one hour!

TO DAMASCUS is a not only the first mainstage show opening in a Richmond theater in 2018 but also a world premiere opera (or anti-opera) being produced the first time anywhere. We talk to one of the production's two music directors, Leilani Fenick, the show's monster voiced tenor, Michael David Gray, and the show's composer, musical prodigy Walter Braxton. The show kicks off with a deep dive into technical aspects of theater with Jason "Blue" Herbert, technical director at Swift Creek Mill where ALL MY SONS is also opening this weekend. So much content squeezed into just one hour of listening!

It's cold at Firehouse but lively conversations heat things up thanks to music director Kim Fox; actress and bowtie maker Georgia Rogers Farmer; and Firehouse grand poobah Joel Bassin who is directing TO DAMASCUS, opening at Firehouse in two weeks. Fox is in rehearsal with Firehouse's next musical, WINGS, but, before that opens, she'll be tickling the ivories for Georgia in her next cabaret at Richmond Triangle Players, called Rebellious Resolution Review. Music as always by Jason Marks.

It's only our second episode but it also happen to be the end of the year. So we talk with some of Richmond's busiest folks about the year they had. Debra Clinton, director of HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL at Firehouse this past summer (co-pro with TheatreLAB), chats about being artistic director at the JCC's Jewish Family Theatre and her current production, MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET at VA Rep's Hanover stage. Caleb Wade appeared in HEATHERS as well as RTP's CLOUD 9 and Firehouse's GREEN DAY'S AMERICAN IDIOT, is currently in THE ANDREWS BROTHERS at the Mill and will appear in BRAVE NEW WORLD for Quill. Finally, Bo Wilson was Firehouse's Playwright in Residence and he talks about that experience as well as his perspective on Richmond theater over the years.

Firehouse Forum starts its exploration of the RVA performing arts scene with an interview with Deejay Gray, Artistic Director at TheatreLAB, new president of the RVA Theatre Alliance and RuPaul Drag Race superfan. Our first "Aren't they awesome?" guest is Jessi Johnson, star of MARY C. BROWN AND THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN. And finally, director of Firehouse's upcoming musical, WINGS, Kerrigan Sullivan talks about being a director, Bianca Bryan, and millennials. Theme music by Jason Marks.