Local with Laura Ekstrand

Welcome back to a new season of Local with Laura Ekstrand!

Laura and Dave Maulbeck kick off Season 7 with a wide-ranging conversation about the experience of making theater locally and the people you meet along the way, from those who pass through our creative lives to the collaborators who stick around for decades.

They look back at the growth of improv as a part of Vivid's identity, and the unique experience of making art with the same collaborators long enough to age up together.

Laura previews Vivid Stage's upcoming production of B.I.N.G.O. (or Brittney Isle's Nice Geriatric Orgy) by Erin Mallon, a funny and sexy new play about relationships, aging, and life in a 55+ community, as well as some of the new works and playwrights featured throughout the upcoming season.

Plus: improv jams, new-play development, community events, civic engagement through theater, the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, and Vivid's work bringing the performing arts into healthcare spaces.

Local with Laura Ekstrand goes behind the scenes at Vivid Stage, covering mainstage productions, improv, cabarets, new plays, special events, and everything else that happens in and around a professional local theater.

Season Finale!

We made it! In the Season 6 finale of Local, we revisit our final improv class showcase and share a standout clip from The Flip Side's character speed dating game featuring Emily and Brad.

Then we look ahead to an exciting 2026–2027 season at Vivid Stage! Laura previews a full year of comedy, world premieres, workshops, improv, new play readings, and special events— including Mainstage Productions B.I.N.G.O, Life Expectancy, Laura Ekstrand's world premiere It's You, six performances of The Flip Side in Madison, the holiday variety show A Very Special Special, Summer Solos, Meet the Artist, and much more.

We wrap up the episode by talking about An Evening with Dan and Laura, with Dan playing us out.

🎭 Explore the complete 2026–2027 season, purchase season passes, and learn more about Vivid Stage's classes and events: https://www.vividstage.org/2026-2027-season-passes

Thank you for listening to Season 6 of Local. We'll see you next season!

In this episode of Local, we look back at the exciting private screening of A Relative Comedy in Montclair and preview an upcoming fundraiser for the film featuring Dan at the piano and Laura sharing stories.

We celebrate the upcoming conclusion of our Production Lab improv class, where six students created and hosted their own original mini improv shows. Laura and Dave also discuss Vivid Stage's ongoing partnership with Overlook Hospital, using theatre to bring the stories of patients and healthcare professionals to life.

Plus, we preview Summer Solos at the Arts Center, talk about upcoming private events and summer programming, and share some exciting company news: Vivid Stage is welcoming two new ensemble members, Joshua T. Crockett and Ciara Chanel.

As one season winds down, we're already looking ahead to everything still to come.

In this episode of Local, we look back at Etiquette by David Lee White and talk about balancing comedy and drama onstage. Dave shares a brief story about meeting Sabrina Carpenter at the Pasadena Playhouse during a panto-play production of Peter Pan. Etiquette was a smash success and marks Vivid Stage's final mainstage production of the season.

We also looked back at Vivid's recent cabaret featuring Charles Thomas, Laura's friend from Yale Drama School, and Dave talks about his performance workshop class show.

Plus, we highlight the Wednesday night Meet the Artist series featuring Sock on the Wall by Brad Goren-Wilson, share a clip from the May 8 Flip Side show, announce the private screening of A Relative Comedy, and hear from Laura about upcoming adult summer classes.

In this episode of Local, we take you inside a whirlwind month of comedic theatre. We look back at a pop-up improv show and share a clip from that night. Then we take you to The Flip Side in Madison, New Jersey, and give you a taste of that performance as well. We also discuss Ladies Night, another Flip Side show, and dive into Etiquette, now closing to rave reviews, sharing a first rehearsal clip recorded over Zoom during a tornado warning. Plus, we check in on our expanding improv school.

In this episode of Local, we go behind the scenes of our Valentine's gala, featuring Laura's Hallmark-inspired musical spoof and a peek inside rehearsal for L-O-V-E.

We celebrate the release of the A Relative Comedy teaser and share what we've been in the middle of over the past few weeks—from new improv projects and experimental work like Crossroads on the Canvas to upcoming Flip Side shows and Ladies Night.

Plus, updates on Etiquette in rehearsal, expanding improv classes, and what's ahead as we begin the next round of play development.

Watch the A Relative Comedy teaser: https://youtu.be/eX14CicfSn8

Produced by Vivid Stage Hosted by Laura Ekstrand and Dave Maulbeck Music by Jeff Ertz

In the first episode of the Local reboot, we explore the wide range of work happening at Vivid Stage—and how even members of our own community don't always realize everything we do, from improv and theater to cabarets.

We look back at our very first show of the year, Improv in Madison, share behind-the-scenes stories from rehearsing a cabaret (including a last-minute arrival from Amsterdam), and talk about theater development, improv classes, and new projects in the works, including the Arizona project.

The episode closes with a powerful reading by Nicole Callender: Performing Pretty Fire, presented for Martin Luther King Day.

Dear Local with Laura Ekstrand listeners, we have some exciting news to share! While we take a short break from our regular episodes, we invite you to explore our new podcast, Jacqueline Goes to Film. Join Laura and Dave as they embark on a thrilling filmmaking journey, and discover the creative process behind their upcoming feature film. Subscribe now for behind-the-scenes insights, interviews, and more! Just search 'Jacqueline Goes to Film.' on your favorite podcast platform. Thank you for your continued support!

In this episode of Local, Laura interviews Sydney Marie Fucito, a New Jersey-based actress with a passion for theatre and the arts. Sydney shares her journey, from earning a Theatre Arts degree at Centenary University to her current role as a Marketing Assistant at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.

Sydney discusses her experience in marketing, focusing on learning Adobe products and keeping up with social media trends to engage younger audiences. Highlighting her favorite acting roles, Sydney explains her affinity for characters that are vastly different from herself. She shares the transformative experience of playing an arsonist in "Marisol" and emphasizes the importance of honoring the larger story through acting.

Sydney reflects on the emotionally taxing production of "Twirl" and its ability to start conversations and hold a mirror to the world. She also sheds light on the fast-paced nature of New Jersey's regional theatre scene, with short rehearsal periods and the upcoming season at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, including her involvement in a reading of a new play Acts of Creation by Brianna Barrett.

Join Laura Ekstrand and Sydney Marie Fucito in this insightful episode as they explore theatre, marketing, and the arts in New Jersey.

In this episode of Local, Laura is joined by stage manager Amy Hadam-Rapp, the first stage manager to be featured on the show. Amy shares her experience working behind the scenes in the theatre industry and sheds light on the often-overlooked role of the stage manager. Laura and Amy dive deep into the art of stage management, discussing how it involves being an invisible character while also managing the logistical and creative aspects of a production. They also explore the challenges of being a middle manager, responsible for communicating the vision of the director to the cast and crew, and ensuring everyone is on the same page.

Join Laura and Amy as they celebrate the unsung heroes of the theatre and learn about the vital role stage managers play in bringing a production to life.

Music by Jeff Ertz & John Todd.