In 19th century Russia, there were many writers. But only one would be known for changing two genres of the page and stage forever. The grandson of a serf, a doctor who treated cholera patients for free, and a playwright who wouldn’t find success with his theatrical work until late in his life, Anton Chekhov was a force to be reckoned with. This week, listen to producer Emily Dzioba with host Talia Smith transform into their true theatre-kid selves while discussing the works of Anton Chekhov!

Resources: 

Read THE SEAGULL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1754

Read THE THREE SISTERS, THE CHERRY ORCHARD, and more One-Acts:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7986

Read UNCLE VANYA

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1756

Watch UNCLE VANYA

https://www.thirteen.org/programs/theater-close-up/uncle-vanya-n2pi78/

The Seagull (film adaptation) (2018)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynGnOf0scl8

Chekhov’s Short Stories

http://www.free-short-stories.org.uk/anton-chekhov-free-short-stories.htm

https://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/ac/jr/

Love in the Time of Numbness; or, Doctor Chekhov, Writer, By S. Mukherjee

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/love-in-the-time-of-numbness-or-doctor-chekhov-writer

Serfdom & the Chekhov Family

https://www.dramacircle.org/blog/2016/2/11/examining-chekhov-3

Guide to Realism

https://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/spd130et/realism.htm

The Definitive Guide to the Stanislavsky Acting Technique

https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/the-definitive-guide-to-the-stanislavsky-acting-technique-65716/

STUPID [Redacted] BIRD

https://msac.org/sites/default/files/artist_work/pdfs/273869%20Work%20Sample.pdf

Russian Pronunciations of Chekhovian Names + Places

https://www.dialectsarchive.com/the-seagull

https://www.dialectsarchive.com/the-three-sisters

https://www.dialectsarchive.com/the-cherry-orchard

https://www.dialectsarchive.com/uncle-vanya

Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812

https://greatcometbroadway.com/

Why do we love reality tv so much?

https://hellogiggles.com/reviews-coverage/tv-shows/science-behind-watching-reality-shows/

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It’s ASTONISHING! Few stories have such a stronghold on American Culture over a century after its original release. If you’ve never read or watched Little Women, you are in for a treat! Talia Smith and guest host Mubtasin Zaman go all out in this episode, examining the characters and representations of this classic tale. Christopher Columbus, it’s a good time!

DISCLAIMER: Talia might have thought the 1949 version of the film came out in 1948, please forgive her. As much as it pains it for her to admit, she is not perfect. 

RESEARCH:

Little Women by Louis May Alcott

The Project Gutenberg  

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/514/514-h/514-h.htm

Little Women (1933)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024264/

Little Women (1949)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041594/

Little Women (1994)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110367/

Little Women (2017)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6853528/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3

Little Women (2018)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6495094/?ref_=fn_al_tt_5

Little Women (2019)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3281548/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Little Women Musical (2005)

https://www.playbill.com/production/little-women-virginia-theatre-vault-0000005227

“Little Women Broadway 8 Take a Chance on Me” 

By MusicTheatreObsessed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PujXmZjguU0

Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind ‘Little Women’ (2009)

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/louisa-may-alcott-the-woman-behind-little-women/1295/

“The March Family Letters” 

By Pemberley Digital on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_ePOdU-b3xf69PZcEbgxlviLrBhJ_cpp

“Little Women: Laurie and Jo”

By MasterpiecePBS on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osdVRusNGgg&feature=youtu.be

“Comparing Every Version of Little Women”

By Be Kind Rewind on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJGZoecSmrA

“10 Little Facts About Louisa May Alcott” by Suzanne Raga

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/89228/10-little-facts-about-louisa-may-alcott

“The Lie of Little Women: Peering into the secrets of Louisa May Alcott’s real life sheds light on her treasured coming-of-age tale.” By Sophie Gilbert

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/09/little-women-louisa-may-alcott/565754/

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Has your date ever taken you to a medical museum to show off his dismembered limb? No? Well, rumor has it, that was the move for Major General Dan Sickles. Sickles is a notorious character, but unless you’ve read up on your Civil War history, you probably haven’t heard of him. His headstrong personality and confidence placed him at the forefront of many historical events, and his legacy has a lot to do with, well, his leg!  Join Talia Smith with Guest Lydia Strickling as they discuss the life and times of Major General Dan Sickles! 

RESOURCES:

Sickles at Gettysburg: The Controversial Civil War General Who Committed Murder, Abandoned Little Round Top, and Declared Himself the Hero of Gettysburg

by James A. Hessler https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6435517-sickles-at-gettysburg

“Ample Justification for the Deed”: Public Interest in the “Sickles Tragedy” as Gender Performance

By Sarah A. Adler https://nursingclio.org/2019/08/01/ample-justification-for-the-deed-public-interest-in-the-sickles-tragedy-as-gender-performance/

“Gettysburg Day 2 (General Sickles, Rebel Yell, Peach Orchard, Devils Den, Little Round Top)”

By Bobblehead George on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLt74Uo2oUg 

The National Museum of Health and Medicine: https://www.medicalmuseum.mil/index.cfm?p=exhibits.past.nationswounds.page_02

Philip Barton Key’s Picture: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/philip-barton-key-granger.html?product=poster

Teresa Bagioli Sickles Picture: 

https://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b02610/

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Blood! Murder! Cannibalism! Cinderella is a tale for the ages! Throughout history, there have been HUNDREDS of Cinderella Stories with each retelling adding their own flavor. From Ancient Egypt to Korea to France, you will be hard pressed to find a culture without their own Cinderella Story.  This week, Sam Leinberger joins Talia Smith to retell and discuss the intricate tale of a little girl who was destined to be a princess.

This episode is dedicated to Liberty High School’s Production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, who had their musical delayed due to the plague. Inspiritu, Liberty Drama! 

RESOURCES

Cinderella; three hundred and forty-five variants of Cinderella, Catskin, and cap o’rushes, abstracted and tabulated, with a discussion of mediaeval analogues, and notes by Marian Roalfe Cox, 1893. Forward by A. Lang

https://archive.org/details/cinderellathreeh00coxmuoft/page/n6/mode/2up 

Kajong and Halœk (Vietnam, 1887)

http://www.365cinderellas.com/2011/04/cinderella-94-kajon-and-halk-vietnam.html

The Brothers Grimm Version

https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm021.html 

The Charles Perrault Version

https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/perrault06.html 

“Join Playbill March 20 for a Movie Night With Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella Starring Lesley Ann Warren” BY PLAYBILL STAFF

https://www.playbill.com/article/join-playbill-march-20-for-a-movie-night-with-rodgers-hammersteins-cinderella-starring-lesley-ann-warren

Into the Woods by Stephan Sodheim 

https://broadwaymusicalhome.com/shows/intothewoods.htm

A Cinderella Story: A Christmas Wish (2019)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10326928/

A Cinderella Story (2004)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0356470/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Ella Enchanted (2004), 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327679/

“A Girl, A Shoe, A Prince: The Endlessly Evolving Cinderella” by Linda Holmes

https://www.npr.org/2015/03/13/392358854/a-girl-a-shoe-a-prince-the-endlessly-evolving-cinderella 

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It's tale as old as time... The Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche has something for everyone! True love, danger, and people straight up not listening to directions. Filled with surprises, celebrity, and true love, the tale of Cupid and Psyche is one for the ages. Come join us as Alison O’Brien, with host Talia Smith, joke their way through the Greek Myth and see how humanity has always searched for the next adventure and the next rule to break! After all, ageless mythical beings will be ageless mythical beings, right? 

Do you have a story to tell, email [email protected]

RESOURCES: 

Overly Sarcastic Productions

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCodbH5mUeF-m_BsNueRDjcw

The Percy Jackson Series https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28187.The_Lightning_Thief

The Lightning Thief Musical 

https://www.lightningthiefmusical.com/

Hadestown 

https://www.hadestown.com/#home

The Odyssey 

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1727

The Iliad 

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2199

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, Book 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24337.Ella_Enchanted

Ella Enchanted (2004), Movie 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327679/

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Once Upon a Time: A Storytelling Podcast is a new series that gathers storytellers from far and wide to share their favorite tales. This is a sneak peak of our first episode where Alison O'Brien tells the Greek Myth, "Cupid and Psyche"... with her own spin!

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