Pipe and Drape: the Theatre for Young Audiences Podcast

"What is the absolute minimum we can use to effectively share a story?" This is a question I hear often in the theatre for young audiences world. In this dinky episode, I explore the connection between TYA storytelling practices and the living habits I have adopted while working in the industry–like keeping everything I value most inside my backpack at all times.

Music from this episode:

“Backpack, Backpack!” - Dora the Explorer (Nickelodeon Records)

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2024/03/dinky-episode-12-care-to-unpack-that.html

INSTAGRAM: @PipeAndDrapeStories

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: Stephen Fala

Show Logo: Stephen Gordon

The theatre is a space for ritual and celebration. This year, I'm celebrating the ten year anniversary of many of my show-related traditions! Play this episode to hear the stories behind my traditions (and elements of the podcast logo!)

Music from this episode:

"Tradition" - Fiddler on the Roof (Upper Darby Summer Stage cast, 2013) music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2023/12/dinky-episode-11-traditions.html

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠⁠

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: ⁠⁠Stephen Fala⁠⁠

Show Logo: ⁠⁠Stephen Gordon

Artistic Director Jeff Frank shares his experience putting the Rankin/Bass classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on stage for the very first time at First Stage in Milwaukee. Listen to this episode to learn how problem solving flying sequences in the world premiere of Peter and Wendy led to the key design elements of Rudolph and how getting every scenic and costume element just right down to the specific colors of polkadots brought the “homespun, hand crafted” feeling of the holiday special that we love to the stage. Jeff shares some of First Stage's core values in this interview including the ways that the organization raises community artists!

More about First Stage:

WEBSITE: https://www.firststage.org/

INSTAGRAM: @first.stage

See a regional production of Rudolph:

At Northwest Children’s Theatre and School (Portland, OR): https://nwct.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0S6T00000preupUAA

The Coterie (Kansas City, MO): https://thecoterie.org/2023-2024/rudolph-2023/

Childsplay (Phoenix, AZ): https://www.childsplayaz.org/rudolph23

and touring everywhere in between: https://www.rudolphthemusical.com/tour

This week’s Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party music: "⁠The Happy Elf" from Harry for the Holidays by Harry Connick, Jr.

Listen to the Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party playlist here!

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2023/11/episode-32-jeff-frank.html

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Fala⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Gordon

"The van changes people.” In this pipe and drape story, Stage Manager Mason Huse takes us on a journey from subletting apartments, to packing for small tours, dealing with bed bugs, learning about theatre ghosts, and other hilarious "horrors.” And wonderful things, too! You’ll hear more about his (really good!) experiences with ArtsPower National Touring Theatre in this episode!

Find Mason Huse:

INSTAGRAM: ⁠@masonhuse

LinkedIn: Mason Huse

This week’s Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party music: “Cupid’s Ball” from Zombie in Love

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2023/10/episode-31-mason-huse.html

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Fala⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Gordon

Recent Drama Desk winner and Tony Nominee Kevin Del Aguila (Some Like It Hot, Peter and the Starcatcher, Rocky, Frozen) shares his pipe and drape story in this episode of the podcast! Throughout Kevin’s career as an actor on Broadway, he has simultaneously written the books and lyrics for some of the theatre for young audiences industry’s most popular titles (Dog Man, Cat Kid Comic Club, Madagascar) and children’s television (Emmy Award-winning series Peg + Cat, Blues Clues & You, Wonder Pets!) Hear how Kevin went from penning Off-Broadway's Altar Boyz to juggling Broadway, film, and tv in this episode!

Find Kevin Del Aguila:

⁠kevindelaguila.com⁠

INSTAGRAM: @kevinoftheeagle

See Some Like It Hot on Broadway through December 30, 2023: https://somelikeithotmusical.com/

See Kevin's work on the road via TheaterWorksUSA: https://twusa.org/shows-artists/on-tour-2/

This week’s Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party music: "Robo-Dance Party" from Dog Man: The Musical

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2023/10/episode-30-kevin-del-aguila.html

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Fala⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Gordon

Director, teaching artist, and facilitator Jon Royal shares information about leading workshops and rehearsals with actors and government officials in this episode of Pipe and Drape! His pipe and drape story takes us from adaptation of classical text wtih Will Power to Youth at the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, to a conference with the Government Alliance for Racial Equity, to the new stage adaptation of India Hill Brown's The Forgotten Girl at First Stage in Milwaukee. 

Find Jon Royal:

INSTAGRAM: @jon.royal.003

LinkedIn: Jon Royal

See Jon Royal's production of The Forgotten Girl at First Stage, fall 2023: https://www.firststage.org/events-tickets/2023-24-season/the-forgotten-girl/

Learn about Will Power to Youth at Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles: https://www.shakespearecenter.org/wp-to-youth

This week’s Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party music: “Put You in Your Place” from The Lightning Thief

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2023/09/episode-29-jon-royal.html

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠⁠⁠⁠

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Fala⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Gordon

We are diving into teaching artistry to celebrate the back-to-school season and National Arts in Education Week! Teaching Artist Johanna Gorman-Baer leads groups of students through classes, camps, and residencies with The Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis year-round. Her classes are focused on emotional literacy and filled with group activities, games, storytelling, and conversation. The program at CTC is designed for every kid, not just aspiring performers!

Learn more about The Children's Theatre Company:

https://childrenstheatre.org

INSTAGRAM: @childrenstheatrecompany

This week’s Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party music: “Entr'acte” from A Year With Frog and Toad

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2023/09/episode-28-johanna-gorman-baer.html

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠⁠⁠⁠

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Fala⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Gordon

Actor Robert Hooghkirk shares his experience bringing literature, math, and science to students and families by way of the Chamber Theatre of Boston. The company has been touring for over 45 years, prioritizing the original written words of novelists and thinkers that are taught in schools throughout the country. Robert's pipe and drape story is filled with anecdotes about character building, truck driving, and life from the road!

Find Robert Hookghkirk:

INSTAGRAM: @robert.hooghkirk

See Robert in Sweeney Todd August 30-September 9, 2023 at Winnepesaukee Playhouse: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=154040

See Robert in Corduroy October 20-29, 2023 at Winnepesaukee Playhouse: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=154029

Learn more about the virtual programming from Chamber Theatre: https://www.chambertheatre.com/encore-virtual

Read about Robert Breen and his introduction of chamber theatre style: https://findingaids.library.northwestern.edu/agents/people/1031

This week’s Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party music: “I Can Be Anything” from Freckleface Strawberry The Musical

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2023/08/episode-27-robert-hooghkirk.html

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠⁠⁠⁠

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Fala⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Gordon

Get in the car and cue up the tape player, we’re going on a drive. The summer is heating up so it’s time for a road trip, and in this Dinky episode I’m talking about getting behind the wheel. 

Music from this episode:

"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" - Sunshine on Leith by The Proclaimers

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2023/08/dinky-episode-10-driving.html

INSTAGRAM: ⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: ⁠Stephen Fala⁠

Show Logo: ⁠Stephen Gordon

In this episode, actor and teaching artist Leah Senseney shares how one audition at a theatre in Delaware led her make a life as a Philadelphia performer and teaching artist. She shares tales from several theatre for young audiences contracts, teaching artist positions, and what it's like to share a stage with her partner!

Find Leah Senseney:

INSTAGRAM: @sense_nonsense1

See Leah in Into the Woods this fall at The Candlelight Theatre: https://candlelighttheatredelaware.showare.com/event-performances.asp?evt=32

Learn more about The Theatre School at Walnut Street Theatre: https://walnutstreettheatre.coursestorm.com

This week’s Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party music: "Lucille, Camille, Chenille" from Junie B. Jones The Musical

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2023/08/episode-26-leah-senseney.html

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠⁠⁠⁠

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Fala⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Gordon