Pipe and Drape: the Theatre for Young Audiences Podcast

This is the Season 1 finale of Pipe and Drape! Scott Duell helps me wrap up this first season with a conversation about A Christmas Carol. This story is not usually something that comes to mind as an example of a pipe and drape theatre for young audiences show, but a majority of children’s theatre performers will at some point do a version of it to close out the calendar year, and most likely in tour form. There are almost as many versions of this story as there are snowflakes, and multiple versions of this classic tour North America each year. The following pipe and drape story is a stone on Scott's path that led him from a career as a teaching artist and TYA performer to entering a Master’s program for music therapy. If you ever asked yourself "Who are those people in the cafeteria doing children's theatre?" you will find your answer in this episode!

Find Scott Duell:

INSTAGRAM: @scottthepiemaker

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2021/11/episode-12-scott-duell.html

INSTAGRAM: @PipeAndDrapeStories

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: Stephen Fala

Artwork: Stephen Gordon

The following snowy tale from the Finger Lakes is about the crossover between theater education and the performance. Rusty Allen worked onstage and in elementary school classrooms to weave creative writing and folktales into the New York State curriculum. In this episode you will get an inside look at the life of an actor/stage manager touring theatre for young audiences with The Rev Theatre Company On Tour. If you ever asked yourself "Who are those people in the cafeteria doing children's theatre?" you will find your answer in this episode!

Find Rusty Allen:

WEBSITE: http://www.rusty-allen.com

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2021/11/episode-11-rusty-allen.html

INSTAGRAM: @PipeAndDrapeStories

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: Stephen Fala

Artwork: Stephen Gordon

Puppetry is a major part of theatre for young audiences, and in this episode Arlee shares stories from her journey as a dancer to a Henson and Tartaglia puppeteer and freelance puppet builder. If you ever asked yourself "Who are those people in the cafeteria doing children's theatre?" you will find your answer in this episode!

Find Arlee Chadwick:

EMAIL: [email protected]

YOUTUBE: Puppets by Arlee

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2021/11/episode-10-arlee-chadwick.html

INSTAGRAM: @PipeAndDrapeStories

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: Stephen Fala

Artwork: Stephen Gordon

Annah's pipe and drape story is all about the hidden magic makers behind theatre for young audiences: Stage Managers. From rehearsals, to load-ins, to safety, and quick decision making, the stage management team is responsible for facilitating a smooth production. The difficulty of their duties is magnified in the fast-paced world of theatre for young audiences, and you’re about get to get the details. If you ever asked yourself "Who are those people in the cafeteria doing children's theatre?" you will find your answer in this episode!

Find Annah Jacobs:

INSTAGRAM: @aj.backstage

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2021/10/episode-9-annah-jacobs.html

INSTAGRAM: @PipeAndDrapeStories

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: Stephen Fala

Artwork: Stephen Gordon

This is the second “dinky” episode of Pipe and Drape. In this dinky episode I give travel tips for young artists (or anyone) spending time on the road in the finest or not so finest m/hotels North America has to offer.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2021/10/dinky-episode-2-hotel-hopping.html

INSTAGRAM: @PipeAndDrapeStories

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: Stephen Fala

Artwork: Stephen Gordon

Jodi Snyder bridged the path from backyard games to performing in multiple shows Off-Broadway by touring children’s theatre out from a home base in New York City. In this episode you’ll hear all about theatre for young audiences from an Equity actor/assistant stage manager’s perspective. If you ever asked yourself "Who are those people in the cafeteria doing children's theatre?" you will find your answer in this episode!

Find Jodi Snyder:

WEBSITE: ⁠https://www.jodi-snyder.com⁠

INSTAGRAM: @jodez18

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2021/10/episode-8-jodi-snyder.html

INSTAGRAM: @PipeAndDrapeStories

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: Stephen Fala

Artwork: Stephen Gordon

This pipe and drape story focuses on the challenge of adapting short stories for children into an hour long, small cast musical. Marcus Stevens directed and co-wrote a massive collaboration between some of his favorite writers for a new theatre for young audiences show to tour out of New York City. You’ll find out all about the writing and creating process for TYA in this episode! If you ever asked yourself "Who are those people in the cafeteria doing children's theatre?" you will find your answer in this episode!

Find Marcus Stevens:

WEBSITE: ⁠https://www.marcus-stevens.com

INSTAGRAM: @marcusstevensny

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2021/09/episode-7-marcus-stevens.html

INSTAGRAM: @PipeAndDrapeStories

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: Stephen Fala

Artwork: Stephen Gordon

“You’re gonna need a bigger VAN.” In this episode you will get a sneak peek at the behind the scenes action of big arena spectaculars. Brianna Nicole Hill shares her experience traveling and performing with a children’s theatre tour that is as big as they come. You’ll hear all about brand integrity, self-care, and arena life! If you ever asked yourself "Who are those people in the arena doing theatre for young audiences?" you will find your answer in this episode!

Find Brianna Nicole Hill:

INSTAGRAM: @voiceofbreason

EMAIL: [email protected]

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2021/09/episode-6-brianna-nicole-hill.html

INSTAGRAM: @PipeAndDrapeStories

EMAIL: [email protected]

Artwork: Stephen Gordon

This is Episode 5 and also it’s my birthday! Rather than Venmoing me $4,000, you can give me the gift of a review and rating on your podcast app, if APPlicable. Your stars and comments do something with the algorithm that helps future listeners find the show. Your gift would help me share these pipe and drape stories with a wide range of aspiring industry members, seasoned professionals, and curious people. If you are unable to rate and review, please share a Pipe and Drape episode with your loved ones, liked ones, or okay ones. I’m so grateful that I can celebrate another trip around the sun by bringing these fresh perspectives to you!

On this episode you’ll learn how Matt stretched into new roles while rehearsing Shakespeare alone in the woods and performing it in a barebones setting for a young audience. Yes. Performing Shakespeare for kids. Through broad, physical, vaudevillian-style comedy and an intense course of study, Matt opened a window into the world of Shakespeare. If you ever asked yourself "Who are those people in the cafeteria doing children's theatre?" you will find your answer in this episode!

Find Matt McWilliams:

WEBSITE: ⁠https://www.mattmcwilliamsactor.com

INSTAGRAM: @timoteecalamari

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2021/08/episode-5-matt-mcwilliams.html

INSTAGRAM: @PipeAndDrapeStories

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: Stephen Fala

Artwork: Stephen Gordon

This is the first “dinky” episode of Pipe and Drape. Every once in a while I will pop in with a short, “dinky,” episode to share information that is relevant to the topics that are discussed with my guests. In this dinky episode I briefly detail the process of signing up and participating in the theatre conferences that staff the theatre for young audiences industry in the United States.

Popular theatre conferences:

https://upta.org

https://www.setc.org

https://strawhat-auditions.com/public/

https://www.netconline.org

http://matc.us

https://www.a1-auditions.com

EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com/2021/08/dinky-pipe-and-drape-tya-auditions-at.html

INSTAGRAM: @PipeAndDrapeStories

EMAIL: [email protected]

Host: Stephen Fala

Artwork: Stephen Gordon