Re:PVPA

Another day, another totally unscripted episode of Sound Stage! Let's gooooo! This time, three artists from the local arts collaborative ETC. are on to talk about their upcoming debut album. The working name is "ETC. Radio" and look for it at the end of the summer, on all major streaming platforms.

Joining Austin on the show is producer Emilio, vocalist Luna, and musician Patrick, all of whom have unique insights into the album they've created together and into the larger world of collaborative art. It's hard to say anything about these PVPA artists (and now alums!) that they don't say better themselves, so tune in. And it wouldn't be an episode of Sound Stage if it didn't feature sneak peeks of musical work, so enjoy tidbits from their songs "Cassio" and "Moonlight," as well as a full-length working version of the beautiful song "Null."

Find them on Instagram @etcdotetc.

And keep an eye on your streaming services!

In this week's episode, guests Phoebie and Elise tackle subjects both high- and low- minded with host Austin. Elise drops terms like "trophic pyramid" and "ruminants" to explain why grass is green while Phoebie explains the possible origins of "grape"fruit. Naturally, all of these serious topics are interrupted frequently by debate about Mark Zuckerberg's sunscreen, cotton candy ice cream, and why you shouldn't, under most circumstances, order a Pinkity Drinkity. They also do in-the moment research to tell you, the listener, exactly how many episodes of The Office and Grey's Anatomy there are. 

After a myriad of tech troubles and scheduling snares, Austin and the creators of Musical: The Musical have finally stitched together a podcast  - and just in for their concert this weekend! (tickets can be found here) In this installment of Sound Stage, Amrita, Ajika, Arin, Edalena, and Fiona join the show to talk about pretty much everything to do with writing a musical, from seemingly random inspiration to the benefits of collaboration. There's also a fair bit of conversation about how their process changed during the pandemic and what the message of the musical is, so give it a listen to hear minds at work! You can also catch them in concert this Saturday, May 8th (tickets can be found here) in Turner's Falls to hear a selection of songs they have diligently crafted and endlessly revised.

For more information about the project, visit their website https://musicalthemusical.org/. This is something you don't want to miss - either in the podcast or in concert! 

The episode takes a running start with Erin challenging Kyleigh and Austin to a race to see who's faster - place your bets now! Things only get more interesting when everyone disagrees about gummy bears vs. gummy worms and Kyleigh admits that she'd sacrifice her friends to survive in a zombie apocalypse, which gets her banned from Erin's survival pod. In the end, the three bond over sharing some weird experiences and favorite snack foods, but not before Austin has a chance to dispel a myth about carrots. 

Ready your packs for a very special episode of Re:PVPA, where there are four guests, but only one topic - Dungeons and Dragons! Seniors Dante and Jackson join teachers Brittany and Ben to answer listener questions about the popular roleplaying game. From tips on being a DM (Dungeon Master) to general advice on how to make a character, the podcast covers a lot of ground. Plus, at the end, Austin works with everyone to create a character based on the race/class combo chosen by the community - the soon-to-be infamous tiefling bard known as Vaudeville B. Du Bois.

If you have further questions about Dungeons and Dragons, reach out to any of the guests or Austin (if you are having trouble finding the guests!)

This is the 10th episode of the podcast and one you don't want to miss! Guests Chloe and David share their favorite weird food combos (have you tried ramen and ketchup?), show off their hidden talents, and introduce Austin to the song Seagulls (Stop It Now). And even with all the food craziness and song reviews, the three of them have time for serious reflection on how pandemic has changed how they value friendship, music, and even some of the simplest outdoor activities. Also appearing is David's Elmo voice and the fruits of one of Chloe's many walks to Dunkins'. 

Listen to Seagulls (Stop It Now) on YouTube

Things start out rocky when Austin has trouble getting the correct script to returning guest Frank and new guest Will starts to lead the conversation into some (semi) dark places. Even with the hiccups, Frank makes time speculate on what tina does in her free time (lemon cookies? talk to meemaw? jump between realities?) and, miraculously, tina joins as a surprise guest! (and denies none of it) From there, hijinks ensue as Austin tells the story of how his love of salad led to him having his first burrito and Will and Frank have difficulty figuring out what they would show to visiting aliens (a smile? a mask? Lint? An apology?) To finish the pod, the group talks about what music is making them happy at this moment in their lives and Will enthusiastically denies being a villain.

Fortunately, the old time-traveling version of Kyle did not interrupt this podcast. Instead, current Kyle joins Joey and Austin in philosophical musings about Scooby Doo and strangely long debates about muffins. Weirdly enough, the conversation always seems to come back around to time-travel, whether it's going back to being different ages or being stuck in different time periods, which makes you wonder if old Kyle actually did show up and break time. On a lighter note they also ponder our changing relationship with snow days and put the school on notice for the new hole digging Paideia.

Welcome to a special episode of Re:PVPA! In a break from the normal format, the Austin hosts 7 students and staff members to talk about what 1 year of lockdown, COVID, and remote learning has been like for the PVPA community. While that is rather sobering to think about, stick around for the last question to hear the guests answer the final community question about new quarantine hobbies - including things like writing musicals, birdwatching, Minecraft, and cricut (don't worry, Jenyka explains).

The student guests are Natalia, Hosea, Arin, and Lua

Jenyka's Etsy shop is Fueled By Resistance. Check it out for decorated (and reusable) Starbucks cups!

I don't think it's what you're thinking it is. Anna and Max host Re:PVPA and guide their guests Freya and Greta through a series of questions about music, movie, and book recommendations. Break out your pen and pencils to jot down new things to watch, listen, and read - or to avoid at all costs. It's a chaotic journey of modern media, boyfriend armor, and left-handed secret societies.