Satellite: Beyond The Page

Ever wonder what a dramaturg brings to a production? "Reggie Hoops" dramaturg Wesley Tipton is a junior at Syracuse University studying theatre management, writing, and dramaturgy. Profile Theatre was lucky to be able to engage Tipton's research skill through her internship in artistic direction with "Reggie Hoops" director Melissa Crespo. In this episode, Tipton shares some of the same insights into the historical context surrounding "Reggie Hoops" that she shared with the actors and creative team to guide them to a deeper understanding of the character's circumstances.

"Reggie Hoops" director Melissa Crespo on growing up splitting her time between suburban Connecticut and the lively, diverse boroughs of New York; her life-long relationship with hip hop culture, and why she considers "Reggie Hoops" the next great family drama.

In 2016, when playwright Kristoffer Diaz was first writing "Reggie Hoops" for a group of M.F.A. actors, he imagined they would perform this story - the story of an exceptionally qualified woman leader in a field overwhelmingly dominated by men - in a world where the U.S. was celebrating having elected its first woman as president. Eight years and a handful of workshops (and life-altering career opportunities) later, Diaz reflects on the show’s evolution and imminent Portland debut.

Playwright christopher oscar peña carved out some time between rehearsals and rewrites of "our orange sky" to lead a writing workshop with Profile Theatre's Community Profile cohort.

We sat down right after chris’s workshop to hear some of what they worked on together, and how they’ve seen their own first generation or immigrant experience reflected in Profile’s work this season. 

"our orange sky" director Evren Odcikin shares how his own history as an immigrant fuels his passion and commitment to portraying similar stories with compassion, complexity, and in collaboration with and for the communities being portrayed.

"our orange sky" director's own history as an immigrant fuels his passion and commitment to portraying similar stories with compassion, complexity, and in collaboration with and for the communities being portrayed.

Artistic Director Josh Hecht sits down with season featured playwright Lauren Yee to talk about her inspiration for the three plays Profile is presenting in our 3-day Lauren Yee Festival: Mother Russia, The Song of Summer, and Samsara. They also touch on how becoming a mother has affected Yee's relationship with her work, and what it means to write outside one's own experience or identity.

A behind-the-scenes look at awe/struck's video design process. A lot of people working in creative professions are increasingly wary of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) will affect their industry. awe/struck's video designer (Luke Norby) and creative technologist (Scott James) of Five OHM Productions are excited about all of the possibilities AI can offer and view it as a creative asset, rather than a threat.

Our season's first episode of Satellite orbits awe/struck, the first of three world premieres Profile will produce this year. Satellite host and Director of Community Engagement Tamara Carroll grabs some time with playwright christopher oscar peña and director Josh Hecht (Artistic Director) on their meal break from rehearsal to discuss the play's origins, its journey and evolution from a Profile staged reading to an imminent world premiere, and the play's complex interplay of brutality and tenderness.