SPOTLIGHT: The American Stage Podcast

Join American Stage Producing Artistic Director and Resident Playwright, Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, as he has a conversation with leading actor Alex DeLeo about his role as Ren McCormack in Footloose. Alex shares his experience coming back to the stage after an ankle injury and how this connects him to the character. 

Join American Stage Producing Artistic Director and Resident Playwright, Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, as he has a conversation with stars of the stage and screen Phyllis Yvonne Stickney and Jennifer Leigh Warren to discuss their careers and current roles in "School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play."

Join American Stage Producing Artistic Director and Resident Playwright, Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, as he has a holiday conversation with the production team of American Stage's 80s punk twist on Tom Mula's "Jacob Marely's Christmas Carol." Assistant Director Hannah Hockman, Sound Designer Paul Edward Wilt, and Set and Lighting Designer Phillip Franck share insights about the power of redemption and how they took this classic Christmas story and gave it a punk spin. Come see American Stage's production of "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" running from December 8 – January 2, 2022! For more information visit: www.americanstage.org

Join American Stage Producing Artistic Director and Resident Playwright, Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, as he has a soul-stirring conversation with guest director of our revival of the hilarious,  Tony Award Winning Comedy The Odd Couple, Adam Mace, and leading man, Michael Burgess, who plays the iconic character, Felix Unger. They share insights about the power of comedy in our world today and how representation in the American Theatre matters. Come see American Stage's production of The Odd Couple running from October 29 – November 21! For more information visit: www.americanstage.org

American Stage's Associate Artistic Director Kristin Clippard speaks with Josh Odsess-Rubin and Kiara Hines about playing Romeo and Juliet in our return to live performances. This tragedy gets a new happy ending, and the actors share their insight into why this story and these characters still enthrall us today. Romeo and Juliet in America play at Williams Park in downtown St. Petersburg July 21 - August 1, 2021.

Associate Artistic Director Kristin Clippard interviews director Ted Lange and actor L. Peter Callender about their working relationship, personal connections and building the production. Ted and Peter talk about Louis Armstrong and how Satchmo's story informs their own.

A conversation moderated by Associate Artistic Director Kristin Clippard featuring this year's playwrights: Amber Palmer, Cris Eli Blak, Meghan Maugeri, and Arlene Hutton. The playwrights discuss their plays, their writing style and career paths, as well as their dreams for the future of theater.

A conversation moderated by CEO/Producing Artistic Director Stephanie Gularte featuring April Lott, CEO of Directions for Living; Donna Sicilian, LCSW, EdS, Executive Director, Student Services of Pinellas County Schools; Beth Houghton, Executive Director of the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County; Jeff Undestad, Chief of Police of the Largo Police Department; and Reverend Kenneth Irby, Pastor, Bethel AME Church discussing the state of mental health in our community, including the sharing of resources, and an examination of how we can work to destigmatize mental illness.

NOSOTROS LA GENTE is a new commissioned play by Jerry Montoya, and features actors Diana Garle and Daniel Llaca. Associate Artistic Director and Co-Director of the play, Kristin Clippard, talks with this real life couple about the age of digital theater, an unorthodox creative process, and the beauty of building a life in the desert of California. In this episode, listeners will get a behind-the-scenes glance at this new play. NOSOTROS LA GENTE is available to stream, December 4 - 20, 2020.

American Stage's second digital production is Kate: The Unexamined Life of Katharine Hepburn by Rick Foster and performed by the indomitable Janis Stevens. Associate Artistic Director Kristin Clippard talks with Janis about how the show came to be and what it's been like to play an iconic celebrity.