Story and Horse

Getting Out of the Way with Matthew Arkin

Today we welcome Broadway, film and TV actor Matthew Arkin.  Matthew is also an author, acting teacher, writing coach, and co-host of the podcast The Arkin Brothers Talk about Movies. Recently, he has added booze entrepreneur to the many hats he wears, and we'll hear about that today as well!

Our conversation includes:
- Matthew's background and his new project, the grain-based spirit business, Batch 22
- A story about walking out on stage and doing absolutely nothing
- The lesson and gift of his story:  not controlling the experience
- The only way to make it happen is to stay out of the way and let it happen
- Matthew's book The Country of the Blind, and a script about...lava babies!
-  Learn about his booze entrepreneurship, Batch 22 and creativity with cocktails
- The Batch 22 Road Trip:  16 cities in two weeks = a lot of craft cocktail drinking
- Connect with Matthew at the links below

Guest Bio: Matthew Arkin is an actor, author, and educator. Among his extensive television credits are Get Shorty, Hawaii Five-0, Bull, Criminal Minds, NCIS, Aquarius, and Law and Order. Film credits include indies Margot at the Wedding, Second Best, Raising Flagg, The Curse, and Bittersweet Place, as well as Death to Smoochy, Liar, Liar, North, and An Unmarried Woman. His Broadway credits include Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys, with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, Mr. Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor, and Manhattan Theater Club’s Losing Louie. Other New York credits include originating the role of Gabe in Donald Margulies’ Pulitzer Prize-winning Dinner with Friends (Drama Desk nomination), Moonlight and Magnolias at MTC, Rounding Third and War in Paramus. Among his regional theater credits are The Sisters Rosenswieg, The Siegel, All the Way, The Whale, The Prince of Atlantis, and Our Mother’s Brief Affair, all at South Coast Rep, Surf Report at La Jolla Playhouse, and The Scene at Hartford Stage Company. He teaches acting in Los Angeles, and is Director of the Acting Intensive Program at South Coast Repertory and an adjunct professor at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University. He is also the author of the suspense novel In the Country of the Blind.

Matthew's website: https://www.matthewarkin.com/
Matthew Arkin Studio: http://matthewarkinstudio.com/
Drink Batch 22:  DrinkBatch22.com
The Arkin Brothers Talk about Movies Podcast: https://apple.co/3wluNw2
Sign up for Matthew's newsletter

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Creativity is for Everyone with Nik Whitcomb

Join us as we talk about better book reports,, performing in The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences, and the importance of remembering the power of make-believe.

On this episode, Nik Whitcomb joins me for a chat on the opening night of the world premier for The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences! He is having a wonderful time playing the character of Patrick Star in front of very enthusiastic audiences at The Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, MO.

Nik talks about performing in The SpongeBob Musical, his podcast, and shares a story about how a desire for being better at book reports set him on his creative path.  We also talk about what he's learned about acting from being a casting director, and the importance of remembering to have fun and play. Creativity is for everyone!

Nik and I talk about:
- His background and current projects 
- Performing in The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences
- Nik's Podcast The Come Up with Nik Whitcomb
- How wanting to be better at book reports started him on his artistic journey
- His shyness as a child, and creative drama's influence on helping him speak up
-  That creativity is for everyone!
- How to reach Nik  (see links below)

Guest Bio: Nik Whitcomb is a host, theatre artist, content creator, and emerging thought leader born and raised in Omaha, NE. He was named a "Theatre Worker You Should Know" by American Theatre Magazine and is a Core Ensemble Member with the Performing Arts Collective at The Union for Contemporary Art. Nik is the creator and host of an online multi-platform talk show "THE COME UP with Nik Whitcomb" which provides a unique opportunity for the audience to spend quality time with working artists and hear how artistic work can be fuel to change the world. Nik is also an Associate Member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Union, a winner of two Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards, and an actor that has appeared on both stage and screen.

Connect with all things Nik: https://www.nikwhitcomb.com/
The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences:   https://thecoterie.org/
THE COME UP with Nik Whitcomb Podcast: www.THECOMEUPwithNikWhitcomb.com

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Sign up for our newsletter the Weekly Canter and receive creative resources and inspirations direct to your inbox: https://storyandhorse.ck.page/weeklycanter
Website: www.storyandhorse.com
Podcast: www.thestoryandhorsepodcast.com

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The Voice Inside with Ray Bokhour

Today we are joined by actor, composer and writer Ray Bokhour. Ray is currently on Broadway in Chicago the Musical, and is producing the new play A Sherlock Carol, making its Off-Broadway debut November 2021 at New World Stages in NYC.

Ray gives us a look backstage at his creative writing process, shares about producing the wonderful new off-Broadway production of A Sherlock Carol, and gifts us a story that he's not told before about finding and listening to his inner voice through playing guitar. 

Join us in conversation as we discuss:
- Ray's background and current projects
- Having creative time backstage
- A Sherlock Carol
- Learning how the money works in theatre
- Hearing your heart when you pitch
-  A personal story about finding his own voice in music - Queens, NYC, 1970's + guitar
- Listening and trusting your inner voice 
- How important it is to find time to be alone, and to only wear one hat at a time
- A project in the works for 2022 - The Glorious Death of Comrade What's His Name 

Guest Bio: Raymond Bokhour is the 2008 recipient of BMI’s Harrington Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement, and 2015 Ellen Schwartz Award for Outstanding Literary Merit in Lyric Writing. He is the co-author of The Glorious Death of Comrade What’s-His-Name, performed in concert at Barrington Stage directed by Tony-winning director John Rando. Also an actor, he holds the record for performances as Mr. Cellophane in Broadway’s Chicago (over 4,000). He opened the 1st National Tour of Once as Da. Recent work includes Williamstown Theatre Festival’s The Closet, opposite Matthew Broderick. Also a composer, his music has been recorded by the London Symphony, Warsaw Philharmonic, and Moravian Philharmonic orchestras.

Connect with Ray on Twitter: @RBokhour
A Sherlock Carol: https://asherlockcarol.com/
A Sherlock Carol on Twitter: @asherlockcarol
A Sherlock Carol on Facebook: @sherlockcarol
City Springs Theatre: https://www.cityspringstheatre.com/
Email Ray if you are interested in learning more about investing in A Sherlock Carol: Ray at bokhour.com

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Website: www.storyandhorse.com
Podcast: www.thestoryandhorsepodcast.com

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Cooking Up Creativity with Jonas Cohen & Marcus Baker

Life, music, biscuits and theatre! Actor Jonas Cohen and Musical Director and Pianist Marcus Baker join us to discuss creativity in the kitchen and theatre. Cohen and Baker are professional theatre artists in NYC, and, as the pandemic began, it became clear that a pivot was necessary. To nurture themselves and others, as well as create a source of income, the two friends created a drop biscuit business, the Drop Everything Biscuit Company.

Our Conversation Includes:
- How the Drop Everything Biscuit Company came to be
- Two stories about creativity from Marcus and Jonas
- The importance of being open to process
- Asking the question, "Can you fail?"
- Why biscuits?
- The connections between life, music, biscuits and theatre

You can find their tasty biscuits at: www.dropeverythingbiscuitcompany.com
Follow Marcus and Jonas at Instagram: @dropeverythingbiscuitco

Connect with Story and Horse!
Facebook: @storyandhorse
Instagram: @storyandhorse
Sign up for our newsletter the Weekly Canter and receive creative resources and inspirations direct to your inbox: https://storyandhorse.ck.page/weeklycanter
Website: www.storyandhorse.com
Podcast: www.thestoryandhorsepodcast.com

Guest Bios: Jonas Cohen is a professional actor, and Marcus Baker is a professional pianist and musical director. Their combined theatrical credits span TV, Film, web series, off-Broadway, regional theater, and educational theater. During the quarantine of 2020, these two friends had no choice but to drop everything and focus on self-care. 
It was during this time that they repaired to the kitchen and began to experiment with the humble Drop Biscuit  - a southern staple made with simple ingredients that can be endlessly enhanced with a variety of add-ins. Fascinated with the possibility of creating all kinds of flavor combinations these two theatermakers decided to ‘drop everything,’ introduce NYC to the Drop Biscuit, and provide the Big Apple with a little of the comfort and connection we were all craving. 
That’s how the Drop Everything Biscuit Co was born. Different from regular biscuits, our biscuits are crisp on the outside, soft and flakey on the inside and can handle all kinds of savory and sweet add-ins making them a treat you can enjoy with a meal, with butter, honey, or jam, or simply on their own. 

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