Talk Theatre in Chicago

Our guests on this week's podcast are Tanya Palmer, Director of New Play Development at Goodman Theatre, and Rebecca Rugg, Artistic Producer at Steppenwolf Theatre. They join Anne Nicholson Weber to talk about the process of new play development and the new play festivals that each theatre will be mounting this fall: Goodman's New Stages Amplified and Steppenwolf's First Look Festival.

On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Evan Jackson, the Artistic Director of Idle Muse Theatre and director of their current production of The Lion in Winter.

This week's podcast focuses on Writers Theatre. Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn Lipuma talk with Anne Nicholson Weber about the company's beginnings in the back of a North Shore bookstore; the philosophy and strategy that have shaped its culture; and new opportunities arising as the company embarks on its 20th season.

On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Naomi Wallace who is the playwright featured this year with the Eclipse Theatre Company. She talk about her show The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek and One Flea Spare as well as her upcoming visit to Chicago.

On this week's podcast, Anne Nicholson Weber talks with producer Sharon Evans and storytellers Matt Miller and Jeffrey Sweet about the Filet of Solo Festival currently playing in various Roger's Park venues. They talk about the history and scope of the festival, the storytelling scene in Chicago generally, and some of the specific pieces included in this year's festival.

On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Ann Filmer, the artistic director of the 16th Street Theater. She talks about their production of Rebecca Gilman's The Crowd You're In With and her direction of Tony Fitzpatrick's Stations Lost at the Steppenwolf Garage as well of why she founded 16th Street Theater.

Our podcast guest this week is Timothy Douglas, the new Artistic Director of Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. He joins Anne Nicholson Weber to discuss how he is integrating his personal aesthetic with that of the company, how his identity as an African-American enters into that dynamic, and what the company has planned for the 2011-2012 season.

On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Josh Rollins, the playwright of A Girl With Sun in Her Eyes. He talks about the production and the characters and about the challenge of writing a police procedural play.

Our guest on this week's podcast is Philip Dawkins, writer of The Homosexuals, which is currently being premiered by About Face Theatre at The Victory Gardens Biograph. Dawkins talks with Anne Nicholson Weber about the evolution of the script, why it appeals to a broad audience, and some of its themes, including generational shifts in what it means to be gay, and friendships that are interlaced with sex.

On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Hugh Spencer, the director and president of The Saints, an organization of volunteers for the performing arts. He talks about how The Saints provide help to theaters for a variety of activities including ushering at performances, grant support and more.