Talk Theatre in Chicago

This week our podcast guests are director Max Truax, composer Jonathan Guillen and costume designer Nevena Todorovic. They join Anne Nicholson Weber to talk about their original operatic setting of Werner Muller's Hamletmachine at Trap Door Theatre, including its inception in a dream and its creation over five short and hair-raising weeks.

On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with David Zak, the former Artistic Director of Bailiwick Repertory. He talks about what he has been working on recently including his experience with the theatre scene in Korea and London.

Our guest on this week's podcast interview is Deb Clapp, Executive Director of the League of Chicago Theatres. She joins Anne Nicholson Weber to talk about the League's political advocacy on behalf of the Chicago theatre community in the run-up to the City elections.

On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Kelly Kleiman and Jonathan Abarbanel- the Dueling Critics on WBEZ. They talk about the state of the Chicago theatre scene as well as opinions on some recent shows.

Our featured guest this week is Jenny Avery, the newly-appointed Artistic Director at Next Theatre. Jenny talks with Anne Nicholson Weber about how this job found her, how the company weathered its recent, very public crisis, and what she sees ahead.

On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Brenda Didier, the director and choregrapher of Theo Ubique's Cats playing at the No Exit Cafe. She talks about the challenges of putting the show onto the small stage.

This week's podcast explores the stage magic in Goodman Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol. William Brown (Director), Scott Conn (Production Manager) and Matt Chandler (Assistant Production Manager) join Anne Nicholson Weber to explain how -- and why -- the ghost of Jacob Marley is dragged back into the fireplace, the Ghost of Christmas Past flies, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come stands 12 feet tall and appears out of nowhere.

On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Bernie Yvon, the star of The Music Man currently playing at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. He talks about his role as Harold Hill as well as his acting career.

This week's podcast features The House Theatre of Chicago's current production of The Nutcracker. Director/choreographer Tommy Rapley and book writer/cast member Jake Minton talk with Anne Nicholson Weber about the development of the piece from the original source material into the original 2007 production at Steppenwolf and now to the remounting at the Chopin Theatre. Along the way they talk about why dark material can be appropriate even for younger children, the challenges of playing in the round, and the rewards of getting a second chance working with the same material.

On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Ron OJ Parson, the director of Home which is currently playing at Court Theatre. Ron talks about the show as well as bringing it to stage.