The Brook Reading Podcast

On this week’s episode of Brook Reading, I tackle the history of libraries in the United States. I also read tons of lovely comments, regarding “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Stephen King (of course), Alien, and the fact that President Biden is more respectful to the elderly than He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. I also rant about Kevin Costner, and share with you another promo for Designs by Paula J. Happy Listening!

Intro Music: Sean Faust
Outro Music: Victoria Timpanaro

This week’s episode is the third in the Brook Reading Series, Scenes from William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Our final scene takes place after the Duke’s wedding ceremony. Our young lovers have also been wed, and a celebration is in order. The newly wedded couples take in a play, written and performed by a group of rude mechanicals, workmen of Athens. Upon completion of the program, our fairy court, reunited in love, blesses their homes and bids them happily ever after. Enjoy the show!

Tonight’s Cast (In Order of Appearance)
Theseus, Duke of Athens: Jeff Feightner
Demetrius, a youth of Athens: Bret Jordan
Lysander, Hermia’s true love: Josh Button
Hippolyta, an Amazonian warrior and Theseus’ bride: Shera Bello
Peter Quince, a carpenter, and director of the play: Gemma Williams
Nick Bottom, a weaver, portraying Pyramus: Dan Felton
Tom Snout, a tinker, portraying Wall: Amelia
Francis Flute, a bellows mender, portraying Thisbe: Melissa Sak
Snug, a joiner, portraying Lion: JayRay
Robin Starveling, a tailor, portraying Moonshine: Amelia
Robin Goodfellow, a Puck: Drew Hallum
Oberon, King of the Fairies: Zak Eisenberg
Titania, Queen of the Fairies: Alison Hope Ferrara

Producers: Alison Hope Ferrara, Melissa Sak
Sound Designer and Music Composer: Victoria Timpanaro
Editing Team: Jeff Feightner, Melissa Sak, Victoria Timpanaro

*Intro and outro themes, and all music within are original works composed and performed by Victoria Timpanaro.

This week’s episode is the second in a three-part series featuring scenes from William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Tonight, we perform Act Three, Scene Two, where we revisit our fair lovers as they spend the night in the forest. Their misprised antics are exacerbated by the gleeful, yet mischievous, interventions of our resident Puck, Robin Goodfellow. Enjoy the show!

Tonight’s Cast (In Order of Appearance)
Oberon, King of the Fairies: Zak Eisenberg
Robin Goodfellow, a Puck: Drew Hallum
Demetrius, a youth of Athens: Bret Jordan
Hermia, Egeus’ daughter: Tricia Marsac
Helena, a young woman of Athens: Siana Lea Gildard
Lysander, Hermia’s true love: Josh Button

Producers: Alison Hope Ferrara, Melissa Sak
Sound Designer and Music Composer: Victoria Timpanaro
Editing Team: Jeff Feightner, Melissa Sak, Victoria Timpanaro

*Intro and outro themes, and all music within are original works composed and performed by Victoria Timpanaro.

This week begins a three-part series featuring scenes from William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Journey with us to Athens, where magic, mystery, love, and hijinks await you. Our stellar cast brought this classic comedy to life through the wonder of voice acting, and our fantastic crew added the reality, and fantasy, through music and sound. Tonight, we will perform for you, our devoted audience, Act Two, Scene One. In our first scene, we meet our fairy court at night, deep in the wild forests of Athens. Our fairy king and queen, as well as a group of mortal lovers, are estranged. While the broken-hearted youngsters suffer misunderstandings and confusion, the turmoil beset by our fairy lord and lady annihilates the natural progression of our delicate environment. Enjoy the show!

Tonight’s Cast (In Order of Appearance)
Robin Goodfellow, a Puck: Drew Hallum
Fairy: Shera Bello
Oberon, King of the Fairies: Zak Eisenberg
Titania, Queen of the Fairies: Alison Hope Ferrara
Demetrius, a youth of Athens: Bret Jordan
Helena, a young woman of Athens: Siana Lea Gildard

Producers: Alison Hope Ferrara, Melissa Sak
Sound Designer and Music Composer: Victoria Timpanaro
Editing Team: Jeff Feightner, Melissa Sak, Victoria Timpanaro

*Intro and outro themes, and all music within are original works composed and performed by Victoria Timpanaro.
**"Thunder, Very Close, Rain, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org

This week’s episode of Brook Reading is chock full of fun! I was turned onto a brand new musical that is quite appropo right now. I share with you an article I found regarding an historically exciting trip for President Biden, and I gear up for my next series, a FIRST in Brook Reading History! Stay tuned next week for the first episode of our radio play of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare, performed by the Brook Reading Players! Thank you, everyone, for your support, and Happy Reading!

Promo: Two Peas on a Podcast

Intro Theme Song Provided By: Sean Faust
Outro Theme Song Provided By: Victoria Timpanaro

On this week’s episode of Brook Reading, I introduce you to an author with such an amazing outlook on life, writing, success, and joy! I had the pleasure to read and review Janet-Lynn’s debut novel, Forever is Today, and she was kind enough to visit me at the Brook! We talked about her inspiration for this fantastic work, her work creating visibility for liver disease, the notion of a strong, familial support system, and that love can strengthen and heal us all.

Promo: Janet-Lynn, Hasmark Publishing

Intro Theme Song Provided By: Sean Faust
Outro Theme Song Provided By: Victoria Timpanaro

This weekend is an amalgam of literature, friendship, philanthropy, and general merriment as I finally recover from tooth surgery and chat with you again! Also, the 5 minute rant returns! I discuss the idea of shame surrounding women’s bodies and genitalia, my happy surprise to see that this wave of embarrassment may be turning the tides in the media, my SECOND rant about missing solid foods, and my promotion of Designs by Paula J AND Livestream For The Cure!

There were so many great comments and shoutouts, especially tons of love to the people that have gifted me books in one form or another. You all have brought more literary joy to my life, and I am so grateful. Thank you, Sean from WDIM, Alison, Heather, Shawn from the Ink and Ash Podcast, Shera, and Vic!

Promo: Designs by Paula J, Livestream For the Cure

Intro Theme Song Provided By: Sean Faust
Outro Theme Song Provided By: Victoria Timpanaro

This week, in honor of Mother’s Day, I am releasing an episode reviewing one of my favorite plays of all time - ever. Robert Harling’s play, Steel Magnolias, was turned into a feature film in 1989, which has had such a huge influence on me over the past 30+ years. I apologize in advance for my terrible Louisiana accent, but I had SO much fun recording this episode and reading this wonderful play and I hope you enjoy it. Happy Mother’s Day to all of you moms out there, and Happy Reading!

Promo: Livestream For the Cure

Intro Theme Song Provided By: Sean Faust
Outro Theme Song Provided By: Victoria Timpanaro

Episode 131 introduces us to a debut novel, “Compliance”, by the amazingly talented author and podcaster, Sam Hurley. Check out my interview with Sam and my review of “Compliance”. I wax about the idea that Sam’s novel may make me smarter, why I have a crush on Ryan (and maybe all New Zealanders), and why we should absolutely support indie authors! Don’t forget to check out the website this week to find out more about Sam and buy your copy of “Compliance”! You can also find Sam on HIS podcast, Movie Reviews in 20 Qs!

Promo: Livestream For the Cure

Intro Theme Song Provided By: Sean Faust
Outro Theme Song Provided By: Victoria Timpanaro

On this week’s installment of Brook Reading’s Month-Long Shakespeare Extravaganza, I am joined by Jay of Politics with Dummies, and one of my brothers in the No Phony Podcast Network, to discuss “Julius Caesar”. We touch upon the rebellious nature of iambic pentameter, the importance of good teachers AND Cliff notes, and our mutual feeling that Charleton Heston can suck it. Jay finds very significant similarities between our play and the past four years, we also talk about “Romeo + Juliet”, “Dead Poets Society”, and we throw our books (very DPS-esque). You can find Jay’s talent on such shows as the Politics with Dummies Podcast, Coyote’s Bluff, and much more.

Promo: Livestream For the Cure

Intro Theme Song Provided By: Sean Faust
Outro Theme Song Provided By: Victoria Timpanaro