The Drama Book Show!

In this episode, we talk with award-winning playwright Tom Dugan about Irish Goodbye, the first installment of his Jersey Pub Trilogy.

Set in a small New Jersey pub on Christmas Eve, the darkly comic play follows a disgraced cop and an ex-beauty queen who take shelter from a winter storm and form an unexpected connection. Joining the conversation are Broadway veteran Mel Johnson, who serves as moderator, and actress Anica Petrovic, who originated the role of Sandy in the Los Angeles premiere. Together, they explore Dugan’s play and the people who bring this funny and heartfelt story to life.

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In this episode, we talk with Deborah Jean Templin, award-winning playwright and veteran actor of theatre, film, and television, about her solo work Unsinkable Women: Stories and Songs From the Titanic.

Inspired by Templin’s experience touring with the Tony Award-winning musical Titanic, Unsinkable Women explores the lives of nine women who survived the sinking and how the disaster shaped their lives. Through vivid monologues and historical songs, Templin brings their stories to life—from the grandeur of Titanic’s launch to the tragedy of the sinking and the strength, hope, and activism that followed.

Joining the conversation as moderator is veteran dramaturg, writer, and creative executive Ken Cerniglia, whose Broadway credits include Hadestown and Aladdin. Together, they explore the history, storytelling, and theatrical process behind Unsinkable Women.

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In this episode, we talk with Dionne O’Dell, artistic director of the MSU Sense-Ability Ensemble, about The Sense-Ability Ensemble’s Guide to Creating Theatre for Audiences That Are Neurodiverse.

Part case study and part practical guide, the book explores how theatre makers can create work with neurodiverse audiences in mind—from sensory engagement, live music, and puppetry to design, storytelling, audience interaction, and performer training.

Joining the conversation are Sense-Ability Ensemble founding artists Ryan Duda and Evan Hill Phillips, with actor, writer, director, and arts manager Joel Guzmán moderating. Together, they discuss the ensemble’s journey and the process of creating more inclusive, interactive, and accessible theatrical experiences.

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In this episode we talk with performer and longtime voice teacher Carolyn Marcell Elmore about the art and practice of singing.

Elmore’s career spans opera, classical concert performance, and musical theatre, as both a performer and educator. Her book, Uncovering Your True Voice: A Practical Guide for Singers & Teachers, explores the day-to-day process of discovering, creating, and memorizing the energies and sensations that make up the art of singing.

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In this episode, we sit down with Diana Feldman to discuss her book Stuck in a Role: Releasing Trauma in Teens through the ENACT Drama Therapy Method. Drawing on more than 30 years of work in NYC schools, Feldman shares how drama therapy helps adolescents break free from protective roles and reconnect with their authentic selves. Through improvisation, role play, and empathy-driven communication, her method offers powerful tools for educators, therapists, and parents to support at-risk youth.

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In this episode, we explore What This Place Makes Me, a groundbreaking collection of works by first- and second-generation immigrant playwrights of Lebanese, Nigerian, Korean, Bengali, Polish, and Mexican descent. These seven powerful voices illuminate stories of displacement, alienation, and the search for belonging, weaving together narratives that are both deeply personal and universally resonant.

We’re joined by editor Isaiah Stavchansky—a playwright, actor, and creator whose work has been developed with Williamstown Theatre Festival, Atlantic Theater Company, and The Tank—as he shares the inspiration behind the anthology and the importance of these stories on today’s stage.

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In this episode, we talk with Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-nominated playwright, director, and educator James Ijames about his creative process and the art of making new work.

In anticipation of the world premiere of his new play Wilderness Generation at Philadelphia Theatre Company, Ijames joins Nancy Boykin and Kimberly S. Fairbanks for a conversation moderated by PlayPenn Artistic Director Che’Rae Adams. Together, they discuss collaboration, developing new plays, and creating theatre in turbulent times.

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In this episode, we celebrate Broadway Poster Art: 1945–1969 by Nicholas van Hoogstraten, a visually stunning tribute to Broadway’s iconic posters—from My Fair Lady and Fiddler on the Roof to rare designs for legendary flops. The book offers an insider’s look at the artists behind the posters, featuring Al Hirschfeld, David Klein, Fay Gage, and more, along with alternate concepts, rejected designs, and fascinating stories about how these visuals shaped Broadway’s identity.

Nicholas van Hoogstraten is the author of Lost Broadway Theatres, the award-winning musical Johnny Guitar, and other theatrical works. He created television programs including KTLA Morning News and Private Sessions for A&E, and helped launch the original FX network. He lectures on theater history and owns Triton Gallery, New York City’s largest source for vintage and current Broadway posters.

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In this episode, we explore Over the Shoulder: A Freelancer’s Guide to Telling Stories and Editing Films by Mark Solomon. Drawing on 30+ years in Hollywood, Solomon shares insider insights from editing iconic films like Shrek, Chicken Run, Space Jam, and the Eddie award-nominated Frankenweenie. His book offers a practical roadmap for crafting unforgettable stories, with lessons on suspense, contrast, cause and effect, and cross-cultural storytelling techniques, alongside real-world anecdotes from a career at the cutting edge of cinema.

Mark Solomon is an award-nominated film editor, producer, writer, and teacher who has consulted internationally and taught in the U.S. and U.K., helping aspiring filmmakers master the craft of visual storytelling.

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In This Episode

In this episode, we talk with Ronald “Smokey” Stevens, an award-winning performer, director, choreographer, producer, and founder of Capital City Readers Theatre. A veteran of Broadway productions including Bubbling Brown Sugar, Dreamgirls, and his own Rollin’ on the T.O.B.A., Stevens has dedicated much of his career to preserving and celebrating Black theatrical history.

His book, The First 60 Years: The History of Afro American Musical Theater & Entertainment, 1865–1930, chronicles the groundbreaking contributions of Black performers, producers, entrepreneurs, and theater owners following emancipation. From the birth of Black vaudeville and the Blues to the rise of Black theatrical entrepreneurship, Stevens shines a light on the artists who forged a path for American entertainment despite the racism and barriers of their time.

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