Mark Landis is a long time core member with us here at PURE. Mark is coming up in our next production STEVEN DIETZ’S Adaptation of GASLIGHT.

A little confession here. This is actually an interview from a couple of years ago, back when I first had dreams of developing a podcast for the company. I did a series of interviews at the time — including ones with Cristy Landis and Emily Wilhoit — and we'll air those in the future. The conversations were excellent, but I wasn't able to get the show off the ground. Later, we did a radio show on OM Radio in Charleston, found our rhythm, got the flow going, and the show was born. Now seems like the perfect time to reach back for this one. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did — with the great Mark Landis.

As an actor, David Whalen's done it all. From Shakespeare to movies, he's worked with many of the greats in the major theatre centers and across this country's robust regional theatre scene. I got to sit down with him while he's performing in PURE's production of Ayad Akhtar's MCNEAL. Catch the reviews here and join us for our final week.

CITY PAPER REVIEW by Maura Hogan

CHARLESTON DAILY REVIEW by Mark A. Leon

We’ve taken a bit of a break, but we’re back. I’m afraid I’m pretty much a one-man band here and it takes some work to get these out there. I certainly enjoy it and I hope you do as well. Feel free to let us know how it’s going and what you like and don’t like. The idea is to start taking this interaction to the next level. I’m thinking in terms of seasons and finding ways to really interface with the shows we’re producing. We succeed when we get you involved. As always, your comments and thoughts are welcome, so please leave them on the Substack or feel free to email me.

If you haven’t seen McNeal at PURE, it’s a mind-bending play that Ayad Akhtar has given us. It speaks to the integration of AI into an artist’s life—in this case, a famous novelist. More so, it asks what we take from each other, stories and moments, and what happens when we can do that on a large scale. And in seconds. We had a great talk-back after the show with Sharon Graci, Josh Wilhoit and Dr. Bill Manaris. This week’s return to the podcast is a replay of that conversation. Next time out we’ll have McNeal himself, actor David Whalen. Look for that in the next few weeks. From there I’m going to try something new with the podcast—I’m going to make a kind of diary of the directing of our next show, Gaslight. Hopefully we’ll have an interview with Steven Dietz along the way.

For today, however, we go back to last week after the show and our talk-back with Sharon Graci, Josh Wilhoit, and Bill Manaris.

AUDIO above, Video below!

PURE CONVERSATION

Because the best conversations don’t end at curtain call.

Saturday, January 17 following the performance

Josh WilhoitSenior Director of Software Development and PURE Core Ensemble member

Dr. Bill ManarisProfessor of Computer Science and Director of the Computing in the Arts program at the College of Charleston

CITY PAPER REVIEW by Maura Hogan

CHARLESTON DAILY REVIEW by Mark A. Leon

“A brilliant and transfixing new play” —The Atlantic

“A gripping, razor-sharp portrait of a writer coming undone.” —The New York Times

“A brilliant, unsettling look at genius, ego, and the cost of creation.” —TheaterMania

“Explosive. Unmissable.” —Vulture

Good writers borrow, great writers steal. Jacob McNeal is a great writer, one of our greatest, and a perpetual candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature. But he also has an estranged son, a new novel, old axes to grind, and an unhealthy fascination with Artificial Intelligence. From Pulitzer Prize-winner Ayad Akhtar, McNeal is a startling and wickedly smart examination of the inescapable humanity—and increasing inhumanity—of the stories we tell.

STARRING

David Whalen°Sam SmithJoy Vandervort-Cobb°*Andrew PuckettJourney TownsendSylvia JefferiesRyka Khanna* PURE Core Ensemble° Appears Courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association

This week York Walker is on the podcast!

(VIDEO PODCAST Below)

York is the writer of COVENANT, which opens at PURE on October 2nd and runs through October 25th. There's tremendous excitement building for this production. We held an open rehearsal last week, and the audience experienced Hitchcock-worthy suspense trying to figure out what's going to happen in the play.

York was also here for our Playwrights Festival, which was truly a special event. If you missed it, don't worry—we're going to run it every year from here on out. I just can’t express enough what an extoridary opportunity it was to access and be in conversation with these artists! York was also able to sit in on one of the play's rehearsals. We talk about that experience along with many others in this conversation.

We’d love your feed back! Let me know if you prefer the video or audio podcast and which you use more!

(Watch Video Podcast below)

P&F website

Picture this: You walk out of the theater onto Spring Street, make your way to King, turn left on Rutledge, and walk down a few blocks to Bogard. Then, if you're fortunate enough to take that right and go a few more blocks, you're going to find Philosophers & Fools tucked nicely into the neighborhood.

What is Philosophers & Fools? Well, it's a bookstore and a place where you can buy a book, sit, read, and have wine or a craft beer. But more than that, it's a place to explore ideas. They host all kinds of events, they're one of our dining partners, and they're a great place to meet before the show—or really anytime you want to delve into the literary arts.

This week we have a fantastic conversation with Jenny and Michael about their love of books, Charleston, and storytelling. And if you're listening to this first thing on Tuesday, September 9th, be sure to head down to PechaKucha tonight to see them in a stellar lineup of speakers including our own Sharon Graci!

Info and tickets

PRESENTERS: ARUN DRUMMOND, JENNY FERRARA & MICHAEL BOURKE, KATE BOYETTE, LEE BARBOUR, MENA MARK HANNA, NAMELESS NUMBERHEAD, QUIANA PARLER, & SHARON GRACI

Video Podcast

This week's guest is Brad Erickson. Brad has had a fascinating career in the arts and is a long time friend and supporter of the company. He's the playwright of this year's final show, THE OCEAN WE SWIM IN, and part of our PLAYWRIGHTS Weekend coming up. You need not be a playwright to participate! It’s going to be an incredible opportunity to look into the process and meet all of the playwrights from this season. It will include a performance from last week’s guest DAN HOYLE and capped off with a party for our treasured Artistic Director Sharon Graci! Don’t miss it.

You can learn more about South Porch Residency here:

South Porch

You can also watch the video podcast here - filmed at SOUTH PORCH!

This week’s conversation is with actor, writer, and creator of Journalistic Theater DAN HOYLE. Listen above or on your favorite podcast platform. You can also see the video of the conversation below.

Dan will be performing at PURE September 12th & 13th in conjunction with our Playwrights Festival. Friday, September 12th is open to the public and the performance on the 13th is included in the Playwrights Festival. See you there!

PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL tickets and info

Single tickets TAKES ALL KINDS Friday the 12th

Dan's Website

VIDEO PODCAST

This week’s podcast is with Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder playwright on Zelda in the backyard. You can listen as usual to the podcast right here or on one of your favorite podcast platforms.

For subscribers you can also WATCH the podcast below. Fancy right?

Here are links to Elyzabeth's website and her beautiful piece in the PORTLAND REVIEW. There's also a link below to a short documentary about a Southern tour organized by the great Alabama Shakespeare Festival, which included our own core ensemble member David Lee Nelson. We miss David greatly, and it's a great insight into his passion for theatre, the South, and leaving this world a better place. We are all better for having had David in our lives.

Elyzabeth's website

Elyzabeth's piece in the PORTLAND REVIEW

On October 20, 2018, during the Southern Writers Festival of New Plays, Alabama Shakespeare Festival debuted a short film that documents the State of the South tour and outlines our plans for developing new work in the South. About the State of the South: Artistic Director Rick Dildine curated a diverse group of Southern playwrights whose work reflects the ever-evolving face of the South: David Lee Nelson, Donnetta Lavinia Grays, Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, and Addae Moon. The tour made stops in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee and met with residents in towns of all sizes. Through one-on-one interviews and group story circles, the State of the South creative team sought to answer: Who is the South? What is the South? Where is the South?

In this episode of the PURE Theatre Podcast, host Rodney Lee Rogers welcomes listeners to season two after a year-long hiatus. He discusses the show's intent to enrich the PURE Theatre experience and invites audiences to revisit previous episodes featuring insightful conversations with artists. Notably, the episode highlights the upcoming season's lineup, including plays like 'Zelda in the Backyard' by Elizabeth Gregory Wilder and others by renowned playwrights. The spotlight is on a conversation with director Miles Boyes and actor Camille Loman, who share their experiences and reflections on working in theater. They delve into themes of Southern identity, the unique art scene in Charleston, and the personal evolution of artists within the community. The podcast also explores various aspects of theatrical production, including rehearsal dynamics, audience engagement, and the intimate relationship between performers and their cars. Additionally, the episode unveils a new seating arrangement at the Canon Street space, enhancing the immersive theater experience for audiences. The discussion concludes with a teaser for the next episode featuring Elizabeth Gregory Wilder, promising a blend of traditional and video podcasting formats.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back

00:41 Season Two Overview

01:28 Upcoming Productions

02:05 Conversation with the Creative Team

04:45 Reflections on Southern Identity

10:16 Challenges of Being an Artist in the South

14:52 First Car Memories

21:28 The Significance of Cars

23:18 The Significance of Cars in Youth

24:21 Favorite Moments at Pure Theatre

26:50 The Evolution of Pure Theatre

27:43 Memorable Experiences and Challenges

31:39 Theater Production Process

36:21 Car Troubles and Personal Stories

41:39 Audience Interaction and Upcoming Changes

44:15 Conclusion and Future Plans

Bridging Histories: Margaret Seidler's Journey to Truth

This episode features Margaret Seidler. Margaret discusses her personal and professional experiences, particularly highlighting a recent project where she delves into her family's history. Translating her discovery into a book titled 'Painful Business, Charleston's Journey to Truth', she unearths her ancestral connections to the slave trade in Charleston. The script also touches on Seniors and Seniors, a program that Margaret is involved in, aiming to foster dialogues across generations. Furthermore, the episode explores the emotional journey and the broader implications of confronting uncomfortable truths about one's heritage. It concludes with discussions on the power of storytelling, art, and personal accountability in healing and bridging historical divides.

Margaret's Book: https://payne-fulbusiness.com

00:00 Navigating Conflict and Avoidance: Insights and Anecdotes

00:39 Introducing Margaret Seidler: A Journey in Conflict Management and More

00:58 Seniors and Seniors: Bridging Generations Through Theater

01:23 Values, Structure, and Flexibility: Lessons from a Seniors and Seniors Session

03:59 Exploring Personal Histories and the Power of DNA Discoveries

05:39 A Deep Dive into Charleston's History and Personal Ancestry

09:04 Unveiling a Painful Past: The Journey of Writing 'Painful Business' https://payne-fulbusiness.com

25:30 The Impact of Art and History on Racial Healing and Understanding

33:56 Reflecting on the Journey: Personal Growth and the Power of Sharing Stories

36:07 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions for the Podcast