Theater Forward

By Jen Uphoff Gray, Julie Swenson, and Mike Fischer | Forward Theater CompanyArts Performing Arts

Theater Forward episodes

May 28, 2024 The Plays That Stay 2024 - Vol. 1
Our favorite summer stories are back! We sit down with some our most treasured theater artists and ask them to share a story about a play or musical that "stayed" with them, inspired them, or simply blew their minds. This episode features:
Cody Estle - Artistic Director of Next Act Theatre
James Carrington - Actor & Associate Director of Engagement at Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Lisa Schlenker - Scenic DesignerMikael Burke - Director
54 min
April 26, 2024 What We're Excited to See in 2024-25
It's our favorite time of the year! Theaters across the country are announcing their productions for the 2024-25 season, and we've got a LONG list of shows that we want to see. In this episode, we discuss the shows we're looking forward to locally, regionally, and across the country.
30 min
March 20, 2024 Forward Theater's 2024-25 Season
It's the most wonderful time of the year! This is when theater companies across the country announce their upcoming seasons, which means that theater is alive in America. In this episode, the team breaks down (and geeks out about) the lineup for Forward Theater's 2024-25 season:
KING JAMES by Rajiv Joseph
MURDER GIRL by Heidi Armbruster
SUMMER, 1976 by David Auburn
A CASE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD by Samuel D. Hunter

Learn more about these plays at ForwardTheater.com.
35 min
February 19, 2024 Mentors (a Michael Blakemore tribute)
Mike Fischer interviews Forward Theater Artistic Director (and fellow host) Jen Uphoff Gray! Jen discusses the valuable role of mentors in the arts, while reflecting on her formative relationship with Tony award-winning director Michael Blakemore. A thoughtful conversation about how we cultivate a new generation of theater directors, with a few juicy showbiz tales that include David Mamet and Woody Allen for good measure.

Also mentioned in this episode: Forward Theater's Wisconsin Directors Lab - an inclusive workshop for the education and career development of emerging directors, scheduled for January 2025.
41 min
January 15, 2024 No Longer a World Premiere...Now What? - Interview w/ Samuel Hunter
What happens after a play moves on from its shiny status as a World Premiere?Playwright Samuel Hunter joins us to discuss the journey of a play, from its exciting life as a World Premiere through its crucial 2nd and 3rd productions. A brilliant conversation that provides insight into the world of creating (and supporting) new works in American theater.
37 min
December 12, 2023 The Best of 2023
We look back at the theatrical highlights of 2023, and dive into our favorite experiences over the last year. We also take a moment to applaud the productions and artists that continue to take theater to the next level, and inspire us to keep looking forward.
40 min
November 22, 2023 The Art of Making Money in Theater
We sit down with Forward Theater Director of Development Sarah Milestone to talk about every theater's favorite word: REVENUE.

Making money in theater is a delicate dance. We dive into the world of donors, events, and the (lack of) government support for an artform that relies on more than just ticket sales to thrive.

Correction at 18:56:
Economic impact of the arts in the state of Wisconsin is $930 million and in Dane County it is $350 million according to the most recent research from Americans for the Arts. It was mistakenly reported at $400 million for the state.
37 min
October 18, 2023 What We’re Looking Forward to in 2023-24
Theater season is here, and we're all just kids in a candy store. We share the productions we can't wait to see in the 2023-24 season - nationally, regionally, and in our own backyard.
23 min
September 25, 2023 Accessibility & ASL Interpretation
Making theater accessible for Deaf and Hard of Hearing patrons is in high demand. We sit down with Amy Free and Tim Mumm, professional sign language interpreters and educators, to put a spotlight on this overdue priority for theaters. Amy and Tim share a behind the scenes look at what they do, and how theaters can make ASL-interpreted performances an integrated part of their productions.

A transcript of this episode can be found HERE.
29 min
August 11, 2023 Hot Take: We Are Surviving (and Thriving).
It's been a summer. After a deluge of national press about a crisis in American theater amid closings and layoffs, we take some time to cool things down with a tall, refreshing glass of "theater is not dead, folks."

While it's important to note the massive change that is happening in the theater world right now (and it can be shocking), it's vital to recognize that some organizations are not only surviving - they're rebuilding a path to thriving again after a dangerous twist in the road.
40 min

About Theater Forward

From the publisher's feed

From Forward Theater Company, a podcast featuring Jen Uphoff Gray, Julie Swenson and Mike Fischer as they discuss theater issues on a local, regional, and national level.