The conversation delves into the transition into sole artistic leadership at The Wilma Theater and their unique approach to productions. Lindsay Smiling shares his journey to becoming the Artistic Director and discusses the challenges and opportunities of co-artistic directorship.

The discussion also explores the essence of the Wilma Theater experience and strategies for engaging the audience and enhancing their theater experience. The conversation with Lindsay Smiling covers the artistic vision and risk-taking at the Wilma Theater, the impact of digital productions, the involvement of co-artistic directors in season planning, community engagement and representation, and the importance of membership and community involvement in the theater experience.

Takeaways

• Artistic leadership transition
• The Wilma Theater's unique approach to productions Community Engagement
• Artistic Direction
• Theater Collaboration

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Lindsay Smiling
• 05:37 Leadership Changes and Community Support
• 11:14 Challenges of Artistic Leadership
• 18:13 Engaging the Audience and Enhancing Experience
• 25:19 The Impact of Digital Productions
• 31:24 Community Engagement and Representation

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https://wilmatheater.org  

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The conversation with Mydera Taliah Robinson, Executive Director of Theater Horizon, delves into her journey, community engagement, and the impact of Theater Horizon's productions. Mydera's commitment to community building, inclusivity, and empowering marginalized communities is evident in her leadership and the organization's approach to theater. The season's world premiere of 'Wishing to Grow Up Brightly' and the community's response exemplify the power of storytelling and its impact on fostering connections and understanding. The conversation delves into the value of the journey, the importance of building a community, and the creation of XOXO as a love letter to the community. It also explores community collaboration, relationship building, ownership, valuation, community engagement, and the empowerment of artists and community members. The power of connection and amplification is highlighted as a key theme throughout the discussion. The conversation delves into the importance of building name recognition, preserving legacy through art, and the impact of black joy. It also highlights the welcoming of Amina Robinson as the new artistic director and the role of artistic directors in preserving heritage and legacy. The discussion emphasizes the restoration of pathways and opportunities, embracing diversity in art, and the abundance of artistic expression, ultimately celebrating community and joy.

Takeaways

• Community engagement and inclusivity are essential for building trust and empowering marginalized communities.
• The power of storytelling and community impact is evident in the world premiere of 'Wishing to Grow Up Brightly' and the conversations it sparked. Community collaboration and relationship building are essential for the success of community-based initiatives.
• Empowering artists and community members through engagement and connection is crucial for building a strong and inclusive community. Preserving legacy through art
• Embracing diversity in art

Chapters

• 00:00 Introducing Theater Horizon and Mydera Taliah Robinson
• 05:48 Building Trust and Community Engagement
• 10:58 Collective Success and Community Building
• 18:19 World Premiere of 'Wishing to Grow Up Brightly'
• 27:52 The Value of the Journey
• 33:23 Community Collaboration and Relationship Building
• 41:03 Community Engagement and Connection
• 49:10 The Power of Connection and Amplification
• 54:10 Welcoming Amina Robinson
• 59:43 Announcing the New Artistic Director
• 01:07:31 Embracing Diversity in Art

Follow Theatre Phialdelphia here:

https://linktr.ee/theatrephiladelphia 

Follow Theatre Horizon here:

https://theatrehorizon.org/ 

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Dive into a compelling conversation with CJ Higgins and Jay Adams of the Bards Theatre Troupe as they discuss their innovative theater production, "I'm the Real One," which explores the impact of artificial intelligence on human life and society. Discover how this show tackles complex issues around AI, ethics, and community, all through the lens of devised theater with music, puppets, and live art.

n our tenth season as a queer-centric theatre collective, The Bards Theatre Troupe tackle a subject that has absolutely no controversy or discourse attached to it: AI. From the impact on tangible societal markers like the economy, environment, and art to the more abstract shifts in connection, communication, and art, we’ll use scenes and songs (and probably puppets) to unpack the ways that the rise in AI use is changing how we all connect with each other. And don’t worry: everything we present was created by humans!

This event is part of 2026 Philly Theatre Week! Pay-What-You-Can tickets are available for all performances.

Performance schedule:
Thursday, April 30th 8pm
Saturday, May 2nd 8pm
Sunday, May 3rd 1pm

For more about The Bards Theatre Troupe:

https://www.thebardstheatretroupe.com/

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We are continuing our coverage of Philly Theatre Week and today we are chatting with Theatre by Development whose offering “Clippings ’26” 

Monti Cerebino and Andrew Miqueli, Co-Artistic Directors

CLIPPINGS ‘26 is a night of short plays by young and emerging Philadelphia-based playwrights in a reading format. These pieces include: “The Dissection of One Billy Burke” by Sophia Snyder, “Gay Book Club’s Worst Read of the Year” by Erin Malimban, and “Hey! What’s the Big Idea?” by Seph McAndrew.

These short pieces feature the writing of emerging playwrights, a shared ensemble cast, and upcoming creative talent in the Philadelphia theatre scene.

Clippings is inspired by the Equinox New Play Festival at the late University of the Arts which allowed UArtists to take risks and experiment with different ways of producing theater. TBD aims to carry this tradition forward and continue to create a space for young creatives to enter the industry and discover their artistic voice.

FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION: https://theatrephiladelphia.org/whats-on-stage/clippings-26

This ticketing page is for the sale of Pay-What-You-Can tickets for this event as part of 2026 Philly Theatre Week! If this page does not have tickets available, please visit http://tbdclippings2026.eventbrite.com/  to find more available general tickets.

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The conversation covers the introduction to Philly Theater Week and Love City Cabaret, the song selection process, fundraising and beneficiaries of Love City Cabaret, the origin and growth of Love City Cabaret, the role of community theater and artistic expression, and recruitment and upcoming shows. The takeaways include insights into community theater and fundraising, as well as the song selection process for performances.

Takeaways

• Community theater and fundraising
• Song selection process

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Philly Theater Week and Love City Cabaret
• 07:16 Fundraising and Beneficiaries of Love City Cabaret
• 14:32 Recruitment and Upcoming Shows

FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION: https://theatrephiladelphia.org/whats-on-stage/love-city-presents-spring-sing

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Join us in this episode as we dive into the innovative adaptation of the classic vampire novella "Carmilla," reimagined through a feminist, queer, and post-colonial lens. We talk with the creators about the artistic choices, role-switching performances, and the rich historical context that influences this thought-provoking production.

Timestamps: 

00:00 - Introduction to Theater Philadelphia and Philly Theatre Week 2026 

00:45 - Overview of "My Carmilla" and its unique performance approach 

01:13 - Summary of the original "Carmilla" novella and its themes 

02:33 - Visual elements and adaptations in staging 

03:12 - How the adaptation approaches feminism, queerness, and post-colonial perspectives 

04:48 - Addressing stereotypes of queer women as predators in media 

05:36 - Reimagining predator vs prey with active female characters 

06:16 - The historical context of queer relationships in the 19th century 

07:12 - The significance of showing queerness without stereotypes 

08:11 - The creative process behind role swapping and script development 09:34 - Audience engagement and evolving performances through feedback 11:04 - The importance of nuanced queer representation 

14:32 - Details on upcoming performances and locations 

23:55 - Final thoughts and how to attend the shows

Resources & Links:

• My Carmilla The Play
• Instagram: @MyCarmillaThePlay
• My Carmilla - Philly Theatre Week

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This interview explores the human tendency to understand identity through past experiences, the diverse attitudes of Americans and immigrants, and the role of hope in the American Dream.

SENG’S HAIR SALON

by Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay

April 17 - May 10

World Premiere, commissioned as part of the Philly Cycle!

When a mysterious and fatal epidemic starts to haunt their shop, three generations of a Lao family in South Philly clash over what’s best for the well-being of their matriarch. This modern American family includes Lao, Vietnamese and Cambodian characters, who must navigate a dramatically shifting local and national cultural political scene while advocating for greater political representation.

Set inside a family-owned Philadelphia salon that has served as a community cornerstone for decades, this play centers Lao, Vietnamese, and Cambodian characters navigating a health crisis and rapidly shifting cultural and political landscape. As national rhetoric intensifies and local stakes rise, the family wrestles with questions of visibility, advocacy, and generational responsibility.

Developed in partnership with Laos in the House, VietLead and the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia.

Lydia Gaston (Seng) Broadway credits: Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Miss Saigon, The King and I (1996, 2015), Shogun, The Red Shoes. Off-Bway productions with: Ma-Yi Theatre Group, National Asian-American Theatre (NAATCO), Pan Asian Rep, and The Public Theatre. TV credits: Law and Order, Hightown (Season 3), The Path, The Blacklist, Zero Day (Netflix), Late Night With Seth Meyers; Film: Easter Sunday (Universal Pictures) as “Tita Susan.” MA in Applied Theatre, CUNY Graduate Center, New York.

Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay HEAR IT (Playwright) is a Lao American poet, essayist, and playwright. Her work focuses on creating tools and spaces for the amplification of refugee voices through poetry, theater, and experimental cultural production. The Smithsonian APAC, Theater Mu, Theater Unbound, and Mixed Blood Theater have presented her plays. She’s received fellowships from the Bush Foundation (2021), McKnight Foundation (2021), Playwrights’ Center (2018), Loft Literary Center for poetry (2018) and children's literature (2019), Twin Cities Media Alliance for public art (2018), and is an Aspen Ideas Bush Foundation fellow (2018). She's received grants from the Knight Foundation, Forecast Public Art, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, Center for Cultural Power, MAP Fund, Andy Warhol Foundation, and 30+ more. She's currently the Mellon Foundation playwright in residence at Theater Mu, a Core Writer at the Playwrights' Center, a Jerome Foundation AIR at Camargo Cassis, France, and a MN State Arts Board grantee.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://www.interacttheatre.org/season-38

ABOUT THE PHILLY CYCLE: https://www.interacttheatre.org/philly-cycle 

ABOUT LYDIA GASTON: https://www.lydiagaston.com/ 

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Join us as we explore the production of Molière's The Hypochondriac at Quintessence Theater Group, directed by Trey Leifert. Discover insights into classic theater, modern relevance, and behind-the-scenes creative processes.

Molière’s

The Hypochondriac

Translated by Sir Ranjit Bolt

There is more than one way to afford health care. Argan is convinced his undiagnosable illness is fatal and that he must spend his wealth on celebrated doctors to survive. Anxious over medical bills and a profligate second wife, he schemes to marry his beautiful daughter to a doctor to ensure free health care. Can his daughter’s loveless marriage give Argan the insurance he needs against illness, or will he survive sickness without his tridaily enemas and realize that the true ills threatening his life, happiness and survival are not medicinal? Sir Ranjit Bolt (The Venetian Twins) writes a lacerating and witty new translation of Molière’s final comedy.

Eleni Delopoulos - Argan

Hana Gaffney - Béline

Taylor Congdon - Angélique

Conlan Ledwith - Monsieur Purgent / Thomas Diafoirus

Tenara Calen - Tionette

Christopher Patrick Mullen - Béralde / Monsieur Diafoirus

Ryan Pater - Cléante

Paul Guerin - Mr. Bonnefoy / Monsieur Fluerant

Jared McLenigan - The King

QTG - The Hypochondriac - https://www.quintessencetheatre.org/thehypochondriac 

Wikipedia - The Hypochondriac - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Imaginary_Invalid 

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This episode features a detailed discussion about the production of Carrie the Musical at Old Academy Players, exploring its history, themes, and community impact. The cast and director share insights into bringing this iconic story to life on stage, highlighting the creative process, technical challenges, and the show's significance within Philadelphia's theater scene.

CARRIE: The Musical

By Lawrence D. Cohen and Michael Gore 

Directed by Josh Tull 

April 24th, 25th, 26th; May 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 9th, 10th, 2026 

Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 2:00 p.m. 

Carrie White is a teenage outcast who longs to fit in. At school, she’s bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she’s ridiculed by her cruelly controlling mother. What none of them know is that Carrie has unique abilities and, if pushed too far, it could spell disaster for all of those around her. Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King, Carrie: The Musical takes you through a coming of age journey like no other.

Warning: Contains adult themes and adult language, it is not suitable for young children. Viewer discretion is advised.

Advisory: All guests are asked to be prompt for the start time of this production. Any guest not seated by showtime may not be permitted to enter until intermission at the discretion of the production team. All guests must remain seated and keep the isles clear at all times for the duration of this production.

This event is part of 2026 Philly Theatre Week! A limited number of Pay-What-You-Can tickets are available for the following performances:

Sunday, April 26, 2:00PM

Friday, May 1, 8:00PM

PWYC tickets available here beginning March 23rd: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/old-academy-players-834044305/car…

FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://oldacademyplayers.org/shows/carrie-the-musical/

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