Token Theatre Friends

In this episode, Jose speaks to playwright Octavio Solis. Solis' new play, Scene with Cranes is having its world premiere at REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater ) in Los Angeles. The poetic work deals with the aftermath of a tragedy that shatters a family. Solis speaks about how the play was inspired by Jean Sibelius and of the lessons his characters teach him as they come alive on the page. 

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In this episode, Isabel speaks to Ramita Ravi, actor and dance captain in Bhangin' It. The La Jolla Playhouse musical, written by Mike Lew and Rehana Lew Mirza, with music and lyrics by Sam Willmott and Deep Singh, made its world premiere in San Diego from March 20th - April 17th, 2022. Ramita speaks on how the show's process makes space for South Asians and consultancy in theater, and how she challenges the "starving artist" trope by creating ARTSWRK, the professional network for artists.

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In this episode, Jose speaks to performer Jackie Burns. The actor is currently starring in a musical adaptation of A Walk on the Moon where she plays Pearl, a woman grappling with her life choices during the summer of 1969. Burns, known for her roles in If/Then and Wicked, talks about her love for the 1999 film that inspired the musical, as well as what it feels like to return to the stage in the era of Covid.

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In this episode, Jose speaks to clarinetist Anthony McGill and trombonist Weston Sprott, who also run Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program (MAP). The program is designed to recruit students from underrepresented communities in an effort to increase diversity in classical music. To celebrate the program's 30th anniversary, the students and faculty have put together a special concert at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine on May 14. 

McGill and Sprott talk about what drew them to classical music (and their instruments of choice) as children, as well as why they like teaching and what they have learned from their students.

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In this episode, Jose speaks to Fernanda Santos. The trailblazing, multilingual writer is known for her powerful journalism and intimate storytelling. Now she's also a musical writer with ¡Americano! which tells the real-life story of Tony Valdovinos, a young man who discovers he's undocumented and fights to remind people why he belongs in the US. Santos spoke about the kind of stories that draw her, as well as the immigrant saudade that comes with being split between two worlds.

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In this episode, Jose speaks to playwright Michelle Kholos Brooks about her play H*tler's Tasters (we reviewed the first New York production in 2018), her tragicomic look at the young women who were ready to give their lives for the infamous Nazi führer. As the play returns to New York stages, Kholos Brooks speaks about her research and the fascinating grey areas in which her characters exist.

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In this episode, Jose speaks to composer Jaime Lozano about his career and upcoming performances. On April 15, Lozano will take the stage at Lincoln Center's American Songbook series with Songs by an Immigrant, featuring music from his acclaimed song cycle performed by Latinx guest artists. Lozano also spoke about his process, what he wants young composers to know, and shared his passion for cooking.

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In this episode, Jose speaks to the director and cast of 7 Minutes. The Waterwell production is a translation of Stefano Massini's play, making its American debut at HERE Arts from March 17 - April 10, 2022. Director Mei Ann Teo speaks about what drew them to the play, while actors Nicole Ansari, Jojo Brown, and Ebony Marshall-Oliver comment on what it's like to work in an ensemble constituted exclusively by BIPOC women.

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In this episode, Jose speaks to playwright Eliana Pipes. Her play Dream Hou$e is in the midst of a rolling premiere in Atlanta, Connecticut, and Maryland. In Dream Hou$e, sisters Patricia and Julia deal with the recent death of their mother as they are left to decide whether they should sell their childhood house or not. 

Pipes talks about how the gentrification of her childhood neighborhood inspired her to write the play, as well as showcasing female characters onstage.

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In this episode, Jose speaks to actor Marjan Neshat, one of the stars of English. The play by Sanaz Toossi takes place in a classroom in Iran, where the students prepare to take the TOEFL, in order to prove their proficiency in English. When she was eight years old, Neshat and her parents moved from Iran to the United States where she found a way to embrace the new culture through her love of performing.

In the play, she stars as a teacher who constantly reminds her pupils to speak in "English only," but unlike her strict character, Neshat has proven to be an incredible performer across mediums. Some of her notable parts in television and film include her roles in Quantico, RoboCop, and Almost in Love, one of the projects she confessed to being proudest of.

Neshat also speaks about returning to the stage following the theater shut down, her love of process, and starring in back-to-back-to-back plays on the same season.

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