Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater

I am beyond thrilled to bring you this episode with an old friend, playwright Lindsey Ferrentino. Lindsey has had an incredible career thus far with plays like "Ugly Lies the Bone," "Amy and the Orphans," and "This Flat Earth," making their way to major New York City stages all in the span of a few years.

In 2024, she's celebrated the success of a new musical in London, an adaptation of the Oscar Winning Best Picture, "The Artist," starring Robbie Fairchild, AND the opening of "Queen of Versailles," a musical co-written with Stephen Schwartz in Boston. Her play "Fear of 13" based on the documentary of the same name and starring Adrien Brody will open at the Donmar Warehouse this October, and is already sold out. 

Despite all the giggling and joking we do in this episode, Lindsey imparts some pretty incisive wisdom based on her experience. And because of our friendship, I had a good time asking her some of the tougher questions from my arsenal.

For more information about Lindsey visit: https://www.lindseyferrentino.com/

Stay up to date with her latest projects here: Fear of 13 and Queen of Versailles (coming to Broadway 2025-2026)

Not to toot my own horn... but I think this episode is a must-listen for any playwright starting out or navigating the early years of their career. And I hope you will too. So don't be shy: give it a share! Thanks for tuning in <3

----
Music by David Hilowitz

Support the show

Welcome back to a new season(??) of Upstage Left! After a long hiatus we're back with actor Kim Blanck who plays Ruza Wenclawska in Broadway's Suffs. We're so excited to be talking our dear friend who's been singing and acting on New York stages for more than a decade. You may have seen her in MCC's Alice by Heart or Dave Malloy's Octet at the Signature Theater.

In this episode we discuss:

• Kim's unconventional journey as a musical theater phenom
• Navigating the industry as a HAPA actor
• How she ended up in the Broadway production of Suffs after she thought her journey with the show was over

This episode was a joy to record, and even more a joy to listen back to. We hope you enjoy, and stay tuned for more episodes this season!

---
Music by David Hilowitz
Learn more about Kim HERE!

Support the show

After a long hiatus, we return with an interview with veteran stage, TV, and film actor: Reed Birney!

Since his Broadway debut in 1976, Reed has graced many a stage and screen. He won a Tony award in 2016 for his portrayal of the dad, Erik Blake, in Stephan Karam's The Humans. You've seen him in one of his many roles on Broadway and off. Or perhaps in his more recent film work, including: The Menu and Mass.

In this episode, Rachel & Reed talk about:

• the three times Reed has tried to leave the business
• the challenges that came with his "big breaks" early on
• and advice he'd give to his younger self

If you're craving more conversations about theater, check out Rachel's conversations with the artists over at Manhattan Theatre Club; most recently with Rajiv Joseph. 

---
Intro music by: David Hilowitz

Support the show

Daniel K. Isaac is a very busy man! So we were especially excited that he made the time to chat with us. In this episode Rachel & Daniel discuss:

• the upcoming 2022-23 theater season and the Asian theater-makers on stage!
• how he turned a 2 line role on Billions into 72 episodes and counting 
• being the only children of single, immigrant mothers (and how they humble us)

It was truly a delight to chat with Daniel. Not only is he incredibly prolific, but he's also such a graceful and lovely human. Is there a more soothing voice you could listen to for 50 minutes? We think not.

Check him out in Noah Diaz's You Will Get Sick currently playing at Roundabout Theatre Company, and catch him any time on Showtime's Billions.
----
Intro music by: David Hilowitz

Support the show

We are thrilled to chat with Downtown Theater Icon: Paul Lazar. From making appearances in movies that became cult classics (Married to the Mob, Silence of the Lambs, Old Boy, Snowpiercer), to his recent Broadway appearance in Macbeth directed by Sam Gold with Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga -- following Paul's career is like a game of Where's Waldo?  You never know where you'll spot him next!

In this episode we talk:

• Early beginnings - how Paul found his way into the Downtown world
• The current state of "Downtown Theater" - what is it? And where is it now?
• What it's like to work so closely with his wife, choreographer and co-founder of Big Dance Theater, Annie-B Parsons

You can currently see Paul in Maria Irene Fornes's seminal work: Mud/Drowning at Mabou Mines, alongside May 2019 guest: Wendy Vanden Huevel.

If you liked this episode and want to hear more -- check out Manhattan Theatre Club's Beyond the Stage podcast! The latest episode features our host chatting with playwrights: Martyna Majok and Jeff Augustin.  With a handy discount code to their upcoming plays at MTC in the shownotes!

-----
Intro Music by David Hilowitz

Support the show

In this episode, Rachel speaks with veteran TV, stage, and film actor: Deirdre O'Connell.

Didi is the 2022 Tony Award winner for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Dana Higginbotham in Lucas Hnath's Dana H. She is also the recipient of the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement award this year, and has racked up multiple awards over the years, including a 2005 Obie for Sustained Excellence. Rachel was eager to find out more about Didi's process and what it takes to maintain such a storied career.

Tune into this episode to learn:

• Didi's trick for auditioning for TV & Film
• Her experience doing Corsicana right after her Tony win
• What it was like for her starting out as a newbie in New York

For any theater practitioner, this is truly not an episode to be missed. You can catch Didi in this Lincoln Center's production of Sarah Ruhl's Becky Nurse of Salem this fall.  Or watch her Tony acceptance speech as a reminder to keep doing what you're doing.

Follow the podcast at: @upstageleftpodcast
Like,  subscribe, or leave us a review here!
----

Intro music: Angles of Light by David Hilowitz

Support the show

For the 32nd episode, we decided it might be a good idea to introduce our listeners to the host of this podcast: Rachel Lin. After much convincing, Rachel zooms with social media manager and actor, Kendall Cafaro, to discuss Rachel's time in the theater and how this podcast came to be.

Recorded in April of 2022, turn in to learn about the actor, writer, and person asking the questions. Kendall & Rachel discuss:

• the artistic communities & spaces Rachel has been a part of
• some goals and hopes for the pod
• how Upstage Left has fared through the pandemic, and how we're feeling about theater at large now that shows are up and running

Thank you so much for tuning in. As always, you can find us on IG @Upstageleftpodcast and on Twitter @Upstageleftpod
----
Intro music by David Hilowitz

Support the show

Rachel chats with playwright & screenwriter, Anchuli Felicia King, whose play Golden Shield  is currently running at Manhattan Theatre Club through June 12. Her work also includes White Pearl which world premiered at the Royal Court in London and has received productions at the Studio Theatre in DC, as well as Sydney Theatre Company earlier this year. She is also on the writing team of the new HBO Max original series The Baby.

In this episode Rachel & Felicia discuss:

• how Felicia ended up becoming a writer, despite not having set out to be one
• Felicia's relationship to writing BIG plays and tackling global issues in multiple languages
• her ambitions, which actually fall outside the realm of theater

Tickets and info for Golden Shield can be found HERE. Did you know if you are under 35 you can access $30 tickets at MTC? Learn more HERE.
The article in Howlround Rachel mentions briefly HERE.
Follow us on Instagram @UpstageLeftPodcast

----

Intro music by David Hilowitz

Support the show

In this episode, Rachel chats with Taylor Reynolds -  one the most in demand theater directors currently working off-Broadway, and a producing artistic leader of The Movement Theatre Company. This season her work included: Tambo & Bones at Playwrights Horizons, Man Cave by John J. Caswell Jr. presented by P 73, and Songs About Trains playing at the New Ohio Theatre through April 18.

Rachel & Taylor talk about:

• Taylor's approach to these larger than life theatrical new works
• How Taylor made her way as a director, forgoing the assistant/associate route
• Taylor's relationship to the 'white gaze'  and how it's continually changing

Visit our sponsors: Northwestern University Press @
nupress.northwestern.edu and use POD20 to receive 20% off

Follow us on Instagram @upstageleftpodcast or on Twitter @upstageleftpod -- we love to hear from you!
----
Intro & Outro Music: 
Angle Of Light by David Hilowitz

Underscore:
Arcadia by Dream-Protocol

Support the show

Rachel chats with Billy Carden, the current leader of her artistic home, Ensemble Studio Theatre. With almost 50 years in the biz and close to 30 as an artistic director (first at HB Playwrights Foundation & Theatre, then at EST), Billy is a wealth of theater history and knowledge.

The two speak about:
- the acting job that took him to the Public & Lincoln Centre
- what it was like to direct Uta Hagen
- and the legacy he's leaving behind: "the quality of the how people talk to each other on stage"

It was a thrill to walk down memory lane with Billy, and remember the places he's been and consider what he hopes next for the historic theater he's leaving behind.

This episode is made possible by Northwestern University Press and their new release: This is my Office and Notes on my Mother's Decline two plays by Andy Bragen with a foreword by Sarah Ruhl. Get 20% off this book and all other titles by the imprint with code POD20 at nupress.northwestern.edu. Be sure to visit their website to see what's available!

_______

Intro music by: David Hilowitz

Support the show