The Leonard Jacobs Show returns with guest Mike Daisey to talk about Mike’s show How Theater Failed America to discuss some of the commentary that has occured about this ‘call to action’. Martin Denton joins the discussion, also.

The discussion ranges from why large regional theatre companies are not really part of the community in which they reside, especially the theatre community, to building bigger and better theatres, to what can be done to change things, to some of the comments that have resulted from Mike’s monologue.

Mike bases many of his observations on years of performing across the country at many different venues. Both Leonard and Martin offer interesting insights on this topic.  Mike ends with the hope that, perhaps, as time goes on, changes will occur and they will be for the better.

Episode Links:

• How Theater Failed America on nytheatre.com
• Mike Daisey’s website
• Leonard Jacobs’ blog

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Leonard Jacobs, National Theatre Editor of Back Stage, returns with a two segment episode.  Leonard’s guests are Shay Gines and Nick Micozzi of the New York Innovative Theatre Awards and Jen Ryan of Punch 59, a sketch comedy group.

NYITA gives three honorary awards, the Caffe Cino Fellowship Award, the Stewardship Award, and the Artistic Achievement Award.  Leonard serves as chair of the committee that oversees these awards.  Shay and Nick speak with Leonard about what these awards are, some changes in ‘08 to the application process, and what goes into making a successful application.

In the second part of this episode, Leonard introduces us to Jen Ryan, artistic director of Punch 59 and a quick and naturally funny person.  Punch 59 is a sketch comedy group. Jen explains that their work is fully scripted, and leaves nothing to chance.   Punch 59 began in Florida in the ’90s and has been up and running in NYC since 2007.  Jen lapses occasionally into one of her favorite characters, Rev. Betty Holland. 

Episode Links:

• New York Innovative Theatre Awards website
• Punch 59 website
• The Clyde Fitch Report (Leonard Jacobs’s blog)

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Leonard Jacobs moderates the first of a series of podcasts to introduce the playwrights of Plays and Playwrights 2008. Meet Crystal Skillman (The Telling Trilogy), Daniel Reitz (Fall Forward) and Daniel Talbott (What Happened When) and gain some insight into these talented folk.

All three are members of Rising Phoenix Rep,  a fairly new theatre company founded by Daniel Talbott.  Leonard became acquainted with the company in his role as chair of the Honorary Awards Committee for the New York Innovative Theatre Awards which in 2007 bestowed the Caffe Cino Fellowship Award to Rising Phoenix Rep.

Extremely comfortable with each other, Daniel, Crystal, and Daniel have lots of opinions and thoughts to share with Leonard and the listening audience.  Find out which one works on their plays early in the morning; which one doesn’t really do re-writes too often, and which one is the newest to playwriting. 

Plays and Playwrights 2008 is the ninth anthology of work by emerging playwrights published by The New York Theatre Experience.  Enjoy this podcast and there will be more to follow for a chance to meet the rest of the playwrights.

Episode Links:

• Info about Plays and Playwrights 2008
• Launch Party at the Kraine
• Purchase Plays and Playwrights 2008
• Rising Phoenix Rep

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This is the first episode of “The Leonard Jacobs Show,” which is a new monthly series on nytheatrecast, hosted by Leonard Jacobs, national theatre editor for Back Stage. Leonard’s first guest is John Clancy, Obie-winning director and playwright, and one of the founders of the League of Independent Theatre.

 The League is the main topic of conversation here. The League is a brand new organization that is being created to provide support and advocacy for the indie theater community (i.e., theatre presented in venues of 99 seats or fewer in New York City). John explains how the League is being formed and discusses the objectives and vision of this important new group.

Leonard is asking listeners to help him come with up a snappy name for this new series; if you have any suggestions, please email them to admin@nytheatrecast.com.

Episode Links:

• League of Independent Theater’s website
• Leonard Jacobs’s blog
• John Clancy’s blog

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