In this episode, Martin Denton sits down to talk with Terry Greiss, founder and artistic director of Irondale Ensemble Project.  Irondale is a 25 year old indie theater company and, after five years in the works, has recently opened their own theatre space in Fort Greene in Brooklyn.  Martin and Terry talk about how this came to be and about what it will mean for the future of the company and for the area located around it.

For its newest production, Irondale is presenting London Cries, directed by  Di Trevis, award winning British director.  Di is also, with Frank McGuiness, the author of the piece.  Terry discusses the impetus for this piece and also gives an excellent synopsis of it.  Before ending the episode Martin and Terry discuss the important work that Irondale does with and for the community which as Martin says “is one of the reasons this company has been around for 25 years”.

Listen straight through to the end for a special ticket offer.

Episode Links:

• London Cries listing on nytheatre.com
• Irondale Ensemble Project website

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On this episode Martin Denton introduces a new theatre company, East 3rd Ensemble.  With Martin are Zack Calhoun, resident playwright of the company and Ricardo Riethmuller, its artistic director and founder. 

Martin begins by asking Ricardo how the company came to be, its reasons for being and how Zack became part of the company.  Ricardo has definite ideas on the type of company East 3rd will become developing collaborative work based in his Viewpoints/Suzuki training and how important a resident playwright will be to fulfilling this.

They have already begun work on two of Zack’s plays and Martin turns to Zack to tell us about them.  Both men talk about the plays and the soon-to-begin ensemble composite piece they and others will create.

A most interesting beginning with even more exciting plans for the future.  And by the way, their first presentation, The Weird Sisters, is described by Ricardo as a ‘feminist play’.

Episode Links:

• East 3rd website

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In this episode Martin Denton speaks with Josh Fox, founder and artistic director of International WOW Company, and Jason Christopher Hartley, Iraq War veteran and author. The occasion is to discuss the opening of a new production entitled Surrender - A Simulated War Deployment Experience In Three Acts.

Surrender is conceived and directed by Josh and co-written by Josh and Jason.  Both men discuss their reasons for wanting to do this unusual piece and what people can expect of the piece.  The majority of ticket buyers will be participants in the production and Josh and Jason tell us what this might be like.

Martin also asks Jason to talk about his own background and how he became involved with the company.  Jason served in Iraq for just shy of a year, has authored a book entitled Just Another Soldier, and remains a member of the National Guard.

Episode Links:

• Show listing on nytheatre.com
• International WOW Company website
• Jason Hartley’s website

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Amanda Sisk and Noah Diamond, creators and performers in Life After Bush, are welcomed to this episode by Martin Denton.  Their theatre company, Nero Fiddled is producing this show at HERE Arts Center. They disuss the format and creation of this musical satire pointing out that writing a show as it happens can be both difficult and fun.  Amanda talks a bit about their last performance which takes place on Election Night and lasts until …. That night is not a performance of the show but rather a party and election night result-watch with bloggers, commentators, real time results, etc.

Episode Links:

• Show listing on nytheatre.com
• Life After Bush website
• Nero Fiddled website and blog
• HERE Arts Center website

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On this episode moderator, Martin Denton, talks with two of the founding members of the esteemed company (formed in 1974) Talking Band, Paul Zimet and Ellen Maddow.  The discussion begins with an explanation of their upcoming work, Flip Side. The company’s method of creating a new work is extremely fascinating and original.

Martin leads the conversation to a discussion of the beginnings of Talking Band, how it began, how it evolved, and where it is going. The rich history of this company and their intensity of ever evolving creativity makes for a fascinating listen.

Episode Links:

• Flip Side listing on nytheatre.com
• Talking Band website
• Flip Side website

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Martin Denton sat down with nytheatrecast host Trav S.D. for this episode of nytheatrecast, in which they talk about Mr S.D.’s upcoming show, No Applause, Just Throw Money–The Show That Made Vaudeville Famous. This show, playing at Theater for the New City from September 18 through October 5, is inspired by his book of (nearly) the same title, a very readable history of vaudeville from the beginnings through the present day.

Highlights include:

• the lineup of amazing talent that Trav S.D. has assembled for this new production
• what makes this show a hybrid of vaudeville and musical revue
• some previously undisclosed info about Trav S.D.’s background

You’ll also hear why Trav S.D. is like both Fred Allen and George Burns, two of the greats from the heyday of American vaudeville.

And there’s a real treat at the end of the podcast: a performance of one of Trav S.D.’s own compositions by the master himself.

Episode Links:

• Info about No Applause, Just Throw Money on nytheatre.com
• Trav S.D.’s blog

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Martin Denton is joined by Wickham Boyle and Doug Geers whose opera, Calling, will have its premiere at La MaMa. Wickham explains that the subtitle of the piece is “an opera of forgiveness“.  She explains more about this and the background for the production as she speaks with Martin.

Doug explains how what was originally a series of essays was slowly, over a period of 18 months, translated into a play about one family. He also, in response to questioning by Martin, talks of the type of music an audience member will find in the piece.  As he says, “it isn’t Wagner” but more a compilation of jazz, musical theatre, and the like.

To get a feel for this new work you can listen to short audio clips and/or view short excerpts on video by clicking here.

Episode links:

• Listing information on nytheatre.com
• La MaMa website
• Calling website

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Martin Denton introduces Andrea Lepcio as the playwright of the moment since she will be having several different productions in the upcoming months.  Andrea begins by describing her newest play, One Nation Under, (presented by Three Chicks Theatre) which will begin performances August 21.  She talks about her reasons for writing the play and about the productions itself.

Andrea talks of two one acts that will be produced shortly: Dyke Patrol  as part of New Perspectives Theatre Company’s Girl Power and Tumble Jumble which was commissioned by the Estrogenius Festival.

Martin has known Andrea since 2002 when they worked together to include Andrea’s short play, Looking for the Pony, in Plays and Playwrights 2003.  It seems this very personal play never got put away.  Andrea has been working on a full length version for several years and this will be presented early 2009 at Vital Theatre (the same place the original one act premiered) and will be jointly premiered by Synchronicity Performance Group in Atlanta, GA in what she called a “rolling premiere”.  Andrea describes this process and how these two productions came to be.

Episode Links:

• One Nation Under on nytheatre.com
• Andrea Lepcio’s website
• Three Chicks Theatre website
• Girl Power webpage
• Estrogenius website
• Synchronicity Performance Group website
• Vital Theatre website

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The episode opens with an excerpt from The Reckoning of Kit & Little Boots performed by Nat Cassidy (playwright and actor) and David Ian Lee (actor).  We are given a real feel for this play in this short scene between the Roman Emperor Caligula and Marlowe, the writer.

Martin Denton moderates a discussion with Neal Freeman and Anna Moore, co-producers of The Reckoning… and Hope’s Arbor. Most interesting is why and how these two plays are being done in repertory and, even more unusual, the fact that this three week run will have its first two weeks at The Gallery Players in Brooklyn and its third week at Manhattan Theatre Source in Manhattan.

Martin leads a discussion of what each play is about and how the choice of doing them represents a sort of ‘mashup’ that really seems to work. Actress Lauren Marcus gives a taste of Hope’s Arbor as she renders one of the short monologues in this play.

Stay tuned for the end of the podcast when Neal offers listeners a “cast, friends, and family” discount if you offer the appropriate code when ordering tickets.

Episode Links:

• The Reckoning of Kit & Little Boots on nytheatre.com
• Hope’s Arbor on nytheatre.com
• The Gallery Players website
• Engine 37 website 

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Write a play with dogs, about torture, about interrogation methods, about choice overload — said Dan Safer, director/choreographer of Witness Relocation.  Loving a challenge and the chance to work with an ensemble, playwright Saviana Stanescu immediately went to work.  The finished product is Vicious Dogs On Premises.

On this podcast you will learn more about each of these fascinating theatre artists, how they got together and you will gain insight into the creative process that went into the making of this new production.  Dan speaks of an ongoing process, that the piece is never really finished.  Saviana eagerly awaits opening night when she will see the result for the first time.

Martin Denton is moderator.

Episode links:

• Vicious Dogs on Premises on nytheatre.com
• Witness Relocation website
• Saviana Stanescu’s website
• Saviana Stanescu’s blog

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