Martin Denton gets together with members of two theatre companies, Dark Lady Players and Woodshed Collective, to discuss two quite unique productions derived from familiar Shakespeare plays.  First Martin talks to John Hudson and Stephen Wisker, dramaturg and director, respectively, of Dark Lady Players’ production of As You Like It: The Big Flush. John and Stephen talk a bit of the background and theory behind their play; i.e., that the deep allegorical levels found in As You Like It demonstrates that it contains Jewish religious satires and was written by England’s Jewish poet, a woman by name of Amelia Bassano. Led by questions from Martin they describe how they have gone about making this approach to the play as an allegory accessible to the audience.

Martin then speaks with producer Stephen Squibb and director Teddy Bergman of Woodshed Collective as they describe the play they are presenting, Twelve Ophelias by Caridad Svich.  This play posits the occurences after Ophelia comes up out of the pool and attempts to change the course of events that happened.  The familiar cast of characters includes Hamlet, Gertrude, and others as you’ve never seen them before.

All four guest return with Martin to discuss the reasons for and problems that might exist in producing a Shakespearean play with an extreme twist. Most interesting comments are heard from all.

Episode Links:

• Dark Lady Players’ website
• Woodshed Collective’s website
• Twelve Ophelias listing on nytheatre.com 

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Summer theatre in NYC always includes lots of free outdoor productions, usually of the plays of Shakespeare.  Since this season is no different, nytheatrecast invited four companies who have varied productions of the works of the Bard in different locales.  What they have in common is that they are free, they are in the park (or in one case, the park(ing) lot) and all are sure to be professionally done.

Present for this roundtable discussion with Martin Denton are: David Fuller who will be directing Pericles for Hudson Warehouse at the North Patio of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Riverside Park; Rohana Elias-Reyes, director of PLG Arts’ production Daydream (Midsummer Night’s Dream adapted specifically for children) which can be found at Prospect Park’s Imagination Playground in Brooklyn; the Drilling Company’s Tom Demenkoff talking about their productions of Twelfth Night and Henry V at the Park(ing) Lot on the Lower East Side; and Matt Johnston, director of As You Like It for Boomerang’s production in Central Park.

Martin began by asking each to give a short introduction to their production, its location, and other pertinent details. This was followed by a lively discussion of such topics as “what’s different about directing outdoor Shakespeare”, “why Shakespeare and not some other classic play?”, “what’s the difference between producing during the day vs. nighttime”?  Listeners will also hear about the audience and its impact on outdoor theatre and there’s even an exchange of ‘horror tales’ that have occured with outdoor producing.

This is an informative and fun episode.  The main thing to learn is that this is possibly the most accessible theatre for everyone, as satisfying for novice theatre goers as it is for those well versed in classic theatre. And it is FREE and probably happening somewhere this summer at a park close to home.

Episode Links:

• Daydreams on nytheatre.com
• PLG Arts website
• Twelfth Night on nytheatre.com
• The Drilling Company website
• Pericles on nytheatre.com
• Hudson Warehouse website
• As you Like It on nytheatre.com
• Boomerang Theatre Company website

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The popular segment “Indie Theatre Life” returns with an extra special episode.  Three prominent Indie artistic directors, Jessica Davis-Irons of AndHow!, Robert Lyons of SoHo Think Tank, and Susan Bernfield of New Georges, gather together for a roundtable discussion of the challenges of being both a parent and a theatre artist.  This is an insightful and often humorous episode.

Jessica originated and put together this interesting group and tells us early on how she was directing a play written by Robert while she was pregnant and needing and getting advice from Susan about how to carry on her career as motherhood became imminent.

The three recount anecdotes about their experiences having their small children around as they try to rehearse, tech, and put on a show.  We hear tales of Jessica’s 2 year old’s tech adventures with a screw driver and saw; Susan’s two pre-teen boys offering advice about a possible show she should produce; and Robert’s 13 year old’s becoming part of the production.

The discussion offers much advice that will be valuable to anyone in the indie theater world who is also coping with the challenges of parenthood.

Episode links:

• AndHow! website
• New Georges website
• Soho Think Tank website 

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Steve Petrillo was recently part of a Directors Roundtable podcast, and suggested a roundtable with choreographers. We thought this was a great idea and so tune in to three established choreographers as they discuss aspects of this interesting artistic field.

Martin Denton is the host.  Steve leads Shea Sullivan and Stas’ Kmiec through some interesting topics.  The discussion is limited mostly to choreography of musical theatre. The three talk first about the audition process and often give examples from their own experience.  Steve leads the talk to the differences and similiarities of dancers when the three of them began and now. There is much to learn from the experiences of Steve, Shea, and Stas’ and Martin feels we have only begun to scratch the surface.

Episode Links:

• Shea Sullivan’s website 

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More and more we see film influencing theatre. To discuss this trend and the various manifestations it takes are three directors whose upcoming works are strongly influenced by film.  They are Jeff Lewonczyk (Babylon Babylon), Jon Stancato (The Accidental Patriot), and Ian W. Hill (The Magnificent Ambersons) and are joined by nytheatrecast moderator, Trav S.D.

The listener will quickly discover that the title of Jon’s show is really much longer and far more expressive. 

There is much to learn from these three gentlemen about how and why they use film as a starting point and Trav S. D. draws this information expertly from each.  Jon is more interested in the form itself which he uses to blend the swashbuckling era of Errol Flynn with the classicism of the Greek chorus and more.

Ian has recreated for the stage the original Orson Welles cut of this famous film.  His knowledge of the making of this film is astounding and should fascinate any film buff. Jeff amazes Trav S.D. when he notes the inspiration for his play is the book by Herodotus. Deciding it has to be an epic film in the Cecil B. DeMille mode, his cast numbers 31 and includes battles and belly dances.

Episode Links:

• Brick Theater website
• Piper McKenzie website
• Stolen Chair Theatre Company website
• Ian W. Hill’s blog

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Christopher Lueck and Joel Jeske introduce the SLAPSTICK DOJO, a weekly training event for physical comedy. They also talk generally about education in the discipline of clown. Joel talks about his upcoming (in May) classes entitled “Practical Skills for the Adventurous Performer”.  Martin Denton moderates.

Christopher and Joel explain the reasons for starting Slapstick Dojo classes and what participants can expect. Joel explains his new class as being akin to physical theatre and goes on to tell what he means by that.

Both men are clowns but their backgrounds are quite different.  Christopher is a graduate of The Dell’ Arte International School of Physical Theatre and is a certified instructor of Japanese samurai sword fighting.  Joel is a graduate of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College and toured with them for several years, has appeared with The Big Apple Circus, and of late, is a member of Mark Lonergan’s Parallel Exit Theater Company and has been seen in several of their shows.

And they are both very funny.

Episode Links:

• NYC Physical Theater wesbsite
• Parallel Exit website
• New York Downtown Clown website

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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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Jon Stancato of Stolen Chair Theatre Company moderates a roundtable discussion about fundraising events for indie theater. The other panel members are Ralph Lewis of Peculiar Works Project, Jessica Davis-Irons of AndHOW Theatre Company, and Abby Marcus of Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company.

This is a really interesting conversation, offering lots of insights about inventive and successful events that have worked for these companies in the past.

Ralph offers some particularly sound advice on this podcast, suggesting that indie theater artists need to attend fundraisers for other companies besides their own, both to see what works and also to learn about their colleagues in the community.

Stolen Chair’s fundraiser event for their upcoming show is on February 2, 2008 — Jon tells us about this event on the episode as well.

Episode Links:

• Stolen Chair Theatre Company website
• Peculiar Works Project website
• AndHOW Theatre Company website
• Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company website
• Stolen Chair’s Party Like Pirates fundraiser website

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This is the first of a projected series of roundtable discussions with indie theater directors about a variety of topics. This episode focuses on the subject of auditions. The moderator is Martin Denton and the participants are Cat Parker, Steven Petrillo, and Scott C. Embler.

The panel offers a lot of  useful and valuable information about the audition process, particularly for actors, who will get a lot of tips from this discussion. Some of the specific topics covered include how to prepare for an audition, how to behave throughout the audition (not just during the performance component, but from the moment you arrive), and effective use of headshots and resumes.

One of the most interesting insights is that when a director gives an actor notes during an audition, it doesn’t mean the actor has done something wrong!

There’s also some great conversation about directors’ pet peeves.

Cat Parker is producing director at T. Schreiber Studio. Steven Petrillo is a freelance director who recently helmed the off-Broadway musical Sessions. Scott C. Embler was founding producing director of Vital Theatre Company and is now a freelance director.

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Martin Denton hosts this look back at the highlights of the New York City theatre scene during the past 12 months. His guests are nytheatre.com reviewer Michael Criscuolo and Leonard Jacobs, who is national editor of Back Stage magazine. (Michael is also the host of nytheatrecast’s Indie Theatre Life series; Leonard is launching the Leonard Jacobs Show on nytheatrecast starting in January 2008.)

The three, who reviewed hundreds of shows each last year, discuss many of the new plays, excellent performances, and interesting revivals that excited them during 2007. Dozens of shows are included!

Please send in your feedback about what you hear on the podcast, and what you think belongs on the list of the best of 2007 in NYC theatre.

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