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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Michael Criscuolo interviews Gita Reddy as part of his series of interviews with indie artists.  As usual, he concludes with his own special “nytheatre hotseat” where he quickly asks a group of standard questions to elicit off-the-cuff responses.

Gita is an actor, director, and. of late, casting agent.  Her background and degrees are all in film, a fact which surprised Michael and led him to ask many questions about the switch from film to theatre. 

Gita talked about two of her latest roles — Arial Dorfman’s Widows and Rajiv Joseph’s The Leopard and the Fox.  In the latter, Gita played the role of Benazir Bhutto, and she explains some of the research she undertook before performances began.  She also spoke of the real world events that were occuring at the same time.

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nytheatrecast’s latest installment of “The Indie Theater Life” features a one-on-one conversation with actor Debargo Sanyal, whose rapidly growing list of credits includes performances in Port Authority Throwdown, the recent NYMF production of Love Sucks, East Village Chronicles, Vol. 4, and Pulling the Lever (which was published in the NYTE anthology, Plays and Playwrights 2006). His latest project is Charles Mee’s new musical, Queens Boulevard (the musical), which opens this month at Signature Theatre Company.

Debargo talks to moderator Michael Criscuolo about how he first got interested in theatre, and about his start as an actor upon moving to New York. He also talks about the experience of working with both Charles Mee and his fellow castmates on Queens Boulevard. And, he brings up some insightful and fascinating points about the advantages and challenges of being an actor of color in today’s industry.

Debargo also has some surprising responses to our “nytheatrecast Hot Seat” questionnaire. Check out which show he would travel back in time to go see!

And, if that weren’t enough, it should also be pointed out that not only did Debargo appear in Pulling the Lever, but he was also a member of the play’s writing team. Clearly, an all-around talented gentleman.

Episode links:

• Queens Boulevard (the musical) - info on nytheatre.com
• Plays and Playwrights 2006
• Buy Plays and Playwrights 2006

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In the latest episode of The Indie Theater Life, Michael Criscuolo talks one-on-one with actor Matthew Trumbull, who discusses his recent experiences working on the TheatreworksUSA touring production of Charlotte’s Web (Matt was on the road for six months with this show). He also talks about his longtime collaboration with playwright Matthew Freeman, and his ongoing association with Metropolitan Playhouse.

In addition, Matt discusses his start in show business, and has some interesting responses to our “nytheatrecast Hot Seat” questionnaire - featuring a great anecdote about his most notable onstage mishap, involving actress Mary Beth Hurt. Not to be missed.

(Full disclosure: Matt is a longtime nytheatre.com contributor. You can read his bio here.)

Episode links:

• TheatreworksUSA website

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This episode of The Indie Theater Life features the multi-faceted Christine Simpson, who has been quite busy over the past year as a playwright (The Great Conjurer),  a director (The Truth About Love, If Truth Be Known), and even an actor (Take On Me). She sits down with Michael Criscuolo for a candid discussion about her career, her early days starting out as a theatre professional, her upcoming plans (of which she has many), and her very understanding husband.

Christine also talks about how she’s able to balance her busy artistic calendar with her intriguing day job: she’s a fundraiser for Oxford University. Another nytheatrecast first!

Episode links:

• Fluid Motion Theater & Film’s MySpace Page (this is Christine’s production company)
• nytheatre.com’s Review of Take on Me
• nytheatre.com’s Review of The Great Conjurer
• nytheatre.com’s Review of The Truth About Love
• nytheatre.com’s Review of If Truth Be Known

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Our latest episode of The Indie Theater Life focuses on actor Matt Oberg, who has worked extensively with playwright and director John Clancy and playwright Kirk Wood Bromley’s Inverse Theater. Matt sits down with Michael Criscuolo and talks about his work with John and Kirk, as well as his beginnings in the indie theater community upon first arriving in New York.

Matt also takes about his transition into paid acting work (he makes a living doing commercials), and about his days working a number of survival jobs, including a 3-year stint as an assistant to Al Pacino. (Definitely an nytheatrecast first!)

Matt will be appearing on stage this summer in Kirk Wood Bromley’s No More Pretending at the Soho Think Tank’s Ice Factory Festival. (No More Pretending premiered last fall in an environmental production in a Chelsea loft apartment.)

Episode links:

• Review of No More Pretending
• Inverse Theater
• Info about the Ice Factory Festival

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