There has been a lot in the news lately about schools/companies requesting script edits due to the personal issues with specific content in the script. Then there are changes in approach to older material (such as the recent revival of Oklahoma). How much change is too much to the original source material? Should shows be changed to accommodate audiences or explore new themes, or is that a bridge too far? Ellen and Benita discuss.

Michael Andreaus plays Otis Williams in the National Tour of "Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations." Ellen and Benita chat with him about the show, the real lives of the men behind the Temptations, auditioning, and performing on the road.

The Park Theater Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the Glens Falls community by providing a venue for quality and affordable entertainment and educational opportunities in the performing arts. We chat with executive director, Chris Ristau, about all the events at Park Theater, including their summer series, their regular season offerings, and the launch of their first education initiative, Music & Technology Program, through regional high schools....

We last spoke to Bridge Street Theatre during the pandemic, and were excited to check in with them to hear about all the wonderful plays they have coming up this season! John Sowle and Steven Patterson join us to talk about all the upcoming events at Bridge Street.

Rebecca Weiss is a casting director with McCorkle Casting, Ltd. in NYC. She discusses the role of the casting director, the relationship between casting directors with actors and theater companies, and what to keep in mind when auditioning. https://www.mccorklecasting.com/ This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theater's production of "Dig" by Theresa Rebeck playing at Sand Lake Center for the Arts April 21st - April 30th 2023. Tickets are available at...

Sets are essentially their own character on stage, and a strong design can elevate even the best production. Adam Coons has designed a great number of sets for community theaters in the Capital Region, and we chat with him about what goes into the design process and how to keep a set functional and safe. This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theater's production of "Dig" by Theresa Rebeck playing at Sand Lake Center for the Arts April 21st - April 30th 2023. Tickets are available at ...

What are some of the best props you've had onstage? How about prop malfunctions? Benita and Ellen chat about their experiences with props and the importance of not getting pulled out of the show because of a prop.

Kimberly Kilby and Katherine Ambrosio have teamed up to write a musical! We chat with them to discuss the process of writing a musical while getting a glimpse into their work-in-progress, "Care."

Broadway actress Happy McPartlin joins us to talk about her work with "Come From Away" and "Hands on a Hard Body," balancing acting with raising a family, and being ready to cover a performance track at a moment's notice.

Benita and Ellen attended the Proctors 2023-2024 Season Announcement Bash to find out what's coming to Proctors and Capital Rep next year! Listen to what's in store, and catch snippets of songs from the upcoming season.

We take our annual break from theater to discuss our sister industry, film. Jackson Murphy (Lights Camera Jackson) is back to chat all things #Oscars with us! Will some of our more theater-themed nominees, like Martin McDonagh, take home a win? Will the academy honor actors playing iconic roles like Elvis over fictional characters? We'll have to see. In the meantime, Jackson has his thoughts and predictions!

Are audiences getting ruder, or are audiences changing in a world full of technology and instant gratification? Benita and Ellen join psychotherapist Tom Templeton to share thoughts about audience engagement, cell phones, and eating in the theater. Do audiences need to learn a lesson in respect, or do we need to adapt?  

Edward Miskie is an actor, singer, composer, author, entrepreneur, producer, cancer survivor, and tall person. We chat with Edward about his published book "Cancer, Musical Theatre, and Other Chronic Illnesses," the impact his cancer journey had on his life as an artist, and his plans to turn his book into a TV series. https://www.edwardmiskie.com/ And for a copy of his book, you can find it online at several retailers, including Barnes&Noble - https://bit.ly/3Gkm1VD

Jessica Vosk landed her first Broadway role when she was 30 and has had a very busy 9 years, playing Elphaba in Wicked, Fruma Sarah in Fiddler on the Roof, and appearing in The Bridges of Madison County, and Finding Neverland. She is visiting the Capital Region on her solo tour, performing at UPH on Feb 18th. Jessica chats with us about her journey to Broadway, her notes on protecting your voice, and her advice to young performers.

It's 2023 and there is so much exciting theater happening locally and regionally! Owen Smith, Producing Artistic Director of Playhouse Stage Company, joins us to discuss the great shows coming up at his company, other theaters in the Capital Region, and Broadway!

2023 is upon us, but before we ring in the new year, our friends Patrick White and Chris Foster join us to look back on this fabulous year of theater. Chris and Patrick share some of the highlights from the over 200 plays they saw this year. We also discuss their new company, Harbinger Theater, who had a very successful first season this year!

From one-person shows to multicast performances, from psychological thrillers to heart-wrenching and inspiring personal stories, Audible Theater takes what you thought you knew about going to a play and turns it on its head. General manager, Jonathan Whitton, joins us to chat about all the wonderful work happening with Audible Theater, which you can listen to as an Audible subscriber. https://www.audible.com/ep/theater Jonathan also discusses "Beyond the Stage Door", a comprehensive and...

WAM Theatre (Where Arts and Activism Meet) strives to create change by providing opportunities for women and girls which lifts all of humanity. In 2019, they launched their elder ensemble - a performance group for women over the age of 65. Talya Kingston and Kaia Jackson join us to discuss the elder ensemble and other outreach opportunities at WAM. This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "The Agony and the Agony" by Nicky Silver. Running 12/8-12/17, 2022 at the Yulman...

Ellen and Benita chat about shows that are opening, shows that are closing, and some holiday favorites to wrap up 2022.

Tremendously talented Helene Galek is an actor, casting director, and author based in NYC. She joins us to chat about her experience and versatility in the theater, and shares some thoughts about how to catch a casting director's eye!

The musical of "Pretty Woman" is on it's national tour and heading to Proctors in Schenectady! The incredibly talented Jessie Davidson, who plays the lead role, joins us for a chat about life on the road and adapting this classic movie to the stage.  www.proctors.org This episode is sponsored by Albany Civic Theater.  

Creative Action Unlimited develops new plays that guide creative change for individuals, organizations, and communities. After casting a group of actors, the company writes and performs pieces revolving around social issues such as racism, homelessness, suicide prevention, addiction, and child sex trafficking. Michael Kennedy joins us to discuss the incredibly important work Creative Action Unlimited shares with the community. https://creativeactionunlimited.com/ This episode is sponsored by...

In preparation for Halloween, we're sharing our listeners' theater ghost stories! Head to an empty theater, turn on the ghost light, and try not to get too scared listening to these chilling tales.   This episode is sponsored by Playhouse Stage Co.'s production of "Assassins".

Tamar Greene is currently lighting up Broadway playing George Washington in "Hamilton", and he has a very inspirational story about the drive and determination it took to get there. Tamar talks to us about the audition process, his advice for students, and his work with "Ham 4 Progress."

Are men in dresses on stage funny anymore? The New York Times posed this question recently, and it caught our interest. With “Mrs. Doubtfire”, “Tootsie”, and “Some Like It Hot” originally from a time where gender identity was not as openly discussed in society, do you think this comedic device has a place in modern theatre? Why or why not? With special backstage guest, Jeremy Buechner, Benita and Ellen read our listeners' comments.   This episode is sponsored by Master Class Performing...