Off And On: A New York Theatre Podcast

Playwright Topher Payne stops by the podcast to talk about his new play Perfect Arrangement at Primary Stages. We talk New York vs Atlanta, growing up in Mississippi, reaching new audiences in the regional world, why working backstage helped his career, and having his play make it to New York the old fashioned way.    

Actress Flor De Liz Perez stops by the podcast to talk about working in London, being religious in the theatre world, keeping it fresh night after night, and starting out in New York. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @flordeliz_perez Plus Jonathan Mandell from newyorktheater.me stops by to give us his October preview. 

Producer Stephanie Ybarra comes on the podcast to talk about how you can tell if a play has been produced well, being told she "stood out" too much as an actor, why she choses projects based on people, and about her work with The Mobile Shakespeare Unit at The Public Theater. Follow her on Twitter @saybarra

Actress/Playwright Halley Feiffer comes on the podcast to talk about how to differentiate between a problem in the script and a problem in the production, the challenges of choosing directors, growing up in a home of artists, how being released by your agent can be the best thing to happen to your career and more! Follow her on Twitter @HalleyFeiffer

First ever guest of the pod, playwright Mando Alvarado, comes back on the podcast after 3 and a half years. He talks about having a child, moving to Los Angeles, and writing for TV. He and Bernardo talk about selfish choices, getting thinner skin the longer your career goes on, and what gives them pure joy. This is obviously Bernardo writing this and I want to thank each and every single one of you for listening. Here's to 100 more. 

Director Stephen Brackett comes on the podcast to talk about how directors find their next project, how to "network" with artists whose work you love, what happens when a show becomes a hit, the journey of Buyer and Cellar and much more. See Stephen's latest show Sommerfugl buy your ticktes at www.inviolettheater.com Plus Jonathan Mandell stops by the into again to preview the Fall Season and discuss his article "In Praise of Cell Phone Users"

Playwright Zakiyyah Alexander comes by the podcast to talk about how her Twitter rant about the MTC season announcement ended up in The New York Times. We also talk gender parity, the dangers of "the slot" in the theatre, The Killroys, writing for Grey's Anatomy and more! Follow her on Twitter @model_minority

Playwright/Actor/Producer Mariah MacCarthy stops by the podcast to talk about the challenges of juggling her many theatre hats. We talk about why producing is about trusting others, why she still has to keep a 40 hour a week day job, and why she identifies mostly with being a playwright. Go see her new play Magic Trick. Buy tickets at capslocktheatre.com

Artistic Director John Dias of Two River Theater stops by the podcast to talk about all the things that keep an Artistic Director up at night. We talk keeping your audience happy, satisfying your artistic goals, how to reach the audiences that don't believe they belong in a theatre, dramaturgy and much more. Follow Two River Theatre on Twitter @TwoRiverTheater

Actress Laura Gómez stops by to talk about when she realized Orange is The New Black was a hit, the power of social media, why she felt the need to go to film school, taking initiative in your career and about working with David Simon on Show Me A Hero. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter lg_lauragomez

Actor and Playwright Raul Castillo stops by the podcast to talk about balancing writing and acting, how he considered following his plan B, the success of the show Looking on HBO, why he thinks fear is a good thing. Plus Bixby Elliot and Jonthan Mandell stop by the intro.

Actor/Writer Jake Cannavale stops by the podcast to talk about his Broadway debut, how he learned that following in his family's footsteps was cool, his role on Nurse Jackie, and why he thinks 20 year olds should live like adults. Follow his film company @blacktonguefilm

Actor Alfredo Narciso comes on the podcast to talk about his 17 year career on the New York Stage. From his early days as a Bat at The Flea, to his first agent, we talk about manuevering through the unpredictable path of an actor. Plus we talk getting fired, what we wish we knew, and how much are we actually willing to give up for this career. Follow Alfredo on Twitter @alfredonarciso2

Actor Russell G. Jones stops by the podcast to talk about how sobreity helped him become a better actor, what "whiteness" means, about his amazing career in the theatre and working with Louie C.K. Check out his project The Blind Spot, http://blindspotproject.tumblr.com, and his actor website, http://russellgjones.com

Actress Zabryna Guevara stops by the pod to talk about how meditation helped her career, balancing family and work, why not to get frustarted when your career changes, and how she landed a role on the hit show Gotham. Follow her on twitter @ZabrynaGuevara. Plus Jonathan Mandell stops by the pod to give us a July theater preview

Playwright Hilary Bettis stops by the podcast to talk about having three plays on the Kilroys List, her nomadic childhood, what happens when you steal a truck, and who is allowed to write what. Go to her website www.hilarybettiswriter.com and follow her on Twitter @HilaryBettis

Playwright, Director, Activist Tlaloc Rivas stops by the podcast to talk about diversity in the theatre, cultural appropriation, his work at The Latino Theatre Commons, Cafe Onda, and HowlRound and much more. Follow all of his work at tlalocrivas.com

Playwright Samuel D. Hunter stops by the podcast to talk about finding your voice, not worrying about what others think of your work, the reactions you can't control and much much more! Follow him on twitter @SamuelDHunter

Producers/Actors Crystal Arnette and Cleo Gray stop by the podcast to talk about Serials at The Flea. We talk about how much the landscape has actually improved for women in theatre, why they think being a Bat at the Flea is worthwhile, and much more! Go see Serials at The Flea by visiting theflea.org. And friend of the pod Shaun Leisher stops by the intro to plug his new blog about women in theater. http://ilovetheaterladies.tumblr.com

Playwright Marisela Treviño Orta stop by the podcast to talk about her recent success, finding playwrighting later in life, why she is going to grad school as her plays get done all over the country and why she continues on in this profession. Follow her on twitter at @MariselaTOrta. Plus Jonathan Mandell stops by to talk theatre awards.