Off And On: A New York Theatre Podcast

Francis Benhamou stops by for an emergency podcast to promote The Collective: 10.5, a night of short plays running through Nov 12! We also talk about looping, identifying as American, how being pregnant affects your performance and more theatre talk!

Playwright Susan Soon He Stanton stops by to talk about writing submissions, knowing when a play is ready, growing up in Hawaii, the Yale crew and transitioning into TV and Film. Check out her two plays running in NYC by visiting https://susanstanton.wordpress.com/

Playwright/Actor Sergio Castillo stops by to talk about political theatre, why he thinks we need to produce our own work, disagree with Bernardo on pacifism, and many other things. Check out his new play Radical playing at Theatre Under St. Marks

Costume Designer Courtney Flores stops by the podcast to talk about how she got into costumes and design, her work at Cafe Onda and Howlround, close calls, the goals she still has for her career and theatre in the Bay Area

Co-AD of The Cherry Lane Theatre Janio Marrero stops by to talk about his fundraiser for Mexico and Puerto Rico "Indestructible" happening Oct 22nd at The Cherry Lane. We also talk about taking over a theatre with so much history, why he doesn't just cast himself in every play and about the theatre companies that inspire him. 

Director David Mendizábal stops by to talk about how he picks projects, how to direct a reading, growing up without anyone like you on TV and much more. Check out his website: www.davidmendizabal.com

Set Designer Raul Abrego stops by to talk about being shy, growing up in South Texas and how he found his way to being a set designer. Plus we talk having a big mouth, your signature as a designer, and keeping it real with your friends.

Actor/Playwright Maggie Bofill stops by the podcast to talk about the nerves of a writer vs the nerves of an actor, going to Cuba for the first time, the early days of LABrynth Theater and much more!

The Casting Directors from the Public Theatre stop by the podcast to talk about all things casting and auditions! We talk what not to do in the room, why your reputation matters, and what got them into casting!

Playwright/Actor Charise Castro Smith stops by the podcast to talk about her love of Shakespeare, writing plays when you are busy writing for TV, the process of getting your pilot sold and then made, and much more! Produce her plays Feathers and Teeth and The Hunchback of Seville!

Actress Dana Ivey stops by the podcast to talk about why she loves the rehearsal process, why shoes matter for an audition, preparing for your "big break", feeling like you belong, and why theatre helps us understand our world. Follow her on Twitter @hekasia 

Actor/Writer Donaldo Prescod comes on the show to talk about watching old productions of plays that you are about to be in, posting on Facebook about your achievements, growing up in a Military family, the balance of narcism and delusion and more! Get tickets to Topdog/Underdog at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2665882

Playwright/Dramaturg/Producer Zak Berkman stops by the podcast to talk about juggling his many theatre hats, starting a theatre company during a crazy election, how to curate a successful talkback, balancing being a parent with being a theatre person, his role as Producing Director at the People's Light and more! Produce his plays, read him on HowlRound and find him on Facebook!

Playwright/Actor Stephen Adly Guirgis stops by the podcast to talk about enjoying opening nights, making your own deadlines, growing up in New York City, why auditions remind him how much he loves actors, the early days of Labyrinth Theater Company, and finding the theatre in all the work you do. Watch his latest show The Get Down on Netflix. 

Artistic Director/Actor Ricardo Gutierrez stops by the podcast to talk about running a Latino theatre in Chicago, balancing directing and acting with running a company, supporting new playwrights by reading all of their work and how a kid from Guanajuato ended up running a theatre company in Chicago. Support his company at www.teatrovista.org

Playwright/Actor Matt Barbot stops by the podcast to talk about figuring out what makes a "Latino" play, what kind of plays regional theatres want to prodcue, having Kevin Spacey read your writing, moving to L.A. to try and climb a different mountain and much more! Follow Matt on twitter for all updates @barbotrobot

Director May Adrales stops by the podcast to talk about choosing a script, growing up in an immigrant family in Virginia, getting the right people in the audience, finding theatre in church, and wanting to make theatre a part of your life and not all of it, and more! Visit her website at www.mayadrales.net

Playwright/Actor/Rapper Christopher Gabriel Nuñez stops by the podcast to talk about why he decided to go to Yale for Playwriting, why he changed his hustle in order to be happy, why his plays are strongly worded arguments, writing for people who fall through the cracks. Follow him at www.christophergabrielnunez.com

Julia Cho and Nicholas Pilapil from Artists at Play stop by the podcast to talk about producing Asian American theatre in Los Angeles. Plus we chat about how to keep audiences engaged year round, why being a theatre person in L.A. matters, and their production of Carla Ching's latest play The Two Kids Who Blow Shit Up. Buy your tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2570097

Actor Jerry Richardson has performed at theatres all over the country. He stops by the podcast to talk about the balance of art and commerce as an actor, struggling with defining your "type", considered Plan B's, and wanting your family to understand your career. Follow Jerry at www.jerry-richardson.com