A Word on Plays

By Amy Gang

A Word on Plays is a podcast, hosted by Amy Gang about script analysis and theater production, featuring a new play and a new theatre artist each month.

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I, Gelosi with Mandy

A Word on PlaysJan 28, 2019

00:00

52:20

Monsters with Kelly

After a bit of a sabbatical, we're back. Seattle-based dramaturge, director, etc. etc. talks with Amy about She Kills Monsters, community theater, and the need for dramaturges everywhere.

She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen is licensed by Concord Theatricals.

Kelly's Recommendation is Lauren Gunderson's The Revolutionists

The Theme music is: If I Can't Dance It's Not My Revolution by Quantum Jazz
http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Quantum_Jazz
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/quantum-jazz
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/fLYlEfkGr1E

Jun 27, 202249:15

Game with Luke Gomez

This month we're talking about Game by Mike Bartlett with Luke Gomez, an L.A. based playwright whose play Blacklisters can be found on New Play Exchange. Follow him on instagram @gomez.luke

Next month, we're talking about She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen.

Music:

If I Can't Dance It's Not My Revolution by Quantum Jazz

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Quantum_Jazz

Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0

Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/quantum-jazz

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/fLYlEfkGr1E

Jan 31, 202246:55

Native Gardens with Zenaida

Zenaida Rose Smith and I discuss Native Gardens by Karen Zacarias: https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/64330/native-gardens

A play about boundaries, borders, and plants... which neither of us seem to know much about. Come for the script analysis, stay for the charming childhood stories.

Zenaida's recommendation is Game by Mike Bartlett: https://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/game

Support Zenaida on Instagram @Zennybruce and by supporting Book It Theater: Book-it.org Or Pork Filled Productions: Porkfilled.com

Music:

If I Can't Dance It's Not My Revolution by Quantum Jazz

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Quantum_Jazz

Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0

Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/quantum-jazz

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/fLYlEfkGr1E

Nov 29, 202101:09:44

Rapture with Delano

To kick off season three, Delano Hayes and I talk about Rapture, Blister, Burn by Gina Gionfriddo and exactly what kind of feminism the theatre needs right now. (Recommended by Kris Hambrick)

Next month's play will be Native Gardens by Karen Zacarias.

Find the podcast on Facebook.

Music:

If I Can't Dance It's Not My Revolution by Quantum Jazz

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Quantum_Jazz

Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0

Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/quantum-jazz

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/fLYlEfkGr1E

Oct 25, 202101:00:19

Antigone with Mario

This episode has been in my bank for a couple of months now. Mario has moved away and my show has come and gone, but there's still some good stuff in here.

Antigone by Jean Anouilh brings back the question of what theater looks like in Nazi occupied France.

But also, What makes a story a classic?

Why is this play even called Antigone? (she's clearly not the protagonist)!

Find Mario's work at https://www.onlinedramaturg.com/

We are done for a bit. Keep an eye out in the new year for some new stuff.

Nov 13, 201901:09:28

Tango with Bjorn

What's the difference between Poland in the 60's and the U.S. now? What's the same? Actor/director Bjorn Whitney and I talk about Tango by Slawomir Mrozeck. A little absurd, a little farcical, and a whole lot of fun.

Catch Bjorn's work at Shakespeare Northwest this summer and read his suggestion for next month's podcast: Jean Anouilh's Antigone

Find me on Facebook and please rate and review!

Jun 24, 201901:03:50

David and the Apollo of Bellac

How French can one get? How do you control men? How much of this is realistic, or even relevant anymore?

David Gassner, local theater director and producing director with 18th & Union and Radial Theater, talks about The Apollo of Bellac by Jean Giraudoux.

His pick is Tango by Slawomir Mrozeck (and beware of David's spoiler towards the end of this podcast).

Plus David makes an announcement on behalf of his theater.

Support A Word of Plays on Facebook and Goodreads. Don't forget to rate and review!

May 29, 201901:07:43

The Dying Gaul with Taylor

This month, we talk about Craig Lucas one upping Tony Kushner. What makes a play disappear and others stick around in our culture? What do we do when we have power over somebody else? Taylor Davis, Seattle actor, director, choreographer, talks The Dying Gaul by Craig Lucas.

Next month, we talk about The Apollo of Bellac by Jean Giraudoux.

Read it, or don't and check us out on Facebook: @playspod

Apr 29, 201901:01:34

A Hatful of Jaime

March's episode comes a day late, but it's all the better for it! My guest, local Shakespearean actress, Jaime Mastromonica and I speake about Michael V. Gazzo's "A Hatful of Rain." We talk a little about heroin and a little about empathy. When is hyper-realism important to a message and when is it just a pain? How long can I reasonably convince someone I'm just as cool as Shelly Winters?

Check out Jaime's favorite theater company this summer: Shakespeare Northwest

Also check out the podcast I recommend in this episode: Narcotica

Like A Word on Plays on Facebook and hit that subscribe button.

Next month we talk about The Dying Gaul by Craig Lucas

Mar 26, 201901:00:41

Fahrenheit 451 with Randy

Fahrenheit 451 is a classic American novel, but Ray Bradbury also wrote the play version. So What's new about the play? How does it compare you what you saw in your head when you read the book? So sit back for some serious monologuing and get into this month's episode with Seattle actor Randy Decker.

Next month, we talk about A Hatful of Rain. Yes, it's a movie too.

Feb 25, 201956:19

I, Gelosi with Mandy

Mandy Rose Nichols is a local actor with excellent physical discipline and comedic intuition. We talk about I, Gelosi, a play by David Bridel that is at once playful and political. How can theater bring history to life for modern audiences? Why do we do theater? and what kind of theater really changes the world?

Check out @mandyrosenichols on Facebook and give @playspod a like as well.

Find us on Goodreads too.

Next month, we talk about Farenheit 451, the play, by Ray Bradbury.

Jan 28, 201952:20

Ahmed the Philosopher with Jana

Jana Gueck is a local actress and educator. Her insights are perfect for the improv heavy and Commedia inspired series of short children's plays. How do we create inspired theatre for children and everyone?

Jana's pick is I, Gelosi by David Bridel : https://www.originalworksonline.com/I-GELOSI-by-David-Bridel_p_90.html

Find Jana @janagueckfan on Facebook.

Like us on Facebook @playspod

Dec 31, 201856:01

You Are Happy with Jordan

Jordan Talbot is a local stage manager and playwright. She's fluent in French and has a master's in theater, so she's a great person to talk with about the modern French/Canadian play You Are Happy by Rébecca Déraspe. It's all about society and relationships, whatever it means to make Millenial theater, and how it all fits into the broader scope of theater history.
www.leannabrodie.com/you-are-happy/
We're on Facebook @playspod and on Goodreads!

Next month I tackle Ahmed the Philosopher by Alain Badiou
cup.columbia.edu/book/ahmed-the-philosopher/9780231166935

Nov 26, 201856:30

Edinburgh Fringe Recap

Maren Commendant and I went to Edinburgh Fringe Festival, camped in the city's fairgrounds, and saw 11 plays together! So here's a bonus episode that tries to break down the whirlwind of the show.

The Sister's of Castleknock House by Niall Carmody presented by Tiger's eye Theatre Company: Nialhttps://www.facebook.com/tigerseye17/

The Squirrel Plays by Mia McCullough presented by Part of the Main: www.partofthemain.com/
Lights Over A Tesco Carpark by Poltergeist Theatre: www.poltergeisttheatre.com/
Bloominauschwitz by Richard Fredman presented by Menagerie: www.menagerie.uk.com/
The Island by Athol Fugard presented by: Chris Weare, Siya Mayola, Luntu Masiza

The Last Straw by People Show: www.peopleshow.co.uk/
Daughter by Adam Lazarus presented by Pandemic Theatre: www.pandemictheatre.ca/
A Joke by Dan Freeman presented by: Universal Arts and Scene Change Productions: www.universal-arts.co.uk/universal-arts-productions.html scenechangeproductions.org/
Ken by Terry Johnson Presented by Pleasance, The Showstoppers, and Hampstead Theatre: www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/2016/ken/
Flies by Oliver Lansley produced by Les Enfants Terribles and Pins and Needles: www.flieslive.com/
A Sockful of Custard by Chris Larner with Jeremy Stockwell produced by The Pleasance: www.pleasance.co.uk/

We're on Facebook as @playspod

Nov 13, 201849:30

Coming November 26

Mario Gomez of www.onlinedramaturg.com/ introduces our next play: You Are Happy Rébecca Déraspe https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Happy-Rébecca-Déraspe/dp/1770915389

Check out the podcast with guest Jordan Talbot on November 26th!

Facebook.com/playspod

Oct 29, 201802:11