This week's podcast focuses on Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's new initative to take their production of The Taming of the Shrew into Chicago's neighborhood parks. Director of Production Chris Plevin and cast members Ericka Ratcliff (Kate) and Matt Mueller (Petruchio) join Anne Nicholson Weber to talk about the challeges and rewards of producing Shakespeare outside in broad daylight for audiences in neighborhoods around the city.
Aug 13, 2012•30 min
On this week's podcast, we air Part 2 of a two-part series focusing on the recently disbanded company, New Leaf Theatre. Artistic Director Jessica Hutchinson, Managing Director Eleanor Hyde, resident scenic designer Michelle Lilly, and resident sound designer Nick Keenan join Anne Nicholson Weber to discss their decision to disband the company, choices they might make differently in hindsight, and some interesting new models for producing store-front theatre in this city.
Aug 06, 2012•32 min
On this week's podcast, we air Part 1 of a two-part series focusing on the recently disbanded company, New Leaf Theatre. This week in Part 1, Artistic Director Jessica Hutchinson, Managing Director Eleanor Hyde, resident scenic designer Michelle Lilly, and resident sound designer Nick Keenan join Anne Nicholson Weber to talk about New Leaf's history, culture and successes. Next week, we will conclude the conversation with Part 2, the story of the ensemble's decision to disband the company at the...
Jul 30, 2012•28 min
This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with Tony Fitzpatrick- the author, playwright, artist, actor who is staring in Nickel History: The Nation of Heat at the Steppenwolf Garage Theatre--he talks about the entire trilogy that included The Train and Stations Lost and he recalls Studs Terkel--his mentor.
Jul 23, 2012•35 min
Our guests on this week's podcast are Monty Cole and Brian Loevner, two of the three members of the Chicago Commercial Collective -- a new entity in town that plans to produce commercial remounts of non-profit shows that would otherwise "close too soon." Monty and Brian talk with Anne Nicholson Weber about the genesis of the collective, their plans for the future, and their inaugural production -- a remount of Keith Huff's A Steady Rain, which the collective is producing in association with Chic...
Jul 16, 2012•33 min
This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with Danielle Brothers who is appearing in Theo Ubique's Time After Time, the Julie Styne revue. She talks about her singing style and how much the audience motivates her singing.
Jul 09, 2012•33 min
On this week's podcast, Anne Nicholson Weber interviews composer Andre Pluess and book writer and lyricist Andy White about their new musical, Eastland, which is currently being premiered at Lookingglass Theatre. They explain the process of developing the piece, its roots in Chicago history, and the nature of their collaboration.
Jul 02, 2012•29 min
This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with Alison Kelly who runs the Chicago Folks Operetta company along with her husband. They have two operettas running- The Cousin from Nowhere and The Circus Princess. Alison talks about the shows and why they do German/Viennese operettas.
Jun 25, 2012•15 min
This week's podcast interview focuses on the production of Joanthan Larson's Rent, which is currently playing at American Theatre Company, co-produced by About Face Theatre. Director David Cromer and cast members Derrick Trumbly (Roger) and Eduardo Placer (Angel) talk with Anne Nicholson Weber about Cromer's re-examination of the iconic show and reconfiguration of the ATC space, Trumbly's performance of "One Song Glory" and Placer's experience learning a role in four days to step into a producti...
Jun 18, 2012•35 min
This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with Adam Whiteman, the playwright/composer of Music Mad, How Chief O' Neill Saved the Soul of Ireland which is now playing at Chief O'neill's Pub.
Jun 11, 2012•26 min
This week's podcast features actors Mike Nussbaum and Coburn Goss, who are currently playing in Mark St. Germain's two-hander, Freud's Last Session, at The Mercury Theatre. Anne Nicholson Weber talks to Mike and Coburn about the challenges of playing historical figures Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis, of taking over the roles from the New York actors who opened the production here in Chicago, the response of the audience to this play of ideas, and observations on the art of acting.
Jun 04, 2012•32 min
This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with Peter Oyloe who stars in Filament Theatre Ensemble's Hank Williams: Lost Highway. He talks about the show, why the theatre ensemble chose to do it, and he also performs some musical samples from the show.
May 28, 2012•31 min
This week's podcast features three members of the cast of A Little Night Music currently playing at Writers' Theatre. Shannon Cochran, Deanna Dunagan and Tiffany Scott join Anne Nicholson Weber to talk about the developmental phases of an actress' career and the challenges and joys of playing a scaled-down, intimate version of Sondheim's masterpiece.
May 21, 2012•30 min
This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with actress Kate Arrington. She talks about her current show The Iceman Cometh, which is playing at the Goodman Theatre, as well as her acting career.
May 14, 2012•29 min
This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with playwright Neil LaBute. He talks about his show, In A Forest, Dark and Deep which is currently playing at the Profiles Theatre as well as his creative process.
May 07, 2012•33 min
Our podcast guests are Mark Messing, composer, and Mickle Maher, playwright and one of the founders of Theatre Oobleck. They talk with Anne Nicholson Weber about their original chamber opera, The Hunchback Variations; about the rationale behind Theatre Oobleck's distinctive process of working without a director; and about serendipity in art.
Apr 30, 2012•36 min
This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with actor Charles Newell, the artistic director at Court Theatre and the director of their current show Angels in America. He talks about the show as well as his career.
Apr 23, 2012•33 min
This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with actor Frank Galati who adapted and directed The March which is currently playing at the Steppenwolf Theatre. He talks about the show as well as his career.
Apr 16, 2012•38 min
Our guests on this week's podcast are director Eric Hoff and fight choreographer Ryan Bourque. They join Anne Nicholson Weber to discuss the development and staging of Ike Holter's new play, Hit the Wall, currently being performed by The Inconvenience as part of the Steppenwolf Garage series -- the challenges of creating a convincing riot on stage using only 10 actors; underscoring a stage fight without turning it into a dance; and their exploration of gender and period setting through movement.
Apr 09, 2012•33 min
This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with actor Brad Armacost who is currently in Seanachai Theatre Company's A Moon For the Misbegotton which is playing at the Irish American Heritage Center. He talks about the production and his amazing career in Chicago.
Apr 02, 2012•34 min
This week's podcast features director Greg Kolack and ensemble member Matt Babbs, who join Anne Nicholson Weber to talk about Redtwist Theatre's production of The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later -- how the project came to be, their approach to documentary theatre, Greg's experiences interviewing some of the subjects of the play, and Redtwist's simultaneous production of a fully-staged reading of the original The Laramie Project.
Mar 26, 2012•30 min
This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with Jack Zimmerman, the PR manager for the Lyric Opera of Chicago and a storyteller with a CD "The Gift." Jack talks of why he is a storyteller with personal stories about growing up on Chicago's South Side.
Mar 19, 2012•31 min
This week's podcast focuses on Raven Theatre's production of Arthur Miller's The Price. Director Michael Menendian and ensemble member Chuck Spencer join Anne Nicholson Weber to talk about the challenges of producing Miller, the uses of a crowded set and the universality of the play's theme.
Mar 12, 2012•30 min
This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with Heather Beck who plays Patsy Cline in Always...Patsy Cline at the Theatre at the Center in Munster. She talks the show as well as life on a cruise ship as a singer.
Mar 05, 2012•29 min
This week's podcast focuses on the Idle Muse Theatre Company's production of Shakespeare's R and J, which is currently playing at The Side Project. Director Tristan Brandon and cast members Curtis Jackson and Andrew Lund join host Anne Nicholson Weber to talk about their approach to the verse and how it was affected by the adaptor's conceit that the play is being performed by four school boys; and also about the casting process and how a newly-arrived actor integrates into the Chicago theatre sc...
Feb 27, 2012•29 min
This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with Nathan Gunn, the opera baritone staring in Show Boat at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He talks about his career and the challenges of moving from opera to a Broadway show and back.
Feb 20, 2012•32 min
This week's guests on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast are Dawn Gray of Gray Talent Group and Becca Knights of Simon Casting. They join Anne Nicholson Weber to share an insider's perspective on what they're looking for in an actor, why Chicago theatre and improv credentials can lead to film, television or commercial work, and how an actor in Chicago can make a balanced career.
Feb 13, 2012•32 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Dennis Watkins from the House Theatre who is currently starring in Death and Harry Houdini which is playing at the Chopin Theatre. He talks about the show and his magic.
Feb 06, 2012•34 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with actor Patrick Clear who is currently appearing in Race at the Goodman Theatre. He talks about the play as well as his long career.
Jan 30, 2012•34 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Jon Steinhagen. He talks about his two latest shows to play in Chicago, Blizzard '67 and Dating Walter Dante.
Jan 23, 2012•30 min
