On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Ben Fuchsen, the Executive Producer of Oracle Productions and Brad Jayhan-Little, the Executive Director. They explain their innovative Theatre Public Access Program that includes free tickets for all Oracle theatre productions among other sponsoring techniques.
Jan 16, 2012•33 min
This week's podcast features Bruce Arntson and Jenny Littleton, the Doyle and Debbie of the Doyle and Debbie Show, which is currently playing at the Royal George Cabaret Theatre. They join Anne Nicholson Weber to talk about Bruce's process as writer and lyricist, the impulse for the show, and how Bruce and Jenny came together almost six years ago to debut this country music satire.
Jan 09, 2012•33 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Joe Stead about how and why he started his theatre review website in 2000 and about the rise of the internet as a reviewing forum.
Jan 02, 2012•32 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Dennis Polkow, a writer from New City and other publications. He talks about the Chicago music scene including opera and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Dec 26, 2011•32 min
Our guests on this week's podcast are David Rosenberg, Communications Director at Steppenwolf Theatre, and Cathy Taylor, of Cathy Taylor PR. They join Anne Nicholson Weber to explain the role of the publicist, their relationship to an ever-evolving press, and how they help a show find its audience.
Dec 19, 2011•30 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Gwendolyn Whiteside, the producing artistic director of American Blues Theater. She talks their current show, It's It's A Wonderful Life: Live At The Biograph, and the ABT's history and what they have coming.
Dec 12, 2011•31 min
This week on the TalkTheatreinChicago podcast, actor Steve Pickering and director Matt Miller join Anne Nicholson Weber to discuss their production of Conor McPherson's St. Nicholas currently running at the Irish American Heritage Center under the auspices of Seanachai Theatre and Shanghai Low Theatricals. They talk about McPherson's sensibility and the unique challenges of this one-man show.
Dec 05, 2011•28 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Timothy Edward Kane from An Iliad at Court Theatre. Kane talks about the challenges of doing a one person show about Homer's Iliad.
Nov 28, 2011•31 min
Our podcast this week features Greg Allen, founding director of The Neo-Futurists, and Bilal Dardai, one of the ensemble members. They take Anne Nicholson Weber through the history of the company that has been playing Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind for 23 years and explain its unique aesthetic and methodology.
Nov 21, 2011•33 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Hershey Felder about his new one-man show, Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein which is currently playing at the Royal George Theatre.
Nov 14, 2011•25 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Carlo Garcia who is an actor, director and producing director at Mary-Arrchie Theatre. He talks about his current show, Red Light Winter, as well as his career.
Nov 07, 2011•28 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Jim Corti, the new Artistic Director of the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. He talks about the new Broadway musical series at the theatre and the upcoming shows.
Oct 31, 2011•33 min
Kimberly Senior directed the production of Harold Pinter's Old Times that is currently playing at Strawdog Theatre. Ron OJ Parson is directing the production of Pinter's The Caretaker that will open at Writers' Theatre in a few weeks. They join Anne Nicholson Weber to talk about the distinctive challenges of precision, rhythm and open-endedness that characterize Pinter's work.
Oct 24, 2011•31 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with actor Frank Nall. He talks about his current show, the Artistic Home's A Touch of the Poet playing at Stage 773.
Oct 17, 2011•31 min
This week on our podcast interview, Anne Nicholson Weber interviews Black Ensemble Theatre founder and Executive Director, Jackie Taylor, about the company's 35-year history making theatre and fighting racism in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood.
Oct 10, 2011•36 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Steve Scott, the associate producer of Goodman Theatre and freelance director. He talks about his current show Elling, which he is directing at the Redtwist Theatre, as well as his directing process and long career.
Oct 03, 2011•32 min
This week's podcast features Barbara Gaines and Criss Henderson, the Artistic and Executive Directors of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. They join Anne Nicholson Weber to review the company's 25-year history, flexion points along the way, and what lies ahead.
Sep 26, 2011•41 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Aaron Thielen, the lead Artistic Director at Marriott Theatre and the book writer of For The Boys. He talks about creating a new work for the stage and he previews his latest new musical Hero to be mounted in 2012 at the Marriott Theatre.
Sep 19, 2011•29 min
On this week's podcast, Anne Nicholson Weber interviews Michael Weber, the newly-appointed Artistic Director at Porchlight Music Theatre. They discuss his plans for the company and what "Chicago-style" musical theatre might look like.
Sep 12, 2011•29 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Richard Friedman, the Managing Director at the Theatre at the Center in Munster. In the past he was also managing director/producer at Northlight Theatre and the Organic Theatre.
Sep 05, 2011•36 min
Our guests on this week's podcast are Tanya Palmer, Director of New Play Development at Goodman Theatre, and Rebecca Rugg, Artistic Producer at Steppenwolf Theatre. They join Anne Nicholson Weber to talk about the process of new play development and the new play festivals that each theatre will be mounting this fall: Goodman's New Stages Amplified and Steppenwolf's First Look Festival.
Aug 29, 2011•30 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Evan Jackson, the Artistic Director of Idle Muse Theatre and director of their current production of The Lion in Winter.
Aug 22, 2011•32 min
This week's podcast focuses on Writers Theatre. Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn Lipuma talk with Anne Nicholson Weber about the company's beginnings in the back of a North Shore bookstore; the philosophy and strategy that have shaped its culture; and new opportunities arising as the company embarks on its 20th season.
Aug 15, 2011•30 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Naomi Wallace who is the playwright featured this year with the Eclipse Theatre Company. She talk about her show The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek and One Flea Spare as well as her upcoming visit to Chicago.
Aug 08, 2011•32 min
On this week's podcast, Anne Nicholson Weber talks with producer Sharon Evans and storytellers Matt Miller and Jeffrey Sweet about the Filet of Solo Festival currently playing in various Roger's Park venues. They talk about the history and scope of the festival, the storytelling scene in Chicago generally, and some of the specific pieces included in this year's festival.
Aug 01, 2011•33 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Ann Filmer, the artistic director of the 16th Street Theater. She talks about their production of Rebecca Gilman's The Crowd You're In With and her direction of Tony Fitzpatrick's Stations Lost at the Steppenwolf Garage as well of why she founded 16th Street Theater.
Jul 25, 2011•39 min
Our podcast guest this week is Timothy Douglas, the new Artistic Director of Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. He joins Anne Nicholson Weber to discuss how he is integrating his personal aesthetic with that of the company, how his identity as an African-American enters into that dynamic, and what the company has planned for the 2011-2012 season.
Jul 18, 2011•39 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Josh Rollins, the playwright of A Girl With Sun in Her Eyes. He talks about the production and the characters and about the challenge of writing a police procedural play.
Jul 11, 2011•33 min
Our guest on this week's podcast is Philip Dawkins, writer of The Homosexuals, which is currently being premiered by About Face Theatre at The Victory Gardens Biograph. Dawkins talks with Anne Nicholson Weber about the evolution of the script, why it appeals to a broad audience, and some of its themes, including generational shifts in what it means to be gay, and friendships that are interlaced with sex.
Jul 04, 2011•33 min
On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Hugh Spencer, the director and president of The Saints, an organization of volunteers for the performing arts. He talks about how The Saints provide help to theaters for a variety of activities including ushering at performances, grant support and more.
Jun 27, 2011•33 min