We get down to business about one of the most contentious issues in modern American theater - play length and whether or not to have an intermission. Audiences have VERY STRONG feelings about this, and as producers of new plays we see these trends firsthand. As much as we love a 90-min theater experience, are our shrinking attention spans getting in the way of deeper, richer storytelling? Have we lost our theater stamina? The debate about whether to produce a play based on its length is very rea...
Jul 23, 2025•34 min•Ep. 123
We are excited to welcome BJ Jones, Artistic Director of Northlight Theatre in Skokie, IL. Northlight is among the largest non-profit theaters in the Chicago area, known for their commitment to contemporary works and their extensive youth education program. In this episode, we discuss the current evolution of regional theater, balancing audience wants with your own artistic vision, the art of "timing the moment" with new and relevant work, and what the future holds for theaters (and audiences) a...
Jun 27, 2025•45 min•Ep. 122
Summertime means outdoor theater! We discuss the productions we're excited to see at some of our favorite summer theaters. We also dive into the 2025-26 season announcements from Wisconsin theaters, and share what we'll be checking out in the year to come.
May 19, 2025•28 min•Ep. 121
We tackle the sudden and rapidly-shrinking landscape of government arts funding - and what it means for organizations trying to stay afloat without compromising their values. From disappearing grants to the risks involved for the artists and companies that are sitting out (and speaking out), this conversation is candid, urgent, and eye-opening. But amid the challenges, we also take a hopeful look toward solutions to help change the tide. A tough topic, but one worth confronting - the future of t...
Apr 18, 2025•31 min•Ep. 120
It's season announcement time for theaters across the country, and we're excited to share our slate for the 2025-26 season! A common question we get is, "how do you choose your plays?" We talk about the decision process behind selecting these four productions, and how they fit together in the grand scheme. The 2025-26 season at Forward Theater. Season tickets now available at ForwardTheater.com. PRIMARY TRUST by Eboni Booth Directed by Mikael Burke September 4-21, 2025 GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! by...
Mar 18, 2025•25 min•Ep. 119
Jen Uphoff Gray welcomes Kait Kerrigan and Nathan Tysen, writer and lyricist of Broadway's THE GREAT GATSBY! In this episode, this musical power couple shares their insight into the broken pipeline of musical theater development, which leaves countless new works stuck in limbo. We discuss the roadblocks that prevent fresh stories from reaching American audiences and why regional theaters hesitate to take the leap. But it’s not all bad news - we also explore real solutions for making the pipeline...
Feb 28, 2025•39 min•Ep. 118
This episode was inspired by a VERY spirited conversation we recently had, centered around a particular play and whether it would be a good choice for a future season. This debate required us to evaluate our relationship with our audiences - how do we meet them where they are, and how do we bring them along with challenging material while creating a welcoming and community-centered environment? As theaters across the country work toward building new audiences, what's the best balance between lea...
Jan 28, 2025•39 min•Ep. 117
*This episode went missing late last year! It is officially Episode 113. Enjoy! Despite the fact that theater is back to being live and in-person, many theaters (including ours) have discovered great value in offering a streaming option for their productions. As arts companies strive to become more accessible, digital theater has become an oasis for many patrons. In this episode, we revisit this topic that preoccupied the theater world just a few years back. What's happening with digital theater...
Jan 02, 2025•31 min•Ep. 113
Happy Holidays! Enjoy our end-of-year episode, in which we share everything we loved about 2024, including stellar productions and films, the support of our amazing audiences, and the brilliant artists that continue to make the theater an inspiring and life-affirming experience.
Dec 20, 2024•29 min•Ep. 116
We LOVE mailbag episodes, and this one was a treat. Join us as we talk about theater spaces, share our own play selection process, and bring the heat on playwrights and productions we never need to see again.
Nov 21, 2024•30 min•Ep. 115
Our take on the top 10 most-produced plays and top 20 most-produced playwrights in America this season, based on the annual list generated by American Theater Magazine. We discuss what we expected, what surprised us, and how this list reflects the current state of theater in America. Here are the lists so you can follow along! Top 10 most-produced plays in America in 2024-25 Top 20 most-produced playwrights in America in 2024-25...
Oct 30, 2024•31 min•Ep. 114
Inspired by the Summer Olympics and our upcoming production of KING JAMES by Rajiv Joseph, the team steps up to the plate to talk about their favorite sports-themed plays, and the exciting parallels between these two dynamic art forms. A spirited conversation for sports and theater lovers alike.
Aug 30, 2024•34 min•Ep. 112
Each year, theatermakers from across the country attend the biennial Theatre Communications Group (TCG) Conference to learn, share, and network. But lately, this gathering has become less practical (and educational) for small companies looking for new and better ways to do business. We share our mixed experience with this year's meeting of the minds, and how it might better serve local regional theaters in America.
Jul 23, 2024•32 min•Ep. 111
From educational programs to full productions, there have never been more opportunities for young adults and children to participate in a theater experience. We sit down with two of Wisconsin's most prominent leaders to talk about the ever-changing world of TYA and the impact these experiences have on future generations. This episode features First Stage (Milwaukee) Artistic Director Jeff Frank and Children's Theater of Madison Artistic Director Brian Cowing as we discuss the state of theater fo...
Jun 27, 2024•36 min•Ep. 110
Our favorite summer stories are back! We sit down with some of our most treasured theater artists and ask them to share a story about a play or musical that "stayed" with them, inspired them, or simply blew their minds. This episode features: Cody Estle - Artistic Director of Next Act Theatre James Carrington - Actor and Associate Director of Engagement at Milwaukee Repertory Theater Lisa Schlenker - Scenic Designer Mikael Burke - Director...
May 29, 2024•53 min•Ep. 109
It's our favorite time of the year! Theaters across the country are announcing their productions for the 2024-25 season, and we've got a LONG list of shows that we want to see. In this episode, we discuss the shows we're looking forward to locally, regionally, and across the country.
Apr 26, 2024•30 min•Ep. 109
It's the most wonderful time of the year! This is when theater companies across the country announce their upcoming seasons, which means that theater is alive in America. In this episode, the team breaks down (and geeks out about) the lineup for Forward Theater's 2024-25 season: KING JAMES by Rajiv Joseph MURDER GIRL by Heidi Armbruster SUMMER, 1976 by David Auburn A CASE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD by Samuel D. Hunter Learn more about these plays at ForwardTheater.com....
Mar 20, 2024•35 min•Ep. 108
Mike Fischer interviews Forward Theater Artistic Director (and fellow host) Jen Uphoff Gray! Jen discusses the valuable role of mentors in the arts, while reflecting on her formative relationship with Tony award-winning director Michael Blakemore. A thoughtful conversation about how we cultivate a new generation of theater directors, with a few juicy showbiz tales that include David Mamet and Woody Allen for good measure. Also mentioned in this episode: Forward Theater's Wisconsin Directors Lab ...
Feb 19, 2024•41 min•Ep. 107
What happens after a play moves on from its shiny status as a World Premiere?Playwright Samuel Hunter joins us to discuss the journey of a play, from its exciting life as a World Premiere through its crucial 2nd and 3rd productions. A brilliant conversation that provides insight into the world of creating (and supporting) new works in American theater.
Jan 15, 2024•37 min•Ep. 106
We look back at the theatrical highlights of 2023, and dive into our favorite experiences over the last year. We also take a moment to applaud the productions and artists that continue to take theater to the next level, and inspire us to keep looking forward.
Dec 12, 2023•40 min•Ep. 105
We sit down with Forward Theater Director of Development Sarah Milestone to talk about every theater's favorite word: REVENUE. Making money in theater is a delicate dance. We dive into the world of donors, events, and the (lack of) government support for an artform that relies on more than just ticket sales to thrive. Correction at 18:56: Economic impact of the arts in the state of Wisconsin is $930 million and in Dane County it is $350 million according to the most recent research from American...
Nov 22, 2023•37 min•Ep. 104
Theater season is here, and we're all just kids in a candy store. We share the productions we can't wait to see in the 2023-24 season - nationally, regionally, and in our own backyard.
Oct 18, 2023•22 min•Ep. 103
Making theater accessible for Deaf and Hard of Hearing patrons is in high demand. We sit down with Amy Free and Tim Mumm, professional sign language interpreters and educators, to put a spotlight on this overdue priority for theaters. Amy and Tim share a behind the scenes look at what they do, and how theaters can make ASL-interpreted performances an integrated part of their productions. A transcript of this episode can be found HERE ....
Sep 25, 2023•29 min•Ep. 102
It's been a summer. After a deluge of national press about a crisis in American theater amid closings and layoffs, we take some time to cool things down with a tall, refreshing glass of "theater is not dead, folks." While it's important to note the massive change that is happening in the theater world right now (and it can be shocking), it's vital to recognize that some organizations are not only surviving - they're rebuilding a path to thriving again after a dangerous twist in the road....
Aug 11, 2023•39 min•Ep. 101
There's a growing concern regarding the lack of new technical artists and designers in American theater, causing many companies to reconsider (and change) how they build a season of productions. We sit down with Sarah Ross, Assistant Professor of Scenic Design at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, and Brian Gill, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts at University of Wisconsin - Parkside to talk about how they're cultivating a next generation of technical artists in an effort to support a ne...
Jul 18, 2023•36 min•Ep. 100
**Clarification** - This is our original Episode 97! Found in the vault and now live. We will re-release our interview on the new generation of technical artists as Episode 99, coming soon. The team discusses the ways in which current events can impact a production, specifically plays that touch on issues of women's bodily autonomy. We explore how these works are resonating differently with artists and audiences in a post-Dobbs decision era in America.
Jul 14, 2023•28 min•Ep. 99
Our favorite summer stories are back! We sit down with some amazing Wisconsin arts leaders and ask them to share a story about a play or musical that "stayed" with them, inspired them, or just generally rocked their world. This episode features: Jacob Janssen - Artistic Director of Third Avenue PlayWorks Laura Braza - Associate Artistic Director of Milwaukee Rep Sheri Williams Pannell - Playwright, Director, & Asst. Professor at UW-Milwaukee/Peck School of the Arts Deanie Vallone - Literary ...
Jun 09, 2023•51 min•Ep. 98
In theater, a "world premiere" seems easy to define, right? But some licensing agents are gatekeeping this title for promotional purposes, rather than granting it to the companies that invest time and money into producing a brand new play. We share our experience (and frustration) with an east coast "world premiere production" that left our theater company in the cold.
May 10, 2023•33 min•Ep. 97
It's that time of the year! Theaters are announcing their upcoming seasons and wrangling their subscribers to renew. We discuss the four plays on tap for Forward Theater's 2023-24 season, and share the process of curating a season that brings joy to ourselves and our audiences. Our 23-24 season: The Garbologists by Lindsay Joelle Clyde's by Lynn Nottage The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk by Daniel Jamieson What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck More info: https://forwardtheater.com/show/th...
Apr 26, 2023•28 min•Ep. 96
We were thrilled to sit down with Lauren Gunderson, one of America's most produced playwrights and author of our upcoming world premiere of ARTEMISIA at Forward Theater Company. Get a deep dive into the process of this prolific writer, as well as insight into the creation of this exciting new production. This is a MUST LISTEN for artists and audiences.
Apr 05, 2023•31 min•Ep. 95
