On this episode of Spiel Chicago I speak with two artists about their upcoming projects.  Spark at 20% Theatre Company follows three sisters living in the US, caught in the mess of a recent war’s aftermath. I spoke on the phone with director Denise Serna about how the play explores how poverty affects the dynamics…

Spiel Chicago

Episode 27 – Denise Serna and Anna Gelman

“The reason that I do theatre for young audiences is because I’m trying to save theatre.” Jacqueline Stone is the artistic director of Emerald City Theatre, which serves audiences from 0-13 all around the city of Chicago.  She has a passion for providing very young people with high quality, impactful and fun theatre to set…

Episode 26 – Jacqueline Stone

Artist as Producer: This week on Spiel Chicago, we discuss DIY Theatre!  This is a special panel episode, with guests Savannah Reich, Denise Serna, Olivia Lilley and Katherine Lamb, each bringing a unique perspective on DIY theatre, theatre institutions, sustainability and how to get started putting your own work into the world.     Discussed…

Episode 25 – DIY Theatre

“If people don’t know I’m a feminist when they meet me, they’re gonna learn pretty quickly.” Ashley Ann Woods is a scenic designer and company member at 20% Theatre Company.  Last Summer, we discussed her recent transition to freelance work (aka, being her own boss), how her feminism affects the projects she chooses and about…

Episode 24 – Ashley Ann Woods

“The great thing about theatre is that … we get to watch things go really, really badly for other people.” Playwright Calamity West says she is always trying to write parables, stories we can learn from.  We sat down to discuss her work, how amazing playwright Annie Baker is and how theatre can respond to…

Episode 23 – Calamity West

Ireon Roach is a prize-winning poet, a founding ensemble member of The Yard Theatre and the winner of the 2016 August Wilson Monologue contest–and all before leaving for college this Fall. Ireon sat down with me to discuss her experiences as a young actor working in Chicago’s educational and professional theatre settings, as well as…

Episode 22 – Ireon Roach

The burgeoning discussion about transgender inclusion in Chicago Theatre is encouraging.  It’s great to see large institutions like Steppenwolf and The Goodman Theatre beginning to have important conversations about trans representation on their stages.  But for the people living this struggle, those conversations can a little, well … basic.   In this episode, Avi Roque…

Episode 21: Transgender Actor Panel

Ireon Roach is one of Chicago’s most promising young artists. She is a founding ensemble member of The Yard Theatre, an award winning slam poet and the 2016 winner of the August Wilson Monologue contest. I sat down with Ireon to discuss her work and what young artists have to contribute to the Chicago Theatre…

Season 2 Teaser: Ireon Roach on Youth Theatre

What is it like to audition as a non-binary person?  What does transitioning mean for your acting career?  What should theaters do to make sure transgender experiences are being represented authentically?  Season 2 explores all of these questions and more in an interview with Chicago actors Jojo Brown, Theo Germaine, Charlie Baker, guest hosted by…

Season 2 Teaser: Transgender Actor Panel!

2016 was a wild year for Chicago Theatre.  With The Reader’s expose of long term abuses occurring at Profiles Theatre, a major discussion began about conduct and safety for non-union artists.  Two Chicago actresses, fed up with the horrifying stories they’d heard over their careers, started Not In Our House, a movement to empower artists…

Re-release Episode 12: Not In Our House!

As we chug along with production on Season 2 of Spiel Chicago coming out in September, here’s a look back at our very first episode.  At the time, playwright Meridith Friedman was opening her show The Firestorm at Stage Left Theatre.  This season, Stage Left is producing another one of Meridith’s plays, The Luckiest People.…

Episode 1: Meridith Friedman Re-Release

Only a couple of months until Season 2 of Spiel Chicago!  Until then, we’re re-releasing some old favorites to tide you over.  Here’s an interview with the Anna Helman and Olivia Lilley, directors of Mary Shelley Sees the Future produced by The Runaways Lab Theatre.  We talk about their current Freaky-Friday style story with gothic…

Re-release Episode 9: The Runaways Lab Theatre!

After the Reader exposé and subsequent closing of Profiles Theatre here in Chicago, playwright Cassandra Rose wanted to fill the vacuum left behind with something communal and reparative, something that would eliminate barriers to people telling their stories.  In this Summer Bonus episode, you’ll hear not just about how the Chicago Theatre Marathon came to…

Bonus Episode: Chicago Theatre Marathon!

Spiel Chicago is on Summer hiatus, but re-releasing a few episodes to get you excited for season 2!  First up: Avi Roque! I first saw Avi in An Alamac for Farmers and Lovers in Mexico produced by The Jades.  Avi is gender neutral and uses the pronouns they/them/theirs.  We were able to talk a little about their…

Episode 14 – Avi Roque Pride Weekend Re-Release!

Rinska Carrasco is so pumped to direct a grim Latinx fairy tale at Halcyon Theatre and after talking with her, I’m super pumped to see it.  I sat down with Rinska and Laura Stephenson, casting director for Halcyon Theatre to talk about their upcoming show THE RIVER BRIDE, their amazing cast as well as Halcyon’s…

Episode 20 – Laura Stephenson and Rinska Carrasco

Exploring the feminist and progressive work of Chicago's Theatre.

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