PodCast & Crew: A UNCG Theatre Podcast

Carson Davis sits down with director Robi Arce Martinez to talk about inspiration, challenges and excitement about bringing a passion project to life, and other things.

Clare Parker (Costume Designer) sits down with India Jones and Carson Davis to excitements and challenges on working on The Passion of Antigona Perez.

Dani Vanasse joins Carson Davis and India Jones to discuss the challenges of building a set on The Passion of Antigona Perez and working with giant mirrors.

Carson Davis and India Jones are joined by Chase Fountaine (Christopher Robin), Hayley Greenstreet (Tour Manager), and Stella Vatnsdal (Scenic Designer), to discuss the excitement and challenges of putting on a Theatre for Young Audiences show at UNCG, and bringing it on tour.

In the final installment of this two part episode of PodCast and Crew, Jenna Servian and Carson Davis sit down with Midsummer's scene designer, Dani Vanasse to talk about her experience working on the show, the hectic schedule of a designer, how she got involved in theatre, and so much more!

In this special two part episode of PodCast and Crew, co-hosts Jenna Servian and Carson Davis interview some of the designers for Midsummer. For part one, Jenna and Carson sit down with the show's lighting designer Rachel Lake to talk about her experiences working on the show, life as a grad student, misconceptions about being a designer, and so much more!

Welcome back to a new season of the UNCG theatre podcast! The 2022-23 theatre season is kicking off with "Dontrell, Who Kissed The Sea". Co-hosts Jenna Servian and Liam Roos sit down with the stars of the show, Gabriel Yarborough and Katherine Gerondelis, to discuss what their process has been like putting together such a jam-packed show in a short amount of time. Hear about their day-in-the-life, the challenges of working with a poetry-centered script, whether or not a frappuccino is an iced coffee, and more in this debut episode! 

This episode is jam packed! We speak with School of Theatre Natalie Sowell about an upcoming event to celebrate 100 years of theatre here at UNCG. Other guests include Amaya Kiyomi, who is on the Student Season Selection Committee and Aaron Allen who is Co-Chair of Scaffolding Change which deals with building Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the School of Theatre. Hosted by Halley Price and Tori Lee.

On the second BONUS POD leading up to the premiere of the Spartan New Musicals, Chris is joined by Madeline Myers, the composer, writer, and lyricist for "Flatbush Avenue." Madeline talks about her background in playwriting, the process of developing the play in collaboration with the Musical Theatre program, baseball, and how she seeks to infuse joy into our Covid-weary lives with her work.

You can read more about Madeline on her website, which includes information on her prior and forthcoming projects: www.madelinemyers.com

On a very special BONUS POD, Chris is joined by Murphy Taylor Smith and Emerson Mae Smith, the creative team behind "Radio: A Musical Ghost Story," one of the two world-premiere filmed plays making up the Spartan New Musicals. Murphy and Emerson detail their work, their creative inspirations, how their work champions queer and trans voices, and the process of writing their first musical screenplay.

Details on their upcoming show at 54 Below can be found here: https://54below.com/events/new-writers-at-54-murphy-taylor-and-emerson-mae-smith/ 

Murphy's website, including information on "Elektric," can be found here: https://www.murphytaylorsmith.com/elektric 

Friendly neighborhood Musical Theatre faculty Erin Ferrell Speer and Dominick Amendum join Chris for a discussion on the Spartan New Musicals, which include "Radio: A Musical Ghost Story," with Music and Lyrics by Murphy Taylor Smith and Book by Emerson Mae Smith, and "Flatbush Avenue," with Music and Lyrics and Book by Madeline Myers. Topics include the dedication by both faculty members to the cultivation of new work, a brief overview of both shows and their development cycle, and the process of creating original filmed musicals during Covid-19.

Chris is joined by Donna Bradby, theatre professor from North Carolina A&T and guest director for the UNCG School of Theatre production of "Polaroid Stories" by Naomi Iizuka. Miss Donna discusses her background in theatre, the kind of work that matters to her, and the rehearsal process for "Polaroid Stories" while offering many words of wisdom along the way.

Chris is joined by Karen Sabo and the two MFA directing candidates discuss their upcoming one-act plays. Karen talks about the process of assembling and rehearsing "How We Got Here: An Oral History Play" and Chris dives into "The World On a Hill" and it's playwright, Alice Childress.

Chris Gilly-Forrer hosts and is joined by MFA Theatre for Young Audiences candidates John Perine and Hayley Greenstreet to discuss their upcoming productions of "Where Words Once Were" by Finnegan Kruckemeyer and "Round Pegs, Square Pegs" by Mary Hall Surface.

Elizabeth Ray previews our upcoming production of "Saint Joan" by George Bernard Shaw. Guests include sophomore BFA actor India Jones, who plays the title role of Joan, MFA design candidate David Garrett (scenic design), and MFA design candidate Karsen Green (costume design).