Half Hour
Steppenwolf Theatre Co.
All episodes
Best episodes
Seasons
Top 10 Half Hour Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Half Hour episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Half Hour for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Half Hour episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
07/21/20 • 37 min
Cliff Chamberlain catches up with ensemble member Frank Galati in this conversation that covers Galati's first theatrical experiences, his attachment to Illinois, and what drew him to a career as a director and adapter. A master storyteller, Galati takes a deep dive into some of his most beloved Steppenwolf productions, including The Grapes of Wrath and Kafka on the Shore.
Interview begins at 3:03
Frank Galati has been a member of the Steppenwolf ensemble since 1985. Frank won two Tony Awards for his adaptation and direction of Steppenwolf's production of The Grapes of Wrath on Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award in 1998 for directing the musical Ragtime. Although he is known primarily as a director of epic plays and musicals (Steppenwolf's Homebody/Kabul, Broadway's Ragtime) he is an equally adept actor (Steppenwolf's The Drawer Boy, The Tempest) and adaptor (Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay for The Accidental Tourist.) he directed his adaptation of Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore at Steppenwolf in 2008. His productions at the Goodman Theatre, where he was an associate director from 1986-2008, include She Always Said Pablo, The Winter’s Tale, The Good Person of Setzuan and Cry the Beloved Country and Mr. Galati is a professor emeritus in the department of performance studies at Northwestern University. He now is an artistic associate at Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. Frank is also currently working on a new musical called Knoxville with Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
This episode was co-sponsored by Lynn Lockwood Murphy, honoring Aidan Murphy and Kenyon College Class of 2020.
The excerpted poetry in this episode is from “The Waking” by Theodore Roethke (1953).
Learn more at steppenwolf.org. Want to get in touch? Email [email protected].
For a transcript of this episode, got to: https://www.steppenwolf.org/globalassets/half-hour-podcast/half-hour-ep6-transcript.pdf
07/07/20 • 34 min
In this episode of Half Hour, ensemble member Caroline Neff interviews Cydney Cleveland and Tamara Drew from Storycatchers Theatre, as well as Abhi Shrestha from Steppenwolf Education. Listen to learn about the vital performing arts programs that Storycatchers run inside and outside of juvenile justice facilities in Illinois, as well as their methodology and philosophy underpinning that work, and how their programs intersect with Steppenwolf Education’s.
Interview begins at 2:30.
This episode of Half Hour is sponsored by John Hart and Carol Prins in memory of Louise Hart, and co-sponsored by Winston & Strawn LLP.
Cydney Patrice Cleveland is the Production Director for Storycatchers Theatre. As Director, she oversees all production elements for the annual original one-act musicals presented at three juvenile justice facilities, and for the touring production of musical stories created by the Changing Voices Ensemble, Storycatchers’ post release performance employment program. Ms. Cleveland began her career at Storycatchers while a junior in high school at Young Women's Leadership Charter School of Chicago during a time when the organization worked in CPS schools in addition to juvenile facilities. Quickly moving up the ranks from participant, to administrative support, to program manager, and Production Director, Cleveland became a member of Storycatchers’ leadership team this year. She is responsible for creating a multi-year partnership with Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Together, the companies co-produce a multiple facility tour of a Steppenwolf Theater for Young Adults professional production.
Tamara Drew is a graduate of Millikin University where she earned a degree in both Theatre & Sociology. Currently, Tamara is the Artistic Manager of the Storycatchers Firewriters ensemble at IYC Chicago, is the Artistic Coordinator for Storycatchers Changing Voices Program, and is the Project Manager of the Storycatchers CPD training program. She is a mother to three sons, and serves as chair of the Fine Arts Magnet Education Committee at Ravenswood Elementary School.
Abhi Shrestha is a Chicago-based poet, arts educator, and theatre artist originally from Kathmandu, Nepal. Abhi is the Education Associate at Steppenwolf Theatre, serves on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health (ICAH) and is the Resident Dramaturge and a Community Organizer with The Chicago Inclusion Project.
About Storycatchers Theatre: Storycatchers Theatre is dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive environment that uses the performing arts to prepare marginalized youth to envision and pursue productive futures. Through their healing-centered process, they believe that these resilient young people build agency and capacity to make productive life choices.
About Steppenwolf Education: Every season Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) creates two full-scale professional productions specifically for teens. Programs include classroom residencies led by Steppenwolf-trained teaching artists; the Young Adult Council, an innovative year-round after-school initiative that uniquely engages high school students in all areas of the theater’s operation; in-depth mentorship programs for early-career professionals who will one day lead the American Theater.
Learn more at steppenwolf.org. Want to get in touch? Email halfhour@steppenwolf.org
For a transcript of this podcast, go to: https://www.steppenwolf.org/globalassets/half-hour-podcast/half-hour-ep5-transcript.pdf
S2 Ep6 - Erin Cook: "Friend To All"
Half Hour
06/22/21 • 37 min
On this episode of Half Hour, Erin Cook, Steppenwolf’s universally beloved company manager of more than ten years, joins Caroline Neff for a lovely and lively conversation. Cook shares stories from her path to Steppenwolf, and she talks about what it is like being communicating with, and caring for, the more than fifty actors, writers and directors that constitute the Steppenwolf Ensemble. Plus, Erin reflects on her singular relationships with two of Steppenwolf’s visionary artistic directors: Martha Lavey and Anna D. Shapiro.
Interview begins at 3:14.
Erin Cook is the Company Manager & Assistant to the Artistic Director at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, where she has worked since 2008. Previously, Erin has worked at TimeLine, The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and Utah Shakespeare along with a slew of restaurant and coffee shop jobs! Erin’s top five shows at Steppenwolf are a combination of the things she has seen and worked on: The Brother/Sister Plays by Tarell Alvin McCraney, Middletown by Will Eno, The Seafarer by Conor McPherson, Mary Page Marlowe by Tracy Letts and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee.
Learn more at Steppenwolf.org
Want to get in touch? Email [email protected]
A transcript of this episode can be found HERE
S2 Ep4 – Sandra Marquez: “On a Team”
Half Hour
05/11/21 • 39 min
Ensemble member Sandra Marquez sits down with Cliff Chamberlain for this insightful and inspiring conversation. Marquez shares stories from her singular childhood in the Central Valley of California, and reflects on her journey in Chicago theatre—and how she hopes to make it easier for the next generation of actors. Plus, Marquez talks about her legendary performances as Clytemnestra, and what it was like to play that single role over the course of four years and three productions.
Interview begins at 3:43.
Sandra Marquez joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble in 2016, where her acting credits include: Nora in A Doll’s House, Part 2, The Roommate , The Doppelgänger (an international farce), Mary Page Marlowe , The Motherf**ker with the Hat, A Streetcar Named Desire, Sonia Flew and One Arm. Directing credits at Steppenwolf include La Ruta and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. At Teatro Vista, where she is a longtime company member and former Associate Artistic Director, she directed Fade, My Mañana Comes, Breakfast Lunch & Dinner and Our Lady of the Underpass. She is the recipient of a Jeff Award for her work in Teatro Vista’s A View from the Bridge. Marquez completed a three-year arc playing Clytemnestra in Court Theatre’s Iphigenia Cycle (Iphigenia at Aulis, Electra and Agamemnon).
Learn more at Steppenwolf.org
Want to get in touch? Email [email protected]
A transcript of this episode can be found HERE
04/13/21 • 39 min
Karen Rodriguez hosts this candid interview with esteemed actor, director and ensemble member Amy Morton. Morton shares her favorite (and least favorite) moments on stage, and dishes out advice for young actors eager to jumpstart their careers. Listen to hear Amy talk about her path, from growing up as a shy kid with a fantastical imagination, to seeing her first Steppenwolf production, and finally to performing in the theatre’s legendary production of August: Osage County thirty years later.
Interview begins at 3:37. This episode of Half Hour is generously sponsored by Michele Kenner.
Amy Morton is a director and actor at Steppenwolf. She has directed or performed in over 30 plays at Steppenwolf including Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Tony nomination), August: Osage County (Tony nomination), One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (also on Broadway), Hir, Cherry Orchard, The Berlin Circle, Three Days of Rain, The Unmentionables, Space, The Royal Family and many others. She has directed Guards at the Taj (both Atlantic Theatre and Steppenwolf), Glengary Glen Ross, Clybourne Park, America Buffalo, The Dresser, The Pillowman, Topdog/Underdog, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Alliance Theatre), Awake and Sing (Northlight Theatre), and many others. Film: Rookie of the Year, 8MM, Falling Down, Backdraft, Up in the Air, Bluebird. Television: Bluebloods, Girls, Homeland, currently on Chicago PD as Trudy Platt. Before joining Steppenwolf, Amy was a member of the Remains Theatre for 15 years.
Learn more at Steppenwolf.org
Want to get in touch? Email [email protected]
A transcript of this episode can be found HERE
09/29/20 • 37 min
Acclaimed actor, casting director, and founder of the Chicago Inclusion Project, Emjoy Gavino, joins Caroline Neff on the podcast to discuss the history of her vital work advocating for inclusion in the city’s theatre scene, as well as how she approaches her craft. Learn how Gavino begins to cast a production, what is on her pre-show playlist, and why she can relate to an image of a dachshund in a lobster costume.
Interview begins at 4:04
Emjoy Gavino is an actor, casting director, teaching artist, producer and food enthusiast based in Chicago. Her acting credits include A Red Orchid Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Court Theater, About Face Theatre, The Hypocrites, The Second City, House Theatre, Northlight, Remy Bumppo, Victory Gardens Theatre, Paramount, The Broadway Playhouse, Lookingglass, The Neo-Futurists, The Goodman Theatre, Studio Theatre, The Village Theatre, Repertory Actors Theatre, 5th Avenue Theatre, Book-It Repertory and The Gift Theatre, where she is the casting director and an associate artistic director. She is a 2017 3Arts Make a Wave grantee and the founder and training series producer of The Chicago Inclusion Project, through which she has cast for American Theater Company, The Hypocrites, Circle Up (Jackalope Theatre), and In the Works (Theater on the Lake). She is represented by Stewart Talent.
The Chicago Inclusion Project is a non-profit organization currently made up by business manager Elana Elyce, founder/training series director Emjoy Gavino, Grant Writer Stephanie Diaz, Community Organizer/Literary Manager Abhi Shrestha and facilitators Arti Ishak and Jessica Vann. CIP is a collective of artists, committed to creating inclusive theater experiences by bringing together Chicago artists and audiences normally separated by ethnic background, economic status, gender identity, physical ability and countless other barriers. By emphasizing inclusive hiring practices and season curation, cultivating a diverse audience by bringing new combinations of artists to as many communities in Chicago (and its surrounding suburbs) as possible, choosing facilities for the multiple projects that are handicap-accessible and keeping price of tickets and classes affordable, The Chicago Inclusion Project programming aims to unite diverse collections of Chicagoans. More at thechicagoinclusionproject.org.
A transcript of this episode can be found here: https://www.steppenwolf.org/globalassets/half-hour-podcast/half-hour-ep11-transcript.pdf
Learn more at steppenwolf.org
Want to get in touch? Email [email protected]
Ep9 - Yasen Peyankov: “I Had To”
Half Hour
09/01/20 • 39 min
In this friendly and fascinating conversation, Ensemble Member Yasen Peyankov reunites with his old student and cast mate Cliff Chamberlain. Peyankov shares stories about growing up in Eastern Europe, starting his career anew in Chicago, and the differences between theater in Bulgaria and America.
Interview begins at 4:15
Yasen Peyankov has been a Steppenwolf ensemble member since 2002. He last directed Virtual Seagull at Steppenwolf and before that appeared as The Keeper in Lindiwe. His Steppenwolf main stage directing credits include the world premiere of Erika Sheffer’s The Fundamentals, Between Riverside and Crazy (Jeff Nomination for Best Production 2016), Grand Concourse, Russian Transport, as well as Hushabye for First Look and The Glass Menagerie for Steppenwolf for Young Adults. Other directing credits include Macbeth, Uncle Vanya, Go Away Go Away, Stars in the Morning Sky (European Repertory), Ladybird (The Evidence Room, Los Angeles), Overweight, Unimportant, Misshape: A European Supper (Trapdoor Theatre). His translations/adaptations of Chekhov plays include Ivanov, Uncle Vanya and Seagull as well as Zoyka’s Apartment by M. Bulgakov, Ladybird, Plasticine and Black Milk by V. Sigarev, Stars in the Morning Sky by A.Galin, and Go Away Go Away by N. Kolyada. He also translated and directed the Bulgarian premiere of August: Osage County at the National Theatre in Sofia. He has appeared in 20 productions at Steppenwolf, some of which are: Time of Your Life (also in Seattle and San Francisco), Morning Star (Jeff Award), Hysteria, Lost Land, Cherry Orchard, Frankie and Johnny at the Claire De Lune (also in Dublin), Superior Donuts ( also on Broadway), Pillowman, The Tempest, Three Sisters, Penelope, A Doll's House Part 2, The Children and others. Some of his many film and television appearances include Chicago PD, Madam Secretary, Stranger Things, Captive State, A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas, Gifted Hands, Alias, The Practice, The Unit, Numb3rs, and many others. Mr. Peyankov is Professor and the Head of Theatre at the School of Theatre and Music at UIC where he teaches acting and directs plays.
Learn more at steppenwolf.org. Want to get in touch? Email [email protected].
You can find a transcript of this podcast here:
https://www.steppenwolf.org/globalassets/half-hour-podcast/ep9-transcript.pdf
08/18/20 • 37 min
Ensemble member Karen Rodriguez joins Caroline Neff to speak about her path to becoming an actor, moving to Chicago and joining the Steppenwolf ensemble. The conversation ranges from Karen’s childhood growing up in Mexico, Indiana and Texas to her first Steppenwolf audition. Hear Karen reflect on if she sees herself as a role model and what it means to reach "bruja status."
Interview begins at 4:40
Karen Rodriguez is an acclaimed Chicago-based actor hailing from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. A member of the esteemed Steppenwolf ensemble, productions there include: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Dance Nation, La Ruta, The Doppelgänger, The Rembrandt. In Chicago, she starred in the critically-acclaimed solo show The Way She Spoke by Isaac Gomez. Other selected Chicago credits include Breach (Victory Gardens Theatre); The Displaced (Haven Theater); Hookman (Steep Theatre); Blue Skies Process (Goodman Theatre); good friday (Oracle Productions); Romeo and Juliet (Teatro Vista). Television credits include Chicago Fire and Chicago Justice . Ms. Rodriguez is a 2020 50 Players recipient, with NewCity Stage calling her “a force to be reckoned with” and a performer “on the cutting edge.” Up next: the remount of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and Seagull at Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
You can find a transcript for this podcast here: https://www.steppenwolf.org/globalassets/half-hour-podcast/half-hour-ep8-transcript.pdf
Learn more at steppenwolf.org. Want to get in touch? Email[email protected].
09/15/20 • 37 min
Playwright, actor, and activist Matthew-Lee Erlbach joins Half Hour to share insights from the ongoing advocacy movement, Be An #ArtsHero. In this conversation with ensemble member Audrey Francis, Erlbach relates data and stories about the vitality of the arts in American life, speaks to the struggle facing the Arts and Culture field during the COVID Crisis, and suggests how we can reshape our American society to place a higher value on art—and the workers who make art possible.
Interview begins at 4:38
Matthew-Lee Erlbach is a Co-Organizer of Be An #ArtsHero, a national labor movement of Arts Workers urging Congress for an extension of FPUC, a 100% COBRA subsidy, and the passage of the DAWN Act, the nation’s only comprehensive arts worker relief bill. Playwright credits include THE DOPPELGÄNGER (an international farce), starring Rainn Wilson and directed by Tina Landau (Steppenwolf); his solo-play HANDBOOK FOR AN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY (Gym at Judson/Tony Speciale.); EAGER TO LOSE: A BURLESQUE FARCE IN RHYMING VERSE (Ars Nova/ Wes Grantom/Portia Krieger); SEX OF THE BABY (Access/Michelle Bossy); and his work has been developed/produced with The New Group, Steppenwolf, Vineyard, Ars Nova, MCC, Williamstown, NYTW, Gym at Judson the Orchard Project, and SPACE on Ryder Farm, among others. He has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Laurents/Hatcher Foundation, Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, Puffin Foundation, was a member of Ars Nova's Play Group, MVMNT Theatre’s Play Group, and is a HUMANITAS New Voices recipient. TV, credits include MASTERS OF SEX/Showtime, GYPSY/Netflix, WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS/ Netflix, and WWE, MTV, and Nickelodeon. He is currently writing an UNTITLED FEATURE with Rainn Wilson and has TV projects set up with SONY, Killer Films, Cavalry, and Mermade/Merman; he is also the writer/director of HUMAN INTEREST which won “Best Digital Short Series” at SeriesFest. A proud graduate of the public school system from K-College, his civic work includes a writing program for single mothers transitioning out of homelessness and prison, building shelters with Habitat for Humanity, and working with labor on economic justice issues.
BE AN #ARTS HERO is a national, non-partisan grassroots movement that emphasizes Arts & Culture’s contribution to the economy, urging Congress for immediate relief. We are a united, intersectional, sector-wide coalition calling for an extension of FPUC, a 100% COBRA subsidy, and the passage of the DAWN ACT, the only comprehensive arts worker relief bill which would authorize $43.85B to the NEA, NEH, IMLS, CPB, and SBA to make grants to the operators, employees, and artists of live venues, recording venues, cultural spaces, and related businesses to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on all Arts Workers across the national Arts Economy. Be An #ArtsHero has appeared on Morning Joe, TODAY, GMA, Late Night w/Seth Meyers and the viral Open Letter to the US Senate has been signed over 13K times by the leaders of every major Arts Org; Pulitzer, Oscar, Tony, and Emmy winners; and countless high-profile names across the Arts. More info at www.BeAnArtsHero.com.
Learn more at steppenwolf.org.
Want to get in touch? Email [email protected].
You can find a transcript of this podcast here:
https://www.steppenwolf.org/globalassets/half-hour-podcast/half-hour-ep10-transcript.pdf
Season 2 Trailer
Half Hour
03/16/21 • 2 min
Half Hour returns for an all-new second season, starting on March 30. Enjoy this sneak peek of just some of the candid, inspiring, and thoughtful conversations to come.
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does Half Hour have?
Half Hour currently has 25 episodes available.
What topics does Half Hour cover?
The podcast is about Actor, Theater, Podcasts, Chicago, Arts, Theatre and Performing Arts.
What is the most popular episode on Half Hour?
The episode title 'S2 Ep11 - Kuumba Lynx: "Reclaiming Joy"' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Half Hour?
The average episode length on Half Hour is 36 minutes.
How often are episodes of Half Hour released?
Episodes of Half Hour are typically released every 14 days.
When was the first episode of Half Hour?
The first episode of Half Hour was released on Apr 2, 2020.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ