Ep9 - Yasen Peyankov: “I Had To”

Explicit content warning

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

Interview begins at 4:15

Previous Episode

Ep8 - Karen Rodriguez: “Bruja Status”

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].

Next Episode

Ep10 - Matthew-Lee Erlbach: "Defend Arts Workers Now"

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

Half Hour - Ep9 - Yasen Peyankov: “I Had To”

Transcript

Ep: 9 – Yasen Peyankov: “I Had To”
Date: 9/1/20
Featuring: Cliff Chamberlain and Yasen Peyankov, with Laura D. Glenn, Audrey Francis and Caroline Neff.
Yasen Peyankov:

If I was going to survive in this country, I had to do theater.

Audrey Francis:

From Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois—

Yasen Peyankov:

It was my—it was my