Theater District
Chad Dexter Kinsman
In-depth interviews with the people who make Washington, DC one of the best theater cities in the world.
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Top 10 Theater District Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Theater District episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Theater District 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 Theater District episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
"One-Hundred Percent In:" Aubri O'Connor and Nu Sass Productions
Theater District
03/15/25 • 43 min
Aubri O'Connor deftly wears so many hats she could make a milliner blush. The DC-based theater maker is the co-founder, co-producer, and artistic director of Nu Sass Production, which promotes marginalized genders in all aspects of theater, especially in those roles traditionally dominated by cis-men. Our open, joyful, and clear-eyed conversation covers the company's beginnings and growth, as well as our region's supportive small theater community (including a big hint about upcoming opportunities!). She speaks passionately and compassionately about promoting and taking care of the people making theater, as well as the current landscape for artists and the arts.
Follow Aubri at @aubrilee and the company at @nu_sass. Learn more about the Indie Stage Collective, a group of small and micro theatres in the DMV, and support our small theaters!
Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district
"More Voices": Danielle Preston, Costume Designer
Theater District
03/15/24 • 52 min
Danielle Preston is a DC-based costume designer who has worked her way up and all around the DMV theater scene. She has brought her keen eye, steady hand, and agile mind to thought-bold, provoking productions at companies from Avant Bard to Theater J to Washington National Opera. She talks about her early days as a fellow at Kennedy Center and Arena Stage, learning the freelancing life, how designing period and modern shows differs, the intimacies of the fitting room, and how she collaborates with directors and actors in her design process.
Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district
"A Sense of Play": Aria Velz, Director and Designer
Theater District
02/29/24 • 50 min
Aria Velz is a director, dramaturg, sound designer, teaching artist, and an emerging lesbian media critic. She has worked at a long list of DMV theaters, including Signature Theatre, NextStop Theatre Company, Olney Theatre Center, Imagination Stage, Flying V, Mosaic Theater, and Theater Alliance. Aria is as enthusiastic to watch plays as she is to make them, and we talk about the plays and musicals she loves, how she navigates the hustle of freelancing, her collaborations with her wife--the playwright KJ Moran-Velz--and more.
Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district
"Something We've Never Seen Before": Nova Y. Payton, Actor
Theater District
02/02/24 • 59 min
Nova Y. Payton is one of the DMV's brightest stars. Known for her amazing voice, gracious presence, and serious acting chops, she has worked in theaters across the region, with a special connection with Virginia's Signature Theater, where she has performed in shows such as Into the Woods, The Color Purple, and Dream Girls. A multiple Helen Hayes Award nominee and winner, Payton discusses the importance of family, self-care, and new works, as well as how she brings her best to every new challenge that comes her way.
Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district
12/12/24 • 42 min
Sierra Young is a multi-hyphenate artist known for her violence and intimacy direction, as well as an actor and director. A graduate of Howard Community College and UMBC, where she worked with Chelsea Pace, Sierra quickly established her credentials and reputation in the DC/Baltimore area. In our conversation, she emphasizes the importance of cultural competency, trauma-informed practices, and sustainability in her work. She addresses the priorities and best practices of intimacy direction, including the need for clear communication and boundaries, and the role of consent and anti-racism in her practice. She also discusses her experiences working with students and her work as a director.
Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district
"Hoping for Magic:" Rebecca Ritzel, Writer
Theater District
10/18/24 • 59 min
Arts journalist Rebecca Ritzel discusses her journey from early childhood storytelling to becoming a first-rate journalist and critic, adept at reviewing a wide range of performing arts as well as investigative and preview articles. A brilliant setter of scenes, Rebecca invites her readers into the theater with her, to experience the work from her point of view. Our conversation includes her perspectives on DEI in arts journalism, her experiences with conflicts of interest and other ethical considerations for arts journalists, and how critics can serve as advocates, witnesses, and memory holders for local arts scenes. We also discuss making and seeing work in DC—including which production Ruth Bader Ginsburg saw four times—and the changes Rebecca has seen over her time in DC.
Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district
"Vast Amounts of Creativity:" Navi, Artist
Theater District
11/14/24 • 52 min
No corner can contain Navi or their artistry, they’re so well rounded. A manymedia artist, they run the research and development wing of Flying V as an Artistic Lead. They’ve worked with companies big, small, and smaller across the DMV—including Pointless, Spooky Action, Woolly Mammoth, and Mosiac—in lots of different ways, from acting to devising, designing sound to writing music and lyrics, puppeteering to producing. Navi discusses his creative and professional processes, their definition of ‘theater,’ and challenges theater makers to find wonder and create communities. “Baguette!”
Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district
"Theater is a Service": Shanara Gabrielle and Theater Alliance
Theater District
12/27/24 • 44 min
Shanara Gabrielle is a force for good in the DC theater scene. Since planting roots here in 2017, she has worked as an actor, director, and cultural producer across our region, and in July 2024, became the producing artistic director of Theater Alliance, which specializes in socially conscious, thought-provoking work. We discuss how the company is settling into their new venue, the values that underpin theater, the need for theaters to understand and support their community, and how the non-profit model could use a re-thinking.
Learn more about Shanara on her website, shanaragabrielle.com, follow her on Instagram at @shanaragabrielle, and check out Theater Alliance's website, theateralliance.com.
Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district
"The Space of the Ecstatic:" Eric Ruffin, Director and Educator
Theater District
01/11/25 • 53 min
Eric Ruffin is a professor of theatre arts at Howard University, focusing on acting and directing. A Howard alum himself, he has helmed productions at Mosaic Theatre Company, Studio Theatre, 1st Stage, African Continuum Theatre Company, Imagination Stage, the Kennedy Center, and more. His 2015 production of Langston Hughes' Black Nativity with Theater Alliance won three Helen Hayes Awards. A gregarious and charming interlocutor, Eric discusses the importance of Howard to the American entertainment industry, how love and transcendence should be central to the theatrical experience, and the kind of work we need to make today.
Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district
"Everything We Need:" Chris Young, Props Designer
Theater District
04/03/25 • 51 min
If you’ve ever asked yourself “Where do I put this blood bag?,“ or “How do I make the best fake wine?,” or even “Is a parasol a prop or a costume?,” then you need to listen to Chris Young. The prop shop director at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Chris has been figuring out those questions for over 30 years. A treasure trove of stories, talents, and ideas, Chris shares his process of making props, from reading the script to weekly maintenance during a run. Hibiscus tea, by the way.
Follow Chris at @furnitureweapons, and learn more about the Society of Properties Managers (SPM) at propmanagers.org.
Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district
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FAQ
How many episodes does Theater District have?
Theater District currently has 25 episodes available.
What topics does Theater District cover?
The podcast is about Acting, Artist, Drama, Design, Theater, Podcasts, Arts and Performing Arts.
What is the most popular episode on Theater District?
The episode title '"More Voices": Danielle Preston, Costume Designer' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Theater District?
The average episode length on Theater District is 48 minutes.
How often are episodes of Theater District released?
Episodes of Theater District are typically released every 14 days.
When was the first episode of Theater District?
The first episode of Theater District was released on Dec 26, 2023.
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