Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater
Rachel Lin
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Top 10 Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater 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 Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
An Interview with Meropi Peponides of Soho Rep & Radical Evolution
Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater
04/29/21 • 42 min
In this episode Rachel speaks with one of the directors of Soho Rep and a co-founder of Radical Evolution: Meropi Peponides. The two met over a decade ago while Meropi was still an MFA student at Columbia. As the theater industry continues to have conversations about change, and what that might look like, we were excited to 1. gain a better understanding of what leadership looks at one of downtown's bedrock institutions. 2. Learn more about what how those decisions were made, and where they might be going.
They chat about:
- Dramaturgy!
- the organization of theatrical organizations
- what makes a Soho Rep artist
- the piece of advice Meropi would give in a development process
Learn more about Soho Rep and its initiatives here.
Check out Radical Evolution.
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Intro music: David Hilowitz
An Interview with Actor, Director, and Co-Founder of Big Dance Theater: Paul Lazar
Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater
09/22/22 • 52 min
We are thrilled to chat with Downtown Theater Icon: Paul Lazar. From making appearances in movies that became cult classics (Married to the Mob, Silence of the Lambs, Old Boy, Snowpiercer), to his recent Broadway appearance in Macbeth directed by Sam Gold with Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga -- following Paul's career is like a game of Where's Waldo? You never know where you'll spot him next!
In this episode we talk:
- Early beginnings - how Paul found his way into the Downtown world
- The current state of "Downtown Theater" - what is it? And where is it now?
- What it's like to work so closely with his wife, choreographer and co-founder of Big Dance Theater, Annie-B Parsons
You can currently see Paul in Maria Irene Fornes's seminal work: Mud/Drowning at Mabou Mines, alongside May 2019 guest: Wendy Vanden Huevel.
If you liked this episode and want to hear more -- check out Manhattan Theatre Club's Beyond the Stage podcast! The latest episode features our host chatting with playwrights: Martyna Majok and Jeff Augustin. With a handy discount code to their upcoming plays at MTC in the shownotes!
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Intro Music by David Hilowitz
An Interview with TV, Stage, & Film Actor: Didi O'Connell
Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater
08/03/22 • 54 min
In this episode, Rachel speaks with veteran TV, stage, and film actor: Deirdre O'Connell.
Didi is the 2022 Tony Award winner for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Dana Higginbotham in Lucas Hnath's Dana H. She is also the recipient of the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement award this year, and has racked up multiple awards over the years, including a 2005 Obie for Sustained Excellence. Rachel was eager to find out more about Didi's process and what it takes to maintain such a storied career.
Tune into this episode to learn:
- Didi's trick for auditioning for TV & Film
- Her experience doing Corsicana right after her Tony win
- What it was like for her starting out as a newbie in New York
For any theater practitioner, this is truly not an episode to be missed. You can catch Didi in this Lincoln Center's production of Sarah Ruhl's Becky Nurse of Salem this fall. Or watch her Tony acceptance speech as a reminder to keep doing what you're doing.
Follow the podcast at: @upstageleftpodcast
Like, subscribe, or leave us a review here!
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Intro music: Angles of Light by David Hilowitz
A Conversations with Playwright: Lindsey Ferrentino
Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater
09/27/24 • 49 min
I am beyond thrilled to bring you this episode with an old friend, playwright Lindsey Ferrentino. Lindsey has had an incredible career thus far with plays like "Ugly Lies the Bone," "Amy and the Orphans," and "This Flat Earth," making their way to major New York City stages all in the span of a few years.
In 2024, she's celebrated the success of a new musical in London, an adaptation of the Oscar Winning Best Picture, "The Artist," starring Robbie Fairchild, AND the opening of "Queen of Versailles," a musical co-written with Stephen Schwartz in Boston. Her play "Fear of 13" based on the documentary of the same name and starring Adrien Brody will open at the Donmar Warehouse this October, and is already sold out.
Despite all the giggling and joking we do in this episode, Lindsey imparts some pretty incisive wisdom based on her experience. And because of our friendship, I had a good time asking her some of the tougher questions from my arsenal.
For more information about Lindsey visit: https://www.lindseyferrentino.com/
Stay up to date with her latest projects here: Fear of 13 and Queen of Versailles (coming to Broadway 2025-2026)
Not to toot my own horn... but I think this episode is a must-listen for any playwright starting out or navigating the early years of their career. And I hope you will too. So don't be shy: give it a share! Thanks for tuning in <3
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Music by David Hilowitz
An Interview with Playwright: C.A. Johnson
Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater
07/02/20 • 51 min
In this episode, Rachel speaks with C.A. Johnson - the playwright of All the Natalie Portmans, which premiered at MCC this February. C.A.'s play The Climb was part of the 2019 Cherry Lane Mentor Project, and her work has also been produced at the Contemporary American Theater Festival, and Strawdog Theatre in Chicago.
C.A. and Rachel speak about life during COVID, and the state of the American Theater during this long overdue uprising. C.A. talks about the experience of her first New York run - what it was like to be in the room, the ups, and the downs. We talk about the uncertain future of theater, and what she wishes she had known before starting out on the journey of being a playwright.
More information about C.A. HERE.
Mentioned in this episode:
MCC Theatre
American Contemporary Play Festival
Strawdog Theatre
C.A. also writes for T.V.
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Intro music by: David Hilowitz
An Interview with Associate Artistic Director: Erin Daley
Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater
05/26/20 • 32 min
In this episode, Rachel chats with Erin Daley, the associate artistic director of Primary Stages. They recorded this episode on March 25th (two months ago), when New York City was only two weeks into quarantine. While things were much less certain then, it might have also been easier to be more optimistic. With this in mind, listen in, as the two discuss what the realities of the industry might look like on the other side of this pandemic and what organizations are thinking about as they navigate the current state of affairs.
Having met almost a decade ago at the Flea theater, Rachel was excited to chat with Erin about organization structure, and what it takes to run a theater. They talk about her roles and responsibilities as associate artistic director, her experience working with emerging artists, and what she's thinking about when reading new scripts.
Mentioned in this episode:
Dorothy Strelsin New Writers Group
Primary Stages
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Music by David Hilowitz
An Interview with Actor, Teacher, & Director: Maria Dizzia
Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater
05/10/20 • 58 min
A special Mother's Day episode with Tony Award nominated actor, Maria Dizzia.
The celebrated stage & screen actor, director, & teacher chats openly and honestly with Rachel about her career, and the challenges she faced early on. They talk about how she got an 'unsatisfactory' in grad school, her experience playing Eurydice in Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice, and how being a mom has changed her work.
In this episode:
- On school: "I knew as a person who did well in institutions... I knew I needed to have a little sense of "fuck you"-ness."
- On moving to New York: "I was very fortunate, but I was not having a good time."
- On her first job: "I was scared the whole time. I was terrified. I was afraid people were going to discover I didn't know what I was doing and fire me."
We're so excited to share this episode that is filled to the brim with anecdotes & wisdom. AND, listen to the end to catch a very special surprise guest!!
Mentioned in the episode:
Actors at Work
The Neighbor's Window
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Music: David Hilowitz
An Interview with Actor: Matthew Maher
Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater
04/16/20 • 52 min
Rachel chats with one of theater's most sought after actors, Matthew Maher (The Flick, Mr. Burns, Chinglish) who has originated roles on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off.
Most recently he appeared in Will Eno's Gnit, and is slated to appear in NYTW's upcoming Three Sisters, adapted by Clare Barron directed by Sam Gold. Rachel and Matt chat about his early years in New York - working in the downtown theater scene, and how he came to be someone playwrights write roles for. He talks about an unsuccessful move to LA, and how he resolved to only work with friends after returning to New York. Learn how he approaches text, and what he does to bring new plays to life.
Mentioned in this episode:
The Race of the Ark Tattoo
TFANA Gnit
NYTW Three Sisters
Music:
David Hilowitz
An Interview with Actress: Keilly McQuail
Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater
04/03/20 • 42 min
Rachel speaks with old friend and actress, Keilly McQuail, whose work can be see in the HBO mini-series The Plot Against America, and the upcoming Lunch Bunch by Sarah Einspanier produced by The Play Company.
They discuss why Keilly avoids social media, how she dealt with the close calls & rejections early on in her career, and how she achieved her dream of being a "Nicky Silver woman." Listen in to find out she navigates her burgeoning stage & TV career.
More information about Keilly at: http://www.keillymcquail.com/
Stay updated on Lunch Bunch at: https://playco.org/events/lunch-bunch/
We hope all our listeners are staying safe and responsibly social distancing at this time. Big thanks to all our health care workers and essential workers who are keeping our City running.
Please consider leaving a review or following us @upstageleftpodcast (Instagram) or @upstageleftpod (Twitter).
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Intro music: David Hilowitz
An Interview with Playwright: Martyna Majok
Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater
09/10/20 • 52 min
Rachel & Martyna recorded this episode in late April. While it was only 5 months ago, in some ways, it feels like an entirely different lifetime. As summer draws to a close, and we head into fall, Rachel can't think of a better time to share this episode with one of her theater heroes.
Martyna Majok is the 2018 pulitzer prize winner in drama for her play, Cost of Living. Other plays include: Queens, Ironbound, and Sanctuary City. She is a Yale School of Drama and Juilliard alum, a former PoNY fellow at the Lark, Women's Project Lab member, and Ensemble Studio Theatre Youngblood.
In this episode Rachel & Martyna talk about what she's finding comfort in during these unprecedented times, how she ended up working in the theater during her University of Chicago days, and the advice she'd give her former self during her first year in New York.
More about Martyna at: http://www.martynamajok.com/
Information about her latest production Sanctuary City here.
Follow us on Instagram: @upstageleftpodcast
Twitter: @upstageleftpod
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Music by David Hilowitz
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/upstageleft)
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FAQ
How many episodes does Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater have?
Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater currently has 40 episodes available.
What topics does Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, Theater, Podcasts, Arts and Performing Arts.
What is the most popular episode on Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater?
The episode title 'An Interview with Associate Artistic Director: Erin Daley' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater?
The average episode length on Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater is 48 minutes.
How often are episodes of Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater released?
Episodes of Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater are typically released every 33 days, 22 hours.
When was the first episode of Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater?
The first episode of Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater was released on Feb 18, 2019.
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