LISTEN UP: Three Of Our Favorite Theater Experts Weigh In On Great Podcasts and Virtual Theater Available Now
Apr 8, 2020 / Blog
While we are physically separated right now, there are still many ways to stay connected to other folks who love the arts through podcasts and virtual theater. Whether you’re out for a walk, doing laundry or just chilling, we’ve got you covered.
We checked in with a few industry experts to find out what they are tuning into these days. Following are recommendations from Broadway actor Tyler McKenzie, musical theater historian Kristin Stultz Pressley, and UNCC assistant professor of acting and expert on equity, diversity and inclusion Kaja Dunn.
ACT 1: AN ACTOR’S P.O.V.
Tyler McKenzie has performed on Broadway (HAMILTON, MAMMA MIA!) and in national tours MATILDA, HAMILTON). He is also an alumnus of Central Academy of Technology and Arts in Monroe. When he’s not on stage, McKenzie teaches in person and online classes for various arts programs around the country.
Here are his suggestions for “podcasts that are full of wisdom, mindfulness, and inspiration in our industry and two podcasts that aren’t Musical Theater related but about changing the world and practicing service to your community and yourself.”
A Balancing Act - Broadway actor Analisa Learning hosts in depth and honest conversations exploring how different artists live and thrive in a creative life filled with ups and downs.
Fit For Broadway - A lifestyle podcast with Broadway performers who share their personal stories and thoughts on how to live well onstage and off-stage. (Note: Season 1, Episode 3 features two time Tony nominee and Charlotte native Eva Noblezada!)
NPR: How I Built This - Journalist Guy Raz (of the TED Radio Hour) shares long-form narrative stories about innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists and the movements they built.
Sweatlife Podcast - Focuses on different dimensions of physical, mental and emotional wellness and self-care through conversations with athletes, activists and others.
ACT 2: DR. BROADWAY SHARES HER FAVORITE SOURCES
Dr. Kristin Stultz Pressley (aka Dr. Broadway) brings musical theater to life with her popular lectures at theaters and universities throughout the southeast. She is a frequent presenter at Blumenthal’s Get to Know the Show series. Here are her suggestions verbatim for some of her favorite podcasts.
Why I’ll Never Make It - This podcast, hosted by actor Patrick Oliver Jones, takes a very honest look at the realities of life as a working (or, sometimes, looking-for-work) actor. Jones calls on his many years’-worth of experience in the industry to address everything from auditioning to temporarily relocating for a role. Each week, a fellow theatre artist comes alongside to contribute to the conversation. These folks, whose backgrounds range from composer to producer to Tony Award winner, help to make the podcast broadly informative, while Jones’s warm and vulnerable demeanor makes listeners feel like they’re chatting with a long-time friend.
Theater People - While a new episode of this podcast hasn’t been produced, since August of 2018, the dozens of episodes (four-and-a-half years’ worth) available are invaluable to anyone wanting to dig deeper into the histories of Broadway shows and, even more so, their makers. Host Patrick Hinds engages theatre talent from director Michael Mayer (SPRING AWAKENING, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE) to HAMILTON mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda. Hinds’ knowledge of Broadway history and understanding of the industry make this podcast a can’t-miss.
The Hamilcast - HAMILTON super-fan Gillian Pensavalle started her Hamilcast podcast before she’d even seen the show that inspired her wildly-successful serial. Now more than four years and two hundred episodes in, Pensavalle has become synonymous with chronicling the ins and outs of the Broadway mega-hit. Episodes abound with interviews with creators and company members from both the New York production and other productions around the globe. For anyone interested in a deep-dive into all things “Hamilton,” this is the podcast you’ve been looking for.
ACT 3: AN ACTOR/DIRECTOR/THEATER PROFESSOR GOES VIRTUAL
“I am not a podcasty person,” writes Kaja Dunn, UNC-Charlotte assistant professor of theater. An actor, director and activist, she instead shares some of her favorite virtual theater resources here. Dunn is a leading expert on reshaping pedagogy for acting students of color and on issues surrounding equity, diversity and inclusion in theater, and was recently a featured presenter at Blumenthal’s Get to Know the Show series.
Women's Theatre Festival’s mission is to create, produce and promote extraordinary works by people of all marginalized genders. Right now you can catch productions and conversations through their Virtual Play Festival.
Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) - This website offers professional and personal resources for artists who are also caregivers. Dunn particularly recommends the Facebook Live events. (She will be part of a PAAL talk live with Director Delicia Sonnenberg (LA/San Diego) on April 6).
The Billie Holiday Theatre in NYC’s virtual shows - Now in its 47th year, Brooklyn’s premiere off-Broadway company producing African-American plays and musicals is bringing shows online during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“And AN ACTUAL PODCAST,” writes Dunn. She recommends Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company Podcast based in Atlanta. This new series is hosted by Artistic Director Jamil Jude and will feature artist interviews, master classes and live Q & A sessions.
ENCORE: A FEW EXTRA PODCASTS/VIRTUAL STREAMS TO ADD TO YOUR LIST.
Playingonair.com - This podcast features short form contemporary theater pieces written and performed by an incredible array of world-class artists, followed by interviews with them. These are presented as radio plays and are the perfect length to liven up a neighborhood walk.
In the Spotlight - Blumenthal’s own podcast pulls back the curtain on the people, programs and events at all of our theaters.
National Theatre at Home - Recordings of some of London’s best shows will be available to stream at home—each performance is available for one week only.
YOUR TURN:
What great listens did we miss? Share your favorite podcasts on our Facebook page.