Author: Jose Solís

Ep. 81: The Name on Everybody’s Lips is Going to Be Leila Jung

Podcast
Credit: Jonas Persson

In every episode, the culture critics at Token Theatre Friends bring their fresh perspectives to the performing arts on their podcast and video series. You can find the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher (look for the all-red logo). The video series* is available on YouTube. The TTF theme song is by Sean Mason (with vocals by Angela Ramos). The video animation is by Brad Ogden, with logos by Jason Simon.

In this episode, Jose sits down with Swedish actress Leila Jung, who’s taking on the iconic role of Roxie Hart in Chicago after starring in The Girl from the North Country.

They talk about what it’s like to go from Bob Dylan to Kander and Ebb, performing back-to-back musicals set in the Depression era, and how Swedish audiences connect with the language of musical theatre. Leila reflects on the shows that first made her fall in love with the stage, the craft behind keeping a musical alive, and what it means to find truth inside the sparkle.

References

Chicago by John Kander and Fred Ebb at Malmö Opera House

Ep. 79: The Desire of Diana Pou

Podcast

Credit: Krystal Pagán


In every episode, the culture critics at Token Theatre Friends bring their fresh perspectives to the performing arts on their podcast and video series. You can find the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher (look for the all-red logo). The video series* is available on YouTube. The TTF theme song is by Sean Mason (with vocals by Angela Ramos). The video animation is by Brad Ogden, with logos by Jason Simon.

In this episode, Jose talks to actor/singer/educator Diana Pou about her role in Alván Colón Lespier’s The Desire of the Astronaut, a poetic sci-fi play premiering at Pregones/PRTT next month. Pou talks about the way scripts and characters, including Astronaut, arrive exactly when they should, how she’s putting her classical music training to use, and shares exciting news about other upcoming projects. 

References

Ep. 77: The Imitator

Podcast

Courtesy of the production.

In every episode, the culture critics at Token Theatre Friends bring their fresh perspectives to the performing arts on their podcast and video series. You can find the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher (look for the all-red logo). The video series is available on YouTube. The TTF theme song is by Sean Mason (with vocals by Angela Ramos). The video animation is by Brad Ogden, with logos by Jason Simon.

In this episode, Jose speaks to Julián Fontalvo the multitalented writer and performer of The Imitator, in which he takes audience members on a personal journey where he imitates the voices of over 70 artists. Fontalvo talks about his love for popular music and how songs become part of our lives, as well as exploring the power of music to take us back in time. Fontalvo is performing The Imitator in English at the United Solo Festival in April.

References

“La dama boba”, “Del deporte también se sale”, “Samson”, “En mitad de tanto fuego”

Español, Vermuteatreros

Courtesy of the production.

En cada episodio de Vermuteatreros verás y escucharás perspectivas frescas sobre las artes escénicas. Puedes encontrar el podcast en Spotify, iTunes, y Stitcher. El tema musical está compuesto por Sean Mason (con el talento vocal de Angela Ramos). La animación es de Brad Ogden y los logos fueron creados por Jason Simon.

En este episodio, Jose y María José conversan sobre cuatro espectáculos teatrales que han visto recientemente. “La dama boba” hace que María reflexione sobre la forma en que Lope de Vega demuestra que el “gaslighting” existe desde hace mucho, mucho tiempo. “Del deporte también se sale” le recuerda a Jose de su etapa como una persona que tiraba ruedas de tractor para fortalecer sus músculos, pero nunca “un crossfitter”. Además de cortas reseñas de “Samson” y “En mitad de tanto fuego”.

References

Ep. 49: License to Be Human (Ft. Fernanda Santos)

Podcast

Credit: Maria Baranova

In every episode, the culture critics at Token Theatre Friends bring their fresh perspectives to the performing arts on their podcast and video series. You can find the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher (look for the all-red logo). The video series is available on YouTube. The TTF theme song is by Sean Mason (with vocals by Angela Ramos). The video animation is by Brad Ogden, with logos by Jason Simon.

In this episode, Jose speaks to Fernanda Santos. The trailblazing, multilingual writer is known for her powerful journalism and intimate storytelling. Now she’s also a musical writer with ¡Americano! which tells the real-life story of Tony Valdovinos, a young man who discovers he’s undocumented and fights to remind people why he belongs in the US. Santos spoke about the kind of stories that draw her, as well as the immigrant saudade that comes with being split between two worlds.

References

Ep. 38: Reopening Shakespeare in the Park (Ft. Jocelyn Bioh & Saheem Ali)

Podcast
Courtesy of HBO

Every week, the culture critics at Token Theatre Friends bring their fresh perspectives to the performing arts on their podcast and video series. You can find the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher (look for the all-red logo). The video series is available on YouTube. The TTF theme song is by Sean Mason (with vocals by Angela Ramos). The video animation is by Brad Ogden, with logos by Jason Simon.

In this episode Jose speaks to playwright Jocelyn Bioh and director Saheem Ali, who star in the documentary Reopening Night (available on HBOMax from Dec. 20). The film by Rudy Valdez follows the talented troupe led by Bioh and Ali who brought back Shakespeare in the Park following the Covid-19 theater shutdown.

Bioh and Ali look back at their thrilling summer and reflect on how their artistry has been informed by the pandemic and share their wishes for theater in 2022.

References

Ep. 37: Historias del West Side & Panamá (Feat. Ilda Mason)

Podcast
Courtesy of Ilda Mason.

Every week, the culture critics at Token Theatre Friends bring their fresh perspectives to the performing arts on their podcast and video series. You can find the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher (look for the all-red logo). The video series is available on YouTube. The TTF theme song is by Sean Mason (with vocals by Angela Ramos). The video animation is by Brad Ogden, with logos by Jason Simon.

In this episode, Jose speaks to actor Ilda Mason, who is making her big screen debut in Steven Spielberg’s sumptuous retelling of West Side Story. Mason talks about how she ended up starring in four different versions of the beloved musical, as well as her upbringing in Panamá.

Mason is also an artist in residence at Abingdon Theatre Company and spoke about the joy she feels when she is collaborating with other artists.

References

Carpe Donum (Ft. André De Shields)

Podcast
Credit: Lia Chang

Every week, the culture critics at Token Theatre Friends bring their fresh perspectives to the performing arts on their podcast and video series. You can find the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher (look for the all-red logo). The video series is available on YouTube. The TTF theme song is by Sean Mason (with vocals by Angela Ramos). The video animation is by Brad Ogden, with logos by Jason Simon.

In this episode, Jose talks to Tony winner André De Shields. The legendary performing activist talks about his upcoming performance as Frederick Douglass in Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory.
The piece is part of Flushing Town Hall’s Black History Trilogy, a celebration of Black History Month.

During the conversation, De Shields speaks about the clash of evolution and history, and his role as a messenger. He also talks about the circularity of history and the spirits of the theatre. It’s a delightful talk emboldened by De Shields’ charm and wisdom.

References:

The Body of Work (Feat. Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty)

Podcast
Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty. Credit: Morris Macmatzen
Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty. Credit: Morris Macmatzen

Every week, the culture critics at Token Theatre Friends bring their fresh perspectives to the performing arts on their podcast and video series. The podcast can be found on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher (look for the all-red logo) The video series is available on YouTube. The TTF theme song is by Sean Mason (with vocals by Angela Ramos). The video animation is by Brad Ogden, with logos by Jason Simon.

In this special episode, Jose talks to Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty, the composers behind beloved musicals such as Ragtime, Once on This Island, and Anastasia. During the pause provoked by the pandemic, the duo went to their archives to put together a new album called Legacy: Two Song Cycles.

The double album features previously unreleased demos split into two song cycles. The first is called 1859: A Farmer’s Diary and features vocals by Jason Danieley and the great, late Marin Mazzie. The second, A Boy With a Camera, was inspired by photographs taken by Ahrens’ father in the 1950s. It features vocals by Steven Pasquale and Sarah Uriarte Berry.

The duo talked about why some songs never make it to the final version of the musical, and talk about what it means to look back at 37 years of work together. The episode includes a special appearance by Juju Nieto, a Dramaturgy student at Carnegie Mellon University who had some questions for the legendary music makers.

References:

Tiger Blood, Sondheim, and Tamales (Feat. Nicholas Rodriguez)

Podcast
Courtesy of Nicholas Rodriguez.
Courtesy of Nicholas Rodriguez.

Every week, the culture critics at Token Theatre Friends bring their fresh perspectives to the performing arts on their podcast and video series. The podcast can be found on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher (look for the all-red logo) The video series is available on YouTube. The TTF theme song is by Sean Mason (with vocals by Angela Ramos). The video animation is by Brad Ogden, with logos by Jason Simon.

In this episode, Jose talks to Nicholas Rodriguez about his upcoming appearance in Sondheim Unplugged, at Feinstein’s/54 Below (Dec. 26). As well as the lessons he’s learned in 2020, how he’s acquired new skills in order to perform online, and his realization that there exist two kinds of people in the world.

The star of Tarzan and One Life to Live, reflects on a year where he learned that it was OK to slow down. He also shared his experience doing the Whole30 and looking forward to Christmas tamales. The actor will next appear in Some Enchanted Evening at Paper Mill Playhouse.

References: