Author: Token Theatre Friends

Ep. 42: Addressless (Ft. Martin Boross & Jonathan Payne)

Podcast

Courtesy of the production.

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 with playwright Jonathan Payne and director Martin Boross about Addressless. In the digital experience, attendees play a game where they learn about the many causes/consequences of housing insecurity.

Boross first staged the show in his native Hungary, where he leads the revolutionary troupe STEREO AKT. Payne joined the project in its transfer to the United States, the two collaborated transatlantically via Zoom and share what that experience was like. 

 

 

References

 

Ep. 41: A Journey in the Dark (Ft. Martín Bondone & Carlos Armesto)

Podcast

Courtesy of the production.

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 with playwright Martín Bondone and dramaturg Carlos Armesto about Odd Man Out. The site-specific/international co-production takes place in complete darkness, audience members are blindfolded and experience the story of Alberto, a blind artist traveling to Argentina. 

Armesto and Bondone talk about their backgrounds and how they found their way into making theater, as well as the importance of creating works that defy expectations of what a play should be like. 

 

 

References

Ep. 40: A Lesson in Crafting Opera (Ft. Laquita Mitchell)

Podcast
Courtesy of Laquita Mitchell

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 world renowned soprano Laquita Mitchell. This month she stars in On Site Opera’s Lesson Plan, an adaptation of Georg Philipp Telemann’s Der Schulmeister which takes place on Zoom.

During the pandemic, in addition to performing, Mitchell has hosted a series of conversations with artists and thinkers she admires, which in addition to being a delight, are often enlightening. Mitchell spoke about what she’s learned, seen, and heard during the last two years, and briefly touched on upcoming projects.

https://youtu.be/Nr2yLWARyyU

References

 

Ep. 39: I’m Just a Teenage Dick, Baby (Ft. Mike Lew & Gregg Mozgala)

Podcast
Credit: Teresa Castracane

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 Mike Lew and actor Gregg Mozgala about Teenage Dick. The high-school-set play is a hilarious adaptation of Richard III in which Mozgala plays the title Dick, a young man who exacts revenge on those who have bullied and mocked him for his cerebral palsy.

Lew and Mozgala talk about returning to the stage, how they found humor in one of the Bard’s darkest plays, and what it means to be a working parent in theater.

This production of Teenage Dick is a co-production between Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co., Huntington Theatre Co., and The Pasadena Playhouse (where it will be streaming from Feb. 1 – 17)

https://youtu.be/HWRuPPul4VM

References

 

Ep. 36: Black Feminist Video Game (Feat. Victoria Collado and Darrel Alejandro Holnes)

Podcast
Credit: The Civilians

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 the creative minds behind Black Feminist Video Game. In the play, Jonas, a biracial teenager with autism, learns about feminism through a classic video game. Playwright Darrel Alejandro Holnes talks about discovering a safe space in gaming. Director Victoria Collado explains how the digital world lent itself to an immersive theatrical experience.

Black Feminist Video Game is a production by The Civilians, with a rolling digital premiere at 59E59, Center Theatre Group, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

References

Ep. 35: Shadow/Land: Part Play Part Poem

Podcast
Courtesy of the Public Theater

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, Brittani and Alexi review Shadow/Land at the Public Theater. The show explores the relationship between a mother and daughter who are forced to stay in New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina engulfs the city. Both Brittani and Alexi agree that the piece is part play, part poem as they recite their favorite lines. The poetic language clearly outlined the systemic barriers that put black people’s lives at risk during Hurricane Katrina. You can listen to the play for free here.

The friends also reviewed ‘A’ (What The Black Girl Found While Searching For God) by Taji Senior. The show follows the protagonist’s intimate and vulnerable journey towards understanding her identity as a black woman. The play is the latest episode released by The Parsnip Ship and can found here.

References

  • Shadow/Land by Erica Dickerson-Despenza
  • ‘A’ (What The Black Girl Found While Searching For God) by Taji Senior

Ep. 34: The Immigrants

Podcast
Courtesy of Focus Features

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, Alexi and Murtada talk about the March on Broadway organized by the Actor’s Equity Association. They discuss the need for systemic reform to prevent future manifestations of abusive behavior within the theatre industry. Both hope that this reckoning is just the beginning of an industry-wide effort towards transformational change.

The friends also review the film Limbo directed by Ben Sharrock and the play Honduras written by Sara Farrington. Both pieces portray the experiences of immigrants and asylum seekers leaving their homeland and establishing their lives in new countries. Limbo takes a whimsical approach that Murtada likens to Waiting for Godot, whereas Honduras tells the stories of 3 Honduran mothers in very much the same style as Anna Deveare Smith’s one-woman show Fires in the Mirror. Limbo opens in theatres April 30th and Honduras will be available to stream May 3rd-8th.

References

Ep. 33: Messy Characters/Meaningful Theatre

Podcast
Credit: Simpatico Theatre/Public Theater

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, Alexi and Juan review Romeo Y Julieta at The Public Theater. The show’s bilingual translation reminded Alexi of the chismes in his family spilling the tea (some might say he himself is the chisme). Both agreed that maybe it was best to leave behind the old English and bring this Shakespeare classic into a full Spanish telenovela setting.

The friends also reviewed Twenty-Six by Ang Bey. The show was part of Jouska Play Works New Play Showcase at Simpatico Theatre. Juan points out that these characters are MESSY, but nothing less is expected as the play provides an unvarnished view of what it means to figure out your gender identity and sexual orientation.

References

Ep. 32: No COVID Musicals Please!

Podcast
Courtesy of Donmar Warehouse

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, Ayanna and Alexi get in their feels as they reminisce over the last in-person shows they each saw before the pandemic began 1 year ago (for most of us). They have high expectations for the first season of in-person shows and make one request: NO musicals about pandemics please! That means no theatrical adaptation of Michael Bay’s Covid-19 drama, Songbird.

The Friends review Monuments, a short film directed Sara Aniqah Malik in collaboration with Donmar Warehouse in the U.K. The film features the oral histories of BIPOC youth in London as they recount their experiences with racism. Ayanna gushes over the production of Simply Sondheim at the Signature Theatre and tells us how “Being Alive” takes on new meaning in light of the pandemic

References:

  • Monuments directed by Sara Aniqah Malik at Donmar Warehouse.
  • Simply Sondheim directed by Matthew Gardiner at Signature Theatre.
  • Circle Jerk by Michael Breslin & Patrick Foley.
  • Six by Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss.
  • Company directed by Marianne Elliott at Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.
  • The Minutes by Tracy Letts at Cort Theatre.
  • Rent Jonathan Larson at Bernard Sunley Lecture Theatre.
  • To Kill A Mockingbird by Aaron Sorkin at Shubert Theatre
  • Songbird produced by Michael Bay.

 

Ep. 31: Romeo y Julieta (Feat. Saheem Ali and Ricardo Pérez González)

Podcast
Courtesy The Public Theater.

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 Saheem Ali and Ricardo Pérez González. The director and playwright discuss their bilingual adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Now titled Romeo y Julieta, the audio-play transforms Verona into a sonically layered version of Latin America. The star-crossed lovers are played by Juan Castano and Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Ali talks about the first time he saw Nyong’o as Juliet almost two decades ago, while Pérez González recounts how the Spanish of San Juan, Puerto Rico shaped the adaptation. The two also discuss what it was like to work on a script remotely, and why audience members ought to let the beauty of the Spanish language wash over them. Even if they don’t exactly know what the words mean.

References: