Author: Token Theatre Friends

Ep. 30: Thank You Theater-Makers (Ft. Daniel K. Isaac)

Podcast
Credit: Damien Alexeev

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.

It’s been one year since theaters shut down all over the world. We’re all still processing our new reality in different stages. The way to commemorate this strange anniversary couldn’t be one of just sadness over what we lost or admiration at the perseverance of artists. Instead we thought our tone should reflect what’s mostly in our hearts: gratitude.

This is the first episode in a series called “Thank You Theater-makers.” We talk to artists who have been experimenting with new mediums, rediscovering skills or realizing untried dreams. We talk to artists who have been holding space for their mental health and experiencing grief. We talk to artists who gave us their gift in new ways, and to those who we are sending love to, while they resume the practice of their craft.

We begin this series with one of our favorite guests, Daniel K. Isaac. The versatile actor who has charmed us with his warmth and immense love for theater. Over the past year he has showcased his natural talent as a playwright and delighted us on social media with his book recommendations. We talk to Isaac about returning to his TV work on Billions, and what’s next for him as a writer.

Thank you, Daniel ❤

https://youtu.be/C5FniPTDTxw

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Ep. 29: Carnival (Feat. Kwame Kwei-Armah)

Podcast
Courtesy of Young Vic Theatre.

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, Andrew and Brittani celebrate carnival and discuss their favorite soca musicians. This leads them to imagine, and cast, a soca-driven Broadway show. Make it happen, producers! Then they review two pieces. First they talk about iN-Hale MEGA VEE’s reading of All Boys Aren’t Blue, by George M. Johnson. This is followed by a review of Judas and the Black Messiah, a biopic of Fred Hampton, the revolutionary socialist and chairman of the Black Panther Party in Chicago, who was murdered by the FBI at age 21.

This is followed by an interview with Kwame Kwei-Armah, the playwright/performer/director who is also the Artistic Director of the Young Vic Theatre in London. The three talk about their Caribbean heritage and wonder why it’s taking so long for the “dam to break” when it comes to producing works by Black artists.

https://youtu.be/RAH-Aw0dh3Q

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Ep. 28: Single and Fabulous, Exclamation Point (Feat. Ryan J. Haddad)

Podcast
Ryan J. Haddad in "Hi, Are You Single?"
Credit: Lawrence E. Moten III 

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, Kathlynn and Jose commemorate Valentine’s Day. Last time they reviewed two dark romances and promised to find happy endings for V-Day. First, they talk about Malcolm and Marie on Netflix, leading Kathlynn to ask: why is this billed as a romantic drama? Following that, they talk about The Gay Divorcees, a band of real-life divorcees, who put together a visual album about how their marriages fell apart. Ah, l’amour…

Later Jose talks to writer/performer Ryan J. Haddad about his melancholy Hi, Are You Single? A one-person show inspired by his experiences as a gay man with a high sex drive and cerebral palsy. The play is available to stream at Woolly Mammoth Theatre through the month of February. Jose and Ryan spoke about gay bars, Grindr, I Love Lucy, and specific word choices we make on dating apps.

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Ep. 27: Why Producers Are a Show’s #1 Fan (Feat. Rashad V. Chambers and Miranda Gohh)

Podcast
Miranda Goh and Rashad V. Chambers
Courtesy of Miranda Goh and Rashad V. Chambers

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 Jose go Gaga over J.Lo at the Inauguration. This leads Jose to ask: why are official ceremonies always so somber? This is followed by their review of Adrienne Kennedy’s Etta and Ella on the Upper West Side. Furthermore, they talk about On Site Opera’s The Beauty That Still Remains, a collection of operas delivered by mail.

Jose interviews Miranda Gohh and Rashad V. Chambers of Theatre Producers of Color. A new initiative that seeks to train BIPOC producers over ten weeks. Jose talks to them about what it takes to be a producer, which leads to anecdotes about the shows that made them love theater.

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Ep. 26: Creating a Ritual Around Quarantine Theater (Ft. Heather Christian and Joshua William Gelb)

Podcast
Credit: Katie Rose McLaughlin for Theater in Quarantine

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, Kathlynn and Jose start by looking back at the attack on the Capitol by white supremacists. Which leads to the way in which theatrical elements can be put at the service of terror. They follow this with two reviews. First, they discuss Shotgun Players’ production of Loy A. Webb’s The Light. They follow this with a review of 1993, an audio drama by Finkle produced by the Keen Company.

Jose interviews Heather Christian and Joshua William Gelb. They are the composer and director/performer, respectively, behind I Am Sending You the Sacred Face. The show explores the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Gelb plays her, in drag. Christian speaks about the way in which digital theater lacks ritual. Gelb gives insight into directing and performing from inside his closet.


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Ep. 25: So Long, 2020 (Feat. Stacy Osei-Kuffour and Whitney White)

Podcast
Stacy Osei-Kuffour and Whitney White

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.

Our last episode of 2020 is jam-packed with goodies. First up, Ayanna and Jose review a new digital production of Meet Me in St. Louis, and an audio version of A Christmas Carol. Next, Jose speaks to Animals playwright Stacy Osei-Kuffour, and director Whitney White, about the process of transforming their original vision into an audio play.

This is followed by Ayanna and Jose unveiling their favorite shows of the year. In addition, following a TTF tradition, we hear from some of our favorite artists as they reveal the art that made 2020 memorable for them.

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Ep. 24: The Power of Will (Feat. Chad Austin and Bianca Marroquín)

Podcast
Chad Austin and Bianca Marroquín teamed up for the "I Will" Campaign.
Chad Austin and Bianca Marroquín teamed up for the “I Will” Campaign.

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.

This week, Alicia and Jose talk to Chad Austin and Bianca Marroquín. As the artistic director of Abingdon Theatre Company, Austin conceived the #IWILL campaign, meant to remind theatre makers who can’t be onstage right now, about the importance of hope. He recruited renowned artists, including Marroquín, to come up with reassuring messages that warm the heart and raise the spirit.

Marroquín was the first Mexican woman to play a Broadway lead, she has starred as Roxie Hart throughout the years in Chicago. She spoke about her love for the role and her admiration for Chita Rivera, who she played in Fosse/Verdon. Marroquín also did a segment in Spanish, which you will find below.

On the podcast, Alicia and Jose review The Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Special starring drag superstars Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme, as well as the Hip Hop Nutcracker, streaming at Baltimore Center Stage.

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Ep. 23: A Streetcar Named Audio-play (Feat. Sullivan Jones and Robert O’Hara)

Podcast
A scene from "Slave Play" featuring Annie McNamara and Sullivan Jones. The latter is reunited with director Robert O'Hara in the Williamstown Theatre Festival/Audible production of "A Streetcar Named Desire." Credit: Matthew Murphy
A scene from “Slave Play” featuring Annie McNamara and Sullivan Jones. The latter is reunited with director Robert O’Hara in the Williamstown Theatre Festival/Audible production of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Credit: Matthew Murphy

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 Alexi and Jose review The Wilma’s recent production of Heroes of the Fourth Turning. Which they compare to an episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Alexi even matches each Heroes character to a ROBH cast member. The two also discuss their love for Clarice Lispector when reviewing the digital world built for a production of Inside the Wild Heart.

The Friends also spoke with Tony-nominee Robert O’Hara and Sullivan Jones about their involvement in the latest audio production of A Streetcar Named Desire, as part of the Williamstown Theatre Festival with Audible. O’Hara directed the show and Jones starred as Mitch. Both have previously worked together on Slave Play, which received 12 Tony nominations earlier this year.

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Ep. 22: Kelly is Going to Prom (Feat. Alexandra Silber, Marike Splint, and Denisse Estefany Mendoza)

Podcast
Courtesy: Netflix

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 composed by Sean Mason (with vocals by Angela Ramos). The video animation is created by Brad Ogden, with logos by Jason Simon.

In this episode Jose and Kelly review Ryan Murphy’s adaptation of The Prom (now in select theaters, Dec. 11on Netflix). Therefore, they discuss how the Hollywood cast fares compared to the Broadway company. After that, Kelly discusses digital quest Thickett and The Mad Ones Engine.

Jose talked to the multitalented Alexandra Silber about the cast recording of Einstein’s Dreams and her novels. He also discussed the surprising romanticism of Google Earth with You Are Here creator Marike Splint, and did a segment in Spanish with Denisse Estefany Mendoza of ¡Niños Show Up!

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Ep. 21: Putting Black Gay Lives Centerstage (Feat. Donja R. Love)

Podcast
Credit: Serge Nivelle

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 composed by Sean Mason (with vocals by Angela Ramos). The video animation is created by Brad Ogden, with logos by Jason Simon.

In this episode Jose and Juan Michael speak with Donja R. Love, the award-winning Afro-Queer playwright about why authentic representation is essential. In each of his plays, Love centers the lives of Black, Queer, and HIV positive lives. They show viewers what it means to love in a time of slavery (Sugar in Our Wounds), to hide in plain sight (Fireflies), to process one’s grief (one-in-two), and to embrace vulnerability (soft).

Donja spills the tea on what motivates him, his love for Black people, and how he handles anyone stuck in “the sunken place”. He also speaks about helping others tap into their own creative voices through “Write it Out”, a 10-week virtual playwriting program that he conceived specifically for artists living with HIV. Their work premieres on December 1st, World AIDS Day in a virtual presentation produced by National Queer Theatre.  Donja is excited for everyone to see the brilliance that he helped nurture and encourages everyone to register for the free showing.

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