137. Director Mini-Series: Creating the Conditions for Magic with Danya Taymor

You can’t direct magic into existence, so how do you create the conditions for it to happen? Tony Award-winning director Danya Taymor takes us inside her process behind The Outsiders, John Proctor Is the Villain, and a directing practice rooted in preparation, play, instinct, and finding the alchemy of a room. She shares why she never wants to shut down an idea, how physical exercises and deep trust help build an ensemble, and why theatre is ultimately an act of collective belief where everyone has to care. Danya gets candid about staying open while trusting your gut, uplifting the next generation of directors, and developing the audacity to say, “You need to see my version.” And for the actors listening, Danya pulls back the curtain on what actually catches her attention in an audition, including the singular, unteachable quality that makes her want to keep watching. This episode is a reminder to trust what only you can bring, stay open to what you can’t predict, and let the magic become something bigger than anything you could have created alone. Danya Taymor became the youngest woman to win the Tony Award for Direction for her work on The Outsiders, which won four Tony Awards including Best Musical and is currently running on Broadway and in the 1st National Tour. She received a second consecutive Tony nomination and won the Drama Desk Award for John Proctor is the Villain, which starred Sadie Sink and was nominated for seven Tony Awards including Best Play. In 2021, she made her Broadway debut with Antoinette Nwandu's Pass Over which was the first play back on Broadway after the 18 month covid shutdown. Danya's production of Pass Over was filmed in collaboration with Spike Lee, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is streaming on Amazon Prime. She directed the world premiere of Will Arbery's Pulitzer finalist Heroes of the Fourth Turning for which she won the Obie Award and the Callaway Award. Other recent work includes: John Proctor is the Villain (Royal Court, West End Transfer 2027), Trophy Boys by Emmanuelle Mattana (MCC), Jonah by Rachel Bonds (Roundabout), Endgame by Samuel Beckett (Gate Theater, Dublin), Evanston Salt Costs Climbing by Will Arbery (New Group), Daddy by Jeremy O. Harris (New Group, Almeida, UK), queens by Martyna Majok (LCT), Wyoming (Lesser America) and My Daughter Keeps Our Hammer (The Flea) by Brian Watkins, and The Sensuality Party by Justin Kuritzkes (New Group). Other upcoming work includes the world premiere of Will Arbery's Spite House. She received the Cullman Award for Extraordinary Creativity from Lincoln Center and received a BA from Duke University. Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠Schedule a session here! Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 4 is here, and we’re kicking things off in studio with Tony Award-winning costume designer, activist, and storyteller Qween Jean in a conversation about what happens when you stop waiting to be chosen and start trusting what you bring to the room. Together, they get candid about knocking on theatre doors before anyone knew Qween's name, trusting the instincts that became her artistic signature, advocating for herself and her collaborators, and learning to speak up without fearing it will cost her the next job. From Cats: The Jellicle Ball to Liberation, Qween offers a joyful, practical reminder that building a creative career isn’t just about getting the opportunity. It’s about knowing who you are when it arrives. Haitian storyteller, human rights activist, and celebrated costume designer, Jean designed the feline fashion for Cats: The Jellicle Ball (opening on Broadway in spring 2026), for which she won a Tony Award and an Obie Award. Projects she has created designs for include Liberation (Broadway), Oh Happy Day, Saturday Church, Swamp Dwellers, Wedding Band, Macbeth in Stride, Walden and Donja R. Love’s new film Home. Jean founded Black Trans Liberation, an organization that provides fellowship, food, groceries, and housing resources for the transgender and gender nonconforming community. She is the co-author of Revolution is Love: A Year of Black Trans Liberation, a visual and narrative celebration of an activist movement. Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? Schedule a session here! Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s the secret to building longevity in casting while protecting your creative vision? In the final episode of Season 3, Jennifer sits down with Emmy-nominated independent casting director, Bess Fifer, to dig into the realities, responsibilities, and rewards of the work. Bess shares candid insights about navigating the freelance hustle, redefining success on your own terms, and why even with hit shows like Severance on her résumé, stability in this industry isn’t guaranteed. Together, they discuss practical tools for actors, from how to approach self-tapes with a strong perspective, to the importance of framing and sound, to why asking thoughtful questions can actually signal professionalism rather than overstepping. This episode closes out Season 3 with a reminder that building a creative life is about finding your version of success, showing up with generosity, and trusting that good work will be recognized. About Bess: Bess Fifer is a highly acclaimed casting director whose work on Apple+’s SEVERANCE has earned her two Emmy nominations and solidified her reputation as a leader in the industry. Known for her dedication to authentic, diverse, and inclusive casting, Bess has also been recognized for her groundbreaking contributions to Netflix’s IT’S BRUNO, for which she won the 2020 Artios Award for Excellence in Casting – Short Form Series. Operating from New York, Bess has significantly shaped careers across both film and television, bringing a fresh and inclusive perspective to independent features like LINGUA FRANCA and THE LIGHT OF THE MOON, as well as major TV series including ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA on Showtime. Her commitment to representation and inclusivity has made her a sought-after collaborator in the industry. Bess Fifer's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@castingbybess Bess's Website: ⁠fifercasting.com Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠⁠Schedule a session here! ⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does one build a career defined not just by talent, but by joy, leadership, and resilience? In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Kate Baldwin, Tony-nominated actor, singer, and teacher, whose perspective on craft and community is as generous as it is practical. Kate discusses her current play, Murder on the Links at Two River Theater, and reflects on her career thus far,  working with visionary directors like Darko Tresnjak, Susan Stroman, Michael Grief, and Jerry Zaks, who all taught her the power of shared vocabulary and artistic trust. She offers tools for navigating creative rooms like adapting to a director’s language, leaning into humor, and remembering to “protect the possibility of a happy ending.” Together they talk about how vulnerability and embracing messiness connect us more deeply to audiences, why leadership in a cast is also about setting the tone of care, and how stepping into advocacy roles helps shape her sense of responsibility in the industry. From navigating criticism and awards to showing up with curiosity and benevolence, and sustaining joy through community, this episode reminds us that what endures is the ability to keep learning, laughing, and lifting others up along the way. About Kate: Kate Baldwin is a two-time Tony Award nominee and four-time Drama Desk nominee, having starred on Broadway as Irene Molloy in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly! and the 2009 revival of Finian’s Rainbow as Sharon McLonergan. She originated the roles of Sandra Bloom in Big Fish on Broadway and Leslie Lynnton Benedict in Giant at The Public Theatre. She starred as Jen in Keen Company’s revival of John & Jen and garnered a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Superhero at Second Stage. Other Broadway credits: The Full Monty, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Wonderful Town. She starred in The King and I at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Women at The Old Globe, Henry V at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, She Loves Me at Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Music Man and South Pacific at Arena Stage (Helen Hayes Award nomination) and What the Constitution Means to Me at George Street Playhouse. Her television work includes a guest star on NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU,” Disney’s “Just Beyond,” HBO’s “The Gilded Age” and two PBS specials, “First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb” and “Live from Lincoln Center: Stephen Sondheim’s Passion.” She is a graduate of Northwestern University and lives with her husband and son in Maplewood, NJ. Kate's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@realkatebaldwin Kate's Website: kate-baldwin.com Two River Theater: tworivertheater.org Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠⁠⁠Schedule a session here! ⁠⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to devote nearly two decades to a cycle of work while also leaping into entirely new forms? In this episode of our Playwright Mini-Series, Jennifer sits down with playwright, TV writer, and educator Mfoniso Udofia. Mfoniso shares how writing came from a place of healing and purpose and how her nine-play Ufot Family Cycle has grown into an expansive, intergenerational exploration of identity, hope, and belonging. She talks about finding a trusted circle of collaborators, knowing how to keep the emotional spark within the editing process, the challenges of finding balance, and the grief of letting go of a long creative chapter. Together, they discuss her transition into writing for television, learning the craft of image-driven storytelling, adjusting to the collaboration of the writers’ room, and understanding the unique desires of different networks. With takeaways on finding your voice, nurturing what excites you in your own work, and learning when to listen and when to stand firm, this conversation is equal parts inspiration and toolkit for artists and writers navigating all mediums. About Mfoniso: MFONISO UDOFIA is a first-generation Nigerian-American storyteller and educator. From 2024-2026, a consortium of theatre companies and activation partners across Boston are producing all of Mfoniso’s 9-play UFOT FAMILY CYCLE. Productions of her plays SOJOURNERS, THE GROVE (2025 Elliot Norton for Outstanding New Script), RUNBOYRUN, HER PORTMANTEAU and IN OLD AGE have been seen at the Huntington Theatre, Central Square Theatre, Round House Theatre, NYTW, A.C.T., Playwrights Realm, Magic Theater, National Black Theatre, and Boston Court. She’s the recipient of the 2024 Steinberg Playwright Award, the 2021 Horton Foote Award, the 2017 Helen Merrill Award, the 2017-18 McKnight National Residency and Commission and is a member of New Dramatists. Mfoniso's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfudofia Mfoniso's Facebook: @mfonisoudofia Mfoniso's Website: mfonisoudofia.com Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠⁠⁠Schedule a session here! ⁠⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it take to sustain a decades-long directing career? In this episode of our Director Mini-Series, Jennifer chats with director and choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge, who has been shaping stories on stages across the country for more than 40 years. Marcia shares how she digs into the heartbeat of each piece she does, balancing politics, social consciousness, and community impact with theatrical joy. She opens up about the hardest parts of being a director, the trust and surrender required to let actors carry the work forward, and the importance of staying scrappy and resilient in a freelance career. Marcia reveals her method for typing scripts in their entirety, the ins and outs for doing regional theater, and explains why she sees choreography through the lens of human behavior. Together, they talk about finding your like-minded community, building relationships with writers, and never underestimating your value to a theater company. This episode is a reminder that when you lead with story, community, and heart, the work will always find its way forward. About Marcia:  Marcia Milgrom Dodge is a Tony & Drama Desk Award-nominated director & choreographer for her stirring & lovingly staged Broadway|Kennedy Center revival of Ragtime (also a Helen Hayes Award winner for Outstanding Director). “MMD” is the American Show Director for Tokyo Disneyland’s 40th Anniversary Parade “Harmony in Color.” Her bold new approaches to classic plays and musicals include La Cage Aux Folles (The Muny, starring Norm Lewis & Michael James Scott); Disney’s Beauty & The Beast (Olney Theatre Center, starring Jade Jones & Evan Ruggiero); Evita (Drury Lane & Riverside Theatres), Meet Me In St. Louis & Disney’s The Little Mermaid (The Muny); Fiddler On The Roof and The King & I (Maltz Jupiter Theatre, both with new choreography); The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time (St. Louis Rep & Cincinnati Playhouse); The Secret Garden (Cincinnati Playhouse and Center Stage); Smokey Joe’s Cafe (The Muny and Drury Lane, Jeff Award for Best Revival). Television: Dodge appears as herself in Encore! on Disney+; choreographed an Emmy Award-winning episode of Sesame Street (The Tango Festival) and Elmo’s World: Wild Wild West video. Premieres: Maltby & Shire’s About Time(Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theatre) and Closer Than Ever (Off-Broadway), William Finn’s Romance in Hard Times (Public Theater), and Sherlock Holmes & The West End Horror (co-written with Anthony Dodge, Bay Street/Edgar Award nomination). Dodge is also a wife, mother, teacher, and proud member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society (SDC). MMD's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@marciamilgromdodge MMD's Website: marciamilgromdodge.com Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠⁠⁠Schedule a session here! ⁠⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does the ecosystem of a casting office and career look like? In this episode of our Casting Director Mini-Series, Jennifer chats with casting director and co-owner of the TRC Company, Claire Burke. Claire shares her journey from intern to co-owner, offering a glimpse into the intricate workings of a casting office. She emphasizes the need to balance artistic intuition with analytical skills for her job, the importance of reading the room during auditions for performers, and never underestimating a specific submission or attending an EPA. Together, they discuss maintaining a website to enhance visibility, embracing elements out of one's control, and insights for aspiring casting directors on breaking into the industry. Whether you're an actor seeking to better understand the role of a casting director or someone interested in becoming one, this episode sheds light on the ins and outs of the casting world.  About Claire: Claire Burke is an owner and Casting Director at The TRC Company, (formerly Tara Rubin Casting). Claire began working with Tara Rubin in 2013 as a casting associate on Andrew Lloyd Webbers's SCHOOL OF ROCK. Other favorite projects include A BRONX TALE, KPOP, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, BACK TO THE FUTURE, LES MISERABLES (National Tour), and the upcoming National Tour of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. She has cast for Yale Repertory Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse, The Alliance Theatre, and The Old Globe. The TRC Company's currently running projects include ALADDIN, SIX, THE OUTSIDERS, DEATH BECOMES HER, and BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB. Claire is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where she studied with The Atlantic Theatre Company. She loves working with young artists and teaches acting and audition technique at New York University and Florida State University. When not casting, she loves exploring restaurants and going to concerts. She lives on the UWS with her husband and two cats. Claire's IG: @clairelouisewb The TRC Company's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thetrccompany The TRC Company's Website: thetrccompany.com Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠⁠⁠Schedule a session here! ⁠⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you honor your creative timing in a culture that often has other priorities? In this episode of our Playwright Mini-Series, Jennifer sits down with playwright and actor, Ngozi Anyanwu, for a conversation about claiming your artistic voice, holding your ground in the industry, and creating work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. Ngozi shares how her background as a performer informs her playwriting, why specificity in storytelling leads to greater connection, and practices for protecting and honoring your process. Together, they explore how to write without feeling boxed in, how to build a creative ecosystem that supports you both artistically and financially, and why a community of trusted collaborators, champions, and truth-tellers is essential to longevity. Whether you’re a playwright shaping your first draft or an artist ready to expand your body of work, this conversation is a reminder to stay true to your voice, honor the stories only you can tell, and trust that your truth has a place on stage. About Ngozi: Ngozi Anyanwu is a multi hyphenated storyteller most recently seen performing in Nathan Alan Davis‘s THE REFUGE PLAYS at Roundabout Theatre with New Theatre workshop in 2023. Her upcoming play THE MONSTERS will make its world premiere at Two River Theater coproduced with Manhattan Theater Club in the 25/26 seasonin which she’ll also direct. Her most recent play LEROY and LUCY premiered at Steppenwolfe Theater in this past fall of 2024. She’s a 2020 Steinberg Playwright Award winner.. Previous productions include LAST OF THE LOVE LETTERS at the Atlantic Theater Company, GOOD GRIEF (Vineyard Theatre NYtime’s Critic’s pick in NYC / Center Theatre Group in LA) and THE HOMECOMING QUEEN (sold-out world premiere run and a NYtimes’s Critic’s pick at the Atlantic Theatre). GOOD GRIEF was on the Kilroys List 2016 and a semi finalist for the Princess Grace Award, and won the Humanitas Award. THE HOMECOMING QUEEN was on the Kilroys List 2017 and was a Leah Ryan Finalist. Her play NIKE… (Kilroys List 2017) was workshopped at The New Black Fest in conjunction with The Lark and The Strand Festival in conjunction with A.C.T and Space on Ryder Farm and New York Stage and Film. Ngozi also has been commissioned by NYU, The Old Globe, Two Rivers Theatre, The Atlantic Theatre, and Steppenwolf. Anyanwu has also received residencies from LCT3, Space on Ryder Farm, the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, The New Harmony Project, New York Stage and Film and Page 73. She attended Point Park University (BA) and received her MFA in Acting from University of California, San Diego. Ngozi's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gozeface The Monsters - Two River Theater The Monsters - Manhattan Theatre Club Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠⁠⁠Schedule a session here! ⁠⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can performers turn the audition process into a collaborative partnership? In our first episode of our Casting Director Mini-Series, Jennifer sits down with casting director Sujotta Pace to pull back the curtain on the casting process and reframe how actors see the people on the other side of the table. A former actor herself, Sujotta shares how she collaborates with directors and creative teams to clarify vision, why preparation and bold choices matter more than perfection, and how to “book the room” even if you don’t book the role. She offers tips for self-tapes, reaching out when a project aligns with your strengths, using your emotions to bring truth to your work, and demystifying the many factors that go into casting decisions. Together, they reframe an audition as an invitation, unpack casting directors as the actors’ advocate, and give tips for ways to enter the field of casting. This conversation is a powerful reminder that casting is more about partnership, collaboration, and the shared goal of bringing great stories to life. About Sujotta: Sujotta Pace, C.S.A. (She/Her) is a freelance Casting Professional specializing in short films, new media content, podcasts, and plays (in New York and regionally). She is a Casting associate on the Roundabout Theatre Company/C12 Casting team (Broadway, Off-Broadway) and serves on the Board of Directors of the Casting Society, as well as a member of Theatre Producers of Color. Select casting director credits include the world premieres of Cats: The Jellicle Ball (Perelman Performing Arts Center) and Bad Kreyol (Signature Theatre Company). As an associate, she has contributed to &Juliet (Broadway), Home (Broadway), Yellow Face (Broadway), Tammy Faye: A New Broadway Musical (Broadway), Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical (Broadway) and the world premiere of Hippest Trip – The Soul Train Musical (Regional). Sujotta is committed to fostering brave, creative, and collaborative spaces. With over 20 years in the entertainment industry, her passion for actors and casting is reflected in her thoughtful, intentional approach and the material she chooses to champion. Sujotta's IG: ⁠@sujotta Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠⁠⁠Schedule a session here! ⁠⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it look like to lead a major cultural institution with courage, care & a commitment to transformation? In this episode of our Artistic Director Mini-Series, Jennifer chats with director, writer, community organizer & Artistic Director of New York Theatre Workshop, Patricia McGregor, about how her full identity shapes her leadership. She shares how she curates using a funnel model rooted in collaboration & grounds her programming in rigor, risk & relevance. From building an “artistic compass” to reframing fundraising as a meaningful invitation, they also discuss burnout, tools for leading with purpose while centering people & why leadership isn’t about holding power, but holding space. Whether you’re stepping into leadership, shaping your practice, or dreaming of systemic change, this episode offers grounded inspiration & tools to lead artfully & live your values out loud. About Patricia: Born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Patricia McGregor (she/her) is the Artistic Director of New York Theatre Workshop. Throughout her tenure at NYTW, she has championed visionary artists, producing five world premieres & countless workshop sharings. She secured key funding to innovate community engagement & education programs. Centering virtuosity & accessibility, Patricia has renewed NYTW's standing as a place of belonging for adventurous artists & audiences alike. A renowned director & writer working in theatre, film, dance & music, she has twice been profiled by The New York Times for her direction of world premieres. Her productions include The Refuge Plays (Roundabout Theatre Company, NYTW); The Last of the Love Letters (Atlantic Theater Company); Ugly Lies the Bone (Roundabout Theatre Company); Blood Dazzler (Harlem Stage); Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole (co-writer/director; Geffen Playhouse, People’s Light, upcoming NYTW); Sisters in Law (Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts); Shakespeare: Call and Response, Krapp’s Last Tape, What You Are, A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Measure for Measure (The Old Globe); Skeleton Crew (Geffen Playhouse); Good Grief (Center Theatre Group); Hamlet (The Public Theater); Place (BAM); The Parchman Hour (Guthrie Theater); brownsville song (Lincoln Center Theater); Indomitable: James Brown (Apollo Theater); Holding It Down (The Met); A Raisin in the Sun, The Winter’s Tale & Spunk (California Shakespeare Theater); Adoration of the Old Woman (INTAR Theatre); Four Electric Ghosts (The Kitchen); & the world premiere of Hurt Village (Signature Theatre Company). McGregor also served as a director for HBO’s emerging writer’s showcase & as tour consultant to Raphael Saadiq & J. Cole. She was associate director of Fela! on Broadway & directed The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway for many years. She co-founded Angela’s Pulse with her sister, choreographer & organizer Paloma McGregor. McGregor attended SMU, where she was a Presidential Scholar, & the Yale School of Drama, where she was a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow & artistic director of Yale Cabaret. Patricia's IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@patriciamcgregor⁠ NYTW ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nytw79⁠ & ⁠nytw.org⁠ Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? ⁠⁠⁠Schedule a session here! ⁠⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/newslettersignup⁠⁠ Check Out Our Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com⁠⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices