Evil Thespian

Today I'm joined by Michelle Renee Bester! Michelle is an actress, writer, and lover of all things arts from Chicago. She has been seen on Chicago Fire, Amazon Prime’s Electric Dreams, and CBS’ Red Line as well as on several different stages in Chicago theater. In this episode, Michelle and I discuss her latest role in the upcoming Chicago premiere of Black Cypress Bayou at Definition Theatre! She's tackling a huge role in this production. We discuss her approach to character building, storytelling, research, and what audiences can expect from this razor sharp play! Follow Renee on IG: @michellerbesterFollow Definition Theatre on IG: @definitiontheatreGet tickets to Black Cypress Bayou here!

On this episode of Evil Thespian, I am joined by Colm Summers! Colm Summers is the Artistic Director of Working Theater ! Working Theater is a working-class theater company that partners with labor unions, and cultural organizations to create contemporary performance work made for the 21st century. As an Artistic Director, Colm works hard to make certain that the company's ecosystem is built for, and by, underrepresented individuals, intellectuals, and families. Over the course of our conversation, Colm discusses his educational background as a thespian, his work as an Artistic Director at the company, and the details of his journey as an immigrant from Ireland. Listen today! Find Colm Summers on IG here: Colm_SummersVisit Working Theater's website Here! https://theworkingtheater.orgInstagram: @Working.TheaterTikTok: @Working.TheaterRead the Jacobin article on Working Theater: https://jacobin.com/2025/12/theater-working-class-access-unions

Today we are joined by Sarah Groustra!!! Sarah Groustra is the editor-in-chief of 1319 Press, an indie play publisher that platforms emerging playwrights and advocates for newplay development! In this episode, Sarah tells us all about the publishing process at 1319 Press, and how she got into play distribution. We talk about the challenges of play distribution, the benefits of getting work published early, and the idea of play curation as an art form. Submit your play to 1319 Press today! Visit their website here!Visit their instagram here!Visit Sarah's Instagram here!

David Roussève is a Guggenheim Fellow, magna cum laude Princeton graduate, and Distinguished Professor of Choreography at UCLA, whose work has travelled across the US, Europe, South America, and Great Britain, including major commissions by BAM’s Next Wave Festival and Jacob’s Pillow. He’s received top honors such as the "Bessie" Award, Creative Capital and Herb Alpert Awards, three Horton Awards, and many NEA Fellowships. In this episode, David Roussève joins us to unveil his first full-length solo piece in over 20 years—Becoming Daddy AF Becoming Daddy AF  intricately weaves personal and cultural narratives—revisiting 600 years of ancestry, a decades-long journey with HIV, and the profound loss of a partner—while interrogating identity, resilience, and the layers of selfhood as a queer African American artist. Roussève’s perspective on legacy, mortality, and reimagining virtuosity at 64. Listen now to hear this exciting conversation on David's work as he creates dialogue around the nature of love, and the meaning of existence. Becoming Daddy AF  will be running September 26-27 at Kelly Strayhorn Theater in Pittsburgh and October 17-18 at The Nimoy, UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance in Los Angeles.Visit David's Website HERE to learn more!

Anastasia West is an actor, playwright, and theater educator. In this episode, Anastasia discusses her experience writing a play that explores themes of generational differences and the impact of social media on young people. She explained her decision to write a play outside the traditional "living room" format, aiming to portray a more authentic and gritty depiction of Gen Z life, including the characters' struggles with being doxxed, being in an apartment, and being from here. Follow @fromhere_play today !!!!

Daniel Holzman is a New York City based playwright! In this episode, I sit down with Daniel and discuss his journey into theater and playwriting. Many things inspire his unique storytelling, including his education, family dynamics, and cultural observations in NYC. While discussing his artistic background, Daniel also shares details about his play "Berlindia!", a psychedelic drama which explores themes of family dynamics, escapism, and surreal, geographical ambiguity! The conversation covers all aspects of the unconscious, and we delight in the fact that sometimes our dreams are almost too good not to be written down. Topics also include: commerce, clubbing, bakeries, Berlin, commercial eroticism, and so much more! Follow Daniel today! IG: @hellanovellaCheckout his website HERE!Purchase Berlindia! HERE!

This week, we’re joined by the thoughtful Sam Frye—a New York-based actor who transitioned from an anticipated career in marketing to fully embracing his passion for performance. In this episode, Sam shares his journey of building confidence through theater, navigating the challenges of auditions, and exploring the complexities of portraying characters with dark and intimidating given circumstances. Our conversation also dives into the deeper layers of the craft—how theater reflects and critiques society, the power of artistic expression, and the ways historical context shapes character interpretation. Book Sam today! IG: @zefryeguy

AJ Daniels is a filmmaker, poet, playwright, and stand-up comedian whose latest project is as brilliant as it is unhinged. And it’s called Hot Pussy Time Machine.In this episode, we talk about what it means to create something that’s both wildly absurd and deeply grounded. AJ opens up about growing up in New York, finding his artistic footing in Savannah, and why writing should only happen once it starts “buzzing in your rib cage.” It’s smart, it’s chaotic, it’s sincere—and very Evil Thespian. Listen today!GET TIX to HOT PUSSY TIME MACHINE today!It's running JULY 17th, JULY 18th, JULY 19th, JULY 20th at SOHO PLAYHOUSE

On stage and in the classroom, Joanna brings a fearless sensitivity to her craft. An actress, educator, and singer living in Brooklyn, Joanna is someone who carries story like a memory—personal, porous, and alive.In this episode of Evil Thespian, we talk about Torito, a new play by Dakota Silvey directed by Dougie Robbins, and Joanna’s role in bringing its textured world to life. We get into what it means to collaborate, how teaching and performing overlap, and why community is everything.Follow Joanna today! IG: @joannaromerocherGet TIX to TORITO HERE

On the heels of his grad program at the Actors Studio Drama School, TJ Boudreau is a playwright stepping boldly into New York City living, sparking stories that refuse to sit still.In this episode, TJ discusses his play, "If I Cleaned Everything: An Exorcism". It’s about two former high school sweethearts, brought together by a shared tragedy. TJ and I talk about why this piece is so personal to him, and how it’s been in the works for almost two years to make its current home at the Gene Frankel beginning May 21st. Can old flames reunite under garish circumstances? Listen to today to find out, and learn more about what's next for TJ! GET TIX TO IF I CLEANED EVERYTHING X TORITO HERE Follow TJ today! IG: @thomas_james_writes