LIGHTS UP!

In our final episode of Season 5, we sit down with playwright Noah Mannix, a Philly-based Rising Playwright with Azuka Theatre. They unpack Elephants Water Bones, a twenty‑five‑minute absurdist exploration of ritual, grief, and human connection born from poetic ethnography. We also talk about staying connected to theatre in all its forms—from writing to building sets. Noah reflects on collaborative workshops, their exploration of creative mediums, and their journey from Azuka’s one‑act series to community-based theater.Play Starts (1:05)Join New Play Exchange to follow along.Conversation Starts (28:35)Actors:Amelia: Jessica WeaverDad: Jason RussellElephant/Meerkat: Caleb SextonFlesh/Infant: Deb MeeksDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattLinks to follow Noah:Noah's WebsiteNew Play ExchangeInstagramAzuka Theatre Rising Writers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we spotlight Cactus, Texas, a surreal one-act play by Dane Futrell, a recent MFA graduate in Dramatic Writing from Arizona State University. Set in a bizarre Northern Texas wasteland, the play follows two best friends whose encounter with a drifter sparks an existential unraveling. Dane shares insights into archetypes, absurdism, and storytelling post-pandemic. We explore themes of friendship, trust, and navigating uncertainty—with humor, heart, and the surreal.Play Starts (0:55)Join New Play Exchange to follow along.Conversation Starts (53:05)Actors:Lucie: Rachel CraigKenny: Que HowardEli: Deb MeeksStranger: Rachel CraigChad: Gage MillerDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattLinks to follow Dane:New Play ExchangeInstagramLinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Lights Up!, we welcome back award-winning playwright and lyricist Dana Leslie Goldstein to discuss her intimate two-hander, RED IN THE MORNING. Set against the stark quiet of a remote cabin, the play explores fractured family bonds and the high cost of survival. Dana reflects on the inspiration behind the piece, how grief shapes her characters’ voices, and the tension between escape and confrontation when the past refuses to stay buried.Keep an eye out for Dana's exciting works in development available for licensing!• LIBERTY: A MONUMENTAL MUSICAL – Off-Broadway cast recording available on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, and Broadway Records. Now available for licensing through Miracle or 2 Productions (NYC)• NATURAL, UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, and RED IN THE MORNING – available via Next Stage Press: nextstagepress.com/licensing• DAUGHTERS OF THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION – licensed outside NYC via Next Stage PressPlay Starts (1:02)Conversation Starts (18:52)Actors:Mitch: Eric WyattEvan: Gage MillerDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattLinks to follow Dana:Dana's WebsiteNew Play ExchangeFacebookInstagram: @shadowlass18 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Playwright, lyricist, and dramaturg Arianna Rose returns to Lights Up! for a heartfelt conversation about MAKE MULCH FROM IT, a 15-minute drama that tenderly explores the aftershocks of love lost, the ache of unresolved endings, and the longing to heal. Arianna reflects on how she turned heartbreak into art and honors the sacredness of memory. We also explore her process as a teacher and ever-evolving writer, and how she draws on history and personal experience to ground her work.Keep an eye for Arianna's other exciting works in development!• Musical: A Collectible Sensation—a bold, time-bending journey where the Cone sisters, Gertrude Stein, and Alice Toklas confront love, art, and the power of unapologetic selfhood.• Play: The Lesser Leyendecker—a rich, memory-driven play exploring art, addiction, and identity through the lives of illustrators Frank and Joe Leyendecker.Play Starts (1:00)Join New Play Exchange to follow along.Conversation Starts (18:34)Actors:Gordon: Joel Sanchez-AvantesSusan: Claire BartlettDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattLinks to follow Arianna:Arianna's WebsiteSoundCloudFacebookInstagram:  @ariannarosewritesmusicalsBluesky: @ariannarose.bsky.socialThreads: ariannarosewritesmusicals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we welcome back Nashville-based playwright Judy Klass with her play WHAT WE CAST OFF, WHAT WE KEEP, a story rooted in metamorphosis and personal transformation. The conversation explores breakups, loss, and the complexities of navigating estrangement in relationships. We reflect on storytelling, unexpected collaboration, and the emotional growth that emerges from life’s most difficult transitions.Play Starts (0:55)Join New Play Exchange to follow along.Conversation Starts (30:34)Actors:Janet: Carrie SuttonMolly: Karen HendersonStanley: Jason RussellDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattLinks to follow Judy:Judy's WebsiteNew Play ExchangeVanderbilt University Faculty BioSubstackSpotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we welcome returning Australian playwright and award-winning storyteller Adam Szudrich to discuss his creative journey from playwriting to filmmaking. Adam shares how personal experiences and cultural folklore influenced the themes of his play FAIRIES, exploring faith, fate, and defiance. We reflect on the privilege of storytelling, the balance between distraction and escapism in theater, and Adam's recent runaway success with the heartwarming short film Slow Dating, which has won over 50 international awards.Play Starts (1:12)Conversation with Adam (8:20)Actors:Teenager: Claire BartlettDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattLinks to follow Adam:adamszudrich.comNew Play ExchangeIMDBLinkedInFacebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we welcome Austin, TX based Audrey Webb, an award-winning playwright and screenwriter, to discuss her creative journey from acting to writing. Audrey shares how her background in improv—Theatre Sports at Vancouver’s Improv Centre and Toronto’s The Second City—influences her work, and dives into the themes of her play BURIED—exploring grief, using humor as a coping mechanism, and the writer's responsibility to portray truth, even in fictional narratives.Play Starts (0:47)Join New Play Exchange to follow along.Conversation with Audrey (8:41)Actors:Tyler: Eric "Red" WyattChloe: Jessica WeaverDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattLinks to follow Audrey:New Play ExchangeIMDBLinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Lights Up! podcast, Mark Blankenship shares his insights on creating immersive experiences, reflecting on the significance of movement in narrative influenced by his love of the Greek tragedy. The discussion highlights the evolving nature of theatre and the shared responsibility of storytellers and audiences in shaping demand for fresh perspectives.Beyond his work as a playwright, Mark Blankenship is a seasoned arts journalist and editor. His contributions have appeared in esteemed publications such as The New York Times, Variety, and American Theatre. Mark's multifaceted career also includes roles as a dramaturg and filmmaker, underscoring his diverse impact on the arts community.Play Starts (1:01)Conversation with Mark (10:44)Actors:Tom Baxter: SJ LesterWick Wallace: Joel Sanchez-AvantesGreg Hughes: Caleb SextonDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattLinks to follow Mark:Website: markgblankenship.com/bylines Twitter/Instagram: @IAmBlankenship​Bluesky: markblankenship.bsky.socialSubstack: lostsongs.substack.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-blankenship-0118776/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we welcome Ukrainian playwright, theater translator, and scholar Anna Halas. We explore the impact of war on personal identity through her affecting play, CHRONICLES OF A LOST SOUL. After a powerful reading, we discuss with Anna the evolution of Ukrainian theater, the challenges of writing about trauma, and the importance of translating Ukrainian voices for a global audience amid ongoing conflict.Play Starts (1:09)Visit Ukrainian Drama Translation Library to follow alongInterview with Anna (21:30)Cast:I-Body: Deb MeeksI-Soul: Jessica WeaverDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattAdditional links to learn more about Anna:Ukrainian Drama Translations Library World Literature TodayInstagramFacebookSeason 5 is brought to you in partnership with the Center for International Theatre Development: CITD.us Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Ukrainian playwright and theater manager Dmytro Ternovyi to discuss his play, ON THE EVE (EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT). Set against the backdrop of the days leading up to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the play offers an important exploration of ordinary lives on the brink of upheaval.Play Starts (1:48)Visit Ukrainian Drama Translation Lab to follow along.Interview with Dmytro (40:54)Cast:Maryna: Karen HendersonMaksym: Jason RussellTasia: Claire BartlettMark: Eric WyattDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattAdditional Audio:Don Carlo Act I: “Dio, che nell'alma infondere”Credit: "Rebuild Ukraine" Charity Gala; April 24th, 2024Additional links to learn more about Dmytro:American Theatre InterviewCraft Magazine InterviewFacebookSeason 5 is brought to you in partnership with the Center for International Theatre Development: CITD.us Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.