101 Stage Adaptations

Bramble Theatre Company is thrilled to open the Bramble Arts Loft, a brand new peformance space in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Learn more at brambletheatre.org . Connect with host Melissa Schmitz ***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter *** 101 Stage Adaptations Follow the Podcast on Facebook & Instagram Read Melissa's plays on New Play Exchange Connect with Meli...

National Playwriting Month is approaching, and that means it's time for End of Play.®, the Dramatists Guild's annual month-long writing challenge for Playwrights, Composers, Lyricists, and Librettists! This is a segment of the End of Play.® interview Melissa had last year with Lily Dwoskin and Jordan Stovall from the Dramatists Guild. Resources Mentioned Episode 23 End of Play.® Dramatis...

We're taking the week off to catch up on all the March Submission Binge tasks and also prepping for End of Play.®!  What are you working on? Find Melissa on the socials and let her know what you're up to!  Happy Marketing! Happy Writing! Connect with host Melissa Schmitz ***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter *** 101 Stage Adaptations Follow the Podcast on Facebook & Ins...

 This week's episode is a replay of the hottest marketing tips from marketing expert  Julie Nemitz from Ep. 41. Resources Mentioned Episode 41 Theatre Marketing Lab "In The Greenroom" podcast Julie's newsletter Theatre Marketing Lab Content Club Canva About Our Guest Julie Nemitz is a renowned theatre marketing leader & the force behind Theatre Marketing Lab and the popular...

In honor of the March 2024 Playwright Marketing Binge, here is the replay of Patrick Gabridge's interview where he describes the ways playwrights can make their submissions stand out. In this episode, we discuss: Why he started the Playwright Submission Binge TONS of tips on how playwrights can market themselves better Resources Mentioned Playwright Submission Binge Plays in Place NYCPlaywrig...

It's Melissa's 10th Birthday!  To help her celebrate her once-every-four-years birthday, please rate/review/subscribe/share your favorite episode with a friend.  And if you're so inclined, pop in to one of the social channels listed below and send her a birthday wish.  Connect with host Melissa Schmitz ***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter *** 101 Stage Adaptations Fol...

Melissa details her 2024 Chicago Theatre Week Experience. She saw shows at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakes, TimeLine Theatre, Writers Theatre, and Court Theatre, and she recommends them all!  Resources Mentioned Chicago Theatre Week League of Chicago Theatres Choose Chicago Goodman Theatre Chicago Shakespeare Theater Writers Theatre Court Theatre TimeLine Theatre Company   Connect with host Me...

Melissa is on another short winter break.  Be sure to rate/review/subscribe/share your favorite episodes with a friend, a student, a fellow playwright.  Connect with host Melissa Schmitz ***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter *** 101 Stage Adaptations Follow the Podcast on Facebook & Instagram Read Melissa's plays on New Play Exchange Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn Ways to...

Amy Lehman from Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (New York) stops by the show to talk about this organization and how artists can benefit from their programs and services.  In this episode, we discuss: How Amy pivoted from a performance career to a career in law What VLA is and who can use their services Many of the programs VLA offers The types of problems she wishes she didn't have to solve  ...

For the first time ever, Melissa is joined by three guests in one interview! Scenic Designers Regina García, Sibyl Wickersheimer, and Maureen Weiss stop by to discuss their book and museum exhibit and drop a ton of wisdom along the way. In this episode, we discuss: The orgins of Scene Shift How they each came into theatre and scenic design Being a mom and a theatre artist What they're teachin...

No official episode this week, but Melissa will be back soon with all new interviews.  Connect with host Melissa Schmitz ***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter *** 101 Stage Adaptations Follow the Podcast on Facebook & Instagram Read Melissa's plays on New Play Exchange Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn Ways to support the show: - Buy Me a Coffee - Tell us your thoughts in our...

For another installment of "When the Production is the Adaptation," Melissa is joined by Marcia Milgrom Dodge aka "MMD" to discuss her production and revival of Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the Olney Theatre Center.    In this episode, we discuss: The origins of the "MMD" moniker "Smuggling in deeper meaning" Redesigning and imagining a Disney-brand...

In this episode, Melissa guides listeners through a comprehensive goal-setting strategy for playwrights and theatre makers so they can plan for a successful 2024, however they chose to define it. ***Sign up for the  Newsletter *** Connect with host Melissa Schmitz ***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter *** 101 Stage Adaptations Follow the Podcast on Facebook & Instagram Read Melis...

In this episode, Melissa guides listeners through an end-of-year self-inventory and reflection which will help set the stage for a 2024 goal-setting session. ***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter *** Connect with host Melissa Schmitz ***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter *** 101 Stage Adaptations Follow the Podcast on Facebook & Instagram Read Melissa's plays o...

Christmas came early this year! We are dropping this episode a few days ahead of schedule to commemorate the 180th anniversary of the release of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.   The multi-talented Lavina Jadhwani stops by to discuss her adaptation of A Christmas Carol , which was first produced when her script was discovered on New Play Exchange. In this episode, we discuss: Adapting a well...

This week Hollywood screenwriter Greg Taylor stops by the show! Greg wrote the scripts for the 90s kids' classics, Harriet the Spy and Jumanji , as well as one of Melissa's favorite holiday films, Prancer , which Greg later adapted for the stage. In this episode, we discuss: How the late great Cloris Leachman influenced Greg's script  The reindeer in the film vs the stage play How s...

Mike Dailey & Jacob Combs join Melissa this week to talk about their long-running holiday musical, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins . In this episode, we discuss: Why Strawdog Theatre decided to adapt this beloved children's book Adding framing devices and length to a short story Casting a show that needs musicians, actors, singers, and acrobatic types How the music changes every year wit...

Kate Hamill stops by the show to talk about Dracula , one of her many stage adpatations. This conversation is a full meal on taking risks, making writing fun, advocacy, and feminism. In this episode, we discuss: How Kate became a playwright on a bet with her friend The dramatic question she crafted for Dracula and some of her other works Intentionally writing fun characters and feminist plays Advo...

Happy Thanksgiving 2023! Melissa expresses her gratitude for the past year, reads a couple listener reviews, and invites you to join her upcoming newsletter.  ***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter *** Leave a review on Apple Podcasts here  and maybe it will be featured in an upcoming episode!  Connect with host Melissa Schmitz ***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter *** 1...

This week is the conclusion of the interview with Alayna Jacqueline & Hannah Joyce from the Playwrights' Center, who offer so much wisdom and practical advice for playwrights. In this episode, we discuss: Current trends in playwriting Diagnosing script issues in the rehearsal room Advice for playwrights just starting out Getting out of Development Hell And more! Resources Mentioned Playwr...

This week is Part 1 of 2 where Melissa interviews fellow theatre artists/arts administrators/podcasters Alayna Jacqueline & Hannah Joyce from the Playwrights' Center. In this episode, we discuss: The Playwrights' Center and its many programs and offerings Who can become a member What the PWC has coming up in the near future The excitement of working with big name playwrights   And mo...

* Subscribe to the 101 Stage Adaptations newsletter * Melissa was elated to chat with Lauren Gunderson about her brand new musical adaptation of The Time Traveller's Wife , which just premiered on London's West End. Lauren wrote the book, & the music & lyrics are by Dave Stewart & Joss Stone. In this episode, we discuss: How Lauren got the gig to adapt her favorite book of al...

Melissa was thrilled to speak with fellow theatre podcaster Sean Hayden. If you are not familiar with his podcast, Stage Combat: A Mental Health Story, it is one of the most important theatre podcasts out there. And if you have listened his podcast, and you're not caught up, be warned that this conversation contains spoilers. In this episode, we discuss: Sean's groundbreaking podcast, St...

The delightful Sandy Rustin drops by the podcast to discuss her adaptation of Clue , which is the most-produced play in high schools for many years running. On the way to discovering Colonel Mustard in the Library with the Wrench, Melissa discovers Sandy's place in soap opera history and their mutual love of cooking. In this episode, we discuss: How she became the adaptor for Clue Acquiring d...

Melissa Schmitz chats with the very talented Michael Susko this week about his world premiere production—which happens to be his first adaptation—and also a story that he's loved for most of his life, House on Haunted Hill .  In this episode, we discuss: How Michael "got" the dramatic rights to the original film  The changes and updates he made to this adaptation How a séance show a...