Everything Theater Podcast

On April 2, 2016, a 37-year-old mother of three, Lisa, died needlessly in a jail cell. She was a pretrial detainee who had not been convicted of any crime. In her final hours, she pleaded for help, but her cries were ignored. She was denied basic medical care, and her life was taken from her children, her family, her community, and her sister, Elizabeth Ostler. Elizabeth joins us to talk about her...

There is an exciting summer season of new plays at the Great Barrington Public Theater, featuring intimate human stories with global implications. The summer starts with "Fragments" by Jim Petosa which focuses on the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s, followed by "iBoss" by Thomas Kee which explores the use of AI, and ends with "Yellow 2.0 Wallpaper 2020" by Jennifer Maisel based on Charlotte Perkins Gil...

The Tony awards are coming up, and we have our predictions! NYC actor, writer, producer, and casting director Helene Galek joins us to discuss this past Broadway season. Is the hilarious Broadway spoof "Schmigadoon!" the fun show the voters want right now? Will the brave reimagining of "Cats" win out over the beloved "Ragtime" revival? Is "Death of a Salesman" a shoo-in? We'll find out on June 7th...

"Moulin Rouge!" is the winner of 10 Tony Awards, including "Best Musical", and now it's on tour, visiting Proctors Theatre. We speak with Luke Monday who is currently playing Christian on the US tour. We chat about life on the road, working on a show with such popular music, and taking care of yourself as an actor. "Moulin Rouge!" is playing at Proctors until June 7th, 2026.

SLOC Musical Theater is entering their 100th season! We discuss this milestone with Heather-Liz Meglino, the Chair of the Centennial Committee. We review the history of SLOC, chat about the challenges and successes they've faced through the years, and learn about what's in store for their centennial season!

Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill has already been pulled out of artistic retirement to direct Deborah Zoe Laufer's "Rooted" at WAM Theatre. We chat with Maggie and Erin Patrick (General Manager at WAM) about the play and the mission of WAM to focus on women theatre artists and/or stories of women and girls. "Rooted" runs from May 1 - May 16, 2026. https://www.wamtheatre.com/

Acrobatics, puppetry, folk-pop music... "Water for Elephants" has it all in a breathtaking musical production that is currently touring the United States. We speak with "Water for Elephants" star Helen Krushinski about learning all the skills for the show, keeping yourself healthy on the road, and staying present onstage during a long run. "Water for Elephants" is at Proctors in Schenectady until...

Mike Ford is back in Cambridge, and he's brought a new theater company with him! The Bridge Theatre serves as a connection between Upstate New York and New York City, fostering a vibrant exchange of artistic ideas and talent. We talk to Mike about starting a new theater company and chat with actress Sarah Diamond about Bridge Theatre's inaugural production, "Constellations." Website: Bridgetheatre...

Who will take home the golden statues this year?! We are back with film critic Jackson Murphy to talk about the films of the 2026 award season and share his predictions for Oscar night. With a lot of films connected to theater ("Hamnet", "Sentimental Value"... or the shocking "Wicked For Good" snub), we have a lot to talk about!

It may be considered cursed, but Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most popular and beloved plays. We chat with Dazmann Still (playing Macbeth) and Amy Frances Quint (playing Lady Macbeth) who are tackling this classic text at The Frog + Peach Theatre Company in NYC running through March 2026.  https://www.frogandpeachtheatre.org/

Despite the cold and snow this winter, several companies have been hard at work rehearsing shows. Home Made Theater and Confetti Stage, Inc. are presenting two classics this winter. We chat with director Toni Anderson-Sommo and actors Matthew Crowley and Bridget Dunigan about the timeliness of "The Crucible" at Home Made Theater and then we discuss the power of "The Lion in Winter" with director A...

It's always a challenge to work on a winter show when the weather can be so unpredictable. Ellen and Benita talk about working on winter shows, and review exciting upcoming events and shows in the Capital Region in 2026!

"Shear Madness" has been translated into 28 foreign languages, in 36 foreign countries, playing worldwide in a host of cities including Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Paris, Rejkavik, Rome, Tel Aviv, Melbourne, Johannesburg, Seoul, and Shanghai. Over 14.5 million people worldwide have joined in the fun. We chat with the creators, writers, and original cast members, Bruce Jordan and Marilyn Abram...

We can't believe we're at the end of 2025 and our 6th year of podcasting! We also can't believe we're at the end of an era. The incredible Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill has wrapped up her 30 years as Producing Artistic Director at Capital Repertory Theatre. We chat with Maggie about her phenomenal run at The Rep, and what the theater scene looks like going into 2026.

Argentine playwright and actor Gaston Leguizamon's new short play, "In the Same World," will be presented at the International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF) at The Tank in NYC on December 11, 2025. We chat with Gaston about his company (VoxArt Lab Productions), his creative process, and the mission of the International Human Rights Art Festival.

The holiday season is upon us, and Christmas shows are now running! We catch up with a dear friend of the Capital Region, Alex Perone, who is traveling with "How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical" which is coming to Proctors Theatre Dec 2nd - 7th, 2025. We discuss the musical, traveling during the holidays, and what it's like taking a show on the road.

David Girard, Artistic Director of Troy Foundry Theatre , is back for the third year playing ALL the characters in an adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol." We discuss the timeless appeal of the story, how it resonates in today's world, and the tricks to tackling a one-man show.   This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of "Swing State" running Nov 15 - 23,...

While we love everything about theater, it can cause burnout. Jumping from project to project while balancing other life commitments can take its toll. We chat about setting boundaries, recognizing the symptoms of burnout, and how to take care of yourself. This episode is sponsored by Harbinger Theatre's production of Swing State by Rebecca Gilman, running Nov. 14 - 23, 2025

The New Yorker published an article on Sept 2, 2025 asking if critics are too nice these days. So we decided to chat with reviewer Bill Kellert about his observations over the years. Has the modern world put an end to harsh criticism? 

Kimerer LaMothe does it all. An award winning author, dancer, playwright, and farmer, Kimerer's latest endeavor has been writing the musical, Nietzsche, about the famous German philosopher. We discuss the process of writing and mounting the new musical, as well as the timeliness of it's message. "A love that teaches us to hate is not love." "Do not throw away your love and your hope." Off-Brand Op...

The theatrical experience starts as soon as you walk in the door and collect your tickets. Jeffrey Hocking has been the box office manager at Schenectady Light Opera Company ( SLOC Musical Theater ) for 10 years and has many stories to share. Jeffrey also manages the Capital District events calendar and announcement/audition mailing list that spreads info across the area to boost support and invol...

Fort Salem Theater has been entertaining audiences with exceptional performances over the past several years, but now they are facing a financial crisis due to unexpected expenses and loss of funding. We talk to Kyle West and Jared West about their outreach for help to keep the curtain up in Fort Salem. https://mailchi.mp/fortsalem/urgent-appeal-for-support?fbclid=IwY2xjawMbRfRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicml...

The summer is coming to a close! But Ellen and Benita have been super busy exploring the wealth of summer theater in the area, including many new plays at companies such as the Cape Cod Theater Project and the Great Barrington Public Theater.

Michael Pizzi is Producing and Artistic Director of the Sandhills Repertory Theatre, bringing all NYC and Broadway talent to the Sandhills, with a percentage of ALL show net profits funding performing arts in Moore County schools. He is also the creator and producer of the Special Broadway Camp for children with special needs in the Sandhills. Besides being an artist, Michael is an occupational th...

Martha Banta, the Founding Artistic Director at the Adirondack Theater Festival, an Artistic Associate at New York Theater Workshop, the Associate Director of MAMMA MIA! on Broadway and the National Tours, and the Original Resident Director of RENT for NYTW, Broadway, two National Tours, and London, joins us to talk about her current production of "Gutenberg! The Musical!" at the Adirondack Theate...