Play to Z

ZEEKS! It's the "Z" episode! This week, Erika and Justin chat about some of their fvorite playwrights and what it felt like to walk across the stage as they graduated with their MFA in Acting from West Virginia University! Erika talks about an actor who is a secret playwright, Justin preps you for an upcoming interview he is recording, and the two of them get nostaligic as they end season 2! Enjoy...

Yes! whY You ask? It's the "Y" episode! This week, Justin and Erika break down two very different but absolutley wonderful playwrights. Erika looks at one of the biggest names in the industry right now, Justin finds an underground treasure trove of femal comedic monolouges, and the two of them chat about oats. FINALLY. SOME BUSINESS: Thank you to the two playwrights we featured in this episode! Yo...

Xtra Xtra! It's the "X" episode! This week, Justin and Erika talk about two very cool and very new playwrights that are killing it. Erika talks about one of the coolest "hot girl" playwrights that was shown to us by Liz, Justin finds a brilliant playwright on NPX, and the two of them finally figure out what plays need to be made into movies. Enjoy the episode! SOME BUSINESS: Thank you to the two p...

Well, Wash up! It's time for "W"! This week, Justin and Erika chat about some of their favorite playwrights around! Erika talks about a living legend of research-based theatre, Justin goes in on one of his favorite young playwrights and reveals a VERY exciting project she has upcoming, and the two of them decide what to call someomne who fixes the water in a hot tub. We settled on "Hot Tub Doctor"...

Get excited! It's a PLAYdough day! This week, Justin and Erika make up a play on the spot set at the time of the biggest YA movie,  Twilight! A five-act play that follows the PAs of the five-film saga as they figure out their love triangle, how to get through the day while being tortured by a certain actor on set, and discover if the guy at the editing bay is a werewolf. Very goofy, very funny, pl...

Very Valid and Vulumptious Vocals! It's "V" today! This week, Justin and Erika chat about two very different but very cool playwrights! Erika discovers a beautiful story co-edited by her playwright and ALAN RICKMAN, Justin finds a new up-and-coming playwright you need to read, and the two of them begin the "Let's Record in an Ohio Living Room" Chronicles! Enjoy! SOME BUSINESS: Thank you to the two...

U! Yeah, I'm talking to U! It's the "U" episode! This week, Justin and Erika record literally moments after they finsihed their last reguirment of grad school and they're beat but have an amazing time! Erika fins you an amazing ten-minute play treasure trove, Justin deep dives on an epic and intense playwright with a huge interwoven canon of plays, and the two of them come up with musicals that st...

TUNE IN! It's "T"! This week, Justin and Erika chat about two wonderful contemporary playwrights that are blowing up in the theatre industry! Justin talks about a recent pulitizer winner, Erika breaks down a wonderful playwright who just had some work go up at Playwrights Horizons, and the two of them give you guys some closure on their thesis journey! Enjoy! SOME BUSINESS: Thank you to the two pl...

This week is a big one folks. Justin and Erika met in grad school, this podcast came from grad school, and we are officially getting to the end of grad school, so let's talk about what started it all! Our hosts dive into what acting grad school is like, how it chnaged them as theatre-makers and people, and what the heck a thesis is! Don't worry, this isn't a goodbye to the show in anyway, but we o...

Get your goofy hats on, it's time for a PLAYdough! Welcome to the world of The Marching Fleshman , the story of recently dumped Joey who takes on the task of building a marching band in his home town out of nothing! It's a silly one, oh, and Justin and Erika get beat up and robbed by Broadway. Enjoy! SOME BUSINESS: Thank you to the two playwrights we featured in this episode! You can find some of...

Seriously, Shoot that Sound Sky high! It's "S"! Justin and Erika spend this week talking about two very different but very funny and wonderful writers. Erika dives deep into one of the most interesting and unique playwrights, Justin tells the history of one of the best joke writers in theatre history, and the two vent about their thesis... sorry, it's like all we think about. So enjoy! SOME BUSINE...

Really radical reccomendations right here! It's "R"! Justin and Erika get into it this week talking about some of their favorites. Erika goes into research mode on Sarah Ruhl's career, Justin talks about one of the king's of satire and experimental musical theatre, and the two of them discover the hottest musical in history... Radio Gals. SOME BUSINESS: Thank you to the two playwrights we featured...

Quick! Quiet down and Q (cue) up this episode! It's Q! This week Justin and Erika bring full opposite playwrights to the table. Justin talks about a playwright everyone knows and dives deeper then anyone before, Erika finds a new playwright with AMAZING plays, and the two of them dig into every musical you can imagine with the word "Quilt" in it. It's very exciting. SOME BUSINESS: Thank you to the...

It's Justin and Erika's spring break so we decided to do something different! Today Justin and Erika talk about Justin's new adaptation of  The Misanthrope by Molière, haters gonna hate.  They also talk about Justin's recent workshop with James Ijames, what to do when you have burn out in the industry, and how to take on a theatre project when it scares you... a lot. It's honestly a great episode...

It's that time again! Time for as PlayDough! This week, Justin and Erika tell the story of a cover cover cover band set ina. garage! Follow along as they tell a very funny story of a cover band and their internal struggles. Think if Fleetwood Mac wrote a very goofy play. It's a freaking blast! Enjoy! SOME BUSINESS: Thank you to the two playwrights we featured in this episode! You can find some of...

Pardon me, it's "P"! This week, Justin and Erika chat about two brilliant young playwrights! Erika finds a new playwright who wrote an amazing satire of HGTV shows, Justin chats about a Yale Drama Prize winner, and the two of them try to figure out if Pal Joey matters! We hope you enjoy! SOME BUSINESS: Thank you to the two playwrights we featured in this episode! You can find some of their plays i...

Oh boy! OutrageOus episOde fOr yOu! It's "O"! This week, Justin and Erika hop into some of their favorite contemporary theatre makers to chat about. Erika talks about the amazing arc of Jeremy O. Harris, Justin gets nostaligic (and historical?!) while chatting about Alexander Sage Oyen, and the two break down Justin's recent reading of hjis new play, haters gonna hate. Oh, what a fun time! SOME BU...

NEW NEW NEW EPISODE! It's "N"! Justin and Erika both talk about playwrights very new to them! Justin finds a great Irish-American playwright who does something new with updating a script, Erika looks into one of her favoirte plays as of recent, and the two of them talk about the greatest musical in history... No, No, Nanette! SOME BUSINESS: Thank you to the two playwrights we featured in this epis...

You know it's gonna be a good Friday when it's a PLAYdough day! This week Justin and Erika get whimsical with their concept and create a fun adventure story about a young girl who who finds a rain cloud over her head according to her emotions. It's cute, fun, and all about a young Drew Barrymore! Also, Justin cries in the end so... enjoy! SOME BUSINESS: Thank you to the two playwrights we featured...

Merry Morning to Many! It's "M"! Justin and Erika have the longest eisode in Play to Z history while they gush about some of their favorite art. Erika blows up her spot and jumps into a classic EK deep dive, Justin gives a peak into his tea-filled thesis, and the two nerd out about the release of a very exciting new play! SOME BUSINESS: Thank you to the two playwrights we featured in this episode!...

Love listing lovely theatre! It's "L"! Justin and Erika would by LYING if they said they weren't excited for 2024 of Play to Z, and this episode is no different! Justin talks about one of the most important realism playwirghts in the last twenty years (Tracy Letts), Erika finds one of the coolest underground playwrights you might have never heard of (M Sloth Levine), and the two of them talk about...

WE'RE BACK! After a holiday break full of interviews and grab-bags, Justin and Erika return to their roots with the letter, "K"! And it Kicks butt! Justin tells a heart-warming story, Erika tells a college story about her relationship with a certain tony award-winning play, and the two of them talk about how important the art is and the difficulty with sticking with it sometimes! It's KILLER to be...

Hello friends! This week, Erika and Justin chat about Justin's upcoming new play through his publisher Playscripts, Cabin Chronicles! Erika talks about the different styles of writing for a TYA audience, Justin talks about his horror inspirations, and both are super excited to see the play come out on shelves in the next few weeks! SOME BUSINESS: Thank you to the two playwrights we featured in thi...

Happy new year! This week, Erika and Justin do their first mailbag epsiode! They curated a bunch of questions from fans and friends on Instagram and answer them on the show! They talk abou their dream roles, their hopes for the future of theatre and their lives, and they, of course, make freaking goofs. Enjoy and we will see you next week for a fun episode before hopping back to the alphabet! SOME...

Happy Holiday's from Play to Z! We talk about cannibalism! Today, Justin and Erika wanted to give you a festive holiday playdough, but...you know...Justin and Erika can get distracted sometimes and yeah, they talked about a hyper-realstic family reunion the year after a canniballstic journey out west. A weird one but... HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Have a great 2023 and we will see you when we are back on Janu...