Satellite: Beyond The Page

Ever wonder what a dramaturg brings to a production? "Reggie Hoops" dramaturg Wesley Tipton is a junior at Syracuse University studying theatre management, writing, and dramaturgy. Profile Theatre was lucky to be able to engage Tipton's research skill through her internship in artistic direction with "Reggie Hoops" director Melissa Crespo. In this episode, Tipton shares some of the same insights i...

"Reggie Hoops" director Melissa Crespo on growing up splitting her time between suburban Connecticut and the lively, diverse boroughs of New York; her life-long relationship with hip hop culture, and why she considers "Reggie Hoops" the next great family drama.

In 2016, when playwright Kristoffer Diaz was first writing "Reggie Hoops" for a group of M.F.A. actors, he imagined they would perform this story - the story of an exceptionally qualified woman leader in a field overwhelmingly dominated by men - in a world where the U.S. was celebrating having elected its first woman as president. Eight years and a handful of workshops (and life-altering career op...

An interview with Blanca Forzán: Lighting Designer, Director, Playwright, Architect, and Human Being   This episode explores the relationship that develops when artists have the opportunity to collaborate on multiple projects over time. Profile Theatre's current production, our orange sky , is the third of christopher oscar peña's plays in Profile's two-year season The American Generation. While s...

Playwright christopher oscar peña carved out some time between rehearsals and rewrites of "our orange sky" to lead a writing workshop with Profile Theatre's  Community Profile cohort. We sat down right after chris’s workshop to hear some of what they worked on together, and how they’ve seen their own first generation or immigrant experience reflected in Profile’s work this season. 

"our orange sky" director Evren Odcikin shares how his own history as an immigrant fuels his passion and commitment to portraying similar stories with compassion, complexity, and in collaboration with and for the communities being portrayed.

"our orange sky" director's own history as an immigrant fuels his passion and commitment to portraying similar stories with compassion, complexity, and in collaboration with and for the communities being portrayed.

Artistic Director Josh Hecht sits down with season featured playwright Lauren Yee to talk about her inspiration for the three plays Profile is presenting in our 3-day Lauren Yee Festival: Mother Russia, The Song of Summer, and Samsara. They also touch on how becoming a mother has affected Yee's relationship with her work, and what it means to write outside one's own experience or identity.

A behind-the-scenes look at awe/struck 's video design process. A lot of people working in creative professions are increasingly wary of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) will affect their industry. awe/struck 's video designer (Luke Norby) and creative technologist (Scott James) of Five OHM Productions are excited about all of the possibilities AI can offer and view it as a creative asset, rather...

Our season's first episode of Satellite orbits awe/struck, the first of three world premieres Profile will produce this year. Satellite host and Director of Community Engagement Tamara Carroll grabs some time with playwright christopher oscar peña and director Josh Hecht (Artistic Director) on their meal break from rehearsal to discuss the play's origins, its journey and evolution from a Profile s...

Ben Villegas Randle New York based director Ben Villegas Randle shares the parallels between the play, chris peña's story, and his own, as well as his process for understanding the world of the play through concrete visual metaphor. This episode makes reference to negative stereotypes and attitudes towards Latiné immigrants, including those that exist within the Latiné community.

Matthew Sepeda In part 2 of this three-part series orbiting How to Make An American Son , we chat with actor Matthew Sepeda, who plays the lead character Orlando in this production. Sepeda draws connections between his character and his own upbringing, and describes his experience portraying playwright christopher oscar peña as a teenager.

christopher oscar peña We kick off our 3-part series orbiting  How to Make an American Son   with playwright christopher oscar peña. In April, peña came to Portland to workshop his newest play,  Our Orange Sky . Prior to his visit, Director of Community Engagement Tamara Carroll talked to him about what peña refers to as the "alternate metaverse version of my plays, where they are a fictitious but...

In part 2 of the  Playwright Convening  Satellite series, we hear reflections on the week's work from the playwrights and workshop directors. In the first half, Director of Community Engagement, Tamara Carroll, sits down with  christopher oscar peña  and  Kristoffer Diaz  at the end of their week-long Portland residency, where they workshopped two plays that will enjoy their world premieres at Pro...

In this episode, Artistic Director Josh Hecht helps position the Convening, both within The American Generation season, and in Profile’s own history. Following that, Kristoffer Diaz ( Chad Deity, Welcome to Arroyos ) describes the evolution of his new play  Reggie Hoops , and christopher oscar peña shares just how closely his art imitates his life in both  How to Make an American Son , and  our or...

In this episode, host Bobby Bermea (who is also directing Welcome to Arroyo’s ) chats with playwright, Kristoffer Diaz about what inspired Arroyo’s , New York City, his Puerto Rican heritage, his love of hip-hop music and more!

This episode of Satellite: Beyond the Page orbits our production of King of the Yees . You’ll hear from Director Lava Alapai about why King of the Yees has been a “bucket-list” project since she first read the script five years ago.  Host Bobby Bermea also speaks with Nick Lee of the Portland Lee Association Lion Dance Team about the tradition of Chinese family associations, lion and dragon dances...

Join Bobby Bermea as he chats with playwright Kristoffer Diaz and pro-wrestler and wrestling consultant about the world of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity.

This episode of Satellite is an exploration and discussion of the themes percolating on the surface and underneath Branden Jacobs-Jenkins award-winning play,  Appropriate.  We will speak with director Jerry Ruíz, about how he approaches this complex and potentially volatile work both within the art itself, and the practical concerns of what the artists are being put through. We’ll also be talking...

This month’s satellite delves deep into the world of Brandon Jacobs Jenkins’  Gloria.  Kelsea Ashebrenner, from the Soul Box Project, a non-profit that uses art to prevent gun violence, speaks on their work and makes a harrowing reveal. Jon Cole talks about how he balances commitment to art with commitment to safety when creating violence onstage and Amanda Soden talks about the violence present i...

Bobby Bermea hosts a “Satellite Extravaganza” when he interviews six individuals: Charla Hathaway, PhD and Intimacy Coach Wanda Walden, Costume Designer, and Brenda Phillips (“Mae”) of The Oldest Profession  Charlene Zidell (Zidell Yards), Emily Running (DanceWire), and Josh Hecht (Profile Theatre) of Old Moody Stages.

"In this month's episode of Satellite, we explore the world of Paula Vogel's  The Mineola Twins . We take a trip down memory lane with the wonderful  Luan Schooler , who originated the roles of Myrna and Myra 25 years ago, we learn how the magic was made with the extraordinary  Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew , and we hear from Profile's artistic director,  Josh Hecht  in a rare and enlightening interview." -...

In this episode our host Bobby Bermea interviews artists and community partners of  Hot ‘N' Throbbing Illustrated . The episode starts with an interview with  Raphael House's  Prevention Education Specialist  Samantha Cohen . Then, Bobby speaks with our collaborator  Ant Proctor  about their dynamic graphic illustrations. It concludes with a conversation with the audio play's brilliant director  J...

In this episode, our host Bobby Bermea interviews artists of Profile Theatre's audio play adaptation of Las Meninas by Lynn Nottage. Actress Lauren Modica talks about her art and hopes for the future for the American stage. Then, we hear from sound designer and composer Matt Wiens about his inspiration and approach to layering in music and effects for our audio play adaptations. Our episode wraps...