The Drama Book Show!

In this episode, we dive into 43 Stages of Grieving: A Comedy, a wildly inventive and deeply human story about a pregnant, dying robot and a human determined to live forever. Forget the idea of just five stages—this surreal, heartfelt comedy explores the countless (and often hilarious) ways we navigate loss, from soft cheese to hard cheese and everything in between. As the pair grapple with an unc...

In this episode, we explore Sappho’s Garden, a theatrical meditation on the legendary Greek poet that blends a vivid one-act play with scholarly insight and creative reimagining. Writers Carol Lee Campbell and Domnica Radulescu discuss bringing Sappho’s voice into a contemporary theatrical frame, drawing on history, myth, and modern perspectives on gender, identity, and artistic legacy. The conver...

In this episode, we celebrate the launch of Prince Faggot, one of the year’s most talked-about and provocative new plays, written by acclaimed playwright Jordan Tannahill. This live conversation explores the play’s audacious premise, radical imagination, and fearless interrogation of power, privilege, queerness, and colonial legacy. The discussion is moderated by director Shayok Misha Chowdhury an...

In this episode, Mark talks with Mara Lieberman about Bated Breath Theatre Company’s newest immersive production, Dirty Books, and the evolving world of immersive theatre. Lieberman has served as the company’s Executive Artistic Director since 2012, directing and co-writing all of its productions, including Voyeur: The Windows of Toulouse-Lautrec, Chasing Andy Warhol, Unmaking Toulouse-Lautrec, Be...

Join us for an engaging conversation and live performance exploring Unlikely Japan and Other Plays, a collection of ten one-act plays written by Neil LaBute over a decade-long collaboration with the St. Louis Actors’ Studio. LaBute and William Roth discuss the creation and staging of these diverse shorts, spanning comedy, drama, monologue, and dialogue, while Gia Crovatin performs scenes from the...

In this episode, we celebrate artistry that endures with photographer and artist Betti Franceschi, whose book Ageless Dancers captures forty legendary New York dancers—ages 70 and up—in striking portraits that honor grace, intelligence, and lifelong creative expression. Franceschi is joined by featured dancers Ze’eva Cohen, Molissa Fenley, Sandra Lee and Diana Byer and more. Together, they discuss...

Doug’s Goddess of the Hunt is a fast-moving comedy about dark secrets in a public world. When grieving Charlie Windsor meets the lively Diana Black-White in a New York bar, they become instant BFFs, much to the shock of his longtime friend, Broadway actor Ed McGrath. Pulled into a whirlwind of secrets, betrayals, and dysfunctional family dynamics, Charlie navigates a world he’s unprepared for. Thi...

In this episode, veteran producer Julian Schlossberg discusses My First Book—Part 2, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from his six decades in film, theater, and television. Hear his experiences with legends like Peter Falk, Elaine May, Mike Nichols, and John Cassavetes, along with reflections on running his own Castle Hill Productions for nearly 40 years. Moderator Renee Taylor, Emmy- and Academy...

In this episode, we dive into Justin Borak’s plays Community Garden and Cabin Chronicles. Community Garden follows Ralph’s first volunteer shift at Uptown City Gardens, exploring how tending to a shared green space can cultivate connection, humor, and even love. Cabin Chronicles is a horror comedy where three teens compete to tell the scariest stories while navigating the trials of high school and...

In this episode, we explore Just Another Day, a charming and witty play about a comedy writer and a sophisticated poet in their seventies who meet daily on a park bench to exchange barbs, memories, and reflections on love—if only for that day. We also dive into the remarkable career of Dan Lauria, whose work spans stage, film, and television—from Broadway roles in Lombardi and A Christmas Story: T...

In this episode, we spotlight Ngozi Anyanwu and her compelling plays. In Good Grief, Nkechi, a med-school dropout and first-generation Nigerian, navigates first loves, losses, and the stars in search of answers. In The Homecoming Queen, Kelechi returns to Nigeria after fifteen years to care for her father, confronting family, culture, and past traumas. The Last of the Love Letters offers a tender...

In this episode, we spotlight playwright and performer Becca Schlossberg, an award-winning, non-binary writer whose work fearlessly explores identity, trauma, myth, and survival. Best known for Just Like I Wanted, a globally produced drama confronting teen suicide, Becca discusses a body of work that spans intimate realism, reimagined mythology, and bold theatrical experimentation—from 3boys and D...

In this special event, Suzie Miller, Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright of Prima Facie, joins writer and performer Nora Brigid Monahan for a signing and talkback on Miller’s debut novel adaptation of her acclaimed play. Prima Facie follows Tessa Ensler, a brilliant defense barrister whose faith in the law is shattered when she becomes the victim of sexual assault—and must face the very syst...

In this episode, Kevin Winkler discusses On Bette Midler: An Opinionated Guide. The book traces the rise of the Divine Miss M from the Continental Baths to mainstream stardom, exploring her impact on gay, Jewish, and feminist culture, as well as her influence across stage, film, music, and activism. Moderator Charles Kirsch, the young host of Backstage Babble, guides the conversation, offering ins...

A special podcast episode exploring the new anthology Every Day a Little Death, released on what would have been Stephen Sondheim’s 95th birthday. Edited by Josh Pachter, this collection brings together twenty short crime stories—each inspired by a song from one of Sondheim’s twenty musicals, from Saturday Night to Here We Are. Listeners will hear from Josh and a number of contributing authors as...

In this episode, we dive into a little-known side of Stephen Sondheim—the master composer’s lifelong love of puzzles, games, and brain-twisting challenges. Based on Barry Joseph’s fascinating new book Matching Minds with Sondheim, this conversation uncovers how Sondheim’s “puzzler’s mind” shaped not only his legendary musicals but also the treasure hunts, crossword puzzles, parlor games, and elabo...

In this episode, we explore the evolving world of intimacy direction through The Intimacy Coordinator’s Guidebook: Specialties for Stage and Screen. Author Brooke M. Haney—one of the first 50 intimacy coordinators recognized by SAG-AFTRA—joins us to unpack the book’s deep dive into the profession, from cultural competency to working with minors, queer intimacy, disability, trauma, and more. They’r...

In this episode, Jack Viertel discusses his novel Broadway Melody, a sweeping show-business romance set against the backdrop of 1960s Broadway. Tracing the intertwined lives of a trumpet player, a spotlight operator, and an aspiring ingenue, Viertel explores the hits, flops, and behind-the-scenes drama of the theater world, while offering a vivid portrait of Broadway’s history, humor, and heartbre...

In this episode, Elizabeth Teets discusses her anthology Isn’t She Great: Writers on Women-Led Comedies from 9 to 5 to Booksmart, celebrating the power and humor of women-led comedies. Joined by contributors Samantha Mann, Lana Schwartz, and Yael Krinsky, they explore cult cinema, film criticism, and the enduring glamour of pink. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Kenneth Lonergan moderates a conversation about Stereophonic, David Adjmi’s Tony Award-winning play. Set in mid-1970s Sausalito, the story takes us inside a recording studio where a rock band on the brink of superstardom struggles to create their sophomore album. Fueled by booze, sleep deprivation, and a giant bag of cocaine, the band’s relationships are pushed to the breaking poi...

In this episode, we’re joined by Emily McGill, creator of The Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot. A recovering Broadway publicist turned “Ivy League Witch,” Emily takes us on a bewitching journey where tarot meets theatre, revealing how Broadway archetypes align with the Major and Minor Arcana. With stories from her work on 20 Broadway shows and her path into spiritual psychology, Emily shares how the Hirs...

In this episode, author Chloe O. Davis discusses The Queens’ English: The LGBTQIA+ Dictionary of Lingo and Colloquial Phrases – Young Readers Edition. This playful, illustrated guide explores the rich history and contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community to the English language, tracing terms from Sappho to the underground ball scene, the Stonewall Riots, and RuPaul’s Drag Race. Davis shares insight...

In this episode, composer, lyricist, and performer Seth Bisen-Hersh discusses The Making of a Musical: The 12-Year Journey of Love Quirks. He shares an insider’s look at the writing and producing process behind his award-winning off-Broadway musical, including detailed chapter analyses of every song and behind-the-scenes stories. Bisen-Hersh’s witty, comedic voice shines throughout, offering inspi...

Get ready for a wonderfully nerdy Broadway deep dive! In this episode, host Marc Bonanni of Broadway by Ghostlight sits down with authors Andrew Gerle and Joseph Zellnik to celebrate their dazzling new book The Periodic Table of Broadway Musicals. They’re joined by very special guest—three-time Tony nominee and Broadway icon—Mary Testa for a lively talkback, signing, and live podcast recording tha...

In this episode, actor and author Lewis J. Stadlen joins theater historian Laurence Maslon to discuss Stadlen’s new book Save Me a Seat! On the Road with Hello, Dolly!. Offering a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the daily life of a touring company, Stadlen shares candid stories of joy, frustration, and camaraderie from the 2018 national tour of Hello, Dolly!—spotlighting not only the actors but al...