The PURE Theatre Podcast

In case you missed it or want to revisit, we had a wonderful talkback moderated by our own Miles Boinest, with playwright Brad Erickson and historian and author Harlan Greene. The production runs for two more weeks so tell your friends and get your tickets below! THE OCEAN WE SWIM IN BY BRAD ERICKSON APRIL 16–MAY 9, 2026 WORLD PREMIERE DIRECTED BY SHARON GRACI BUY TICKETS In the haunting quiet of...

When a production works — really works — it’s usually because someone wrote it that way. Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton is one of those plays. It has been terrifying audiences since 1938, survived two major film adaptations in the 1940s, and somehow managed to embed itself so deeply in the cultural conversation that it gave us a word we use every day. Steven Dietz is one of America’s finest working...

This week, my conversation with STEVEN DIETZ playwright of GASLIGHT, which starts this week at PURE. Steven is an amazing human and inadvertantly responsible for several major of my life events! Enjoy the conversation on audio above or video below. Also join us in conversation with Steven on March 21st after the show. (details further below!) PURE CONVERSATION with STEVEN DIETZ March 21 following...

Mark Landis is a long time core member with us here at PURE. Mark is coming up in our next production STEVEN DIETZ’S Adaptation of GASLIGHT. A little confession here. This is actually an interview from a couple of years ago, back when I first had dreams of developing a podcast for the company. I did a series of interviews at the time — including ones with Cristy Landis and Emily Wilhoit — and we'l...

As an actor, David Whalen's done it all. From Shakespeare to movies, he's worked with many of the greats in the major theatre centers and across this country's robust regional theatre scene. I got to sit down with him while he's performing in PURE's production of Ayad Akhtar's MCNEAL. Catch the reviews here and join us for our final week. CITY PAPER REVIEW by Maura Hogan CHARLESTON DAILY REVIEW by...

We’ve taken a bit of a break, but we’re back. I’m afraid I’m pretty much a one-man band here and it takes some work to get these out there. I certainly enjoy it and I hope you do as well. Feel free to let us know how it’s going and what you like and don’t like. The idea is to start taking this interaction to the next level. I’m thinking in terms of seasons and finding ways to really interface with...

This week York Walker is on the podcast! (VIDEO PODCAST Below) York is the writer of COVENANT, which opens at PURE on October 2nd and runs through October 25th. There's tremendous excitement building for this production. We held an open rehearsal last week, and the audience experienced Hitchcock-worthy suspense trying to figure out what's going to happen in the play. York was also here for our Pla...

(Watch Video Podcast below) P&F website Picture this: You walk out of the theater onto Spring Street, make your way to King, turn left on Rutledge, and walk down a few blocks to Bogard. Then, if you're fortunate enough to take that right and go a few more blocks, you're going to find Philosophers & Fools tucked nicely into the neighborhood. What is Philosophers & Fools? Well, it's a bookstore and...

This week's guest is Brad Erickson. Brad has had a fascinating career in the arts and is a long time friend and supporter of the company. He's the playwright of this year's final show, THE OCEAN WE SWIM IN, and part of our PLAYWRIGHTS Weekend coming up. You need not be a playwright to participate! It’s going to be an incredible opportunity to look into the process and meet all of the playwrights f...

This week’s conversation is with actor, writer, and creator of Journalistic Theater DAN HOYLE. Listen above or on your favorite podcast platform. You can also see the video of the conversation below. Dan will be performing at PURE September 12th & 13th in conjunction with our Playwrights Festival. Friday, September 12th is open to the public and the performance on the 13th is included in the Playw...

This week’s podcast is with Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder playwright on Zelda in the backyard. You can listen as usual to the podcast right here or on one of your favorite podcast platforms. For subscribers you can also WATCH the podcast below. Fancy right? Here are links to Elyzabeth's website and her beautiful piece in the PORTLAND REVIEW. There's also a link below to a short documentary about a Sout...

In this episode of the PURE Theatre Podcast, host Rodney Lee Rogers welcomes listeners to season two after a year-long hiatus. He discusses the show's intent to enrich the PURE Theatre experience and invites audiences to revisit previous episodes featuring insightful conversations with artists. Notably, the episode highlights the upcoming season's lineup, including plays like 'Zelda in the Backyar...

Bridging Histories: Margaret Seidler's Journey to Truth This episode features Margaret Seidler. Margaret discusses her personal and professional experiences, particularly highlighting a recent project where she delves into her family's history. Translating her discovery into a book titled 'Painful Business, Charleston's Journey to Truth', she unearths her ancestral connections to the slave trade i...

The Multifaceted Role of Theatre Patron Services and Marketing  An in-depth conversation with Megan McMahon, the Patron Services and Marketing Manager at PURE Theatre. The discussion covers Megan's multifaceted role at the theatre, encompassing ticket handling, subscription management, marketing, event planning, and overseeing donation campaigns. The script delves into Megan's journey to theatre,...

Exploring the Power of Storytelling and Cultural History with Jamie Ford In this fascinating conversation, renowned author, Jamie Ford, delves into the power of storytelling and its role in fostering empathy and meaningful dialogue. The discussion revolves around Ford's novel 'The Many Daughters of Afong Moy,' which details the epic saga and generational trauma tied to the first Chinese lady who a...

The Stage as a Character: A Conversation Richard Heffner Richard Heffner discusses his early experiences in theater and his transition from being in a band to becoming a set designer. He talks about his journey from West Virginia, his work in Charleston's theater community, his experiences with Footlight Players, and his contributions to PURE Theatre. Heffner emphasizes the importance of the set a...

A Conversation with Patricia Williams Dockery: Discussing Education, Civil Rights and Her Journey as a Writer. Co-hosted by Joy Vandervort-Cobb The podcast features conversation with writer Patricia Williams Dockery, known for 'Septima', a play that celebrates the life and struggles of Septima P. Clark, an important figure in civil rights and education. The play was developed in The PURE Theatre L...

Filmmaker Jason Chao and actor Anna Lin share their unique experiences in the theater community. They discuss their roles in 'The Chinese Lady' by Lloyd Suh, and how the play's narratives mirror their own realities in terms of shared and diverse experiences, and the feeling of being 'outsiders'. Anna talks about her journey in comedy and improvisation, which helped her break free from feeling stif...

The PURE Theatre Experience: Behind the Scenes with Sharon Graci In this episode of the PURE Theatre Podcast, host Rodney Lee Rogers talks to Sharon Graci, the Artistic director of PURE Theatre and director of the Lehman Trilogy. Graci shares insights into the immense organizational and creative demands of running both a theatre company and a family. She speaks passionately about the Lehman Trilog...

In this episode, Rodney Lee Rogers engages in a captivating conversation with economist Steve Slifer, who worked on Wall Street for many years and has a wide-ranging perspective on the field of economics. Mr. Slifer talks about how he began in the business, his exciting journey, the thrill of forecasting, and his current endeavors. The discussion also touches on the Lehman Brothers, exploring the...

A Conversation with Actor & Director Michael Smallwood The conversation begins with Smallwood discussing his early love of storytelling and how he connects it to the concept of humanity. He refers to narrative as an important human evolutionary tool and how it played a significant role in his career, from his earliest acting experience playing Santa Claus in second grade to creating narratives...

In a captivating conversation, Shivam Patel reveals his experiences navigating the world of theater. Starting with his first role, with 'Puss in Boots' as a child, Shivam discusses his journey to becoming a professional actor, and his passion for fostering the love of theater. The conversation dives deeper into the duality of identity as a child of immigrant parents and how Shivam wants to explore...

In this episode of the PURE Theatre Podcast, host Rodney Lee Rogers chats with R.W. (Smitty) Smith, a versatile actor, writer, and director with PURE Theatre's core ensemble. Smith shares his expansive journey from his early exposure to theater in high school, his experience in the Air Force, to his accomplishments in the theater world. The discussion delves into Smith's approach to characterizati...

Fred Thompson, the playwright of the play 'Atwater' joins host Rodney Lee Rogers for an invigorating chat. Thompson discusses his journey in writing the play 'Atwater,' revealing his fascination with the theme of ego, ambition, and success in society. They discuss how his play explores a crucial question - what it means to win in society and how it clashes with personal integrity and being a good...