Theater Forward

Our favorite summer stories are back! We sit down with some of our most treasured theater artists and ask them to share a story about a play or musical that "stayed" with them, inspired them, or simply blew their minds. This episode features: Cody Estle - Artistic Director of Next Act Theatre James Carrington - Actor and Associate Director of Engagement at Milwaukee Repertory Theater Lisa Schlenke...

It's our favorite time of the year! Theaters across the country are announcing their productions for the 2024-25 season, and we've got a LONG list of shows that we want to see. In this episode, we discuss the shows we're looking forward to locally, regionally, and across the country. 

It's the most wonderful time of the year! This is when theater companies across the country announce their upcoming seasons, which means that theater is alive in America. In this episode, the team breaks down (and geeks out about) the lineup for Forward Theater's 2024-25 season: KING JAMES by Rajiv Joseph MURDER GIRL by Heidi Armbruster SUMMER, 1976 by David Auburn A CASE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD...

Mike Fischer interviews Forward Theater Artistic Director (and fellow host) Jen Uphoff Gray! Jen discusses the valuable role of mentors in the arts, while reflecting on her formative relationship with Tony award-winning director Michael Blakemore. A thoughtful conversation about how we cultivate a new generation of theater directors, with a few juicy showbiz tales that include David Mamet and Wood...

What happens after a play moves on from its shiny status as a World Premiere? Playwright Samuel Hunter joins us to discuss the journey of a play, from its exciting life as a World Premiere through its crucial 2nd and 3rd productions. A brilliant conversation that provides insight into the world of creating (and supporting) new works in American theater. 

We look back at the theatrical highlights of 2023, and dive into our favorite experiences over the last year. We also take a moment to applaud the productions and artists that continue to take theater to the next level, and inspire us to keep looking forward. 

We sit down with Forward Theater Director of Development Sarah Milestone to talk about every theater's favorite word: REVENUE.  Making money in theater is a delicate dance. We dive into the world of donors, events, and the (lack of) government support for an artform that relies on more than just ticket sales to thrive. Correction at 18:56: Economic impact of the arts in the state of Wisconsin is $...

Theater season is here, and we're all just kids in a candy store. We share the productions we can't wait to see in the 2023-24 season - nationally, regionally, and in our own backyard. 

Making theater accessible for Deaf and Hard of Hearing patrons is in high demand. We sit down with Amy Free and Tim Mumm, professional sign language interpreters and educators, to put a spotlight on this overdue priority for theaters. Amy and Tim share a behind the scenes look at what they do, and how theaters can make ASL-interpreted performances an integrated part of their productions. A transcr...

It's been a summer. After a deluge of national press about a crisis in American theater amid closings and layoffs, we take some time to cool things down with a tall, refreshing glass of "theater is not dead, folks." While it's important to note the massive change that is happening in the theater world right now (and it can be shocking), it's vital to recognize that some organizations are not only...

There's a growing concern regarding the lack of new technical artists and designers in American theater, causing many companies to reconsider (and change) how they build a season of productions. We sit down with Sarah Ross, Assistant Professor of Scenic Design at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, and Brian Gill, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts at University of Wisconsin - Parkside to ta...

**Clarification** - This is our original Episode 97! Found in the vault and now live. We will re-release our interview on the new generation of technical artists as Episode 99, coming soon.  The team discusses the ways in which current events can impact a production, specifically plays that touch on issues of women's bodily autonomy. We explore how these works are resonating differently with artis...

Our favorite summer stories are back! We sit down with some amazing Wisconsin arts leaders and ask them to share a story about a play or musical that "stayed" with them, inspired them, or just generally rocked their world. This episode features: Jacob Janssen - Artistic Director of Third Avenue PlayWorks   Laura Braza - Associate Artistic Director of Milwaukee Rep Sheri Williams Pannell - Playwrig...

In theater, a "world premiere" seems easy to define, right? But some licensing agents are gatekeeping this title for promotional purposes, rather than granting it to the companies that invest time and money into producing a brand new play. We share our experience (and frustration) with an east coast "world premiere production" that left our theater company in the cold. 

It's that time of the year! Theaters are announcing their upcoming seasons and wrangling their subscribers to renew. We discuss the four plays on tap for Forward Theater's 2023-24 season, and share the process of curating a season that brings joy to ourselves and our audiences.  Our 23-24 season: The Garbologists by Lindsay Joelle Clyde's by Lynn Nottage The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk by Daniel Jami...

We were thrilled to sit down with Lauren Gunderson, one of America's most produced playwrights and author of our upcoming world premiere of ARTEMISIA at Forward Theater Company. Get a deep dive into the process of this prolific writer, as well as insight into the creation of this exciting new production. This is a MUST LISTEN for artists and audiences.   

Finding understudies used to be the last item on a long to-do list for producers. But with ongoing safety protocols this hard-to-fill role is now front and center. As a result, more and more artists are jumping into performances at the last minute to keep productions afloat. A candid and funny look at this brave "sport," thanks to our special guests Kailey Azure Green (they/them) and Rána Roman (s...

We dive into the debut of World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide festival celebrating new plays and musicals, March 1 - June 30. Originally conceived by our very own Jen Uphoff Gray, this event is one-of-a-kind. We go in-depth on what it took to create the festival, including the collaboration of over 50 Wisconsin theaters that have made this idea a reality. 

We welcome educator and scenic designer Neil Mills, and Orion Risk, a PhD student in Interdisciplinary Theater Studies. In this interview, we discuss the "tipping point" of awareness and inclusion of transgender and non-binary artists and stories, and gain insight into how American theater institutions can expand their perspectives even further. 

A deep dive with Mallory Metoxen and Jake Penner, two emerging directors that share their personal journeys and insight about developing a career as a director, as well as how to cultivate a new generation of artists. Hosted by Artistic Director Jen Uphoff Gray.

In our end-of-year episode, we reflect on the highlights, the lowlights, and the things we'll remember most about a very interesting season in the world of theater. 

Amidst the recent fallout at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago, we examine the role of the Board of Directors and the changing relationship they have with theater administrators and staff. 

We are joined by Guthrie Theater Accessibility Coordinator Robyn DeCourcy and our very own Director of Audience Development Samara Safarik to talk about the ongoing journey to make the arts accessible to all, and the innovative ways theaters are leading the charge in America. 

We are joined by Khalid Y. Long, PhD (University of Georgia) and Marcella Kearns (UW-Milwaukee). These powerhouse arts educators give us a revealing look at post-pandemic arts education, and how the future crop of artists are rising to the challenge and approaching their craft. 

American Theatre Magazine has released its list for the first time in two years, and we break it all down. FYI the #1 most-produced title is shared by a playwright we are partnering with in spring of 2023...