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LIGHTS UP!

A Podcast for Playwrights

A podcast celebrating playwrights, performers, and patrons. In Season 5, Executive Director Garry Posey and co-producer Caleb Sexton introduce theatre artists and creatives, delving into the storytelling and imagination

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  • 6. WHAT WE CAST OFF, WHAT WE KEEP by Judy Klass

    01:11:57||Season 5, Ep. 6
    In this episode we welcome back Nashville-based playwright Judy Klass with her play WHAT WE CAST OFF, WHAT WE KEEP, a story rooted in metamorphosis and personal transformation. The conversation explores breakups, loss, and the complexities of navigating estrangement in relationships. We reflect on storytelling, unexpected collaboration, and the emotional growth that emerges from life’s most difficult transitions.Play Starts (0:55)Join New Play Exchange to follow along.Conversation Starts (30:34)Actors:Janet: Carrie SuttonMolly: Karen HendersonStanley: Jason RussellDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattLinks to follow Judy:Judy's WebsiteNew Play ExchangeVanderbilt University Faculty BioSubstackSpotify

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  • 5. FAIRIES by Adam Szudrich

    01:08:09||Season 5, Ep. 5
    In this episode, we welcome returning Australian playwright and award-winning storyteller Adam Szudrich to discuss his creative journey from playwriting to filmmaking. Adam shares how personal experiences and cultural folklore influenced the themes of his play FAIRIES, exploring faith, fate, and defiance. We reflect on the privilege of storytelling, the balance between distraction and escapism in theater, and Adam's recent runaway success with the heartwarming short film Slow Dating, which has won over 50 international awards.Play Starts (1:12)Conversation with Adam (8:20)Actors:Teenager: Claire BartlettDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattLinks to follow Adam:adamszudrich.comNew Play ExchangeIMDBLinkedInFacebook

  • 4. BURIED by Audrey Webb

    01:00:21||Season 5, Ep. 4
    In this episode, we welcome Austin, TX based Audrey Webb, an award-winning playwright and screenwriter, to discuss her creative journey from acting to writing. Audrey shares how her background in improv—Theatre Sports at Vancouver’s Improv Centre and Toronto’s The Second City—influences her work, and dives into the themes of her play BURIED—exploring grief, using humor as a coping mechanism, and the writer's responsibility to portray truth, even in fictional narratives.Play Starts (0:47)Join New Play Exchange to follow along.Conversation with Audrey (8:41)Actors:Tyler: Eric "Red" WyattChloe: Jessica WeaverDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattLinks to follow Audrey:New Play ExchangeIMDBLinkedIn

  • 3. THE COFFIN MAKER by Mark Blankenship

    58:35||Season 5, Ep. 3
    In this episode of the Lights Up! podcast, Mark Blankenship shares his insights on creating immersive experiences, reflecting on the significance of movement in narrative influenced by his love of the Greek tragedy. The discussion highlights the evolving nature of theatre and the shared responsibility of storytellers and audiences in shaping demand for fresh perspectives.Beyond his work as a playwright, Mark Blankenship is a seasoned arts journalist and editor. His contributions have appeared in esteemed publications such as The New York Times, Variety, and American Theatre. Mark's multifaceted career also includes roles as a dramaturg and filmmaker, underscoring his diverse impact on the arts community.Play Starts (1:01)Conversation with Mark (10:44)Actors:Tom Baxter: SJ LesterWick Wallace: Joel Sanchez-AvantesGreg Hughes: Caleb SextonDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattLinks to follow Mark:Website: markgblankenship.com/bylines Twitter/Instagram: @IAmBlankenship​Bluesky: markblankenship.bsky.socialSubstack: lostsongs.substack.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-blankenship-0118776/

  • 2. CHRONICLES OF A LOST SOUL by Anna Halas

    01:01:51||Season 5, Ep. 2
    In this episode, we welcome Ukrainian playwright, theater translator, and scholar Anna Halas. We explore the impact of war on personal identity through her affecting play, CHRONICLES OF A LOST SOUL. After a powerful reading, we discuss with Anna the evolution of Ukrainian theater, the challenges of writing about trauma, and the importance of translating Ukrainian voices for a global audience amid ongoing conflict.Play Starts (1:09)Visit Ukrainian Drama Translation Library to follow alongInterview with Anna (21:30)Cast:I-Body: Deb MeeksI-Soul: Jessica WeaverDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattAdditional links to learn more about Anna:Ukrainian Drama Translations Library World Literature TodayInstagramFacebookSeason 5 is brought to you in partnership with the Center for International Theatre Development: CITD.us

  • 1. ON THE EVE by Dmytro Ternovyi

    01:23:38||Season 5, Ep. 1
    In this episode, we sit down with Ukrainian playwright and theater manager Dmytro Ternovyi to discuss his play, ON THE EVE (EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT). Set against the backdrop of the days leading up to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the play offers an important exploration of ordinary lives on the brink of upheaval.Play Starts (1:48)Visit Ukrainian Drama Translation Lab to follow along.Interview with Dmytro (40:54)Cast:Maryna: Karen HendersonMaksym: Jason RussellTasia: Claire BartlettMark: Eric WyattDirected by Garry Lee PoseySoundscape by Eric "Red" WyattAdditional Audio:Don Carlo Act I: “Dio, che nell'alma infondere”Credit: "Rebuild Ukraine" Charity Gala; April 24th, 2024Additional links to learn more about Dmytro:American Theatre InterviewCraft Magazine InterviewFacebookSeason 5 is brought to you in partnership with the Center for International Theatre Development: CITD.us

  • Season 5 Introduction

    03:44|
    Music by BensoundArtist: Benjamin Tissot