I get Off Off Topic with my buddy, Sal Clemente, and we talk some Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  Sal and I are the same age, and we both saw the original back in 1977 at age 14.  (I said 15 in the interview, but I checked our birthdates, and we were 14 when it came out.)  I think it's fair to say the new movie brought out nostalgic feelings from when we saw Star Wars in our youth.

WARNING: MAJOR STAR WARS SPOILERS IN THE PODCAST.

For the first time this podcast is also a "vidcast."  We did a video version.  See www.OffOffPod.com for the video.

Couple of things, I said in the podcast that the guy who did Avenue Q was supposed to have done the music for the Cantina Scene in the new Star Wars.  Got it wrong -- it was Lin-Manuel Miranda writer of Hamilton and In the Heights who did that music.

We also talk about Sal's band (which he began with Alan Ware) called Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra (www.URORocks.com). If you want to hear some awesome 70s covers and see  some great showmanship, go check out some of their videos on the website ... or better yet ... go see them in concert if you live in the Boston area!

Here is part 2 of my interview with Brad Coolidge.

If you've ever thought you might want to direct a film, this is a great interview for you because my buddy Brad talks honestly about some of the challenges he faced as a first time director shooting a "creature feature."

Sometimes the elements don't cooperate, or your creature gets held up in customs and arrives late, or you don't have enough days on the schedule.   There are so many obstacles awaiting you when you make a film.

Brad and his wife, Melissa, along with their producing partner, Todd Labarowski, make beautiful indie movies as well.  We talked about these in detail in part 1 of the interview, but here are the links again to those great films: What Maisie Knew, Prince Avalanche, Joe,  The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him AND Her, Manglehorn, and The World Made Straight.

Enjoy the interview.  Topics covered:

• Back to our conversation in progress, El Chupacabra (1:25)
• Setting the movie in Austin, paring down the budget, casting in NY, LA and locally (5:06)
• Approaching go time, creature creation by Mario Torres, Jr. (7:22)
• First day -- driving scenes, Texas State University (9:50)
• Relying on experienced crew, location scouting, spending a lot of time on the master (12:29)
• Complication at the beginning of the first week (19:19)
• Weather does not cooperate, steady cam (22:22)
• Creature challenges, no time to rehearse (24:56)
• Reworking, editing what's in the can (33:00)
• Inspiring the troupes, "Once more unto the breach!" (34:56)
• A little about raising money (39:46)
• Working on a script with Brad, Drilling Company connection (44:16)
• Treating people well on a film set (46:37)

My good friends Brad and Melissa Coolidge helped me transition to Austin.  That's the kind of lovely, awesome folks they are!

And they also happen to make thoughtful, exciting independent movies.

In part one of this two part interview I talk to Brad about the movies he and his wife have been producing or co-executive producing (along with their partner, Todd Labarowski).  These include, What Maisie Knew (with Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgård and Steve Coogan – inspired by a Henry James novel), Prince Avalanche (directed by Austin filmmaker David Gordon Green and starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch, Joe (with Nicholas Cage and again directed by David Gordon Green),  The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him AND Her (which can now be seen as intended in the big markets like New York -- and a combined version "Them" is playing in some smaller markets), Manglehorn, (with Al Pacino, Holly Hunter, Chris Messina, directed by David Gordon Green) and The World Made Straight (with Noah Wiley, Minka Kelly, Haley Joel Osment, and Jeremy Irvine).  These last 2 films have not yet been released.

In part 2 of the interview we'll talk about Brad's experiences directing a "creature feature" horror film.  So keep an eye out for part 2 coming soon.

If you're in New York or other select cities go see The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him/Her.  Click here for tickets in New York.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Hello to Brad, an introduction (3:51)
• Death of a Popstar a short film, Glasgow Film Festival (5:19)
• What Maisie Knew, co-producers (8:05)
• The move to Austin, Prince Avalanche (10:17)
• The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him AND Her, shooting in NYC, Dreambridge (14:25)
• Joe, Nicholas Cage comes down early to Austin to prepare (21:45)
• The World Made Straight (24:45)
• Manglehorn, shot in Austin (27:35)

I've moved to Austin, and actor Mindy Raymond is a new friend I met at a pool party given by my friends, Brad and Melissa Coolidge (see exciting news about their big movie project at the bottom of this post).

While swimming around, Mindy mentioned this project she'd done with C. Thomas Howell called Bigfoot Wars that promised the potential cult status of a Sharknado, and I was all over that!  I knew we needed to have an interview about her experience making that movie.

Right after Bigfoot Wars, because of the great work she did and a new connection she made on set, she was cast in a family movie called The Adventures of Paula and Pepper based in part on a real woman with the stage name of "Pistol Packin' Paula" who is a modern day Annie Oakley-type persona here in Texas.

Mindy is a charming, bubbly, positive force, and I hope you'll enjoy our talk!

By the way, there were a few awesome attractions here in Austin mentioned during the course of the interview, so here are some links you might find helpful if you're ever visiting the Austin area:

1) the Austin Steam Train in Cedar Park,
2) Hamilton Pool, an amazing natural grotto,
3) Natural Bridge Caverns and
4) Enchanted Springs Ranch and old west town.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Hello to Mindy… and what do you call more than one Bigfoot? (2:24)
• How Mindy got the acting bug (3:32)
• Yoga in Mindy's life (9:17)
• Mindy and Nate (12:04)
• A little about Austin near the Lakeway area (13:49)
• Finding acting work in Austin (16:27)
• Top 3 things to do in Austin (21:12)
• Mindy directs a short film (25:19)
• Teaching classes at 4 Reelz (28:48)
• Talking about Bigfoot Wars experience … and how cool Alamo Drafthouse is (29:54)
• Audition process for Bigfoot Wars (37:48)
• Talking about the Bigfoot legend… please don't kill Bigfoot! (40:30)
• Talking about The Adventures of Pepper and Paula (43:48)
• "Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories" (49:35)

I mentioned my friends, Brad and Melissa Coolidge above (and this interview was actually taped in their guest house, so you'll hear us mention at the end how they got stuck in a sudden downpour).  They are co-executive producers of an AMAZING movie that I saw screened 2 nights ago here in Austin at the Violet Crown called The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby with Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and an amazing all-star supporting cast.  It's in theaters.  Go see it now!

Will Pomerantz and I grew up in the same small town of Seguin, Texas, and we both eventually made our way to the Big Apple to pursue a life in the theatre.  We first met when he was about 13 (which would have made me about 12), and while in Texas we did plenty of high school and community theatre together.  We recount a few tales from our Texas theatre roots in the interview.

Will has over the years evolved into an amazing director who is always busy with exciting projects.  I was lucky enough to rope him into directing a play of mine call Desert Rites, which for me was one of those great life experiences that one always remembers.  He's very skilled at working on new plays, possessing the ability to help the playwright clarify and fine-tune what he's attempting to say. I certainly had a better play at the end of our rehearsal process.

For more information about Will, check out his website.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Hi Will… and Zoe.  Growing up in Seguin, Texas (2:17)
• The director emerges, Cornell University (8:51)
• An interview with the CIA (11:33)
• MFA in directing at Carnegie Mellon University (13:27)
• Drawn to the past, particularly the 1930s (16:49)
• Will directs my new play, Desert Rites -- a strength working on new plays (17:58)
• Working with Nancy Harrow on This Side of Paradise about Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald (20:59)
• The Blue Flower by Jim and Ruth Bauer at American Repertory Theatre and Second Stage Theater (24:58)
• Adapting Tale of Two Cities at The Culture Project (28:38)
• A tangent -- The Godfather and Pulp Fiction (31:51)
• Epic Theater Ensemble, Mahida's Extra Key to Heaven by Russell Davis (34:30)
• Working with John Guare -- Landscape of the Body at Juilliard (38:57)
• Working with Kathleen Chalfant, Great Expectations (43:48)
• Audition stories from the other side of the table (49:22)
• Stephen's "bad director" story (54:25)
• Directing philosophies -- how to coax forth a great performance and how Will approaches a new project (58:27)

Dave and I have been working on projects together for a while… in fact he is one of the stars and a co-producer of the webseries I created, Off Off.

But in this interview we concentrate on his newest triumph, Audio Book Narrator.  At this time of this interview he's narrated 51 books on Audible.com.  (Check out his page!)

I should also mention that Dave is now starring as Malvolio in the Drilling Company's Shakespeare in the Parking Lot production of Twelfth Night.  (I hear he's quite fetching in yellow cross-garters.)

For more information about Dave, check out his website.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Hi Dave! (2:18)
• Our Drilling Company Theater roots (5:24)
• The Whisper Room - Sound Booth (8:45)
• Dave's impulse to be in the arts (10:03)
• His job helping lawyers take depositions (15:50)
• The voice-over artist is born, Audible Books (19:25)
• The first book, Raising Stony Mayhall, by Daryl Gregory (Audible's "Zombie Book of the Year 2011) (23:38)
• Literary porn and truck drivers (28:51)
• A new Neal Asher project, science fiction writer (31:22)
• Characters with unique voices, keeping characters straight, the job's biggest challenges (38:12)
• The engineer, the studio set up (45:00)
• Recent book, Innovative State: How New Technologies Can Transform Government by Aneesh Chopra (49:50)
• The money aspect of the job (52:45)
• Being naked on stage, Take Me Out (56:00)
• "Most interesting or bizarre or horrible audition story" (1:03:14)
• Health Insurance story (1:09:53)
• Shout out to the webseries Off Off (1:11:53)

My friend Maggie Wagner is opening in a new movie tonight!  It will be playing tonight Friday June 20th at the Manhattan Film Festival at 9:30 pm.  The film is called The Wisdom to Know the Difference which stars -- Maggie of course, Daniel Baldwin, Billy Baldwin, Lou Diamond Phillips, Mayra Leal.

Maggie comes from a show biz family which includes Uncle Mark Rydell who directed On Golden Pond and The Rose to Aunt Joanne Linville who wrote the book Seven Steps to an Acting Craft, to brother Andrew Wagner who directed the films Starting Out in the Evening and The Talent Given Us. 

For more information about Maggie, go check out her website.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Hi Maggie! (1:27)
• Funny Girl gives Maggie the show biz bug... and her show biz family (3:03)
• Auditioning for the Actors Studio (9:43)
• The film Anna and friendship with Sally Kirkland and Sandra Bullock (12:29)
• Working Girl with Melanie Griffith and how she met Daniel Baldwin (15:50)
• The Wisdom to Know the Difference filmed in San Antonio (18:17)
• "Most interesting or bizarre or horrible audition story" (20:20)
• Upcoming projects, Make It Big (23:07)
• Advice to younger self about making it in the acting business (26:40)
• Starting Out in the Evening directed by brother Andrew Wagner (29:15)

Had a great visit to NYC doggy sitting for my friends Margo and Bill.  Back to Austin today!

My friend Ann Talman has been developing her solo show, Woody's Order! for a few years (well, arguably her whole life) about her relationship with her family and in particular her brother, Woody.

Woody's Order! will be performed on Monday, September 29th at 9 pm in the 5th Annual United Solo Theatre Festival on Theatre Row.  Click here for more details.

I was very pleased and excited to interview Ann and her director, Kel Haney, in New York.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Hello Ann and Kel -- how they met -- Ensemble Studio Theater (1:51)
• Matt Hoverman Workshop -- How to Create Your Own Solo Show (4:20)
• Working on new work, solo work (7:07)
• The development and evolution of the sola show (8:55)
• What's the show Woody's Order! about? (13:47)
• How Kel got the theater bug (26:10)
• A director who likes to read! (30:54)
• How Ann got the theater bug, imaginary friends (33:36)
• Trying to give Woody a normal life -- frustrations, sex (43:00)
• Doing Little Foxes on Broadway with Elizabeth Taylor, audition story (48:12)
• Kel meets Woody (51:02)
• Al Pacino meets Woody (55:24)

Less than a week after moving to Austin, I headed to New York to doggy-sit for my friends, Margo and Bill.  So I captured this interview with Ann and Kel while in NYC.

Here's part 2 of Karen Moline's interview. We get right into it talking about celebrity interviewing for the magazines she worked with.  Don't forget to check out Karen's books, fiction and non-fiction, on Amazon.

By the way, the director of The Long Good Friday (that we blanked on) was John Mackenzie.

Please go to Karen's website for more information about her at www.KarenMoline.com.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Treating celebrity interview subjects fairly (1:57)
• Getting pawed by Brian DePalma (3:54)
• Writing a biography of Bob Hoskins (5:22)
• Who would play characters in the movie version of Lunch, Alex Kingston (15:26)
• Getting the inspiration for Belladonna staying at Castle (24:16)
• Staying true to what you're good at (35:00)
• Who would Karen interview now – Hilary Clinton.  Finding interesting people (36:51)
• Adoption reform, www.pear-reform.org (46:21)

I moved to Austin!  More on that later.  My parents are selling their beautiful home.  Take a look at this cool website I made for them, www.TennesseeMountainRetreat.com.

My fun friend Karen Moline is a wonderful writer with a no shortage of great stories!  We we had such a long conversation (the time flew by) that I needed to break the interview up into 2 parts.  So here is part 1 today.  Come back next Friday for part 2.

One of the first things we talked about was her first novel, Lunch: A Novel of Erotic Obsession, and in the course of talking about that novel we explored a bit some of the ways writers go about getting ideas flowing and freeing themselves up to write.

She got a substantial advance for her second novel, Belladonna, (A Novel of Revenge) back in the days with publishing houses were able to do such things.  Please go to Karen's website for more information at www.KarenMoline.com.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Hello Karen! (2:20)
• How Lunch was born (3:10)
• Stories of being an entertainment journalist; the shift from print interviews to Internet (9:11)
• From the picture wall of fame – Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, and the set of Harry Potter (17:20)
• Funny story about John Malkovich (24:36)
• Discussion about how art is created… or at least how Karen goes about it (26:36)
• Belladonna, (A Novel of Revenge) (30:50)
• Advantages of writing with pen and ink (32:12)
• How ideas for Belladonna came about (35:39)
• Dreams for inspiration, the fun of research, take a trip to the library! (39:21)
• What Karen learned at the University of Chicago (44:24)
• Back to Belladonna, traveling to a location for research (49:05)
• Writing something that makes you squirm a bit… like an orgy scene! (53:00)
• Most satisfying financial moment (58:18)
• How celebrities can change over time… Justin Bieber (1:00:18)
• Taking criticism (1:05:18)
• Fiction is to transport you out of your head… we're all Elizabeth Bennett… and the A&E version is the best btw (1:08:46)
• A great interview with Mel Gibson with the benefit of a secret (1:15:48)

Joe Jung and Jessi Blue Gormezano are a talented and adorable theater couple.  I was first introduced to their work with a production of the dark comedy, The Secretaries, produced by their NYC company, Project Theater.

And then when a production of my play Home of the Great Pecan was done at The Drilling Company, we were lucky enough to get Jessi in the lead for that fun Texas romp.

In 2009 they formed a site specific theater experience which has been going strong ever since called Our Bar, which is set – surprise! – in a bar.  It's a great NYC experience where the audience feels like their literally in the middle of the show – and can drink and eat at the same time.  And there always seems to be live music afterwards often performed by the jug band, The Saltcracker Crazies.  So the party goes on well after the show!

Please enjoy my time with the very entertaining, Jessi and Joe.  And don't miss Our Bar which is the first Wednesday of every month; the next show is called Stuck, and it's on May 7th, 2014.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Hello Jessi and Joe! The beginnings of Project: Theater (3:11)
• Backing up in time, how the stars aligned and these kids met (8:43)
• How I was introduced to Jessi and Joe during the run of The Secretaries by the Five Lesbian Brothers (15:04)
• My Custom Van by Michael Ian Black (20:40)
• Joe gets a great job in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (23:46)
• The OurBarNYC experience, the jug band (31:50)
• Jessi Blue in Home of the Great Pecan (45:25)
• Jessi Blue, the writer emerging, Mark My Words (48:42)
• Joe has very specific news on upcoming projects (50:15)
• How to start a theater company (53:08)
• "Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories" - Joe's first (56:26)
• Jessi's audition story (1:08:21)

I was introduced to actor Steve Sherman by my buddy Dave Marantz, and he was great in my play, Home of the Great Pecan as Deputy Diggity.  I liked him so much I asked him to be in a workshop to help me develop a new play I'd been working on called Hole.

That was in New York City.  As it happens we are both in Tennessee at the moment, he as a student in University of Tennessee's graduate acting program which is connected to the Clarence Brown Theater -- a LORT Theater.  And he's in Spamalot which is opening there tonight!

It was great to get the perspective of an actor who had been out in the professional world and had gone back to school.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Hello Steve! His beginnings and how he got the bug (2:58)
• Producing his own work in New York City (On Campus) and developing new work (5:44)
• Improv in LA  (8:31)
• Going back to school - Grad school at University of Tennessee (10:25)
• Living in the South, long distance relationship (13:14)
• The plan - teaching or acting (16:04)
• Working with the Clarence Brown Theater (18:12)
• Teaching an improv class and taking classes as a student (23:25)
• After the masters program (28:58)
• "Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories" (30:14)

Marc Palmieri is a very smart and entertaining guy, an actor, writer, teacher, and dad. He tells some great stories about getting a screenplay of his made, some of his first survival jobs, his awesome webseries (The Thing), but the most touching part of the interview well may be when he tells the charming story of how he met his wife.

He and I met when a friend of mine was in a play which he was also in, and we all went out afterwards to a bar.  I instantly liked him because he was just fun to be around, but over the years since, I've been consistently impressed with the depth of his talent not just as an actor but also as a writer.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Hello Marc! (3:51)
• First survival jobs – as a Macy's "model" and receptionist  (5:10)
• Growing up, connection to New York, Theater Roots  (12:00)
• Artsy fartsy literary Shakespeare guy (15:26)
• The Thing Webseries  (19:07)
• Playing the lead in the movie, Too Much Sleep (22:25)
• Writing the screenplay Telling You, the scoop (25:45)
• How Marc met his wife – great story! (32:21)
• Exploring question – is art still important if fewer people see it?  (44:01)
• Levittown production (and talk about that great set) (47:13)
• Contacting playwriting hero, Christopher Durang  (1:01:37)
• Talking about memorable moments of the webseries (1:03:28)
• "Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories" (1:14:16)

Scott Baker is truly one of a kind on this earth.  He is the barker or bally master for the Coney Island Freak Show in the summers.  In the winters he is often (when not acting in films or plays) Santa Claus in one of the big department stores.  He was in the legendary show Oh! Calcutta! for 12 years on Broadway, and he also did some porn acting in the 70s-80s!  Quite an amazing and varied life!

He and I met doing theatre Off Off Broadway at the Drilling Company years ago, and he was my muse there in the beginning when I was writing a lot of bizarre comedies for which he was so perfectly suited.  He added his unique stamp to all of those short plays.

Interestingly the interview took a dark and serious turn when we talked about his experiences being mugged in NYC.  NYC is a safer city now, but the area where he's lived (and in other areas around the 5 boroughs) the city has gone through some major changes through the years.

I promise you will enjoy this talk with Scott Baker!

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Hello Scott! How we met -- Two Eggs and La Mouche (3:49)
• Bally Master a short documentary film about Scott Baker  (8:17)
• The Coney Island Freak Show -- three kinds of freaks (12:00)
• Early inspirations, Frank Lentini and Gilbert Mysto Magic Set (16:30)
• How to learn how to pound a nail into your head or eat fire, Coney Island Side Show School (20:32)
• Winter job, Santa Claus (24:56)
• How Scott got to New York (25:51)
• Scott performs in adult films - "Rupert!" (27:23)
• Oh! Calcutta! on Broadway (33:12)
• How Times Square has changed, being mugged by gunpoint (37:30)
• "Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories" (44:00)
• Kitschy interests and new project: Elvis, Santa, John Wilkes Booth, Frankenstein (50:43)
• Cancer survivor -- of the soft palette (55:16)
• Remembering director, Richard Harden (59:29)

Holly Williams is a repertory actor at The Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia.  I really wanted to see something at The Barter while I was still in this area (East Tennessee), and I approached her about doing an interview, and she could not have been nicer.  She got me into 2 shows, we had a terrific interview about the busy (and artistically fulfilling) life of the rep actor, and I got the super deluxe tour of the facility.

I was so impressed with the well-oiled machine at the Barter.  They were switching out the set for the evening show when we were talking in the dressing room.  They also have 2 shows going on in the Stage II space (their smaller space), and they are simultaneously rehearsing for the next shows which will go up.  The scheduling people must be geniuses!  Right now at the Barter you could see 4 different shows… Man of LaMancha, I Do I Do I Do, Don't Cry for Me, Margaret Mitchell, and The Dryad: An Appalachian Tale.  Something for everyone!

And Holly was terrific.  She had a lead role in I Do I Do I Do and a supporting role in Man of LaMancha.  And she's also in the midst of rehearsing for her next cool role as Rita in Educating Rita.  Go check out The Barter if you're in the area!

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Not Hank Williams Granddaughter (4:30)
• Can you actually barter to get admission to the theatre?  (8:25)
• The shows I saw, Holly's busy schedule, life of a repertory actor (10:15)
• Holly's good luck charm, writing a lyric on her fingers (17:15)
• How Holly got the gig with The Barter (19:30)
• Versatility required, non-traditional casting (23:40)
• How Holly got the acting, storytelling bug (25:38)
• Wall of fame … Barter Alumni (37:32)
• More about The Barter administrative and creative staff (38:37)
• "Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories" (47:25)

Welcome to Off Off Radio Theater with the short play Corybungus written by Stephen Bittrich.

Hijinks ensue when a bookshop customer tries to return a defective "OED" (Oxford English Dictionary) because it's missing words.  This fast moving skit is a nod to the works of Monty Python.

The Returns Man is played by Steve Sherman.

Mr. Weiner, the Customer, is played by Stephen Bittrich.

An interview with Steve Sherman coming soon in a future Off Off Pod episode!

Corybungus was originally performed by The Drilling Company in an evening of New York themed one-acts by Stephen Bittrich called Big Apples.

Stephen Rosenfield and I had a great conversation about comedy, how one can learn the craft, how comedians prepare and how he got his start.

Stephen is the director and founder of the American Comedy Institute where folks with the comedy bug can receive great training either by way of their monthly comedy classes or in their year long program.

I happen to know Stephen from working on the website for the school.  It's a great resource if you'd like to know more about how you can join in!

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• How we met through Ted Greenberg and The Complete Performer (2:13)
• How it all began, working on the writing (4:58)
• Growing up and being funny and the need to express yourself (7:39)
• Being well rounded as a comedian, Louie CK (10:11)
• Taking note of subjects and attitudes that are working (15:50)
• Comedians that have reinvented their persona (19:48)
• Comedians who seem to be making it up on the fly have worked hard to prepare  (22:03)
• Stephen's role as teacher, how to create a hyphenated career (25:50)
• The One Year Program at American Comedy Institute (27:06)
• Doing "bringer shows" (bringing in an audience to the clubs) and when comedy was "rock and roll" (32:45)
• How to build and audience as a performer (39:15)
• Keeping warm after bombing  (42:07)

I've decided Victoria is amazing and fearless.  And I don't know if she'd describe herself as an "Adventurer" but after talking to her I felt like that word needed to be in the title of her interview!

We got to know each other when she was in a production of my play, Home of the Great Pecan at The Drilling Company, and over the years I've seen two of her films, House of Bones (about her lovable, eccentric family and childhood home on Martha's Vineyard -- not to be confused with a horror film of the same name!) and The Hunt for Good Americans. where she and a friend traveled across this great country finding and filming all sorts of cool characters.   [I'll put up links to see these films as they become available.]

I had heard a few stories about her most current project where she daringly finagled her way into Haiti 7 days after the earthquake of 2010.  I knew there would be some amazing tales about that journey, and, boy, I was not disappointed.  You must listen!

By the way, the Haiti documentary, Monsieur le Président, is playing TOMORROW as part of The Martha's Vineyard Film Festival at 10 am at the Chilmark School.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Hello Victoria; growing up in Martha's Vineyard in an artsy family (3:12)
• Film: House of Bones  (10:39)
• Film: The Hunt for Good Americans (18:55)
• Back road hookers in Ely, Nevada, Crow Reservation in Montana  (21:06)
• Blues man, Razorblade, in Clarksdale, Mississippi (27:22)
• Film: Monsieur le Président; the Haiti Earthquake in 2010 (32:29)
• The aftershock 6.2; drafted as a "nurse"  (36:22)
• The Voodoo Priest, Gaston (41:50)
• Ukrainian transgender in Canarsie, NY (52:11)
• "Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories" (53:17)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, "Here We Go Again," plays us out.  URO has a concert coming up.  Click the link to find out more!

Jeremiah James kindly invited me to see him as El Gallo in The Fantasticks which is playing Off Broadway on 50th Street in the Jerry Orbach Theater (Snapple Theater Center).

I met Jeremiah through my writer friend, Karen Moline.  I asked her if there was anybody she knew who I had to talk to while in NYC, and she hooked me up with Jeremiah who could not have been nicer.

He was really great in the role of El Gallo -- great voice, a lot of humor, very graceful and dynamic on stage.  In fact, go right now and listen to him sing!  (And then come back here and listen to the interview.)  www.JeremiahJames.net.

Jeremiah has done a lot of cool things so far in his career, including being a part of a very popular international touring group called Teatro, playing Billy Bigelow in a major West End revival of Carousel, originating the role of Willoughby in the new Sense and Sensibility musical at the Denver Theatre Center, and charitably helping sick kids in Zimbabwe.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Hello Jeremiah (4:12)
• New Business Model for Theaters, Theater as a Community Meeting Place  (6:27)
• Growing up in LA , how theatre sunk in  (16:26)
• Jeremiah's sister tricks him into doing a musical  (18:15)
• Training and first professional gig (23:31)
• International sensation, Teatro, is formed (25:47)
• Meeting the Queen of England, Musical Theater Groupies  (28:18)
• Carousel as Billy Bigelow  (31:03)
• Working on very first solo record (36:38)
• Sense and Sensibility Musical at the Denver Theatre Center directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge  (38:52)
• Jeremiah as El Gallo in The Fantasticks  (45:20)
• Helping children in Zimbabwe, Kidzcan (47:04)
• "Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories" (55:34)

The Peccadillo Theater Company (soon celebrating 20 years) is the resident company of Theatre at St. Clements, a beautiful 160 seat space on 46th Street in the heart of Manhattan.  I interviewed Artistic Director, Dan Wackerman, and we talked about their mission to bring classic American theater from the age of the "well-made play" to the stage.

There are economic challenges involved in bringing period plays with exceptionally large casts to the stage.  (Most modern plays are written with 6 or fewer characters; playwrights like myself know that if you can tell a great story with fewer actors, your chances of getting the play done regionally are better.  This is not necessarily the case for schools and universities where they are interested in giving a lot of their students the opportunity to perform.)

I loved Dan's quote about how the church half of this organization views theater as a "kind of sacrament."  Loved that.  (6:05)

Enjoy my talk with Dan, and for more information about this great company, go to the website:  www.thepeccadillo.com.

If you you would like to see the reading of Clifford Odets' Rocket to the Moon mentioned at the end of the interview, go here for tickets.  And please keep you eye on the website for William Inge's A Loss of Roses. Previews begin May 7th, 2014.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Colder winters in New York (2:20)
• A great theater -- history of Theater at St. Clements (3:08)
• How Dan got the theater bug (7:26)
• The Golden Age of American Theater - "era of the well-made play" (10:48)
• 20 years ago -- the first play -- O'Neill's Strange Interlude (12:15)
• The Silver Cord by Sidney Howard is revisted (14:10)
• How Dan finds these plays, American gems (15:26)
• Counsellor at Law, the challenge of working with period plays, large casts (19:07)
• Another Part of the Forest by Lillian Hellman (20:47)
• What's the purpose of theater? (23:53)
• What's the job of the director?  Casting is 75% of the job. (27:10)
• Some new plays in the classic style, opening up the mission (32:53)
• The future, A Loss of Roses by William Inge (34:44)
• Auditions from the other side of the table (35:51)