Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater – Details, episodes & analysis

I am beyond thrilled to bring you this episode with an old friend, playwright Lindsey Ferrentino. Lindsey has had an incredible career thus far with plays like "Ugly Lies the Bone," "Amy and the Orphans," and "This Flat Earth," making their way to major New York City stages all in the span of a few years.

In 2024, she's celebrated the success of a new musical in London, an adaptation of the Oscar Winning Best Picture, "The Artist," starring Robbie Fairchild, AND the opening of "Queen of Versailles," a musical co-written with Stephen Schwartz in Boston. Her play "Fear of 13" based on the documentary of the same name and starring Adrien Brody will open at the Donmar Warehouse this October, and is already sold out. 

Despite all the giggling and joking we do in this episode, Lindsey imparts some pretty incisive wisdom based on her experience. And because of our friendship, I had a good time asking her some of the tougher questions from my arsenal.

For more information about Lindsey visit: https://www.lindseyferrentino.com/

Stay up to date with her latest projects here: Fear of 13 and Queen of Versailles (coming to Broadway 2025-2026)

Not to toot my own horn... but I think this episode is a must-listen for any playwright starting out or navigating the early years of their career. And I hope you will too. So don't be shy: give it a share! Thanks for tuning in <3

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Music by David Hilowitz

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Welcome back to a new season(??) of Upstage Left! After a long hiatus we're back with actor Kim Blanck who plays Ruza Wenclawska in Broadway's Suffs. We're so excited to be talking our dear friend who's been singing and acting on New York stages for more than a decade. You may have seen her in MCC's Alice by Heart or Dave Malloy's Octet at the Signature Theater.

In this episode we discuss:

• Kim's unconventional journey as a musical theater phenom
• Navigating the industry as a HAPA actor
• How she ended up in the Broadway production of Suffs after she thought her journey with the show was over

This episode was a joy to record, and even more a joy to listen back to. We hope you enjoy, and stay tuned for more episodes this season!

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Music by David Hilowitz
Learn more about Kim HERE!

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Rachel chats with the dramaturg behind the newsletter, Nothing For the Group, Lauren Halvorsen. Before starting the weekly missive offering theater round-ups, reviews, and takes, Lauren was the associate literary manager at Studio Theatre in DC. Prior to that she worked at the Alley in Houston and the City Theatre in Pittsburgh.

These two nerd out on the current state of theater and what might be coming up next in the 2022-2023 season.  Lauren talks about how no longer working in the industry has landed her in the perfect position to be a voice that speaks to the inequities and hypocrisies within our institutions. Tune in to hear her clear-eyed perspective now that she longer drinks the kool-aid.

You can subscribe to Nothing for Group HERE - it's free! Wishing you a happy & safe holiday season. Congratulations! You made it through 2021. We will see you in the new year.

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Intro music by David Hilowitz

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In this episode Rachel chats with Tedra Millan, one of New York's most celebrated young talents! Teddi originated the role of #46 in Sarah Delappe's The Wolves that world premiered at Playwrights Realm, and went on to Lincoln Centre production (that was made available for streaming earlier this year). Teddi has also been on Broadway in the revival of Noel Coward's Present Laughter (starring Kevin Kline), as well as the New York premiere of On the Shore of the Wide World by Simon Stephens at the Atlantic, and Happy Talk by Jesse Eisenberg produced by the New Group.

These old friends catch up about:

• where it all started
• how everything changed for Teddi after grad school
• and what's up next for this busy actor

But really...these two just shoot the shit for a little while.

The movie she is currently shooting is a thriller called The Lot . You can catch her next in LA at the Geffen Playhouse in the west coast premiere of Power of Sail with Bryan Cranston and Amy Brenneman. 

Thanks for tuning in!

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Intro music by David Hilowitz

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It's back-to-school season, and in this episode Rachel is taking notes from multi-hyphenate theater maker Vichet Chum. Rachel & Vichet met years ago working on a festival of short plays written by high school students, and since then Rachel has watched as Vichet has grown from actor to actor/writer to sought after playwright and industry leader. In this episode, they recount parts of his journey together.

Highlights include:

• Vichet's experience writing, producing, and performing in his one man show
• How Vichet first came to writing and how his process has developed
• Vichet's involvement with AAPAC and the Visibility Report released earlier this year
• The importance of penning the Cambodian-American experience in different forms

We're thrilled to catch up with this writer/performer before two of his newest plays premiere in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons at the Alley Theatre (Houston, TX) and Steppenwolf, respectively. Look out for all the things Vichet is up to!

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For more info about Vichet:  http://www.vichetchum.com/
Intro music by David Hilowitz

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In this episode we speak with casting director: Conrad Woolfe, who has worked in casting for over a decade. He cut his teeth at Telsey and Company, one of New York's largest casting offices focused on film, theater, and television. Now, based on the West Coast, Conrad has started his own company: Conrad Woolfe Casting.

Rachel & Conrad reminisce about the early years of their friendship, and how Conrad found his way to casting. They also chat about:

• The role of the casting director in bringing projects to life
• The responsibility of the casting director in shaping the worlds we see on stage & screen
• Conrad's hopes for the future, and how the industry might change

For more information about Conrad visit: https://www.conradwoolfecasting.com/
Conrad's IMDB
Follow him on Instagram: @ConradWoolfe

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Intro music by David Hilowitz

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In this episode Rachel catches up with acclaimed stage, film, and TV actor: Catherine Curtin. After making her Broadway debut in Six Degrees of Separation in 1990, Cathy made her way onto stages large and small before appearing on screens everywhere. Today she is known for her roles as Wanda Bell on Orange is the New Black, Claudia Henderson on Stranger Things, Joanne on Insecure , and many many more.

In this episode we chat with the Cathy about:

• Growing up in New York City
• The early years of her career
• Why she doesn't work in the theater anymore
• How she built her career in TV & Film

This month, Cathy's latest film, Werewolves Within premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival. We so enjoyed recording this conversation with the hilarious and effervescent Cathy Curtin. Give this episode a listen to find out more about one of New York's busiest actors.

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Intro Music: David Hilowitz

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In this episode Rachel speaks with one of the directors of Soho Rep and a co-founder of Radical Evolution: Meropi Peponides. The two met over a decade ago while Meropi was still an MFA student at Columbia. As the theater industry continues to have conversations about change, and what that might look like, we were excited to 1.  gain a better understanding of what leadership looks at one of downtown's bedrock institutions. 2. Learn more about what how those decisions were made, and where they might be going.

They chat about:

• Dramaturgy!
• the organization of theatrical organizations
• what makes a Soho Rep artist
• the piece of advice Meropi would give in a development process

 Learn more about Soho Rep and its initiatives here.
Check out Radical Evolution.

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Intro music: David Hilowitz

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Josh Gelb is a director, performer, writer, & producer whose work is often visceral, surprising, and bold. Pre-pandemic his play Jazz Singer, which he co-wrote, directed, and performed in, received a critically acclaimed run at Abrons Arts Center. After performance venues closed, Josh built out his closet and created Theater in Quarantine, streaming fully realized theatrical experiences live from his home.

Theater in Quarantine is free to watch, and available on #TiQ's Youtube Channel. Co-helmed by Katie Rose McLaughlin, TiQ presents a brand new show live, every three weeks. Recent productions have included collaborations with some of theater's most exciting players. If you're new to TiQ, Heather Christian's I Am Sending You the Sacred Face is a great place to start. 

In this episode Rachel & Josh talk about:

• the creation of Theater in Quarantine and its evolution
• how Josh keeps up with the demanding production schedule
• hopes & expectations for theater out of quarantine

For more info on the artist and the work visit:
Joshua William Gelb
Theater in Quarantine

Intro music: 
David Hilowitz

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Rachel & Martyna recorded this episode in late April. While it was only 5 months ago, in some ways, it feels like an entirely different lifetime. As summer draws to a close, and we head into fall, Rachel can't think of a better time to share this episode with one of her theater heroes.

Martyna Majok is the 2018 pulitzer prize winner in drama for her play, Cost of Living. Other plays include: Queens, Ironbound, and Sanctuary City. She is a Yale School of Drama and Juilliard alum, a former PoNY fellow at the Lark, Women's Project Lab member, and Ensemble Studio Theatre Youngblood.

In this episode Rachel & Martyna talk about what she's finding comfort in during these unprecedented times, how she ended up working in the theater during her University of Chicago days, and the advice she'd give her former self during her first year in New York.

More about Martyna at: http://www.martynamajok.com/
Information about her latest production Sanctuary City here.
Follow us on Instagram: @upstageleftpodcast
Twitter: @upstageleftpod
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Music by David Hilowitz

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