Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast

One of the Top Ten Podcasts for Theatre Fans, according to Broadway World. And The Telegraph (UK) called it “a bright, breezy, and entertaining affair, well stocked with interviews, features, and excerpts from the shows!” when it named the RSC Podcast one of its Best Comedy Podcasts. Backstage drama. Touring trauma. Famous Guests. Infamous quests. Literary analysis. No urinalysis. All this and less – on the Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast. Find old podcast episodes here. It’s “All Things Reduced” every Monday – and it’s free!

Episode 509. ‘The Bugle’ Podcast

The definitive “Audio Newspaper for a Visual World™,” The Bugle Podcast is one of the seminal achievements in the annals of journalism and political satire. Comedian Andy Zaltzman (right) talks about The Bugle’s creation and his long-time partnership with co-creator John Oliver, how they put it together it on a weekly basis, and what form it might take in the future. Featuring the value of deadlines, a double-standard when it comes to puns, the art of stand-up, the pull of performance, the influence of ancient Greek comedy, the wonder of cricket, and satire’s ability to provide irony and perspective in troubled times. (Length 24:24)

Podcast: Download (Duration: 24:24 — 22.5MB)

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Episode 508. Tim’s Shakespearean Ancestors

Actor, singer, improviser, comedian, and radio personality Tim Fitzhigham talks about the connections between some of his ancestors and a young dramatic poet (and possible Catholic) named William Shakespeare. Featuring family connections to both Edward Alleyn and Anne Line, the making of a saint, possible inspirations for Cymbeline and “The Phoenix and the Turtle,” the noble art of Morris Dancing, the re-creation of a nine-days’ wonder called The Bard’s Fool, bewitched cows, scholarship both wondrous and reduced, a special appearance by Edinburgh Fringestitution™ Mervyn Stutter, and the comic possibilities of a dead dog.

Podcast: Download (Duration: 19:17 — 17.8MB)

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Episode 502. Directing Richard III

Jessica Thebus directed Richard III for Chicago’s Gift Theatre in the spring of 2016, an amazing production that starred Michael Patrick Thornton (right) in the title role. Jessica talks about the impetus for directing this famously challenging play and reveals where the drama gets most focused, the secrets to fantastic fight choreography, comparisons Read more

Podcast: Download (Duration: 23:11 — 21.4MB)

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Episode 500! Playwright Ken Ludwig

Ken Ludwig (right) is the prolific American comic playwright responsible for such Tony- and Olivier-award winning shows as Lend Me a Tenor, Crazy For You, Moon Over Buffalo, Shakespeare In Hollywood, Baskerville, and almost two dozen more plays and musicals that have been produced in more than 30 countries in over 20 languages. For this special milestone episode, Ken talks about his work, his process, his new book How To Teach Your Children Shakespeare, future projects, the importance of being in touch with Twelfth Night, the difference between farce and muscular comedy, the contrast between prose and poetry, the power of comic engines, and the all-important value of romance. (Length 31:22)

Podcast: Download (Duration: 31:22 — 28.9MB)

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Episode 490. Shakespeare And Burlesque

Richard Schoch is Professor of Drama at Queen’s University in Belfast, and the author of “Not Shakespeare: Bardolatry and Burlesque in the 19th Century.” Richard was working at the Folger Shakespeare Library during our first week there and wrote a blog post about the history of Shakespearean parody. Spoiler alert: The Reduced Shakespeare Read more

Podcast: Download (Duration: 20:00 — 18.5MB)

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Episode 470. Theatre For Kids

A recent student matinee — typically something to be dreaded — was instead a delight thanks to the good folks at the Sunset Cultural Center in Carmel, CA, where we performed a 45-minute version of The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) and taught in-class workshops as part of their Classroom Connections program. We discuss our work with children, both onstage and in classrooms, and reveal our bias towards a certain kind of theatre, talk about the fun of doing children’s theatre for grownups, give a shout-out to the New Victory Theatre in New York (which also has amazing programs for children and families), enjoy a special appearance from Neon Joe Werewolf Hunter, and bask in the holiday cheer of seeing different generations enjoying the same show. (Length 16:16)

Podcast: Download (Duration: 16:16 — 15.1MB)

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Episode 461. Juggling For Jesus

Before he was an actor, director, master carpenter, and Jeff Award-winning rigger, Isaac Schoepp (top left) performed as a juggler with the Fitz Family Ministries, touring the country with a company made up of his father, his mother, and his siblings. Isaac talks about how he and his family managed to Read more

Podcast: Download (Duration: 20:02 — 18.5MB)

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Episode 460. Remembering Yogi Berra

If Yogi Berra hadn’t existed, some writer would have had to create him. Arguably one of the greatest catchers, and certainly the greatest character to ever play the game, Yogi died recently at the age of 90 and in addition to being one of the greatest players to ever play Read more

Podcast: Download (Duration: 20:25 — 18.9MB)

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Episode 459. George And Tim

George Wendt (“Norm” from Cheers) and Tim Kazurinsky (Saturday Night Live, the Police Academy movies) are well-known to TV and film audiences around the world. But their extensive stage work from Second City to Broadway brings them to Chicago in the Northlight Theatre’s world premiere production of Bruce Graham’s Funnyman. George and Tim talk about this funny and incredibly moving production, and share stories about their years in the biz, including fateful trips to Europe; questionable agent advice; many lessons for young actors; tales of Bebe Neuwirth, Jason Sudeikis, and Woody Harrelson; shout-outs to cast members; the power of both improv and celebrity; and the glory of the walking sight gag. (Length 18:59)

Podcast: Download (Duration: 18:59 — 17.6MB)

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