Lamb’s 20th Anniversary

Christopher Moore returns to talk about his wise comic novel Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in this year of our Lord 2022. Chris discusses how wanted to create a tale of friendship and ended up getting taught in divinity schools; the rewards of swinging for the fences and wading through Thomas Aquinas; getting the facts and theology right when not getting it wrong on purpose; the secret of what actually went on during Jesus’ rumspringa; the challenge of not having conversational Aramaic; and constant vigilance against the ever-present danger of losing your reader. (Length 29:57)

Remembering Princess Diana

In celebration of the RSC Podcast’s 15th Anniversary, artistic directors Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor remember the surreal week they spent performing The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) at the Gielgud Theatre in London in the wake of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Featuring memories of how the country came together; how all the performing arts suffered at the box office; how we were the only West End show to perform during Diana’s funeral; how news traveled via Town Crier; the joy of meeting Bernard Shaw (not George Bernard Shaw); and how something always happens when we perform in London. (Length 18:17)

The Devil’s Work

Demons and witches and ghosts, oh my! As we reach our 666th podcast, it seems like the perfect time to talk about how the Devil has influenced (or hasn’t) the work of the Reduced Shakespeare Company. Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor discuss Faustian bargains; Satan being cut from The Complete History of America (abridged); rewriting The Music Man; Adam Long’s tribute to two legends in his one-man show Satan Sings Mostly Sondheim; the fear of mockery; our Kerfuffles in Northern Ireland; making friends in Louisiana; stories for another time; how times have changed; celebrating the Devil’s opposite in The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged); making up for missed opportunities with episode 420; and hopefully soon-to-be requited love for our book How The Bible Changed Our Lives (Mostly For The Better). (Length 21:55)

Mary Magdalene Revelations

Elizabeth Schrader, a doctoral student at Duke University, is doing some pioneering work clarifying the narrative handed down to us about Mary Magdalene and her role in the story of Jesus. Libbie discusses her discoveries and how they may lead to some new understandings, how her calling shifted from being a singer-songwriter to a scholar, how a few simple questions led to a career shift, the challenges of reading and translating ancient papyrus, the song that started it all, and the fundamental question of whether or not Mary Magdalene is the Yoko of the Gospels. (Length 22:11)

Episode 588. Resurrecting The Bible

We resurrected The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) for its first American performance in almost four years and this cast’s first performance in more than eight. After the raucous standing ovation, Dominic Conti (center), Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor talk about what it’s like returning to a show after such a long absence, and what it means, personally, to perform this particular show. Featuring testaments old and new, civilized rehearsing, born-again favorites, missing trunks, Catholic raves, recreating a fourth dummy, consoling the ignorant, remembering kerfuffles, begging Michael Faulkner (right), and happiest of all, celebrating the Bible through joy and laughter. (Length 17:47) (Also pictured: Tiger Reel. Photo by Eric Vizents)

Episode 577. Thanks, Robert Siegel

Long-time journalist and host of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered Robert Siegel retired last week. Robert was the man who first brought the Reduced Shakespeare Company on to the NPR airwaves in 1994 and introduced us to the largest American audience we’d ever had up to that point. To celebrate his retirement, we offer the very first interview we did with Robert on All Things Considered, from June 23, 1994, during which we talk about and perform excerpts from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), followed by our second interview with Robert, from July 31, 1995, in which we discuss and perform bits from what was then our brand-new show The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged). Featuring impossibly young voices, zippy tempos, wobbly-sounding keyboards, brief excerpts from our BBC World Service program The Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show, unaired outtakes from a piece we produced for NPR’s “In Character” series, and gratitude to a great journalist, network-builder, and friend. #ThanksRobert (Length 27:07)

Episode 467. Holy Humor Sunday

”Not only are our shows fun and entertaining, but apparently we’re doing the Lord’s work! Pastor Robert Lewis discusses Holy Humor Sunday, the post-Easter celebration that honors the great joke God played on Death. Featuring the power of communion, essential differences between Pope Clement XV and Pope Francis, comparing actors to itinerant Read more…

Episode 392. Podcast For Larissa

”We dedicate the podcast this week to one of our favorite fans, Larissa from Australia, who’s unable to travel to see us. Austin Tichenor, Reed Martin, Matt Croke, Dominic Conti, Michael Faulkner, Jerry Kernion, Mick Orfe, Dustin Sullivan, Jeff Marlow, Gary Fannin, and David Ellis send personal greetings and tell totally tall and Read more…

Episode 388. Returning To Edinburgh

”It’s been too long, but we’re finally returning to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August 2014 to perform the European premiere of The Complete History of Comedy (abridged). Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor talk about the changes they’ll have to make to adapt the script for European and international audiences, Read more…

Episode 386. Big Theatre Week

”Last week was a very big week for the Reduced Shakespeare Company and its (you’ll pardon the expression) members. We set a Guinness World Record for Highest Theatrical Performance, we previewed and opened The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) at Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Austin Tichenor opened in the Lookingglass Theatre Read more…

Episode 382. Bible Boys Update

”As our UK tour of The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) is two-thirds of the way through it’s three and a half month tour of the UK and Ireland, it seemed high time to hear from producer Davey Naylor and actors Richard Ede, David Ellis, William Meredith, and Read more…

Episode 375. The Bible Boys

”LIVE! from the touring van comes — finally — our audio introduction to the cast of the current (2014) three-month sixty-city UK tour of The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged). Gary Fannin, William Meredith, Richard Ede, and David Ellis talk about the strange beginning to this tour, and Read more…

Episode 374. Talkback in Newtownabbey

”The long awaited and briefly-banned performances of The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) went ahead as scheduled this week at Theatre at the Mill in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, and we hosted a public Q&A session afterwards to talk about the international “Kerfuffles” that surrounded the production. Featuring the Read more…

Episode 373. (NOT) Banned in Newtownabbey

”(NOTE: On 27 January, 2014, less than 24 hours after this was posted, the artistic council of the theatre reversed its ban and the Newtownabbey Borough Council voted to uphold the artistic leadership of the theatre. Still – enjoy.) In a move that has put the RSC into the middle of Read more…

The UK is OK!

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) continues its smash hit UK tour! Buy tickets now before the tourcloses on November 16. If you miss the show on tour you’ll have one last chance to see the show at the Park Theatre in London from December 2-8. And here’s the big announcement: Due Read more…

Episode 342. ‘Bible’ Down Under

”Finally! We return to Australia, with RSC veterans Michael Faulkner, Jerry Kernion, Mick Orfe, and Dominic Conti performing The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) in Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane, and Sydney. This week, playwrights and directors Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor chat with original cast member Matt Croke about putting together the original Read more…

Episode 315. Our New E-Book

“Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor discuss their new e-book How The Bible Changed Our Lives (Mostly For The Better), their irreverent comic memoir (originally published in paperback as The Greatest Story Ever Sold by Westminster/John Knox Press) and talk about how, while writing their whimsical look at the Bible, they find their friendship Read more…

HELLO, SINGAPORE!

Proving yet again that there is no accounting for taste, the RSC has returned to Singapore this month, performing “The Complete History of America (abridged)” and “Completely Hollywood (abridged)” from November 1-14. Click on the podcasts below to listen to us talk about our last tour of Asia, Dom’s dorkologue and excerpts Read more…

Episode 179. Comedy That Offends

”It’s another edition of “My Coffee With Reed and Austin,” who discuss the recent South Park controversy and the RSC’s stumbles into offensive territory. Featuring authentic cafe ambience, dressing room debates, excerpts from Western Civilization: The Complete Musical (abridged), feedback feedback, and the advantages of losing your hearing. (MP3. Length Read more…

Episode 177. Festival Of Books

”LIVE! From the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, we read excerpts from Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete Guide For The Attention-Impaired (abridged), The Complete History of America (abridged), The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged), and All The Great Books (abridged). Featuring RSC bits as you’ve never heard them, a Read more…

Episode 92. UK Bible Boys

”Meet Jack Bennett, Simon Cole, and William Meredith — along with John Kielty, they’re the newest members of the Reduced Shakespeare Company and will perform The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) in fifty-three UK cities this fall. Find out their backgrounds and hear tales of drama dorks, Matt Read more…

Episode 78. Phil Abrams Now

”Number One RSC actor Phil Abrams has written The Autistic Spectrum Parents’ Daily Helper: A Workbook for You and Your Child and shares his experiences of working with autistic children. Featuring stories of performing The Bible (abridged) in the Holy Land, being trapped in Paradise, and using actor training — Read more…

Episode 61. New Old Shows

”What’s it like performing Complete History of America (abridged) and All The Great Books (abridged) after a year of performing mostly Hollywood and Bible? Confusing and nausea-inducing. Featuring an interview with our latest backstage goddess Alli Bostedt, the perils of remembering new line changes, a special appearance from Fox-TV’s Beth Read more…

Episode 56. What Are We

”Our religious backgrounds are many and varied, and this week we reflect on how they affect our creating and performing The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged). Featuring some questionable theology, the perks of agnosticism, and a special appearance by an honest-to-God JuBu! God bless us, every one! (MP3. Read more…

Episode 54. Reaching Critical Mass

”Sometimes a small matinee audience fails to reach critical mass and they become afraid to laugh. The RSC banters backstage about what to do in such a sitch. Featuring tips on mixing and matching your animals on Noah’s Ark, intricate theme park analogies, a timely excerpt from Western Civilization: The Read more…

Episode 47. Play By Play (Pt. 1)

”LIVE! from the balcony of the Royal George Theatre in Chicago, Matt Croke, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor provide play-by-play commentary during an actual performance of The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged). Featuring live performances from Brad Harbaugh, Tim Schueneman, and Kiff Vanden Heuvel, and a special appearance Read more…

Episode 34. The Windy City

”We’re coming to Chicago! Our opening at the Royal George Theatre prompts this tribute to the City of Big Shoulders. We celebrate this great theatre town, debate the merits of the Cubs v. the White Sox, and reveal the truth about Mrs O’Leary’s cow. Featuring a special appearance by Charna Read more…

Episode 27. By The Bay!

”LIVE! from the streets of San Francisco, where we’re planning to open The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) and Completely Hollywood (abridged). Featuring live excerpts from both shows, a businessy but fascinating interview with our SF producer Brad Balduf of Jian Enterprises, and a special appearance by David Read more…