Episode 374. Talkback in Newtownabbey

“Screen Shot 2014-01-30 at 1.33.48 PMThe 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 power of social media; House of Cards references; a statement from the Chair of the Artistic Board and former mayor of Newtownabbey, Councillor Billy Webb; dealing with Stephen Nolan; support from fellow artists; and our Biblical belief in the Darwinian evolutionary theory of comedy. (Length 27:06)

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Episode 373. (NOT) Banned in Newtownabbey

“Screen Shot 2014-01-27 at 12.06.04 AM(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 an international media event, Theatre At The Mill cancelled what would have been the first two performances of our three-month, sixty-city UK tour of The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged). Co-author Austin Tichenor and producer Davey Naylor discuss what it’s been like scrambling to deal with the fallout, and talk about overwhelming shows of support, the difficulty of rescheduling, important theological questions, linguistic errors, evocations of John Cleese, support from Christians and Atheists alike, and the point that just because we’re laughing doesn’t mean we don’t take the Bible quite seriously. (Length 21:13) 

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Episode 347. High School Censorship

“images-1Blogger, arts consultant, former theatre executive and now theatrical activist Howard Sherman talks about attempts to silence high school theatre productions across the country, and the growing efforts to respond appropriately and effectively. Featuring the threat of teenage engagement, unintended consequences of the power of theatre, approved high school adaptations of certain contemporary scripts, why this particular theatrical activist is like Roger Rabbit, and the power of such dangerous theatrical works as Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, The Laramie Project, and Bye Bye Birdie. (Length 20:06)

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Episode 157. Wisconsin Loves Us!

“Well, most of Wisconsin. We remember the many cities we’ve played in the Cheesehead state, and also talk to high school drama teacher Kate Schultz, whose principal forbade her from staging a production of All The Great Books (abridged). Featuring insight into what rural conservatives find shocking these days, tales of the Hodag, the sick depravity of The Music Man, and a disturbing lack of artistic outrage. (MP3. Length 20:57.)

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