Inspiration And Transformation

Last week’s podcast about an uneasy correspondence with Stephen Sondheim prompts this first podcast of 2022! Matt Croke joins us to dig into the question of where artistic inspiration comes from, and how artists transform their influences into art. Featuring comic influences that have inspired the RSC (in both spoken word and musical form); finding more meat on the bone; the importance of acknowledging your influences and knowing what else has been done; how Elvis Costello responded to a similar question of influence; and a parody excerpt from the Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show. (Length 33:16)

The Reduced Shakespeare Company Christmas

Your new holiday tradition! The complete (unabridged) recording of The Reduced Shakespeare Company Christmas, produced by Connie Blaszczyk for Public Radio International in 1995, which has been unavailable for years and features Adam Long, Reed Martin, Austin Tichenor, and Matthew Croke in a special “live” recording from RSC HQ. Not to be confused with our stage production The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged), the RSC Christmas features transmissions from Yule-Sat, Reed’s Happy Wholesome Holiday Poem, Carolers from Hell, just A Little Dickens, the incredibly helpful Carol Complaint Line, almost-25-year-old references, a very minor holiday apocalypse, 12 Tips of Christmas, our epic production of “The Complete Christmas Carol (abridged)”, an exclusive interview with Charles Dickens himself, and ultimately, inevitably, the True Meaning of Christmas. (Length 46:33)

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 545. Prague Shakespeare Company

Guy Roberts, the artistic director of Prague Shakespeare Company, talks about how the company was founded and how Shakespeare is bringing nations and peoples together. Featuring important Spinal Tap influences, the challenge of completing the canon, comparisons between LongLostShakes and The Complete Works…, revelations about the so-called “coast of Bohemia”, an excerpt from the Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show, echoes of Much Ado About Nothing, and the value of making people laugh. Recorded live at the Shakespeare Theatre Association. (Length 15:30) 

Episode 436. We’re American, Dammit!

”We recently appeared in Backstage, the US publication and website devoted to the theatre industry, in a lovely article entitled “12 Touring Theatre Companies That Make A Difference.” We were grouped alongside such stalwart companies as Aquila Theatre, The Acting Company, Nebraska Theatre Caravan, and Theatreworks USA, and the only minor Read more…

Episode 356. Meeting The King

”We find cool stories wherever we go and sometimes we’re able to turn the microphone on to capture and share them. This week, Reed Martin talks to his student Kathy Myers, who describes the times she met Elvis Presley as a (way-too) young girl. Featuring amazing Elvis impressions, good smoking hygiene, Read more…

Episode 340. Directing A Comedy

”We share thoughts about comedy with director William Brown, who talks about his Writers’ Theatre production of David Ives’ The Liar which is earning rave reviews this month in Chicago. Featuring the joys of being at the epicenter of the action, the advantages of actor investment, the truth about technique, the Read more…

Episode 324. Appreciating Stephen King

”With all due respect to Annie Wilkes, reduced King scholar and film critic Katherine Naylor and I are big fans of Stephen King, so we sat down recently to discuss our favorite books, recurring themes, underrated novels, and abandoning pretension. Featuring chilling memories of reading The Stand, divergent opinions on The Read more…

Episode 310. Kings And Queens

No, not the Kevin James sitcom, nor the reality competition featuring RuPaul: Ginger UK production manager Davey Naylor recounts the reigns of the English monarchs from the ninth century to the present (2012). Featuring the ancient prerequisites for obtaining a knighthood, the differences between myths and legends, how the American Revolution Read more…

Episode 220. Genuine Shakespeare Nerds

”What happens when real Shakespeare actors have to perform the (abridged) and Complete Works? Tiger Reel and Jeff Marlow explain the difficulties as they prepare for our tour of Belgium and Holland, and reveal the connection between Shakespeare and science-fiction, how this tour is a special homecoming, and preview a Read more…

Episode 184. Shakespeare Fun Facts

”Facts both silly and true highlight our reduced knowledge of the immortal bard in this podcast inspired by a recent London Times article. Featuring audio footnotes; excerpts from our “Complete Guide to London (abridged)”, the Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show, and Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete Guide for the Attention-Impaired (abridged); special appearances Read more…

Episode 152. We’re Going Blu!

”We’re going blu! The Blumenthal Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, that is! But it prompts a discussion about the phrase “Family Friendly” and how (or whether) it applies to us. Featuring a wildly inaccurate review, an update on the script for The Complete World of Sports (abridged), an excerpt from Read more…

Episode 134. Our Writing Process

”Be a fly on the wall (albeit one with a very bad online connection) as Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor discuss how the writing of The Complete World of Sports (abridged) is going. Featuring insights on our writing rituals, what our preliminary lists consist of, excerpts from The Complete Millennium Read more…

Episode 131. In The News

”Sometimes we beat the news cycle, sometimes the news cycle beats us. This week we reduce the career of Prime Minister Gordon Brown (as heard on BBC Radio 5’s Gabby Logan Show), hear about Muslim contributions to world culture, and hear excerpts from our TBS pilot The Week Reduced. Plus, Read more…

Episode 75. Happy Mother’s Day!

”A reduced celebration of all things maternal! We talk to some real RSC Moms and learn about the joys of waxing, the benefits of talking to people, the difficulty of scheduling your day around your kids, and some disturbing examples of Hamlet’s Oedipal complex. Featuring an excerpt from The Reduced Read more…

Episode 63. Reduced Dating Service

”Happy Valentine’s Day! Tales of love and romance from RSC fans and – possibly – between RSC fans! Featuring listener email and voice messages, excerpts from the Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show and The Complete Millennium Musical (abridged), a special appearance from Edinburgh Fringe First Winner and Obie-Ignored playwright Russ Lees, Read more…

Episode 38. Memories of Edinburgh

”The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is in full swing, and we’re not there! If you’re not either, listen to our tales of Edinburgh discoveries, inventive sleeping arrangements, freak show skills, false alarms, and confused protesters. Featuring excerpts from The Complete Millennium Musical (abridged) and The Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show, and a special Read more…

Episode 21. Happy Birthday Willy!

”Celebrate William Q. Shakespeare’s birthday with this collection of live performance readings from Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete Guide For The Attention-Impaired (abridged). Also, excerpts from the BBC World Service’s Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show, the radio version of RSC Q&A, and a distinguished and plummy appearance by Dr. Peter Holland, McNeel Read more…