Shakespearean March Madness

Beware the Ides of March Madness! The question “What’s the greatest Shakespeare play?” gets a definitive answer from director Nate Cohen, who’s created a massive tournament bracket that pits Comedy v. Tragedy and History v. Romances. Nate shares how Shakespeare’s plays got seeded; which plays were the hardest to match up; how a play’s reputation affect its seeding; a production of As You Like It for which Barenaked Ladies wrote the songs (what??); the deep bench of Twelfth Night; tough decisions regarding Richard III; the unsurprising dominance of number one seeds; some surprising bracket-busters; a couple of heart-breaking matchups; what play would win out of ten games; and how the proof of each play’s strengths come in production. A warning to our affiliates: We will go long. (Length 37:26)

Michael Chiklis’s Red

Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor Michael Chiklis (The Shield) plays legendary Hall of Fame coach, president, and general manager of the Boston Celtics Red Auerbach in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (now streaming on HBOMax). Michael discusses why the role is so special; why he has a permanent resistance to typecasting, even (and especially) in grad school; the power of actors; the terror of complacency; tales of impulsive behavior in TV audition rooms; the dangers of stinking up the room; the joy of nothing going ‘snap’; a tease about his upcoming project; and how he manifested reinventing himself from “roly-poly affable guy” to someone who’s “adult, hard-hitting, smart…and has something to say.” (Length 24:40)

Staging “Athena”‘s Fencing

David Blixt is the co-fight choreographer of the Writers Theatre production of Gracie Gardner’s Athena, directed by Jessica Fisch and featuring two stand-out performances by Aja Singletary (right) and Mary Tilden (left). David discusses the things that make this production unique in his experience; the importance of being a storyteller; the language of the body; the value of creating theater as an ensemble; how distance equals danger; why the actors had to actually hit each other; and how stage violence is always a story of desire and denial. (Length 16:24)

Episode 800! Hail, ‘King James’!

For our landmark 800th episode, we’re joined by Rajiv Joseph, the Obie-winning playwright and screenwriter whose Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was a finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize, talking about his new play King James, now in its final week at Steppenwolf Theater before its month-long run at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Rajiv talks about how the play found its ultimate shape; the bona fides and credibility he brings to the topic; the theatrical pageantry of sporting events, and how some of that invaluable arena energy is brought into the theater; the largely unexplored area of the emotional impact of sports; and our shared belief that the subject of sports remains fruitful and largely unexplored territory in the theater. (Length 17:44)

Episode 595. Alli & Davey

Our long-time friends and colleagues Alli Bostedt and Davey Naylor were married last Friday, May the 4th (Be With You), 2018, in the Sebastiani Theatre in Sonoma, CA (where we filmed The Complete History of America (abridged)) and, just days before the ceremony, they took time to talk about how their romance overcame early tour awkwardness and problematic venues (thank you, Rhyl!). Featuring knockout predictions, comments from Best Man Matt Rippy, origin stories, canal canoodling, romantic Berkhamsted opportunities, memories of our UK tour of The Complete World of Sports (abridged) and New Zealand tour of Completely Hollywood (abridged), and the inspiring story of how romance can blossom even during a theatrical tour. (Length 19:01). 

Episode 525. Ten Year Highlights

”We highlight ten signature moments, one from each of the ten years of the first decade of the RSC Podcast, that best represent the scope of what we’ve attempted to do week after week. Featuring behind the scenes conversations showcasing how our shows are created, in-depth interviews with comedians, directors, authors, and award-winning actors, and invaluable Read more…

Episode 468. Shakespeare And Football

”Peter Eramo is not only the Publicity and Marketing Manager for the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC, he’s also the commissioner of the Folger Fantasy Football League, which each year pits teams in the Montague and Capulet divisions against each other as they vie for the coveted and illustrious Read more…

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…

Episode 397. Science Fiction Theatre

”Science fiction as a genre isn’t particularly well-represented in the theatre, but playwright Michael Bernard is hoping to change all that. His play Alien The Family was recently presented at Sci-Fest: The Los Angeles Science Fiction One-Act Play Festival, and this week discusses the scarcity of science fiction in theatre, Read more…

Episode 380. Sacrificing RSC Virgins

”Veteran Bay Area actors Dodds Delzell and John Tichenor made their RSC debuts last week (performing Sports in Wisconsin) and talk about what it’s like to get called up to the Show. Featuring the trickiness of scheduling, the challenges of learning the lines on your own, the complications of adding Read more…

The Complete World of Sports (abridged)

March Madness! April Absurdity!

The Complete World of Sports (abridged)After a brief time-out, the Reduced Shakespeare Company take to the field once again with The Complete World of Sports (abridged). Whoop and holler and hurl your hotdog as we attempt to reduce every sport in the history of the world – from archery to wrestling, from basketball to bocce ball, from championship chess to professional ping-pong and everything in between! 3,477.3 sports reduced into one mad dash to the finish line! Impossible! No WAY, you say! YES way, say we! We have been training literally minutes for this! Bring your poms poms to: (more…)

Episode 320. Outlandish Bermuda Sports

”We head back to the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts this week for the first time in over a decade and we’re very excited. Join us in our Yakima, WA hotel lobby as we sample the snacks and wine given us by the Capitol Theatre and discuss what it’s Read more…

London 2012

We won the Gold! The comic Gold, that is. The RSC took the UK by storm this summer – take a look. After a five-week tour of the regions, we settled in for an exciting six-week run of The Complete World of Sports (abridged) at the Arts Theatre in London which coincided with the London Olympics. Read more…

Episode 290. Changes For Britain

”At the end of our second week of playing The Complete World of Sports (abridged) in the UK, we talk about the many subtle and not-so-subtle changes we’re making to Anglicize the show for a British audience. Featuring evidence that reviews can help, a close encounter (and missed opportunity) with Read more…

Episode 282. We Get Notes

”Every actor gets ’em; this week we get ours. After a recent performance of The Complete World of Sports (abridged), we met in a crowded noisy bar in Santa Rosa, California with Dodds Delzell, Chad Yarish, and April George, all of whom worked on the original production of the script. Read more…

Episode 280. Fantasy Sports Explained

”Sportswriter, columnist, and nerd’s nerd AJ Mass returns to talk about his book How Fantasy Sports Explains The World: What Pujols and Peyton Can Teach Us About Wookiees and Wall Street. Featuring wisdom from the likes of Neil Degrasse Tyson and Jane Espenson, the importance of shared metaphors, illusions of Read more…

Episode 266. Returning To England

”It’s been too long! This summer we return to England for the European premiere of The Complete World of Sports (abridged) – just in time to coincide with some minor international sporting event that will apparently be there at the same time. Featuring the number of weeks we’ll be there (11), the places Read more…

Episode 265. Feast Or Famine

”Reed and Austin talk about what a busy, hectic, and productive two years it’s been, and how weirdly similar 2012 will be. Featuring insight into the cyclical nature of theatre, tips on regeneration, a special appearance from Jon Weber, host of NPR’s Piano Jazz Rising Stars, and frustratingly vague references Read more…

Episode 255. Finding The Line

”Comedians walk the line of appropriateness all the time, but sometimes the line changes. We discuss the (surprisingly few) changes we made to make The Complete World of Sports (abridged) appropriate for our run at the family-friendly New Victory Theatre. Featuring serious conversations about immature euphemisms, chains of responsibility, and how Read more…

Episode 253: RSC On NPR

”We performed excerpts from “The Complete World of Sports (abridged)” on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” this summer, and in anticipation of our run at the New Victory Theatre in New York, herewith are excerpts of the excerpts! Featuring impressive trivia, the differences between baseball and cricket, the dulcet tones Read more…

OMG! RSC in NYC, PDQ!

The Complete World of Sports (abridged)

It Might Be the BIG Apple… but there’s a REDUCED price! (Available only for a SHORT time)

The Reduced Shakespeare Company returns to The New Victory Theater (New York’s theater for kids and families… and those who refuse to act their age) for a three week run of The Complete World of Sports (abridged). Austin, Matt and Reed are ready to once again tackle life’s big questions: Is bowling really a sport? Who invented curling? How DOES one get to the Subway Series?

The New Vic is running a special offer for RSC fans who step up to the plate now: 15% off any performance, any seat if purchased by Oct 21st. (more…)

The Complete World of Sports (abridged)

Washington DC – We Have a Consensus!

The Complete World of Sports (abridged)
Folks in Washington DC don’t agree on much this summer. But they are unanimous in their delirious enjoyment of the DC premiere of  The Complete World of Sports (abridged) at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theatre.  Here’s what the critics have to say:

Washington Post: “The pacing and timing are crackerjack. It’s hard not to grin all night, so give ’em a medal: Who’s gonna beat their time in a comic sprint?” Read Review

Washington Examiner: “Delicious anarchy.” Read Full Review

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The Complete World of Sports (abridged)

RSC on MYFOXDC!

In case you have NOT been glued to your TV watching MyFox DC, never fear – the Reduced Shakespeare Company can be seen here! Or better yet, come down to the Kennedy Center and experience all the gags and glory – live! Holly Morris – Reduced Shakespeare Company: MyFoxDC.com

Episode 231. A Hearty Bookfest

”We made our second straight appearance at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, reading from Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete Guide for the Attention-Impaired (abridged), All The Great Books (abridged), Completely Hollywood (abridged), and The Complete World of Sports (abridged). Featuring crazy live laughter, ambient traffic noise, a special appearance Read more…

Episode 225. Sophomoric, N’est-ce Pas?

”On our drive across America’s heartland, we pass the time debating the highs and lows of high and low comedy. Featuring definitions of the word sophomoric; celebrations of satire; a special appearance by legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning sports photographer Stan Grossfeld; a sexy, sensual, and smooth station ID for Lush 99.5 Read more…

Episode 218. City of Champions

”Even though the Steelers didn’t win Super Bowl XLV, Pittsburgh is still a city of champions. Specifically, Quidditch champions. We talk to a couple of their players, and answer questions about improv, play development, and why we have to do so much gosh-darn running. (MP3. Length 17:52)

Episode 213A. “Sports (abridged)” Promo

”If you haven’t been lucky enough to see our seventh stage show, get your first glimpse at our favorite moments from The Complete World of Sports (abridged) in this promotional video we just put together. This video will be handed out to presenters attending the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Read more…

Episode 205. Castoffs & Misfits

”A good ensemble can make a theatre production great and a World Series champion. Reed Martin celebrates the victory of his beloved San Francisco Giants as we compare long-shots, underdogs, dynasties, and never-wases. Featuring logical superstitions, bandwagon fans, some third-grade humor, emotional investment, and lifelong dreams fulfilled. (MP3. Length 20:07)

“SPORTS” TALK

There has been an amazing buzz surrounding Reduced Shakespeare Company debut of “The Complete World of Sports (abridged).” No, not Buzz Lightyear. Not even Buzz Aldrin. It’s been the buzz from the press which has called SPORTS (abridged) “deeply funny,” “absolutely hilarious,” and “both merciless and affectionate!” Click here for Read more…

TOUR QUIZ

Only for Fun. Please No Wagering. Question: What do Richmond VA, Burlington VT, Charlotte NC, Easton PA and Richardson TX all have common? Hint: Remember you are reading the the RSC newsletter. Answer: Along with Princeton, NJ these are the only places you’ll be able to see the RSC in Read more…

Episode 199. A Real Sportscaster

”After a recent performance, sportscaster and newsanchor Frank Mallicoat weighed in with reactions, tips, and professional opinion. Featuring revelations about what sportscasters are full of, the differences between sportscasting and news reporting, excerpts from The Complete World of Sports (abridged), hints about what Shaq will bring to the Boston Celtics, Read more…

‘World of Sports’ “Hits It Out Of The Park”!

The Complete World of Sports (abridged)

Every audience has given us a standing ovation, and now the Boston Globe, BroadwayWorld, and the Lowell Sun agree: our seventh stage show is a hit!

The Boston Globe called The Complete World of Sports (abridged), “A fast-moving and deeply funny farrago, a neo-vaudevillian sendup that manages to be both merciless and affectionate,” in which “one sketch rapidly gives way to another, and then another, blending slapstick, sight gags, hernia-inducing puns, and genuine verbal wit.” The highly intelligent reviewer Don Acouin called it a “fast-paced sendup” and concluded “‘World of Sports’ is always on its game!

Read the whole magnificently-written review here.

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Episode 197. ‘Sports’ Opening Night

”The Complete World of Sports (abridged) had its official RSC premiere this weekend at Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, MA, so we kept the microphone on backstage, during our walk home, and at the cast party. Featuring tongue fumbles, theatrical tricks, mild nausea, and expert testimony as to how stage Read more…

Episode 196. At The Ballpark

”It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame, so we finish rehearsal by heading off to watch the Lowell Spinners struggle against the Tri-City ValleyCats. Yes, it’s one minor league squad enjoying the other. Featuring fantastically bad play by play, an excerpt from The Complete World of Sports (abridged), a special appearance Read more…

Episode 194. Moments Of Glory

”We take a break from rehearsing The Complete World of Sports (abridged) to recall our various moments of sporting glory…and some moments of humiliation as well. Featuring last-minute victories, unexpected emotion, a special appearance from Modern Family‘s Eric Stonestreet, and a brief quote from Bill Cosby. (If you spot it, Read more…

Episode 193. Reduced Rehearsal Barn

”The actors in the RSC’s newest show The Complete World of Sports (abridged)Matt Rippy, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor – take a break from rehearsing (in this magnificent structure) to discuss how the new show is shaping up so far. Featuring cautious optimism, fear and trepidations, shout-outs to our predecessors, an outbreak of song, and our first bilingual celebrity blurb! (MP3. Length 20:09)

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Episode 192. Baseball With Benefits

”The meaningless Sport vs. Game debate continues! Sportswriter and fantasy sports expert AJ Mass interviews us for his new book The Thrill of Vicarious Victory and shares with us his four categories of athletic competition. Featuring insight into how fantasy sports can make you a better person, previews of the sketches Read more…

Episode 183. Game or Sport?

”Is poker a sport? We ask veteran broadcaster Paul Harris, host of The Final Table Poker Radio Show, to share his expertise and insight. Featuring benchmarks and measurements, the dangers of time zone confusions, what defines a broadcaster, a special appearance by Vicki Lewis (Newsradio, Curb your Enthusiasm), and why you Read more…

Episode 180. New Victory Tour

Join us on a backstage tour of the New Victory Theatre in New York City, and go behind, below, and above the scenes. Featuring a rundown of the theater’s glorious and checkered history, mysterious tales of the “phantom of the New Victory”, some bodacious putti, and a special appearance by the Read more…

Episode 175. Playwrights Who Direct

”Austin Tichenor and Reed Martin are writing The Complete World of Sports (abridged), which the Reduced Shakespeare Company will premiere in September 2010. But they’re in rehearsals now, directing a non-RSC production in California. They talk about this unusual process, and about the wisdom of playwrights directing their own work. Read more…

Episode 167. Festus Is Back!

”The old codgers from Hollywood mark the return of a beloved – but cut – character from our America show. Featuring other recycled characters from previous shows, further improvements to the first act of Hollywood, a frustrating tease about the Sports show, and information about the publication of the Hollywood 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 149. The Clown Show

”Reed Martin returns to his comedy roots with The Clown Show, which he’s written and directed for Napa Valley College. Featuring potential new bits for our upcoming Sports show, the glory of great student actors, and the important differences between talk-talk and do-do. (MP3. Length 18:47)

Episode 142. Love The Research

”Deep in the depths of writing new shows leaves us deep in the depths of researching, too. Featuring details on how The Complete World of Sports (abridged) is progressing, appearances by the most famous celebrity blurbers EVER, and highlights of sports-themed podcast episode #47, Play By Play. (SPOILER ALERT: Mostly 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…

ANNOUNCING Our Next Stage Show!

If you listened to last week’s podcast (Episode 132. New Stage Show), you were among the very first people to hear the huge, ginormous subject matter that we’ll be reducing next.Our seventh stage show will be The Complete World of Sports (abridged). From the competitive caveman origins to the ancient Read more…

Episode 132. New Stage Show

”In this week’s EXCLUSIVE announcement, Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor reveal the title of the next RSC Stage Show.  Featuring what criteria were considered in making the decision, when it’s likely to appear at a theater near you, the bits that will absolutely without-a-doubt 100% guaranteed be in the final Read more…