Play x Play

We've been on a bit of a hiatus, but we have some new content coming down the pipeline! For today I've gathered a number of amazing playwrights to talk about Science Fiction and Theatre. Mac Rogers (Honeycomb Trilogy, Universal Robots), Gus Schulenburg (DEINDE, Jane the Plain), and Johnna Adams (Gideon's Knot, Skinless, Angel Eaters Trilogy) join me in this fascinating conversation.

Today’s episode features part 2 of ACIRFA by Aja Houston, an epic and lyrical play set in a mythic Afro-fantasy world examining ideas of Blackness, colonialism, slavery, and legacy. Aja wrestles with the ramifications  of the American slave trade and the stripping of culture, dignity, and history experienced by enslaved African people. But what excited me more than anything else was the fact that Aja chose to situate this theatrical question in a fantasy setting. The exclusion and marginalization of people of color from speculative fiction had been long documented. Genre fiction writers often employ aliens or fantasy races like elves and goblins to address issues of race through allegory, but it’s rare that people of color get to imagine ourselves in these fantastical settings, much less as subjects of those imaginings. So with great excitement, I am proud to present to you, ACIRFA: Aaliyah was played by Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy Osi was played by Robert Lee Taylo r Amani was played by Lori Parquet Sarai was played by Yeauxlanda Kaye Jamal and the Judge were played by Anthony Wills Jr. Lesedi was played by Geri-Nikole Love and stage directions were read by Adriana Jones This episode was directed by Heather Cohn Read more at http://playxplay.libsyn.com/#YXm5WT7ei1xdUd5s.99

Today’s episode features part 1 of ACIRFA by Aja Houston, an epic and lyrical play set in a mythic Afro-fantasy world examining ideas of Blackness, colonialism, slavery, and legacy. Aja wrestles with the ramifications  of the American slave trade and the stripping of culture, dignity, and history experienced by enslaved African people. But what excited me more than anything else was the fact that Aja chose to situate this theatrical question in a fantasy setting. The exclusion and marginalization of people of color from speculative fiction had been long documented. Genre fiction writers often employ aliens or fantasy races like elves and goblins to address issues of race through allegory, but it’s rare that people of color get to imagine ourselves in these fantastical settings, much less as subjects of those imaginings. So with great excitement, I am proud to present to you, ACIRFA: Aaliyah was played by Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy Osi was played by Robert Lee Taylo r Amani was played by Lori Parquet Sarai was played by Yeauxlanda Kaye Jamal and the Judge were played by Anthony Wills Jr. Lesedi was played by Geri-Nikole Love and stage directions were read by Adriana Jones This episode was directed by Heather Cohn

Sex and Hunger by Kyoung Park, is a ribald and biting political and sexual farce focusing on a close knit group of the young, restless, and privileged. Blake Williams: Daniel K. Isaac Sonia Lee: Mieke Dee      Tomas Kovarik: Jesse James Keitel Mike Eisenstein: Amir Wachterman Sinta Mumberre: Veracity Butcher Isabella Passolini: Jessica Weinstein David Ricardo: Rafael Benoit A reminder: Play x Play is a completely listener supported podcast, so if you'd like to support the artists that you heard, please become a backer of our Patreon campaign by going to www.patreon.com/playxplay Read more at http://playxplay.libsyn.com/#cUUBZGa8aoHY7HjU.99

Sex and Hunger by Kyoung Park, is a ribald and biting political and sexual farce focusing on a close knit group of the young, restless, and privileged. Blake Williams: Daniel K. Isaac Sonia Lee: Mieke Dee      Tomas Kovarik: Jesse James Keitel Mike Eisenstein: Amir Wachterman Sinta Mumberre: Veracity Butcher Isabella Passolini: Jessica Weinstein David Ricardo: Rafael Benoit A reminder: Play x Play is a completely listener supported podcast, so if you'd like to support the artists that you heard, please become a backer of our Patreon campaign by going to www.patreon.com/playxplay Read more at http://playxplay.libsyn.com/#cUUBZGa8aoHY7HjU.99

Sex and Hunger by Kyoung Park, is a ribald and biting political and sexual farce focusing on a close knit group of the young, restless, and privileged. Blake Williams: Daniel K. Isaac Sonia Lee: Mieke Dee      Tomas Kovarik: Jesse James Keitel Mike Eisenstein: Amir Wachterman Sinta Mumberre: Veracity Butcher Isabella Passolini: Jessica Weinstein David Ricardo: Rafael Benoit A reminder: Play x Play is a completely listener supported podcast, so if you'd like to support the artists that you heard, please become a backer of our Patreon campaign by going to www.patreon.com/playxplay

In Marielle Duke's The World to Come leads us into a haunting and beautiful meditation on motherhood, loss, faith, and mysticism. Two mothers struggle with the early loss of their children while the souls of their unborn children search for meaning and connection in limbo before leaving olam haba-- the world to come. Calden was played by Chinaza Uche Jai was played by Gabby Sherba Ami was played by Emily Hartford Sam was played by Ashley Bloom James was played by Matthew Trumbull Rebecca Davis read stage directions. The episode was directed by Philip Emeott A reminder: Play x Play is a completely listener supported podcast, so if you'd like to support the artists that you heard, please become a backer of our Patreon campaign by going to www.patreon.com/playxplay

In Marielle Duke's The World to Come leads us into a haunting and beautiful meditation on motherhood, loss, faith, and mysticism. Two mothers struggle with the early loss of their children while the souls of their unborn children search for meaning and connection in limbo before entering olam hazai-- the world to come. Calden was played by Chinaza Uche Jai was played by Gabby Sherba Ami was played by Emily Hartford Sam was played by Ashley Bloom James was played by Matthew Trumbull Rebecca Davis read stage directions. The episode was directed by Philip Emeott A reminder: Play x Play is a completely listener supported podcast, so if you'd like to support the artists that you heard, please become a backer of our Patreon campaign by going to www.patreon.com/playxplay

In today's episode, we'll be visiting Victorian England in Montserrat Mendez's hilarious play, "Thoroughly Stupid Things", a delightful unauthorized sequel to Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest." Gwendolyn Fairfax was played by Synge Maher Cecily Montcrief was played by Mary Baynard Mrs. Prism was played by Libby Collins Lady Bracknell was played by Rob Maitner and Merriman was played by Skid Maher who also read stage directions. A reminder: Play x Play is a completely listener supported podcast, so if you’d like to support the artists that you heard just now, please become a backer of our Patreon campaign by going to www.patreon.com/playxplay

In today's episode, we return to Victorian England in Montserrat Mendez's hilarious play, "Thoroughly Stupid Things", a delightful unauthorized sequel to Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest." Gwendolyn Fairfax and Insprector Raynier was played by Synge Maher Cecily Montcrief was played by Mary Baynard Jack Worthing was played by Andrew Glaszek Algernon Montcrief was played by Nat Cassidy Bibi LaFlam was played by James Edward Becton and Reverend Chausuble was played by Skid Maher who also read stage directions. A reminder: Play x Play is a completely listener supported podcast, so if you’d like to support the artists that you heard just now, please become a backer of our Patreon campaign by going to www.patreon.com/playxplay

In today's episode, we return to Victorian England in Montserrat Mendez's hilarious play, "Thoroughly Stupid Things", a delightful unauthorized sequel to Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest." Gwendolyn Fairfax and Insprector Raynier was played by Synge Maher Cecily Montcrief was played by Mary Baynard Mrs. Prism was played by Libby Collins Lady Bracknell was played by Rob Maitner Jack Worthing was played by Andrew Glaszek Algernon Montcrief was played by Nat Cassidy Bibi LaFlam was played by James Edward Becton Merriman and Reverend Chausuble was played by Skid Maher who also read stage directions. A reminder: Play x Play is a completely listener supported podcast, so if you’d like to support the artists that you heard just now, please become a backer of our Patreon campaign by going to www.patreon.com/playxplay