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| SpeakEasy Stage Launches The Boston Project Podcast | |
| Posted by: Official_Press_Release 11:27 am EDT 08/15/20 | |
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| SPEAKEASY LAUNCHES BOSTON PROJECT PODCAST (BOSTON) - On Friday, August 14, 2020, SpeakEasy Stage Company proudly launched the first two episodes of its latest venture, THE BOSTON PROJECT PODCAST. This podcast is an extension of The Boston Project, the company's new works initiative that supports local playwrights in the creation and development of new plays set in and around Boston. The goal of the Project is to produce new works which explore what it means to live in Boston and tap into the full breadth of experiences and identities that make up life in the Hub. THE BOSTON PROJECT PODCAST came about in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which postponed the staged readings planned for June for this year's Project playwrights. The podcast is a way to both amplify the voices of local playwrights and continue the development of new works until it is safe for artists to be back in the theatre. The inaugural production of THE BOSTON PROJECT PODCAST is an audio recording of writer MJ Halberstadt's play The Usual Unusual. The production will be presented over 6 weeks, with the first two installments debuting on Friday, Aug. 14, and then one new episode each week for the next five. The play centers on The Usual Unusual, a scrappy and quaint bookstore where Boston's LGBTQ+ community has gathered to shop, organize, and flirt since the 70s. When the store's charismatic founder Penn announces his retirement, neurotic staff-member Charlie persuades him to pass leadership on, rather than close the store. The staff's efforts to unite a fractured community under one banner - or simply coordinate a weekly reading night -- stoke generational disputes about identity, community, and trauma. MJ Halberstadt is a Huntington Playwriting Fellow alum, and an adjunct professor of dramatic writing at Emerson College and Northeastern University. His other works include the plays Deal Me Out, The Launch Prize (Elliot Norton Award), and That Time the House Burned Down. Megan Sandberg-Zakian, a local free-lance director whose recent credits include directing Skeleton Crew (Huntington Theatre), The Royale, (Merrimack Rep), and The Convert (Central Square Theater), has been involved in the development of the The Usual Unusual for much of its gestation and directs the podcast. The cast includes Rasheedat "Ras" Badejo, Lily Chrones, Michael John Ciszewski, Olivia Z. Cote, Will McGarrahan, Han C. Park, Eddie Shields, and Debra Wise. Helen Deborah Lewis served as dramaturg, Elizabeth Cahill was the sound engineer, and John Meredith was the production "Zoom Room" manager. THE BOSTON PROJECT PODCAST can be found on all the popular podcast streaming services, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Episodes can also be streamed directly from https://the-boston-project-podcast.simplecast.com/." Playwright Information MJ HALBERSTADT (Playwright) is pleased to make his SpeakEasy debut. He is the writer of the plays Deal Me Out (Boston Playwrights' Theatre), The Launch Prize (Elliot Norton Award, Bridge Repertory Theater), That Time the House Burned Down (Fresh Ink Theatre), the libretto of the opera Grindr (and other concerns), and additional works for immersive and stage performance. He is a Huntington Playwriting Fellow alum, an adjunct professor of dramatic writing at Emerson College and Northeastern University, and a devoted knitter. Learn more at mjhalberstadt.com. Director Information MEGAN SANDBERG-ZAKIAN is a freelance theater director focusing on the development of diverse new plays for the American stage, and a co-founder of Maia Directors, a consulting group for artists and organizations engaging with stories from the Middle East and beyond. Her first book, There Must Be Happy Endings: On a Theater of Optimism and Honesty is available from The 3rd Thing press. Megan has previously served as the Associate Artistic Director of Underground Railway Theater (Cambridge, MA), the Providence Black Repertory Company (RI), and The 52nd Street Project (NYC), and as Director-in-Residence at Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) in Lowell, MA. Recent directing projects include the world premieres of Madhuri Shekar's House of Joy at Cal Shakes, Nathan Alan Davis' Nat Turner in Jerusalem at New York Theatre Workshop, and Eleanor Burgess' Chill at MRT. Other favorite projects include: Skeleton Crew at The Huntington Theatre Company, The Royale at MRT (IRNE Award, Best Production & Best Director), The Convert at Underground Railway Theatre (Elliot Norton Award, Outstanding Production; IRNE Award, Best Production & Best Director), the world premiere of The Broken Record at FringeNYC (Overall Excellence Award), the Boston premiere of The Brother Sister Plays at Company One in Boston (IRNE Award: Best Production), and the RI premiere of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Perishable Theatre/Trinity Repertory Company (Motif Awards: Best Production, Best Set Design, Best Actor). Actor Information RASHEEDAT "RAS" BADEJO* (Virgo) is pleased to make their SpeakEasy debut with this Fantastic production of The Usual Unusual. Ras is a generative theatre artist from Kansas City, Missouri, now based in New York City. Some of their favorite credits include: Belfast Girls, Men on Boats, An Octoroon, Beasts of Burden, and their one person show Young Black Victorian. (they/them) LILY CHRONES (Yaz) is delighted to make their SpeakEasy debut having been inspired by SpeakEasy productions since moving to Boston for college. Lily is a senior at Boston Conservatory at Berklee majoring in Contemporary Theatre. Their previous credits include the Boston Conservatory Senior Directed production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in The Nighttime (Christopher Boone), Appropriate (Cassidy) at Earthstone Theatre Company, and Much Ado About Nothing (Verges/Messenger) at Oak Park Festival Theatre. They would like to thank their friends, family, and mentors who have inspired and encouraged them on their artistic journey. (they/them) MICHAEL JOHN CISZEWSKI (Ryan) returns to SpeakEasy having recently appeared in The Boston Project workshops of Diaspora! and The Usual Unusual. Boston-area credits include Bent (Umbrella Stage Company); Murder on the Orient Express and The Little Foxes (Lyric Stage Company); Peter and the Starcatcher (Hub Theatre Company); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Apollinaire Theatre Company); and Holiday Memories (New Repertory Theatre). His debut solo show Everyone is Dying and So Am I has played in Boston (Open Theatre Project) and New York City (Theatre Row). Michael trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and is a proud graduate of Boston University's BFA Theatre Arts program. Check out his website here. (he/him) OLIVIA Z. COTE (Ash) is thrilled to be making her SpeakEasy debut-in podcast form, nonetheless! Select credits include The Wolves (Lyric Stage Company); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Apollinaire Theatre Company); and Gooney Bird Greene and Her True Life Adventures (Wheelock Family Theatre). She has also appeared with Theater in the Open, Anthem Theatre Company, Open Theatre Project, and The Theatre Offensive. Olivia's plays have been produced with Acadiana Repertory Theatre, Brunch Theatre, and the Boston Center for American Performance. Thank you to the whole bookshop gang for making Zoom performance almost as satisfying as the real thing! BFA: Boston University. Check out her website here. (she/they) WILL MCGARRAHAN* (Penn) is happy to return to SpeakEasy Stage where he has performed in The View UpStairs; Casa Valentina; Big Fish; Next Fall; The Drowsy Chaperone; Reckless; Some Men; The Mystery of Edwin Drood; Five by Tenn; Company; The Last Sunday in June; Elegies: A Song Cycle; Ruthless!; and A New Brain. Other local credits include Souvenir [Elliot Norton Award], Murder on the Orient Express, Peter and the Starcatcher, Light Up the Sky, Into the Woods, Death of a Salesman, The Chosen, The Temperamentals, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Grey Gardens, November, and Dirty Blonde. (Lyric Stage Company); A Raisin in the Sun (Huntington Theatre Company); The Wind in the Willows and Happy Days (Gloucester Stage Company); Nine Circles (Publick Theatre/Gloucester Stage Company); and The Moon for the Misbegotten and Buried Child (Nora Theatre). Will worked as an actor, singer, and pianist for many years in Seattle before moving to Boston's South End in 2001. (he/him) HAN C. PARK (Jesse) is grateful to be making his SpeakEasy debut. Although now an attorney, Han is a proud graduate of the Musical Theater program at the University of Michigan (go Blue!). Deep gratitude to MJ for providing a voice to the voiceless and to the entire SpeakEasy team for its dedication to the arts. (he/him) EDDIE SHIELDS* (Charlie) is thrilled to be working with SpeakEasy again on such a great project! Other SpeakEasy credits include The View UpStairs, Shakespeare in Love, Significant Other, and Casa Valentina. In New England, Eddie has worked with New Repertory Theatre, Actors' Shakespeare Project, Seven Angels Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Group, Wheelock Family Theatre, and The Nora Theatre Company. NYC credits include Theater Row, Primary Stages, Workshop Theater, The Drilling Company, and Rebel Theater. MFA in Acting from Brandeis University. Check out his website here. (he/him) DEBRA WISE* (Margot) returns to SpeakEasy Stage after appearing in Brooklyn Boy and a developmental reading of The Usual Unusual. Recent roles: Mrs. J in Escaped Alone, Marie in A Doll's House, Part 2 (The Gamm Theatre); Stage Manager in Vanity Fair, Homebody from Homebody/Kabul (Underground Railway @ Central Square Theater, of which Ms. Wise is Artistic Director). Upcoming (2021): Hannah in Angels in America, a collaboration between Bedlam and URT/CST. Debra is currently helping produce a Cambridge outdoor series (Starlight Square), and working as dramaturg with playwright Melinda Lopez on Young Nerds of Color (working title), based on 60+ interviews with BIPOC scientists. (she/hers) About SpeakEasy Stage Since its founding in 1992, SpeakEasy Stage Company has distinguished itself by presenting top quality, intimate, and entertaining productions of the best contemporary plays and musicals that have yet to play Boston. The company champions new talent and future arts leaders, while also nurturing a diverse community of experienced local theatre professionals who share our devotion to excellence. SpeakEasy is passionate about inspiring meaningful conversation throughout the community and works to impact its audiences and artists through accessible programming, community engagement, and relevant, powerful art. SpeakEasy treats its artists, audiences and supporters as collaborators working to make Boston a better place for all. |
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