Interviews
Jacek Yerka, In front of window, getting interviewed
The INTERVIEWS listed on this page have been published by a wide range of newspapers, magazines, and websites in the US and overseas, including: Tel Aviv, Israel (longtime Philadelphia theatre correspondent for AAJT*, the world’s largest Jewish theatre website, see YouTube video); Kayhan International, Tehran, Iran; Khedmat, Kabul, Afghanistan; and Indian Express, Mumbai, India.
United States: HowlRound and Edge, Boston; Windy City Times, Chicago; Classical Voice, Los Angeles; Talkin’ Broadway, and The Jewish Forward, New York; Broad Street Review, Dance Journal, Jewish Voice, Philadelphia Gay News, Phindie, Philadelphia; DCMetroTheaterArts, Washington, DC; The Mennonite, Tucson; and New Jersey Stage, Spring Lake.
*AAJT is temporarily disabled. For more information, contact the editor.
United States: HowlRound and Edge, Boston; Windy City Times, Chicago; Classical Voice, Los Angeles; Talkin’ Broadway, and The Jewish Forward, New York; Broad Street Review, Dance Journal, Jewish Voice, Philadelphia Gay News, Phindie, Philadelphia; DCMetroTheaterArts, Washington, DC; The Mennonite, Tucson; and New Jersey Stage, Spring Lake.
*AAJT is temporarily disabled. For more information, contact the editor.
Interviews, in alphabetical order by last name of interviewees
We will update this section with many more interviews soon,
starting with the letter H.
A:
Adair, Anthony Mustafa, actor. “The Power of the Invisible Hand: Interview with Anthony Mustafa Adair as Dar, a Pakistani captor, at Theatre Exile."
Anne Frank, EgoPo cast. Hidden Inside The Amsterdam Attic: A Guide to The Secret Diary of Anne Frank.
Applied Mechanics, collective. “Bring your appetites. This is a play you can eat!”: Interview with the Applied Mechanics collective on FEED.
B:
Backalenick, Irene, theatre critic. “An interview with Irene Backalenick: Doyenne of Jewish theatre critics." *
---. “Portrait of the amazing Irene Backalenick, doyenne of Jewish theatre critics." *
Be'er, Rami, choreographer & artistic director. “Dancing in a divided world: Israel’s Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company."
---. “Political choreographer: Interview with Rami Be’er, artistic director of Israel’s Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company."
Beguelin, Chad, playwright. “Sailing into Success at GayFest! Interview with HARBOR playwright Chad Beguelin."
Bloom, Jeremy, director. “‘Wilde Tales’: An Interview with Director Jeremy Bloom on the Quintessence Production."
Boeing Boeing, actors. “Taking Flight With The Cast of Boeing Boeing at Hedgerow Theatre."
Bonetti, Damon, director. “Flying with BOEING BOEING Captain Damon Bonetti: An interview with the Hedgerow director."
---. “Romping Around the Globe: An Interview with Damon Bonetti, Director of Hedgerow Theatre’s Around the World in 80 Days."
Bonetti, Damon, and Matt Pfeiffer, directors. “Two directors taking 39 Steps beyond Hitchcock."
Bridges of Madison County, The, cast. “You're Never Alone": Meet the Cast of Media Theatre's The Bridges of Madison County."
Brock, Tina, director. “Absurd is ‘the new Normal' in 2017: Interview with Tina Brock, artistic director of IRC, Philadelphia’s only surreal theatre.”
---. “Casting call” for the chairs in Ionesco’s THE CHAIRS: Interview with IRC artistic director Tina Brock."
---. “On becoming a RHINOCEROS: Interview with director Tina Brock."
---. “'Performing Ionesco is a sport': Interview with EXIT THE KING director Tina Brock."
Buches, Joseph, conductor. “PGMC at GALA, global conference for LGBT singers."
Burns, Alexander, director. “I was born into Shakespeare, the American Shakespeare”: Alex Burns on directing MACBETH.
---. “My greatest challenge as a director on Shakespeare”: Alex Burns on language in MACBETH (Arden), part 2
By the Bog of Cats, actors. Haunted by Loss and Abandonment: Talking with the Cast of By the Bog of Cats at The Irish Heritage Theatre.
C:
Caporaso, Rudy, actor-director, and artistic director Rosemary Hay. “Building New Audiences for Classical Theater: REV Theatre," part 1
---. “Home Run! Shakespeare at a Ball Park: REV Theatre," part 2
---. Hamlet at Laurel Hill Cemetery: An Interview with Rosey Hay and Rudy Caporaso of the REV Theatre Company.
Clarke, Cheril N., playwright, novelist, publisher. “ASYLUM: ‘I want my art to inspire action'."
Clarke, Mary Ruth, playwright. “A Theologian and the Nazis: Interview with Mary Ruth Clarke, playwright of BONHOEFFER’S COST."
Colucci, Christopher, composer. "Santa Colucci and His Merry Philadelphia Theater Elves."
Conger, Eric, playwright. “From callow young lover to successful playwright: Interview with Eric Conger, writer of Beautiful Boy."
Coon, Jeff, actor-singer. “An Outstanding Father On and Off the Stage: An Interview With Jeff Coon On The Arden’s Secret Garden, Part 1."
---. “Raising His Two Children in His Own Special Secret Garden: An Interview with Jeff Coon, Part 2."
---. “SHOWTIME, from Cape May and back: Great theatre artists inspire the next generation."
Coon, Jeff, and Jennie Eisenhower, actor-singers. “‘My busy, wacky, wonderful life': Parents on stage and off stage, THE ADDAMS FAMILY."
Creed, Jen, singer. "An Interview with Singer Jen Creed-Performing ‘A Night at the Oscars.’"
Cromie, Aaron, director. “‘Riffing, Replacing, and Reworking Goldoni’s “Servant of Two Masters” at the Hedgerow Theatre.
---. “‘Pushing the Envelope to Attract Contemporary Audiences: Goldoni at the Hedgerow Theatre.
D:
Dietzler, Harry, executive and artistic director Upper Darby Summer Stage. Filling the World with Love and Theater.
---, and Jeff Dietzler, director. Father, Son, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Doyle, John, director. “‘This production gives me the chills': VOICES OF A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES ."
Dresser, Richard, playwright. “War Stories: Interview with Richard Dresser, successful PlayPenn dramatist."
Drexel University film students. “‘A once in a lifetime experience': Interviews with U.S. film students who worked with well-known cinematographers in Cuba."
---. “‘A once in a lifetime experience': Interviews with U.S. film students who worked with well-known cinematographers in Cuba." (full version)
Dunphy, JP., actor-singer. “Theater from the Inside Out: Interview with multi-talented DOGFIGHT actor, singer, and dancer."
---. “Putting the fight in DOGFIGHT: Interview with JP Dunphy, multi-talented actor, singer, and dancer."
Durkin, Michael, director. Animal Farm to Table: Mike Durkin on the complexities of dramatizing food distribution and consumption on a farm in Philadelphia
---. “Fringe Festival: The Hunchback of Notre Dame: An interview with the director of the Renegade ‘Hunchback."
E:
Ebrahimzadeh, Maboud, actor. “Men At Some Time Are Masters of Their Fates: Maboud Ebrahimzadeh on THE INVISIBLE HAND."
Eisenhower, Jennie, choreographer-director. "1776 And All That: Interview with director-choreographer Jennie Eisenhower. Part 1"
---. "Working with the First National Congress in 1776: Interview with director-choreographer Jennie Eisenhower. Part 2"
Emperor Jones, The, director & cast. “THE EMPEROR JONES: Interview with the director and cast of O’Neill’s tragedy."
Exit the King, actors. "Long Live Ionesco Actors: Behind the scenes with the cast of IRC’s EXIT THE KING."
F:
Fales, Steven, playwright-performer. “From Mormon boy to rent boy: Interview with solo performer Steven Fales."
Feldman, Lauren, playwright. “'Lauren Feldman is a goddess': 10 Philadelphia playwrights describe a beloved PlayPenn teacher."
G:
Gafgen, Sarah, actor-director-singer. “Building Bridges with Love and Theater: Sarah Gafgen organizes a concert for victims of violence."
Gaslight, cast. “Gaslighting Done Right: Interview with the cast of Hedgerow Theatre’s reinvented ANGEL STREET."
Geffers, Brenna, director. "Lover, Wife, and Murderess—EgoPo’s Stunning Machinal, Part 1."
---. "Machinal: An Expressionistic Masterpiece: Interview With Director Brenna Geffers, Part 2"
Goins, Kash, playwright-producer-director-actor. "Between the Bars: Playwright Kash Goins on V TO X and prison life."
---. "Building a Diverse Audience for Theater: Interview with playwright/actor/director Kash Goins."
---. “Six degrees of stigma."
---. Producer-actor. “Willy Loman, risen from the dead: Gokash production of Death of a Salesman."
Gonzales, Fernando, artistic director. “BARE: A Pop Opera. Bare-bones budget but not a bare-bones sound."
H:
Happy Hour, PDC playwrights. “Welcome to Happy Hour: Four PDC playwrights showcasing their breakthrough work."
Hartland, F.J., playwright-actor. “Nobody cares what a playwright looks like." part 1.
---. A Different Kind of “Love Triangle.” part 2.
Hodge, Dan, actor-director. “One of the oldest taboos in history: Interview with Dan Hodge on The Rape of Lucrece."
---. “To alter or not to alter, that is the question: Dan Hodge on directing Hamlet in unorthodox ways."
Hollinger, Michael, playwright. “UNDER THE SKIN Gets Under My Skin."
Hooper, Gerard, filmmaker and professor. "Our Man in Havana: Gerard Hooper interview."
Hutter, Rob, actor-director. “If any of you drop dead before the next performance, I’ll kill you!”: Robb Hutter interview.
I:
Ijames, James, actor-playwright. “Freezing one’s laughter mid-stream: The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington."
---. “‘Heart and blood' on the page and stage: interviewing playwright James Ijames."
---. WHITE: James Ijames on PlayPenn and Playwriting.
Irvin, Tom, actor, and Tim Martin, playwright. “Double date with Walt Whitman: An interview with playwright Tim Martin and actor Tom Irvin."
Izard, E. Ashley, actor. “Happy Days by Samuel Beckett: An Interview with E. Ashley Izard, playing Winnie at Quintessence Theatre Group."
J:
Jacobi, David, playwright. “Widower and Beyond: Successful PlayPenn dramatist David Jacobi talks about the playwriting process."
Jah, Zainab, actor. “‘Elated and frightened': First African female Hamlet at the Wilma Theater. Interview with Zainab Jah."
---. “Physical, naked honesty on stage: Interview with Zainab Jah, female Hamlet."
Jamaica, actors. “Jamaica, Jamaica: Interview with actors and dancers at the New Freedom Theatre."
Jones, Ozzie, director. “Rhythm, race, and energy: The first African American production of Death of a Salesman in Philadelphia."
---. Getting OTHELLO and love in the hood: Ozzie Jones, interview 3. DaG, August 22, 2015.
---. “Gloriously liberating”: All-black OTHELLO, set in the criminal underworld of America. Ozzie Jones, interview 2. DaG, August 22, 2015.
---. Black theater, black audiences: Ozzie Jones, director, interview 1. DaG, August 22, 2015.
---. All-Black OTHELLO: Director Ozzie Jones and his “gloriously liberating” casting for Theatre in the X, interview 2. Phindie, Aug 19, 2015.
---. Bringing OTHELLO to the Hood: Interview with director Ozzie Jones, 1. Phindie, August 18, 2015.
Joyce, Valerie, director. An Interview with Villanova Theatre’s ‘Translations’ Director Valerie Joyce: Part 1: The Irish Chekhov.
---. An Interview with Villanova Theatre’s ‘Translations’ Director Valerie Joyce: Part 2: Behind the Scenes of Her Production of ‘Translations’
K:
Khader, Rami, director. From Bethlehem to Philadelphia: An Interview with Rami Khader, Director of the Diyar Dance Theatre. DCMetro, July 15, 2017.
Kimple, David, playwright. “Male, Male, Female: Interview with GayFest! playwright David Kimple."
Krause, Maura, director & playwright. "‘Beowulf and Grendel’--Alive at the Mount Moriah Cemetery: Interview with Director Maura Krause."
L:
Last Chance, musical duo. From law to lyrics, from classics to folk, interview with Jack Scott and Ingrid Rosenback.
---. Music with a Mission: Interview with Last Chance, a Great American Musical Duo.
Long Day's Journey into Night. “Troubled Men: Talking with the Father and Sons of Quintessence Theatre’s Long Day’s Journey into Night."
M:
Marini, Ken, director. Why Wait? Director Ken Marini talks about Quintessence Theatre’s brilliant WAITING FOR GODOT.
Martello, Mary, actor. “A Divine Chat with Mother Superior: Mary Martello of Walnut Street Theatre’s Sister Act."
Marvel, Andrew, playwright. “My Favorite Husbands: An interview with playwright Andrew Marvel, GayFest! 2016 in Philadelphia."
Mecham, Peggy, director. Peggy and the PAYCOCK: Peggy Mecham interview.
Meshejian, Paul, actor-director & PlayPenn founder. “A comfortable place for misfits." Part 1
---. “Everything you always wanted to know about PlayPenn, but were afraid to ask." Part 2
---. “The secrets of getting a manuscript accepted." Part 3
Miller, Debra, theater reviewer. “Debra Miller: An interview with Philadelphia’s most prolific theater reviewer."
Miller, Matthew, scenic designer. “The architecture of evil intruding on the innocence and awareness of a Jewish adolescent in hiding: The Diary of Anne Frank ." *
Mother Emanuel, cast. “Celebrating the Lives of the Emanuel Nine: An Interview with the Cast of New Freedom Theatre’s ‘Mother Emanuel’"
Munden, Christopher, Phindie publisher. “‘More than a clearinghouse for theater reviews!'"
Murphy, Genne, playwright. “GIANTESS: Interview with Genne Murphy, successful PlayPenn dramatist."
O:
O'Neill, Kittson, actor-director. “Intergenerational Theater, part 1: Directing the veteran cast of ON THE VERGE (Hedgerow)."
P:
Parker, David, choreographer. “An Interview with The Bang Group’s David Parker on ‘Stuck on You’ at Philadelphia’s GayFest! 2016."
Patrick, Robert, playwright. “Robert Patrick: One of nation's oldest playwrights on his role in history"
---. “The other brick road: Robert Patrick reflects on 50 years of Off-Off Broadway and gay theater."
---. “‘What doesn't kill me makes a great story later': On the birth of Off-Off-Broadway and 50 years of gay theater in America."
Peakes, Ian Merrill, actor. “Taken Hostage By a Play: Interview with Ian Merrill Peakes on THE INVISIBLE HAND."
Perlman, Michael, playwright-director. “The limits of forgiveness: Interview with From White Plains playwright Michael Perlman."
Pfeiffer, Matt, director. “The Invisible Hand of Director Matt Pfeiffer."
Posner, Aaron, playwright-director. “Potok, Potok, and Posner: Asher Lev’s journey from the novel to the play."
For the educational study guide by Aaron Posner, My Name is Asher Lev, which includes my interview with Adena Potok, Chaim Potok's wife, on the genesis of My name is Asher Lev, click here.
Price, Tim, playwright. “An interview with ‘The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning’ playwright Tim Price."
PWTF 2016, playwrights. “Philadelphia Women’s Theatre Festival 2016: Interviews with the playwrights."
Q:
Quinn, Colin, entertainer. “Arrogantly profiling American history: An interview with Colin Quinn, starring at the Philadelphia Theatre Company."
---. “BSR exclusive interview: SNL alum Colin Quinn on ‘Unconstitutional’ in Philly."
R:
Raabe, Max, singer. “I Can’t Kiss Myself Alone”: The Wit and Retro Style of Berlin’s Max Raabe and His Palast Orchestra. Phindie, April 10, 2018.
Randall, Amir, actor. “Without these people, I would just be another black boy passing on the street”: Interview with 16 year-old Amir Randall, star of
‘The Ballad of Trayvon Martin' at the Freedom Theatre. DCMetroTheatreArts, May 20, 2016.
Reed, Penelope, actor-director. “Intergenerational Theater, part 2: Penelope Reed on working with a young director in ON THE VERGE ."
Reilly, Frank E., playwright-director. “Hearing voices at 3 AM: Interview with POST HASTE playwright Frank E. Reilly." Phindie, June 28, 2015.
S:
Sakata, Jeanne, playwright. “However Painful the History: Interview with Jeanne Sakata, playwright of HOLD THESE TRUTHS (P&P)."
---. “A ‘real' American isn’t just a white American: Jeanne Sakata and the Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi. Interview 2.
Schoonover, Amanda, actor. Theater of the Extreme: Amanda Schoonover looks back on PHAEDRA’S LOVE.
Shubin, Denise, theater artist, Shubin Theatre founder. “‘We are not nearly as special as we think we are!': On the Philadelphia theater community."
Silverman, Jen, playwright. “Pretty Mbane and ‘Corrective Rape': Traveling around the world with playwright Jen Silverman."
Sovronsky, Alexander, violinist. “From Itzhak Perlman to becoming one of the best fiddlers on the roof: Floating and fiddling on the roofs of the Walnut Street Theatre shtetl."
Stolowitz, Andrea, playwright. "'A Shiver Goes Down My Spine': An Interview with Playwright Andrea Stolowitz on Her Play ‘Schlüterstraße 27’
Struve, Ellen, playwright. “A Trewly Awful Trip to the Desolat Interior of a Successful PlayPenn Dramatist: Interview with Ellen Struve."
Summer Club, musical director, singers, comedian, and support team. “Meet Larry Lees and the Swingin’ ‘Summer Club’ Team."
Swartz, Randy, artistic director, Dance Affiliates and Dance Celebration. “‘It only gets harder': The dance scene in economically strapped times."
T:
Tavani, Craig, actor-director. "How Commedia dell’Arte Maestro Antonio Fava influenced my teaching and my life: Interview with Craig Tavani."
The Plough and the Stars, actors. "Ireland Rising: Irish Heritage Theatre actors respond to THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS."
Time Remembered, cast. Remembering Anouilh's TIME REMEMBERED: Interviews with the IRC cast.
Turlish, Susan, actor-playwright. "2016 is almost knocking at the gate: Susan Turlish interview."
---. “'No Irish Wake is considered a success without one mighty, knockdown, knockout fight!': Interview with LAFFERTY’S WAKE playwright Susan Turlish."
V:
Vail, Walt, playwright. "Sixty Years of Philadelphia Theater: Interview with playwright Walt Vail."
---. "Reflections on Playwrighting: A personal interview with Walt Vail, one of Philadelphia's most experienced playwrights."
---. "World premiere of ‘Young Frederick Douglass’: Interview with playwright Walt Vail, part 1"
---. "Young Frederick Douglass, bringing light to the American heart of darkness: Interview with playwright Walt Vail, part 2"
Valentine, Vince, actor. ‘A Caveman with a Brain and a Heart’: An Interview with Vince Valentine From ‘Defending the Caveman.’
W:
Weick, Bob, actor. Being Howard Zinn: The historian in VOICES OF A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
---, Dramatizing Revolution: Howard Zinn’s ‘Marx in Soho’--Interview with Bob Weick.
---, “When I step on the stage as Marx, I directly challenge the system”: Interview with Bob Weick, Part 1
---, Touring Marx in Soho in Britain and the US: Interview with Bob Weick, Celebrating Marx’s 200th Birthday, Part 2
Whistler, Michael, playwright. “An Interview with Michael Whistler about Oscar Wilde and Walt Whitman."
Wright, Doug, playwright. “Behind the mask: A ‘Cultural Outsider’ with an affinity."
Wright, Rebecca, director. “Meta-morphing Kafka’s Gregor: THE METAMORPHOSIS, (Quintessence Theatre Group)."
