S2E16 - In the Spotlight with Million Dollar Quartet

S2E16 - In the Spotlight with Million Dollar Quartet

As You Mic It: In the Spotlight turns its attention to Million Dollar Quartet, the electrifying musical inspired by the legendary night when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis gathered at Sun Records and made music history. In this episode, Artistic Director Jason King Jones sits down with Jeremy Sevelovitz (Carl Perkins) and John Gardiner (Sam Phillips) to explore the people behind the influential figures in the birth of rock and roll. Their conversation looks at the friendships that shape these performances, the real-life relationship between Perkins and Phillips, and the challenge of portraying larger-than-life figures while honoring the humanity that made them remarkable. Later, Connie Behringer speaks with director Jim Helsinger about bringing Million Dollar Quartet to the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival stage. Drawing on his decades of experience as a director, actor, and artistic leader, Helsinger reflects on working with a cast of exceptional actor-musicians, the thrill of recreating a pivotal moment in music history, and what makes this production both a celebration of iconic songs and a compelling piece of theatre. Together, these conversations offer a closer look at the artists, collaborators, and creative process behind one of the most energetic productions of the season. Hosted by: Jason King Jones, Connie Behringer Guests: Jeremy Sevelovitz, John Gardiner, Jim Helsinger * Follow John Gardiner as Sam Phillips on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/john.gardiner.104/] * Follow Chance Michael Wall as Johnny Cash on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chancemichaelwall/] * Follow Nick Voss as Elvis Presley on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thenickvoss/] * Dominique Scott as Jerry Lee Lewis [https://domscott.com/] * Jeremy Sevelovitz as Carl Perkins [https://www.jeremysevelovitz.com/] * Million Dollar Quartet at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival [https://pashakespeare.org/million-dollar-quartet/] Mentioned in this episode: Become an Underwriter Today! Contact podcast@pashakespeare.org for more information. Subscriptions for the 2026 Summer Theatre Series pashakespeare.org/tickets/ Collaboration makes great theatre! Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/

S2E15 - In the Spotlight with The Piano Lesson

The 2026 PA Shakespeare Festival's Summer Theatre Series means weekly drops As You Mic It: In the Spotlight! PSF welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and director James Ijames and actor Akeem Davis for a conversation about August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, the production opening the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s 2026 season. Host Connie Behringer explores the power of Wilson’s work, the joy in this presentation, and the questions that continue to make The Piano Lesson resonate with audiences today. James reflects on his approach to directing the play, its place within Wilson’s Century Cycle, and the balance between honoring a celebrated text and discovering something new within it. Akeem shares his experience stepping into the world of the Charles family, the challenges and rewards of the role, and what makes this story such a vital piece of American theatre. Together, they discuss memory, legacy, family, and the ways the past continues to shape the choices we make in the present. Whether you are preparing to see the production or revisiting Wilson’s masterpiece, this episode offers a closer look at the artists bringing The Piano Lesson to life at PSF. Hosted by: Jason King Jones Guests: Akeem Davis and James Ijames * August Wilson's The Piano Lesson at PSF [https://pashakespeare.org/thepianolesson/] * Single tickets are now on sale! [https://pashakespeare.org/tickets/] * James Ijames [https://www.jamesijames.com/] Mentioned in this episode: Become an Underwriter Today! Contact podcast@pashakespeare.org for more information. Single Tickets on Sale Now

S2P7 - The Prologues: Coriolanus

Get ready for Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s 2026 Legends and Legacy Season with As You Mic It: The Prologues. In this mini-episode, we step into Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, a gripping portrait of power, pride, and political conflict. Presented as part of PSF’s Extreme Shakespeare series, this production embraces original practices: no director, no designers, and an ensemble of actors working at full speed with only the text and each other to guide the way. Raw, immediate, and charged with momentum, Coriolanus examines the uneasy relationship between leadership and public opinion as one celebrated military hero struggles to navigate the demands of politics and the will of the people. Join us for a closer look at one of Shakespeare’s most urgent and fiercely debated tragedies. Single tickets are now on sale at pashakespeare.org [https://pashakespeare.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com] or by calling the box office at (610) 282-9455. Hosted by: Kim Carson * Coriolanus at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival [https://pashakespeare.org/coriolanus/] Mentioned in this episode: Become an Underwriter Today! Contact podcast@pashakespeare.org for more information. Single Tickets on Sale Now

S2P6 - The Prologues: Ken Ludwig's Moriarty

Get ready for Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s 2026 Legends and Legacy Season with As You Mic It: The Prologues. In this mini-episode, we unravel the mystery of Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure, a fast-moving theatrical whodunit filled with danger, disguises, and razor-sharp wit. Directed by Matt Pfeiffer and performed in repertory with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, this thrilling adventure follows Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they race to outsmart their legendary enemy. Packed with suspense, comedy, and clever twists, Moriarty celebrates the enduring legacy of one of literature’s greatest detectives while delivering all the excitement of a classic detective story brought to life onstage. Single tickets are now on sale at pashakespeare.org [https://pashakespeare.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com] or by calling the box office at (610) 282-9455. Hosted by: Kim Carson * Moriarty at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival [https://pashakespeare.org/moriarty/] Mentioned in this episode: Become an Underwriter Today! Contact podcast@pashakespeare.org for more information. Single Tickets on Sale Now

S2P5 - The Prologues: Romeo & Juliet

Get ready for Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s 2026 Legends and Legacy Season with As You Mic It: The Prologues. In this mini-episode, we enter the world of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the timeless story of young love caught between loyalty, violence, and fate. Directed by Jason King Jones and performed in repertory with Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure, this production places two iconic stories side by side, inviting audiences to experience the thrill of repertory theatre as actors transform between worlds night after night. Filled with poetry, urgency, and emotional intensity, Romeo and Juliet continues to resonate across generations as one of Shakespeare’s most enduring plays. Single tickets are now on sale at pashakespeare.org [https://pashakespeare.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com] or by calling the box office at (610) 282-9455. Hosted by: Kim Carson * Romeo & Juliet at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival [https://pashakespeare.org/romeo-and-juliet/] Mentioned in this episode: Single Tickets on Sale Now Become an Underwriter Today! Contact podcast@pashakespeare.org for more information.