Upstage Left | Intimate Conversations with New York Theater

I am beyond thrilled to bring you this episode with an old friend, playwright Lindsey Ferrentino. Lindsey has had an incredible career thus far with plays like "Ugly Lies the Bone," "Amy and the Orphans," and "This Flat Earth," making their way to major New York City stages all in the span of a few years. In 2024, she's celebrated the success of a new musical in London, an adaptation of the Oscar Winning Best Picture, "The Artist," starring Robbie Fairchild, AND the opening of "Queen of Versailles," a musical co-written with Stephen Schwartz in Boston. Her play "Fear of 13" based on the documentary of the same name and starring Adrien Brody will open at the Donmar Warehouse this October, and is already sold out.  Despite all the giggling and joking we do in this episode, Lindsey imparts some pretty incisive wisdom based on her experience. And because of our friendship, I had a good time asking her some of the tougher questions from my arsenal. For more information about Lindsey visit: https://www.lindseyferrentino.com/ [https://www.lindseyferrentino.com/] Stay up to date with her latest projects here: Fear of 13 [https://www.donmarwarehouse.com/whats-on/36/by-lindsey-ferrentino/the-fear-of-13] and Queen of Versailles [https://queenofversaillesmusical.com/] (coming to Broadway 2025-2026) Not to toot my own horn... but I think this episode is a must-listen for any playwright starting out or navigating the early years of their career. And I hope you will too. So don't be shy: give it a share! Thanks for tuning in <3 ---- Music by David Hilowitz Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/upstageleft]

Welcome back to a new season(??) of Upstage Left! After a long hiatus we're back with actor Kim Blanck who plays Ruza Wenclawska in Broadway's Suffs. We're so excited to be talking our dear friend who's been singing and acting on New York stages for more than a decade. You may have seen her in MCC's Alice by Heart or Dave Malloy's Octet at the Signature Theater. In this episode we discuss: * Kim's unconventional journey as a musical theater phenom * Navigating the industry as a HAPA actor * How she ended up in the Broadway production of Suffs after she thought her journey with the show was over This episode was a joy to record, and even more a joy to listen back to. We hope you enjoy, and stay tuned for more episodes this season! --- Music by David Hilowitz Learn more about Kim HERE [https://kimblanck.com/about/]! Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/upstageleft]

After a long hiatus, we return with an interview with veteran stage, TV, and film actor: Reed Birney! Since his Broadway debut in 1976, Reed has graced many a stage and screen. He won a Tony award in 2016 for his portrayal of the dad, Erik Blake, in Stephan Karam's The Humans. You've seen him in one of his many roles on Broadway and off. Or perhaps in his more recent film work, including: The Menu and Mass. In this episode, Rachel & Reed talk about: * the three times Reed has tried to leave the business * the challenges that came with his "big breaks" early on * and advice he'd give to his younger self If you're craving more conversations about theater, check out Rachel's conversations with the artists over at Manhattan Theatre Club; most recently with Rajiv Joseph [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5hefFMeijwOmYXh0d28iRL?si=b7ee2ae9d297401f].  --- Intro music by: David Hilowitz Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/upstageleft]

Daniel K. Isaac is a very busy man! So we were especially excited that he made the time to chat with us. In this episode Rachel & Daniel discuss: * the upcoming 2022-23 theater season and the Asian theater-makers on stage! * how he turned a 2 line role on Billions into 72 episodes and counting  * being the only children of single, immigrant mothers (and how they humble us) It was truly a delight to chat with Daniel. Not only is he incredibly prolific, but he's also such a graceful and lovely human. Is there a more soothing voice you could listen to for 50 minutes? We think not. Check him out in Noah Diaz's You Will Get Sick [https://www.roundabouttheatre.org/get-tickets/2022-2023-season/you-will-get-sick/] currently playing at Roundabout Theatre Company, and catch him any time on Showtime's Billions. ---- Intro music by: David Hilowitz Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/upstageleft]

We are thrilled to chat with Downtown Theater Icon: Paul Lazar. From making appearances in movies that became cult classics (Married to the Mob, Silence of the Lambs, Old Boy, Snowpiercer), to his recent Broadway appearance in Macbeth directed by Sam Gold with Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga -- following Paul's career is like a game of Where's Waldo?  You never know where you'll spot him next! In this episode we talk: * Early beginnings - how Paul found his way into the Downtown world * The current state of "Downtown Theater" - what is it? And where is it now? * What it's like to work so closely with his wife, choreographer and co-founder of Big Dance Theater, Annie-B Parsons You can currently see Paul in Maria Irene Fornes's seminal work: Mud/Drowning at Mabou Mines [https://www.maboumines.org/production/mud-drowning/], alongside May 2019 guest: Wendy Vanden Huevel [https://upstageleft.buzzsprout.com/252178/1079561]. If you liked this episode and want to hear more -- check out Manhattan Theatre Club's Beyond the Stage podcast [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3IZu3UTcy8d20wqDcozggU?si=192bf1fc90634695]! The latest episode features our host chatting with playwrights: Martyna Majok and Jeff Augustin.  With a handy discount code to their upcoming plays at MTC in the shownotes! ----- Intro Music by David Hilowitz Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/upstageleft]