No. 75: ALLISON LANKFORD - CEO Gatton Park and Conservancy

No. 78: Vanessa Becker Weig & Rylie Sudduth - Reclamation

Vanessa Becker Weig, co-founder and Executive Artistic Director of Voices Amplified, and Rylie Sudduth, rising senior at the University of Evansville and Associate Producer, discuss the ambitious first Voices Heard Women’s Theatre Festival in Lexington, themed “Reclamation.” Vanessa explains the festival's origins, its mission to reclaim and amplify women’s stories, and provides an in-depth look at events including the comedic musical Disenchanted, the multicultural TikTok Short Play Festival, and the workshopping of Borden, a new musical centered on Lizzie and Emma Borden. She details community partnerships, the festival's inclusive approach, and the importance of local engagement to the festival’s sustainability. Rylie  shares her own journey from Girl Project participant to assistant director, reflecting on the empowering impact of combining theater with activism and the challenges and rewards of collaborative, non-profit theater making. Both guests highlight the vital role of the arts as agents of change, and the unique energy, connection, and joy sparked by this bold new festival. For more and to connect with us, visit https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html [https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html]

No. 77: TOM WILLIS, Creator and Director and YAN MARTINEZ, Choreographer - ICARUS IN HEAT

When Tom Willis first encountered the Icarus myth, it felt like a warning to him: don’t fly too close to the sun. But then he thought - what if instead, it’s a call to leap into the unknown? That’s the heart of his new ballet, Icarus in Heat, where the fraught relationship between a father and son is explored, and how those big leaps can be necessary for growth. Podcast host Kate Savage explores these themes with both Tom and Yan Martinez, the choreographer, as well as the creative process behind this contemporary ballet, its personal significance, and the innovative storytelling techniques used to reimagine the myth of Icarus. Yan and Tom talk about blending music, visual arts, and dance to convey complex themes of risk, father-son relationships, and societal influences. Icarus In Heat is a bold, all-male contemporary ballet the reimagines the myth of Icarus in the charged space between father and son.  Where desire is inherited, escape is a construction and fire is not just a warning, but an inevitability. It will premier May 15-17 at Transylvania University in Haggin Auditorium. TICKETS:  www.transy.edu/calendar/event/icarus-in-heat-a-contemporary-ballet [https://www.transy.edu/calendar/event/icarus-in-heat-a-contemporary-ballet] For more and to connect with us, visit https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html [https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html]

No. 76: WILLIE DAVIS - Writer, HONEYSUCKLE SEASON

In this engaging interview, Willie Davis discusses his innovative novel Honeysuckle Season, which uniquely recounts a single incident through 12 diverse perspectives. The conversation with host Kate Savage, explores the book's creative format, influences, and the power of storytelling in shaping our understanding of events.  The different voices in the book reflect the subjective nature of truth, and how personal and regional identities influence storytelling. Willie Davis is the winner of the James Baker Hall Award 2025 for this book that was published by Accents Publishing of Lexington, KY. Willie Davis's writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Kenyon Review, Salon, storySouth, and The Berkeley Fiction Review, amongst other places. He is the winner of The Willesden Herald Review (judged by Zadie Smith) and the Katherine Ann Porter Prize (judged by Amy Hempel). He teaches English, Journalism, and Creative Writing at Kentucky State University. He is the author of the novel Nightwolf and the short story collection I Can Outdance Jesus.  For more and to connect with us, visit https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html [https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html]

No. 75: ALLISON LANKFORD - CEO Gatton Park and Conservancy

Allison Lankford  has overseen the Gatton Park project for more than a decade. In addition to raising the money necessary to build the park, with more than $55 million secured, Allison led the planning related to the design, programming, revenue model and governance structure for the future park. The team broke ground in August 2023 and opened to the public on August 23, 2025. In conversation with host Kate Savage she explores the development and future plans of Gatton Park, a unique independent nonprofit park in Lexington, Kentucky.    More specifically they talk about the upcoming Bloom at Gatton Park event featuring the stunning Peonies art installation by a French collective called TILT, local community activities, and the park's commitment to public art. The intent of this event is to combine international art with local talent to create a vibrant spring experience. More information is available on their website wwwgattonpark.org/events [http://wwwgattonpark.org/events] For more and to connect with us, visit https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html [https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html]

No. 74; Kevin Lane Dearinger - At The Lexington Opera House - A Scrapbook 1887-2026.

Kevin Lane Dearinger, retired Broadway actor, singer, English teacher, and prolific author, joins Kate Savage to share the fascinating story behind his new book, At the Lexington Opera House: A Scrapbook, 1887–2026. In a lively and engaging conversation, Kevin delves into the rich history of Lexington’s beloved opera house, from its 19th-century glory days—when everyone from world-famous performers and vaudeville acts to live animals graced its stage—to brushes with neglect, disrepair, and even scandal. He discusses surprising discoveries from his research, the significance of its restoration, and the deep cultural importance of the opera house in Lexington’s artistic life. With anecdotes about forgotten legends, local heroes, and the evolving face of live theater, Kevin’s scrapbook invites readers to cherish the magic, quirks, and enduring spirit of this historic venue. For more and to connect with us, visit https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html [https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html]