S2P7 - The Prologues: Coriolanus

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: Connie Behringer 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.

S2P4 - The Prologues: The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged

Get ready for Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s 2026 Legends and Legacy Season with As You Mic It: The Prologues. In this mini-episode, we introduce The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged, a fast-paced comedy that affectionately celebrates Austen’s beloved novels with wit, chaos, and a healthy dose of theatrical mischief. Directed by Jessica Bedford, this clever adaptation races through Austen’s iconic heroines, sharp social commentary, and swooning romances with an ensemble determined to tackle the entire Austen canon in one unforgettable evening. Whether you’re a lifelong Austen devotee or meeting these characters for the first time, this joyful comedy embraces the enduring appeal of stories that continue to shape generations of readers and audiences. 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 * The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival [https://pashakespeare.org/janeausten/] Mentioned in this episode: Single Tickets on Sale Now Become an Underwriter Today! Contact podcast@pashakespeare.org for more information.