CACTUS, TX by Dane Futrell

ELEPHANTS WATER BONES by Noah Mannix

In our final episode of Season 5, we sit down with playwright Noah Mannix, a Philly-based Rising Playwright with Azuka Theatre [https://www.azukatheatre.org/rising-writers]. They unpack Elephants Water Bones, a twenty‑five‑minute absurdist exploration of ritual, grief, and human connection born from poetic ethnography. We also talk about staying connected to theatre in all its forms—from writing to building sets. Noah reflects on collaborative workshops, their exploration of creative mediums, and their journey from Azuka’s one‑act series to community-based theater. Play Starts (1:05) Join New Play Exchange [https://newplayexchange.org/script/2048350/elephants-water-bones] to follow along. Conversation Starts (28:35) Actors: Amelia: Jessica Weaver Dad: Jason Russell Elephant/Meerkat: Caleb Sexton Flesh/Infant: Deb Meeks Directed by Garry Lee Posey Soundscape by Eric "Red" Wyatt Links to follow Noah: Noah's Website [https://www.noahmannix.com/] New Play Exchange [https://newplayexchange.org/users/72545/noah-mannix] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/noahmannixx?igsh=MXd0c3ljM3dicDNmaQ==] Azuka Theatre Rising Writers [https://www.azukatheatre.org/noah-mannix-rw] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

CACTUS, TX by Dane Futrell

In this episode, we spotlight Cactus, Texas, a surreal one-act play by Dane Futrell, a recent MFA graduate in Dramatic Writing from Arizona State University. Set in a bizarre Northern Texas wasteland, the play follows two best friends whose encounter with a drifter sparks an existential unraveling. Dane shares insights into archetypes, absurdism, and storytelling post-pandemic. We explore themes of friendship, trust, and navigating uncertainty—with humor, heart, and the surreal. Play Starts (0:55) Join New Play Exchange [https://newplayexchange.org/script/2045739/cactus-texas] to follow along. Conversation Starts (53:05) Actors: Lucie: Rachel Craig Kenny: Que Howard Eli: Deb Meeks Stranger: Rachel Craig Chad: Gage Miller Directed by Garry Lee Posey Soundscape by Eric "Red" Wyatt Links to follow Dane: New Play Exchange [https://newplayexchange.org/users/79243/dane-futrell] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/danefutrell/?hl=en] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dane-futrell-30274a20b/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

RED IN THE MORNING by Dana Leslie Goldstein

In this episode of Lights Up!, we welcome back award-winning playwright and lyricist Dana Leslie Goldstein [https://danalesliegoldstein.com/] to discuss her intimate two-hander, RED IN THE MORNING. Set against the stark quiet of a remote cabin, the play explores fractured family bonds and the high cost of survival. Dana reflects on the inspiration behind the piece, how grief shapes her characters’ voices, and the tension between escape and confrontation when the past refuses to stay buried. Keep an eye out for Dana's exciting works in development available for licensing! • LIBERTY: A MONUMENTAL MUSICAL – Off-Broadway cast recording available on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/album/5QID0P3DQEJZ3gtNmc0ZjN], iTunes [https://music.apple.com/us/album/liberty-a-monumental-new-musical-original-off/1770143557], Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Monumental-Original-Off-Broadway-Recording/dp/B00W57VBKO], and Broadway Records [https://www.broadwayrecords.com/products/liberty-a-monumental-new-musical-original-off-broadway-cast-recording-cd]. Now available for licensing through Miracle or 2 Productions (NYC) • NATURAL, UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, and RED IN THE MORNING – available via Next Stage Press: nextstagepress.com/licensing [https://nextstagepress.com/licensing/] • DAUGHTERS OF THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION – licensed outside NYC via Next Stage Press [https://www.nextstagepress.com/daughters-of-the-sexual-revolution/] Play Starts (1:02) Conversation Starts (18:52) Actors: Mitch: Eric Wyatt Evan: Gage Miller Directed by Garry Lee Posey Soundscape by Eric "Red" Wyatt Links to follow Dana: Dana's Website [https://danalesliegoldstein.com/] New Play Exchange [https://newplayexchange.org/users/5406/dana-leslie-goldstein] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/danalesliegoldstein] Instagram: @shadowlass18 ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

MAKE MULCH FROM IT by Arianna Rose

Playwright, lyricist, and dramaturg Arianna Rose [https://newplayexchange.org/users/24244/arianna-rose] returns to Lights Up! for a heartfelt conversation about MAKE MULCH FROM IT, a 15-minute drama that tenderly explores the aftershocks of love lost, the ache of unresolved endings, and the longing to heal. Arianna reflects on how she turned heartbreak into art and honors the sacredness of memory. We also explore her process as a teacher and ever-evolving writer, and how she draws on history and personal experience to ground her work. Keep an eye for Arianna's other exciting works in development! • Musical: A Collectible Sensation [https://ariannarose.net/a-collectible-sensation]—a bold, time-bending journey where the Cone sisters, Gertrude Stein, and Alice Toklas confront love, art, and the power of unapologetic selfhood. • Play: The Lesser Leyendecker [https://ariannarose.net/the-lesser-leyendecker]—a rich, memory-driven play exploring art, addiction, and identity through the lives of illustrators Frank and Joe Leyendecker. Play Starts (1:00) Join New Play Exchange [https://newplayexchange.org/script/2019169/what-we-cast-off-what-we-keep] to follow along. Conversation Starts (18:34) Actors: Gordon: Joel Sanchez-Avantes Susan: Claire Bartlett Directed by Garry Lee Posey Soundscape by Eric "Red" Wyatt Links to follow Arianna: Arianna's Website [https://ariannarose.net/] SoundCloud [https://soundcloud.com/arianna-rose] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ariannarose/] Instagram:  @ariannarosewritesmusicals Bluesky: @ariannarose.bsky.social Threads: ariannarosewritesmusicals ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

WHAT WE CAST OFF, WHAT WE KEEP by Judy Klass

In this episode we welcome back Nashville-based playwright Judy Klass with her play WHAT WE CAST OFF, WHAT WE KEEP, a story rooted in metamorphosis and personal transformation. The conversation explores breakups, loss, and the complexities of navigating estrangement in relationships. We reflect on storytelling, unexpected collaboration, and the emotional growth that emerges from life’s most difficult transitions. Play Starts (0:55) Join New Play Exchange [https://newplayexchange.org/script/2019169/what-we-cast-off-what-we-keep] to follow along. Conversation Starts (30:34) Actors: Janet: Carrie Sutton Molly: Karen Henderson Stanley: Jason Russell Directed by Garry Lee Posey Soundscape by Eric "Red" Wyatt Links to follow Judy: Judy's Website [https://www.judyklass.com/ ] New Play Exchange [https://newplayexchange.org/users/5340/judy-klass] Vanderbilt University Faculty Bio [https://as.vanderbilt.edu/jewish-studies/bio/judy-klass/ ] Substack [https://judyklass.substack.com/p/wednesdays-i-write-about-politics ] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/04EIptQGjJQO5XCeYDjaiu] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.