Theatre Talk: Episode 8 - Part Two: Faith, Memory & the Making of Sanctuary — Matt Harmon & Josh Riley

Theatre Talk, Episode 10: Inside Twelve Angry Jurors — Cast Conversation

In this episode of Theatre Talk, host Bleu Do’zia sits down with the cast of Twelve Angry Jurors, opening April 16th at StoneBranch Center for the Arts. Set inside a jury room where twelve strangers must decide the fate of a young man, this powerful drama confronts bias, assumption, and the courage it takes to stand alone in the pursuit of justice. What begins as an open-and-shut case quickly unravels into a tense and deeply human examination of doubt, responsibility, and truth. Together, the cast reflects on the weight of this story, how it resonates in today’s world, what it demands of them as artists, and how each juror brings their own lived experience into the room. From heated debates to quiet moments of realization, this conversation explores what it means to embody characters who must wrestle not only with the facts of a case, but with their own beliefs. As Selah Theatre Project continues its season of unapologetic art, Twelve Angry Jurors reminds us that justice is not passive, it requires listening, questioning, and the willingness to change. Because sometimes, the most powerful act…is refusing to go along with the crowd. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2447724/support] 🎭 Thank You for Listening to Theatre Talk! Music Disclaimer: The intro music featured in this episode is “Selah” by Forrest Frank. Selah Theatre Project and Theatre Talk do not claim ownership of this music. We’re so glad you joined us for this episode of Theatre Talk , where art speaks unapologetically. ✨ Join the Conversation Be part of our creative community online — share your thoughts, suggest future topics, or tag us in your favorite theatre moments! * Instagram: @SelahTheatreProject [https://instagram.com/SelahTheatreProject] * TikTok: @SelahTheatreProject * Facebook: @SelahTheatreProject [https://facebook.com/SelahTheatreProject] 🎧 Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — follow Theatre Talk on: * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Google Podcasts Your reviews help amplify bold conversations and unapologetic art. Take a moment to rate and share your thoughts! 💛 Support the Show * Become a Patron: Get exclusive content, early access, and behind-the-scenes perks. * Share the Podcast: Tell your friends, your castmates, your theatre fam — help us grow the conversation. 📬 Contact Us Questions? Ideas? Just want to say hello?  Email us at info@SelahTheatreProject.org

Theatre Talk, Episode 9: Part 3A - Ruth's Tea Room Conversation with Joanne Thompson

In Part 3A of Selah Theatre Project’s Theatre Talk series honoring Vivienne L. Jackson, host Bleu Do’zia sits down with Joanne Thompson, the actor who brought Ms. Vivienne to life in the original production of Ruth’s Tea Room. This episode begins a two-part conversation exploring what it means to embody a woman whose presence shaped an entire community. Joanne reflects on stepping into the role of Ms. Vivienne, capturing not just her voice and mannerisms, but her spirit, her strength, and her quiet authority. Ruth’s Tea Room drew hundreds from across the nation, many returning to remember, to reconnect, and to see Ms. Vivienne honored one more time. Through Joanne’s performance, memory became a movement: living, breathing, and shared in real time. Part 3A focuses on the responsibility of portrayal: how an actor prepares to carry legacy, the weight of telling a true story, and the moments after the show where character becomes something deeper to the audience.  This conversation is both artistic and personal laying the foundation for Part 3B, where the story moves beyond the stage and into the impact it left behind. As Selah Theatre Project prepares to open the Vivienne L. Jackson Sanctuary for the Arts in 2026, this episode reminds us that before a name is placed on a building, it must first be understood, honored, and felt. Because some stories are not performed. They are carried. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2447724/support] 🎭 Thank You for Listening to Theatre Talk! Music Disclaimer: The intro music featured in this episode is “Selah” by Forrest Frank. Selah Theatre Project and Theatre Talk do not claim ownership of this music. We’re so glad you joined us for this episode of Theatre Talk , where art speaks unapologetically. ✨ Join the Conversation Be part of our creative community online — share your thoughts, suggest future topics, or tag us in your favorite theatre moments! * Instagram: @SelahTheatreProject [https://instagram.com/SelahTheatreProject] * TikTok: @SelahTheatreProject * Facebook: @SelahTheatreProject [https://facebook.com/SelahTheatreProject] 🎧 Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — follow Theatre Talk on: * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Google Podcasts Your reviews help amplify bold conversations and unapologetic art. Take a moment to rate and share your thoughts! 💛 Support the Show * Become a Patron: Get exclusive content, early access, and behind-the-scenes perks. * Share the Podcast: Tell your friends, your castmates, your theatre fam — help us grow the conversation. 📬 Contact Us Questions? Ideas? Just want to say hello?  Email us at info@SelahTheatreProject.org

Theatre Talk: Episode 8 - Part Two: Faith, Memory & the Making of Sanctuary — Matt Harmon & Josh Riley

In Part Two of Theatre Talk series honoring Vivienne L. Jackson, host Bleu Do’zia sits down with Mark Harmon and Josh Riley to explore the legacy of a woman who built sanctuary long before it became a building name. Matt Harmon, a church and choir member who knew Ms. Vivienne through First United Methodist Church, reflects on what it meant to witness her spirit in a sacred space—her presence, her encouragement, and the way she showed up for others with quiet strength and unwavering support. Josh Riley shares what it was like to spend his teen years inside Ruth’s Tea Room, a place that became a refuge for people from all walks of life. Now recognized as a local historian of Ruth’s Tea Room, Josh also speaks about his role as a key fundraiser supporting Ms. Vivienne’s retirement and preserving her story for the community. This episode is rooted in lived memory and living history, connecting faith, fellowship, and community care to the future of Selah Theatre Project’s permanent home: the Vivienne L. Jackson Sanctuary for the Arts, opening in 2026. Because sanctuary is not just a place you enter. It’s a place that holds you. And Ms. Vivienne held a whole community. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2447724/support] 🎭 Thank You for Listening to Theatre Talk! Music Disclaimer: The intro music featured in this episode is “Selah” by Forrest Frank. Selah Theatre Project and Theatre Talk do not claim ownership of this music. We’re so glad you joined us for this episode of Theatre Talk , where art speaks unapologetically. ✨ Join the Conversation Be part of our creative community online — share your thoughts, suggest future topics, or tag us in your favorite theatre moments! * Instagram: @SelahTheatreProject [https://instagram.com/SelahTheatreProject] * TikTok: @SelahTheatreProject * Facebook: @SelahTheatreProject [https://facebook.com/SelahTheatreProject] 🎧 Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — follow Theatre Talk on: * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Google Podcasts Your reviews help amplify bold conversations and unapologetic art. Take a moment to rate and share your thoughts! 💛 Support the Show * Become a Patron: Get exclusive content, early access, and behind-the-scenes perks. * Share the Podcast: Tell your friends, your castmates, your theatre fam — help us grow the conversation. 📬 Contact Us Questions? Ideas? Just want to say hello?  Email us at info@SelahTheatreProject.org

Theatre Talk: Episode 7: Naming the Sanctuary — Ruth’s Tea Room, Black Legacy, and the Power of Place

In this episode of Theatre Talk, host Bleu Do’zia is joined by former Winchester Mayor David Smith and former Vice Mayor John Hill for a timely and necessary conversation about history, storytelling, and civic responsibility. The discussion centers on the commissioning of Bleu to write Ruth’s Tea Room, a theatrical work honoring one of Winchester’s most significant Black-owned businesses and community gathering spaces. More than a restaurant, Ruth’s Tea Room functioned as a place of dignity, leadership, safety, and belonging for Black residents during segregation and beyond. This episode connects directly to Selah Theatre Project’s decision to name its future permanent home the Vivienne L. Jackson Sanctuary for the Arts after Ruth's Tea Room owner, Vivienne Jackson.  It affirms that Black history is not confined to the past, but is living, present, and foundational to the community’s future. Guests: * David Smith — Former Mayor of Winchester, Virginia * John Hill — Former Vice Mayor of Winchester, Virginia 🍵 About Ruth’s Tea Room Ruth’s Tea Room is an original theatrical work commissioned to honor the legacy of a historically significant Black-owned restaurant that served as a vital gathering place for Black community, leadership, and culture in Winchester, Virginia. 🏛 The Vivienne L. Jackson Sanctuary for the Arts Selah Theatre Project has named its future permanent home the Vivienne L. Jackson Sanctuary for the Arts, opening in 2026. The name honors Vivienne L. Jackson’s legacy of leadership, generosity, and community care and affirms Selah’s commitment to creating a space where Black history, Black women’s voices, and unapologetic art are centered and celebrated. 🎧 Curtain Call Question What does it mean when a community chooses to honor Black history in permanent, visible ways—and whose stories still need space? Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2447724/support] 🎭 Thank You for Listening to Theatre Talk! Music Disclaimer: The intro music featured in this episode is “Selah” by Forrest Frank. Selah Theatre Project and Theatre Talk do not claim ownership of this music. We’re so glad you joined us for this episode of Theatre Talk , where art speaks unapologetically. ✨ Join the Conversation Be part of our creative community online — share your thoughts, suggest future topics, or tag us in your favorite theatre moments! * Instagram: @SelahTheatreProject [https://instagram.com/SelahTheatreProject] * TikTok: @SelahTheatreProject * Facebook: @SelahTheatreProject [https://facebook.com/SelahTheatreProject] 🎧 Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — follow Theatre Talk on: * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Google Podcasts Your reviews help amplify bold conversations and unapologetic art. Take a moment to rate and share your thoughts! 💛 Support the Show * Become a Patron: Get exclusive content, early access, and behind-the-scenes perks. * Share the Podcast: Tell your friends, your castmates, your theatre fam — help us grow the conversation. 📬 Contact Us Questions? Ideas? Just want to say hello?  Email us at info@SelahTheatreProject.org

Theatre Talk, Episode 6: Episode 6: From Church to Sanctuary — A Conversation with Richard Hahn

In this episode of Theatre Talk, host Bleu Do’zia sits down with Richard Hahn, the owner of the historic building that is being transformed into the future home of Selah Theatre Project. This intimate conversation traces the journey of a space once rooted in worship and fellowship into its next chapter as the Vivienne L. Jackson Sanctuary for the Arts, set to open in 2026.  This episode is not about construction timelines or blueprints alone. It’s about listening to what a place has been, deciding what it can become, and creating a sanctuary where stories, artists, and audiences can gather without apology. 🏛 About the Space The building discussed in this episode is currently undergoing transformation into the Vivienne L. Jackson Sanctuary for the Arts, scheduled to open in 2026. ❤️ Get Involved Support the transformation of the Sanctuary and Selah Theatre Project’s mission: * Donate or learn more: selahtheatreproject.org * Follow along on social media: @SelahTheatreProject * Subscribe to Theatre Talk for more conversations where art speaks unapologetically 🎵 Music Disclaimer: The opening and closing music for this episode is “Selah” by Forrest Frank. Selah Theatre Project, Theatre Talk, and their associates do not own the rights to this music. All rights belong to the original artist. 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts — and join the conversation where Art Speaks Unapologetically. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2447724/support] 🎭 Thank You for Listening to Theatre Talk! We’re so glad you joined us for this episode of Theatre Talk — where art speaks unapologetically. We hope our conversation sparked new thoughts, inspired connection, and gave you a deeper look into the heartbeat of the theatre world. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2447724/support] 🎭 Thank You for Listening to Theatre Talk! Music Disclaimer: The intro music featured in this episode is “Selah” by Forrest Frank. Selah Theatre Project and Theatre Talk do not claim ownership of this music. We’re so glad you joined us for this episode of Theatre Talk , where art speaks unapologetically. ✨ Join the Conversation Be part of our creative community online — share your thoughts, suggest future topics, or tag us in your favorite theatre moments! * Instagram: @SelahTheatreProject [https://instagram.com/SelahTheatreProject] * TikTok: @SelahTheatreProject * Facebook: @SelahTheatreProject [https://facebook.com/SelahTheatreProject] 🎧 Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — follow Theatre Talk on: * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Google Podcasts Your reviews help amplify bold conversations and unapologetic art. Take a moment to rate and share your thoughts! 💛 Support the Show * Become a Patron: Get exclusive content, early access, and behind-the-scenes perks. * Share the Podcast: Tell your friends, your castmates, your theatre fam — help us grow the conversation. 📬 Contact Us Questions? Ideas? Just want to say hello?  Email us at info@SelahTheatreProject.org