What’s Off?

George Strus // Ask Anyway

On this episode of “What’s Off?”, our co-host Nicky Maggio sat down for a chat with George Strus, the Founding Artistic Director of Breaking the Binary Theatre (BTB). George is a Tony Award-nominated and Obie Award-winning Latiné producer and dramaturg based in New York.  After noticing a major gap in theater initiatives for trans and nonbinary theatermakers, George set out to make a festival to support transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit+ (TNB2S+) theatermakers. The festival grew into a new work program that soon had an advisory board, partnerships across the country, and turned George into a Broadway producer with a recent credit on Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary! Tune in as Nicky chats with George about how BTB came to be, asking for what you need, and producing as an art.  “ I do consider myself an artist as a producer. It's about matchmaking. It's about having clarity of vision. It's about how you navigate people and personalities.”  - George Strus   Episode Transcript  [https://docs.google.com/document/d/16xc8vSiIX949KBGxxKaZB_J6QDm0GHLrXZAMLClp0pw/edit?tab=t.0] Website Link   GUEST BIO: George Strus (they/them) is a Tony Award-nominated and Obie Award-winning Latiné producer and dramaturg based in New York. They founded Breaking the Binary Theatre: a new work development and community building hub for transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit+ (TNB2S+) theatermakers. Since BTB's launch in July of 2022, the organization has paid out over $650,000 to over 500 TNB2S+ artists. George is also the Founding CEO of theatrical production company Benson Drive Productions. Projects in development include Amber Ruffin’s BIGFOOT, Stephen Sondheim’s THE FROGS (Off-West End), and more to be announced. Their independent co-producing credits include OH, MARY!, ILLINOISE (Tony nomination), Stephen Sondheim's HERE WE ARE, ROMEO + JULIET, and more. They were awarded the 2024 Prince Fellowship and are a member of the 2025 Shubert Organization Artistic Circle. www.georgestrus.com [http://www.georgestrus.com/]   INTERVIEWER BIO: Nicky Maggio or “N” (they/them) currently serves as Programs Manager at A.R.T/New York. N is a freelance theatrical curator with a focus on new play development and directing. Originally born in southeast Massachusetts, Nicky received their B.F.A. at Emerson College and then completed their M.F.A in Directing at The New School. For more information on their artistic projects visit www.nmaggio.com [http://www.nmaggio.com] @nickymaggio   HOST BIO: Ashley J. Hicks (a.k.a. Ash, she/her) currently serves as the Manager of Member Experience and Access for A.R.T./New York.  Ash is an actor, writer,  and Disability Equity & Inclusion consultant/advocate. She received her MFA from the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) in 2021 and was a participant in the 2022 Disney Discovers Talent Showcase. To learn more about Ashley and her past/recent projects, please visit http://www.ashley-j-hicks.com/www.ashley-j-hicks.com [http://www.ashley-j-hicks.com]   Additional Links: Breaking the Binary Theatre [https://www.btb-nyc.com/overview] Instagram: @breakingthebinarytheatre [https://www.instagram.com/breakingthebinarytheatre?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] George Strus [https://georgestrus.com/] Williamstown Theatre Festival  [https://www.wtfestival.org/] Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company [https://www.woollymammoth.net/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACv3S-qIJqAjWBTcgc4oskNNIeGMY&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_JzABhC2ARIsAPe3ynowBk9U17VBwyLI16DfV1_kPCRTGUlUFYnlCEiGKcmUrlvnj_zH7bkaAnW3EALw_wcB] National Queer Theater [https://www.nationalqueertheater.org/] Manhattan Theatre Club [https://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/] Steppenwolf Theatre  [https://www.steppenwolf.org/]   For more information about A.R.T./New York, please visit https://www.art-newyork.org/ [https://www.art-newyork.org/] If you’d like to receive new episodes as they’re published, please subscribe to “What’s Off?” in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show. To donate to A.R.T./New York, please visit: https://www.art-newyork.org/donate [https://www.art-newyork.org/donate]   “What’s Off?” Production Staff Erica Wray Barnes [http://www.ericawray.com/], Executive Producer Ashley J. Hicks, Episode Line Producer Dante 32, Audio Engineer

Theatre Advocacy Project // Defining HR for the Arts

Caylin Waller, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Theatre Advocacy Project, is a passionate lifelong learner and a fierce advocate for creating braver spaces that combat harmful behaviors in the theatrical workplace. Drawing from her personal experiences and extensive research, Caylin empowers organizations to enhance their Human Resources practices by offering tailored resources and hands-on training for both staff and individual artists. Join host Ashley J. Hicks as she engages with Caylin about the origins of her organization and explores how the first crucial step toward fostering a healthy and proactive theatrical environment is collective empowerment.  Luckily there are more organizations now who are supporting this kind of work. We have banded together and recognized that there is a great need, that there's space for all of us to exist. If we uplift each other's work, we will create real systemic change together.  - Caylin Waller  cw: sexual assault, workplace harm Episode Transcript [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P40R8XIhc-9lXLaauot9Keb97Q8fpw9wSYUQL_TKkww/edit] Website Link [https://artny.memberclicks.net/s2e05#/profile]   GUEST BIO: Caylin Waller, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Theatre Advocacy Project (TAP), has led award-winning research on building accountable practices in theatre. She holds an M.A. in Performing Arts Administration from NYU Steinhardt, was selected Distinguished Graduate for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of the Arts, and currently serves as an inaugural Expert in Residence for her former program. Caylin speaks regularly on her industry research and startup knowledge. She was a featured panelist at the NYU event titled Curtain Up: Spotlight on Financial and Social Sustainability for the Performing Arts alongside leaders from Lincoln Center and Brooklyn Academy of Music, as well as a panelist at the NYU Entrepreneurial Festival event Women Entrepreneurs Responding to Pressing Needs. She was a 2022 grant recipient of the Mark & Debra Leslie Fellows grant through the NYU Female Founders Fellowship program. Outside of her work in the arts, Caylin works in early childhood education as both an educator and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Coordinator.   INTERVIEWER & HOST BIO: Ashley J. Hicks (a.k.a. Ash, she/her) works currently as a Programs Coordinator for A.R.T./New York.  Ash is an actor, writer, solo performer & teaching artist. She received her MFA from the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) in 2021 and was a participant in the 2022 Disney Discovers Talent Showcase. To learn more about Ashley and her past/recent projects, please visit www.ashley-j-hicks.com   HOST BIO: Nicky Maggio or “N” (they/them) currently serves as Programs Manager at A.R.T/New York. N is a freelance theatrical curator with a focus on new play development and directing. Originally born in southeast Massachusetts, Nicky received their B.F.A. at Emerson College and then completed their M.F.A in Directing at The New School. For more information on their artistic projects visit www.nmaggio.com @nickymaggio   Additional Links: Theatre Advocacy Project [https://www.theatreadvocacyproject.org/] The Anthropologists [https://www.theanthropologists.org/]  Broadway Advocacy Coalition [https://www.bwayadvocacycoalition.org/]  Harriet Tubman Effect [https://www.harriettubmaneffect.com/] IndieSpace  [https://www.indiespace.org/]   For more information about A.R.T./New York, please visit https://www.art-newyork.org/ [https://www.art-newyork.org/] If you’d like to receive new episodes as they’re published, please subscribe to “What’s Off?” in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show. To donate to A.R.T./New York, please visit: https://www.art-newyork.org/donate [https://www.art-newyork.org/donate] “What’s Off?” Production Staff David E. Shane [https://www.davideshane.com/], Executive Producer Erica Wray Barnes [http://www.ericawray.com/] & Nicky Maggio, Associate Producer Ashley J. Hicks, Episode Line Producer Dante 32 [https://www.dante32.com/], Audio Engineer

What’s Off? Rewind

To help build community, and to best support collaboration and resource sharing, A.R.T./New York hosts semi-annual membership convenings. In this special episode of What’s Off?, hosts Nicky Maggio and Ashley J. Hicks take a trip down memory lane to highlight some of their favorite moments from our 2023 Fall Forum and 2024 Spring Summit.  First, they revisit clips from a panel discussion on “Marketing and Audience Development” featuring an array of perspectives on what's working, what’s not, and what new strategies we might try in order to best reach and engage our audiences.  Then, we listen to clips from “The Advocators: Forging Paths to Better Pay!” - a discussion between freelance artists and workers who are advocating for pay equity in new and impactful ways. Tune in to this special episode where we shine the spotlight on field innovators, recorded live and in conversation with each other! Episode Transcript  [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bVqBxEMgZ37u9X2Fe1_dnMFnE46VtqjC8K1I2RXmPhY/edit] Website Link [https://www.art-newyork.org/s2-ep4-what-s-off-rewind]   Episode Part 1: From the 2023 Fall Forum, Moving Through Together, the Marketing and Audience Development panel discussion [https://howlround.com/happenings/marketing-and-audience-development-panel] was live streamed in partnership with Transcend Streaming [https://www.transcendstreaming.com/] and HowlRound [https://howlround.com/] on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.   Panelists: Bryan Joseph Lee, CNTR Arts [https://www.cntrarts.com/about] Fernando Masterson, Ars Nova [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-masterson-1a43a26b/] Tom O’Connor, Tom O’Connor Consulting Group [https://www.tomocgroup.com/tom-bio] Beth Prevor, HandsOn [https://www.handson.org/about/our-staff/] David E. Shane, Director of Program Services, A.R.T./New York, Moderator [https://www.davideshane.com/]   Episode Part 2: From the 2024 Spring Summit, UNCHARTED: Leading Beyond The Path, The Advocators: Forging Paths to Better Pay! A Panel Discussion [https://howlround.com/happenings/advocators-forging-paths-better-pay-panel-discussion]was live streamed in partnership with Transcend Streaming [https://www.transcendstreaming.com/] and HowlRound [https://howlround.com/] on Wednesday, June 5th, 2024  Panelists: Joanna Carpenter, Actor  [https://www.joannacarpenter.com/] Ife Olujobi, Playwright [https://linktr.ee/ifeolujobi] Emma Orme, Producing Director of The TEAM [https://www.emmaorme.com/] Barbara Samuels, Lighting Designer and Producer [https://www.barbarasamuels.com/] Sam Morreale, Associate Producer at Soho Rep, Moderator [https://www.instagram.com/smorreale_reckons/]   For more information about A.R.T./New York, please visit https://www.art-newyork.org/ [https://www.art-newyork.org/] If you’d like to receive new episodes as they’re published, please subscribe to “What’s Off?” in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show. To donate to A.R.T./New York, please visit: https://www.art-newyork.org/donate [https://www.art-newyork.org/donate] “What’s Off?” Production Staff David E. Shane, [https://www.davideshane.com/] Executive Producer Erica Wray Barnes [http://www.ericawray.com/], Associate Producer + Line Producer Dante32 [https://www.dante32.com/], Audio Engineer

Artificial Intelligence // Conduit to Magic

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is beginning to shake up nearly every creative industry, and live theatre is no exception. From generative world building to revamping the way the audiences engage with the work, this revolutionary new technology is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. In this episode, A.R.T./New York’s z. Quinn Reynolds interviews actor, creator and director Tjaša Ferme and multi-disciplinary designer Will Lowry about their individual experiences using AI in their work, how AI is reshaping live theater, as well their hopes (and fears) for the future of AI.    "Can AI make art? The answer is, I don't know.  That is my stance because it feels so personal and subjective and there are so many different nuances for how that can be interpreted." -Will Lowry   Episode Transcript [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u-3J8unMkQNbQHI33jmcJuRZEzkKSyrlgyW5eBZWpHI/edit] Website Link [https://www.art-newyork.org/s2e03]   GUEST BIOS: Tjaša Ferme (she/her) is an award-winning actor, creator and NYSCA-awarded director who has received a Slovenian National Film Award and Stane Sever classical stage award. The Founding Artistic Director of Transforma Theatre, she created The Female Role Model Project, blending interactive theatre with neuroscience, premiering Off-Broadway at 3-Legged Dog and produced at Edinburgh Fringe (NYITA nomination for Outstanding Innovative Design and Fast Company’s honorary mention for World Changing Ideas Awards). In 2021 Ferme founded the sold-out Science in Theatre Festival covered by Forbes and American Theatre Magazine. Tjasa is the creator of the short film Ophelia’s Flip (Cannes Film Festival, 2012), farce stage hit Cocktales - Confessions of a Nymphomaniac (Abingdon Theatre, Miami Art Basel), and interactive solo shows, Wild Child in the City and My Marlene (HERE). She recently created and directed Bioadapted, hailed by the New York Times as "maverick creativity" and "sleekly designed, thoughtfully assembled.   Will Lowry (he/him) is a multidisciplinary designer, an Associate Professor of Theatre at Lehigh University (PA), and a Creative Partner with Flux Theatre Ensemble (NYC). He received his MFA in Design from UNC Greensboro and a BA in Theatre Arts/Computer Science from Furman University. He has created scenic, costume, media, and lighting designs for theatres along the East Coast and beyond, including Dupont Underground (DC), Lantern Theater Company (Phila.), The Warehouse Theatre (SC), Mill Mountain Theatre (VA), Playhouse on Park (CT), California Theatre Center (CA), and the Sydney Opera House (AUS). In NYC, he designed over twenty off-off Broadway productions, and he contributed to multiple Broadway productions as a studio assistant. He has experimented with incorporation of AI into his design process for over two years. He presented on the intersection of AI and Theatre at SETC in 2023 and 2024, and he co-taught a first-year seminar at Lehigh that centered around AI-driven theatre-making.   INTERVIEWER BIO: Quinn Reynolds (they/she) is a writer/musician/director living and working in Brooklyn, New York. Quinn spent their formative years making indie kung-fu movies with their family inspired by the classic tale “Journey to the West.” Since then, they've moved on to making stories for stage, screen, and beyond. They have an obsession with blending their love of Sci-fi, Fantasy, Music and Horror into hyper-charged hysterical shows. Their past projects include: Purchase Late Night (2016-2020), The Super Hero Night Series (2017-2022), Marooned (2022), Blood Countess(Original Music, 2023), and GRIND(2023). Quinn also produces and performs music under their artist name: Mamsir. Their latest self produced EP “That’s going on the fridge” is streaming on all platforms. Outside of their artistic career, Quinn is the Manager of Studio Operations at A.R.T./New York. You can find our host bios on our website!   Additional Links: Tjaša Ferme [http://tjasaferme.com/] Will Lowry  [http://www.will-lowry.com/] Transforma Theatre [https://www.transformatheatre.com/] Flux Theatre  [https://www.fluxtheatre.org/] Our Options Have Changed  [https://www.fluxtheatre.org/our-options-have-changed/] Bioadapted  [https://www.transformatheatre.com/bioadapted] Chat GPT4 [https://openai.com/index/gpt-4/] 11ElevenLabs [https://elevenlabs.io/] Replika [https://replika.com/] Midjourney [https://midjourney.co/#google_vignette]   For more information about A.R.T./New York, please visit https://www.art-newyork.org/ [https://www.art-newyork.org/] If you’d like to receive new episodes as they’re published, please subscribe to “What’s Off?” in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show. To donate to A.R.T./New York, please visit: https://www.art-newyork.org/donate [https://www.art-newyork.org/donate]   “What’s Off?” Production Staff David E. Shane [https://www.davideshane.com/], Executive Producer Erica Wray Barnes [http://www.ericawray.com/], Associate Producer Nicky Maggio [http://nmaggio.com], Episode Line Producer Ashley J. Hicks [http://www.ashley-j-hicks.com], Episode Creative Lead Dante 32 [https://www.dante32.com/], Audio Engineer

Artistic Venues // The Burden and the Benefits

Access to affordable space has always been a concern for New York City theatre makers; this episode shines the spotlight on some visionary leaders who recognized the need for more artistic space and decided to do something about it! Despite some closures during the COVID-19 lockdown and ever-rising real estate costs, the story of New York City’s artistic venues may actually be one of evolution and rebirth.  Tune in as leaders from Brooklyn Art Haus, IndieSpace, and People’s Theatre Project discuss breaking ground on new real estate ventures, their place in their communities, and how they balance affordability with the need to financially sustain their space! “I don't know a single venue operator in the indie scene that doesn't want to make their space more affordable for the people to use it. We all want that.” - Randi Berry Episode Transcript  [https://docs.google.com/document/d/12ZueHIzFRvog5kSJm2LyFEtSIB60ZUGySm5eDdZgQ_I/edit?usp=drive_link] Website Link [https://www.art-newyork.org/s2e02] GUESTS: Randi Berry, Executive Director of IndieSpace  Isaac Bush, Founder and Executive Director of Brooklyn Art Haus Mino Lora, Founding Executive Director of People's Theatre Project     INTERVIEWER: David E. Shane (he/him/his), Director of Program Services, A.R.T./New York   HOSTS: Ashley J. Hicks (a.k.a. Ash, she/her) Programs Coordinator for A.R.T./New York Nicky Maggio or “N” (they/them) Programs Manager at A.R.T/New York  **Visit the episode webpage [https://www.art-newyork.org/s2e02] for full guest and host bios   Additional Links: IndieSpace [https://www.indiespace.org/] People’s Theatre Project [https://peoplestheatreproject.org/] Brooklyn Art Haus [https://www.bkarthaus.com/] HERE Arts Center [https://here.org/] Rattlestick Theater [https://www.rattlestick.org/] Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance [https://www.nomaanyc.org/] National Black Theatre [https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/] The Bushwick Starr [https://www.thebushwickstarr.org/] For more information about A.R.T./New York, please visit https://www.art-newyork.org/ [https://www.art-newyork.org/] If you’d like to receive new episodes as they’re published, please subscribe to “What’s Off?” in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show. “What’s Off?” Production Staff David E. Shane [https://www.davideshane.com/], Executive Producer Erica Wray Barnes [http://www.ericawray.com/], Associate Producer Ashley J. Hicks [http://www.ashley-j-hicks.com/], Episode Line Producer Dante32 [https://www.dante32.com/], Audio Engineer