The Subtext Podcast

Sarah Mantell, Illustrator-Turned-Playwright A life-changing course with Paula Vogel, San Francisco, post-grad revelations, The Kilroys, joy, and loss on this episode of “The Subtext.”

A life-changing course with Paula Vogel, San Francisco, post-grad revelations, The Kilroys, joy, and loss on this episode of “The Subtext.” 

Road Kills by Sophie McIntosh at Paradise Factory is a fierce, nasty little beast...its claws are out. An angry young woman sulks through her mandated community service, picking up roadkill—between scenes, we hear each crash, right before some gnarly blob of fur and blood drops onto the roadway. 1/3

This month on The Subtext, Brian caught up with Minneapolis-based playwright Kira Obolensky, discussing the importance of intentional audience engagement in diverse and unconventional theatre spaces.
www.americantheatre.org/2025/08/18/t...

Thank you so much for this glowing review! I’m crying in the club. This is my first ever review for a show of mine produced in NYC 🥺

The Wit and Wisdom of Richard Greenberg To give tribute this great American playwright, who died on July 4 at the age of 67, we assembled a party of colleagues, friends, and admirers.

To commemorate playwright Richard Greenberg, who died on July 4 at the age of 67, we assembled a party of colleagues, friends, admirers to salute his unique voice and life in the theatre.

Subtext Redux: In Memory of Rachel Jendrzejewski A republished Subtext as tribute to its subject, Rachel Jendrzejewski, a Minneapolis-based interdisciplinary artist and writer who died last week after a battle with cancer.

A republished Subtext as tribute to its subject, Rachel Jendrzejewski, a Minneapolis-based interdisciplinary artist and writer who died last week after a battle with cancer.

The Subtext: Diana Burbano Writes What Scares Her The L.A.-based Colombian playwright, performer, and teaching artist talks about sources of inspiration from the Latine theatre canon and about building close artistic relationships.

In July’s Subtext, L.A.-based Colombian playwright, performer, and teaching artist Diana Burbano talks about sources of inspiration from the Latine theatre canon and building close artistic relationships.

I hope JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN gets transferred to another theater for many reasons: its selling well, its a play by a woman for young women, its getting younger folks to the theater, and we all need a reminder that the work of the Me Too movement is not done

Adil Mansoor: Making a Space The complete playscript of 'Amm(i)gone' appears in our Summer 2025 issue. Here the author talks with a crucial mentor about the work's inspiration, production history, and meaning.

The complete playscript of AMMI(I)GONE appears in our summer 2025 issue. In this interview with mentor Caden Manson, playwright Adil Mansoor talks about the work’s inspiration, production history, and meaning.

Playwright Richard Greenberg, the Mozart of verbal arias, brought an exquisite fluency to the American stage An appreciation of playwright Richard Greenberg, author of 'Three Days of Rain' and 'Take Me Out,' among other plays, who premiered many of his works at South Coast Repertory before taking them to New...

Richard Greenberg, the Mozart of verbal arias, brought an exquisite fluency to the American stage.
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

NPX Weekly Round-Up: oranges by Rachel Lynett What if, despite all the horrors, we survive? Plus three more plays I want to read this week!

This literally made my day 💜 I’m so happy oranges is able to reach so many people

brynnhambley.substack.com/p/npx-weekly...

CNN will broadcast a Broadway performance of George Clooney in 'Good Night, and Good Luck.' Don't miss it In a historic first, CNN will broadcast a live performance of a Broadway show on Saturday. 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' a stage adaptation of George Clooney's 2005 film, stars the actor as CBS newsman...

CNN is airing a live performance of "Good Night, and Good Luck." Don't miss it. The country needs this reminder of Edward R. Murrow right now.

www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

The Subtext: Andrew Rosendorf Leaves It on the Page Brian talks to the Minneapolis-based playwright about learning from criticism, connecting with collaborators, and finding his voice.

On this month's @thesubtext.bsky.social, @bejaypea.bsky.social talks to Minneapolis-based playwright Andrew Rosendorf about learning from criticism, connecting with collaborators, and finding his voice.

Diversity and Its Discontents: It Was Never About the Money The business case for a more diverse American theatre is a distraction from our core human and artistic values, which is the ground we must stand on in the fight for DEI.

Even with the box office success of works by and for people of color, the case for a more diverse American theatre shouldn't be tied to the bottom line, writes TCG publications director Kelundra Smith. A welcoming and representative theatre is a core value worth defending against anti-DEI backlash.

I recommend writing something for at least 30 pages. Something you don't need to finish. Or can't finish. Something that needs to cook on the lowest of flames. And then one day, months later, pull it out. It will feel like a gift from past you to present you.

Exciting! Terrifying? Lots of things. Trying to work up the courage to listen to myself. But you should listen in the meantime.

A delightful conversation

The Subtext: Rachel Bublitz Is Writing for Her Younger Self The writer of 'Funny, Like an Abortion' and 'The Night Witches' talks about long commutes, writing science plays, and the parts she wishes she'd been able to play in school.

Our Subtext guest this month, Rachel Bublitz, chafed at the lack of interesting parts when she was in school, particularly for young women. Now the author of FUNNY, LIKE AN ABORTION and THE NIGHT WITCHES writes full, complex characters for new generations. www.americantheatre.org/2025/05/06/t...

'Furlough's Paradise' imagines utopia for two Black cousins on a quest for liberty a.k. payne's 'Furlough's Paradise,' winner of the 2025 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, opens at the Geffen Playhouse under the direction of Tinashe Kajese-Bolden.

a.k. payne is a playwright to take note of. here's my review of "Furlough's Paradise," winner of the 2025 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.

www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

Cathedrals Made of Bricks Caryl Churchill is the only writer working now who says and does something genuinely new with each new play.

GLASS. KILL. WHAT IF IF ONLY. IMP., four one-acts by Caryl Churchill, is now up at the Public Theatre. We published a version of this quartet in our December 2019 issue; forgoing the usual playwrights' Q&A (Churchill doesn't do interviews), we accompanied it with this keen tribute by Lucy Kirkwood.

Hope Collides With Change in ‘Mother Russia’ As in 'Cambodian Rock Band' and 'The Great Leap,' Lauren Yee's new play at Seattle Rep mashes up communism and pop culture, in a mix that resonates beyond its historic setting.

Like her earlier plays CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND and THE GREAT LEAP, Lauren Yee's new play MOTHER RUSSIA, now at Seattle Rep, mashes up communism and pop culture in a historical setting, in a mix that resonates with the uncertain U.S. present. www.americantheatre.org/2025/04/10/h...

Liza Birkenmeier Receives 40th Annual Whiting Award for Drama Past winner James Ijames presented the award to Birkenmeier tonight.

BREAKING: Past winner James Ijames presented the 40th Annual Whiting Award for Drama to Liza Birkenmeier tonight.
www.americantheatre.org/2025/04/09/l...

The Revolt of Arthur Miller’s Women 'John Proctor is the Villain,' now on Broadway, is just one in a spate of recent plays that offer feminist correctives to 'The Crucible' and 'Death of a Salesman.'

"John Proctor is the Villain," now on Broadway, is just one in a spate of recent plays that offer feminist correctives to "The Crucible" and "Death of a Salesman." Check out this in-depth analysis by Alisa Solomon, published in our Spring 2025 issue!
www.americantheatre.org/2025/04/08/t...

The Subtext: Chloé Hung and the Magic of Writing The writer of 'Issei, He Say' talks about making plays from her family's life, feeling the pressure to tell immigrant stories, and rebalancing her priorities.

Listen to the latest episode featuring the great Chloe Hung www.americantheatre.org/2025/04/03/t...

The Subtext: Chloé Hung and the Magic of Writing The writer of 'Issei, He Say' talks about making plays from her family's life, feeling the pressure to tell immigrant stories, and rebalancing her priorities.

Chloé Hung, writer of "Issei, He Say," talks about making plays from her family’s life, feeling the pressure to tell immigrant stories, and rebalancing her priorities.

Donate to Help Us Preserve CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND in High Quality!!, organized by CRB CAST WHO WE ARE We are the cast of Cambodian Rock Band along with East W… CRB CAST needs your support for Help Us Preserve CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND in High Quality!!

If you've ever seen Lauren Yee's play-with-music Cambodian Rock Band, you'll know it's about arts censorship and fighting back against fascism and maintaining joy despite trauma. And the music is killer. They're raising funds for a pro-shot. I've given a bit, you should too.

"I’m always thinking we need more movies like 'Crimes of the Heart' or 'August: Osage County.' Plays turned into movies, stories by playwrights. I know they’re out there."
-- Parker Posey, in The New Yorker

Offscript: Nilo Cruz’s Search for Beauty In this episode, Gabriela talks to the Pulitzer-winning playwright about his new triple-play in Miami, and Rob checks in with LA Times arts reporter Ashley Lee.

In this episode, Gabriela talks to Pulitzer-winning playwright Nilo Cruz about his new triple-play in Miami, and Rob checks in with LA Times arts reporter Ashley Lee.
www.americantheatre.org/2025/03/11/o...

The Subtext: Tim J. Lord and the Human Story This month Brian talks with the award-winning playwright about how he went from technician to playwright, and how to find the real drama behind a true historical event.

Time to dig into "The Subtext!" This month Brian talks with Tim J. Lord about how he went from technician to playwright, and how to find the real drama behind a true historical event.

www.americantheatre.org/2025/03/06/t...

mourning the passing of Athol Fugard. a playwright of depth and grace, vigor and passion.
#theatre