Brian James Polak

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.” 

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...

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.

Ack. That’s the sound they make after reading my play.

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.

What a beautiful and complex conversation. Sometimes we can’t make sense of the events around us and need to live in the chaos of it.

Minneapolis vegan ‘butcher’ shop temporarily closes after building fire The owners of the Herbivorous Butcher are hitting pause to assess the damage.

The owners of the Herbivorous Butcher are hitting pause to assess the damage.

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.

"I kind of looked at the theatre scene and was like, 'What isn't here? What can I add to it that's missing?' I think creating parts for women and creating parts for young performers that are exciting is how I can contribute to a scene that is very full."

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

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...

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.

How many eggs is your 401k worth?

Oh does it? What’s in the Diet Coke you guzzle or the processed cheese you slurp?

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...

Latest New Balance ad just dropped. Where do I get these?

The Subtext: Aya Ogawa, In Control This month Brian talks with playwright, director, and performer Aya Ogawa about “hacking away with a machete” toward a career and directing their own work.

Make sure you're up-to-date with The Subtext! Earlier this month, we published a convo with playwright, director, and performer Aya Ogawa about “hacking away with a machete” toward a career and directing their own work.
www.americantheatre.org/2025/02/07/t...

The Bread & Roses documentary on Apple+ is absolutely stunning. Please watch if you have access. The Taliban are afraid of women and use all their power to quiet them and hide them but Afghan women are smart and powerful and are fighting back.

The Subtext: Aya Ogawa, In Control This month Brian talks with playwright, director, and performer Aya Ogawa about “hacking away with a machete” toward a career and directing their own work.

The Subtext: Aya Ogawa, In Control
This month Brian talks with playwright, director, and performer Aya Ogawa about “hacking away with a machete” toward a career and directing their own work. www.americantheatre.org/2025/02/07/t...
#PlaywrightsTalking #playwriting #theatre #theater

People talk so much about praising a god but it’s clear all what people really praise is money and that’s why we’re in this mess

I am geographically far from it but I appreciate the work you are doing for those it touches directly and for the positive impacts it could have culturally.

‘Contempt is a dangerous way to lead a country’: here is the sermon that enraged Donald Trump | Mariann Edgar Budde This week, the bishop of Washington delivered a sermon in front of President Trump urging him to show mercy towards LGBTQ+ and migrant communities. The president condemned it as ‘nasty’. We reproduce it in full O God, you made us in your own image and…

‘Contempt is a dangerous way to lead a country’: here is the sermon that enraged Donald Trump | Mariann Edgar Budde

Eat my whole a**. "Oh they just gave it to the states, they aren't going to federally ban abortion".
🙄😒
To say I'm not surprised is an understatement.

Normal is not a place
to which we can return
but a feeling of calm,
like when we place our hand
in the river’s cool comfort;
normal, yes, but fleeting.
We seek to slide our hand again
into that river,
changed yet hopeful
to feel the calm
of an ever-evolving normal.

-bjp

The Subtext: Kelley Nicole Girod, in It for the Drama This month Brian talks with the playwright, producer, Fire This Time Festival founder, and Apollo Theater director of new works about drama, balance, and Louisiana history.

This month Brian talks with playwright, producer, Fire This Time Festival founder, and Apollo Theater director of new works Kelley Nicole Girod about drama, balance, and Louisiana history. www.americantheatre.org/2025/01/08/t...

I wonder if we’ll know we are in the end of days before they’re over.

“A door closes but a window opens.”

This house is extremely drafty and a terrible place to live in the winter.

Ahhh yes. I think it’s a shield to avoid thinking or feeling about the art.

Adding: I just visited 5 art museums in Mumbai last week and 4 of them didn’t allow photography at all. It was nice to have everybody there looking with their eyes. I ended up just writing notes on my phone to look things up later.