S5E9: Tanya Birl-Torres
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with director, choreographer, producer, and creator Tanya Birl-Torres about tripping and falling into a theatrical career, drawing inspiration from chosen ancestors, daring to stay in the center of yourself, increasing visibility of parenting in theatre, and more.
S5E8: Arts Funding Shifts
In this episode, Hayley and Amy discuss funding shifts in the arts in 2025. We get ourselves up to date on what’s been happening with the National Endowment for the Arts, chat about alternative funding visions for theatre and the arts, and share action steps you can take to support the arts in your own community.
S5E7: Deborah Wicks La Puma
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with composer and music director Deborah Wicks La Puma about the critical importance of Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA), championing women musicians and writers, building pipelines to support young people of all backgrounds falling in love with theatre, and more.
S5E6: Julia Schemmer
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with puppeteer and puppetry advocate Julia Schemmer about keeping the art form of theatrical puppetry visible and vibrant, the importance of apprenticeship for learning a craft and creating opportunities for emerging talent, being at peace with where you are in transitional moments, and more.
S5E5: Victoria Detres
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with producer and RISE Program Manager Victoria Detres about embracing humanity through storytelling, creating a culture of care in the theatre industry and beyond, building sustainable theatrical spaces that are inclusive of artists from underrepresented groups, and more. We also highlight Hannah Cowley as part of our Women’s History Month Playwrights You Should Know series, in partnership with Expand the Canon.
S5E4: Julie Richardson
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with composer and orchestrator Julie Richardson about balancing multiple personal and professional roles, redefining the boundaries of womanhood, finding a creative process that works for you and a creative community that inspires you, and more. We also highlight Lesya Ukrainka as part of our Women’s History Month Playwrights You Should Know series, in partnership with Expand the Canon.
S5E3: Taking Control of Your Career
In this episode, Hayley and Amy dive into the juicy topic of Taking Control of Your Career. We discuss finding the “why” behind your goal, breaking it down into manageable steps, identifying your resources, building systems of accountability, and more. We also highlight Wakako Yamauchi as part of our Women’s History Month Playwrights You Should Know series, in partnership with Expand the Canon.
S5E2: Maria Wirries
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with actor and writer Maria Wirries about creating equitable spaces, telling diverse stories rooted in truth, embracing the fluidity of identity, building diversity at the highest decision-making levels of the theatre industry, and more. We also highlight Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz as part of our Women’s History Month Playwrights You Should Know series, in partnership with Expand the Canon.
S5E1: Jennifer Ashley Tepper
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with theatre historian, author, and producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper about authentic representation onstage and off, storytellers’ responsibility to choose values over biases, the diverse manifestations of women’s power, becoming friends with failure, and more. We also highlight Zora Neale Hurston as part of our Women’s History Month Playwrights You Should Know series, in partnership with Expand the Canon.
RISE Series E12: Susan Danish (National Women’s History Museum)
The Women & Theatre RISE Series presents mini-interviews conducted at the Inaugural RISE Summit with network partners of RISE Theatre, all of which are organizations working to increase equity in the theatre industry. In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with Susan Danish from the National Women’s History Museum.
RISE Series E11: Martha Steketee (Women Count)
The Women & Theatre RISE Series presents mini-interviews conducted at the Inaugural RISE Summit with network partners of RISE Theatre, all of which are organizations working to increase equity in the theatre industry. In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with Martha Steketee from Women Count.
S4E10: Schele Williams
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with Broadway director Schele Williams about authentic representation onstage and off, storytellers’ responsibility to choose values over biases, the diverse manifestations of women’s power, becoming friends with failure, and more.
RISE Series E10: Sandy Sahar Gooen (TEMPO)
The Women & Theatre RISE Series presents mini-interviews conducted at the Inaugural RISE Summit with network partners of RISE Theatre, all of which are organizations working to increase equity in the theatre industry. In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with Sandy Sahar Gooen from TEMPO.
S4E9: Danielle DeMatteo
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with SheNYC Arts artistic director Danielle DeMatteo about building new approaches to break down barriers and increase gender equity in theatrical spaces, the arts industry’s power as a voting bloc, feminist rage that leads to needed change, and more.
RISE Series E9: Andrea Prestinario (Ring of Keys)
The Women & Theatre RISE Series presents mini-interviews conducted at the Inaugural RISE Summit with network partners of RISE Theatre, all of which are organizations working to increase equity in the theatre industry. In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with Andrea Prestinario from Ring of Keys.
S4E8: Goal Setting
In this episode, Hayley and Amy chat about goal setting! How do we set personal and professional goals for ourselves and work toward achieving them? How do we cope with failure? How do we celebrate our successes? All this and more in today’s episode!
S4E7: Rachel Klein
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with director Rachel Klein about socioeconomic barriers to working in theatre, mentorship as a tool to make theatre work more accessible, the challenges of earning respect as a woman leader, and more.
RISE Series E8: Marty Strenczewilk (Creative Nations Indigenous Artists Collective)
The Women & Theatre RISE Series presents mini-interviews conducted at the Inaugural RISE Summit with network partners of RISE Theatre, all of which are organizations working to increase equity in the theatre industry. In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with Marty Strenczewilk of Creative Nations Indigenous Artists Collective.
S4E6: Rose Van Dyne
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with music director, artist, and educator Rose Van Dyne about building inclusivity, aligning actions with personal values, leaning into the intersection between community service and artistic expression, and more.
RISE Series E7: Maria Porto and Shane Dittmar (Access Broadway NY)
The Women & Theatre RISE Series presents mini-interviews conducted at the Inaugural RISE Summit with network partners of RISE Theatre, all of which are organizations working to increase equity in the theatre industry. In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with Maria Porto and Shane Dittmar from Access Broadway NY.