RISE Series E1: Victoria Detres (RISE Theatre)
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 RISE Theatre Program Manager Victoria Detres.
S4E1: abs wilson and Veronica Mansour
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with musical theatre writing team abs wilson and Veronica Mansour about the recent success of their show LIGHTHOUSE, the joy of collaborating with women to tell nuanced women-forward stories, the importance of practicing gratitude, and more.
S4E0: Season 4 TEA-ser
In this episode, Hayley and Amy spill the tea on what’s new this fall with Women & Theatre: A shiny new vision and mission statement, virtual and in-person community events, bonus podcast content, and lots of ways for you to get involved!
S3E10: Anna K. Jacobs
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with composer, lyricist, book writer, and educator Anna K. Jacobs about her musical Teeth (currently at Playwrights Horizons!), cycles of creativity, increasing accessibility through education, prioritizing health for artists, and more!
S3E9: Feedback
In this episode, Hayley and Amy chat about the value of artist-driven feedback that centers the project goals, ways to create theatrical spaces in which people feel empowered to give and receive feedback, the importance of naming the type of feedback that’s needed, and more.
S3E8: Nicolette Blount
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk with Chickasaw playwright, producer, and performer Nicolette Blount about her musical Savage, lifting up authentic female voices and stories, increasing accessibility and opportunity for writers of new musicals, parenting as a spiritual practice, and more!
S3E7: Mayah Lourdes Burke
In this episode, Hayley and Amy chat with multi-hyphenate Mayah Lourdes Burke, about creating equitable rehearsal spaces as an artivist, juggling hats as a multi-hyphenate, and how to build and nurture community in your theatrical work!
S3E6: Kelley Girod
In this episode, Hayley and Amy chat with playwright and producer Kelley Girod, the founder of The Fire This Time Festival and Director of New Works at the Apollo, about the vital importance of building community, uplifting the visibility of people and stories and voices we have not yet experienced, stepping into discomfort to create sustainable practices in theatre, and more!
S3E5: Jerusha Cavazos
In this episode, Hayley and Amy chat with performer and writer Jerusha Cavazos about cultivating equitable and supportive theatrical spaces, the boundless complexity of womanhood, the need for nuanced Black women characters, the virtues of showering, and more!
S3E4: Aléna Watters
In this episode, Hayley and Amy chat with Aléna Watters about practical tools to have a sustainable career in the theatre, how to unlearn societal programming around competition, and so much more!
S3E3: Rejection
In this episode, Hayley and Amy chat about the importance of making peace with rejection as part of a creative life, share tips and lessons learned about how to manage rejection, and offer ideas for how to change our collective mindset about success.
S3E2: Stephanie Leah Evans
In this episode, Hayley and Amy speak with music assistant and score coordinator Stephanie Leah Evans about her Broadway debut, the importance of music notation for opening up creativity, representation and power dynamics in music departments, setting boundaries to establish trust, and more.
S3E1: Kait Kerrigan
In this episode, Hayley and Amy speak with book-writer/lyricist/playwright Kait Kerrigan about her extraordinarily fruitful year in 2023, the power of musical theatre to create empathy, and the keys to long and successful collaborations.
S2E10: Julia Riew
In this episode, Hayley and Amy speak with composer/lyricist/writer Julia Riew about opening up the process of musical theatre creation, increasing Asian representation in theatrical spaces, inspiring the next generation to tell their own stories, and indulging in your passions.
S2E9: Madeline Myers
In this episode, Hayley and Amy speak with composer/lyricist Madeline Myers about uplifting the stories of women who have been erased from history, expanding our understanding of women’s relationship with work, finding people who believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself, and being a good person in addition to a good artist.
S2E8: Networking
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk about the joys and challenges of networking and how it plays out in the theatre industry, especially for women and other underrepresented groups. We share tips and resources for improving networking skills and celebrate the fact that networking is a skill that continues to be developed over a lifetime.
S2E7: Brisa Areli Muñoz
In this episode, Hayley and Amy speak with Musical Theatre Factory artistic director Brisa Areli Muñoz about creating stories in a way that centers justice and communities, expanding our definition of what musical theatre can be, centering radical care and embodied healing, and reimagining artists’ roles as agents of creative change in their communities.
S2E6: Elle Reimer
In this episode, Hayley and Amy speak with up-and-coming performer Elle Reimer about telling stories that matter, balancing paid work and art, increasing access to arts education, and taking care of ourselves by resisting hustle culture. As a bonus, we celebrate Women’s History Month by spotlighting singer and actress Ethel Waters.
S2E5: Thalia Ranjbar
In this episode, Hayley and Amy speak with theatre writer, director, and choreographer Thalia Ranjbar about using art to challenge cultural conventions, elevating underrepresented perspectives, and building cultural specificity and diversity into the DNA of theatrical works. As a bonus, we celebrate Women’s History Month by spotlighting influential Cuban American playwright, director, and educator María Irene Fornés.
S2E4: Scarcity and Abundance
In this episode, Hayley and Amy talk about how scarcity and abundance play out in the theatre industry and the hard work of moving from a culture of “This is the way it’s always been done” to a culture that sees the possibilities in using resources efficiently and creatively. As a bonus, we celebrate Women’s History Month by spotlighting pioneer lighting designerJean Rosenthal.