The Drama Book Show!

In this episode, we celebrate To Steve With Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim, a heartfelt tribute to one of musical theatre’s greatest legends, Stephen Sondheim. Emmy winner and Tony and Grammy nominee Liz Callaway is joined by special guest Jim Walton for an evening of stories, music, and reflection on a career deeply intertwined with Sondheim’s work. Recorded live at 54 Below, the Grammy-nominated album offers a personal and nostalgic look at Sondheim’s legacy and the profound impact his work has had on performers and audiences alike. Liz shares behind-the-scenes memories, celebrates the music that shaped her career, and honors the enduring brilliance of a composer who forever changed the landscape of musical theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into 43 Stages of Grieving: A Comedy, a wildly inventive and deeply human story about a pregnant, dying robot and a human determined to live forever. Forget the idea of just five stages—this surreal, heartfelt comedy explores the countless (and often hilarious) ways we navigate loss, from soft cheese to hard cheese and everything in between. As the pair grapple with an uncertain future, looming motherhood, and the complexities of technology and mortality, they search for meaning in a grief-saturated world. Playwright Micharne Cloughley joins us to discuss the origins of this poignant sci-fi comedy, her expansive theatre career, her work at The Metropolitan Museum of Art with The Civilians, and her transition into television writing on Law & Order: SVU. With projects spanning two continents and multiple genres, Micharne brings rich insight into storytelling, humor, and healing. Learn more at micharne.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we celebrate the launch of Prince Faggot, one of the year’s most talked-about and provocative new plays, written by acclaimed playwright Jordan Tannahill. This live conversation explores the play’s audacious premise, radical imagination, and fearless interrogation of power, privilege, queerness, and colonial legacy. The discussion is moderated by director Shayok Misha Chowdhury and features reading performances by Mihir Kumar and David Greenspan, with a special musical performance by Arèwa Basit. Together, they unpack Prince Faggot as a poppers-fueled, metatheatrical thought experiment—one that boldly reimagines monarchy through queer and trans lived experience and asks who gets to inherit the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for an engaging conversation and live performance exploring Unlikely Japan and Other Plays, a collection of ten one-act plays written by Neil LaBute over a decade-long collaboration with the St. Louis Actors’ Studio. LaBute and William Roth discuss the creation and staging of these diverse shorts, spanning comedy, drama, monologue, and dialogue, while Gia Crovatin performs scenes from the collection. Listeners will gain insight into the creative process behind one-act plays, the challenges and joys of developing new theatrical work, and the unique collaboration between playwright, director, and actors that brings these stories to life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doug’s Goddess of the Hunt is a fast-moving comedy about dark secrets in a public world. When grieving Charlie Windsor meets the lively Diana Black-White in a New York bar, they become instant BFFs, much to the shock of his longtime friend, Broadway actor Ed McGrath. Pulled into a whirlwind of secrets, betrayals, and dysfunctional family dynamics, Charlie navigates a world he’s unprepared for. This gleefully silly homage to 1960s romantic comedy thrillers—blended with Roman mythology and the modern chaos of social media—had its workshop premiere at the Fresh Fruit Festival and will debut fully at Lab Theater Project in Tampa, Florida. Doug, a two-time O’Neill Semi-Finalist, has had plays produced and developed across the U.S. and London, with work published by Next Stage Press and Smith & Kraus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into Justin Borak’s plays Community Garden and Cabin Chronicles. Community Garden follows Ralph’s first volunteer shift at Uptown City Gardens, exploring how tending to a shared green space can cultivate connection, humor, and even love. Cabin Chronicles is a horror comedy where three teens compete to tell the scariest stories while navigating the trials of high school and friendship. The conversation is moderated by Aaron Burstein, highlighting Borak’s signature blend of comedy, heart, and personal experience as a Lebanese-American playwright. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we spotlight Ngozi Anyanwu and her compelling plays. In Good Grief, Nkechi, a med-school dropout and first-generation Nigerian, navigates first loves, losses, and the stars in search of answers. In The Homecoming Queen, Kelechi returns to Nigeria after fifteen years to care for her father, confronting family, culture, and past traumas. The Last of the Love Letters offers a tender exploration of love, choices, and the difficult act of saying goodbye. We also discuss Ngozi’s remarkable career. A 2020 Steinberg Playwright Award winner, her works have been produced at Atlantic Theatre Company, Vineyard Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Steppenwolf, and more. Her plays have appeared on the Kilroys List, earned Humanitas and Leah Ryan honors, and she has been commissioned by leading theaters such as Two River and The Old Globe. Ngozi also directs and teaches, shaping the next generation of theater artists. This conversation is moderated by Chi Chi Anyanwu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special event, Suzie Miller, Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright of Prima Facie, joins writer and performer Nora Brigid Monahan for a signing and talkback on Miller’s debut novel adaptation of her acclaimed play. Prima Facie follows Tessa Ensler, a brilliant defense barrister whose faith in the law is shattered when she becomes the victim of sexual assault—and must face the very system she once defended. Raw, urgent, and unforgettable, Miller’s story exposes the barriers survivors face in pursuit of justice while demanding change from within the legal system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A special podcast episode exploring the new anthology Every Day a Little Death, released on what would have been Stephen Sondheim’s 95th birthday. Edited by Josh Pachter, this collection brings together twenty short crime stories—each inspired by a song from one of Sondheim’s twenty musicals, from Saturday Night to Here We Are. Listeners will hear from Josh and a number of contributing authors as they discuss how Sondheim’s lyrics and characters inspired their tales of mystery, suspense, and dark humor. With writers from both the crime fiction world and the theater community, the anthology blends two traditions into something witty, chilling, and full of Sondheimian Easter eggs for fans to uncover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we explore the evolving world of intimacy direction through The Intimacy Coordinator’s Guidebook: Specialties for Stage and Screen. Author Brooke M. Haney—one of the first 50 intimacy coordinators recognized by SAG-AFTRA—joins us to unpack the book’s deep dive into the profession, from cultural competency to working with minors, queer intimacy, disability, trauma, and more. They’re joined by guest experts Cha Ramos and Leo Mock, who share their own experiences shaping safer, more thoughtful rehearsal rooms across stage and screen. Bringing together insights from over 30 contributors, this episode illuminates how intimacy professionals collaborate with actors, directors, fight choreographers, mental-health coordinators, and cultural specialists to build responsible, resonant storytelling. Whether you’re a director hiring an IC, a performer navigating vulnerable material, or simply curious about the craft reshaping modern theatre and film, this conversation is an essential listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Elizabeth Teets discusses her anthology Isn’t She Great: Writers on Women-Led Comedies from 9 to 5 to Booksmart, celebrating the power and humor of women-led comedies. Joined by contributors Samantha Mann, Lana Schwartz, and Yael Krinsky, they explore cult cinema, film criticism, and the enduring glamour of pink. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we’re joined by Emily McGill, creator of The Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot. A recovering Broadway publicist turned “Ivy League Witch,” Emily takes us on a bewitching journey where tarot meets theatre, revealing how Broadway archetypes align with the Major and Minor Arcana. With stories from her work on 20 Broadway shows and her path into spiritual psychology, Emily shares how the Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot blends showbiz and spirituality in a way that’s magical, playful, and deeply personal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, composer, lyricist, and performer Seth Bisen-Hersh discusses The Making of a Musical: The 12-Year Journey of Love Quirks. He shares an insider’s look at the writing and producing process behind his award-winning off-Broadway musical, including detailed chapter analyses of every song and behind-the-scenes stories. Bisen-Hersh’s witty, comedic voice shines throughout, offering inspiration for Broadway hopefuls, underdog artists, and fans of perseverance. The conversation is moderated by Ashley Wool, who made her Broadway debut originating the role of Jessica in How to Dance in Ohio and has collaborated with Seth for years, bringing her insight and perspective on musical theatre performance to the discussion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices