WARNING: MAJOR STAR WARS SPOILERS IN THE PODCAST.

For the first time this podcast is also a “vidcast.”  Here’s the video version:

Couple of things, I said in the podcast that the guy who did Avenue Q was supposed to have done the music for the Cantina Scene in the new Star Wars.  Got it wrong — it was Lin-Manuel Miranda writer of Hamilton and In the Heights who did that music.

We also talk about Sal’s band (which he began with Alan Ware) called Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra (www.URORocks.com). If you want to hear some awesome 70s covers and see  some great showmanship, go check out some of their videos on the website … or better yet … go see them in concert if you live in the Boston area!  They have a concert on January 31st at 9 PM at the Regent Theater in Arlington.

Synopsis: With the looming threat of the theater space being either torn down or turned into office space, Carlton, Blake and Johnny meet up with Georgina,the owner of the building (who also happens to live in the apartment over head), to try and work out a deal to extend the life of the theater.

Guest starring:
Joan Barber
Pëtra Denison
Lexie the Dog

Series regulars:
Stephen Bittrich as Blake, the playwright
David Marantz as Carlton (aka Jim), the artistic director
Dan Teachout as Hank, the jack of all trades
Robert Arthur Wilson as Johnny, the actor
Dennis Gagamiros as Derrick, the costume designer
Lisa Peart as Sammie, the stage manager
Kendall Rileigh as Bethany, the intern

Series DP:
John Painz

Filmmaker Brad Coolidge likes hockey

Here is part 2 of my interview with Brad Coolidge.

If you’ve ever thought you might want to direct a film, this is a great interview for you because my buddy Brad talks honestly about some of the challenges he faced as a first time director shooting a “creature feature.”

Sometimes the elements don’t cooperate, or your creature gets held up in customs and arrives late, or you don’t have enough days on the schedule.   There are so many obstacles awaiting you when you make a film.

Brad and his wife, Melissa, along with their producing partner, Todd Labarowski, make beautiful indie movies as well.  We talked about these in detail in part 1 of the interview, but here are the links again to those great films: What Maisie Knew, Prince Avalanche, Joe,  The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him AND Her, Manglehorn, and The World Made Straight.

Enjoy the interview.  Topics covered:

• Back to our conversation in progress, El Chupacabra (1:25)
• Setting the movie in Austin, paring down the budget, casting in NY, LA and locally (5:06)
• Approaching go time, creature creation by Mario Torres, Jr. (7:22)
• First day — driving scenes, Texas State University (9:50)
• Relying on experienced crew, location scouting, spending a lot of time on the master (12:29)
• Complication at the beginning of the first week (19:19)
• Weather does not cooperate, steady cam (22:22)
• Creature challenges, no time to rehearse (24:56)
• Reworking, editing what’s in the can (33:00)
• Inspiring the troupes, “Once more unto the breach!” (34:56)
• A little about raising money (39:46)
• Working on a script with Brad, Drilling Company connection (44:16)
• Treating people well on a film set (46:37)

Stephen Bittrich and Brad Coolidge after whacking some golf balls.

My good friends Brad and Melissa Coolidge helped me transition to Austin.  That’s the kind of lovely, awesome folks they are!

And they also happen to make thoughtful, exciting independent movies.

In part one of this two part interview I talk to Brad about the movies he and his wife have been producing or co-executive producing (along with their partner, Todd Labarowski).  These include, What Maisie Knew (with Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgård and Steve Coogan – inspired by a Henry James novel), Prince Avalanche (directed by Austin filmmaker David Gordon Green and starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch, Joe (with Nicholas Cage and again directed by David Gordon Green),  The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him AND Her (which can now be seen as intended in the big markets like New York — and a combined version “Them” is playing in some smaller markets), Manglehorn, (with Al Pacino, Holly Hunter, Chris Messina, directed by David Gordon Green) and The World Made Straight (with Noah Wiley, Minka Kelly, Haley Joel Osment, and Jeremy Irvine).  These last 2 films have not yet been released.

In part 2 of the interview we’ll talk about Brad’s experiences directing a “creature feature” horror film.  So keep an eye out for part 2 coming soon.

If you’re in New York or other select cities go see The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him/Her.  Click here for tickets in New York.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Hello to Brad, an introduction (3:51)
• Death of a Popstar a short film, Glasgow Film Festival (5:19)
• What Maisie Knew, co-producers (8:05)
• The move to Austin, Prince Avalanche (10:17)
• The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him AND Her, shooting in NYC, Dreambridge (14:25)
• Joe, Nicholas Cage comes down early to Austin to prepare (21:45)
• The World Made Straight (24:45)
• Manglehorn, shot in Austin (27:35)

Mindy getting made up for Bigfoot action

Mindy Raymond and C. Thomas Howell

The stars of Bigfoot Wars

Mindy Raymond in The Adventures of Pepper and Paula

I’ve moved to Austin, and actor Mindy Raymond is a new friend I met at a pool party given by my friends, Brad and Melissa Coolidge (see exciting news about their big movie project at the bottom of this post).

While swimming around in the pool, Mindy mentioned this project she’d done with C. Thomas Howell called Bigfoot Wars that promised the potential cult status of a Sharknado, and I was all over that!  I knew we needed to have an interview about her experience making that movie.

Right after Bigfoot Wars, because of the great work she did and because of a new connection she made on set with Robin Nations, she was cast in a family movie called The Adventures of Paula and Pepper based in part on a real woman with the stage name of “Pistol Packin’ Paula” who is a modern day Annie Oakley-type persona here in Texas.

Mindy is a charming, bubbly, positive force, and I hope you’ll enjoy our talk!

By the way, there were a few awesome attractions here in Austin mentioned during the course of the interview, so here are some links you might find helpful if you’re ever visiting the Austin area:

1) the Austin Steam Train in Cedar Park,
2) Hamilton Pool, an amazing natural grotto,
3) Natural Bridge Caverns,
4) Enchanted Springs Ranch and old west town,
5) and The Georgetown Palace Theater.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Hello to Mindy… and what do you call more than one Bigfoot? (2:24)
• How Mindy got the acting bug (3:32)
• Yoga in Mindy’s life (9:17)
• Mindy and Nate (12:04)
• A little about Austin near the Lakeway area (13:49)
• Finding acting work in Austin (16:27)
• Top 3 things to do in Austin (21:12)
• Mindy directs a short film (25:19)
• Teaching classes at 4 Reelz (28:48)
• Talking about Bigfoot Wars experience … and how cool Alamo Drafthouse is (29:54)
• Audition process for Bigfoot Wars (37:48)
• Talking about the Bigfoot legend… please don’t kill Bigfoot!  And, yes, there was a Legend of Boggy Creek movie in the 70s when I was 10 years old! (40:30)
• Talking about The Adventures of Pepper and Paula (43:48)
• “Bizarre, Interesting and/or Horrible Audition Stories” (49:35)

I mentioned my friends, Brad and Melissa Coolidge above (and this interview was actually taped in their guest house, so you’ll hear us mention at the end how Brad got stuck in a sudden downpour).  They are co-executive producers of an AMAZING movie that I saw screened 2 nights ago here in Austin at the Violet Crown called The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby with Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and an amazing all-star supporting cast.  It’s in theaters.  Go see it now!

David Marantz and Stephen Bittrich in the webseries OFF OFF.

Dave and I have been working on projects together for a while… in fact he is one of the stars and a co-producer of the webseries I created, Off Off.

But in this interview we concentrate on his newest triumph, Audio Book Narrator.  At this time of this interview he’s narrated 51 books on Audible.com.  (Check out his page!)

Dave Marantz at work narrating books

I should also mention that Dave is now starring as Malvolio in the Drilling Company’s Shakespeare in the Parking Lot production of Twelfth Night.  (I hear he’s quite fetching in yellow cross-garters.)

For more information about Dave, check out his website.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Hi Dave! (2:18)
• Our Drilling Company Theater roots (5:24)
• The Whisper Room – Sound Booth (8:45)
• Dave’s impulse to be in the arts (10:03)
• His job helping lawyers take depositions (15:50)
• The voice-over artist is born, Audible Books (19:25)
• The first book, Raising Stony Mayhall, by Daryl Gregory (Audible’s “Zombie Book of the Year 2011) (23:38)
• Literary porn and truck drivers (28:51)
• A new Neal Asher project, science fiction writer (31:22)
• Characters with unique voices, keeping characters straight, the job’s biggest challenges (38:12)
• The engineer, the studio set up (45:00)
• Recent book, Innovative State: How New Technologies Can Transform Government by Aneesh Chopra (49:50)
• The money aspect of the job (52:45)
• Being naked on stage, Take Me Out (56:00)
• “Most interesting or bizarre or horrible audition story” (1:03:14)
• Health Insurance story (1:09:53)
• Shout out to the webseries Off Off (1:11:53)

Maggie comes from a show biz family which includes Uncle Mark Rydell who directed On Golden Pond and The Rose to Aunt Joanne Linville who wrote the book Seven Steps to an Acting Craft, to brother Andrew Wagner who directed the films Starting Out in the Evening and The Talent Given Us. 

For more information about Maggie, go check out her website.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Hi Maggie! (1:27)
• Funny Girl gives Maggie the show biz bug… and her show biz family (3:03)
• Auditioning for the Actors Studio (9:43)
• The film Anna and friendship with Sally Kirkland and Sandra Bullock (12:29)
• Working Girl with Melanie Griffith and how she met Daniel Baldwin (15:50)
• The Wisdom to Know the Difference filmed in San Antonio (18:17)
• “Most interesting or bizarre or horrible audition story” (20:20)
• Upcoming projects, Make It Big (23:07)
• Advice to younger self about making it in the acting business (26:40)
• Starting Out in the Evening directed by brother Andrew Wagner (29:15)

Had a great visit to NYC doggy sitting for my friends Margo and Bill.  Back to Austin today!

Kel Haney on left and Ann Talman on the right

My friend Ann Talman has been developing her solo show, Woody’s Order! for a few years (well, arguably her whole life) about her relationship with her family and in particular her brother, Woody.

Woody’s Order! will be performed on Monday, September 29th at 9 pm in the 5th Annual United Solo Theatre Festival on Theatre Row.  Click here for more details.

I was very pleased and excited to interview Ann and her director, Kel Haney, in New York.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Hello Ann and Kel — how they met — Ensemble Studio Theater (1:51)
• Matt Hoverman Workshop — How to Create Your Own Solo Show (4:20)
• Working on new work, solo work (7:07)
• The development and evolution of the sola show (8:55)
• What’s the show Woody’s Order! about? (13:47)
• How Kel got the theater bug (26:10)
• A director who likes to read! (30:54)
• How Ann got the theater bug, imaginary friends (33:36)
• Trying to give Woody a normal life — frustrations, sex (43:00)
• Doing Little Foxes on Broadway with Elizabeth Taylor, audition story (48:12)
• Kel meets Woody (51:02)
• Al Pacino meets Woody (55:24)

Less than a week after moving to Austin, I headed to New York to doggy-sit for my friends, Margo and Bill.  So I captured this interview with Ann and Kel while in NYC.

Karen Moline’s Novels

Here’s part 2 of Karen Moline’s interview. We get right into it talking about celebrity interviewing for the magazines she worked with.  Don’t forget to check out Karen’s books, fiction and non-fiction, on Amazon.

By the way, the director of The Long Good Friday (that we blanked on) was John Mackenzie.

Please go to Karen’s website for more information about her at www.KarenMoline.com.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Treating celebrity interview subjects fairly (1:57)
• Getting pawed by Brian DePalma (3:54)
• Writing a biography of Bob Hoskins (5:22)
• Who would play characters in the movie version of Lunch, Alex Kingston (15:26)
• Getting the inspiration for Belladonna staying at Castle (24:16)
• Staying true to what you’re good at (35:00)
• Who would Karen interview now – Hilary Clinton.  Finding interesting people (36:51)
• Adoption reform, www.pear-reform.org (46:21)

I moved to Austin!  More on that later.  My parents are selling their beautiful home.  Take a look at this cool website I made for them, www.TennesseeMountainRetreat.com.

One of the first things we talked about was her first novel, Lunch: A Novel of Erotic Obsession, and in the course of talking about that novel we explored a bit some of the ways writers go about getting ideas flowing and freeing themselves up to write.

She got a substantial advance for her second novel, Belladonna, (A Novel of Revenge) back in the days with publishing houses were able to do such things.  Please go to Karen’s website for more information at www.KarenMoline.com.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Hello Karen! (2:20)
• How Lunch was born (3:10)
• Stories of being an entertainment journalist; the shift from print interviews to Internet (9:11)
• From the picture wall of fame – Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, and the set of Harry Potter (17:20)
• Funny story about John Malkovich (24:36)
• Discussion about how art is created… or at least how Karen goes about it (26:36)
• Belladonna, (A Novel of Revenge) (30:50)
• Advantages of writing with pen and ink (32:12)
• How ideas for Belladonna came about (35:39)
• Dreams for inspiration, the fun of research, take a trip to the library! (39:21)
• What Karen learned at the University of Chicago (44:24)
• Back to Belladonna, traveling to a location for research (49:05)
• Writing something that makes you squirm a bit… like an orgy scene! (53:00)
• Most satisfying financial moment (58:18)
• How celebrities can change over time… Justin Bieber (1:00:18)
• Taking criticism (1:05:18)
• Fiction is to transport you out of your head… we’re all Elizabeth Bennett… and the A&E version is the best btw (1:08:46)
• A great interview with Mel Gibson with the benefit of a secret (1:15:48)

Finally, I’m moving soon from staying with my folks in East Tennessee to Austin.  My parents are selling their beautiful home.  Take a look at this cool website I made for them, www.TennesseeMountainRetreat.com.

And then when a production of my play Home of the Great Pecan was done at The Drilling Company, we were lucky enough to get Jessi in the lead for that fun Texas romp.

In 2009 they formed a site specific theater experience which has been going strong ever since called Our Bar, which is set – surprise! – in a bar.  It’s a great NYC experience where the audience feels like it’s literally in the middle of the show – and can drink and eat at the same time!  And there always seems to be live music afterwards often performed by the jug band, The Saltcracker Crazies.  So the party goes on well after the show!

Please enjoy my time with the very entertaining, Jessi and Joe.  And don’t miss Our Bar which is the first Wednesday of every month; the next show is called Stuck, and it’s on May 7th, 2014.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Hello Jessi and Joe! The beginnings of Project: Theater (3:11)
• Backing up in time, how the stars aligned and these kids met (8:43)
• How I was introduced to Jessi and Joe during the run of The Secretaries by the Five Lesbian Brothers (15:04)
• My Custom Van by Michael Ian Black (20:40)
• Joe gets a great job in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (23:46)
• The OurBarNYC experience, the jug band origin (31:50)
• Jessi Blue in Home of the Great Pecan (45:25)
• Jessi Blue, the writer emerges, Mark My Words (48:42)
• Joe has very specific news on upcoming projects (50:15)
• How to start a theater company (53:08)
• “Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories” – Joe’s first (56:26)
• Jessi’s audition story (1:08:21)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.  URO has a concert coming up.  Click the link to find out more!

Steve Sherman in Spamalot at the Clarence Brown Theater

Jessi Blue Gormezano and Steve Sherman in Home of the Great Pecan. Photo by Lee Wexler.

I was introduced to actor Steve Sherman by my buddy Dave Marantz, and he was great in my play, Home of the Great Pecan as Deputy Diggity.  I liked him so much I asked him to be in a workshop to help me develop a new play I’d been working on called Hole.

That was in New York City.  As it happens we are both in Tennessee at the moment, he as a student in University of Tennessee’s graduate acting program which is connected to the Clarence Brown Theater — a LORT Theater.  And he’s in Spamalot which is opening there tonight!

It was great to get the perspective of an actor who had been out in the professional world and had gone back to school.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Hello Steve! His beginnings and how he got the bug (2:58)
• Producing his own work in New York City (On Campus) and developing new work (5:44)
• Improv in LA  (8:31)
• Going back to school – Grad school at University of Tennessee (10:25)
• Living in the South, long distance relationship (13:14)
• The plan – teaching or acting (16:04)
• Working with the Clarence Brown Theater (18:12)
• Teaching an improv class and taking classes as a student (23:25)
• After the masters program (28:58)
• “Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories” (30:14)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.  URO has a concert coming up.  Click the link to find out more!

He and I met when a friend of mine was in a play which he was also in, and we all went out afterwards to a bar.  I instantly liked him because he was just fun to be around, but over the years since, I’ve been consistently impressed with the depth of his talent not just as an actor but also as a writer.

In the interview we mentioned the awesome set for his play, Levittown, as designed by Michele Spadaro.  Here’s a picture of that set and a link to that feature in the NY Times.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Hello Marc! (3:51)
• First survival jobs – as a Macy’s “model” and receptionist  (5:10)
• Growing up, connection to New York, theater roots  (12:00)
• Artsy fartsy literary Shakespeare guy (15:26)
• The Thing Webseries  (19:07)
• Playing the lead in the movie, Too Much Sleep (22:25)
• Writing the screenplay Telling You, the scoop (25:45)
• How Marc met his wife – great story! (32:21)
• Exploring question – is art still important if fewer people see it?  (44:01)
• Levittown production (and talk about that great set) (47:13)
• Contacting playwriting hero, Christopher Durang  (1:01:37)
• Talking about memorable moments of the webseries (1:03:28)
• “Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories” (1:14:16)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.  URO has a concert coming up.  Click the link to find out more!

He and I met doing theatre Off Off Broadway at the Drilling Company years ago, and he was my muse there in the beginning when I was writing a lot of bizarre comedies for which he was so perfectly suited.  He added his unique stamp to all of those short plays.

Interestingly the interview took a dark and serious turn when we talked about his experiences being mugged in NYC.  NYC is a safer city now, but the area where he’s lived (and in other areas around the 5 boroughs) the city has gone through some major changes through the years.

I promise you will enjoy this talk with Scott Baker!

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Hello Scott! How we met — Two Eggs and La Mouche (3:49)
• Bally Master a short documentary film about Scott Baker  (8:17)
• The Coney Island Freak Show — three kinds of freaks (12:00)
• Early inspirations, Frank Lentini and Gilbert Mysto Magic Set (16:30)
• How to learn how to pound a nail into your head or eat fire, Coney Island Side Show School (20:32)
• Winter job, Santa Claus (24:56)
• How Scott got to New York (25:51)
• Scott performs in adult films – “Rupert!” (27:23)
• Oh! Calcutta! on Broadway (33:12)
• How Times Square has changed, being mugged by gunpoint (37:30)
• “Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories” (44:00)
• Kitschy interests and new project: Elvis, Santa, John Wilkes Booth, Frankenstein (50:43)
• Cancer survivor — of the soft palette (55:16)
• Remembering director, Richard Harden (59:29)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.  URO has a concert coming up.  Click the link to find out more!

Holly Williams is a repertory actor at The Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia.  I really wanted to see something at The Barter while I was still in this area (East Tennessee), and I approached her about doing an interview, and she could not have been nicer.  She got me into 2 shows, we had a terrific interview about the busy (and artistically fulfilling) life of the rep actor, and I got the super deluxe tour of the facility.

I was so impressed with the well-oiled machine at the Barter.  They were switching out the set for the evening show when we were talking in the dressing room.  They also have 2 shows going on in the Stage II space (their smaller space), and they are simultaneously rehearsing for the next shows which will go up.  The scheduling people must be geniuses!  Right now at the Barter you could see 4 different shows… Man of LaMancha, I Do I Do I Do, Don’t Cry for Me, Margaret Mitchell, and The Dryad: An Appalachian Tale.  Something for everyone!

And Holly was terrific.  She had a lead role in I Do I Do I Do and a supporting role in Man of LaMancha.  And she’s also in the midst of rehearsing for her next cool role as Rita in Educating Rita.  Go check out The Barter if you’re in the area!

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Not Hank Williams Granddaughter (4:30)
• Can you actually barter to get admission to the theatre?  (8:25)
• The shows I saw, Holly’s busy schedule, life of a repertory actor (10:15)
• Holly’s good luck charm, writing a lyric on her fingers (17:15)
• How Holly got the gig with The Barter (19:30)
• Versatility required, non-traditional casting (23:40)
• How Holly got the acting, storytelling bug (25:38)
• Wall of fame … Barter Alumni (37:32)
• More about The Barter administrative and creative staff (38:37)
• “Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories” (47:25)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.  URO has a concert coming up.  Click the link to find out more!

Hijinks ensue when a bookshop customer tries to return a defective “OED” (Oxford English Dictionary) because it’s missing words.  This fast moving skit is a nod to the works of Monty Python.

The Returns Man is played by Steve Sherman.

Mr. Weiner, the Customer, is played by Stephen Bittrich.

An interview with Steve Sherman coming soon in a future Off Off Pod episode!

Corybungus was originally performed by The Drilling Company in an evening of New York themed one-acts by Stephen Bittrich called Big Apples.

Stephen is the director and founder of the American Comedy Institute where folks with the comedy bug can receive great training either by way of their monthly comedy classes or in their year long program.

I happen to know Stephen from working on the website for the school.  It’s a great resource if you’d like to know more about how you can join in!

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• How we met through Ted Greenberg and The Complete Performer (2:13)
• How it all began, working on the writing (4:58)
• Growing up and being funny and the need to express yourself (7:39)
• Being well rounded as a comedian, Louie CK (10:11)
• Taking note of subjects and attitudes that are working (15:50)
• Comedians that have reinvented their persona (19:48)
• Comedians who seem to be making it up on the fly have worked hard to prepare  (22:03)
• Stephen’s role as teacher, how to create a hyphenated career (25:50)
• The One Year Program at American Comedy Institute (27:06)
• Doing “bringer shows” (bringing in an audience to the clubs) and when comedy was “rock and roll” (32:45)
• How to build and audience as a performer (39:15)
• Keeping warm after bombing  (42:07)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.

We got to know each other when she was in a production of my play, Home of the Great Pecan at The Drilling Company, and over the years I’ve seen two of her films, House of Bones (about her lovable, eccentric family and childhood home on Martha’s Vineyard — not to be confused with a horror film of the same name!) and The Hunt for Good Americans where she and a friend traveled across this great country finding and filming all sorts of cool characters.   [I’ll put up links to see these films as they become available.]

I had heard a few stories about her most current project where she daringly finagled her way into Haiti 7 days after the earthquake of 2010.  I knew there would be some amazing tales about that journey, and, boy, I was not disappointed.  You must listen!

By the way, the Haiti documentary, Monsieur le Président, is playing TOMORROW as part of The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival at 10 am at the Chilmark School. Check out this great article from the Martha’s Vineyard Times.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Hello Victoria; growing up in Martha’s Vineyard in an artsy family (3:12)
• Film: House of Bones  (10:39)
• Film: The Hunt for Good Americans (18:55)
• Back road hookers in Ely, Nevada, Crow Reservation in Montana  (21:06)
• Blues man, Razorblade, in Clarksdale, Mississippi (27:22)
• Film: Monsieur le Président; the Haiti Earthquake in 2010 (32:29)
• The aftershock 6.2; drafted as a “nurse”  (36:22)
• The Voodoo Priest, Gaston (41:50)
• Ukrainian transgender in Canarsie, NY (52:11)
• “Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories” (53:17)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.  URO has a concert coming up.  Click the link to find out more!

I met Jeremiah through my writer friend, Karen Moline.  I asked her if there was anybody she knew who I had to talk to while in NYC, and she hooked me up with Jeremiah who could not have been nicer.

He was really great in the role of El Gallo — great voice, a lot of humor, very graceful and dynamic on stage.  In fact, go right now and listen to him sing!  (And then come back here and listen to the interview.)  www.JeremiahJames.net.

Jeremiah has done a lot of cool things so far in his career, including being a part of a very popular international touring group called Teatro, playing Billy Bigelow in a major West End revival of Carousel, originating the role of Willoughby in the new Sense and Sensibility musical at the Denver Theatre Center, and charitably helping sick kids in Zimbabwe.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Hello Jeremiah (4:12)
• New Business Model for Theaters, Theater as a Community Meeting Place  (6:27)
• Growing up in LA , how theatre sunk in  (16:26)
• Jeremiah’s sister tricks him into doing a musical  (18:15)
• Training and first professional gig (23:31)
• International sensation, Teatro, is formed (25:47)
• Meeting the Queen of England, Musical Theater Groupies  (28:18)
• Carousel as Billy Bigelow  (31:03)
• Working on very first solo record (36:38)
• Sense and Sensibility Musical at the Denver Theatre Center directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge  (38:52)
• Jeremiah as El Gallo in The Fantasticks  (45:20)
• Helping children in Zimbabwe, Kidzcan (47:04)
• “Bizarre, Interesting or Horrible Audition Stories” (55:34)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.

There are economic challenges involved in bringing period plays with exceptionally large casts to the stage.  (Most modern plays are written with 6 or fewer characters; playwrights like myself know that if you can tell a great story with fewer actors, your chances of getting the play done regionally are better.  This is not necessarily the case for schools and universities where those institutions are interested in giving a lot of  students the opportunity to perform.)

I loved Dan’s quote about how the church half of this organization views theater as a “kind of sacrament.”  Loved that.  (6:05)

Enjoy my talk with Dan, and for more information about this great company, go to the website:  www.thepeccadillo.com.  (Designed and maintained by yours truly.)

If you you would like to see the reading of Clifford Odets’ Rocket to the Moon mentioned at the end of the interview, go here for tickets.  And please keep you eye on the website for William Inge’s A Loss of Roses. Previews begin May 7th, 2014.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• Colder winters in New York (2:20)
• History of Theater at St. Clements and its place in the Off Off Broadway movement (3:08)
• How Dan got the theater bug (7:26)
• The Golden Age of American Theater – “era of the well-made play” (10:48)
• 20 years ago — the first play — O’Neill’s Strange Interlude (12:15)
• The Silver Cord by Sidney Howard is revisted (14:10)
• How Dan finds these plays, American gems (15:26)
• Counsellor at Law, the challenge of working with period plays, large casts (19:07)
• Another Part of the Forest by Lillian Hellman (20:47)
• What’s the purpose of theater? (23:53)
• What’s the job of the director?  Casting is 75% of the job. (27:10)
• Some new plays in the classic style, opening up the mission (32:53)
• The future, A Loss of Roses by William Inge (34:44)
• Auditions from the other side of the table (35:51)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.

Don’t forget that Drilling Company is now running The Norwegians by C. Denby Swanson and directed by Elowyn Castle with the following cast:  Hamilton Clancy, Veronica Cruz, Karla Hendricks, and Dan Teachout. The stage manager is Mary Linehan, and the house manager is Milena Davila. Go to the website for more info:  www.drillingcompany.org.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Intro  (0:00)
• The Drilling Company Theater Ghost as told by Dan Teachout (5:19)
• History of space – Mark Zeller (10:03)
• The new one-act read-aloud, Stephen plays a trick (12:25)
• The Drilling Company starts producing full-length plays (15:25)
• The haunted house at PS87, Zombie Labs (16:58)
• The Discovery Series for developing new plays (19:15)
• In Memoriam: Edwin Owens and Richard Harden (21:58)
• Actors teaching Sunday school (25:24)
• Now playing over 100 performances, The Norwegians (32:08)
• Hamilton’s bad audition story, the toy fair (35:24)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.

Stephen Bittrich & Hamilton Clancy on stage of The Drilling Company Theater

In 2000 I was introduced to a theatre company called The Drilling Company which at that time produced new one-acts in themed evenings.  They’ve since branched out into full-lengths, play development and even Shakespeare in the Parking Lot on the Lower East Side.

I can’t think of many plays I’ve written in the past 14 years which have not been in some way inspired or nurtured by The Drilling Company, which is helmed by my friend, Artistic Director, Hamilton Clancy.

In part 1 of this two part interview, Hamilton and I talk about the history of the company as they begin their 16th season.

Don’t forget that Drilling Company is now running The Norwegians by C. Denby Swanson.  Go to the website for more info:  www.drillingcompany.org.

Topics covered in the interview:

• Welcome Hamilton and audience  (1:49)
• How the company began, and the first show (7:00)
• Second show Neighbors and how I met Drilling Company (12:59)
• Company member Scott Baker’s Kringled (15:15)
• The one-act evenings and the themes (18:58)
• The Drilling Company Theater space on 78th Street (22:12)
• Why is the company called The Drilling Company (25:08)
• Political theatre, George Bush years (27:53)
• A man of many hats, including writer (31:27)
• Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, crap on the moon (37:33)
• Dave Marantz’s story about the sword/knife fight in the parking lot (45:53)
• In the Car stories, the birth of the read-aloud (49:48)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.

Photo by John Olson

My friend Gioia De Cari created a very successful one-woman show called Truth Values: One Girl’s Romp Through M.I.T.’s Male Math Maze which has had 95 performances in 45 theaters in 17 states with over 17,000 audience members.

In this interview we talk about the development of her show as well as her background as a mathematician at M.I.T.  The show has create a serious discussion about women in STEM fields.  The writing of the show was in part spurred on by a quote from the former president of Harvard, Lawrence Summers who infamously (and publicly) suggested that the reason women weren’t more represented in STEM fields was because of innate gender differences.

[Please note: Gioia wrote me in horror after the interview realizing that she had had a brain fizz and said “Bill Clinton” when she meant “Barack Obama” at the 9:20 mark of the interview.]

If you’ve ever wanted to write and perform your own one person show, certainly Gioia may be held up as a model of success.  Or if you’re interested in the topic of gender inequality in education, you’ll enjoy her point of view!

Topics covered in the interview:

• Introduction.  Welcome to New York!  (0:00)
• Hello Gioia De Cari.  The acting impulse.  MIT. (2:52)
• The beginning of her one-woman show, Truth Values (7:15)
• Tips from Wynn Handman about writing a one person show (11:43)
• Gioia trying to fit in at MIT (14:49)
• How she started booking the show into theatres around US (20:43)
• How she figured out the business end of touring (24:30)
• Political writing, can art change people or policy? (31:31)
• Stephen didn’t realize he was sexually harrassed in the workplace (34:39)
• Writing again after a hit (39:37)
• Gioia’s most horrible or bizarre or interesting audition experience (46:15)
• Go eat at Chirping Chicken at 77th and Amsterdam! (51:44)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.

The Empire State Building – NYC

I’m heading to New York City in less than a week to capture a bunch of podcast interviews and see old friends.  Here’s a shot of one of the most beautiful buildings in the world on a night when it was showing off my favorite colors — the deep blues.

In this short and sweet episode I tell one of my New York stories — about going to a midtown luxury apartment building at midnight to meet a complete stranger for freshly made peach cobbler!

Don’t forget the upcoming “live” podcast event at The Drilling Company Theater, 236 West 78th Street, 3rd floor on February 11th, 2014.  I’ll be interviewing Artistic Director, Hamilton Clancy.  The event is free. Donations welcome.  Come be a part and then hang out afterwards.

Topics covered in the podcast:

• NYC here I come! (0:00)
• The flood (6:27)
• Live Podcast at the Drilling Company of Tuesday, February 11th at 7 PM (9:44)
• The midnight peach cobbler story (10:28)
• Exceptional people in New York (16:20)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.

From THE NORWEGIANS by C. Denby Swanson at The Drilling Company. Hamilton Clancy, Dan Teachout, Veronica Cruz. Photo by Lee Wexler.

I’d like to announce a “live” podcast event at The Drilling Company Theater, 236 West 78th Street, 3rd floor on February 11th, 2014.  I’ll be interviewing Artistic Director, Hamilton Clancy.  The event is free. Donations welcome.  Come be a part and then hang out afterwards.

And go see the play that’s running there at the theater right now, The Norwegians by C. Denby Swanson.

In this Off Off Topic episode I tell two stories…

… the day I felt like I might die from shortness of breathe and ended up having a pulmonary embolism!

… and one very uncomfortable and awkward online dating experience where I made a fool of myself!  Well, it was more of an almost date because we actually didn’t ever go out.

Topics covered in the podcast:

• The introduction (0:00)
• The day I almost died (4:03)
• Hello mortality! (13:49)
• Why online dating sucks (16:45)
• What to never do with someone you meet at an online dating site (20:56)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.

As many of you probably know, I’ve been staying with my parents in Tennessee for a while since my mother’s been going through treatments for cancer.  And while here, I wanted to find some local artists to interview.  Jonesborough, Tennessee is THE place to go for storytelling.

Saundra is the President of the Storyteller’s Guild, an organization in the Jonesborough area, and she and her group perform in a beautiful complex built just for storytelling.  Besides the local “tellers,” performers come from all over the world to Jonesborough to perform.  The height of the excitement happens in October during a yearly storytelling festival.  There are links below if you want to find out more about the area.

I had asked Saundra if she had any local true ghost stories she could tell, and she delivered.  Afterwards I got a tour of some of the old buildings and locations.

Topics covered in the podcast:

• The introduction (0:00)
• Saundra Kelley, The Story Teller’s Guild http://storytellersguild.org (5:05)
• The Jonesborough Storytelling Center http://www.storytellingcenter.net (6:50)
• Beautiful Historic Jonesborough, Oldest Town in Tennessee (11:12)
  
• A Master’s Degree in Storytelling ETSU (East Tennessee State University) http://www.etsu.edu/coe/stories (14:40)
  
• The storytelling festival in October (18:15)
  
• How Saundra Kelley made her way to Jonesborough from Florida (20:11)
  
• Why I asked her for a ghost story (26:42)
• Ghost Story: “Blood on the Floor” (32:51)
• The seasonal ghost (48:41)
• Andrew Jackson strolls around town (51:58)
• Some of the mechanics of storytelling — using images (55:54)
• How to partake in storytelling in your area http://www.storynet.org (1:03:17)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.

Erik Van Wyck and Stephen Bittrich at Lincoln Center

In this Off Off Topic episode I tell 3 of my classic New York stories…

The bad, out of focus photo to the left was taken by a beautiful stranger (who looked like a sexy librarian) and marked the beginning of a night of extreme culinary delights when we crashed an exclusive after party at one of the most expensive restaurants in New York, Per Se.  (You’re welcome Per Se for the free ad!)

In another story, I talk about being hired by a 6 foot Dominatrix, and in the last story you’ll hear how a beautiful French nanny picked me up in the Houston International Airport when I was 24.  (No really… really!)

Topics covered in the podcast:

• The introduction (0:00)
• An email from Malaysia about my play, MIME IN A BOX, getting paid by Paypal (4:13)
• Coco the Cat (5:44)
• Story #1  – The Dominatrix (6:50)
• Story #2 – Eating for free at Per Se one of the most expensive restaurants in NYC (12:30)
• “Riding the Wave” — is there meaning in the universe? — Whoah, heavy! (19:57)
• The date — the mistake of taking her to my play, HOLE (22:18)
• Story #3 – Getting picked up at the Houston International Airport by a beautiful French nanny (29:50)
• The Cyclone Roller Coaster in Coney Island (33:30)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.

Fake Mugshot of Stephen Bittrich

Okay, that’s not really my mugshot.  That’s my tribute to Nick Nolte’s mug.  But like Nick, I also got sent to the clink — spent 24 hours in the New York City penal system.  Oh what an adventure!

In this Off Off Topic episode of the podcast I talk all about that fascinating experience.  Not something I’d recommend if you can help it, but it makes a good story.

Topics covered in the podcast:

• My introduction (0:00)
• Fender bender in high school  (4:16)
• Pet peeve — reckless driving is like running down the street waving a sledge hammer (6:51)
• Minivan in the suburbs (8:25)
• Returning to NYC — alternate side of the street parking (10:00)
• I get pulled over for broken tail light (14:20)
• The sergeant demands my attention, fingerprinting snafus (16:42)
• The trip to the downtown with the holy-rollers, stopping for breakfast (21:10)
• The Tombs, making friends (24:07)
• The bathroom situation in jail (27:51)
• Somber moment, prisoners being lead back to Rikers (30:58)
• Why Judge Judy sucks (33:27)
• Paranoia sets in (36:00)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.

This is part 2 of my talk with my good buddy, actor/writer, Erik Van Wyck.  In this interview Erik lets it all hang out in his assessment of Los Angeles, the good, the bad, and the ugly — why it can be intoxicating and also soul sucking to pursue the favored industry of the town.

Erik talks a bit about a movie he helped produce (and acted in) called Expecting (which you can watch now on demand) with Radha Mitchell and Michelle Monaghan.

He also talks about traveling the world as the host of the reality show Getting Abroad which was on for a season on the now defunct The Mojo Network.  The show explored mating and dating rituals around the world, and basically Erik traveled to a country, and he and a local wing man went around and tried to pick up women.  He started each show by sampling an (often disgusting) local aphrodisiac.

Erik also offers up some embarrassing and/or bizarre audition stories.

Topics covered in the interview:

• My introduction (0:00)
• What drew Erik to Los Angeles  (4:58)
• Ryan Reynolds gets Blade Trinity (7:58)
• Douchebag is born in the movie Expecting (8:41)
• The reality tv show Getting Abroad goes abroad (12:33)
• Disgusting aphrodisiacs of the world (15:45)
• How to get lucky in Iceland (23:50)
• Interrogated by Stana Katic and the pilot Drived (29:19)
• Embarrassing audition story, hiding crotch with script (39:48)
• Big bad casting director story (47:48)
• Casting couch – keys to the apartment (54:18)
• The management company, “Welcome to Hollywood” (58:25)
• Being killed with kindness in LA — “Hope is fuel.” (100:35)
• Seduced and Abandoned and The Hurt Locker party (104:58)

As usual my buddy Sal Clemente (of Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra) who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” plays us out.

If you want to be truly inspired by someone who did not give up on his dream of making his indie film, listen to this interview.

It has a happy ending… a deal with Miramax… and you can stream this film right now on Netflix.  It stars Allison Janney, Keith Carradine, Cheryl Hines, Jason Ritter, Autumn Reeser, and Beth Grant.

Cam’s latest project is a new weberies called Break a Hip which sounds hilarious and is in post production now.  Here’s the Facebook page.

Topics covered in the interview:

• My introduction of Cam (0:00)
• Sweet story about a high school kid doing a monologue from my play, Home of the Great Pecan  (4:58)
• Interview with Cameron Watson begins (7:38)
• Growing up in small southern town with supportive parents (19:44)
• Spaced Out – Cam gets cast as the heroic captain of the “ship” (20:37)
• Horton Foote campaigns for Cam in The Widow Claire (23:55)
• The move to Los Angeles, a work-a-day actor (25:40)
• The writer/director emerges — Cam performs a story about his hometown (27:19)
• Cam forms a writing group/support group (31:24)
• Our Very Own — the next steps, a great supportive core group (33:14)
• Shelbyville welcomes the production; casting the film (40:51)
• Allison Janney and the Independent Spirit Award (44:43)
• What’s the film about? (46:57)
• How Miramax found the film (48:45)
• Mary Badham cameo – Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird  (52:18)
• Keith Carradine comes on board and writes a song with Nancy Griffith (55:42)
• The other musical number in the movie – shades of Pippin — by Bob Stillman (58:50)
• Shiny Shelbyville — shooting in the town and finding period cars (102:11)
• The new webseries with famous friends, Break a Hip (105:35)

I reached goal one in my weight loss quest (during Turkey month, no less).  Hopefully, more updates coming soon!  I’m shooting for the next 10 pounds.

Write me if you’re working to achieve one of your goals — OffOffWorld@gmail.com.

Billy Hayes on his bunk, Sagmacilar Prison, 1974

This is part 2 of my Billy Hayes interview, and as you’ll recall, he was the inspiration for the 1978 movie Midnight Express with Brad Davis.

Please look out for Billy’s new one-man theatrical show which recently previewed in Edinburgh called Riding the Midnight Express which talks about some of his real life experiences — live and straight from the source!

Also in this episode I play my “ghost recording” for you to help me determine if it’s electronic feedback or other worldly communication.

Topics covered in part two of the interview:

• Intro to show (00:00)
• A possible recording of a ghostly voice?  (01:17)
• Listener email and talking about Askwomen podcast  (04:29)
• Part two of Billy Hayes interview – prison sex (07:03)
• The worst part of prison, and yoga saves Billy (12:01)
• Billy gets into acting with Bill Hickey and Eric Morris (17:39)
• Billy approaches playwright Tennessee Williams in Key West (24:10)
• Friend Harvey still suffers in Turkish prison (29:01)
• The true story of girlfriend who comes to Turkey, author of “Dangling Without a Rope” (38:57)
• Wife Wendy West — “best thing that ever happened to me”  (41:51)
• Billy’s website info  (44:51)

Also… I mentioned that a high school kid emailed me about my 10-minute play Corybungus (my ode to Monty Python) being performed.  Here’s a link to that short play.  It’s an easy read if you feel like checking it out.  Please keep in mind that while it’s free to read, a royalty must be paid to perform it in front of an audience.

Now Billy’s got a new one-man show which recently previewed in Edinburgh called Riding  the Midnight Express which talks about some of his life experiences in greater detail.

Topics covered in the interview:

• My introduction, losing weight, “ghost” tape (0:00)
• Here’s Billy Hayes – his stage show (6:39)
• What did Billy aspire to after college… and the church (13:16)
• Surviving in prison and feeling invincible (19:44)
• Drug laws – “consensual crimes” (22:29)
• Thinking about escape and learning valuable lessons (30:09)
• Realities of Turkish prison – the smell of fear (33:31)
• How close some of the things in movie are to reality –  (40:20)
• Addressing accusations of racism in the movie (42:40)
• Oliver Stone reads early galley of the book (47:44)
• Why the real escape not in the movie and “crime of honor” (51:54)
• A little more about the prison island and 30 year sentence (55:35)
• Where the title came from – “Midnight Express” (59:56)

Billy’s got some stories!  Enjoy.

Also… I talk a little about my newest quest to lose weight.  Gonna post my weight when I started this new “regime” on the 7th of November (285 lbs), so I can’t get out of doing the work!  Will post my next goal of 275 as soon as I reach it.  Boy, Turkey Day set me back a bit.  I was almost there.

Forgot to take a pic in LA, but here’s a silly one of us from 2006 with my daughter’s stuffed bunny.

In a few weeks I’ll release Erik’s “official” actor/writer interview (including a great embarrassing story about a recent horrible audition), but we had such a nice long conversation for about 2 hours, and there were some bits where we went off the trail that were way too good to be scrapped …

…. thus Off Off Topic.

The segments include:

• Intro — spooky, did I record a ghost? (00:00)
• LA vs. NYC (09:10)
• The Frenchman’s naked breast scam (20:20)
• Canadians wrestle sarcasm (31:23)
• The horrors of a kid’s playground (41:06)

ALSO… stayed tuned at the very end of the episode (50:32) for a musical treat.  My buddy Sal Clemente who wrote the podcast theme song, “Here We Go Again,” has a band called Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra which is performing a concert version of the rock musical JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR this Friday, Saturday, Sunday (11/22, 11/23, 11/24)  in Arlington, MA at the Regent Theatre.  He gave me permission to include the awesome song “Gethsemane” from their recorded album of JCS on the podcast.  The performer singing Jesus is Chris Cote.  Go to their website to hear other selections including Sal singing Judas… or even better, buy the album or see the concert to hear everything.  Check ’em out!

She is also known for movies like  AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (Christmas, 2013), MILLION DOLLAR BABY, and DEAD MAN WALKING.

While temporarily rooming with Margo and being her assistant while she transitions into THE MILLERS, I ask what the day to day process is like for an actor working on a 4 camera sitcom and what the audition process was like.

The Margo section was taped on 10/30/13 in Los Angeles.

And after the interview I talk about the origins of Off Off Pod, my inspiration Marc Maron from WTFPod and a little about the my growing pride in the words “Off Off.”

The theme song “Here We Go Again” is written and performed by my buddy Sal Clemente.  Here’s his band — Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra.  Check ’em out!