Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast

Episode 231. A Hearty Bookfest

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:02:34 +0000

We made our second straight appearance at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, reading from Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete Guide for the Attention-Impaired (abridged), All The Great Books (abridged), Completely Hollywood (abridged), and The Complete World of Sports (abridged). Featuring crazy live laughter, ambient traffic noise, a special appearance from Ian Gomez (from Cougar [...]

Episode 230. Sassy Gay Friend

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 02 May 2011 22:53:53 +0000

The Sassy Gay Friend is an internet sensation, and creator/star/writer Brian Gallivan discusses his fabulous character’s surprising impact. Featuring literary and pop culture inspirations, how the SGF will come to your community, a special appearance by Man vs Food host Adam Richman, and how a simple little sketch idea can go viral. (MP3. Length 18:00)

Episode 229. Our Christmas Show

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:31:38 +0000

Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor announce the RSC’s eighth stage show (which premieres at Merrimack Repertory Theatre in November 2011) and discuss why the show was chosen and what will go into its creation. Featuring how much material from our Christmas CD will be re-gifted, how to walk that line between irreverent and heart-warming, and [...]

Episode 228. We’re Catching Up

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:34:09 +0000

Multi-hyphenate RSC Office Manager Alli Bostedt catches us up on how she manages to juggle her many duties while she’s on the road. Also, Dominic Conti catches us up on all the awards our friends’ web series The Best Friend won at LA WebFest. And we catch up with our many listeners who let us [...]

Episode 227. Sharing Lisa’s Story

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:58:55 +0000

Long-time RSC member Matthew Croke kept a journal during his wife Lisa’s battle with cancer while at the same time being pregnant with their third child. Now, Matt’s trying to publish his journal to share his experience with others. Matt returned to the RSC (briefly) to talk about how therapeutic the journal was, how helpful [...]

Episode 226. Going ‘Upstairs Downstairs’

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 18:30:12 +0000

Olivier Award-wining actor Adrian Scarborough returns to the RSC Podcast (hear his first appearance here) to talk about playing Pritchard the Butler in the new Upstairs Downstairs, which premieres in the U.S. this week on Masterpiece Theatre. Featuring a backstage glimpse at this highly-anticipated sequel, the differences between up and down, an appreciation of fellow [...]

Episode 225. Sophomoric, N’est-ce Pas?

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:43:19 +0000

On our drive across America’s heartland, we pass the time debating the highs and lows of high and low comedy. Featuring definitions of the word sophomoric; celebrations of satire; a special appearance by legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning sports photographer Stan Grossfeld; a sexy, sensual, and smooth station ID for Lush 99.5 FM in Singapore; and important [...]

Episode 224. Just ‘Showing Up’

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:42:00 +0000

Actor James Morrison talks about the movie he’s directed, an homage to the working-class actor called “Showing Up: A Conversation About The Actor’s Audition”. Featuring revelations about what actors go through, why actors are like baseball players (no, not because of the steroids), how actors can wield what power they have, a surprisingly spiritual detour, [...]

Episode 223. Live From Zaandam!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:16:26 +0000

Davey Naylor, Matt Rippy, Jeff Marlow, Tiger Reel, and Jan Duyn take time out of their busy touring schedule to reveal their day-to-day adventures on the road in Belgium and Holland. Featuring tales of Carnival, the ideal place for calling a show, an actual Dutch review read aloud in English through the magic of Google [...]

Episode 222. The Best Friend

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:09:14 +0000

Marilyn Anne Michaels and Allie Smith are the creators and stars of The Best Friend, a very funny web series (featuring in a small role our own Dominic Conti, who also co-wrote a few episodes). Allie and Marilyn reveal how they create the series and manage to talk so many fantastic creative collaborators into doing [...]

Episode 221. Ginger Stage Manager

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:07:08 +0000

European stage manager Davey Naylor shares his background, expertise, and adventures working with the RSC. Featuring lessons learned at Drama School, breakdowns of American and European sport, making a living on the Internet, massive and geeky dedication to fantasy sports websites, and fantastic insight into how to work for the RSC for a very long [...]

Episode 220.5. Special Oscar Edition

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:43:19 +0000

On this special extra episode, we predict this year’s tight Oscar race. Featuring a special appearance from National Public Radio movie critic Bob Mondello, and film analysis he’d be embarrassed to be associated with. (MP3. Length 9:33)

Episode 220. Genuine Shakespeare Nerds

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:37:14 +0000

What happens when real Shakespeare actors have to perform the (abridged) and [revised] Complete Works? Tiger Reel and Jeff Marlow explain the difficulties as they prepare for our tour of Belgium and Holland, and reveal the connection between Shakespeare and science-fiction, how this tour is a special homecoming, and preview a record-breaking excerpt from the [...]

Episode 219. Long Distance Dedication

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 02:36:41 +0000

For Valentine’s Day we send out long distance dedications to our listeners – and from our listeners. Featuring global statistics, favorite body parts, a special appearance from Lavinia Tan from Lush 99.5 in Singapore, emails from listeners, the smooth groovy sounds of guitarist Eric Essix, and exclusive news of foreign productions and tours. You heard [...]

Episode 218. City of Champions

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:28:18 +0000

Even though the Steelers didn’t win Super Bowl XLV, Pittsburgh is still a city of champions. Specifically, Quidditch champions. We talk to a couple of their players, and answer questions about improv, play development, and why we have to do so much gosh-darn running. (MP3. Length 17:52)

Episode 217. Keeping Austin Weird

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 23:50:52 +0000

What keeps Austin weird? (We’re talking about the city in Texas, of course, not the RSC actor.) Our first trip to the Texas state capitol allowed us to sample this great college town and discover it’s not only weird, its bats; make sweeping generalizations and obscure Ghostbuster references; perform spot-on accent work; hear a special [...]

Episode 216. Pittsburgh Public Theatre

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:54:48 +0000

A backstage look at one of our favorite artistic homes! Featuring interviews with Artistic Director Ted Pappas, Education Director/Playwright Rob Zellers, a tribute to the theater’s longevity, a diagnosis of what makes this great city tick, a focus on building a future, remembrances of two PPT premieres (Completely Hollywood (abridged) and Complete Millennium Musical (abridged)) [...]

Episode 215. Touring In January

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:32:59 +0000

It was a week right out of Planes, Trains, & Automobiles as we attempted to dodge winter storms. Reed Martin, Austin Tichenor, Matt Rippy, and stage manager Elaine Randolph regale us with tales of canceled flights and performances, lost luggage and personnel, impromptu trains, rescheduled hotels, and rerouted trunks. Featuring some impressive stats, great customer [...]

Episode 214. Big Year Ahead

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 05:01:19 +0000

Join us for a quick preview of our upcoming 2011 tour dates. Featuring expert advice on how to get the RSC booked in a venue near you, some unacceptably teasing hints, a special appearance by Christopher Rawson, the chairman of the American Theatre Critics Association, and horrible and unforgivable butchering of Dutch and Belgian names. [...]

Episode 213A. “Sports (abridged)” Promo

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 23:15:27 +0000

If you haven’t been lucky enough to see our seventh stage show, get your first glimpse at our favorite moments from The Complete World of Sports (abridged) in this promotional video we just put together. This video will be handed out to presenters attending the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) conference this weekend in [...]

Episode 213. Epic Two-Parter

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 19:53:15 +0000

The interview so long it took two years to complete! This week: the conclusion to last week’s conversation with Roy Conli, the producer of Tangled, Disney’s 50th animated feature. Featuring wisdom from the Nine Old Men, the value of seeing the windows to the soul, and the counter-intuitive notion that computer-generated animation can only go [...]

Episode 212. Disney’s ‘Tangled’ Rapunzel

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:01:30 +0000

Oh, what a tangled weave…Take a rare peak behind the scenes at the Walt Disney Studios as producer Roy Conli describes the creation of Disney’s 50th animated feature Tangled. Featuring advice on the attributes of a great producer, the use of wine imagery to describe the return of John Lasseter, the value of a theatrical [...]

Episode 211A. We Sing ‘Gay!’

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 23:36:33 +0000

In honor of the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”: Rare archival footage of Reed Martin, Dee Ryan, and Austin Tichenor singing ‘Gay!’ from the RSC’s original 1998 production of The Complete Millennium Musical (abridged) at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre. (Special thanks to Twitter follower @khedwar for the idea!) (m4v. Length 3:26)

Episode 211. Most Dangerous Christmas

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 21:56:08 +0000

Just in time for the holidays comes this weird new classic. From Twisted Christmas Live in Santa Rosa, California, Reed Martin reads David Templeton’s dark holiday tale The Most Dangerous Christmas. Featuring an excerpt from The Reduced Shakespeare Company Christmas and rain on the rooftop! (MP3. Length 18:58)

Episode 210. Upright Citizens Brigade

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:38:49 +0000

Matt Walsh is one of the founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade, and he explains how his little comedy group has become one of the largest and most respected improv schools in the US. Featuring deadpan comedy tips, how anarchic comedy translates to television, behind the scenes tips from the Bruno movie, a special [...]

Episode 209A. Our Asian Adventure

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 18:18:52 +0000

Our 2010 Hong Kong & Singapore trip was captured in a slide show put together by Liz Fitzpatrick, Alli Bostedt, and Jeff Marlow — and set to a mocking and celebratory song by RSC troubador Mick Orfe. Special thanks to our friends at ABA Productions (all of whom can be seen here) for taking such [...]

Episode 209. Broadway Play Publishing

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:17:53 +0000

Kip Gould, the founder and publisher of Broadway Play Publishing raves about the exciting and lucrative field of script publishing (Note: Engage sarcasm filter). Featuring the pros and cons of printed scripts vs. PDFs, the economics of script publishing, the ease of licensing, a special appearance by Robert Siegel from National Public Radio, and the [...]

Episode 208. Places We’ve Played

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:57:42 +0000

Of all the great venues we’ve performed in around the world, this list definitely includes some of them. Featuring reminiscences about some of the great venues we’ve played, memories of the not-so-great venues we’ve played, one way of maintaining sanity while on the road, and the joys of celebrating disaster. (MP3. Length 20:44)

Episode 207. Playing Through Pain

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 23:39:27 +0000

Professional actors, like professional athletes, don’t whine about the aches and pains they endure on the field of battle. Well, we’re not professional actors. Featuring a litany of injuries, a raft of remedies, a special appearance by a brand-new fan, a podcast correction, and the dangers of performing a show that isn’t strenuous enough. (MP3. [...]

Episode 206. Michael Faulkner’s Measure

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:28:09 +0000

Michael Faulkner returns to the RSC fold and regales us with tales of Measure For Measure at A Noise Within in Los Angeles, where he’s playing Elbow. Featuring the differences between acting and stage managing, between real Shakespeare and reduced Shakespeare, how to get Shakespeare up into fifth gear, and how auditions pay off even [...]

Episode 205. Castoffs & Misfits

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 04:12:55 +0000

A good ensemble can make a theatre production great and a World Series champion. Reed Martin celebrates the victory of his beloved San Francisco Giants as we compare long-shots, underdogs, dynasties, and never-wases. Featuring logical superstitions, bandwagon fans, some third-grade humor, emotional investment, and lifelong dreams fulfilled. (MP3. Length 20:07)

Episode 204. More Nerdy Geekery

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 01:49:07 +0000

AJ Mass is a distinguished sportswriter for the website of a well-known four-letter American Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, the name of which we’re not allowed to say. But he has also given literally minutes of thought and attention to such burning issues as who the Greatest Starship Captain was and the differences between nerds [...]

Episode 203. We Love Zombies

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 04:24:29 +0000

Matt Rippy is not only a fan and scholar of zombie movies, he starred in one! For this Halloween week special, we discuss our favorite zombie movies, what they represent, and why they’re different from rage-virus movies. Featuring appreciations of less-well-known zombie movies (Fido, Dead Snow), backstage glimpses from the sets of The X-Files and the [...]

Episode 202. Our Asian Invasion

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 03:43:36 +0000

Mick Orfe, Dominic Conti, and Jeff Marlow regale each other (and us) with tales of apprehension and excitement regarding their current tour of Hong Kong and Singapore. Featuring helpful advice, misplaced fears, audible eye-rolls, walking oxymorons, and our very first dueling celebrity blurb! (MP3. Length 18:09)

Episode 201. Endings Are Important

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 03:47:49 +0000

We’ve discussed our writing process before, but this week we talk about designing effective openings and killer endings. Featuring stumbles and fumbles, happy accidents, show construction, meticulous planning, adherence to form, template deviation, and impertinent comparisons to both Shakespeare and the Beatles. (MP3. Length 22:15)

Episode 200. Interviewing The Interviewer

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:10:50 +0000

The tables get turned in this week’s landmark episode! Reed Martin and Matt Rippy interview podcast host Austin Tichenor, who reveals the history, the mystery, the highlights, and the lowlights of our first 200 weeks of RSC podcasting. Featuring intimate connections, backstage geekery, a celebrity montage, and the reasons why we haven’t yet (and probably now won’t) [...]

Episode 199. A Real Sportscaster

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 15:45:30 +0000

After a recent performance, sportscaster and newsanchor Frank Mallicoat weighed in with reactions, tips, and professional opinion. Featuring revelations about what sportscasters are full of, the differences between sportscasting and news reporting, excerpts from The Complete World of Sports (abridged), hints about what Shaq will bring to the Boston Celtics, explosive details about what Larry [...]

Episode 198. Merrimack Repertory Theatre

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:12:25 +0000

“Small but excellent” is the rallying cry for Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, MA where we recently premiered The Complete World of Sports (abridged). Artistic Director Charles Towers and Executive Director Tom Parrish talk about the creative and business decisions that led MRT to retire significant debt, flourish creatively, and run in the black for [...]

Episode 197. ‘Sports’ Opening Night

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:46:03 +0000

The Complete World of Sports (abridged) had its official RSC premiere this weekend at Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, MA, so we kept the microphone on backstage, during our walk home, and at the cast party. Featuring tongue fumbles, theatrical tricks, mild nausea, and expert testimony as to how stage managing the RSC differs from [...]

Episode 196. At The Ballpark

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 03:13:29 +0000

It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame, so we finish rehearsal by heading off to watch the Lowell Spinners struggle against the Tri-City ValleyCats. Yes, it’s one minor league squad enjoying the other. Featuring fantastically bad play by play, an excerpt from The Complete World of Sports (abridged), a special appearance by local radio sports guy [...]

Episode 195. Jon Glaser’s ‘Delocated’!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:52:52 +0000

Second City and Late Night With Conan O’Brien alum Jon Glaser not only talks, he sings about his very funny show Delocated, part of Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network. Featuring lessons on the value of sticking to one’s guns, the brilliance of ski-masks to protect one’s privacy, and the dangers of beer-drinking while podcasting. (MP3. [...]

Episode 194. Moments Of Glory

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 04:28:58 +0000

We take a break from rehearsing The Complete World of Sports (abridged) to recall our various moments of sporting glory…and some moments of humiliation as well. Featuring last-minute victories, unexpected emotion, a special appearance from Modern Family‘s Eric Stonestreet, and a brief quote from Bill Cosby. (If you spot it, leave a comment!) (MP3. Length [...]

Episode 193. Reduced Rehearsal Barn

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 01:25:47 +0000

The actors in the RSC’s newest show The Complete World of Sports (abridged) – Matt Rippy, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor - take a break from rehearsing (in this magnificent structure) to discuss how the new show is shaping up so far. Featuring cautious optimism, fear and trepidations, shout-outs to our predecessors, an outbreak of [...]

Episode 192. Baseball With Benefits

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:50:15 +0000

The meaningless Sport vs. Game debate continues! Sportswriter and fantasy sports expert AJ Mass interviews us for his new book The Thrill of Vicarious Victory and shares with us his four categories of athletic competition. Featuring insight into how fantasy sports can make you a better person, previews of the sketches you’ll see in The Complete [...]

Episode 191. Folger Shakespeare Library

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:11:06 +0000

We touched a Folio…and we liked it! Join us for this rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of the largest collection of Shakespearean treasures in the world. Gail Paster, the Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library and Head of Reference Georgianna Ziegler take us on a guided tour and bust myths while showing off hundreds of years’ worth of [...]

Episode 190. Worst Jobs Ever

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:17:30 +0000

Waiter. Temp. Circus Clown. Assistant Factotum. We’ve all had to take survival jobs to feed our theatre habit, and this week we discuss the worst ones we’ve endured. Featuring tales of long hours, professional incompetence, disgruntled customers, personal humiliation, on-the-job embarrassment, and the tiny triumphs of finally leaving a job for which you’re totally unsuited. (MP3. [...]

Episode 189. Kennedy Center Tour

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:04:17 +0000

Our good friend Bill Matson, theatre manager of the Terrace Theatre, our home at the Kennedy Center whenever we perform there, gives us a behind-the-scenes backstage tour at this prestigious arts institution and national presidential memorial. Featuring the controversial bust of President John F. Kennedy, a special appearance by Neal Conan from National Public Radio, [...]

Episode 188. Reading The Reviews

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:10:37 +0000

We review the reviews from our run of Completely Hollywood (abridged) at the Kennedy Center. Featuring uninformed opinions (ours), raves, pans, how to survive the critical fraternity, and a special appearance by DC institution Arch Campbell. (MP3. Length 18:33)

Episode 187. Tony Tony Tony!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:22:47 +0000

Actor and Fight Captain Tom Schall reminisces about his Broadway debut in the ill-fated (is there any other kind?) 1988 production of the Scottish play starring Christopher Plummer and Glenda Jackson. Featuring the perils of switching directors in mid-stream, more examples of the so-called Scottish play “curse”, a special appearance by Michael Butler from Center Rep [...]

Episode 186. The Conti Beat

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:12:40 +0000

This week we dig that crazy Conti beat and go behind the scenes to deconstruct Dominic Conti‘s lengthy and show-stopping “dorkalogue” at the end of Completely Hollywood (abridged). Featuring the power and limitations of snorting as a character choice, the trust of an actor’s instinct, funky frank appearances by NPR‘s Korva Coleman, and proof that [...]

Episode 185. The TCG Conference

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 06:06:16 +0000

We visit the Theatre Communications Group annual conference in Chicago and chat with Paul Nicholson, Executive Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Cynthia Rider, Managing Director of the Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Featuring a reduced overview (an underview?) of the weekend, wonderful moments of inspiration, a special appearance by Carey Perloff, Artistic Director of [...]

Episode 184. Shakespeare Fun Facts

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 02:13:24 +0000

Facts both silly and true highlight our reduced knowledge of the immortal bard in this podcast inspired by a recent London Times article. Featuring audio footnotes; excerpts from our “Complete Guide to London (abridged)”, the Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show, and Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete Guide for the Attention-Impaired (abridged); special appearances by both Eleanor the Tour [...]

Episode 183. Game or Sport?

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:20:05 +0000

Is poker a sport? We ask veteran broadcaster Paul Harris, host of The Final Table Poker Radio Show, to share his expertise and insight. Featuring benchmarks and measurements, the dangers of time zone confusions, what defines a broadcaster, a special appearance by Vicki Lewis (Newsradio, Curb your Enthusiasm), and why you shouldn’t trust everything you see [...]

Episode 182. The Scottish Play

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 31 May 2010 19:57:17 +0000

Jennifer Lee Carell‘s new mystery Haunt Me Still (aka The Shakespeare Curse outside the US) deals with the legends surrounding the manuscript and supposed curse of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, or as it’s known euphemistically in the theatre world, “the Scottish Play”. Featuring the difference between knowledge and superstition, Shakespeare’s fascination with the dark side, possible [...]

Episode 181. Twitter’s New COO

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:52:59 +0000

Dick Costolo, the C.O.O. of Twitter, talks about his sordid past as an improv comedian in such shows as Modern Problems in Science, and answers all (one) of your tech support questions. Featuring scandalous fourth-grade revelations, dirty secrets about stand-up and computer science, the value of improv training in the business world, a special appearance by [...]

Episode 180. New Victory Tour

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 17 May 2010 21:20:44 +0000

Join us on a backstage tour of the New Victory Theatre in New York City, and go behind, below, and above the scenes. Featuring a rundown of the theater’s glorious and checkered history, mysterious tales of the “phantom of the New Victory”, some bodacious putti, and a special appearance by the cast of The Complete World [...]

Episode 179. Comedy That Offends

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:52:58 +0000

It’s another edition of “My Coffee With Reed and Austin,” who discuss the recent South Park controversy and the RSC’s stumbles into offensive territory. Featuring authentic cafe ambience, dressing room debates, excerpts from Western Civilization: The Complete Musical (abridged), feedback feedback, and the advantages of losing your hearing. (MP3. Length 21:21)

Episode 178. The Ballet Book

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 03 May 2010 20:00:46 +0000

Kay Tichenor (Austin’s mom!) talks about her 1976 book Ballet (Troubador Press/Price Stern Sloan) and how a casual family interest became an activity and reference book that’s still in print after thirty-five years. Featuring a reduced history of this ‘history of the dance’, advice for aspiring writers, the power of movement, and a special appearance [...]

Episode 177. Festival Of Books

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 23:51:39 +0000

LIVE! From the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, we read excerpts from Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete Guide For The Attention-Impaired (abridged), The Complete History of America (abridged), The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged), and All The Great Books (abridged). Featuring RSC bits as you’ve never heard them, a raucous crowd, a special appearance [...]

Episode 176. The DeVere Code

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:20:43 +0000

In his book The DeVere Code, actor Jonathan Bond explains the startling discovery he made that reveals Shakespeare’s sonnets were written by the 17th Earl of Oxford, Edward de Vere. Featuring impertinent pop-culture comparisons, Eureka moments, a special appearance by a genuine Nutter, and a first-hand account of what it’s like to perform on the [...]

Episode 175. Playwrights Who Direct

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:48:47 +0000

Austin Tichenor and Reed Martin are writing The Complete World of Sports (abridged), which the Reduced Shakespeare Company will premiere in September 2010. But they’re in rehearsals now, directing a non-RSC production in California. They talk about this unusual process, and about the wisdom of playwrights directing their own work. Featuring keen insights, mild inarticulation, [...]

Episode 174. Brushes With Greatness

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:17:11 +0000

Alash, poor Yorick! Alash, the Tuvan throat-singing ensemble, opened for us in Salina, Kansas, and it prompted memories of other greats we’ve brushed up against in the past. Featuring several varieties of greatness, ranging from Chachi to Python, a special nudge from Lou Reed, some fabulous RSC feedback, and the special warmth of Andie McDowell. [...]

Episode 173. Shades of Grey

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:54:51 +0000

A series of mini-reunions this week! New York Times bestselling novelist Jasper Fforde (the Thursday Next series, the Nursery Crime series) has written Shades of Grey and was good enough to chat about it. Then we reconnected with several RSC UK members, several of whom have gone on to much cooler gigs. Featuring horrible accents, [...]

Episode 172. Sister Mary Martha

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:21:52 +0000

Who exactly was St. Patrick? Sister Mary Martha explains it all for us. The author of the “Ask Sister Mary Martha” blog submits to a mild podcast inquisition, and explains not only the origins of St. Patrick but also how her blog is a sort of E-Harmony for patron saints. Featuring RSC Feedback and the [...]

Episode 171. Walking To Work

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:40:57 +0000

We walk to our performances at the New Victory Theatre in New York City along one of most famous thoroughfares in the world – Broadway. Featuring honking horns, massive crowds, steady drizzle, mistaken identities, reduced reviews, unexpected encounters, and huge delight at being at the center of the theatrical universe. Featuring RSC Feedback and a [...]

Episode 170. The Shorty Awards

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:50:09 +0000

We attended the 2010 Shorty Awards last week in New York City — and we won in the Cultural Institution category! We kept the microphone going backstage and at the after-party, and got to talk with Shorty Award co-creator Greg Galant; Janis Krums, the winner of the Real-Time Photo of the Year; Charlie Todd, founder [...]

Episode 169. Our Featured Creature

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:42:14 +0000

The star of Godzilla stops by today. No, not Matthew Broderick – Kurt Carley, the “suit performer” who makes his living playing atomically-radiated lizards, werewolves, and even man-eating plants. Featuring tips on how to succeed in show business (ie, don’t be a jerk; don’t be claustrophobic), a brush with Shakespearean greatness, a special appearance by [...]

Episode 168. Tiny Rebellious Acts

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:21:43 +0000

“Let’s face it, we’d all love to topple a government or stage a full-scale rebellion, but who’s got the time or energy these days? Never fear, Tiny Acts of Rebellion can help.” Thus begins the funny new book by Rich Fulcher of The Mighty Boosh, who reveals how – and most importantly why – his [...]

Episode 167. Festus Is Back!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:30:10 +0000

The old codgers from Hollywood mark the return of a beloved – but cut – character from our America show. Featuring other recycled characters from previous shows, further improvements to the first act of Hollywood, a frustrating tease about the Sports show, and information about the publication of the Hollywood script. (MP3. Length 18:43)

Episode 166. ‘Modern Family’ Miracle

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:10:02 +0000

Eric Stonestreet is the Emmy-winning star of the hit ABC and Sky-1 sitcom Modern Family, and he chats about the miracle of his casting as well as the miracle of just how good this show has been right out of the gate. Featuring lessons on how to embrace the perks of celebrity, how your life informs [...]

Episode 165. We Reduce ‘LOST’

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:03:08 +0000

A post-performance run-down of how the filming of Lost Reduced went and how it came to be. Featuring spoilers about special effects, the various entendres of “brands in hands“, special appearances from both Adrian Scarborough from Gavin and Stacey and Sophie Jones from Sky-TV, and how a hot and bright reduced writing and rehearsal process can [...]

Episode 164. Commute From Hell

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:36:05 +0000

Flying from California to Dallas shouldn’t be this fraught with excitement and adventure. But oy, was it fraught. Fraughter than we thought. An extra day’s rehearsal goes down the drain as we struggle and fail to avoid a weather system in Phoenix, the likes of which nobody’s ever seen before. Because it’s in Phoenix. Featuring [...]

Episode 163A. Most Important Discovery

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:42:56 +0000

Starting 2010 off right by keeping our New Year’s Resolution of more regularly-timed video podcasts! So this week: some old footage we found from the original production of The Complete Millennium Musical (abridged) (now known as Western Civilization! The Complete Musical (abridged)). This performance at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre features Reed Martin singing about mankind’s [...]

Episode 163. Waverly Place Wizard

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:26:55 +0000

OMG! Are you like, so into Wizards of Waverly Place on the Disney Channel? Neither are we, but our kids are. Peter Murrieta is the Executive Producer of the Emmy-winning children’s show, and talks about how he uses his improv and sketch-comedy training to create TV sitcoms, how he bucks the Disney mold by portraying [...]

Episode 162. Why We Tweet

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:06:50 +0000

We’ve been using the micro-blogging service Twitter for almost a year, and we’ve seen its use rise among other theatre companies. We compare notes with Mary Kathryn Durr, E-Commerce and Social Media Manager for the Blumenthal Center of the Performing Arts, and learn about viral marketing, creating connections, and the democratization of media. Featuring a [...]

Episode 161. Our New Website

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:21:15 +0000

Attention code monkeys: A new year means a new look at our new website! Webmaster Matt Rippy talks about the history of the RSC online presence, the spiffy new upgrades to the website, the differences between content management programs WordPress and Joomla, and some of our favorite bells and whistles. Now, about that Reduced Shakespeare Company [...]

Episode 160. Post-Show Discussion

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:00:16 +0000

A live Q&A at the Overture Center in Madison, Wisconsin, during which we reveal our favorite Shakespeare plays, touring information for 2010, when the script for Completely Hollywood (abridged) will be published, a very special blurb from some RSC pilgrims, answers to questions from our Twitter followers, and the shocking revelation that our favorite individual [...]

Episode 159. Our Holiday Traditions

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:30:06 +0000

From Madison, WI to Sonoma, CA, a special holiday podcast. Featuring expert opinions on proper terrain for house lighting, ancient pizza recipes, words of Wisconsin wisdom, Christmas tsotchkes from the holy land, a bold new experiment called present-giving, and some very helpful notes from an old friend. (MP3. Length 23:24)

Episode 158. 40 In 40

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:36:26 +0000

Old and new friends this week. Chris Judson talks about his blog 40PlaysIn40Days and his quest to see all of Shakespeare’s plays in a single summer. Plus RSC wardrobe mistress (and Madison resident) Jenni Schwaner explains why she left the RSC to tour with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Featuring the power of theatre, insights [...]

Episode 157A. We’re Snowed In

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:17:41 +0000

Snow day! We had to cancel two shows today so it seemed like a good opportunity to do a third Video Podcast. Austin Tichenor takes you on a tour of the snowy streets of Madison, Wisconsin. (M4V. Length 2:11)

Episode 157. Wisconsin Loves Us!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:57:08 +0000

Well, most of Wisconsin. We remember the many cities we’ve played in the Cheesehead state, and also talk to high school drama teacher Kate Schultz, whose principal forbade her from staging a production of All The Great Books (abridged). Featuring insight into what rural conservatives find shocking these days, tales of the Hodag, the sick [...]

Episode 156. Small Town Touring

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:00:50 +0000

We’ve been touring to more small towns than big cities recently so we decided to look at the differences. Featuring backstage chats about the glories of small town municipal workers, airport personnel, and motel amenities; plus our highly sophisticated and technologically advanced method for keeping track of where we’ve played. (Spoiler alert: It involves stickpins.) [...]

Episode 155. Big-Shot Broadway Producer

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:11:10 +0000

Tom Gabbard is not only the President of the North Carolina Blumenthal Center for the Performing Arts but he’s also involved with the Independent Presenters Network, a consortium of for-profit and not-for-profit presenters around the US that invests in the front-end of commercial projects that often play their respective venues. Featuring information on what a [...]

Episode 154. The Shakespeare App

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:03:48 +0000

Ron Severdia is the creator of the Shakespeare App, the free iPhone application that puts the complete works of William Shakespeare at your fingertips in a fun format complete with searchable database. Ron chats about the app’s origins and its future, what goes on under the hood, and what one does to turn a Shakespeare [...]

Episode 153. The Red Role

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:43:54 +0000

Romeo. Polonius. Feral Orwell. Spade Diamond. Abraham. Easter Bunny. Coach. The RSC characters created by Daniel Singer and Reed Martin are known as the Red Role (after the color of his tights for so many years), and cast member Mick Orfe talks about how he interprets this archetype across five RSC shows. Featuring hints on [...]

Episode 152. We’re Going Blu!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:24:38 +0000

We’re going blu! The Blumenthal Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, that is! But it prompts a discussion about the phrase “Family Friendly” and how (or whether) it applies to us. Featuring a wildly inaccurate review, an update on the script for The Complete World of Sports (abridged), an excerpt from the Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show [...]

Episode 151. Paul And Storm

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:08:31 +0000

The comedy music duo of Paul And Storm brings their brand of GeekRock(tm) to the RSC Podcast. Featuring excerpts from their enormous canon, the ticket-selling power of Twitter, talk about their roots in DaVinci’s Notebook, hints about the future of w00tstock, a special appearance by Wil Wheaton, and an actual (though reduced) nerdgasm. (MP3. Length [...]

Episode 150. All Podcasts Considered

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:29:00 +0000

A behind-the-mic look at our behind-the-scenes arts podcast. Featuring almost-three years of weekly reduction, highlights from the past and suggestions for the future, and an excellent new marketing slogan for Nazareth College in Rochester, New York. (MP3. Length 21:35)

Episode 149. The Clown Show

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:51:00 +0000

Reed Martin returns to his comedy roots with The Clown Show, which he’s written and directed for Napa Valley College. Featuring potential new bits for our upcoming Sports show, the glory of great student actors, and the important differences between talk-talk and do-do. (MP3. Length 18:47)

Episode 148. Reduced Sex Scenes

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:09:30 +0000

WARNING: Not suitable for any listener of any age. This episode contains graphic tales of acting jobs that required simulated sex, and features childish euphemisms and adolescent giddiness. Shocking — and mildly nauseating. (MP3. Length 22:14)

Episode 147. Favorite Great Performances

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:38:58 +0000

That other dead-husband’s-ghost-story that doesn’t star Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze. President Roslin live onstage. Anything by Robert Duvall. And why hasn’t this man ever won an Academy Award? Hear about the performances we love and why we love them. Featuring a special appearance by David Koechner, co-star of Kelsey Grammer’s new series Hank. (MP3. [...]

Episode 146. Tung Chung Line

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:06:38 +0000

We kept the microphone running while playing tourist in Hong Kong and riding the Tung Chung Line. Featuring RSC Travel Tips, a shout-out to the finest public transit system in the world, and backstage and onstage banter during an actual Hong Kong performance. (Mp3. Length 19:01)

Episode 145. Pasty White Giants

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:35:21 +0000

Dressing room chatter this week about our first week of Hong Kong adventures. Featuring Mick Orfe’s dream woman, Matt Rippy’s nightmare injuries, Austin Tichenor’s mysterious allure to the ladies of Wan Chai, a shout-out to Willy’s Wily Wenches, and an interview (plus outtakes!) with Ellie Davis of RTHK Radio 3. See you out on the [...]

Episode 144. RSC In “Jeopardy!”

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:16:11 +0000

Emmy Award-winning writer Andrew Price talks about creating the Reduced Shakespeare Company category and writing questions for the game show Jeopardy! Featuring insight into how the global phenomenon game show is written, tips on how to beat the buzzer, and how you can get a part in Andrew’s new movie. (Spoiler alert: Bring your wallet.) [...]

Episode 143. Actors Paying Bills

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:48:59 +0000

RSC actor Mick Orfe reveals how, even in this troubled global economy, he’s managed to pay his bills and retire some debt. Relax – no bizarre economic theories or pitches for Amway products. Just tales of part-time jobs, hard work, and other ways actors supplement the exchequer. Featuring a special appearance by James Beaman from [...]

Episode 142. Love The Research

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:18:49 +0000

Deep in the depths of writing new shows leaves us deep in the depths of researching, too. Featuring details on how The Complete World of Sports (abridged) is progressing, appearances by the most famous celebrity blurbers EVER, and highlights of sports-themed podcast episode #47, Play By Play. (SPOILER ALERT: Mostly we love researching because it [...]

Episode 141. Work On Holiday

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:32:37 +0000

It’s summer vacation, yet podcast we must! What’s it like to work while everybody else is on holiday? Tales of on-the-road Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year’s, St. Patricks’ and Independence Day celebrations. Featuring a special appearance by Carol Smith from Class 95 in Singapore and an exclusive excerpt from the new musical Mercy Madonna of Malawi. [...]

Episode 140. Chris Farley Show

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:18:14 +0000

Second City and TV/film veteran Pat Finn talks about his friendship with late comedian Chris Farley, whose talent, heart, and (unfortunately) demons were all equally huge. Featuring comedian origin stories from the recent book The Chris Farley Show, Chris’s secret charity work, what he did on his very first episode of Saturday Night Live, and [...]

Episode 139. What’s Really Changed

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:27:16 +0000

This week we discuss what it’s like to perform the revisions to The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged). Featuring cast changes, Singapore changes, and a special appearance by RSC founding member Jess Winfield, author of My Name Is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare. (MP3. Length 20:03)

Episode 138. Board, Not Bored

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:08:13 +0000

The Lamplighters is San Francisco’s oldest musical theatre company, and arguably America’s finest purveyors of Gilbert & Sullivan. Lamplighters’ board president Jim MacIlvaine talks about the role of a theater’s board of directors, the value of G&S, and why old poops are a valuable commodity. Featuring excerpts from several Lamplighters productions, including their G&S-Shakespeare mash-up [...]

Episode 137. Slinging Singapore Memories

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:56:07 +0000

What we don’t know about Singapore would fill volumes, but at least we have our memories. Featuring tales of our previous visits, eager anticipation of our upcoming trip, and cultural ignorance on a massive scale. (MP3. Length 19:21)

Episode 136. Balls And Strikes

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:15:56 +0000

As Major League Baseball heads into its All-Star Break, Reed Martin reminisces with Tom Knego and Terry Prescott about their days as minor-league umpires and graduates of the Bill Kinnamon Umpire School. Featuring good calls, bad calls, the secrets to minor-league success, and how dodging bullets and tobacco juice can be important life lessons. Play [...]

Episode 135. Acting Like Actors

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:23:09 +0000

His name might not be familiar, but Bjørn Johnson is a recognizable face (at least to American TV-commercial-watchers plus fans of Mad Men), and he discusses his evolution as an actor, director, fight choreographer, and acting coach. Featuring advice for actors, where you can see RSC actors this summer, and a special appearance from Matt [...]

Episode 134. Our Writing Process

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:07:27 +0000

Be a fly on the wall (albeit one with a very bad online connection) as Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor discuss how the writing of The Complete World of Sports (abridged) is going. Featuring insights on our writing rituals, what our preliminary lists consist of, excerpts from The Complete Millennium Musical (abridged) and The Reduced [...]

Episode 133. ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:17:51 +0000

‘Weird Al’ Yankovic squanders his celebrity this week by reflecting on his art, craft, influences, aspirations, and beauty tips. Featuring awesome practical advice (where to record for that cool ambience, how to avoid drive-by shootings), inspirational life lessons (sometimes accordion lessons can lead to greatness), and a special appearance by Ron Bottitta from Lost, it’s [...]

Episode 132. New Stage Show

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:25:55 +0000

In this week’s EXCLUSIVE announcement, Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor reveal the title of the next RSC Stage Show. Featuring what criteria were considered in making the decision, when it’s likely to appear at a theater near you, the bits that will absolutely without-a-doubt 100% guaranteed be in the final production, and a special appearance [...]

Episode 131. In The News

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:05:24 +0000

Sometimes we beat the news cycle, sometimes the news cycle beats us. This week we reduce the career of Prime Minister Gordon Brown (as heard on BBC Radio 5′s Gabby Logan Show), hear about Muslim contributions to world culture, and hear excerpts from our TBS pilot The Week Reduced. Plus, an extra special appearance by [...]

Episode 130. Teachers We Love

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:15:10 +0000

As Van Halen put it so eloquently, we’re hot for teachers. This week we remember the ones who influenced us the most. Featuring excerpts from the Alan Harvey Memorial Concert, a special appearance by Paul And Storm, and how to accurately measure a teacher’s greatness. (MP3. Length 20:54)

Episode 129. Three Day Weekend

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:41:36 +0000

Memorial Day Weekend in the U.S. prompts memories and tributes to fallen warriors of a (sometimes) non-military kind. Featuring suggestions for our new stage show, excerpts from The Complete Millennium Musical (abridged), and a catty exchange between two RSC fans. Rowr! (MP3. Length 18:01)

Episode 128. Business Of Show

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 18 May 2009 05:48:29 +0000

Jews In Space, plus other Star Trek influences and the economics of touring are laid out in numbing detail in this week’s podcast. Featuring an excerpt from our essay on the MP Expense scandal which aired on The Today Programme on BBC Radio 4, fan suggestions for our new stage show, and a special appearance [...]

Episode 127. Mum’s The Word

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 11 May 2009 02:09:58 +0000

Dee Ryan (the Reduced Shakespeare Company’s answer to Sarah Vowell) deescribes her adventures being a soccer referee, and literally brings new meaning to the term “soccer mom”. Featuring an appearance by Scrubs star Donald Faison, whose new movie Next Day Air opens this week, and a very special Mother’s Day tribute and performance by the [...]

Episode 126. Audiences Talk Back

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:37:25 +0000

We interact with fans and audience members during post-show talkbacks in both Springfield, Illinois and San Diego, California. Featuring info about whether we dumb down our material (as if that were possible), whether we’ve ever adopted an audience member, two great RSC Voice Mails and a major milestone in our ongoing quest to autograph body [...]

Episode 125. Fighting Stage Fright

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:53:46 +0000

A fan question prompts this analysis of RSC stage fright, and what we do when we get it. Featuring true confessions from five RSC actors and one stage manager, the difference between performance anxiety and audition anxiety, a special appearance by Robin Pressman of KRCB-Sonoma County (CA) Public Radio, and proof why years of professional [...]

Episode 124. Sam Woodhouse Speaks

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:15:39 +0000

Sam Woodhouse - co-founder and producing artistic director of the San Diego REPertory Theatre – talks about his theater’s history, how he programs a diverse and progressive slate, and how the RSC manages to not undo all the good work he’s done there for over 30 years. Featuring a special appearance by Maureen Cavanaugh of [...]

Episode 123. San Diego Bound

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:17:13 +0000

We head back to the San Diego REPertory Theatre this week for a two-weekend run of The Complete History of America (abridged), and we reminisce about our vast San Diego past. Including tales of natural disasters (not all of them created by us) and a special appearance by Stephen Klein, President of the Kentucky Center [...]

Episode 122. Meet The Press

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:19:04 +0000

Pat Launer of the San Diego News Network interviews us about our upcoming run at the San Diego REPertory Theatre, and has graciously allowed the highlights to be podcast. Featuring a special appearance by Deb Hiett, co-star and co-director of A Bit of Counseling, available for viewing at FunnyOrDie.com. Cave of meat! (MP3. Length 19:11)

Episode 121A. Some Louisville Sluggers

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:58:30 +0000

Just in time for Major League Baseball‘s Opening Day comes our second Video Podcast. Reed Martin takes us on a tour of the Louisville Slugger Factory, and reveals the answers to such great mysteries as “Who was Dr. Dot Randolph?” and “What is a Babe Ruth?” Apparently size does matter… (MP4. Length 3:44)

Episode 121. Places We’ve Stayed

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:56:30 +0000

Sometimes they’re great, sometimes they ain’t. Memories this week of the best and worst places we’ve ever stayed, including the horrors of leftover nachos, the limits of what lilac-scented Fabreze will and will not cover up, and what exactly constitutes a “Casa De Awesome”. Featuring a special appearance by Rich Fulcher of The Mighty Boosh. [...]

Episode 120. White House Insider

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:03:35 +0000

Mike Burton, former special assistant to the Chief of Staff of Vice-President Al Gore, explains how a lowly position as coffee boy led him to working in the Clinton White House. Featuring special appearances by Amanda Painting at Ceredigion FM in Wales and Madeleine Brand from National Public Radio (um, in America)! (MP3. Length 18:13)

Episode 119. The Mighty Regis

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:38:42 +0000

Franky McNorman, lead singer of Ireland’s most famous Irish punk band The Mighty Regis, talks about the band’s history and influences on this special St. Patrick’s Day podcast. Featuring excerpts from their latest CD Another Nickel For The Pope (which you can buy at CD Baby or at iTunes), the location of “the CBGB’s of [...]

Episode 118. Sound And Fury

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:22:19 +0000

Zach Moore designs sound for real theater companies – and for us. Featuring expert advice about different sound programs, info about Zach’s band Hero Destroyed and their new video, and feedback from RSC fans about Podcast #110 – Mac v. PC. Need final proof? Figure out the anagram for “laptop machines”. Case closed. (MP3. Length [...]

Episode 117. Educate Motivate Inspire

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:34:43 +0000

Doesn’t sound like us, does it? No, it’s the motto of Envision-EMI, the producer of the Presidential Youth Leadership Conference we performed at in January. Featuring what exactly we look for in future leaders, what future leaders like most in an RSC show, and how we inspire future leaders… to not end up like us. [...]

Episode 116. Hiding in Berlin

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:13:00 +0000

RSC actor turned big-shot movie producer John Schwab talks about the journey he took from London’s Criterion Theatre to the Berlin Film Festival. Featuring the story of The Hide, and tips on How To Get Started, How To Exploit Your Friends, and How To Take Experience And Passion In One Field and Transplant It To [...]

Episode 115. We Get Micknames

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:34:57 +0000

RSC actor Mick Orfe reveals the scientific process he uses to give us all the perfect nicknames. Featuring the world’s worst Sammy Davis Jr impressions, the toughest of all dairy cows, and the true identity of Noggin revealed. (MP3. Length 18:50)

Episode 114. Reduced Valentine’s Day

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:42:10 +0000

Things We Love this week — a story of the RSC and Young Love in Ireland; the television premiere of a feature film produced by RSC alumni John Schwab and Tim Beckman; and Dee Ryan returns to the Pittsburgh Public Theater with her one-woman show DeeConstruction. Happy VD! (MP3. Length 20:01)

Episode 113C. Magical History Tour

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:56:28 +0000

Our first Video Podcast details our recent tour from the battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania down to Washington, DC – just in time to witness the historic Inauguration of President Barack Obama. Featuring historical insight, behind the scenes secrets, shaky camera work, and secrets to winning the Civil War. Roll up! (M4V. Length 5:36)

Episode 113B. Comix & Comics

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:49:55 +0000

Sophomoric, yes, but comic-bookish? Tim Young, host of the Deconstructing Comics Podcast, and Austin Tichenor discuss the influence of comic book characters and the comic strip form on theater generally and RSC shows in particular. Featuring insight into punchline delivery, a special appearance by Jimmy Neutron, and the perfect idea for the next great comic [...]

Episode 113A. Reduced Temporary Podcast

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:17:59 +0000

Technical difficulties in California necessitate this extremely reduced and hopefully temporary podcast, which merely explains why it’s reduced and temporary. Not one for the archives but enjoy if you can. It won’t take long. (MP3. Length 2:36)

Episode 112. Happy New President!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:08:17 +0000

Our return to Washington DC this week coincides with the inauguration of America’s 44th President, and sparks memories of previous trips to our nation’s capital. Featuring brushes with DC greatness, important White House secrets, how we’re jumping through dozens of security hoops, and the revelation of exactly how we roll. Yes we did! (MP3. Length [...]

Episode 111. Fall Tour Stories

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:25:51 +0000

As we start the Winter-Spring 2009 World Tour, we bring you road-trip stories from last fall 2008. Featuring passionate pie patter, terrible tales of technical trauma, a special appearance by Niamh Crowley of the West Ocean String Quartet, and a very special deal for U.S. podcast listeners from DVDPlayground.com. Listen for details. (MP3. Length 18:06)

Episode 110. Mac v. PC

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:31:41 +0000

Another Reduced debate which settles nothing! Matt Rippy (PC) and Michael Faulkner (Mac) hold forth on the relative merits of the different computers and operating systems. Featuring disturbing percentages, insightful Hasbro-Mattel analogies, and a startling covetous epiphany! Would you rather drive a Jaguar or a Yugo? Up to you….(MP3. Length 20:39)

Episode 109. Why We Act

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:49:36 +0000

A listener’s question inspires this year-end reflection: Why do we do what we do? Reduced members muse over reasons they answered the call and chose “the biz”: was it the gratification, the glory, or the girls? We discover that a geology degree is a very useful thing when stage managing the RSC! Plus, a special [...]

Episode 108. Crumbs At Midnight

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:30:31 +0000

A lovely holiday ritual from a slightly different angle. Reed Martin reads Crumbs at Midnight by David Templeton as part of Twisted Christmas Live. Featuring some tough cookies, pastry wisdom, and a special appearance by Sister Mary Martha, who answers all your questions at her Ask Sister Mary Martha Blog. Oh ye of little faith! [...]

Episode 107. Charles Dickens Unplugged

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:13:19 +0000

It’s the most wonderful Dickens time of the year! Founding RSC member Adam Long talks about his Charles Dickens musical Dickens Unplugged, and we showcase all RSC things Dickens. Featuring excerpts from Dickens Unplugged, All The Great Books (abridged), The Reduced Shakespeare Company Christmas, as well as special background info on the making of Star [...]

Episode 106. Meet The Troubies!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:40:29 +0000

The Troubador Theater Company combines clowning, Shakespeare, and rock & roll in productions like As U2 You Like It, Much Adoobie Brothers About Nothing, Fleetwood Macbeth, and Hamlet – The Artist Formerly Known As Prince of Denmark. Artistic Director Matt Walker and Producing Director Beth Kennedy discuss the method to their madness, how they got [...]

Episode 105. Matt Rippy: Crimestopper

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:48:55 +0000

RSC Webmaster/Actor/Director by day, crime-fighter by….alternate days? Matt Rippy tells a tale of troubled youth and the knightly warrior who changes the course of two young lives. (Unless, he doesn’t.) Featuring the power of an active citizenry, the transformative nature of theatre, very dramatic music, and a special appearance by Joel Murray, who plays the [...]

Episode 104. Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:08:24 +0000

The RSC is strapping on the tights again for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) — and this time it’s revised. Authors Jess Winfield and Daniel Singer talk about what prompted them to update the script, what references they wanted to update, and – thankfully for us – how they managed to make the [...]

Episode 103. The Mighty Boosh

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:50:56 +0000

Rich Fulcher, the lone Yank in the UK comedy troupe The Mighty Boosh (he plays zoo manager Bob Fossil), talks about what brought him to the UK and how he climbed the UK comedy ladder. Featuring revelations about his Reduced Shakespeare Company past, memories of his improvised university lecture Modern Problems in Science, a special appearance [...]

Episode 102. Soothing Epsom Assaults

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:58:29 +0000

We return this week to the Epsom Playhouse in England and remember the time a simple post-show game of Jenga almost caused an international incident. Featuring blatant jingoism, latent jengaism, a special appearance from UK media superstar Lauren Laverne, and a report on the RSC’s sponsorship of the UK charity ok2b. (MP3. Length 18:07)

Episode 101. Clown College Reunion

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:57:01 +0000

Since it’s election week in America, let’s talk to clowns! RSC actors Reed Martin and Matt Croke, veteran clowns and alumni of Ringling Brothers Clown College, attend the school’s 40th reunion and catch up on old gags. Featuring lessons learned, what to do if they’re laughing at you not with you, the dangers of tiger [...]

Episode 100. First Hundred Weeks

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:33:04 +0000

Backstage drama. Touring trauma. Audition advice. Authorial insights. You, the RSC Podcast listeners, choose your favorite moments from our first hundred weeks, including lobby catastrophes, airplane turbulence, mid-show earthquakes, heated cultural debates, quests for lame jokes, and best of all — children swearing! (MP3. Length 22:13)

Episode 99. Book Group Expo

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:24:20 +0000

Excerpts from The Ghostlight Forum – a lively discussion about literature with Susanne Pari (author and program director of Book Group Expo), Kirsten Brandt (Associate Artistic Director of San Jose Rep) and our very own Austin Tichenor. They discuss All The Great Books, fear of classics, the joys of malapropisms, book scrums and more. (MP3. [...]

Episode 98. Michael Faulkner Reporting

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:21:03 +0000

RSC actor Michael Faulkner hijacks this week’s podcast and reports live from Richmond, Virginia and Jennerstown, Pennsylvania. Michael presents an ode to the wonders of saliva, tales of our crazy opening at the Mountain Playhouse, RSC TV career updates, one reason we get booked in red states, special appearances by day-saver Kiff Vanden Heuvel and [...]

Episode 97. Dances With Films

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:51:55 +0000

RSC actor Jerry Kernion discusses his short film Speed Relationshipping, which won the Dances With Films 2-Minute 2-Step Short Film Challenge and is now a finalist in the Absolut® World Filmmaking Challenge. Jerry shares his process, how he finagles his friends to help him, and his favorite English ska band. SPECIAL BONUS FEATURE: The RSC [...]

Episode 96. My Name’s Will

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:59:02 +0000

Founding RSC member Jess Winfield discusses his first novel My Name Is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare, and why politics, artistic growth, and the occasional naughty word fuel his recent work. Featuring RenFaire and RSC memories, hints about a possible sequel, a desperate cry for minions, and special appearances by both Janice [...]

Episode 95. Reduced Rehearsal Process

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:05:41 +0000

Every RSC actor has to do it: learn our shows in a ridiculously short amount of time AND submit to a podcast interview. Jeff Marlow tours America this fall in The Complete History of America (abridged) and talks about the differences between our rehearsal process and that of a REAL theater company, what it’s like [...]

Episode 94. Special Election Edition

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:01:53 +0000

The US Presidential Election is just around the corner, so the Special Election Edition of The Complete History of America (abridged) is off around the country. During a lunch break in rehearsal we discuss just how political we are — and aren’t. Featuring lame political insights, extremist viewpoints regarding the nation’s pending pie crisis, and [...]

Episode 93. Full English Breakfast

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:00:35 +0000

LIVE! From Dressing Room 3 at the Stratford Circus, the UK cast of The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) reports on the first weekend of performances. Featuring director Matt Rippy, authors Adam Long, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor, speechless actors, the glories of Sanskrit comedy, the nature of art and advice on how [...]

Episode 92. UK Bible Boys

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:02:17 +0000

Meet Jack Bennett, Simon Cole, and William Meredith — along with John Kielty, they’re the newest members of the Reduced Shakespeare Company and will perform The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) in fifty-three UK cities this fall. Find out their backgrounds and hear tales of drama dorks, Matt Rippy‘s unorthodox audition techniques, fantastically [...]

Episode 91. The Shakespeare Secret

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:02:44 +0000

A new Shakespeare thriller! Published in America as Interred With Their Bones, and around the world as The Shakespeare Secret, Jennifer Lee Carrell‘s new book is a page-turning treasure hunt adventure about one woman’s global search for a lost Shakespeare manuscript. The author herself talks about her luck as a first-time novelist, what it’s like [...]

Episode 90. The RSC Founder

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:10:28 +0000

Finally! After almost two years of podcasting, Reduced Shakespeare Company founder Daniel Singer talks about the company’s early days and the development of the The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged). Featuring true stories about how the company went from four performers to three, analysis of Shakespeare’s juvenile early work, how Romeo & Juliet almost didn’t [...]

Episode 89. Our Lisa Moments

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:15:32 +0000

Our beloved Lisa Croke, wife of Matthew, mother of Haley, Kelly, and Molly, lost her three-year battle with cancer on July 23, 2008. We’ve spent the last several weeks sharing our Lisa moments and this week Matt shares his. Donations in Lisa’s memory can be made to Gilda’s Club or Lisa’s Hope. (MP3. Length 21:22)

Episode 88. The Firesign Theatre

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:55:11 +0000

The Reduced Shakespeare Company has many influences — Bugs Bunny, the Marx Brothers, the Goons, Monty Python — but only the Firesign Theatre has living members willing to acknowledge us. Phil Proctor of the Firesign Theatre chats about his influences, LA in the 60s, the line between surrealism and documentary, and reveals the method to [...]

Episode 87. Walking The Line

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:05:07 +0000

The Long Run: How do actors keep it interesting? How do they walk the line of doing the show as rehearsed and keeping it fresh and alive night after night? That’s what we discussed one night in the dressing room before and during a recent performance. Featuring listener questions, more fascinating Friday Night Lights feedback, [...]

Episode 86. Meet Matt Rippy

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:16:00 +0000

Matt Rippy – RSC webmaster, director of our upcoming UK tour of The Bible (abridged), and featured actor on Torchwood and The Dark Knight – finally sits down for an in-depth interview. Featuring kissing tips from one gay icon to another, what it’s like to be an American actor in London, the joys of DVD [...]

Episode 85. A Theatre Company

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:39:51 +0000

Are we a comedy troupe? A rock band? A floor wax? A dessert topping? We try to define once and for all What We Are, and examine the various places we find our actors, reveal once and for all whether our audience “volunteers” are plants, outline the advantages of actors who know themselves, and discover [...]

Episode 84. Opening Night Crowds

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:42:34 +0000

The classic opening night audience is dissected and examined, and several actual audience members are pinned to the wall and forced to speak. Featuring sweeping generalizations, very strong if completely uninformed opinions, feedback from podcast listeners, and a classic theatre story! Plus, a special guest appearance from Peter Overby from NPR News, and a lovely [...]

Episode 83. Notes For Dustin

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:43:41 +0000

Poor Dustin Sullivan. After performing All The Great Books (abridged) in St. Louis, Ireland, and Ithaca (New York), he’s now performing in San Jose, California with the script’s two authors as his co-stars. Featuring insight into a reduced rehearsal process, the difference between acting and vaudeville, Dustin’s role-winning joke, and a special appearance by National [...]

Episode 82. Meet Bob Mondello

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:36:18 +0000

A fun chat with Bob Mondello, film critic for National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, who makes a powerful case that critics are people too. Listen as he reveals trade secrets, shares his favorite reviews, divulges the difference between criticism and reviewing, uncovers even more words you can’t say on the radio, and explains why [...]

Episode 81. Great Books (abridged)

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:25:42 +0000

Co-authors Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor reveal the birth pangs (and leg pains) of the RSC’s fifth stage show All The Great Books (abridged). Featuring excerpts from live performances, adaptation tips, performance advice, semi-obscure Curt Schilling references, a special and scornful appearance from Scott Simon of National Public Radio, and the worldwide debut of Reed [...]

Episode 80. Friday Night Lights

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:59:56 +0000

No, this week’s podcast is not about the critically-acclaimed but low-rated NBC show about high-school football in a small Texas town. We talk about the odd scientific phenomenon of a large Friday night audience not responding as loudly as its numbers might suggest. Plus, an examination of the obverse principal: the great Tuesday Night Light [...]

Episode 79. We’re Always On

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:49:21 +0000

Is it always a laugh a minute with RSC members offstage? Not hardly, yet many people are surprised to discover comedians aren’t always as energetic offstage as they are on. Featuring the perils and pitfalls of being constantly ‘on’, the difference between choosing to perform and chasing demons, some tiny glimpses at the RSC’s fall [...]

Episode 78. Phil Abrams Now

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:13:11 +0000

Number One RSC actor Phil Abrams has written The Autistic Spectrum Parents’ Daily Helper: A Workbook for You and Your Child and shares his experiences of working with autistic children. Featuring stories of performing The Bible (abridged) in the Holy Land, being trapped in Paradise, and using actor training — and laughter — to open [...]

Episode 77. Three Word Stories

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:36:48 +0000

The “Three Word Story” is RSC fan fiction written by committee — three words at a time — at the Reduced Shakespeare Company Forum, where audience participation rises to a whole new level. Featuring an extended tour around our website, zippy new theme music by Jon Weber, some YouTube greatness, and contributions from literally dozens [...]

Episode 76. Nerd vs. Geek

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:47:31 +0000

Shakespeare nerds. Drama geeks. We’ve been called worse, but to help us understand the difference we rely on guest expertise from Dave and Barbara Shepherd, 120/240ths of The Word Nerds. Featuring much splitting of linguistic hairs, a special appearance by Nina Totenberg from National Public Radio, and the important distinction between fantasy baseball leagues and [...]

Episode 75. Happy Mother’s Day!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:33:19 +0000

A reduced celebration of all things maternal! We talk to some real RSC Moms and learn about the joys of waxing, the benefits of talking to people, the difficulty of scheduling your day around your kids, and some disturbing examples of Hamlet’s Oedipal complex. Featuring an excerpt from The Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show and Dee [...]

Episode 74. Meet Adrian Scarborough

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:40:25 +0000

English character actor Adrian Scarborough talks about working at London’s National Theatre and in UK films with fantastic actors like Michael Gambon, John Wood, Imelda Staunton, and terrific directors like Mike Leigh and Nicholas Hytner. Hear insights into making the movie Vera Drake, learn a whole new meaning to the expression “working with your hands”, [...]

Episode 73. Mick and Jerry

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:25:50 +0000

Mick Orfe and Jerry Kernion — old friends and RSC actors who share the same roles — overlapped recently in DC and caught up on old times. Featuring conflicting stories on how they met, the value of RenFaire training, unnecessary digs at innocent bystander Brent Tubbs, and special appearances by both Robert Siegel of National [...]

Episode 72. The Authorship Question

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:11:45 +0000

Don’t know your Bacons from your Marlowes, your deVeres from your Rutlands? Fear not. As William Shakespeare turns the big 4-4-4, we review the candidates some people consider the actual authors of Shakespeare’s plays. Featuring scandalous scholarship, an excerpt from Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete Guide for the Attention-Impaired (abridged), and an answer to the RSC’s [...]

Episode 71. Love From Europe

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:12:57 +0000

The Dutch, the French, and the Germans love the RSC! Brent Tubbs tells stories from his ten week tour of Belgium and Holland, and offers insights about corpsing and the intimidation factor of working with Noah Brody. Featuring a German voice message, French feedback, a special appearance by Carey Perloff, Artistic Director of the American [...]

Episode 70. More From London

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:54:58 +0000

LIVE! from the Captain’s Cabin pub in London: a conversation with former RSC stage manager Davey Naylor. Featuring the pitfalls of the Internet, a glorification of the Facebook Group I Worked With the Reduced Shakespeare Company!, a distinct cry for help, and fascinating technical details about how we record our podcasts. Mind the gap! (MP3. [...]

Episode 69. Backstage in DC

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:56:09 +0000

Join us as we wander backstage at Washington DC’s Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Lansburgh Theatre. Stroll down the Hallway of Fame! Marvel at the stars! Gaze befuddled at the Elvis Shrine! Wonder how the hell you really pronounce Ted van Griethuysen! Listen enrapt to stories of the other RSC! Shake your head sympathetically as we slowly [...]

Episode 68. The Alaska Story

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:36:20 +0000

This week’s Alaska trip prompts recollections of a series of unfortunate (but fantastic) RSC events which took place in our 49th State. Featuring memories both fond and horrific, things not to say to an Alaskan woman during the winter, favorable comparisons to other comedians, and a special appearance by Matt Walsh from the Upright Citizens [...]

Episode 67. Plane Ol’ Podcast

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:47:24 +0000

LIVE! from Virgin Atlantic Flight #8….and from a UK Taxi….and from various cafes and pubs all over London. Reed and Austin discuss the various business hoops one has to jump through in order to set up a tour of Great Britain. Featuring detours to Holland, a reduced Oscar post-mortem, some big news about an award [...]

Episode 66. Kirk or Picard

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:46:24 +0000

This age-old philosophical question is analyzed in irredeemably geeky and undeniably nerdy depth by the RSC’s resident Trekkies. Featuring startling insights why Star Trek is like Shakespeare, an excerpt from our Paul Harris interview at KMOX, and special guest appearances from actual Star Trek story editors and Borg fighters. Embrace the cheese! (MP3. Length 19:29)

Episode 65. At The Movies II

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:24:16 +0000

It’s a sequel! Our 2nd annual Oscar® Podcast, featuring startling insights from two RSC actors who’ve been too busy to see many of the nominated films, and a special and embarrassed appearance by NPR’s film critic Bob Mondello. Hello, gorgeous! (MP3. Length 21:57)

Episode 64. MySpace vs. Facebook

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:32:28 +0000

Useful tools or annoying time-wasters? (Or both!) The ins and outs and pros and cons of both MySpace and Facebook, and the RSC’s place in (and out) of them. Featuring the expertise of RSC MySpace Mistress Khushi Bhatia, a Dane Cook Cautionary Tale, and some fantastic ideas for the future. An RSC Sweater Calendar? The [...]

Episode 63. Reduced Dating Service

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:14:31 +0000

Happy Valentine’s Day! Tales of love and romance from RSC fans and – possibly – between RSC fans! Featuring listener email and voice messages, excerpts from the Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show and The Complete Millennium Musical (abridged), a special appearance from Edinburgh Fringe First Winner and Obie-Ignored playwright Russ Lees, and some of that hot [...]

Episode 62. Questions And Answers

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:21:38 +0000

Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor respond to email and snail-mail. Featuring clarification about our UK tours, great news about DVD sales, confounding audience expectations, a Reduced News Flash, and a special appearance from Hollywood Casting Director Janet Gilmore. Ask away! (MP3. Length 18:30)

Episode 61. New Old Shows

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:38:01 +0000

What’s it like performing Complete History of America (abridged) and All The Great Books (abridged) after a year of performing mostly Hollywood and Bible? Confusing and nausea-inducing. Featuring an interview with our latest backstage goddess Alli Bostedt, the perils of remembering new line changes, a special appearance from Fox-TV’s Beth Troutman, and our greatest review [...]

Episode 60. Bea Arthur Lookalike

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 05:30:36 +0000

Stage Manager Kea Watson returns from Hollywood, where she’s the second 2nd AD (Assistant Director) on the hit CBS show Cold Case. Since production has been suspended due to the writers strike, Kea joins us in Charlotte and talks about her other job. Featuring insight into what it’s like being part of the Directors Guild Training [...]

Episode 59. Words On Theatre

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:33:21 +0000

Excerpts from our interview on Marcy Solomon‘s KUSF-FM radio program Words On Theatre. Featuring details on Plasticman action figure accessories, tips on audience participation, advice on how to take one for the team, insight into RSC percentages, an update on what RSC fans call themselves, and a special appearance by John Wilson of FOX-TV Charlotte, [...]

Episode 58. Belgium and Holland

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:08:37 +0000

Meet the cast that’s coming to Belgium and Holland this week: Brent Tubbs, Noah Brody, and newest RSC member Mark Farrell, who gets a primer on RSC touring. Featuring the proper way to eat pommes frites, unneccessary digs at Michael Faulkner, a celebration of Belgian beer, a special appearance by Scott Bakula, and – finally! [...]

Episode 57. Reduced New Year!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 22:30:22 +0000

2007 ends differently for each of us, and 2008 begins with a look ahead at all the places we’ll be playing this year. Featuring reminiscences of past glories, previews of future triumphs, a special appearance by Sedge Thomson from West Coast Live, and our very own New Year’s resolutions (such as they are). Should auld [...]

Episode 56. What Are We

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 09:58:41 +0000

Our religious backgrounds are many and varied, and this week we reflect on how they affect our creating and performing The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged). Featuring some questionable theology, the perks of agnosticism, and a special appearance by an honest-to-God JuBu! God bless us, every one! (MP3. Length 18:00)

Episode 55. Holiday Panic Begins

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:02:11 +0000

Have you finished your shopping? Neither have the people who shop at DVD Playground, judging by the panicky phone calls and emails logged by Matt Croke. Featuring holiday shopping tips, an excerpt from the RSC’s holiday jingle Mrs. Santa Claus, a special appearance by Bob Redell from NBC 11 in San Jose, and Libbie Schrader‘s [...]

Episode 54. Reaching Critical Mass

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:52:03 +0000

Sometimes a small matinee audience fails to reach critical mass and they become afraid to laugh. The RSC banters backstage about what to do in such a sitch. Featuring tips on mixing and matching your animals on Noah’s Ark, intricate theme park analogies, a timely excerpt from Western Civilization: The Complete Musical (abridged), wisdom from [...]

Episode 53. Just For Us

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:09:17 +0000

The RSC Podcast begins its second year by swapping tales of shows we loved being in more than audiences loved seeing. Featuring the realities of performing for non-English-speaking crowds, the dangers of casts that outnumber audiences, and the perils of adapting Dostoevsky’s The Possessed. Plus, a special appearance by Billy Green of the San Francisco [...]

Episode 52. Writing “Completely Hollywood”

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:26:18 +0000

Reed and Austin talk about how they wrote — and continue to write — the RSC’s latest stage show Completely Hollywood (abridged). You’ll learn which movies influenced the writing, why some movies make our Greatest Movies Ever list and some don’t, and how (and why) the script keeps evolving. Featuring a spirited defense of the [...]

Episode 51. At The Table

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:31:05 +0000

After every performance, we meet and greet the audience at the table in the lobby, so we decided to turn the microphone on and let our Podcast listeners hear what they have to say. Learn about The Rules of the Game, what happened when we made changes to the first act of Completely Hollywood (abridged), [...]

Episode 50. San Francisco Treats

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:05:34 +0000

The RSC Podcast turns the big 5-0! We hear news from San Diego, the site of the worst of the recent southern California wildfires, and get answers to such burning questions as: what Matt Croke does inside people’s heads, which RSC member likes the teddy bear rub, and which two movies combine to make Passion [...]

Episode 49. The Week Reduced

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 06:07:56 +0000

Reed and Austin talk about the creation and taping of The Week Reduced, the RSC’s foray into weekly television. Featuring a breakdown of the TV writing process, an evaluation of the two tapings, and an interview with cast member Dana Sorman. Plus, a special appearance by singer-songwriter Libbie Schrader and a brief conversation with an [...]

Episode 48. Play By Play (Pt. 2)

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:08:59 +0000

The commentary continues! LIVE! from the balcony of the Royal George Theatre in Chicago: Matt, Reed, and Austin provide play-by-play commentary during an actual performance of The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)“. Featuring live performances from Brad Harbaugh, Tim Schueneman, and Kiff Vanden Heuvel, and a special appearance by Jon and Tee from [...]

Episode 47. Play By Play (Pt. 1)

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 09:14:07 +0000

LIVE! from the balcony of the Royal George Theatre in Chicago, Matt Croke, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor provide play-by-play commentary during an actual performance of The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged). Featuring live performances from Brad Harbaugh, Tim Schueneman, and Kiff Vanden Heuvel, and a special appearance by former Second City-LA Artistic Director [...]

Episode 46. The Chicago Guys

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:28:51 +0000

Meet Karl Hamilton, Brad Harbaugh, Tim Schueneman, and Kiff Vanden Heuvel, the newest members of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, and hear what it’s like to learn two RSC shows in four weeks. Learn some tricks about performing RSC shows and marvel at the attendance record we shattered last week! Featuring a really annoying noise, the [...]

Episode 45. Jon Weber Rules!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 05:14:21 +0000

Pianist, composer, arranger, lyricist, and musical trivia genius Jon Weber chats about his background, training, and musical adventures. Featuring excerpts from the wide variety of music he’s written for RSC shows, pop culture digressions, apocryphal tales, and a special appearance by trained pitchman and best-selling author Jasper Fforde. Play on! (MP3. Length 21:00)

Episode 44. Busiest Fall Ever!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 08:14:05 +0000

A breakdown on the crazy number of RSC productions this fall, and a terrific example of the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for.” Featuring too much yawning, some backstage details of the RSC TV show The Week Reduced, and a special appearance by Reginald Studmuffin, star of the RSC latest stage show Completely [...]

Episode 43. It’s Captain Marvel!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:52:49 +0000

Recent RSC addition Steve Marvel talks about The Actor’s Life….specifically, his. Steve and Austin share complaints about playing the “Verbose Professorial One”, and discuss the burdens of finding a motivation other than “not being fired”. Featuring some clues about who’s performing where this fall and a special appearance by by no celebrity at all. Shazam! [...]

Episode 42. That Dave Razowsky!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:55:41 +0000

David Razowsky, the improviser’s improviser, toured with the RSC and (at the time of this recording) was Artistic Director of the Second City, LA. Listen to his tales of touring, mistaken hotel rooms, and the limitations of farce. Featuring Austin Tichenor’s strict direction and surprisingly girlish laughter, and a special appearance from Ken Campbell, sitcom [...]

Episode 41. The Irish Guys

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:29:38 +0000

A lively LIVE interview with Noah Brody, Ryan Dietz, and Dustin Sullivan, who’ll be performing All The Great Books (abridged) in Ireland starting Sept. 22. Featuring alternative audition techniques, commercial gigs both lost and found, a reduced Tolkien debate, and dozens of screaming girls! Plus, a special appearance by the voice of Molly Bloom herself, [...]

Episode 40. RSC On TV!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 21:51:42 +0000

We’re on TV (sort of). We’ve written a TV show called The Week Reduced and will be filming a sample episode on September 26. Also, an interview with Neil Benson of Opus 3 Artists, one of the country’s leading theatrical booking agents (who, for some reason, also represents us). Featuring important information about the dangers [...]

Episode 39. Behind The Table

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:21:07 +0000

Between seeing great Chicago actors this week, we had plenty of time to chat about fan concerns, joke selection, and smart actor choices. Featuring the results of the Podcast Awards, some highly technical medical jargon, a scary excerpt from Reduced Idol, and a special appearance by Chicago’s Improvised Shakespeare Company. Rock on, MacDuff! (MP3. Length [...]

Episode 38. Memories of Edinburgh

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 06:09:43 +0000

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is in full swing, and we’re not there! If you’re not either, listen to our tales of Edinburgh discoveries, inventive sleeping arrangements, freak show skills, false alarms, and confused protesters. Featuring excerpts from The Complete Millennium Musical (abridged) and The Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show, and a special appearance by Mark Nutter, composer [...]

Episode 37. How To Audition

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:52:19 +0000

Want to audition for the Reduced Shakespeare Company? Reed and Austin outline everything they look for during RSC casting sessions. Featuring advice, tips, warnings, and explanations why sometimes even the best actors don’t make the cut. Plus, a special appearance by Brick Hawke and Attacus Dove, hosts of the Hawke and Dove Political Punditry Podcast. [...]

Episode 36. Ffan-Ffording-Tastic!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:15:51 +0000

Bestselling author Jasper Fforde talks about First Among Sequels, the latest in his Thursday Next series. Jasper shares the RSC’s reverential irreverence for sacred literature, reveals some eerie insight concerning Jane Austen, and outlines his Schrodinger Night Fever Principle of Literary Analysis. Featuring a special appearance by The Word Nerds. This week’s podcast is sponsored [...]

Episode 35. Best Podcast Ever!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 09:03:01 +0000

You did it! We received two nominations for 2007 Podcast of the Year Awards! In honor of that, we give you…the Best Podcast Ever. Featuring “lost” podcast bits, a plethora of fan voice messages, a special appearance by four junior pseudo (in their own minds) celebrities, and — don’t blink or you’ll miss it — [...]

Episode 34. The Windy City

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 03:19:09 +0000

We’re coming to Chicago! Our opening at the Royal George Theatre prompts this tribute to the City of Big Shoulders. We celebrate this great theatre town, debate the merits of the Cubs v. the White Sox, and reveal the truth about Mrs O’Leary’s cow. Featuring a special appearance by Charna Halpern, director of Chicago’s famed [...]

Episode 33. Modern Slim Pickens

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:30:30 +0000

Character actor/comedian David Koechner (Anchorman, Thank You For Smoking, Snakes on a Plane) tells tales of typecasting and creating comic characters, and deconstructs his short-lived Comedy Central TV show, The Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show. Featuring a special appearance by Gerald ‘T-Bones’ Tibbons. Boop! (MP3. Length 26:20)

Episode 32. The Celtic Tiger

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:33:05 +0000

Whatever you call it….the Emerald Isle….the Land of Saints and Scholars….the Celtic Tiger…Ireland is one of our favorite places. Since we’re touring there for eight weeks, we tell Irish tales of the perils of pub singing and the legend of Oliver Reed. Featuring special appearances by Irish natives Jane Fitzpatrick Martin from Sligo, and James [...]

Episode 31. Happy Birthday America!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 23:19:14 +0000

In honor of America’s big 2-3-1, we feature The Complete History of America (abridged) in all of its reverent irreverence, and some truly patriotic behind-the-scenes info about how to celebrate and needle a large world power. Featuring a special appearance by Peter Hulne, star of the Comedy Central show American Body Shop. (MP3. Length 19:55)

Episode 30. Summer Reading Lists

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 09:03:38 +0000

This week: Random meanderings about books! How film and TV inspires our reading habits, and how reading choices reflect character….or in our case, lack of character. Plus, which books cure insomnia, the eerie similarities between Alan Ayckbourn and Curt Flood, and a classy excerpt from All The Great Books (abridged). Read on! (MP3. Length 21:08)

Episode 29. The Word Nerds

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:54:04 +0000

Reed and Austin chat with Dave Shepherd, producer and host of The Word Nerds podcast, and we share podcast gossip, details of rhythm, intonation, pronunciation, and the glories of the Liquid U. Plus, a special appearance by David Koechner (The Office, Anchorman) — and we get to hear Beowulf as it was originally performed: as [...]

Episode 28. Meet “Professor” Letwin

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 01:49:09 +0000

A Very Special “Where Are They Now?” (or rather, a “Who Are They Again?”) episode. David Letwin, an original member of the Criterion Theatre cast in London, tells outrageous tales of Royals in the stalls, Adventures in Lecturing, and an audience with Moses Himself. Special appearance by Gary Rudoren, co-author of the new book Comedy [...]

Episode 27. By The Bay!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 09:39:29 +0000

LIVE! from the streets of San Francisco, where we’re planning to open The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) and Completely Hollywood (abridged). Featuring live excerpts from both shows, a businessy but fascinating interview with our SF producer Brad Balduf of Jian Enterprises, and a special appearance by David A. Goodman, Executive Producer of [...]

Episode 26. Six Month Checkup

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Wed, 30 May 2007 06:34:20 +0000

Favorite moments and indulgent reminiscences from the first six months of RSC Podcasts. Featuring deep introspection, shock and awe at the glories of the podcast aesthetic, an unnecessarily polysyllabic episode description, and a benediction by Dick Costolo, President & CEO of FeedBurner, the company that makes all podcasts possible! Thanks, Dick! (MP3. Length 18:08)

Episode 25. Follow The Mistakes!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sat, 19 May 2007 03:36:49 +0000

Mistakes…or oh-so-brilliant bits of comic invention!? You be the judge. We honor the god of chaos (Harpo?) and analyse the funny moments in our shows which began as screw-ups. Featuring excerpts from several of our stage shows, unnecessary vomiting, and a special appearance by Bridget Fonger, author of The Lazy Woman’s Guide To Just About [...]

Episode 24. Let It Snow!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Fri, 11 May 2007 06:09:31 +0000

We’ve died many times onstage, but only once for real (almost!) on this terrible flight into upstate New York. Memories of a horrible blizzard, prompted by our performance at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Featuring bi-coastal fan feedback and a special appearance by Neil Flynn, the Janitor from TV’s Scrubs. Share the Guy Love! (MP3. [...]

Episode 23. Mick And Brent

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sat, 05 May 2007 01:54:26 +0000

Brent Tubbs & Mick Orfe chronicle their first performances in Completely Hollywood (abridged), and share surprisingly similar tales of air travel woes, actor’s nightmares, and strange superpowers. Featuring an appearance by playwright/director Ron West and incessant intrusion by the three B’s: Bad Bar Backgroundmusic. BBB afraid. (MP3. Length 19:34)

Episode 22. Our First Time

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:09:06 +0000

You always remember your First Time. So do we. Memorable first RSC performances are recalled this week, with special emphasis on line flubs, urgent calls of nature, and sexual objectification. Plus, a special appearance by big-time Hollywood casting director Debra Zane. Ready for our close-up now, DZ! (MP3. Length 19:34)

Episode 21. Happy Birthday Willy!

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 05:32:39 +0000

Celebrate William Q. Shakespeare’s birthday with this collection of live performance readings from Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete Guide For The Attention-Impaired (abridged). Also, excerpts from the BBC World Service’s Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show, the radio version of RSC Q&A, and a distinguished and plummy appearance by Dr. Peter Holland, McNeel Family Professor of Shakespeare Studies, [...]

Episode 10. Up The Creek

podcast@reducedshakespeare.com (Reduced Shakespeare Company) — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 19:00:49 +0000

The RSC descends on Walnut Creek, California. Travel with Austin as he drives north, and hang with the guys backstage as they get ready for their first performance. Featuring tales of Hollywood auditions, theatre vs. TV salary, Dominic joins The Club, and a special appearance from Adam Felber, from NPR’s Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me! [...]