"Rocky Horror" meets "Kinky Boots:" Bart Perry and Matt Locke are back!
Release Date: 07/23/2024
Stories from the Set of "Tapawingo"
Filament
"," starring Jon Heder ("Napoleon Dynamite" and "Blades of Glory"), is about an oddball who becomes the bodyguard for a misfit teenager and finds himself in the crosshairs of the town's family of bullies. The quirky indie comedy is out now on VOD! Available for purchase or rental on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Fandango at Home and others. In this podcast, actors Jon Heder, Jay Pichardo, Paul Psarras, and City Lights' own George Psarras, reminisce about their summer in Virginia making the film, including audition stories, on set tales, and day off shenanigans. Filament is produced by...
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Family Onstage, Family Offstage: Backstage at "Over the River and Through the Woods"
Filament
Backstage with AJ is crossing the river into family, laughter, and love. Step backstage with AJ at "Over the River and Through the Woods" as we sit down with longtime friends and castmates Karen DeHart and Deb Anderson. From carpool rides to rehearsal laughter, these two share how their characters are similar in some ways, but express love in very different ways. Plus, we celebrate Karen's 100th show! Together, they imagine what a day spent with their characters might look like and remind us that this play about family has created a family of its own behind the scenes. "Over The River And...
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Stories from the Crypt: "Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors"
Filament
Backstage with AJ is sinking its teeth into Halloween. AJ Jaffari sits down with director Caitlin Papp and actor Nick Mandracchia to talk all things Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, the fang-tastic farce that recently ran at City Lights Theater Company. From gothic grandeur to 2025 punchlines, they explore how the show balances eerie atmosphere with laugh-out-loud absurdity, and what moment onstage makes Nick break character. They reflect on cast chemistry, old friendships, new bonds, and the joy of building a Dracula family. And just when you think the episode couldn’t get any more undead…...
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Verse Meets Vibes: Behind the Scenes of "Head Over Heels"
Filament
Backstage with AJ is turning up the volume and the poetry. AJ Jaffari chats with director Jeffrey Bracco about Head Over Heels, the gloriously genre-bending musical now onstage at City Lights Theater Company. From Elizabethan verse to 1980s bops, Jeffrey shares what drew him to this wild mashup of styles and how he brought it to life with bold colors, modern flair, and a whole lot of heart. They dive into the art of directing musicals vs. plays, collaborating with set designer Ron Gasparinetti, and the joy of telling an old story in a fresh, fabulous way. Whether you're a theater lover, a...
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Backstage with AJ: The Icing on the Stage
Filament
Backstage with AJ is serving up something sweet. AJ Jaffari sits down with real-life couple Luisa Sermol and Tom Gough, who play fictional spouses Della and Tim in "The Cake." It’s their first time acting together, and they’re dishing on everything from the joys and challenges of sharing the stage to how their own marriage compares to their onstage counterparts. They reflect on the play’s delicate balance of humor and heart—exploring big human questions with wit and compassion. Plus, they share what it’s like working under the direction of City Lights’ own Lisa Mallette (spoiler:...
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Backstage with AJ: Clues, Comedy, and Christie
Filament
Backstage with AJ is heading to Monkswell Manor! Mary Melnick (Casewell) and Christian Pizzirani (Christopher Wren) join AJ Jaffari to spill the tea on "The Mousetrap"—from channeling Agatha Christie’s signature suspense to finding the sweet spot between humor and mystery. They talk layered characters, physical comedy, and the fun of discovering moments in rehearsal. It’s a killer convo you won’t want to miss! "The Mousetrap" Runs March 13- April 13, 2025 - - - - - - - - - Written by: Agatha Christie Directed by: Doll Piccotto Supported by: Producer Clint Moore, Producer Charlie...
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Backstage with AJ: Questing Through Rehearsals
Filament
Backstage with AJ is diving into the world of Warcraft! Actors Anna Kosiarek (Evie) and Miranda Liu (Kitty) join AJ Jaffari to chat about "In Love and Warcraft"—a raunchy, fun, and totally unique show. They share what it's like to build cast community, the high-energy rush of tech week, and the pure joy of seeing the props and costumes come to life. Seriously, that sword? Epic. Tune in for behind-the-scenes stories, rehearsal insights, and a whole lot of fun! "In Love and Warcraft" Runs Jan 16 – Feb 9, 2025 - - - - - - - - - Written by: Madhuri Shekar Directed by: Kimberly Ridgeway...
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Backstage with AJ: The Story & Spirit of "Truce"
Filament
Backstage with AJ is going festive! “Truce: A Christmas Wish from the Great War,” director Angie Higgins, and sound designer George Psarras, join AJ Jaffari in conversation about this lovely, holiday production. They discuss the humanity of the show, the music that moves the story along, and how this version is different from the original that was produced in 2014. Plus, will AJ see more plays?! Listen to find out! Truce: A Christmas Wish from the Great War November 29- December 22, 2024 truce Written by Kit Wilder & Jeffrey Bracco Directed by Angie Higgins Supported by Executive...
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Spooky Lights: "Lizzie"
Filament
'Lizzie Borden took an axe And gave her mother forty whacks.....' The tale of Lizzie Borden and what happened in Fall River, Massachusetts is one that continues to haunt American history and cultural lore. In this adaptation of the story, be prepared to get inside Lizzie's head and experience what may have lead up to that fateful event. Lizzieby Kit Wilder read by Lisa Mallette - - - - - - - - - Filament is produced by City Lights Theater Company Music, Editing, and Sound Design by George Psarras. - - - - - - - - - You can email us at filament@cltc.org with any questions or comments. Learn...
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Conversation with "An Inspector Calls" director Mark Anderson Phillips
Filament
AJ Jaffair is back, backstage! This time he's joined by director Mark Anderson Phillips as they discuss "An Inspector Calls." The conversation starts with talk about the cultural significance of the sinking of the Titanic and how that connects to the play, then leads into more specifics about why this script, and why now. They go over the stark, icy set, and even contemplate where the characters in the show would be after the curtain falls. An Inspector CallsSep 26 – Oct 20, 2024 Written by J.B. Priestley Directed by Mark Anderson Phillips Supported by Producers Connie & Paul...
info_outlineIt’s a Rocky Horror/Kinky Boots crossover episode! Last summer, Bart Perry and Matt Locke won our hearts as Lola and Charlie in the musical Kinky Boots. Now the two are back together in Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show as the seductive Dr.Frank-N-Furter and the enigmatic Riff Raff.
The two join AJ Jaffari as they reminisce over Kinky Boots and discuss how they first learned about Rocky Horror. Plus, what's it like acting on stage when the audience gets to call back at you?! A great conversation with great friends.
Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
July 18 – August 25, 2024
cltc.org/event/the-rocky-horror-show/
Book, music and lyrics by Richard O’Brien
Directed by Amber Smith
Choreographed by Stephanie Staszak
Music direction by Brian Allan Hobbs
Vocal direction by Tina Paulson
Supported by Producers Jonathan Karpf and Kathleen Zaretsky
Season supported by Season Producers Nancy B. Coleman & Paul M. Resch
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Filament is produced by City Lights Theater Company
Music, Editing, and Sound Design by George Psarras.
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You can email us at filament@cltc.org with any questions or comments. Learn more about the podcast, City Lights in general, and listen to our back catalog of episodes on our website at cltc.org/filament.
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