Elena Velasco, Convergence Theater, "Talks" Cultural Equity
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Release Date: 06/09/2020
Alyssa Sanders and Megan Behm "Talk" New Theater Business Model
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Actor Alyssa Sanders and Director Megan Behm joined us to talk about their new Artistic Collaborative with three other theater professionals to manage Avant Bard Theatre Co. Hear about their respective roles in the shared leadership theater business model, and why they believe this new model is a big improvement over traditional management styles, is becoming more popular in the DC region and why it will lead to less hierarchy in theater management. Also learn about some of their upcoming online programs.
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Maria Manuela Goyanes "Talks" Woolly Mammoth Digital Productions
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The Artistic Director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co. Maria Manuela Goyanes was a guest on "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" for a wide-ranging and insightful chat. Get details on the group's jam-packed digital production line up, "Play At Home" series that put money into playwrights' pockets, and the Miranda Family Fellowship program to help young theater professionals from historically excluded communities. Also hear her honest assessment of progress on the diversity front in theaters in a post-COVID world.
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Actor Sara Barker and Director Demone Seraphin "Talk" New Partnership
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Actor Sara Barker and Actor/Director Demone Seraphin give us all the details about the new Artistic Collaborative now managing Avant Bard Theatre Company. Find out about this new business model of shared responsibilities, how the collaborative came about, sneak peek into some upcoming online events and their civic space to discuss important issues in theater like EDI and safe spaces called the "Bard's Action Corner." Also find out what Demone labels as the "gift" of the shutdown.
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Leo Sushansky "Talks" Performing Concerts During a Pandemic
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The Artistic Director of the National Chamber Ensemble Leo Sushansky returned to the "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" podcast to update us on how the group "pivoted" in response to the pandemic by recording their concerts. Get details about two upcoming shows rounding out this season, sneak peek into next season's productions, and how to get access to the three concerts already aired (Tribute to Beethoven, Holiday concert and Russian Valentine show). Also get his take on performing without a live audience.
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Synetic Theater "Talks" New Streaming Channel and Productions
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Synetic Theater has introduced a new streaming website with both archived content of previously produced shows, as well as new original filmed work and licensed pieces. Get all the details in our podcast with the organization's Managing Director Jason Najjoum and Associate Producer J.P. McLaurin. Also find out about their upcoming hybrid season of productions, subscription packages available, and the latest on their first expected live performance back in their theater "Servant of Two Masters."
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Actor Natalie Cutcher "Talks" Commedia dell'Arte
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Actor and newly named Director of Education at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts Natalie Cutcher taught us a lot about the Italian theater acting genre of "Commedia dell'Arte" - the highly physical and improvisational style of acting with roots in the 1500's. Also hear her entertaining story about her first foray into acting during her elementary school days, what is happening at the Conservatory, and her role in the sci-fi podcast entitled EOS10.
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Quill Nebeker "Talks" About The Arcanists
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
The Executive Director of The Arcanists Quill Nebeker chatted about his evolving thinking about theater productions which led to his founding of The Arcanists. He sought to change the typical (and frustrating) DC theater production model to one that stresses actual dialogue with audiences and is labeled "creative, non-fiction." Hear about previous productions of "The Tarot Reading" and get details on the exciting upcoming events called "SHRINES' which is an interactive series of activities throughout town.
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Visual Artist Sherry Trachtman "Talks" Floppy Discs
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Visual Artist Sherry Trachtman chatted about her unique form of artwork called "collage assemblage" which is wall-hung sculptures using obsolete materials that are headed for the garbage. Find out what objects she has been using, her material driven creative process, details about her exhibit at the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art, and some of the current series of art pieces she is working on. Also learn the first "object" she fell in love with, as well as how the pandemic has impacted her work.
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Visual Artist Jenny Wu "Talks" Sculptured Painting
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Visual Artist Jenny Wu enlightens us in this podcast about her unique style of artwork - sculptured painting. Learn about her process, what final products look like and how she evolved into this style as a professional artist. Also get all the details about her duo exhibit at the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art, what obsolete object is featured in her pieces and why young children will especially appreciate her work. And what amusing point did a couple of patrons tell her about her brightly colored paintings?
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Leigh and Wyn Delano "Talk" Theater During COVID
Embracing Arlington Arts Talks
Pianist and Music Conductor Leigh Delano and Actor Wyn Delano joined "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" for a chat and told us a wonderful and heartwarming serendipitous story about how they ended up together as a DC Theater couple. Also find out how they have been staying busy during the shutdown, the silver lining of the pandemic for theater professionals, how it felt to perform in person at a Cabaret this summer and some very insightful words of wisdom for all their fellow actors and theater personnel.
info_outlineElena Velasco, the Co-Founder of Convergence Theater and passionate advocate for cultural equity and diversity in the performing arts arena explained how today's dual challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown, coupled with national protests in support of Black Lives Matter are impacting theaters, and why she considers this a moment of reckoning. Also learn more about how Convergence is dealing with the shutdown, as well as the developments at the American Alliance of Theatre and Education (AATE) on whose board she sits. Definitely lots of important issues to think about and discuss in this interview.