Theater Forward

Jen Uphoff Gray welcomes Kait Kerrigan and Nathan Tysen, writer and lyricist of Broadway's THE GREAT GATSBY! In this episode, this musical power couple shares their insight into the broken pipeline of musical theater development, which leaves countless new works stuck in limbo. We discuss the roadblocks that prevent fresh stories from reaching American audiences and why regional theaters hesitate to take the leap.

But it’s not all bad news - we also explore real solutions for making the pipeline more accessible, sustainable, and artist-friendly. A candid, insightful conversation about the future of musical theater and what it will take to get new voices heard.

Bonus:

Kait and Nathan reference the types of grants and financial assistance that keeps many writers afloat while they create America's next musical sensation. Here's a link to the Dramatists Guild resource directory of Grants & Fellowships. 

This episode was inspired by a VERY spirited conversation we recently had, centered around a particular play and whether it would be a good choice for a future season. This debate required us to evaluate our relationship with our audiences - how do we meet them where they are, and how do we bring them along with challenging material while creating a welcoming and community-centered environment?

As theaters across the country work toward building new audiences, what's the best balance between leading and listening? 

*This episode went missing late last year! It is officially Episode 113. Enjoy!

Despite the fact that theater is back to being live and in-person, many theaters (including ours) have discovered great value in offering a streaming option for their productions. As arts companies strive to become more accessible, digital theater has become an oasis for many patrons.

In this episode, we revisit this topic that preoccupied the theater world just a few years back. What's happening with digital theater now? Are we using what we learned during COVID, and if so, how?

Happy Holidays! Enjoy our end-of-year episode, in which we share everything we loved about 2024, including stellar productions and films, the support of our amazing audiences, and the brilliant artists that continue to make the theater an inspiring and life-affirming experience.

We LOVE mailbag episodes, and this one was a treat. Join us as we talk about theater spaces, share our own play selection process, and bring the heat on playwrights and productions we never need to see again. 

Our take on the top 10 most-produced plays and top 20 most-produced playwrights in America this season, based on the annual list generated by American Theater Magazine. We discuss what we expected, what surprised us, and how this list reflects the current state of theater in America. Here are the lists so you can follow along!

Top 10 most-produced plays in America in 2024-25

Top 20 most-produced playwrights in America in 2024-25

Inspired by the Summer Olympics and our upcoming production of KING JAMES by Rajiv Joseph, the team steps up to the plate to talk about their favorite sports-themed plays, and the exciting parallels between these two dynamic art forms. A spirited conversation for sports and theater lovers alike.

Each year, theatermakers from across the country attend the biennial Theatre Communications Group (TCG) Conference to learn, share, and network. But lately, this gathering has become less practical (and educational) for small companies looking for new and better ways to do business. We share our mixed experience with this year's meeting of the minds, and how it might better serve local regional theaters in America. 

From educational programs to full productions, there have never been more opportunities for young adults and children to participate in a theater experience. We sit down with two of Wisconsin's most prominent leaders to talk about the ever-changing world of TYA and the impact these experiences have on future generations.

This episode features First Stage (Milwaukee) Artistic Director Jeff Frank and Children's Theater of Madison Artistic Director Brian Cowing as we discuss the state of theater for young audiences in America.

Our favorite summer stories are back! We sit down with some of our most treasured theater artists and ask them to share a story about a play or musical that "stayed" with them, inspired them, or simply blew their minds. This episode features:

Cody Estle - Artistic Director of Next Act Theatre

James Carrington - Actor and Associate Director of Engagement at Milwaukee Repertory Theater

Lisa Schlenker - Scenic Designer

Mikael Burke - Director