Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia

The story of three small ambitious cutting-edge Philadelphia theater companies of the 1970s. Why did some survive - and some falter? For a blog post with images of the productions and people we discuss in the episode, go HERE. (Cover photo for the episode shows the actor Daniel Oreskes in The Servant of Two Masters, which was being presented by The Repertory Company in West Philadelphia's Clark Park during the summer of 1975. He is having his costume arranged by an unidentified female memb...

An interview about Philadelphia theatrical projects that employed so many local actors before and during the Bicentennial Year of 1976. In the very place where the American experiment began, regular work in "historical re-enactment" and patriotic storytelling gave young and ambitious Philadelphia theater artists a boost in their careers. This episode also provides a coda for the saga of the Manning Street Theatre Company - a story that's at the climax of our book Adventures in T...

An interview with the director, writer and artist Tom Bissinger, in which we talk about his work in the 1960s and 70s, including his all-too-brief term as the final Artistic Director of the Theatre of the Living Arts in Philadelphia. A native of San Francisco, Tom's fascinating life story is interwoven with so many iconic names from the 60s and 70s, including working in Philadelphia with the actors Dick Shawn, Judd Hirsch, Morgan Freeman and Danny DeVito! Tom's 2013 memoir, The Fun House: ...

A recut and remixed and refocused version of an interview with the director Mary B. Robinson, about her years she spent in the 1990s as the Artistic Director of the Drama Guild. (Stay tuned at the very end for an brief announcement about the future direction of the podcast - and my thoughts about current events) A short blog post on our website has additional information and images about Mary and some of the productions she staged during her years at the Drama Guild: https://www.aithpodcast....

Gregory Poggi successfully led the Philadelphia Drama Guild throughout the decade of the 1980s. He talked with us about his memories of those days - tussles with board members, battles with critics, fundraising triumphs and the growing audience support for professional nonprofit theater companies in the city. For a blog post on our website with additional images and information, go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/images-for-episode-93-gregory-poggi/ Support the show "Adventures in Theat...