Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast

Are you the kind of actor or director who boasts, “I don’t read stage directions”? Playwrights Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor have some thoughts for you about the value of stage directions, plus helpful tips, lessons for playwrights too, favorite … Continue reading →

Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor discuss the rewards and challenges, and the differences and similarities of directing shows away from the Reduced Shakespeare Company. Featuring tricks to directing musicals, switching roles, Hamilton-related name-dropping, cool discoveries, the importance of listening with energy, … Continue reading →

RSC Company Manager Alli Bostedt and RSC UK actor John Schwab are joined by our old friend Bill Chott (left) as they describe their professional and personal encounters with the late great Alan Rickman. Featuring brushes with greatness, missed opportunities, surprising kindness, spoiler … Continue reading →

Lar DeSouza (known as @lartist on Twitter) is the cartoonist and caricaturist who created the poster art for our last three stage shows: The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged), The Complete History of Comedy (abridged), and William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First … Continue reading →

Joe Liss is an actor, writer, and sort of the improviser’s improviser, a Second City alum who’s performed onstage in Chicago, LA, off-Broadway, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He’s also written for film and television and is the co-author … Continue reading →

Playwright and director Aaron Posner (Stupid F*cking Bird) talks about his celebrated production of The Tempest at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, his upcoming production of Midsummer at the Folger Theatre, and his ongoing exploration of the classics using both reverence and irreverence. Featuring the importance of populism, the … Continue reading →

With the passing of his father Kent (left) on Christmas Eve, producer and host Austin Tichenor urges listeners to interview and document their parents while you still have them. You’ll be glad you preserved their stories and experiences for posterity, and since we all … Continue reading →

from The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged): It came to me on a midnight clear There’s so much confusion these days To make things easy this time of year Just learn to say one simple phrase… Happy Merry Chrismakwanukkahhanzukkah That’s the … Continue reading →

Just in time for the Doctor Who Christmas Special! Meet Ross Mullan, the actor behind the weird faces of some of Doctor Who‘s and Game of Thrones‘ most iconic creatures. We spoke with Ross at the recent Chicago Tardis Convention and he … Continue reading →

A recent student matinee — typically something to be dreaded — was instead a delight thanks to the good folks at the Sunset Cultural Center in Carmel, CA, where we performed a 45-minute version of The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) … Continue reading →

Last week’s discussion of Shakespeare And Football prompts this conversation about what a Fantasy Theatre League might look like, and what one would look for in putting together a winning team. Featuring tips on good roster-building; the importance of depth, breadth, and a … Continue reading →

Peter Eramo is not only the Publicity and Marketing Manager for the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC, he’s also the commissioner of the Folger Fantasy Football League, which each year pits teams in the Montague and Capulet divisions against … Continue reading →

Not only are our shows fun and entertaining, but apparently we’re doing the Lord’s work! Pastor Robert Lewis discusses Holy Humor Sunday, the post-Easter celebration that honors the great joke God played on Death. Featuring the power of communion, essential differences … Continue reading →

Creating shows using improv is not something the RSC does, but Reed Martin has used the Second City model to devise with his students a new show called Improv Zombies From Hell at Napa Valley College. With one weekend left in the … Continue reading →

A Random Fan Shout-Out expanded to full podcast form! Louisiana Tech student Ashley Davis shares memories of her father, Capt. Steve Davis, and how he introduced her to theatre, Shakespeare, and comedy. Featuring the bonding power of laughter, memories of … Continue reading →