Kevin Wilson, the author of the NEA Big Read title Nothing to See Here, explains his long-time obsession with spontaneous human combustion—a condition that figures prominently in the novel. In a nutshell, 28-year-old Lillian is tasked with minding the stepchildren of a wealthy old school friend whose politician husband has two kids who literally burst into flames … [Read more...] about Novelist Kevin Wilson tackles serious issues through an outrageous premise
Art at the Intersection: Work as Dance!
Founder and Artistic Director of Forklift Danceworks Allison Orr talks about the community-based dance company and its many collaborations. Forklift creates community-based dance performances with workers that show their skilled movements and tell the often unheard stories of the people whose jobs sustain our daily lives. The workers collaborate with the artistic … [Read more...] about Art at the Intersection: Work as Dance!
Signature Theatre’s Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner talks about making musical theater magic in No VA.
In this podcast, Matthew Gardiner talks about directing Stephen Sondheim’s "Into the Woods," the emotional draw of musical theater, and Stephen Sondheim’s mastery of it. We discuss Signature's commitment to musical theater and its development through its many programs, the theater's long association with Stephen Sondheim, what goes into staging an iconic musical like "Into the … [Read more...] about Signature Theatre’s Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner talks about making musical theater magic in No VA.
Meet prize-winning YA author and educator Renée Watson
In this 2019 interview, author and educator Renée Watson talks about her prize-winning YA title, Piecing Me Together and Watch Us Rise (co-written with poet Ellen Hagan). Both look at the lived experiences of black girls as they grapple with identity right at the intersection of race, class and gender. But Watson is a story-teller not a sociologist and, as … [Read more...] about Meet prize-winning YA author and educator Renée Watson
Meet Step Artist and Founder of Step Afrika!–C. Brian Williams
In today's podcast, C. Brian Williams talks about the art of stepping—defining and historicizing the art form and discussing its deep connection to African-American fraternities and sororities. (He learned to step when he was accepted into a fraternity at Howard University). He talks about the creation of Step Afrika! which began in 1994 as a dance festival in South Africa and … [Read more...] about Meet Step Artist and Founder of Step Afrika!–C. Brian Williams