Join host Ryan Paul as he sits down with regional actor and educator Jacob Dresch for an engaging conversation on the Utah Shakespeare Festival's 65th anniversary Anes Theater season. Jacob shares his journey from Poconos community theater to mastering dual roles as Percy/Victor in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Will in The Book Club Play. Explore the power of intimate black box theater, the debate over high versus popular culture, and how embracing authentic character flaws creates deeply resonant stage moments.

Step behind the sewing machines with Sarah McCarroll, costume shop supervisor for the Utah Shakespeare Festival and professor of theater history. Explore the intricate balance between artisan craftsmanship, historic body silhouettes, and the high-stakes logistics of managing a 65-person costume shop during a bustling festival season.

Join host Ryan Paul on a warm, delightful edition of the APEX Radio Hour for a conversation with Broadway veteran and Utah Shakespeare Festival actor Brian Gonzales. Brian reflects on his multi-generational family roots in television and theater, his journey originating roles in Aladdin on Broadway, and his approach to bringing character roles to life. From the comedic physical theater of Nostradamus in Something Rotten to the grounded, protective heart of Sipos in She Loves Me, this episode explores the transformative power of authentic community and live storytelling.

Join host Ryan Paul on this special Utah Shakespeare Festival edition of the APEX Radio Hour for a warm, engaging conversation with company actor Kayland Jordan. Kayland shares her journey from attending Dallas performing arts magnet schools to taking on three prominent roles in the 2026 Engelstad Theater season: Olivia (Twelfth Night), Horatio (Hamlet), and Aeneas (Troilus and Cressida). Discover her perspective on approaching classic texts with fresh nuance, navigating non-traditional casting, and discovering personal growth within an unpretentious regional theater community.

Join host Ryan Paul on this special Utah Shakespeare Festival edition of the APEX Radio Hour for a deep, insightful conversation with company actor Blake Henri. Blake traces his transformative journey from a Texas high school baseball prospect to taking on three major roles in the 2026 Engelstad Theater season: Sir Toby Belch (Twelfth Night), Laertes (Hamlet), and Thersides (Troilus and Cressida). Discover how authentic mentorship, deep character exploration, and human-centered storytelling redefine classical theater's most complex figures.

Join host Ryan Paul as he sits down with Utah Shakespeare Festival actor Walter Kmiec for an authentic, insightful conversation on stepping into two iconic roles: Hamlet and Achilles. Kmiec shares his journey from childhood comic book drawings and job-site carpentry to discovering the transformative power of live classical theater. Discover how trusting the process, grounding famous soliloquies in real-time discovery, and finding shared humanity elevate performance on stage.

Join host Ryan Paul on this special Utah Shakespeare Festival edition of the APEX Radio Hour for a compelling conversation with intimacy coordinator and choreographer Sacha Comrie. Sacha shares her journey from her foundational dance training at Spelman College to shaping emotional safety, boundaries, and movement across stage and screen productions. Discover how intentional mentorship, clear consent practices, and human-centered collaboration create vibrant, supportive creative spaces for performers.

Go behind the scenes of the Randall Theater on this special Utah Shakespeare Festival edition of the APEX Radio Hour with host Ryan Paul. Acclaimed scenic designer Jo Winiarski shares her incredible 23-year journey crafting more than 40 productions for the festival, including the intricate multi-show repertory setups for Something Rotten, She Loves Me, and See How They Run. Discover the unique blend of visual art, spatial engineering, and collaborative problem-solving required to bring shifting theatrical worlds to life.

Join host Ryan Paul on a deeply moving edition of the APEX Radio Hour featuring multi-Emmy award-winning actor, director, and beloved Sesame Street icon Alan Muraoka. Currently directing the festival’s massive musical production of Something Rotten, Muraoka shares how a 28-year legacy of childhood storytelling guides his creative vision to infuse slapstick physical theater with genuine internal heart. From personal historical reflections on familial triumph over wartime internment to comedic tap-dance battles, this conversation illuminates the transformative, universal necessity of kindness and inclusivity on modern stages.

Uncover the invisible storytelling woven into every stitch of the Utah Shakespeare Festival on this special edition of the APEX Radio Hour with host Ryan Paul. Senior costume designer Bill Black details his remarkable 35-season journey shaping iconic theatrical productions, including this year's distinct configurations of Hamlet and Twelfth Night. From interpreting a director’s early vision to navigating full-scale pattern drafting, explore how an adaptive and industrious design process grounds characters in psychological truth before they ever step into the spotlight.