A discussion about the Central Works world premiere about Big Tech, AI, and bad behavior. centralworks.org

Lauren Smerkanich is a writer-director currently based in Los Angeles where she has worked most recently with The Echo Theater Company and Theater of Note. She is a Guest Teaching Artist with The Atlantic Theater Company's Access Success Program and The Au Pair Program in conjunction with UCLA Extension. She is thrilled and grateful to have THE DIGNITY CIRCLE produced by Central Works Theater.  Gregory Scharpen is the resident sound designer at Central Works, having designed the sound for 70 different productions. He’s also known for his award-winning film editing, his experimental music group, Thomas Carnacki, the KALX Berkeley radio show “Arts In Review,” and more. Visit centralworks.org. Music from #Uppbeat (free for creators!): Paradise Island. License code: 17RMQ74VZCRMJFDD

Host Patricia Milton interviews Gary Graves about his world premiere play Mondragola, along with Central Works’ resident sound designer, Gregory Scharpen, who also engineers the podcast. More info and tickets, and to read the script: centralworks.org Gary Graves has been a resident playwright and company co-director at Central Works since 1998. He has been a part of developing 70 world premiere productions with the company, many of which he has either written and/or directed, including two other plays about Machiavelli: The Prince, and The Lion and the Fox. He also leads the Central Works Playwriting Program, and he teaches playwriting year-round at the Berkeley Rep School of Theater. Gregory Scharpen is the resident sound designer at Central Works, having designed the sound for 70 different productions. He’s also known for his award-winning film editing, his experimental music group, Thomas Carnacki, the KALX Berkeley radio show “Arts In Review,” and more. Music credit: #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/paradise-island License code: L1A3X7LBQY0OXAQY

Mildred Inez Lewis is a published and produced writer and director. After Oberlin College, she began her career as a director in the Actors Studio's Playwrights and Directors unit, and Circle Rep's Lab. After graduating from UCLA's film school with a Samuel Goldwyn screenwriting award, she has been writing poems, plays, screenplays, and digital content. In this podcast she discusses her latest world premiere play, The Museum Annex. It opened at Central Works Theater October 13, 2022. Listen to Mildred’s short audio play, inspired by LA's Echo Park: Ten Dollars and a Tambourine Visit Mildred’s New Play Exchange profile, to read more plays (requires registration) Visit Central Works for tickets, information, and Script Club scripts: centralworks.org

Cristina García is the author of eight novels including Dreaming in Cuban,and the forthcoming Vanishing Maps (Knopf, 2023). García’s work  has been nominated for a National Book Award and translated into  fifteen languages. She’s taught at universities nationwide and is  currently playwright-in-residence at Central Works Theater in Berkeley. In this podcast she discusses her latest world premiere play, an adaptation of her first novel, Dreaming in Cuban. It opens at Central Works Theater June 25, 2022. Cristina's website: https://cristinagarcianovelist.com/ Central Works: centralworks.org

Patricia Milton's comedy/mystery, "Escape from the Asylum," is the first live stage production by Central Works in two years. Patricia meets with actor, comedian, mom, and cake baker Chelsea Bearce to discuss their experiences getting back into live theater, and also a bit of mutual admiration. Chelsea's Instagram for her baking business: https://www.instagram.com/chelsea.got.cakes/ Chelsea's website: http://www.chelseabearce.com/

Writer/director Martin Edwards discussed his play, Pitch Perfect, its transition to a Prime streaming comedy series, what motivates his writing, and his latest project: a satire about Brexit. Martin Edwards has collaborated on television, film, and theatre projects with wonderfully eclectic talents including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Jonathan Krisel, Evan Shaprio and Annie Leibovitz. This episode, like Martin's play, contains salty language. Please visit centralworks.org to read Pitch Perfect.

Jesse Potterveld's plays have been developed at Central Works, the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, and the Kenyon Playwrights Conference. Jesse lives and writes in NYC. Patricia Milton discussed with Jesse his play’s themes and characters, the nature of twins, and Jesse’s experiences of the pandemic in New York City. Please visit centralworks.org to read Years in the Hundreds.

Gary Graves has been a resident playwright and company co-director at Central Works since 1998. He has been a part of developing 67 world premiere productions with the company, many of which he has either written and/or directed. Gary and Patricia Milton discussed his play, Wonderland, the Central Works Method, and what's so special about live theater. Please visit centralworks.org to read Wonderland. The link to the Orson Welles clip discussed in the podcast: Kafka’s “Before the Law”

Julie Jensen is an internationally-produced playwright and the author of WINTER, directed by Gary Graves. Her eloquent play premiered as part of an NNPN Rolling World Premiere at Central Works in 2017. Julie and Patricia Milton discussed the play, Julie's book, and the future of theater.