The Trumpet Episode 37 – As I Was, Not As I Am (featuring Alice Hakvaag & Julianne Schaub) We’re Back! After a brief Hiatus, our podcast is back to promote Elephant Room Productions’ first ever Completely virtual production. This month I talk with playwright Alice Hakvaag about her theatre journey and the inspirations that led to As I Was, Not As I am. Next we are joined by ERP Marketing Director and Director/Editor of the project Julianne Schaub to talk about the process of adapting this piece to the virtual medium. “As I Was, Not As I Am” runs from August 28th – 30th and performances start at 7pm For tickets email proof of a donation (of any size) to Theatre Philadelphia’s Emergency Relief Fund. Share a screenshot or e-receipt of your donation to marketingdirector@elephantroomproductions.com and receive a link to our show on the day of the performance of your choosing! More information on Alice Hakvaag and her work can be found at New Play Exchange and at her Website alicehakvaag.com

In this Episode Robert talks with ERP Artistic Associate Latrice Smith and Playwright Jonathan Alexandratos about non-traditional casting, when casting against race and gender helps or hinders a piece, and where casting practices should go moving forward.

In this discussion, Robert talks with playwright Emily McClain and Showcase on Main Co-Artistic Directors S. Lee Lewis Christy Wyatt about the benefits and setbacks of recorded/streaming theatre, and where we go from here with making Theatre accessible in the midst of and beyond the Covid-19 crisis. To see the video of this interview please visit our website at www.elephantroomproductions.com, or follow us on Facebook or Youtube.

In this long overdue episode, I sit down for an (in person!!!) discussion with Philadelphia Actor/Playwright Taylor Darden about his piece The Years of the Locusts. We discuss growing up Queer, our theatre influences, and most importantly figure out our Theatrical Drinking buddies.

Closing out the year on a strong note, this month I talk with New York playwright Jonathan Alexandratos about their play Ground Effect. We discuss Gender Roles and politics, the logistics of turning into a plane, and the vastly different stories we each told with our toys as youths. The scene featured in this month’s episode features Julianne Schaub and Chelsea Marie Marlowe.

This month I return to playwright interviews by talking to playwright Emery Schaffer about her play A My Name is Allison. We discuss her inspirations, our mutual love of Harry Potter Clue, my own desires to write a play, and confirm whole-heartedly that this piece is NOT auto-biographical. The Scene featured in this month’s episode features actors Shaun Yates, Julianne Schaub, Miranda Thompson, and Robert Gene Pellechio.

Elephant Room Productions presents, “Take Care,” the fourth audio play of The Fifth Vital Sign. Before the nation turned its attention to the opioid epidemic, chronic pain patients and the people who loved them had long experienced the consequences of overprescription. Once the impact was addressed, they faced the new challenge of abrupt changes in their care plans aimed to get people off of medications they never should have been given for long-term use. “Take Care” explores the impact this has on a marriage where ‘in sickness’ loses the certainty of ‘in health,’ leaving a woman desperate to be free from her pain. This audio play is written by Caity-Shea Violette, directed by Latrice Smith and features Catherine Natale and Conor Cahill. Music: Home – By Whitesand (https://youtu.be/3r8gL1vWGx0). To learn more about The Fifth Vital Sign and listen to other audio plays in the series, visit elephantroomproductions.com.

Elephant Room Productions debuts the fourth audio play of The Fifth Vital Sign on September 27th. Stay tuned to elephantroomproductions.com and our podcast, the Trumpet, to listen to the audio play. Before the nation turned its attention to the opioid epidemic, chronic pain patients and the people who loved them had long experienced the consequences of overprescription. Once the impact was addressed, they faced the new challenge of abrupt changes in their care plans aimed to get people off of medications they never should have been given for long-term use. “Take Care” explores the impact this has on a marriage where ‘in sickness’ loses the certainty of ‘in health,’ leaving a woman desperate to be free from her pain. Music: Home – By Whitesand (https://youtu.be/3r8gL1vWGx0).

Elephant Room Productions presents the third audio play of The Fifth Vital Sign. In “Couch,” Edie knits in her living room, where the only furniture left is a couch. When her troubled son Jacob arrives and wants to take her couch from her, Edie declares enough. As mother and son fight over the last piece of furniture in the house, the events that lead them to this point are finally laid bare. This audio play is written by Shannon Murdoch, directed by Elizabeth Potter and features Michelle Thomas-Hanson and Topher Naylor. Music: Home – By Whitesand (https://youtu.be/3r8gL1vWGx0). To learn more about The Fifth Vital Sign and listen to other audio plays in the series, visit elephantroomproductions.com.

Elephant Room Productions debuts the third audio play of The Fifth Vital Sign on August 30th. Stay tuned to elephantroomproductions.com and our podcast, the Trumpet, to listen to the audio play. In “Couch,” Edie knits in her living room, where the only furniture left is a couch. When her troubled son Jacob arrives and wants to take her couch from her, Edie declares enough. As mother and son fight over the last piece of furniture in the house, the events that lead them to this point are finally laid bare. Music: Home – By Whitesand (https://youtu.be/3r8gL1vWGx0).