As You Mic It: In the Spotlight explores two very different journeys from page to stage.

Connie Behringer welcomes Young Company members India Profitt and Ian Higgins to discuss Sheila the Magical, Jason King Jones' original family musical. They share their experience as Young Company artists, introduce the story behind the production, and perform "Take Care," an original song by Pax Ressler and Jason King Jones that offers a glimpse into the challenges at the center of the story.

Later, Jason King Jones sits down with director Matt Pfeiffer to discuss Ken Ludwig's Moriarty, the inventive theatrical adventure inspired by Sherlock Holmes. Their conversation explores adapting familiar characters for the stage, bringing fresh perspective to one of literature's greatest rivalries, and Matt's history and future with PSF.

From an original musical to a classic mystery reimagined, this episode celebrates the many ways theatre invites audiences into unforgettable stories.

Hosts: Jason King Jones and Connie Behringer

Guests: Ian Higgins, India Profitt, and Matt Pfeiffer

Additional Music: Pax Ressler and Lyrics by Jason King Jones

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As You Mic It: In the Spotlight welcomes two longtime Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival friends, Karen Peakes and Ian Merrill Peakes, for a conversation about theatre, family, and a Festival they have helped shape for decades.

Jason King Jones sits down with Karen and Ian to discuss performing together in this season's rotating repertory productions of Romeo and Juliet and Moriarty, the unique experience of balancing marriage, parenthood, and life as working actors.

They also reflect on their years at PSF, the friendships that have endured, and the moments that continue to bring them back each summer. Filled with laughter, stories from behind the scenes, and a few unexpected detours, this episode celebrates the artists, relationships, and sense of community that have become part of the Festival's legacy.

Host: Jason King Jones

Guests: Karen Peakes and Ian Merrill Peakes

• Ken Ludwig's Moriarty at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
• AYMI: Moriarty Prologue
• AYMI: Romeo and Juliet - Prologue
• Romeo & Juliet at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

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Collaboration makes great theatre!

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As You Mic It: In the Spotlight celebrates Community Day at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival with a special episode highlighting the people, stories, and traditions that have shaped PSF for 35 seasons.

Artistic Director Jason King Jones sits down with longtime festival, Suzanne O'Donnell, to reflect on her history with PSF, raising a family alongside the company, and watching the Festival grow into the community it is today.

Later, Jason welcomes Arrianna Daniels, Darin "Frankie" Earl II, Mark Yowakim, and Eli Lynn for a conversation about finding their way back to PSF. They share what it means to return to a company that feels like home, how they describe the Festival to artists who have never experienced it, and the friendships and artistic community that make each season unique.

Between conversations, our friends weighs in on an absurd reading of AITA, proving that even the world's greatest consulting detective and his adversaries aren't immune to modern internet judgment.

The episode closes with a special performance from the Young Company, featuring an original song inspired by As You Like It and written by Ryan Plunkett, celebrating the creativity and talent that continue to shape the Festival's future.

Whether you've been with PSF since the beginning or are joining us for the first time, this Community Day episode is a celebration of the artists, audiences, and community that have made the Festival feel like home for 35 seasons.

Host: Jason King Jones

Guests: Arrianna Daniels, Darin Earl II, Suzanne O'Donnell, Mark Yowakim, and the PSF Young Company cast of As You Like It

PSF Young Company Cast: Tyler Borneo, Ian Higgins, Mariana Marcel, Mayrali Melendez, Joanna McShaffry, Teddy Novak, Ryan Plunkett, India Profitt, Isabella Stevens

• AYMI: Suzanne O'Donnell returns to PSF
• AYMI: Romeo and Juliet - Prologue
• Moriarty at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
• Romeo & Juliet at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

Mentioned in this episode:

Collaboration Makes Great Theatre

Collaboration makes great theatre, both onstage and off. Support PSF today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/

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As You Mic It: In the Spotlight turns its attention to Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy of young love, family conflict, and lives changed in an instant.

In this episode, Artistic Director Jason King Jones sits down with Maya Jean and Austin Nedrow, the actors portraying Juliet and Romeo in this summer’s production. Their conversation explores the experience of stepping into two of theatre’s most recognizable roles, the process of building trust and connection as scene partners, and the challenges of bringing fresh life to a story audiences often think they already know.

Together, they discuss their first encounters with Shakespeare, the work of finding their own path through these characters, and the emotional and physical demands of performing one of the canon’s most celebrated plays. Along the way, they share stories from rehearsal, reflections on collaboration, and what it means to create a Romeo and Juliet that belongs to this company, this moment, and this audience.

Host: Jason King Jones

Guests: Maya Jean, Austin Nedrow

• AYMI: Suzanne O'Donnell returns to PSF
• AYMI: Romeo and Juliet - Prologue
• Romeo & Juliet at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

Mentioned in this episode:

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Collaboration makes great theatre!

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As You Mic It: In the Spotlight heads into the witty, whirlwind world of The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged, a fast-paced celebration of one of literature’s most beloved authors.

In this episode, we sit down with actors Madeleine Garcia and David Pica to talk about bringing Austen's characters, themes, and enduring appeal to life in a production that is equal parts tribute, comedy, and theatrical mischief. Their conversation explores the passionate world of Janeites, the challenge of condensing Austen's novels into one evening of theatre, and the joy of creating a show that welcomes devoted Austen fans while delighting audiences encountering her work for the first time.

Together, they discuss the art of adaptation, the fun of playing multiple roles, and why Austen's stories continue to resonate more than two centuries after they were written. From literary devotion to theatrical chaos, this episode offers a lively look behind the scenes of one of the season's most playful productions.

Hosted by: Jason King Jones, Connie Behringer

Guests: Madeleine Garcia, David Pica

Mentioned in this episode:

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Collaboration makes great theatre!

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Subscriptions for the 2026 Summer Theatre Series

pashakespeare.org/tickets/

As You Mic It: In the Spotlight turns its attention to Million Dollar Quartet, the electrifying musical inspired by the legendary night when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis gathered at Sun Records and made music history.

In this episode, Artistic Director Jason King Jones sits down with Jeremy Sevelovitz (Carl Perkins) and John Gardiner (Sam Phillips) to explore the people behind the influential figures in the birth of rock and roll. Their conversation looks at the friendships that shape these performances, the real-life relationship between Perkins and Phillips, and the challenge of portraying larger-than-life figures while honoring the humanity that made them remarkable.

Later, Connie Behringer speaks with director Jim Helsinger about bringing Million Dollar Quartet to the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival stage. Drawing on his decades of experience as a director, actor, and artistic leader, Helsinger reflects on working with a cast of exceptional actor-musicians, the thrill of recreating a pivotal moment in music history, and what makes this production both a celebration of iconic songs and a compelling piece of theatre.

Together, these conversations offer a closer look at the artists, collaborators, and creative process behind one of the most energetic productions of the season.

Hosted by: Jason King Jones, Connie Behringer

Guests: Jeremy Sevelovitz, John Gardiner, Jim Helsinger

• Follow John Gardiner as Sam Phillips on Facebook
• Follow Chance Michael Wall as Johnny Cash on Instagram
• Follow Nick Voss as Elvis Presley on Instagram
• Dominique Scott as Jerry Lee Lewis
• Jeremy Sevelovitz as Carl Perkins
• Million Dollar Quartet at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

Mentioned in this episode:

Become an Underwriter Today!

Contact podcast@pashakespeare.org for more information.

Subscriptions for the 2026 Summer Theatre Series

pashakespeare.org/tickets/

Collaboration makes great theatre!

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The 2026 PA Shakespeare Festival's Summer Theatre Series means weekly drops As You Mic It: In the Spotlight! PSF welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and director James Ijames and actor Akeem Davis for a conversation about August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, the production opening the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s 2026 season.

Host Connie Behringer explores the power of Wilson’s work, the joy in this presentation, and the questions that continue to make The Piano Lesson resonate with audiences today. James reflects on his approach to directing the play, its place within Wilson’s Century Cycle, and the balance between honoring a celebrated text and discovering something new within it. Akeem shares his experience stepping into the world of the Charles family, the challenges and rewards of the role, and what makes this story such a vital piece of American theatre.

Together, they discuss memory, legacy, family, and the ways the past continues to shape the choices we make in the present. Whether you are preparing to see the production or revisiting Wilson’s masterpiece, this episode offers a closer look at the artists bringing The Piano Lesson to life at PSF.

Hosted by: Jason King Jones

Guests: Akeem Davis and James Ijames

• August Wilson's The Piano Lesson at PSF
• Single tickets are now on sale!
• James Ijames

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Single Tickets on Sale Now

Get ready for Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s 2026 Legends and Legacy Season with As You Mic It: The Prologues. In this mini-episode, we step into Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, a gripping portrait of power, pride, and political conflict. Presented as part of PSF’s Extreme Shakespeare series, this production embraces original practices: no director, no designers, and an ensemble of actors working at full speed with only the text and each other to guide the way. Raw, immediate, and charged with momentum, Coriolanus examines the uneasy relationship between leadership and public opinion as one celebrated military hero struggles to navigate the demands of politics and the will of the people. Join us for a closer look at one of Shakespeare’s most urgent and fiercely debated tragedies.

Single tickets are now on sale at pashakespeare.org or by calling the box office at (610) 282-9455.

Hosted by: Kim Carson

• Coriolanus at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

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