In our final episode of Season 5, we sit down with playwright Noah Mannix, a Philly-based Rising Playwright with Azuka Theatre. They unpack Elephants Water Bones, a twenty‑five‑minute absurdist exploration of ritual, grief, and human connection born from poetic ethnography. We also talk about staying connected to theatre in all its forms—from writing to building sets. Noah reflects on collaborative workshops, their exploration of creative mediums, and their journey from Azuka’s one‑act series to community-based theater.

Play Starts (1:05)

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Conversation Starts (28:35)

Actors:

Amelia: Jessica Weaver

Dad: Jason Russell

Elephant/Meerkat: Caleb Sexton

Flesh/Infant: Deb Meeks

Directed by Garry Lee Posey

Soundscape by Eric "Red" Wyatt

Links to follow Noah:

Noah's Website

New Play Exchange

Instagram

Azuka Theatre Rising Writers

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In this episode, we spotlight Cactus, Texas, a surreal one-act play by Dane Futrell, a recent MFA graduate in Dramatic Writing from Arizona State University. Set in a bizarre Northern Texas wasteland, the play follows two best friends whose encounter with a drifter sparks an existential unraveling. Dane shares insights into archetypes, absurdism, and storytelling post-pandemic. We explore themes of friendship, trust, and navigating uncertainty—with humor, heart, and the surreal.

Play Starts (0:55)

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Conversation Starts (53:05)

Actors:

Lucie: Rachel Craig

Kenny: Que Howard

Eli: Deb Meeks

Stranger: Rachel Craig

Chad: Gage Miller

Directed by Garry Lee Posey

Soundscape by Eric "Red" Wyatt

Links to follow Dane:

New Play Exchange

Instagram

LinkedIn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Lights Up!, we welcome back award-winning playwright and lyricist Dana Leslie Goldstein to discuss her intimate two-hander, RED IN THE MORNING. Set against the stark quiet of a remote cabin, the play explores fractured family bonds and the high cost of survival. Dana reflects on the inspiration behind the piece, how grief shapes her characters’ voices, and the tension between escape and confrontation when the past refuses to stay buried.

Keep an eye out for Dana's exciting works in development available for licensing!

• LIBERTY: A MONUMENTAL MUSICAL – Off-Broadway cast recording available on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, and Broadway Records. Now available for licensing through Miracle or 2 Productions (NYC)

• NATURAL, UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, and RED IN THE MORNING – available via Next Stage Press: nextstagepress.com/licensing

• DAUGHTERS OF THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION – licensed outside NYC via Next Stage Press

Play Starts (1:02)

Conversation Starts (18:52)

Actors:

Mitch: Eric Wyatt

Evan: Gage Miller

Directed by Garry Lee Posey

Soundscape by Eric "Red" Wyatt

Links to follow Dana:

Dana's Website

New Play Exchange

Facebook

Instagram: @shadowlass18

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.