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.

Playwright, lyricist, and dramaturg Arianna Rose returns to Lights Up! for a heartfelt conversation about MAKE MULCH FROM IT, a 15-minute drama that tenderly explores the aftershocks of love lost, the ache of unresolved endings, and the longing to heal. Arianna reflects on how she turned heartbreak into art and honors the sacredness of memory. We also explore her process as a teacher and ever-evolving writer, and how she draws on history and personal experience to ground her work.

Keep an eye for Arianna's other exciting works in development!

• Musical: A Collectible Sensation—a bold, time-bending journey where the Cone sisters, Gertrude Stein, and Alice Toklas confront love, art, and the power of unapologetic selfhood.

• Play: The Lesser Leyendecker—a rich, memory-driven play exploring art, addiction, and identity through the lives of illustrators Frank and Joe Leyendecker.

Play Starts (1:00)

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Conversation Starts (18:34)

Actors:

Gordon: Joel Sanchez-Avantes

Susan: Claire Bartlett

Directed by Garry Lee Posey

Soundscape by Eric "Red" Wyatt

Links to follow Arianna:

Arianna's Website

SoundCloud

Facebook

Instagram: @ariannarosewritesmusicals

Bluesky: @ariannarose.bsky.social

Threads: ariannarosewritesmusicals

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In this episode we welcome back Nashville-based playwright Judy Klass with her play WHAT WE CAST OFF, WHAT WE KEEP, a story rooted in metamorphosis and personal transformation. The conversation explores breakups, loss, and the complexities of navigating estrangement in relationships. We reflect on storytelling, unexpected collaboration, and the emotional growth that emerges from life’s most difficult transitions.

Play Starts (0:55)

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Conversation Starts (30:34)

Actors:

Janet: Carrie Sutton

Molly: Karen Henderson

Stanley: Jason Russell

Directed by Garry Lee Posey

Soundscape by Eric "Red" Wyatt

Links to follow Judy:

Judy's Website

New Play Exchange

Vanderbilt University Faculty Bio

Substack

Spotify

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

In this episode, we welcome returning Australian playwright and award-winning storyteller Adam Szudrich to discuss his creative journey from playwriting to filmmaking. Adam shares how personal experiences and cultural folklore influenced the themes of his play FAIRIES, exploring faith, fate, and defiance. We reflect on the privilege of storytelling, the balance between distraction and escapism in theater, and Adam's recent runaway success with the heartwarming short film Slow Dating, which has won over 50 international awards.

Play Starts (1:12)

Conversation with Adam (8:20)

Actors:

Teenager: Claire Bartlett

Directed by Garry Lee Posey

Soundscape by Eric "Red" Wyatt

Links to follow Adam:

adamszudrich.com

New Play Exchange

IMDB

LinkedIn

Facebook

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

In this episode, we welcome Austin, TX based Audrey Webb, an award-winning playwright and screenwriter, to discuss her creative journey from acting to writing. Audrey shares how her background in improv—Theatre Sports at Vancouver’s Improv Centre and Toronto’s The Second City—influences her work, and dives into the themes of her play BURIED—exploring grief, using humor as a coping mechanism, and the writer's responsibility to portray truth, even in fictional narratives.

Play Starts (0:47)

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Conversation with Audrey (8:41)

Actors:

Tyler: Eric "Red" Wyatt

Chloe: Jessica Weaver

Directed by Garry Lee Posey

Soundscape by Eric "Red" Wyatt

Links to follow Audrey:

New Play Exchange

IMDB

LinkedIn

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In this episode of the Lights Up! podcast, Mark Blankenship shares his insights on creating immersive experiences, reflecting on the significance of movement in narrative influenced by his love of the Greek tragedy. The discussion highlights the evolving nature of theatre and the shared responsibility of storytellers and audiences in shaping demand for fresh perspectives.

Beyond his work as a playwright, Mark Blankenship is a seasoned arts journalist and editor. His contributions have appeared in esteemed publications such as The New York Times, Variety, and American Theatre. Mark's multifaceted career also includes roles as a dramaturg and filmmaker, underscoring his diverse impact on the arts community.

Play Starts (1:01)

Conversation with Mark (10:44)

Actors:

Tom Baxter: SJ Lester

Wick Wallace: Joel Sanchez-Avantes

Greg Hughes: Caleb Sexton

Directed by Garry Lee Posey

Soundscape by Eric "Red" Wyatt

Links to follow Mark:

Website: markgblankenship.com/bylines

Twitter/Instagram: @IAmBlankenship​

Bluesky: markblankenship.bsky.social

Substack: lostsongs.substack.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-blankenship-0118776/

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