Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia

This episode features an interview with theater professionals Blanca Ziska and Patrice Ceterlini-Adams, discussing their careers and contributions to Philadelphia theater.

This episode features an interview with Sara Garonzik, the Executive Producing Director Emeritus of the Philadelphia Theatre Company, discussing her 35-year career spearheading the company's growth and mission to produce new American plays and musicals.

This encore episode features a reading from Thomas H.

This encore episode explores the life and legacy of Paul Robeson through historical recordings, interviews, an on-site tour, and music, including an excerpt from Shakespeare's Othello.

This episode revisits and remixes the story of Philadelphia's Theatre of the Living Arts, focusing on its modern history starting from 1963 on South Street, with an added book reading about its final days.

This episode explores the Philadelphia out-of-town tryout period of the classic American musical 'The Music Man' and its creator Meredith Wilson's background in music and theater.

This episode explores Philadelphia's surprising role in the creation of the classic American musical 'Guys and Dolls', despite its quintessential New York setting and style.

This episode features an interview with Joe Canuso, founder of Theater Exile, discussing Philadelphia theater history and dedicating the conversation to the memory of actor Tom McCarthy.

This episode explores the history of the Philadelphia Drama Guild, a major professional non-profit theater in Philadelphia from the 1970s through the 1990s, tracing its roots back to early 20th-century amateur theater movements and acting classes.

This episode explores a 1977 interview with playwright Albert Innaurato discussing the commercial success of his play 'Gemini' on Broadway and the challenges of the theater marketplace.

This episode explores three significant Philadelphia theaters from the 1970s—Walnut Street Theater, Tomlinson and Randall theaters at Temple University, and the Annenberg Center at University of Pennsylvania—and their role in shaping non-profit and educational theater in the city.

This episode introduces Season 4 of the podcast, which will cover the modern era of Philadelphia theater from the mid-1960s to the present day, focusing on the non-profit theater movement and the growth of theater companies in the region.

This episode features an encore presentation of a 2023 tour and interview with Bernard Havard, the producing artistic director of Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theater, exploring its historical and modern significance in the city's theater scene.

This episode features an interview with playwright Bruce Graham, discussing his four-decade career in Philadelphia theater, his notable plays and awards, and his contributions as a teacher and artistic director.

This episode interviews Seth Rozin, founder of InterAct Theater Company, exploring its history and impact on Philadelphia's non-profit theater scene since 1988.

This episode features an interview with legendary Philadelphia actor Tom Teti, exploring his career and memories in the local theater scene.

This episode explores the world premiere of Cole Porter's Broadway musical 'Kiss Me, Kate' in Philadelphia during the 1940s, connecting it to earlier theatrical productions like the Lunts' version of 'The Taming of the Shrew'.

This episode features an interview with Abigail Adams and Marsha Saunders, two prominent female theater professionals in Philadelphia, discussing their careers and their upcoming production of Steel Magnolias at People's Light Theater.

Host Peter Schmitz interviews Philadelphia actor Brian Anthony Wilson about his stage career and impact on the local theater scene.

This episode explores the history of Philadelphia's Freedom Theater, tracing its origins from a 19th-century brownstone once owned by actor Edwin Forrest through its transformation amid the African American community in North Philadelphia.

This encore episode explores the story of actor John Barrymore's connection to Philadelphia, featuring historical insights from Orson Welles and material from Thomas H.

This episode explores how archival materials from Philadelphia's theater history, specifically the Hedro Theater Company in the 1920s-30s, can inspire current artists and audiences rather than just evoke nostalgia.

This encore episode from 2022 features an interview with theater historian Barry Witham about Jasper Deeter and the Hedgerow Theatre, providing background for the upcoming season four on modern Philadelphia theater history.

The host announces that the podcast Adventures in Theater History Philadelphia has been published as a book, celebrating with the staff and sharing details about its availability.

This episode explores the history and legacy of the Philadelphia Festival Theater for New Plays through interviews with its founder Carol Rocamora and playwright Michael Hollinger, focusing on their contributions to developing contemporary American theater in Philadelphia during the 1980s and 90s.

This episode concludes Season 3 of Adventures in Theater History by exploring the end of Philadelphia's Tryout Town era, covering the impact of technologies like radio and TV, the rise and fall of vaudeville, and the internal politics of the Schuberts and New York theater world.

This episode explores the concept of Off-Off-Broad Street in Philadelphia, focusing on three small non-profit theaters from the 1960s-70s that grew into larger organizations.

This episode explores the 1970 musical adaptation 'Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen' in Philadelphia, set against the backdrop of 1960s-70s social changes and theatrical practices like yellow face.

This special episode celebrates the podcast's fifth anniversary by sharing archival content and previewing upcoming research on theater history in Philadelphia.

This episode features an interview with Tom Bissinger, a Philadelphia-based artist and director, discussing his theater work and personal stories not included in the host's book.

This episode explores Diana Barrymore's 1939 professional stage debut in Philadelphia with the play Outward Bound, detailing the production and its eerie premise.

This episode concludes a series on the Philadelphia Drama Guild's history by revisiting an interview with former artistic director Mary B.

This episode explores how Hollywood's influence permeated 1950s American theater, focusing on Philadelphia's role as a tryout town for Broadway shows and the migration of actors and writers between stage and screen.

This episode features an interview with Gregory Poggi, focusing on his role as head of the Philadelphia Drama Guild in the 1980s and his extensive career in American theater leadership.

This episode explores the origins of Philadelphia's Arden and Lantern Theater Companies from their starting point in a third-floor studio theater at the Walnut Street Theater complex.

This episode explores the origins of the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia through the personal stories of founders Yiri and Blanka Ziska, who immigrated to the US in 1977 and transformed the Wilma Project into a significant theater institution.

This episode explores a historical story about Hollywood, connected to Philadelphia's theater history, with present-day resonances, released during Oscar season.

This episode continues the narrative history of Philadelphia's Wilma Theater, featuring archival interviews with its longtime co-artistic directors Yiddy and Blanca Ziska.

This episode explores the history of musical theater in Philadelphia, focusing on the American Music Theater Festival, local theater companies, and the University of the Arts program, featuring an interview with theater specialist Charlie Gilbert.

This episode features an interview with legendary theater educator Robert Headley about Philadelphia theater history, despite significant technical recording challenges.

This special episode features a recorded panel discussion from the Museum of the American Revolution exploring the historical significance of the 18th-century play 'Cato' in relation to the American Revolution, George Washington, and Philadelphia theater.

This episode explores the history of the musical '1776' and its Philadelphia connections, despite not being created for the bicentennial or premiering in the city.

This episode begins a three-part series on the Wilma Theater's history in Philadelphia, featuring an interview with Marsha Ferguson, who wrote her PhD dissertation on the topic.

This episode recounts a historical event on January 1, 1800, when Congressman John Randolph delivered a controversial speech in Philadelphia's theater, criticizing the American Army as mercenaries and ragamuffins.

This episode explores the legacy of African-American theater artist Vinette Carroll through a conversation with curator Jarrell Henderson, focusing on her underappreciated work in Philadelphia's commercial theaters during the 1970s.

This episode explores the history of commercial theater productions in Philadelphia from 1960 to 1979, focusing on the 1960s as part one of a two-part series.

This episode explores the consequential tryout shows in Philadelphia from 1943 to 1950, connecting them to the city's and American theater's post-war transformation.

Host Peter Schmitz interviews Philadelphia actress Grace Gunglewski about her career and a historical tidbit about her performing the last strip tease at the Trocadero Theater.

This episode explores theater history in Philadelphia during 1939, focusing on the Lent season when fashion rules allowed attendees to wear street dress.

This encore episode explores the history of the Philadelphia Negro Unit of the Federal Theater Project during the 1930s, featuring interviews with experts Jonathan Shandell and Jarrell Henderson who discuss its impact on black theater and the challenges it faced.

This episode explores the peak of Philadelphia theater in the 1920s, focusing on 1927 as a record year for Broadway productions and its connection to the city's role as a tryout town.

The host discusses a 1928 book about John Drew's final Broadway tour in 1927 with the play Trelawney of the Wells.

Host interviews actress Penelope Reed about her experiences with Hedgerow Theatre Company and Philadelphia theater history.

An interview with theater director Mary B.

This episode explores the history and cultural significance of the Mummer's Parade in Philadelphia, tying it to local theater traditions.