From Chaos to Creativity: Turning Real Life into Art

Why Fresh Hell Works: Dialogue that Sizzles and Makes You Laugh This week's Your Creative Table Read with Playwright Brian Cern and Actors Julie Brandon, Barry Wallace, and Izolda Trakhtenberg. Brian Cern, Playwright Brian Cern is a Twin Cities-based actor and playwright whose work has won numerous awards and contests throughout North America. A member of the Dramatists Guild, he received his training at Cardinal Stritch University, where his theatre and writing studies led him to a deep appreciation for the stories that unite us in the human condition. As parables, his work has been called “imaginative,” “beautifully soulful,” and “thought-provoking.” Of all the credits to his name, however, it is “Teaching Artist” for local children’s theaters that he treasures the most. He lives with his wife and son in suburban St. Paul, Minnesota.  

 

 

Julie Brandon as Mom

Julie Brandon is s playwright, poet, short story writer and lyricist. Her work has appeared in Bewildering Stories, Altered Reality, Detangled Brain, Corner Bar Magazine, Poetica Magazine, Fresh Words, Mini Plays Review and many others. Julie's poetry collection, My Tears Like Rain, was published June 2024. Her short plays have been produced nationally. Julie's plays are available on  Broken Art Entertainment 2024 series Summer Vibes and The Future and on several Theatrical Shenanigans podcast shows. A short play will be produced by RubySky productions in 2025. Julie lives near Chicago, IL.

Julie's New Play Exchange 

https://newplayexchange.org/users/12443/julie-brandon

For Theatrical Shenanigans - "Pulled From a Hat" https://theatricalshenanigans.podbean.com/e/two-year-anniversary-special/

https://theatricalshenanigans.podbean.com/e/mini-shenanigans-episode-3-can-you-get-there-from-here-by-julie-brandon/

Broken Art Entertainment -   Summer Vibes Anthology - The Astronomy Lesson and The Future Anthology - Someone's Lucky Day

Barry Wallace as Dad Barry Wallace has worked in Knoxville, TN community and professional theatre for over 30 years as a director, music director, actor and playwright. His original full-length play, THE SNALLYGASTER, is part of Tennessee Stage Company’s 2025 New Play Festival, and his short play, BLACK BALLOONS, won Best Screenplay at the 2022 "The Ten Show" Film Festival.   Social Media, etc: Facebook: @Barry.Wallace1 Instagram: @barrywallace NPX: https://newplayexchange.org/users/69726/barry-wallace   Izolda Trakhtenberg, Stage Directions Izolda Trakhtenberg is a playwright, scriptwriter, author, and voice actor who brings stories to life across stage, screen, and sound. Her plays Expiration Date (Off Broad Street Play Festival semifinalist) and A Slice of Democracy (produced by Nomad Theatre) challenge and engage audiences. She narrates corporate projects, animations, and commercials, with audiobook credits including The Ghost Next Door and Ocean City Lowdown. As host of The Your Creative Mind Podcast, she explores creativity’s power to transform lives. A published author of fiction and non-fiction, her works include Die By The Sword, book one in the Cassie Belmont Tarot Card Thrillers. Izolda blends storytelling and communication expertise to create work that resonates long after the final word.  

Connect with Izolda

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.b