What happens when a story refuses to be forgotten? The Return of Benjamin Lay isn’t just a play—it’s a powerful lesson in courage, creativity, and using your voice for change. In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I sit down with the producers of the production coming to The Sheen Center this March to talk about bringing this revolutionary abolitionist’s story to the stage.
You’ll hear how bold storytelling can challenge the status quo, why creative work has the power to shift perspectives, and what you can do to make your own impact. If you’re a storyteller, entrepreneur, or changemaker, this episode is for you. And if you can, go see the show at The Sheen Center, March 14 – April 6, 2025—it’s one you won’t forget.
JOSEPH W. RODRIGUEZ is an actor, writer, and Producing Artistic Director of Playhouse Creatures (where he has produced over thirty plays). For PCTC: STILL LIFE (with Ancram Opera House), EXECUTION OF JUSTICE, The Two-Character Play ( 2017 New York/ The Duo Theatre), New Orleans (2018 Southern Rep); Mrs. Packard (with Bridge Rep), One Flea Spare, More Stars Then There Are In Heaven, Hunter/ Gatherers, Charlotte The Destroyer, Love Song, 6xTenn, Closer, The Libertine (The Kirk, Theatre Row), and The Libertine (with Bridge Rep – IRNE Nomination, Best Actor). Other NYC: Buffalo Hair with Jeffrey Wright (The Public Theater); The Normal Heart with Bobby Cannavale (The Duo Theatre); Richard III with Austin Pendleton, Macbeth – title role (New Perspectives); Linnehan’s Daughter (Naked Angels); Landscape of the Body, Hurlyburly (T. Schreiber Studios); Innocent Erendira – world premiere with Miriam Colon (Repertorio Espanol). Regional: Hamlet with Mark Rylance, King Lear with F. Murray Abraham (A.R.T.); Iphigenia (The Huntington); Children of the Sun (The Kennedy Center); A Streetcar Named Desire, American Buffalo, Safe Sex, A Christmas Carol (The New Ehrlich Boston); Vieux Carre, Breaking the Code – Best Supporting Actor, Boston Herald (The Triangle Theatre); The Boys Next Door with Lance Reddick (Worcester Forum Theatre). TV/ FILM: Glory, The Opposite of Sex, Desolation Angels, Against the Law, Guiding Light, As the World Turns, Another World, the titular character in Sci-Fi Channel’s Cameron Grant. He is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA.
ARSALAN SATTARI PRODUCTIONS: Since 2012 Arsalan Sattari Productions has commissioned, developed, licensed, and produced shows by world-class artists, to critical acclaim and commercial success, within the London fringe, West End, and festivals. They are interested in new writing, UK and European premieres, historical plays and characters rarely portrayed on stage. They are proud to have built a reputation of producing top acclaimed American playwrights in the UK. Arsalan is an Honorary Associate Producer at the multi-award winning Finborough Theatre, London, and Creative Director and CEO of StageBlock, working with some of the most renowned talents and global institutions to bring performing arts into the wider art market.
Learn more and get tickets.https://playhousecreatures.org/events/the-return-of-benjamin-lay/
https://www.sheencenter.org/events/detail/the-return-of-benjamin-lay
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series
One Minute Movies
Flip Your Inner Script to Stop Negative Thoughts From Ruining Your Day.
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link) URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.