Stage Combat: A Mental Health Story
Welcome to the groundbreaking podcast series about a leading actor who experiences a mental health crisis at one of the most powerful theatres in the country: The Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. All told like a true crime podcast. In 2019, Sean Hayden thought he had booked the role of his dreams at the prestigious Goodspeed in its production of "Billy Elliot, The Musical." As he drove over the Connecticut river and laid his eyes on the fairy tale Opera House for the first time, Sean had no idea what would be looming behind its doors. "Stage Combat: A Mental Health Story" takes the listener into the insular world of the theatre industry in which the unspoken rule is, “You are not supposed to speak up. Or there will be consequences.” If you thought all the drama happens on stage, wait until you hear what happens after the curtain closes in this immersive listening experience. In a unique format, each episode is followed by a short “post-show talk back” with Sean and a mental health professional. Together they unpack the issues presented in the episode in provocative conversations about mental health and the theatre industry. Binge two seasons now! Coming in 2024: Stage Combat moves away from the Goodspeed Opera House to showcase YOUR stories in Season 3!
Episodes
Listen to podcast creator Sean Hayden, of Haywood Productions, as he tells us why he created "Stage Combat: A Mental Health Story."
Listen to the Season One Mega Trailer of "Stage Combat: A Mental Health Story.”
Content warning: contains strong language.
Season 1 Episode 3
Synopsis: A replacement actor brought in two weeks before rehearsals for Billy Elliot may change everything for Sean.
Content warning: strong language.
Post Show Talk Back: Sean chats with clinical psychologist Dr. Michelle Sherman about her study with the American Psychological Association about the mental health effects acting can have on performing artists.
Directed and narrated b...
Season 1 Episode 2
Synopsis: Sean begins a closing working relationship with the Broadway director helming Billy Elliot at the Goodspeed.
Content warning: strong language; depiction of a panic attack.
Post Show Talk Back: Dr. Alisa Hurwitz joins Stage Combat to talk about the mental health story being portrayed on stage within the musical of Billy Elliot.
Directed and narrated by Sean Hayden for Haywood Prod...
PREMIERE EPISODE!
Synopsis: An actor gets a second chance late in his career by booking a leading role at one of the most prestigious and powerful theatres in the country.
Content warning: strong language.
Stay tuned at the end of this episode for a trailer of what's coming up this season on Stage Combat: A Mental Health Story.
Directed and narrated by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Pr...
Season 1, Episode 4
Synopsis: Things heat up on the Goodspeed stage during the stage combat sequences of Billy Elliot.
Content warning: strong language.
Post Show Talk Back: Sean chats with clinical psychologist Dr. Alisa Hurwitz about "consent" in the workplace.
Directed and narrated by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Podcast icon designed by Fran Pinter-Parrott.
Produced by Haywood...
Season 1, Episode 5. Synopsis: The director holds a meeting on stage with Chad, Sean and the stage manager; Sean attends the opening night party for Billy Elliot.
Post Show Talk Back: Sean chats with clinical psychologist Dr. Alisa Hurwitz about whether our bodies send us signals with they feel like they are in danger.
Directed and narrated by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Podcast icon designed by...
Season 1, Episode 6.
Synopsis: Chad has a plan. The Goodspeed kicks into high gear in response to Chad's allegations.
Content warning: strong language, including a homophobic slur.
Post Show Talk Back: Sean chats with actors Michael McGurk and Steven Bono, Jr. about bullying in the workplace.
Directed and narrated by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Podcast icon designed by Fran Pinter-P...
Season One, Episode 7.
Synopsis: Sean senses the Goodspeed is keeping something from him.
Content warning: strong language.
Post Show Talk Back: Sean chats with clinical psychologist Dr. Alisa Hurwitz about an essay by Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth about the fear actors have of speaking up about their safety for fear of being labeled "a problem."
Directed and narrated by Sean Hayden for ...
Season One, Episode 8.
Synopsis: The chaos at the Goodspeed affects Sean in a devastating way.
Content warning: Strong language; depiction of a panic attack
Post Show Talk Back: Sean chats with clinical psychologist Dr. Alisa Hurwitz about panic attacks.
Directed and narrated by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Podcast icon designed by Fran Pinter-Parrott.
Produced by Haywood Product...
SEASON FINALE. Season One, Episode 9.
Synopsis: Following the events of last night, Sean hopes the Goodspeed will finally take action.
Content warning: strong language.
Stay tuned after the story for scenes from Season Two of Stage Combat: A Mental Health Story.
Post Show Talk Back: Sean chats with clinical psychologist Dr. Alisa Hurwitz about the power of words when it comes to mental health.
D...
BONUS EPISODE
Sean and Stage Combat Voice Actor Ellen Warner answer listener questions about Season One. We're spilling the tea on all things Stage Combat!
Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD if you have not listened to all nine episodes of Season One.
Podcast icon designed by Fran Pinter-Parrott.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.
Sean Hayden is the CEO of Haywood Productions, LLC. As a profess...
Season Two Mega Trailer!
Are you ready for Season Two of the podcast that everyone in the performing arts community is talking about?
Season One was just the start of the story of what happened with Sean Hayden, an actor who landed his dream job at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. In Season One, Stage Combat showed you HOW a mental health crisis happened at one of the most powerful theatres...
BONUS EPISODE!
Sean and Imari Hardin, a New York City mental health counselor who also starred in the Tony award winning Broadway musical “Avenue Q” for five years, have a frank talk:
About what the theatre industry needs to do better when it comes to mental health.
Podcast icon designed by Fran Pinter-Parrott.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.
Sean Hayden is the CEO of Haywood Productions...
BONUS EPISODE! (Actually a bonus "nugget"). Ever wonder what went into the icon you see every time you listen to an episode of Stage Combat? Sean has a quick chat with the amazing Fran Pinter-Parrot, the designer of the icon, about the inspiration behind her design!
Podcast icon designed by Fran Pinter-Parrott.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.
Sean Hayden is the CEO of Haywood Productions, LL...
SEASON TWO PREMIERE! Season Two, Episode 1.
Synopsis: Following his collapse on the Opera House stage, Sean returns to work for the press performance of Billy Elliot.
Content warning: contains strong language; depiction of panic attack.
Post Show Talk Back: Clinical psychologist Dr. Alisa Hurwitz discusses with Sean the effect that silence can have on one’s mental health.
Podcast icon designed by Fran Pinter-Parr...
Season Two, Episode 3.
Synopsis: Things come to a head during the Friday night performance of Billy Elliot at the Goodspeed.
Content warning: contains strong language.
Post Show Talk Back: Clinical psychologist Dr. Michelle Sherman and Sean talk about actions theatres can take NOW to support the mental health of their performing artists.
Podcast icon designed by Fran Pinter-Parrott.
Produced by Haywood Productions, L...
Season Two, Episode 2.
SPECIAL DOUBLE EPISODE!
Synopsis: A flurry of memos may threaten Sean’s future at the Goodspeed / There’s a file with Sean’s name on it.
Content warning: contains strong language.
Post Show Talk Back: Clinical psychologist Dr. Alisa Hurwitz chats with Sean about “depersonalization.”
Podcast icon designed by Fran Pinter-Parrott.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.
Consult...
Season Two, Episode 4.
Synposis: Sean experiences the fallout of Chad’s latest allegation.
Content warning: contains strong language.
Post Show Talk Back: Clinical psychologist Dr. Michelle Sherman talks about the ripple effect of a mental health crisis.
Podcast icon designed by Fran Pinter-Parrott.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.
Consulting Producer, Ian Southwood of Southwood Productio...
BONUS EPISODE!
Audiences around the world know actor Rebecca Caine for originating the role of "Cosette" in Les Miserables and as one of the most iconic "Christine Daes" of Phantom of the Opera. But what many don't know about Rebecca is that she has her own harrowing "Stage Combat" story. Something that happened to her in the theatre industry almost thirty years ago.
For the first ...
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