Steps To The Stage
A Seventh Street Theatre Podcast highlighting all things theatre related. Our focus is community/regional theatre as well as school drama departments.
Episodes
This holiday story gets new gears. We sit down with the Riverside Community Players team bringing a steampunk A Christmas Carol to life—complete with in‑the‑round staging, layered costumes, and a cast that looks and sounds like Riverside. From the first “God bless us” to the final curtain, the conversation uncovers how a first-time director balances reverence for Dickens with the courage to reimagine the world he wrot...
A small stage, a big cast, and a 1940s reset bring fresh heart to Miracle on 34th Street as we explore belief, courage, and community. We share how volunteers, teachers, and first-timers shape a classic into something intimate, warm, and alive.
• why we chose Miracle on 34th Street and set it in the 1940s
• how a large ensemble, kids to grandparents, powers the show
• Doris Walker’s arc as a frank, wo...
Power is easy to claim and hard to carry—especially when the rules fall away. We take you inside a bold staging of Lord of the Flies led by a first-time director who turns rehearsal into a living workshop on leadership, morality, and what it means to build a tribe. The twist: two full casts, one male and one female, telling the same story from different lived experiences to expose how gender, socialization, and pressu...
What happens when dreams wait too long? This timeless question drives Lorraine Hansberry's masterpiece A Raisin in the Sun, now coming to life at Chino Community Theater under TonI Lynd's passionate direction.
Set in 1950s Chicago, the play follows a family whose members each nurture distinct dreams while sharing cramped quarters in a run-down apartment. As director Toni explains, "Each one of ...
Dive into the fascinating world of forgotten theatrical treasures with our premiere episode of Steps to the Stage Inland Empire! We're pulling back the curtain on Agatha Christie's "Towards Zero," a mystery play with a remarkable history that vanished from the stage for decades after its American debut in the 1940s.
Director Christopher Diehl and cast members Emma Kuhn and Veronique Poutre...
Step into the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss as 7th Street Community Theatre presents "Seussical the Musical," a production where imagination takes center stage and the boundaries between reality and fantasy beautifully blur.
This episode of Steps to the Stage takes listeners behind the curtain with the creative team bringing this beloved show to life. At the heart of this production is Mickey Estrell...
What happens when actors become directors? The latest episode of Steps to the Stage takes you behind the scenes with the creative team of "Urinetown the Musical" as they prepare for opening night at 7th Street Community Theatre.
Co-directors Luke Hooganraad and Marcy Pinedo share the exhilarating and sometimes overwhelming experience of their directorial debuts after years of performing on stage. &q...
Dive into the enchanting world of "The Mole Hill Stories" with director Jesse Pyle as she unveils the creative journey behind Chino Community Theater's latest production. This magical bilingual adaptation transforms three beloved children's tales by Lois Ehlert into a celebration of friendship, nature, and cultural diversity.
What makes this production truly special is its focus on develop...
What happens when a teacher trusts students to create theatrical magic? In this captivating conversation from Ayala High School's drama department, we discover how one unexpected career twist transformed English teacher Madeline Sherritt into a theater director who puts students firmly in the driver's seat.
Technical Director Aiden Kitavis and Assistant Director Karly Welsh share their journeys from...
How often do audiences get to experience a play directed by its own playwright? In this enlightening episode of Steps to the Stage, we take you behind the scenes of "Bending the Spoon," part of Chino Community Theatre's Three on the Edge Festival, where writer-director Ken Lay brings his own creation to life.
The play centers on a three-generation family preparing to celebrate a sweet sixteen b...
Regret, change, and the peculiar state of limbo take center stage in our riveting conversation with the cast and director of "Savage in Limbo," part of Chino Community Theatre's Three on the Edge Festival. This John Patrick Shanley one-act transports audiences to a seedy Bronx bar circa 1984, where five characters who've known each other since grade school find their lives unexpectedly intersecting...
Death has a way of revealing who we truly are. In this captivating episode of Steps to the Stage, we dive deep into one of the most intriguing productions in the Three on the Edge Festival – "Breathing Corpses" by British playwright Laura Wade.
Director Lauren Bell and actors John Nisbet and Amanda Flanagan take us behind the scenes of this darkly comedic play that unfolds in reverse chronological o...
A 1200-pound puppet in two massive crates. A first-time actor at age 54. A female voice for the traditionally male Audrey II. This is not your average Little Shop of Horrors—and that's precisely what makes it special.
The creative team behind 7th Street Community Theater's upcoming production sits down to reveal how they're transforming this beloved cult musical for their intimate stage. Direct...
Discover the magic of Schoolhouse Rock as our talented team discusses the evocation of childhood nostalgia and the fostering of creativity in youth theater. The episode resonates with stories that intertwine personal experiences with educational foundations in theater.
• Introduction to Schoolhouse Rock live
• The conceptual backbone of Schoolhouse Rock's storytelling
• Collaboration and mentor...
The episode highlights Ontario High School's thriving theater program, focusing on its recent renovations and the upcoming production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The conversation emphasizes the importance of student involvement, community support, and the transformative power of theater in fostering creativity and collaboration among young individuals.
• Recent theater renovations enhancing stu...
What happens when the joys and sorrows of life unfold in a Southern salon filled with laughter and tears? Join us on Steps to the Stage as we welcome director Dona Rice and cast members Stephanie and Jessie, who bring "Steel Magnolias" to life with remarkable warmth and depth. Dona shares a heartfelt synopsis, highlighting the resilience of Southern women against the backdrop of this beloved classic. Stephan...
What if you could bring the charm of a 1940s radio play to the stage, all while presenting the venerable classic, It's A Wonderful Life? On "Steps to the Stage," we explore this intriguing blend with director Chris Diehl and actors Philip Kasinski, Lourie Deards Chase, and Danny Chase as they breathe new life into "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play." Our guests share how this innov...
What happens when hope meets creativity? Dona Rice, an intuitive medium and author, alongside Diana Herweck, a seasoned therapist and counselor, invite you to embark on an emotional journey in their premiere podcast episode featuring LA-based performer and creative powerhouse Brianna McDonnell. We promise you’ll encounter stories that illuminate the path of resilience and growth, drawing inspiration from Brianna'...
Allison and Marlee, the visionary directors of a unique community theater production of "Carrie," join us to share their intriguing adaptation of Stephen King's classic tale. Set against the backdrop of the 1970s, this take on "Carrie" revives the musical version, infusing it with the raw energy of King's novel and De Palma's film. Our conversation unveils Sue as the central storytel...
Curious about how a high school theater department thrives in today's competitive extracurricular landscape? Join us on "Steps to the Stage" as we shine a spotlight on the Claremont High School theater department. We'll kick off our journey with an intimate conversation with Director Mohamed Mangrio, who shares his inspiring path to leading this energetic program. Alongside him, Avin Bessono, co-pr...
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