What’s Off?
What’s Off? - a production of A.R.T./New York, is the podcast that shines the spotlight on Off-Broadway innovation! Each episode features interviews with trailblazing artists, administrations, service providers, and other theatre workers in the Off and Off-Off Broadway community. Guests discuss times they realized something was “off”, but don’t let the title fool you! We don’t dwell on problems - we’re here to take a deep dive into the solutions that will have a lasting impact on our field.
Episodes
On this episode of “What’s Off?”, our co-host Nicky Maggio sat down for a chat with George Strus, the Founding Artistic Director of Breaking the Binary Theatre (BTB). George is a Tony Award-nominated and Obie Award-winning Latiné producer and dramaturg based in New York.
After noticing a major gap in theater initiatives for trans and nonbinary theatermakers, George set out to make a festival to support transgender, non-binary, and...
Caylin Waller, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Theatre Advocacy Project, is a passionate lifelong learner and a fierce advocate for creating braver spaces that combat harmful behaviors in the theatrical workplace. Drawing from her personal experiences and extensive research, Caylin empowers organizations to enhance their Human Resources practices by offering tailored resources and hands-on training for both staff and indiv...
To help build community, and to best support collaboration and resource sharing, A.R.T./New York hosts semi-annual membership convenings. In this special episode of What’s Off?, hosts Nicky Maggio and Ashley J. Hicks take a trip down memory lane to highlight some of their favorite moments from our 2023 Fall Forum and 2024 Spring Summit.
First, they revisit clips from a panel discussion on “Marketing and Audience Development” featu...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is beginning to shake up nearly every creative industry, and live theatre is no exception. From generative world building to revamping the way the audiences engage with the work, this revolutionary new technology is pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
In this episode, A.R.T./New York’s z. Quinn Reynolds interviews actor, creator and director Tjaša Ferme and multi-disciplinary designer Will Lowry...
Access to affordable space has always been a concern for New York City theatre makers; this episode shines the spotlight on some visionary leaders who recognized the need for more artistic space and decided to do something about it! Despite some closures during the COVID-19 lockdown and ever-rising real estate costs, the story of New York City’s artistic venues may actually be one of evolution and rebirth.
Tune in as leaders from ...
As a multi-hyphenate theatremaker, dramaturg, and Associate Producer at Soho Rep, Sam Morreale inhabits many spaces within the theatrical field. They are guided by the words of Toni Cade Bambara, holding dear the idea that “the role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible” - and Sam’s role is to hold space so that theater artists can bring their fullest selves into the rehearsal room.
Tune in as host Nicky Maggio chats...
Many longstanding theater organizations in New York City and across the country are experiencing changes in administrative and artistic leadership. These individuals may be new to their positions, but they bring years of experience and fresh ideas to the field and to their new theatrical homes.
A.R.T./New York Co-Executive Director Talia Corren sat down with Amanda Feldman of Classic Stage Company and Patricia McGregor of New Yor...
As the team at Roundabout Theatre Company considered the significant barriers to entry for potential technical theatre workers, they realized something was “off”. So, they created the Theatrical Workforce Development Program (TWDP) - a partnership between Roundabout Theatre Company and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE.) TWDP offers participants hands-on, work-based training in four technical discipli...
Since 2004, Theresa Buchheister has found themselves in a veritable slew of non-conventional New York City theatre and performance spaces. Their lifelong pursuit of creating collaborative, experimental work has made them a beloved community leader. Today, Theresa has refocused their energy toward supporting other scrappy artists and career experimenters. Along the way, they’ve affirmed that theatre is most definitely NOT dead, and...
Rebecca KellyG went from being a musical theatre college student to a civil rights attorney. Along the way, she noticed some things that felt similarly “off” about these vastly different spaces. Through establishing an artistic practice as a healing artist and facilitator, Rebecca learned that in order to challenge systems, we must first harmonize with the self for both personal and collective liberation.
Tune in to listen as A.R....
In the Spring of 2023, Executive Director Michelle Preston, Producing Director Megan Carter, and Managing Director Brad Carlin sat down with David E. Shane to talk about the long road toward sunsetting the organization. SITI Company was an ensemble-based theater company whose three components were the creation of new work, the training of theater artists, and a commitment to crossing boundaries. Our guests discussed how they went a...
After 25 years of experience in the theatre industry as a performer, Tavia Rivée Jefferson realized her very unique skill set made her a perfect fit for an emerging need in the rehearsal room, but this time, behind the table. Tavia created the role of Cultural Coordinator - a mediator, moderator, resource, and liaison to support cultural sensitivities in the artistic space.
Tune in to listen as Host Ashley Hicks chats with Tavia ...
As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), theatrical interpreter Lynnette Taylor grew up with sign language as her first language - her home language. When she moved to San Francisco to attend the Academy of Art, no one told her that she would be separated from her first language in an all-hearing environment. Lynnette realized something was off when she met a Deaf man looking for an interpreter to participate in the 504 Sit-in, a civil ri...
In 1972, a group of New York theatre makers realized something was “off” when they noticed the limited amount of funding and resources available for their community. This group set out to fill in some of those gaps, and thus OOBA (the Off-Off Broadway Alliance) was formed!
“It was because of OOBA that we were organized and that all of this happened. It wasn't random. We were very organized and we were right at that moment. At that ...
In this special episode of “What’s Off?” A.R.T./New York Co-Executive Director Risa Shoup explores what it means to be a caregiver and to be cared for as a working theatre professional. Risa speaks with Tony nominee Amber Gray who has practical solutions about how to shift the culture of care on Broadway. Nonprofit theater leader Roberta Pereira talks about The Radical Parent Inclusion Project - a partnership between PAAL and The ...
The Alliance of Resident Theatres/ New York presents, “What’s Off?” - a podcast that shines the spotlight on Off-Broadway innovation! Each episode features interviews with trailblazing artists, administrations, service providers, and other theatre workers in the Off and Off-Off Broadway community.
Season One features innovators such as ASL Interpreter and Disability Justice Advocate Lynnette Taylor and Cultural Coordinator Tavia Ri...
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