This Wooden O
Two theatre nerds talking to cool people and saving the world one drink at a time. Every week, we introduce you to a brilliant artist and explore their unique point of view on making theater, particularly the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. Along the way, we hit peak geekitude on everything from Star Wars to Ancient Greek. This Wooden O is the official podcast of Queens, NYC based theater company Rude Grooms (rudegrooms.com) hosted by our Master of Casting and Company Management Daniel Kemper (danielkemperacts.com), and Master of the Revels Montgomery Sutton (montgomerysutton.com). Watch every episode in unedited form and tune into the conversation for livestreams of future episodes by becoming a patron at patreon.com/rudegrooms.
Episodes
This week, in true Shakespearean fashion, Monty reclaims the pod as a solo host! His first guest in his new and glorious podcast empire is actor/singer/casting-director, Daniel Kemper (www.montgomerysutton.com). Topics include:
- The fact that websites are, by definition, a tool for self-aggrandizement
- YouTube live chat questions
- Daniel’s belief in having an affinity to certain skills and how working hard can sometimes bridge th...
This week, in true Shakespearean fashion, Daniel stages a coup and takes over the podcast as a solo host! His first guest in his new and glorious podcast empire is actor/director/writer and Master of the Revels for Rude Grooms, Montgomery Sutton (www.montgomerysutton.com). Topics include:
- Daniel’s boundless capacity for benevolence as a resplendent podcast dictator
- How Monty was (m...
Daniel & Monty are back with our first episode recorded during Corona. In a Facebook livestream (using Skype), they virtually sit down with Rude Grooms Associate Artist Laura Piccoli (check out her website lauracpiccoli.com). Topics include:
- Shifting to a virtual Wooden O
- How Laura’s super-high work ethic developed and has influenced her life from undergrad, through freelance acting, produc...
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains mentions of sex, and references of drug use.
This week, Daniel and Monty reconnect with a former acting classmate turned entrepreneur and International Tea Master, Mike Ortiz (@sipjojo on Instagram) to discuss his journey from theatre school to brewing tea on the world stage. Topics include:
- The return of “Danny” Kemper
- Findin...
WE HAVE MERCH! Official This Wooden O coffee mugs and baseball tees are available on our website. Get yours at http://www.thiswoodeno.com/shop today!
This week Daniel (@thedanielkemper) and Monty (@montgomerysutto) sit down with Rude Grooms' Master of Movement Bridget Bose (@bridgetbose on Instagram). Bridget has choreographed da...
WE HAVE MERCH! Official This Wooden O coffee mugs and baseball tees are available on our website. Get yours at http://www.thiswoodeno.com/shop today!
This week Daniel and Monty sit down with actor, singer/songwriter, and Rude Grooms Master of Music, Kara Arena. Kara has composed music for every Rude Grooms production, as well as the music for this very podcas...
WE HAVE MERCH! Official This Wooden O coffee mugs and baseball tees are available on our website with a special 10% Discount (offer expires 3/16/2020). Get yours at http://www.thiswoodeno.com/shop and use code “WEIRDOS” at checkout!
This week Daniel and Monty sit down with director, producer, and Associate Artistic Director of Shakespeare Dallas, Jenni Stewart. To learn more, follow her on Instagram @jennalola
Topics include:
...WE HAVE MERCH! Official This Wooden O coffee mugs and baseball tees are available on our website with a special 10% Discount (offer expires 3/16/2020). Get yours at http://www.thiswoodeno.com/shop and use code “WEIRDOS” at checkout!
This week Daniel and Monty sit down with actor, yogi, and Rude Grooms Sharer/Founding Member Deb Radloff who has been featured in every RG pr...
This week Daniel and Monty sit down with actor Elisabeth Ahrens, who was featured in Rude Grooms’s 2019 productions of Romeo & Juliet and The Changeling. She’s also the person we specifically referenced in Episode 1 of the podcast whose audition was so strong we added an entire actor track to a production. To learn more, follow her on Instagram @elisabethahrens
This week Daniel and Monty sit down with self-described Method props artist, set decorator, and producer, Sara Slagle. Sara and Monty have collaborated on numerous projects for 10 years, and Sara was the brains behind the world Rude Grooms created this summer with Romeo and Juliet. To learn more, follow her on Instagram @ehtoozee.
Topics include:
- How Sara ...
This week Daniel and Monty sit down with director, writer, and acting teacher Anya Saffir. Anya taught Daniel and Monty during their undergraduate time in the Atlantic Conservatory program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Since then, she has directed around the world from Mexico City to the Moscow Art Theatre. To learn more, check out her website anyasaffir.com.
Topics include:
- Anya’s unexpected and life-changing experience...
This week in our very first two guest episode, Daniel and Monty sit down with actor-combatants Kaitlyn Farley and Molly Thomas. Molly is an original member of Rude Grooms currently performing with the Brave Spirits Theatre in Washington, D.C. Kaitlyn has choreographed the two most recent RG productions, Romeo and Juliet and The Changeling, and is the co-founder of Fight the Good Fight Productions. Fo...
This week, Daniel and Monty sit down with actor, writer, producer, stand-up comic, social media manager, and yoga teacher Rachel Schmeling, who played Juliet in our summer 2019 production of Romeo and Juliet. Follow Rachel @rachelmschmeling on Instagram or visit her website, rachelschmeling.com.
Topics include:
- Finding a physical practice like Yoga to invigorate your acting
- How Yoga can enrich the breath work of vocal training sy...
This week, Daniel and Monty sit down with stage manager/actor/director Becca Kaplan, exploring her approaches to theatre production and the importance of clear and effective communication in the rehearsal process..
Topics include:
- Working around racist and sexist content in the modern theatrical era
- How physical choreography can change the mood and tension of ...
This week, Daniel and Monty sit down with actor and arts educator Nicole Carlson, exploring her approaches to creating young artists rooted in the concept of the Ensemble.
Topics include:
- Our brilliant idea for a new superhero called Subordinate
- Nicole working on Willy Wonka Junior with 70 kids
- Generational shifts in the age at which kids get cell ...
This week, Daniel and Monty discuss similarities and differences of life as a working actor in the United States and across the Pond in the U.K. with intercontinental special guest, Harry Waller!
Topics include:
- Bard City's most recent "Shakespeare in a Week" production of Troilus and Cressida.
- The surprising clarity that can be discovered in a short rehearsal process, and the constant yearning for more time in a r...
This week we sit down with actor, singer, model, dancer, and poet Anneka Kumli to discuss finding her personal intersection between political activism and art. Along the way, topics include:
- The horrors of the MTA on the weekend, and the not-so-secret Hate Poetry that all New Yorkers write while stuck in a subway tunnel at 2am.
- The Tragedy of Miriam by Elizabeth Cary, the first extant original play written by a woman in English.
- T...
In this pilot episode of This Wooden O, your hosts Daniel Kemper and Montgomery Sutton sip delicious Singlecut Beer and speak with special guests Daniel Kemper and Montgomery Sutton (respectively Master of Casting & Company Management and Master of the Revels for Rude Grooms). We know what you’re asking — how did you get them??? We can hardly believe it ourselves!
Topics include:
- Daniel’s discovery of the Star Wars Happin...
Meet your hosts, Daniel Kemper (Master of Casting and Company Management for Rude Grooms) and Montgomery Sutton (Master of the Revels for Rude Grooms) alongside guest Becca Kaplan (stage manager for Rude Grooms' 2019 production of Romeo and Juliet) and virtual guest Amber Elby (courtesy of patreon.com/rudegrooms/) as they challenge themselves to give you a realistic look at what to expect from This Wooden O in just 30 seconds.
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