Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia
Bringing you the best stories from the deep and fascinating history of theater in the city of Philadelphia. This is the podcast for all lovers of theater, students of history - or anyone who enjoys great stories with lots of drama!
Episodes
In the Spring of 1978, "The Troc" - Philadelphia's longtime notorious burlesque house on Arch Street - closed for business.
The journalist Edgar Williams composed this poetic farewell to the site of so many vivid, poignant, and hilarious episodes from his youth.
A good photo essay about the history of The Troc can be found in this online article by writer Thom Carroll in the Philly Voice: https://www.phillyv...
It might seem to be a lurid Hollywood tale . . . but is it really a Philadelphia theater story?
Here's our take on the life and times of the actress Diana Barrymore, eldest daughter of John Barrymore - from her privileged beginnings, through her successes on stage, her failures in filmdom . . to her sad and sordid end.
But is she really just another celebrity cautionary tale? There's more to her story than got to...
Herbert J. Biberman, the screenwriter, director and left-wing activist, was once one of the most well-known men in show biz - but not, unfortunately for his talent or his intellect.
In 1950, he became famous for being one of the "Hollywood Ten," a group of men known for their opposition to politically-motivated industry blacklists - and facing prison for refusing to cooperate with the House Un-American Activitie...
The rise of the Arden Theatre Company - as well as the story of the beginnings of the modern Walnut Street Theatre Company and the Lantern Theater Company.
"Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.com
Our email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.com...
The story of Albert Innaurato and his play "Gemini." Set in South Philadelphia in the 1970s, it was to become the biggest commercial and artistic triumph of his career.
The famous TV commercial for the original Broadway production is on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz8p6-LconE
But Gemini also served as a constant reminder that success can fleeting, and that an artist's personal demons can undermine their lo...
The director Abigail Adams and the actress Marcia Saunders talk to us about their lives and careers, and about how their theatrical and artistic home at People's Light in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
To learn more about the production of Steel Magnolias at People's Light: https://www.peopleslight.org/whats-on/20252026-season/steel-magnolias/
"Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can...
As a Holiday, treat, the Philadelphia actor Brian Wilson talks with us about his life and career.
Brian tells us about his memories - everything from his roles on "The Wire," to his work with the director Walter Dallas, to his quest to perform in all the plays of August Wilson (no relation!). And he shares this thoughts about the state of African-American theater in the Quaker City at the beginning of the 21st Century.
A conversation with Chris Lippa about the life and work of his father, the late Louis Lippa, the Philadelphia playwright and actor - and about Chris' vision to make a real home for the history of theater in the city.
For a tribute to the life and work of Louis Lippa (1928-2018), see this page on the website of People's Light and Theatre Company, where he was a playwright-in-residence for 30 years: https://www.peopleslight....
A reprise of our 2023 interview with Bernard Havard of the Walnut Street Theatre - including a tour of the historic building.
Newly remixed, and with a new introduction and extra content about our upcoming episodes of the podcast!
A blog post with images from our visit to the Walnut can be found on our website:
https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/photos-for-the-walls-of-walnut-street/
We talk with Bruce Graham - a son of Ridley Township in Delaware County who has been writing, teaching, and performing in Philadelphia since the 1980s.
Graham has written dozens of plays which have been produced everywhere from Los Angeles to London, as well as turning out scripts for Hollywood films, TV movies, sitcoms and soap operas - but he always returned to his hometown, and where his plays have been regularly stag...
An interview with writer, director, translator and theater critic Carol Rocamora, who founded the Philadelphia Festival Theatre for New Plays in 1981, and was its Artistic Director to 1994.
Philadelphia-area playwright Michael Hollinger was Rocamora's literary manager in the early 1990s, and credits his time working with Carol at PFT for helping to shape his future career.
A blog post on our website, with a...
A conversation with Seth Rozin, the founder and artistic director of InterAct Theatre of Philadelphia.
Seth shares some great stories about the early years of the company, including the tour of Ireland in the autumn of 1988, the creation and performance of the play "6221," and how he has made a career in the world of non-profit American theater.
InterAct Theatres website: https://www.interacttheatre.org...
A conversation with actor Tom Teti about his life, his career in Philadelphia theater, and his long association with People's Light and Theatre Company in Malvern.
For a blog post with images and additional information about Tom's career, go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/tom-as-in-teti/
For more information about the October 2025 production of Tommy and Me at PLTC, go HERE.
Director Blanka Zizka and stage manager Patreshettarlini Adams talk about their decades of work at the Wilma Theater, sharing stories of their longstanding artistic collaboration and deep friendship. And they agree that "Theater is Music."
An excellent and heartwarming Adventure in Philadelphia Theater History!
Music from historic Wilma Theater productions sampled in this episode includes:
1) ...
The history of Philadelphia's Wilma Theater during the 1990s, with archival recordings of the voices of Jiri and Blanka Zizka.
For images and additional information about this episode, see the blog post on our website HERE.
The original interviews of Jiri Zizka can be found on YouTube - HERE and HERE.
The original interview of Blanka Zizka can also be found on YouTube - HERE.
The voices of Jiri and Blanka Zizka help to narrate the history of Philadelphia's Wilma Theater during the 1980s.
For images and additional information about this episode, see the blog post on our website HERE.
"Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.co...
A conversation about the impact that Blanka and Jiri Zizka had on the Philadelphia theater scene in the 1980s and 90s.
If you have not yet listened to our Episode 97, "Off-Off Broad Street," in which we discuss the history of "The Wilma Project" during the 1970s, you can find it here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1721762/episodes/16873817
This is one of a multi-part series on the origin and his...
Charlie Gilbert returns to talk about the music theater and the many new musicals being created and developed in Philadelphia during the 1980s and 90s.
We discuss the founding and early years of the American Music Theatre Festival, musicals performed at the Walnut and Arden Theatres, and the beginning of the Musical Theater Program at the University of the Arts - as theatrical and musical activity up and down Broad Street flourishes...
An interview with actor Johnnie Hobbs and choreographer Patricia Scott Hobbs about the Freedom Theatre in North Philadelphia.
In an archival recording, the Philadelphia composer and teacher Charles Gilbert talks to his longtime friends about their experiences at the Freedom, including working with founder John E. Allen and his successor Walter Dallas.
Though this is not a comprehensive narrative, we are pleased to begin sharing the...
Director and Producer Joe Canuso sits down with us to talk about his life and career in Philly theater.
From acting at the Pocket Playhouse in the 70s, performing with dance troupes in the 80s, creating cutting-edge shows for the new Fringe Festival in the 90s, founding and leading Theatre Exile in the 2000s, Joe did brought a darkly comic edge and a driving energy to the Philly theater scene.
Along with the playw...
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