In this episode we discussed pretty somber stuff with Betsy Aidem, who plays the central role of Marcelle in Josh Harmon’s “Prayer for the French Republic” on Broadway. She was also in the 2022 Off Broadway run at Manhattan Theater Club, and in between those runs Aidem appeared in Tom Stoppard’s “Leopoldstadt.” If you think you discern a thread between these two shows, you’re right.

In this episode, Aidem discussed how she researches her roles (short answer: thoroughly) and what they have meant to her as a Jewish American.

Thanks to Christian Huygen for our theme music.

It’s been a minute and we apologize but all good things, right?

As you may have heard, there has been a big change in Peter’s life — as in, he took a buyout and is now longer with the Washington Post. Watch out for Free Agent Peter Marks!

The good news is that we are sticking with this podcast. Now that we are back on track, here is, at last, our interview with David Adjmi. We’ve long admired his work but we both were taken aback by how good his latest play, “Stereophonic,” was. The premiere production at Playwrights Horizons opened to critical applause in October and then turned into the hit of the fall. It felt like a reboot for Adjmi, who had not had a production in New York since “Marie Antoinette” in 2013. And now it looks like it’s going to transfer to Broadway.

You can read Elisabeth’s preview feature on the show; in his review of “Stereophonic,” Peter called it “the best play of the year. And not just the year’s best, but one of the best works of narrative art about the day-to-day grind and emotional toll of artistic creation.”

“Stereophonic” takes place in 1976-77 and is set in two recording studios, where a rock quintet is grinding away on the follow-up to a hit album. The play is peppered with songs and bits of songs, which were written for the show by the former Arcade Fire member Will Butler and please, can we get an album?!

Adjmi talked to us about what led him to this particular play, the stumbling blocks along the way and his interest in writing about music (as opposed to writing a musical).

If you want more from him, definitely pick up his memoir, “Lot Six,” which came out in 2020. Elisabeth talked to him about it back then, an interview you can read here.

Thanks to Christian Huygen for our theme music.