In this episode of Theater Philadelphia, Darnelle Radford interviews Rose Jarboe about the Bearded Ladies Cabaret's latest installation, 'Priority Hoarding.' They discuss the immersive experience of the hairport, the importance of queer art, and the legacy of the Bearded Ladies over their 16 years of existence.

Takeaways

• Support local art
• Queer art is relatable

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Theater Philadelphia Podcast
• 01:00 Exploring Priority Hoarding
• 02:37 The Concept of the Hairport
• 04:14 The Legacy of the Bearded Ladies
• 07:55 Relatability of Queer Art
• 09:44 Sixteen Years of Memories
• 11:37 Technical Elements of the Installation
• 13:42 Audience Participation and Legacy
• 15:40 Challenges of Curating Artifacts
• 16:32 Finding the Right Space
• 18:18 The Role of Community in Arts
• 19:22 Supporting Local Art
• 20:12 Event Series and Cabarets
• 21:33 Audience Response and Engagement
• 22:40 Future of the Installation
• 24:31 Maintaining Momentum in Art
• 26:27 Participating in the Experience
• 27:59 Closing Thoughts and Future Events

For More About Bearded Ladies Cabaret: www.beardedladiescabaret.com

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The conversation covers the journey of the play 'Returned Iridescent' and the experiences of the playwright, Rose Farrell, in developing and presenting the production. It delves into the themes of personal transformation, trans experiences, and the emotional impact of the play on the audience.

Takeaways

• Theater by Development presents 'Returned Iridescent' as a fully realized world premiere production.
• The conversation highlights the importance of trans stories and the impact of the play on the audience, emphasizing themes of personal transformation and self-discovery.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to 'Returned Iridescent'
• 01:03 Theater Community and Artistic Journey
• 03:22 The Journey of 'Returned Iridescent'
• 07:13 Character Development and Rehearsal Process
• 24:15 Visual Presentation and Fringe Experience
• 29:56 Artistic Vision and Future Plans
• 31:44 Recommendations and Closing Remarks

FOR TICKETS: https://phillyfringe.org/events/returned-iridescent/

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The conversation covers the energy of fringe festivals, the Bards' journey in Philly Fringe, adapting to challenges and change, the concept of the telethon, bringing artists together, and the Bards' impact and future. It highlights the excitement and urgency of fringe festivals, the resilience and adaptability of theater companies, and the celebration of queer theater and collaboration in the Philadelphia community.

Takeaways

• The value of artistic conversations and community engagement in fringe festivals
• The resilience and adaptability of theater companies during challenging times

Chapters

• 00:00 The Energy of Fringe Festivals
• 02:03 The Bards' Journey in Philly Fringe
• 05:07 Adapting to Challenges and Change
• 06:20 The Concept of the Telethon
• 11:01 Bringing Artists Together
• 15:06 The Bards' Impact and Future

For Tickets:

https://phillyfringe.org/events/the-bards-10th-anniversary-telethon-live/

Support The Bards: https://www.thebardstheatretroupe.com/support

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The 2026 Barrymore Awards nominees are announced, and the process of identifying excellence in Philadelphia Theater is explained. The episode also teases the location of the upcoming celebration. Members of the Board of Directors and the Barrymore Oversight Committee lend their voices to present the nominees.

On today’s episode we are thrilled to present the nominees for the 2026 Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Philadelphia Theater. Now, you may be wondering, how do we find excellence in Philadelphia Theater? Each season, our Barrymore Oversight Committee recruits 80-120 individuals to be judges and nominators who go out and adjudicate every Barrymore-eligible production of the upcoming season. At the end of the season, the votes are tallied and the committee hands over a list of nominees which we are going to present to you with the help of our Board of Directors and Committee members.

Stay tuned till the end to find out where we will be celebrating this year. For now, I’ll hand it over to our members as we beam into their locations through the wonders of technology!

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The conversation delves into the transition into sole artistic leadership at The Wilma Theater and their unique approach to productions. Lindsay Smiling shares his journey to becoming the Artistic Director and discusses the challenges and opportunities of co-artistic directorship.

The discussion also explores the essence of the Wilma Theater experience and strategies for engaging the audience and enhancing their theater experience. The conversation with Lindsay Smiling covers the artistic vision and risk-taking at the Wilma Theater, the impact of digital productions, the involvement of co-artistic directors in season planning, community engagement and representation, and the importance of membership and community involvement in the theater experience.

Takeaways

• Artistic leadership transition
• The Wilma Theater's unique approach to productions Community Engagement
• Artistic Direction
• Theater Collaboration

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Lindsay Smiling
• 05:37 Leadership Changes and Community Support
• 11:14 Challenges of Artistic Leadership
• 18:13 Engaging the Audience and Enhancing Experience
• 25:19 The Impact of Digital Productions
• 31:24 Community Engagement and Representation

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Follow The Wilma Theater here:

https://wilmatheater.org

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The conversation with Mydera Taliah Robinson, Executive Director of Theater Horizon, delves into her journey, community engagement, and the impact of Theater Horizon's productions. Mydera's commitment to community building, inclusivity, and empowering marginalized communities is evident in her leadership and the organization's approach to theater.

The season's world premiere of 'Wishing to Grow Up Brightly' and the community's response exemplify the power of storytelling and its impact on fostering connections and understanding. The conversation delves into the value of the journey, the importance of building a community, and the creation of XOXO as a love letter to the community. It also explores community collaboration, relationship building, ownership, valuation, community engagement, and the empowerment of artists and community members. The power of connection and amplification is highlighted as a key theme throughout the discussion. The conversation delves into the importance of building name recognition, preserving legacy through art, and the impact of black joy. It also highlights the welcoming of Amina Robinson as the new artistic director and the role of artistic directors in preserving heritage and legacy. The discussion emphasizes the restoration of pathways and opportunities, embracing diversity in art, and the abundance of artistic expression, ultimately celebrating community and joy.

Takeaways

• Community engagement and inclusivity are essential for building trust and empowering marginalized communities.
• The power of storytelling and community impact is evident in the world premiere of 'Wishing to Grow Up Brightly' and the conversations it sparked. Community collaboration and relationship building are essential for the success of community-based initiatives.
• Empowering artists and community members through engagement and connection is crucial for building a strong and inclusive community. Preserving legacy through art
• Embracing diversity in art

Chapters

• 00:00 Introducing Theater Horizon and Mydera Taliah Robinson
• 05:48 Building Trust and Community Engagement
• 10:58 Collective Success and Community Building
• 18:19 World Premiere of 'Wishing to Grow Up Brightly'
• 27:52 The Value of the Journey
• 33:23 Community Collaboration and Relationship Building
• 41:03 Community Engagement and Connection
• 49:10 The Power of Connection and Amplification
• 54:10 Welcoming Amina Robinson
• 59:43 Announcing the New Artistic Director
• 01:07:31 Embracing Diversity in Art

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Follow Theatre Horizon here:

https://theatrehorizon.org/

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Dive into a compelling conversation with CJ Higgins and Jay Adams of the Bards Theatre Troupe as they discuss their innovative theater production, "I'm the Real One," which explores the impact of artificial intelligence on human life and society. Discover how this show tackles complex issues around AI, ethics, and community, all through the lens of devised theater with music, puppets, and live art.

In our tenth season as a queer-centric theatre collective, The Bards Theatre Troupe tackle a subject that has absolutely no controversy or discourse attached to it: AI. From the impact on tangible societal markers like the economy, environment, and art to the more abstract shifts in connection, communication, and art, we’ll use scenes and songs (and probably puppets) to unpack the ways that the rise in AI use is changing how we all connect with each other. And don’t worry: everything we present was created by humans!

This event is part of 2026 Philly Theatre Week! Pay-What-You-Can tickets are available for all performances.

Performance schedule:
Thursday, April 30th 8pm
Saturday, May 2nd 8pm
Sunday, May 3rd 1pm

For more about The Bards Theatre Troupe:

https://www.thebardstheatretroupe.com/

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We are continuing our coverage of Philly Theatre Week and today we are chatting with Theatre by Development whose offering “Clippings ’26”

Monti Cerebino and Andrew Miqueli, Co-Artistic Directors

CLIPPINGS ‘26 is a night of short plays by young and emerging Philadelphia-based playwrights in a reading format. These pieces include: “The Dissection of One Billy Burke” by Sophia Snyder, “Gay Book Club’s Worst Read of the Year” by Erin Malimban, and “Hey! What’s the Big Idea?” by Seph McAndrew.

These short pieces feature the writing of emerging playwrights, a shared ensemble cast, and upcoming creative talent in the Philadelphia theatre scene.

Clippings is inspired by the Equinox New Play Festival at the late University of the Arts which allowed UArtists to take risks and experiment with different ways of producing theater. TBD aims to carry this tradition forward and continue to create a space for young creatives to enter the industry and discover their artistic voice.

FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION: https://theatrephiladelphia.org/whats-on-stage/clippings-26
This ticketing page is for the sale of Pay-What-You-Can tickets for this event as part of 2026 Philly Theatre Week! If this page does not have tickets available, please visit http://tbdclippings2026.eventbrite.com/ to find more available general tickets.

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