Geffen Playhouse Unscripted

Executive Director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Tom Viola joins Rory to talk about ways to help support actors, artists, and Broadway during this challenging time. Now more than ever it is vital to help keep those who bring so much light into the lives of other afloat. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit www.broadwaycares.org/help2020.

Producer Eva Price joins Rory to talk about "Jagged Little Pill" the musical, the difficulty of having Broadway close during this trying time, how to stay positive, and how Broadway will inevitably bounce back!

Poet, playwright, author, and lyricist Steven Sater joins Rory to talk about the challenges he faced growing up often sick, how it led to his love of writing and theater, teaching himself ancient Greek, Spring Awakening, and his new book "Alice by Heart."

Writer and creator of "Kidding" on Showtime, Dave Holstein joins Rory to talk about his work on Weeds, writing the "Kidding" pilot a decade ago but keeping it relevant, and the long, arduous, but ultimately worthwhile pursuit of Jim Carrey.

Playwright and co-founder of Vampire Cowboys, Qui Nguyen joins Rory at the Geffen to talk about his new show, "Revenge Song." Learn the challenges of adapting a real life story, starting his own theater company, his geeky influences, and the joy of bending genres for the stage.

Geffen Playhouse Unscripted returns with a very special conversation as Rory talks to longtime friend, South Park co-creator, Book of Mormon co-creator, and all around hilarious and thought provoking writer/producer/director, Trey Parker.

Playwright Larissa FastHorse joins Rory to talk about her show currently at the Geffen, "The Thanksgiving Play." Plus, she discusses the challenges faced in her writing career, "performative wokeness", and her conscious decision to write the play with 4 non-indigenous leads.

Actor William Jackson Harper joins Rory to talk about his time on and off Broadway, his career being changed by landing "The Good Place", the writing process, and his upcoming film, "Dark Waters."

Happy Veteran’s Day! On this special podcast, we feature three monologues from the 2019 Veterans Writing and Performance Project, written and performed by veterans themselves. Learn more about this program here. 

Legendary Casting Director Jeff Greenberg joins Rory to talk about the joy of casting plays as he’s cast Key Largo, now running at the Geffen. Plus, groundbreaking casting and changing how audiences view certain people and characters on things like Modern Family, Cheers, and Frasier.

FOX Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier and Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan sit down to discuss trends in the industry and share stories about a friendship that has spanned strikes, spin-offs and the rise of streaming.”

Writer Tim Federle joins Rory to talk about his new Disney+ series, "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" starting streaming November 12th. Plus, his work on the Academy Award nominated Ferdinand and his long career in New York!

Cleveland Cavaliers basketball player and former UCLA standout Kevin Love joins psychology expert Michelle Craske, Ph.D., from the UCLA College for a discussion delving into the causes of and issues related to anxiety and depression.

Actress Jenn Colella joins Rory to talk about her work in "Come From Away" on Broadway, her and Rory's friendship and bonding over Happy Days The Musical, and getting started in the LA comedy scene!

Actress Maura Tierney sits down with Rory to talk about her work on stage at the Geffen right now in, "Witch." Plus, the benefits of working with a female creative team, her early roles, and the malleability of the theater.

Actor Michael James Scott joins Rory to talk about playing the Genie in Aladdin, their meeting during Book of Mormon, how to make a performance feel like the first time despite having done it for a long time, his training, and watching new actors take on roles they've previously played.

Actress Vella Lovell joins Rory to talk about her new starring role in "Witch" at the Geffen. Plus, her time on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, working with Rachel Bloom, attending not one but TWO colleges for the arts, the importance of diverse voices in the arts, and doing shows off...off Broadway.

Legendary composer Danny Elfman joins Rory to talk about his recently joining social media, how negative reviews early in his career helped create his success, beginning as a street musician, how he went from rock star to film composer, and his recent classical work and new violin concerto, “Eleven Eleven.”

Tony winner Lindsay Mendez joins Rory to talk about their working together on a project that never quite made it to Broadway, the differences between being on a stage and a set, working jobs before the big break, and her new CBS show "All Rise".

Criminal Minds star Kirsten Vangness sits down with Rory to talk about the challenge getting started in the Los Angeles theater community, the importance of LA actors knowing their value, loving the art in yourself and not yourself in the art, the serendipity of how Criminal Minds came about for her, and writing for the show.