The Shotgun Players Podcast

Tom Parrish loves a challenge. He accepted his first leadership role in theater at 26 and hasn't looked back. Each new position he's accepted has been nearly double the budget of the organization he was leaving. He also has a reputation for obeying the campsite rule: leave it in better shape than you found it. Four years ago, he became just the third managing director in Berkeley Rep's nearly 60-year history, stepping in after the retirement of Susie Maddock, one of the most respected and accomplished managing directors in history. 2022 was a tough time to be running an American theater, but Tom has led the rep through the worst of the pandemic, and now with rebounding box office numbers, he's ready to tackle some of the long-time structural challenges that face the budgets of most nonprofit theaters. I loved the opportunity to dig into the business of show business with Tom and talk about why his mantra, "Every artistic decision is a financial decision, and every financial decision is an artistic decision, has been the north star of his success these last 20 years. https://www.berkeleyrep.org/ https://shotgunplayers.org/  

Jennifer King is on a mission! Over the last few decades she landed multiple leadership positions here in the Bay Area and abroad. Her directoral interests include everything from experimental new works, musicals, to the classics! She is a directorial omnivore who also happens to be an award winning actress. But perhaps her biggest challenge yet, is still waiting in the wings. Jennifer King has accepted the opportunity to become, with the partnership of Managing Director Jenn Ruygt, the next artistic director of the Auroa Theatre Company.      www.shotgunplayers.org  

Michelle Talgarow has been a creative engine and arts leader of the small- to mid-sized Bay Area theatre community for nearly 30 years. I can still remember her amazing work from the old days with Art Street Theater, Ferocious Lotus, The Paducah Mining Company, Mugwumpin, among several others. More recently, with Bindlestiff and SFBatco, and our very own Shotgun Players. Just today, Friday, August 7th, I had the pleasure of meeting with her to discuss her latest project: directing the West Coast Premiere of Gary Owen's Iphigenia in Splott. We had an in-depth conversation about that story and its urgent, timely subject matter, and also the unique journey of collaborating as a director on a one-person show.   www.shotgunplayers.org  

Patrick Dooley and Alicia Mason speak about the parallels between the Greek myth and Gary Owen's modern Iphigenia in Shotgun Players' first one-person play. Mason plays Effie, a self-determined, messy martyr from a nowhere town in Wales, who chooses to make an uncharacteristic sacrifice in Shotgun Players' production of Iphigenia in Splott. SPOILERS AT 8:50 You can find out more about this production or any of our other programming at our website www.shotgunplayers.org.  

Regina Morones is one of my favorite Bay Area actors. She has so much range. I've seen her excel in slapstick comedies and be fearless in tragedies. She can sing she can dance and she can handle classical text. More importantly she brings a spirit of integrity and authenticity to all of her characters. Unsurprisingly, she's also an incredibly kind person and fantastic storyteller!   If you don't know Regina's work, you still have a chance to see her perform in our current production of Continuity by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner, Bess Woh, before it closes on Saturday, June 27th, here at the Ashby Stage. You can find out more about that production or any of our other programming at our website www.shotgunplayers.org.   And If you enjoy this interview or any of the others I've had the opportunity to share here on the Shotgun Spotlight, please consider clicking the subscribe button wherever you get your Podcasts. Even better, it would be swell If you wouldn't mind writing a brief review, so other folks can find out about us. In the meantime, I welcome you to enjoy this conversation with Bay Area actress in Oakland native, Regina Morones.    You can also email me [email protected] Until the next time, I hope y'all have a great summer!