Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia

Peter Schmitz
  • 5.0 (25)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

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!

  1. Albert Innaurato and "Gemini"

    2D AGO

    Albert Innaurato and "Gemini"

    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 long-term reputation.  We interview Charles Gilbert about his professional association and personal friendship with Innaurato, as they tried to turn Gemini into a work of musical theater in the early 2000s. Charles Gilbert's posts on Substack, which form the basis of our conversation, can be found here: https://chasgilbert.substack.com/p/me-and-albert-a-collaborators-story https://chasgilbert.substack.com/p/me-and-albert-part-2 For information about EgoPo Theatre Co. and their upcoming production of Gemini: https://egopo.org/gemini Support the show "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 Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    1 hr
  2. Abigail Adams and Marcia Saunders at People's Light

    JAN 11

    Abigail Adams and Marcia Saunders at People's Light

    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/ Support the show "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 Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    39 min
  3. Brian Anthony Wilson

    12/21/2025

    Brian Anthony Wilson

    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. For a blog page with photos and additional info go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/king-brian-the-first/ Support the show "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 Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    48 min
  4. Chris & Louis Lippa: A House Remembered is Never Dark

    12/07/2025

    Chris & Louis Lippa: A House Remembered is Never Dark

    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.org/about/in-memoriam-louis-lippa-1928-2018/ Support the show "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 Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    52 min
  5. Encore Episode: The Walls of Walnut Street

    11/21/2025

    Encore Episode: The Walls of Walnut Street

    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/ Support the show "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 Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    33 min
  6. Interview: Bruce Graham

    11/07/2025

    Interview: Bruce Graham

    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 staged by local theater companies, and appreciated by local audiences. In fact, for many years Graham was regularly described by local arts reporters as "Philadelphia's Favorite Playwright." There is a blog post on our website with more information and images: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/philadelphias-favorite-playwright/ Support the show "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 Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    50 min
  7. Carol Rocamora and Michael Hollinger - New Plays for Philadelphia

    10/24/2025

    Carol Rocamora and Michael Hollinger - New Plays for Philadelphia

    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 additional information and images, is here: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/philadelphia-festival-theatre-blog-post/ Support the show "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 Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    51 min
  8. Seth Rozin and InterAct

    10/10/2025

    Seth Rozin and InterAct

    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/ For a blog post about the history of InterAct, go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/interact-of-philadelphia-new-plays-about-big-ideas/ (Photo of Seth Rozin by Clem Murphy) Support the show "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 Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    56 min
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5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

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!

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