100 PLAYS: Lessons Learned Telling Stories From the Stage

Jason Cannon
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Performing Arts
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to 100 PLAYS: Lessons Learned Telling Stories From the Stage! I'm your host and friendly neighborhood storycoach, Jason Cannon, and I'll be sharing stories and lessons I’ve gained from working in the professional theatre for almost 30 years. So this podcast will be part memoir, part love letter to the theatre, and part motivational handbook for all you fellow storytellers out there. However you found me and whenever you’re tuning in, I invite you to join me on this artistic journey through 100 PLAYS. (You can check out VIDEO versions over on YouTube.) jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    100 PLAYS: 11 Days - The Story of Operation Pineapple Express

    Episode 11: 11 Days - The Story of Operation Pineapple Express In this episode, I talk about a Green Beret getting bitten by the acting bug, the emotional journey of performing true stories in theater, and the importance of authentic storytelling in difficult contexts. You can listen on the Substack App, and all episodes are also available on Apple or Spotify. In this episode, I talk about the RESPECT AND REMEMBER FOUNDATION, and I strongly encourage you to check out their website. If you enjoy or find value in this podcast, I’d like to ask you a quick favor. Leaving a short review or comment helps me out a ton. It tells the algorithmic overlords that people are listening, and it helps other folks discover the show. So if you can post a review—just click the purple button below to open Apple Podcasts and scroll down to Ratings and Reviews—or leave a comment on this episode here on Substack or over on YouTube, wherever you happen to be listening or watching, I would be incredibly grateful. And if you know someone who might also enjoy 100 Plays, here’s a handy “share” button. Thank you! I use an incredible online app, Riverside.fm, to produce this podcast. If you’re interested in producing your own podcast, creating other audio or video content, or hosting a livestream, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Here’s a link so you can check ‘em out! (Full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, but I wouldn’t put it here if I didn’t believe in and use Riverside.fm myself!) Get full access to The Cannon Story Company Dispatch at jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com/subscribe

    15 min

  2. 08/04/2025

    100 PLAYS: Million Dollar Quartet

    Episode 10: Million Dollar Quartet In this episode, I talk about I talk about the pitfalls of jukebox musicals, the emptiness of perfection, and playing a piano so well people think you're faking it. You can listen on the Substack App, and all episodes are also available on Apple or Spotify. If you enjoy or find value in this podcast, I’d like to ask you a quick favor. Leaving a short review or comment helps me out a ton. It tells the algorithmic overlords that people are listening, and it helps other folks discover the show. So if you can post a review—just click the purple button below to open Apple Podcasts and scroll down to Ratings and Reviews—or leave a comment on this episode here on Substack or over on YouTube, wherever you happen to be listening or watching, I would be incredibly grateful. I do my absolute best to respond to every comment. Let’s get into a fun conversation! And if you know someone who might also enjoy 100 Plays, here’s a handy “share” button. Thank you! I use an incredible online app, Riverside.fm, to produce this podcast. If you’re interested in producing your own podcast, creating other audio or video content, or hosting a livestream, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Here’s a link so you can check ‘em out! (Full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, but I wouldn’t put it here if I didn’t believe in and use Riverside.fm myself!) A quick shout-out to SigmaMusicArt at Pixabay for the piano underscoring! Get full access to The Cannon Story Company Dispatch at jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com/subscribe

    17 min

  3. 07/21/2025

    100 PLAYS: The Great Adventures of Spencer

    Episode 09: The Great Adventures of Spencer In this episode, I talk about the how a story can change someone’s life, the honesty of young playwrights, and the best stage direction I’ve ever read. You can listen on the Substack App, and all episodes are also available on Apple or Spotify. If you enjoy or find value in this podcast, I’d like to ask you a quick favor. Leaving a short review or comment helps me out a ton. It tells the algorithmic overlords that people are listening, and it helps other folks discover the show. So if you can post a review—just click the purple button below to open Apple Podcasts and scroll down to Ratings and Reviews—or leave a comment on this episode here on Substack or over on YouTube, wherever you happen to be listening or watching, I would be incredibly grateful. I do my absolute best to respond to every comment. Let’s get into a fun conversation! If you’re enjoying 100 PLAYS, I’d be much obliged if you told at least one other person. Thank you! I use an incredible online app, Riverside.fm, to produce this podcast. If you’re interested in producing your own podcast, creating other audio or video content, or hosting a livestream, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Here’s a link so you can check ‘em out! (Full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, but I wouldn’t put it here if I didn’t believe in and use Riverside.fm myself!) A quick shout-out to SigmaMusicArt at Pixabay for the piano underscoring! Get full access to The Cannon Story Company Dispatch at jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com/subscribe

    11 min

  4. 07/07/2025

    100 PLAYS: Henry IV Part 1

    Episode 08: Henry IV Part 1 In this episode, I talk about the relationship between discipline and integrity, the thrills and dangers of stage combat, and the joy of delivering the death speech. You can listen on the Substack App, and all episodes are also available on Apple or Spotify. 100 PLAYS is a solo podcast that is part memoir, part love letter to the theatre, and part motivational handbook for all you fellow storytellers out there. However you found me and whenever you’re tuning in, I invite you to join me on this artistic journey through 100 PLAYS. If you’re enjoying 100 PLAYS, I’d be much obliged if you told at least one other person. Thank you! I use an incredible online app, Riverside.fm, to produce this podcast. If you’re interested in producing your own podcast, creating other audio or video content, or hosting a livestream, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Here’s a link so you can check ‘em out! (Full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, but I wouldn’t put it here if I didn’t believe in and use Riverside.fm myself!) A quick shout-out to SigmaMusicArt at Pixabay for the piano underscoring! Get full access to The Cannon Story Company Dispatch at jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com/subscribe

    7 min

  5. 06/23/2025

    100 PLAYS: Doubt, a Parable

    Episode 07: Doubt, a Parable In this episode, I talk about the daring it takes to direct yourself as an actor, the generosity of a Tony Award-winning playwright, and how to give your story away. You can listen on the Substack App, and all episodes are also available on Apple or Spotify. 100 PLAYS is a solo podcast that is part memoir, part love letter to the theatre, and part motivational handbook for all you fellow storytellers out there. However you found me and whenever you’re tuning in, I invite you to join me on this artistic journey through 100 PLAYS. If you’re enjoying 100 PLAYS, I’d be much obliged if you told at least one other person. Thank you! I use an incredible online app, Riverside.fm, to produce this podcast. If you’re interested in producing your own podcast, creating other audio or video content, or hosting a livestream, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Here’s a link so you can check ‘em out! (Full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, but I wouldn’t put it here if I didn’t believe in and use Riverside.fm myself!) A quick shout-out to SigmaMusicArt at Pixabay for the piano underscoring! Get full access to The Cannon Story Company Dispatch at jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com/subscribe

    8 min

  6. 06/09/2025

    100 PLAYS: Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story

    Episode 06: Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story In this episode, I talk about the importance of lyrical analysis, how to balance a stage, and the costs of cutting a phone booth. You can listen on the Substack App, and all episodes are also available on Apple or Spotify. 100 PLAYS is a solo podcast that is part memoir, part love letter to the theatre, and part motivational handbook for all you fellow storytellers out there. However you found me and whenever you’re tuning in, I invite you to join me on this artistic journey through 100 PLAYS. If you’re enjoying 100 PLAYS, I’d be much obliged if you told at least one other person. Thank you! I use an incredible online app, Riverside.fm, to produce this podcast. If you’re interested in producing your own podcast, creating other audio or video content, or hosting a livestream, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Here’s a link so you can check ‘em out! (Full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, but I wouldn’t put it here if I didn’t believe in and use Riverside.fm myself!) A quick shout-out to SigmaMusicArt at Pixabay for the piano underscoring! Get full access to The Cannon Story Company Dispatch at jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com/subscribe

    24 min

  7. 05/26/2025

    100 PLAYS: Touch

    Episode 05: Touch In this episode, I talk confronting stage fright, embracing fear as a creative force, and memorizing long monologues via cassette tape. You can listen on the Substack App, and all episodes are also available on Apple or Spotify. 100 PLAYS is a solo podcast that is part memoir, part love letter to the theatre, and part motivational handbook for all you fellow storytellers out there. I use an incredible online app, Riverside.fm, to produce this podcast. If you’re interested in producing your own podcast, creating other audio or video content, or hosting a livestream, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Here’s a link so you can check ‘em out! (Full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, but I wouldn’t put it here if I didn’t believe in and use Riverside.fm myself!) However you found me and whenever you’re tuning in, I invite you to join me on this artistic journey through 100 PLAYS. If you’re enjoying 100 PLAYS, I’d be much obliged if you told at least one other person. Thank you! A quick shout-out to SigmaMusicArt at Pixabay for the piano underscoring! Get full access to The Cannon Story Company Dispatch at jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min

  8. 05/12/2025

    100 PLAYS: A Clockwork Orange

    Episode 04: A Clockwork Orange In this episode, I talk about the joy and anxiety of auditions, holding a safe space for actors, and the power of a committed cartwheel. You can listen on the Substack App, and all episodes are also available on Apple or Spotify. 100 PLAYS is a solo podcast that is part memoir, part love letter to the theatre, and part motivational handbook for all you fellow storytellers out there. I use an incredible online app, Riverside.fm, to produce this podcast. If you’re interested in producing your own podcast, creating other audio or video content, or hosting a livestream, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Here’s a link so you can check ‘em out! (Full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, but I wouldn’t put it here if I didn’t believe in and use Riverside.fm myself!) However you found me and whenever you’re tuning in, I invite you to join me on this artistic journey through 100 PLAYS. If you’re enjoying 100 PLAYS, I’d be much obliged if you told at least one other person. Thank you! A quick shout-out to SigmaMusicArt at Pixabay for the piano underscoring! Get full access to The Cannon Story Company Dispatch at jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com/subscribe

    16 min

  9. 04/28/2025

    100 PLAYS: Snow White

    Episode 03: Snow White In this episode, I talk about the power of practice, the ease of transformation, and the magic of baseball caps. You can listen on the Substack App, and all episodes are also available on Apple or Spotify. 100 PLAYS is a solo podcast that is part memoir, part love letter to the theatre, and part motivational handbook for all you fellow storytellers out there. I use an incredible online app, Riverside.fm, to produce this podcast. If you’re interested in producing your own podcast, creating other audio or video content, or hosting a livestream, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Here’s a link so you can check ‘em out! (Full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, but I wouldn’t put it here if I didn’t believe in and use Riverside.fm myself!) However you found me and whenever you’re tuning in, I invite you to join me on this artistic journey through 100 PLAYS. Word of mouth has always been and will always be the best marketing tool in the world. If you’re enjoying 100 PLAYS, I’d be much obliged if you told at least one other person. Thank you! A quick shout-out to SigmaMusicArt at Pixabay for the piano underscoring! Get full access to The Cannon Story Company Dispatch at jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com/subscribe

    6 min

  10. 04/14/2025

    100 PLAYS: No Exit

    QUICK REMINDER! My 49th Birthday Bonanza sale runs through the end of this week. You can grab an annual subscription to Page&Stage for 49% off. Typically an annual subscription is $50. But at 49% off, that means you get every podcast, newsletter, and Loose Cannon post—as well as a $20 gift card to the Ibis Books bookshop—for a cool $25.50. In a fun bit of mathematical symbolism, that comes out to merely 49 cents a week! Just click this purple button to take advantage of me getting older— Now back to 100 Plays— Episode 02: No Exit In this episode, I talk about French existentialism, staring contests, and how to handle actors who totally lose their cool. You can listen on the Substack App, and all episodes are also available on Apple or Spotify. 100 PLAYS is a solo podcast that is part memoir, part love letter to the theatre, and part motivational handbook for all you fellow storytellers out there. I use an incredible online app, Riverside.fm, to produce this podcast. If you’re interested in producing your own podcast, creating other audio or video content, or hosting a livestream, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Here’s a link so you can check ‘em out! (Full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, but I wouldn’t put it here if I didn’t believe in and use Riverside.fm myself!) However you found me and whenever you’re tuning in, I invite you to join me on this artistic journey through 100 PLAYS. Word of mouth has always been and will always be the best marketing tool in the world. If you’re enjoying 100 PLAYS, I’d be much obliged if you told at least one other person. Thank you! A quick shout-out to SigmaMusicArt at Pixabay for the piano underscoring! Get full access to The Cannon Story Company Dispatch at jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min

  11. 03/31/2025

    100 PLAYS: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

    Episode 01: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? This towering masterpiece of dramatic literature was my first adventure in self-producing, and it taught me a ton. In this episode, I talk about creating your own opportunities, giving the one perfect surgical note, and why slicing your hand on a liquor bottle is never good theater. You can listen on the Substack App, and all episodes are also available on Apple or Spotify. 100 PLAYS is a solo podcast that is part memoir, part love letter to the theatre, and part motivational handbook for all you fellow storytellers out there. I use an incredible online app, Riverside.fm, to produce this podcast. If you’re interested in producing your own podcast, creating other audio or video content, or hosting a livestream, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Here’s a link so you can check ‘em out! (Full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, but I wouldn’t put it here if I didn’t believe in and use Riverside.fm myself!) However you found me and whenever you’re tuning in, I invite you to join me on this artistic journey through 100 PLAYS. Word of mouth has always been and will always be the best marketing tool in the world. If you’re enjoying 100 PLAYS, I’d be much obliged if you told at least one other person. Thank you! A quick shout-out to SigmaMusicArt at Pixabay for the piano underscoring! Get full access to The Cannon Story Company Dispatch at jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com/subscribe

    20 min
  12. 100 PLAYS: The Teaser

    03/15/2025

    100 PLAYS: The Teaser

    Welcome to 100 PLAYS: Lessons Learned Telling Stories From the Stage! This is a second podcast that lives under the Page&Stage banner. But instead of hour-long deep-dive interviews, this one will just be me, your friendly neighborhood storycoach, sharing bite-sized stories and lessons I’ve gained from working in the professional theatre for almost 30 years. So this podcast will be part memoir, part love letter to the theatre, and part motivational handbook for all you fellow storytellers out there. Give the teaser a listen, and watch your inboxes for the first full episode on March 31, when I share some behind-the-scenes drama and excitement from my 2003 production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? I’ll be sharing a new play or musical every other Monday, alternating with your regularly scheduled Page&Stage Podcast, so this is gonna be about a four-year project. The Substack App is great for listening, and all episodes will also be available on Apple or Spotify (just click the links to the right under “Listen on”). However you found me and whenever you’re tuning in, I invite you to join me on this artistic journey through 100 Plays. Word of mouth has always been and will always be the best marketing tool in the world. If you’re enjoying 100 PLAYS, I’d be much obliged if you told at least one other person. Thank you! Get full access to The Cannon Story Company Dispatch at jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com/subscribe

    2 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Welcome to 100 PLAYS: Lessons Learned Telling Stories From the Stage! I'm your host and friendly neighborhood storycoach, Jason Cannon, and I'll be sharing stories and lessons I’ve gained from working in the professional theatre for almost 30 years. So this podcast will be part memoir, part love letter to the theatre, and part motivational handbook for all you fellow storytellers out there. However you found me and whenever you’re tuning in, I invite you to join me on this artistic journey through 100 PLAYS. (You can check out VIDEO versions over on YouTube.) jasoncannonstorycoach.substack.com

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