45 episodes

Be it in gymnasiums, theatres, or arenas, theatre for young audiences is happening all over the world. But who are the people making it? What happens behind the pipe and drape setting where the actors perform? I’m Stephen Fala, and this is Pipe and Drape, the only podcast that spotlights the creative minds behind the theatre for young audiences industry. Tune in every other Tuesday to hear children's theatre professionals share their stories about growing into adulthood while creating shows small enough to fit in a minivan to productions so big they travel by caravan.

Pipe and Drape: the Theatre for Young Audiences Podcast Stephen Fala

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 15 Ratings

Be it in gymnasiums, theatres, or arenas, theatre for young audiences is happening all over the world. But who are the people making it? What happens behind the pipe and drape setting where the actors perform? I’m Stephen Fala, and this is Pipe and Drape, the only podcast that spotlights the creative minds behind the theatre for young audiences industry. Tune in every other Tuesday to hear children's theatre professionals share their stories about growing into adulthood while creating shows small enough to fit in a minivan to productions so big they travel by caravan.

    Dinky Episode 12: Care to Unpack That?

    Dinky Episode 12: Care to Unpack That?

    "What is the absolute minimum we can use to effectively share a story?" This is a question I hear often in the theatre for young audiences world. In this dinky episode, I explore the connection between TYA storytelling practices and the living habits I have adopted while working in the industry–like keeping everything I value most inside my backpack at all times.

    Music from this episode:

    “Backpack, Backpack!” - Dora the Explorer (Nickelodeon Records)

    INSTAGRAM: @PipeAndDrapeStories

    EMAIL: PipeAndDrapeStories@gmail.com

    Host: Stephen Fala

    Show Logo: Stephen Gordon

    • 13 min
    Dinky Episode 11: Traditions

    Dinky Episode 11: Traditions

    The theatre is a space for ritual and celebration. This year, I'm celebrating the ten year anniversary of many of my show-related traditions! Play this episode to hear the stories behind my traditions (and elements of the podcast logo!)



    Music from this episode:

    "Tradition" - Fiddler on the Roof (Upper Darby Summer Stage cast, 2013) music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick



    INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠⁠

    EMAIL: PipeAndDrapeStories@gmail.com

    Host: ⁠⁠Stephen Fala⁠⁠

    Show Logo: ⁠⁠Stephen Gordon

    • 14 min
    Episode 32: Jeff Frank

    Episode 32: Jeff Frank

    Artistic Director Jeff Frank shares his experience putting the Rankin/Bass classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on stage for the very first time at First Stage in Milwaukee. Listen to this episode to learn how problem solving flying sequences in the world premiere of Peter and Wendy led to the key design elements of Rudolph and how getting every scenic and costume element just right down to the specific colors of polkadots brought the “homespun, hand crafted” feeling of the holiday special that we love to the stage. Jeff shares some of First Stage's core values in this interview including the ways that the organization raises community artists!



    More about First Stage:

    WEBSITE: https://www.firststage.org/

    INSTAGRAM: @first.stage



    See a regional production of Rudolph:

    At Northwest Children’s Theatre and School (Portland, OR): https://nwct.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0S6T00000preupUAA

    The Coterie (Kansas City, MO): https://thecoterie.org/2023-2024/rudolph-2023/

    Childsplay (Phoenix, AZ): https://www.childsplayaz.org/rudolph23

    and touring everywhere in between: https://www.rudolphthemusical.com/tour



    This week’s Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party music: "⁠The Happy Elf" from Harry for the Holidays by Harry Connick, Jr.



    Listen to the Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party playlist here!



    EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    EMAIL: PipeAndDrapeStories@gmail.com

    Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Fala⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Artwork: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Gordon

    • 44 min
    Episode 31: Mason Huse

    Episode 31: Mason Huse

    "The van changes people.” In this pipe and drape story, Stage Manager Mason Huse takes us on a journey from subletting apartments, to packing for small tours, dealing with bed bugs, learning about theatre ghosts, and other hilarious "horrors.” And wonderful things, too! You’ll hear more about his (really good!) experiences with ArtsPower National Touring Theatre in this episode!



    Find Mason Huse:

    INSTAGRAM: ⁠@masonhuse

    LinkedIn: Mason Huse



    This week’s Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party music: “Cupid’s Ball” from Zombie in Love



    EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    EMAIL: PipeAndDrapeStories@gmail.com

    Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Fala⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Artwork: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Gordon

    • 1 hr 4 min
    Episode 30: Kevin Del Aguila

    Episode 30: Kevin Del Aguila

    Recent Drama Desk winner and Tony Nominee Kevin Del Aguila (Some Like It Hot, Peter and the Starcatcher, Rocky, Frozen) shares his pipe and drape story in this episode of the podcast! Throughout Kevin’s career as an actor on Broadway, he has simultaneously written the books and lyrics for some of the theatre for young audiences industry’s most popular titles (Dog Man, Cat Kid Comic Club, Madagascar) and children’s television (Emmy Award-winning series Peg + Cat, Blues Clues & You, Wonder Pets!) Hear how Kevin went from penning Off-Broadway's Altar Boyz to juggling Broadway, film, and tv in this episode!



    Find Kevin Del Aguila:

    ⁠kevindelaguila.com⁠

    INSTAGRAM: @kevinoftheeagle

    See Some Like It Hot on Broadway through December 30, 2023: https://somelikeithotmusical.com/

    See Kevin's work on the road via TheaterWorksUSA: https://twusa.org/shows-artists/on-tour-2/



    This week’s Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party music: "Robo-Dance Party" from Dog Man: The Musical



    EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    EMAIL: PipeAndDrapeStories@gmail.com

    Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Fala⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Artwork: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Gordon

    • 56 min
    Episode 29: Jon Royal

    Episode 29: Jon Royal

    Director, teaching artist, and facilitator Jon Royal shares information about leading workshops and rehearsals with actors and government officials in this episode of Pipe and Drape! His pipe and drape story takes us from adaptation of classical text wtih Will Power to Youth at the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, to a conference with the Government Alliance for Racial Equity, to the new stage adaptation of India Hill Brown's The Forgotten Girl at First Stage in Milwaukee. 

    Find Jon Royal:

    INSTAGRAM: @jon.royal.003

    LinkedIn: Jon Royal

    See Jon Royal's production of The Forgotten Girl at First Stage, fall 2023: https://www.firststage.org/events-tickets/2023-24-season/the-forgotten-girl/

    Learn about Will Power to Youth at Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles: https://www.shakespearecenter.org/wp-to-youth



    This week’s Tuesday Afternoon Dance Party music: “Put You in Your Place” from The Lightning Thief



    EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pipeanddrapestories.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

    INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@PipeAndDrapeStories⁠⁠⁠⁠

    EMAIL: PipeAndDrapeStories@gmail.com

    Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Fala⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Artwork: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Gordon

    • 52 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
15 Ratings

15 Ratings

the lady and her bug ,

Wit and Wisdom, Artfully Crafted

Stephen has a gifted way of bringing you into every moment of his show. His wit is relentless and his wisdom is creatively woven into each episode as he brings to life the unique experiences of an actor in children’s theater. Real stories told by a master storyteller..Enjoy the listen.

trpeg ,

Tour Spouses

I really enjoyed listening to this podcast about the special relationships that form while on a show tour. Stephen’s funny delivery as he explains how your Tour Spouse knows your most intimate secrets kept me laughing and wanting to hear more!

pbuck88 ,

Pulling back the drapes

A fun and informative look behind the pipes and drapes of something that we all have seen at some point or another and probably never thought about what’s behind it.

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