Theater District

Chad Dexter Kinsman
  • 4.9 (10)
  • ARTS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Theater District

In-depth interviews with the people who make Washington, DC one of the best theater cities in the world. 

  1. NOV 27

    "Immensity of Imagination:" Dylan Arredondo, Actor and Director

    Dylan Arredondo has been building an incredibly impressive and varied resume of credits both in front of the footlights and behind the director's table. He's worked with companies from Signature to Chesapeake Shakes to Spooky Action, all of whom no doubt have benefitted from the care and creativity he brings to his craft. Our conversation covers a lot of ground: being a multi-hyphenate artist, learning when to give a note, seeking balance, and the role complicity plays in both the rehearsal p...

    53 min

  2. NOV 14

    "Vast Amounts of Creativity:" Navi, Artist

    No corner can contain Navi or their artistry, they’re so well rounded. A manymedia artist, they run the research and development wing of Flying V as an Artistic Lead. They’ve worked with companies big, small, and smaller across the DMV—including Pointless, Spooky Action, Woolly Mammoth, and Mosiac—in lots of different ways, from acting to devising, designing sound to writing music and lyrics, puppeteering to producing. Navi discusses his creative and professional processes, their definition o...

    53 min

  3. OCT 31

    "In the Hot Seat:" Alberto Segarra, Lighting Designer

    Alberto Segarra is a lighting designer in the DMV who has probably illuminated almost as many people and places as the sun. He has designed in theaters of all shapes and sizes all over the District, as well as across the country, and won a Helen Hayes Award for his work on The Honey Trap with Solas Nua in 2024. We discuss his creative process, from first reading the script to the long, long hours of teching a show, as well as the differences in working with actors, dancers, and opera singers....

    55 min

  4. OCT 18

    "Hoping for Magic:" Rebecca Ritzel, Writer

    Arts journalist Rebecca Ritzel discusses her journey from early childhood storytelling to becoming a first-rate journalist and critic, adept at reviewing a wide range of performing arts as well as investigative and preview articles. A brilliant setter of scenes, Rebecca invites her readers into the theater with her, to experience the work from her point of view. Our conversation includes her perspectives on DEI in arts journalism, her experiences with conflicts of interest and other ethical c...

    1 hr

  5. MAY 23

    "The First Connection:" Joy Johnson and Folger Theatre

    No one has likely welcomed more audience members to DC theaters than Joy Johnson, and certainly no one has done it with more humor, grace, and compassion than Joy. A patron services professional in the District for almost 20 years--first at Shakespeare Theatre and now the Folger Library--she knows what makes a good box office employee, the supportive and risk-taking nature of DC audiences, how gatekeepers need to leverage their positions to better welcome new patrons and artists, and how to r...

    55 min

  6. MAY 9

    "Building Big Things:" Shonali Burke and Arena Stage

    Shonali Burke is the Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Arena Stage, one of the largest and most prominent theater companies in the District. Trained as an actor and director in her native India, Shonali is today one of the best in the business of understanding and applying analytics. Adept in all things PR and marketing, she discusses content development, how data crunching is a form of listening, measuring and understanding patron relationships, Arena Stage's role in the redevelopment ...

    55 min

  7. APR 25

    "A Place in the World": Kathryn Chase Bryer and Imagination Stage

    Kathryn Chase Bryer is a director, dramaturg, teacher, and administrator with a storied career at Imagination Stage, one of the country's largest and most innovative children's theater companies. Theater for Young Audiences has been central to Kate's career, which includes work at Missoula Children's Theatre, Round House's "Street 70" program, and Wolf Trap. At Imagination Stage, she has developed, devised, and directed dozens of plays and worked with generations of talented theater makers. S...

    50 min

  8. APR 11

    "At the Forefront": James J. Johnson, Actor and Writer

    James J. Johnson has been bringing his blend of charm, poise, and humor to roles across DMV stages for almost 30 years, working at companies such as the African Continuum Theatre, Arena Stage, Imagination Stage, Woolly Mammoth, Theater J, and Keegan. Now making his name as a playwright--with his play, Wannabe, debuting at the 2024 Capital Fringe Festival and Central Time with Mosaic's H Street Oral History Project--he is also an established educator and audiobook narrator. He shares the growt...

    45 min
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4.9
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

In-depth interviews with the people who make Washington, DC one of the best theater cities in the world. 

Information

  • Creator
    Chad Dexter Kinsman
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Theater District
  • Show Website
    Theater District

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