This is a Classic: The Expand the Canon Theatre Podcast

Expand the Canon
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Women wrote classics, too. And we’re here to celebrate them! We're spilling the tea on awesome plays by women that are *classics* as we fight for a gender-expansive canon. Timely, producible, excellent - these are plays you want to know. Each episode is dedicated to a different play and playwright. It's the podcast version of Expand the Canon.com but with more puns. Perfect for the theater makers, theater goers, and theater teachers among us who are jazzed about diversity in the classics. This is a podcast by Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre, a non-profit company in Brooklyn, NY. Support the Podcast and Expand the Canon at expandthecanon.com

  1. Screens & Soldadera

    SEP 17

    Screens & Soldadera

    If you’re looking for a satirical critique of the blinding effects of media and consumerism… look no further than Dolores Prida’s Screens. In Prida’s masterful work, three telenovela stars reenact the highlights of their career while trapped in their house. As an ominous apocalypse looms outside, they continue to restage these scenes. The lines between life and art start to blur to disastrous outcomes. Blending sharp political insight with an accessible comedic edge and wrapped together in a love triangle, this play offers a powerful critique of modern identity and environmental disaster in the face of mass media’s demands. If you’re looking for a wartime story about the choices women must make when fighting for their rights… Soldadera is the play for you. Tasked with safeguarding a stockpile of weapons, the play follows a group of women soldiers trying to protect their own sense of honor – and their lives. An expansive and yet intimate story of gendered oppression, Niggli’s claustrophobic drama traces the parallels between global conflicts and our personal lives. In our ever-tense political climate, this exploration of revolution and the ways political ideals play out at home is as relevant today as it was in 1936. Hosted by Skye Pagon and Emily Lyon. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

    57 min
  2. The Mannequin & The Falcon

    AUG 14

    The Mannequin & The Falcon

    If you’re looking for a snappy satire of the sexist dating scene… consider this tight one-act from literary luminary Germaine de Staël. Although he’s always lived in Germany, Monsieur de la Morlière glorifies all things from France as the pinnacle of culture –– and therefore secured a noble French suitor for his daughter, Sophie. However, our clever heroine is ready with a deliciously silly scheme to reveal the pompous French Count for the fool he is. With both frothy fun and physical comedy, this short play packs a lasting punch with its sharp commentary on the hypocrisy in relationships cordial, familial, and romantic. If you’re looking for a verse romcom with snarky sidekicks and a lover’s quarrel… look no further than Marie-Anne Barbier’s The Falcon. Federic has spent every penny on impressing Axiane – but she has remained unsure of his true affection. Their friends push and pull for them to see reason, yet fear and flirtation drive them to extremes. This quippy period piece asks, is love worth self-sacrifice? How much? And can we ever truly trust a lover’s meaning and intentions? Beatrice and Benedick but with Bridgerton vibes, this charming cat-and-mouse game of logic and love reminds its audience that personal insecurity is often our deepest romantic challenge. Hosted by Triza Cox and Emily Lyon Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

    53 min
  3. It's Official! We're Rebranding!

    JUL 15 · BONUS

    It's Official! We're Rebranding!

    *drumroll* We are now, officially, Expand the Canon – all day every day. Join some of our fabulous team to toast to this long-time-coming shift. We discuss the change, what all we do here at Expand the Canon, and what we're looking forward to for our next chapter. Mission: Expand the Canon champions women and gender-expansive playwrights whose works should have always been considered classics. For over a decade, our partnerships with theaters, educators, and advocates have established a legacy of storytelling with gender equity at its core. By curating a collection of excellent historic plays, we’re building a more inclusive and accurate theatrical canon. Featuring: Alicia Carroll, Marketing Associate; Emily Lyon, Artistic Director; Maraika Lumholdt, Managing Associate; Rhiannon Ling, Social Media Coordinator; Desirée Baxter, Tia Cassmira, Kate Pitt, Natalie Kane, Research Team. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

    32 min
  4. The Guitarrón & The Girls from the Five and Ten (Les filles du 5-10-15)

    JUN 18

    The Guitarrón & The Girls from the Five and Ten (Les filles du 5-10-15)

    This month's two plays: The Guitarrón by Lynne Alvarez & The Girls from the Five and Ten (Les filles du 5-10-15) by Abla Farhoud If you’re looking for the hot queer drama and dreamy magical realism of Angels in America set against the beaches of Veracruz… look no further than The Guitarrón by Lynne Alvarez. During a cataclysmic fishing drought, six members of the local village fight to find their way out. Underscored by a mysterious cellist with a mesmerizing instrument, in this play each member of the community tries to save the ones they love while navigating the transactional nature of their own relationships. A story about the drought in our souls when the cruelty of reality keeps us from the seas of our dreams, The Guitarrón would be a fabulous addition to any season. If you’re looking for the darkly vulnerable drama of Suburbia told through the lens of two sisters… The Girls from the Five and Ten gets to the heart of what it means to be overlooked as an immigrant in a new country. Trapped in their father’s variety shop with never-ending work and rude customers, Sisters Amira and Kaokab sacrifice their personal lives in the hopes of someday selling the store and returning to Lebanon. But as their escape seems further and further away each day, the two must decide whether their dream of going home is actually worth the cost. Defiance, sisterhood, rebellion, and oppression are all at the forefront of Farhoud’s heartbreakingly tender sister story. Hosted by Skye Pagon and Kalina Ko Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

    47 min
  5. The Inheritance & Rain of Ice

    MAY 14

    The Inheritance & Rain of Ice

    This month's two shorter plays: The Inheritance by Kim Ja-Rim 김자림 and Rain of Ice by Hasegawa Shigure If you’re looking for the character-driven naturalism of Strindberg through the lens of intersectional poverty… consider this one-act drama from the mother of Japanese realism. In her final hours, the terminally ill Tamayo wrestles with delusions of the past as well as anxieties of the present. A former sex worker, she now contends with the role transactionality has played (or not played) in her relationships, interrogating her friends’ true loyalties and fearing for her own daughter’s naivete. Through heartfelt prose and raw, naturalistic dialogue, Hasegawa Shigure digs into the grim realities facing impoverished women, telling an intersectional story of depth and intimacy. If you’re looking for the character-driven naturalism of Strindberg through the lens of intersectional poverty… consider Rain of Ice from the mother of Japanese realism. In her final hours, the terminally ill Tamayo wrestles with delusions of the past as well as anxieties of the present. A former sex worker, she now contends with the role transactionality has played (or not played) in her relationships, interrogating her friends’ true loyalties and fearing for her own daughter’s naivete. Through heartfelt prose and raw, naturalistic dialogue, Hasegawa Shigure digs into the grim realities facing impoverished women, telling an intersectional story of depth and intimacy. Hosted by Kalina Ko and Gagarin Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

    46 min
  6. Pleasure & Three Women

    APR 9

    Pleasure & Three Women

    This month's two shorter plays: Pleasure by Rachilde and Three Women by Sylvia Plath! If you’re looking for a play that reveals how the pursuit of sensuality can both liberate and ensnare… then Rachilde’s Pleasure is the two-hander of your dreams. An intimate, delicate, and emotionally charged conversation between two young lovers, Pleasure offers feminist undertones with a dangerous and erotic edge. The play’s themes of sexual politics, youthful desire, and the consequences of indulgence are as timely today as they were in its origins in the Belle Époque. Fans of Sarah Kane, Sam Shepard, and Edith Wharton alike will delight in its dark twists and lush poetry, making this a standout choice for a contemporary or a classical season. If you’re looking for an achingly lyrical play probing the complex beauty and pain of pregnancy… consider this dramatic poem that brings Sylvia Plath’s raw emotionality to the stage. Interweaving three contrasting perspectives, this piece wrestles with childbirth, loss, and motherhood as perceived by a trio of women. One welcomes a wished-for and beloved child; another comes to terms with a miscarriage; the third gives her child up for adoption following the trauma of sexual assault. The resulting chorus paints a sharp and unflinching portrait of having, or losing, a child. Three Women is a daring piece to engage a community in conversation around the choices and agency of reproductive rights arcing towards glimmers of hope and healing. Hosted by Skye Pagon and Emily Lyon Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

    45 min
  7. Season 5 - Shorter & One Act Plays

    SEASON 5 TRAILER

    Season 5 - Shorter & One Act Plays

    We're back to expanding the canon! The 5 curators for our 5th List are here to dish about what makes this year's list of plays special. Not only are they plays of a different ilk, but we have WAY MORE this time for you to dig into! Dive in with Emily Lyon, Triza Cox, Skye Pagon, Kalina Ko, and Gagarin for another year of plays that are CLASSICS. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

    23 min
  8. Spell #7 by Ntozake Shange

    09/01/2024

    Spell #7 by Ntozake Shange

    If you’re looking for an ensemble-lead choreopoem that explores the Black experience in the entertainment industry… consider Spell #7 by celebrated playwright Ntozake Shange. Set in the late 70s in St. Louis, Missouri, the play welcomes us into a world not too far from our own, forcing us to reckon with the realities of the “isms” in creative spaces. The play takes us through the lives of 9 characters who are fighting to discover themselves as artists in a society that sees them as one dimensional after-thoughts. Using a mixture of lush poetry and stylized choreography (and guided by a literal magician), the ensemble explores the effects of blackface and violence against Black women in the entertainment industry and beyond.  Hosted by Shannon Corenthin and Skye Pagon Monologue by Terra Chaney Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-is-a-classic-the-expand-the-canon-theatre-podcast/donations

    37 min
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About

Women wrote classics, too. And we’re here to celebrate them! We're spilling the tea on awesome plays by women that are *classics* as we fight for a gender-expansive canon. Timely, producible, excellent - these are plays you want to know. Each episode is dedicated to a different play and playwright. It's the podcast version of Expand the Canon.com but with more puns. Perfect for the theater makers, theater goers, and theater teachers among us who are jazzed about diversity in the classics. This is a podcast by Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre, a non-profit company in Brooklyn, NY. Support the Podcast and Expand the Canon at expandthecanon.com

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