Indie Art Today with Anthony J. Piccione

While still studying as a college student in California, Jason Truong has already been making big steps toward his career as a singer and rapper, with his span of influences ranging from Dr. Dre to Michael Jackson. Yet despite his long-time passion for songwriting, he also isn’t shy about his ambitions as an actor, playwright & entrepreneur.

For this week’s episode, Anthony spoke with Jason about his approach to writing lyrics, performing his work at various open-mic nights, his upcoming EP  - including two songs presented on the podcast, and more!

Become a paid subscriber to Piccione Arts for just $5 per month to watch the video edition at www.anthonyjpiccione.com.

Listen to the audio-only edition for free on
Anchor - https://anchor.fm/indie-art-today/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4DARjC5HiSxETwHPYO11MQ
Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9d38ac54-5042-4111-bb33-47b62d508f5f/Indie-Art-Today-with-Anthony-J-Piccione
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1511458832
Google - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xOGYzNTI0Yy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
Pocket Casts - https://pca.st/b8b6zusk
Radio Public - https://radiopublic.com/indie-art-today-with-anthony-j-pi-6neJ0Z
Breaker - https://www.breaker.audio/indie-art-today-with-anthony-j-piccione
Overcast - https://overcast.fm/itunes1511458832/indie-art-today-with-anthony-j-piccione
Bullhorn - https://www.bullhorn.fm/indiearttodaywithanthonyjpicci

Originally from Cincinnati, Jared Pettit went on to enjoy a prolific career in improv and comedy - both as a writer and as a performer - after studying screenwriting at DePaul University, as well as training as a comedian at the Second City Training Center. Yet it wasn’t until performing in A Sketch of New York in NYC that he was inspired to co-found the Salty Nuts Improv Troupe with his fellow artists.

For this week’s episode, Anthony spoke with Jared about his experience training at Second City, the events leading up to the beginning of the Salty Nuts Troupe and the shows that followed, how other comedians should respond when called out for offensive jokes, and more!

Become a paid subscriber to Piccione Arts for just $5 per month to watch the video edition at www.anthonyjpiccione.com.

Listen to the audio-only edition for free on
Anchor - https://anchor.fm/indie-art-today/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4DARjC5HiSxETwHPYO11MQ
Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9d38ac54-5042-4111-bb33-47b62d508f5f/Indie-Art-Today-with-Anthony-J-Piccione
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1511458832
Google - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xOGYzNTI0Yy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
Pocket Casts - https://pca.st/b8b6zusk
Radio Public - https://radiopublic.com/indie-art-today-with-anthony-j-pi-6neJ0Z
Breaker - https://www.breaker.audio/indie-art-today-with-anthony-j-piccione
Overcast - https://overcast.fm/itunes1511458832/indie-art-today-with-anthony-j-piccione
Bullhorn - https://www.bullhorn.fm/indiearttodaywithanthonyjpicci

After graduating from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Matthew Gallagher enjoyed success as an actor in NYC both Off-Broadway and on television, before returning home to Connecticut. Today, his creative passions have been dedicated to his career as a playwright, screenwriter & author - as well as teaching his students - including host Anthony J. Piccione - the craft of writing their own scripts.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Matthew about his days as a working actor in NYC, his work as a writer including his acclaimed play Voices Carry, his upcoming novel I Am Jason Kindley, Lifeguard, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Order your copy of Matthew Gallagher's novel A Christmas Come True now at www.amazon.com/Christmas-Come-True-Travel-Romance/dp/0692997911.

While they come from different backgrounds and generations, Tyler Powell & Cris Eil Blak both share a passion for reducing the stigmas surrounding therapy & mental illness through their respective works as playwrights. This November, worldwide audiences will get to see their stories showcased as part of the Talking It Out Virtual Arts Festival's next short play presentation.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Tyler and Cris about how their lives and experiences connected to their plays, what it means to be aware of mental health, why reflecting was not a challenge while tackling powerful subject matter, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Purchase tickets to the Talking It Out Virtual Arts Festival at www.eventbrite.com/e/talking-it-out-a-virtual-arts-festival-2021-2022-season-tickets-133631201521.

After a long hiatus due to the year-long COVID shutdown, the Improvisational Repertory Theatre Ensemble - aka IRTE - is ready to return to the Producer's Club this October for their latest production of The Marvelous Mrs. McCkuskey. Together with both familiar faces and new friends, their latest production promises to be a much-needed night of fun after a long period of darkness for the theatre industry.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with IRTE Artistic Director Nannette Deasy, show director Robert Baumgardner, and actors Connie Perry & Vikki Martin about the process of coming back to live theatre, the creation of their latest show's concept, how audience suggestions affect the story each night, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about IRTE and get your tickets to The Marvelous Mrs. McCluskey, running October 22-November 13 at the Producer's Club in NYC, by visiting www.irteinfo.com

Growing up in Singapore, Clara Tan grew up in a country whose government was extremely hostile toward non-cisgender people. Yet now, as a working actress in New York, she sees more bigotry in the American theatre industry toward people of Asian descent than toward those in the LGBTQ community.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Clara about moving to NYC to study at the American Musical & Dramatic Academy, industry discrimination toward Asian and trans people, how she was primarily a singer before Broadway made her aspire to be an actress, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Clara and her work by following her on Instagram@actual_clara.

Get your tickets to see Clara in One Empire, Under God this November in NYC at ci.ovationtix.com/35658/production/1074489.

After starting out performing in school plays, Sarah Nowik was inspired at a young age to pursue musical theatre as an adult. Even while still attending Hunter College in NYC, she is quickly starting to appear in more and more virtual & in-person shows in NYC.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Sarah about how her experience in Catholic school influenced her decision to go into the arts, performing in both in-person & virtual theatre, studying theatre in college amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Get your tickets to see Sarah in One Empire, Under God this November in NYC at ci.ovationtix.com/35658/production/1074489.

Having been disillusioned by the industry in Los Angeles, Jim Miller - better known by his stage/screen name J.J. Miller - left acting to pursue a successful career as a producer, through his work with Brave New Films beginning in 2005. Yet after the COVID pandemic hit, he decided to return to his first love, when he began appearing in various plays in NYC as an actor.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Jim about his early career as a screen actor, the various causes behind the documentaries he produced, how his passion for social justice informs his continuing artistic work, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Jim by following him on Instagram @j.j.nycla.

Learn more about Brave New Films by subscribing on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/bravenewfilms.

Get your tickets to see Jim in One Empire, Under God live in NYC this November at ci.ovationtix.com/35658/production/1074489.

Back in 2016, Pitr Strait founded Torn Out Theater in the hopes of breaking down taboos surrounding gender, sexuality & the human body. This summer marks their return to live theatre in NYC with their production of Antigonick directed by Britt Berke.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Pitr and Britt about the history of Torn Out Theater, the rehearsal process for past productions and their latest production, the importance of promoting body positivity, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Torn Out Theater and their upcoming production of Antigonick - running August 19-22 at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY - by visiting www.tornouttheater.org.

After her two children were diagnosed with autism, Jenna Lourenco began to suspect that the reason behind many of her own personality traits was because she herself was on the spectrum. Since then, as a theatre researcher and professor, she has dedicated much of her academic work to promote the importance and value of neurodiverse voices in the theatre industry.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Jenna about the research behind her thesis work on representation of autism in theatre, the rising number of openly autistic playwrights, the stereotypes and obstacles that continue to affect autistic people in the industry, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Jenna and her work by visiting www.jennalourenco.com.

This July, the Talking It Out virtual play festival will present its third and final performance of its inaugural season. With it comes another set of five short plays that tackle a wide range of mental health conditions, and how it impacts both the afflicted individuals and their loved ones.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with four of the five participating playwrights - Steven Hayet, Bridgette Dutta Portman, Huss Rasit & Randy Gross - about how their personal perspectives inspired their work, what they hope audiences will take away from it, what more can be done in the arts to promote mental health awareness, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Purchase tickets to the Talking It Out virtual play festival at www.eventbrite.com/e/talking-it-out-a-virtual-short-play-festival-tickets-111853867930.

Since he was a child, Marc Verzatt dreamt of pursuing a career as an actor, only to be discouraged by his unsupportive parents. Later in life, after a long career of working in opera, he finally decided to start auditioning for plays and films, and is now one of the most sought-after actors in NYC.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Marc about his career as an opera director, what inspired him to pursue his passion for acting, his ongoing work as an acting coach, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Marc and his work by visiting www.marcverzatt.com.

Get your tickets to see Marc in the Off-Broadway production of Lilies in NYC by visiting www.tdcnyc.org.

Born and raised in Rome, Italy, Beatrice Manfredi began her career at a young age as a voice actor, before she made the transition to live theatre as a teenager. Not too long after that, she went on to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC, paving the way for her recent successes post-graduation.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Beatrice about the differences between stage acting & voice acting, her experience studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, her work on the new plays Sisters on the Ground & Tough, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Beatrice and her work by visiting www.beatricemanfredi.com and by following her on Instagram @stupidonesarefullofconfidence.

Having experienced a rough childhood in Cleveland, Donald Loftus was first introduced to live theatre by his teacher in Junior High, who regularly took him and his classmates to NYC to see four Broadway shows per year. Since then, he has gone on to become one of the most prolific and successful playwrights alive today, with his work produced at various venues worldwide.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Donald about how his upbringing informed his creative process, his intense approach to sending out play submissions, his work with the Dramatists Guild Foundation and with the writing group P.A.G.E.S., and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Donald and his writing by visiting www.donaldjloftus.com and by finding his plays on the New Play Exchange.

While studying media communications in college, Brandon Keenan was inspired to take a different path, after being inspired by a scriptwriting assignment he received from his professor. Today, he is promoting his completed passion project - the horror film Body Farm - while also looking ahead to an exciting array of future projects.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Brandon about the creative process behind Body Farm, his plans for an eventual sequel, his work with the commercial film production company KVT Productions, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Watch Body Farm now on Amazon Prime, and learn more about the film by visiting www.bodyfarmmovie.com.

Learn more about KVT Productions by visiting www.kvtproductions.com.

When he was growing up in Texas, Christopher North's formative years were defined by renting countless films at the video store & by the local indie rock scene. These experiences are what led him to where he is today, as a storyteller who has composed countless scores for independent films, while also continuing to work on his latest concept album as a solo artist.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Christopher about his past & upcoming collaborations in film, his long-awaiting solo album Space Bar, working in the pits on Broadway productions such as The Lion King, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Christopher and his work by visiting www.christophernorth.com.

Growing up in Missouri, Scotty Corn began his performing career in live theatre at an early age, with the encouragement of his parents. Today, as an artist in NYC, his artistic work in both theatre and film has helped him cope with his struggles with mental health, as he also seeks to raise broader awareness and to help others dealing with similar struggles.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Scotty about how inspired him to move to NYC to pursue acting, how his struggles have informed his journey as an artist, his film company No Seats Productions, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Scotty and his work by following him on Instagram @scottycorn.

Learn more about No Seats Productions by checking them out on YouTube at www.youtube.com/channel/UCPQm8k1k_ly5riyDMMH0xDg.

In the latest Talking It Out virtual festival performance, the five participating playwrights - Marcus Gorman, Scott C. Sickles, Steven Hayet, Molly Peterson & Russell Nichols - all have unique and thought-provoking stories to tell. What unites them is their shared belief in the importance of self-care & caring for others who are struggling with mental illness.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with them about the creative process of writing their plays, how your own life experiences informed them, the importance of mental health awareness, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Purchase tickets to the Talking It Out virtual play festival at www.eventbrite.com/e/talking-it-out-a-virtual-short-play-festival-tickets-111853867930.

Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Monique Hebert turned to her school Drama Club, as a way of coping with her anxiety disorder. Since her days working backstage on different shows, she has turned toward playwriting as a form of both artistic expression & promoting mental health awareness.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Monique about her rising career as a playwright, her upcoming book Mom and the Mythical Creatures, her ongoing work as a mental health advocate, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Monique and her work by visiting www.moniquehebert3.wixsite.com, and by following her on Instagram @mhebert620

Order your copy of Mom and the Mythical Creatures at www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mom-and-the-mythical-creatures-monique-hebert/1138820788?ean=9781666247114

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

As the COVID-19 pandemic began during his last semester of college, Max Berry used the opportunity to virtually unite his fellow college classmates to create a unique project that he'd been planning for a while. Working with director Rosie Tyler, they've created the first season of the new web series Hey, Professor!, premiering later this year on YouTube.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Max and Rosie - along with actors Sydney Weiser and Marco Cunha - about the joys and challenges of producing a series via Zoom, blending improv comedy with each episode, how their real-life experiences inspired the characters they play, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

For updates on this series, follow along on Instagram @heyprofessorshow.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

During his high school years, Bill Oberst Jr. realized he could become popular with his peers by doing comedic impersonations of his school principal. Since then, his impressions have earned him several awards and critical acclaim, throughout a prolific career in theatre and film.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Bill about his work in horror and cult films, portraying famed figures such as Mark Twain and John F. Kennedy, his podcast Gothic Goodnight, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Bill by visiting www.billoberst.com.

Listen to Gothic Goodnight now at www.bill-oberst-jr-gothic-goodnight.captivate.fm.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

Growing up with ocular albinism, Angelina Chase turned to visual art and makeup as a creative outlet to help her cope during her teen years. It was during this time when she realized she had a talent that could be honed and utilized not just as a personal passion, but as a way to making her living as an adult.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Angelina about moving from LA to NYC to pursue her passion, her rising career as a makeup & SFX artist in the indie film scene, her goal to create a creative hub for all artists in NYC, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Angelina and her work by following her on Instagram @angelinachase.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

When she was in third grade, Ashley Griffin first ventured into theatre when she wrote her first musical - a fairy-tale adaptation that was staged for all her school peers. As an adult, she has accumulated a wide range of both Broadway and Off-Broadway credits - in addition to her work in TV and film - most notably being the first woman to both direct & star in an NYC production of Hamlet.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Ashley about her acclaimed touring production of Hamlet, performing in prestigious venues such as the Lincoln Center & the Public Theater, where college theatre programs fall short in preparing students for the industry, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

After starting his career as an actor and improv comedian, Alex Goldberg took his past experience of creating dialogue on the spot, and put it to use during the next stage of his artistic journey. Today, he is a prolific playwright & screenwriter whose work is presented across the world on live stages,  on the silver screen, and through the new artistic medium of virtual theatre.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Alex about his critically acclaimed play It Is Done, his feature film Closure, his ongoing work with the Antaeus Theatre Company, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Alex and his writing by visiting www.alexgoldberg.net and by following him on Twitter @theAlexGoldberg.

Purchase the script & production rights for It Is Done at www.originalworksonline.com/ItIsDone.

Closure is available to watch now on Amazon Prime & Tubi.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

After a 15-year hiatus where she focused on writing poetry and starting a family, S.J. Henschel once again put her experience studying at the legendary Dramatic Workshop in NYC to use, when she returned to her artistic roots by becoming a major figure in the blossoming theatre scene in upstate New York. Throughout her career, she has written her own plays and musicals, performed in and directed countless productions, started her own reader's theatre company...and she also happens to be the grandmother of Indie Art Today host Anthony J. Piccione!

For our Season One finale, they spoke about her experience studying under Maria Piscator at the Dramatic Workshop, directing the touring production of the Holocaust-era drama Survivors, her play Between Silences & her musical Gotta Dance, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Order the script and production rights for Gotta Dance at www.stagerights.com/allshows/gotta-dance/

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes 

Donald Loftus, Monique Hebert, and Alex Goldberg all have written very different short plays, each with different tones and genres, and coming from different backgrounds and generational perspectives. What all three of these playwrights have in common is that they wrote their plays in the hopes of raising mental health awareness, hence why they are all featured in the November 2020 edition of the Talking It Out virtual play festival.

For this week's special edition of Indie Art Today, Anthony spoke with them about how their personal experiences informed their plays, their thoughts on the responsibility of artists to promote mental health wellness, both the similarities and differences in the subject matter they explore, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Purchase tickets to the Talking It Out play festival at www.eventbrite.com/e/talking-it-out-a-virtual-short-play-festival-tickets-111853867930.

After years of working in advertising, and then as a reviewer for the Off-Off-Broadway Review, Doug DeVita first ventured into writing plays purely as a favor to a friend. From stories from his childhood to behind the scenes tales in the entertainment industry, he is not shy about what inspires him to continue long after that favor led him down that path, to the point where he can no longer stop writing.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Doug about the role that mothers and martinis play in several of his plays, how growing up gay in the 1970s inspired his acclaimed play Phillie's Trilogy, how he hopes his latest play The Hamburdian Candidate will be viewed after Election Night, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Doug and his writing by visiting www.dougdevitaplays.com, by liking Doug Devita Plays on Facebook, and by finding him on the New Play Exchange.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

Born into a family that is legendary in the NYC indie theatre world, Jessica Jennings's earliest childhood memories are of performing on-stage as a dancer for thousands of people. Since then, she has grown up and gone on to promote a wide range of causes - from climate change to mental health - through her arts organization Ripple Effect Artists.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Jessica about both the joys and struggles of growing up as a professional dancer, her recent virtual productions such as Arise and Rose Colored Glass, coping with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis as an artist, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Watch Arise now on Vimeo at www.vimeo.com/455111078/cdf4318fea.

Learn more about Ripple Effect Artists by visiting www.rippleeffectartists.com and by following them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rippleeffectartists and Instagram @rippleeffectartist.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

Growing up in Michigan watching locally produced horror films, Elizabeth Piper S. was always fascinated by how a simple tool such as ketchup could be used to create fake blood used for various horror scenes. Today, she is a professional SFX/makeup artist in NYC, and while she isn't using ketchup to create fake blood, she is putting her knowledge and talent to good use, both in big commercial productions and countless indie features.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Elizabeth about moving to NYC to pursue her career, her indie film company Into the Labyrinth and the various films she's produced, her cinematic blood line Cine Blood: Type O, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Elizabeth and her work by visiting www.makeupbyeps.format.com, and about Into the Labyrinth at www.intolabyrinth.com and about Cine Blood: Type O at www.cinebloodtypeo.biz.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

Born and raised in Colombia, Andrés Gallardo Bustillo first became enthralled with musical theatre at the age of five, when his parents took him to see a musical which inspired him to eventually become a professional child actor just four years later. Since moving to NYC as an adult, he has begun to earn a reputation - both in NYC and in Philadelphia - has one of the boldest and most creative artists in the industry today.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Andrés about his experience moving to America to pursue his artistic passion, their collaboration on the new play One Empire, Under God, his work with the Phoenix Theatre in Philadelphia including the upcoming international Origins Theatre Festival, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Andrés and his work by visiting www.andresgallardobustillo.com and by following him on Instagram @iamandresgallardo.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

Since she was five years old, Sunflower Duran knew she was born to be an actress, gradually becoming more prolific in the world of theatre after initially being inspired by her love of film. Today, her company Pink Arts Peace Productions aspires to not only produce a diverse range of works for the stage and screen, but also to do as much as possible to help other artists do the same.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Sunflower about her recent virtual reading & forthcoming production of The Women of Manhattan,  her work with the 4th U Artivists, her ongoing web series Blonde Brunette, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Sunflower and her work by visiting www.pinkartspeace.com.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

Growing up as an avid lover of film, Anthony Laura initially moved toward writing for the stage as a mere creative challenge for himself. Today, his company Face to Face Films is equally prolific in the dual worlds of independent theatre & independent film.

For this week's episode, Anthony J. Piccione spoke with Anthony Laura about his canon of work as a filmmaker, his play The Girl with the Red Hair, his ongoing virtual reading series, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Face to Face Films at www.facetofacefilms.net, and by following them on Facebook and Instagram @facetofacefilms.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

After being diagnosed with cancer and suffering from subsequent depression, Dave Proctor discovered the true meaning of the phrase "laughter is the best medicine", as he turned to writing comedy as a means of coping. Today, not only has he lived to tell the tale, but he continues to write plays and novels which are being published on a frequent basis.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Dave about how both his diagnosis and past careers informed his writing, his several plays currently published with Smith Scripts, his novel The Reluctant Allotmenteer, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

As the Artistic Director of The Tank, Meghan Finn has directed, produced & curated several productions at what has gradually become one of the leading independent theaters in NYC since it was founded in 2003. Over the years, her organization has provided countless resources to indie artists across various mediums, including free rehearsal and performance space - an extremely rare thing to receive from any theatrical company in 2020.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Meghan about her journey which led to becoming The Tank's Artistic Director, highlights from their production history such as Manufacturing Mischief and When We Went Electronic, how they've been adapting in the age of COVID through the online CyberTank, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about The Tank by visiting www.thetanknyc.org.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

Having previously worked as a stage actor, Kendra Murray first started venturing into narrating audiobooks after meeting Ralph Scott at a performance at this radio theatre company. Together, they are now prolific producers of audiobooks through Squeaky Cheese Productions, and of scripted audio drama through Speaks Volumes Productions.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Ralph & Kendra about how they started both of these companies, how audio drama has been booming in popularity even before the pandemic, their upcoming LitRPG production, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Ralph & Kendra's work by visiting www.utterlykendra.com and www.squeakycheeseproductions.com.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

Upon receiving her MS in Theatre Education from the City College of New York, Gianna Cioffi was motivated to create immersive and interactive theatrical experiences that were engaging and entertaining to all kids and teenagers, regardless of their age or ability. Together with her fellow artists, she founded Emit Theatre, which has performed for over 1000 students in schools across five boroughs, and now continues to create virtual content during social distancing.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Gianna about how working both onstage and backstage prepared her for starting her own company, making Shakespeare fun and relevant for young audiences, Emit Theatre's program for new play submissions, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Emit Theatre by visiting www.emittheatre.org.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes 

After exploring all areas of theatre - from acting to playwriting to directing - while growing up in community theatre, Sara Fellini felt inspired to start spit&vigor, which is now one of the most prolific indie theatre companies in NYC. Over the past five years, their work has been critically acclaimed by the New York Times, been awarded by the New York Innovative Theatre Awards, and has toured across the United States from Texas to California.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Sara about what informed her desire to create a theatrical aesthetic heavy on blood and guts, how horror stories often depict female killers differently from male killers, why virtual theatre can't fully replicate the intimacy of live theatre, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about spitnvigor, as well as the virtual productions they're currently presenting, by visiting www.spitnvigor.com, and by following them on Facebook (spit&vigor) and Instagram. (@spitnvigor)

Learn more about Sara's entire work by visiting www.sfcfellini.wixsite.com/saraflorence.

Throughout her prolific career in both improv and scripted theatre, Nannette Deasy felt that there needed to be a company that offered the best of both worlds to comedy-loving theatergoers. Since founding the Improvisational Repertory Theatre Ensemble (aka "IRTE") a decade ago, she and her troupe of performers have come to gain attention as some of the hardest-working improvisational performers in the NYC indie theatre scene.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Nannette about the origins of IRTE, her improv duo Double D with Graceann Dorse Double D, her recent work in the short Don't Blink and Love Lives in a Void, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Nannette and her work by visiting www.nannettedeasy.com, and about IRTE by visiting www.irteinfo.com.

Watch Love Lives in a Void by entering the password L0v3L1v3$** at www.monthlyindieshorts.com/love-lives-in-a-void.

Having been diagnosed with a speech difficulty when he was a child, Travis John Martin was able to gradually overcome his adversity by learning to speak from classic films such as Star Wars. As an adult, he has continued to express himself through independent art, by acting in both plays and films, and also by writing novels and scripts.

For this week's episode, Anthony spoke with Travis about how he transitioned from indie film to indie theatre, his novel Lion's Heaven and the upcoming sequel, his short films The Resident and Afterthought, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Travis and his work by visiting www.travisjohnmartin.com and by following him on Instagram @travisjohnmartinofficial.

Watch The Resident at www.vimeo.com/220203168

Watch Afterthought at www.vimeo.com/220202844

As the founder and Artistic Director of Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Ken Wolf has presented over 1000 full-length plays and 6000 short plays in NYC since 2005. Originally motivated by a desire to present his own work as a playwright, which is inspired by deeply personal events and traumas in his life, his company gradually became a space where many new artists in indie theatre often find themselves working, at the start of their careers.

For this week’s episode, Anthony spoke with Ken about the events that led him to open Manhattan Rep, his passion for experimental and minimalistic theatre, the biggest mistakes he notices that new playwrights often make, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Over the course of his career, Rich Orloff’s work as a playwright has received over 1000 productions on six different continents, winning him several awards and positive reviews along the way. Yet his solo-show It’s a Beautiful Wound, which he had been touring across the United States prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, is his most personal work to date, exploring his struggles with mental health and how the usage of psychedelics helped him recover and heal from past events in his life.

For this week’s episode, Anthony spoke with Rich about his writing process behind It’s a Beautiful Wound, his NYT-acclaimed comedies Big Boys & Funny As a Crutch, his documentary theatre piece about the Vietnam War entitled Days of Possibilities, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

While studying to become an actor in musical theatre at Marymount Manhattan College, Max Berry realized that playwriting was his true passion, as he began submitting his work to various theaters and festivals in NYC. Now, as a recent college graduate, he is well-positioned to be one of the leading indie theatre artists in the post-COVID era.

For this week’s episode, Anthony spoke with Max about the mentors who inspired him to pursue writing his own plays, his full-length plays Treehouse of Dreams and The Best Thing We Do, his thoughts on the theatre festival scene in NYC, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

After performing for her school and church as a child and teenager, Gemia Foo decided to take the lessons she learned from those formative experiences, and start 12 Feet Deep – a touring educational theatre company dedicated to spreading important stories and messages to middle and high school students throughout her home country of Singapore. Each of the stories told by her company is inspired by real-life events, and seeks to raise awareness from relationships between teenagers and their parents to fighting against bigotry toward migrant workers in Singapore.

For this week’s episode, Anthony spoke with Gemia about why she founded 12 Feet Deep, her career as an actress in theatre, film & television, issues concerning censorship of the arts in Singapore, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Gemia and her work by following her on Instagram @gemiafoo.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

When she was younger, Louise Heller put aside her passion for acting, at the urging of her family, to instead pursue a career in academia. Yet within the past few years, she has become one of the most prominent and prolific actresses in the NYC theatre scene, having appeared in colorful Shakespearean productions, avant-garde productions performed in art galleries, readings presented via Zoom, and two plays recently written and produced by host Anthony J. Piccione, among many other things!

For this week’s episode, Anthony spoke with Louise about her late in life career shift, her recent work as a co-writer of a new script about German refugees in the 19th century, how her experience as a German immigrant has informed her work as an artist, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Even before moving to NYC to study musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Shir Kaufman was already on her way to becoming a highly accomplished performer, having previously performed at the Habima Theatre, the official national theater in Israel. Now she’s quickly making a name for herself in the United States, as well, as she is seen in more and more theatrical and cabaret productions in NYC.

For this week’s episode, Anthony spoke with Shir about her prolific career in NYC theatre and cabaret, her continuing involvement with the Israeli Artists Project, her plans to record her own original music, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Since moving from Berlin to studying acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in NYC, Ita Korenzecher has been working nonstop in numerous theatrical and film productions. Within just the past few years, she has portrayed a wide range of different characters, including an innocent teenager, an emotionally broken wife, an evil sociopath, and nearly everything in-between, winning Best Actress awards in four different film festivals along the way.

For this week’s episode, Anthony spoke with Ita about what inspired her to leave behind her past career in Germany to pursue her artistic passion in NYC, her recent work on the acclaimed Netflix series Unorthodox, her experiences working with indie theatre companies such as Rising Sun Performance Company​ and Love Creek Productions​, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

After years of working as a playwright, actor, director & reviewer, Paul Smith decided to take the initiative himself to get a wider variety of plays into print, after seeing too many deserving plays rejected by major publishers such as Samuel French. Today, UK-based digital play publisher Smith Scripts is the home of hundreds of scripts from a diverse range of genres, lengths, and writers from across the world.

For this week’s episode, Anthony spoke with Paul about what inspired him to get into the business of play publishing, why some plays get commercially produced over others, what it was like to write a script for Judi Dench, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Born and raised in Manila, Francis Mabborang reached a crossroads in his life, when he had to choose between whether or not to work toward a profitable career in the corporate world or pursue his true passion for the performing arts. Since then, he has gone on to study musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC, and his career is quickly taking off as he continues to appear in various theatrical and cabaret productions, even in the increasingly virtual age of the coronavirus pandemic.

For this week’s episode, Anthony spoke with Francis about what led him to move to America to pursue a career in theatre and cabaret, the challenges and perspectives that come with being an international artist, his most recent performance experience in a virtual Shakespeare reading, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Since moving from San Francisco to NYC eight years ago, Amanda Andrews has enjoyed a great deal of success as both a writer and performer. After a prolific career acting in new plays, she went on to enjoy success with her rock and roll cabaret show Brilliant But Off at the Duplex Theater, and since then, she has ventured into the world of screenwriting with the upcoming new film But A Dream.

For this week’s episode, Anthony spoke with Amanda about her process behind her creative work, exploring the issue of mental health in theatre and film, learning more about yourself while writing, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!

Learn more about Amanda and her writing and acting by visiting www.amandaandrews.net, and by following her on Instagram @amandrews31.

Follow us on social media for updates on future episodes

In the NYC indie theatre scene, Jay Michaels is best known as the founder of Jay Michaels Arts & Entertainment, a communications agency dedicated to promoting the works of independent artists in theatre, film & cabaret. Throughout his career, he has also been an actor, writer, singer, director, producer & podcast host, which has given him a unique perspective on multiple aspects of the production process.

For this week’s episode, Anthony spoke with Jay about his career in independent theatre, what led him from handling publicity for big name clients such as James Earl Jones and Jon Stewart to working with future generations of indie artists, the dos and donts of promoting your own work, and more!

Listen to the full conversation now!