On this episode of “What’s Off?”, our co-host Nicky Maggio sat down for a chat with George Strus, the Founding Artistic Director of Breaking The Binary Theatre. George is a Tony Award-nominated and Obie Award-winning Latiné producer and dramaturg based in New York. Tune in now to learn more!

Caylin Waller, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Theatre Advocacy Project, is a passionate lifelong learner and a fierce advocate for creating braver spaces that combat harmful behaviors in the theatrical workplace. Drawing from her personal experiences and extensive research, Caylin empowers organizations to enhance their Human Resources practices by offering tailored resources and hands-on training for both staff and individual artists.Tune in now to learn more!

To help build community, and to best support collaboration and resource sharing, A.R.T./New York hosts semi-annual membership convenings. In this special episode of What’s Off?, hosts Nicky Maggio and Ashley J. Hicks take a trip down memory lane to highlight some of their favorite moments from our 2023 Fall Forum and 2024 Spring Summit.  First, they revisit clips from a panel discussion on “Marketing and Audience Development” featuring an array of perspectives on what's working, what’s not, and what new strategies we might try in order to best reach and engage our audiences.  Then, we listen to clips from “The Advocators: Forging Paths to Better Pay!” - a discussion between freelance artists and workers who are advocating for pay equity in new and impactful ways. Tune in to this special episode where we shine the spotlight on field innovators, recorded live and in conversation with each other! Episode Transcript  Website Link   Episode Part 1: From the 2023 Fall Forum, Moving Through Together, the Marketing and Audience Development panel discussion was live streamed in partnership with Transcend Streaming and HowlRound on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.   Panelists:Bryan Joseph Lee, CNTR ArtsFernando Masterson, Ars NovaTom O’Connor, Tom O’Connor Consulting GroupBeth Prevor, HandsOnDavid E. Shane, Director of Program Services, A.R.T./New York, Moderator   Episode Part 2: From the 2024 Spring Summit, UNCHARTED: Leading Beyond The Path, The Advocators: Forging Paths to Better Pay! A Panel Discussion was live streamed in partnership with Transcend Streaming and HowlRound on Wednesday, June 5th, 2024  Panelists:Joanna Carpenter, Actor Ife Olujobi, PlaywrightEmma Orme, Producing Director of The TEAMBarbara Samuels, Lighting Designer and ProducerSam Morreale, Associate Producer at Soho Rep, Moderator   For more information about A.R.T./New York, please visit https://www.art-newyork.org/ If you’d like to receive new episodes as they’re published, please subscribe to “What’s Off?” in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show. To donate to A.R.T./New York, please visit: https://www.art-newyork.org/donate “What’s Off?” Production StaffDavid E. Shane, Executive ProducerErica Wray Barnes, Associate Producer + Line ProducerDante32, Audio Engineer

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is beginning to shake up nearly every creative industry, and the live theatre is no exception. From generative world building to revamping the way the audiences engage with the work, this revolutionary new technology is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Tune in to learn how AI is reshaping live theater, as well our guests’ hopes (and fears) for the future of AI!

Access to affordable space has always been a concern for New York City theatre makers; this episode shines the spotlight on some visionary leaders who recognized the need for more artistic space and decided to do something about it! Despite some closures during the COVID-19 lockdown and ever-rising real estate costs, the story of New York City’s artistic venues may actually be one of evolution and rebirth. Tune in now to learn more!

As a multi-hyphenate theatremaker, dramaturg, and Associate Producer at Soho Rep, Sam Morreale inhabits many spaces within the theatrical field. They are guided by the words of Toni Cade Bambara, holding dear the idea that “the role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible” - and Sam’s role is to hold space so that theater artists can bring their fullest selves into the rehearsal room.

Many longstanding theater organizations in New York City and across the country are experiencing changes in administrative and artistic leadership. These individuals may be new to their positions, but they bring years of experience and fresh ideas to the field and to their new theatrical homes.   A.R.T./New York Co-Executive Director Talia Corren sat down with Amanda Feldman of Classic Stage Company and Patricia McGregor of New York Theatre Workshop to discuss their roles as new leaders of multi-decade institutions. Listen in as they share about their experiences as women in the field, what they bring to their new positions, what it’s like to lead in a co-director model, and how they each are bridging the gap between the past, present and the future.  “People haven't solved the challenges we're going to solve. People haven't dreamed the things that we're going to come up with. I think there is this interesting play between wanting to have reverence and appreciation and deep respect for what has come before while also [holding] that this is who I am and this is the life experience, identity, and way of moving through the world that I carry.” - Talia Corren    Episode Transcript   GUEST BIOS: Amanda Feldman is currently the Managing Director of Classic Stage Company. Prior to this role she served as Managing Director of Page 73, where she produced five world premiere Off-Broadway productions and oversaw the finances, human resources, and marketing, as well as played a key role in strategic planning and organizational advancement. In her career, Amanda has produced new works Off-Broadway with The Foundry Theatre, En Garde Arts, The Play Company, Abrons Arts Center, and The Playwrights Realm. In 2011, she co-founded the Off Off Broadway company Neighborhood Productions to support entrepreneurial theater artists in self-producing their own works and, for five years, she was the General Manager of the Lark Play Development Center. Feldman also led The NYC World Theatre Day Coalition until 2014, where she created and curated The Around-the-Globe Chain Play. She was the founding Managing Director of CollaborationTown and produced seven of their world premieres. Feldman currently serves on the board of History Matters/Celebrating Women's Plays of the Past and she is a WP Theatre Producer Lab alumna. BA from Tufts University. Born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Patricia McGregor is the Artistic Director of New York Theatre Workshop, as well as a director and writer working across disciplines. McGregor has twice been profiled by The New York Times for her direction of world premieres. She was the inaugural Artist in Residence for Arts in the Armed Forces and an Old Globe Resident Artist, as well as a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow at Yale School of Drama.   For Interviewer Bio, Host Bios, and additional links, please visit the episode webpage. If you’d like to receive new episodes as they’re published, please subscribe to “What’s Off?” in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.   To donate to A.R.T./New York, please visit: https://www.art-newyork.org/donate   “What’s Off?” Production StaffDavid E. Shane, Executive ProducerErica Wray Barnes, Associate ProducerNicky Maggio & Ashley J. Hicks, Line ProducersCatalin Stelian, Audio Engineer  

As the team at Roundabout Theatre Company considered the significant barriers to entry for potential technical theatre workers, they realized something was “off”. So, they created the Theatrical Workforce Development Program (TWDP) -  a partnership between Roundabout Theatre Company and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE.) TWDP offers participants hands-on, work-based training in four technical disciplines and connects them directly to employment opportunities in theatres across the city.    In this episode, A.R.T./New York Theatre Operations Manager Sarah Lahue talks to the program leaders about how TWDP helps participants with everything from learning about self care on the job to avoiding student loan debt. Tune in to learn all about how this innovative program is helping to develop the next generation of theatrical workers. “There's so many jobs out there where you can't get the job unless you've had the job. Technical theater is no different. It's about trust. It's about safety and making sure you're going to be able to do it when you show up." - Mitch Mattson   Episode Transcript  For more information about A.R.T./New York and to learn more about the hosts and guest interviewer in this episod, please visitWebsite Link    GUEST BIO: Njeri Baker is a dedicated Arts Administrator with more than 7 years of theater experience across production, company management, and theater administration. She graduated from Howard University and New York University with a BFA in Theater Technology & an MA in Performing Arts Administration, respectively. Currently, she's an Education Manager at Roundabout Theatre Company, managing their Theatrical Workforce Development Program. A program training young people in backstage theater work to diversify the technical theater industry.   Mitch Mattson is the Director of Career Training and Operations at Roundabout Theatre Company – NYC’s largest not-for-profit theatre company. He leads a team of arts administrators and teaching artists fostering the next generation of dynamic theatre professionals through career and workforce development programs. His work has created partnerships with over 5 professional theatres and shops across NYC – enabling Roundabout’s Theatrical Workforce Development Program to provide training and jobs to early career technicians. He facilitates workshops and presents on theatre education topics nationally and internationally. Mitch is the recent Board Chair of the American Alliance for Theatre & Education and an alum of Coro: Leadership New York, LNY31. Previous work of his at Arena Stage in Washington, DC was sponsored by the US State Department, taking him to India to create theater with young people.   Additional Links: Roundabout’s Theatrical Workforce Development ProgramIATSE, The Union Behind Entertainment   For more information about A.R.T./New York, please visit https://www.art-newyork.org/   If you’d like to receive new episodes as they’re published, please subscribe to “What’s Off?” in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.   To donate to A.R.T./New York, please visit: https://www.art-newyork.org/donate   “What’s Off?” Production StaffErica Wray Barnes, Executive ProducerDavid E. Shane, Associate ProducerNicky Maggio, Line ProducerDante32, Audio Engineer

Since 2004, Theresa Buchheister has found themselves in a veritable slew of non-conventional New York City theatre and performance spaces. Their lifelong pursuit of creating collaborative,  experimental work has made them a beloved community leader. Today, Theresa has refocused their energy toward supporting other scrappy artists and career experimenters. Along the way, they’ve affirmed that theatre is most definitely NOT dead, and discovered that we can learn a lot by asking, “what are the barriers to participation?” Tune in to listen as host Nicky Maggio//N chats with Theresa about how shifting their focus allowed them to gain a new perspective on our ever tumultuous industry.

Through establishing an artistic practice as a healing artist and facilitator, Rebecca KellyG learned that in order to challenge systems, we must first harmonize with the self for both personal and collective liberation. Tune in now to learn more!

In the Spring of 2023, Executive Director Michelle Preston, Producing Director Megan Carter, and Managing Director Brad Carlin sat down with David E. Shane to talk about the long road toward sunsetting the organization. SITI Company was an ensemble-based theater company whose three components were the creation of new work, the training of theater artists, and a commitment to crossing boundaries. Our guests discussed how they went about supporting ensemble members through the grief of letting go of their life’s work, and crying onstage (and off!) with the company during their final bows. Tune in!

In 1972, a group of New York theatre makers realized something was “off” when they noticed the limited amount of funding and resources available for their community. This group set out to fill in some of those gaps, and thus OOBA (the Off-Off Broadway Alliance) was formed! Tune in now to learn more!

As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Lynnette Taylor grew up with sign language as her first language - her home language. When she moved to San Francisco to attend the Academy of Art, no one told her that she would be separated from her first language in an all-hearing environment. Lynnette realized something was off when she ran into a Deaf man looking for an interpreter to come down to a civil rights demonstration for disabled people. In that moment, her life changed forever.

“I think the important part is that bringing our whole selves is actually what makes us better. It makes the field and makes the art better” - Roberta Pereira In this special episode of “What’s Off?” A.R.T./New York Co-Executive Director Risa Shoup explores what it means to be a caregiver and to be cared for as a working theatre professional. Risa interviews Tony nominee Amber Gray, & nonprofit theatre leaders Roberta Pereira and Lindsey & Michael Sag.

After 25 years of experience in the theatre industry as a performer, Tavia Rivée Jefferson realized her very unique skill set made her a perfect fit for an emerging need in the rehearsal room, but this time, behind the table. Tune in to listen as Host Ashley Hicks chats with Tavia about how her unique journey led her to cultural coordinating and how the question, “if not me, then who?” created an entirely new and necessary role in the theatre industry. Tune in now to learn more!

The Alliance of Resident Theatres/ New York presents, “What’s Off?” - a podcast that shines the spotlight on Off-Broadway innovation! Each episode features interviews with trailblazing artists, administrations, service providers, and other theatre workers in the Off and Off-Off Broadway community. Season One features innovators such as ASL Interpreter and Disability Justice Advocate Lynnette Taylor and Cultural Coordinator Tavia Rivée Jefferson. Audiences will learn about how A.R.T./New York was originally founded, and how the work of one leading theatre organization, SITI Company, came to a thoughtful and meaningful end. Join us to learn how today’s theatrical innovators are setting the stage for what’s next.