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Artwork for The Present Stage: Conversations with Theater Writers

The Present Stage: Conversations with Theater Writers

Dan Rubins
Theater
The Trojans
Sound Design
Musical Theater
Bess Wohl
Iliad
Loading Dock Theatre
Shakespeare
Identity
Puppetry
Holocaust
Women's Liberation Movement
New York City
Nostalgia
Synthwave
Redeemed
I'm Almost There
The Lonely Few
The Fake Husband
2025 Pulitzer Prize

Hosted by Dan Rubins, theater critic at Slant Magazine, The Present Stage: Conversations with Theater Writers celebrates the extraordinary playwrights (plus lyricists, librettists, and composers!) currently featured on New York stages. Each episode spotlights the writer(s) of a new play or musical running in New York City, inviting each guest to explore the genesis and development of the script, t... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes101Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsArts

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Artwork for The Present Stage: Conversations with Theater Writers

Latest Episodes

You can catch Elysa's theater criticism in the New York Sun and New York Stage Review.

You can catch Joe's theater criticism all over social media, especially at @overthinkingtheatre on TikTok.

You can catch Dan's theater criticism by visiting Slan... more

Ragtime is currently playing on Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater's Vivian Beaumont Theater in an open-ended run.

Follow The Present Stage on Instagram at @thepresentstage

The Present Stage: Conversations with Theater Writers is hosted by Dan Rubi... more

Bughouse runs at the Vineyard Theatre through Sunday, April 5th. For more information, please visit www.vineyardtheatre.org.

Follow The Present Stage on Instagram at @thepresentstage

The Present Stage: Conversations with Theater Writers is hosted b... more

Night Side Songs runs at LCT3's Claire Tow Theatre through March 29th. For more information, visit www.lct.org.

Follow The Present Stage on Instagram at @thepresentstage

The Present Stage: Conversations with Theater Writers is hosted by Dan Rubins,... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Adam Gwon
Book writer, lyricist, and composer of All the World's A Stage
Episode: Adam Gwon — ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE
Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright and performer known for his solo work.
Playwrights Horizons
Episode: Ryan J. Haddad — HOLD ME IN THE WATER
Mona Pirnot
The playwright discussing her work and experiences in theater.
Episode: Mona Pirnot — I'M ASSUMING YOU KNOW DAVID GREENSPAN
Emil Weinstein
Playwright of Becoming Eve
New York Theater Workshop
Episode: Emil Weinstein — BECOMING EVE
Leegrid Stevens
Playwright and composer of *The Trojans*
Loading Dock Theatre
Episode: Leegrid Stevens — THE TROJANS
Ken Urban
Playwright of Danger and Opportunity
East Village Basement
Episode: Ken Urban — Danger and Opportunity
Caragh Donley
Playwright and performer of 'He Said, She Says', a piece sharing her story of coming out as a transgender woman.
Kelly Clarkson Show
Episode: Caragh Donley — HE SAID, SHE SAYS
Hue Park
Lyricist and co-writer of Maybe Happy Ending
Episode: Hue Park & Will Aronson — MAYBE HAPPY ENDING
Will Aronson
Co-book writer and composer of Maybe Happy Ending
Episode: Hue Park & Will Aronson — MAYBE HAPPY ENDING

Host

Dan Rubins
Host of The Present Stage; theater critic with deep involvement in contemporary theater scenes; associated with Slant Magazine and The Present Stage.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 16 ratings
  • Super smart and engaging!

    This is such a great podcast! Dan Rubin’s asks really smart questions that prompt great conversations. It’s also so wonderful for playwrights to get a chance to talk on the record about their work—most of them don’t get to do that, and it’s so helpful to hear them talk and reflect.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zusu15
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality discussions that feel candid and useful for industry insiders.
Smart, insightful conversations that pull rich detail from guests.
Great format for playwrights to discuss their work on the record.
Listeners praise the host for sharp, thoughtful questions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Mona Pirnot — I'M ASSUMING YOU KNOW DAVID GREENSPAN
Q: Why did you feel it was important to be really honest about your own experience in that context?
It felt like I needed to include certain things about my personal journey because they directly relate to the narrative and themes of the play.
Mona Pirnot — I'M ASSUMING YOU KNOW DAVID GREENSPAN
Q: What was the process like of writing for his voice?
It was really fun to tailor this to him, like a custom-made suit, and there were times that I could hear so vividly how he might do a moment or a sequence.
Adam Gwon — ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE
Q: How do you think about courage in your characters?
Gwon mentioned that courage manifests in various forms, and both overt and quiet courage can have significant impacts.
Adam Gwon — ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE
Q: What was it like working on 'All the World's A Stage' as a solo writer after many collaborations?
Gwon expressed that while he loves collaborating, he felt a desire to tackle a personal story on his own and found the experience rewarding.
Ryan J. Haddad — HOLD ME IN THE WATER
Q: How do you think about the balance of inviting audiences to connect and resonate with your story, but also not to experience disability and access as metaphors?
Access needs are universal; audiences can and should resonate with those experiences without feeling it is a metaphor exclusive to disabled people.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, theater-forward interview series that spotlights writers behind current New York productions. Conversations tend to center on the genesis of a new play or musical, their development process, and how page work translates to performance, with thoughtful attention to identity, representation, and the industry's realities. A notable strength is the host's ability to pull out personal and artistic stakes from diverse playwrights, lyricists, and composers, often weaving in broader cultural and critical perspectives that resonate with practitioners and fans alike. The format feels intimate and craft-focused, making it especially valuable for listeners who want to understand how a show comes to life and why certain storytelling choice... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Broadway Breakdown
2. I Wanna Be Like You with Elbi Cespedes
3. Loving You: The Untold Sondheim
4. The Playbill Podcast: A Show on Broadway
5. Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 101 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Adam Gwon
2. Ryan J. Haddad
3. Mona Pirnot
4. Emil Weinstein
5. Leegrid Stevens
6. Ken Urban
7. Caragh Donley
8. Hue Park

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