The Dramatists Guild Presents Talkback:
Where Art, Community, and Inclusion Meet
Hosted by Christine Toy Johnson
Season Five Premieres October 23
The Dramatists Guild Presents: Talkback is a podcast for every playwright, composer, lyricist, librettist, or theatre fan who wants to pull back the curtain to discover the highs and lows of what it means to create theatre and foster community in the complex landscape of American storytelling. Over the course of five seasons, host Christine Toy Johnson and her industry colleagues delve into in-depth conversations about the intricate facets of navigating and sustaining a life in a theatre that strives to make room for everyone.
Listen and subscribe on Broadway Podcast Network, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Pandora.
“I still have never seen or been in any play or musical that reflects my experience as an Asian American woman whose family has been here for multiple generations - unless I’ve written it. So to have these conversations about the possibility of making room for additional voices in what could become an expanded canon of our American landscape of storytelling has given me some hope that someday stories like mine and others from historically excluded communities might be intentionally included in it.” - Christine Toy Johnson
This season of Talkback was produced by Amy VonMacek and Christine Toy Johnson, with postproduction by John Marshall Media. The music is composed by Andrea Daly. Talkback is a production of the Dramatists Guild of America and is distributed by The Broadway Podcast Network.
Season Five
Episode One
The Canon in Education with Stephen Kaplan and Julianne Wick Davis Premieres October 23, 2023.
Episode Two
The Canon and Global Language with Jason Ma and Diana Burbano Premieres October 30, 2023.
Episode Three
Neurodiversity in the Canon with Harmon dot aut Premieres November 6, 2023.
Episode Four
The Modern Canon with Joseph Haj Premieres November 13, 2023.
Episode Five
Redefining Power in the Canon with Roger Q. Mason Premieres November 20, 2023.
Episode Six
The Future of our Canon with Lynn Nottage and Lauren Gunderson Premieres November 27, 2023.
Season Four
Episode One
“You Should Feel Weird If They Love What You Do”
A conversation with Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Episode Two
“I Love Being in this Lousy Hotel Room with you Creating Something of Beauty”
A conversation with Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Episode Three
“There is No Such Thing as Failure Unless You Don’t Get in the Game”
A conversation with Charlayne Woodard
Episode Four
“Talking is Easy, Writing is Hard”
A conversation with Lisa Kron and John Weidman
Episode Five
“I Began Writing as a Way for Me to Make Sense Out of Certain Things"
A conversation with Rona Siddiqui and Michael R. Jackson
Episode Six
“We are the Uber Drivers of the Theatre Industry”
A conversation with Amanda Green
Season Three
Episode One
Bhangra Meets La Jolla:
Collaborating on Culturally Specific Shows
with Rehana Lew Mirza, Natasha Sinha, and Rohi Mirza Pandya
Episode Two
That Beyoncé Energy:
The Dramatists Guild’s Inclusion Rider
with Ty Defoe and Chisa Hutchinson
Episode Three
Artists Without Borders:
Amplifying The Work of Immigrant Playwrights During The Pandemic
with Daniel Gallant, Saviana Stanescu, and Caridad Svich
Episode Four
Artists First & Foremost:
Collaborating With The Disability Community
with Anna Morton, Sarah Hom, and Nicholas Viselli
Episode Five
I See You. I Respect You. I Honor You.
Collaborating With Your Community
with Teresa Coleman Wash
Episode Six
A Long Overdue Correction Collaborating
with Non-Homogenous Creative Teams
with Leigh Silverman
Season Two
Episode One
Georgia Stitt & Lloyd Suh
talk about Pipelines
Episode Two
Vichet Chum & KJ Sanchez
talk about MFA Programs
Episode Three
Gregg Mozgala & Katy Sullivan
talk about Physical Access
Episode Four
Sarah Tuft & Caroline Aaron
talk about Access at any Age
Episode Five
Nikkole Salter & Bianca Sams
talk about Alternative Access
Episode Six
Robert Barry Fleming & Charles Randolph Wright
talk about Radical Hospitality
Season One