Tag: Playwright

An intergenerational story of addiction recovery, dementia, loss and hope

An intergenerational story of addiction recovery, dementia, loss and hope

This episode is a true gem. Join in for a refreshing and life-giving conversation inspired by the Off-Broadway production, The Reservoir. I welcome playwright Jake Brasch and cast member Caroline Aaron for a thought-provoking discussion about art, science, mental health, relationships, and healing. Come hear the journey that brought Jake, Caroline, and so many others together for this poignant production that navigates through addiction recovery, dementia, and the ups and downs of family relationships across generations. You’ll get an inside look into this riveting story that tackles the reality of life’s challenges with a surprising mixture of deep reflection, humor and levity. In our conversation, we also delve into the process of creating a piece of art for live theater. We talk about the stages of writing in isolation, collaborating, and sometimes disagreeing with the cast members and designers, all to eventually create something beautiful together. Our guests generously share the lessons they’ve learned and the lessons they’re still learning. We also take a step back to consider the gift of cultivating time and our need to fight against cancel culture. We talk openly about the importance of not forgetting the older members of our society, who too often become invisible. Roles even reverse at times, as our guests ask Dr. Addy his thoughts on memory, community, and truth-seeking, from a neuroscience perspective. A truly moving conversation.
Find out more about the production or get tickets at https://atlantictheater.org/production/the-reservoir/

Gina Gionfriddo – Playwright, TV writer (Law & Order, The Alienist, Cold Case, House of Cards)

Gina Gionfriddo – Playwright, TV writer (Law & Order, The Alienist, Cold Case, House of Cards)

Award-winning playwright and TV writer Gina Gionfriddo joins Aaron for an extensive discussion about TV and theatre writing. They talk Law & Order, the politics of TV writers’ rooms, and how to tackle a scene. Gina is a recipient of a WGA award, an Outer Critics Circle award, a Guggenheim fellowship, and she’s a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama.

Donald Margulies — Screenwriter, Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright

Donald Margulies — Screenwriter, Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright

Aaron is thrilled to welcome acclaimed screenwriter, and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Donald Margulies, into the broadcast studio! Aaron talks to Donald about the brilliant structure of his great screenplay The End of the Tour, the creation of his many plays, and how he deals with the highs and lows of the life of a Hollywood screenwriter. They also gush over their shared love of Broadcast News.