This week Ashley sits down with composer Joe Iconis(BE MORE CHILL, LOVE HATE IN THE NATION). They talk about his journey as an up-and-coming composer, the folks that helped him along the way frustrations with the COVID era, and what the future holds.

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Ghostlight Records and Two River Theater have announced the release of Love in Hate Nation – Original Cast Recording, which is available in digital and streaming formats. 

Love in Hate Nation features book, music, and lyrics by Joe Iconis and direction by John Simpkins. The recording is based on the show’s world premiere production at the Two River Theater in 2019.

The label is reuniting with Iconis and Two River after their viral success with the original cast recording of Be More Chill. The show has music direction and vocal arrangements by Annastasia Victory, and music supervision and orchestrations by Charlie Rosen.

The album is produced by Joe Iconis, Ian Kagey, and Charlie Rosen, with Michael Hurst/Two River Theater and Kurt Deutsch serving as executive producers. The album is available at Ghostlight.lnk.to/LoveInHateNationPR

www.mrjoeiconis.com

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Hosted by Ashley Griffin (called "The Hermione Granger of the theater world,") STAGE DIRECTIONS offers a deeper look at the things no one discusses contemporary theater. Exploring everything from the dichotomy between critical and audience reception, whether fairy tales are important to modern-day storytelling, and whether "high" and "low" musical theater can ever find common ground, Ashley will examine ideas you "didn't know you didn't know."

About Ashley

Ashley Griffin is the first person in history to be nominated for a major award for both playing and directing HAMLET. As a writer Ashley is most well known as the creator of the pop culture phenomenon FOREVER DEADWARD (New World Stages,) praised by MTV, E!, EW, and others, and the hit off-Broadway play TRIAL directed by Lori Petty. Her work has been developed at Broadway’s Manhattan Theater Club, Playwrights Horizons, and La MaMa (among others.) Ashley is currently in development with a new network series and is an artist in residence at The Access Theater Company.

As an actress, Ashley has performed on and off-Broadway as well as in L.A. and London. This past year she appeared in HOMELAND, THE DEUCE, THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (starring Hugh Jackman,) and in the off-Broadway play THE NEUROLOGY OF THE SOUL at A.R.T. originating the starring role of Amy. She has a BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts (where she has subsequently taught,) and has studied at R.A.D.A., The Boston Conservatory, and the Hamilton Academy of Music.

www.ashleygriffinofficial.com Twitter: @ashleyjgriffin Instagram: @ashleygriffinofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleygriffinofficial/

Ashley and Kathryn discuss the importance of dance, the need for crossover in the Broadway/Classical worlds and the rise of new avenues for training on YouTube.

On this episode, Ashley talks to designer Matthew Ryan Limerick about sizeism in the theatre industry and how it's finally getting the attention it deserves.

This week Ashley sits down with Actor, playwright, and fellow OnStage Blog writer, Kevin Ray Johnson. They discuss Kevin's background and how he got involved in theatre to navigating through this industry in a post- COVID world.

This week Ashley welcomes OnStage Blog Founder Chris Peterson to talk about the difficult task of trying to separate brilliant work from a problematic artist.

This week, Ashley chats with actor Danny Gardner. Danny has been seen on Broadway in Dames at Sea. He also appeared at Radio City Music Hall as "George M. Cohan" in the NY Spectacular starring the Rockettes.

Ashley chats with Broadway star Meredith Patterson on their upcoming virtual show, creating art during a pandemic, and artistic well being. 

http://meredithpatterson.com, https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/southdevonplayers/t-gpypam

This week, in response to the Black Lives Matter, Ashley digs into how the Broadway industry has highlighted the work of black artists throughout its history.

Listen as Ashley teaches a masterclass in directing theatre to students at SUNY Fredonia.

The Economics of Broadway - With the Corona virus raging, and the entire community shut down, and taking a tremendous economic hit, we thought it would be a good time to break down exactly how the economics of Broadway work - from genesis of a show to closing night on Broadway, and how they affect everyone involved in theater from the writers, to actors, to theater owners to the producers themselves.

Hosted by Ashley Griffin (called "The Hermione Granger of the theater world,") STAGE DIRECTIONS offers a deeper look at the things no one discusses contemporary theater. Exploring everything from the dichotomy between critical and audience reception, whether fairy tales are important to modern day storytelling, and whether "high" and "low" musical theater can ever find common ground, Ashley will examine ideas you "didn't know you didn't know."  

This week, Ashley deep dives into a continued discussion on the tropes of Fairy Tales and how stories are crafted.

On this episode, Ashley takes on fairy tales and how they relate to contemporary theatre.

This week, Ashley sits down with director Rachel Klein to discuss the process and intricacies of directing for theatre.

This week, Ashley Griffin sits down with Mick Bleyer to discuss stage combat, intimacy direction and the training and process behind both.

This week, Ashley chats with Broadway artist Evan Jay Newman about creating new musicals.

On this episode, Ashley chats with Broadway's Sara Jean Ford. They talk about backstage stories, "typing" and teaching the next generation of musical theater artists.

Whether co writing a play, collaborating on a new musical, or part of a team in the rehearsal room, Ashley gives you the do’s and don’ts of how to have a successful collaboration.

Taking an in depth look at the dichotomy between critical and audience reception in contemporary musical theater, this episode asks, "is it possible for a musical to both deeply move audiences and garner the respect of the theater community - using the work of Stephen Schwartz as a framework.