This Wooden O

Revenge of the Sutt (with Daniel Kemper)

This week, in true Shakespearean fashion, Monty reclaims the pod as a solo host! His first guest in his new and glorious podcast empire is actor/singer/casting-director, Daniel Kemper (www.montgomerysutton.com). Topics include:The fact that websites are, by definition, a tool for self-aggrandizementYouTube live chat questionsDaniel’s belief in having an affinity to certain skills and how working hard can sometimes bridge the gapThe different pleasures achieved when working within natural skillsets versus working in areas that require additional effortWhat Daniel looks for as a Casting DirectorTreating an audition like a first date (or, don’t be a jerk)The production and personal experience that inspired Daniel to become an actorThe power of theater to help people to look outside of themselvesPeople’s willing state of readiness for change as audience members and the responsibility to do justice to people’s time that goes along with itThe special atmosphere created by the communal knowledge that each theatrical performance is a singular and irreplicable moment.Loving cats while being allergic to themDaniel’s love for Shakespeare being born out of their enduring impact throughout the centuries and their abilities to ask the big questionsDaniel’s beautiful rendition of a speech from the Archbishop Scroop from Henry IV part 2Shoutouts, recommendations, and further reading include:The West WingJesus Christ SuperstarCarl AndersonJames GandolfiniThe SopranosZoom Dinners with your friendsCircle in the SandInternational Actors EnsembleAlex TheatreMelbourne, AustraliaShakespeare’s Age of CrownsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-wooden-o/donations

Attack of the Kemper (with Montgomery Sutton)

This week, in true Shakespearean fashion, Daniel stages a coup and takes over the podcast as a solo host! His first guest in his new and glorious podcast empire is actor/director/writer and Master of the Revels for Rude Grooms, Montgomery Sutton (www.montgomerysutton.com). Topics include:Daniel’s boundless capacity for benevolence as a resplendent podcast dictatorHow Monty was (maybe?) dropped as a baby.Where Monty gets his drive to constantly createUsing accountability to others as a means to spur productivityUsing art to engage with the world around you.Toddler Monty’s 3 hour, living room Batman playsThe religious experience of live theatreWhat makes a good actor?Figuring out your own artistry through exposure to other artists and forms of theatreThe importance of a degree of “messiness” in live theatreThe difference between emotionally honest and performative actingWhen do you impose structure on the sense of play when managing a showThe essential relationship between an actor and the audienceHow much rehearsal is too much?The importance of a small amount of challenge or fear on opening nightWhich TV show would Monty put himself in if given the opportunity?Shoutouts, recommendations, and further reading include:The Drawer BoyShakespeare DallasRene MorenoThe Dallas Children’s TheaterDallas Junior Players Shakespeare Happy HoursMichelle TarryColin HurleyToni Morrisson“Different Every Night” by Mark AlfredsEd DixonDavid BaynesNew York Shakespeare CompanySupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-wooden-o/donations

Hat on a hat (with Laura Piccoli)

Daniel & Monty are back with our first episode recorded during Corona. In a Facebook livestream (using Skype), they virtually sit down with Rude Grooms Associate Artist Laura Piccoli (check out her website lauracpiccoli.com). Topics include:Shifting to a virtual Wooden OHow Laura’s super-high work ethic developed and has influenced her life from undergrad, through freelance acting, producing with Rude Grooms, and into a Masters programThe benefits for an actor of wearing other theatrical hats and feeling more power in the process of creating opportunitiesHow the feeling of empowerment from getting more involved on the producing side of theater inspired Laura to start writing her own short filmsPursuing a Masters degree in Energy and Environment Policy to learn more about subjects so that she should start writing projects, like a recent short film she wrote inspired by studying in BoliviaShifting as a writer from writing for herself as an actor to writing with a hope towards other actors flourishingFinding your Artistic FamilyImposter SyndromeHow a Process-oriented approach can benefit even Product-oriented environments.COVID brainThis week, Daniel & Monty both recommend Shakespeare Happy Hours, co-produced with Seven Stages Shakespeare Company - 90 minute virtual performances of all of Shakespeare’s plays, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at shakespearehappyhours.tv. Other shoutouts, recommendations, and further reading include:PachamamaCloud Forests of BoliviaThis Wooden O is a production of Rude Grooms. Learn more at rudegrooms.com or follow us @rudegrooms on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-wooden-o/donations

(Don’t) Spill the Tea (with Michael Ortiz)

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains mentions of sex, and references of drug use. This week, Daniel and Monty reconnect with a former acting classmate turned entrepreneur and International Tea Master, Mike Ortiz (@sipjojo on Instagram) to discuss his journey from theatre school to brewing tea on the world stage. Topics include:The return of “Danny” KemperFinding your weirdos in action!The parallels between auditioning and building a business.The importance of unapologetically taking up space.Being comfortable with not having answers, and being willing to constantly ask questions in life and theatre.The proper way to drink teaHow Mike went from actor to tea salesman and entrepreneurBrewing tea as a practice of meditationThe importance of persistence in developing relationshipsLearning under pressureThe influence of slave labor on modern tea consumption and sales.How an actor with no business training starts a companyResilience as a necessity in the pursuit of your goalsWhat makes a master?Understanding a structure well enough to break it.The origin of the name Jojo TeaThis week’s shoutouts, recommendations, and further reading include:Anya SaffirEBE EnsembleMaster Chufei Tsai Jojo Tea CompanyBadia Spice CompanyWorld Tea ExpoGrandmaster Maurice AshleyTea Master’s CupOsteria 57Cafe IntegralMalaparteTiger King on NetflixHollywood Caucus podcastThis Wooden O is a production of Rude Grooms. Learn more at rudegrooms.com or follow us @rudegrooms on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.WE HAVE MERCH! Official This Wooden O coffee mugs and baseball tees are available on our website. Get yours at http://www.thiswoodeno.com/shop today!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-wooden-o/donations

Gettin Jiggy With It (with Bridget Bose)

WE HAVE MERCH! Official This Wooden O coffee mugs and baseball tees are available on our website. Get yours at http://www.thiswoodeno.com/shop today!This week Daniel (@thedanielkemper) and Monty (@montgomerysutto) sit down with Rude Grooms' Master of Movement Bridget Bose (@bridgetbose on Instagram). Bridget has choreographed dances, jigs, and creepy death movement pieces for all Rude Grooms productions. Listen to her talk about her journey from Colorado to New York, starting and running Guilty Pleasures Cabaret, and much more.Topics include:Rude Grooms’ Secret Shakespeare Hunt (possibly returning in 2020)Performing at Lincoln Center with Bridget’s cabaret troupe, Guilty PleasuresDancing in a circus in the Middle EastTouring the world in a Bollywood dance company, and becoming a tourist attraction by rehearsing in Central ParkThe happenstance creation of Guilty Pleasures in a tiny UWS barDefying expectations at The Duplex by making dance that functions in a non-traditional spaceThe power of appealing to the 11pm timeslot nicheHow Guilty Pleasures alters shows from late-night to mainstage, from smaller venues to larger venues, and from 1.0 to 11.0 versionsRepurposing successful material to fit in different showsParallels between creating frequent cabaret content and the incredibly prolific rate of new plays in Shakespeare’s LondonKeeping all of her creative work in notebooks and having an archive dating back to high schoolThe importance of overplanning and yet being able to throw it all out in the moment when none of it works for the bodies in the roomCue Scripts and the power of muscle memory from writing down, going back to the beginning until you make no mistakes, or just repeating things over and overThe difficulty of dancing someone else’s choreography vs. what comes naturally to your own bodyThe importance of letting dancers write choreography down in the performer’s own vocabulary because there’s no standardized form of notationHow to navigate the balance choreographing for character and for an individual actorIs there a point at which a piece is “done” for Guilty Pleasures?Music is by Kara Arena, Master of Music for Rude Grooms. Share your thoughts and questions with us @thiswoodeno on Twitter and Instagram, email audio responses to thiswoodeno@rudegrooms.com, visit us on the web at thiswoodeno.com, like us at facebook.com/thiswoodenopod/, or support us on Patreon (patreon.com/rudegrooms) to join the conversation during livestream broadcasts of every episode.This week’s shoutouts, recommendations, & further reading include:Guilty Pleasure Cabaret | email: info@guiltypleasurescabaret.com; website guiltypleasurescabaret.com; twitter/instagram: @gpcabaretThe Duplex54 BelowLineLearner App, available on the App Store or Google PlayKast App: kastapp.coThe Show Must Go Online, produced by Rob Myles (@robmyles)This Wooden O is a production of Rude Grooms. Learn more at rudegrooms.com or follow us @rudegrooms on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/this-wooden-o/donations