Podbean logo
  • Discover
  • Podcast Features

    Your all-in-one podcasting solution.

    Podcast Studio

    Easy-to-use audio recorder app.

  • Livestream

    High-performing audio live, without limits.

  • Podcast App

    The best podcast player & podcast app.

  • Ads Marketplace

    Join Ads Marketplace to earn money
    through sponsorship on your podcast.

    PodAds

    Manage your ads with dynamic ad insertion capability.

  • Patron & Paid Content

    The seamless way for fans to support you directly
    from your podcast.

  • Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Integration

    Effortlessly publish and manage exclusive episodes for your
    Apple Podcasts subscribers directly from Podbean.

  • All Arts Business Comedy Education
  • Fiction Government Health & Fitness History Kids & Family
  • Leisure Music News Religion & Spirituality Science
  • Society & Culture Sports Technology True Crime TV & Film
  • Live
  • How to Start a Podcast
  • How to Start a Live Podcast
  • How to Monetize a podcast
  • How to Promote Your Podcast
  • How to Use Group Recording
  • Log in
  • Start your podcast for free
  • Podcasting
    • Podcast Features
    • Live Stream
    • PodAds
    • Podcast App
    • Podcast Studio
  • Monetization
    • Premium
    • Patron
    • Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Integration
    • Ads Marketplace
  • Enterprise
  • Pricing
  • Discover
  • Log in
    Sign up free
Why I‘ll Never Make It

Why I‘ll Never Make It

Arts:Performing Arts

Turning Artistry Into Activism with Playwright Jason Odell Williams and Producer Charlotte Cohn

Turning Artistry Into Activism with Playwright Jason Odell Williams and Producer Charlotte Cohn

2022-05-30
Download

The past couple of weeks have been difficult for this country, once again grappling with gun violence caused by madmen with evil intentions. This has unfortunately become an ongoing issue with people, politicians, and pundits saying a whole lot but doing very little. 

Four years ago this spring, a new play opened off Broadway called Church & State. It dealt with the contentious intersection of God, guns, and politics and featured four actors on a single set. I consider myself very fortunate to have been a part of this production as the understudy for the two male actors. It was written and produced by two former guests of this podcast: Jason Odell Williams as the playwright and his wife Charlotte Cohn as lead producer.

In this special episode, they share the passion and persistence that goes into creating works like Church & State that can actually make a difference in the hearts and minds of audiences, especially on such an important issue like gun violence.

References in this episode:

  • The Power of Political Theater - Brooklyn Rail 
  • The Critical Role of Humor in the Grief Process - St. Catherine University
  • Jason Odell Williams (playwright)
  • Charlotte Cohn (director and playwright)
  • Sandy Hook Promise 
  • Safer Country 
  • Brady Campaign 

 

Church & State Origin Story - Jason Odell Williams

The seeds for this play date back to 2007. The issue of gun violence in America first became important to me after the shooting massacre at Virginia Tech. I went to UVA (Virginia Tech's “football rival”) and the images on TV of candlelight vigils by Cavaliers for their rival Hokies touched me profoundly. And I realized then, like many Americans, that we had a problem in our country. Guns were a national crisis.

Then the shooting in Tucson where Gabby Giffords was shot. And I watched the news, riveted and angry, scared and hopeless. How could this happen? To one of our own politicians? Will this force Congress to finally take action? When it didn't, I wondered, bleakly, if the response would have been different if something like this had happened to a Republican.* And I couldn't get that dark, nagging thought out of my head.

Then over the summer of 2012, I was talking to a friend from Raleigh, NC about religion and politics and a new seed was planted for this vague idea I had cooking for a play, somehow combing religion, guns and politics. And then in Dec. 2012, the tragic shooting in Newtown. And I'd had enough. I had to turn my rage and fear into action. So I did what I know how to do. I wrote a play.

A month later, in January 2013, I had a first draft of what would eventually become Church & State. I had three friends read the play with me in our living room. We talked about what worked what didn’t. I shared the play with a few director friends who offered some great feedback. And eventually one director, Ralph Meranto from JCC CenterStage in Rochester, read the play saw a lot of potential. He committed to producing it if we could develop it together.

So for the next few months, I’d write a draft, he’d ask questions and make comments and suggestions, I’d do a rewrite and we’d repeat the process. I think it was late 2015 when we felt good about the final product. I then shared the play with two friends in DC who loved it and wanted to do a reading for their Actors Salon. And that was the first public reading, January 2016. I knew then the play was basically ready. (BroadwayBox)

*Just a week after Church & State's Off-Broadway production closed, a gunman walked onto a baseball field at Eugene Simpson Park in Alexandria, Virginia, opening fire on politicians and wounding Republican U.S. Representative and House GOP Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and four others. 

 

view more

More Episodes

Corrie Legge Shares How Choices Have Shaped Her Acting Career
2023-05-08
Jack Canfora Continues to Learn as a Playwright, Even From His Critics
2023-04-24
Remembering Phantom of the Opera with Cast Member Jeremy Stolle (REWIND)
2023-04-17
Michael Kushner Embraces and Defends the Multi-Hyphenate Performing Artist
2023-04-10
Jocelyn Jones Helps Actors and Individuals Awaken Their Artistry and Creativity
2023-03-27
Maestra and Their Efforts to AMPLIFY Women & Non-binary People in the Musical Theater
2023-03-20
Lisa Howard on Originating Roles on Broadway and the Unjust Stigma Associated with Plus-Sized Actors
2023-03-13
Sharon Catherine Brown (Part 2) - Performing in Milestone TV Shows & Knowing Our Worth as Actors
2023-02-27
Sharon Catherine Brown (Part 1) - Born to Be a Drama Queen in Her Broadway Family
2023-02-13
Blake Stadnik from ”This Is Us” Doesn’t Let His Disability Stop Him Onstage or in Life
2023-01-30
Welcome to Season Seven!
2023-01-23
Bettering Our Mindset with ”Dr. Drama” Alisa Hurwtiz, PsyD (REWIND)
2023-01-16
Bettering our Acting Training and Practice with Brooke Macnamara (REWIND)
2023-01-09
A Look Back at 2022
2022-12-28
Angela Lansbury and Her Bumpy Road to MAME on Broadway
2022-12-21
Jeremy Stolle Shares 15 Years at Phantom of the Opera and the Struggles He Faced Getting There
2022-12-12
Simon Tam and The Slants Battle Asian Stereotypes and the Supreme Court
2022-12-05
Ben Curtis Found Fame as the Dell Dude But Found Himself as the Wellness Dude
2022-11-28
Elaine Romanelli Battles Criticism and Self-Doubt as a Singer and Songwriter
2022-11-21
Jules Helm Explores Personal Growth and Self-Discovery On Stage and Off
2022-11-14
  • ←
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • →
012345678910111213141516171819

Get this podcast on your
phone, FREE

Download Podbean app on App Store Download Podbean app on Google Play

Create your
podcast in
minutes

  • Full-featured podcast site
  • Unlimited storage and bandwidth
  • Comprehensive podcast stats
  • Distribute to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more
  • Make money with your podcast
Get started

It is Free

  • Podcast Services

    • Podcast Features
    • Pricing
    • Enterprise Solution
    • Private Podcast
    • The Podcast App
    • Live Stream
    • Audio Recorder
    • Remote Recording
  •  
    • Create a Podcast
    • Video Podcast
    • Start Podcasting
    • Start Radio Talk Show
    • Education Podcast
    • Church Podcast
    • Nonprofit Podcast
    • Get Sermons Online
    • Free Audiobooks
  • MONETIZATION & MORE

    • Podcast Advertising
    • Dynamic Ads Insertion
    • Patron Program
    • Apple Podcasts Subscriptions
    • Switch to Podbean
    • Submit Your Podcast
    • Podbean Plugins
    • Developers
  • KNOWLEDGE BASE

    • How to Start a Podcast
    • How to Start a Live Podcast
    • How to Monetize a podcast
    • How to Promote Your Podcast
    • How to Use Group Recording
  • Support

    • Support Center
    • What’s New
    • Free Webinars
    • Podcast Events
    • Podbean Academy
    • Podcasting Smarter
    • Badges
    • Resources
  • Podbean

    • About Us
    • Podbean Blog
    • Careers
    • Press and Media
    • Green Initiative
    • Affiliate Program
    • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Consent Preferences
  • Copyright © 2015-2023 Podbean.com