The Subtext: Jonathan Payne and the Sea of Stories
This month Brian speaks with the playwright about striving to write one play a year and drawing inspiration from various roles and identities.
Stories by Brian James Polak
The Subtext: Rachel Jendrzejewski on Presence, Poland, and Padua
This month Brian speaks with the Playwrights’ Center core writer and co-artistic director of Minneapolis’s Red Eye about chance encounters and her relationship to future thinking.
The Subtext: Marin Ireland, Play Builder
This month Brian talks to the acclaimed actor about the ups and downs of her career, why and how she wrote her first play, and whether she feels she can claim the title ‘playwright.’
The Subtext: Benjamin Benne’s Sound and Vision
This month Brian talks to the writer of ‘Alma’ and ‘In His Hands’ about narration, inspiration, family ties, and Julio Cortázar.
The Subtext: Inda Craig-Galván’s Search for Self-Expression
This month Brian talks to the busy playwright and TV writer about sketch comedy, grad school, and the audition that changed her path.
The Subtext: Samuel D. Hunter Writes His Way Home
This month Brian speaks with the busy playwright about dramatizing Idaho, promoting the film of ‘The Whale,’ and working on a new play at Steppenwolf.
The Subtext: Jenni Lamb Shops Local
This month Brian talks to the writer and producer about pivoting from teaching, feeling stuck in development hell, and championing local storytellers.
The Subtext: Mashuq Mushtaq Deen Befriends the Lion and the Rottweiler
This month Brian talks to playwright Mashuq Mushtaq Deen about building a writing career, pushing audiences out of their comfort zone, and finding his place in the theatre.
The Subtext: Matthew Paul Olmos Finds Comfort in Chaos
This month Brian talks to the Mexican American playwright about his educational path, his early years in New York, and his process for writing poetic plays.
The Subtext: Eric Simonson Is Still Hustling
This month Brian talks to the writer and director about his Midwestern roots, his writing journey, and his artistic collaborations.
