Shows
Hello, My Darlings...Representation in Playwriting with Guest Nicole ZimmererAn awkward girl with cerebral palsy wanting to change the world one cringe-worthy story at a time. This is how Yehee Son describes herself, but she is so much more. Yehee's stories are far from cringe-worthy.In fact, this new podcast titled Hello, My Darlings is dedicated to telling the stories of and advocating for disabled people, through support and truthful conversations about what it is really like to live as a disabled person. Yehee's honesty about her own disability as well as her advocacy for others is what drives this podcast. Today's guest is Nicole...
2023-08-2128 min
Break A Leg! Disability in the ArtsA Disability Rights Primer with Betty SiegelNicole is joined by superstar Betty Siegel who lays out the essential information when it comes to disability rights in the Unites States arts sector. Betty also explains why she believes that cultural experiences are a critical civil and human right. What are the turning points in American disability rights history? And how do these laws impact the places where we gather for artistic and cultural experiences? How is the ADA enforced? Are “grandfather laws” a myth? Will the Wicked musical movie ever be released?! Ok, so maybe Betty doesn’t have the answer to that last one, bu...
2022-11-041h 00
Break A Leg! Disability in the ArtsCreating Accessible Spaces with Marisa RinchiusoNicole is joined by fellow Carnegie Mellon alum Marisa Rinchiuso (and her dog Remy) to dish all the (not so hot) Emmy Awards goss, dig into the intersections of disability and womanhood, and discuss the connection between inhumane working conditions and ableism. Other topics include: going on a Disabled Rage Rampage™️, progressive disabilities in the workplace, building for the future, accessible hills in “Crippletopia,” and the alleged disability icon: Eeyore. Marisa Rinchiuso is a disabled project manager currently working in concert touring and automation. A native Texan, she currently lives and works in Lititz, PA.
2022-02-221h 05
Break A Leg! Disability in the ArtsJumping Jack Theater with Stephen Santa & Claire CarboneNicole is joined by Stephen Santa and (surprise!) Claire Carbone for a deep-dive on Jumping Jack Theater, a Pittsburgh-based theatre company specializing in sensory-enriched theatre for young autistic audiences. They discuss the company’s production history and approach to crafting theatrical experiences that empower children with autism, and how they have adapted to the pandemic with a traveling show. Jumping Jack Theater online: Website: www.jumpingjacktheater.org Instagram: @jumpingjacktheater Facebook: www.facebook.com/JumpingJackTheater Produced by Scott MacDonald Artwork by Sasha & Alexander Schwartz
2021-12-201h 04
Break A Leg! Disability in the ArtsTrailer: Break A Leg! on the TECHnically Speaking PodcastMake sure to check out our interview on the USITT TECHnically Speaking podcast! Nicole and Scott joined Jenn Shuron from the United States Institute for Theatre Technology to discuss how they met, the creation of Break A Leg!, and more. Listen to the interview on... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-down-disability-in-the-industry/id1496209270?i=1000541646804 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GedoWHL37EzSI7xPGp3t1 Spreaker/iHeart: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/technically-speaking--4209662 More info: https://www.usitt.org/news/technically-speaking-breaking-down-disability-industry ...
2021-12-1001 min
TECHnically SpeakingBreaking Down Disability in the IndustryWe sat down with playwright, librettist, and host of the Break a Leg! Disability in the Arts Podcast Nicole Zimmerer and sound designer and podcast producer Scott MacDonald to break down the realities of living and working with a disability in the industry.Nicole is a playwright and librettist with a deep-seated hatred of stairs. She has been a recipient of The Kennedy Center’s VSA Playwright Discovery Award and the Betty Z. Rose and Anne J. Exline Presidential Fellowship. She was a finalist for the Playwrights’ Center Core Apprenticeship program. She has had multiple productions in Houston, New...
2021-11-1243 min
Break A Leg! Disability in the ArtsPlaywriting with Adrienne DawesNicole’s friend and fellow playwright Adrienne Dawes joined us for this episode to talk about writing from different perspectives and in different genres. What have these playwrights been working on? Why do we need popcorn plays? Is Austin still weird? Listen to find out! Adrienne Dawes is a writer, producer, and teaching artist currently based in Fayetteville, AR. Adrienne's play Casta, inspired by a series of paintings by Miguel Cabrera, is planned to premiere next fall in Austin, TX with Salvage Vanguard Theater. Find Adrienne online! Website: www.adriennedawes.com ...
2021-09-011h 12
Break A Leg! Disability in the ArtsProducing Theatre That Scares You with Michael Patrick ThorntonMichael Patrick Thornton is the co-founder and artistic director of Chicago's The Gift Theatre. He joined Nicole to talk about producing, his career on stage and television, casting, representation, the “cripple card,” traveling abroad in a wheelchair, and more! The Gift Theatre online: Website: https://thegifttheatre.org/ Instagram: @thegifttheatre Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGiftTheatre/ Produced by Scott MacDonald Artwork by Sasha & Alexander Schwartz
2021-08-0153 min
Break A Leg! Disability in the ArtsTheatre Workplace Accommodations with Alondra Santos-CastilloAlondra Santos-Castillo is a theatrical stage manager, scenic designer, and artist. Nicole and Alondra discuss what it's like to have arthrogryposis in the workplace, some important US legislation, Alondra's recent entrepreneurial venture, Nicole's ideal "man meat," and more!Find Alondra online! Instagram: @mamaduckysessentials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MamaDuckysEssentials Linktree: https://linktr.ee/MamaDuckysEssentials Mama Ducky's Essentials on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mamaduckysessentials/ Links to the SSDI Bills in Congress: House: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-con...
2021-07-0950 min
Break A Leg! Disability in the ArtsThe Voice Inside with Gena SimsGena Sims is a performer, the founder of the Autism Theater Project, and a fellow Carnegie Mellon alum. She's producing "The Voice Inside," a new web series about how real teens, especially teens with disabilities, face challenges in their lives and succeed. Find Gena online! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genasings Instagram: @genasims19 The Autism Theater Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutismTheatreProject The Voice Inside YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYHFiCT3o4DBvMYfu8fKOA Produced by Scott...
2021-06-2550 min
Break A Leg! Disability in the ArtsRhetoric and Representation with Sydney MayerNicole is joined by her friend Sydney Mayer to discuss disability representation in media (what really is "representation"?). They dive deep on disability and rhetoric, the words "Handicap" and "Accessibility," Inspo-Porn, character tropes, and more! Sydney Mayer is a writer and dramaturg currently based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She holds a BFA in Drama with a minor in Literature and Culture from Carnegie Mellon University, where she is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Professional Writing. Find Sydney online! Instagram: @sydney.isabelle Sydney’s Howlround Article: https://howlround.c...
2021-06-1144 min
Break A Leg! Disability in the ArtsDisability on the Stage and on the Page with Alethea BakogeorgeAlethea Bakogeorge joins Nicole to discuss life with cerebral palsy, disability in the audition room, what it means to write and play nuanced disabled characters, and more! Alethea Bakogeorge is a physically disabled actor, arts administrator, and arts accessibility professional. She has worked extensively in American and Canadian theatre, and originated the role of Chrissie in the US national tour of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live: King for a Day. She currently lives in Toronto, and works in access and fundraising at The Musical Stage Company. Find Alethea online! Instagram: @Aleth...
2021-05-281h 08
Break A Leg! Disability in the ArtsIntegrated Dance with Meredith Aleigha WellsMeredith Aleigha Wells is a queer and disabled actor, singer, dancer, and writer based in Chicago. They joined Nicole for our very first episode to discuss integrated dance, life with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), and more! Find Meredith online! Website: www.meredithaleighawells.com Instagram: @meredithaleighawells YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MeredithAleighaWells The Underdog Project Theatre on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnderdogProjectTheatre Follow us on Instagram and Twitter! @breakalegpod Produced by Scott MacDonald Artwork by Sasha & Alexander Schwartz
2021-05-1452 min
Break A Leg! Disability in the ArtsTrailerBreak a Leg! is a podcast that explores the relationship between disability and the arts. Join playwright and advocate Nicole Zimmerer and her guests as they cover topics in theatre, film, TV, studio arts, music, and more. We’ll be spilling the “Disabili-Tea” on current and past events in disability history and investigate the future of accessibility in the arts. This podcast is perfect for fans of the arts looking to learn more about accessibility through an intersectional lens in a fun and casual setting. Produced by Scott MacDonald Artwork by Sasha & Alexander Schwartz
2021-04-1301 min
Rec Room ArtsBlue RosesBlue Roses by Nicole Zimmerer. The play was developed through the Rec Room Writer's Group and presented as part of the Sound Script Project.
2021-02-041h 59
SallyPALEpisode 43 - The Parsnip Ship with Iyvon EdebiriHi Friend! Welcome to the blog and show notes for Episode 43 of Sally’s Performing Arts Lab Podcast. The Parsnip Ship Artistic Director And Host, Iyvon Edebiri, joins me on this episode. I’m SallyPAL podcast host, Sally Adams. I talk to people about creating original work for a live audience. Send an email anytime to Sally@sallypal.com. I started last summer doing a weekly podcast but this summer my responsibilities have kept me from delivering every week. For now, I’ll be delivering a new show every week and a half to two weeks until Thanksgiving unless I can...
2018-07-1200 minSallyPALEpisode 37 - SallyPAL Clip Show 1My oldest child, Sarah, and her fiancé, Classic Dan agreed to open the first SallyPAL clip show. This episode features bits of the first 18 SallyPAL podcasts. And I’ll share the second 18 in the next clip show. You’ll hear about the value of reinventing work, and creating new performances with open casting options. We also talk about acknowledging the audience and making choices before and during shows. We also discuss pushing through obstacles to make something new and fresh! The show features Emile Adams, Steve Barker, Sheila Black, Daniel Bowers, Jana Hunter, Will Inman, Angie Mitchell, George Nelson, Nicole Perry...
2018-03-2934 minSallyPALEpisode 37 - SallyPAL Clip Show 1My oldest child, Sarah, and her fiancé, Classic Dan agreed to open the first SallyPAL clip show. This episode features bits of the first 18 SallyPAL podcasts. And I’ll share the second 18 in the next clip show. You’ll hear about the value of reinventing work, and creating new performances with open casting options. We also talk about acknowledging the audience and making choices before and during shows. We also discuss pushing through obstacles to make something new and fresh! The show features Emile Adams, Steve Barker, Sheila Black, Daniel Bowers, Jana Hunter, Will Inman, Angie Mitchell, George Nelson, Nicole...
2018-03-2900 minSallyPALEpisode 33 – NYC TOWN Stages with Robin Sokoloff
In Episode 33 of Sally’s Performing Arts Lab Podcast I talk with New York Venue innovator, entrepreneur Robin Sokoloff of TOWN Stages. In my world, Robin Sokoloff is a pretty big deal! I’m podcast host Sally Adams. Every week I talk to people about creating original work for a live audience.
Send an email anytime to Sally@sallypal.com. Your ideas keep great conversations coming every Monday evening. Check out sallypal.com/join for the free 20-page theatre resource. Creator’s Notebook Insert #2 (on scheduling) will soon be available. In the meantime, you can listen to Episode 31 if you want an...
2018-02-1532 minSallyPALEpisode 33 – NYC TOWN Stages with Robin Sokoloff
In Episode 33 of Sally’s Performing Arts Lab Podcast I talk with New York Venue innovator, entrepreneur Robin Sokoloff of TOWN Stages. In my world, Robin Sokoloff is a pretty big deal! I’m podcast host Sally Adams. Every week I talk to people about creating original work for a live audience.
Send an email anytime to Sally@sallypal.com. Your ideas keep great conversations coming every Monday evening. Check out sallypal.com/join for the free 20-page theatre resource. Creator’s Notebook Insert #2 (on scheduling) will soon be available. In the meantime, you can listen...
2018-02-1500 minSallyPALEp 9 - Get Physical with Playwright Nicole ZEpisode 9 features playwright, actor, and advocate for casting people with disabilities, Nicole Zimmerer. Nicole has been writing and producing plays most of her young life and now studies playwriting as a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon. Nicole and I talk about her start as a playwright, the Kennedy Center performance of her one act play, "Falling with Grace", her recent full-length play, "Thicker Than Honey", and her fight to represent artists in wheelchairs. Be sure to listen until the end for Concise Advice from the Interview to hear 5 great bits of advice from the beautiful, fiery, and talented, Nicole Z...
2017-08-0826 minSallyPALEp 9 - Get Physical with Playwright Nicole ZEpisode 9 features playwright, actor, and advocate for casting people with disabilities, Nicole Zimmerer. Nicole has been writing and producing plays most of her young life and now studies playwriting as a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon. Nicole and I talk about her start as a playwright, the Kennedy Center performance of her one act play, "Falling with Grace", her recent full-length play, "Thicker Than Honey", and her fight to represent artists in wheelchairs. Be sure to listen until the end for Concise Advice from the Interview to hear 5 great bits of advice from the beautiful, fiery, and talented, Nicole Z...
2017-08-0800 min