As You Mic It

PA Shakespeare Festival continues its second season of As You Mic It with a conversation about legacy, mentorship, and how theatre traditions continue through the artists and audiences who encounter them.In this episode, hosts Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, and Connie Behringer open with a roundtable exploring how legacy moves from one generation to the next, both through the stories we produce and the artists who bring them to life. From The Piano Lesson to Romeo and Juliet, The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged, and Moriarty, they consider how great works endure through reinterpretation and care.Later in the episode, Jason speaks with Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright and director James Ijames about August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, the responsibility of directing a play with such a powerful history, and how each production becomes part of its continuing life.In A Peek Behind the Curtain, the team shares a look at PSF’s expanded summer education offerings, including new camps for students in grades K–6, and how early theatre experiences help shape future artists and audiences.Hosted by: Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, Connie BehringerFeaturing: James IjamesJames IjamesSummer Camps 2026 - Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival@pashakespeare - Follow us on Instagram

PA Shakespeare Festival continues its second season of As You Mic It with a special one-act conversation focused on leadership, stewardship, and the responsibility of carrying performance traditions forward.In this episode, Artistic Director Jason King Jones sits down with Vanessa Morosco, Executive Artistic Director of the American Shakespeare Center, for a conversation about what it means to lead a classical theatre company in this moment. Together, they explore how Shakespeare’s plays continue to ask urgent questions of artists and audiences alike, and how rehearsal rooms can become spaces where shared purpose shapes the work.Their discussion also reflects on the connection between artistic leadership and community building, the balance between honoring tradition and encouraging discovery, and how theatre organizations create cultures that allow artists to do their best work.Hosted by: Jason King JonesFeaturing: Vanessa MoroscoAs You Mic It is produced by Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.American Shakespeare Center | Blackfriars PlayhouseShakespeare Theatre AssociationMentioned in this episode:Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/

PA Shakespeare Festival continues its second season of As You Mic It with a conversation about community, legacy, and the ways theatre brings people together.In this episode, hosts Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, and Connie Behringer begin with a roundtable exploring how the 2026 season reflects different visions of community. From the spontaneous gathering of musicians in Million Dollar Quartet to the chosen fellowship of As You Like It and the inherited bonds of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, they consider how communities are formed, challenged, and sustained across generations. Along the way, they reflect on the moment when a rehearsal room becomes something more than a group of individuals.Later in the episode, Jason sits down with Bill George, co-founder of Touchstone Theatre, to discuss the work of building theatre at the grassroots level. Their conversation reflects on the role artists play in shaping civic life and the power of gathering people around shared stories.In A Peek Behind the Curtain, the team shares how those ideas take shape in rehearsal, reflecting on the first moments when a company begins to move, listen, and create as a community.Hosted by: Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, and Connie BehringerFeaturing: Bill GeorgeAs You Mic It is produced by Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.Steelbound Finale, 1999 - Mourning and catharsis on the loss of “the Steel."Kingfisher Theatre - Dedicated to advancing the creative work of Bill George.Drama Club Mixer RSVP - Join the LV Drama Club's Inaugural Mixer!Mentioned in this episode:Subscriptions for the 2026 Summer Theatre Seriespashakespeare.org/tickets/Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/Single Tickets on Sale Now

PA Shakespeare Festival continues its second season of As You Mic It with a conversation about language, time, and how stories from the past find meaning in the present.In this episode, hosts Jason King Jones and Connie Behringer begin with a roundtable on how the 2026 season lives in two moments at once. From Shakespeare to Million Dollar Quartet to The Piano Lesson, they examine how inherited words carry history and how performance determines what those words mean now. What do we preserve? What do we clarify? And how do we help audiences hear both?Later in the episode, Jason sits with Ben Crystal to discuss original pronunciation, rhythm, and why hearing Shakespeare as it once sounded can sharpen clarity rather than obscure it.In A Peek Behind the Curtain, we turn to our Shakespeare Competition, where young performers are doing this work firsthand — finding voice, intention, and meaning as they prepare to step onstage.Hosted by: Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, Connie BehringerFeaturing: Ben CrystalAs You Mic It is produced by Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.PSF's Annual Shakespeare Competition - For more information, contact [email protected] Crystal - Actor, author, original pronunciation pioneerShakespeare Theatre AssociationMentioned in this episode:Join us at the Bard and Beyond Book ClubFor more details, visit pashakespeare.org/bookclubSubscriptions for the 2026 Summer Theatre Seriespashakespeare.org/tickets/Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/

PA Shakespeare Festival continues its second season of As You Mic It with a compelling conversation about what love demands when it challenges tradition, authority, and expectation.In this episode, hosts Jason King Jones and Connie Behringer open with a roundtable exploring love as both obligation and choice across the 2026 season. Drawing connections between Romeo and Juliet, Coriolanus, and Million Dollar Quartet, they examine how love can bind, liberate, or defy the systems that shape our lives, and why those tensions still resonate today.Later in the episode, Jason sits down with Suzanne O’Donnell, who returns to Romeo and Juliet this summer as the Nurse after originating Juliet in PSF’s inaugural season. Their conversation reflects on artistic growth, shifting perspective, and what it means to revisit a story of love and defiance from a new vantage point.In A Peek Behind the Curtain, PSF’s new Director of Production, Kevin White, offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring this ambitious season to life, from repertory logistics to the unseen work that supports every performance.Hosted by: Jason King Jones, Connie BehringerFeaturing: Suzanne O’Donnell, Kevin WhiteAs You Mic It is produced by Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.Mentioned in this episode:Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.Join us at the Bard and Beyond Book ClubFor more details, visit pashakespeare.org/bookclubCollaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/Subscriptions for the 2026 Summer Theatre Seriespashakespeare.org/tickets/

As You Mic It heads north for a special two-act episode recorded at the annual conference of the Shakespeare Theatre Association in St. John's.Act One opens with a roundtable conversation as hosts Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, and Connie Behringer reflect on why PSF participates in the STA conference, what conversations are shaping the field, and what ideas they’re bringing back to the Festival. It’s a candid look at how artists and leaders learn from one another and why national exchange matters.In Act Two, the hosts sit down with Scott Jackson, Mary Irene Ryan Family Executive Artistic Director of Shakespeare at Notre Dame and President of the Shakespeare Theatre Association. Jackson discusses leadership, applied Shakespeare, and his work co-founding the Shakespeare in Prisons Network, exploring how theatre can expand access, restore agency, and create connection far beyond the stage.Hosted by: Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, Connie BehringerFeaturing: Scott JacksonAs You Mic It is produced by Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.Mentioned in this episode:Subscriptions for the 2026 Summer Theatre Seriespashakespeare.org/tickets/Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.

PA Shakespeare Festival continues its second season of As You Mic It with a conversation spotlighting the women of the season and the artists shaping PSF’s work on stage and behind the scenes.Hosts Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, and Connie Behringer open with a roundtable conversation on the women of the season, considering how these characters drive story and perspective across the Festival’s lineup.The conversation then turns to Jessica Bedford, who shares her perspective as both director and one of the writers of this summer’s The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged. Drawing on her long-standing relationship with PA Shakespeare Festival, Bedford reflects on Jane Austen’s sharp wit and lasting influence, and on how the friendships among the self-described “Jane-ites” who created the piece helped shape its humor and point of view.In A Peek Behind the Curtain, the hosts turn their attention to the design process for the season, offering insight into how directors and designers collaborate to create cohesive worlds across productions and support the Festival’s storytelling goals.Hosted by: Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, Connie BehringerFeaturing: Jessica BedfordMary Wollstonecraft (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)Helena Kelly - Author of Jane Austen, the Secret Radical (2016)Mentioned in this episode:Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/Subscriptions for the 2026 Summer Theatre Seriespashakespeare.org/tickets/Join us at the Bard and Beyond Book ClubFor more details, visit pashakespeare.org/bookclubBecome an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.

PA Shakespeare Festival continues the conversation on As You Mic It through the stories we tell and the service that upholds them.In this episode, hosts Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, and Connie Behringer open with a fast-moving roundtable that introduces the 2026 season. They share quick synopses, first impressions, and what they are most eager for audiences to experience this summer.Later, JKJ speaks with Managing Director Casey Gallagher about his lasting work with PSF. He reflects on the path that brought him to the Festival, the work that shaped nearly three decades of leadership, and the partnership that drives PSF today.In A Peek Behind the Curtain, we welcome H. Lloyd Carbaugh, President of the PSF Volunteer Guild. Lloyd highlights the award winning Guild’s essential role and the many ways volunteer service strengthens PSF’s community and legacy.Hosted by: Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, and Connie BehringerPSF's Volunteer GuildMentioned in this episode:Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.Be a Maker of TheatreSupport PSF: https://pashakespeare.org/support/Join us at the Bard and Beyond Book ClubFor more details, visit pashakespeare.org/bookclubCollaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/

PA Shakespeare Festival continues its second season of As You Mic It with a conversation centered on this year’s theme, Legends and Legacy.In this episode, hosts Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, and Connie Behringer open with a roundtable on what defines a “legend” and how legacy takes shape within an artistic community. Later in the episode, we turn to the next generation of theatre-makers through PSF’s new Muse of Fire Project. They share what draws them to Shakespeare, why live performance matters to them, and how the program is shaping their early steps as artists.In A Peek Behind the Curtain, Kim offers insight into casting the inaugural Muse of Fire ensemble and how the project supports PSF’s commitment to mentorship, access, and legacy-building across the Festival.Hosted by: Jason King Jones, Connie Behringer, and Kim CarsonMentioned in this episode:Be a Maker of TheatreSupport PSF: https://pashakespeare.org/support/Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/Join us at the Bard and Beyond Book ClubFor more details, visit pashakespeare.org/bookclub

PA Shakespeare Festival continues its second season of As You Mic It with a conversation that explores Shakespeare as "America's Playwright."In this episode, hosts Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, and Connie Behringer reflect on the role of theatre in the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary and how Shakespeare’s work continues to shape our understanding of democracy, identity, and community.Later in the episode, JKJ sits with author and scholar James Shapiro, whose books Shakespeare in a Divided America and The Playbook examine how the Bard’s voice has echoed through centuries of American history. Together, they consider why Shakespeare still matters to audiences today and what his legacy means in defining the American experience.In A Peek Behind the Curtain, the team shares a behind-the-scenes look at PSF’s casting process that brings the Festival’s Legends and Legacy theme to life.Hosted by: Jason King Jones, Connie Behringer, and Kim CarsonFeaturing: James Shapiro(Producer's Note: This episode was recorded prior to the passing of former Vice President Dick Cheney. In conversation with James Shapiro, Mr. Cheney is referenced in connection to his readership and engagement with Shakespearean scholarship. We’ve chosen to maintain the reference in this episode and extend our respect to Mr. Cheney’s family.)Twelfth Night | Great Performances | PBS@pashakespeare - Follow us on Instagram!Follow us on Facebook!James ShapiroMentioned in this episode:Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/Join us at the Bard and Beyond Book ClubFor more details, visit pashakespeare.org/bookclubBe a Maker of TheatreSupport PSF: https://pashakespeare.org/support/

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival launches its 35th season and the second season of As You Mic It!Join Artistic Director Jason King Jones WillPower actors David Andrew Laws, Darin "Frankie" Earl II, and Arrianna Daniels for a conversation about performing Shakespeare for thousands of students each fall. Reflecting on the 25th anniversary of PSF’s WillPower Tour, they share stories from the road, and explore what it means to bring professional theatre to audiences experiencing Shakespeare for the very first time.Hosted by Jason King Jones, Connie Behringer, and Kim Carson, this episode celebrates the artistry, education, and enduring legacy that define PSF’s 35th season, Legends and Legacy.Stay Connected:Follow As You Mic It and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival on social media for more behind-the-scenes insights and exciting festival updates.Follow Arrianna DanielsFollow Darin Frankie EarlFollow David Andrew LawsMentioned in this episode:Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/Join the Bard and Beyond Book Club!For more details, visit pashakepeare.org/bookclub

As the curtain falls on another unforgettable summer, the hosts Jason King Jones, Kim Carson, and Connie Behringer gather around the mic for a warm, reflective, and joy-filled season wrap-up. From moving performances and behind the stage memories, this episode revisits favorite moments on stage and off, and celebrates the artists and audiences who made it all possible.Whether you joined us in the theater, in the park, or from afar, this conversation is a love letter to the power of live storytelling and the creative community that makes it thrive. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to be part of a summer theatre festival, this episode is a backstage pass to the heart of it all.Special Thanks:Much gratitude to Chuck Gloman, Jarret Brown, and all of DeSales University for helping us launch this podcast journey.Stay Connected:Follow As You Mic It and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival on social media for more behind-the-scenes insights and exciting festival updates.Mentioned in this episode:Prepare Yourself for Some Drama!Get tickets now at pashakespeare.org or by calling our box office at 610.282.9455!Be a Maker of TheatreSupport PSF: https://pashakespeare.org/support/Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/Prepare Yourself for Some Drama!Get tickets now at pashakespeare.org or by calling our box office at 610.282.9455!Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.

As You Mic It: In the Spotlight goes behind the scenes of two uniquely PSF productions in the 2025 Summer Theatre Series. Artistic Director Jason King Jones talks with Greg Wood, Susie Stevens, and Tony Lawton about Timon of Athens, presented through the Festival’s signature Extreme Shakespeare approach. Director Matt Pfeiffer shares his process in finding the fun for this year’s Shakespeare for Kids, featuring Hamlet. From stripped-down intensity to high-energy storytelling for young audiences, this episode showcases the creativity and range that define a PSF summer.Special Thanks:Much gratitude to Chuck Gloman, Jarret Brown, and all of DeSales University for helping us launch this podcast journey.Stay Connected:Follow As You Mic It and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival on social media for more behind-the-scenes insights and exciting festival updates.Shakespeare For Kids - Tickets and Free Library TourTickets for Timon of AthensSupport PSF by donating todayMentioned in this episode:Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/Prepare Yourself for Some Drama!Get tickets now at pashakespeare.org or by calling our box office at 610.282.9455!Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.

As You Mic It: In the Spotlight shines the light on this season’s repertory production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Artistic Director Jason King Jones sits down with actor Ian Merrill Peakes (The Player) and scenic designer Brian Sydney Bembridge for an inside look at Tom Stoppard’s witty and mind-bending companion piece to Hamlet. Together, they explore the play’s existential humor, theatrical absurdity, and the layered experience of performing and designing within a shared repertory world. From the shifting boundaries of fate and performance to the magic of a transformative set, this conversation reveals what makes Rosencrantz and Guildenstern a perfect match for PSF’s Undiscovered Countries season.Special Thanks:Much gratitude to Chuck Gloman, Jarret Brown, and all of DeSales University for helping us launch this podcast journey.Stay Connected:Follow As You Mic It and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival on social media for more behind-the-scenes insights and exciting festival updates.Colon Cancer Foundation Brian Sydney BembridgeTickets for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are DeadTickets for HamletSupport PSF by donating today

As You Mic It: In the Spotlight shines the light on this season’s repertory productions of Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Artistic Director Jason King Jones sits down with Biko Eisen-Martin (Hamlet), and David Pica and Pepin (Laertes and Ophelia) to discuss Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy as a profound exploration of grief, revenge, and the boundaries between madness and clarity. Join us for a compelling conversation about their creative paths, insights into these beloved characters, and why Hamlet continues to captivate audiences today.Special Thanks:Much gratitude to Chuck Gloman, Jarret Brown, and all of DeSales University for helping us launch this podcast journey.Stay Connected:Follow As You Mic It and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival on social media for more behind-the-scenes insights and exciting festival updates.Biko Eisen MartinTickets for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are DeadTickets for HamletMentioned in this episode:Prepare Yourself for Some Drama!Get tickets now at pashakespeare.org or by calling our box office at 610.282.9455!Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.

We’re taking the show right into the heart of our community! Recorded in front of a live audience during Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s annual Community Day, this special episode of As You Mic It: In the Spotlight celebrates the people, programs, and performers that make our summer season so extraordinary.In Act 1, we shine a light on the PSF Summer Education Initiative, featuring two of this year’s inspiring educator participants. Act 2 brings together 2025 performers and Friends of the Festival, Grace Gonglewski, Maboud Ebrahimzadeh, Sean Close, and Isaiah Stanley, for a spirited conversation about art, ensemble, and returning to PSF summer after summer. In Act 3, we close with A Peek Behind the Curtain, testing audience knowledge and sharing behind-the-scenes trivia from the season.It’s a celebration of connection, creativity, and community and we’re so glad you’re here for it.Special Thanks:Much gratitude for Chuck Gloman, Jarret Brown, and all of DeSales University for helping us launch this podcast journey.Tickets for A Raisin In The SunTickets for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are DeadTickets for HamletThe Linny Fowler WillPower Tour - Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival - The Linny Fowler WillPower Tour is the centerpiece of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s educational programming. Schedule your school for the Fall 2025 tour of The Scottish Play.Support PSF by donating today - Here are just a few examples of the many ways you can support the Festival: Donate through your retirement account and designate your Required Minimum Distribution as a tax-free gift to PSF. Set-up a planned gift to PSF through your will or estate plan. Many companies match charitable donations made by their employees and, in some cases, also retirees. Contact your employer to determine if your contribution is eligible for a match!Mentioned in this episode:Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.

As You Mic It: In the Spotlight shines the light on this season's production of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. It's a powerful American masterwork of dreams, dignity, and generational resilience. Jason King Jones sits down with Brandon Burton and Noelle Dianne Johnson, who portray Walter Lee and Ruth Younger, for a conversation about family, legacy, and what this iconic play still has to say to audiences today.Special Thanks:Much gratitude for Chuck Gloman, Jarret Brown, and all of DeSales University for helping us launch this podcast journey.Stay Connected:Follow As You Mic It and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival on social media for more behind-the-scenes insights and exciting festival updates.Historical Context of A Raisin in the Sun | Chicago Public LibraryTickets for A Raisin In The SunHarlem | The Poetry Foundation - The title of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun was borrowed from Langston Hughes’s poem, “Harlem," sharing the story of the deferred dreams of the Younger family.Mentioned in this episode:Collaboration makes great theatre!Become a supporter, today! https://pashakespeare.org/support/Become an Underwriter Today!Contact [email protected] for more information.