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ruthie fierberg
writer. reporter. storyteller.
host. moderator. invited speaker.
Nominated for the
2021 AASECT
Podcast Award
Social justice meets theatre in Ruthie's debut podcast. Artists and experts unite for curated panels, using plays and musicals (Broadway, Off-Broadway, and works in development) as a jumping-off point to confront societal issues such as colorism, voting rights, fake news, digital technology addiction, the school-to-prison pipeline, anti-Semitism, raising LGBTQIA+ kids, and more.
Each episode aims to help listeners grapple with hard questions inside a play or musical in order to create change in our offstage lives. Don’t worry if you haven’t seen an individual episode’s show or if you’re not a theatre buff. I specifically designed this podcast to speak to two types of listeners: 1) the listener who goes to the theatre, feels inspired to create change but doesn't know how and 2) the listener who is or wants to be actively engaged in their community and thinks that theatre isn't for them. I'm here for you both and everyone in between.
Throughout the first season, award-winning writers and directors of pieces like School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play and The Prom break down the message inside their stories and how they created that story. Then, real-world experts in the corresponding field (i.e. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan or This American Life’s Ira Glass) offer advice and action steps (i.e. thought patterns to monitor, petitions to sign, organizations to support, etc.) so we can manifest progress together. “Theater” is not only a place or a presentation, it is an action. “To theater” is to engage with art presented onstage. Why we theater? You’re about to find out.
Why We Theater is produced by the Broadway Podcast Network.
Listen free to the podcast trailer here.
Listen free to the full 10-episode first season online, or on the new BPN app, Apple podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Be sure to download your episodes, subscribe for free, rate, and write a review!
Episode Guide
Season 1
Episode 1
School Girls... and Colorism, Beauty, and Self-Esteem in Women, Girls, and Femmes
Episode 2
Octet and Internet Addiction
Episode 3
The Lifespan of a Fact and Truth in Journalism
Episode 4
Pipeline and Education Inequity and the School-to-Prison Pipeline
Episode 5
Soft Power and Democracy, U.S.-China Relations, and Asian-American Culture
Episode 6
Usual Girls and Femme Sex and Sexuality, Part One
Episode 7
Usual Girls and Femme Sex and Sexuality, Part Two
Episode 8
If I Forget and American Jews, Anti-Semitism, and Tribalism
Episode 9
The Prom and Raising LGBTQIA+ Youth
Episode 10
Save the Arts and Arts Education, Season One Finale
BONUS
Bringing Theatre Back Post COVID
BONUS
In The Heights Film Exclusive Interviews
Season 2
This season, main panel episodes drop every other week. In off-weeks, companion mini-episodes drop relating the piece of theatre to another piece of art.
Oslo and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Oslo and Raya Meets the Last Dragon
Witness Uganda and Ethical Foreign Aid
Witness Uganda Meets The Good Doctor
Rinse, Repeat and Eating Disorders
Rinse, Repeat Meets Brave Girl Eating
Why We Theater NOW: November 2021
Interstate and Authentic Trans, Queer, and Asian-American Representation
Interstate Meets Multiple Recommendations
The Killing of Kings and the Transition of Formerly Incarcerated Persons From Prison
BONUS: The Killing of Kings continued with Esther Matthews
The Killing of Kings meets The Prison Within
Why We Theater NOW: January 2022
Sanctuary City and U.S. Immigration Reform
Sanctuary City meets The Sun Is Also A Star
The Color Purple and Generational Trauma
The Color Purple meets Prayer for the French Republic
Re-release: If I Forget and American Jews, Anti-Semitism, and Tribalism
David Byrne's American Utopia and Expanded Cognition
David Byrne's American Utopia meets The Prophet
Addressless and Homelessness
Addressless meets Choose-Your-Own Empathy Activity
Why We Theater Now: April 2022
Awards
Nominee, 2021 American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) Podcast Award
This award is for the creators of a Podcast that makes a significant contribution to AASECT’s vision of sexual wellbeing, education, and which elevates the standards of the field.
In the News
The Hartford Courant, 2021
West Hartford Native Uses Theater to Spark Discussion of Social Issues on New Podcast, ‘Why We Theater’
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