ruthie fierberg

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.

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Why We Theater is produced by the Broadway Podcast Network.

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Listen free to the podcast trailer here.

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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.

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Be sure to download your episodes, subscribe for free, rate, and write a review!