Recording my recent double-episode of Why We Theater!

Clockwise from top left: Dr. Tracie Gilbert, me, playwright Ming Peiffer, Justine Ang Fonte, Celine Parreñas Shimizu, Dr. Lisa Speidel

Dear Family and  Friends,

     It’s been a while since I’ve written and I miss you all! Things have been wild and I’ve been working hard. Thanks to all who donated to my summer Covenant House Sleep Out! Thanks to you, I surpassed my goal. This year's program was incredible; I learned so much and the youth continue to amaze me. Also in August, Playbill premiered our Women in Theatre: A Centennial Celebration, honoring women artists and the milestones of women in theatre over the past 100 years in honor of the anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Which reminds me: VOTE!!! Check your voter registration. Make a voting plan. Vote early if your state offers. Send in your absentee ballot as soon as you get it.

     The news of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing is another reminder of how important this is. No matter where you fall politically, her appointment to the Supreme Court was monumental, her intelligence unmatched, her wit sharp as hell, and her desire to do good boundless. Hence, her loss immeasurable. May we follow in her footsteps. I personally feel strongly that we cannot allow another conservative judge take her place, if for no other reason than a balanced Court. But it’s also important on Election Day to elect candidates who will confirm fair judges at the district, circuit, and appellate levels. Democracy serves those who show up. Make your voice heard.     

     Back to what’s been keeping me busy: I have released seven episodes of my podcast! Why We Theater launched on my Grandma Ruthie’s birthday with an episode tied to School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play and Colorism, Beauty Ideals, and Self-Esteem in Women, Girls and Femmes. (I’ve never been known for my brevity.) Since then, I’ve released episodes tied to the musical Octet, the comedy The Lifespan of a Fact, the drama Pipeline, the musical-within-a play Soft Power, and the coming-of-age story Usual Girls. Another episode tied to Tony Award winner Steven Levenson’s If I Forget airs this week! Each episode begins with a one-on-one between myself and the writer or director (sometimes both) to dig into the construction of the play, the ideas that inspired it, how it morphed during its run, and the questions it raised before we address those questions with real-world experts in the field. So talking about truth in journalism, famed journalist Ira Glass (of This American Life fame) joins in; when we talk about the voting system and politics, Jake Sullivan (who worked for Secretary Hillary Clinton and VP Joe Biden in the Obama administration) lends his expertise; when we talk about the history of American beauty ideals, Afia Ofori-Mensa (who is literally writing the book on beauty pageants) guests. Find links to each episode below! For those of you who love theatre, I hope this podcast illuminates new layers in the works you love and helps you use lessons learned in theatrical spaces in your daily lives. For those of you who read these newsletters just because you’re a friend or family member of mine (first, thank you), I hope the pod inspires you to realize that theatre tells all kinds of stories and you can find a way to connect to this life-changing art form.    

     At Playbill, I’ve been toiling away on my third digital concert special, ¡Viva Broadway! Hear Our Voices. You can even heart me talk about this pivot to producing on national NPR! Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month (September 15–October 15), this latest concert premieres October 1, 8pm ET. Do NOT miss this. The cast is insane and includes Antonio Banderas, Gloria Estefan, Chita Rivera, John Leguizamo, Jaime Camil (Jane the Virgin), Justina Machado (One Day at a Time), Gabrielle Ruiz (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend). There will be a reunion of the original cast of In The Heights singing from the show, plus numbers from new shows like the musical Kiss My Aztec!—that my dear friend Ben Velez is writing with John! It’s gonna be incredible. (There’s a reason I chose for it to fall on my birthday.)

      I have been in disbelief these past six weeks that I’ve gotten to work with the most ridiculous creative team, including Tony winner Sergio Trujillo (Ain’t Too Proud, Jersey Boys), who’s directing; Luis Salgado, who’s co-choreographing (Yes! There will be LEGIT dance); Jaime Lozano, a genius music director; Eric Ulloa, our brilliant book writer; and Tony winner Jessica Paz and eight-time Emmy winner Jorge Muelle, our sound designers. Mark those calendars! And watch the trailer below.

     Of course, I want to wish a Shana Tovah to all! (That means Happy New Year!) We rang in the Jewish new year 5781 this past weekend. As I said last year: There’s never a wrong time for a new beginning, so to everyone—Jewish and not—Shana Tovah. My best friend Suzanne reminded me that this time of year embodies duality; we reflect on memories and enter a phase of renewal for what’s to come. We actively take stock and make plans. A word we hear a lot this time of year t’shuvah means return and renewal. Though the terms seem opposite, they work in tandem. We return not to whom we have been but to whom we can be. It's a return to potential—a rebirth.     

     The past six months have been tumultuous, to say the least. We’ve dealt with a lifetime of challenges in half a year. At the beginning of this, I think we expected a great pause, but the world went into overdrive instead. I hope we are all able to introspect, to pause if only for a day, to reevaluate, to ask ourselves what we truly desire and how we can answer those wants and return to our souls.     

     Thank you, as always, for your support. I hope you’ll listen to Why We Theater, send feedback, subscribe, rate, review, and share with friends! Sending love, strength, and hope. Always, Ruthie

¡VIVA Broadway! Hear Our Voices debuts October 1, 8pm ET at Playbill.com/Viva and remains live until October 5, 8pm ET.

Recommendations: 

*If these recommendations inspire you to check out something new, I’d love to know! Tag your post about it with #ruthierecommends.

1. Unlocking Us. This podcast from emotional guru Brené Brown is quite literally saving my life. It is healing me in this moment of new and profound challenges. Brené is gifted. From the moment I became aware of her TED Talk on vulnerability to her Netflix special Call to Courage, she will rock your world. She’s a literal shame researcher; she’s the mama bear we all need. She’s here to normalize our experiences, comfort us, and introduce us to the revolutionary voices of today. Her episode with Glennon Doyle is next level. Her premiere episode on FFTs will feel like a hug. Her episode with David Kessler will explain why COVID feels so sad even for those of us who have been fortunate enough not to get sick or lose a loved one. You need to listen. NEED.

2. Boys in the Band. Lucky for the world, the sold-out limited run of a Tony-winning Broadway play immediately got picked up by Netflix for a film adaptation and wrapped shooting before the madness. Now we all get to witness the insanity. Joe Mantello, genius director of Wicked, the original Take Me Out, Other Desert Cities — to name three of his 35 Broadway credits — directed the Broadway show and returns to direct the film. (It’s why I have faith in this adaptation.) We don’t deserve this cast: Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Michael Benjamin Washington, Matt Bomer, Charlie Carver, Tuc Watkins, Robin De Jesús, Andrew Rannells, and Brian Hutchison (a.k.a the full Broadway cast). Set in 1960s New York City, Michael (Parsons) throws Harold (Quinto) a birthday party in a time when gay men were not allowed to gather. The party is an act of rebellion in and of itself. But it investigates the insidiousness of homophobia—how it can often translate to self-hatred. The Boys in the Band drops on Netflix Sept 30 and you want to be at that party.

3. American Utopia. David Byrne’s Broadway show is more akin to a concert than a narrative musical, but no less worthwhile. Spike Lee directs the film adaptation of Alex Timbers’ stage production. I loved this show when it opened this past fall. The music is so out of this world. The instrumentation feels dreamy. Annie B. Parsons choreographs this mind-meld of pedestrian movement, playing instruments, and spiritual exorcism. Watch it on HBO October 17.

4. Last Week Tonight. This is nothing new, but there’s a reason it’s won five consecutive Emmys for Best Variety Talk Series. And, if you’re listening to my podcast, it happens to be a great companion piece. Right around the release of my episode of Pipeline (in which we addressed now only how we teach our children but what we teach them and the accuracy of it), John Oliver covered U.S. History as his main story. He’s also covered Sex Ed, Police and School Segregation, Journalism, and Gerrymandering (which apply to my episodes on Usual Girls, Pipeline, Lifespan of a Fact, and Soft Power, respectively). If we had to lose Hasan Minhaj’s Patriot Act, I’m glad Oliver is still around.

My Philosophy

I believe in art's power to create change. Art—particularly theatre—can help us reflect, determine, and, sometimes, change our beliefs. I hope that you all continue to engage with the storytelling and art around you—wherever you are and whatever level—and that you entertain different points of view. Advocate for your principles while always leaving room to hear others and evolve. Let's stay engaged, thoughtful, and active. 

As always, if you need show recommendations or if you have theatre questions, please get in touch! I LOVE to answer. Keep tabs on Playbill.com and RuthieFierberg.com, and thank you for your enduring support.