Playtime - 2025
on WIOX Community Radio Catskills
Calendar 2025
All shows at 6PM ET unless otherwise stated
January 14: A conversation with Djahari Clark and David Kammerer, co-directors of Gloaming Project, about “THE BALLAD TREE”
Djahari and David will discuss the development of “THE BALLAD TREE,” an evening of live music, song, dance, and puppetry of Appalachian ballads.
Host(s): Michelle Macau and Arnie Schwartz
Special Guest(s): Djahari Clark and David Kammerer
January 28: N/A
Host(s):
Special Guest(s):
February 11: A conversation with Diane Galusha, Historical Society of Middletown, NY
Host(s): Elizabeth Sherr
Special Guest(s): Diane Galusha
February 25: Monologues: Stand Alone or Not!
Erwin Karl and Tim Main will host the performances of four monologues for the stage: LIKE A ROSE by Shelley Stolaroff Segal featuring Paul Eisemann and directed by Pip Merrick; an excerpt from THE LAST DAY OF DOROTHY LILLIAN PHELPS written and performed by Patricia Van Tassel; a monologue from FAIR HOUSING, written by Jessica Feder-Birnbaum and performed by Caroline G. Pleasant; SHE TRIED TO RUIN MY NIGHT, written and performed by Raymond Alvin.
Host(s): Erwin Karl and Tim Main
Special Guest(s): Actors per above
March 11: A conversation with Pam West-Finkle, aka “Angel Pam West” or “Miss Pam,” as she is known to many families in the Catskills.
The conversation will highlight Pam’s musical career, The Community Music Network, her teaching, and the recent Community Sing! events at The Open Eye Theater.
Host(s): Elizabeth Sherr
Special Guest(s): Pam West-Finkle
March 25: Leicester Bay Theatricals - The final segment in the series “Meet the Publisher”
Featuring playwright Alice Jankell with readings of two of her short plays, A BOY AND HIS DOG and AT THIS HOUR. Actors are Lisa Ruth Mays, Rebecca Newman, and Ron Brockway.
Host(s): Amie Brockway and Erwin Karl
Special Guest(s): Michael Perry, publisher of Leicester Bay Theatricals, Alice Jankell, Lisa Ruth Mays, Rebecca Newman, and Ron Brockway
April 8: A conversation with Rod Saquillo and Kristin McCally, Director of "Dance Nation" a play by Clare Barron. Also joining us will be Annalee Parker, the President of the College Players and the lead actor of this year's production of "Legally Blonde."
Host(s): Elizabeth Sherr
Special Guest(s): Rod Saquillo, Kristin McCally and Annalee Parker
April 22: A Preview of Catskill Mountain Shakespeare’s “Pericles” and “Anne of Green Gables”
Host(s): Michelle Macau
Special Guest(s): Catskill Mountain Shakespeare cast and crew, R.N. Sandberg, Playwright of “Anne of Green Gables”
May 6: A Live Radio Performance from WIOX in Roxbury of “Anne of Green Gables”
Host(s): Michelle Macau
Special Guest(s): The Cast of “Anne of Green Gables”
May 20: A conversation about the upcoming ”SUMMER SHORTCUTS XV”
Host(s): Tim Main and Erwin Karl
Special Guest(s): Actors/Directors Beth Sherr, Pip Merrick, Willow Harrington, Darlene DeMaille, and Lisa Ruth Mays
June 3: A conversation about Celebrating Representation in Theater
Host(s): Marge Helenchild and Beth Sherr
Special Guest(s): Performance artists LaRaisha DiEvelyn Dionne and M. Can Yasar
June 17: A conversation with PATRICIA VAN TASSEL AND WILLIAM ELECTRIC BLACK
Host(s): Erwin Karl
Special Guest(s): PATRICIA VAN TASSEL AND WILLIAM ELECTRIC BLACK
Patricia Van Tassel will talk about her play THE LAST DAY OF DOROTHY LILLIAN PHELPS, A funny new play about living, and with Ian Ellis James aka William Electric Black will talk about his one man show ELECTRIC’S WEST SIDE STORY (on the Lower East Side).
July 1: Performing Arts Events in the Catskills - 2025
Host(s): Michelle Macau
Special Guest(s): HEIDI STONIER, MARSHALL SHNIDER, AND BETH RYAN TROXELL
A conversation with Heidi Stonier of The Arts Inn Collective in Fleischmanns, NY, Marshall Shnider of the Catskill Public Theater in Roscoe, NY; and Beth Ryan Troxell of Round the Bend Theatre in Saugerties, NY. The discussion will highlight their 2025 season and bringing the performing arts to the Catskills.
July 15: THE HUNDRED ACRE WOOD - Meet the Cast
Host(s): Amie Brockway and Michelle Macau
Special Guest(s): Hope Keil, Elizabeth Sherr, Brandon Hargrove, Ron Brockway, and Randi Perkins
The cast, playing Christopher Robin and friends Winnie-the-Pooh, Owl, Eeyore, and Rabbit, will perform a reading performance of the A. A. Milne story
“in which Pooh Goes Visiting and Gets into a Tight Place”. The actors will share their experiences performing for very young audiences (ages 2-8) and give a preview of THE HUNDRED ACRE WOOD stories performing Saturdays, July 19 and 26 at 12 noon at The Open Eye Theater on Main Street in Margaretville.
July 29: A Conversation with the Six Directors of Summer Shortcuts XV
Host(s): Amie Brockway and Erwin Karl
Special Guest(s): The directors of Summer Shortcuts XV: Darlene DeMaille, Willow Harrington, Tim Main, Pip Merrick, Ron Nash, Elizabeth Sherr.
Now in its 15th year, Summer Shortcuts XV presents six sizzling new ten-minute plays selected from more than a hundred submissions—dramedy, mystery, curiosity, passion, surprise twists. The plays are by writers from near and far. Two are by New York writers from Peekskill and Huntington. Others come from as far away as San Francisco and Santa Cruz.
August 12: A Conversation with Jack Warren of Cellar Door Cinema Club
Host(s): Michelle Macau
Special Guest(s): Curator of film screenings, Jack Warren will be discussing the showing of animated films by Hudson Valley Filmmakers presented at The Open Eye Theater on August 16 at 6PM.
August 26: A Conversation with Ron Nash and his new play, A Good Deal.
Host(s): Michelle Macau
Special Guest(s): Ron Nash will be discussing his new play, A Good Deal, in preparation for a rehearsed reading at The Open Eye Theater on August 30 at 3PM.
September 9: A Conversation with playwright, Gail Lennstrom
Host(s): Elizabeth Sherr
Special Guest(s): Gail Lennstrom will discuss her development as a playwright. Several monologues will be read by actors, Ward Stevenson, Elizabeth Sherr and Jessica Wright.
September 23: A Conversation with Company Members of the new play, THE SPRINGVALE ARMADILLO
Host(s): Michelle Macau
Special Guest(s): The writer, cast, and designers of the world premier of The Springvale Armadillo will discuss the upcoming productions at The Open Eye Theater, October 9-19.
October 7: TECH HELP!: Three Short Plays and Discussion with the Playwrights and Actors
Host(s): Tim Main and Arnie Schwartz
Special Guest(s): A reading of three short plays: THE PERFECT GUESTS by Donna R. Boyd with Nadya Rockefeller, Elizabeth Sherr & Frank Ryan. TRENDING by Janet J. Lawler with Nadya Rockefeller, Jessica Wright & Ray Blackburn. GLORY TO MONEY! by Eric Weil with Lisa Ruth Mays & Ray Blackburn..
October 21: TALKING ABOUT SURVIVAL! A discussion with Playwright Donald Loftus and a reading of his play “Ruby.”
Host(s): Elizabeth Sherr and Michelle Macau
Special Guest(s): Playwright Donald Loftus, director Pip Merrick, and actors Anne Saxon-Hersh and Frank Ryan join Beth Sherr for a reading of Loftus' "Ruby", a ten-minute play and further discuss the character Ruby from his play "The Springvale Armadillo" that just finished a two week, world premiere, run at The Open Eye Theater. Anne and Frank reprise their performance of “Ruby” from Summer Shortcuts XIV (2024).
November 4: She/Her: Female Protagonists.
Host(s): Tim Main and Arnie Schwartz
A reading of three short plays with a focus on female protagonists. Ground Zero by Vince Gatton, The Donor Class by Scott Carter Cooper, and A Rare Bird by Bella Poynton. Actors are Frank Ryan, Pamela Joy, Patricia Van Tassel and Jessica Wright.
November 21: A Reading of Two Plays by James Still and Donald Loftus
Host(s): Amie Brockway and Arnie Schwartz
Reading performances of two ten-minute plays: JOE THE REMEMBERER by James Still and UNBRIDLED FEAR by Donald Loftus. Actors are Jessica Wright, Ron Brockway, and Amie Brockway. Playwrights will join us for discussion and insights into their plays and Jessica will share news about upcoming events at The Open Eye Theater.
CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW STORM
December 2: It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play: a conversation with the actors and director
Host(s): Michelle Macau
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY, is adapted by Joe Landry from the story, “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern. In this radio style version, the actors are live in the theater playing over 40 characters and performing the sound effects live on stage. The plot focuses on how a community bonds together against the greedy villain, and an angel shows George Bailey just how much his life matters.
Special Guest(s): Performers Elizabeth Burdick, Parker Cross, David Dancyger, John Exter, Lisa Ruth Mays, Nadya Rockefeller, and Elizabeth Sherr will talk about the show highlighting how they play 40 plus characters and perform the sound effects live on stage.
December 16: A conversation with Bill Berg, President of the Board of Roxbury Arts Group, and new Executive Director, Patrick Barnes
Host(s): Elizabeth Sherr
Guests will be introduced to Patrick Barnes, and Bill Berg will give listeners some history and perspective about the organization as well as some upcoming events at Roxbury Arts Group.
December 30: A reading of The Road to Riverbank, by Amie Brockway with music by composer Elliot Sokolov (adapted from Kenneth Grahame’s “The Wind in the Willows.”)
Host(s): Michelle Macau
It's Christmas Eve, and Rat and Mole are out for a stroll. On their way, it begins to snow. That's when it happens. Will they make it home?
Special Guests: Amie Brockway and Elliott Sokolov will discuss working together to create this family friendly story. With special permission from Leicester Bay Theatricals.