BSR_S09E21 - Susan Chase - Mother’s Day

Today on the podcast:

Susan Chase drops in to talk about her upcoming production, “Mother’s Day - A theatrical Homage to the Women Who Made Us”. Here is my interview with Susan Chase for “Mother’s Day”.

In this engaging conversation, Darnelle Radford and Susan Chase explore the themes of motherhood, artistic expression, and the challenges of self-producing theatre. Susan shares her personal journey through cancer and how it inspired her work, including her latest play, Mother's Day. They discuss the importance of music in theatre, the fear of performing in New York, and the significance of audience engagement. The conversation also touches on the realities of procrastination in the creative process and the unexpected journey to acceptance in the United Solo Festival. In this conversation, Darnelle Radford and Susan Chase discuss the intricacies of creating and presenting the play 'Mother's Day,' reflecting on the supportive environment of theater festivals, the emotional journey of writing the play after the loss of Chase's mother, and the importance of audience engagement through visual storytelling. They explore the historical significance of Mother's Day, the impact of COVID-19 on artistic expression, and the deep connections that can be fostered through shared experiences in theater.

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction to Mother's Day and Artistic Journey

  • 03:00 Susan's Undoing: A Personal Journey Through Cancer

  • 06:00 The Role of Music in Theatrical Productions

  • 09:00 Performing in New York: Overcoming Fear and Finding Community

  • 11:58 Audience Engagement and Relatability in Performance

  • 14:56 The Challenges of Self-Producing Theatre

  • 17:58 Procrastination and the Creative Process

  • 20:47 Unexpected Acceptance: A Journey to the United Solo Festival

  • 23:00 Festival Experience and Artist Support

  • 25:05 Reflections on Artistic Changes

  • 28:06 Engaging the Audience with Visuals

  • 30:02 Historical Context of Mother's Day

  • 33:56 Thematic Depth of the Play

  • 39:01 The Impact of COVID on Creativity

  • 40:54 A Call to Action for Audiences

ABOUT MOTHER’S DAY - A Theatrical Homage To The Women Who Made Us

Mother’s Day is both a memoir of one mother, and an homage to ALL mothers. Veering from sentimental to skeptical, from harrowing to hilarious, Mother’s Day celebrates the women who made us. It is especially dedicated to those mothers who are no longer with us, except in our memories and our dreams.

"Mother's Day is ultimately passionate and illuminating, inspiring viewers to revisit their own relationships with their mothers." (Lehigh Valley Stage 4/9/25)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://www.theatreexile.org/renters-in-exile/susan-chase

Darnelle Radford

At Em3ry, LLC, we continue the goals of Rep Radio, to support, promote, engage and inspire the arts community by igniting the ghost light that shines on the stages of the up and coming, the unsung heroes, the brilliant writers and the dynamic designers.

http://Em3ry.com
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BSR_S09E20 - Theatre Exile 2024-25 Season