Our Month of Trumpet sounds off with the return of Emily McClain! We catch up on her previous projects, discuss her most recent EERS submission The Rock and the Hard Place, and as usual spend much of the episode getting severely off topic.By Robert Gene Pellechio

We’re back! Apologies for the delay, I’ve been working through some personal / health issues over the holiday season but I’m finally back with more interviews! This month I speak with Michael Bucklin about his play The Special Relationship. We talk about his playwriting style, bond over our love of musicals, and unintentionally memorialize Stephen …

The Trumpet is back! After a brief delay we are excited to resume our irregularly scheduled podcast. This month I speak with our July playwright SMJ about their play Sway. We touch on the inspirations behind it involving the rise of Influencer culture.By Robert Gene Pellechio

This month I talk with playwright Nick Malakow about his piece “The Defectors,” the first entry into our Summer Reading Series. We talk about balancing Teaching and Theatre, allowing marginalized characters take the spotlight in stories, and feature a scene from the reading of “The Defectors.” The scene featured in this episode features Latrice Smi…

We’re back! After a hiatus not only is the Trumpet back, but so is the Elephant Ears Reading Series! To celebrate we are proud to present a very special episode of the Trumpet featuring the entire company of ERP (Lauren M. Krebs, Christopher Gustave Ulloth, Julianne Schaub, Blake Alvey, and Robert Gene Pellechio) to discuss […]…

Happy Halloween Herd! Since many of us will not be celebrating a traditional Halloween this year, curl up by the fire with your Creepiest Cocktail and enjoy a chilling tale by the spookiest author of all time, Edgar Allan Poe!By Robert Gene Pellechio

This month I am joined by Philadelphia Actors Mariza Esperanza and Connor McAndrews to revisit Episode 36’s discussion on casting against Race and Gender. We talk about what additional issues or allowances arise in casting Voice Over / Animation roles in this fashion and discuss how what the future of Voice Acting may look like […]…

The Trumpet Episode 37 – As I Was, Not As I Am (featuring Alice Hakvaag & Julianne Schaub) We’re Back! After a brief Hiatus, our podcast is back to promote Elephant Room Productions’ first ever Completely virtual production. This month I talk with playwright Alice Hakvaag about her theatre journey and the inspirations that led […]…

In this Episode Robert talks with ERP Artistic Associate Latrice Smith and Playwright Jonathan Alexandratos about non-traditional casting, when casting against race and gender helps or hinders a piece, and where casting practices should go moving forward.By Robert Gene Pellechio

In this discussion, Robert talks with playwright Emily McClain and Showcase on Main Co-Artistic Directors S. Lee Lewis Christy Wyatt about the benefits and setbacks of recorded/streaming theatre, and where we go from here with making Theatre accessible in the midst of and beyond the Covid-19 crisis. To see the video of this interview please […]…

In this long overdue episode, I sit down for an (in person!!!) discussion with Philadelphia Actor/Playwright Taylor Darden about his piece The Years of the Locusts. We discuss growing up Queer, our theatre influences, and most importantly figure out our Theatrical Drinking buddies.By Robert Gene Pellechio

Closing out the year on a strong note, this month I talk with New York playwright Jonathan Alexandratos about their play Ground Effect. We discuss Gender Roles and politics, the logistics of turning into a plane, and the vastly different stories we each told with our toys as youths. The scene featured in this month’s episode […]…

This month I return to playwright interviews by talking to playwright Emery Schaffer about her play A My Name is Allison. We discuss her inspirations, our mutual love of Harry Potter Clue, my own desires to write a play, and confirm whole-heartedly that this piece is NOT auto-biographical. The Scene featured in this month’s episode features […]…

Elephant Room Productions presents, “Take Care,” the fourth audio play of The Fifth Vital Sign. Before the nation turned its attention to the opioid epidemic, chronic pain patients and the people who loved them had long experienced the consequences of overprescription. Once the impact was addressed, they faced the new challenge of abrupt changes in…

Elephant Room Productions debuts the fourth audio play of The Fifth Vital Sign on September 27th. Stay tuned to elephantroomproductions.com and our podcast, the Trumpet, to listen to the audio play. Before the nation turned its attention to the opioid epidemic, chronic pain patients and the people who loved them had long experienced the consequence…

Elephant Room Productions presents the third audio play of The Fifth Vital Sign. In “Couch,” Edie knits in her living room, where the only furniture left is a couch. When her troubled son Jacob arrives and wants to take her couch from her, Edie declares enough. As mother and son fight over the last piece […]…

Elephant Room Productions debuts the third audio play of The Fifth Vital Sign on August 30th. Stay tuned to elephantroomproductions.com and our podcast, the Trumpet, to listen to the audio play. In “Couch,” Edie knits in her living room, where the only furniture left is a couch. When her troubled son Jacob arrives and wants […]…

Elephant Room Productions presents the second audio play of The Fifth Vital Sign. In “The Monster that Comes at Night,” A teenage boy tells his sister a story in an effort to help her cope and understand the abusive environment they live in. The fictional story and the world they operate in slowly begin to […]…

This month I speak with New York Playwright Martin Coren, our first EERS playwright to be able to join us for the reading of his piece! We discuss his thoughts on historical fiction process of writing intersecting stories, all while I grapple with a lack of Air Conditioning. Happy Summer!By Robert Gene Pellechio

Elephant Room Productions debuts the second audio play of The Fifth Vital Sign on July 26th. Stay tuned to elephantroomproductions.com and our podcast, the Trumpet, to listen to the audio play. In “The Monster that Comes at Night,” a teenage boy tells his sister a story in an effort to help her cope and understand […]…

Elephant Room Productions presents “Suddenly,” the first audio play of The Fifth Vital Sign. In “Suddenly,” a couple is forced to contend with bitterness and anger along with grief as they write an obituary for their daughter. “Suddenly” is written by Ellen Davis Sullivan, directed by Robert Gene Pellechio, and features Ginger Agnew and Shaun […]…

Elephant Room Productions debuts the first audio play of The Fifth Vital Sign on June 28th. Stay tuned to elephantroomproductions.com and our podcast, the Trumpet, to listen to the audio play. In “Suddenly,” a couple is forced to contend with bitterness and anger along with their grief as they write an obituary for their daughter. […]…

This month I speak with Atlanta Playwright Emily McClain about her dark comedy Cheek By Jowl. We touch on how it relates to her own family life and sense of humor, and also the unintentional channeling of Martin Crane in her piece. The scene featured in this month’s episode features Shaun Yates as Martin, Julianne […]…

Elephant Room Productions debuts The Fifth Vital Sign, a mulitmedia experiece about the opioid epidemic, on June 28th, 2019. Stay tuned to elephantroomproductions.com and our podcast, the Trumpet, for the new audio plays in the series. Music featured in this production: Home – By Whitesand (https://youtu.be/3r8gL1vWGx0).…

This month I talk to Philadelphia playwright about her autobiographical piece Dyscalculia. We discuss finding theatre later in life and commiserate on the struggles of getting teachers to understand. The scene featured in this month’s episode features Christie Civil as Katrina and Lauren M. Shover as Teacher #2. Stage Directions provided by Robert …

This month we travel back to the 1940s with Caitlin Cieri’s historical drama Shoujodan: Song of the Scouts. We discuss the ins and outs of writing shows with large character breakdowns and small casts and take a look at why Historical Fiction is crucial for understanding the past. The scene featured in this week’s episode […]…

But Soft, What Light Through Yonder Window Breaks? Oh it’s just Trumpet host Robert Gene Pellechio and ERP Artistic Associate Latrice Smith talking about one of the greatest playwrights who ever lived! In our next Discussion series installment we talk all about the Bard’s influence on Theatre and why his work is still relevant today.…

This month I welcome back previous Trumpet performers Shaun Yates and Meg Falasco to join in our first purely discussion based episode! Join us as we dive into a free-form conversation about the growing prevalence of musicals adapted from odd or unlikely sources, and try to make heads or tails of the ones that didn’t […]…

This month I speak with New York playwright Scott C. Sickles about his piece Marianas Trench. We touch on writing about LGBT issues from an LGBT perspective, the challenges of writing a trilogy play, and I try unsuccessfully to pull some spoilers out of Scott about his day job, writing for General Hospital. The scene […]…

Happy New Year! Enjoy your first day of 2019 with a conversation with Philadelphia playwright Shelli Pentimall Bookler about her riveting (pardon the pun) play about the ship that could have prevented one of the most famous Oceanic disasters of the 20th century, and also listen closely for my bad Colm Wilkinson impression (and as an added […]…

This month I speak with playwright Christopher Carter Sanderson about his surreal Noh inspired piece Eugenics, Oregon. We talk about the inspirations of Noh, the complications of being bisexual in the LGBT community, and the practicality of magical time and space altering Gummy Bears. The scene featured in this month’s episode features Anthony Cicc…

This month I speak with New York playwright about his play Lumps, and All. In our discussion we talk about the journey of adapting a play from a novel from a true life experience, and all of the extra paths that journey can take. The scene featured in this month’s episode features Robert Gene Pellechio […]…

Tomorrow is the night! After months of planning, workshopping, and rehearsing we are finally ready to share with the world our newest project, Salamander by Lisa VilaMill. Today I am joined one more time by Salamander Assistant Director and ERP company Member Latrice Smith to discuss why this piece means so much to everyone involved. Salamander run…

Only two more days until we open our powerful production of Salamander by Lisa VillaMil! Today I’m once again joined by Salamander Assistant Director and ERP Company Member Latrice Smith to discuss the Skinner Studio at Plays & Players and the benefits of performing this piece in such an intimate space. Salamander runs September 6th through the 9th…

We’re only a few days away from sharing the beautiful new original play Salamander by Lisa VillaMil. Today I’m rejoined by Salamander Assistant Director and ERP Company member Latrice Smith to discuss the organization Women Organized Against Rape, Philadelphia’s only rape crisis center. (A generous portion of the proceeds from Salamander will be do…

Our Fringe production of Salamander by Lisa VillaMil is about to premiere! Today I talk with Salamander Assistant Director and ERP company Member Latrice Smith about the journey this amazing play has taken, from the initial reading to this fully staged production! Salamander runs September 6th through the 9th at the Skinner Studio at Plays & Player…

Elephant Room Productions is currently looking for poets and spoke word artists who would like to perform at an upcoming event we are holding at Tattooed Moms in South Philly on Thursday evening, August 23rd! Please submit interest to Latrice Smith at latrice@elephantroomproductions.com.By Robert Gene Pellechio

This month I speak with playwright Brianna Keller about her Dracula-inspired piece, The Third Bride. We also discuss other aspects of vampirism, the challenges of writing a prequel, and I try desperately for once to not veer off track and talk about Harry Potter (and succeed for about one and a half minutes into the episode). […]…

This month I talk with playwright Tess Light about her play, Billy Joel Holds the Key to the Afterlife, and have some hard-hitting discussions on Life, Death, Ganesh, and the unbelievable relevance the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding has on our respective lives. Thee scene featured in today’s episode features Robin Jarret as Frances, […]…

This month I speak with NY playwright Catherine Weingarten about her dark comedy Karate Hottie. We discuss the challenges of humanizing an unlikable character and finding footing in a world of absurdity, and I also help Catherine face her frustrations in not obtaining the coveted Unicorn Frappuccino. The scene featured in today’s episode features J…

Don’t miss out on the chance to see the culmination of our Salamander workshop! For more information please visit our dedicated Salamander page or our Facebook page. Tickets available at Artful.ly. About the piece: Salamander by Lisa VillaMil Women are turning “other,” as the Barbie Virus rips through America, leaving its victims blank – sexless, e…

This month I speak with Philadelphia Liz Wiest about her play Thou Shalt Covet. We touch on the challenges of blocking a show with cats, the many iterations one piece can exist in, and the frustration at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s too-frequent song repetition. The scene featured in today’s episode features Anthony Cicamore as Andrew and ERP Artistic […]…

March Theatre Madness, two playwrights for the price of one! This month I chat with Davey Strattan White about the logistics of getting an Aeroplane on stage and the beauty of relationships that transcend age, then sit down with Lisa VillaMil to discuss the role gender plays on society and the complications of taking Shakespeare […]…

This month I talk with New York playwright James Armstrong and journey back in time with his play Bones of the Sea, an exploration of famed 19th century paleontologist Mary Anning. We discuss the inspirations behind bringing Anning to the stage and the challenges of writing historical fiction without relying on spirited rap numbers and a […]…

Combining Elephant Room Productions’ never-ending goals to make a positive impact on the world and to showcase new art in any form, The Trumpet is proud to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day with four original poems highlighting the weigh and impact Kindness has upon the world! The pieces featured in today’s episode include: “Keep It Random” wri…

Happy New Year from The Trumpet and Elephant Room Productions! This month I chat with repeat ERP collaborator Brian Grace-Duff about the evolution of his one woman piece Dogperson. The scene featured in this month’s episode features Lisa VillaMil as Me/Em. Stage directions provided by Lauren M. Shover. The scene featured contains explicit language.…

Since its publication on September 21, 1897,Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus has become the most reprinted newspaper editorial of all time because of its message of hope. A Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays from all of us at Elephant Room Productions! Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Clauswritten by Francis Pharcellus Church Music: […]…

Happy Holidays from Elephant Room Productions! Wind down from a busy season with Classic Holiday Tale of redemption and the importance of Christmas Spirit! The Trumpet presents: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Adapted and performed by Robert Gene Pellechio Music Credits: In the Bleak Midwinter composed by Peder B Helland Pederbhelland.com Carol …

Happy Holidays from Elephant Room Productions! Wind down from a busy season with Classic Holiday Tale of redemption and the importance of Christmas Spirit! The Trumpet presents: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Adapted and performed by Robert Gene Pellechio Music Credits: In the Bleak Midwinter composed by Peder B Helland Pederbhelland.com Carol …

Happy December from ERP! Here’s a little extra snippet from my conversation with Ian Cohen about Star Trek and Superheroes from Episode 13.By Robert Gene Pellechio