101 Stage Adaptations
World Premiere Wisconsin with Michael Cotey (Ep. 30)
This week Melissa talks with fellow Wisconsinite Michael Cotey about World Premiere Wisconsin, a first-of-its-kind state-wide festival of new plays and musicals.
*The festival currently runs through June 2023, but stay tuned for more on this great project.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What World Premiere Wisconsin is and how it started
- Where Wisconsin stands in terms of state funding for the arts
- What Michael has learned from producing a state-wide theatre festival
- Michael's company ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence
- Why he thinks college Theatre minors should be mandatory
And more!
Resources Mentioned
World Premiere Wisconsin
ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence
Ten Chimneys
2 previous podcast guests are mentioned in this episode! Listen to our interview with Mary Zimmerman here and our two interviews with Nan Barnett here and here.
About Our Guest
Michael Cotey is a producer and director based out of Chicago, but was born and raised in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is the creator and Joaquin Oliver Artistic Producer behind ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence, a nationwide playwriting initiative that calls on teens to write short plays that confront gun violence. Now in its third year, ENOUGH! has received more than 500 plays, unfolded in over 100 communities involving more than 2,000 artists and reaching nearly 10,000 audience members, and has been featured on PBS NewsHour, NPR, and the BBC. He is also the festival producer for World Premiere Wisconsin, an inaugural and first-of-its-kind statewide new work festival. In addition to directing regionally, Michael has directed in Wisconsin at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act, First Stage, Third Avenue
PlayWorks, UW-Madison, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. From 2009-2013 he was the Founding Artistic Director of Youngblood Theatre in Milwaukee, regularly celebrated by the theater community and the press as one of the most exciting new Milwaukee theater ventures in decades. Michael graduat
Connect with host Melissa Schmitz
***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter***
101 Stage Adaptations
Follow the Podcast on Facebook & Instagram
Read Melissa's plays on New Play Exchange
Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn
Ways to support the show:
- Buy Me a Coffee
- Tell us your thoughts in our Listener Survey!
- Give a 5-Star rating
- Write a glowing review on Apple Podcasts
- Send this episode to a friend
- Share on social media (Tag us so we can thank you!)
Creators: Host your podcast through Buzzsprout using my affiliate link & get a $20 credit on your paid account. Let your fans directly support you via Buy Me a Coffee (affiliate link).
This week Melissa talks with fellow Wisconsinite Michael Cotey about World Premiere Wisconsin, a first-of-its-kind state-wide festival of new plays and musicals.
*The festival currently runs through June 2023, but stay tuned for more on this great project.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What World Premiere Wisconsin is and how it started
- Where Wisconsin stands in terms of state funding for the arts
- What Michael has learned from producing a state-wide theatre festival
- Michael's company ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence
- Why he thinks college Theatre minors should be mandatory
And more!
Resources Mentioned
World Premiere Wisconsin
ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence
Ten Chimneys
2 previous podcast guests are mentioned in this episode! Listen to our interview with Mary Zimmerman here and our two interviews with Nan Barnett here and here.
About Our Guest
Michael Cotey is a producer and director based out of Chicago, but was born and raised in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is the creator and Joaquin Oliver Artistic Producer behind ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence, a nationwide playwriting initiative that calls on teens to write short plays that confront gun violence. Now in its third year, ENOUGH! has received more than 500 plays, unfolded in over 100 communities involving more than 2,000 artists and reaching nearly 10,000 audience members, and has been featured on PBS NewsHour, NPR, and the BBC. He is also the festival producer for World Premiere Wisconsin, an inaugural and first-of-its-kind statewide new work festival. In addition to directing regionally, Michael has directed in Wisconsin at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act, First Stage, Third Avenue
PlayWorks, UW-Madison, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. From 2009-2013 he was the Founding Artistic Director of Youngblood Theatre in Milwaukee, regularly celebrated by the theater community and the press as one of the most exciting new Milwaukee theater ventures in decades. Michael graduat
Connect with host Melissa Schmitz
***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter***
101 Stage Adaptations
Follow the Podcast on Facebook & Instagram
Read Melissa's plays on New Play Exchange
Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn
Ways to support the show:
- Buy Me a Coffee
- Tell us your thoughts in our Listener Survey!
- Give a 5-Star rating
- Write a glowing review on Apple Podcasts
- Send this episode to a friend
- Share on social media (Tag us so we can thank you!)
Creators: Host your podcast through Buzzsprout using my affiliate link & get a $20 credit on your paid account. Let your fans directly support you via Buy Me a Coffee (affiliate link).