ON THIS SEASON OF FORGE THEATER LABS
ON THIS SEASON OF FORGE THEATER LABS
Episode 1.1 FORGE THEATER LABS LIVE: “THE WILL TO ADAPT”
Record Date:Monday, February 16th, 2026
Air Date: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026
Recorded live at Novel Book Bar and Club, Portland, Maine.
Written by Megan Tripaldi
Directed by Sararose Willey
Directed by Cory Macgowan
Edited by Sam Rapaport
Featuring Caroline Chung, Joshua N Hsu, and Megan Tripladi
SYNOPSIS
Host Joshua N Hsu and guest host Megan Tripaldi meet Will Shakes, a writer with writer’s block, and help him navigate it and the process of adaptation.
© 2025 Forge Theater Labs LLC. All rights reserved.
Episode 1.2 FORGE THEATER LABS DESIGN-OR-BUST ROUNDTABLE: BIG LOVE
Record Date:Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026
Air Date: Tuesday, March 10th, 2026
Hosted by Joshua N Hsu
Edited by Sam Rapaport
Featuring Sage Bartlett, Chris DeFillip, Anna Halloran, Kimmarie McCrann, Cory Macgowan
SYNOPSIS
A crackpot team of directors and designers has ONLY 90 minutes to design BIg Love by Charles Mee. Can they make it?!
© 2025 Forge Theater Labs LLC. All rights reserved.
Episode 1.3 COMPANY SHOWCASE: PORTLAND THEATER FESTIVAL
Record Date: Tuesday, February 10th, 2026
Air Date: Thursday, March 19th, 2026
Hosted by Joshua N Hsu
Edited by Sam Rapaport
Featuring Dave Register
SYNOPSIS
Host Joshua N Hsu and Director/Actor/Artistic Director Dave Register discuss lessons learned after 5 years with Portland Theater Festival and how to build artistic leadership that lasts.
Episode 1.4 DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT: NELSON T. EUSEBIO III
Record Date:Thursday, February 12th, 2026
Air Date: Monday, March 23rd, 2026
Hosted by Joshua N Hsu
Edited by Sam Rapaport
Featuring Nelson T. Eusebio III
SYNOPSIS
Host Joshua N Hsu and Director Nelson T. Eusebio discuss the power and responsibilities directors have in casting and the use cases for and dangers of merit-based casting.
Episode 1.5 DRAMATURG SPOTLIGHT: AFRIKAH SELAH
Record Date:Tuesday, February 24th, 2026
Air Date: Monday, March 30th, 2026
Hosted by Joshua N Hsu
Edited by Sam Rapaport
Featuring Afrikah Selah
SYNOPSIS
Host Joshua N Hsu and Dramaturg/Critic/Director Afrikah Selah talk about who gets to discuss art, what critical frameworks we’re bound to, and what it means to critique responsibly in a moment shaped by speed, trends, and urgency.
Episode 1.6 FORGE THEATER LABS LIVE: “PLAY DATES”
Record Date: Monday, March 16th, 2026
Air Date: Tuesday, April 14th
Recorded live at Argenta Brewing Company, Portland, Maine
Presented in Partnership with Maine Playwrights Festival
Written by Dr. Janna Segal
Sound Design by Cory Macgowan
Edited by Sam Rapaport
Hosted by Liz Carlson and Joshua N Hsu
Featuring Todd Brian Bachus, Dr. Beka Bryer, Kate Hunter, Joshua W. Jackson, Micki Kleinman, Mark Macey, Jack Allen Murphy, and Shannon Wade
SYNOPSIS
In this unique, one-night only show, Founder of Forge Theater Labs Joshua N Hsu and Maine Playwrights Festival Artistic Director Liz Carlson will act as matchmakers for eight playwrights and dramaturgs from Maine. Will they discover their ideal writing collaborators? Anticipate a flurry of creativity in this unparalleled theatrical dating show.
© 2025 Forge Theater Labs LLC. All rights reserved.
Episode 1.9 DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT: LAURA KARLIN
Record Date: Friday, May 1st, 2026
Air Date: Tuesday, May 12th, 2026
Hosted by Joshua N Hsu
Edited by Sam Rapaport
Featuring Jen Shepard
Episode 1.10 FORGE THEATER LABS LIVE: “TO BOLDLY GO”
Record Date:Wednesday, May 20th, 2026
Air Date: Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026
Recorded live at South Planetarium, Portland, Maine.
Written by John Patrick Bray
Directed by Grace Kellar-Long
Sound Design by Cory Macgowan
Postproduction by Cory Macgowan and Sam Rapaport
Featuring Paul Fidalgo, Joshua N Hsu, Sarabell Wrigley, and Maya Williams
SYNOPSIS
Host Joshua N Hsu and Artistic Director Jen Shepard discuss transitioning from an Executive Director role to an Artistic Director role, the place of regional theater in the ever-changing theatrical landscape, and how her improvisational background and her philosophy of “Yes, and” fuels her leadership.
Episode 1.7 COMPANY SHOWCASE: MAD HORSE THEATRE COMPANY
Record Date: Tuesday, April 16th, 2026
Air Date: Tuesday, May 5th, 2026
Hosted by Joshua N Hsu
Edited by Sam Rapaport
Featuring Allison McCall
SYNOPSIS
Host Joshua N Hsu and Director/Actor/Artistic Director Allison McCall explore how to maintain the traditions, tread new paths, create a spirit of mentorship, and build consensus at Mad Horse Theater Company
Episode 1.8 COMPANY SHOWCASE: PENOBSCOT THEATRE COMPANY
Record Date: Tuesday, May 5th, 2026
Air Date: Tuesday, May 19th, 2026
Hosted by Joshua N Hsu
Edited by Sam Rapaport
Featuring Laura Karlin
SYNOPSIS
Host Joshua N Hsu and Director, Choreographer, and Movement Activist Laura Karlin discuss storytelling through movement, the balance of art and parenthood, and the lessons learned founding and leading Invertigo Dance Company.
SYNOPSIS
In this immersive radio play, Gamer Samus and Ancient Greek Philosopher Aristotle explore the merits and challenges of “Geek Theatre” when they are suddenly whisked into the future to help stop a war between AI and the last remaining humans.
Episode 1.11 FORGE THEATER LABS PRODUCER’S ROUNDTABLE: THE SPIRIT OF FRINGE
SYNOPSIS
Host Joshua N Hsu hosts organizers and former/current artists of Fringe Festivals across the United States to explore the history of Fringe, how Fringe Festivals operate from coast to coast, and how producers can better support Fringe Artists.
Record Date: Monday, June 8th, 2026
Air Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Hosted by Joshua N Hsu
Postproduction by Sam Rapaport
Featuring Nathan Gregory, Michael Dix Thomas, and Sally Wood
Episode 1.12 FORGE THEATER LABS DIRECTOR’S ROUNDTABLE: DEATH BY TRANSITIONS
SYNOPSIS
Host Joshua N Hsu hosts three Maine-based directors to explore their favorite transitions, why they’re important, and deep dive how to best build transitions that best serve the show.
Record Date: Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026
Air Date: Tuesday, June 16th, 2026
Postproduction by Sam Rapaport
Featuring Xela Batchelder, Chris DeFillip,
Tara McDonough, and Lois Neville
Episode 1.13 COMPANY SHOWCASE: GOOD THEATER
Record Date: Tuesday, June 9th, 2026
Air Date: Tuesday, June 30th, 2026
Hosted by Joshua N Hsu
Postproduction by Sam Rapaport
Featuring Brian P. Allen and Gusta Johnson
SYNOPSIS
Host Joshua N Hsu hosts Artistic Director Brian P. Allen and Executive Director Gusta Johnson of Good Theater to explore how they’ve sustained themselves since 2002, how they’ve grown and come into their own space, and what the future holds in store for them for this coming season and beyond.