Shows / Lights Up: The High School Theater Podcast
Lights Up: The High School Theater Podcast
A veteran NY journalist shining a spotlight on high school theater and the people who make it, from theater kids to the professionals who teach them.
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Episodes
Lights Up: The High School Theater PodcastEp. 17: New Rochelle’s Anthony Stirpe on creating art in the cradle of COVID
I really enjoyed this podcast chat with Anthony Stirpe, who teaches English and theater at New Rochelle High School. Among the takeaways: Tight budgets force…
Lights Up: The High School Theater PodcastEpisode 16: Lou Wool, Matt Royal, STAR Awards
For a special edition of “Lights Up: The High School Theater Podcast,” I was happy to be joined by Dr. Lou Wool, superintendent of Harrison Central School…
Lights Up: The High School Theater PodcastEp. 15: Stacey Tirro, hand to heart
Stacey Tirro is a dance and theater teacher, an arts advocate, an author, a Substack writer, a singer and dancer, podcaster and a geriatric gymnast. For 30…
Lights Up: The High School Theater Podcast‘Paranormal Activity’ producer Ken Davenport wants high school shows to mirror Broadway
Ken Davenport, the Tony-winning producer of “Kinky Boots” and the revival of “Once On This Island,” joins Pete to talk about “The Full Company: A Field Guide…
Lights Up: The High School Theater PodcastNot all 'Heathers' and 'Hamilton': Putting students on the selection committee
When Christina Baurle asked her theater students at Port Chester High School which show they should do next, their suggestions were wildly off the mark. Shows…
Lights Up: The High School Theater Podcast'26 Metros Special: Leading actors on their craft
Getting into the wonderful theater weeds with the leading actor Metro nominees Liam Weill from Northern Valley Demarest, Luciano Guidetti from Paramus, Derek…
Lights Up: The High School Theater Podcast'26 Metros Special: Leading actresses talk shop
Four high school actresses, nominated for leading actress at the 2026 Metro Awards on June 15, joined Pete on a special episode of "Lights Up: The High School…
Lights Up: The High School Theater PodcastPodcast: Turning the page with Allison Parsley
Allison Parsley, choreographer, director and dance teacher at Mamaroneck High School in Westchester County, New York, talks about helping her students navigate…
Lights Up: The High School Theater PodcastShe's an insider on the Jimmys and on the Rees Awards (which she won). She has thoughts.
Director-choreographer Halle Mastroberardino joins Pete to share her unique perspective on the Roger Rees Awards and the Jimmy Awards. Halle won the Rees Award…
Lights Up: The High School Theater PodcastPodcast: When a 16-year-old Stephen Ferri saved 'Aida,' and his theater career since
I was so happy to welcome Stephen Ferri, executive producer of White Plains Performing Arts Center, to the “Lights Up: High School Theater Podcast” this week…
Lights Up: The High School Theater PodcastAmid musical season, an event honoring non-musicals
Cyndi Feinman, the theater director at Rye Neck High School in Westchester County, New York, joins Pete to talk about the Eastern Student Artist Guild Awards…
Lights Up: The High School Theater PodcastLights Up podcast: What theater kids have taught their directors
Directors Nadia Rizzo of Pleasantville High School and Christina Colangelo of Blind Brook High School join Pete to talk about what they've learned from their…
Lights Up: The High School Theater PodcastLights Up podcast: Teaching musical actors to act
In the first 10 minutes of this week’s “Lights Up” podcast, Neil Schleifer and Tom Beck from Pelham Memorial High School in Pelham, New York, dig into the work…
Lights Up: The High School Theater PodcastLights Up podcast: Giving feedback from a place of trust
Deb Toteda, choreographer and director of dance at Harrison High School, and Dr. Gerry Micera, director at Putnam Valley High School, talk about how they give…
Lights Up: The High School Theater PodcastLights Up podcast: With Suffern's Dan McCarter
Dan McCarter is music director, conductor, technical director, and producer of Suffern High School’s acclaimed theater program. He joins Pete Kramer of Pete…
Lights Up: The High School Theater Podcast'Lights Up' podcast: Voice teacher Celeste Simone keeps it real
Voice teacher Celeste Simone has coached some of Broadway's greats, from Kristin Chenoweth to Chita Rivera. She joins Pete Kramer on "Lights Up: The High…
Lights Up: The High School Theater PodcastPodcast: A winning social-media formula for high school shows
Pete Kramer of Pete Kramer Media chats with Brandon Salerno about social-media campaigns for high school theater productions. For four years, Salerno has…