This short little episode is an announcement of the release of my second full length scripted audio drama, THE NEW COLOSSUS.

THE NEW COLOSSUS AUDIO DRAMA is complete and live and available! You can listen to it starting today via Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all the usual podcasts platforms as well as the website www.thenewcolossuspodcast.com.

The original pre-pandemic plan was to do a big marketing push with a build-up/countdown/live events/etc, but COVID-19 has knocked me down and back a bit. As an artist today on April 19, 2020, my priorities  are to make work, share it, and support other artists and arts-lovers, which means that my priority for this project is to get it out to you ASAP and figure out the marketing at a more leisurely pace.

Currently, I don’t have a press release or marketing collateral or a marketing plan or a queue of social media posts with adorable photos. I have this podcast episode and six 20-MINUTE episodes of THE NEW COLOSSUS, a project that I am really proud of and eager to share with you.

So I’ll get to the marketing as I’m able, and you have that to look forward to, right?

If you are local to me, you may have seen the stage version of TNC at Manbites Dog Theatre in 2016 produced by Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern. That script was an adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s classic play, THE SEAGULL. 

What I’m releasing today is an updated audio adaptation of my theatre script with immersive sound design. The first 4 episodes are essentially Act One and the final 2 episodes are Act Two. I’m thrilled with the result of this piece, which includes original music composed and performed by Edith Snow and Skylar Gudasz and the incredible contributions by our cast, designers and production team. 

Before you listen, a word of warning — THE NEW COLOSSUS is definitely not for kids. TNC contains profanity, sex, death, dysfunction and lots of laughter, music, and love. It’s a little edgy and it’s for grown-ups.

Below, you’ll see the list of wonderful people on this team, all of whom are local to the Triangle area of NC. If you have the resources, please contribute to our local artist resource funds and to the individual artists you know. Now is the time to lift up, celebrate and contribute to artists and arts-workers for the work they have done and will do.

If you like what you hear, I’d appreciate it if you’d spread the word about TNC and encourage people to listen in all the ways and on all the platforms. 

(If you love THE NEW COLOSSUS, and you’ve never listened to my first audio drama, MASTER BUILDER, that one was sound designed by our amazing Edith Snow who plays Irina in TNC, and also features Susannah Hough who plays Paulie!)

Thanks, and hurrah COLOSSUS,

Tamara

The New Colossus Audio Drama is a totally unhinged dark comedy reboot of Anton Chekhov’s classic play, THE SEAGULL.

TNC is a production of Artist Soapbox and Soapbox Audio Collective with support from the Manbites Dog Theater Fund, the patrons of Artist Soapbox, the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, Timothy McMackin, and Trailblazer Studios. 

CREDITS:

The New Colossus was written, directed, and produced by Tamara Kissane. This audio drama was adapted from Tamara’s 2016 stage play produced by Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern and inspired by Anton Chekhov’s play, THE SEAGULL written in 1895. 

Big thanks to the incredible team who made this audio production possible:

Executive Producer: Aurelia Belfield

Sound design and editing by Sam Elia

Original Music by Edith Snow and Skylar Gudasz

The audio was recorded at Trailblazer Studios by Cameron Fitzpatrick, our audio engineer, and production manager Kyma Lassiter with additional support from production assistants Barbette Hunter and Kaley Morrison. Additional recording support by James Phillips.

This audio drama features the acting talents of Ron Lee McGill as Konrad, Carly P. Jones as Nina, Edith Snow as Irina, John Jimerson as Trig, Skylar Gudasz as Masha, Ryan Ladue as Meddie, Susannah Hough as Paulina and Michael Foley as Sorin. Kyma Lassiter was the anonymous interviewee on the street. Graphic design by Kaley Morrison.

RELIEF FUNDS + RESOURCES:

• The Orange County Arts Commission Page has a long list of  support resources for artists, arts industry workers, arts nonprofits, and art organizations whose livelihoods have been negatively affected by COVID-19. Check it out. 
• Equal Sound Corona Relief Fund (Musicians)
• Durham Artist Relief Fund
• Durham Arts Council Artist Recovery Fund
• NC Artists Relief Fund
• Orange County Arts Relief Fund (NC)
• Chatham County Artist and Art-Worker Relief Effort (NC)
• Covid-19 Freelance Artist Resources
• Emergency Funds (All Art Forms)
• Parent Artist Advocacy League Emergency Fund apply
• Parent Artist Advocacy League Emergency Fund donate

This episode is brought to you by the Soapboxers, the official patrons of the Artist Soapbox. If you like these episodes and want more, get on the Soapbox!  This episode was recorded at the ASBX home studio. Artist Soapbox theme music by Bart Matthews.