(NEW YORK, NY) -- Brad Forenza, a writer from Jersey City, launched Around the Sun, a new episodic audio drama podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network. Featuring prolific talent from stage and screen, including winners and nominees of every major performance award (Drama Desk, Emmy, Golden Globe, Grammy, Oscar, Screen Actors Guild, and Tony). The podcast launched on on October 27, 2021 and will have new episodes throughout November.
Around the Sun is nine self-contained episodes that explore human connections, made and missed, with an existential New York flare. Whether consumed together or independently, the comedy, tragedy, and soul of Around the Sun embraces one character’s assertion that, “We’re never alone in New York… even if it feels like the opposite is often true.” The series was produced in quarantine, via remote technology.
Around the Sun’s celebrated ensemble is comprised of: David Alan Basche (The Exes), Joanna Bonaro (Good ‘n Screwed), Dolores Catania (Real Housewives of New Jersey), François Clemmons (Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood), Lilli Cooper (Tootsie), Veanne Cox (Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella), David LaRosa (Clandestine), Marsha Mason (The Goodbye Girl), Christine Nagy (106.7 Lite FM), Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos), Austin Pendleton (My Cousin Vinny), Alysia Reiner (Orange is the New Black), Sally Struthers (Gilmore Girls), Maureen Van Zandt (The Sopranos ), BD Wong (Mr. Robot), Ryan Wotherspoon (Fogg), and Brad Forenza (A Case of Blue)… all playing New Yorkers, yearning to connect.
“Around the Sun is a valentine to a city I love, and the transcendent themes that unite us,” says series creator Brad Forenza. “It’s also a celebration of possibility, created amidst the pandemic’s destruction.”
Cast member François Clemmons (a Grammy winner for Porgy and Bess) agrees. “When Brad Forenza invited me to portray the role of a NYC Marathoner, metaphorically running through each stage of life, we had never met,” says Clemmons. “And still, there was something connecting us—a theme that recurs throughout the episodes.”
In spite of the remote recording necessitated by the pandemic, Two-time Emmy winner Sally Struthers (All in the Family), added that remote production “was a breeze. I’m a big fan of Brad Forenza’s,” she quipped.
Around the Sun (#AroundTheSunPodcast) is a Best Version of Yourself production, written/directed by Brad Forenza, co-produced by Suzanne Ordas Curry (Equity) and Brian Dashew (Breaking Points), presented by Broadway Podcast Network. Listen to the podcast here.
The Podcast is also available on the BPN APP, Apple/iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart, TuneIn, Deezer, Player.FM, Pocket Cast, Podcast Addict and everywhere else you listen to podcasts.
Brad Forenza (Series Creator) is an award-winning actor/writer, whose artistic style blends observational humor and existential contemplation. His original films include: Awakening Arlene, Breaking Points, and The Lady Yang. His plays have been presented by Broadway Bound, Emerging Artists, Fresh Fruit, Gallery Players, The Hollywood Fringe, Primary Stages, and United Solo. He is the author of over 50 articles, a concept album (The Public Figure Songbook), and several books (including Vignettes, which provides the source material for Around the Sun).
Broadway Podcast Network is the premiere digital destination for everyone, anywhere, who loves theatre and the performing arts. Provocative stories of all kinds are the cornerstone of the network. Presenting original, engaging, and immersive programming of theatre and theatre-adjacent podcasts, audio dramas, serials, parodies, live video events and more. With tremendously talented hosts, who are performers, producers, writers, industry leaders, and storytellers representing a wide variety of voices and perspectives. Broadway Podcast Network offers entertaining, inspiring, easily accessible and shareable content for everyone, may they be interested in behind-the-curtain access to the creative process, advice on everything from how to break into the business to how to audition, theatre history, candid interviews with their favorite stars, or just enjoying theater from the best seats in the house.
Infusing a classical oratorio with blues, gospel, jazz and soul, this musical and visual journey investigates human experiences of time and memory alongside powerful physical forces that shape the universe. Our exploration emphasizes the significance of the ritual of gathering for live performance in an increasingly screen-focused world.
Featuring the students of the Lewis Center as the cast and crew, this production is the first non-professional performance of this important new work which premiered in 2022 in New York City to great critical acclaim.
Directed by visiting Iranian artist and director Nikoo Mamdoohi, with English to Latin translations by Greg Taubman, Princeton Class of 2006, the professional team includes music direction by Emma Sway, music supervision by Solon Snider Sway, set design by Afsoon Pajoufar, lighting design by Kelley Shih, sound design by Kay Richardson, costume design by Keating Debelak, choreography by Sariel Golomb, and stage management by Milan Eldridge, Princeton Class of 2020. Juniors Lota Alagbe and Peyton McLaughlin serves as dramaturgs.
This project is cosponsored by the Princeton Humanities Initiative. Princeton Humanities Initiative.
