Holy Matrimony! Part IV

This is our fourth and final episode of “Let Me Ascertain You: Holy Matrimony” from our investigations into American Weddings. In celebration of the defeat of DOMA in the Supreme Court this past summer we decided to poke around in the grand old institution of marriage and then as we do with each of our Let Me Ascertain You shows, we have actors perform these verbatim interviews in front of a live audience. This show took place in our home away from home, Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater.

We’ll start things off with a couple here in NYC who celebrated their 25th anniversary by traveling across the country to get married in every state that currently recognizes legal gay marriage. Here are actors Greg McFadden and Brad Heberlee playing Stephen and Pat. Then, Susannah Flood plays Caragh, a designer from Australia and Daoud Heidami plays Paul, from the town Normal, Illinois. We did these interviews separately and then edited them together, so Paul and Caragh can tell you their story together. Our final song of the series is based off of an interview with Brian, manager of the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel who stars in all of their themed weddings from Elvis to Darth Vader to Fat Bastard. “In Vegas” was written by Erato A. Kremmyda, with lyrics by Maggie-Kate Coleman. Erato and Maggie-Kate are both currently members in our R & D Group this year working on a new show of theirs and we’re glad they lent us their talents for this Vegas extravaganza. “In Vegas” is performed here by Brian Charles Rooney, Annalisa Ledson and Christine Perotta, accompanied by Erato Kremmyda.

Interviews for this podcast were conducted by Joel Glassman and Talya Klein and many thanks to everyone involved in this project and our project contributors Darien Battle, Nora Sørena Casey, Molly Coogan, Ian Daniel, Meredith Domalakes, Gibson Frazier, Joel Glassman, Donnetta Grays, Laura Hedli, Amina Henry, Michelle Jalowski, Alexandra Keegan, Talya Klein, Leicester Landon, Calane Schafer, Jessica Watkins and Colleen Werthmann. If you haven’t subscribed yet there’s no time like right now!

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Holy Matrimony! Part III

We’re here with episode three of four podcasts of our Let Me Ascertain You: Holy Matrimony! series looking at all things about weddings. Our crew of artists talked to real-life couples as well as the people in the amazing and strange world of the wedding industry. And all these interviews were performed live by actors at Joe’s Pub in our hometown of New York City. Our first piece is a little bit of a twist: one of our Associate Artists Donnetta Lavinia Grays interviewed and will play here, her very own wife, Shalema. Then, we’re off to New Jersey as Brian Sgambati and Emily Rossell portray the couple Dominick and Rachel. And for this episode’s song, we have something written by composer Andrea Grody inspired by an interview we did with a high-end wedding dress saleswoman in Chicago. "Best Dressed" is performed live by the vivacious and talented Miss Emily Rossell, with Michael Friedman on piano.

The interviews for this podcast were conducted by Nora Sørena Casey, Donnetta Grays and Leicester Landon. If you like what you hear or if you have an opinion, please write us or tweet us or facebook us, we love to hear from you.

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Holy Matrimony! Part II

We’re back with the second episode of Let Me Ascertain You: Holy Matrimony! For this series we did a deep dive into the wonderful world of weddings in America. Or maybe more like a face plant into a three tiered wedding cake. So with icing on our faces and hangover from too much cheap wine… here are a few more interviews performed by actors live at Joe’s Pub in New York City. In this episode, we’re going from Minnesota to the Mississippi Delta and then we’re going off the grid to a Hippy wedding on the land. Greg McFadden and Colleen Werthmann perform Minnesota high school sweethearts Randy & Diane. Emily Ackerman plays Amy, from the Mississippi Delta who is something of an expert on marriage, though as you’ll hear largely through trial and error. And to wrap things up the very talented actor singer and songwriter Rebecca Hart wrote a song “Bad Hippy Wedding” based on an interview we did. Thanks for listening.

Interviews for this podcast were conducted by Talya Klein and Leicester Landon. Please subscribe if you haven’t already, and if you’re feeling extra generous write us a review. It makes a big difference! Until next time.

TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE LET ME ASCERTAIN YOU PODCAST SERIES ON ITUNES, PLEASE CLICK HERE!

Holy Matrimony! Part I

We’re starting up a new series here at Let Me Ascertain You called “Holy Matrimony!" With DOMA getting taken down by the Supreme Court this past summer and with marriage equality spreading state by state, we thought it was a good time to look in our own Civiliansy way at that very special occasion – the wedding. For the past few months, our intrepid team of interviewers gathered stories from all over America for glimpses into weddings in a Vegas Wedding Chapel, a Courthouse in Louisiana, and even a Taco Bell in Normal, Illinois. Everything was recorded live at Joe’s Pub here in New York City.

We start this first podcast episode with a couple from own home turf, Brooklyn: Becca and Jon, portrayed by Jess Watkins and Trey Lyford. Then, Nedra McClyde plays Ashley, a bride in Michigan who gets into all the details about her wedding night (you might want to send the kids outside to play during that one). To close things out, we’ve got a song by Michael Friedman. This is “Little Match Girl,” a song that has nothing to do with Hans Christian Andersen. This one’s taken from an interview we did with supposedly the number one matchmaker to the rich and powerful here in New York.

Interviews for this podcast were conducted by Amina Henry, Talya Klein, and Jess Watkins. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe on iTunes to hear upcoming episodes in this “Holy Matrimony!” series.

TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE LET ME ASCERTAIN YOU PODCAST SERIES ON ITUNES, PLEASE CLICK HERE!