The Theatre Podcast With Alan Seales

Bess Wohl joins the podcast to discuss the journey of bringing her latest play, Liberation, to Broadway after a decade of development. She shares the "woo woo" details of her creative process, describing a vision of her characters waiting in a metaphorical doctor's office for her to finally tell their stories. Bess reflects on how the play, which travels between the 1970s Women’s Liberation Movement and the present day, became unexpectedly urgent in the current political climate. The conversation dives into Bess's transition from an acting student at Yale Drama to an acclaimed playwright, a shift she describes as almost destined. She explains her rebellious approach to writing, from the "masterclass in silence" found in Small Mouth Sounds to the vulnerable, full-ensemble nudity in Liberation. Through stories of her mother’s time at Ms. Magazine and her own experiences in the rehearsal room, Bess highlights how storytelling serves as a visceral exercise in empathy for audiences and actors alike. Bess Wohl is