Curtains up! A Historical Perspective on Drama.

About Curtains up! A Historical Perspective on Drama.

Step backstage with me on Curtains Up! the podcast that uncovers the rich, dramatic stories behind the evolution of theater. From the divine rituals of ancient Greece to Shakespearean intrigue, and from the glitz of Broadway to the rise of modern experimental theater, Curtains Up! explores how drama has shaped culture and society across centuries. Perfect for theater lovers, history buffs, and anyone curious about the art that mirrors our humanity. Join me for captivating episodes, exclusive interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights into the world’s greatest stories ever performed.

Publisher

Rohan

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Jan 2025

Latest episode

28 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

42 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Oct 2026

   E42:Beyond the Stage: Arts Advocacy, Leadership, and Sustainability with Dr. Ursula Kuhar

   Summary Curtains Up host Rohan speaks with Dr. Ursula Kuhar, Senior Lecturer in Arts Administration at Indiana University's Bloomington Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, about community engagement, arts advocacy, and careers in arts administration. Dr. Kuhar explains why engagement must be built on reciprocal community partnerships and how arts organizations can listen, demonstrate their value, and communicate it to different audiences. Keywords arts administration, community engagement, arts advocacy, arts education, nonprofit arts, audience development, creative placemaking Topics Dr. Kuhar distinguishes audience development and marketing from community engagement, which she describes as mission-based programming built on reciprocal partnerships. Effective engagement means listening to community needs, working beyond an organization’s walls, and acting on what people share. Her students use community mapping, environmental scans, and logic models to design collaborative programs with arts organizations. Dr. Kuhar notes that roughly 93% of U.S. arts organizations are nonprofits, and most have operating budgets of $5 million or less. She challenges the “starving artist” stereotype and describes arts administration paths in fundraising, artistic planning, curation, digital marketing, and research. Arts advocacy can combine a moral case for well-being and access with evidence about jobs, education, local economies, and creative placemaking. Arts professionals need to be master storytellers and adapt their message to parents, policymakers, funders, and donors. Dr. Kuhar defines arts administration as “being the bridge between art and audiences” and encourages people with varied skills to enter the field. Chapters 00:00 Why the work beyond the stage matters 01:02 Community engagement is mission-based, not just marketing 04:33 Connecting partnerships back to an organization’s mission 06:14 Moving from “we tell” to “we listen” 11:11 Nonprofit arts organizations and their purpose 15:17 Arts careers, economic impact, and the starving-artist myth 18:11 Why everyone in the arts has a role in advocacy 21:48 Combining moral arguments with data 24:09 Storytelling and speaking to different audiences 26:26 Listening to difficult feedback and adapting 28:10 Arts administration as a bridge between art and audiences 31:52 Staying creative amid uncertainty in the arts

2. 

   14 Oct 2026

   E41: The Future of Arts Education in Washington with Miranda Leigh Hein

   "Arts are for every kid, not just some" Summary In this episode, Rohan speaks with Miranda Leigh Hein about the importance of arts education, the impact of the Future Ready Initiative, and how students can advocate for arts programs in their schools. They explore the current challenges and opportunities for arts access across Washington State. Keywords arts education, advocacy, Future Ready Initiative, high school graduation requirements, equity in arts, student voice, arts funding, Washington State Key topics The role of arts education in student development The Future Ready Initiative and its effects on graduation requirements The importance of arts as a core subject for all students The disparities in arts access across different regions and school sizes How students can advocate for arts programs and influence policy The economic impact of the creative economy in Washington State Data collection and the need for arts access metrics Strategies to increase arts participation and reduce equity gaps Arts education is vital for fostering creativity, empathy, and connections among students. The Future Ready Initiative proposes to make arts a core part of high school graduation requirements, but faces challenges in implementation. Removing arts requirements risks increasing equity gaps, especially in rural and underserved communities. Student voices are powerful; encouraging participation and advocacy can influence school policies. Data on arts access is outdated; regular collection is essential for informed decision-making. Arts contribute significantly to Washington's economy, representing nearly 10% of the creative economy. Advocacy can be as simple as showing interest, inviting others, and sharing positive experiences. Sound Bites "Arts remains a core part of graduation requirements" "Arts are for every kid, not just some" "Your voice matters in arts advocacy" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to arts education and advocacy in Washington 00:29 The impact of the Future Ready Initiative on high school graduation requirements 01:20 Miranda Hein's journey from educator to arts advocate 02:17 Challenges faced by teachers and students in arts advocacy 04:32 Overview of the Future Ready Initiative and its goals 06:22Debate over removing arts credits as a graduation requirement 07:27Significance of keeping arts as a core requirement 09:30Data on arts access and disparities across regions 12:11The importance of arts for equity and student engagement 13:36Rural and small schools' challenges in offering arts programs 17:16How students can advocate for arts programs20:50The power of student voice in arts advocacy 21:08One thing to change in arts education in five years 22:32The need for regular arts data collection in Washington 23:54The arts as a vital part of the economy and community 25:59Opportunities for students to explore careers in the arts

3. 

   7 Sept 2026

   E40: Arts, Advocacy, and Public Policy: A Conversation with Manny Cawaling, Executive Director, Inspire Washington

   "Advocacy is really about telling a story." - Manny CawalingSummary In this episode, Manny Cawaling shares his journey from artist to arts advocate, highlighting the importance of arts in community development, education, and policy. We explore the challenges faced by arts organizations and the critical need for public support and funding. keywords arts advocacy, community development, arts education, policy, funding, Washington state, arts organizations, cultural programs key topics Manny Cawaling's journey from artist to arts advocate The role of arts in community development and education Challenges faced by arts organizations in Washington The impact of public support and funding on arts programs The significance of arts in fostering empathy and social cohesion The threat of policy changes like the Future Ready program Advocacy strategies for arts supporters The economic and social benefits of cultural programs Sound bites "Arts enrich education and bring communities together." "Funding cuts and policy changes threaten arts access." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Manny Kawaling and his background 00:29 Manny's transition from artist to advocate 01:15 Challenges in running arts organizations and policy advocacy 03:18 The 2016 cultural tax campaign and advocacy efforts 05:14 The importance of storytelling in advocacy work 07:14 The impact of arts and cultural programs across Washington 12:06 Major challenges facing arts organizations today 15:16 The threat of the Future Ready program and arts credits in schools 19:01 Advocacy efforts and public support for arts funding 21:10 Closing remarks and call to action for arts supporters

Who has been a guest on Curtains up! A Historical Perspective on Drama.

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Devi Anand
• Milo Stuart
• Professor Erith Jaffe-Berg
• David Alan Roby
• Constantine Paras

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

59

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32