S6 Ep 1: "It's Time to Talk About Money - part 1" / Amanda Green and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

S6 Ep 1: "It's Time to Talk About Money - part 1" / Amanda Green and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Author: Broadway Podcast Network October 20, 2025 Duration: 50:41
We're back! This season is all about "Reinvention". With so much change going on in our industry and our country, host Christine Toy Johnson wanted to sit down with some of her fellow writers who also serve on the Dramatists Guild Council, and ask them about the many ways they are thriving and writing in and about this moment we’re in. In this 2-part episode, Christine spends time with 2 of her fellow officers, Amanda Green and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, for some real talk about how writers get paid (or not), remembering what we offer to the field, advice about renewing our approach to marketing, and how we’re aiming to reawaken to the power of being together in community at the Guild. *Note: when Amanda and Branden refer to "minimums" being paid to writers on Broadway, they are referring to what's known as "minimum weekly guarantees"; a fee that's been stipulated in our Approved Production Contracts to be (guaranteed to be) earned once the show begins performances. Amanda Green is a 2-time Tony nominated, Grammy nominated, multiple-award winning lyricist, composer and the first female President of the Dramatists Guild. Her Broadway shows include “Mr. Saturday Night”, “Hands on a Hard Body”, “Bring it On”, and “High Fidelity”. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is a Pulitzer Prize and 2-time Tony award winning playwright and Vice President of the Dramatists Guild. He’s also the recipient of a MacArthur “genius” grant and too many other accolades to list in one episode! The Dramatists Guild of America is the national, professional membership trade association of theatre writers including playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists, whose mission is to protect the economic, legal, and creative interests of professional writers in the American Theater. Visit www.dramatistsguild.com to learn more. This podcast is supported by the Dramatists Guild Foundation (DGF), a national charity that fuels the future of American theater by supporting the writers who create it. DGF fosters playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists at all stages of their careers through educational programs; awards, grants, and stipends; free space to create new works; and emergency aid to writers in need of immediate support. DGF is a 2024 recipient of a Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre. By supporting and nurturing the creators of today, we protect the stories of tomorrow. Visit www.dgf.org or follow @DGFound to learn more about DGF's grants and programs or ways to donate. Talkback is executive produced by Christine Toy Johnson and edited and recorded by Bruce Johnson. Our theme music is by Andrea Daly. Distributed by the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Returning after a two-year break, The Dramatists Guild Presents: TALKBACK, sponsored by the Dramatists Guild Foundation offers a thoughtful space for conversation at the intersection of craft and career. Hosted by Christine Toy Johnson, this season’s seven episodes delve into the practical and creative realities of working in the theatre today. You’ll hear candid discussions with a range of industry guests as they share how they are adapting to the evolving landscape, tackling subjects like financial literacy for artists and the mechanisms of new play development. The podcast, produced by the Broadway Podcast Network, goes beyond simple interviews to explore what it means to build a sustainable life in the arts, emphasizing community and inclusion. These conversations are for anyone curious about the resilience and reinvention required behind the scenes, focusing on longevity and the personal journeys that fuel the performing arts. Each episode feels like a gathering of colleagues, unpacking the challenges and opportunities of the current moment with honesty and depth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 40

The Dramatists Guild Presents: TALKBACK, sponsored by the Dramatists Guild Foundation
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