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S2 Ep1351: Big Broadway Energy with Stephen Riordan & Guests Debbie Yones and Ami Sallee
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🎭This week on Big Broadway Energy, host Stephen Riordan welcomes two leading ladies of St. Petersburg’s vibrant theater scene — Debbie Yones and Ami Sallee — to talk about their upcoming production of Art by Yasmina Reza at Off Central Theater.
Set in an intimate five-row, 43-seat house in downtown St. Pete, Art explores the razor-thin line between humor and heartbreak as three lifelong friends unravel their relationships over one absurdly expensive white painting. Stephen dives deep with Debbie and Ami to discuss the play’s wit, humanity, and why this all-female reimagining brings something completely new to Reza’s classic.
The conversation moves seamlessly from the alchemy of friendship on stage to the importance of respect and professionalism in non-equity theater, as both guests reflect on the collaborative and nurturing environment that Off Central is cultivating. Debbie shares how her artistic leadership and recent directorial success (The Sound Inside) grew out of the theater’s ethos of freedom and trust, while Ami brings decades of professional experience and insight into how the Tampa Bay scene has evolved — with or without that elusive “Equity card.”
As always, Stephen’s signature question — “What does art mean to you?” — brings the episode to a powerful close. Ami and Debbie reflect on art as both the irrational spark that connects us and the antidote to a world fueled by fear and division.
Key Moments:
🎨 00:02 – Welcome to St. Pete’s theater season and the Off Central Theater
👭 07:20 – Redefining Art: Friendship, truth, and tension
🎭 16:00 – Inside Off Central’s immersive, intimate space
💬 27:30 – Equity, respect, and creating professional standards locally
🎬 38:45 – Debbie on directing The Sound Inside and finding creative trust
❤️ 51:00 – What art means: Letting go, looking inward, and healing together
About the Show:
Art by Yasmina Reza opens November 13 at Off Central Theater in downtown St. Petersburg, running two weekends through November 24, with a Pay-What-You-Can preview on November 19 at 7:30 PM.
Learn More & Tickets: theoffcentral.com
Follow: @offcentraltheater | @radiostpete | @bigbroadwayenergy
Sign-off:
“Be kind. Be curious. Keep creating.” 🌟
Set in an intimate five-row, 43-seat house in downtown St. Pete, Art explores the razor-thin line between humor and heartbreak as three lifelong friends unravel their relationships over one absurdly expensive white painting. Stephen dives deep with Debbie and Ami to discuss the play’s wit, humanity, and why this all-female reimagining brings something completely new to Reza’s classic.
The conversation moves seamlessly from the alchemy of friendship on stage to the importance of respect and professionalism in non-equity theater, as both guests reflect on the collaborative and nurturing environment that Off Central is cultivating. Debbie shares how her artistic leadership and recent directorial success (The Sound Inside) grew out of the theater’s ethos of freedom and trust, while Ami brings decades of professional experience and insight into how the Tampa Bay scene has evolved — with or without that elusive “Equity card.”
As always, Stephen’s signature question — “What does art mean to you?” — brings the episode to a powerful close. Ami and Debbie reflect on art as both the irrational spark that connects us and the antidote to a world fueled by fear and division.
Key Moments:
🎨 00:02 – Welcome to St. Pete’s theater season and the Off Central Theater
👭 07:20 – Redefining Art: Friendship, truth, and tension
🎭 16:00 – Inside Off Central’s immersive, intimate space
💬 27:30 – Equity, respect, and creating professional standards locally
🎬 38:45 – Debbie on directing The Sound Inside and finding creative trust
❤️ 51:00 – What art means: Letting go, looking inward, and healing together
About the Show:
Art by Yasmina Reza opens November 13 at Off Central Theater in downtown St. Petersburg, running two weekends through November 24, with a Pay-What-You-Can preview on November 19 at 7:30 PM.
Learn More & Tickets: theoffcentral.com
Follow: @offcentraltheater | @radiostpete | @bigbroadwayenergy
Sign-off:
“Be kind. Be curious. Keep creating.” 🌟
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