Episode 6

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Published on:

1st Jun 2023

Episode 6: "In the end, everything is fake." | Awards Categories w/ Ezra Tozian

Gender is a social construct, and so are awards categories! We talked to non-binary actor Ezra Tozian about their advocacy work to make the Helen Hayes Awards gender-inclusive, why changing gender-segregated acting categories is important, and why we even care about awards in the first place. Ezra, Alex, and Danielle also talk about what else they'd like to see change in theatre awards.

Music by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au

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Ezra Tozian (they/them) is a non-binary actor who specializes in new works, absurdism, and classical adaptions. They are a vocal advocate for trans and non-binary community members, accountability in rehearsal and performance spaces, and Covid safety in an industry that continues to sacrifice disabled people for money and convenience. They have appeared with theatres such as The Kennedy Center, Long Wharf Theatre, and, most recently, Round House Theatre for their National Capital New Play Festival. In 2019, they were instrumental in the push to make the categories of the Helen Hayes Awards gender inclusive and succeeded in time to award two non-binary actors performance awards in 2020!

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Find us:
Danielle: Twitter, Instagram
Alex: Twitter, Instagram

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About the Podcast

Partial View Podcast
Conversations about the past, present, and future of The American Theatre
Deep dive discussions about the issues impacting the theatre industry in NYC and across the country. Be part of the conversation as we discuss our questions, frustrations, and ideas for how we can all leave The American Theatre better than we found it.

About your hosts

Danielle Feder

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Danielle Feder (she/her/hers) is a dramaturg, producer, writer, and arts administrator based in NYC. She is the co-founder of Hysteria Theatre, and has worked for organizations including Signature Theatre, Premiere Stages, The Interval, Theatre Communications Group, Noor Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, NYMF, 59E59 Theaters, and more. In addition to theatre, she has also worked in nonprofit and political communications. All of her work is driven by a passion for amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities across all forms of media and storytelling. Danielle has an MFA in Dramaturgy from Columbia University and a BA in Dramatic Literature from NYU.

Alexandra Ley

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Alexandra Ley (she/her/hers) is an arts administrator and dramaturg based in New York, NY. As a dramaturg and literary manager, she has worked for Solas Nua, Spooky Action Theater Company, the New York Musical Festival, and The Olney Theatre Center. She considers herself a veteran theatre patron services professional after seven years on the Front-of-House team at The Olney Theatre Center, a season and a half in the box office at Arena Stage, and volunteer usher shifts at multiple D.C. theaters. Alex is also an independent scholar on the intersection between fan/fandom studies and theatre/performance studies; she has been published in the British Fantasy Society Journal and presented research at the Northeast Popular Culture Association conference. M.A. Theatre History & Criticism, The Catholic University of America. B.A. American Studies and Theatre, Barnard College of Columbia University.