WPPM Q&A with A.D. Amorosi

 Get to know the producers and hosts of your favorite WPPM shows with our new feature "WPPM Q&A".

Meet A.D. Amorosi of "A.D. Amorosi's Theater in the Round", airing Mondays 4-5pm

1. Can you describe your show in 1 to 2 sentences?

Theater in the Round is an educational, entertaining look into the 360 degrees of theater, the art and socio-cultural aspects of theater and the theatrical mindset - this includes cabaret, performance art, opera, burlesque, comedy, books/authors and other musical and staged formats - from both a Philadelphia perspective as well as that of other theater scenes such as NYC's Broadway and Off Broadway, London's theater strip, and that of Chicago, Los Angeles, and now, the virtual realm.

2. What inspired you to start your show?

Along with wanting to present theater (all the above) in a fast-paced, chatty, educational and entertaining talk show fashion, quite frankly, I was dismayed by watching major dailies such as the Inquirer fall far behind on a topic that was/is one of this city's highest regarded and most money making art forms. So I did, with help from WPPM.

3. What was one especially memorable episode?

Along with recent shows discussing the politics of white privilege and issues of sexual harassment at one of Philadelphia's oldest established theaters, and those discussing the upswing in LatinX and Black theater productions, I would have to say speaking with playwright, director and actor Harvey Fierstein as his work, from Torch Song Trilogy forward, has always been about liberation, the freedom to be exactly who you want to be.

4. Can you tell us about a favorite guest/interview?

Composer/playwright Joe Iconis is not a household name, yet, but we spoke on air several times; once during the transition from having his little seen independent musical, Be More Chill, become a viral sensational; then again when it became the toast of Off Broadway; then again when the show was foisted on the Broadway stage; THEN AGAIN, as he was readying to premiere another even newer work Off Broadway. Not only was/is Iconis great, informative and funny to talk to always. He is always quick to say how my support and that of Theater in the Round was a crucial part of Be More's Chill's word of mouth success. That was/is a great feeling to have one of your contemporaries shout you (me) out. That made me delve further, forever, into NYC theater.

5. Shoutout another WPPM program you enjoy hearing!

Sorry, but, I have to make this a three-way tie between Sean Timmons and Fergus Carey's co-hosting the CRAIC Radio show, Len Webb aka BatTribble & Co.'s Black Tribbles, and anything and everything that the magical Ricky Paul chooses to broadcast.