Pang! (podcast)

For other uses of the word, see Pang.

Pang! is an audio drama podcast about food insecurity that was written and directed by Dan Froot and commissioned by the CSPS Legion Arts.

Background

The show was commissioned by the CSPS Legion Arts and premiered on October 20, 2017 at the C.S.P.S. Hall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[1][2] The show was performed live as a theater play and is also a podcast.[3] The podcast includes episodes containing interviews with the families that the stories were based on.[4] From April 20–22, 2023, the show was performed live at the University at Albany.[5]

One of the stories follows a family living in Los Angeles who were forced to move out after their uncle was scammed out of a large amount of money.[6] Another story is about a family of immigrants from Burundi who live in Iowa.[7] A third story follows a 7-year-old living in Overtown whose friend was killed in a shooting.[8] The script about the immigrant family was based on 12 hours of interviews and over 200 pages of transcriptions, which was trimmed down to three 30 minute segments.[9]

The show was primarily voiced by three actors and contains foley.[10] Dan Froot was the lead writer and director of the play and Bobby Gordon was the dramaturge.[11] The show was performed by Natalie Camunas, Donna Simone Johnson, Christopher Rivas, as well as Dan Froot and Robert Een. The show's lighting director was Katelan Braymer and lighting design was by Christopher Kuhl. The sound engineer was Gary Markowitz and the sound design was by Cricket Myers with music by Robert Een.[12]

References

  1. ^ Cline, Rob (October 18, 2017). "CSPS Legion Arts-commissioned 'Pang!' premieres in Cedar Rapids, exploring poverty on stage". Little Village. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Johnson, Laura (October 21, 2017). "'Pang!' premiere underscores the connectedness of all of us". Little Village. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  3. ^ "Hard Truths and Creative Vision Add Up to Stunning Theatre". The Vineyard Gazette – Martha's Vineyard News. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Lett, Phoebe (August 9, 2019). "A Podcast Playlist That Digs Deeper". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  5. ^ Kiessling, Katherine (April 19, 2023). "'Pang!' explores the sound of hunger at UAlbany". Times Union. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  6. ^ Henerson, Evan (November 29, 2017). "'Pang!' Offers Food for Thought on Social Ills". Jewish Journal. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  7. ^ "Refugee Stories Set in Iowa Inspire Food Insecurity Play". Iowa Public Radio. October 20, 2017. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  8. ^ Roth, Minhae Shim. "Dan Froot's Live Radio Play Pang! Tells Stories of Overtown Families". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  9. ^ "Play debuting at CSPS focuses on food insecurity". thegazette.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  10. ^ Uszerowicz, Monica (January 31, 2018). "Oral Histories of Three US Families Facing Poverty and Hunger". Hyperallergic. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  11. ^ "Professor directs radio plays about problems low-income families face". Daily Bruin. Archived from the original on May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  12. ^ Cristi, A. A. "501 (see three) ARTS and 24th STreet Theatre present Dan Froot and Company's PANG!". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.