Episode 363: Tara Blau Smollen

Tara Blau Smollen is our next guest on this special Wednesday Yay. Ms. Smollen is an actress, director and playwright - her new play The Gull will be featured by Shotgun Players on June 22, 23 and 24 – this is a special, modernized retelling of Anton Chekov’s classic play. We talk about Tara’s upbringing, her playwrighting career and where she sees herself in the future. You can learn more about Tara via her website: http://tarablausmollen.com On the Yay, we often talk about mental and spiritual health, especially for us actors, because our emotions are our currency. My good friend Cary Ann Rosko (Episodes 77 and 296) is not only a great actress, but is a psychotherapist and she’s opening up her business to the online community. She’s offering virtual psychotherapy services to individual adults in California. Check out her website, https://www.caryannroskomft.com/what-i-offer, and take the first step in taking care of your personal health. Sometimes we need a hand to hold in healing, and Cary has her hand out, waiting to help you. We also want to thank Charles Blades Barbershop for sponsoring The Yay! Charles Blades Barbershop is located at 180 Second Street in downtown Oakland. It’s a very cool, relaxing place where you can get your cuts and they’ll even serve you a complimentary drink. Book an appointment online here: https://www.charlesblades.com Kehinde Koyejo (Episodes 214 and 262) has been a friend of mine since 2005, when I stage managed her for the Ray of Light musical, Bat Boy. She’s an amazing actress, model and creative artist. She’s also an incredible entrepreneur – and I want to introduce you to her business, Kalm Korner. Kalm Korner is an online boutique that specializes in aromatherapy gifts – love rubs, moisturizers, sprays, tea blends and candles. Kalm Korner also sells Choc’late Mama cookies – she brought some over the last time we interviewed her and it was fantastic. Let’s support a black female-owned business, a local business and make your first order by going to this website: https://kalmkorner.com/ SHOWS: The Gull (Shotgun Players) Staged Reading: June 22, 23 & 24 Fred Pitts (Episode 256) is in the show https://shotgunplayers.org/show/gull/ Staged Reading: Sisters Matsumoto, by Phillip Kan Gotanda Contemporary Asian Theatre Scene June 19 & 20 https://www.catsasiantheaterscene.org As You Like It (Marin Shakespeare Company) June 19 – July 19 David Maier (Episode 301) is in the show Jeunee Simon (Episode 297) is in the show https://www.marinshakespeare.org/ Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill: The Musical (Center Rep) May 31 – June 28 Keith Pinto (Episode 362) is in the show Tanika Baptiste (Episode 253) is the associate director https://www.centerrep.org/what-s-on/25-26-season/alanis-morissette-s-jagged-little-pill-the-musical The Laramie Project (Coastal Rep) June 5 – 21 Danny Martin (Episode 71) is in the show https://www.coastalrep.com/upcoming Arab Spring (Golden Thread Productions) June 19 – July 12 Denmo Ibrahim (Episode 199) wrote the play https://goldenthread.org Scabmuggers (The Freight Theatre) July 7, 14 & 21 Adam Kuveniemann (Episode 274) is in the show Tanika Baptiste (Episode 253) is directing the show https://secure.thefreight.org/15960/15961-scabmuggers-260707 Hairspray (SF Playhouse) July 10 – Sept 12 Adam Kuveniemann is in the show A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Actor’s Ensemble) Aug 22 – Sept 7 Cynthia Lagodzinski (Episodes 96 & 266) is in the show Bruce Kaplan (Episode 294) is in the show https://www.aeofberkeley.org/94-news/latest-news/430-a-midsummer-night-s-dream-opens-august-22nd-2026 Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky (TheYayPodcast)