EPISODE · Jul 9, 2026 · 1H 37M
The Architecture of Heart: Directing Something Rotten with Alan Muraoka
from APEX Hour at SUU · host Ryan Paul, Alan Muraoka
A Journey Built on Shared Discovery: Guest Alan Muraoka traces his roots from a Southern California latchkey kid seeking structural camaraderie to winning the historic UCLA Carol Burnett musical theater scholarship. The Invisible Engine of Musical Comedy: An inside look at balancing complex choreography and rapid character pacing under the tight engineering constraints of repertory festival tracking. Balancing Slapstick with Sincerity: How refining performance notes to track the vulnerability and heartache of historical characters like Nigel Bottom creates a deeper, more impactful audience experience. The Modern Mandate for Authentic Representation: Reflections on building spaces of profound emotional safety and introducing generation-defining milestones of intersectional visibility. Connect with SUU APEX & the Uta Shakespeare Festival: Discover upcoming speaker events at suu.edu/apex Book your tickets to the USF 65th anniversary season at bard.org ***Eccles APEX Website: https://www.suu.edu/apex
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What this episode covers
Join host Ryan Paul on a deeply moving edition of the APEX Radio Hour featuring multi-Emmy award-winning actor, director, and beloved Sesame Street icon Alan Muraoka. Currently directing the festival’s massive musical production of Something Rotten, Muraoka shares how a 28-year legacy of childhood storytelling guides his creative vision to infuse slapstick physical theater with genuine internal heart. From personal historical reflections on familial triumph over wartime internment to comedic tap-dance battles, this conversation illuminates the transformative, universal necessity of kindness and inclusivity on modern stages.
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The Architecture of Heart: Directing Something Rotten with Alan Muraoka
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