The Cast & Creatives of FISH Are at The Roundtable!

The Roundtable hosts Robert Bannon sits down with the creative team behind WP Theater's world premiere of FISH, a new play by Melis Aker. The episode features Lisa McNulty (WP Theater's Producing Artistic Director), director Tatiana Pandiani, and stars Alyssa May Gold and Yasmin Ranz-Lind. The play itself is a coming-of-age drama set in London in 2016, following 17-year-old Karya as she grapples with her brother's unresolved disappearance. When her mother develops a theory about what happened, Karya and her best friend Libby launch an online experiment to find answers, which spirals into darker and more dangerous territory. The show notes indicate the conversation covers several angles: McNulty discusses WP Theater's mission to develop and produce work by Women+ artists; Pandiani talks about directing this timely new work; and the two actors discuss inhabiting their characters and bringing the complicated friendship between Libby and Karya to life. The episode also touches on the cast's credentials—Alyssa May Gold has appeared in Broadway revivals of How I Learned to Drive and Arcadia, plus the acclaimed WP world premiere of Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, while Yasmin Ranz-Lind is making her WP and Signature Theatre debut following off-Broadway and regional theater work. The play is described as sharp, funny, and tender, exploring themes of grief, girlhood, family, friendship, and the consequences of games that escalate beyond their original intent. FISH runs through October 25 at WP Theater, with opening night on October 11, and is a co-production involving WP Theater, Signature Theatre, New Light Theater Project, and Noor Theatre as consulting producer. The episode is 21 minutes long, suggesting a brisk conversation focused on introducing the production and its creative team to listeners.

Verdict: A well-connected interview with genuine insider access to an intriguing new play, though the brief runtime limits depth of discussion.

Arts rubric

• Insight into the work 3/5 20%

  Show notes describe the play's plot, themes and tone but don't indicate whether the conversation reveals new interpretations or craft insights beyond the promotional summary.

• Expertise and access 4/5 20%

  Direct access to the playwright's director, producing artistic director, and two lead actors represents genuine insider perspective on a world premiere production.

• Sparks curiosity 4/5 15%

  The play's premise—grief, online experiments, and escalating danger—is intriguing, and hearing from the creative team should motivate interest in seeing the production.

• Substance 3/5 15%

  Show notes outline multiple conversation threads (theater mission, direction, character work, cast credentials) but 21 minutes limits depth; likely solid content with necessary brevity.

• Delivers on its title 5/5 15%

  Title promises cast and creatives at the roundtable; show notes confirm all four key creative voices are present and discussed.

• Value for time 3/5 15%

  21 minutes is tight for four guests plus host, likely requiring efficient pacing; reasonable length for an interview-format episode but may feel rushed.

How we score Arts

Worth it if you're interested in contemporary off-Broadway theater, new plays about grief and girlhood, or want to hear directly from the creative team behind FISH before its October opening.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.