Twice a month on the Token Theatre Friends video series and podcast, theatre critics (and theatre besties) Jose Solís and Diep Tran bring a POC perspective to the performing arts.

This week, they sat down with Oklahoma! star Rebecca Naomi Jones, who plays Laurey in the Daniel Fish revival of the seminal Rodgers and Hammerstein musical (at St. Ann’s Warehouse through Nov. 11). Jones, who has appeared on Broadway in shows like American Idiot, Passing Strange, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, spoke about what it’s like to play one of the most iconic parts in musical history, and why she feels this is a revival with an edge.

The audio of the interview is also available on the podcast, where the Friends review three shows currently playing in New York City:

The Lifespan of a Fact by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell, and Gordon Farrell at Studio 54 through January 13, 2019 ($59-$119). Daniel Radcliffe plays the world’s most driven fact checker in a play that questions whether journalists should turn real life into an idealized story or just stick to the facts.

Good Grief by Ngozi Anyanwu at Vineyard Theater through November 18 ($45-$100). A young Nigerian American woman grieves the loss of her best friend/first love as she learns to become the narrator of her own life.

Fireflies by Donja R. Love at Atlantic Theater Company through November 11 ($25-$85). In the midst of the Civil Rights Movement in 1963, an African American housewife wonders whether this is the best time to bring a child into the world.

To close out the podcast, the Friends discuss solo shows and what makes a good one-hander (and what differentiates solo shows from comedy specials).

Download the episode here. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

Subscribe to Token Theatre Friends’ videos on YouTube to get notifications about new friendly videos.

Have comments, suggestions for segments, shows to plug, or thoughts on how the Friends can be even better? Contact the Token Theatre Friends via email or Twitter. Or leave a comment below.