Most months on The Subtext, Brian speaks with a fellow playwright about life, writing, and whatever itches we are scratching. But on this special episode celebrating the podcast’s 10-year anniversary, the tables have been turned, and playwright/former guest Crystal Skillman puts the show’s host in the hot seat.
Polak discusses the origin story and highlights of his podcast, his upbringing in New Hampshire, and the journey he made to embrace playwriting in his 30s. The playwright’s first foray into theatre involved a high school production of Little Shop of Horrors, where he says he “should have known I had no business onstage.” He shares insights about his play The Meeting, which tackles fascism, censorship, and resilience, as well as his memoir play This Is the Subtext, inspired by his time making this very podcast. Of the latter, he says, “The reason why I’m able to write this play about the podcast is really because of my evolution around what it means to be successful…I really see myself in a place where I’m here as a conduit for as many people as possible, as many playwrights as possible, and that’s where I found the love of doing it, and settled into it.”
Polak was born and raised in New Hampshire. His plays include Here Rests the Heart (Alcove commission from Lucille Lortel Theatre), This is the Subtext (commission from Son of Semele Ensemble), The Patient (the Kennedy Center’s Jean Kennedy Smith Award), Last to Die for a Lost Cause (the Kennedy Center’s John Cauble Award; published by Next Stage Press), and The Call List (world premiere September 2026 with Third Avenue Playworks). His play The Meeting was presented this year at the Hollywood Fringe and will return next year in the New York City FRIGID Fringe Festival in April, as well as in August and September with Space Pirates Theatre Collective in Los Angeles. He received his MFA in Dramatic Writing from the University of Southern California, School of Dramatic Arts. He currently resides in Minneapolis with his wife, Heather, and their dog Hercules Mulligan.
This episode can also be found here, and on iTunes and Spotify.
