EXCLUSIVE: Billy Porter, Leslie Jones and Phoebe Robinson are launching a comedy podcast exploring live performance.
The 48-part weekly comedy series, Places, Dahlingz!, will see theater icon Porter, theater critic Jones and theater convert and comedian Robinson sitting down with Broadway stars such as Shoshana Bean, Ariana DeBose and Renée Elise Goldsberry.
Billed as “part celebrity interview, part creative social experiment,” the interviews will end with guests contribute a prompt, line or musical seed that the hosts and writers then compile into an original one-act show, which culminates in a live finale performance and a recorded table read.
Acast Productions is producing, with the series being produced in audio and video formats. Acast’s global sales operation will be offering brands tailored marketing packages, including host-read ads, title sponsorships, bespoke video content and live-event activations.
“Theater should never be precious or exclusionary,” said Porter. “It should be a celebration. Joining Leslie and Phoebe to build a brand-new show from scratch alongside our guest stars is going to be pure electric chaos, and I can’t wait for audiences to join us every week.”
“I love a live audience as a performer and the electricity that comes from being in the moment,” added Jones. “So when Billy and Phoebe said we were going to make our own show from guest prompts, I knew I had to be there to have fun, create and manage some chaos, and give my honest opinions.”
Robinson said: “As someone who has always loved the theater, getting to kiki with Broadway icons is iconic,” said Robinson. “Sharing my many thoughts and rants – and getting to perform alongside the wildly talented Billy and Leslie – is messy fun, a dream come true, and a surefire way to earn some brownie points with my parents.
“Acast Productions has been an incredible partner in bringing this wild concept to life, blending interviews with live creative performance to create a multi-platform experience for audio and video audiences. Billy, Leslie and I are thrilled to shake up the podcast space and bring our own unique spin to the format.”
Evan Trevor Thompson, Rachel Borders and Jeff Kasanoff are the co-creators and serve as executive producers alongside Jenny Kaplan, Emily Rudder, Robinson, Porter, Jones and DJ Gugenheim. The show is an Acast Originals production made in collaboration with Tiny Reparations and Incognegro. An official trailer launches today, with the first episode launching on November 5.
Acast Productions is behind the likes of Washington Post podcasts Life Hax with Carolyn Hax and Shane O’Neill and Dollars & Sense with Michelle Singletary.