Podcast Episode Summary

All Of It – “The Theater Community's Call to Action”

Host: Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Date: January 30, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of "All Of It" centers on the vibrant response of New York's theater community to recent events in Minnesota, specifically through a unique performance protest: the "People's Filibuster" at the Public Theater. Host Alison Stewart interviews co-producers Sahim Lee and Alexa Smith, Associate Artistic Directors at the Public, about the goal, structure, and participants of the event. The episode also features New Yorkers sharing their weekend plans, highlighting the intersection of civic action, community, and the arts.

Main Theme

Civic Action Through Art:
The episode explores how artists and the theater community mobilize in response to social and political crises, using their craft to foster solidarity and public engagement. The central focus is the "People's Filibuster"—an all-day, open-to-the-public artistic demonstration celebrating democracy and protesting injustices, particularly those affecting Minnesota.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The People’s Filibuster: Purpose and Organization

• Event Details:

  • The People's Filibuster is a free, open-air public demonstration at the Public Theater, scheduled from 11am to 7pm.
  • Artists—including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Christine Baranski, Annaleigh Ashford, and others—will read from classic and contemporary texts supporting democracy.
  • The event responds directly to “the atrocities happening in Minnesota right now” (Sahim Lee, [02:18]), intending to show solidarity with impacted communities.

• Filibuster as Artistic Statement:

  • Alexa Smith explains, “Artists don’t just make statements, we also sustain them. … What a filibuster does well is sort of interrupt business as usual and we give space to artists to use that in solidarity.” ([02:55])
  • The sense of urgency and continuity: “It’s sort of storytelling that refuses to stop. And I feel like that’s what we need and that’s what we can contribute…” (Alexa Smith, [06:16])

2. Open Participation and Inclusivity

• Who Can Join?
  • “You can show up at the Public Theater. It’s going to be open all day. … Anyone who wants to show up can show up. We’ll have cocoa inside the theater and just solidarity on the steps together.” (Sahim Lee, [03:31])
  • The event is intentionally public-facing: “We felt like doing it outside of our theater was really, really important to be out in the city where people can just walk by and see what's going on and raise their voice with us.” (Alexa Smith, [03:52])
  • For those unable to attend in-person, there’s a live stream accessible through the Public Theater website: “There will be a link live streaming so anyone ... truly will have a link on our website and you can log in and see and hear the incredible speeches.” (Sahim Lee, [05:58])

3. Notable Participants and Material

• Who’s Participating?
  • “Lin-Manuel Miranda, Christine Baranski, Annaleigh Ashford, Laura Benanti, John Leguizamo, and so many more... Artists who have been part of the Public Theater community have just jumped forward and said, absolutely, tell me when I'll be there.” (Sahim Lee, [04:22])
• Texts & Songs:
  • “We pulled things like the First Amendment, the 14th and 15th Amendments, speeches, dissents from the Supreme Court.” (Alexa Smith, [05:13])
  • “It'll be eight hours nonstop of words and songs from these incredible artists.” (Sahim Lee, [04:22])

4. Wider Community Engagement: Listeners’ Plans

• Solidarity Actions:
  • Multiple listeners call in to share their plans—some attending the filibuster, others participating in boycotts or preparing protest materials in support of Minnesota ([11:09], Andrea).
• Cultural Events & Personal Stories:
  • Listeners promote local exhibitions (such as “Everyday Legends, Photographs by Nathan Benn” [08:03]) and spontaneous cultural plans, reflecting New York’s diversity and dynamism.

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:09 | Introduction of Sahim Lee and Alexa Smith | | 02:18 | Sahim Lee describes the purpose & logistics of the Filibuster | | 02:55 | Alexa Smith discusses artistic action & the filibuster’s mission| | 03:31 | Who can participate / Open invitation | | 03:49-04:22 | Structure & duration of the event; participant list | | 05:13 | Alexa Smith describes chosen readings & artistic response | | 05:58 | How to attend or livestream the event | | 06:16 | Alexa Smith’s insight on the importance of continuous storytelling| | 06:55 | Listener Jessica calls in, plans to attend the event | | 11:09 | Listener Andrea describes participating in a boycott |

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sustained Artistic Protest:

  “Artists don’t just make statements, we also sustain them. … What a filibuster does well is sort of interrupt business as usual and we give space to artists to use that in solidarity.”
  – Alexa Smith ([02:55])

• On the Role of Art as Community Unifier:

  “Everyone. We want to be together. We want to be in community, we want to come together. And art is a unifier.”
  – Sahim Lee ([04:22])

• On Storytelling as Resistance:

  “The idea of doing something longform in this way, it’s sort of storytelling that refuses to stop. And I feel like that’s what we need and that’s what we can contribute in this moment of really, really horrible events that are unfolding in front of us and reminding us of our humanity.”
  – Alexa Smith ([06:16])

Listener Contributions & Community Vibes

• Jessica from Queens plans to check out the Filibuster before a show at Joe’s Pub and mentions visiting Morgan Library’s Ren Moore exhibit ([06:55]).
• Rebecca in Brooklyn Heights spotlights a photo exhibition by her husband, a National Geographic photographer ([08:03]).
• Andrea from Brooklyn shares her participation in a boycott in support of Minnesota and anti-ICE demonstrations, and plans to attend the Westminster Dog Show wearing protest T-shirts ([11:09]).
• Kay, Madeline, Michelle, and others showcase further diversity of activities, from attending shows and gallery events to highlighting important theater performances like “Liberation” on Broadway.

Conclusion

This episode highlights the NYC theater community's urgent, creative response to social injustice, embodying the ethos that art is not only a reflection of society but also an engine for action and solidarity. Listeners are invited to participate—whether by attending, watching online, or simply standing in solidarity—reinforcing the idea that culture, activism, and community thrive through active engagement.