If you listened to Balls in The Game in episode 1, you’ll remember Dr. Fletcher. He knows his stuff and the reason he does is that I consulted with an actual ER physician to write the play. In this episode, we catch up with Dr. Brian Thomas Fletcher, after a busy shift at the hospital. We talk about testicular torsion, his experience in the front lines treating COVID, a father-son understanding of gay marriage that crosses political lines, and his Hippocratic Oath to treat all patients and uphold medical ethics. 

“I take the Hippocratic oath, but I consider the Hippocratic Oath an extension of just being human.”  

Follow Dr. Fletcher on Instagram: @erdocfletch. 

Are you ready for election night 2020? Want to peak behind the curtain at a fanciful scenario unfolding in a rural hospital emergency room as election results filter in?  Take a listen to this bold and humorous radio-play adaptation of Balls in The Game, my short play that was part of the Mid-Atlantic Theatre Conference fringe festival. (And be sure to catch episode 2, my chat with an actual Dr. Fletcher, an ER doc in California.)

Balls in the Game by Sarah M. Vander Schaaff, produced by Jeremy Ryan and Monika Ryan at Metamorphosis agency.

• Suzanne Houston as Cynthia Reynolds
• Brad Lofgren as T.R. Reynolds
• Kwaku Diskell as Dr. Fletcher
• Kathryn Hecht as Juanita

Election night 2020 will be here before you know it. Vote.

Kathryn is the founder and executive director of Alexander Valley Film Society where she is responsible for the overall strategic, financial, management, fundraising, and operational health of the organization. She is a seasoned entrepreneur, executive leader, and community builder. Prior to launching the Film Society, Kathryn worked as an actress in NYC for more than a decade and then blossomed into a communications director for nonprofit organizations in New York and San Francisco. Thus far during COVID-19, she has binged Ozark and The Crown, refinished her deck, and adopted a puppy. World domination is not far behind.

Brad has always loved to use language to entertain, instruct, and reflect. He started in the theatre and ended up using his passion for connecting with others in the classroom. He is a Nationally Board-Certified Teacher for Exceptional Learners. He has shared his love of a good story to elementary and middle school students of all ability levels for 20 years in a variety of settings from traditional classrooms to boarding schools. In these socially distanced times where we struggle to connect, it is more important than ever to use our shared experiences and stories to strengthen our communities and to remind each other that we are not alone. 

Kwaku Driskell was last seen as Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun at Gallery Players in Brooklyn. Other roles include Fielding in Jitney, Belize in Angels in America, and Orsino in Twelfth Night. He’s a proud graduate of Northwestern University’s Theater School; a proud father to three precocious little girls; and an eternal optimist. Love to Maggie, Nora, Camille, and Beatrice. Go Cats!

Suzanne is a teacher and actor, and her career has always straddled those two worlds. A graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a BFA in Acting, she has performed in New York City, New Jersey, and Illinois. After joining the acting company of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Suzanne spent ten years teaching in their education program. She also has performed at the Princeton Festival and with Prospect Theatre Company. Once upon a time, she recorded an audiobook, Sleeping Beauty by Philip Margolin, which is still available on some audiobook sites. Favorite roles include Shelby in The Spitfire Grill (NJACT Perry Award), Babe in Crimes of the Heart, and Portia in The Merchant of Venice.  Currently, Suzanne teaches theatre at The Pennington School, where she also lives with her husband and two cats, Ollie and Maisie. Suzanne's pandemic "coviving" method has included many long walks, a bit of baking, catching up on all of the TV, and learning the ins and outs of teaching theatre through a computer.  Although she will never be as tech-savvy as her students, she is grateful for the opportunity to keep theatre alive by performing and connecting creatively over the internet.

News, sound effects by https://www.fesliyanstudios.com.

Grab a cup of tea or a glass of wine and let us entertain you with stories, short plays, and conversation.  This podcast will surprise and engage you. It’s the stage, the lounge, the scene. And it’s as fun as being seated next to the most interesting person at a party. 

These days can feel long and rather lonely. But, together, we can find some light.  

I’m a writer and mother whose plays, articles in national publications, and blogs are a creative search for sense and poetry in all aspects of life. See more of my written work at www.writeonsarah.com  and at @writeonsarah.