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Around the Sun

An Episodic Audio Drama with Heart, and an All-Star Cast!!.. Read More

1 min

About

A scripted, episodic audio drama that explores human connections, made and missed, with an existential flare (and an all-star cast!). Whether consumed together or independently, the comedy, tragedy, and soul of Around the Sun embraces one character’s assertion that, “We’re never alone… even if it feels like the opposite is often true.” The anthology series is created by Brad Forenza, and produced via remote technology throughout the pandemic, and onward.

Across seasons, Around the Sun features the voice acting talents of: Adassa (Encanto), Caroline Aaron (Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), David Alan Basche (The Exes), Joanna Bonaro (Good 'n Screwed), Dolores Catania (RHONJ), Mindy Cohn (Facts of Life), François Clemmons (Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood), Lilli Cooper (Spring Awakening), Veanne Cox (Cinderella), Gretchen Cryer (Getting My Act Together and Taking it on the Road), Robert Funaro (The Irishman), Joe Gilford (Finks), Judy Gold (Kill Me Now), Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Rent), Terry Hu (Zombies 3) Richard Kind (Mad About You), Richard Kline (Three's Company), Jennie Kwan (California Dreams), David LaRosa (Tale of Nicky Newark), Piper Laurie (Carrie), Marsha Mason (The Goodbye Girl), Cady McClain (All My Children), Christine Nagy (106.7 Lite FM), Estelle Parsons (Bonnie and Clyde), Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos), Austin Pendleton (My Cousin Vinny), Taylor Purdee (Killian and the Comeback Kids), Alysia Reiner (Orange is the New Black), Jai Rodriguez (Queer Eye), Sarah Saltzberg (Putnam County Spelling Bee), Sally Struthers (All in the Family), Maureen Van Zandt (The Sopranos​), Bruce Vilanch (Hollywood Squares), BD Wong (Jurassic Park), Ryan Wotherspoon (Fogg), and Brad Forenza (series creator: Around the Sun)… all playing humans (and a few aliens, constellations, etc.), yearning to connect.

Around the Sun is a Best Version of Yourself production, as presented by the Broadway Podcast Network. Continue the conversation online (#AroundTheSunPodcast; www.AroundTheSunPodcast.com) and via series creator Brad Forenza (fb: @BVOYLLC; insta @BradForenza; tw: @BradForenza).

ABOUT SEASON 1

Season 1 of Around the Sun (Urban Dwellers, 2021-2022) features an “existential New York flare” and an all-star ensemble from stage and screen. This includes the voice acting talents of: David Alan Basche (The Exes), Joanna Bonaro (Good ‘n Screwed), Dolores Catania (Real Housewives of New Jersey), François Clemmons (Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood), Lilli Cooper (Spring Awakening), Veanne Cox (Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella), David LaRosa (Clandestine), Marsha Mason (The Goodbye Girl), Christine Nagy (106.7 Lite FM), Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos), Austin Pendleton (My Cousin Vinny), Alysia Reiner (Orange is the New Black), Sally Struthers (All in the Family), Maureen Van Zandt (The Sopranos​), BD Wong (Jurassic Park), Ryan Wotherspoon (Fogg), and Brad Forenza (A Case of Blue)… all playing New Yorkers, yearning to connect.

ABOUT SEASON 2

Season 2 of Around the Sun (Desert People, 2022-2023) features nuclear meltdowns, alien invasions, and even an apocalypse or two. It adds Caroline Aaron (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; Edward Scissorhands), Adassa (Encanto; reggaeton artist), Mindy Cohn (The Facts of Life; Scooby Doo), Richard Kind (Curb Your Enthusiasm; Mad About You), Richard Kline (Three’s Company; Wicked), Jennie Kwan (California Dreams; Avatar: The Last Airbender), Piper Laurie (The Hustler; Carrie), Taylor Purdee (Killian and the Comeback Kids), and Bruce Vilanch (Hollywood Squares; Get Bruce), to the celebrated ensemble, with Brad Forenza reprising his role as narrator and showrunner.

ABOUT SEASON 3

Season 3 of Around the Sun (Pinecones, 2023-2024) brings us to a snowy mountain region, where the absence of a matriarch forces one family to adapt, grow, and evolve with the times. The EGOT-winning ensemble includes: François Clemmons (Grammy Award for Porgy and Bess), Robert Funaro (The Irishman, The Sopranos), Judy Gold (Emmy Awards for The Rosie O’Donnell Show), Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Tony Award, Rent), Terry Hu (Disney’s first non-binary lead: Zombies 3), Cady McClain (Emmy Awards for playing three unique roles across daytime television), Estelle Parsons (Academy Award for Bonnie and Clyde), Jai Rodriguez (Emmy Award for the original Queer Eye), and Brad Forenza (series creator of the award-winning Around the Sun franchise).

ABOUT THE EPILOGUE

Around the Sun (Artists Within, 2024) is set among the constellations, and the expanses of what is possible. Fittingly, Around the Sun: Artists Within features an ensemble cast of writer-performers, whose contributions to the American theater are prolific and celebrated. They include: Gretchen Cryer (Drama Desk Award for The Last Sweet Days of Isaac), Joe Gilford (Drama Desk nomination for Finks), and Sarah Saltzberg (Drama Desk Award for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), with Brad Forenza (series creator, Around the Sun) returning as showrunner.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Brad Forenza is the writer/director/creator of Around the Sun. Brad's generative work typically fuses observational humor, existential contemplation, and social impact. His films include Awakening Arlene, Breaking Points, and The Lady Yang. His plays have been presented on both coasts and off-Broadway. Brad is the author of many articles, editorials, and speeches. His anthology publications include: The Public Figure Songbook (a concept album), Reagan Babies (personal essays), Long Ways Home (plays in one act), and Vignettes (source material for the episodes comprising Around the Sun). Since many of Brad’s original projects extend beyond the written word, he is also the producer of various, award-winning media. Brad is very grateful to every single soul who made Around the Sun possible. https://linktr.ee/bradforenza

Suzanne Ordas Curry (consulting producer) has owned a PR firm for decades and was introduced to entertainment by a client about 10 years ago. Since then, she has become a producer on many levels for independent films and series. She often serves as Producer of Marketing and Distribution. She takes pride in choosing films carefully and is involved in many narratives and documentaries with a social impact. She also holds leadership positions on several non-profits, of note are CASA for Children and Artists for Change. She writes about her projects and promotes females in entertainment on her site, www.SuzeeBehindtheScenes.com

Jean Epiphan (conceptual art) is an empathic artist who transforms feelings into art. Her ever-changing style experiments with differing media and technique but consistently portrays the spiritual and physical connections between life, emotion, and the world around us. She is best known for album art for Leonard Dillion the Ethiopian, the Aggrolites, 10ft Ganja Plant, and Ghosts of Jupiter. Jean also donates her designs to local nonprofits that conserve forests and nature.

Melanie Hibbert (graphic design) is a higher education administrator, who directs the Sloate Media Center at Barnard College. She is a lifelong lover of the arts.

Shane Curry (theme music) is owner of ShaneCurryProductions. He is a musician, producer, and engineer. His music has appeared in several independent films. He produces various artists and bands in the tri-state area. He can also be seen playing in indie bands in Jersey and NYC.

Around the Sun is a Best Version of Yourself production, as presented by the Broadway Podcast Network. Continue the conversation via #AroundTheSunPodcast, www.aroundthesunpodcast.com, and series creator Brad Forenza (fb: @BVOYLLC; insta @BradForenza; tw: @BradForenza).

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