Jun 25, 2026 · 57 min · 15 segments
This special summer compilation of Breaking Precedent brings together artists and culture makers who have each broken precedent in a different way. Across Broadway, music, food, visual art, ballet…
Leah SolivanHost
I do think that artists are often able to reach culture faster than policy, right?
Absolutely.
Storytelling is how we experience the world.
It's through story.
Do you see a path where art and storytelling, and maybe even, you know, in this particular industry, in Broadway, where you're able to shape the political culture? of this country? Or what are your aspirations around that as a big precedent break?
I do feel like I am interested in continuing to do work that's in this space that feels a bit nebulous.
I think so much of it revolves around what's happening in terms of policy and who gets to make those decisions.
And of course, we're in a complicated moment with our current administration.
It felt more important than ever for me to do a play shortly after Roe had been overturned a piece about abortion and it was this really wackadoo play that sort of juxtaposed seeing people play fetuses in like a comedy show and then the experience of a woman just sitting in a waiting room to how an abortion and how this thing that we talk about and create insensationalize that an abortion is a very simple, everyday procedure that shouldn't take up that much space in our national conversation and a woman's own choice about that.
So that was a piece I did that was with this really absurdist company at the end of the day.
And people were really moved by it because it sort of went between these two worlds and the debates that people are having about what a fetus is.
And we spent a lot of time trying to figure out how can we take this show outside of New York? There are a lot of reasons why that couldn't happen.
And in particular, different markets around the country that felt very nervous about performing it.
This is the thing I think with art and your art and what you've created is you do have this long-term view.
You know, we talked about in the beginning about, do you want this quick hit in this explosion and then it kind of burns out quickly? Or do you want to create something that is sustainable and lasts and has that message? So I love that.
But the last thing I want to talk about with SUFS is I can't not mention the fact that you got Hillary Clinton and Malala involved in this show.
Two global icons that, you know, are known for taking a stand with women's rights all over the world, not just here in America.
So they
independently seen the show during its run at the public theater.
I do think that artists are often able to reach culture faster than policy, right?
Absolutely.
Storytelling is how we experience the world.
It's through story.
Do you see a path where art and storytelling, and maybe even, you know, in this particular industry, in Broadway, where you're able to shape the political culture? of this country? Or what are your aspirations around that as a big precedent break?
I do feel like I am interested in continuing to do work that's in this space that feels a bit nebulous.
I think so much of it revolves around what's happening in terms of policy and who gets to make those decisions.
And of course, we're in a complicated moment with our current administration.
It felt more important than ever for me to do a play shortly after Roe had been overturned a piece about abortion and it was this really wackadoo play that sort of juxtaposed seeing people play fetuses in like a comedy show and then the experience of a woman just sitting in a waiting room to how an abortion and how this thing that we talk about and create insensationalize that an abortion is a very simple, everyday procedure that shouldn't take up that much space in our national conversation and a woman's own choice about that.
So that was a piece I did that was with this really absurdist company at the end of the day.
And people were really moved by it because it sort of went between these two worlds and the debates that people are having about what a fetus is.
And we spent a lot of time trying to figure out how can we take this show outside of New York? There are a lot of reasons why that couldn't happen.
And in particular, different markets around the country that felt very nervous about performing it.
This is the thing I think with art and your art and what you've created is you do have this long-term view.
You know, we talked about in the beginning about, do you want this quick hit in this explosion and then it kind of burns out quickly? Or do you want to create something that is sustainable and lasts and has that message? So I love that.
But the last thing I want to talk about with SUFS is I can't not mention the fact that you got Hillary Clinton and Malala involved in this show.
Two global icons that, you know, are known for taking a stand with women's rights all over the world, not just here in America.
So they
independently seen the show during its run at the public theater.
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