Story Roundtable - Daniel Kravitz, Chosen One: Volumes 1 & 2

*Daniel Kravitz, Chosen One*: Volumes 1 & 2 is the third installment of *It's All Been Done Radio Hour*'s unscripted *Story Roundtable* series. It was recorded at the conclusion of segment *Daniel Kravitz*'s second volume of story. It was released as podcast episode 185.

Hosted by Jerome Wetzel, who created the series and wrote all twenty-six episodes of the series up to that point, the episode brought together all the lead cast members from the first two volumes: Wendy Parks (who played Abby Reynolds), Shane Stefanchik (Rufus Reginald Rochester), Ryan Yohe (Grezit the Green), Amanda Iman (Ragina), Joe Morales (Alexis Augustus Armentrout), Seamus Talty (Josh Wallace), and Nathan Haley (Daniel Kravitz). Nathan almost half of the conversation, but joined the group for the rest.

## **Beginnings**

The Roundtable started without Shane, Seamus, and Nathan, although the first two joined within the first few minutes.

The conversation began with musings on the earliest days of the segment. Wendy immediately expressed surprise that Abby stabbed Ragina, stating that the story has gotten more exciting. She talked about how Abby was basically playing herself, and found it easy to jump into the part. She had been offered the role, sans audition, because she had experience working with Nathan on stage. Shane offered that he felt a bit like an outsider, similar to Rufus, joining long-time friends Wendy and Nathan in the program. The group agreed that the segment would not be what it was without Grezit, even though the character was not part of the original plan. He added conflict with Daniel.

Ragina was brought in just to slow down Abby and Daniel's inevitable relationship. Amanda said she knew Ragina would be evil from the start, and even if she hadn't been, she was just there to f- things up. Joe brought up that Ragina said lots of evil things, and Amanda said she tried not to telegraph the twist too much, but keep an undertone throughout, with "Wanda's Wand" offering the most obvious clues. She loved the scenes Ragina had with Rufus best, especially in "On a Boat," "Gather 'Round the Fire," and "A Family Affair."

Josh, like Grezit, was intended as a one-off character. Seamus originally approached him as devious and kind at the same time; not evil, just a bit misguided. Seamus thought he'd end up being more forceful, but liked his eventual mellow attitude. Seamus points out that Josh can be obsessive, whether it's about Abby or about magic. Joe said he found Josh's death very surprising.

Joe had to wait for quite awhile to play Alexis, which was built from Joe's audition for Rufus. Joe knew from the beginning that Alexis was good, but Jerome was determined to make everyone hate him first, getting as awful as possible without crossing into irredeemable.

Nathan was Daniel - at least at the beginning. He hates working in his father's hop and has a long-time best friend he both loves and finds annoying (Wendy). Jerome wrote the role for Nathan, and enjoys putting in details that Nathan hates. Nathan thinks by the end of Volume 2, Daniel is finally understanding and liking his purpose. He needs change to be slow, and being betrayed by Rufus and Abby made it much harder to trust Alexis. Nathan loves Grezit's fight sequences.

Everyone loved the episode "Abby Reynolds, Chosen One," a highlight of the first volume.

Nathan claimed to have composed the theme song in thirty minutes, the only one Jerome gave him lyrics, but no guidance on melody.

## **Volume 1 vs. Volume 2**

Jerome asked the cast whether they preferred Volume 1 or Volume 2. They were divided.

### **Volume 1**

* Nathan loved the first two episodes best, and loves the beginnings of stories.
* Ryan liked one best because the actors got to be more physical, and for sentimental reasons.
* Amanda echoed that, saying she felt more freedom of movement in the early days of the show.

### **Volume 2**

* Joe liked volume two because he was in it, though he does love origins, especially those shown in the Volume 2 premiere, "Gather 'Round the Fire."
* Shane preferred the second because he got a break. Also, the characters had settled and their dynamics were played with.
* Seamus hates beginnings, preferring to get to the meat of the story, which volume 2 did.
* Wendy liked Abby's attitude in volume 2, going from goody-goody to stabby-stabby.
* Jerome enjoyed the more defined arc of the second outing, which was less monster-of-the-week, but still not all that planned out.

Jerome revealed there would be a six-month break before Volume 3 in order to better figure out the arcs and developments ahead of time.

## **What's Next**

Jerome ended by asking the cast what they predicted or hoped for Volume 3, which was already in its early planning stages.

* Wendy wanted to know if Josh is really alive? Is that him? (Of this group, only Jerome and Seamus already knew the answer to that, and they weren't telling.) She also thought Abby and Alexis should steal stuff.
* Seamus wanted more epic magic.
* Shane thought Abby would go dark and violent. Wendy agreed.

Jerome refused to confirm or deny that, but was quickly told his face gave it away. The rest of the answers below likely indicate what the cast saw in his visage.

* Amanda wanted to know what would happen next with Ragina, and how Alexis' character would develop.
* Joe also was curious about Alexis. Would he snap? He wanted to see Abby snap.
* Ryan wanted to know what Dark Abby would mean for Grezit. Will it un-tame him?
* Nathan was excited for a darker Abby, and wondered how Daniel would handle it. Would he be able to? He also wanted to see how funny Grezit would be as he grows

## **Trivia**

Jerome says at the beginning that this is the second *Story Roundtable*, but it was actually the third.