Our upcoming production of The Call List by Brian James Polak is going to be a world premiere, but what exactly does that entail? Writing the play is just the beginning and this particular script has been through several workshops prior to our full, professional production complete with all the sets, costumes, and lighting you would expect from any production at Third Avenue PlayWorks. As an audience member, you’ll be among the first ever to see the new work brought to life on our stage.
The Playwright
Playwright Brian James Polak is originally from New Hampshire, majored in philosophy at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, and eventually moved to Los Angeles where he earned an MFA from USC School of Dramatic Arts. A self-proclaimed “late bloomer,” Polak wasn’t encouraged in the arts at a young age and left to his own devices, he followed a long and winding path to becoming a playwright.
In addition to The Call List, Polak’s plays include: Welcome to the Keene, NH, The Patient (Jean Kennedy Smith Award), Last to Die for a Lost Cause (John Cauble Award), Here Rests the Heart (Lucille Lortel Alcove Commission), The Gravediggers Union (world premiere with Theatre B in 2027), and others. His work has been published by Smith & Kraus, Talon Review, Commonplace Books, NoPassport Press, Next Stage Press, and Canyon Voices.
Brian is also the host of The Subtext Podcast, which ran for two years as a program of LA Stage Alliance before being added to the stable of American Theatre Magazine podcasts in 2018. He has been interviewing other playwrights on that platform every month ever since.
The Impetus
The idea for The Call List came from listening to the podcast “S Town.” “I was obsessed with a part of it where the town clerk was tasked with calling a list of people to tell them somebody they knew died,” said Polak, “I wanted to explore that experience. I also wanted to write something that could be funny. This work in progress is the result.”
Polak writes existential plays featuring stuck people, and The Call List is no exception. Considered a dark comedy, the play takes place in a toxic work environment and features a depressed legal assistant. Polak has created an environment that is hard for his character, but ultimately wants to help her find the way out of the darkness and show audiences a pathway to a deeper understanding of themselves.
About his plays, Polak hopes “people will return to their lives more empathetic, or at the very least, aware of their need to show and be shown empathy.
Early Accolades
Polak’s The Call List has already garnered recognition as a Semi-Finalist in Seven Devils New Play Foundry Playwrights Conference (2025), as well as Semi-Finalist in B Street Theatre’s new Comedies Festival (2019). “So blown away reading this script. It’s such a detailed, slice of life play,” said award-winning playwright Rachel Bublitz, “It gives us an incredibly focused look into the lives of the protagonist, the folks she’s calling, and the dead man she’s calling about, all in a one person show! Highly recommend this show. It’s funny and sad in all the best ways.”
Development History
At the Door Kinetic Arts Festival in 2023, Polak workshopped The Call List with Eva Nimmer, who plays Sam in the production, but also lends her expertise in idea generation, structural editing, and constructive feedback. “I love collaborating with writers who want an actor’s input on their script,” says Nimmer. This workshop provided an opportunity to collaborate and exchange ideas in the process of developing the new work, and the festival provided Door County residents and visitors with a peek into the creative process.
In March of this year, The Call List went through another round of workshops at Third Avenue PlayWorks. This time, Polak and Nimmer collaborated with Jacob Janssen, Jackie & Steve Kane Artistic Director, and director for this production. Several more days were spent together honing the nuance of the script well before the rehearsal process was set to begin in September.
The Production
This production is part of World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide festival celebrating new plays and musicals, and will run September 23rd through October 11th. Attending the production provides a unique and memorable experience that connects you directly with the creative process and the artists involved. It’s your chance to be a part of theater history and see a brand-new story unfold for the first time. As one of the first audience members, your reactions and responses during the premiere run have the potential to help shape the final version of the play for future productions.
Your ticket to The Call List is more than a unique opportunity to become a part of the creative process, it’s a way to directly support new playwrights. By purchasing a ticket, you play a vital role in encouraging new theatrical works and help us bring theatre worth talking about to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and the world.