Front Office Sports and Folk Productions Announce New Live Show ‘Second Acts Live' (EXCLUSIVE)
Hosted by WNBA All-Star and sports analyst Chiney Ogwumike, the multi-city series will place the stars in an immersive theatrical environment. 'Second Acts Live' chronicles what it means to find purpose in a second calling, not just for the athletes but for everyone. Each show will feature a retired sports figure with deep ties to the host city from their legendary first act, now taking on brand-new challenges in their second act. The innovative format fuses sports and theater, borrowing from the best of both to create something original.
Advertisement
More from Variety
''Second Acts Live' brings the craft of theater into the world of sports storytelling, creating an original
experience for audiences and superfans across the country,' said Tre' Scott, co-founder of Folk
Productions, a division of Folk Media Group. 'We are not just producing a live show with Front Office
Sports, we are launching a brand new platform for sports stories within live entertainment.'
Scott told Variety, 'We're really making sure to differentiate this from a live podcast or TED Talk.'
Front Office Sports CEO Adam White explained that when the team was creating the show, they looked at how Cirque du Soleil had borrowed elements from Broadway. 'That is a literal example of when we were creating the show, this is our North Star, and how do we borrow from those elements in the way Cirque du Soleil was built, and build a new product?'
Advertisement
The inaugural show will take place in Seattle this September and feature Bird. Additional shows this
year will include Wojnarowski in Philadelphia this October, exploring his transition from breaking news to shaping the landscape of a new era of college athletics. In December, Vick will take the stage in Atlanta to discuss the multiple acts that led him to leadership. New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are planned for 2026.
Scott described what audiences can expect from this immersive theatrical experience: 'You're going to be taken on a journey, and that journey may not look and feel the same every show, and it's going to be refined to what each guest's story is.'
'Second Acts Live' is directed by Miranda Haymon. Scenic and video design is by Lisa Renkel. General
Management is by Sarah Battaglia of Evan Bernardin Productions. Adam Rodner produces for Folk
Productions.
Best of Variety
Advertisement
Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Kelsey Plum says she was joking about Caitlin Clark's team at All-Star Game
Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum said she was joking when she took a verbal shot at Caitlin Clark and her team at the All-Star Game last month , comments that drew significant pushback. 'I made a really bad joke,' Plum said on Sue Bird's 'Bird's Eye View' podcast that dropped Friday. Plum said she was trying to have fun with Team Clark at the All-Star Game in Indianapolis on July 19 when she said Clark's side didn't show up for that morning meeting to discuss collective bargaining agreement talks. The union and the WNBA are in the midst of negotiations, and all the players in the All-Star Game wore T-shirts that read, 'Pay Us What You Owe Us,' including Clark. Plum said at the post-game news conference the players decided that morning to wear the shirts, but 'zero members of Team Clark were very present for that.' There was especially a big blowback on social media toward Plum, who said her intention was to bring levity to a serious topic but misread the room. 'I was making a joke they were hungover even though our team nickname was 'Hungover,'' Plum said. 'I was like, 'At least we made it.' Obviously, we were all on the same page. We all wore the shirts. We're all unified. I think if anything I was more discouraged because I felt like (the comments) took away from the moment of what we were trying to do.' ___ AP WNBA:
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kelsey Plum Addresses Perceived Jab at Caitlin Clark from WNBA All-Star Game
Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum created headlines and stirred controversy after the WNBA All-Star Game when she said 'zero members of Team Clark' were present for the players' union's collective bargaining negotiations with the league. Now, the WNBA star has offered clarity on that comment. Appearing on the 'Bird's Eye View' podcast, hosted by Sue Bird, Plum explained that she was trying to make a joke about Clark and her group being 'hungover' during the All-Star festivities. 'The questions came in, and it was like, 'CBA, this, this, this.' It was like, 'Hey, Team Clark, they didn't make it to the meeting.' I was making a joke that they were hungover, even though our team nickname was 'hungover.' So it was like, 'At least we made it (to the meeting).'' Kelsey Plum on her Caitlin Clark comments after the WNBA All-Star Game Read More: Plum has a reputation for being really bad at telling jokes, often either not realizing the moment doesn't call for it or poorly conveying that she's joking. Following her comment to reporters, which came amid a battle between the WNBA and the WNBPA over the next CBA, it was picked up by the national media and became a point of discussion on ESPN and other programming. Meanwhile, many on social media took shots at Plum for seemingly suggesting Clark didn't want to help the players' union. In hindsight, Plum recognizes that she made a mistake in the moment. While she wanted to make a playful remark about Clark being hungover, she did it at a time when the WNBPA was trying to send a message about players receiving better pay following the league's $2.2 billion TV rights deal. 'I should have — like, hindsight's 20/20 — because of the shirts, because of the fans … I should have known it was a way more serious moment than a typical All-Star Game. Because I went into that press conference very, like, happy-go-lucky we won, you know?.' Kelsey Plum on recognizing the gravity of the moment before her joke about Caitlin Clark (H/T ESPN) As Plum said, Clark's backing of the WNBPA shouldn't be questioned. While Clark couldn't play in the WNBA All-Star Game, which Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, hosted, she was among the players wearing the black t-shirts that said 'Pay Us What You Owe Us.' : $78,066 salary in 2025 Plum, Clark, and the rest of the WNBA players are 'all on the same page' and 'unified' in their push for higher WNBA salaries after the CBA expires in October. Given Clark's major influence on historic television ratings and the WNBA's multi-billion-dollar TV rights deal, it's no surprise that she is among those seeking a higher salary in the years to come. Related Headlines NASCAR News: Kaulig Racing Presidents Addresses Ty Dillon's Future with Team NASCAR Starting Lineup for Richmond: Cook Out 400 Starting Grid, Cup Series Qualifying Results Patriots Have 5 Wide Receiver Spots Locked Down Ahead Of Preseason Week 2
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kelsey Plum clarifies crack about Caitlin Clark's team at WNBA All-Star Game: 'I made a bad joke'
The WNBA All-Star Game made headlines last month when every player donned a "Pay Us What You Owe Us" T-shirt before the game in a show of solidarity as CBA negotiations drag on. Then Kelsey Plum generated controversy after the game. Speaking to reporters in the wake of a 151-131 win for her Team Collier side, Plum mentioned that "Zero members of Team Clark were very present" for the meeting. She treated it as a joke, laughing with teammate Sabrina Ionescu who sardonically added, "That really needed to be mentioned." [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] That comment took on enough of a life of its own that the Los Angeles Sparks star addressed the matter during an appearance on Sue Bird's "Bird's Eye View" podcast published Friday. Bird brought up the matter by describing the comment as a "joke" that "just got twisted," to which Plum agreed. She then conceded it might not have been the best-timed joke given the gravity of the situation, lamenting the backlash's effect on the conversation: "I made a bad joke. I made a really bad joke ... And I should have — like, hindsight's 20/20, because of the shirts, because of the fans — I should have known it was a way more serious moment than a typical All-Star Game, because I went into that press conference very, like, happy-go-lucky we won, you know? Had a great weekend, my family's here, it was just a great time. "The questions came in, and it was like, 'CBA, this, this, this.' Honestly. Birdie, it was like, 'Hey, Team Clark, they didn't make it to the meeting either.' Just making a joke that they were hungover, trying to make the room lighter ... I was making a joke that they were hungover, even though our team nickname was 'hungover.' So I was like, 'At least we made it.' "Obviously, we're all on the same page. We all wore the shirts. Like, we're all unified. I think, if anything, I was just more discouraged because I felt like it took away from the moment of what we were trying to do. You don't even get to respond and if you do, you seem defensive." Plum is among the leaders of the Women's National Basketball Players Association as its first vice president, with only president Nneka Ogwumike ranking ahead of her on the players' side. The union and league are only a few months away from the expiration of the current CBA on Oct. 31. If they can't figure out a new agreement by then, they will be facing a work stoppage that could threaten the 2026 season. Even before breaking out the shirts, the players were openly unhappy with the state of the negotiations, especially with the league about to start bringing in $200 million in annual television money with its new deals. A two-time WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces, Plum is in her first season with the Sparks and currently ranks in the top 5 of the league in points, assists and 3-pointers made per game.
