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- Our guests -- Jonathan Bank, Artistic Director of The Mint Theater, Sarah Benson, Artistic Director of Soho Rep., Susan Bernfield, Artistic Director of New Georges and David Van Asselt, Artistic Director of Rattlestick Playwrights Theater -- all share the distinction of running theatres that are quite different from Broadway...venues with 99 seats or under. They discuss their mission statements and how each of their companies got started; making sure they are able to balance new voices in playwriting with more established writers when choosing and presenting plays; how, instead of competing with one another, their companies serve as resources for each other; the wealth of material, and talent, available to them; who their base audiences are and marketing strategies for broadening that base; funding challenges, particularly in difficult financial times; the pros and cons of subscriptions for their companies; how pricing structure for their smaller theatres affects the bottom line; and their goals for expansion beyond their current theatre size.
- Stephen Karam's The Humans, a new play on Broadway, ventures into the lives of one family who struggle with typical American familial conflicts such as inter-generational religious beliefs, economic hardship, and illness. Watch as the cast and creative team, interviewed by Frank Rich, explore the world of this exciting new play and share the journey on the process of new work being developed off-Broadway and thriving on Broadway.
- Daniel Jenkins, Lisa Kron and David Pittu - who have appeared both on stage and written works for the stage - talk about how they balance these dual roles; what they learn about being playwrights from their acting; where they get inspiration for their plays; how audiences help them enhance their performance as both actors and writers; whether or not it's more satisfying to act in a play they wrote; and their relationship with directors when they're performing the role of both playwright and actor.
- Experiences on stage in America and England are the core of this conversation with actors Eileen Atkins (Doubt), Richard Griffiths (The History Boys), Jonathan Pryce (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Lynn Redgrave (The Importance of Being Earnest) and Zoë Wanamaker (Awake and Sing).
- Adapting work to the stage can be a thrilling experience. As Dave Malloy, creator of the Great Comet of 1812 says, "The most interesting thing about reading old texts, you know texts that were written a hundred years ago, 500 years ago, thousands of years ago, is how little humans have changed. You know how in all of these classic texts you see these characters doing things and thinking things and saying things that you yourself said just yesterday, or you had friends who did those things as well."
- Our panel of actors -- Danny Burstein, Malcolm Gets, Bill Pullman and John Douglas Thompson -- share the particular moment when they realized they wanted to be actors; how the language of a play influences their portrayal of a character; what it's like to work in a show with just one or two other actors; how they recoup after going "off script"; what kind of pre-show rituals they go through; the most useful - and least useful - director's note they received; how it feels to step into a role made famous by another actor; and what kind of research they do to prepare for a role.
- The 2012 National Theatre Company Grant Recipients share their thoughts on attracting and cultivating audiences; the importance of regional theatre across the country; their role in reaching out to the communities they work in; the diversity of their work and the nurturing of new artists.
- American Theatre Wing invests in brave work, supports creative growth, and celebrates excellence to bring inclusive stories to our national culture through theatre. Founded in 1917 on the eve of America's entry into World War I by seven suffragists, American Theatre Wing has spent a century using theatre to advance human experience, empathy and cultural growth like never before. ATW has been active on video and social sharing platforms since 2006.
- 1976–TV EpisodeComposer Michael John LaChiusa, and directors Diane Paulus and Stephen Wadsworth have all worked in the once mutually-exclusive worlds of opera and theatre. They share their thoughts about the nature of each of these entertainment forms, how they differ and what they share; the use of amplification and how it affects productions in both opera and theatre; the so-called American Idol effect on musical performers; changes in training for opera singers; the differing scale - and manner - of pay; whether super-titles enhance or distract from opera performances; and the importance of the director's role and how it differs in theatre and opera.
- The artistic directors of four major not-for-profit companies - Susan V. Booth of the Alliance Theatre, Oskar Eustis of The Public Theater, Emily Mann of the McCarter Theatre Center and Michael Wilson of Hartford Stage - discuss the unique task of the artistic director, touching upon issues including how they balance their personal artistic goals as directors with the institutional needs of their companies, whether their focus is on the local community or the larger national artistic community, the relationship between not-for-profit theatres and commercial producers, how they measure success, and their responsibility for developing the next generation of theatre artists.
- Beginning the discussion with the question of when, or if, work becomes fun, our guests, lead actors all--Jane Alexander, Bill Irwin, Angela Lansbury, Cynthia Nixon, and Geoffrey Rush--also talk about how they choose roles and whether they'd consider playing smaller roles on the stage today; what they feel from an audience and how they react as audience members; their relationship to, and the role of, the stage manager; how much they consciously set the tone for the company; how they balance the thoughts of the playwright and the director -- and how they handle it when the two don't agree; and whether they follow stage directions from the existing script.
- The extraordinary legacy of playwright August Wilson and his 10-play cycle of African-American life in the 20th Century is explored in a two-part program. First, a panel of Wilson's collaborators -- producer James Houghton (Signature Theatre Company), dramaturg Todd Kreidler, director Kenny Leon (Radio Golf, Gem of the Ocean), actor/director Ruben Santiago Hudson (Gem of the Ocean, Seven Guitars), producer Jack Viertel (Radio Golf) -- discuss the process of developing and producing Wilson's plays. In the second half, the depth and variety of Wilson's characters are explored by Stephen McKinley Henderson (Jitney, King Hedley II), Harry Lennix (Radio Golf), Tonya Pinkins (Radio Golf) and Phylicia Rashad (Gem of the Ocean), joined by director Kenny Leon.
- The expansion of the Broadway brand to Asian markets was among the topics discussed by our panel: Simone Genatt, Chairman of Broadway Asia, Robert Nederlander, Jr, President and CEO of Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment and Alan Wasser, General Manager of Alan Wasser Associates. The wide ranging discussion also looked at what particular shows work best in the international market; the challenges of taking Broadway productions overseas to China and Korea and what's entailed in bringing a show from China to the US; navigating the cultural differences, labor rules and legalities of foreign countries; the emphasis in both China and Korea for more cultural programming; the preponderance of small theatres and small productions throughout Asia; the costs involved and the issues of marketing shows outside the US; and the next international markets to welcome Broadway.
- Robert Schenkkan's Building the Wall delves into the world of what could be, delivering a powerful warning and putting a human face on the inhuman. Part of the National New Play Network's Rolling World Premiere, this play produced at the Fountain Theatre allows us to take a look at where we are now as a culture in the United States by sharing a story of how we explore our differences. Working in the Theatre takes a look inside this production with the help of writer and Undocumented Activist Jose Antonio Vargas (CEO of Define American) to discover how we can tell these stories on stage for the betterment of our society.
- The development of the musical "Caroline, or Change" and its move from The Public Theatre to Broadway is explored with Tony Kushner (writing a musical book and lyrics for the first time), composer Jeanine Tesori, choreographer Hope Clarke and actors Tonya Pinkins and Veanne Cox.
- New York Theatre Workshop's Casebook program invites theater audiences with an unprecedented access to observe the evolution of show from rehearsal to production. Watch as we follow the Summer 2016 Casebook class and the creative team members they observe, as they delve into the new production of Hadestown, a folk opera by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and two-time Obie award-winning director Rachel Chavkin.
- Casting Directors David Caparelliotis, Tara Rubin and Daniel Swee and moderator Patrick Pacheco discuss the role of the casting director; their collaboration with directors; recasting shows; and whether stars are necessary for success on Broadway today.
- Actors Nina Arianda, Nikki M. James, Arian Moayed and Bobby Steggert share what drew them to the theatre; the difference between training and actually being on stage; the audition process; what they learn from more experienced actors; what they look for in roles and their relationship with the director.
- We may never be able to fully distinguish the difference or even grasp the true union between opera and musical theatre, but in this episode of Working in the Theatre, we learn how the two genres really do play well together to expose an audience to storytelling that engages emotionally through sound patterns and music. And excitingly so, Chamber Opera (to some just called opera) as shown through the lens of a theatrical experience has the ability to be created and shown in so many different and wonderful ways.
- What is choreography? It "is a joy of putting movement together, but it's also a craft, and something that is intellectual too," says Camille A. Brown (The Public, NYTW, City Center). "It's less about a slick presentation of bodies on space, and more about the notion of true feeling, true connection, true interpersonal relationships, however that helps tell a very deep and moving story," adds Josh Prince (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Broadway Dance Lab founder). Join Camille, Josh and Sergio Trujillo (On Your Feet!, Next to Normal, Jersey Boys) as they explore the craft of making dance come to life onstage 8 shows a week.
- Cicely Tyson, the legendary Tony Award winning actress continues to amaze audiences on stage. Her story is one that continues to teach us that dedication to the craft of acting and the pursuit of a dream can inspire all future makers to achieve a career in the theatre.
- "If there is someone who is going to reach out, shake your hand and befriend you at the circus, it's going to be the clown." says Big Apple Circus clown Joel Jeske. "Clowns fall down so we don't have to." An ancient form of theatrics routed in physical comedy, clowning transcends language and cultural barriers by finding the absurd in the everyday. Follow clowns Brent McBeth, Joel Jeske and David Shiner through routines. Look inside Slava Polunin's famed Snowshow and his Academy of Fools.
- The panel of playwrights - Kristoffer Diaz, Kate Fodor, Rajiv Joseph, Young Jean Lee and Tarell Alvin McCraney - discuss how and why they became involved in theatre; whether their writing comes from their own life experiences or that of others, or both; how their writing develops and evolves; what challenges their imagination; how their work is viewed by audiences in other countries; and the importance of diversity being reflected in theatre.
- Oscar, Emmy and five-time American Theatre Wing Tony Award winner, Peter Stone moderates this discussion with lyricist Susan Birkenhead ("Triumph of Love", "Jelly's Last Jam"), composers/lyricists John Kander and Fred Ebb ("Cabaret", "Chicago", "Woman of the Year", 'Steel Pier", "The Act'), composer Marvin Hamlisch ('A Chorus Line", "They're Playing Our Song", "The Sweet Smell of Success"), and award-winning country songwriter/composer Don Schlitz (The Adventures of Tom Sawyer). The panel talks about the process of musical songwriting, collaboration with other writers, writing songs in conjunction with the book, learning from influential composers, through-composed shows compared to book musicals, pros and cons of workshops, their backgrounds, and their first shows.
- A panel of acclaimed, Tony Award-winning composers and lyricists - Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, William Finn and Adam Guettel - discuss their first theatrical experiences, the process of writing and composing, what's involved in working with a partner, early influences on their music, and where they find inspiration; offer advice for students; and demonstrate their craft by playing a bit of their work.
- 1976–TV EpisodeOur guests - playwrights Gina Gionfriddo, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Tina Howe, Lisa Loomer and Christopher Shinn - explore whether they write to console or provoke an audience; to what degree current events, including the election of a new president and the economic freefall, has on their work; who they write for; if playwriting can be taught; how they react to reviews, both negative and favorable; when they knew they wanted to write for the stage; their relationship with directors; and they share their thoughts about connecting with the audience.
- Our guests - Scenic Designer David Gallo, Sound Designer John Gromada, Costume Designer Susan Hilferty and Lighting Designer Peter Kaczorowski - discuss how a design team enhances a production; when they are brought into the production and how they interact with one another as the show unfolds; their process in preparing for each show; their collaboration not only with each other but also with the director and the actors; the logistical challenges they face with each new show; how they got involved in theatre design and what training they did or didn't receive; advice they'd give to young designers; how they handle creative differences with other designers and the director; and where they find inspiration for their designs.
- Some of the country's most read critics-Melissa Rose Bernardo of Entertainment Weekly, Michael Feingold of The Village Voice, Elysa Gardner of USA Today, Michael Kuchwara of the Associated Press and Jeremy McCarter of New York Magazine-share how they came to their current positions and what they look for when they go to a show.
- The panel of theatre critics -- "New York Post's" Clive Barnes, "Variety's" Charles Isherwood, "New York Times'" Peter Marks," NY1's" Roma Torre, and "Newsday's" Linda Winer -- discuss the difference between television and print media, writing styles, the change in opening night review deadlines, audience reactions, unbiased reviews, reading plays prior to attending plays, how the quality of a show influences the quality of a review, returning to a show for a subsequent viewing, and the job market for critics.
- The creation of new worlds on stage and the work of their creators is explored with lighting designer Peggy Eisenhauer (Assassins), costume designer Jess Goldstein (Jersey Boys), set designer David Korins (Bridge and Tunnel), set designer Derek McLane (The Pajama Game) and costume designer Carrie Robbins (White Christmas).
- Costume designer Suzy Benzinger ("Movin' Out"), lighting designer Beverly Emmons ("Jekyll and Hyde"), scenic designer Adrianne Lobel ("A Year With Frog and Toad"), sound designer David Meschter ("Medea"), lighting designer Rui Rita ("Enchanted April") and scenic designer David Rockwell ("Hairspray") talk about the practicalities of design - including how to approach a new design job, the similarities of low-budget showcases and big budget Broadway productions, ways to build a collaborative relationship with a director and the many sources of inspiration in the world around us.
- Scenic designer David Gallo ("Thoroughly Modern Millie"), lighting designer Donald Holder ("Little Shop Of Horrors"), scenic designer Anna Louizos ("Avenue Q"), scenic and costume designer G.W. Mercier ("Juan Darien"), and costume designer Catherine Zuber ("Dinner At Eight") discuss how designing on a restricted budget can force a designer to find a more creative solution; spectacle on Broadway - is it expected and how it does or does not affect ticket prices; the necessity today for a designer to juggle multiple projects and the joy and heartbreak of working in an ephemeral art form.
- Set designer John Arnone ("The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?"), costume designers Jane Greenwood ("Morning's at Seven") and Martin Pakledinaz ("Thoroughly Modern Millie"), set designer Scott Pask ("Amour") and lighting designer Richard Pilbrow ("Our Town") talk about what it means for a designer to collaborate on a show; how that collaboration works with other designers, and the cast and director; and how they keep up with their hectic schedules.
- The panelists -- lighting designer Ken Billington, costume and set designer Robert Jones, costume designer William Ivey Long, scenery designer Thomas Lynch, costume and scenery designer Tony Walton, and costume designer David C. Woolard -- discuss the fields of study that led them to design; perceptible styles; the design of "Six Degrees of Separation;" how actors are effected by design details; how lighting influences audience reaction; contemporary audiences' expectations for brighter, quicker-moving shows; and creating The Yellow Dress in "Contact" through costume and lighting.
- The panel -- Tony Award winning lighting designer Beverly Emmons for "Amadeus", "Passion" and "The Heiress"; costume designer Danny Gates ("When Pigs Fly"); 1997 Tony Award winners for Best Scenic Design for "Jekyll and Hyde" James Noone and director/designer Robin Phillips; puppeteer Basil Twist ("Peter and Wendy"); director Mark Waldrop ("When Pigs Fly"); and producer/playwright Liza Lorwin ("Peter and Wendy") -- talk about how designers work with directors, producers and writers; directing in addition to designing; creating pop-up sets; working with the late Howard Crabtree on 'When Pigs Fly", with a detailed demonstration of costumes; Jekyll and Hyde's movable plexiglass towers, backdrops, and lighting with new Varilights technology; and the unanswerable question of "what makes good design?"
- This broad panel of designers - lighting designer Michael Chybowski ('Moby Dick and Other Stories", "Wit"), scenic designer David Hays, sound designer Abe Jacob ("Pippin", "Evita"), special effects designer Greg Meeh ('Phantom of the Opera", "Miss Saigon," 'Cirque du Soleil") and costume designer Ann Roth ("Crucifer of Blood", "The Royal Family", "The House of Blue Leaves") -- discuss their purpose and accomplishments, collaborating with a production's creative team, apprentices and learning through hands-on experience, and the increase of sound and light levels over time.
- The panel of lighting designers Jules Fisher ("Ragtime") and Donald Holder ("The Lion King"), scenic designers Eugene Lee ("Ragtime") and Ming Cho Lee (The Public Theater), and "The Lion King" associate costume designer Mary Peterson discuss the challenges of designing their current shows, how sets, lighting, and costumes complement each other, display and detail a costume from "The Lion King", and present a model of one of the "Ragtime" sets.
- The panel of American Theatre Wing Design Award-winners -- Julie Archer, special effects designer for Mabou Mines; Christopher H. Barreca, scenic designer of "Chronicle of a Death Foretold"; Ruth Maleczech, actor/director/playwright/designer for Mabou Mines; Karen Ten Eyck, scenic designer of "An Epidog"; and Angela Wendt, "Rent" costume designer with Rent actor Aiko Nakasone -- talk about how they got started as designers, then demonstrate projections and a puppet from "An Epidog", a model set of "Chronicle of a Death Foretold", and a costume from "Rent".
- The design panel - lighting designer Beverly Emmons, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward, and scenic designers David Schulder and Tony Walton - and co-moderator lighting designer Jules Fisher talk about where they studied their craft, how the props can overlap with costuming, how lighting design has evolved, the Ridiculous Theatrical Company's production of "Movieland", and a demonstration of Gary Beach's costume from "Beauty and the Beast".
- The design panel - scenic designer John Arnone ("The Who's Tommy"), costume designer Elizabeth Fried ("Brother Truckers"), special effects designer Wendall K. Harrington ("The Who's Tommy"), lighting designer Mimi Jordan Sherin (New York Shakespeare Festival) - moderated by costume designer Patricia Zipprodt ("My Favorite Year"), Professor Tish Dace, and author/designer/producer Jean Dalrymple discuss their creative childhoods; how the role of designers has evolved from directors, stage managers, and technicians; working with varying production budgets; and the colors and projections used in "The Who's Tommy."
- The panel - actress Brenda Braxton ("Jelly's Last Jam"), Mettawee River Theatre Company puppet/costume designers Casey Compton and Ralph Lee ("Wichikapache Goes Walking"), producer/lighting designer Jules Fisher ("Two Shakespearean Actors"), director Michael Greif ("Pericles"), and costume designer Toni-Leslie James ('Jelly's Last Jam") - discuss the significant roles of lighting and costume design, the relationship between designers and director, their education and early training, and design budgets; plus a demonstration of costumes and puppets.
- The 23rd annual American Theatre Wing Design Awards honor the best theatrical design in New York for the 1986-1987 season. The award winning designs are demonstrated by "Starlight Express" assistant costume designer Ann Emonts, 'Worstward Ho" assistant lighting designer Mary Louise Geiger, "The Hunger Artist" actor Anthony Holland, Brooklyn Academy of Music's "The Civil Wars - Act 5: The Trees" production manager Paul King, and "Fences" scenic designer James D. Sandefur.
- The 1985 Joseph Maharam Foundation Awards for Scenic, Costume, and Lighting Design are awarded to Lawrence Eichler, Charles Ludlam, and Everett Quinton for The Ridiculous Theatrical Company's "The Mystery of Irma Vep"; Mel Carpenter, Angus Moss, and Blu for Ping Chong's Fiji Theatre Company's "NOSFERATU: A Symphony of Darkness"; and Heidi Landesman, Patricia McGourty, and Richard Riddell for Broadway's "Big River". The designers discuss their respective productions in-depth. In addition, Henry Hewes receives an award for Outstanding Service For His Recognition Of Theatre Design.
- The design team of "The Heiress" -- scenic designer John Lee Beatty, lightning designer Beverly Emmons, costume designer Jane Greenwood, director Gerald Gutierrez and actor Cherry Jones -- discuss the interwoven details of their production, from natural period lighting for the enclosed sets, to background colors complementing the costumes, and the advantages of collaborating on previous works. Mask/puppet designer Ralph Lee demonstrates the large puppets worn by actors in "Heart Of The Earth: A Popul Vuh Story".
- The business team behind "Hurlyburly" - advertising representative Rick Elice, agent Milton Goldman, legal counsel Jay S. Harris, stage manager Peter Lawrence, press representative Sandra Manley, and producer Frederick Zollo - discuss how David Rabe's play found a producer, director, and high profile cast for its debut at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, its successful off-Broadway run prior to Broadway, producing with a profit pool plan, production costs including the advertising budget, and the present state of the American play. Originally taped - September, 1984
- The development and production of musical theatre was the focus of the discussion with our panel of producers - Sue Frost, Robyn Goodman, Paulette Haupt and Scott Sanders. They talk about what attracts them to a project; if playing on Broadway is the ultimate success for a show; whether going out of town is helpful, or necessary, for a new show; the impact of audiences on the show; dealing with critical reviews that remain on line when trying to get a show launched; the difficulty of closing a show or halting a show in development; and advice for young producers who want to develop musicals.
- How an audience can discern the often invisible hand of the director is the starting point for this discussion with Scott Elliott (The Threepenny Opera), Doug Hughes (Doubt), Joe Mantello (Wicked), John Rando (The Wedding Singer) and Leigh Silverman (Well).
- Directors Jo Bonney, Sheldon Epps, Michael Halberstam and Gregory Mosher talk about how they got started in the business; choosing their projects; their process when starting a new show; how the dual role of Artistic Director and Director informs their own work and working with other directors; and how they approach auditions.
- The concept of documentary theatre is one that is novel and complex, and quite frankly could be defined by a plethora of concepts and storytelling strategy. In this documentary episode of Working in the Theatre, we visit Say Something Bunny, the spectacular production that explores how theatre incorporates and interacts with found materials and real-life characters. What does it mean to represent narrative of real experiences in theatrical performances? Alison Kobayashi (Director, Performer, Researcher, Co-author, Co-producer) and Christopher Allen (Co-author, Co-producer, Dramaturgy, Technical design) share their journey of creating such a unique experience in a one of kind production.
- The panel of stage veterans - F. Murray Abraham, Stacy Keach, Estelle Parsons and Lois Smith - discuss the rehearsal and audition process; how they deal with rejection; the pros and cons of directing vs. acting; their thoughts on how acting and directing have changed over the years; the difference between performing classical roles vs. contemporary roles and their advice for aspiring performers.