Working in the Theatre
Season 19
Bringing together performers, directors, playwrights, designers, choreographers, producers and behind-the-scenes personnel from the American and international theatre, the program offers a rare opportunity for students and audiences to see the people who create theatre engaged in thoughtful conversation with one another. With more than 600 past guests, "Working in the Theatre" has become an unequaled archive of theatrical talk, a chance to hear from the people behind the characters, stories and productions that draw us to the theatre.
Where to Watch Season 19
8 Episodes
- Performance
E1PerformanceBroadway performers -- Chuck Cooper ("The Life"), Robert Cuccioli ("Jekyll & Hyde"), Pat Hingle ("1776"), Pamela Isaacs ("The Life"), Jeff McCarthy ("Side Show"), and J. Smith-Cameron ("As Bees in Honey Drown") -- talk about how they got their start and have built their careers, the challenge of memorizing lines, the importance of discipline and stamina, and the support of family and friends. - Playwright, Director & ChoreographerE2
Playwright, Director & ChoreographerThe panel of directors Walter Bobbie ("Chicago"), director/choreographer Wayne Cilento ("Dream'), Scott Elliott ("Present Laughter"), Ron Lagomarsino ("Last Night at Ballyhoo"), Gene Saks ("Barrymore"), and playwright Alfred Uhry ("Last Night at Ballyhoo") talk about how they got started, developing their current productions, a show's relevance to contemporary audiences, determining the length of a play, and how directors maintain an ongoing show. Brendan Gill & George White moderate. - Production: StanleyE3
Production: StanleyThe production team of "Stanley" -- press representative Bill Evans, producers Gregory Mosher and Edgar Rosenblum, and marketing representative Evan Shapiro -- discuss the process of bringing the play from the Royal National Theatre in London to Broadway, working with director John Caird, extensive press coverage, and target marketing including a new $10 ticket program aimed at young people. Brendan Gill & George White moderate. - Unions and GuildsE4
Unions and GuildsThe panelists -- Julianne Boyd (Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers); Dean Brown and Muriel Stockdale (United Scenic Artisis); Shirley Herz and Bernice Weiler (Assoc. of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers); Conard Fowkes (Actors' Equity Association); and Barry Moss (Casting Society of America) -- talk about how and why their organizations were formed, the importance of unions, the specific roles of company managers and general managers, and production costs and ticket prices. George White moderates. - PerformanceE5
PerformanceBroadway performers -- Chuck Cooper ("The Life"), Robert Cuccioli ("Jekyll & Hyde"), Pat Hingle ("1776"), Pamela Isaacs ("The Life"), Jeff McCarthy ("Side Show"), and J. Smith-Cameron ("As Bees in Honey Drown") -- talk about how they got their start and have built their careers, the challenge of memorizing lines, the importance of discipline and stamina, and the support of family and friends. Brendan Gill & George White moderate. - Playwright & DirectorE6
Playwright & DirectorThe panel -- playwright Douglas Carter Beane ("As Bees In Honey Drown"), director Mark Brokaw ("As Bees In Honey Drown", "How I Learned To Drive"), playwright/lyricist Bill Russell ("Side Show") and playwright Paula Vogel ("How I Learned To Drive") -- talk about their backgrounds and developing their crafts, the advantages of writing for the stage compared to being a screenwriter, and why these particular playwrights prefer not to direct. George White moderates. - Production: Side ShowE7
Production: Side ShowThe production team for the musical "Side Show" -- producer Emanuel Azenberg, press representative Bill Evans, and general manager Abbie M. Strassler -- talk about the show's journey from presentation to workshop to Broadway; the role of producer, casting director, general manager, company manager, and press agent; casting principal and chorus members; and marketing a new show. George White moderates. - DesignE8
DesignThe 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?" Tish Dace & Tony Walton moderate.