Working in the Theatre
Season 23
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 23
7 Episodes
- Playwright, Director & Choreographer
E1Playwright, Director & ChoreographerChoreographers Rob Ashford and Wayne Cilento, playwright Michael Frayn, playwright/lyricist Greg Kotis, and directors Sean Mathias and Lynne Meadow discuss various aspects of their respective crafts, including the focus on storytelling, the benefits and challenges of collaboration, bad reviews, and the evolution of the director/choreographer relationship. - Production: The ProducersE2
Production: The ProducersThe production and creative team for the musical "The Producers" - press representative John Barlow, creator and producer Mel Brooks, producer Richard Frankel, general manager Laura Green, book writer Thomas Meehan, and director and choreographer Susan Stroman - discuss taking the cult film to the Broadway stage, including the out-of-town run in Chicago, budgeting a huge musical, and the overwhelming interest from producers, investors, publicists, and ticketbuyers. Roy A. Somlyo moderates. - Performance
E3PerformanceActors Kate Burton ("Hedda Gabler"), Christine Ebersole ("42nd Street"), Peter Gallagher ("Noises Off"), Valerie Harper ("The Tale of the Allergist's Wife"), and Robert Sean Leonard ("The Music Man") discuss performing on Broadway with respect to humor, the truth in acting, analyzing a script, building a character, acting influences, auditions, training, directors, pre-performance preparations, and on-stage mishaps. - Playwright, Director & ChoreographerE4
Playwright, Director & ChoreographerChoreographers Rob Ashford and Wayne Cilento, playwright Michael Frayn, playwright/lyricist Greg Kotis, and directors Sean Mathias and Lynne Meadow discuss various aspects of their respective crafts, including the focus on storytelling, the benefits and challenges of collaboration, bad reviews, and the evolution of the director/choreographer relationship. George White moderates. - ProductionE5
ProductionThe creative team of worldwide hit musical "Mamma Mia!" - press representative Adrian Bryan-Brown, producer Judy Craymer, book writer Catherine Johnson, director Phyllida Lloyd, and composer/lyricist Björn Ulvaeus - discuss the multi-year journey that brought ABBA's songs to Broadway. Roy A. Somlyo moderates. - PerformanceE6
PerformanceActors Kate Burton ("Hedda Gabler"), Christine Ebersole ("42nd Street"), Peter Gallagher ("Noises Off"), Valerie Harper ("The Tale of the Allergist's Wife"), and Robert Sean Leonard ("The Music Man") discuss performing on Broadway with respect to humor, the truth in acting, analyzing a script, building a character, acting influences, auditions, training, directors, pre-performance preparations, and on-stage mishaps. Pia Lindstrom moderates. - DesignE7
DesignThe 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. Ted Chapin moderates.