Posted on March 10th, 2010 at 9:23 am
by American Theatre Wing
Rondi Reed
From August: Osage County and Wicked.
The “resident character woman” of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Rondi Reed, talks about her current stint as Madame Morrible in the Broadway juggernaut Wicked, a role she originated in the musical’s Chicago company, including why we’re suddenly seeing her in a big Broadway musical for the first time, after 30 years in Chicago’s best-known theatre ensemble. She also discusses her college years at Illinois State University, where she first met the team who would become the founders of Steppenwolf; why after graduation she decamped for Minnesota; when the invitation to join Steppenwolf actually came; why she didn’t journey to New York for the famed production of Balm in Gilead; her directing debut with John Guare’s Lydie Breeze; her extended tenure in the original production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile and the brief Broadway run of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice; whether she has the opportunity at Steppenwolf to ask for plays to be done specifically based on her interest; why the company seems to have so many meetings and how they’ve sustained that over the years; her reasons for initially declining the role of Mattie Faye, written by Tracy Letts with her in mind, in August: Osage County, as she sets the record straight about whether or not the company resisted bringing the show to New York; the remarkable experience of returning to August for its final performance at the last minute, playing the role she created for a single performance with a company of actors she didn’t know, including Phylicia Rashad, why she’s only in recent years begun appearing in roles outside of Steppenwolf; and how long we can expect her to stay in the magical world of Wicked.
Original airdate – March 10, 2010.
Running time – 1:03:44.
For more information, to listen online, or to download the episode go to Downstage Center’s Rondi Reed program page.
You can also download directly the Rondi Reed program (mp3).
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Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
by American Theatre Wing
Frank Perry
Film director Frank Perry who spent the first 10 years of his career directing for the stage, returns to Broadway to direct Ladies at the Alamo. Perry explains why he has returned to Broadway now, and shares what’s next in his career.
Running time – 03:42.
For more information, to listen online, or to download the episode go to TBL This Is Broadway’s Frank Perry program page.
You can also download directly the Frank Perry program (mp3).
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Posted on March 8th, 2010 at 9:49 am
by American Theatre Wing
Performance
The panel of performers – Jane Alexander (Shadowlands), Stockard Channing (Six Degrees of Separation), Sarah Jessica Parker (The Substance Of Fire), Jonathan Pryce (Miss Saigon), Ron Rifkin (The Substance Of Fire), Mercedes Ruehl (Lost In Yonkers), and Topol (Fiddler on the Roof) – discuss playing the same role over the years, finding a rhythm in one’s performance, learning about one’s character during the rehearsal process, gaining discipline, and how each performer got their start.
Original airdate – September 1, 1991.
Running time – 1:30:00.
For more information, to watch online, or to download the episode go to Working in the Theatre’s Performance program page.
You can also download directly the Performance program (mp4).
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Posted on March 5th, 2010 at 9:55 am
by American Theatre Wing
Theatre Design Specialist
Theatre Design Specialist Roger Morgan talks about how his education in scenic and lighting design and backstage experience helped determine his focus in the field of architecture. He works on new designs as well as restorations, fully evaluating the existing damage and work required. For the Nederlander Theatre, left in “grungy” condition that suited the long-running musical Rent which closed in 2008, Morgan referred back to historical records and photos. Morgan paid close attention to the original architectural details and interior lighting, and gave the theatre a fresh exterior highlighting the arches and original brick as well as a new marquee.
Original airdate – March 5, 2010.
Running time – 07:24.
For more information, to watch online, or to download the episode go to In The Wings’ Theatre Design Specialist program page.
You can also download directly the Theatre Design Specialist program (mp4).
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Posted on March 4th, 2010 at 9:59 am
by American Theatre Wing
Scott Elliott
At the 2003 SDC Directing Symposium, Scott Elliott, Artistic Director of The New Group and Callaway Award winner for Excellence in Directing, spoke to a room full of young directors for 90 minutes about his transition from acting in Broadway musicals to becoming an award winning director and artistic director of a successful Off-Broadway theatre company. He describes paying rent with charge cards in order to be creatively ambitious in his early directing days, and the element of chance that led to the New York Times showing up for one of his first shows and in so doing, changed his career forever. He speaks of his experience directing The Women for Roundabout on Broadway at the time of 9/11 and the decision to continue rehearsing and open the show in October. Other topics include choosing scripts and collaborators, the state of Off-Broadway theater post 9/11, and his collaboration with Arthur Miller on The Ride Down Mt. Morgan. Mr. Elliott’s interview provides a sneak peek into the world of a remarkable theatre artist who built his career from scratch, which should be of great interest to any aspiring director or artistic director.
Originally recorded on – January 1, 2003.
Running time – 1:14:37.
For more information, to listen online, or to download the episode go to SDCF Masters of the Stage’s Scott Elliott program page.
You can also download directly the Scott Elliott program (mp3).
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