Working in the Theatre

The creation of Arena Stage marked the beginnings of the regional theater movement in the United States in the 1950's. As a pioneer in theater outside of New York City, Arena Stage became the first advanced theater in D.C. and the country including becoming the first to theater in D.C. to be racially integrated, the first recipient of the Regional Tony Award, and many more. Today, Arena Stage thrives with a new exciting facility where all production work and productions take place under one roof. During these productions, Arena encourages the conversations onstage to continue offstage, and with a large audience of politicos and influencers attending these shows, it is no wonder that Arena is a huge part of opening up ideas and presenting questions in American Theatre.

The Steppenwolf Theatre Company is probably one of the most well known Regional theaters in the United States. Founded in 1974 by Gary Sinise, Terry Kinney, and Jeff Perry, Steppenwolf has produced some of the most prolific and well known pieces of American theatre. Find out how Steppenwolf began its legacy and how the artistic program is pushing boundaries and continuing its mission of telling stories about how we live now by engaging audiences in an exchange of ideas that makes us think harder, laugh longer, and feel more.

Colossal, a new play written by Andrew Hinderaker tells the story of a star football player at the U of Texas, son of a modern dancer. Described as the Anti-Billy Elliott, Colossal expresses masculinity through emotional and physical journeys of the performers by integrating the languages of football, disabilities, and dance. The National New Play Network, through its flagship initiative, the Continued Life of New Plays Fund (CLNPF), supports three or more theaters that choose to mount the same new play within a 12-month period. The result is a Rolling World Premiere, in which a playwright develops a new work with multiple creative teams in different communities. The playwright is part of the process, working on the script and making adjustments based on what is learned from each production. Colossal will premiere in 5 theatres across the country in 2014-2015-journeying to Maryland, Minnesota, Texas, Massachusetts, and Louisiana. The Olney Theatre Center for the Arts of Olney, MD produced the first iteration of Colossal. Watch as the creative team describes this epic piece and how they intend to transform the experience in other venues.

Colossal, a new play written by Andrew Hinderaker tells the story of a star football player at the U of Texas, son of a modern dancer. Described as the Anti-Billy Elliott, Colossal expresses masculinity through emotional and physical journeys of the performers by integrating the languages of football, disabilities, and dance. The National New Play Network, through its flagship initiative, the Continued Life of New Plays Fund (CLNPF), supports three or more theaters that choose to mount the same new play within a 12-month period. The result is a Rolling World Premiere, in which a playwright develops a new work with multiple creative teams in different communities. The playwright is part of the process, working on the script and making adjustments based on what is learned from each production. Colossal will premiere in 5 theatres across the country in 2014-2015-journeying to Maryland, Minnesota, Texas, Massachusetts, and Louisiana. Mixed Blood Theatre of Minneapolis, MN produced the second iteration of Colossal. Watch as the creative team describes this epic piece and how they intend to adapt the experience from other venues.

The designers at 59 Productions are responsible for creating some of the most incredible projection designs of our time, by creating innovative ways to tell stories, and new ones. These designers don't necessarily come from the world of technology, but rather a place where artistic, creative thinking is valued above all else. Watch as we unfold some of the work and meaning behind the projections of 59 Productions, from their work on War Horse to the Olympic Games opening ceremony and so much more. "We are never more excited here than when something comes up that we don't know the answer to. And that's where the sparks of energy, the adrenaline comes from, is not knowing whether an idea you just had is going to be possible, if an idea is possible, but knowing you can go out and find the answer to that." - 59 Productions.

On March 31st 1945, Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie opened on Broadway at the Playhouse Theatre before moving in to what is today the Jacobs Theatre. This classic American play has been revived six times on Broadway, the most recent at the Booth Theatre with A.R.T's production featuring Cherry Jones, Zachary Quinto, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Brian J. Smith. In celebration of 70 years of Williams' work, come with us behind the scenes and before the show with Celia as she prepares to inhabit the role of Laura Wingfield.

Founded in 1908 by Sir Charles Wyndham, Society of London Theatre (SOLT) is the organization that represents the producers, theatre owners and managers of the major commercial and grant-aided theatres in central London. Today the Society combines its long-standing roles in such areas as industrial relations and legal advice for members with a campaigning role for the industry, together with a wide range of audience-development programs to promote theatre-going. Being the guardians of theatre for future generations, SOLT runs the London TKTS booth, the official London theatre website, a press office, and the Olivier awards. The 39th annual Olivier Awards will take place on Sunday April 12th 2015.

"Human evolution is something that is continuous, and Shakespeare was very tapped into that." - Dr. Farrah Karim-Cooper, Head of Higher Education and Research at Shakespeare's Globe. In 1599, after the dismantling of the first theatre in England (aptly called The Theatre) where Shakespeare worked, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre was built in 1599. Persevering fire and pressure of public opinion, the Globe withstood closures to ultimately be revived through the work of American actor and director Sam Wanamaker. Today, the Globe stands as a reconstructed theatre akin to its original 1599 architecture.

The life of a Prop Master is often unknown even to those working in the theatre. But, an important career it is, filled with a variety of skill sets. From designing innovative and usable props to sourcing the best materials to finding the best price to fulfill budget, these busy theatre artisans must wear many hats. As we follow the journeys of prop masters Kathy Fabian, Buist Bickley, and Faye Armon-Troncoso, find out the ins and outs of what it takes to be a successful Prop Master in the theatre.

In this third installation of Colossal, the production moves to the Dallas Theater Center in Dallas, Texas. As the production travels the country, watch how the production transform to fit this new space including an emphasis on the choreography, theatrical surprises, and diversity in casting. Nan Barnett, the Executive Director of National New Play Network shares a glimpse into how the National New Play Network functions in terms of allowing the work to reinvent itself in a new environment which often includes major changes in staging and rewrites.

Follow the journey of Tony and Obie Award Winner Beowulf Boritt and Obie and Hewes Design Award winner Mimi Lien as they explore the process of a Scenic Designer. Find out how they got started, what it takes to work in this profession, and how the scenic design is informed through collaboration with many other key members of the theater.

The Second City opened its doors on a snowy Chicago night in December of 1959. No one could have guessed that this small cabaret theatre would become the most influential and prolific comedy theatre in the world. With its roots in the improvisational games of Viola Spolin, The Second City developed an entirely unique way of creating and performing comedy. With a list of alumni too expansive to name, the Second City has been training some of the most recognizable names in comedy for 56 years.

Theatre is alchemy. It's elements of scenic, lighting, costumes, and performers coming together to tell a story larger than their individual parts. According to Jeff Sugg, "Projection Designers are the mad scientists of sorts." An Obie, Lucille Lortel, and Henry Hewes Award winner, Sugg has created the Projection Designs for The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island, Macbeth, Secondhand Lions, Mountaintop, Bring It On: The Musical, and more. Projection design is a young art in the theatre world, with projection degrees becoming available in the last few years. Jeff Sugg shares his journey from lighting and scenic design to his current profession of projections. Through the ever changing technology for projections, watch as Sugg shares his creative process involving both new and old methods of projections.

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.