Working in the Theatre

Kate Burton ("Some Americans Abroad"), Tyne Daly ("Gypsy"), Tom Hulce ("A Few Good Men"), Robert Morse ("Tru"), Kathleen Turner ("Cat On A Hot Tin Roof"), and Irene Worth ("Sweet Bird Of Youth") talk about being a part of an ensemble cast, the difference between screen and stage, the stamina needed for stage performances, and how they got their start in performing. Jean Dalrymple & Brendan Gill moderate.

The panel -- "A Few Good Men'"s director Don Scardino and playwright Aaron Sorkin, director George C. Wolfe ("Spunk") and director Luke Yankee ("The Cherry Orchard") -- discusses their current productions and how each show was conceived. The creative team of "Once On This Island" -- book writer/lyricist Lynn Ahrens, director/choreographer Graciela Daniele, and composer Stephen Flaherty -- talk about adapting the musical from a novel, and the show's development at Playwrights Horizons. Jean Dalrymple & Brendan Gill moderate.

The production team of 'Gypsy" and "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" - publicist Shirley Herz, casting director Stuart Howard, playwright/director Arthur Laurents, general manager/associate producer Alecia Parker, and producers Barry Weissler and Fran Weissler - talk about many aspects of production from casting to advertising to corporate investors, booking pre-Broadway tour stops, and their other productions of "Fiddler on the Roof", "La Cage aux Folles", and "My One and Only". Jean Dalrymple & Brendan Gill moderate.

Stage actors Mike Hodge ("A Few Good Men"), Robin Morse ("Six Degrees of Separation"), Ron Perlman ("A Few Good Men"), Faith Prince ("Falsettoland"), Margaret Tyzack ("Lettice and Lovage"), and James Whitmore ("About Time" and "Handy Dandy") talk about their education and when they began performing, the effect of cast size, audience response, and positive feedback.

The panel of playwrights Vernel Bagneris ("Further Mo'") and Tom Cole ("About Time"), lyricist John Driver ("Shogun"), director Tony Giordano ("About Time' and "Handy Dandy"), lyricist Sheldon Harnick ("The Rothschilds"), Executive Director of the Dramatists Guild David LeVine, and director Lonny Price ("The Rothschilds") discuss how they got started in their careers, writing for the stage, and the role of the Dramatists Guild. Jean Dalrymple & George White moderate.

The production team for "A Few Good Men" - producer David Brown; president of the Shubert Organization, Bernard Jacobs; Serino Coyne advertising representative Linda Lehman; and general manager Stuart Thompson - talk about selecting a script by unknown playwright Aaron Sorkin; the details of general management including budget, advertising, ticket sales, government taxes; rising costs in the current economics of Broadway; film rights to plays and the effect of a film release; and what it takes to produce a Broadway show. Jean Dalrymple & George White moderate.

Fred Curchack, Jules Fisher, Martin Izquierdo, Santo Loquasto, Judith Martin, Kevin Rigdon