Working in the Theatre

The panel of performers -- Mark Linn-Baker ("A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum"), John Cullum ("Show Boat"), Ann Duquesnay ("Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk"), Judith Ivey ("A Fair Country"), Donna Murphy ("The King And I"), Michael Nouri ("Victor/Victoria") and Daphne Rubin-Vega ("Rent") -- discuss how they auditioned for their current roles, and what education and training they received at the start of their careers. Brendan Gill & George White moderate.

The discussion panel - director Leonard Foglia ("Master Class"), director Michael Greif ("Rent"), playwright Betsy Howie ("Cowgirls"), lyricist Tom Jones ('The Fantasticks"), composer/lyricist Mary Murfitt ("Cowgirls'), and director George C. Wolfe ('Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk") - talk about how their pieces evolved from concept to production, the role of a dramaturg, casting performers with a range of experience, and bringing actors into the creative process. Brendan Gill moderates.

The production team of "Master Class" -- producer Lewis Allen, producing associate Doris Blum, actress Karen Day Cody, press agent Bill Evans, casting director Alan Filderman, stage manager Dianne Trulock, and advertising representative Jim Weiner -- traces the show from its Montana workshop, to stagings in Philadelphia, L.A., and D.C., to opening in New York; how the creators, designers, and operatic cast were put together; developing the publicity and advertising campaigns including the casting of Zoe Caldwell's replacement Patti LuPone; and producing under the Broadway Alliance contract. George White moderates.

The panelists - President/Executive Director of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization Ted Chapin, President of the American Theatre Producers Cy Feuer, writer/critic Martin Gottfried, actor Nathan Lane ("Guys and Dolls", "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"), actor Donna McKechnie ("State Fair"), book writer Joseph Stein ("Fiddler on the Roof"), director/choreographer Susan Stroman ("Big", "Show Boat"), and composer/lyricist Charles Strouse ("Annie') - discuss musical revivals in-depth, comparisons to new musicals such as Big, the state of musical theatre compared to the 1960s, script revisions and new designs for revivals, and the overall economics of producing Broadway musicals including the need for out-of-town tryouts. Ted Chapin & Dasha Epstein moderate.

The panel of performers - Jessica Boevers ("A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"), Jim Dale ("Barnum", "Candide"), Justin Kirk ("Love! Valour! Compassion!"), Daniel Massey ("Taking Sides"), Jay Hunter Morris ("Master Class"), Adam Pascal ("Rent"), and Jean Smart ("Fit To Be Tied") - discuss their backgrounds in diverse areas of performance such as dance, opera, rock music, and repertory theatre; pursuing acting in New York compared to Chicago and Los Angeles; early roles, training, and getting an agent; and reciprocal reactions between the performer and audiences. George White moderates.

The panel - director Melvin Bernhardt ("The Blues Are Running"), playwright David Henry Hwang ("Golden Child", "M. Butterfly"), composer Mary Rodgers ("Once Upon A Mattress"), playwright Nicky Silver ("Fit To Be Tied"), director David Warren ("Fit To Be Tied"), and choreographer Marlies Yearby ('Rent") - discuss how directors collaborate with playwrights, how actors may influence how a role is written, the purpose of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers union and Dramatists' Guild, and the panelists' individual education and training. Brendan Gill & George White moderate.

The panel of American Theatre Wing Design Award-winners -- Julie Archer, special effects designer for Mabou Mines; Christopher H. Barreca, scenic designer of "Chronicle of a Death Foretold"; Ruth Maleczech, actor/director/playwright/designer for Mabou Mines; Karen Ten Eyck, scenic designer of "An Epidog"; and Angela Wendt, "Rent" costume designer with Rent actor Aiko Nakasone -- talk about how they got started as designers, then demonstrate projections and a puppet from "An Epidog", a model set of "Chronicle of a Death Foretold", and a costume from "Rent". Tish Dace & Beverly Emmons moderate.

Playwrights Horizons' production team for "Fit To Be Tied" -- production manager Chris Boll, production stage manager Carol Clark, casting director Janet Foster, general manager Lynn Landis, managing director Leslie Marcus, Artistic Director of Playwrights Horizons Tim Sanford, playwright Nicky Silver and director David Warren -- talk about their individual jobs, their backgrounds, and the steps in bringing this play to the not-for-profit stage. Brendan Gill & George White moderate.