Working in the Theatre

Playwrights Jon Robin Baitz ("Hedda Gabler"), John Guare ("Sweet Smell of Success"), Peter Parnell ("Q.E.D."), and directors Gene Saks ("Mr. Goldwyn"), Daniel Sullivan ("Proof"), and Mary Zimmerman ("Metamorphoses") discuss their approaches to writing, directing, and adaptations; the collaboration process with directors, writers, producers, sets, and actors; reactions to a production's first preview; and the source of ideas for playwrights. Jeffrey Eric Jenkins moderates.

"Thoroughly Modern Millie's" creative and production team - choreographer Rob Ashford, general manager Nina Lannan, producer Hal Luftig, director Michael Mayer, book writer/lyricist Dick Scanlan and composer Jeanine Tesori - discuss the Tony Award winning musical's journey to Broadway; obtaining the rights to the 1967 Universal Pictures film written by Richard Morris and starring Julie Andrews; years of development in workshops and readings; how the production team came together, including Rob Ashford's choreographer audition; the mixture of existing songs and new Tesori compositions; the advantages and disadvantages of mounting the show in partnership with La Jolla Playhouse; the many producers involved, including road presenters; the decision and budgetary considerations in opening on Broadway with a rigious preview period versus a second out-of-town tryout. Roy A. Somlyo moderates.

Actors Frank Langella ("Fortune's Fool"), John Lithgow ("Sweet Smell of Success"), Andrea Martin ("Oklahoma!"), Estelle Parsons ("Mornings at Seven"), Mercedes Ruehl ("The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia?"), Jeffrey Wright ("Top Dog/Under Dog") discuss playing a range of roles, what influences their performances including daily life and audience response, how to prepare for a performance, and working with directors in finding courage and confidence.

Actors Julie Harris ("The Belle of Amherst"), Marilu Henner ("The Tale of the Allergist's Wife"), Richard Kind ("The Tale of the Allergist's Wife"), Hal Linden ("Cabaret"), Brad Oscar ("The Producers"), Steven Weber ("The Producers") discuss what makes for good entertainment; how actors collaborate with the rest of the creative staff, especially directors; and what makes an audience laugh. Additionally, there is a short tribute to producer Robert Whitehead ("Master Class", "A Few Good Men", "Medea") who recently passed away. Peter Stone moderates.

Director and lyricist Martin Charnin (Annie); director and choreographer Graciela Daniele (Annie Get Your Gun); lyricist and book writers Rupert Holmes (Say Goodnight, Gracie) and Michael Kunze (Dance of the Vampires); and directors Marion McClinton (King Hedley II) and Lawrence Sacharow (Director of Fordham University Theatre Program) talk about the evolution of both play and musical writing in the United States today and the changes in directorial style and direction over the years. Ted Chapin moderates.

This panel of producers (all of whom just happen to be women) -- Tisa Chang, Elizabeth Ireland McCann, Amy Nederlander, Daryl Roth, Fran Weissler, and Elizabeth Williams -- talks about the role of women in theater, how they are perceived, how they have come to the forefront of the theater community and how they have significantly impacted productions on Broadway and off-Broadway. Dasha Epstein moderates.

Set designer John Arnone ("The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?"), costume designers Jane Greenwood ("Morning's at Seven") and Martin Pakledinaz ("Thoroughly Modern Millie"), set designer Scott Pask ("Amour") and lighting designer Richard Pilbrow ("Our Town") talk about what it means for a designer to collaborate on a show; how that collaboration works with other designers, and the cast and director; and how they keep up with their hectic schedules. Jeffrey Eric Jenkins moderates.

Actors John Cullum ("Urinetown"), Edie Falco ("Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune"), Lea Salonga ("Flower Drum Song"), Stanley Tucci ("Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune"), Marissa Jaret Winokur ("Hairspray") and Charlayne Woodard ("In Real Life") meet and discuss the changes taking place in the theatre world today; how they came to be in their current shows; and the fluidity of an actor's life - moving between theatre, television and movies.

The creative team behind the Broadway musical Hairspray, producers Richard Frankel and Margo Lion, co-book writer Thomas Meehan, choreographer Jerry Mitchell, director Jack O'Brien, co-book writer Mark O'Donnell, composer Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott Wittman outline the journey the piece took from being a John Waters and Divine cult movie to hitting the Broadway stage; offer a peek at the process that created this smash hit and discuss the social messages that the show sends, both in its content and it's non-traditional casting.