Working in the Theatre

Broadway performers Patti Cohenour, Michael Crawford, and Judy Kaye from "The Phantom of the Opera"; Blythe Danner ("A Streetcar Named Desire"); "M. Butterfly's" John Lithgow and B.D. Wong; and agent Erica Spellman (ICM) discuss auditioning, preparing special skills for unique roles, crossing over from drama to musicals to opera, and working on different types of stages. Jean Dalrymple & Edwin Wilson moderate.

Director Paul Benedict ('Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune"), playwright Timothy Crouse ("Anything Goes"), playwright David Henry Hwang ("M. Butterfly"), director Robert Kalfin ("Rashomon"), playwright Terrence McNally ("Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune"), legal representative Jeremy Nussbaum, and playwright John Weidman ("Anything Goes") talk about how they began their careers in theatre, writing stage directions, revising "Anything Goes", the real life inspiration for "M. Butterfly", and the advantages of a lengthy preview period. Jean Dalrymple & George White moderate.

The production team of "M. Butterfly" - advertising representative Jeffrey Ash, stage manager Bob Borod, general manager Steve Goldstein, producer Stuart Ostrow, and press agent John Springer - talk about the many components involved in bringing the groundbreaking play to Broadway, including the play's themes, casting, ad design, publicity campaign, costume design, budget and ticket prices. Jean Dalrymple and Edwin Wilson moderate.

The actors - David Dukes ("M Butterfly"), Anne Jackson ("Cafe Crown"), Sylvia Miles ("Tea with Mommy and Jack"), Kate Nelligan ("Spoils of War"), Eli Wallach ("Cafe Crown"), and Paul Winfield ("Checkmates") - discuss how they first became interested in acting, auditions, and performing in front of an audience. Jean Dalrymple & Edwin Wilson moderate.

The creative teams of "Legs Diamond": director Robert Allan Ackermam, playwright Harvey Fierstein, and choreographer Alan Johnson, "Paul Robeson": playwright Phillip Hayes Dean and director Harold Scott, and "Spoils of War": director Austin Pendleton and playwright Michael Weller -- discuss their productions, and how they began their careers in theatre. Jean Dalrymple & George White moderate.

The "Spoils Of War" production team - legal representative John Breglio, press representative Joshua Ellis, producer Robyn Goodman, producer David Mirvish, and general manager Peter Neufeld - discuss transferring the play from not-for-profit Second Stage Theatre off-Broadway to a $1.5 million commercial Broadway production. Jean Dalrymple & Edwin Wilson moderate.

John Lee Beatty, Eva Buchmuller, John Dunn, Duke Durffe, Julie Taymore