Working in the Theatre

The panel of performers - Trazana Beverley ("Death and the King's Horseman"), Mark Hamill ("The Nerd"), George S. Irving ("Me and My Girl"), Linda Lavin ("Broadway Bound"), Lynn Redgrave ("Sweet Sue"), and Colm Wilkinson ("Les Miserables") - discuss when they started performing and how they got their first roles; directors and effective directing styles; the power and influence of critics; audience response especially on opening night; finding the next job and how to cope with the audition process.

The panel - director Melvin Bernhardt ("The Beach House"), playwright Alice Childress ("Moms"), director Walter Dallas ("Moms"), playwright Nancy Donohue ("The Beach House"), playwright Patrick Meyers ("K2"), and director Terry Schreiber ("K2") - talk about where they started, how many acted before writing and directing, the relationship between directors and playwrights, developing a show particularly out-of-town, the challenges of casting a play, and the collaboration amongst actors, directors, and authors. Schuyler G. Chapin and Jean Dalrymple moderate.

The production team of "Sweet Sue" - advertising representative Fred Golden, general manager Larry Goossen, playwright A.R. Gurney, casting director Donna Isaacson, and producer Arthur Whitelaw - discuss the path the play took to Broadway, each panelist's individual involvement, the challenges of casting, production costs, ticket prices, and how box office grosses effect the advertising campaign. Schuyler Chapin & Jean Dalrymple moderate.

The panel of performers - from "Driving Miss Daisy", Morgan Freeman and Dana Ivey; Robert LuPone ("Late Night Comic"); John Malkovich ("Burn This"); Jane Summerhays ("Me and My Girl"); and Courtney B. Vance ("Fences") - talk about milestones at the start of their careers; their attitude towards auditioning, rehearsing, and reviews; working on unsuccessful shows; and the positive differences of matinee performances. Jean Dalrymple & Edwin Wilson moderate.

The panel - playwright Allan Knee ("Late Night Comic"), director Ron Lagomarsino ("Driving Miss Daisy"), director Lloyd Richards ("Fences"), casting director Meg Simon ("Fences"), playwright Alfred Uhry ("Driving Miss Daisy"), and playwright August Wilson ("Fences") - discuss directing styles, collaboration between playwright and director, developing and casting their current productions, and the emergence of casting directors for the stage. Jean Dalrymple & Edwin Wilson moderate.

The production team of "Burn This" - producer James B. Freydberg, press representative Shirley Herz, director Marshall Mason, producer Max Weitzenhoffer, and playwright Lanford Wilson - talk about developing the play at the Mark Taper Forum and off-Broadway at Circle Rep, directly transferring from Steppenwolf Theatre Company to Broadway within 48 hours, the timing of reviews, and advertising in newspapers and television. Jean Dalrymple & Edwin Wilson moderate.

The 23rd annual American Theatre Wing Design Awards honor the best theatrical design in New York for the 1986-1987 season. The award winning designs are demonstrated by "Starlight Express" assistant costume designer Ann Emonts, 'Worstward Ho" assistant lighting designer Mary Louise Geiger, "The Hunger Artist" actor Anthony Holland, Brooklyn Academy of Music's "The Civil Wars - Act 5: The Trees" production manager Paul King, and "Fences" scenic designer James D. Sandefur. Tish Dace & Jean Dalrymple moderate.