Austin Pendleton: Renowned stage and film actor and Tony nominated stage director Austin Pendleton made time for an interview in April of 1999 with former SDCF Executive Director David Diamond. This 90 minute discussion features the always candid Pendleton discussing his life in the theatre. The conversation begins with an explanation of his origins in directing. From his 1st experience directing his mother in a community theatre production of The Glass Menagerie in his hometown of Warren, Ohio ...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 30 min
Days before the close of 1986's Tony Award winner for "Best Reproduction of a Play or Musical" Hay Fever , Director Brian Murray sat down with Ada Brown Mather to discuss Mr. Coward's return to Broadway. Murray brings to the conversation a simple, honest and eminently knowledgeable love of Noël Coward's work; a relationship he began as an eleven year old boy reading plays at the library. He speaks about how his direction of Hay Fever on Broadway, starring Rosemary Harris, and how it began with a...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 16 min
Jerry Zaks: Just two months after the opening of his Tony Award winning production of The House of Blue Leaves , Director Jerry Zaks spoke to a packed house at Westside Arts Theater in the first installment of SDCF's three part "Directing for Comedy" lecture series, in July of 1986. One of America's greatest Directors of comedy opens up his process for the audience, taking us step by step from his first read of a script through the perils of keeping comedy fresh over a prolonged run of a show. H...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 30 min
Richard Foreman and Wilford Leach: SDCF's James Furlong sat down with two preeminent stage directors who also design, Richard Foreman and Wilford Leach, for a 90 minute discussion about navigating the often contentious relationship of collaboration. Sharing similar origins, both Foreman and Leach discuss how their affinity for designing sets came from a "do it yourself" mentality which developed from an early necessity of their productions. As they grew as artists the two began practicing differ...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 14 min
At St. Mary's Church in Manhattan on September 19, 1986 SDCF hosted the second installation in a series of interviews with "Actors Who Direct". This interview moderated by Ike Schambelan, features a discussion with the magnificent directors/ performers/educators Geraldine Fitzgerald and John Houseman. The focus of the talk is a simple one - good directors. Fitzgerald and Houseman lead the audience on a survey of the craft of directing. Throughout two 40+ year careers in stage and screen, these t...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 20 min
Ellen Stewart: Off-Off Broadway pioneer Ellen Stewart gave a candid interview to SDCF Executive Director David Diamond for a packed audience of theatre artists at ArtsConnection on June 13, 1994. The central focus of the interview is her founding and continued artistic leadership of La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. She begins at the beginning, explaining the origins of the institution and the impetus behind its creation. Ms. Stewart reminisces on her early funding efforts for the company - by ...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 18 min
Gillian Lynne: On February 4, 1996 the Drama League Directors Project co-hosted with SDCF a moderated discussion between Director/Choreographer Gillian Lynne and musical Director/Arranger Marvin Laird. In this candid discussion of Gillian's life in the theatre - the prolific dancer, choreographer, director of musicals and straight plays speaks of the mentors who helped her develop her comprehensive "theatrical vocabulary". She demystifies the true genesis of Cats , explaining that her participat...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 18 min
Ron Lagomarsino: Fresh off of the successful opening of Driving Miss Daisy starring Dana Ivey and Morgan Freeman, Director Ron Lagomarsino sat down with SDCF's Steve Kaplan in January of 1988 to discuss directing comedy for the stage. In this, the third installation in a series of three interviews devoted to the topic, the listener will notice similarities in the directorial philosophies of these comedic helmers. (Other series interviews include directors Gene Saks and Jerry Zaks - available on ...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 15 min
Robert Whitehead and Brian Clark: In April of 1986, the day after their play The Petition , staring Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, began its short lived run on Broadway, writer/producer Brian Clark and producer/director Robert Whitehead sat down with colleague Robert Pesola to discuss bringing serious work to Broadway. The two frame the discussion somewhat ominously; beginning by acknowledging that in the 80's bringing a serious play to Broadway is somewhat of a "deadly" prospect. They cover the...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 16 min
Fritz Ertl sat down with George Ferencz to discuss Sam Shepard at New Dramatists in January of 1985. The conversation begins dominated by questions concerning the musicality of Shepard's earlier work and Ferencz's collaboration with Jazz legend Max Roach to stage them for the ShepardSets in the mid-eighties. The questions drift from the musical toward the more practical as Ferencz covers the nuts and bolts of directing a Shepard piece, his affinity for his newer work and the notion of Shepard's ...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 24 min
Richard Foreman: Professor/Playwright Steven Drukman sat down with theatre artist Richard Foreman in April of 1997 at Artsconnection to discuss theatrical innovation in an interview co-sponsored by SDCF and the Drama League Directors Project. Foreman illuminates an early career of set design as a teenager in Westchester, NY; as an actor at Brown University; as a playwright at Yale. He confides that his origins as a director stem from an unwillingness of his contemporaries to direct his pieces. D...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 23 min
Mitchell, Ashley, and Mayer on Directing: In 2001, Charles Repole and Joe Miloscia of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation had the opportunity to bring together a trio of Broadway's hottest hit-makers for a special conversation. Michael Mayer, Christopher Ashley, and Jerry Mitchell spent an evening catching up, reminiscing and discussing the intricacies of creating comic plays and musicals. Originally recorded - March 28, 2001. Running Time - 1:22:50 ©2001 SDCF
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 22 min
On April 27, 1986 frequent SDCF interviewer and legendary acting coach Ada Brown Mather sat down with director Sir Jonathan Miller to discuss Eugene O'Neill's work one day before his revival of Long Day's Journey Into Night opened on Broadway. In this conversation Sir Miller covers his career as a performer, his recommitment to working in the theatre despite a career as a doctor, his affinity for directing opera, the accidental manner in which he accepted the position as director on Long Day's J...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 29 min
In November of 1986, legendary acting coach Ada Brown Mather sat down with Roderick Cook at Westside Arts Theatre to discuss his affinity for acting, directing and presenting the words and work of Noël Coward. During this interview Cook covers his relationship with Coward the man, the unlikely circumstance under which Cook's hit Oh Coward! was developed and then revived, and the experience of directing Coward shows on and off-Broadway with entertainment giants like Peter O'Toole in his American ...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 8 min
In December of 2001, renowned director Jack O'Brien was interviewed by his former protégé, John Rando, as part of SDCF's One-on-One conversation series. In this 30-minute session Rando and O'Brien span the gamut of Jack's considerable artistic abilities. Jack O'Brien candidly and eloquently covers everything from his sense of competition and his love of discovery, to his artistic process, love of collaboration and management on the Old Globe theatre. Originally recorded - December 1, 2001. Runni...
Apr 01, 2014•32 min
On November 28, 1988 Elinor Renfield sat down with Austin Pendleton at Westside Arts Theatre to discuss the experience of directing Michael Weller's Spoils of War . In this candid in-depth interview, Mr. Pendleton discusses this original piece from development to opening just eighteen days after Spoils premiered at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway. He covers the writing process with Weller, casting Kate Nelligan and Alice Playten and rehearsing the roles that would earn them a Tony nomination a...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 21 min
In December of 1992 a conversation with David Mamet was presented in New York City at Marymount Manhattan College. In this candid discussion Mamet covers writing, directing, the critics and theatre's purpose to society. His incisive comments on the state of entertainment and culture demonstrate why he is one of the most sought after theatre artists working today. Originally recorded - December 1, 1992. Running Time - 1:00:12 ©1992 SDCF
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr
Doug Hughes and Daniel Sullivan: In Spring of 2006, Tony-award winning directors Daniel Sullivan and Doug Hughes were both in the midst of mounting shows at the Manhattan Theatre Club and agreed to sit down with MTC director of Artistic Operations, Mandy Greenfield for what turned out to be an insightful, thought-provoking and witty conversation about their lives in the theatre. This is a recording of that lovely night on stage at New York City Center, Stage 1. Originally recorded - March 13, 20...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 21 min
On February 9, 2004, Tony Award winning choreographer and director Kathleen Marshall sat down for a One-on-One Conversation with Ted Chapin, President and Executive Director of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, at the Beckett Theatre. The discussion traced her meteoric rise from Broadway gypsy, to assisting her brother Rob Marshall on Kiss of the Spiderwoman , to winning a Tony award for her choreography for the Broadway revival of Wonderful Town . The following is a recording of this wo...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 34 min
Susan Stroman: In June of 2000, just days after winning two Tony Awards for her spectacular work on the record-breaking hit, The Producers , in between her rehearsals for the national tour of Contact and the development of her new musical Thou Shalt Not , Susan Stroman took time out of her busy schedule to participate in SDCF's acclaimed One-on-One conversations series. Ms. Stroman was interviewed by her colleague and friend, Charles Repole, before a sold-out crowd. Together they discussed the g...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 30 min
Gene Saks and Jerry Zaks: As part of the SDCF's Directing Comedy: A Serious Business symposium in April of 2000, the Foundation was privileged to host two master directors of comic plays and musicals for an in-depth discussion on the craft of directing comedy. Gene Saks and Jerry Zaks offered marvelous insights and expertise from their long and illustrious careers. This discussion features commentary on the stars with whom they've worked, collaboration with their favorite playwrights and what it...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 31 min
In June of 2000, Hartford Stage's longtime Artistic Director Mark Lamos sat down with the SDCF for a One-on-One interview. In this conversation Lamos speaks candidly about a recent production of Edward II for A.C.T, his early career and his tenure at Hartford Stage, and the art and craft of directing for opera. Originally recorded - June 14, 2000. Running Time - 1:32:06 ©2000 SDCF
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 33 min
On March 12, 1997, eight months before the opening of Lion King on Broadway, Julie Taymor was interviewed by author and collaborator Alexis Greene at Fordham University. In this One-on-One conversation Ms. Taymor reflects on her history as a performer in the collaborative theatre companies of the late 60's and 70's. She speaks about her origins as a director and puppeteer and the development of her aesthetic through international study of eastern theatre. She remarks about the potential for comm...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 26 min
On October 10, 1993 Graciela Daniele was interviewed by SDCFoundation Board Member Frank Ventura at ArtsConnection. In this conversation, Ms. Daniele discusses her life in the arts as a series of transitions. She covers the totality of her career to date, remarking on her evolution from ballerina to musical theatre performer to assistant to director/choreographer. She speaks fondly of former mentors and past productions and candidly articulates her point of view on where American theatre is head...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 13 min
On March 20, 1997, journalist John Rockwell interviewed Robert Wilson at ArtsConnection. This interview, co-sponsored by the SDCFoundation and the Drama League Directors Project, covers the career to date of this visionary artist. Specifically, it focuses on the progression of his avant-garde aesthetic; his use of lighting, movement, text, and sound in his international performance pieces; and his methods for developing these productions. Originally recorded - March 20, 1997. Running Time - 1:14...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 14 min
Des McAnuff: On February 7, 1994 David Diamond interviewed Des McAnuff. Here he speaks of his origins as a writer in Canada, his relationship with the Public Theater and Joe Papp, his collaboration with Pete Townshend on The Who's Tommy , and other satisfying moments as Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse. Originally recorded - February 7, 1994. Running Time - 1:34:15 ©1994 SDCF
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 34 min
On April 7th, 1980 the department of Spanish and Portuguese of New York University and the SDCFoundation sponsored a rare interview with Director Jose Quintero. In this discussion, moderated by Richard Eder, Mr. Quintero speaks about his creative process and the excitement a close collaboration with playwrights holds for him. Mr. Quintero sat down for this interview the evening after Clothes for a Summer Hotel closed on Broadway. He speaks candidly about this production and his ideas for O'Neill...
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 24 min
George C. Wolfe: On April 18th, 1994 collaborator and colleague Hope Clarke sat down to interview writer-director George C. Wolfe. In this post- Jelly pre- Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk interview, Mr. Wolfe discusses his origins as an artist, the difficulty and fulfillment of writing and directing, his experience running the New York Shakespeare Festival and the future of his career. Originally recorded - April 18, 1994. Running Time - 1:03:46 ©1994 SDCF
Apr 01, 2014•1 hr 4 min
In October, 1992 Wendy Wasserstein and Daniel Sullivan sat down at Marymount Manhattan College with SDCFoundation and Dramatist Guild members and the general public to talk about how and why they work together. Originally recorded - October 14, 1992. Running Time - 40:57 ©1992 SDCF
Apr 01, 2014•41 min
On May 2nd, 2002, soon after the much anticipated opening of the Broadway revival of Into the Woods, his Tony award-winning collaboration with Stephen Sondheim, James Lapine sat down with friend and frequent collaborator, Ira Weitzman for a One-on-One conversation. Together they discussed Mr. Lapine's early years in the theatre, the genesis of his work with such musical luminaries as Sondheim and William Finn, and his experiences as both an award-winning director and writer. Originally recorded ...
Mar 31, 2014•1 hr 12 min
