SDCF Podcast Series show

SDCF Podcast Series

Summary: About: The SDCF Podcast series includes insightful and in-depth conversations about the working processes and experiences of directors and choreographers. This series features four decades of interviews and panel discussions with some of the field’s most distinguished luminaries, including Hal Prince and Lloyd Richards. Recent episodes include conversations with such notable artists as Anne Kauffman, Raja Feather Kelly, Seret Scott, Leigh Silverman, Twyla Tharp, and Mark Valdez. Dive into our archives to hear the story of the American theatre, told by those who helped create its history and are charting the course of its future. Feel free to search for episodes using relevant search terms, or peruse the following categories: ● Awards ● Choreographers in Conversation ● Choreography ● Direction ● In Motion with Wendy Seyb ● Issues ● One-on-One Conversations ● Producing ● Regional Originals with M. Graham Smith ● Shakespeare/Classics ● Technical Theatre ● The Founder’s Series with Anne Kauffman ● Writing/Composition Please note: The conversations in these podcasts date back to 1980 and may contain language that is not representative of the Foundation’s current ethos. We believe these conversations should be made available as an educational and informative resource for theatre artists. Due to the historical nature of this podcast archive, there may be outdated language or content. Therefore, we ask listeners to reach out to us if they feel any of our podcasts need additional review due to content. Additionally, we are happy to have any of our episodes transcribed upon request.

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Podcasts:

 The Art of Collaboration: Alex Timbers, Peter Hylenski, and Derek McLane | File Type: audio/mp4 | Duration: 52:55

We are excited to bring you this new episode in our podcast series, The Art of Collaboration. This series focuses on directors and choreographers in conversation with some of their collaborators on a specific production. This series explores the ins and outs of these processes, both the finer details as well as overarching ideas about what goes into a productive collaboration on a show. In the second episode of this two episode arc, Director Alex Timbers, Sound Designer Peter Hylenski, and Scenic Designer Derek McLane are interviewed by Foundation Director Dani Barlow to discuss their experience working together on Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Learn more about this episode’s guests below.    Bios: ALEX TIMBERS (Director) is the recipient of Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and London Evening Standard Awards, as well as two Obie and Lortel Awards. Broadway credits include Gutenberg the Musical; Here Lies Love; Moulin Rouge!; Just For Us; Beetlejuice; David Byrne’s American Utopia; Oh Hello with Nick Kroll and John Mulaney; The Pee-wee Herman Show; Peter and the Starcatcher; and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (also bookwriter). For television, he co-created Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle” (Golden Globe Award) and has helmed the Netflix specials “John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous,” “Ben Platt: Live at Radio City,” and most recently “John Mulaney: Baby J” (2023 Emmy Award nomination). His debut picture book, Broadway Bird, set in an all-animal version of Broadway, is published by Macmillan. @alextimbers PETER HYLENSKI (Sound Designer). Peter received a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award Honor for his work on Moulin Rouge! The Musical. A Grammy, Olivier, and eight time Tony nominee, his selected Broadway designs include: Moulin Rouge!, Frozen, Anastasia, Beetlejuice, Once On This Island, Something Rotten, King Kong, Rock of Ages, After Midnight, Motown, The Scottsboro Boys, Side Show, Rocky, Bullets Over Broadway, Shrek the Musical, On A Clear Day, Lend Me A Tenor, Elf.  Other designs: Awakening, Le Rêve and Lake of Dreams at Wynn Las Vegas.  He’s designed for Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, London’s O2 Arena, and The Kennedy Center.  Peter holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University. DEREK MCLANE (Scenic Designer) SELECTED CREDITS: BROADWAY: MJ the Musical, Moulin Rouge!, Purlie Victorious, A Soldier’s Play, American Son, The Parisian Woman, Children of a Lesser God, The Price, Noises Off, Fully Committed, Beautiful, Gigi, China Doll, Anything Goes, The Heiress, Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Best Man, Follies, How to Succeed In Business Without Even Trying, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Million Dollar Quartet, Ragtime, 33 Variations The Pajama Game, I Am My Own Wife. OFF-BROADWAY: Black No More, Merrily We Roll Along, The True, Jerry Spring the Opera, If I Forget, The Whirligig, Into The Woods, Love, Love, Love, Sweet Charity, Evening at the Talk House, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Buried Child, The Spoils, Sticks and Bones, The Last Five Years, A Lie of the Mind, Ruined, Hurlyburly. TELEVISION: He designed the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017 Academy Awards as well as the NBC LIVE! Musicals The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, The WIZ & HAIRSPRAY. AWARDS: Winner of 1997 + 2004 OBIE Awards, 2004, 2005, 2007 Lortel Awards; 2009 + 2021 Tony Award, 2011 Drama Desk Award, 2015, 2016 Art Directors Guild Award, 2014 + 2017 Emmy Award.  

 The Art of Collaboration: Alex Timbers, Justin Townsend, and Catherine Zuber | File Type: audio/mp4 | Duration: 57:00

We are excited to bring you this new podcast series, The Art of Collaboration. This series will focus on directors and choreographers in conversation with some of their collaborators on a specific production. This series will explore the ins and outs of these processes, both the finer details as well as overarching ideas about what goes into a productive collaboration on a show. In this inaugural episode, Director Alex Timbers, Costume Designer Catherine Zuber, and Lighting Designer Justin Townsend are interviewed by Foundation Director Dani Barlow to discuss their experience working together on Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Learn more about this episode’s guests below. Bios: Alex Timbers (Director) is the recipient of Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and London Evening Standard Awards, as well as two Obie and Lortel Awards. Broadway credits include Gutenberg the Musical; Here Lies Love; Moulin Rouge!; Just For Us; Beetlejuice; David Byrne’s American Utopia; Oh Hello with Nick Kroll and John Mulaney; The Pee-wee Herman Show; Peter and the Starcatcher; and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (also bookwriter). For television, he co-created Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle” (Golden Globe Award) and has helmed the Netflix specials “John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous,” “Ben Platt: Live at Radio City,” and most recently “John Mulaney: Baby J” (2023 Emmy Award nomination). His debut picture book, Broadway Bird, set in an all-animal version of Broadway, is published by Macmillan. @alextimbers   Justin Townsend (Lighting Designer): His professional lighting design work includes such productions as: Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award); Jagged Little Pill (Tony Nomination); American Psycho (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Henry Hewes Award); The Humans (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award); Here Lies Love, (Drama Desk Award, Public Theater); Vietgone, (MTC); Pretty Filthy, (Civilians); Mr. Burns, a Post Electric Play, Milk Like Sugar, (Playwrights Horizons); Odyssey, A Winter’s Tale, (Public Works at the Delacorte Theater); Venus, (Signature Theater); Unnatural Acts, Mother Courage, and Galileo (Classic Stage Company) Catherine Zuber (Costume Designer) Broadway: Moulin Rouge, (Tony Award, Olivier Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), Mrs. Doubtfire, My Fair Lady, (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), Oslo, War Paint (Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), King & I, (Olivier Award, Tony Award), Fiddler on the Roof, Golden Boy. South Pacific (Tony Award); The Coast of Utopia (Tony Award); The Light in the Piazza (Tony Award); Awake and Sing! (Tony Award); The Royal Family (Tony Award);  Gigi (Drama Desk Award). Metropolitan Opera: Rigoletto, Porgy & Bess, Il Barbieri di Siviglia, Les Contes d’Hoffman, Comte Ory, L’elisir d’Amore, Otello, Dr. Atomic, Roméo et Juliette. 2016 Induction: Theater Hall of Fame.  Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation: Founded in 1965, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) exists to foster, promote, and develop the creativity and craft of stage directors and choreographers. SDCF’s mission is to create access to the field, to connect artists to each other and to the public, and to honor these artists’ theatrical legacies. The centrality of directors and choreographers in theatre and the impact they have on other artists’ careers—from playwrights to designers to actors—makes SDCF’s services essential to the wider theatre industry’s continued health and vitality. Through its dynamic educational programming, including Observerships, Fellowships, public panels, and day-long symposia, SDCF serves the needs of directors and choreographers at every stage of career. www.sdcfoundation.org

 Choreographers in Conversation: Camille A. Brown and Ellenore Scott | File Type: audio/mp4 | Duration: 44:25

We are excited to bring you this podcast series, Choreographers in Conversation. This series allows choreographers to interview other choreographers whose work excites them as a way to learn more about their craft and preserve the stories of these exciting artists in our industry. In this episode Choreographer and Creative Director Ellenore Scott interviews Choreographer Camille A. Brown to hear more about her career and where her love of dance and choreography comes from, what inspires her, working with collaborators, and how Camille approaches her work with ranges in size and types of stages. They also discuss Broadway debuts, the preproduction process, and staying true to yourself in your work. Bios: Camille A. Brown: Broadway: for colored girls… (7 Tony award nominations including Best Direction of a Play and Choreography), Choir Boy (Tony & Drama Desk Nominee), Once on This Island (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Chita Rivera Nominee), A Streetcar Named Desire. Off Broadway and regional: Much Ado About Nothing (Audelco Award), Toni Stone (Audelco, Lortel Nominee), Bella (Playwrights Horizons, Lucille Lortel Nominee, Audelco Award), Fortress of Solitude (Lucille Lortel Nominee); tick, tick...BOOM! (Encores!). The Wiz (MUNY), Stagger Lee (DTC); Once (Pittsburgh CLO). Opera: Fire Shut Up in My Bones (co-directed with James Robinson- Bessie nomination), Porgy & Bess, Champion.  Television: Harlem (Amazon Prime), Nike/Jordan commercial. Jesus Christ Superstar Live” (NBC). Film:  Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix). Company: Bessie winning Camille A. Brown & Dancers. Awards: Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Choreography, ISPA’s Distinguished Artist, Dance Magazine Award, Guggenheim, Doris Duke Artist, Princess Grace Statue Award, Jacob’s Pillow Award, and New York City Center, USA Jay Franke & David Herro Fellow, TED fellow, Kennedy Center’s Next 50, Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellowship www.camilleabrown.org  Ellenore Scott (she/her) is a New York based choreographer and creative director. Broadway: Funny Girl, Mr. Saturday Night. Off-Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors, Titanique. Other choreography credits include: So You Think You Can Dance?, Single All the Way (Netflix), Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical. Scott’s work has been seen at The Bushwick Starr, The Old Globe, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, McCarter Theatre, Cherry Lane Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Cape Fear Regional Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre. As a performer, Scott appeared in numerous television shows (Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Smash, The Blacklist, Glee!) and was a finalist and All-Star on So You Think You Can Dance? Scott is the Artistic Director of ELSCO Dance, a contemporary-fusion dance company. As a content creator, Scott makes lifestyle, dance and comedy videos for over 1 million followers on TikTok. @helloellenore https://www.ellenorescott.co/ Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation: Founded in 1965, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) exists to foster, promote, and develop the creativity and craft of stage directors and choreographers. SDCF’s mission is to create access to the field, to connect artists to each other and to the public, and to honor these artists’ theatrical legacies. The centrality of directors and choreographers in theatre and the impact they have on other artists’ careers—from playwrights to designers to actors—makes SDCF’s services essential to the wider theatre industry’s continued health and vitality. Through its dynamic educational programming, including Observerships, Fellowships, public panels, and day-long symposia, SDCF serves the needs of directors and choreographers at every stage of career. www.sdcfoundation.org

 A Conversation about the SDCF Professional Development Program – Special Podcast Episode | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:11

In this special podcast episode, SDCF Director Dani Barlow and SDCF Board of Trustees Member Seema Sueko discuss the revitalized Professional Development Program (formerly the SDCF Observership Program). You can visit SDCF’s website to learn more: https://sdcfoundation.org/professional-development-program/ SDCF’s revitalized Professional Development Program provides opportunities for early career directors and choreographers to observe and/or support experienced directors and choreographers during the production process. The goals of this program are to provide access to directors and/or choreographers who have not seen the work of an experienced director/choreographer or have not previously worked on a certain type of production or at a certain level and provide mentorship from experienced directors and choreographers to newer directors and choreographers. Applications for the 2022-23 Season Cycle 1 will open Friday November 11, 2022.

 Choreographers in Conversation: Annie-B Parson and Sam Pinkleton | File Type: audio/mp4 | Duration: 59:03

We are excited to bring you this podcast series, Choreographers in Conversation. This series will allow choreographers to interview other choreographers whose work excites them as a way to learn more about their craft and preserve the stories of these exciting artists in our industry. In this episode Sam Pinkleton interviews Annie-B Parson. The two discuss the experience of choreographing for musicians and opera, being a choreographer not a dancer, and how one collaborates or doesn’t with dancers and musicians. Sam asks Annie-B about how she prepares for a project, who she makes dance pieces for, and how she thinks teaching influences her work. Additionally, the two talk about Annie-B Parson’s new book called The Choreography of Everyday Life that was published on October 11th, 2022. They also reiterate that choreographers are for more than carrying a couch across the stage. Check out Annie-B's book here: http://ow.ly/liWH50L9uRP Annie-B Parson: Annie-B Parson is a choreographer. She has made choreography for rock shows, marching bands, movies, museums, objects, television, augmented reality, opera, ballet, theater, symphony orchestras, string quartets, and a chorus of 1,000 amateur singers. She has made dance and stagings for the work of David Byrne, David Bowie, Lorde, St. Vincent, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Wendy Whelan, Laurie Anderson, Suzan Lori Parks, Spike Lee, Jonathan Demme, Salt ‘n Pepa, Esperanza Spalding, David Lang, Anne Carson, and the Martha Graham Dance Co. Annie-B is the artistic director of Big Dance Theater. Annie-B just published a new book on October 11, 2022 called The Choreography of Everyday Life. https://www.bigdancetheater.org/founders-directors/ Sam Pinkleton:  Sam Pinkleton is a Tony Award-nominated theater and dance maker. His work on Broadway includes Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Machinal, Heisenberg, Significant Other, Amélie, and Macbeth. His recent work includes Jeanine Tesori and David Henry Hwang’s Soft Power, the youth-led civic spectacular Runaways in Central Park and collaborations with the Dutch National Opera, Carnegie Hall, BAM, Virgin Voyages, The Civilians, Swing Left, and Cirque du Soleil. He is currently directing the world premiere of Noah Diaz' You Will Get Sick for Roundabout Theater Company. He does not own any dance shoes. sampinkleton.com Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation: Founded in 1965, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) exists to foster, promote, and develop the creativity and craft of stage directors and choreographers. SDCF’s mission is to create access to the field, to connect artists to each other and to the public, and to honor these artists’ theatrical legacies. The centrality of directors and choreographers in theatre and the impact they have on other artists’ careers—from playwrights to designers to actors—makes SDCF’s services essential to the wider theatre industry’s continued health and vitality. Through its dynamic educational programming, including Observerships, Fellowships, public panels, and day-long symposia, SDCF serves the needs of directors and choreographers at every stage of career. www.sdcfoundation.org

 Choreographers In Conversation: Maria Torres & Jerry Mitchell | File Type: audio/mp4 | Duration: 48:02

We are excited to bring you this podcast series, Choreographers in Conversation. This series will allow choreographers to interview other choreographers whose work excites them as a way to learn more about their craft and preserve the stories of these exciting artists in our industry. In this episode, Maria Torres, Director/Choreographer/SDCF Trustee interviews Director/Choreographer, Jerry Mitchell to learn more about his career, what brought him to the theatre, the work that he is passionate about, the current state of our industry, and what he hopes for the future.  Jerry Mitchell: Jerry Mitchell (Director/Choreographer, Kinky Boots) made his Broadway and West End debuts as Director/Choreographer of Legally Blonde, which won the Olivier Award for Best Musical. He was also nominated for both the Tony® and Drama Desk Awards for his choreography for Legally Blonde, as well as the Drama Desk Award for his direction. A Tony® winner for his dazzling choreography created for the first revival of La Cage Aux Folles, Jerry was also nominated for that Award for choreographing Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hairspray, Never Gonna Dance, and The Full Monty. For Broadway, Jerry also choreographed Catch Me If You Can, and revivals of Charlie Brown, Rocky Horror Show, and Gypsy (starring Bernadette Peters), and for Off-Broadway and film, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Jeffrey. Other film work includes In & Out, Camp, Drop Dead Gorgeous, and Scent of a Woman. Twenty years ago, Jerry conceived and created Broadway Bares, a comedy burlesque show performed annually for the charity Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Jerry proudly serves as a Board member of BC/EFA and annually as the Executive Producer of Broadway Bares, with a book, website and satellite productions in Las Vegas and London. Cumulative fundraising efforts have resulted in more than $10 million raised for the charity. Next up: directing and choreographing The Honeymooners on Broadway.   Maria Torres: Maria Torres’ extensive career as director, choreographer, instructor, and Producer began as a critically acclaimed performer, contributing choreography while performing in the film Dance, with the six-time Tony-nominated Broadway musical Swing and Me!. Torres was nominated for a 2018 Ovation Award for Best Choreography for Luis Valdes’ Zoot Suit, is a Lucille Lortel & Carbonell nominee of Four Guys named Jose’, The Donkey Show and Celia, the musical based on the life of the late Cuban singer Celia Cruz. Torres received accolades as Associate Choreographer for the Broadway & Touring productions of On Your Feet, the Oscar-nominated film Enchanted, the musical film Idlewild, the showcase for the Tony Award-winning In The Heights, and as a resident choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance. Torres also co-conceived, choreographed, and directed the Magic Of Salsa Kingdom and Off-Broadway hit Latin Heat. Recently, she directed and choreographed the new musical Havana Music Hall, Sol of El Barrio, and served as dance consultant for Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway. Torres is an Artist in Residence at The Rosetta LeNoire Amas Musical Theater, Trustee of Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), a proud executive board member of the Stage Directors, and Choreographers Society, and the League of Professional Theatre Women. Her life is documented in the Dance Oral History Project at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

 Choreographers In Conversation: Dan Knechtges & Twyla Tharp | File Type: audio/mp4 | Duration: 36:27

We are excited to bring you a new podcast series, Choreographers in Conversation. This series will allow choreographers to interview other choreographers whose work excites them as a way to learn more about their craft and preserve the stories of these exciting artists in our industry. In this episode to kick off the series, Dan Knechtges interviews Twyla Tharp. The two cover everything from Twyla’s legendary theatrical work including MOVIN' OUT to her book THE CREATIVE HABIT and discuss how the legacy of her craft lives on. Learn more about Twyla Tharp at the Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation website.   Twyla Tharp: Since graduating from Barnard College in 1963, Ms. Tharp has choreographed more than one hundred sixty works: one hundred twenty-nine dances, twelve television specials, six Hollywood movies, four full-length ballets, four Broadway shows and two figure skating routines, she has also written 4 books. She received one Tony Award, two Emmy Awards, 20 honorary doctorates, the Vietnam Veterans of America President's Award, the 2004 National Medal of the Arts, the 2008 Jerome Robbins Prize, and a 2008 Kennedy Center Honor. Her many grants include the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Learn more about Twyla Tharp and her legacy through her foundation website.   Dan Knechtges: Broadway – Lysistrata Jones (Direction & Choreography), Xanadu (directed by Chris Ashley, Tony nomination, Drama Desk nomination), Sondheim on Sondheim (directed by James Lapine), 110 in The Shade (starring Audra McDonald) and The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee (directed by James Lapine.) Off-Broadway – TAIL! SPIN! (starring Rachel Dratch), The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee at Second Stage, which earned him a Lucille Lortel Award nomination, Merrily We Roll Along for Encores! at City Center (directed by James Lapine), Vanities at Second Stage and Lysistrata Jones for the Transport Group, My Favorite Year (York Theater). International credits include Der Schuh Das Manitu (Berlin, Germany). Regional theatres include – The MUNY, Goodspeed, Dallas Theatre Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Papermill Playhouse, Trinity Rep,  Pioneer Theatre, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Baltimore Centerstage, Theatreworks Palo Alto, Hangar Theatre. Indianapolis Opera, Opera Illinois, Surflight Theatre.  TV/Film credits include Palindromes, Dark Horse and White Collar, and the 2011 TV Land Awards with Liza Minnelli. Dan also choreographed FatboySlim’s #1 music video “It’s a Wonderful Night.” Dan is a member of the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab and holds a BFA in theatre from Otterbein College.

 The Role of Broadway Associate/Resident Directors and Choreographers | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:31:46

In this conversation we hear from associate directors and choreographers to learn what their jobs entail and how they navigate their work in the industry. This event will be in webinar format and ASL interpretation will be provided. The conversation is moderated by Benjamin Endsley Klein (Associate Director, Hairspray West End, The Ferryman, Carousel), and the panel includes Nancy Renee Braun (Resident Choreographer, Moulin Rouge & Associate Choreographer, Beetlejuice), Chika Ike (Associate Director, Hadestown Broadway/Tour), Tatiana Pandiani (Associate Director, What The Constitution Means To Me), and Danny Sharron (Senior Associate Director, Dear Evan Hansen Broadway/West End/Toronto/Tour). Learn more about our panelists here: https://sdcfoundation.org/the-role-of-broadway-associate-resident-directors-and-choreographers/ Join our mailing list: https://forms.gle/4yBHJSyu98cQw2Qm8

 Returning to Rehearsal with Justin Emeka and Marya Sea Kaminski | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:01:22

As live productions resume across the country, theater artists and managers are working to reopen for audiences. There are several conversations they must respond to—namely the ongoing pandemic and calls for action for equity and inclusion. This series will elevate those conversations, hearing from a group of theater leaders, directors and choreographers about their experiences on returning. In the final installment of this series Justin Emeka, Resident Director at the Pittsburgh Public Theater and Marya Sea Kaminski, Artistic Director at the Pittsburgh Public Theater join us in conversation. Learn more about our panelists here: https://sdcfoundation.org/sdcf-conversation-series-returning-to-rehearsal-3/ Join our mailing list: https://forms.gle/4yBHJSyu98cQw2Qm8

 Returning to Rehearsal with Raja Feather Kelly, Leigh Silverman, & Yuvika Tolani | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 57:56

As live productions resume across the country, theater artists and managers are working to reopen for audiences. There are several conversations they must respond to—namely the ongoing pandemic and calls for action for equity and inclusion. This series will elevate those conversations, hearing from a group of theater leaders, directors and choreographers about their experiences on returning. In the second installment of this series Raja Feather Kelly, choreographer of SUFFS, Leigh Silverman, director of SUFFS, and Yuvika Tolani, Director of Producing at The Public Theater join us in conversation as they discuss the process of putting up this production. Learn more about the panelists here: https://sdcfoundation.org/sdcf-conversation-series-returning-to-rehearsal-2/ Join our mailing list: https://forms.gle/4yBHJSyu98cQw2Qm8

 One-on-One Conversation with Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Justin Emeka | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:30:19

On November 5, 2015, Two Rivers Artistic Director John Dias sat down with actor, playwright, and director Ruben Santiago-Hudson and actor, playwright, choreographer and director Justin Emeka to discuss their bodies of work and philosophical approaches to directing. Throughout the conversation Santiago-Hudson and Emeka touch on the importance of thoughtful casting, directing both Shakespeare and August Wilson, and the importance of representation. In this discussion, Santiago-Hudson and Emeka unpack issues of privilege, empowerment, and adaptation—all issues that a director must face as he or she approaches any body of work. Listen in as these two masters of the stage engage in a rich philosophical discussion about their craft and the material they work with. 

 One-on-One Conversation with Lear deBessonet and Thomas Kail | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:06:04

In 2015, Thomas Kail and Lear Debessonet participated in a One-on-One conversation that focused on their experiences as  young directors. In this podcast, deBessonet shares her early interest in interdisciplinary work that led to her current role as Director of Public Works at the Public Theater. Throughout their conversation, Kail and deBessonet talk about various elements in an emerging director’s life—the importance of making work with friends, the advantages and disadvantages of assisting, the importance of having mentors, and how young artists can ultimately claim the identity of “director.” Listen in as these two artists share their thought-provoking experiences, reflections, and ideas in this thought-provoking conversation.

 One-on-One Conversation with Leigh Silverman and Thomas Kail | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:04:12

In 2015, Director Thomas Kail sat down with Director Leigh Silverman in a One-on-One conversation about craft, career, and professional trajectories. In their conversation, Silverman expresses her thoughts on the value of readings, how female directors have to prove themselves in a male-dominated industry, and the apparent stigma surrounding ambition in professional theater. Additionally, Silverman and Kail talk about ideal directorial skills and their thoughts on what it means to soak up ideas, challenge what is known, and how to handle a piece when it doesn’t speak to the director. Listen in as these two master directors examine directing vis-à-vis their own lives and careers.

 One-on-One Conversation with Rachel Chavkin and Thomas Kail | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:06:29

In the summer of 2015, Director Thomas Kail sat down with Director Rachel Chavkin in a one-on-one conversation about Chavkin’s career and trajectory as a director. Throughout the discussion, Kail and Chavkin discuss a series of questions ranging from ‘how can directors balance running a company with a freelance lifestyle?’ to ‘How do you know when a piece is good?’ and ‘Should directors read reviews?’ In addition to discussing these questions, Chavkin discusses what shaped her career as a director and offers insight into the process of directing Three Pianos and Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. Listen in on this intriguing conversation between two exciting artists!

 One-on-One Conversation with Anne Bogart and Lear deBessonet | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 57:22

On February 6, 2015, SDCF held a One-on-One discussion with directors Anne Bogart and Lear deBessonet at New York’s National Opera Center. Throughout this brief conversation between mentor and mentee, community, collaboration, and inclusivity are listed as core values for a director, which are illustrated through some of their respective career highlights. Additional topics discussed include rehearsal techniques and methods for preparation; the relationship between actors and audiences; what it’s like to empower and create theatre with people who don’t self-identify as artists; the various responsibilities that directors possess; and how approaches and performance styles on stage vary from film and television.

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