Sdcf Masters Of The Stage

Welcome to Masters of the Stage. This is the second installment of a series curated by Jennifer Tepper, author and Director of Programming at 54 Below in New York City, and released by SDCF to celebrate some of the many luminaries currently represented on Broadway. On March 23, 2016, Jennifer Tepper, author and Director of Programming at 54 Below, interviewed director John Doyle about his craft and illustrious career. In this conversation, Tepper and Doyle dive into Doyle’s methods for contemporizing both classics and revivals, as well as discussing his current Broadway revival of The Color Purple and his upcoming role as Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company.

Welcome to Masters of the Stage. This is the first installment of a series curated by Jennifer Tepper, author and Director of Programming at 54 Below in New York City, and released by SDCF to celebrate some of the many luminaries currently represented on Broadway. On February 15, 2016, Tepper interviewed Jerry Mitchell about the evolution of his wide-spanning career. Best known for Broadway hits like Kinky Boots, Hairspray, and the current production of On Your Feet, Mitchell discusses his journey from dancer, to associate choreographer, to the directing and choreographing hit Broadway shows. Mitchell discusses the lessons he learned as a performer that prepared him to choreograph and how he creates stories through movement, offering inspiration and advice for the next generation of directors and choreographers.

On April 7, 2015 in Los Angeles, star of stage and screen Annette Bening sat down with director Tom Moore to discuss her career, the actor-director relationship, and the differences between working in film and theater. In this conversation, Bening and Moore discuss Bening’s production of The Ruth Draper Monologues, in which Bening served as her own director, the many ways in which actors and directors determine their working dynamic, the comparative need for detail in directing film and theater, and whether directors should be ‘hands on’ or ‘hands off.’ Listen in as these two accomplished artists engage in a fascinating discussion about directing and performing across mediums.

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. 

Welcome to Masters of the Stage Replay, which revisits podcasts that seem especially relevant this season. Today we replay a 2011 conversation with playwright and director Moisés Kaufman, best known for The Laramie Project, and Thomas Kail, director of the hit Broadway show Hamilton.   

Masters of the Stage Replay re-releases podcasts that seem especially relevant this season. This 2014 podcast features directors Bartlett Sher and Julie Taymor, and is moderated by Anne Bogart.

On April 28, 2014, director/choreographer Susan Stroman visited the SDCF Symposium on Musicals. In this Q&A session with early-career directors and choreographers, Ms. Stroman shares the story of how her career began, imparting guidance about several dimensions of the craft—from the design process to working with a dance arranger. Listen in as this master director reminds her audience—and all of us—that the more directors know about their fellow collaborators, the more prepared they will be; that young directors must chase opportunities instead of ‘waiting for the phone to ring;’ that it is essential for directors to ‘leave their egos at the door;’ and much, much more.

On June 23rd, 2014, Director Jack O’Brien visited the Emerging Artists Symposium for Plays and spoke with SDC Members about his career as well as his advice for the next generation. As O’Brien touches on his early days with the APA-Phoenix Repertory Company, his experiences with Porgy and Bess, his time at the Old Globe, and other phases in his career, he shares perspective gained on creating, re-creating, and directing. Overall, this is an insightful discussion that is sure to fascinate emerging and experienced artists alike.

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.

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.

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!

This is the first in a series curated by Thomas Kail, director of Hamilton and In the Heights, and featuring Kail in conversation with some of the most fascinating directors currently working on the American stage. In this podcast Kail and Stafford Arima engage in a lively conversation about their careers and the theatrical worlds that have shaped them. Throughout their hour-long session, the two artists discuss many questions that often come up in their work and ultimately engage in a critical discussion about how directors may separate the ‘journey’ from the ‘destination.’

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.

On January 27, 2014, SDCF hosted a DCN with director Michael John Warren to discuss his experiences with filming “live captures” of Broadway musicals like RENT and Shrek. 

On August 25, 2014, director Jeremy Cohen moderated a conversation with panelists and fellow directors Leigh Silverman and Joel Sass at the Guthrie Theater. Listen in to learn about the views, experiences, and lives of these two master directors. 

On January 17, 2011, SDCF hosted a One-on-One Conversation with Berkeley Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Tony Taccone.

At the 2013 Emerging Artist Symposium on Plays, SDC’s Executive Director Laura Penn spoke with acclaimed theatre and film director Daniel Sullivan on the art and practice of directing.

At the June 17, SDCF 2013 Emerging Artist Symposium on Plays, SDCF Producing Director Ellen Rusconi moderated a discussion with directors Shelley Butler, Benjamin Endsley Klein, and Tony Speciale about the transition from assistant to director. Listen as they compare stories and experiences illustrating their unique transitions into directing their own work.

On April 30, 2012, Walter Bobbie and Sam Gold discussed their shared background in performance and respective discoveries that they are better suited for directing. Both directors go into great detail about how they find collaborators, how to give notes to a director, and the generous professionals who helped them when they were getting their start.

At SDCF’s annual Emerging Artist Symposium on Musicals on May 20, 2013, SDCF Producing Director Ellen Rusconi moderated a conversation with Executive Board President and director/choreographer Karen Azenberg. Listen as they discuss Karen’s transition from working as a freelance director/choreographer to her current position as Artistic Director of Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Theatre Company, and how those experiences can help emerging artists in their careers.