Episode 319

Jason Robert Brown, who prefers the title "songwriter" over "composer," talks about why he spends so much time performing his own material and engaging directly with his fans. He discusses writing all of his songs "in his own voice"; his short time at Rochester's esteemed Eastman School of Music; coming to New York, getting work in piano bars and how that led to rehearsal pianist jobs; the evolution of Songs for a New World and whether it began as a collection of existing songs or whether the material was newly created for the show; the nature of his collaboration with William Finn on the vocal arrangements for A New Brain; how he got hired for Parade after Stephen Sondheim passed, having the opportunity to choose his collaborators when the musical team was assembled for Parade, and the changes he has made more recently to move the show away from Hal Prince's vision; how the origin of The Last Five Years began out of a desire to be free of collaborators and how it fuses Songs for a New World and Parade; why he enjoys writing incidental music for plays; his sojourn in Europe and his decision to return to the U.S. by moving to Los Angeles; the origin of 13 in a handful of songs that he happened to share with Michael Ritchie of the Center Theatre Group, the "trauma" of Broadway and subsequent revisions to musical; and the status of upcoming projects including the film version of The Last Five Years, the "difficult, scary" chamber musical The Connector, his collaboration with Marsha Norman on The Bridges of Madison County, and the long-aborning stage adaptation of the film comedy Honeymoon in Vegas. 

Original air date - May 11, 2011 
Running Time - 1:02:34

Jason Robert Brown from "The Last Five Years"

Episode 340

This week Downstage Center gets ready for the Tonys with the 2012 Tony nominated, Pulitzer Prize-winning play Clybourne Park. Stars Jeremy Shamos (also nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role) and Annie Parisse discuss the racially charged play that has had the theatre world buzzing since it opened; from its beginnings at Playwrights Horizons to its current home on Broadway. The two talented actors also expound on their complicated Clybourne characters, the acting process in general, Shakespeare, collaboration, and other memorable roles. 

Original air date - June 6, 2012 
Running Time - 30:32

Jeremy Shamos & Annie Parisse from "Clybourne Park"

Episode 341

The latest Downstage Center features a Broadway sibling rivalry as Andrew Keenan-Bolger from the Tony-nominated musical Newsies takes on his sister, Tony-nominated actress Celia Keenan-Bolger from Peter and the Starcatcher. The duo discuss their star turns on Broadway, the development of their plays and characters, childhood in Detroit, being in plays vs. being in musicals, and the Tony nominations, among other topics. 

Original air date - June 20, 2012 
Running Time - 30:12

Andrew & Celia Keenan-Bolger from "Newsies" & "Peter and the Starcatcher"

Episode 342

Originally performed on Broadway in 1960, Gore Vidal's The Best Man returns to Broadway with an all star cast and a Tony-nomination for Best Revival of a Play. In the latest Downstage Center, two of the shows stars, Donna Hanover and Jefferson Mays, go behind the scenes of the topical political barnburner and dish the dirt on their characters, co-actors, and the view from the wings of the star-studded cast. In addition, they discuss their careers, acting process and other roles. 

Original air date - July 4, 2012 
Running Time - 30:54

Donna Hanover & Jefferson Mays from "The Best Man"

Episode 344

Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark's Patrick Page and Isabel Keating go one-on-one about Broadway's favorite super hero and his nemesis, Page's Green Goblin. The actors talk dialects, quick changes, character development, improvising and background stories they create for their roles in the play. It's not ALL Spidey; the duo discuss acting techniques, other favorite roles, and Judy Garland, among other topics. 

Original air date - August 1, 2012 
Running Time - 29:45

Patrick Page & Isabel Keating from "Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark"

Episode 346

Downstage Center goes to Texas. Listen as Primary Stages Artistic Director Andrew Leynse talks with actress Hallie Foote about her father Horton's work, world, and new Primary Stages production Harrison, TX, three plays by Horton Foote. In addition to discussing the current production directed by Pam MacKinnon, Ms. Foote discusses acting, the family history, and her father's legacy. 

Original air date - August 29, 2012 
Running Time - 28:17

Hallie Foote & Andrew Leynse from "Harrison, TX"

Episode 347

In the latest Downstage Center, Silence! The Musical writer Hunter Bell and actress Jenn Harris discuss the show The NY Post called "Gleefully submissive" and The NY Times "a hilarious take down." From its premiere at the 2005 New York International Fringe Festival to its current home off-Broadway, the uproarious show continues to keep its audience in stitches! 

Original air date - September 12, 2012 
Running Time - 31:13

Hunter Bell & Jenn Harris from "Silence! The Musical"

Episode 348

The latest edition of Downstage Center goes backstage with Tribes, the provocative new play written by Nina Raine. Director David Cromer and actor Jeff Still discuss the play and the challenges they faced with the subject matter, deaf theatre, their friendship, and the Chicago theatre scene, among other topics. 

Original air date - September 26, 2012 
Running Time - 28:37

David Cromer & Jeff Still from "Tribes"

Legendary composer Jerry Herman plays and sings snippets of some of his most famous compositions as he recalls the creation of such seminal musicals as "Hello Dolly", "Mame" and "La Cage aux Folles" in this one-of-a-kind interview from November 2004. 

Original air date - January 17, 2006 
Running Time - 55:57

Jerry Herman from "Hello Dolly"

Mike Nichols accepts his Tony Award for Best Director Play for both "The Odd Couple" and "Luv" in 1965. Nichols is one of the elite few to have an EGOT - Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.

Mike Nichols 1965 Tonys Speech

Orson Welles recorded a love letter to live theatre for the American Theatre Wing in 1979.

Orson Welles' Wing commercial

In 2017, we will celebrate 100 years of service to the American Theatre. We have been tirelessly committed to championing and honoring American Theatre. By creating the Tony Awards®, developing educational programs and through distributing thousands of dollars of grants and awards each year, the American Theatre Wing is dedicated to preserving the past, celebrating the present, and fostering the future of American theatre nationwide.

Jason Robert Brown from "The Last Five Years"

American Theatre Wing

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