ATW - Working In The Theatre

"Thoroughly Modern Millie"'s creative and production team -- choreographer Rob Ashford, general manager Nina Lannan, producer Hal Luftig, director Michael Mayer, book writer/lyricist Dick Scanlan and composer Jeanine Tesori -- discuss the Tony Award winning musical's journey to Broadway; obtaining the rights to the 1967 Universal Pictures film written by Richard Morris and starring Julie Andrews; years of development in workshops and readings; how the production team came together, including Rob Ashford's choreographer audition; the mixture of existing songs and new Tesori compositions; the advantages and disadvantages of mounting the show in partnership with La Jolla Playhouse; the many producers involved, including road presenters; the decision and budgetary considerations in opening on Broadway with a rigious preview period versus a second out-of-town tryout.

Choreographers Rob Ashford and Wayne Cilento, playwright Michael Frayn, playwright/lyricist Greg Kotis, and directors Sean Mathias and Lynne Meadow discuss various aspects of their respective crafts, including the focus on storytelling, the benefits and challenges of collaboration, bad reviews, and the evolution of the director/choreographer relationship.

The panel of performers - Jane Alexander ("Shadowlands"), Stockard Channing ("Six Degrees of Separation"), Sarah Jessica Parker ("The Substance Of Fire"), Jonathan Pryce ("Miss Saigon"), Ron Rifkin ("The Substance Of Fire"), Mercedes Ruehl ("Lost In Yonkers"), and Topol ("Fiddler on the Roof") - discuss playing the same role over the years, finding a rhythm in one's performance, learning about one's character during the rehearsal process, gaining discipline, and how each performer got their start.

The panel consisting of casting director Jay Binder ("Lost In Yonkers"), and actors Lucie Arnaz ("Lost In Yonkers"), Hallie Foote ("The Roads to Rome"), Gregory Hines ("Jelly's Last Jam"), Tonya Pinkins ("Jelly's Last Jam"), and John Schneider ("Grand Hotel") discuss how they started their careers, what casting directors look for, auditioning established actors, rehearsing and replacing in a role, and the panelists provide advice to people beginning in theatre.

The production team of "Crazy For You" - advertising representative Nancy Coyne, press representative Bill Evans, general manager Tyler Gatchell, casting director Julie Hughes, and producer Elizabeth Williams - discuss how the show was adapted from the 1930's Gershwin musical "Girl Crazy", advertising as a new musical - not a revival, producing a television commercial, the financial cost of the large production, the role of the casting director, and the effect of positive critical reviews.