SDCF Podcast Series

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,...

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...

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...

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 f...

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 i...

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 feat...

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

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 developme...

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 m...

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...

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

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 fo...

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...

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

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...