Sdcf Masters Of The Stage

On April 2, 2012, SDCF invited entertainment attorney Elliot Brown to speak about securing theatrical adaptation rights with SDCF Producing Director Ellen Rusconi. Brown gives animated examples of when adaptation rights are and are not necessary. He sheds light on how to start the process of engaging an attorney when interested in creating a piece of theater from an article, book, or film and he walks through what the concerns are of the rights-holder. Brown also speaks about standard arrangements, translation, and public domain. This is an engaging dialogue about the do's and don'ts of adaptation. Originally recorded - April 2, 2012. Running Time - 1:13:49 © 2012 SDCF

On May 14, 2012, SDCF hosted a One-on-One conversation at the Axis Theatre Company in New York between theatre artists Lee Breuer and Taylor Mac, hybrid theatre artists of limitless imagination and inventiveness working mostly in experimental theatre both nationally and internationally, moderated by Mark Russell, Artistic Director and Producer of the Under the Radar Festival produced by The Public Theater. These artists, who work in multiple disciplines, discuss gaining power through their individuality and originality and identify those singular artists and companies from the past, most notably Charles Ludlam and The Ridiculous Theatre, whose work has inspired and influenced their own. They express their hopes for the future or theatre, and what they gain and learn by working internationally. They share their personal definitions of success and why their work is categorized as political. This insightful conversation sheds light on how to create theatre that is personal, relevant, collaborative and unique. Or

On April 30, 2012, SDCF hosted a One-on-One conversation between Walter Bobbie and Sam Gold moderated by John Clinton Eisner. They discuss their shared background in performance and respective discoveries that they are better suited for directing. Bobbie shares his career trajectory and the strategic choices he made in order to become the artist he wants to be. Gold speaks about building a New York based career and how the turning point in his career came so quickly. 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. This dynamic conversation is a rare opportunity to peek into the artistic visions of two fantastic contemporary directors. This event was sponsored by A Summer of Theatre & Film at Southampton Arts. Originally recorded - April 30, 2012. Running Time - 1:21:41 © 2012 SDCF

Directing Shakespeare: Casting - It's A Bear: On April 29, 2001 members of a Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation panel simulated a first casting session of The Winter's Tale. The discussion is moderated by Artistic Producer of the Joseph Papp Public Theatre/New York Shakespeare Festival Rosemarie Tichler and featured Casting Directors Stuart Howard and Jordan Thaler. Originally recorded - April 29, 2001. Running Time - 1:31:35 © 2001 SDCF

On April 28, 2001, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation invited Arthur Bartow, Artistic Director of the Drama Department at NYU Tisch, to moderate a conversation between Michael Lupu, Senior Dramaturg at the Guthrie Theater; Mark Bly, Associate Artistic Director of Yale Rep; Louis Scheeder of Classical Studio NYU Tisch; and freelance director Daniel Fish about working on Shakespeare. This discussion gives great insight into the role of dramaturgs in assisting directors; their visions of a successful dramaturg; and how dramaturgs work with the text. This program is the second half of the conversation. Originally recorded - April 28, 2001. Running Time - 1:12:00 © 2001 SDCF

On April 28, 2001, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation invited Arthur Bartow, Artistic Director of the Drama Department at NYU Tisch, to moderate a conversation between Michael Lupu, Senior Dramaturg at the Guthrie Theater; Mark Bly, Associate Artistic Director of Yale Rep; Louis Scheeder of Classical Studio NYU Tisch; and freelance director Daniel Fish about working on Shakespeare. This discussion gives great insight into the role of dramaturgs in assisting directors; their visions of a successful dramaturg; and how dramaturgs work with the text. This program is the first half of the conversation. Originally recorded - April 28, 2001. Running Time - 1:15:21 © 2001 SDCF

In 2001, five directors in the "Directing Shakespeare Symposium" sat down with moderator and set designer Ming Cho Lee for a unique experiment regarding the relationship between director and designers, specifically concerning a Shakespearean text. A mock first production meeting was held for an imaginary staging of A Winter's Tale, with the designers being told to end the meeting with the inspiration to go home, pick up a pencil, and not need to talk with the director for the next two weeks. They discussed many crucial aspects of the first few stages in the artistic process, such as their initial emotional responses to the text, how to establish the physical world of the play, and how to visually develop the inner conflict within a character through technical elements. Other topics discussed include: working with new or unfamiliar designers, starting points for collaboration and inspiration, and the positives and negatives of labeling Shakespearean plays as "comedy" or "drama". This group of talented directo

On Monday, June 27th, 2011, SDC's Gretchen Michelfeld talked to veteran scenic designers Rachel Hauck (The Public, BAM, The Vineyard, South Coast Rep, and Eugene O'Neill Resident Set Designer) and Nick Francone (Prospect Theater Company, SPF, Six Figures, New Georges, E.S.T., Santa Fe Opera, assistant on Wicked and Opera) about their experiences collaborating with a variety of directors. They discussed aspects of successful production meetings, dealing with repertory sets, the strangest designs they have made, and offer advice to young directors. This is an enlightening discussion on the successes and struggles in the lives of professional scenic designers. Originally recorded - June 27, 2011. Running Time - 1:21:43 © 2011 SDCF

On April 28, 2001, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation invited NYU voice and dialect coach Deborah Hecht, Juilliard Chairman of Voice and Speech Ralph Zito, director Mark Lamos, actor Oni Faida Lampley, and actor Boris McGiver for a conversation about the importance of text work. Louis Scheeder, Director and Founder of Classical Studio at NYU Tisch moderates. Topics include speech interpretation, the process of making stylistic choices, and the necessities of physical endurance. Originally recorded - April 28, 2001. Running Time - 1:25:10 © 2001 SDCF

2011 DCN: Broadway Stage Managers' Secrets Revealed: On May 25th, 2011, SDC's Gretchen Michelfeld spoke with three Broadway Production Stage Managers about their experiences. Stage Managers Jill Cordle (Jerusalem),  Heather Cousens (Spring Awakening), and Ira Mont (Arcadia) give advice to early career directors on time management, speak to building trust and collaboration, and discuss the smartest things they've seen directors do. They offer first-hand knowledge on the relationship between directors and stage managers. Originally recorded - May 25, 2011. Running Time - 54:59 © 2011 SDCF

In 2001, Michael Lupu, senior dramaturg for the Guthrie Theatre, provided directors at the "Directing Shakespeare Symposium" with a brief lesson he called "Shakespeare 101." In this twenty-minute discussion Lupu talks about audience expectations in the Elizabethan period, the history of Shakespeare's company "Lord Chamberlain's Men," and how the shifting of Shakespeare's theatre midway through his career may have affected his writing. Lupu enlists the help of designer Ming Cho Lee to explain the type of theatre in which Shakespeare was working, and how the intimate, single-room performance space of the Globe Theatre shaped almost every moment in Shakespeare's work. Other topics discussed include: Shakespeare's plays coming from the stage to the page and not vice versa, A Winter's Tale being published after Shakespeare's death, and the place of a poet in the theatre. This brief but incredibly thorough overview is a great recap for Shakespeare fans and a perfect introduction for those just getting started. Orig

In Conversation with... Moisés Kaufman: Directors rarely get the opportunity to spend time and share ideas in a room with other directors. This new one-on-one conversation series was conceived by director Thomas Kail to give himself, and his peers, an opportunity to do just that. This series of conversations explores topics that stretch from finding the spark in their work, making a life as a director, and how they landed on this side of the table. Each director's vision is distinct, and their way of working is their own, but this series also addresses all they have in common beyond the shared title. In July 2011, Thomas Kail sat in conversation with Moises Kaufman at the SDC offices.  In this exchange, Thomas and Moises traverse career beginnings, varying paths of directors, and the struggles involved with telling stories rooted in historical events on stage. Originally recorded - July 1, 2011. Running Time - 58:59 © 2011 SDCF

Directors rarely get the opportunity to spend time and share ideas in a room with other directors. This new one-on-one conversation series was conceived by director Thomas Kail to give himself, and his peers, an opportunity to do just that. This series of conversations explores topics that stretch from finding the spark in their work, making a life as a director, and how they landed on this side of the table. Each director's vision is distinct, and their way of working is their own, but this series also addresses all they have in common beyond the shared title. In June 2011, Thomas Kail sat in conversation with Joe Mantello backstage at the Golden Theater. From Mantello's dressing room, their conversation traces his arc from actor to director and back, and the responsibility of taking risks to continue to evolve throughout a career. Originally recorded - June 1, 2011. Running Time - 59:48 © 2011 SDCF

In Conversation with... Susan Stroman: Directors rarely get the opportunity to spend time and share ideas in a room with other directors. This new one-on-one conversation series was conceived by director Thomas Kail to give himself, and his peers, an opportunity to do just that. This series of conversations explores topics that stretch from finding the spark in their work, making a life as a director, and how they landed on this side of the table. Each director's vision is distinct, and their way of working is their own, but this series also addresses all they have in common beyond the shared title. In July 2011, Thomas Kail sat in conversation with Susan Stroman in her office in Manhattan. They discuss her early exposure to the theatre and her impulse to pursue directing and choreographing professionally. The conversation also includes the importance of creating one's own opportunities, the unique aspects of touring productions, and the necessity of deep collaboration when creating theater. Originally recor

Directors rarely get the opportunity to spend time and share ideas in a room with other directors. This new one-on-one conversation series was conceived by director Thomas Kail to give himself, and his peers, an opportunity to do just that. This series of conversations explores topics that stretch from finding the spark in their work, making a life as a director, and how they landed on this side of the table. Each director's vision is distinct, and their way of working is their own, but this series also addresses all they have in common beyond the shared title. In June 2011, Thomas Kail sat in conversation with Jason Moore (Avenue Q, Shrek, Tales of the City) at Moore's apartment in Manhattan. Topics range from developing a new musical to the process of transferring Off-Broadway productions to Broadway without losing the immediacy of the initial production. They also address the challenge of maintaining longer running productions to ensure they consistently feel vibrant and fresh. Originally recorded - June

Directors rarely get the opportunity to spend time and share ideas in a room with other directors. This new one-on-one conversation series was conceived by director Thomas Kail to give himself, and his peers, an opportunity to do just that. This series of conversations explores topics that stretch from finding the spark in their work, making a life as a director, and how they landed on this side of the table. Each director's vision is distinct, and their way of working is their own, but this series also addresses all they have in common beyond the shared title. In June 2011, Thomas Kail sat in conversation with Alex Timbers (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Peter and the Starcatcher) at the SDC Offices. Their discussion explores how they followed their respective impulse to start their own theater company, and delves into the challenge of creating new work. They also address their inspirations and those who have influenced them as directors. Originally recorded - June 1, 2011. Running Time - 1:04:56 © 2011 SDCF

2002 Symposium: Hal Prince: At its 2002 Symposium, Director of Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, Joe Miloscia, welcomed everyone to the symposium and introduced then Executive Director of SSDC Barbara Hauptman. Barbara introduced the two speakers: V.P. and Managing Director of The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation Rob Marx who moderated a talk with accomplished director and producer Hal Prince. The conversation focused on Hal's personal take on the making of new musicals and the fostering of new talent. Topics covered include the importance of mentorship, artistic process, how the relationship between producers and directors has changed, and what institutions are supporting the development of new musicals. This conversation with a true master gives incredible insight into the history and current innovation in musical theatre. Originally recorded - June 1, 2002. Running Time - 1:20:46 © 2002 SDCF

2003 Symposium: Keynote by Scott Elliott: At its 2003 Symposium SDCF invited Scott Elliott, freelance director and Artistic Director of The New Group, to give a keynote speech on directing in multiple mediums, running a theatre company, and life as an artist. SDC Observer of Scott Elliott, Mark Robinson, moderated the talk. Topics include why Elliott shifted from performing to directing, how New Group got its start, the evolution of work done at New Group, what he looks for when hiring a director, working with independent vs. commercial producers, and process. This thought-provoking conversation covers the diverse aspects of artistic leadership. Originally recorded - June 1, 2003. Running Time - 1:09:50 © 2003 SDCF

SDCF hosted a Symposium on Musical Theatre in 2003 moderated by Daniella Topol, then the National Alliance Musical Theatre's New Works Program Director. The panel featured Urinetown director John Rando, then Artistic Director of Musical Theatre Works Thomas Cott, then Artistic Director of North Shore Music Theatre Jon Kimbell, General Manager Nancy Gibbs, Choreographer of Zanna, Don't! Devanand Janki, and Director Gabriel Barre. The panel discussed how new musicals are developed and ways institutions and artists can work together to foster the future of musical theatre. Each member provides a different perspective on new musicals and their life in New York to Regional and International stages. This dialogue sheds light on the current landscape of musical theatre. Originally recorded - June 1, 2003. Running Time - 56:54 © 2003 SDCF

2010 DCN: Directors Programs Applications: At its October 2010 Director-Choreographer-Network, SDC Director of Member Services Barbara Wolkoff moderated a panel featuring SDCF's Director of Foundation Ellen Rusconi, Theatre Communications Group's Director of Artistic Programs Emilya Cachapero, and The Drama League's Artistic Director Roger Danforth. Topics cover programs offered, what constitutes a successful candidate and application, interview tips, plus insider advice from previous program applicants who were awarded the opportunity. This conversation is an exciting and clear look into a successful application process. Originally recorded - October 26, 2010. Running Time - 1:22:21 © 2010 SDCF