SDCF Podcast Series

On May 2nd, 2016, directors Rachel Chavkin and Bartlett Sher visited Emerson College and engaged in a conversation about their craft with a group of Boston-based directors. In this one-on-one discussion, Chavkin and Sher speak about the broad spectrum of their work—from preparing for meetings with designers, to the actor-audience relationship, to how space informs their approach on a given piece. Chavkin and Sher also engage in a layered discussion on form as they compare their experiences working in devised theater, in opera, with revivals, on Broadway, and beyond. Listen in to hear more about the work, philosophies, and experiences of these two artists.

On June 9, 2016, author Jennifer Tepper had a conversation with director Michael Grandage, who is best known in America for hit productions like Red, Evita, and Frost / Nixon. In their conversation, Michael speaks about his early years as an actor and what inspired him to become a director, as well as the advice he frequently gives to early career directors. Other topics include the ways in which accessibility, affordability, and diversity are important to theatre; skills for effectively using rehearsals and previews in an era of social media; how to successfully work with celebrities; the role of assistant and associate directors; and some of the ways in which the Broadway community differs from London and the West End.

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 SDCF Podcast Series. 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.

Welcome to SDCF Podcast Series 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.

SDCF Podcast Series 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.

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.'