POPULARITY
Check out this podcast replay of the SDCF Panel: Art of Collaboration with Shana Carroll, Jesse Robb, and Jessica Stone that we hosted at the Museum of Broadway. They discuss the ins and outs of their creative processes as they collaborated on Water for Elephants, both the finer details as well as overarching ideas about what goes into a productive collaboration on a show. This was a moderated panel with dedicated time for a Q & A. We hosted this panel in August 2024. This video and audio was recorded by Michael Weir supported by the Maria Torres Emerging Artists Foundation. Transcript available upon request. Shana Carroll is Co-Founding Artistic Director of the Montreal based circus company The 7 Fingers. Since its founding in 2002, Carroll has written, directed and choreographed 12 of their touring and/or resident shows, 3 of which (Passengers, Duel Reality, Dear San Francisco) are currently running, and which also includes Sequence 8 at NY City Center and Traces off- Broadway run at Union Square Theatre. Carroll received a Drama Desk Nomination for Choreography and Best Theatrical Experience for their show Traces. Outside The 7 Fingers, Carroll directed Cirque du Soleil's first- ever ice show Crystal, in addition to their performance at the Academy Awards in 2012. Also, for Cirque du Soleil, Carroll was circus choreographer and designer for their shows Iris (Los Angeles) and Paramour (Broadway). Other credits include: Queen of the Night (Drama Desk Recipient); Soul of the Ocean (Moment Factory); Cité Mémoire (Lemieux-Pilon); and the Sochi Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies (medieval segment). Prior to directing and choreography, Carroll was herself a trapeze artist, performing for over 20 years in the air with circuses and dance companies around the world, most notably as the original solo trapeze artist for Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco. She also appeared in Cirque du Soleil produced television and film. Now based in Montreal, where she relocated in 1991 to attend l'École Nationale de Cirque, Carroll is originally from Berkeley, California. In 2023, Carroll was inducted into the Ordre of Arts and Letters of Quebec, a distinction honoring those who have contributed to artistic and cultural development in the province of Quebec. Most recently, Carroll was Circus Designer and Co-choreographer of the musical Water For Elephants, first at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta and now in its Broadway run at the Imperial Theatre, for which she received a Suzi Bass Award and the Chita Rivera Award for Best Choreography, as well as Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics' Circle nominations in the same category. Jesse Robb's work spans Broadway, Cirque Du Soleil, Momix, Les Ballet Jazz de Montréal, Mirvish Productions, Disney, Cameron Mackintosh, Prime Video, Opera Philadelphia, and more. He is the co-choreographer (alongside Shana Carroll) for the Broadway production of Water For Elephants, which was nominated for seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. Jesse and Shana were nominated for Tony, Drama Desk, and OCC Awards and received the 2024 Chita Rivera award for Outstanding Choreography. Jesse is the Movement Director for the North American Touring, South Korean, and Japanese productions of the international hit Les Misérables. He was also the Associate Choreographer for the Broadway, North American Touring, and Austrian companies of the 2017 Revival of Miss Saigon. Regionally, Jesse has choreographed at The MUNY, The Alliance Theater (Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Choreography), The Stratford Festival of Canada, Theatre Calgary, and Ogunquit Playhouse among others. Jessica Stone: Most recently, Stone was nominated for a Tony Award for directing the original Broadway musical Kimberly Akimbo, which won 5 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Stone worked as an actress on and off-Broadway, in television and in film for decades before transitioning to directing. Broadway credits included Anything Goes, Butley, The Odd Couple, The Smell of the Kill, Design for Living, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Grease. Her directing career began in earnest with her all-male 2010 production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum for the Williamstown Theatre Festival. She has since been directing all over the country at such theaters as The Old Globe, A.C.T, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Huntington Theatre Company, Two River Theatre Company, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival among others. Productions include As You Like It, Kate Hamill's Vanity Fair, Barefoot in the Park, Dancing at Lughnasa, Bad Dates, Ken Ludwig's Robin Hood! (World premiere), Ripcord, Bad Jews, Arms and the Man, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Charlotte's Web, June Moon, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Absurd Person Singular, and Kimberly Akimbo (off-Broadway premiere at the Atlantic). She currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons.
Barry Creyton began his career at the age of 17 in theatre and in radio in Australia and by age 20, was playing leads on stage, and in national radio productions. He also hosted his own weekly radio program devoted to theatre news and interviews. At 21, he made his Australian television debut as Lorenzo in a national television production of The Merchant of Venice. For three seasons, he starred in the TV series The Mavis Bramston Show. This ground breaking show, the highest rated in the history of Australian television, dealt with topical and political satire.Creyton relocated to England for twelve years playing comedy and dramatic roles in London's West End - including Don's Party (Royal Court), Roger's Last Stand (Duke of York's), Ten Years Hard (Mayfair), Urban Guerilla (Soho Poly), a revival of the musical Salad Days, and Liz, a musical based on Aristophanes' Lysistrata as well as several revues and the National Tour of Abelard and Heloise.On his return to Australia, Creyton starred in many theatre productions - Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce, Season's Greetings and Absurd Person Singular, Frayn's Noises Off, and in Pack Of Lies, Side By Side By Sondheim, The Owl And The Pussycat, Suddenly At Home, The Philanthropist, and played twins in the comedy-thriller Corpse.He guest starred on many popular TV episodics. These roles were generally amorous cads or big-business villains - characters at odds with the comedies he played on the stage. They included The Restless Years, The Young Doctors, Skyways, Cop Shop, The Sullivans, I Married a Bachelor, Cuckoo in the Nest, as well as guest star roles in TV movies, Image of Death, All at Sea, the Michael Powell feature, They're a Weird Mob and the BBC's Robert Louis Stevenson in Australia. He turned to directing, with the musical Nunsense which broke box office records all over Australia, and employed two companies playing simultaneously. A motorcycle accident during the run of Corpse resulted in a badly broken leg. The long recuperation period enabled him to write a stage comedy, Double Act. Since 1990, Creyton has worked almost exclusively in the United States, principally as writer and director. He relocated from New York to Los Angeles when commissioned to write a movie of the week for Hearst Television, while his off Broadway revue Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know ran for two and a half years in New York. His critically acclaimed adaptation of Noël Coward's Peace in Our Time for the Antaeus Theatre Company in L.A. received the Ovation Award and the L.A. Weekly Annual Theatre Award; the L. A. Times voted the production among the best world theatre of the year.He has appeared on stage at the Antaeus Theatre in Balzac's Cousin Bette, Shaw's The Doctors Dilemma and Moliere's School For Wives and as Apollo in The Curse of Oedipus.Creyton returns to Australia periodically for theatre engagements, starring in Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit, directing and starring in his own plays, Later Than Spring and Valentine's Day (since produced in several languages and, along with his Double Act, in constant repertoire in Europe), and in 2007 he returned to Sydney's Ensemble Theatre to star in Peter Quilter's play Glorious, and again in 2010 in Quilter's Duets, in which he played four diverse characters.His young adult novels, The Dogs of Pompeii and Nero Goes to Rome, co-authored with American writer Vaughan Edwards, are published by Random House, and his novel Murder is Fatal, an affectionate parody of noir movies, was published in 2017.His novel The View from Olympus Mons, was published in 2022 by NineStar Press.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au
Jessica Stone worked as an actress on and off-Broadway, in television and in film for decades before transitioning to directing. Broadway credits included Anything Goes, Butley, The Odd Couple, The Smell of the Kill, Design for Living, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Grease. Her directing career began in earnest with her all-male 2010 production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum for the Williamstown Theatre Festival. She has since been directing all over the country at such theaters as The Old Globe, A.C.T, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Huntington Theatre Company, Two River Theatre Company, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival among others. Productions include As You Like It, Kate Hamill's Vanity Fair, Barefoot in the Park, Dancing at Lughnasa, Bad Dates, Ken Ludwig's Robin Hood! (world premiere), Ripcord, Bad Jews, Arms and the Man, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Charlotte's Web, June Moon, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Absurd Person Singular, Kimberly Akimbo (off-Broadway premiere at the Atlantic). Most recently, Stone directed the original Broadway musical Kimberly Akimbo, which opened in November 2022. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons. Jessica Stone went from working actress to one of the most in-demand Broadway directors. Listen as she describes how she manages a thriving career, marriage and motherhood and… who were the directors in her life that helped shape how she runs a rehearsal room and why now that she has found directing she really doesn't miss being an actress - plus a deep deep dive Into the journey of Kimberly Akimbo how it went from workshop to Broadway - all that and more this week on the Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jessica Stone (Director) worked as an actress on and Off-Broadway, in television, and in film before transitioning to directing. Her directing career began in earnest with her all-male 2010 production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum for the Williamstown Theatre Festival. She has since been directing all over the country at such theaters as The Old Globe, A.C.T, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Huntington Theatre Company, Two River Theatre Company, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival, among others. Productions include As You Like It, Kate Hamill's Vanity Fair, Barefoot in the Park, Dancing at Lughnasa, Bad Dates, Ken Ludwig's Robin Hood! (world premiere), Ripcord, Bad Jews, Arms and the Man, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Charlotte's Web, June Moon, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Absurd Person Singular. Philanthropic/Activist Causes: Mentoring young theater artists, gun safety, and helping unregistered and low propensity voters to participate in our democracy.
Jenny Seagrove is an actress of stage and screen. She starred alongside Rupert Everett in the Academy Award-winning short film A Shocking Accident and other film roles include Nate and Hayes opposite Tommy Lee Jones, Bullseye! with Michael Caine and Roger Moore, A Chorus of Disapproval with Anthony Hopkins and Jeremy Irons and Appointment with Death With Peter Ustinov, Lauren Bacall, Carrie Fisher and John Gielgud. She played Jo Mills in the BBC drama series Judge John Deed and her stage work includes multiple runs in the West End including The Exorcist, Noël Coward's Fallen Angels, Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular, Present Laughter at the Globe Theatre with Tom Conti and Hamlet with Ian McKellen. She was the subject of This Is Your Life in 2003 and her partner is the theatrical producer and chairman of Everton F.C., Bill Kenwright. Jenny founded and helps to run Mane Chance Sanctuary, a charity that aims to "provide sanctuary and relief from suffering for horses, while promoting humane behaviour to all animals and mutually beneficial relationships with people who need them". Jenny Seagrove is guest number 190 on My Time Capsule and chats to Michael Fenton Stevens about the five things she'd like to put in a time capsule; four she'd like to preserve and one she'd like to bury and never have to think about again .For more information on Jenny's charity Mane Chance, visit: manechancesanctuary.orgFollow Jenny Seagrove on Twitter: @springmeisterFollow My Time Capsule on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook: @MyTCpod .Follow Michael Fenton Stevens on Twitter: @fentonstevens and Instagram @mikefentonstevens .Produced and edited by John Fenton-Stevens for Cast Off Productions .Music by Pass The Peas Music .Artwork by matthewboxall.com .This podcast is proud to be associated with the charity Viva! Providing theatrical opportunities for hundreds of young people. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sara Crowe is probably still best known as the “Philadelphia girl” for her part in the Philadelphia cream cheese adverts in the 90's playing a ditsy blonde secretary. Sara was the first bride in the film Four Wedding and a Funeral, was in Carry On Columbus and the film version of Tony Hawks's best selling book, Round Ireland with a Fridge. On TV she's the voice of Queen Thistle in the hugely popular children's animation Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom, has been in Smith & Jones, Harry Enfield's Television Programme, The Rory Bremner Show, Born and Bred, Casualty and Skins. On stage she won an Olivier Award for her role in Private Lives and other West End roles include in Twelfth Night, Hay Fever and The Constant Wife, Acorn Antiques the Musical and Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular. Sara has written two novels, Campari for Breakfast, published in 2014 and Martini Henry in 2016. Sara Crowe is guest number 189 on My Time Capsule and chats to Michael Fenton Stevens about the five things she'd like to put in a time capsule; four she'd like to preserve and one she'd like to bury and never have to think about again .Follow Sara Crowe on Twitter: @sarakcroweFollow My Time Capsule on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook: @MyTCpod .Follow Michael Fenton Stevens on Twitter: @fentonstevens and Instagram @mikefentonstevens .Produced and edited by John Fenton-Stevens for Cast Off Productions .Music by Pass The Peas Music .Artwork by matthewboxall.com .This podcast is proud to be associated with the charity Viva! Providing theatrical opportunities for hundreds of young people. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
What was the first show you ever saw? Your biggest theatre regret? And which production would you choose to watch on a loop for eternity? These questions and more make up Seven Stages, the new podcast from The Stage, sponsored by Audible. Our sixth episode features playwright Alan Ayckbourn and was released this Friday, June 12, 2020. Alan Ayckbourn has written more than 80 full-length plays, with more than half of them having been produced in the West End. These include huge hits such as The Norman Conquests, Absurd Person Singular and A Chorus of Disapproval, for which he won Olivier and Evening Standard awards. Seven Stages explores Ayckbourn's extensive and hugely successful stage career – from his first appearance as an actor in a non-speaking part in Donald Wolfit's West End company in 1956, right up to his most recent play Anno Domino, which was released for radio last month. Meanwhile, he talks about his time running Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre – named after his great mentor – and reveals that he has just finished writing yet another play, his 84th. Every fortnight, you can join Tim Bano for illuminating, intimate conversations with influential performers and creatives who have lived their lives in theatre. The Seven Stages podcast, sponsored by Audible, is available anywhere you find your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and the link below. Ayckbourn's interview is available to listen to now and follows episodes with actor Noma Dumezweni, choreographer Arlene Phillips, former Young Vic artistic director David Lan, Olivier award-winning lighting designer Paule Constable and legendary actor Ian McKellen.
Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky. Episode 53.5: Oscar Winners 2020 Released 10 February 2020 For this episode, we blearily report back on all of the results, triumphs, disappointments and gossips from the 92nd Academy Awards. New Audible series: https://tinyurl.com/bpaudible Absurd Person Singular: http://londonclassictheatre.co.uk/2020/01/07/absurd-person-singular/ Next time we will be discussing All the King’s Men. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA). To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky. You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.
Join Nick Ben and Coop on the couch this week with the latest and greatest movie news in Hollywood. This week, Ben is BACK! The boys discuss their thoughts on the latest season of Stranger Things and where they think the future of the show is going. SPOILER ALERT! BEWARE Next they breakdown Spider Man Far From Home and Midsommar and their reviews on those. Has digital cinema destroyed realism? Cooper tries out a couple voices he’s been working out and talks about his experience on Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn! And as always, a bit of music and movie news going on in Hollywood right now!
Alan Ayckbourn, who is back in the United States for the US premiere of his newest play, "Private Fears in Public Places", joins the hosts of "Downstage Center" to talk about how he approaches being an author and director. Original airdate - June 10, 2005
Alan Ayckbourn, who is back in the United States for the US premiere of his newest play, "Private Fears in Public Places", joins the hosts of "Downstage Center" to talk about how he approaches being an author and director. Original airdate - June 10, 2005
Alan Ayckbourn, who is back in the United States for the US premiere of his newest play, "Private Fears in Public Places", joins the hosts of "Downstage Center" to talk about how he approaches being an author and director. Original airdate - June 10, 2005