Podcast appearances and mentions of Lynne Meadow

Today, I'm honored to announce my interview with Tony winning director Doug Hughes. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the simple mantra that dictates what kind of work he wants to direct, a very important review he received early in his career, creating tension in DOUBT, what he loves about directing Shaw plays, the anxiety of the rehearsal process for OLEANNA, why he prefers intimate rehearsal spaces, transferring FROZEN to Broadway, the unique talent of Cherry Jones, what appealed to him about directing Ayad Akhtar's JUNK, why ELLING couldn't succeed on Broadway, the opportunities Lynne Meadow gave him, and so much more. You won't want to miss this conversation with one of Broadway's best directors.

From his first plays in the early 1960s to his death in 2020, playwright Terrence McNally has been a force in American theater. Beginning in the Off-Off Broadway movement, McNally's writing continually reflected a changing culture, from opposition to the Vietnam War through the emergence of AIDS and gay rights. His stage plays, musicals, and operas continue to be performed internationally, and they remain the work of a consummate artist, delving into the human soul and fearlessly examining both the lighter and darker aspects of existence in an uncertain—and sometimes frightening—world. A Man of Much Importance looks at McNally's life and work against the backdrop of a dynamic theatrical culture, tracing the ways in which an artist grows and responds to his world. Based on extensive interviews with McNally, it also features interviews with many of the artists—actors, designers, and producers—with whom he's collaborated, including Nathan Lane, Chita Rivera, Audra McDonald, Christine Baranski, Kathy Bates, Swoosie Kurtz, John Glover, Joe Mantello, Arin Arbus, Paul Libin, Lynne Meadow, and many more.  Christopher Byrne is an author and theater critic.  He is a member of The Drama Desk and the American Theatre Critics Association. He began his career as a stage manager and producer and is a graduate of Boston University's College of Fine Arts. In his not-so-secret double life, he is a leading expert on toys and play, writing extensively (including seven books), speaking, and appearing on many television programs worldwide on the topic. He is the creator and host of The Playground Podcast, a B2B podcast for the international toy industry, as well as Voice Out Loud, a podcast amplifying diverse voices in the LGBTQ+community. The book is officially out on July 15, and it's available for pre-order. 

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to Tony-nominated playwright and actor Charles Busch about the soundtrack to the 1983 film Yentl. They also discuss Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Linda Lavin, Julie Halston, Patrick Dennis, Mame, Michael Tanner, Tom Judson, Dick Gallagher, Lucie Arnaz, Lorna Luft, Michael Vollbracht, The Women, Carl Andress, Lynne Meadow, Tony Roberts, Paul Newman, Sasha Velour, Bianca Del Rio, Stephen Sondheim, and Michele Lee. Charles talks about his career in and out of drag, as well as the difference between downtown and mainstream theater. Charles is the author of a number of fabulous plays, many of which he starred in, including Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Psycho Beach Party, and his most recent, The Confession of Lily Dare. His 2000 hit play, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, ran on Broadway and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play.

Lynne Meadow is a theatre producer, director and a teacher. She has been the artistic director of the Manhattan Theatre Club since 1972. In that position she has directed and produced more than 450 New York City and world premieres of plays by American and international playwrights, including Terrence McNally, Beth Henley, John Guare, Athol Fugard, and John Patrick Shanley. Under her leadership, MTC has been honored with every prestigious theatre award, including Tony Awards, Pulitzer Prizes for Drama, Obie Awards, and Drama Desk Awards, New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards, and Theatre World Awards. In 2013, she was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. Her directing credits include Sally and Marsha, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Absent Friends and The Commons of Pensacola (2013). I asked her a whole bunch of other questions about how she built MTC into the institution it is today. Listen in to hear her talk about: The day she challenged The Yale School of Drama’s policy on accepting women (you won’t believe what they said to her)! How she creates a season . . . and how it’s not like going to a buffet. Why she is one of the few Artistic Directors of a major Non-Profit that actually directs! How to get your script in her hands. Starting a theater company? Hear her advice. Tune into this master pod-class on . . . well . . . on so many things. Because Lynne is not only one of the few people that do it all . . . but she does it all so very, very well. Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway www.theproducersperspective.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Linda Lavin, playwright Richard Greenberg and director Lynne Meadow discuss "Our Mother's Brief Affair" at Manhattan Theatre Club. Next up, Len Cariou talks about his new one-man show "Broadway & The Bard" and his distinguished performing career.

While on the latest of her many supposed deathbeds, a "tart-tongued" mother, played by Tony-winner Linda Lavin, reveals to her children the details of a tryst from decades past that may resonate in the present in Richard Greenberg's "Our Mother's Brief Affair." The play, directed by Lynne Meadow, also features Kate Arrington, Greg Keller and John Procaccino. Lavin is "an occasion unto herself," says New York Times theater critic Charles Isherwood, as he weighs in on the merits of this 11th collaboration between Greenberg and the Manhattan Theatre Club, which is currently running on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

A playwright’s art imitates a financier’s life in a work about the reverberations of corruption and public scandal in The Commons of Pensacola by actress Amanda Peet, who embarked on a new career as a playwright this past fall. Loosely inspired by the Bernie Madoff saga, Blythe Danner plays a woman exiled, more or less, to Florida after her financier husband is jailed for spending his clients’ money instead of investing it. Her daughter, played by Sarah-Jessica Parker, comes to comfort her and finds that she, too, is a victim in the aftermath of her father’s crime. Directed by Lynne Meadow, the play is presented Off Broadway by Manhattan Theater Club at its City Center home. New York Times theater critic Charles Isherwood gives his thoughts on the play, the performers and the actress-playwright who chose not to portray the character she created.

Theater Talk discusses the play “Wit,” with playwright Margaret Edson and the current production's director Lynne Meadow. Also, we focus on “Silence! The Musical,” with the show's librettist Hunter Bell and actors David Garrison and Jenn Harris.

Barry Grove, Executive Producer of the Manhattan Theatre Club, talks about his three-and-half decades of partnership with Lynne Meadow at the top of one of New York's largest not-for-profit theatres. He recalls about his introduction to theatre while growing up in Madison CT; his college experiences at Dartmouth and his participation in the very first semester of The O'Neill Theatre Center's National Theatre Institute; his earliest experiences working in New York Theatre while still a student; coming to MTC when there was only a staff of six in a theatre complex on the east side that they couldn't afford to fully use; the company's transition from neighborhood venue to midtown mainstay at City Center; the long search for a permanent Broadway home; and explains how he's still energized by work at the same company after so long, and the challenges still ahead. Original air date - March 9, 2011.

Manhattan Theatre Club’s Executive Producer Barry Grove (Tony Award winner for Best Play in 2005 for “Doubt, 2001 for “Proof”, and 1995 for “Love! Valour! Compassion!”) talks about his three-and-half decades of partnership with Lynne Meadow at the top of one of New York's largest not-for-profit theatres. He recalls about his introduction to theatre while growing up in Madison CT; his college experiences at Dartmouth and his participation in the very first semester of The O'Neill Theatre Center's National Theatre Institute; his earliest experiences working in New York Theatre while still a student; coming to MTC when there was only a staff of six in a theatre complex on the east side that they couldn't afford to fully use; the company's transition from neighborhood venue to midtown mainstay at City Center; the long search for a permanent Broadway home; and explains how he's still energized by work at the same company after so long, and the challenges still ahead.

Barry Grove, Executive Producer of the Manhattan Theatre Club, talks about his three-and-half decades of partnership with Lynne Meadow at the top of one of New York's largest not-for-profit theatres. He recalls about his introduction to theatre while growing up in Madison CT; his college experiences at Dartmouth and his participation in the very first semester of The O'Neill Theatre Center's National Theatre Institute; his earliest experiences working in New York Theatre while still a student; coming to MTC when there was only a staff of six in a theatre complex on the east side that they couldn't afford to fully use; the company's transition from neighborhood venue to midtown mainstay at City Center; the long search for a permanent Broadway home; and explains how he's still energized by work at the same company after so long, and the challenges still ahead. Original air date - March 9, 2011.

The panelists -- theatre critic Howard Kissel, Artistic Director of Manhattan Theatre Club Lynn Meadow (who steered the organization to Tony wins for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Proof and Doubt), actor/director Zakes Mokae (Tony winner for Mastor Harold… and the Boys), producer/general manager Dorothy Olim, producer/general manager Albert Poland, general manager Ben Sprecher, and playwright Wendy Wasserstein (The Sisters Rosensweig and Tony winner for The Heidi Chronicles) -- discuss how not-for-profit and regional theaters differ from commercial productions, developing plays out of town, escalating production costs, and viable stage careers compared to television and film.

The panelists - theatre critic Howard Kissel, Artistic Director of Manhattan Theatre Club Lynn Meadow, actor/director Zakes Mokae ("The Song Of Jacob Zulu"), producer/general manager Dorothy Olim, producer/general manager Albert Poland, general manager Ben Sprecher, and playwright Wendy Wasserstein ("The Sisters Rosensweig") - discuss how not-for-profit and regional theaters differ from commercial productions, developing plays out of town, escalating production costs, and viable stage careers compared to television and film.

The production team of "Love! Valour! Compassion!" - general manager Victoria Bailey, press representative Helene Davis, managing director Barry Grove, director Joe Mantello, playwright Terrence McNally, and artistic director Lynne Meadow - discuss giving playwrights a home at Manhattan Theatre Club, director and playwright working together for the first time, transferring to a Broadway production, ticket pricing, and participating in the Broadway Alliance.

The production team of Love! Valour! Compassion! -- general manager Victoria Bailey, press representative Helene Davis, Manhattan Theatre Club’s Executive Producer Barry Grove (Tony Award winner for Best Play in 2005 for Doubt, 2001 for Proof, and 1995 for Love! Valour! Compassion!), director Joe Mantello (2003 for Best Direction for Take Me Out and 2004 for Assassins), playwright Terrence McNally (four-time Tony Award winner for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class and Ragtime), and artistic director Lynne Meadow (who steered the organization to Tony wins for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Proof and Doubt) -- discuss giving playwrights a home at Manhattan Theatre Club, director and playwright working together for the first time, transferring to a Broadway production, ticket pricing, and participating in the Broadway Alliance.

Just after returning from a year-long sabbatical, Manhattan Theatre Club artistic director Lynne Meadow talks about what she did and didn't do during her hiatus and explains how she shared planning for last season and the coming year with interim artistic director Daniel Sullivan. She also recalls her childhood as a stage struck youth in New Haven, including her performance in a new Maltby & Shire musical when she was only 12 years old; her struggle to be accepted into the directing program at the Yale School of Drama; her first experience at the Manhattan Theatre Club and how she came to be named its artistic director; the play she couldn't get the rights to until Joseph Papp agreed to co-produce with MTC; the impact of MTC's successive venues (East 73rd Street, City Center and Broadway's Friedman Theatre) on the company's repertoire; and the company's long history with playwright Terrence McNally and the controversy that surrounded the late 90s production of "Corpus Christi". Original air date - October 3, 2008.

Just after returning from a year-long sabbatical, Manhattan Theatre Club artistic director Lynne Meadow (who steered the organization to Tony wins for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Proof and Doubt) talks about what she did and didn't do during her hiatus and explains how she shared planning for last season and the coming year with interim artistic director Daniel Sullivan. She also recalls her childhood as a stage struck youth in New Haven, including her performance in a new Maltby & Shire musical when she was only 12 years old; her struggle to be accepted into the directing program at the Yale School of Drama; her first experience at the Manhattan Theatre Club and how she came to be named its artistic director; the play she couldn't get the rights to until Joseph Papp agreed to co-produce with MTC; the impact of MTC's successive venues (East 73rd Street, City Center and Broadway's Friedman Theatre) on the company's repertoire; and the company's long history with playwright Terrence McNally and the controversy that surrounded the late 90s production of Corpus Christi.

Just after returning from a year-long sabbatical, Manhattan Theatre Club artistic director Lynne Meadow talks about what she did and didn't do during her hiatus and explains how she shared planning for last season and the coming year with interim artistic director Daniel Sullivan. She also recalls her childhood as a stage struck youth in New Haven, including her performance in a new Maltby & Shire musical when she was only 12 years old; her struggle to be accepted into the directing program at the Yale School of Drama; her first experience at the Manhattan Theatre Club and how she came to be named its artistic director; the play she couldn't get the rights to until Joseph Papp agreed to co-produce with MTC; the impact of MTC's successive venues (East 73rd Street, City Center and Broadway's Friedman Theatre) on the company's repertoire; and the company's long history with playwright Terrence McNally and the controversy that surrounded the late 90s production of "Corpus Christi". Original air date - October 3, 2008.

Tony Award-winning choreographers Rob Ashford (for Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Wayne Cilento (for The Who’s Tommy), Tony-winning playwright Michael Frayn (for Copenhagen), playwright/lyricist Greg Kotis (Tony Award for Urinetown), and directors Sean Mathias and Lynne Meadow (who has helmed Manhattan Theatre Club through many Tony wins) 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.

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.

With three of New York's major not-for-profit theatres now producing in Broadway venues, their leaders—André Bishop and Bernard Gersten of Lincoln Center Theatre (with their most recent Tony Award coming with their revival of South Pacific), Lynne Meadow and Barry Grove of Manhattan Theatre Club (with multiple Tony wins for the organization), and Todd Haimes (who has scored multiple Tonys while serving as Artistic Director), along Ellen Richard and Julia C. Levy of Roundabout Theatre Company—gather for the very first time to explore the issues facing institutional theatres on Broadway.

With three of New York's major not-for-profit theatres now producing in Broadway venues, their leaders—Andre Bishop and Bernard Gersten of Lincoln Center Theatre, Lynne Meadow and Barry Grove of Manhattan Theatre Club, and Todd Haimes, Ellen Richard and Julia C. Levy of Roundabout Theatre Company—gather for the very first time to explore the issues facing institutional theatres on Broadway.