Atw - Downstage Center

Director Michael Mayer explains the juxtaposition of turn of the 20th century German teenage angst with modern rock and roll in "Spring Awakening", recounts his first meeting with master playwright Arthur Miller before "A View From The Bridge", addresses why he felt "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" needed a freshening up for its Broadway revival, and shares the process that made Sutton Foster the star of "Thoroughly Modern Millie". Original air date - July 7, 2006.

Tonya Pinkins takes listeners from the triumph of "Jelly's Last Jam" to the extraordinary personal challenges that faced her on her return to Broadway as the title character in Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori's musical "Caroline, or Change". Original air date - May 28, 2004.

Director-choreographer Kathleen Marshall discusses remounting "Wonderful Town" for Broadway following its resounding success at Encores! two seasons earlier, growing up in Pittsburgh with her director-choreographer brother Rob, and making the transition from choreographer to director. Original air date - June 4, 2004.

Martha Plimpton talks about her acting journey from "The Goonies" to "Hedda Gable", exploring her experience growing up in the theatre, with childhood performances at The Public; the importance of her joining Chicago's noted Steppenwolf ensemble, and the unique challenge of capturing her character with a single scene in the current Broadway production of Conor McPherson's "Shining City". Original air date - June 30, 2006.

Liev Schreiber takes time out from The Public Theatre's production of "Macbeth" to reflect on the humanity of that villainous role, his love for the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park, how directing his first film has informed his own work as an actor, and why he thinks Pinter and Mamet are similar to Shakespeare. Original air date - June 23, 2006.

Three-time Tony nominee Kate Burton discusses her newest show, the family drama "The Water's Edge" by Theresa Rebeck, and why she's drawn to characters who are once dark and witty, and she talks about other family matters as well, including how her famous father Richard felt about her entering the family business and her 17 summers at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, including 9 years when it was led by her husband Michael Ritchie. Original air date - June 16, 2006.

Stage and screen legend Angela Lansbury surveys her theatre career, from her wartime drama school scholarship (courtesy of the American Theatre Wing) to her acclaimed work in the musicals of Stephen Sondheim ("Anyone Can Whistle" and "Sweeney Todd") and Jerry Herman ("Mame" and "Dear World") to dramatic roles in Shakespeare and Albee and muses on whether audiences might see her on the stage once again. Original air date - June 9, 2006.

Actor and author Bob Martin chronicles the journey of "The Drowsy Chaperone" from sophisticated bachelor party entertainment to success on the Toronto fringe to its current berth as a full-scale Broadway musical, and talks about the creation of his critically acclaimed television series "Slings & Arrows", which portrays life on stage and off at a Canadian Shakespeare festival. Original air date - June 2, 2006.

During the run of her solo gig at the Cafe Carlyle in New York, Maria Friedman talks about her extensive relationship with the work of Stephen Sondheim, including English productions of "Merrily We Roll Along" and "Passion"; the health challenge that faced her during the Broadway run of "The Woman In White"; and working with her sister, producer Sonia Friedman. Original air date - May 26, 2006.

One of America's most prolific playwrights, Richard Greenberg discusses the wave of media attention that has accompanied the current Broadway revival of "Three Days of Rain", and its effect on him in a theatre season which has seen premieres of his new works on Broadway ("A Naked Girl on the Appian Way" at Roundabout), Off-Broadway ("The House in Town" at Lincoln Center), in Chicago ("The Well-Appointed Room" at Steppenwolf) and in Washington DC ("Bal Masque" at Theater J). Original air date - May 19, 2006.

Zoe Wanamaker reflects on her personal connection to the drama of "Awake And Sing", remembers her journey from Chichester to London to Princeton to Broadway in "Electra", describes her experience being raised in England as the child of expatriate Americans, and talks about the evolution of her perspective on working on stage in London and the United States. Original air date - May 12, 2006.

Broadway's current Macheath, Alan Cumming, talks about the political relevance of "The Threepenny Opera" in America today, chronicles his experiences after drama school as part of a comedy duo in Scotland, recalls the development of his Tony-winning role as the Master of Ceremonies in "Cabaret", first in London and later in the U.S., and considers what may be next in his creative career. Original air date - May 5, 2006.

Joel Grey recalls creating the role of the Master of Ceremonies both and stage and in the film of "Cabaret", along with his performances in musicals as varied as "George M!", "The Grand Tour" and the revival of "Chicago". Original air date - October 8, 2004.

Andrea Martin talks about her great successes in shows she was originally inclined to turn down, including "Oklahoma", "Candide" and "Fiddler on the Roof", as well as her start in the legendary Toronto production of "Godspell" and her Tony-winning turn in "My Favorite Year". Original air date - February 25, 2005.

Kelli O'Hara discusses her transition from ingenue to leading lady in "The Pajama Game", the personal and professional challenge of taking over the role of Clara in "The Light in the Piazza" after starting in the role of Franca, and the things she learned while doing "The Sweet Smell of Success" and "Dracula". Original air date - April 28, 2006.

On Downstage Center's debut program from April 2004, Bernadette Peters surveys her career from childhood performer to her role as the ultimate stage mother in Sam Mendes' revival of "Gypsy". Original air date - April 23, 2004.

Bebe Neuwirth discusses creating the musical "Here Lies Jenny" with her "Chicago" co-star Ann Reinking and "Cheers" co-star Roger Rees, as well as her work on stage in "Sweet Charity" and "Damn Yankees". Original air date - April 30, 2004.

Phylicia Rashad discusses her rededication to theatre in the wake of her television success with Bill Cosby, and the honor of appearing in the first Broadway revival of "A Raisin in the Sun". Original air date - July 2, 2004.

Donna Murphy discusses the great roles sheís played, from Fosca in "Passion" to Anna in "The King and I" to Ruth in "Wonderful Town" and emphatically responds to being portrayed in the media as a diva. Original air date - August 6, 2004.

A veteran of the original Broadway production of "Barefoot in the Park" and now appearing in the current revival, Tony Roberts reflects on the nature of Neil Simon's play both then and now, talks about his career creating roles in major shows even as he regularly joined others later in their runs, and recalls his unsuccessful early auditions for an artists with whom he would become a frequent collaborator - Woody Allen. Original airdate - April 21, 2006.