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"As it says in Gypsy: "You either got it or you ain"t." --Arthur Laurents"There's no secret to working with kids. They either charm you and you can work with them, or they don't charm you and you feel you're stuck with them." --Jerome Robbins"It's sort of a maternal kind of leadership: strong but accessible. I don't have children, but it is a very maternal feeling that I feel when I become the director, when I become the leader." --Graciela Daniele"The thing that you can most do is empower any artist to feel as though they have a right to go on the journey." --George C. Wolfe"Just take a look at some of the musicals on the boards. Take a look at how abominable some of the acting is, and you'll understand that these people have not been directed to act." --Jerry Zaks The Show Makers are twelve of the most creative and influential directors of the contemporary musical theatre. Lawrence Thelen creates lively portraits of theatre people at work. James Lapine's early involvement with photography becomes an influence on Sunday in the Park with George. Harold Prince's early desire to be a playwright is rechanneled into directing. George C. Wolfe speaks of the ongoing involvement of black artist with musicals since the last century. Jerome Robbins, in his final interview, on collaboration and the role of dance in the musical.Lawrence Thelen's book is part theatre history, part interview volume, part celebration. Richly anecdotal, it communicates the passion and joy that motivate our wizards of the musical stage.
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the Show Makers Great Directors .......................................... of the American .......................................... Musical Theatre .......................................... Lawrence Thelen routledge new york • london Published in 2000 by Routledge 29 West 35th Street New York, NY 10001 This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2002. Published in Great Britain by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane London EC4P 4EE Copyright © 2000 by Lawrence Thelen All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Thelen, Lawrence. The show makers: great directors of the American musical theatre/by Lawrence Thelen. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 0-415-92346-8 (hb) ISBN 0-415-92347-6 (pb) 1. Theatrical producers and directors—United States—Biography. 2. Musicals— Production and direction. I. Title. PN2285 .T48 1999 792.6’0233’092273–dc21 [B] Archival Documentation Interviews were held on the following dates: Martin Charnin, May 9, 1997, and May 23, 1998; Graciela Daniele, September 3, 1997, and October 2, 1998; James Lapine, May 6 and August 25, 1997; Arthur Laurents, May 6, 1997, and March 30, 1998; Richard Maltby Jr., May 7, 1997, and April 15, 1998; Des McAnuff, May 26 and November 6, 1998; Mike Ockrent, May 6, 1997, May 20 and August 5, 1998; Tom O’Horgan, May 5, 1997, and May 19, 1998; Harold Prince, June 6 and August 28, 1997; Jerome Robbins, September 30, 1997; George C.Wolfe, September 4 and November 6, 1998; and Jerry Zaks, May 8, 1997, and April 17, 1998. Photography Credits Cover Photo (Jerome Robbins and Mary Martin during rehearsals of Peter Pan, 1954), Photofest; Martin Charnin, Courtesy of Martin Charnin; Graciela Daniele, Bruce Glikas, photographer/STQ Productions; James Lapine, Courtesy of James Lapine; Arthur Laurents, Photofest; Richard Maltby Jr., Bruce Glikas, photographer/STQ Productions; Des McAnuff, Photofest; Mike Ockrent, Courtesy of Mike Ockrent; Tom O’Horgan, Courtesy of Tom O’Horgan; Harold Prince, Photofest; Jerome Robbins, Archive Photo; George C.Wolfe, Michal Daniel, photogr