American Theatre Wing Presents 'Cues' Interview Series With Tony Nominees

As part of the run up to the 2011 Tony Awards, The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Howard Sherman, Executive Director) used the opportunity of the yearly Tony Nominees Press Reception - held just 24 hours after Tony nominations are announced - to solicit some key thoughts from newly minted nominees on their lives and careers so that emerging artists everywhere might benefit. Over 35 nominees were interviewed, including Judith Light, John Larroquette, Victoria Clark, Forrest McClendon, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Mark Rylance, Casey Nicholaw, George C. Wolfe, and Rory O'Malley. The "Cues" videos will be rolled out individually on the ATW website at http://americantheatrewing.org/springboardnyc/cues2011.php between now and awards night on June 12, 2011. These moments mirror the experience of the American Theatre Wing's SpringboardNYC program, where 36 selected students starting their careers hear directly from working artists. Past SpringboardNYC mentors have included Allison Janney, Neil Patrick Harris, Anika Noni Rose, Paul Rudd, and Kathleen Marshall. For more information on SpringboardNYC, visit http://americantheatrewing.org/springboardnyc/.

As the home for America's largest free online archive of media focused on how theatre is made, in the words of the very people who make it, ATW has released a range of new content, including a new episode of the television program "Working in the Theatre" entitled Don't Be Afraid: Stage Veterans 2011. This episode features actors F. Murray Abraham, Stacy Keach, Estelle Parsons and Lois Smith discussing the rehearsal and audition process; how they deal with rejection; the pros and cons of directing vs. acting; their thoughts on how acting and directing have changed over the years; the difference between performing classical roles vs. contemporary roles and their advice for aspiring performers. An acclaimed fixture on New York television and in the theatre community for 30 years, the American Theatre Wing's "Working in the Theatre" offers an unprecedented forum for the meeting of theatrical minds. "Working in the Theatre" can be streamed live at www.americantheatrewing.org/wit/.

In addition, ATW's original series, "Downstage Center" continues with all-new interviews featuring playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (Good People), actors Laurie Metcalf (The Other Place) and Margaret Colin (Arcadia), Director Casey Nicholaw (Co-Director/Choreographer of The Book of Mormon), and Nicholas Hytner (Artistic Director of London's National Theatre) are now available online by visiting www.americantheatrewing.org/downstagecenter/.

Two new "In The Wings" features have been posted, including Theatrical Sculptor Nino Novellino and Special Effects Designer Gregory Meeh. These short videos shine the spotlight on disciplines you may not even realize are a part of theatrical production and celebrate the full diversity of talent that contribute to bringing a show to the stage. For "In The Wings" installments past and present, visit www.americantheatrewing.org/inthewings/.

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Howard Sherman, Executive Director) is a not-for-profit organization best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards®, which it presents annually with The Broadway League. In addition to "Downstage Center," "In The Wings," "Working in the Theatre," and a host of other online resources, The Wing operates many activities, all dedicated to recognizing excellence and supporting education in theatre, including SpringboardNYC, the Theatre Intern Group, the National Theatre Company Grants and the Jonathan Larson Grants. Visitors to americantheatrewing.org can listen to, watch or download from ATW's extensive media collection, and learn more about all of its programming for students, aspiring and working professionals, and audiences who want to learn more about the making of theatre. Follow ATW on Facebook.com/TheAmericanTheatreWing, youtube.com/americantheatrewing and Twitter.com/TheWing.