The American Theatre Wing and XM Satellite Radio will present an interview with actor and playwright Jeff Daniels on their weekly theatrical interview show, "Downstage Center," on XM's On Broadway (XM Channel 28).

Daniels will appear as the special guest on Friday, April 20 at 6 p.m. The show will repeat on Saturday, April 21 at noon, Sunday, April 22 at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, April 25 at midnight.  The program becomes available as streaming audio and podcast from www.americantheatrewing.org beginning Monday afternoon, April 23.

Jeff Daniels talks about his return to the New York stage after a 14 year absence in David Harrower's Olivier Award-winning Blackbird at Manhattan Theatre Club, including how he works himself up to a performance level of fear and anger for the very first moment in the play; recalls being taken out for a drink while still in college by director Marshall Mason and invited to join the Circle Repertory Company as an apprentice, and the extraordinary ensemble feeling fostered at Circle Rep; discusses his lengthy relationship with playwright Lanford Wilson and how it has influenced his own playwriting for his Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea , Michigan; and describes how he has built the Purple Rose as both an arts resource and economic engine for his community.

Daniels has previously appeared on Broadway in Lanford Wilson's Redwood Curtain, A.R. Gurney's The Golden Age, and Wilson's Fifth of July , which won him a Drama Desk Award for Best Supporting Actor.  Off Broadway, Daniels received a Drama Desk nomination for Wilson's Lemon Sky, as well as an Obie for his performance in the Circle Repertory Company production of Johnny Got His Gun.  

In his hometown of Chelsea, Michigan, Daniels founded the Purple Rose Theatre Company, which he dedicated to encourage and develop midwestern actors, playwrights, directors and designers. Daniels has written eleven plays for the PRTC, including Guest Artist, for which he was recently named a finalist of the Steinberg New Play Award.  

Daniels' film credits include Terms of Endearment, Something Wild, The Butcher's Wife, Checking Out, Fly Away Home, 101 Dalmatians, Speed, Pleasantville, Arachnophobia, Gettysburg, Dumb and Dumber, The Hours, Gods and Generals, Imaginary Heroes and Goodnight, and Good Luck.

Each new "Downstage Center" is regularly broadcast at 6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays at noon, Sundays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays at 12 a.m. (all times EST). Following the initial run on XM, each program is made available for free, on-demand, internationally as both streaming audio and podcast on ATW's Web site, www.americantheatrewing.org.  Visit www.xmradio.com for more information.