The American Theatre Wing and XM Satellite Radio proudly present an interview with Tony Award winner James Naughton, on their weekly theatrical interview show, “Downstage Center,” on XM’s On Broadway (XM Channel 28).
Naughton will appear as the special guest on Friday, October 24 at 6 p.m. The show will repeat on Saturday, October 25 at noon, Sunday, October 26 at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, October 29 at midnight (all times eastern; transmission is simultaneous across the country). The program becomes available as streaming audio and podcast from www.americantheatrewing.org and iTunes beginning Monday afternoon, October 27.
Two-time Tony Award-winner
James Naughton explains why he's at home in the Irish Repertory Theatre's The Master Builder and why it's his three Broadway musical appearances which are really the anomalies in his long stage career. He also shares how a casual college audition launched him into acting; discusses his artistic homes at both Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Westport Country Playhouse; marvels at the good fortune of his early connection to composer
Cy Coleman, first with I Love My Wife and later on City of Angels; recalls the excitement of being on stage with
Elaine May as she improvised her way through
Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; relates a funny incident involving President Clinton and the chorus girls of Chicago; and confides why his next Broadway musical role should turn up very soon.
James Naughton is the winner of two Tony Awards as Best Actor in a Musical, for his roles in Chicago and City of Angels, which also earned him a Drama Desk Award. A graduate of Brown University and the Yale School of Drama, Naughton made his New York debut as Edmund in
Arvin Brown’s production of Long Day’s Journey Into Night, with
Robert Ryan and
Geraldine Fitzgerald. Other Broadway credits include I Love My Wife, Four Baboons Adoring the Sun, Whose Life Is It Anyway? and Democracy. Off-Broadway credits include
E.L. Doctorow’s Drinks Before Dinner and Losing Time. Naughton’s many directing credits include Our Town (starring
Paul Newman) on Broadway and also on TV for Showtime, the Tony nominated production of The Price, and recently Surface to Air at
Symphony Space, and Hot ‘N’ Cole at Westport Playhouse. Mr. Naughton’s recent film credits include Factory Girl, The Devil Wears Prada, Suburban Girl, Childless, The Good Mother; The Glass Menagerie; The Paper Chase, First Kid, Cat’s Eye, A Stranger is Watching, Second Wind, and Labor Pains. His solo show
James Naughton Streets of Dreams was first presented by
Mike Nichols in New York and toured successfully all over the country. His debut album, “It’s About Time” is on DRG Records.
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.About The American Theatre Wing
The American Theatre Wing is best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards®, which it presents annually with The Broadway League. The Wing’s other activities, dedicated to recognizing excellence and supporting education in theatre, include “Working in the Theatre,” now in its 30th year of telecasts on CUNY TV in New York and on other national cable outlets; "Downstage Center," an hour-long weekly interview program on XM Satellite Radio; “Guides to Careers in the Theatre,” a video series developed for schools and libraries; a grants and scholarship program to New York City schools and not-for-profit theatre companies, which has granted nearly $3 million since its inception; the Theatre Intern Group, a career development program for young professionals; and SpringboardNYC, a two-week college-to-career boot camp for young performers moving to NYC; and the
Jonathan Larson® Grants, recognizing and supporting emerging writers of musical theatre. Visitors to www.americantheatrewing.org can view or download an archive of “Working in the Theatre” and the career guides and listen to “Downstage Center”, all as free, on-demand streaming audio and podcast.
Theodore S. Chapin is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Theatre Wing and
Howard Sherman is Executive Director
Photo by Mark Rupp
