New Episode Of Working In Theater, 'CRAFTING WORLDS: THEATRICAL DESIGN' To Air 4/12

The American Theatre Wing has announced its newest episode of the popular "Working in the Theater" series: "Crafting Worlds: Theatrical Design." The episode features scenic designer David Gallo, sound designer John Gromada, costume designer Susan Hilferty and lighting designer Peter Kaczorowski. The program, moderated by Variety theater reporter Gordon Cox, will air on CUNY TV beginning Sunday, April 12, at 5:00 pm, with additional airings Friday April 17 at 9:00 am, 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm, Saturday April 18 at 11:00 am, and Sunday April 19 at 5:00 pm. The episode will also be available for viewing and for download as a podcast at americantheatrewing.org beginning Wednesday, April 15.

In "Crafting Worlds: Theatrical Design," guests Gallo, Gromada, Hilferty, and Kaczorowski will discuss how a design team enhances a production; when they are brought into the production and how they interact with one another as the show unfolds; their process in preparing for each show; their collaboration not only with each other but also with the director and the actors; the logistical challenges they face with each new show; how they got involved in theatre design and what training they did or didn't receive; advice they'd give to young designers; how they handle creative differences with other designers and the director; and where they find inspiration for their designs.

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. Bringing together performers, directors, playwrights, designers, choreographers, producers and behind-the-scenes personnel from the American and international theatre, the program offers a rare opportunity for students and audiences to see the people who create theatre engaged in thoughtful conversation with one another. With more than 600 past guests, "Working in the Theatre" has become an unequalled archive of theatrical talk, a chance to hear from the people behind the characters, stories and productions that draw us to the theatre.

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Howard Sherman, Executive Director) is best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards®, which it presents annually with The Broadway League. In addition to "Working in the Theatre," the Wing's other activities, all dedicated to recognizing excellence and supporting education in theatre, include "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 awarded 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. Visitors to www.americantheatrewing.org can view or download an archive of "Working in the Theatre" and the career guides and listen to archive episodes of the hour-long interview series "Downstage Center," all as free, on-demand streaming audio and podcast.

For additional information about "Working in the Theater" and all American Theatre Wing programs, go to americantheatrewing.org.

Biographies:

David Gallo (Scenic Design) Broadway: Reasons to be Pretty; A Catered Affair, Xanadu; Radio Golf; Company; The Drowsy Chaperone; Gem of the Ocean; Drowning Crow; Ma Rainey's Black Bottom; Dance of the Vampires; The Smell of the Kill; Thoroughly Modern Millie (also London); You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown; Little Me; The Lion in Winter; A View from the Bridge. Off-Broadway: The Third Story; The Wild Party; Jitney (also London); Wonder of the World; A New Brain; and Blue Man Group (NYC, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas). International: Der Schuh des Manitu, Ich War Noch Niemals in New York, The Wiz, and Beauty and the Beast for Stage Entertainment. Mr. Gallo is the recipient of numerous awards including Drama Desk, American Theatre Wing, Lucille Lortel, Hewes Design, Outer Critics Circle, Ovation, FANY, NAACP, AUDELCO, Barrymore and Eddy Awards and nominations. He was selected to represent American set design at The Cooper-Hewitt Design Triennial and is a recipient of the Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Set Design. His work is part of the national archive at The Smithsonian Institute.

Susan Hilferty (Costume Design) has designed over 300 productions from Broadway to the Bay area- and internationally including Japan, London, Australia, Germany and South Africa. Recent designs include Wicked (2004 Tony, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Desk awards and Olivier nomination), Spring Awakening (B'way, tour and London (Tony nomination), August Wilson's Radio Golf and Jitney, Lestat (Tony nomination) Assassins, Into the Woods (Tony and Drama Desk nominations; Hewes Award), Manon at LA opera and Berlin Staatsoper, Richard Nelson's Conversations in Tusculum, Caryl Churchill's Drunk Enough to Say I Love You and Chris Durang's The Marriage of Bette and Boo. Hilferty also designs for opera, film, and dance, and chairs the Department of Design for Stage and Film at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She was awarded a 2000 OBIE for Sustained Excellence in Design.

John Gromada (Sound Design) Broadway: Music for Dividing The Estate, Prelude to a Kiss, A Bronx Tale, Old Acquaintance, Well, Rabbit Hole, A Streetcar Named Desire, Twelve Angry Men, Proof, Sight Unseen, Sixteen Wounded, The Retreat From Moscow, Enchanted April, Summer and Smoke, Holiday. Sound design for Hedda Gabler, The Homecoming, Twilight: L.A., A Few Good Men, more. Other NY: Streamers, Buffalo Gal, Some Americans Abroad, Crimes of the Heart, Indian Blood, Pig Farm, Bach at Leipzig, Oedipus at Palm Springs, Small Tragedy, many others. Public Theater: Conversations in Tusculum, Henry V, Julius Caesar, The Skriker, Machinal, others. Regional: more than 200 productions. Television: "The Interrogators" (upcoming). Awards: Drama Desk, Obie, Eddy, Drama-Logue, NEA Opera/Music Theatre Fellowship, ASCAP awards.

Peter Kaczorowski (Lighting Design). Broadway: Over 35 plays and musicals including Waiting for Godot, Is He Dead?, Young Frankenstein, Curtains, Grey Gardens, The Pajama Game, The Producers, Contact, Kiss Me Kate, Steel Pier. Recent Off-Broadway: Ruined, Saturn Returns ,Wig Out! Productions for LCT, MTC, NYSF, Playwright's and Encores. Regional: Guthrie, Goodman, La Jolla, Seattle Rep, Long Wharf among others. Opera: the Met, NYCO, San Francisco, LAMCO, Houston, Seattle, St. Louis. Abroad: Royal Opera, Scottish Opera, Opera/North, Maggio Festival Florence, L'Arena di Verona, La Fenice, Cagliari, Bonn and Lisbon. Recipient of Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Hewes design awards. is his 18th production for Roundabout.