Roundabout Theatre Company - Page 16

The 1950s marked a shift in British culture; the early ‘50s laid the groundwork for this watershed period, but these changes in society were not evident until the end of the decade.

It was a drive into the Karoo to spend a holiday on a friend's farm and the route I drove that took me for the first time through what had only been a name on a map until then: New Bethesda, a small village in what turned out to be an absolutely magnificent setting. As I drove through it, I couldn't help responding to it, because I was actually born in that part of the world-as a matter of fact, I was born fifteen miles away from New Bethesda in a place called Middelburg. Driving to my friend's farm I was struck by its isolation and thought to myself, hell, this would be quite a nice place to have a house to escape from the city if ever I felt like getting away from the world. I mentioned this to my friend, who said, "Well, you know, the houses are dirt-cheap in New Bethesda because there has been a move from the rural areas into the cities. You could pick up a house there very cheaply." So on the way back to Port Elizabeth, I stopped and looked around, and I discovered there were houses for sale very, very cheaply.

Ted Sod, Education Dramaturg, talked with lighting designer, Peter Kaczorowski about his design for The Road to Mecca.

Nestled in a kloof or valley in the Karoo region, the village lies next to the Sneeuberg Mountains. Although Nieu Bethesda is surrounded by the arid dessert of the Karoo, the secluded town is an oasis amidst that vast dessert. Nieu Bethesda receives its water from a spring on a plateau just above the town. A furrow system brings the water down to the homes of Nieu Bethesda. The town has limited modern resources, including no street lights, gas station, or bank.

I want to highlight the music we use in Sons of the Prophet, composed by Nico Muhly.

Q&A with Todd Haimes: Harvey A conversation with Artistic Director Todd Haimes about Mary Chase's Harvey. Except for a brief revival in 1970, Harvey has not been seen on Broadway in generations. What about this show makes it a great choice for our subscribers?

What about Camoletti's famous French farce excites you the most? Why does this type of comedy work so well on stage?

We opened! The final week of previews reminds me of that Paul Valéry quote (that is also attributed to about 100 other people): A poem is never finished, only abandoned in despair.

Ted Sod, Roundabout's Education Dramaturg, interviewed director Jonathan Berry to discuss the play.

Ted Sod, Roundabout's Education Dramaturg, interviewed playwright Stephen Karam to discuss The Sons of the Prophet.

From the Artistic Director: Suicide, Incorporated Posted by Todd Haimes - October 14th, 2011 This is indeed a play that tackles the issue of suicide, but I want you to know two important things about it: The play doesn't take this difficult subject matter lightly, and it also allows for a new way into this issue that isn't all gloom and doom.

From Commision to Stage Posted by Jill Rafson - October 14th, 2011 When you see Stephen Karam's new play Sons of the Prophet at the Laura Pels Theatre, it will be a first-class production of a play that makes you laugh in spite of yourself and a story that is alternately hilarious and heartbreaking.

Brewers, Blogs, and the Rehearsals in Between Posted by Andrew Hinderaker - October 12th, 2011 I have a confession. Game 4 of the Brewers/Diamondbacks series just started, and I love baseball as much as I love theater. Which is to say, obsessively.

Slouching Towards Bethlehem, PA by Stephen Karam - September 22nd, 2011 This is my first time blogging. Ever. I'll do my best. The first week of rehearsals has just ended and its been the usual rush of adrenaline, nerves, excitement, discovery, fear, joy. Sons of the Prophet had a production at the Huntington Theater Company this past spring, and I was able to take what I learned from that first run and do a series of big rewrites this summer at the MacDowell Colony (where I worked in a cottage whose previous inhabitants include James Baldwin and Spalding Gray and María Irene Fornés!)

Honestly, I love telling people about this play and this playwright. The story of this production speaks directly to the kind of work that I want Roundabout to be doing in the world of new play development. There's nothing quite like knowing that we're achieving our goals for both the theatre and the artists in this area.

The marquees for our first production of the 11-12 Season are up at the American Airlines Theatre! Man and Boy with Frank Langella begins previews on September 9, 2011 and opens on October 9, 2011.

The talented cast of Death Takes a Holiday took to the studio on Monday, August 8, to record their original cast album with PS Classics. Jill Paice, who plays Grazia in the show, took these wonderful photos to document the wondrous occasion!

Roundabout's resident Education Dramaturg, Ted Sod, sits down with Death Takes a Holiday leading man, Julian Ovenden, to discuss working on a new musical, life/death and more, as part of Education @ Roundabout's UPSTAGE Guide. Ted Sod: How did you come to work in the theatre?

Star Profile: Name: Jessie Austrian Show: The Importance of Being Earnest Character: Gwendolen Fairfax

Star Profile: Name: Kevin Munhall Show: Anything Goes Character: FBI Agent, Passenger, Crew