45 stories by "Diana Chan"
On November 29, 2011, Neil Young spoke about David Geffen's role as a performer in the art of the deal and how the media mogul found success in the behind-the-scenes action. Interview conduc…
On December 12, 2006, Rita Moreno reflected on how Jerome Robbins' toughness as a director and choreographer shaped the 1961 production of West Side Story and helped her sharpen her skillset…
On September 25, 2009, Steve Martin sat down with director Susan Lacy for a conversation on how record industry mogul and studio executive David Geffen found Hollywood success through his fr…
On June 30, 1998, James Earl Jones sat down with actress and director Lee Grant to discuss Sidney Poitier's impact on himself and other young Black actors. Interview conducted for Sidney Poi…
On February 6, 2019, iconic drag performer and artist Lady Bunny chatted with directors Sally Rosenthal and Julia Marchesi about actress Mae West's onstage persona and how she cultivated a l…
In this extended outtake from "Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock 'n' Roll" conducted by director James House, New Orleans bounce artist and performer Big Freedia reflects on the similar…
On July 12, 2012, Tracey Ullman sat down with director Robert Trachtenberg to discuss the joys of working with Mel Brooks for "American Masters " Mel Brooks: Make a Noise" (2013). Chapters: …
Meryl Streep was touched, but perplexed when Joe Papp asked her to take over The Public Theater after his passing. "What he wanted was bigger than what could be, which was sort of always wha…
Joe Papp built a stage on a 35 foot portable truck so he could bring Shakespeare to other communities. "I found myself directing all the plays on the mobile unit, because I felt this was the…
In his search for a home for new American theater, producer Joseph Papp saved a historic building in "ruins" from demolition. It was once the Astor Library, which became the first free publi…
On January 17, 2001, actress and dancer Baayork Lee discussed landing her first role on Broadway at age 5, working with Richard Rodgers and other Broadway greats, and her passion for choreog…
When developing Shakespeare in the Park, it was important to Joe Papp that people felt represented in the theater. "Joe wanted to fill the stage with the same kind of people he was gonna fil…
Inspired by public libraries, Joe Papp made it his mission to have theater be accessible to the public. "I just don't do shows," he said. "They must have meaning."
The post Why Joe Papp thin…
In this outtake from "Ailey," former Ailey dancers recall how Alvin Ailey worked hard to raise money for the company. There was a "burden that was on him to keep us all working and to make s…
In this outtake from "Ailey," Bill T. Jones, guest choreographer of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recalls telling Alvin Ailey that he did not want to be considered a "Black choreog…
Rennie Harris was tapped by Robert Battle, Ailey Artistic Director, to choreograph a piece about Ailey for the 60th anniversary of the company. To prepare, the two reviewed archival footage …
Ailey described "Revelations" as "an evening-long saga about the Black experience," and the performance had a huge impact on Black dancers when it premiered in 1960. "I was moved to tears se…
Ailey describes his "blood memories" and growing up during the Great Depression in Texas, where he met a friend who had a lasting impact on his life. "Chauncey saved my life. ... Chauncey Gr…
Lin-Manuel Miranda describes discovering Rita Moreno and seeing "West Side Story" for the first time, and realizing it was about Puerto Rican New Yorkers. "It was a gamechanger."
The post Li…
Go behind the scenes of Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It to learn how Rita Moreno is a quintessential American success story.
The post Behind the Scenes | Rita Moreno appear…
