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William Ball discusses the American Conservatory Theater in Pittsburg, PA. They discuss in great detail how different the company is. Specifically that they keep themselves learning and perfecting the classic style. Dick Christiansen theater and film critic joins the conversation.
Actor, director, and author Vincent Dowling performs scenes and roles from his repertoire. He discusses his previous plays and touches on what influenced his career in acting and directing.
Studs Terkel heads to the British town of Stratford-upon-Avon (the birthplace of William Shakespeare) intending to interview Sir John Gielgud, and getting a few words before Studs realizes that Sir John is not intending to be interviewed. He speaks instead to other members of the company. Then he meets Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence in the Falcon Hotel.
Vlado Habunek, the Director of The Croatian National Theater, also a teacher at the University of Zagreb and board member for the Debrovnik Summer Festival discusses how all arts are seeking new revelations with Studs Terkel. Terkel asks Habunek to compare American Actors with Croatian actors because they are subsidized by the state. He sees Croatian actors as too secure and admires the ambition of American actors. The fact that theater reflects life and life is difficult begins a discussion on the status of theater today.
Studs Terkel discusses Russian theater with Stanislaw Pchenikov and Theater director Valentin Nikolaevich Pluchek.
Actor and director Sidney Poitier offers his reflections about his autobiographical memoir, "This Life". Poitier explains how he never had ambitions to be an actor and yet he stumbled into acting when looking through the clasisfied ads. There's a story about his agent trying to settle a negotiation on Poitier's behalf. Poitier's agent told the others involved that Poitier was offered a film in Hollywood. Believing it was a cheap ploy, the agent was told to tell Poitier to go onto Hollywood, and the rest is history for Sidney Poitier.
In the play, "The Value of Names," Shelley Berman plays Benny Silverman, a role which he says is him, an actor from the Hollywood black list. Berman said being in Chicago, acting the role and working with the cast has been THE best experience of his life and when the show closes, it will be the saddest day of his life. The director of the play, Sandy Shinner, said she knew of the Hollywood black list but didn't know about all the personal stories. There is an excerpt of Vic Navasky.
Rilla Bergman, Lou Fant, and Bill Reese converse with Studs about The National Theater for the Deaf and the production they are presenting. Two of the actors Ms. Bergman and Mr. Reese discuss what it took to learn, as hearing people, the best ways to express themselves with sign language. They all talk about how much more expressive the actors in the Deaf Theater have to be to convey the message of the piece they are presenting.
Sam Wanamaker talks about the curtain of a stage being a barrier between the set and the audience. Wanaker says that with theater today, there are more theaters in the round and more thrusts of ramps built into the audience, so that the audience can feel they are a part of the production of the play.
Patrick Garland directs Roy Dotrice, who plays the old and lonely John Aubrey in "Brief Lives". While in studio, Dotrice reenacts part of the one-man show. Garland explains that the play is about John Aubrey, on the last day of his life, telling the audience about the past lives he's encountered.
Studs Terkel interviews Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino on the 30th anniversary of Joffrey Ballet.
Studs Terkel discusses the history of dance and its future with Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino.
Studs Terkel and Robert Altman discuss the opera "McTeague" based on Frank Norri's novel of the same name.
Ray Gordon, writer and director, and Susanne Nussbaum, cast member of "Disabled Geniuses," discuss the play and the life of people with disabilities. Nussbaum recalls experiences of discrimination she and her friends have faced due to their differences. Both interviewees then talk about the members of the play and some of the characters involved.
The Goodman Theatre cast of the play “Fences” discuss some of the major themes from the play, including the African-American experience and race relations, particularly in Major League Baseball.