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Comedian and actor Bob Newhart discusses his career and his life before becoming a comedian; excerpt from his stand-up performance is played.
Studs Terkel interviews Birgit Nilsson during her time playing Leonore in Fidelio.
British actress Barbara Jefford of the Royal Shakespeare Company discusses her current roles of Lady Macbeth and St. Joan and her reflection of the female roles she portrayed over the years. Jefford was the youngest recipient of the Order of the British Empire for her services in theater and was best known for her role as Molly Bloom in the 1967 film Ulysses.
British actress Barbara Jefford of the Royal Shakespeare Company discusses her current roles of Lady Macbeth and St. Joan and her reflection of the female roles she portrayed over the years. Jefford was the youngest recipient of the Order of the British Empire for her services in theater and was best known for her role as Molly Bloom in the 1967 film Ulysses.
Studs interviews Barbara Cook about her work in musical theater from Broadway to opera. Cook speaks about the composers and writers she has worked with. She explains some of her songs such as “Ice Cream” and “Grass Harp” and describes her first Carnegie concert. Studs quotes Leonard Bernstein, who speaks to Cook’s talent. Cook describes how she went from Broadway to opera and shares how she chooses the songs that she performs. She discusses the art of her talent. The musical pieces are removed from this edited version of the original recording.
Anna Deavere Smith discusses and demonstrates her unique character portrayals from her works "Fires in the Mirror" and "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992."
Angela Lansbury, actress and singer, talks about her work on the play, "Sweeny Todd." Lansbury also talks about her early career, work on Mame, and her family.
This lighthearted interview with actor, director and author Victor Spinetti is juxtaposed by the September 5, 1975 bombing of the London Hilton, which took place mere hours beforehand and "two blocks away," according to Studs. The two discuss Spinetti's Welsh background, acting and comedy with nervous energy against a backdrop of gunshots and bomb threats.
Terkel interviews four principle actors from the American Conservatory Theater: Richard A. Dicer, Robin Gammell, Renee Obajinhua, and Janis Young. This is an interview done in two parts.
Terkel interviews actors from the American Conservatory Theater: Richard A. Dysart, Robin Gammell, Rene Auberjonois, Janis Young, and William Ball. This is an interview done in two parts.
Discussing the play "Another Time," with playwright Ronald Harwood and actor Albert Finney.
Studs interviews Alan Stone, Steven Larson, and Judith Erickson about the opera, "Regina," playing at the Chicago Opera Theater. They describe the variety of music and dances in the opera. Stone, Larson, and Erickson name the cast and their roles and describe the characters. Each share how they came to be in theater. Stone explains how the company started. Larson describes the orchestra and the chorus. Erickson reads some of the lyrics of the aria, "The Best Thing of All," at the end of act one. Stone, Larson, and Erickson read various lines from the opera.
Stage director Alan Schneider talks about his work with playwrights, Samuel Beckett and Edward Albee. Plays include "Waiting for Godot," "A Delicate Balance," and "Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
Tallulah Bankhead thought she would become an aerialist when she grew up. At 16, after she saw some plays, Bankhead decided to go into acting. Bankhead never received any formal training and yet some experts in the theatre world called her “a natural”. In a surprise revelation, Bankhead said she does not attend the theatre as an audience member. She went on to say she likes to read books, watch television, and she loves her San Francisco Giants.