EGG, THE ARTS SHOW: THE PLAY'S THE THING (TV)
Summary
One in this series of programs about the visual and performing arts in America that presents segments reflecting different aspects of a single theme. This episode focuses on plays. The first segment, "A Playwright for the Next Hundred Years," celebrates the work of playwright August Wilson; it features commentary from Wilson, actor Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Yale School of Drama Professor Emeritus Lloyd Richards, as well as excerpts (rehearsals and performances) from Wilson's play "King Headly II." The second segment, "A Good Ear for Dialogue," looks at the work of playwright and filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan; Lonergan, theater critic Peter Marks and actor Matthew Broderick discuss the writing style, characters and themes in Lonergan's pieces, including "This is Our Youth," "Lobby Hero," and the Academy Award-nominated "You Can Count on Me." Segment three, "Taking Risks on Broadway," examines how the fringe musical "Urinetown" became a Broadway hit, with commentary from composer/co-lyricist Mark Hollmann, writer/co-lyricist Greg Kotis, New York Times theater critic Bruce Weber, Broadway producer Mike Rego, and actress Spencer Kayden; excerpts from some of the show's musical numbers -- including "It's a Privilege to Pee," "Follow Your Heart," "Act One Finale," "Snuff That Girl," and "Run Freedom Run" -- are shown. The final segment, "Where Were You on September 11?," looks at the Flea Theater's October 2001 production of "The Guys," a play based on the events of September 11, 2001, and starring Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver; Weaver, playwright Anne Nelson, and Flea Theater Director Jim Simpson discuss the play and the Flea Theater. The program ends with a "One Minute Egg," a short reprise of one of the program's topics; in this episode, an excerpt from the "Urinetown" musical number "Run Freedom Run" is shown.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: February 1, 2002 Friday 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:26:46
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:76458
- GENRE: Arts documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Art - Analysis, appreciation; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001 - Drama
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 2000-2003
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Promos - "EGG, The Arts Show: Men Have Feelings Too"
CREDITS
- Jim Folmsbee … Executive Producer
- Julie Schapiro Thorman … Coordinating Producer
- Nick Davis … Producer, Kenneth Lonergan segment
- Mallary Gelb … Producer, "The Guys" segment
- Stanley Nelson … Producer, August Wilson segment
- Amy Teuteberg … Producer, "Urinetown" segment
- Walter John … Producer, August Wilson segment
- Micah Cormier … Associate Producer
- Stephanie Daniel … Associate Producer
- Fiona Davis … Associate Producer
- Jenny Oh … Associate Producer
- Mark Mannucci … Series Producer
- Mary Recine … Contributing Producer
- Elaine Stritch … Voice, "The Egg"
- Matthew Broderick
- Mark Hollmann
- Spencer Kayden
- Greg Kotis
- Kenneth Lonergan
- Peter Marks
- Brian Stokes Mitchell
- Bill Murray
- Anne Nelson
- Mike Rego
- Lloyd Richards
- Jim Simpson
- Sigourney Weaver
- Bruce Weber
- August Wilson