Stars, Sentiment & Sondheim: Pros Share Knowledge With Master Classes
By Mark Arnest, The Gazette, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Sep. 21–For students and practitioners of theater, the Colorado Festival of World Theatre’s master classes will be the days when you most wish you could divide yourself into two. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, six luminaries will pass on their knowledge of acting, directing, playwriting and producing to students who have come from as far away as Switzerland.
Even among these six, Australian actress Zoe Caldwell and South African actress Janet Suzman stand out. Caldwell has won four Tony awards, given annually to Broadway’s best — an achievement rendered even more astounding because Caldwell has only appeared in nine Broadway productions.
Suzman has earned a reputation as one of our era’s greatest Shakespeareans — though her resume is much deeper than that. (She’s also known for her 17-year marriage to director Trevor Nunn.) In the master class format, students perform for and are critiqued by the master teacher. It’s a nerve-racking, but frequently life-changing, experience.
“Why do I enjoy teaching?,” asked Brian Murray, the South African actor who’s leading one of the classes. “I suppose it’s the light bulb that goes off in somebody’s head when they get something.”
If you’re too shy or too busy to prepare a Shakespearean monologue, Suzman will welcome people who want to watch the class but not participate. Auditing is free, but arrive early, because seating is limited.
Costs range from $125 to $350. Though this isn’t high by master class standards, it’s expensive by many theater-person-budget standards — so it’s good that the festival is offering partial scholarships to college students and actors, directors, producers, writers and singers who would like attend. Call 475-1737, ext. 22, for more information.
Zoe Caldwell
Few actresses have had as illustrious a stage career as the Australianborn Caldwell. Her honors include Tony awards for “Slapstick Tragedy,”"The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,”"Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” and “Master Class.” Her three-day class will focus on acting.
Janet Suzman
Suzman was on the verge of a major film career in 1971, when she starred in “Nicholas and Alexandra.” Instead, she returned to the theater. (She joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963.) She’ll give three days of instruction on how to act Shakespeare.
Brian Murray
The three-time Tony nominee — one was for the Broadway production of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” — returns after last year’s “Talking Heads” to give a three-day comedy workshop.
Gordon Davidson
Davidson has directed or produced a slew of award-winning plays on Broadway, including “Angels in America” and “The Piano Lesson,” and also founded The Center Theatre Group. His Monday master class will focus on playwriting, work-shopping and not-for-profit producing.
Joseph Hardy
The veteran Broadway director, who won a Tony award for “Play it Again, Sam,” will give a three-day class on directing.
Daniel Beaty
No one who saw “Emergence-SEE!” at last year’s festival will forget Beaty’s vocal mastery, as he vividly personified dozens of characters. (Beaty won an Obie award for the play’s subsequent New York production.) He’ll pass on some of his knowledge on Tuesday and Wednesday.
details Colorado Festival of World Theatre
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
“Truth in Translation” When: Opens today; 8 p.m. today, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday Where: Armstrong Hall, Colorado College Tickets: $23-$45
“Beautiful Girls,” a celebration of Stephen Sondheim When: 8 p.m. Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Sunday Where: Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave. Tickets: $28-$75
Daniel Beaty, “The Broadway Songs I Love” When: 8 p.m. Sept. 28 and 29 Where: Ute Pass Cultural Center, 210 E. Midland Ave., Woodland Park Tickets: $20-$30
“Avner the Eccentric” When: 2 p.m. Sept. 29 Where: Dickson Auditorium at Woodland Park High School Tickets: $15-$30
“A Mountain Celebration — Gypsy Style!” featuring Via Romen When: Noon Sept. 30 Where: Lost Dutchman amphitheater, 382 Trout Haven Road, Divide Tickets: $15-$30
MASTER CLASSES WITH
Zoe Caldwell — 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; Business of Art Center Studio 515, 515 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs; $350
Janet Suzman — 1:30-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; Business of Art Center Venue 515, 515 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs; $350
Brian Murray — 1:30-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; Community Congregational Church, 103 Pawnee Ave., Manitou Springs; $300
Gordon Davidson — 1:30-5 p.m. Monday; Community Congregational Church, 103 Pawnee Ave., Manitou Springs; $125
Joe Hardy — 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; Community Congregational Church, 103 Pawnee Ave., Manitou Springs; $300
Daniel Beaty — 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday-Wednesday; Community Congregational Church, 103 Pawnee Ave., Manitou Springs; $175 Partial scholarships available; call 475-1737, ext. 22
CONVERSATIONS WITH
Michael Lessac: 7:30 p.m. Monday
Zoe Caldwell: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Sir Peter Shaffer: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
Janet Suzman: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Studio Bee, Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave. Tickets: $15-$25
ALSO
“The Sound of Sondheim,” brunch and symposium with Paul Gemignani and Lonny Price When: Sunday, 10:30 a.m. brunch/11:30 a.m. symposium Where: The Broadmoor Lakeside Terrace (brunch)/ Little Theatre at The Broadmoor (symposium), 1 Lake Avenue Tickets: $55 brunch and symposium/$15 symposium only (For more information, visit www.cfwt.org)
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