IN THIS ISSUE (click any story to read):

TRUE BLUE
Roundabout Artistic Director Todd Haimes and playwright Charles Randolph-Wright discuss the broad appeal of Blue. (more)

THE COLOR OF MEMORY
A curator at the Smithsonian uncovers new dimensions of the American family in Charles Randolph-Wright’s Blue. (more)

SHAW'S MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT
Critics often call Major Barbara Shaw’s greatest play. Inspired by two historical figures, the master playwright blended comedy with serious issues about workers’ rights and social redemption. (more)

DRAWING ON EXPERIENCE
Meet illustrator and graphic designer Scott McKowen, who has a special relationship with Roundabout—and with George Bernard Shaw. (more)

VOICES FROM THE FIELD
Six city teachers explain how Roundabout’s education program helps students develop the most important character of all: their own. (more)

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2001 - 02 SEASON!



PAST ISSUES (Click to read)

Archive
Spring 2001

SPRING is the season of theatre awards and award nominations, and I am pleased to report that several Roundabout productions have been honored this year.

We have received eight Tony Award nominations, including five for Follies (Best Revival of a Musical; Best Leading Actress—Blythe Danner; Best Featured Actress—Polly Bergen; Best Costume Design—Theoni V. Aldredge; and Best Orchestrations—Jonathan Tunick) and three additional nominations (Best Revival of a Play—Betrayal; and Best Actress in a Play—Juliette Binoche and Jean Smart).

With Roundabout’s busy production schedule, however, we can’t pause too long to celebrate. We’re currently in rehearsal for our summer productions: George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara, directed by Daniel Sullivan and starring Roundabout alum and Tony winner Cherry Jones, to be staged at the American Airlines Theatre; and Charles Randolph-Wright’s play Blue, starring Phylicia Rashad, at the Gramercy Theatre. (This issue of Front & Center looks at those productions in depth, through interviews with the artists and thoughtful commentary on the work.)

And preparations for next season are already underway. Roundabout Artistic Associate Joe Mantello (Design for Living), will direct the first Broadway staging of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins. Clare Boothe Luce’s classic comedy The Women will open the season at the American Airlines Theatre, followed by Rodgers and Hart’s musical comedy The Boys from Syracuse. Roundabout will also mount productions of new plays, including Andrew Bovell’s Speaking in Tongues and Heather McDonald’s An Almost Holy Picture, at the Gramercy Theatre. With such remarkably talented artists joining us, we hope you’ll join us too for another season of great theatre.

Of course, Roundabout could not produce such powerful and acclaimed theatre without the support of so many friends. To all those who make our work possible—the Friends of Roundabout, members of the Chairman’s Circle, and our major supporters—I must once again offer my sincere gratitude. Your continued support of Roundabout is the ultimate award.

Todd Haimes • Artistic Director

Front & Center Online
Summer 2001 Editors:
Tom Sellar, Margaret Salvante McCann