Sight and Sound

We bring together the very best about the stage that’s happening off-stage. From weekly podcasts to monthly book and movie selections, whether recent news or work from years ago, we look at theater as it’s explored in different media and take you behind the scenes as well to see works from the artists’ perspectives.

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES:

FEATURED MOVIE:

Theater Camp is a mockumentary-style film that delves into the world of a drama institute called AdirondACTS, where young performers gather to hone their acting skills during the summer. The story revolves around characters like Amos and Rebecca-Diane, former campers who have yet to achieve their Broadway dreams but continue to return to the camp every year. Written by Ben Platt, Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman, and Noah Galvin, the film explores the trials and tribulations of pursuing artistic success while offering a blend of bitter humor and poignant reflection on the nature of creativity and ambition. Through exaggerated characters and witty dialogue, "Theater Camp" provides an entertaining and insightful look into the world of youth theater and the individuals who inhabit it.

STREAMING THEATER

17 Broadway Plays and Musicals You Can Watch On Stage From Home

Explore the magic of Broadway from your living room with a curated selection of acclaimed stage productions now available for streaming. From the revolutionary energy of "Hamilton," capturing Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony-winning phenomenon in all its historic glory on Disney+, to the poignant melodies of Stephen Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park With George," featuring the iconic performances of Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin, these filmed adaptations bring the electrifying spirit of live theatre directly to your screen. Whether you're diving into the vibrant world of "Rent," the enduring legacy of "Cats," or the whimsical charm of "Peter Pan" starring Mary Martin, each production offers a front-row seat to Broadway's finest moments, celebrating the artistry and passion that define the theatrical experience.

COSTUME MASTER

Ann Roth is a revered 91-year-old costume designer in Hollywood, known for her work in theater and film for over half a century. She has collaborated with renowned directors and dressed many iconic characters, earning an Oscar for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" in 2021. Her creativity and attention to detail have made her a legend in the industry. Roth plays a pivotal scene with Margot Robbie in the "Barbie" movie, directed by her friend Greta Gerwig. Despite her age, she continues to be an active force in the world of costume design, with a sharp eye for authenticity and specificity.

BOOK OF THE MONTH

Brian Selznick, the acclaimed author of New York Times #1 best selling books, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and Wonderstruck, here evokes the wondrous world of theater through his brilliant visual depiction of four generations of an extraordinary family of mesmerizing actors. In The Marvel‘s gripping prose coda, he follows a boy’s attempt to decipher the mystery of his connection to the fabled family. Artist Gail Gregg considers the genius of Brian Selznick as visual artist and compelling story creator.

MOVIE OF THE MONTH

A cult classic “dramedy:” To Be, Or Not To Be, directed by Ernst Lubitsch, starring Carol Lombard and Jack Benny. Released in the middle of WWII, it celebrates the victory of artfulness — onstage and off — over power in telling the story of a Warsaw-based Polish theater group during the German occupation which uses theatrical skills to outwit Hitler’s troops. A Shakespearean signal becomes the key to the plot.

DOCUMENTARY OF THE MONTH

Andre Gregory: Before and After Dinner an intimate exploration of the life and work of trailblazing theatermaker Andre Gregory, directed by prize-winning documentarian Cindy Kleine, his wife. The movie takes its title from Gregory’s famed filmed conversation with Wallace Shawn, My Dinner With Andre. We are taken inside Gregory’s intense rehearsal process, following him as he explores many of the questions that his work asks, such as: where does art come from? Or, what is the role of the artist?

RADIO THEATER NOW

Radio theater is making a comeback! Series like Playing on Air and LA Theaterworks’ Radio Theatre stream original audio productions of plays. Playing on Air concentrates on short contemporary works by acclaimed playwrights such as Lynn Nottage and David Ives. LA Theaterworks produces recordings of classics by playwrights including Henrik Ibsen and Arthur Miller, as well as contemporary works by writers like Tom Stoppard and David Auburn. These on-air series can be downloaded as podcasts. Listening to the plays, voiced by such compelling actors as Tony winners Audra McDonald, Bill Irwin, Tonya Pinkins, Laura Linney and Bobby Cannavale brings a vital intimacy and connection to the works—enhancing onstage productions and in many cases making them ancillary. Stick after the recording, as one of the great joys is the post-"show" discussions between creator Claudia Catania and the artists.

AUDIOBOOK OF THE MONTH

An extraordinary literary work, Dear Mr. You renders the singular arc of a woman’s life through letters Mary-Louise Parker composes to the men, real and hypothetical, who have informed the person she is today. Beginning with the grandfather she never knew, the letters range from a missive to the beloved priest from her childhood to remembrances of former lovers to an homage to a firefighter she encountered to a heartfelt communication with the uncle of the infant daughter she adopted.

PODCAST OF THE WEEK

MacArthur Genius Grantee Basil Twist discusses on Gordon Cox’s Stagecraft the wondrous revival of Symphonie Fantastique at HERE Arts Center, where it debuted 20 years ago. Twist had premiered his genre-bending underwater puppet show to great acclaim, launching both his career and HERE Arts Center’s Dream Music Puppetry Program. After becoming an internationally renowned puppetry artist, Twist returns to his seminal work, performed in a 1,000 gallon water tank and accompanied by a live pianist playing Berlioz’s revered Symphonie Fantastique.

CELEBRATING DESIGNERS: DONNA ZAKOWSKA

Donna Zakowska, an Emmy-winning costume designer known for her work on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, has been praised for her vibrant and historically rich costume designs. Her studio in Brooklyn, where much of the show was filmed, is a showcase of 1950s-inspired fashion, including elaborate hats, coats, and dresses. Zakowska, who won her first Emmy for John Adams in 2008, has been nominated for her work on Mrs. Maisel multiple times.

Her career spans various fields including dance, painting, and design, with early influences from Japanese fashion and African crafts. Zakowska's designs have had a significant cultural impact, with Mrs. Maisel costumes becoming fashion icons, featured in Vogue and displayed at Bergdorf Goodman. She is also set to work on the upcoming series Etoile about ballet dancers in Paris. Zakowska’s dedication to her craft is evident in her meticulous approach to design, blending historical accuracy with imaginative flair.