THEATRE OF TOMORROW, THE: A REPORT ON THE REPERTORY COMPANY OF LINCOLN CENTER (TV)
Summary
This documentary, narrated by Elia Kazan, discusses the plans for the Repertory Theatre of Lincoln Center as work continues toward its 1965 opening. Kazan discusses the formation of the repertory company, and the temporary company being put together for a fall 1963 debut. Examining the current state of Broadway, Kazan, who serves as co-director of the venture, looks at the cast and crew of Bertolt Brecht's "Mother Courage" on its opening night at the Martin Beck Theatre. He observes as director and co-producer Jerome Robbins and his guest, actress Natalie Wood, await reviews at the Blair House Restaurant. When the reviews turn out to be glowing, star Anne Bancroft is elated. Despite the good reviews, the production still must be "merchandised," courtesy of co-producer Cheryl Crawford and Robbins. The pair pull quotes to be used in ads. Kazan discusses how the plays at Lincoln Center will not have to be "smash hits" to continue, claiming that, in repertory, good plays will not get lost. Kazan speaks with Marlon Brando about repertory acting and why Broadway is no longer attractive to him, chiefly due to the difficulty in sustaining a performance's freshness. Brando also details how a stagehand once accidentally broke his nose. Kazan discusses the career arc of typical actors. Kazan looks at young actress Ann Lynn as she tries to get her break. Kazan discusses the chances of an actress succeeding in the business. Kazan details how repertory can help actors hone their craft. Kazan looks at the luxury of attending the theater with its escalating costs. Next, Kazan and repertory theater co-head Robert Whitehead look at a training program led by choreographer Anna Sokolow and director Bobby Lewis. Kazan watches actors being trained to do "natural" as well as "majestic" acting. Acting students include Faye Dunaway, John Phillip Law, Austin Pendleton, Christopher LLoyd, Clint Kimbrough, and Crystal Field. Actress Margaret Leighton discusses her experience with repertory. Kazan observes as an acting student plays Henry V and pretends to ride a horse. Kazan discusses the challenge of appearing on a repertory stage that juts into the audience. Later, the troupe learns about the use of realistic speech. Kazan talks about the "national resource" of acting talent and how it needs to be preserved and trained. Kazan and Whitehead, along with designer Jo Mielziner, discuss how the temporary theater will incorporate many of the features characterizing the permanent facility. Mielziner displays some sketches and models to show how his theater design will work. Kazan compares the Lincoln Center theater sightlines to those in other Broadway theaters. Later, en route to Arthur Miller's house in Connecticut, Kazan and Whitehead discuss "After the Fall," the play which Miller is writing for their company. Later, the three men discuss the staging of the show, and how it can enhance the drama's power. Miller discusses working on the play and entering the repertory venture with Kazan and Whitehead, saying that it's given him "an immense new freedom." He maintains that repertory can bring "the soul of the theater back." Actor Jason Robards, Jr., who will star in the play, is seen reciting a monologue from the show. Then, Kazan and Whitehead sit down with playwright S.N. Behrman to discuss the comedy he is writing for them. Behrman says he feels "liberated" by the theater's open stage. Kazan helps him craft one of the show's heroines. Kazan talks about how plays need to be staged in a manner that is suitable to a playwright's talent, and how the repertory theater will adapt itself to various genres. Then, Kazan looks at experimental theaters around the country before addressing his goals for the repertory theater company. Finally, Whitehead makes an appeal for subscribers while watching the Vivian Beaumont Theater's construction. Commercials deleted.
The acquisition and cataloging of The Arthur Miller Collection was made possible by The Laura Pels Foundation.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: May 19, 1963 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:12
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:91947
- GENRE: Arts documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Arthur Miller Collection, The
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1963
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert Saudek … Producer
- Mary V. Ahern … Producer
- Michael Ritchie … Director
- Elia Kazan … Narrator
- Anne Bancroft
- S.N. Behrman
- Marlon Brando
- Bertolt Brecht
- Cheryl Crawford
- Faye Dunaway
- Crystal Field
- Clint Kimbrough
- John Phillip Law
- Margaret Leighton
- Bobby Lewis
- Christopher Lloyd
- Ann Lynn (audio id only)
- Jo Mielziner
- Arthur Miller
- Austin Pendleton
- Jason Robards
- Jerome Robbins
- Anna Sokolow
- Robert Whitehead
- Natalie Wood