#21 Scott Lehrer

The theatrical design community has spent the past two weeks all abuzz over the recently announced decision by the American Theatre Wing to eliminate the TONY awards for Sound Design. On this week’s show we discuss that decision as well as the art and craft of Sound Design with the very first recipient of the TONY award for Sound Design of a Musical, Scott Lehrer. Scott discusses the importance and impact of being bestowed that honor and his reaction to the Wing’s recent announcement. Cory and Scott chat about creating intimate moments in “South Pacific” at the cavernous Vivian Beaumont theatre, and the role of sound in theatre from amplification, to aural landscapes, to musical mixing and the paradoxical nature of trying to recognize an art form that by it’s very nature, often strives for transparency. The podcast is back with a timely and opinionated episode. Enjoy!

#20 Beverly Emmons

You’ll need two hands to count the number of Tony noms this week’s guest has garnered, it’s Beverly Emmons! Cory and Beverly cover her vast and varied career and her collaborations with such luminaries as Martha Graham, Jules Fisher, Merce Cunningham and Kenny Leone. She recounts becoming an LD by way of dance school, her longstanding relationship with USA 829 and her involvement in the union exam, how the idea for The Lighting Archive came about, and what is was like following in the footsteps of Jean Rosenthal, Peggy Clark, and Tharon Musser. She also shares her thoughts on lighting research, hand drafting, pre-visualation tools, balancing work and family and a whole host of other topics. And hear her describe an incredibly bizarre and fascinating design process proposed by Robert Rauschenberg for a dance by Merce Cunningham in which she created a randomized cue structure out of mostly existing worklights, hall lights, grid lights and flashlights that could never be the same from performance to performance. Pretty soon you’ll be yelling to turn the worklights ON!

#19 Michael Carnahan

This week’s guest is scenic designer and delightful gentleman Michael Carnahan. Michael and Cory discuss his many years of Associate work with designers such as Anna Louizos, Donyale Werle and the great Desmond Heeley, as well as his own design career, including a long-standing standing collaboration with Ruben Santiago-Hudson and the plays of August Wilson. He discusses the realities and economics of recycled and sustainable scenic materials, why model building is such an important part of his process, and how he may have spent time as a Sinatra groupie. AND Michael and Cory geek out over their love for the design of ‘Rocky’ and how it redefines what can be done on a stage.

#18 Josh Zangen

Inexplicably, we couldn’t get Justin Timberblake to come on the show…but we got the next best thing, his set designer, Josh Zangen! Josh takes us through designing ‘The 20/20 Experience’ Tour and how he fell into the concert world working with such artists as Brittany Spears, Kylie Minogue, and Jack White. Josh and Cory discuss his shows for Spiegleworld including ‘Empire’ in New York and ‘Absinthe’ and ‘Vegas Noccturne’ in Las Vegas. And if that’s not enough…we fulfill your childhood diorama dreams with stories of Josh’s design for the holiday windows at Macy’s. From Timberlake to tinsel, this episode has something for everyone!

#17 Joel Silver

Today’s guest is lighting designer and resident tall human Joel Silver! Joel and Cory chat about the designer/associate relationship and Joel shares stories from working on shows with Kevin Adams and Peter Kaczorowski. They also touch on Joel’s feelings regarding crew relationships, cueing under pressure, being social outside of the theatre and (gasp!) taking purposeful time off. Joel also has a great deal of experience in the industrial world and he tells us about navigating a focus on a convention center floor and getting a corporate logo color just right. Not blue…I said BLUE!

#16 Whitney Locher

It’s taken too long, but this week we finally have a costume designer…it’s Whitney Locher! Whitney and Cory discuss her new production of ‘Into The Woods’ (coming to Roundabout next season) and her long relationship with Fiasco Theatre. They discuss the in’s and out’s of dealing one-on-one with actors as well as the realities of costume research, shopping, and the fine art of diplomacy in a fitting room. Whitney tells us about working on the Tony Awards and Cory shares his new love of returning clothes. Not a mention of a moving light for miles!

#15 John McKernon

Episode #15 goes to the Obi-Wan of lighting software…it’s John McKernon! John tells us how Lightwright came to be and what it’s like creating an integral design tool used all over the globe. Learn how Lightwright and John’s career started (like so many things) in Ken Billington’s office, and hear tales from the past from ‘One Mo’ Time’, ‘The Red Shoes’, ‘Chicago’, and ‘Late Nite Comic’. Hear what the Union exam used to be like back in the “old days” and what John thinks is the trick to winning a Tony for lighting. John McKernon has forever changed the way lighting design is created and documented and now you can meet the man behind the code!

#14 Beowulf Boritt

Never fear podcast listeners…this Beowulf is way cooler than an 11th century warrior, it’s Beowulf Boritt! Beowulf tells us about his massive set for ‘Act One’ at Lincoln Center and what 100,000 lbs of scenery feels like spinning on a 60′ turntable. Cory and Beowulf discuss his vast array of other shows including ‘Chaplin’, ‘Grace’, ‘Spelling Bee’, ‘Sondheim on Sondheim’ and, wait for it, the Circus! Learn what mistakes Beowulf admits that he keeps making, why Ed Asner called him the Angel of Death, and how tall a doorway needs to be to accommodate an elephant. Learning is fun!

#13 Jen Schriever

She’s funny! She’s smart! She’s totally having a “moment.” And we’ve got her on the show today…it’s lighting designer Jen Schriever! Jen tells us about her making her Met debut with ‘Die Fledermaus’ and her Broadway debut with ‘Ghetto Klown.’ Jen and Cory chat about dealing with deadlines, focus nightmares, how to cue when your actors are just wigs on music stands, and it’s another Woody Harrelson story!

#12 Brian Prather

Today’s guest is set designer Brian Prather. Brian chats about his long relationship with Barrington Stage Company, re-designing his award-winning set for ‘Freud’s Last Session’ in the round, and how he made it through a two hour production meeting where everyone was speaking Korean. Cory and Brian compare moments in the design process that give them goosebumps and the pros and cons of falling back on what you know. It’s anther episode live from Queens…roomier, sunnier, and half as expensive as those podcasts from Manhattan!