Choreographing

The Color Purple

Breon Arzell is the choreographer for the Goodman Theatre production of The Color Purple, directed by Lili-Anne Brown with musical direction by Jermaine Hill, and he shares how their extraordinary Chicago cast transforms a show this team has worked on before. Breon reveals the importance of making art with the artists you’ve actually got in the room; how this show honors our ancestors; how we find find community both in the story and in life; how the Greek chorus breaks the fourth wall and cues the audience that they’re allowed to laugh; and the ultimate grace and blessing of finding divinity within. (Length 21:33) (PICTURED: Brittney Mack (Celie) and Shantel Renee Cribbs (Nettie) in the Goodman Theatre production of The Color Purple, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, choreographed by Breon Arzell, and musical directed by Jermaine Hill. Photo by Brett Beiner.)

Podcast: Download (Duration: 21:33 — 24.8MB)

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By austin, ago

Growing Up Nutcracker

A family affair this week as host Austin Tichenor is joined by his brother John Tichenor and sister Amy Tichenor Moorhead to discuss their early years performing The Nutcracker for the Metropolitan Ballet Company in Oakland, CA, in the 1970s. The siblings share memories of teacher, choreographer, and director Vern Nerden; discuss favorite Nutcrackers; celebrate the rewards of following in your sister’s footsteps; remember the exact craving tech rehearsals and the smell of greasepaint continue to trigger; how one is connected to Tchaikovsky’s music on almost a cellular level; how the Nutcracker is an almost religious experience; and how early exposure to ballet led to lifetimes in the performing arts. (Length 30:58) (PICTURED: Tom Larson’s poster for the Metropolitan Ballet’s Nutcracker, circa 1970. Courtesy of Amy Tichenor Moorhead.)

Podcast: Download (Duration: 30:58 — 0.0KB)

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By austin, ago

Choreographer Matt Crowle

Matt Crowle has directed and choreographed Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn at the the Drury Lane Theatre outside Chicago, and this week he discusses how one job led to (and informs) the other. Featuring early inspiration from Gene Kelly, Ray Bolger, Eleanor Powell, and Bob Fosse; a litany of luck; advice from Mike Nichols; a preference for “characters who dance” over a uniform chorus line; the attraction of athleticism; the importance of serving the piece and killing your darlings; and the relief of knowing the next show will come along soon. (Length 19:15) (Pictured, above: Danielle Davis and Adrian Aguilar in Holiday Inn, directed by Matt Crowle, Drury Lane Theatre. Photo by Brett Beiner.)

Podcast: Download (Duration: 19:15 — 22.1MB)

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By austin, ago