NY conference packed with panels, people, plays

NY conference packed with panels, people, plays

For a packet of snippets from the Sardi’s Lunch with the Stars, watch this video of excerpts by Sandi Durell. Here, Tony Danza talks about boxing, teaching, and Arthur Miller. And here, playwright Doug Wright talks about making characters out of real people.  

The chief Twitter thread is #ATCA14; good individual Tweeters include Frank Rizzo (Hartford Courant), Jay Handelman (Sarasota Herald-Tribune), Paul Hyde (Greenville News), Jonathan Mandell (NewYorkTheater), and Wendy Rosenfield (Philadelphia Inquirer) — for each, scroll back to Nov. 9.  

Some favorite quotes: “All plays are Jewish because they all proceed from the question, ‘why is this night, unlike any other night?’” — Arthur Kopit, during his playwriting-for-critics workshop.

… Another: “Rave reviews are like crack cocaine” — David Henry Hwang, during the Perspectives in Criticism panel of four playwrights…. And given long preview periods and the freedom of social media, “everybody gets to be a critic except the critics” — Howard Shapiro (WHYY-FM, Philadelphia).  

More to come (send links for posting), including an album of photos by Fast Eddy Rubin. And kudos to conference producers, Sherry Eaker and Ira Bilowit.