The American Theatre Wing and XM Satellite Radio present an interview with Oscar-Winning Actress Estelle Parsons, on their weekly theatrical interview show, “Downstage Center,” on XM’s On Broadway (XM Channel 28).
Parsons will appear as the special guest on Friday, September 12 at 6 p.m. The show will repeat on Saturday, September 13 at noon, Sunday, September 14 at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, September 17 at midnight (all times eastern; transmission is simultaneous across the country). The program becomes available as streaming audio and podcast from
www.americantheatrewing.org and iTunes beginning Monday afternoon, September 15.
Oscar-winner
Estelle Parsons talks about taking on the role of the pill-popping Violet Weston in Broadway's
August: Osage County, noting that she's played many drinkers in her career but this is her first drug addict, and also describes the incredible challenge of joining members of the original cast in the midst of the run. She also recounts her earliest days in theatre and her original dreams of musical stardom, why she has directed but doesn't like directing, how she came to play her signature role in Miss Margarida's Way, her experience creating the title role in
Tennessee Williams' The Seven Descents of Myrtle, her work with the famed
The Actors Studio, and the job -- not on stage -- that first got her noticed when she came to New York in the early 50s.
Estelle Parsons, currently appears in
August: Osage County. She made her Broadway debut in Happy Hunting and has received Tony nominations for her performances in The Seven Descents of Myrtle, And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, Miss Margarida's Way and Mornings at Seven. On film, her performance in Bonnie & Clyde garnered an Academy Award. Other film credits include Rachel, Rachel in which she was nominated for an Oscar, Don't Drink the Water, I Walk the Line, Watermelon Man, Dick Tracy, and Looking for Richard. Television credits include "All in the Family," "Roseanne," and "Empire Falls." Parsons served as Artistic Director of
The Actors Studio from 1996-2001.
Each new “Downstage Center” is regularly broadcast at 6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays at noon, Sundays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays at 12 a.m. (all times EST). Following the initial run on XM, each program is made available for free, on-demand, internationally as both streaming audio and podcast on ATW’s Web site,
www.americantheatrewing.org.
About The
American Theatre WingThe
American Theatre Wing is best known as the creator of the
Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards®, which it presents annually with The Broadway League. The Wing’s other activities, dedicated to recognizing excellence and supporting education in theatre, include “Working in the Theatre,” now in its 30th year of telecasts on CUNY TV in New York and on other national cable outlets; "Downstage Center," an hour-long weekly interview program on XM Satellite Radio; “Guides to Careers in the Theatre,” a video series developed for schools and libraries; a grants and scholarship program to New York City schools and not-for-profit theatre companies, which has granted nearly $3 million since its inception; the Theatre Intern Group, a career development program for young professionals; and SpringboardNYC, a two-week college-to-career boot camp for young performers moving to NYC. Visitors to www.americantheatrewing.org can view or download an archive of “Working in the Theatre” and the career guides and listen to “Downstage Center”, all as free, on-demand streaming audio and podcast.
Theodore S. Chapin is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
American Theatre Wing and
Howard Sherman is Executive Director.
Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.
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