Newest Edition of 'Working In Theatre' On CUNY TV 5/11

 The newest edition of the American Theatre Wing's "Working in the Theatre" will feature "Demystifying the Classics" on CUNY TV on Sunday, May 11 at 5 p.m. The program will repeat on Friday, May 16 at 9 a.m., 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, May 17 at 11 a.m.  The program becomes available as streaming video and podcast from www.americantheatrewing.org, as well as iTunes, beginning Wednesday afternoon, May 14.

A trio of classical theatre veterans – Kate Fleetwood, Peter Francis James and Laila Robins – share their thoughts about the importance of language in performing the classics and the physical connection they feel to the language; why the classics force audiences to think; the reaction of younger audiences to classical theatre; tackling the pre-conceived ideas held by audiences about the classics; and their opinion on setting the plays in different eras.

Kate Fleetwood is currently starring in Broadway's Macbeth. Other theatre credits include The Winter's Tale, Pericles, Hecuba, Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Love's Labour's Lost, Medea, The Two Noble Kinsmen, Ghosts, Romeo and Juliet, and Twelfth Night. Fleetwood has also appeared in films The Golden Age, Vanity Fair and The Girl with the Pearl Earring.

Peter Francis James most recently performed in Much Ado About Nothing in Central Park, Broadway's Drowning Crow and August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean. Other theatre credits include Judgment at Nuremberg, House of Flowers, Venus, Hamlet, The Maids, Amphityron, and Scent of the Roses. Film and TV credits include Oz, The Rosa Parks Story, The Wedding, Third Watch, and Law and Order: SVU.

Laila Robins just completed a run in Antony and Cleopatra at Theatre for a New Audience. Broadway credits include Heartbreak House, Frozen, Herbal Bed, and The Real Thing. Off-Broadway, Robins has starred in Sore Throats, Tiny Alice, Film Society, Mrs. Klein, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, The Extra Man, and Bloody Poetry. Film credits include The Good Shepherd, True Crime, and Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

The program is moderated by Howard Sherman, Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing.

The ATW "Working in the Theatre" panels bring together theatre's best-known performers, producers, playwrights, directors, choreographers, composers, agents and others for peer-to-peer conversation about the art, the craft and the business of theatre.

CUNY TV is a cable channel serving the five boroughs of New York City with educational, cultural and public affairs programs. As part of The City University of New York, CUNY TV operates as a non-commercial station. Its mission is to extend the academic and intellectual richness of the University beyond the campuses and to offer New York City residents a haven for life long learning experiences through television.

About The American Theatre Wing

The 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 29th 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 awarded more than $2.5 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. Sondra Gilman is Chairman of the Board of the American Theatre Wing; Doug Leeds is President of the Board and Howard Sherman is Executive Director.

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