Production: "House Of Blue Leaves" (Working In The Theatre #115)

1,052 views · Published 22 November 2013 · 1:24:05 · Indexed 4 November 2026

Channel: American Theatre Wing · 2013 · Entertainment

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The producing team of the 1986 Tony-nominated play "The House of Blue Leaves" - press representative Merle Debuskey, executive producer Bernard Gersten, playwright John Guare, advertising representative James Russek, and director Jerry Zaks - discuss how they came to work on this mid-1960's domestic comedy at Lincoln Center Theatre, first in the off-Broadway Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, then transferring to the much larger Vivian Beaumont Theatre which presented its own challenges, eventually moving to the Plymouth Theatre on Broadway; the economics of producing, subscriber base, and ticket prices at a not-for-profit theater; finding key designers; casting sessions, working with strong actors, and maintaining quality performances in an extended run.

Originally taped - September, 1986 

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