Samuel L. Jackson and Liz Mikel join Nov. 13 Broadway panel “Anatomy of a Breakout” with David Henry Hwang, Kenny Leon and others

THE DRAMA DESK and THE FORDHAM UNIVERSITY THEATRE PROGRAM
ANNOUNCES A FALL 2011 PANEL DISCUSSION, 

“ANATOMY OF A BREAKOUT”

TO BE HELD AT FORDHAM’S MAINSTAGE AT LINCOLN CENTER

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, FROM 6:30 PM TO 8:00 PM

Panelists Include 

Douglas Carter Beane, Lewis Flinn, David Henry Hwang, David Ives,
Samuel L. Jackson, Dan Knechtges, Kenny Leon, 
Jennifer Lim, Liz Mike, and Leigh Silverman 

New York, NY, October 26, 2022 - The Drama Desk and the Fordham University Theatre Program will present a special panel discussion at 6:30 PM on Sunday, November 13th, titled “Anatomy of a Breakout,” reflecting the remarkable trend of breakthrough productions and breakout performances on the New York stage.

Randy Gener's Broadway panel "Anatomy of a Breakout"

The Panelists include (in alphabetical order):

Douglas Carter Beane (book writer, LYSISTRATA JONES)

Lewis Flinn (composer/lyricist, LYSISTRATA JONES),

David Henry Hwang (playwright, CHINGLISH),

David Ives (playwright, VENUS IN FUR),

Samuel L. Jackson (actor, THE MOUNTAINTOP),

Dan Knechtges (choreographer/director, LYSISTRATA JONES)

Kenny Leon (director, THE MOUNTAINTOP and STICK FLY),

Jennifer Lim (actor, CHINGLISH),

Liz Mikel (actor, LYSISTRATA JONES)

and Leigh Silverman (director, CHINGLISH).

This special panel discussion will be moderated by Randy Gener, the George Jean Nathan Award winning editor/critic.

Playwright David Henry Hwang

Playwright David Henry Hwang

A surprising bulk of the Fall 2011 New York theater season consists of new plays and new musicals that have received critical acclaim, major awards and successful productions at major venues across the country prior to their emergence on Broadway. To wit,

  • CHINGLISH, the new comedy by Tony Award winner and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist David Henry Hwang, is making its Broadway premiere, starring Jennifer Lim and directed by Leigh Silverman, following the Goodman Theatre of Chicago;
  • David Ives’s comedy VENUS IN FUR had a critically acclaimed life Off-Broadway at Classic Stage Company prior to its Broadway premiere at Manhattan Theatre Club;
  • Katori Hall’s THE MOUNTAINTOP, directed by Kenny Leon and starring Samuel L. Jackson, was awarded the covered 2010 Olivier Award for Best Play after it received critical acclaim in a three-week premiere at Theatre 503 in June 2009, and followed by a West End transfer in London;
  • Lydia R. Diamond’s STICK FLY, also staged by Kenny Leon, was developed in a co-production last year between Huntington Theatre Company in Boston and Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. The play had its world premiere at Chicago’s Congo Square Theatre Company in 2006 and was subsequently performed at theatres including McCarter Theatrein 2007 and Matrix Theatre Company in Los Angeles in 2009.

    Kenny Leon

    Kenny Leon

  • LYSISTRATA JONES opened to rave reviews in a Transport Group production at the Gym at Judson in Greenwich Village; this critically acclaimed musical comedy show will transfer to Broadway’s Walter Kerr Theatre in December.

The Panel Discussion will be held on Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus (Pope Auditorium, 113 W. 60th Street, corner of Columbus Avenue).

The backdrop will be Matthew Maguire’s production of “The Marriage of Figaro” by Pierre Beaumarchais, which performs Nov 9-11 and Nov 17-19 at 8:00 PM.

Ticket prices:
General Admission: $20
Drama Desk members and their Guests: $15
Fordham Faculty, Alumni, Staff: $10
Students* & Senior Citizens: $5   (*from any school with valid ID)

Reservations are requested.  Send RSVPs to DramaDeskRSVP@aol.com.

Fordham University Theatre Program logo

The Fordham University Theatre Program (http://www.fordham.edu) is highly regarded as one of the most outstanding B.A. theatre training programs in the country. The program combines the intimacy of a small conservatory with an exceptional liberal arts education and the rich resources and opportunities available in the world capital of the performing arts. Located at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), in the heart of New York City and within walking distance of the Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre districts, the Fordham University Theatre Program is chaired by two-time Obie Award-winner Matthew Maguire. Students study acting, directing, playwriting, and design and production with a faculty of leading New York City theatre professionals. The faculty is devoted to helping young theatre artists develop their individual skills in an intimate and personal atmosphere. In June 2011, Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington, a Fordham alumnus of 1977, made a $2 million gift to endow the Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre and a $250,000 gift to establish the Denzel Washington Endowed Scholarship for an undergraduate student studying theatre at Fordham. Tony Award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad has joined the Fordham faculty as the University’s first Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre.

Drama Desk Awards logo

Drama Desk Awards logo

The Drama Desk (www.dramadesk.org) is an organization of professional theater writers, editors, critics and columnists who cover all areas of professional theater in the greater New York area, including Broadway, Off Broadway, Off-Off Broadway and not-for-profit theaters.  The organization was founded in 1949 to explore key issues of the theater community. Each year the Drama Desk produces a series of panel discussions to explore areas of concern and then to educate the public about these matters. Guest panelists have included theater reporters, editors and critics as well as working actors, directors, producers, composers, lyricists, authors and producers.  The Drama Desk is unique in that Broadway, Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway shows compete in the same categories for its annual Drama Desk Awards which were first given in 1955.

Press Contact for the Drama Desk:
Les Schecter  (LS Communications)
Tel:  917/854-3286       Lester.Schecter@gmail.com

  • Denzel Washington donates $2.25 million to Fordham (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
  • Denzel Washington donates $2.25 million to Fordham University (inquisitr.com)
  • Denzel Washington Donates $2.25 Mil To Theatre Department! (lukewilliamss.wordpress.com)
  • Denzel Washington Donates $2.25 Mil To Theatre Department! (perezhilton.com)
  • Denzel donates $2M to Fordham acting dept. (nydailynews.com)
  • ArtsBeat Blog: Broadway Cast for ‘Chinglish’ Is Announced (artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com)
  • New York’s Broadway (ebookers.com)
  • Curtain Raisers: Getting Lost in Translation (online.wsj.com)
  • Peter Pan prequel to hit Broadway (bbc.co.uk)
  • Curtain Down, Heads Up: Readers Review ‘Chinglish’ (artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com)
  • Theater Review: ‘Chinglish,’ by David Henry Hwang, at Longacre Theater - Review (theater.nytimes.com)
  • Chinglish (variety.com)
  • Hilton Als: David Henry Hwang’s “Chinglish” review. (newyorker.com)
  • Randy Gener leads “Anatomy of a Breakout” Panel with Broadway talents David Henry Hwang, David Ives, Samuel L. Jackson, Kenny Leon, and others (theaterofoneworld.org)
  • The ‘Follies’ of Our Dreams (online.wsj.com)
  • VIDEO: ‘Chinglish’ play breaks barriers (bbc.co.uk)
  • TT: The Follies of our dreams (artsjournal.com)

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