03.10.16 • BACKSTAGE.COM » MOVE BEYOND DIRECTING WITH PLUS: THESE FILM 16+ PAGES SCHOOL COURSES OF CASTING » CHECKING OUT THE NOTICES! FEIRSTEIN GRADUATE SCHOOL OF CINEMA » MAX CRUMM SHARES “DISASTER!” The Unflappable Jane Krakowski THE TONY WINNER DOES DOUBLE DUTY ON B’WAY IN “SHE LOVES ME” AND ON NETFLIX IN “UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT” THIS SPRING NEW YORK STELLAADLER.COM 212-689-0087 31 W 27TH ST, FL 3 NEW YORK, NY 10001 [email protected] THE PLACE WHERE RIGOROUS ACTOR TRAINING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE MEET. SUMMER APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 15, 2016 SUMMER CONSERVATORY 10 Weeks, June 6 - August 12, 2016 The Nation’s Most Popular Summer Training Program for the Serious Actor. SUMMER INTENSIVES 5-Week Advanced Level Training Courses Shakespeare Intensive Chekhov Intensive Physical Theatre Intensive Musical Theatre Intensive Actor Warrior Intensive Film & Television Acting Intensive Teen Summer Conservatory (ages 14-17) PROFESSIONAL CONSERVATORY 3-Year Conservatory 2-Year Evening Consevatory 1-Year Musical Theatre Conservatory 2-Year Los Angeles Conservatory The Stella Adler Studio of Acting/Art of Acting Studio is a 501(c)3 not-for-prot organization and is accredited with the National Association of Schools of Theatre LOS ANGELES ARTOFACTINGSTUDIO.COM 323-601-5310 1017 N ORANGE DR LOS ANGELES, CA 90038 [email protected] by: AK47 Division CONTENTS vol.57,no.10|03.10.16 NEWS 6 Our2016SXSWpreview 7 Thisweek’sroundupofwho’scastingwhat starringwhom 8 KatieLowesof“Scandal”stagesseven newplaysinjustunderaday ADVICE 11 THEWORKINGACTOR Playthelonggame 12 SECRETAGENTMAN Thefutureoftheindustry 13 #IGOTCAST LucyFreyer FEATURES 4 BACKSTAGE5WITH... TamaraTunie 10 MEETTHEMAKER DanLevy,“Schitt’sCreek” 12 SPOTLIGHTON... KeiynanLonsdale 13 INSIDEJOB LauraZabel, executivedirectorofSpringboardfortheArts 18 IT’S THEBROOKLYNWAY TheFeirsteinGraduateSchoolofCinema ismakingKingsCountytheepicenterof diversefilmmaking 19 ATLANTAGETSINCORPORATED ActingstudioDramaInc.offersbothtechnical trainingandindustryknow-how 20 BEYONDTHE‘LIGHTS,CAMERA,ACTION!’ Thetruthaboutpursuingacareerindirecting 21 DISSECTINGTHE‘BODY’ JessicaSt.Clairgrillsplaywrighthusband DanO’Brienabouthisplay“TheBodyof anAmerican” 40 BACKSTAGELIFE “Disaster!” COVER STORY page 14 CASTING 22 NewYorkTristate SHE’S 30 California 33 National/Regional SO JANE Jane Krakowski photographed by Aaron Smith for Netflix. “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” on the small screen. Cover designed by Jessica Balaschak. “She Loves Me” on the Broadway stage. Just another day in the life of Tony winner Jane Krakowski AARON SMITH FOR NETFLIX SMITH FOR AARON BACKSTAGE.COM 03.10.16 backstage 1 Chief Executive Officer President & Chief Financial Officer Vice President of Vice President & Peter Rappaport Chief Operating Officer Michael Felman Engineering National Casting Editor Joshua Ellstein James G. Reynolds luke Crowe Vice President, Director of Digital Corporate Controller Graphic Designer David Grossman Scott Wilson Jeff lilley EDIToRIAl ART CASTInG CUSToMER SERvICE Editor-in-Chief Design Director Managing Casting Editor Customer Service Manager Mark Peikert Jessica Balaschak Melinda loewenstein Richard Burridge Senior Digital Editor Art Director Supervising Casting Editor Customer Service Associate Rebecca Strassberg Margaret Ruling veronika Daddona Danny Camporeale Associate Editor Film & TV Casting Editors PRTI oDUC on Briana Rodriguez Riley Fee Production Manager AD vERTISInG SAlES lisa Hamil Assistant Editor Mark Stinson Director, Jack Smart Theater & Performing Integrated Marketing Arts Casting Editors Kasey Howe Staff Writer Michael Coughlin Benjamin lindsay Group Sales Director Anna Paone Allen Buhl Community Manager Casting Editor Britney Fitzgerald Senior Manager, Elijah Cornell Business Development Copy Editor Regional Casting Editor Gerry Sankner Brandy Colbert Byron Karlevics Contributing Writers Casting Specialist s MARKETInG Matt Busekroos John Berkowitz Marketing Associate Molly Eichel Molly Matthews Ryan Remstad Marci liroff Research Editor & Director of Education Call Sheet Editor and Events Rebecca Welch Tom lapke Backstage was founded in 1960 by Ira Eaker and Allen Zwerdling EDIToRIAl oFFICES CASTInG DEPARTMEnT CUSToMER SERvICE PERMISSIon 45 Main St. 323-525-2358 917-725-6367 For one-time use of our content, Brooklyn, NY 11201 [email protected] [email protected] as a full article, excerpt, or [email protected] production prop, contact DISPlAY ADvERTISInG [email protected] [email protected] BACKSTAGE, vol. 57, no. 10 (ISSn#53635 USPS#39740) IS PUBlISHED WEEKlY (except the fourth week of December) by Backstage LLC, 45 Main St., Brooklyn, NY 11201, $3.99 per copy, $99 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY 11256 and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Backstage, 45 Main St., Ste. 416, Brooklyn, NY 11201.Publication Mail Agreement No. 40031729. ©2016 Backstage LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechani- cal, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Backstage LLC: Peter Rappaport, Chief Executive Officer; Joshua Ellstein, President and Chief Operating Officer. 2 backstage 03.10.16 BACKSTAGE.COM 66 OSCAR NOMINATIONS 78 29 GOLDEN GLOBE EMMY NOMINATIONS 26 NOMINATIONS STARS ON THE WALK OF FAME Honoring our Past/Forging your Future Our Two-Year Conservatory Program Puts special emphasis on Film, TV and New Media techniques designed for today’s actor. *Audition Now For Merit Scholarships* Financial Aid Available VA-Approved Institute Contact Theatre of Arts today for more information. 1-855-556-6565 www.toa.edu [email protected] “An actor has to burn inside with outer ease.” Michael Chekhov President of Theatre of Arts 1943-1955 BACKSTAGE 5 WITH... Tamara Tunie Tamara Tunie has been dominating the stage and screen since her days appearing simultaneously on “As the World Turns” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Here, she discusses her newest role in Danai Gurira’s Off-Broadway play “Familiar,” the theater legend who made a lasting impression on her, and more. By Rebecca Strassberg Tell us about ‘Familiar.’ really, really tempting. I really considered My character is an immigrant from it, you know? And not because I wasn’t Zimbabwe. She’s lived in the States for working. I was working in theater, but I 30-something years, so she’s a natural- was doing showcases and all those things ized American. Her name is Marvelous, that you do as you’re just getting started and she is marvelous. She’s the matriarch that don’t really pay. So I really thought of this family, and she kind of rules with about it, because I needed to pay my an iron fist. Or maybe an iron fist with a rent, and dental, and all of that. They gave velvet glove over it. It’s been very differ- me all the paperwork and I took it home, ent for me, and it’s really been challenging and I just looked at it and I thought, This getting into the psyche of this character. is not why I’m here, and I’m not going to do it. And that was my last temp job. How did you get your Equity and SAG-AFTRA cards? Which of your performances has When I was still at Carnegie Mellon, I left a lasting mark on you? did summer stock at Civic Light Opera I’d have to say my first Broadway show, in Pittsburgh between my junior and so many years ago, with Lena Horne. senior year, and that’s how I got my That really set the bar for me as far as Equity card. I did two seasons with Civic professionalism and performance, giving Light Opera, and then when I moved to 100 percent, and being a consummate New York I already had my card, which professional. Being punctual, having was great. My SAG card, I think I had consideration for everybody who’s work- done maybe a couple of commercials. ing with you—and that’s everybody including the usher, the house manager, What was your most the custodian, everybody. She made memorable survival job? the biggest impression upon me. I did office work, and I did temp work, mostly. At one point I was temping, and What do you wish you’d known I could type and everything because I’d before you started acting? learned that in school, so everywhere I’d Everything! There’s that old adage, go for a temp job they would want to hire “Youth is wasted on the young,” me permanently. I remember I was work- because you just don’t know anything. ing at NBC in the human resources office But at the same time, I don’t know if for a couple of months in the summer, and I would have the same joy that I have NBC offered me full-time employment, had with the ups and downs of this with benefits and everything—and it was business, so… ignorance is bliss! • Photographed by Mark Gammill “[IF I WEREN’T AN ACTOR], I THINK I WOULD BE A PERCUSSIONIST. I THINK I WOULD BE SHEILA E.; THAT’S SOMETHING I’VE ALWAYS FANTASIZED ABOUT.” 4 backstage 03.10.16 BACKSTAGE.COM Follow us @backstage Like us facebook.com/backstage Follow us on Instagram @backstagecast NEWS ▶ Leslie Odom Jr. THE DRAMA LEAGUE has announced upcoming conversations with acting greats Jane Krakowski, Leslie Odom Jr., Cynthia Erivo, and UPDATE | Hank Azaria on varying dates from the end of March to mid-April. Visit dramaleague.org/events for more info. Confused,” which follows the debaucherous antics of a group of college friends on the last weekend of summer in 1980. “Demolition” In director Jean-Marc Vallée’s follow-up to “Wild” and “Dallas Buyers Club,” Davis (Gyllenhaal) takes a winding, idiosyncratic journey through grief after losing his wife in a tragic accident. Alongside co-stars Naomi Watts and Chris Cooper, “Demolition” looks to be another robust character study for Gyllenhaal. “In a Valley of Violence” Paul Reubens in “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday” Indie horror favorite Ti West trots his signature slow-burn style into full-on revenge Western territory. Blumhouse Productions produced TEXAS FILM the film starring Ethan Hawke, Taissa Farmiga, Karen Gillan, and John Travolta.