New York Post Chief Theater Critic Elisabeth Vincentelli hosts Tales from the Scripts: Recalling Vintage BAM Theater Moments

Frank Dunlop, Austin Pendleton, Graciela Daniele and Carole Shelley** to talk about their BAM theater experiences

July 16, 7-8:30pm BAM Rose Cinemas 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY Free

** is unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.

Brooklyn, NY/July, 06, 2012—In a panel discussion moderated by Post Chief Theater Critic Elisabeth Vincentelli, theater fans have a chance to relive moments from some of BAM Theater Company’s 1970s productions with rare photos, footage, and testimony of those who were actually there. The talk occurs as part of BAM’s 150th Anniversary celebration.

Frank Dunlop, who helmed the BAM Theater Company from 1976-78, will be on hand along with fellow cast and crew members actor Austin Pendleton, chorographer Graciela Daniele, and actress Carole Shelley recounting BAM Theater Company productions including Joseph and the Amazing Color Dream Coat, , The , The New York Idea, The Devil's Disciple, and The Play’s the Thing. Inspired by the idea of a - based repertory theater company, the BAM Theater Company was founded by former President and Executive Producer Harvey Lichtenstein in the fall of 1976, running until 1980. Some notable members of the Company included Blythe Danner, , Barnard Hughes, Tovah Feldshuh, and Margaret Hamilton.

Elisabeth Vincentelli has been chief drama critic at the New York Post since February 2009. Before that she was at Time Out New York, which she joined in 2000 as music editor; she later served as senior editor, then arts & entertainment editor. Over the years, she has contributed criticism, profiles and essays to publications such The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Slate, Salon and Entertainment Weekly Times, as well as her own blog, The Determined Dilettante.

Born in Leeds, , stage director Frank Dunlop quickly established himself when he directed performances featuring Rosemary Harris at the in 1955. In 1967 Laurence Olivier invited to him be associate artistic director

at the National Theatre where he became administrator the following year. While there, Dunlop founded the Theatre Company which, along with the National Theatre, landed at BAM in 1974 for a three-play season. One of the plays, Scapino, transitioned to Broadway as did his production of Sherlock Holmes for the Royal Shakespeare Company in the same season. He was the director of the Edinburgh International Festival from 1982 to 1992. Dunlop has also directed including Oberon and Elixir of Love, and musicals including 's Camelot. He was appointed CBE in 1977 and received the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Literature presented to him by the French government in 1987.

Born in England, Carole Shelley played the first of her many Broadway appearances in Neil Simon's in 1965. She's starred in shows as diverse as (for which she won a Tony for Best Actress in a Play), The Norman Conquests, Noises Off, Stepping Out, , , and Billy Elliot. At the BAM Theater Company, Shelley starred in The Devil's Disciple and The Play's the Thing.

Austin Pendleton is an actor, Tony-nominated director, playwright, and teacher of acting. His most recent directing credits include: Detroit, by Lisa D'Amour (Steppenwolf 2010, National Theatre of Great Britain 2012); Time Stands Still, by Donald Margulies; Three Sisters (which won an ) and at CSC in New York; and A Loss of Roses, by William Inge. Recent acting experiences in New York include Rosmersholm and Oleanna. His plays, all published and produced in New York as well as around the country are Orson's Shadow, Uncle Bob (also produced internationally), and Booth. Last year produced A Minister's Wife, for which he wrote the book (adapting it from Shaw's Candida). Mr. Pendleton teaches acting at HB Studio. He has appeared in more than 150 films including A Beautiful Mind, Finding Nemo, My Cousin Vinny, Home for the Holidays and The Muppet Movie; and on many TV shows including most recently Person of Interest, Law and Order (SVU and Criminal Intent), and Oz and Homicide, in both of which he had recurring roles.

Director-choreographer Graciela Daniele has directed on Broadway, at Lincoln Center, , and regional theaters, and has earned 10 Tony Award nominations and six Drama Desk nominations. Her Broadway credits include , The Dancer’s Life, Annie Get Your Gun, , , Chronicle of a Death Foretold and Dangerous Game. She has staged-choreographed such shows as (Astaire, Ovation [L.A.], NAACP, and Callaway Award), The Goodbye Girl, with Anthony Quinn, starring Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She choreographed the New York Shakespeare Festival and motion picture production of and three films including , (1996 Fosse Award) and Everyone Say I Love You (1997 Fosse Award). Most recently, she has choreographed Armida for the Metropolitan .

For press information contact Sarah Garvey, [email protected] or 718.636.4129 x7

About BAM’s 150 Anniversary celebration Beginning in September 2011 and continuing for 16 months, the sesquicentennial will celebrate BAM’s unique and resonant contribution to the artistic landscape of New York with commemorative events, special programs, and the publication of BAM: The Complete Works (Quantuck Lane)—a narrative and visual chronicle of the institution and its artists. In 2012 BAM looks forward to its exciting future with the unveiling of the newest addition to the BAM campus—the Richard B. Fisher building, the first new BAM venue since the Majestic Theater (now the BAM Harvey Lichtenstein Theater) opened in 1987.

General Information BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, BAM Rose Cinemas, and BAMcafé are located in the Peter Jay Sharp building at 30 Lafayette Avenue (between St Felix Street and Ashland Place) in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. BAM Harvey Theater is located two blocks from the main building at 651 Fulton Street (between Ashland and Rockwell Places). Both locations house Greenlight Bookstore at BAM kiosks. BAM Rose Cinemas is Brooklyn’s only movie house dedicated to first-run independent and foreign film and repertory programming. BAMcafé, operated by Great Performances, is open for dining prior to BAM Howard Gilman Opera House evening performances. BAMcafé also features an eclectic mix of spoken word and live music for BAMcafé Live on Friday and Saturday nights with a special BAMcafé Live menu available starting at 6pm.

Subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, Q, B to Atlantic Avenue (2, 3, 4, 5 to Nevins St for Harvey Theater) D, N, R to Pacific Street; G to Fulton Street; C to Lafayette Avenue Train: Long Island Railroad to Atlantic Terminal Bus: B25, B26, B41, B45, B52, B63, B67 all stop within three blocks of BAM Car: Commercial parking lots are located adjacent to BAM

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