Masters of the Stage

On February 4, 1996 the Drama League Directors Project co-hosted with SDCF a moderated discussion between Director/Choreographer Gillian Lynne and musical Director/Arranger Marvin Laird. In this candid discussion of Gillian's life in the theatre - the prolific dancer, choreographer, director of musicals and straight plays speaks of the mentors who helped her develop her comprehensive "theatrical vocabulary". She demystifies the true genesis of Cats, explaining that her participation began over a glass of wine with Andrew Lloyd Webber. She discusses how that musical changed the way actors would be trained in the UK, for the better. She covers her own training and her unlikely entrée into the business of choreographing; developing Jazz ballets with Dudley Moore. She speaks frankly on what it means to be a woman in show business and what steps she is taking to champion the cause of increasing dancer's respect in this industry.