A Conversation with Andrew Hobgood

I got the chance to sit down with Andrew Hobgood this week. He was coming from a meeting with a producer of The New Colony remount of FRAT. After the meeting proper, and he and I talking about manufacturing, education, and mathematics, he was off again to a TNC development meeting.

Andy has always struck me as one of the most entrepreneurial people I know, and is hands-down the most entrepreneurial theater artist I’ve ever met. He constantly has a busy schedule (he mentioned TNC has about 8 different shows in development right now) but he always makes time for me and for new people in his circle, and what’s more, is always fully present in conversation. If I ran a company developing 8 shows at once (which is only the tip of the Colony iceberg), I think I’d be headed for a mental institution.

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Posted in Director Interview •

Andrew Hobgood hosts Launch Pad Casting Workshop on December 5

The next Launch Pad Casting Workshop will be hosted by Andrew Hobgood, founding Artistic Director of The New Colony, at The Greenhouse Theatre Center.

Under Andrew Hobgood’s direction, The New Colony has quickly become a creative force all its own in Chicago’s theater scene. This year, The New Colony won the 2011 Broadway In Chicago Emerging Theater Award. The New Colony has produced a string of original hits, including FRAT (and its recent revival), That Sordid Little Story, and 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche.

Of all the companies that strive to produce organic, original work, The New Colony has demonstrated its mastery of a collaborative process. The New Colony’s method of storytelling trusts each collaborator as an expert in their domain.

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Posted in News, Upcoming Events •

A Meeting With James Bohnen

Today I sat down with James Bohnen, who will host Launch Pad Casting Workshop on April 11.

I was expecting to get a little insight into his process, talk turkey, and walk out with a clear direction as we get closer to the next LPCW. I knew I’d get something out of it, but I had no idea I’d have so much fun.

Really, all I did was meet him in a Lakeview tea shop, and ask him, “So what do you look for when you’re casting a show that you think distinguishes you from other directors?” The rest was just me taking notes.
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Posted in Director Interview •

David Catlin hosts the inaugural Launch Pad Casting Workshop

Launch Pad Casting Workshop is very excited to announce that David Catlin, former Artistic Director of Lookingglass Theatre Company will host the inaugural event at The Greenhouse Theatre Center.

David Catlin brings his tremendously creative career, including work with Lookingglass, Mary Zimmerman, and David Schwimmer, to Launch Pad Casting Workshop. He is also a committed teacher. David Catlin has been personally involved with Lookingglass’ Education programs, and currently teaches acting at Northwestern University.

David Catlin’s work, including the creation of Lookingglass Alice and The Idiot has emphasized actors with gymnastic, musical, and circus abilities. Actors attending Launch Pad Casting Workshop on November 1 will benefit from his ability to select from the broadest and best possible array of talent. They will also receive his expertise in training and developing actors.

DAVID CATLIN has served as Director of Artistic Development, Lookingglass Studio teacher, Managing Director, and most recently served as Lookingglass’ Artistic Director (2003-2010).

Directing credits include Lookingglass Alice, Icarus, Black Diamond (co-director), Metamorphosis, Her Name was Danger, The Idiot (Jeff Award), and Lookingglass Hamlet.

As an actor he was recently seen in The Arabian Nights, Our Town, Argonautika, Hard Times, and Manuscript Found in Saragossa. His film work includes Since You’ve Been Gone for Lookingglass/Miramax and Humanoid with Dark Harbor Stories.

David teaches acting at Northwestern University and lives in Chicago with his wife Kerry and daughters Saylor and Emerson Finn.

Posted in News •

An interview with Kathryn Daniels

LPCW: When you moved to Chicago, how often did you audition?

Kathryn Daniels: I auditioned four or five times a week for the first year. It was exhausting, and I didn’t get cast in anything the first year I was here. Actually, the first thing I was cast in was the School at Steppenwolf.

LPCW: How did you get that role?

Kathryn Daniels: Well, it was a summer program. In 2003, the School at Steppenwolf was only about five years old. It was on a much smaller scale because nobody knew about it yet. But it was still more competitive than I thought it would be. I didn’t know too much about it, but when I went in for the audition, it suddenly occurred to me that I was in the Steppenwolf offices auditioning for Erica Daniels and Amy Morton! It was an unwritten rule that everybody would be off book, because you had the script for a week. I did a scene from Burn This with a reader. I looked at my script under my chair, and was like, “Damn it!” so I went back and did it again, and the second time, it flowed well. It was completely nerve wracking. It was so nerve wracking that I had to leave the country the next day!

LPCW: Are you serious?

Kathryn Daniels: Yeah! The next day, I went to Barcelona for two weeks! I was going to go anyway, but then I was like, “Oh, my God, I have to leave the country. I can’t just sit around in America and wait around for the phone to ring! I need to put an ocean between me and this conversation!”
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Posted in Actor Interview •