The Actor's Chekhov : Interviews with Nikos Psacharopoulos and the Company of the Williamstown Theatre Festival, on the Plays of Anton Chekhov

by Jeanie Hackett, John Guare (Foreword), Nikos Psacharopoulos (Contributor)

Over a 25 year span, director Nikos Psacharopoulos and a continuing company of actors at the Williamstown Theatre Festival committed themselves to staging Chekhov's plays again and again, in the process forging a an American technique for approaching and realizing the work of one of the worl's greatest playwrights. the Actor's Chekhov reveals how this came to be. At the heart of The Actor's Chekhov are Nikos' teaching tapes and notes on specific plays and scenes by Chekhov, as well as 18 substantial interviews with past and present members of the company. Includes interviews Austin Pendleton, Blythe Danner, Tom Brennan, Olympia Dukakis, Louis Zorich, Lee Grant, Kate Burton, Roberta Maxwell, Christopher Walken, Laila Robins, Joyce Ebert, John Glover, Stephan Collins, Carrie Nye, Peter Hunt, Laurie Kennedy, Maria Tucci, and Frank Langella.

Genres: Theatre

314 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1993

About the author

I'm an actress, director, acting teacher & writer. My books THE ACTOR'S CHEKHOV & TOWARD MASTERY focus on the work of the late, great Williamstown Theater Festival director extraordinaire Nikos Psacharopoulos -- and the great American actors who worked with him.

I'm interested in all things about acting on stage and film, theater art & management and the creative process in all art forms. Visit my Workroom (aka website/blog: jeaniehackett.com ) where I am soon to start posting regularly about ideas, challenges, vision, process & intentionality. I love to hear from and respond to other artists about the creative journey we share.

Yes, my books are published under JEAN Hackett, which is what my parents named me. But they and everyone else call me Jeanie. Under JEANIE Hackett, you will find audio books that I have recorded. Look forward to crossing cyber paths!

Reviews

[Eddie Ponsdomenech · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nikos was quite a character. This book captures the spirit of his teaching and directing style. Reading it brought back fond memories of taking class with him. The book sheds light on his unique approach to Chekhov. His methods were deep yet simple, more visceral and organic than intellectual. A must-read for any actor, director, or theater lover.

[Taylor Petracek]

Not as concise as Towards Mastery — I mean some of these actors sort talk themselves into circles and so I had to kind of perform the interviews to understand what they were driving at. John Glover, an actor I was unfamiliar with by name gives my favorite of interviews dabbling in hilarity and profundity. One to come back to!

Far too much time spent on Three Sisters, currently my least favorite of Chekhov’s major plays! And not enough discussing Cherry Orchard, which I’m prepping.