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Catching Up With Austin Pendleton |
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Written by Brad Balfour
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Exclusive video interview with Austin Pendleton
When actor/playwright/director Austin Pendleton received a 2007 Drama Desk award for Renaissance Man of the American Theater, I thought... who better? Besides having a face that seems to lurk in so many films that one wonders if he's in every film that's released, Pendleton seems to be one of those ubiquitous presences on the New York theater scene who is always doing something--no matter what the genre or format.
Last month he had a key role in The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production of "Romeo and Juliet;" now, as part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival, he has directed a one-woman rendition of "The Speed Queen," (based on the novel of the same name by Stewart O'Nan), adapted and performed by Anne Stockton.
In the play, the narrator tells the story of her wild life of sex, drugs, and crime which includes the murder of eight people; as a result she's awaiting her imminent execution on Oklahoma's death row. In this play, she answers questions posed to her by America's most popular horror novelist who is trying to create a bestseller based on her life. Stockton's credits include "Weekend with Bob" and "American Caesar." [The show runs Saturday, July 28th at 5:00 pm, Wednesday August 1st at 10:00 pm, Friday August 3rd at 4:15 pm and Sunday August 5th at 1:00 pm. Tickets are $18.00 for general admission and $15.00 for students and seniors. For reservations please call (212) 868-4444 or visit SmartTix.com to purchase tickets online.]
Pendleton has directed a Broadway production of "The Little Foxes" with Elizabeth Taylor, the world premieres of "Say Goodnight," "Gracie," and "The Runner Stumbles," and the recent "Toys in the Attic" at the Pearl Theater. He has also directed at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre and the Williamstown Theatre Festival; he was Artistic Director of The Circle Repertory Theatre in New York City as well.
Besides directing, Pendleton has scripted several plays; his first published one, "Booth," starred Frank Langella and played at the Long Wharf Theatre as well as Off-Broadway. His second, "Uncle Bob," was produced at the Mint Theatre, and his third, "Orson's Shadow," premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago and enjoyed an off-Broadway run.
A an theater actor, he appeared in the original Broadway cast of "Fiddler on the Roof," the Broadway revival of "Diary of Anne Frank," and "The Little Foxes," among others. And though too numerous to list here, he has appeared in various Off-Broadway shows, regional theaters, television programs and feature films such as "Catch 22."
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