Masters of the Stage

On October 1, 2012, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation in partnership with Broadway Green Alliance (BGA) held a conversation entitled Directing Green at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York. Director/Choreographer John Carrafa, SDC's representative to BGA, led this discussion, which starts with Allen Hershkowitz, Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), describing the state of the global environment and the critical role the entertainment industry can play in adopting better practices. He emphasizes that taking even a small step towards better practices makes a difference. After this accessible overview, some of those leading a more environmentally-friendly theatre working on Broadway in diverse fields - Lighting Designer James Bedell, Costume Designer Andrea Lauer, Scenic Designer Donyale Werle, Stage Manager Marjorie Horne, and Bob Usdin, Owner of Showman Fabricators, give insight into the ways that they are taking the environment into account without compromising their art form. By listening to this conversation, artists can discover questions to ask collaborators in pre-production, learn practical methods of conserving resources in rehearsal and tech, and understand why better environmental practices are essential for artists working today.