{"id":717,"date":"2021-11-22T17:00:12","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T22:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/?p=717"},"modified":"2022-01-27T13:30:10","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T18:30:10","slug":"american-players-theatre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/american-players-theatre\/","title":{"rendered":"American Players Theatre"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t [aesop_image force_fullwidth=”off” lightbox=”off” captionposition=”left” caption=”Photo by Robert Wood” captionsrc=”custom” align=”center” imgwidth=”100%” img=”https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/247\/2021\/11\/3B07F29A-B03F-4B8E-AAAD-C4CA71AEA4CB.jpeg” panorama=”off”]\n

Charles Bright, Anne Occhiogrosso, and I had a very big dream: to found and build an American, classical repertory company producing plays within the framework of a classical theatre research and training center. We incorporated in Washington D.C. in 1977, and in 1980 planted ourselves in Spring Green, WI. With high hopes and limited funds, we dove into realizing our dream\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople start theater companies every day, don\u2019t they?\u201d \u2013 Charles J. Bright, Managing Director, American Players Theatre 1971-1988<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

<\/h4>\n

<\/h5>\n
<\/h6>\n

THE SITE<\/h2>\n[aesop_gallery pslightbox=”on” transition=”crossfade” itemwidth=”500%” galleryType=”grid” id=”740″]\n

THE THEATRE<\/h2>\n

\u201cA hike up a winding gravel path lined with foot lamps, across gliding dips of meadowland, will lead you to the theater\u2026Hiking upward your spirit has time to adjust to the paradox that awaits you\u2014classic culture at home in the wilderness. And finally, there it is, raised on raw boards, an austere little stage at the pit of an amphitheater.\u201d \u2013 Jim Dalglish, CITY LIGHTS 1981<\/strong><\/p>\n[aesop_gallery pslightbox=”on” transition=”crossfade” caption=”Photos by Robert Wood” galleryType=”grid” id=”474″]\n

THE RESEARCH<\/span><\/p>\n

[aesop_image force_fullwidth=”off” lightbox=”off” captionposition=”left” caption=”Anne Occhiogrosso and Randall in the APT library.” captionsrc=”custom” align=”center” imgwidth=”100%” img=”https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/247\/2021\/11\/E31EB525-AE36-4970-90A3-2FCA102BEF3D.jpeg” panorama=”off”]\n

We wanted to study a text thoroughly and deeply. Our library, consisting of 3,000 books was made available to all that worked at APT. The company studied sources of Shakespeare\u2019s texts and looked up the definition of each word they were to speak. Other resources were available to inform as well as stimulate the company\u2019s imagination. This diligent work shared by actors, directors, designers, and office personnel\u2014THE ENTIRE COMPANY, was in an effort to represent the plays with a specialized knowledge that would make the audience\u2019s experience richer.<\/p>\n

THE TRAINING<\/h2>\n[aesop_gallery pslightbox=”on” transition=”crossfade” caption=”An article in the 1985 APT souvenir program.” galleryType=”thumbnail” id=”719″]\n

Here is a clip of a video made to showcase the training at APT: shorturl.at\/vNU45<\/a><\/p>\n

THE PEOPLE<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

<\/h3>\n

What would our theater have been without the children? They reminded us every day why we were creating this theater. Recently, one of them, Asa Kerr-Derks, now 40, told us APT was their playground when they were growing up. I guess it was ours too, but they look like they were having much more fun. The did their own production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT\u2019S DREAM, insisting it be performed uncut and joined us for AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE in our last season.<\/span><\/h4>\n[aesop_gallery pslightbox=”on” transition=”crossfade” galleryType=”grid” id=”748″]\n [aesop_image force_fullwidth=”off” lightbox=”off” captionposition=”left” caption=”Dr. Stockmann with Annie and the kids.” captionsrc=”custom” align=”center” imgwidth=”100%” img=”https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/247\/2021\/11\/432EFABA-FB58-4020-B6B0-B6186AC2CE2D.jpeg” panorama=”off”]\n

In developing our Academy we knew we needed help in training our apprentices and found some of the best. Command of one\u2019s body was paramount for a classical repertory, with the demand of performing out-of-doors, doing several shows in the course of a week, and creating an array of different characters. Because my own acting was so influenced by Asian theater and because of advice given to us by A.C. Scott (a foremost authority on Asian theatre), I felt we needed someone who could teach us Tai Chi and Meditation to strengthen our bodies and minds. We needed to be flexible and fluid in our movement as well. Jerry Gardner was the man. Not only was he a Martial Arts teacher and Kung-Fu competitor, but he was, also, totally schooled in Ballet and Pilates. His impact on my work and thinking remain to this day.<\/p>\n

Since I brought up Asian Theater, I must mention Onoe Kuroemon II, a member of a legendary Kabuki family. I had worked with him in Hawaii in 1963, and when our male actors needed to fill the ranks of the girls at Capulet\u2019s Feast (we just had too few women) I thought Onoe could possibly help us with this dilemma.<\/p>\n

Because we were to expand our rep with plays written in different languages we wanted to have our own translations of those works. Fortunately for us John A. Wyatt, Professor of Classics, was teaching nearby in Beloit, Wisconsin and knew the roots of so many languages that there wasn\u2019t a playwright he could not translate. He became a very close friend and we were dependent on his translations of OEDIPUS, COMEDY OF ASSES, 6 Chekhov ONE-ACTS, THE SEAGULL, IVANOV and THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS.<\/p>\n

Patrick (Paddy) Crean, the renowned theatrical fight director, joined us for a season. He had choreographed the Hamlet duel at the Guthrie, so when we scheduled Hamlet at APT I jumped at the opportunity to work with him again. Paddy was a complete gentlemen and one of the sweetest men I knew.<\/p>\n

And of course, Morris Carnovsky and Phoebe Brand, both members of the legendary Group Theater. They honored us by directing Chekhov\u2019s IVANOV and Shakespeare\u2019s KING LEAR and taught a few acting classes as well. I have spoken earlier about Morris\u2019 influence on my life as an actor and thus my inner journey with him had come full circle.  Annie, Chuck, and I enjoyed a wonderful friendship with the two of them beyond our APT days.<\/p>\n

I must include Tony Randall, who may be remembered as a film actor and television\u2019s THE ODD COUPLE, not as an instructor but as someone who lent his much needed support in APT\u2019s early days.<\/p>\n

To all of them I am grateful.<\/p>\n[aesop_gallery pslightbox=”on” transition=”crossfade” galleryType=”grid” id=”757″]\n

<\/h2>\n

There were many other members of our creative team that lent their extraordinary talents to our productions and to whom I will remain grateful. Among the many, special mention must be given to Budd Hill, an extraordinary costume designer, Ted Boerner, another brilliant costume and set designer, William Gleave, our inventive prop master for several seasons, Tim Shirmer and Douglas Brown our composers, Sandra R. Ernst, Fred Ollermann, Mik Derks, and Theodore Swetz our co-directors and Jewel Walker, guest director. Also to be mentioned are the technical and administrative staffs, without whom this theatre would not have been possible. And so many, many more.<\/span><\/h4>\n

THE PRODUCTIONS<\/h2>\n

Building a repertoire\u20261980-1991<\/p>\n[aesop_gallery pslightbox=”on” transition=”crossfade” galleryType=”sequence” id=”720″]\n

\u201cI am writing this letter to thank you for the enormous gift you made to us\u2014and to all the thousands of theatre goers whose lives you have enriched since you climbed that hill in Wisconsin and had the incredible energy and talent it took to make something great grow from your efforts. What a wonderful legacy. Our debt to you is beyond measure\u201d \u2013 W.A. Morgan and Joy Ford, Audience Members<\/b><\/p>\n

FINIS<\/h2>\n

Despite the invaluable contributions of artists and community members alike, after 12 years of intense struggle to realize our ideas, we were finally compelled to leave. There were certain obstacles that prevented us from achieving the high standards that we had set for this company. Nonetheless, the dream of an American, classical repertory theatre continues.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[aesop_image force_fullwidth=”off” lightbox=”off” captionposition=”left” caption=”Photo by Robert Wood” captionsrc=”custom” align=”center” imgwidth=”100%” img=”https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/247\/2021\/11\/3B07F29A-B03F-4B8E-AAAD-C4CA71AEA4CB.jpeg” panorama=”off”] Charles Bright, Anne Occhiogrosso, and I had a very big dream: to found and build an American, classical repertory company producing plays within the framework of a classical theatre research and training center. We incorporated in Washington D.C. in 1977, and in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":268,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-highlights"],"metadata":{"_edit_last":["38"],"_wpac_members_redirect_to":[""],"_wpac_show_in_search":["0"],"_wpac_show_excerpt_in_search":["0"],"_wpac_nonmembers_redirect_to":[""],"ase_chapter_enable_timeline":["off"],"ase_map_component_start_point":["a:2:{s:3:\"lat\";d:29.76;s:3:\"lng\";d:-95.38;}"],"ase_mapbox_style":["openstreet"]},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAmerican Players Theatre - Randall Duk Kim<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/american-players-theatre\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"American Players Theatre - Randall Duk Kim\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[aesop_image force_fullwidth=”off” lightbox=”off” captionposition=”left” caption=”Photo by Robert Wood” captionsrc=”custom” align=”center” imgwidth=”100%” img=”https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/247\/2021\/11\/3B07F29A-B03F-4B8E-AAAD-C4CA71AEA4CB.jpeg” panorama=”off”] Charles Bright, Anne Occhiogrosso, and I had a very big dream: to found and build an American, classical repertory company producing plays within the framework of a classical theatre research and training center. We incorporated in Washington D.C. in 1977, and in […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/american-players-theatre\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Randall Duk Kim\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-11-22T22:00:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-01-27T18:30:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Randall Duk Kim\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Randall Duk Kim\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/american-players-theatre\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/american-players-theatre\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Randall Duk Kim\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/aaec48a73258b199f5ae77eac9a94c3c\"},\"headline\":\"American Players Theatre\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-11-22T22:00:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-01-27T18:30:10+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/american-players-theatre\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1243,\"articleSection\":[\"Highlights\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/american-players-theatre\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/american-players-theatre\\\/\",\"name\":\"American Players Theatre - Randall Duk Kim\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-11-22T22:00:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-01-27T18:30:10+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/aaec48a73258b199f5ae77eac9a94c3c\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/american-players-theatre\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/american-players-theatre\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/american-players-theatre\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"American Players Theatre\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/\",\"name\":\"Randall Duk Kim\",\"description\":\"A Performing Arts Legacy Project site\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/aaec48a73258b199f5ae77eac9a94c3c\",\"name\":\"Randall Duk Kim\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/1f75b41fd5bca167c2092852f6d8b36da89000d7c942526641d933de43624965?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/1f75b41fd5bca167c2092852f6d8b36da89000d7c942526641d933de43624965?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/1f75b41fd5bca167c2092852f6d8b36da89000d7c942526641d933de43624965?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Randall Duk Kim\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/kimrandall\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/performingartslegacy.org\\\/kimrandall\\\/author\\\/kimrandall\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"American Players Theatre - Randall Duk Kim","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/american-players-theatre\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"American Players Theatre - Randall Duk Kim","og_description":"[aesop_image force_fullwidth=”off” lightbox=”off” captionposition=”left” caption=”Photo by Robert Wood” captionsrc=”custom” align=”center” imgwidth=”100%” img=”https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/247\/2021\/11\/3B07F29A-B03F-4B8E-AAAD-C4CA71AEA4CB.jpeg” panorama=”off”] Charles Bright, Anne Occhiogrosso, and I had a very big dream: to found and build an American, classical repertory company producing plays within the framework of a classical theatre research and training center. We incorporated in Washington D.C. in 1977, and in […]","og_url":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/american-players-theatre\/","og_site_name":"Randall Duk Kim","article_published_time":"2021-11-22T22:00:12+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-01-27T18:30:10+00:00","author":"Randall Duk Kim","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Randall Duk Kim","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/american-players-theatre\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/american-players-theatre\/"},"author":{"name":"Randall Duk Kim","@id":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/#\/schema\/person\/aaec48a73258b199f5ae77eac9a94c3c"},"headline":"American Players Theatre","datePublished":"2021-11-22T22:00:12+00:00","dateModified":"2022-01-27T18:30:10+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/american-players-theatre\/"},"wordCount":1243,"articleSection":["Highlights"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/american-players-theatre\/","url":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/american-players-theatre\/","name":"American Players Theatre - Randall Duk Kim","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/#website"},"datePublished":"2021-11-22T22:00:12+00:00","dateModified":"2022-01-27T18:30:10+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/#\/schema\/person\/aaec48a73258b199f5ae77eac9a94c3c"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/american-players-theatre\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/american-players-theatre\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/american-players-theatre\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"American Players Theatre"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/#website","url":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/","name":"Randall Duk Kim","description":"A Performing Arts Legacy Project site","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/#\/schema\/person\/aaec48a73258b199f5ae77eac9a94c3c","name":"Randall Duk Kim","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1f75b41fd5bca167c2092852f6d8b36da89000d7c942526641d933de43624965?s=96&d=blank&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1f75b41fd5bca167c2092852f6d8b36da89000d7c942526641d933de43624965?s=96&d=blank&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1f75b41fd5bca167c2092852f6d8b36da89000d7c942526641d933de43624965?s=96&d=blank&r=g","caption":"Randall Duk Kim"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/kimrandall"],"url":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/author\/kimrandall\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/268"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=717"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/717\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performingartslegacy.org\/kimrandall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}