Theater Talk: 'The Landing' and 'Macbeth'

First aired: November 2, 2013.

This week we focus on "The Landing," a new musical at The Vineyard Theatre by composer John Kander and writer Greg Pierce who join us with the production's director Walter Bobbie and a member of its cast, David Hyde Pierce. Kander discusses why he chose to work with Greg, the first person with whom he's created an entire musical since the death of his long time professional partner, Fred Ebb, in 2004. "The Landing" is a departure for Kander from the big "razzle-dazzle" shows he did with Ebb; it is an intimate chamber piece (3 separate works written for 4 actors and 4 instruments), but though "The Landing" is small in scope, it has huge emotional power.

Next we focus on Broadway's upcoming production of "Macbeth" at The Vivan Beaumont Theater. Suzy Evans of "Backstage" joins Susan Haskins on an excursion to Lincoln Center's main rehearsal room where they interview members of the creative team for this new take on Shakespeare's gruesome. Directed by Jack O'Brien, this version features Ethan Hawke in the title role. The play is "basically... a nightmare," O'Brien tells us, "a mythic meditation on addiction to all kinds of power."