Theater Talk: Wynn Handman

Theater Talk visits master acting coach Wynn Handman in his studio, where - at age 93 - he continues his teaching career as one of the theater's most sought-after mentors. Handman shares advice about bringing texts to life on stage. He also discusses Off-Broadway's venerated American Place Theatre, which Handman founded in 1963, and which along with his class helped to launch the careers of Dustin Hoffman, Richard Gere, Eric Bogosian, John Leguizamo, Kathleen Chalfant and Aasif Mandvi to name but a few.

Handman and his American Place Theatre are the subject of the Jeremy Gerard's oral history “Wynn Place Show: A Biased History of the Rollicking Life & Extreme Times of Wynn Handman and The American Place Theatre.“

Taped: 01-23-14

Theater Talk is a series devoted to the world of the stage. It began on New York television in 1993 and is co-hosted by Michael Riedel (Broadway columnist for the New York Post) and series producer Susan Haskins.

The program is one of the few independent productions on PBS and now airs weekly on Thirteen/WNET in New York and WGBH in Boston. Now, CUNY TV offers New York City viewers additional opportunities to catch each week's show. (Of course, Theater Talk is no stranger to CUNY TV, since the show is taped here each week before its first airing on Thirteen/WNET.)

The series is produced by Theater Talk Productions, a not-for-profit corporation and is funded by contributions from private foundations and individuals, as well as The New York State Council on the Arts.

[bardted]

Little did I realize years ago while studying with Wynn (John Leguizamo was my classmate) that he would have such a profound effect not only on my performing life, but also on my career as an acting teacher. Wynn is, marvelously, one of a kind. A man of unfaltering integrity, always seeking the humanity that binds us all. I am very fortunate to have been a student of such a truly great Artist and Man of the Theatre!

[georgegallagher]

A national treasure. Thanks for posting this. He was a great mentor to me and it's inspiring to see he's still going at it with the same vigor, vitality and unparalleled wit he possessed years ago.

[estherhyun]

I'm grateful to have studied with Wynn briefly in the early 1990's before relocating to LA. He was wondrously brilliant and magical! It was profoundly exciting to watch him work... One time, when a scene fell flat, Wynn had the actor pace back and forth while making a few simple suggestive comments. He had the actor begin the scene again. Suddenly, it came to life! The actor's performance was incredibly rich, natural, simple, and truthful. Wynn was gifted in his ability to nurture organic performances out of all of us. As George Gallagher commented, Wynn was a national treasure! I feel blessed to have studied with him, and always hoped to see him again. RIP!

[hayleytaylor]

Loved hearing all of Wynn's great words and learning about the origins of The American Place theatre! Love Hayley xoxo

[joeclancy]

Wow.

Wynn and Susan  Haskins  making  all  that  can be  BE!

Brilliant!!

Hamilton Clancy

[jimmyhall]

Wynn casted me in my first NY Theatre Play at American Place Theatre, "Displaced Person" and I got featured photo and rave review from Walter Kerr, NY Times, got agent Jeff Hunter and went to work as an actor.