by RONALD RAND
Sharing their insights on the process of creativity and the importance of the arts for humankind CREATE! features over 100 rare Interviews — actors, artists, choreographers, composers, dancers, designers, directors, musicians, composers, mime artists, playwrights, poets musicians, and writers — including Edward Albee, Alec Baldwin, Carol Burnett, Ellen Burstyn, Martha Carpenter, Carol Channing, Brian Cox, Jacques d’Amboise, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Katherine Dunham, Eve Ensler, Kelsey Grammer, Joel Grey, Al Hirschfeld, Julie Harris, Sheldon Harnick, Bill T. Jones, Everett Raymond Kinstler, Chaka Khan, Stephen Lang, Robert Lepage, Arthur Laurents, Mario van Peebles, Christopher Plummer, Harold Prince, Bill Pullman, Tony Randall, Luise Rainer, Phylicia Rashad, Chita Rivera, Roy Scheider, Tim Stevenson, Charles Strause, Tadashi Suzuki, Tommy Tune, Ben Vereen, Sir Derek Walcott, Elie Wiesel, Robert Wilson, and Eugenia Zukerman.
CREATE! features over 150 iconic photographs, paintings, and illustrations including Al Hirschfeld, Everett Raymond Kinstler, Tim Stevenson, Jim Warren, Martha Carpenter, Michael Shane Neal, Thomas V. Nash, Tommy Tune, Stephen Lang, Joel Grey, Tara Sabharwal, Carolyn D Palmer, Ming Cho Lee, Jean-Claude van Itallie, Fred Hatt, Gregg Goldston, David Pena, Parish Kohanim, Andre Gregory, Lucie Arnaz, Allan Warren, Stan Barouh, Jacques d’Amboise, Jimmy Turrell, Jillian Edelstein, James McMullan, Mary Gearhart, Alvin Colt, Sir Derek Walcott and Ronald Rand
CREATE! has been chosen as a Finalist for the Indies Book of the Year Awards for Performing Arts & Music!!
"The best of the best, the cream of the crop, the cherries on top a metaphorical ice cream sundae of indie books. The finalists of the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards. Thousands of books are entered each year, and the panel of over 120 librarians and booksellers take part in the judging, narrowing it down to a group of finalists and winners that represent the best books, all independently published, in over 60 categories."
Author of CREATE! Ronald Rand is the best-selling author of "Acting Teachers of America" used as a text at many universities and schools across America. An International Goodwill Cultural Ambassador, Rand is performing in his 18th year around the world in his celebrated solo play, LET IT BE ART! Harold Clurman’s Life of Passion — seen across five continents in twenty-three countries and twenty states, over 25 international festivals and conference and Ronald represented the USA in the 8th Theatre Olympics in India, visit www.LetItBeArt.com
In 1998, Rand founded and publishes “The Soul of the American Actor,” the only newspaper in the world dedicated to the creative process of the theater artist and all the arts, online at www.SoulAmericanActor.com. An International renowned director, Rand's production of "LUV" is running into its 4th sold-out year at Sarajevo’s Chamber Theatre 55.
The US State Department chose Rand as the first Fulbright Specialist at the University of Sarajevo’s Academy of Dramatic Arts in Bosnia & Herzegovina, and the first Fulbright Specialist at the University of Malaya’s Cultural Centre, both for six weeks, and for five weeks at the Paysandu Theatre Workshop in Uruguay where he also directed a production of an adaptation of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" in Spanish. A visiting guest professor at over seventy-five universities around the world, Rand was an Adjunct Professor of Acting and Directing at Pace University in New York City. Rand is the Librettist of the new opera, IBSEN, with composer Hartmut von Lieres, and currently at work on a feature film about The Group Theatre.
BOOK EVENTS/PANEL DISCUSSION
March 12th 7-8pm
The Lambs Club, Inc
presented by
The Lambs Foundation
New York City
with: Ronald Rand
Tina Chen
Dijana Milošević
Gregg Goldston
Nancy Rhodes
Carol Fox Prescott
Dec 21st 6-7pm
Muscle Shoals Public Library
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
with: Ronald Rand
Eddie Martin
Martha Carpenter
Tim Stevenson
Jerry Foster
Libby Jordan
Amanda Perry
Jerry Masters
Jan Masters
Sept 5-7pm
Florence Lauderdale Central Library
Florence, Alabama
with: Ronald Rand
Jake Landers
Martha Carpenter
Michael A. Curtis
Kerry Gilbert
Hugh Banks
Tim Stevenson
Amanda Perry
Jerry Masters
Jan Masters
Sept 12th 5-7pm
Alabama Music Hall of Fame,
Tuscumbia, Alabama
with: Ronald Rand
Marty Raybon
Will McFarlane
Garrett Miles
Jim Seales
Michael A. Curtis
Mitchell Curtis
Donny Carpenter
Kerry Gilbert
Alyssa Ashley
Hugh Banks
Shane Goodson
Terry Kimbrough
Eddie Martin
Tony Lee
Malcolm Singleton
Steve Bigbee
Martha Carpenter
Tim Stevenson
Jerry Masters
Jan Masters
& Dixie Griffin
July 12th 6-7pm
Barnes & Noble,
New York City
with: Ronald Rand
Brian Cox
Elizabeth Ashley
Everett Raymond Kinstler
Nancy Rhodes
Michael Pressman
Louise Hirschfeld
Carolyn D Palmer
June 21st 5-7pm
Cold Water Books,
Tuscumbia, Alabama
with: Ronald Rand
Martha Carpenter
Betty Maloney
Tim Stevenson
June 9th
The Drama Book Shop,
New York City
with: Ronald Rand
Tina Chen
Mel Gordon
Nicole Ansari
Martha Carpenter
Sabera Shaik
Carolyn D Palmer
Rob Mermin
Tara Sabharwal
Penny Templeton
Steve Ross
June 8th
The Players Club,
New York City
with: Ronald Rand
Everett Raymond Kinstler
Jack Garfein
Nicole Ansari
Louise Hirschfeld
Martha Carpenter
Sabera Shaik
Randall Duk Kim
Parish Kohanim
Carolyn D Palmer
Rob Mermin
Nancy Rhodes
“CREATE!”
RARE INTERVIEWS
F. Murray Abraham Mary Alice Selma Alispahić Nicole Ansari Lucie Arnaz Elizabeth Ashley Alec Baldwin Ellen Burstyn Phoebe Brand Carol Burnett Len Cariou Carol Channing Tina Chen Brian Cox Ossie Davis Ruby Dee André De Shields Olympia Dukakis Randall Duk Kim Ben Gazzara Kelsey Grammer Lee Grant Joel Grey Spalding Gray Julie Harris Stephen Henderson Kim Hunter Dragan Jovicic Jack Klugman Shirley Knight Stephen Lang Laurence Luckinbill Judith Malina Jan Maxwell Rue McClanahan Patricia Neal Jerry Orbach Angelica Page Christopher Plummer Bill Pullman Phylicia Rashad Tony Randall Luise Rainer Chita Rivera Roy Scheider Marian Seldes Sabera Shaik Sylvia Sidney Kate Valk Ben Vereen Eli Wallach Fritz Weaver
Martha Carpenter Alvin Colt Al Hirschfeld Everett Raymond Kinstler Parish Kohanim Ming Cho Lee Carolyn Palmer Tara Sabharwal Tim Stevenson Paul Tazewell
Lori Belilove Jacques d’Amboise Graciela Daniele Anna Halprin Alonzo King Pearl Lang Pilar Rioja Tommy Tune
Gregg Goldston Barry Lubin Craig Marin Rob Mermin David Shiner
Gretchen Cryer Erwin Drake Marvin Hamlisch Sheldon Harnick Charles Strouse Melvin van Peebles Jeanine Tesori
Eugenio Barba Anne Bogart Joseph Chaikin Tisa Chang Ping Chong Jack Garfein Andre Gregory Sabra Jones Michael Kahn Woodie King, Jr. Robert Lepage Emily Mann Dijana Milosevic Diane Paulus Michael Pressman Harold Prince Nancy Rhodes Lloyd Richards Mark Rydell Andrei Serban Ellen Stewart Tadashi Suzuki Robert Wilson
Patch Adams Robert Brustein Dick Cavett Victor Masayesva Jr. Henry Muttoo Tina Ramirez Charlie Soap Dr. Barbara Ann Teer
Leon Bates Julie Budd Stephanie Chase Karen Drucker Chaka Khan Meredith Monk Vinicio Quezada Steve Ross Jim Seales Travis Wammack Eve Wolf Eugenia Zuckerman
Edward Albee Harold Bloom Ed Bullins Nilo Cruz Christopher Durang Eve Ensler Horton Foote Maria Irene Fornes Larry Gelbart John Guare Tina Howe David Henry Hwang Odile Gakire Katese Arthur Kopit Arthur Laurents Budd Schulberg John Patrick Shanley Peter Stone Apriana Taylor Vijay Tendulkar Elise Thoron Jean-Claude van Itallie Sir Derek Walcott Elie Wiesel William Yellow Robe, Jr.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love
“This interview collection is an effective time capsule of some of the best years of the American stage. Ronald Rand’s CREATE! compiles interviews with many of the most important theater artists of the past few decades: actors, composers, directors, writers—and even clowns. A longtime stage and screen actor, and the publisher of “The Soul of the American Actor,” Rand has an impressive Rolodex, and he makes good use of it for this enjoyable volume. The interviews are all short—about a page or two in length—with photos or illustrations of the artists and brief introductions to their work. Rand asked these artists questions specific to their work. So it happens that Kelsey Grammar and Alec Baldwin discuss what keeps them doing live theater, long after they established personas in other media, while Eve Ensler discusses her transition from writing her work to performing it. Elsewhere, Al Hirschfeld argues for the importance of arts education and reminisces about the biggest personalities he caricatured. Rand’s interviews took place as far back as the 1990s, so the work also includes a large number of deceased legends, including writer and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, monologue master Spalding Gray, actor Ossie Davis, and jack-of-all-trades Marvin Hamlisch. Particularly for such long-departed subjects, it’s nice to see one more interviews about their work. This also helps the book serve as an effective time capsule of some of the best years of the American stage and the artists who made that time possible. With so many interviews packed into one volume, one can’t help but feel like individual attention could be longer, and quite a lot of the anecdotes and answers almost beg for follow-up questions. Still, it’s clear how many years of effort went into CREATE! The oversized layout is beautifully designed, the mix of interviewees is outstanding, and the book is packed with plenty of good stories from major artists, making it a unique and worthwhile collection.”
Publisher Gerard McKeon Editor-in-Chief Joyce Brooks
On The Town With Aubrey Reuben - May 20, 2017
“I received an advance copy of a book that will be of enormous interest to people who want to increase their creativity. Create!: How Extraordinary People Live To Create and Create To Live, by Ronald Rand, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, 2017. It is a book of perceptive interviews by the author with actors, actresses, artists, designers, choreographers, dancers, clowns, mime artists, puppeteers, composers, lyricists, directors, educators, musicians, singers, playwrights, poets and writers. It begins with a two page preface,The Creative State of Mind, by Mel Gordon, a retired professor, who taught theatre history and acting for four decades, and a two page introduction by Ronald Rand, who has taught and performed for over two decades on five continents, from which one learns the theme of this fascinating book. Among those interviewed, I can only mention a few, like Joey Grey, Chita Rivera, Al Hirschfeld, Jacques d’Amboise, Tommy Tune, David Shiner, Charles Strouse, Sheldon Harnick, Julie Budd, Christopher Durang, Tisa Chang, Harold Prince and Dick Cavett. Anyone interested in the arts should purchase this book. It will leave a profound impression on your mind, and may change your life.”
"An enriching book for everyone, CREATE! captures the passion of creativity in the theater, music, dance, in fact, all the arts.
An invaluable guide to the inner workings of the artist's vision."
Andre Bishop, Producing Artistic Director, Lincoln Center Theatre
"Ronald Rand’s new book is bound to open eyes and minds…."
Alyque Padamsee
Film star/Director-played Jinnah in ”Gandhi"
"CREATE!" is a great asset to the understanding of
the varieties of creative forces which inhabit people."
Louise Kerz Hirschfeld, Cultural Historian
"Ronald Rand's CREATE! brings the majesty and mystery
of the theatre to life in a series of remarkable interviews
with remarkable artists.
A must-read for students and aficionados of the stage.”
David Bridel
Dean, School of Dramatic Arts, University of Southern California
“For some 20 years, Ronald Rand's invaluable publication, The Soul of the American Actor, has featured in-depth interviews with a wide range of acting talent, from the inevitable to the unexpected. It is a wonderful treat to have so many of them in CREATE!, to be re-read and savored.”
Wendy Smith
author, Real Life Drama: The Group Theatre, America, 1931-1940
“A Fabulous Book!”
Barbara Mackenzie-Wood,
Professor of Drama, Head of Acting/Music Theatre Program, Carnegie-Mellon University
“You’re putting down an important legacy.”
Ben Vereen
“I praise you for this incredible book you ‘created.’
It's a brilliant legacy.”
Tina Chen
“Ronald Rand’s profound new book CREATE! is an encyclopedia of interviews, illustrations, photos and Ronald Rand's interviews reveal “pearls of wisdom” from famous artists from all fields.”
Penny Templeton
“Thank you for your beautiful book,
and all the wonder you have in your soul.”
Tyler Chase,
Founder of L’Orage Productions
“CREATE!” could have only been created with the help and enormous support of very caring individuals who believed in the journey of this book and the creative process.
First and foremost, is my enormous thanks to my publisher, Nancy Cleary, for her vision and foresight in believing in this book and its potential, for her creative gifts and fortitude. I’m deeply indebted to her extraordinary staff, especially Lisa Pliscou, Karen Kibler, and Jerilyn Marler, who gave countless hours and deep care helping to make “CREATE!” as fine as it is.
I hold immense thanks to all those gifted artists and photographers who have contributed beautiful art and stunning photographs to this book, and to those who have supported my efforts in bringing “CREATE!” to its fruition, especially David Leopold and the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, Louise Kerz Hirschfeld, Alejandro Di Paz, Mary Jane Starke, Marilise Tronto, Doug Barron, and Martha Carpenter – and to those whose generosity was indispensable: Trish Alley, Jane Carpenter, David Ellenstein, Ray Faiola, Jacoline Frank, Susan Hardie, Fred Jolly, Theodora Loukas, Thomas McKnight, Ninon Parker, Lester Shane, Helen Sheehy, Mayor Bill and Pat Shoemaker, Richard Skipper, Kimberly Vaughn, and Chad Winters.
Deepest thanks also to those who have most graciously contributed their extraordinary art or photography to the pages of CREATE! including Selma Alispahic, Paula Allen, Kwaku Alston, Nicole Ansari, Lucie Arnaz, Stan Barouh, Ellen Burstyn, Monique Carboni, Martha Carpenter, Julieta Cervantes, Lia Chang, Gregory Constanzo, Alvin Colt, Brian Cox, Jacques d’Amboise, Jillian Edelstein, Gene Egan, Mary Gearhart, Andre Gregory, Joel Grey, Timothy Fielding, Davis Freeman, Gregg Goldston, Philip Habib, Laurence Halprin, Fred Hatt, Kristin Hoeberman, Al Hirschfeld Foundation, Justin Jay, Dragan Jovičić, Yiogos Kaplanidas, Randall Duk Kim, Alonzo King, Everett Raymond Kinstler, Shirley Knight, Parish Kohanim, Paul Kolnik, Stephen Lang, Ming Cho Lee, Local Legends, Laurence Luckinbill, The Mankiller Project, Bonnie Marranca, Roldolfo Martinez, Victor Masayesva Jr., James McMullan, Meredith Monk, Henry Muttoo, Thomas V. Nash, Michael Shane Neal, Angelica Page, Carolyn Palmer, Eduardo Rioja Paradela, N. Paripovic, Melvin van Peebles, David Pena, Ronald Rand, Nancy Rhodes, Tara Sabharwal, Howard Schatz, Craig Schwartz, Sedona International Film Festival, David Shankbone, Paul Sirochman, Rina Skeel, Charlie Soap, Tim Stevenson, Franck Thibault, Isak Tiner, Cordula Tremi, Tommy Tune, Jimmy Turrel, Jean-Claude van Itallie, Jeff Vespa, Sir Derek Walcott, Allan Warren, Jim Warren, Robert Wilson, Ron Wofford, The Wooster Group, Yale Repertory Theatre, and William Yellow Robe Jr.
And from deep in my soul – immense thanks to all the extraordinary artists within these pages who have been so kind to share through their passionate words about their lives and creativity. Their inspiring art is a beacon for all of humanity, reminding us how necessary it is to share in a meaningful and heart-filled way to further compassion and peace in this universe.
MrRonaldRand@gmail.com
Ronald Rand P.O. Box 20633 New York, N.Y. 10023
Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing
wymacpublishing.com