Ep436 - Diane Paulus: Six Floors of Masquerade Madness

About this episode

Diane Paulus discusses her career and innovative approaches to theater production.

Diane Paulus joins the show for a deep dive into her remarkably storied career, starting with the serendipitous discovery of her father’s history as a director for the Army Entertainment Corps in post-war Tokyo. She shares how growing up at the doorstep of Lincoln Center and performing as a child at the New York City Ballet shaped her rhythmic, music-first approach to storytelling. Diane also pulls back the curtain on the "NASA mission" level of complexity required to mount her latest production, Masquerade, explaining the mathematical precision needed to move audiences through six floors of a converted art supply store. The conversation explores Diane's obsession with the audience's role as the "final character" and her mission to move theater beyond the traditional proscenium. From the disco-fueled origins of The Donkey Show to the egoless, collaborative rehearsal process of rotating six different Phantoms, Diane reveals how she manages to make the impossible possible. It is an inspiring look at the future of immersive experiences and the enduring power of human-centered, visceral ritual. Diane Paulus is a Tony Award-winning director and the Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic…

People in this episode

Host: Alan

Guest: Diane Paulus

Topics covered

• theater
• immersive experiences
• audience engagement
• storytelling
• direction

Keywords

• Tony Award
• American Repertory Theater
• Masquerade
• The Donkey Show
• collaboration

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Masquerade, Hair, Pippin, 1776, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, Waitress, Finding Neverland, Jagged Little Pill

Books & works: Masquerade, The Donkey Show, Phantoms, Tony Award, Hair, Pippin, Porgy and Bess, Waitress, Finding Neverland, Jagged Little Pill

Places: Tokyo, New York City

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