Call Me Adam's Adam Rothenberg chats with Thomas G. Waites, director, actor, and writer about directing Baruch Performing Arts Center and TGW Acting Studio's production of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew from July 10, 2014-August 23, 2014 at Baruch Performing Arts Center (55 Lexington Avenue at 25th Street).

In this interview, Thomas answered my call to reveal:

• His inspirations
• Who he still wants to work with
• Why he loves dissecting Shakespeare
• The best advice he has received
• So much more

Connect with Thomas: Website

1. Who or what inspired you to be a director, actor, writer? Franco Zefferelli directed a production of Romeo and Juliet and it changed my life. That is what prompted me to be an actor. From there I learned directing, then play writing....and teaching as well.

2. Who haven't you worked with that you would like? I would love to work with Seth McFarland. He is so talented and so seriously passionate about what he does, I think he would get me.

3. You are directing Baruch Performing Arts Center and TGW Acting Studio production of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew from July 10-August 23. What made you want to direct this production? It is a personal goal of mine to direct all of Shakespeare before I leave this planet. This will be my fifth production of Shakespeare that I have directed. I have acted in many, but only directed five. I feel Shrew is a particular kind of love story; a story based in tremendous risk, chance, danger and difficulty due to the circumstances. This challenges me greatly.

4. What are you bringing to this production as a director that has not been done before? What I am bringing to this production is live music for one thing, two Juilliard graduate violinists are onstage the whole time, additionally there is some guitar and some trumpet too.

5. What did you like most about dissecting Shakespeare to come up with the way you wanted to direct this production? What I love about dissecting this Shakespeare or any of his plays is that each time I learn something new. This is almost thirty five years and still, in some cases the same material, yet I learn something different and new, it is so refreshing.

Thomas G. Waites in The Warriors

6. You have worked with some of Hollywood's biggest names, in stage productions.

• What was it like working with Al Pacino in American Buffalo? Al Pacino is one of our country's greatest actors. Each night onstage was a lesson in acting to watch his work, his craft, and his cunning. He is like live electricity onstage but most importantly, how he prepares as an actor.
• What was it like working with Kurt Russell in The Thing? Kurt is a major movie star, one of the biggest in the country. He has such confidence, such authority of presence. Kurt is also a terrific actor. He just plays the movie star game, probably better than anyone and he has been doing it since he was five.

7. Most recently, your short film, Pandora's Box earned you Best Director, Best Screenplay for a Short Film, Best Supporting Actress for Frances Fisher, and Joe Mantegna was nominated for Best Actor in the Atlantic City Film Festival. What do you get from making films that you don't get from your stage work? What I get from film is the fact that visually I get to experiment in ways I cannot do in the theatre and it felt great to be recognized. I remember Joe saying to me, "This is good for all of us." And it was. Is. 

8. What did it mean to you to earn these accolades for the film? Directing Pandora's Box was a great thrill for me. It came to me so naturally, so easily, and yet I was so prepared for it. I finished way ahead of schedule. I also feel Joe Mantegna is a great actor and what a great guy. I would be honored to work with him again.

9. What have you learned about yourself from your career? I have learned that I have a lot to learn. To learn is to teach, to teach is to learn. It is as endless and boundless as the sea. And I am only at the beginning of the journey despite having begun in 1976.

10. What's the best advice you've ever received? The best advice I have ever received was from Al Pacino who said, "You are confused?" I said, "Yes, confused about this scene," Al said, "That is good. It is a good state of mind to be in."

Thomas G. Waites

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