Disney on Broadway & Art in Schools with How To Train Your Dragon’s Bill Register

Episode 71 : Media Mayhem

Episode Synopsis

Media Manager Bill Register draws from his widespread experience, in both Broadway production and teaching in public schools to speak about a large cross section of issues. From coming out, to the changing trends in Broadway and just what a media manager does.

Guest Bio

A double threat, Bill Register has worked in both education and in various capacities for theatre productions. Bill received his BA in Theatre from the University of Missouri Columbia. After graduating he moved to Chicago and served as Assistant Theatre Manager at the Shubert Theatre. Bill then traveled for two years with Riverdance as an Assistant Company Manager while apprenticing into ATPAM (The Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers). After Riverdance he moved to New York and Theatre Managed at the Gershwin, the Neil Simon and the Henry Miller. Bill then left New York to earn his Masters in Education at Missouri State University. While completing his Masters he was called to move to Los Angeles to work on Wicked as the Associate Company Manager. Bill then taught at The School of Arts and Enterprise and is now serving as media manager for Dreamworks’ live production of How To Train Your Dragon.

Episode Breakdown

00:01 Coming up on Media Mayhem.
00:40 Welcoming Bill Register, alumni of Riverdance and Wicked.
03:12 Bringing people up to speed on How to Train Your Dragon.
05:10 How to Train Your Dragon and the onstage production vs. the film.
06:33 Spectaculars vs. smaller productions: Wow Factor.
11:40 The 20th Anniversary of Angels in America
13:43 What does the NEA do?
15:20 The value of arts education in public schools.
16:54 The resource gulf between schools and how to reform it.
20:08 “Is education a luxury or a right?”
24:57 How teachers came to suck so bad.
28:09 Unions, education and where the money goes.
31:30 Are teachers on their own in funding their lessons?
34:21 “Are gay students more accepted now?”
41:19 Should theaters seek funding from the gov’t.
43:53 Hollywood stars working on Broadway.
46:00 Where the show is going next.

Additional Links

http://www.dreamworksdragonslive.com/

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Hosted By

Allison Hope Weiner

Allison Hope Weiner was a Century City entertainment litigator before she began writing about Hollywood as a journalist. A graduate of Columbia University and the University of Southern California Law Center, she joined the legendary firm of Wyman, Bautzer—where she represented entertainers and corporate media clients.