Oral history interview with Al Carmines 1992
- Name
- Carmines, Al (Interviewee)
- Jeffri, Joan (Interviewer)
- Title
- Oral history interview with Al Carmines 1992
- Abstract
- Side A: First experiences with acting: roles in religious plays; work with theater as ministry; first work as composer; family and childhood: parents' occupation and religious beliefs; musical talent: meeting Fats Waller, music lessons; religious beliefs: becoming a devote fundamentalist, work in revivals; attending Swarthmore College; siblings: younger brother; early opposition to segregation, par ents' thoughts on segregation; mentors in youth; early career aspirations; college education: hunger for learning, English and Philosophy studies, attending Union Theological Seminary at Columbia; recollections of the theater world in the 1960s: work at Judson, Cino, LaMama, work with people: Sam Shepherd, Irene Fornas, Paul Goodman; relationship of church and theater; influence of commercialism on theater work; work as an acting teacher/mentor; relationship to theater organizations; role in Theater for the Deaf: learning ASL; writing script for Theater for the Handicapped 'The Making of America', role as Gertrude Stein; artistic mentors and role models: Larry Kornfeld, Paul Tillich, Samuel Beckett; artistic and religious peers: Tom Driver, Bob Seever, Amos Wilder, Joe Chaikin, Jacques Levy; recognition from younger actors; gatekeepers in career: critics: Clive Barnes, Edith Oliver, Joe Papp; commission from Metropolitan Opera; relationship to money throughout career; effect of marketplace on theater; thoughts on making a career in theater. SIDE B: Receiving grants, importance of grants; influence on other actors' careers: making casting decisions; interaction with public; responding to social issues in artistic work; definition of success in career; next artistic goals: interest in writing an American opera; teaching work; greatest satisfaction and disappointment in career; thoughts on occupation versus career; occupation as minister; advice for young artists.
- Collection Name
- Research Center for Arts and Culture Oral History Collection
- Subjects
- Actors; Carmines, Al
- Format
- oral histories
- Genre
- Interviews
- Date
- 1992
- Physical Description
- 62 pages; sound files : digital preservation master, WAV files (96kHz, 24 bit)
- Note
- Interviewed by Joan Jeffri on March 31, 1992.
- Note (Provenance)
- Al Carmines, Gift 1992
- Language
- English
- Library Location
- Columbia Center for Oral History, Columbia University
- Catalog Record
- 13485516
- Persistent URL
- https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8-b6cj-rf95
- Related URLs
- Available digital content for this interview.