Ronald Rand’s new book “CREATE! How Extraordinary People Live to Create and Create to Live”
The spark of artistic genius has always been a conundrum, but the answer can be found in a new and extraordinary book, “CREATE! How Extraordinary People Live to Create and Create to Live,” written by International Goodwill Cultural Ambassador, Performing Artist, Director and Publisher, Ronald Rand.
The book explains the “creative state of mind” with over 130 rare interviews with the most innovative and visionary actors, actresses, artists, designers, choreographers and dancers. There are also interviews with composers, lyricists, directors, educators, musicians, singers, playwrights, poets and writers from the present and the past. Mr. Rand has also taken the time to interview experts on the art of pantomime, circus clowning and puppetry.
Mr. Rand writes in his introduction that each artist has their own personal journey where their unique talents and drive has led them to overcome impossible odds to either create a new play or draw a new painting. In many instances, Rand’s interviews throughout the book show that “luck” played a strong hand in each artists’ success.
Ronald Rand, by Martha Carpenter, inside “Create!”
For example, the actress Nicole Ansari who appeared on Broadway and at London’s Royal Court Theatre in Tom Stoppard’s play, “Rock N’ Roll,” says she “was one of the lucky people who knew from a young age” that she wanted to act. For others, like the actress Mary Alice who performed with James Earl Jones on Broadway in “Fences,” says “acting was her third career after being a school teacher and working for the Social Security Administration. “
“Create!” also includes over 150 full-color paintings, photographs and artwork by such world-renowned artists as Paula Allen, Kwaku Alston, Lucie Arnaz, Stan Barouh, Alvin Colt, Martha Carpenter, Julieta Cervantes, Ming Cho Lee, David Pena, Jillian Edelstein, Davis Freeman, Mary Gearhart, Gregg Goldston, Andre Gregory, Joel Grey, Lawrence Halprin, Fred Hatt, Al Hirschfeld, Dragan Jovicic, Randall Duk Kim, Everett Raymond Kinstler, Parish Kohanim, Paul Kolnik, Walter Kurtz, Stephen Lang, James McMullan, Henry Muttoo, Thomas V. Nash, Michael Shane Neal, Carolyn Palmer, Eduardo Rioja Paradela, N. Paripovic, Tara Sabharwal, Tim Stevenson, Tommy Tune, Jimmy Turrell, Jean-Claude van Itallie, Melvin van Peebles, Sir Derek Walcott, Allan Warren, and Jim Warren.
Carol Burnett interview inside “Create!”
“Create!” many unforgettable interviews with many extraordinary actors and actresses include F. Murray Abraham, Mary Alice, Selma Alispahic, 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, Andre 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, and Fritz Weaver.
Alec Baldwin interview inside “Create!”
The book has interviews with several world-renowned designers, sculptors and artists who give an account of their artistic journey including Martha Carpenter, Alvin Colt, Al Hirschfeld, Everett Raymond Kinstler, Parish Kohanim, Ming Cho Lee, Carolyn Palmer, Tara Sabharwal, Tim Stevenson, and Paul Tazewell.
If you love dance, “Create!” features inspiring stories from choreographers and dancers: Lori Belilove, Jacques d’Amboise, Daniele Graciela, Katherine Dunham, Anna Halprin, Alonzo King, Pearl Lang, Pilar Rioja, and Tommy Tune. Professional clowns, mimes and puppeteers interviewed by Mr. Rand include Gregg Goldston, Barry Lubin, Craig Marin, Rob Mermin, and David Shiner.
Chaka Khan interview inside “Create!”
Renowned composers and lyricists also tell their stories in “Create!” Among those featured include: Gretchen Cryer, Erwin Drake, Marvin Hamlisch, Sheldon Harnick, Charles Strouse, Melvin van Peebles, and Jeanine Tesori. Mr. Hamlisch who wrote the music for “A Chorus Line” reveals he started playing music when he was six years old, and that for him music is an “international language.”
Famous directors reveal how they were drawn to the theatre to direct including 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, Diljana Milosevic, Diane Paulus, Michael Pressman, Harold Prince, Nancy Rhodes, Lloyd Richards, Mark Rydell, Andrei Serban, Ellen Stewart, Tadashi Suzuki, and Robert Wilson.
“The Luthier” by Martha Carpenter, interview
with Ms. Carpenter inside “Create!”
Jack Garfein, who had to survive eleven concentration camps and lost his entire family in the Holocaust, was able to go on and direct numerous Broadway plays, and in collaboration with Paul Newman created The Actors Studio in Los Angeles.
Diane Paulus received the 2013 Tony Award for “Pippin” on Broadway and knew in high school that she was going to be a director because she had an epiphany moment after her freshman year in college when she realized she wanted to be “in the trenches” and roll up her sleeves and work directly with people.
There are also noted educators in “Create!” who chronicle their careers including Patch Adams, Robert Brustein, Dick Cavett, Victor Masayesva, Jr., Henry Muttoo, Tina Ramirez, Charlie Soap, and Dr. Barbara Ann Teer.
Mr. Brustein, who founded the Yale Repertory Theatre, says it all started because he had a lisp and his parents sent him to elocution school to learn how to articulate his words.
Self-portrait by Tim Stevenson, inside “Create!"’
Musicians and singers recount their path to successful creative careers including: Leon Bates, Julie Budd, Stephanie Chase, Karen Drucker, Chaka Khan, Meredith Monk, Vinicio Quezada, Steve Ross, Jim Seales, Travis Wammack, Melvin Van Peebles, Eve Wolf, and Eugenia Zukerman.
You will not be able to put “Create! down, as you’ll also come across within the pages of “Create!” several gifted playwrights, poets and writers including 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, and William Yellow Robe, Jr.
“Create!” Book Event at Alabama Music Hall of Fame with Eddie Martin, Tim Stevenson, Ronald Rand and Martha Carpenter, photo by Mary Carton
With the debut of the book, Mr. Rand has held several exciting panel discussions in New York City including at The Drama Book Shop with Mr. Rand, Tina Chen, Nicole Ansari, Martha Carpenter, Sabera Shaik, Carolyn D Palmer, Rob Mermin, Tara Sabharwal, Penny Templeton, with Mel Gordon and Steve Ross. At Barnes & Noble on 17th Street in Manhattan Mr. Rand had an inspiring panel discussion with Brian Cox, Elizabeth Ashley, Everett Raymond Kinstler, Nancy Rhodes, Michael Pressman, Louise Hirschfeld, and Carolyn D Palmer.
Create!” Book Event at Alabama Music Hall of Fame with Eddie Martin, Tim Stevenson,
Martha Carpenter, Ronald Rand, Marty Raybon and Jim Seales, photo by Mary Carton
Ronald Rand also hosted a notable Book Event at the social club “The Players” founded by the noted 19th century Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth in New York City hosted a book event with notable speeches by Everett Raymond Kinstler, Jack Garfein, and Louise Hirschfeld. Also in attendance were several artists from “Create!” including Martha Carpenter, Sabera Shaik, Randall Duk Kim, Parish Kohanim, Nicole Ansari, Carolyn D Palmer, Rob Mermin and Nancy Rhodes. Among special guests attending included Rita Salzman, Vic Perillo,
The prestigious Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia, Alabama hosted a Benefit and Panel Discussion/Book Signing with Mr. Rand. Unforgettable performances were given by music stars Marty Raybon, Will McFarlane, Garrett Miles; Jim Seales, Mitchell Curtis, Michael Curtis and Donny Carpenter of Three Wheel Drive; Kerry Gilbert, Alyssa Ashley, Hugh Banks, Shane Goodson, and Randy Kimbrough of The KGB Band with Steve Bigbee; Eddie Martin, Tony Lee and Malcolm Singleton of the Wildwood Ruminators. Afterwards there was an inspiring panel with several of the performers as well as Martha Carpenter, Tim Stevenson, Jerry Masters, Jan Masters and Dixie Griffin. Ms. Carpenter and Mr. Stevenson exhibited some of their large paintings related to music, along with an iconic photograph displayed by acclaimed Atlanta-based photographer, Parish Kohanim, and needlepoint by Muscle Shoals native, Jan Masters.
In Alabama, Cold Waters Books in Tuscumbia, Alabama also hosted a wonderful book discussion with Mr. Rand, Martha Carpenter, Tim Stevenson and Betty Maloney — as well as the Florence-Lauderdale Libray hosting a book event with an exciting panel discussion with Mr. Rand, Jake Landers, Martha Carpenter, Tim Stevenson, Libby Jordan, Amanda Perry, Michael Curtis, Jerry & Jan Masters and Hugh Banks. Plus another Book Event was also held at the Muscle Shoals Public Library with Ronald Rand leading a panel discussion with guests as Eddie Martin, Jerry Foster, Martha Carpenter, Suzie Shoemaker, Amanda Perry, and Jerry & Jan Masters.
Katherine Dunham
Mr. Rand shares on his website for the book at www.CreatetheBook.com that every interview he has done for the book has changed his life because he learned something new from each person. There is no doubt that by reading this book, your life will be changed as well!
Self-portrait by Tommy Tune, inside "Create!"
“Create!” is published by Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing: www.wymacpublishing.com. You will find CREATE! at: www.amazon.com/Create-How-Extraordinary-People-Live/dp/1942545428 •
