Episode 24: The guys kick off this episode announcing Jack's acting role on the new season of Lisa Kudrow's hit TV show THE COMEBACK, before pivoting to updates on his production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, then Alan asks Jack for advice on navigating the "artistic postpartum depression" that comes with having a project released into the world...

Episode 23: The guys kick off this episode talking about Taylor Swift (obviously…) before diving into Jack’s second week of rehearsals for THE SOUND OF MUSIC. This leads to a discussion about where Jack “puts the pin in ten years later,” balancing themes, and how art gives us a reason to push forward…

Episode 22: Jack is back after his week away, and after discussing his his 2018 production of CAROUSEL, the guys dive into week one on THE SOUND OF MUSIC. They touch on how the iconic musical came to be, the task of re-branding an American classic, and why he starts with his child performers a week earlier than the adults are called to rehearsals.

Episode 21: Jack is in LA working on a new (secret) project. So, in this special episode of NWJ, Alan talks to Jason Berman (BIRTH OF A NATION, AIR) the producer behind Alan's new movie HIGHEST 2 LOWEST. They guys talk about how Jason secured the rights to the original Akira Kurasowa film HIGH AND LOW, what he learned most through producing the film, and Alan talks about how advice from Jack shaped how he wrote the script.

Episode 20: In the second part of the guy's discussion about Jack and his mentors, they discuss what John Houseman and Craig Noel added to Jack's education in the theater, the tension that outgrowing a mentor can cause, and Jack tells the story about the time he made Queen Elizabeth laugh...

Episode 19: On this (longer than usual...) episode, the guys focus on the idea of mentors. This leads to a conversation about the generational differences in imagination, how you learn more from watching your mentors fail, and Jack tells a devastating story about the time he had to fire his first mentor, theater legend Ellis Raab, from a production at The Old Globe.

Episode 18: Jack is well rested and ready for this week's episode of Notes With Jack. His iconic 2002 production of Hairspray serves as the jumping off point for a conversation that touches on Jack's hesitation with re-booting iconic productions, our current culture of greed, and then the guys end the podcast with our first ever cliffhanger...

Episode 17: Jack's 2002 production of Nora Ephron's play Imaginary Friends is the catalyst for today's episode that focuses on Jack's relationship with both Nora and Mike Nichols. This leads the guys into a conversation about the benefits (and difficulties) of being in the room with legends, developing friendships after a failed production, and the synchronistic (sorry for the ooga booga...) connections between Jack, Mike, and Alan...

Episode 16: It's a big day on Notes With Jack. This was recorded yesterday, June 18th, which was Jack's 86th birthday. The guys start by discussing Jack's two night club act (yes, he sang, danced, and told stories...) at 54 below in 2014. This leads to a discussion about survivor's guilt, the way time feels subjective, then at the 23 minute mark, the guys are interrupted when Jack gets birthday flowers delivered... but bare with us... they finish up strong.

Episode 15: This week the guys kick off their conversation with a look back at Jack's 1973 adaption of LE COQ D'OR at the Dallas Civic Opera . This leads them into a conversation about Jack's career directing and adapting operas, how it influenced his later productions in the theater, and the guys discuss the "thrum" of a project without getting too "ooga booga"...

Episode 14: After a little break (and a trip to Europe for the SHUCKED premiere), Jack is back in Connecticut for the summer. The guys kick off the episode talking about Jack's 2017 Broadway production of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. This leads them into a discussion about why certain projects don't quite work, the process of putting Broadway productions on the road, and Jack talks about his brief "career" as a museum tour guide in Europe...

Episode 13: Jack is back in Connecticut, resting, before he travels back to London for the SHUCKED premiere. They guys kick off the episode talking about Jack's 2013 memoir JACK BE NIMBLE, which leads the guys into a notes session about why he decided to write a memoir, why watching the SHUCKED rehearsals in London helped him better understand his role as a director, and how both experiences hinge on his willingness to be an observer...

Episode 12: Jack is in London working with his new company on SHUCKED. The guys start off talking about Jack's 2001 (Drama Desk award winning) production of Tom Stoppard's THE INVENTION OF LOVE, which leads them into a notes session about why Jack puts "more sex" into nearly all of his productions, his love for London and the British theater, and Alan explains why he used to use old an F. Scott Fitzgerald essay as his go-to pickup line...

Episode 11: Jack is packing for London where he'll be putting up last year's Broadway hit (and Alan's favorite musical ever...) SHUCKED. Reminiscing about Jack's 1997 production of The Little Foxes leads the guys into a notes session about Jack's history with SHUCKED, his thought process when transferring a production, and why Jack believes laughter is the best thing God has done since cantaloupe...

Episode 10: Jack is still resting in Connecticut before heading to London to begin work on SHUCKED at Regent's Park Open Air Theater. Alan's intro sends the guys into a notes session that touches on Jack's incredible experience working with (and re-writing... yes, Jack's been a writer too) theater icon George Abbott, the value of humility, and Jack invites his British alter ego on the pod...

Episode 9: GHOSTS has opened and Jack is home in Connecticut getting some much needed the rest. This leads the guys into a notes session that starts by touching on Jack's breakthrough year in 1969. It was his Broadway debut, his Shakespeare debut at The Old Globe, and the time he filled in for his former lover and acted opposite Christopher Walken. The guys also touch on finding your own voice, why the truth is all you can aim for, and Jack tells us about the time he grew a beard...

Episode 8: Previews are ending, and Jack is beginning to step away from GHOSTS. This leads the guys into a notes session where Jack shares how he navigated the staging issues from our last episode, gives Alan advice on how to deal with a director passing on a passion project, and reveals how he managed to be the wingman for the entire Delta Tau Delta fraternity at Michigan...

Episode 7: It's the second week of previews for GHOSTS and Jack is dealing with some push back on a choice he made in the staging of the production. This leads the guys into a rather vulnerable notes session that touches on humility, knowing when to rip the bandaid, and why the audience is never wrong...

EPISODE 6: A few days after Alan sees the second preview of GHOSTS at Lincoln Center, he gives his feedback to Jack. This leads the guys into a notes session that includes what makes a good scene partner, why being exposed to how the sausage is made can stifle creativity, and the importance of protecting "the gift"...

Episode 5: GHOSTS is headed into it's first preview performance at Lincoln Center. This sends the guys into a notes session that touches on the double edge sword of truth, how Shakespeare was the ultimate matchmaker, and Alan shares his most embarrassing Valentines Day story...

Jack had the weekend off before heading into a ten day sprint before the first preview of GHOSTS. This leads the guys into a notes session that touches on how to incorporate the creative team into a production, how being an artist forces you to confront your own truth, and the guys try to figure out who Saginaw, Michigan's (Jack's hometown...) favorite son is (it might not be Jack...)

Episode 3: GHOSTS is in its third week of rehearsal and Jack has begun blocking the play. This leads the guys into a notes session that touches on the layers to a great play, the importance of structure and how it influences a director, and Coda makes her first appearance on the podcast…  

Episode 2: Jack has the cast of GHOSTS up on their feet for their second week of rehearsal at Lincoln Center. This leads the guys into a notes session that touches on protecting actors and actresses from themselves early in the process, being willing to try things, and whether or not birds have fun…

Episode 1: Jack just got back to New York to begin rehearsals for GHOSTS, his next play, going up at Lincoln Center in a few weeks. This leads the guys into a notes session that touches on mining a play for the unspoken emotions, creative breakthroughs at 3AM, and Warren Beatty's mouth...