First, Make Sure Your Idea Works On a Small Stage.
This interview with Francesca Zambello, general and artistic director of the Glimmerglass Festival and artistic director of the Washington National Opera, was conducted and condensed by Adam Bryant.
Q. Do you remember the first time you were in a leadership role?
A. I started a theater company at Colgate because I didn’t like the university theater company. I found it was too regimented and too formal. I raised the money. I got the people. This is what I’ve been doing my whole career. It’s just that the productions get bigger and bigger.
Q. When did your interest in the theater take hold?