i am pleased to have john lythgoe on this program to talk about lear. thank you for coming. >> thank you for having me. >> rose: how do the play and the program come together? >> i have been nagging oscar to consider me for it. probably -- the first i mentioned it to him was probably long before i should have played it. but now i think i've just entered that interesting window of opportunity for lear when you're young enough to play it because you still have the strength but old enough to play it because you can bring a little bit of authenticity, an old man losing his viability. >> rose: you did an amazing thing which is you kept a diary of preparation. how did the preparation start? >> well, for me, i've lived a long, 68-year-old life. so i did age. that was my first preparation. but i ebegan working hard on it in march. i stopped shaving, of course. this is a real beard, charlie. and i hired a u.c.l.a. grad student to just sit with me and cue me on words. it went extremely fast. i knew it better than i realized. i've seen it so many times in my life.

. ♪ ♪ here.e: john lythgoe is he has won emmys and tony awards , twice oscar-nominated for his work in playing one of the most demanding and challenging parts ever written for the stage. obviously you know i am talking about king lear. this is a shakespeare in the park production at delacorte theater in new york central park through august 17. i am very pleased to have john lithgow on this program. john: great to be here, charlie. kingie: how does john and lear come here together? john: the plate is much greater than i am. i have been nagging someone to consider me for it. probably, the first i mentioned it to him is probably long before i should have played it. but now i think i have just entered that interesting window of opportunity for lear, when your young enough to play it when you still have the strength but old enough to play it because you can bring authenticity to an old man losing his viability. i know it better than i even realized. i have seen it so many times in my life. i played it in college. be i figured it is going to such a demanding part. the rehearsal period is goi