Actor Jessica Hecht has appeared on Broadway in Julius Caesar, Harvey and A View From the Bridge, for which she received a Tony nomination. Among her Off-Broadway work, Stage Kiss by Sarah Ruhl, whose other plays include In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; The Clean House; and Passion Play – productions swiftly followed by … Continue reading »
Author Archives: Randy Cohen
Episode 105: Emily Mann
She is in her 25th season as artistic director of the McCarter Theatre, and her work has been seen, well, everywhere. In 2012, she directed A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway. Among her own plays: Still Life and Having Our Say. We convened at the Princeton Public Library along with our musical guest, fiddle player … Continue reading »
Movies / Music / Nonfiction
Episode 104: Paul Williams & Tracey Jackson
He is a songwriter who’s won an Oscar, 3 Grammies and 2 Golden Globes for hits like “We’ve only Just Begun” and “Rainy Days and Mondays.” Her TV and film scripts include Confessions of a Shopaholic for Jerry Bruckheimer. They are the co-authors of Gratitude and Trust: Six Affirmations that will Change Your Life. We spoke at Glenn … Continue reading »
Episode 103: Diane Ackerman
Poet, essayist, and naturalist, she is the author of two dozen works of nonfiction and poetry, including A Natural History of the Senses and, most recently, The Human Age We convened at Poets house, along with musical guest Maeve Gilchrist on the lever harp. PERSON:Antonina Zabinski PLACE: Camp Pinemere THING: Squirrel anaesthesia mask RANDY’S THING: … Continue reading »
Episode 102: Sheri Fink
Her Pulitzer-winning reporting on a New Orleans hospital battered by Katrina became the basis of her terrific book, Five Days at Memorial. And just two days before our conversation, she won another Pulitzer as part of the team doing Ebola coverage for the Times. She goes to places sensible people avoid and writes about them astutely. … Continue reading »
Episode 101: Rivka Galchen
Having endured the rigors of med school and growing up Jewish in Oklahoma, she has written a collection of stories, American Innovations, and a splendid novel, Atmospheric Disturbances. She is conversant with both literature and science, the intellectual equivalent of jeans and formal wear, although I’m unsure which is akin to which. Plus music by … Continue reading »
Episode 100: Gerard Mulligan & Steve Young
As we enter the post-Letterman era, two of his long-time writers reflect on their decades with the show. Gerry started writing for him in 1978 when Dave guest-hosted the Tonight Show. Steve started on the NBC show in 1990 and soldiered on through the final broadcast at CBS. I worked with – and admire – … Continue reading »
Episode 99: A. O. Scott
He joined the Times in 2000 and is now a chief movie critic. It’s tough to write about critics; they generally do not have lives teeming with event. And movie critics? They sit in the dark and watch something then sit at a desk and write about it. And in Scott’s case, talk about it … Continue reading »
Episode 98: Hank Azaria
The voice of every Simpsons character – OK, many Simpsons characters: Moe, Apu, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Carl Carlson and more – he is admired as an actor in movies (Night at the Museum), television (Mad About You) and theater (Spamalot). PERSON: Roy London PLACE: the NICU THING: his first TV RANDY’S PLACE: concert hall, … Continue reading »
Episode 97: Barbara Bloom
Internationally known for her installations – at MOCA, MOMA, the Venice Biennale, The Stedelijk in Amsterdam – she does work that often has a kind of implied narrative: you get the previews, the posters, the ads, but not the movie itself. This was the first in a series of shows at Glenn Horowitz Booksellers. … Continue reading »
Episode 96: Lev Grossman
Lev Grossman is a journalist, the book critic at Time Magazine, and a novelist, best known for the three books in The Magicians series which he decribes as, in part, Harry Potter for adults. We spoke at the Brooklyn Historical Society accompanied by Mamie Minch. PERSON: J.K. Rowling PLACE: Oxford University THING: his antidepressants … Continue reading »
Episode 95: Kathleen Chalfant
This splendid actor is perhaps best known for her performances in Wit and Angels in America and now has recurring roles on The Affair, The Americans, and House of Cards. We spoke at the National Black Theater, an event produced with Epic Theater Ensemble, featuring original music from the cast of Shakespeare Remix: Hamlet & … Continue reading »