A director who’s received pretty much every award going, Jack O’Brien is celebrated for his productions of big musicals like Hairspray, big brainiacs like Tom Stoppard, and big Shakespeare. His Macbeth with Ethan Hawke is currently at Lincoln Center. Jack Be Nimble, his memoir of working with Ellis Raab, was published last spring. He really knows how to tell a story.

• PERSON: Joan Houseman
• PLACE: Joan Houseman’s kitchen
• THING: Joan Houseman’s garlic press* (*not actually Joan Houseman’s garlic press)