Person Place Thing
Fridays, 10:30-11 p.m.
Hosted by former New York Times Ethicist Columnist Randy Cohen, PPT features guests who talk about a person, a place, and a thing they find meaningful. Randy pulls out the most interesting details from columnists to musicians, architects, and ballerinas including Rosanne Cash, E. Jean Carroll, and Gene Kohn. The results: surprising stories from great talkers.
-
As a young actor Peter Riegert (“Local Hero,” “Crossing Delancey,” “Animal House”) played Goldberg in “The Birthday Party,” overseen by Harold Pinter himself. One speech was particularly opaque. “I had no idea what it meant, but to say these words was to be Isaac Stern on the violin.” Learning to trust the writer. -
Lifelong friends Lynn Nottage and Jonathan Lethem grew up on the same block. Lethem’s latest book is “Brooklyn Crime Novel;” and last season Nottage was the most-produced playwright in America. -
Len Elmore was on the Knicks during the playoffs: “We’re playing the Celtics, and I get this letter, and I was accepted.” To Harvard Law. Elmore also talks about College Park, Md. and more basketball. -
Ann Goldstein, the celebrated translator of Elena Ferrante and Pier Paolo Pasolini, says of her work, “It is an impossible task, but never the less, it has to be done.” Goldstein tells us about Rome and Dante. -
Dr. Fauci has a hidden talent with birds. Tune in to hear about his favorite things, including his bird calls. -
Producing artistic director Ty Jones of the Classical Theatre of Harlem, focusses on work from Sophocles to Shakespeare — the big S playwrights — as a way to explore fundamental ideas. “These are living arguments, these classic plays.” Jones tells us about Nat Turner and his journals. -
Zach Iscol served in Iraq as a Marine and is now commissioner of New York City’s Department of Emergency Management. “We are always activated. We’re always responding to stuff,” he says. How to prepare for the worst. -
Patrick Page’s solo show, All the Devils Are Here, explores Shakespeare’s villains. Among his many other celebrated roles—Hades in Hadestown, Scar in The Lion King, Max in The Sound of Music, only some of whom are villainous (your call). -
An architect’s client is not just a customer, not quite a colleague. Theirs is a curious collaboration, one gracefully navigated by the head of GLUCK+, Thomas Gluck and the executive director of the WHIN Music Community Charter School, Charlie Ortiz, and they’ve got a fine new building to show for it. -
Librarian Fred Gitner was recently honored by the American Library Association for his work at the Queens Public Library on programs to assist migrants. “Over 200 languages are spoken in Queens,” he says. “We have collections in 50 or so and regularly purchase in about 30.”
