Irene Sankoff and David Hein wrote the book and music for "Come From Away." It's a new Broadway musical based on a true tale that unfolded in the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland. During the 9/11 attacks, 38 planes bound for New York had to land in Gander instead. So, the locals had to care for thousands of stranded passengers from around the world. Listen as they share a little more about their musical, before listing their favorite musicals of the stage and screen based on true tales.
Dame Edna Everage is the colorful (purple, in particular) character first created by Australian comedian Barry Humphries in 1955. Now she is on one final victory lap, "Dame Edna's Glorious Goodbye: The Farewell Tour," which kicked-off a six-city tour this month.
Actor and writer Aasif Mandvi is best known as the "foreign" correspondent on "The Daily Show." His new book, "No Land's Man," is a collection of humorous essays inspired by his life and the particular challenges of being a South Asian man in Hollywood.
From early struggles to revolutionary success, to a hazy decline due to bad timing and self-destructive choices, Tennessee Williams' life reads a bit like those of his characters. Critic and author John Lahr captures that story in an authoritative new biography of one of the 20th century's most significant playwright... including his first significant flop.
Actress and singer Audra McDonald is among the brightest Broadway stars of a generation. In "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill," she depicts a weary, addiction-addled, yet nonetheless tremendously gifted, Billie Holiday, giving one of the final performances of her life.
The author of Broadway's Tony-nominated "All the Way" tells us what about the personality and presidency of Lyndon Johnson seems to have recaptured the national attention in 2014.
"Now: In the Wings On A World Stage" documents the months film & TV star Kevin Spacey spent touring the world, starring in a massive stage production of "Richard III." He tells Rico about playing the 2nd biggest role in Shakespeare, and the on-stage pranks that kept it fresh.
"The Moose Murders" was a one-night-only disaster and set the standard for all future Broadway flops.
Singer, actor, all-around show-biz ham Sam Harris - now the author of "Ham: Slices of a Life, Essays, and Stories" - is forced to share the spotlight with a young ham-in-training.
Sam Harris joins us this week to share stories from his own life in the spotlight – and he starts us off with an appropriate joke.