Terry Gross

The playwright, female impersonator, and novelist wrote the camp classic, "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom." It was the longest-running play in Off-Broadway history. His other plays include, "Psycho Beach Party," and "Red Scare on Sunset." A show which parodied the variety shows of the 60s, "The Charles Busch Revue," featured seven costume changes in an hour and 15 minutes. Busch also wrote a novel, "Whores of Lost Atlantis." He currently stars in the one-man show in New York City, "Flipping My Wig." (REBROADCAST from 7/29/93)

Keaton is currently starring in the new film "Marvin's Room," the film adaptation of the 1991 play about a young man dying of AIDS and his family who cared for him. Keaton also stars in the new film "The First Wives Club." She is probably best known for the comic chemistry she developed with Woody Allen. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Allen's "Annie Hall."

Opera soprano Dawn Upshaw performs a concert with jazz pianist Fred Hersch at WHYY. The program includes highlights from her just-released album "Dawn Upshaw sings Rodgers and Hart," as well selections by Leonard Bernstein, Mark Blitstein and George Gershwin. Upshaw joined the Metropolitan Opera in 1984. Later in the show, Upshaw will be accompanied by a 15-piece orchestra, led by Broadway music director Eric Stern, and singer David Garrison. (Rebroadcast from November 18, 1996).

An in-studio concert and interview with singer/songwriter, guitarist Richard Thompson. He first became known for his work with "Fairport Convention." He's since gone solo and is known for his dark songs which blend elements of British folk ballads and the blues.

From a 1995 in-studio concert, jazz singer Rebecca Kilgore and pianist Dave Frishberg perform a song to celebrate the new year.

Alexander's songs were recorded on early records by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. This excerpt from his Fresh Air concert in 1993 was recorded just a few month before he died of a heart attack (Rebroadcast from 05/07/1993)

A concert and interview with Louisiana born singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams. She's joined by guitarist Gurf Morlix. Her influences include Bob Dylan, Delta Blues man, Robert Johnson, Van Morrison, and writers Flannery O'Connor and Eudora Welty. In the late 70s she made two obscure folk albums. But she didn't really find her own voice until 1988 when she produced her self-titled album. (Rebroadcast from 08/28/1992)

Singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor Willie Nelson recently released two new albums. With "Spirit," Nelson is the first country musician to record with Island Records. He recorded "How Great Thou Art" with his sister, Bobbie Nelson. That CD is a collection of gospel standards, like "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee." (Rebroadcast from 07/16/1996)

Jeff Moss was one of the original creators and writers of "Sesame Street." He created Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch, and wrote such songs as "Rubber Ducky" and "People in Your Neighborhood." He has won 13 Emmy's, four Grammy's, and an Oscar nomination for his work on "Sesame Street" and with the Muppets. Moss is also the author of four books for children, the newest of which is "Hieronymus White: A Bird Who Believed That He Always Was Right." (Rebroadcast from 11/30/1994).

A concert with the McGarrigle sisters, Kate and Anna. There are new CDs of their first two albums, released in the late 70s: "Kate & Anna McGarrigle" and "Dancer with Bruised Knees." The McGarrigles are known for their close and "subtle harmony." Their music is considered hard to categorize, although it sounds folky. The sisters absorbed an eclectic blend of music when they were growing up in Canada: Victorian ballads, blues, jazz, French-Canadian folk songs, Broadway tunes, and country music.