wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Find out what Phillip Lopate has been reading and watching recently.

For our latest Underappreciated segment, Phillip Lopate discusses William Dean Howells’ 1890 novel A Hazard of New Fortunes, set in New York City in the late 19th century. The novel describes political tensions, social inequality, and urban landscapes all of which are still visible in present day New York, if slightly transformed. The novel follows Basil March and his family as they adjust after a move from Boston, and as he co-founds a magazine named “Every Other Week.”

Phillip Lopate is a fan of Shakira. Find out some of his other favorite picks after his appearance on The Leonard Lopate Show.

Director Sasha Waters Freyer, writer Phillip Lopate, and Angus Johnston talk about “Chekhov for Children,” a documentary about the 1979 staging on Broadway of Chekhov’s play “Uncle Vanya” by New York City 5th and 6th graders, directed by Phillip Lopate and starring Angus Johnson. It explores the interplay between art and life for a dozen friends across 30 years. “Chekhov for Children” is screening at the Film Society of Lincoln Center on Thursday, October 21, at 6:30 pm.