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The Next Big Thing

Friday, October 29, 2004
  • Ned Rorem
    Ned Rorem (Christian Steiner)

    An Earful

    Talk radio, Next-Big-Thing style. Plus the voices of professional runners talking about the race. And of one woman who will not be allowed to vote in this election. Also this week, an interview with composer Ned Rorem, and dispatches from writer and performer Deborah Margolin on the days when she was doing battle with cancer and other demons.

Halloween Earful

A montage of radio horror from Halloweens past.

Lost Votes

Susan Hallett has voted just once in her life – but her lack of political participation is by no means a reflection of apathy. She is one of four million Americans who have lost the right to vote as the result of a felony conviction. Now she works as a paralegal, providing assistance to others with criminal records. She talks to host Dean Olsher about what the vote means to people like her. Produced by Amanda Aronczyk.

Track & Field

track Great athletes are masters of the body, but they must also be masters of the mind. This was something sound artist Ben Rubin learned in interviews with famous track and field athletes for an installation he created for the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in New York. His piece features the voices of Shawn Crawford, Amy Acuff, Brendon Couts, Jason Pyrah, Derrek Atkins, Jon Drummond, and Larry Wade.

» More on the National Track and Field Hall of Fame

The Mike and Mary Show

Mike Daisey Al Franken and company said there’s a place for liberal views in the noisy, confrontational world of talk radio – but have they proven it? TNBT decided it was time we had a go at it. Created by Mike Daisey, Mary Purdy and Steve Bodow, with help from Jean-Michele Gregory. Produced by Curtis Fox.

» Visit Mike Daisey's blog

High and Low Notes

Composer Ned Rorem, now 80 years old, has composed art songs, symphonies, and other works. Perhaps less well-known are his compositions for organ, some of which he performed this past spring in New York’s Riverside Church. Rorem and Dean talk life, death, and music, and we hear organ excerpts performed by Gregory D’Agostino. Produced by Emily Botein.

» More on Ned Rorem

Salve

A few years ago, writer and performer Deborah Margolin got very sick. She spent many hours in hospitals, with doctors, and anywhere else she could find relief. And later, perhaps inevitably, she made a play out of those experiences. Here, excerpts from "Three Seconds in the Key," and from her life back then. With Avery Glymph, who was featured in the stage production at the New Georges Theater in New York. Produced by Emily Botein.

"Frankenstein Monster Song"

One Ring Zero A song by One Ring Zero, with lyrics by Margaret Atwood. It’s part of the band’s literary musical project, which involved collaboration with writers-made-lyricists Jonathan Lethem, Rick Moody, A.M. Homes and others. They are now on tour with the album that resulted from that project, "As Smart As We Are."

» More information on "As Smart As We Are"