The Next Big Thing Archive

2006
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2005
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2004
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2003
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2002
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

December 2005

Hot, Hot, Hot

Friday, December 30, 2005

Some ways to beat the heat – with verse recommended by former Poet Laureate Billy Collins, romantic fiction from sound artist Miranda July, and a conversation in the hot kitchen of “Cakeman” Raven Patrick DeSean Dennis III. Also, André Aciman on writing in exile.

Listen to the whole show

Playing and Praying

Friday, December 16, 2005

We profile a married couple who sustain their relationship by playing games. Also, the sound of one hundred motorcycles playing a symphony, as well as cellist Erik Friedlander playing in collaboration with writer Michael Greenberg. On the prayer front, we offer a search for the eleventh amendment, and a sound collage of fifteen places of worship by sound artist Ellen Band.

Listen to the whole show

"Ten After Eleven"

Friday, December 09, 2005

We use the full hour to premiere "Ten After Eleven," a radio play written for The Next Big Thing by Theresa Rebeck, in collaboration with the Naked Angels Theater Company, starring Marlo Thomas, Lili Taylor, Dan Lauria and Fisher Stevens. The play was inspired by the infamous 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese – a crime said to have been heard by many, but acted upon by virtually none, in a Queens neighborhood.

Listen to the whole show

Phantom Limb Phenomena

Friday, December 02, 2005

The adventures of comedy duo Ahna Tessler and Lauren Engel, who make their way to L.A. with their Hollywood pitch. Also this week, “Phantom limbs” in history and literature; three songs on three banjos from musician Tony Trischka; a fourth song, this one from John Linnell of They Might Be Giants; and one-minute vacations from around the world.