Arts

It's an afternoon of sophisticated fun with literature, poetry, opera and film on our plate. First, Eddie Garcia chats it up with Daniel Handler. He's perhaps better- known as author Lemony Snicket, the man behind "A Series of Unfortunate Events", and we feel very fortunate to have him here with us today. Less fortunate perhaps was The Flying Dutchman. He made a deal with the Devil that left him searching the High Seas for a heart of gold—for centuries! On the heels of Richard Wagner's 200th birthday, Piedmont Opera's Jamie Allbritten and soprano Carter Scott are here to deliver a happy, but a bit soggy ending. We'll go Behind the Scenes with film producer, writer and professor Dale Pollock. He takes us right up close to the sometimes disturbing intersection of violence and humor in film. And Bethany Chafin brings us full circle with Triad poet, author, educator Terry Kennedy. His publisher at Unicorn Press and a community of local artists have come together to create New River Breakdown. 

Lemony Snicket

Alan Greenspan was often celebrated during his long chairmanship of the Federal Reserve. But Greenspan's policies have been blamed by some for the Great Recession. In an interview with NPR about his new book, The Map and the Territory: Risk, Human Nature, and the Future of Forecasting, Greenspan discusses difficulties in predicting economic calamity.

Solomon Northup was born a free man and lived the life of a respected musician until 1841, when he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. British director Steve McQueen's new film, starring British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, brings Northup's memoir to life in excruciating detail.

Set in London in the early 1930s, the five-part miniseries is about a black jazz band trying to crack the dance halls and radio playlists. Critic David Bianculli says this music-centered show features full, unpredictable characters and some exceptionally intriguing performances.

Crystal isn't happy about turning 65, but at least he's finding a way to laugh about it. The actor and comedian's new memoir — Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys? — is on the best-seller list and he'll be back on Broadway in November.

 Terry Kennedy has a new collection of poetry titled New River Breakdown.  The book will be released on Sunday, October 20^th by Greensboro-based Unicorn Press.  Each copy of New River Breakdown, in addition to including the 44 beautiful poems by Terry, will be hand-stitched and feature one of five original cover designs by area artists.  The designs represent their personal interpretations of Terry's poems.  Terry stopped by WFDD to read from his new work, and he was joined by Unicorn Press assistant editor and book designer Andrew Saulters.  Terry began with the first poem in his new collection.        

The actress spoke with NPR's Robert Siegel about playing the icon in BBC America's Burton and Taylor. The movie follows the preposterously famous '60s and '70s couple as they reunited for a 1983 Broadway production of Private Lives.

The film follows Beat Generation notables — Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac and Lucien Carr — as college students in the 1940s. NPR's Bob Mondello says it may succeed where other movies about the poets have failed. (Recommended)

The comic and actor talks to NPR's Scott Simon about his insomnia, his friendship with baseball legend Mickey Mantle, and the love of his life. They're all topics in his memoir, Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell are My Keys?