Fishko Files

It's a summer of intersections between theater and political commentary, with an upcoming Broadway show that calls itself "subversive." It has WNYC's Sara Fishko thinking about Broadway, music, and politics - in this edition of Fishko Files.

Michael Moore's one-man Broadway show, "The Terms of My Surrender," starts previewing at the Belasco Theatre tomorrow.

Jack Viertel is the Senior VP of Jujamcyn Theaters and Artistic Director of New York City Center Encores!. He has been involved in dozens of productions including "City of Angels" and "Angels in America," and is the author of The Secret Life of the American Musical: How Broadway Shows are Built.

Laurence Maslon teaches at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and is the host of WPPB's Broadway to Main Street. His most recent publication is American Musicals: The Complete Books and Lyrics of Sixteen Broadway Classics.

This September will mark 95 years since the birth of Sid Caesar (1922-2014), undisputed master of the comedy sketch. For this archival edition of Fishko Files, Sara Fishko talked to Caesar as well as his castmate Carl Reiner about their insanely creative adventures in TV. (Produced in 2002)

The guitar master Andres Segovia - who died 30 years ago this summer - practically invented the art of classical guitar. In this archival edition of Fishko Files, Segovia’s admirer and student Eliot Fisk reflects on their musical connection. (Produced in 2002)

Segovia's 1952 rendition of Chopin's Prelude in A is available on YouTube.

Two great documentaries on tap dancing made in the late '70s and early '80s open at the Quad Cinemas Friday, July 7. They help kick off a whole week of tap-related events all over New York starting July 8. In their honor, WNYC's Sara Fishko and guests explore the art and history of tap in this Fishko Files. (Produced in 2005)

For showtimes and tickets to No Maps on My Taps and About Tap, visit www.quadcinema.com.

Not only is it the 4th of July, it’s 75 years since a notable patriotic song was written – with much notoriety to follow. WNYC’s Sara Fishko follows Earl Robinson’s and Lewis Allan’s “The House I Live In” on its journey from leftist statement to mainstream melody. (Produced in 2002)

Penn Station's current problems now have a name: "Summer of Hell." But Penn has a long history of even more serious disasters, including its destruction and re-creation before there was a Landmark's Commission to protect it. WNYC's Sara Fishko speaks to keepers of the Penn Station flame in this archival edition of Fishko Files. (Produced in 2001)

The National Endowment for the Arts has honored exceptional jazz figures with the Jazz Masters Fellowship for the past 35 years. Despite threats to the NEA’s funding, the NEA has announced the next round of Masters for 2018. For this archival Fishko Files, WNYC’s Sara Fishko listened in on a group of recently minted Jazz Masters as they reflected on their careers, and on jazz itself. (Produced in 2011)

*The 2018 NEA Jazz Masters are Joanne Brackeen, Pat Metheny, Dianne Reeves, and Todd Barkan. For more information, visit https://www.arts.gov/.

Note: Distinguished record executive and producer Orrin Keepnews (1923-2015) has died since this episode originally aired.

This spring, we celebrate Ella Fitzgerald's centennial birthday [b. April 25, 1917]. As WNYC's Sara Fishko tells us, she was an undisputedly brilliant and exuberant scat singer, and she's featured, along with a few others, in this Fishko Files on the art of Scat. (Produced in 2004)

The free, open-air New York Shakespeare Festival opens for the season this week, with productions of Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night's Dream on the agenda. In this Fishko Files, WNYC's Sara Fishko tells the story of how the determined and daring Joseph Papp started the New York Shakespeare tradition - despite formidable obstacles - many years ago. (Produced in 2005)

In challenging times, we look to music for clarity and consolation. This archival episode from the weeks after September 11, 2001, takes us through some musical moments - both rousing and touching.