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Theater Legend Robert Brustein.

Theatre critic, director, and educator Robert Brustein (pronounced "steen," not "stein"). Brustein is a venerable voice in the American theatre...he's the founder and Artistic Director of the American Repertory Company, director of the Harvard Drama Center (he held a similar position at Yale for 13 years), drama critic for the New Republic for more than 30 years and the author of seven books on the theatre. Among them "The Theatre of Revolt" and a collection of essays called "Who Needs Theatre." (published respectively by Atlantic, Little, and Brown, and Atlantic Monthly Press).

22:38
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Other segments from the episode on February 20, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, February 20, 1990: Interview with Robert Brustein; Commentary on 2 tone music; Interview with Peter Wang; Review of Peggy Noonan's book "What I Saw at the Revolution."
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07:28

When Punk and Jamaican Music Met.

Rock historian Ed Ward traces the history of 2 Tone, a musical movement that started in industrial England in the late 70's. It was started by groups like The Specials, the Selecter, the Beat, and Madness, playing ska, a form of pre-reggae Jamaican music.

Commentary
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10:56

Chinese American Filmmaker Peter Wang.

Film maker Peter Wang (it's spelled "wang," but it's pronounced "Wong"). Wang wrote, produced, directed, and acts in his new movie, "The Laser Man." It's a suspense-comedy about a Chinese-American physicist who discovers his laser research is being used for evil purposes. Much the same thing happened to Wang himself. He holds a PhD. in laser technology but left the field after deciding he could no longer use his skills to help create new weapons systems. After a stint teaching, Wang migrated into acting and film.

Interview
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03:42

A Fun, but Disorienting Memoir.

Book critic John Leonard reviews presidential speechwriter Peggy Noonan's book "What I Saw At the Revolution" about her experiences writing speeches for Ronald Reagan and George Bush. Some of their most memorable lines, like "Read my lips" and "A thousand points of light" were written by Noonan. (Published by Random House).

Review

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52:07

A Debate on Race and Politics in Theater

A broadcast of the debate between playwright August Wilson and critic Robert Brustein over multiculturalism and the theater. The discussion is moderated by actress, playwright, and performance artist Anna Deavere Smith. Wilson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of the play "Fences," says the modern theater system jeopardizes the values of black actors because it is dominated by white society. Brustein, the American Repertory Theater's artistic director and the theater critic of "The New Republic," claims Wilson's ideas encourage black separatism.

Interview
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16:42

The Arts Under Attack from Across the Political Spectrum

Theatre critic, director, and educator Robert Brustein is the founder and Artistic Director of the American Repertory Company, director of the Harvard Drama Center, and drama critic for the New Republic. He'll talk with Terry about how the arts are in peril because of government action by the left, the middle, and the right.

Interview
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09:52

Criticizing Theater.

Robert Brustein, theater critic for The New Republic since 1959. Brustein founded the Yale Repertory Theater and the American Repertory Theater at Harvard. His new book of essays is titled Who Needs Theatre: Dramatic Opinions.

Interview

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