Orson’s Shadow

Studio 360

Austin Pendleton is a well-known character actor who became a playwright. He’s written a play about Orson Welles, whose amazing early triumph with Citizen Kane (Welles was 26) turned into a career of embarrassing failures and unfinished projects. In Orson’s Shadow, based on real events, a theater critic tries to restart Welles’ career by getting him a new job — directing a newfangled piece of absurdist theater called Rhinoceros. Pendleton joins Kurt in the studio to talk about Orson’s Shadow, and the cast performs a scene for us.

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!