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.
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!