Terry Gross

Journalist James Traub has written "City on a Hill: Testing the American Dream at City College." This is an exploration of the "open admissions policy" that was implemented at the College in 1970, and the effects this policy has had on the school. Traub examined remedial classes and struggling students, and talked to administrators and professors including Leonard Jeffries, the controversial Chair of the Black Studies Department.

Actress Lauren Bacall is a legend, though she doesn't like to think of herself as such. She's been a star of stage and screen for fifty years, was married to Humphrey Bogart, and won the National Book Award for her 1978 autobiography "By Myself." Her new book, "Now," is about the experiences that have shaped her life. (TIHS IS AN EXTENDED VERSION OF THE INTERVIEW BROADCAST 10/18/94)

Lane has written the scores for several Broadway shows, including "Finian's Rainbow" and "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever." More recently, he collaborated with Michael Feinstein for two volumes of "The Burton Lane Songbook," which feature many of Lane's classic songs. A touring production of "Finain's Rainbow" is expected to go on the road next year. We replay Terry's interview with him from 1990.

Strouse's hits include, "Bye Bye Birdie," "Applause," and "Annie." He's also written the film scores for "Bonnie and Clyde," and "The Night They Raided Minskys." Last year, he mounted a sequel to "Annie," called "Annie Warbucks." When asked if he'd ever wanted to quit he said, "Never. . . The one thing that all the music teachers I had instilled in me was a desire to connect notes. . . I love composing for the theater." This interview was first broadcast in 1994.

Cardinal appeared in the film "Black Robe" and played Black Shawl, wife of the spirtual leader, in "Dances With Wolves." She has earned very positive reviews for her performance in the new independent film "Where the Rivers Flow North." Cardinal will soon be seen in "Legends of the Fall," with Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt. This interview was recorded in front of an audience at the Flynn Theater on October 27, in a benefit for Vermont Public Radio.

Burns is the director of the hit PBS documentaries "The Civil War" and "Baseball." The former was the network's highest rated series. Burns' other documentaries include "The Brooklyn Bridge," "The Statue of Liberty," and "Empire of the Air," about the early history of radio. This interview was recorded in front of an audience at the Flynn Theater on October 27, in a benefit for Vermont Public Radio.

Tannen is the author of the bestselling, "You Just Don't Understand." She has a new book about communication between the sexes, "Talking From 9 to 5: How Women's and Men's Conversational Styles Affect Who Gets Heard, Who Gets Credit, and What Gets Done at Work."

White is the author of seven books, including "Forgetting Elena," "States of Desire: Travels in Gay America," and "Genet: A Biography," for which he was awarded the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Lamda Literary Award. He has a new collection of essays from the past 25 years, "The Burning Library," many of which focus on gay life in America.

Siegel has co-anchored the nightly news program All Things Considered since 1987. He opened NPR's London Bureau in 1979, and was appointed as Director of the News and Information Department in 1983. Siegel has just edited "The NPR Interviews, 1994." This interview was recorded last Thursday in front of an audience at the WHYY studios.

Former Philadelphia 76ers' forward Julius Erving. When he retired in 1987, he was one of the highest scorers in professional basketball. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. Erving has written the foreword to "The Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia, Second Edition."