Entertainment

Dr. Demento, whose real name is Barret Eugene Hansen, hosts a popular radio show where he plays humorous and obscure records.

Musical theater actress Chita Rivera has made her career on Broadway. She talks about her roles in West Side Story, Bring Back Birdie, and Chicago

Actor, singer, and dancer Donald O'Connor is best known for this role in the film Singin' in the Rain. He talks about the making of that movie, the changing tastes in musical films, and the off-screen work he pursues to sustain his career.

Actor Meinhardt Raabe tells Terry Gross about his experiences as a little person, how he earned a living in carnivals and circuses, and what it was like to portray a Munchkin in the film The Wizard of Oz.

Writer and cartoonist Jules Feiffer recently published a novel called Tantrum, which follows the story of a middle-aged father who becomes a two-year-old. He shares his take on the culture of the 1970s and writing the screenplay of the upcoming Popeye film.

The actress of stage and screen now stars in the satirical play Miss Margarida's Way, which is designed to foster a confrontational relationship between the audience and the titular protagonist.

South African folk singer Tony Bird performs his songs for Fresh Air and answers questions about the political dimensions of his art.

Pianist Jimmy Golden, pianist Sam Dockery, and trumpeter and club owner Jack Fields discuss jazz in Philadelphia. Jimmy Golden and Sam Dockery have served as house pianists at many Philadelphia jazz clubs, and Jack Fields owned the club the Blue Note in the 1950s.

Art historian, playwright, and critic MARTHA KEARNS and writer EDMUND WHITE offer their opinions on the topic "The Politics of Drag," debate-style.

Jazz and bop pianist Barry Harris joins the show for an in-studio performance and discussion of his life and career.

Philadelphia musician Ken Ulansey joins Fresh Air to discuss his life as a musician and his travels in Europe, the Near and Middle East, and Asia. He's played and studied music in places such as Paris, Istanbul, Afghanistan, Nepal, Tehran, and India. He also brings his alto and soprano saxophones to perform in-studio.

Blues singer and guitarist John Hammond, Jr. brings his instrument to the studio.

Actress and singer Virginia Capers discusses her career and upcoming movie "North Avenue Irregulars."

Penn Jillette, Teller, and Wier Chrisemer form the troop Asparagus Valley Cultural Society. Today, they, sound engineer Marc Garland, and guitarist Gary Anderson, join the show for an interview and perform their music, comedy, and magic. The group also shares their favorite classical records.

Part two of Terry Gross's interview with Conrad Bishop and Linda Bishop. They perform two short dramatic pieces and talk about their theatrical influences.

Part one of Terry Gross's interview with Linda and Conrad Bishop, a married couple who write and perform theater pieces for a variety of different settings and audiences.

Tom Waits discusses his fame, his unique voice and his small role in the film Paradise Alley.

Billy Taylor performs improvisations and jazz standards in front of a live studio audience, then tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross about his career.

Sun Ra is the leader of the Spirit of Jazz Cosmos Arkestra. The band played a live concert at the WHYY studios as part of a five part radio program, "All That Jazz," hosted by Ann Mint and produced by Mint and Jack McGann. The members of the band are: Sun Ra, Walter Miller, Byard Lancaster, Luqman Ali, Marshall Allen, Stanley Morgan, Michael Ray, Danny Davis, Elo Omoe, Danny Thompson, Ricky Joyce, "Jac" Jacson, Cheryl Banks, and June Tyson.

Saxophonist STEVE MARCUCCI and bassist PAUL KLEINFELTER perform in-studio.