Theater

Moms Mabley was a regular performer at Harlem's Apollo Theater, where actress Clarice Taylor saw her perform. Taylor, best known for her role in The Cosby Show, wrote and stars in a new play about the comedian's life.

After appearing in the hit film The Untouchables, Kevin Costner stars in No Way Out, based on the book The Big Clock. The movie also features the excellent Gene Hackman and Sean Young. Film critic Stephen Schiff says it's one of the best political thrillers--if you ignore the ending.

The musical theater actress walked away from Broadway, only to return to the stage as a cabaret singer. Cook was recently featured in a concert version of Follies and stars in a new musical revue.

Film critic Stephen Schiff doesn't think The Big Easy is a particularly smart film, but he praises star Dennis Quaid who, along with costar Ellen Barkin, delivers one of the sexiest scenes of the summer.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz will review two albums of Gershwin songs: "Kiri Sings Gershwin," by Kiri Te Kanawa, and "Gershwin Overtures," by John McGlinn.

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.

Canadian writer Mordecai Richler, author of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz and Joshua Then and Now, both of which were adapted into films.

Comic Jackie Mason. He's the star of the one-man Broadway show, "The World According to Me," a hit for eight months now. The show continues to draw more sold-out houses than any other non-musical attraction on Broadway.

American operatic baritone Sherrill Milnes. Milnes, who has sung in most of the world's major opera houses, is known primarily as a Verdi and Puccini specialist.

Performance artist Meredith Monk. Her interdisciplinary art fuses elements of dance, film, theater and music. Her new collection of songs combines half-sounds like shrieks, sobs and moans into a unified and startling whole.

Playwright Albert Innaurato. His works include the long-running hit "Gemini," "Coming of Age in SoHo" and "The Transformation of Benno Blimpie."

Actor Elliot Gould, best known for his roles in the films "M*a*s*h," "Bob, Carol, Ted and Alice" and "The Long Goodbye."

Critic-at-Large Laurie Stone will review the Broadway show featuring comic Mort Sahl.

Choreographer Lar Lubovitch. Lubovitch choreographed the new Stephen Sondheim musical "Into the Woods." Along with choreographers like Laura Dean, Elliot Feld and Mark Morris, Lubovitch is helping re-shape dance in the post-Balanchine era.

Actress Colleen Dewhurst. She is currently starring as Eugene O'Neill's widow in the one-woman show "My Gene."

Rock musician Marshall Crenshaw. Best known for the songs "Whenever You're on My Mind," "Someday, Someway" and "Mary Jean," Crenshaw's new album is titled "Mary Jean and 9 Others." Crenshaw played the part of Buddy Holly in the summer's hit movie "La Bamba."

Playwright, novelist and essayist Arthur Miller. His plays include "All My Sons," "The Crucible," "After the Fall" and "Death of a Salesman," for which he won the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and lasting fame in American theater. He has written an autobiography titled Timebends.

Classical Music Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews of new CD featuring the Swedish tenor Jussi Bjorling who died in 1960.

Actor George Hearn, star of many Broadway hits, including "Follies," "Sweeney Todd" and "La Cage Aux Folles." He is now starring in a new theatrical production based on Chaim Potok's novel The Chosen. (INTERVIEW BY LIANE HANSEN)

Actor Josh Mostel. He's had supporting roles in the films "Radio Days," "Matewan" and "Compromising Positions." But now he's a headliner in the Off-Broadway comedy "The Boys Next Door." (INTERVIEW BY LIANE HANSEN)