John Turturro

Actor, writer, and director John Turturro talks about Woody Allen's edits, taking over for James Gandolfini in The Night Of, and the singular role that “changed his life."

In this episode: Author Francine Prose recently released a novel called Lovers At The Chameleon Club, Paris 1932 -- a kaleidoscopic portrait of one very complicated woman's life and those affected by it in the lead-up to World War II. She joins us to talk about the actual Parisian club and Henry Brassai photograph that inspired her tale -- and shares three songs that helped her get into her characters' heads while writing it all down. 

And: Musicians and songwriters on Soundcheck often say that “getting out of your comfort zone” is a good way to create fresh and surprising work. For Casey Dienell, who records under the name White Hinterland, getting out of her comfort zone meant scrapping her new album (twice), moving back to her hometown, and building a studio in her parents’ basement. Hear the dynamic songwriter perform songs from that album, Baby, in the Soundcheck studio.

 

 

Then: The noise-punk band Perfect Pussy, led by singer Meredith Graves, recently lent Soundcheck host John Schaefer a pair of earplugs and let loose in our studio. Watch them play in the Soundcheck studio and talk about everything from the term “cisgender” to Kool Keith. 

 

In a live performance, singer and pianist Tori Amos previews songs from her new album. John Turturro talks about the music that fueled his new film "Fading Gigolo," co-starring Woody Allen.

John Turturro fills in for Leonard. He’s starred in a number of director Spike Lee’s films, and they’ll talk about the director’s latest “Red Hook Summer.” Then, we’ll look at efforts to find housing for people with psychiatric disabilities. Also, Barry Edelstein, the director of the Public Theater’s Shakespeare Initiative talks about his efforts to bring the Bard into prisons and senior centers. Plus our latest Please Explain looks at what goes into teamwork—from the basketball court to the office.

We look at the hit revival of “South Pacific,” the first since its debut in 1949. Also: John Turturro and Max Casella, now starring in Beckett's “Endgame” at BAM. A States of the Union update on West Virginia. A new novel about werewolves in East L.A. And

Today's Underreported is all about Ethiopia. First, a former Ethiopian political prisoner explains how the government suppresses dissent. We'll also find out how the US is complicit in the Ethiopian military’s recent campaign of violence and terror in the Ogaden region. Also: John Turturro on writing and directing a musical ...