COVER STORY
Art About a Place
Kurt Andersen and film director Alexander Payne talk about art that's rooted in specific places.

Revueltas
Many of us think the first great revolution of the 20th century came in October 1917 in Russia. But before Russia, there was Mexico. And with the Mexican revolution came an unparalleled period of artistic excitement and productivity. Sara Fishko has the story of a Mexican composer who was at the center of that creative bloom.
Go to a site about Silvestre Revueltas

PG County
Last September, residents of Prince George's County, Maryland saw the first glimpse of the book with a sexy cover that bore the name of their own county. Bookstores in the area sold their first shipments within days. Jacquie Gales Webb went to a local book club to gauge reactions to the novel, "P.G. County."
Go to the offical Prince George’s County website
Go to Connie Briscoe’s official site
Go to a review of P. G. County
Visit the P. G. County site at Doubleday

Descent
While a choreographer wraps her dancers around the railing of a 250 foot stairwell, the audience must find its way through, around and under the space. Produced by Sarah Lilley.
Go tothe official Sens. Production website

SPECIAL GUEST
Alexander Payne
Alexander Payne is a film director originally from Omaha, Nebraska. He has set three of his films there: Citizen Ruth, Election, and his latest, About Schmidt, which stars Jack Nicholson, opens this week.
Go to the about Schmidt Website

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Commentary
No Qualms Good Songs Sell Cars
Read the full text

Now Playing
La Bohème. This week film director Baz Luhrmann's version of La Bohème opened on Broadway and, much like his movie Moulin Rouge, the result is a rich, sexy, galvanizing blend of comedy, tragedy and theatrical pizzazz. The opera poses no heavy lifting for an American audience -- even though it's completely in Italian. Produced by Judith Kampfner.
Read a review of La Boheme at the BBC
Go to the official La Boheme website

Soh Daiko
In 1979, members of the New York Buddhist Association got together to learn how to play taiko drums, the ceremonial and martial instruments of ancient Japan. They named themselves Soh Daiko and quickly discovered that playing these drums meant more than rehearsing in the garage on weekends. Founding member Alan Okada talks about the philosophy and skill involved in playing taiko music. Produced by Jocelyn Gonzales.
Go to the Official Soh Daiko website