elisabeth dahl

We talk with Elisabeth Dahl about her new book, “Genie Wishes.” It tells the story of a young girl navigating the murky waters between childhood and adolescence as she embarks on her 5th grade year.

We visit a nearly forgotten cemetery on the grounds of the now-shuttered Crownsville State Hospital, where patients buried their own.  Historian Janice Hayes-Williams walks us through the gravesite, and tells the story of the institution originally named, ‘The Hospital for the Negro Insane.’  We also talk with Paul Lurz, who worked inside Crownsville for 40 years.

Elisabeth Dahl’s Genie Wishes tells the story of fifth grader Genie Kunkle as she navigates the tumultuous ground between childhood and adolescence. While dealing with new teachers, new freedoms, and a new student trying to steal her BFF Sarah, Genie is elected to write her class blog.

March 16th & 17th, 2012, on The Signal…

Was Thelonius Monk crazy, or did he just want us to think so?  The new biographical play, “Sphere:  The Thelonius Monk Story,” puts the jazz legend in conversation with a young psychiatrist, and together they try to make sense of his unconventional genius.  We’ll visit with playwright Max Garner, director Rosalind Cauthen, and actor David Mitchell, who bring the story to life on stage.