Stephen Peithman
Connections Host
Stephen has hosted the weekly radio program, "Connections" since 2009, but his connection with Capital Public Radio began with "Musical Stages" from 1984-2008, reflecting his other love--musical theatre and the Great American Songbook.
He was founding editor of Stage Directions, the national theater magazine, and has served on the board and as an officer of the American Association of Community Theatre.
He has provided pre-performance talks for the Mondavi Center for the Arts at UC Davis, and for two decades produced and hosted fundraising concerts for Citizens Who Care, a Yolo County nonprofit providing respite services those who care for the frail elderly. He has acted and directed for many local area theaters, and is co-author of two musicals--one awarded Best Original Script from the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance (SARTA).
He served as Staff Editor for Sunset Magazine, Managing Editor of San Francisco Magazine, and as an adjunct faculty member for Sacramento State, UC Davis, and American River College.
He is author of The Annotated Tales of Edgar Allan Poe (Doubleday), and a series of theater books, published by Heinemann.
Stephen received his B.A. from Humboldt State University, and after a year at the University of Aix-Marseilles, attended Northwestern University, where he earned a master's degree in journalism. He later returned to school, receiving a Ph. D. in American literature from UC Davis.
He is a member of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society and the Association for Recorded Sound Collections.
Connections
Exploring the often surprising links between concepts, themes and people in classical music, from medieval to modern
Hosting
There Would Be No 'West Side Story' If Bernstein Had Listened To His Classical Mentor
August 19, 2018
Today West Side Story is one of the best-known musicals in the world. But 12 years before Leonard Bernstein wrote it, his classical mentor spent three hours berating the young composer for squandering his talents on Broadway.
On TV, Bernstein Opened A Gateway To Classical Music For Young And New Audiences
August 19, 2018
Leonard Bernstein wrote and appeared in eight televised lectures for adults and 53 concerts for young people as commentator, piano soloist and conductor. The programs were his attempt to make classical music accessible to all.
Composing Or Conducting, Bernstein Created Music
August 19, 2018
Leonard Bernstein loved to conduct every bit as much as he wanted to compose. In fact, Bernstein the conductor felt he “became” the composer of the work he led.
Bernstein's Music Reveals Much About The Composer's Personal Struggles — And Joys
August 19, 2018
Bernstein’s life was full of personal and professional conflict. Music was his way of working through that, speaking primarily to what he saw as a crisis of faith: his own and humanity’s.
Tchaikovsky Vs. Brahms: The Storm Before the Calm
May 4, 2018
While Tchaikovsky and Brahms share the same birthday — May 7 — the two composers had little else in common.
Musical Stages: Title Tunes
January 20, 2015
Connections host Stephen Peithman shares the titles songs from shows and the stories behind them on this edition of Musical Stages.
Musical Stages: She Loves Me
December 9, 2014
Romance blossoms at Christmas in this cult classic.
Musical Stages: Fiddler on the Roof Celebrates 50 Years Of Tradition
November 11, 2014
Wonder of wonders, 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of Fiddler on the Roof! It’s been five decades since the award-winning musical first premiered on Broadway in the fall of 1964.
America’s Five National Anthems
July 4, 2014
The surprising stories—and controversies--behind America’s five most popular patriotic songs, from “America” to “The Star-Spangled Banner,” to “This Land Is Your Land.”