“In the early '90s or so, I drove my father to Providence, Ky., his hometown, and he was pointing out, 'That's where the doctor's office was,' and 'That's where we bought ice cream.' And he was pointing to empty lots. When you lose communities, what do you have? We often survive by remembering the stories.”

American stage and screen director, playwright and producer

George Costello Wolfe is an American stage and screen director, playwright, and producer. He is known for his work in theater and film, and for winning two Tony Awards for directing Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Bring in 'da Noise/Bring in 'da Funk. Wolfe led The Public Theater as artistic director from 1993 to 2004. His career spans directing, writing, and producing, with a strong association with major American stage work.