This week, Richard Steele sits down with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble‘s Jon Faddis. His ensemble will be collaborating with the Chicago Sinfonietta Sunday and Monday to kick off the Sinfonietta’s 21st season. They’ll be performing a broad range of jazz and classical arrangements that honor the work of Duke Ellington.

We hear from two award-winning filmmakers: one a “thrilling” screenplay writer and the other a 9-year-old stop-motion animator.

Plus, Mickey the Munchkin, and playwright Sarah Ruhl on the passions of theater throughout history.