New Orleans is a unique environment.

I love theater. I go all the time. It's one of the reasons I moved to New York. But I understand that I have limited range as an actor. I can only play people who talk like me.

I'm not a Democrat; I'm something well to the left of a Democrat, but I'm just realistic about the system.

I think it's obvious that democracy is something that is contagious, and it always has been.

The drama teacher that I had in high school, back in Texas, was the only teacher who didn't kick me out of his class. He turned me on to 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.' I had picked up Dylan with 'Bringing It All Back Home,' and he turned me on to the first couple of albums, which I hadn't heard.

Fundamentalism, as practiced by the Taliban, is the enemy of real thought, and religion, too.

Greg Trooper writes great songs, including one of my very favorite songs in the world, Little Sister. On top of all that, there's his voice - an instrument I have coveted for 15 years.