What’s the common thread running through our second OG portfolio? The word fearlessness came up often. The courage to be disliked, to stick to your guns, to seek adventure and make trouble, to look past trends and embrace the next generation of like-minded mavericks, to keep going, at 55 or 95, despite it all, and (to quote Nobel Prize–winning OG poet Louise Glück) “risk joy in the raw wind of the new world.” A toast to the aristocracy of talent in these pages. We see and salute you. After all, game recognizes game. — Erik Maza
Carmen De Lavallade She introduced Alvin Ailey to the medium that would make him famous. She taught Meryl Streep and Sigourney Weaver at Yale. She moved Duke Ellington to tears with her artistry. When asked about her life philosophy, the dancer, actress, and Kennedy Center honoree—who turns 92 this month—once declared, “Well, I’m not finished with it yet!”Ben Hoffman
John Kander “He’s the nicest man I’ve ever met in this business. Full stop. He was the first composer to come see In the Heights when we were still off-Broadway, and we’ve been friends ever since. The greatest thing about working with him is that the best part for him is the making of the thing. At the piano he’s not 95. His hands are so fast I have to do my damnedest to keep up. And keeping up with John is one of the great joys of my life.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote additional lyrics for Kander and Fred Ebb’s new musical, New York, New YorkThe Washington Post
Dolly Parton She has charmed listeners for more than half a century, but Dolly Parton is not just a country singer/songwriter. She’s also an actress, author, and philanthropist—devoted to causes like medical research and children’s literacy—who has been discovered by a Gen Z audience, most recently thanks to her New Year’s Eve TV performance alongside goddaughter Miley Cyrus of their hits “Wrecking Ball” and “I Will Always Love You.”Gems
Robert Caro and his editor of 50 years, Robert Gottlieb, whose daughter Lizzie captures them in the doc Turn Every Page: “I never wanted to make an homage to two great men. What intrigued me was the alchemy of creative collaboration in all its thorny, productive, and wildly inspiring glory.” Getty Images
Theaster Gates New Museum career retrospective, his first in the U.S., showed the breadth of his practice. His Dorchester Industries and Rebuild Foundation’s work with Prada Group paves the way for next-gen artists of color.picture alliance
Caroline Hirsch New York standup’s kingmaker.J. Countess - Getty Images
Bob Iger Disney’s biggest star since Mickey Mouse.Kimberly White - Getty Images
Alex KatzBob Berg - Getty Images
Adrienne Kennedy In the words of superfan Jeremy O. Harris, “One of the greatest living playwrights in the world.”Jack Robinson - Getty Images
Rem Koolhaas His firm, OMA, is finalizing Tiffany & Co.’s flagship.View Pictures - Getty Images
Ralph Lauren American fashion’s chairman of the board.Jim Spellman
David LynchChris Weeks - Getty Images
Jorge Perez Followed namesake Miami museum with personal gallery El Espacio 23, now exhibiting a vast survey of Cuban art.Kevin Mazur - Getty Images
Shonda Rhimes The first lady of Netflix.Bryan Bedder - Getty Images
Rick RubinFrazer Harrison - Getty Images
Carly Simon Taylor Swift should cut her a check. Brownie Harris - Getty Images
Steven Spielberg Nearly 50 years after Jaws, the blockbuster auteur scores record ninth Best Director Oscar nom.Mike Marsland
Anna Wintour High priestess of haute. Jamie McCarthy - Getty Images
George C. Wolfe Theater’s top dog preps a Bayard Rustin biopic, already a 2024 Academy Award frontrunner.Vera Anderson
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This story appears in the March 2023 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW
