Yes, the curtain does come down

Director AND producer Bart DeLorenzo has been busy in the Southland theater scene nonstop since he arrived from Massachusetts in the early ‘90s. He is the founding artistic director of the Evidence Room, where he helmed productions of “The Cherry Orchard,” “Don Carlos,” “Hard Times” and “Mayhem.” He recently took on Joan Rivers in “A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress,” and is currently directing “Shipwrecked!” at the Geffen. Up next: The Southern California premiere of “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” by Sarah Ruhl at South Coast Rep. He shared his thoughts on how he survives and enjoys pop culture with Liesl Bradner.

TV PICKS

My favorite summer show is “So You Think You Can Dance.” They take these really talented people and push them to their limits. I’m looking forward to “Project Runway 5.” I love that perverse creativity.

DVD RENTAL

When I have a minute I want to rent Season 5 of “24” because it stars Gregory Itzin, who is in “Shipwrecked!” “The Furies,” directed by Anthony Mann. I’d also like to finish renting all of the Jean-Pierre Melville films.

SOUNDTRACK

FOR THE COMMUTE

KPCC with Ira Glass and Nina Totenberg or KROQ. I like the new R.E.M., “Accelerate,” and classic Iggy Pop when I’m driving really fast.

ON THE BED-STAND

LIBRARY

I’ve been working my way though “Sacred Games” by Vikram Chandra for weeks now. It’s an homage to Quentin Tarantino but set in contemporary Mumbai. It’s quite a long book so I take breaks and read Joyce Carol Oates’ “High Lonesome: New and Selected Stories.”

TOP WEB DESTINATION

I’m obsessed with Realclearpolitics.com. It distills everything happening about this election, which I’m so excited about. I can’t stop reading about it.

GUILTY PLEASURE

Every morning I have to check out d-list.com and after rehearsals I listen to “Loveline” on KROQ.

SECRET WEAPON FOR

NAVIGATING THE CULTURE

A walk on the beach. I live in Venice and the Pacific Ocean puts everything in perspective. Or I’ll head up to Matador Beach at sunset and finish at Neptune’s Net. That is my therapy.