Writer

Kenneth Best

Ken Best served as editor of UCONN Magazine for 10 years. He is a co-host of the UConn 360 Podcast. He previously covered news and sports in Connecticut for The New York Times, edited the Weekend section for the Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time, wrote arts and culture stories syndicated by the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service and was the media coordinator for Yale-New Haven Hospital. During the summer of 2015 he hosted “Walking a Blues Road,” a weekly program on WHUS in Storrs based on the holdings of the Samuel and Ann Charters Archives of Blues and Vernacular African-American Musical Culture at UConn’s Thomas J. Dodd Research Center. He is the author of Eight Days a Week: An Illustrated Record of Rock ‘n’ Roll (Pomegranate Books).


Author Archive

Promotional photo from the Legend of Tarzan official website.

The White Savior: Racial Inequality in Film

A UConn sociologist discusses the portrayal of white and black characters in 'The Legend of Tarzan' and 'The Free State of Jones.'

Production photo, Androcles and the Lion, Harlem Negro Unit. (Public Domain)

Arts and Activism: Harlem’s Community Theaters

A UConn historian's new book shows how Harlem's theaters of the '20s and '30s helped pave the way for the civil rights movement.

Julia Estrada (Maria) and Luke Hamilton (Tony) in WEST SIDE STORY onstage at Connecticut Repertory Theatre July 7-17, 2016. (Gerry Goodstein for UConn)

‘West Side Story’ Rounds Out Nutmeg Summer Series

The popular musical about a clash of cultures remains as topical as ever in the political climate of 2016 America.

Fine Arts Alums Return for Roles in Summer Musical

Two UConn alums star in a 'grownup’s prequel to Peter Pan,' that flips the classic story of how an orphan boy became Peter Pan. Now onstage at CRT.

'Untitled' (1977 Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am replica), 1999, inflatable nylon and electric blower, by Guy Overfelt. (Ken Best/UConn Photo)

Inflatable Art Exhibit Expands on Lightweight Form

An exhibition of inflatable art at the Benton Museum explores the many ways an artist can create movable, air-filled sculpture.

Riley Costello (Finch), left, and Fred Grandy (Biggley) in 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,' onstage June 2-12, 2016 at Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre. (Gerry Goodstein for UConn)

Musical Comedy Takes Sideways Look at Big Business

Fred Grandy, who stars in 'How to Succeed in Business,' reflects on enduring themes in the musical comedy onstage June 2-13 at the Harriet Jorgensen Theatre.

Stu Rothenberg '77 Ph.D., political analyst and editor of Roll Call, Capitol Hill's premier newspaper. (Photo courtesy of Roll Call)

Rothenberg: ‘Reality Show has Taken Over American Politics’

UConn alum and political analyst Stu Rothenberg gives his take on the Presidential campaign so far.

The Arthur Fiedler puppet. (Ken Best/UConn Photo)

UConn Puppets Take the Pops

Follow the collaboration between UConn's Puppet Arts program and 'America's Orchestra,' from concept to dress rehearsal.

The Independent Art Fair was part of New York's Armory Arts Week attended by MFA students in Art & Art History. (Photo courtesy of students in ART 5310 Graduate Seminar)

A Glimpse into the Life of the Professional Artist

Master of fine arts students learn to 'sell, schmooze, and network' through a tour of studios and private galleries in New York City.

Jonathan the Husky poses wearing an Elizabethan collar on stage at the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

‘Be Not Afraid of Greatness:’ Shakespeare’s First Folio Coming to UConn

The exhibition, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, will be on campus in September, accompanied by many other cultural events.