"It's thrilling and terrifying to sit in Leonard's chair for a little while,” Parker told the Wall Street Journal in an e-mail about taking on the role of radio host. She said she is a lifelong listener of of the station.

The April 15 guests include Terrence McNally, who will discuss his new play Mothers and Sons, along with Tyne Daly and Bobby Steggert. Jessie Mueller and Douglas McGrath, who star in and wrote the book of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical respectively, are also scheduled to appear, along with visual artist Alex Katz and New Yorker journalist Dexter Filkins.

Guests for the April 16 program include director of the Museum of Modern Art Glenn Lowry, New York City Ballet principal dancers Ashley Bouder and Sara Mearns, Gelsey Kirkland and novelist Anthony Marra.

Parker most recently appeared on the New York stage in The Commons of Pensacola. Her other theatrical credits include MTC’s 2001 production of Wonder of the World by David Lindsay-Abaire, The Substance of Fire, The Heidi Chronicles, Once Upon a Mattress and Annie. She received four Golden Globe, three SAG Awards and two Emmy Awards for her role as Carrie Bradshaw in HBO’s "Sex and The City."

"The Leonard Lopate Show" airs weekdays from noon to 2 PM on 93.9 FM and AM 820, as well as wnyc.org.