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Performing Arts

News, interviews, and commentary on theater, the arts, music, and dance.

'Kickstart Shakespeare': Of Sonnets, Beer, And Online Fundraising
"It was written for the masses," says the director of a New York organization raising money to bring Shakespeare's work to new audiences.
UniverSoul Circus Co-Host: 'Soul Is Not A Color'
In the beginning, all of the talent was black, but the UniverSoul Circus evolved into an eclectic mix of acts from around the world. Now, the circus is pushing to diversify its audience, with a show called "Us."
Audra McDonald: Shaping 'Bess' On Broadway
The actress is nominated for her fifth Tony Award for the Broadway musical Porgy and Bess. "There's very few quiet moments for Bess," she says. "They're all very big, very emotional. ... And to commit to that night after night after night is very difficult."
What Inspires Singer Simone
Actress and singer Lisa Celeste is better known by her stage name, Simone. She's the daughter of the late legendary singer Nina Simone, and she's appeared on Broadway in musicals such as Rent and Aida. As part of the series, In Your Ear, she shares the songs on her personal playlist.
A Test Of Hearts, Minds And 'Hands On A Hardbody'
The 1997 documentary Hands on a Hard Body followed the contestants in a Texas car dealership competition: Hopefuls had to keep one hand on a brand-new fully loaded truck, and the last person standing kept it. As Neda Ulaby reports, that surprisingly dramatic story is now being made into a musical.
Composing 'The News,' With A Musical Twist
In his "reality opera" The News, Dutch composer JacobTV weaves videos of politicos and celebrities into fugues that try to get inside the heads of his subjects — and cast a questioning eye on the process of delivering the news.
A Gershwin Biopic That Ain't Necessarily So True
Rhapsody in Blue, a 1945 film version of the life of George Gershwin, is out for the first time on DVD. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says it's a fascinating mixture of real facts, pure invention and memorable musical moments.
When It Comes To War, Humor Helps Us Survive
Water by the Spoonful is this year's winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It's a play about addiction, memory, and the Iraq War. Host Michel Martin speaks with playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes, who says that her people don't have to wallow in misery, that we can laugh, even in our darkest moments.
Tony Awards Take Note Of A Little Musical That Emphatically Could
The absurdly charming chamber musical Once, based on the 2006 indie film, leads the pack in Broadway's big awards rally.
Managing The Gershwins' Lucrative Musical Legacy
In the 1920s, it wasn't uncommon for the Gershwin brothers — composer George and lyricist Ira — to have two shows on Broadway at once. This season, it's happening again. As Jeff Lunden reports.
Broadway's 'Best Man': John Larroquette
Perhaps most recognizable for his role on Night Court, John Larroquette has recently taken to the stage, earning a Tony Award for his role in the 2011 production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Now, he has returned to Broadway in a revival of Gore Vidal's The Best Man.
Blair Underwood On Stanley, Stella And 'Streetcar'
A new multiracial Broadway revival of A Streetcar Named Desire is opening and stars Blair Underwood as Stanley Kowalski. Underwood talks to Weekend Edition's Scott Simon about portraying the role as an African-American, New Orleans, and differentiating his "Stella!" from Brando's.
London Smash 'Two Guvnors' Comes To Broadway
A British comedy that was the fastest selling ticket in the history of London's West End opens on Broadway tonight with its original cast. As Jeff Lunden reports, One Man, Two Guvnors is full of whimsically portrayed stereotypes — and is based on 500-year-old comic traditions.
The Historic Howard Theatre: Past And Future
The Howard Theatre in Washington, DC was built in 1910, and just about every top black entertainer performed on its stage. But it had to shut its doors once the neighborhood fell on hard times. Now it has reopened, and host Michel Martin talks with Jimi Smooth, a musician who was an usher at the Howard in the early '60s.
Alec Baldwin Campaigns For More Arts Funding
Alec Baldwin appeared in Congress this week to argue for increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. The NEA is receiving about $147 million this year — about $20 million less than in 2010. Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep talks to Baldwin about his latest funding push.

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