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Performing Arts

Tuesday

Chita Rivera, Broadway's 'first great triple threat,' dies at 91

Chita Rivera in May 1977. Evening Standard/Getty Images hide caption

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Evening Standard/Getty Images

Obituaries

Chita Rivera, Broadway's 'first great triple threat,' dies at 91

The three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway legend created indelible roles: Anita in West Side Story, Rose in Bye Bye Birdie and Velma Kelly in Chicago.

Chita Rivera, Broadway's 'first great triple threat,' dies at 91

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Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin win the 2024 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

Elton John and Bernie Taupin promote the film Rocketman at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019. Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images

Music News

Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin win the 2024 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

One of the most prestigious awards in American music, the Gershwin Prize recognizes musicians with a lifetime of contributions to popular songs. This year's winners are Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin win the 2024 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

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Monday

'Days of Wine and Roses,' a film about love and addiction, is now a spirited musical

Brian d'Arcy James and Kelli O'Hara star in a new Broadway adaptation of the 1962 film Days of Wine and Roses. Joan Marcus hide caption

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Joan Marcus

Theater

'Days of Wine and Roses,' a film about love and addiction, is now a spirited musical

The classic 1962 movie tells the story of a relationship buckling under the weight of addiction. The new Broadway adaptation stars Kelli O'Hara and Brian d'Arcy James.

'Days of Wine and Roses,' a film about love and addiction, is now a spirited musical

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Sunday

How a West Bank Palestinian theater went from symbol of hope to casualty of war

A bench is seen at the entrance of the Freedom Theatre in the Jenin refugee camp 10 days after a raid by Israeli forces, Dec. 23, 2023. Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

How a West Bank Palestinian theater went from symbol of hope to casualty of war

Jenin's Freedom Theatre was ransacked by Israeli soldiers, its staff thrown in jail. Once celebrated as a peace initiative, it's the latest casualty of near-daily military raids on the West Bank.

How a West Bank Palestinian theater went from symbol of hope to casualty of war

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Saturday

An ancient Egyptian temple in New York inspires a Lebanese American musician

Singer and composer H. Sinno is bringing a site-specific opera to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Temple of Dendur. Derrick Kakembo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art hide caption

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Derrick Kakembo/The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Culture

An ancient Egyptian temple in New York inspires a Lebanese American musician

H. Sinno, former lead singer of the pioneering Lebanese rock band Mashrou' Leila, pairs their own history with that of the Metropolitan Museum's Temple of Dendur in their new opera.

An ancient Egyptian temple in New York inspires a Lebanese American musician

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Friday

Jacqueline Novak's 'Get On Your Knees' will blow you away

Jacqueline Novak in her new comedy special, Get on Your Knees. Emily V. Aragones/Netflix hide caption

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Emily V. Aragones/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Jacqueline Novak's 'Get On Your Knees' will blow you away

In her smart and funny comedy special Get On Your Knees, performer Jacqueline Novak delivers a kind of Ted Talk on the subject of oral sex. It's also a passionate and thoughtful coming-of-age tale delivered in language that's been finely honed to accomplish its very funny purpose. Directed by Natasha Lyonne, the Netflix special began as an off-Broadway show.

Jacqueline Novak's 'Get On Your Knees' will blow you away

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Wednesday

What did the beginning of time sound like? A new string quartet offers an impression

The Takács Quartet — left to right: Edward Dusinberre, Harumi Rhodes, Richard O'Neill and András Fejér — collaborated with composer Nokuthula Ngwenyama (center) to premiere her composition Flow. Cal Performances hide caption

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Cal Performances

Deceptive Cadence

What did the beginning of time sound like? A new string quartet offers an impression

Nokuthula Ngwenyama's Flow is on a 13-city tour of performances by the celebrated Takács Quartet.

What did the beginning of time sound like? A new string quartet offers an impression

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Tuesday

Anna Deavere Smith plays real Americans on stage - and she shares her lessons

Anna Deavere Smith takes on the words of real Americans - and emulates them on stage. Maury Phillips/Getty Images for The Broad Stage/Photo courtesy of Anna Deavere Smith hide caption

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Maury Phillips/Getty Images for The Broad Stage/Photo courtesy of Anna Deavere Smith

It's Been a Minute

Anna Deavere Smith plays real Americans on stage - and she shares her lessons

Anna Deavere Smith is an acclaimed actress, journalist, and playwright. She's a pioneer of what's known as 'verbatim theater,' which is performance based on conversations and interviews with real people. But after decades of becoming thousands of Americans on stage, what has she learned about our nation? Host Brittany Luse sat down with Deavere Smith in studio to hear her unique perspective about who — and what — America is.

Anna Deavere Smith plays real Americans on stage - and she shares her lessons

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Friday

Theater

Josh Groban never gave up his dream of playing 'Sweeney Todd'

Fresh Air

The Tony-nominated baritone gives his final performance in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's acclaimed musical on Jan 14, after 46 weeks and rave reviews. Originally broadcast April 10, 2023.

Josh Groban never gave up his dream of playing 'Sweeney Todd'

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Thursday

Stephen Sondheim is cool now

Sondheim had the highest standards for himself, the director of Here We Are said. Emilio Madrid/Here We Are hide caption

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Emilio Madrid/Here We Are

Theater

Stephen Sondheim is cool now

The late composer/lyricist was once considered an acquired taste — but with three shows running in New York and another on tour, he's a hit.

Stephen Sondheim is cool now

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For Dry January, we ask a music critic for great songs about not drinking

Pink's 2009 pop hit "Sober" may be the best known song about sobriety. She's shown above at The BRIT Awards in London in 2019. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images hide caption

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Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Culture

For Dry January, we ask a music critic for great songs about not drinking

Plenty of songs celebrate drinking. But what about music that finds joy in — well, not drinking? Music critic Sasha Frere-Jones reflects upon a few songs that have been meaningful to his sobriety.

For Dry January, we ask a music critic for great songs about not drinking

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Monday

Truth, forgiveness: 'Swept Away' is a theatrical vessel for Avett Bros' music

With songs by The Avett Brothers, Swept Away is inspired by the true story of an 19th century shipwreck in which seamen resorted to cannibalism to survive. Julieta Cervantes/Arena Stage hide caption

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Julieta Cervantes/Arena Stage

Music

Truth, forgiveness: 'Swept Away' is a theatrical vessel for Avett Bros' music

With songs by the Avett Brothers, Swept Away follows four men fighting to survive a shipwreck. The musical is inspired by the true story in which men resort to cannibalism to survive.

Truth, forgiveness: 'Swept Away' is a theatrical vessel for Avett Bros' music

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Saturday