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Performing Arts

Tuesday

'Mindhunter' Actor Jonathan Groff On His Most Life-Altering Roles

Jonathan Groff plays an FBI agent and criminal profiler in the Netflix series Mindhunter. Patrick Harbron/Netflix hide caption

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Patrick Harbron/Netflix

Television

'Mindhunter' Actor Jonathan Groff On His Most Life-Altering Roles

Fresh Air

Groff says his work on HBO's Looking changed his life: "It's one of my favorite things I've worked on, the most personal thing I've worked on." He now stars in the Netflix series Mindhunter.

'Mindhunter' Actor Jonathan Groff On His Most Life-Altering Roles

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Sunday

Bold Experiment Turned Broadway Hit, 'Lion King' Continues To Thrill — And Heal

While in the film "Circle of Life" is sung by a voice off-screen, Rafiki takes on the opening number in the The Lion King musical. Joan Marcus hide caption

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Joan Marcus

Culture

Bold Experiment Turned Broadway Hit, 'Lion King' Continues To Thrill — And Heal

Director Julie Taymor took an unconventional tack in adapting the animated film for the big stage. Even 20 years on, she finds the musical's social themes evolve and resonate with audiences worldwide.

Bold Experiment Turned Broadway Hit, 'Lion King' Continues To Thrill — And Heal

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She Watched Bootleg Episodes Of Seinfeld, Now The Indonesian Comic Performs Stand-Up

Sakdiyah Ma'ruf is a comedian in Indonesia. Now she is breaking ground as a stand-up comedian who wears a hijab while openly mocking religious fundamentalists. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Claire Harbage/NPR

Asia

She Watched Bootleg Episodes Of Seinfeld, Now The Indonesian Comic Performs Stand-Up

Sakdiyah Ma'ruf grew up watching bootleg videos of Roseanne Barr and Jerry Seinfeld. Now she is breaking ground as a stand-up comedian who wears a hijab while openly mocking religious fundamentalists.

She Watched Bootleg Episodes Of Seinfeld, Now The Indonesian Comic Performs Stand-Up

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Saturday

'People, Places & Things' Is A Clear-Eyed Look At Addiction

Denise Gough as Emma, an actress who goes into rehab after coming unhinged onstage, in People, Places & Things. Gough won an Olivier award for the role during the play's London run. Teddy Wolfe hide caption

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Teddy Wolfe

Theater

'People, Places & Things' Is A Clear-Eyed Look At Addiction

Irish playwright Duncan Macmillan's latest work follows an actress who goes into rehab after coming unhinged onstage. It's an unsentimental take on addiction and recovery that offers no easy answers.

'People, Places & Things' Is A Clear-Eyed Look At Addiction

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Saturday

Sword Swallower Makes Triumphant Return As He Battles Severe Health Issues

Johnny Fox hugs a fan at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. This fall, Fox has made a triumphant comeback even as he battles with health issues. Mark Mitton/NPR hide caption

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Mark Mitton/NPR

Culture

Sword Swallower Makes Triumphant Return As He Battles Severe Health Issues

For decades, Johnny Fox has been a beloved figure at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Even as he battles serious health problems, Fox is back on stage this fall, thanks to support from friends.

Sword Swallower Makes Triumphant Return As He Battles Severe Health Issues

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Wednesday

Monday

Q-Tip Says His New Kennedy Center Role Helps 'Institutionalize Hip-Hop'

Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest performs onstage at FYF Fest in July in Los Angeles. Christopher Polk/Getty Images for FYF hide caption

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Christopher Polk/Getty Images for FYF

Music Interviews

Q-Tip Says His New Kennedy Center Role Helps 'Institutionalize Hip-Hop'

A Tribe Called Quest frontman is the first artistic director for hip-hop culture at the Kennedy Center. He discusses the cultural levity of his appointment and the current political climate.

Q-Tip Says His New Kennedy Center Role Helps 'Institutionalize Hip-Hop'

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Thursday

A New Musical — And Its Audience — Grapple With Asian Identity, Through K-Pop

In the musical KPOP, Ashley Park plays the Korean pop star Mwe, one of the show's emotional centers. Ben Arons/Courtesy of KPOP hide caption

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Ben Arons/Courtesy of KPOP

Code Switch

A New Musical — And Its Audience — Grapple With Asian Identity, Through K-Pop

The show's plot and very existence provoke larger questions around race, representation and casting.

A New Musical — And Its Audience — Grapple With Asian Identity, Through K-Pop

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Monday

Bill Murray And Jan Vogler Take Us To 'New Worlds' On Their New Theatrical Album

Bill Murray and Jan Vogler's album New Worlds is available Sept. 29. Peter Rigaud/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Peter Rigaud/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Bill Murray And Jan Vogler Take Us To 'New Worlds' On Their New Theatrical Album

After the comedian and cellist met on a flight, the two struck up a friendship and decided to release an album on which Murray sings and reads American classics accompanied by a classical trio.

Bill Murray And Jan Vogler Take Us To 'New Worlds' On Their New Theatrical Album

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Sunday

'Beautiful Things' Revealed In Stage Adaptation Of Cheryl Strayed's Advice Column

Nia Vardalos stars in Tiny Beautiful Things, a stage adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's book of "Dear Sugar" advice columns. Joan Marcus/Public Theater hide caption

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Joan Marcus/Public Theater

Theater

'Beautiful Things' Revealed In Stage Adaptation Of Cheryl Strayed's Advice Column

Before she was a famous author, Strayed wrote an advice column under the pseudonym "Dear Sugar." Now, it's been adapted into an unlikely off-Broadway play starring Nia Vardalos.

'Beautiful Things' Revealed In Stage Adaptation Of Cheryl Strayed's Advice Column

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Tuesday

Saturday

'We Believe Deeply In Lox And Bagels': What It Means To Be A Secular Jew

"We don't read much Torah, but we've read every word Philip Roth ever wrote," says On the Media host Bob Garfield. "We don't necessarily even believe in God, but we believe deeply in lox and bagels." Adam Baker/Flickr hide caption

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Adam Baker/Flickr

Religion

'We Believe Deeply In Lox And Bagels': What It Means To Be A Secular Jew

In his new one-man show, On the Media host Bob Garfield grapples with questions of identity and belonging. "I've been running from the religious part of my religion for my entire adult life," he says.

'We Believe Deeply In Lox And Bagels': What It Means To Be A Secular Jew

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Above The Ballet, Where The Tutus Are Made

New York City Ballet Director of Costumes Marc Happel and Draper Kellie Sheehan conduct a costume fitting with soloist Indiana Woodward for Justin Peck's Pulcinella Variations, with costumes designed by Tsumori Chisato. Erin Baiano/Courtesy of New York City Ballet hide caption

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Erin Baiano/Courtesy of New York City Ballet

Culture

Above The Ballet, Where The Tutus Are Made

Every year, the New York City Ballet asks top fashion designers to outfit its dancers for its Fall Gala. Good thing the capacity of its 18-person costume department is "the highest you can get."

Above The Ballet, Where The Tutus Are Made

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Wednesday

In Kitchens Across New York, 'Oh My Sweet Land' Serves Up Stories Of Syria

Actress Nadine Malouf makes kubah as she tells stories about Syria's civil war in Oh My Sweet Land. Pavel Antonov/Blake Zidell & Associates hide caption

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Pavel Antonov/Blake Zidell & Associates

Theater

In Kitchens Across New York, 'Oh My Sweet Land' Serves Up Stories Of Syria

The one-woman show centers on a Syrian-American who tells harrowing stories of Syria's civil war as she prepares a traditional dish. It's an intimate experience for both the audience and the actress.

In Kitchens Across New York, 'Oh My Sweet Land' Serves Up Stories Of Syria

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