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Performing Arts

Monday

A New DAWN On Broadway
Sally Herships

The Indicator from Planet Money

A New DAWN On Broadway

As arts workers continue to struggle, they're trying their hand at something new. Not a new performance or show, but a piece of legislation which would keep their industry alive through the pandemic.

A New DAWN On Broadway

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Friday

'Russian Troll Farm:' Imagine 'The Office,' But With Election Interference

Haskell King, Ian Lassiter, Danielle Slavick and Greg Keller performing via Zoom in Russian Troll Farm. TheaterWorks Hartford hide caption

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TheaterWorks Hartford

'Russian Troll Farm:' Imagine 'The Office,' But With Election Interference

A new play — directed and performed via Zoom — imagines workplace life at Russia's Internet Research Agency, a real life troll-farm indicted for its interference in the 2016 election.

'Russian Troll Farm:' Imagine 'The Office,' But With Election Interference

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Wednesday

'American Utopia': David Byrne's Coming To My House, Via HBO

American Utopia, directed by Spike Lee, captures a filmed performance of David Byrne's acclaimed Broadway production. David Lee/HBO hide caption

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David Lee/HBO

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'American Utopia': David Byrne's Coming To My House, Via HBO

David Byrne and Spike Lee. Two artists with very defined, very distinct, and yet very different, sensibilities — but when you put them together, it works. The theatrical concert film David Byrne's American Utopia, now streaming on HBO Max, is a career-spanning celebration of Byrne's music, both with Talking Heads and his solo work. Director Spike Lee shoots the stage of Broadway's Hudson Theater from a host of angles to capture the exuberant, rollicking — yet rigorously choreographed energy — of Byrne and his fellow barefoot, silver-gray-suited performers.

'American Utopia': David Byrne's Coming To My House, Via HBO

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Friday

Isn't This A Lovely Day For A 'Top Hat' Tribute?

Jordan Betscher and Courtney Crain dancing to Irving Berlin's "Isn't This a Lovely Day (To Be Caught in the Rain)?" Courtesy of Concord Theatricals hide caption

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Courtesy of Concord Theatricals

Culture

Isn't This A Lovely Day For A 'Top Hat' Tribute?

Irving Berlin's classic musical turns 85 this year, and a group of artists are paying tribute with a brand-new video version of one of its songs, "Isn't This A Lovely Day (To Be Caught In The Rain)?"

Isn't This A Lovely Day For A 'Top Hat' Tribute?

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Theater

How Women Have Been 'Profoundly' Left Out Of The U.S. Constitution

Fresh Air

As a teen, Heidi Schreck debated the Constitution in competitions. A film of her Broadway play, What the Constitution Means to Me, is now available on Amazon Prime. Originally broadcast March 2019.

How Women Have Been 'Profoundly' Left Out Of The U.S. Constitution

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Monday

Ballet Hispánico Celebrates 50 Years As Ambassadors Of Latinx Dance

Ballet Hispánico celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It was founded in 1970 by Tina Ramirez. Paula Lobo/Ballet Hispánico hide caption

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Paula Lobo/Ballet Hispánico

Dance

Ballet Hispánico Celebrates 50 Years As Ambassadors Of Latinx Dance

The dance company features work of Latinx choreographers, as well as a robust educational outreach program. It was just awarded a $4 million grant from the Ford Foundation.

Ballet Hispánico Celebrates 50 Years As Ambassadors Of Latinx Dance

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Friday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Friday

Monday

In A 'Coast-To-Coast Roast,' Colin Quinn Finds Humor In The State We're In

"I'm a comedian. I'm not here to be agreed with," says Colin Quinn. "In fact, if you came up to me and said, 'You're not funny, but I agree with you,' I'd be offended because I'm here to make people laugh. ... It's much more powerful than somebody agreeing with you." Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Audible hide caption

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Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Audible

Author Interviews

In A 'Coast-To-Coast Roast,' Colin Quinn Finds Humor In The State We're In

As a veteran stand-up comedian, Quinn has spent decades on the road, performing in 47 out of the 50 states he now affectionately eviscerates in his new book, Overstated.

In A 'Coast-To-Coast Roast,' Colin Quinn Finds Humor In The State We're In

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Sunday

What Will The Future Of Theater Look Like? 'Our Artists Are Going To Lead Us'

The Public Theater in New York has been closed since March 12, but is still producing plays on Zoom, radio and film. "Just because conditions are hard, it doesn't let us off the hook; it doesn't free us of the obligation to try to fulfill our mission," says artistic director Oskar Eustis. Aislinn Weidele/The Public Theater hide caption

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Aislinn Weidele/The Public Theater

The Coronavirus Crisis

What Will The Future Of Theater Look Like? 'Our Artists Are Going To Lead Us'

It's hard to predict exactly how theater will come back after the pandemic, but here are a couple guesses: Fewer crowds, more collective imagination, and a focus on racial and environmental justice.

What Will The Future Of Theater Look Like? 'Our Artists Are Going To Lead Us'

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Wednesday

Predictions Of How COVID-19 Will Impact Pop Culture

What will be the visual cues that film and television will one day use to depict 2020? Malorny/Getty Images hide caption

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Malorny/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Predictions Of How COVID-19 Will Impact Pop Culture

It's hard to predict how the current pandemic will affect the work of artists in television and film and theater, but that doesn't mean we can't try. What will change? What won't change? How might creators react? Today, we're stepping back to make some guesses about the future of pop culture and think about what's to come.

Predictions Of How COVID-19 Will Impact Pop Culture

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Tuesday

With Theaters Still Closed, 136-Year-Old 'Playbill' Does A Quick Online Pivot

With theaters across the country closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Playbill has had to pivot quickly. "We find ourselves incredibly fortunate to be associated with this ridiculously fantastic art form that we miss oh, so much," says Playbill Vice President Alex Birsh. Dean Greer/Playbill hide caption

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Dean Greer/Playbill

The Coronavirus Crisis

With Theaters Still Closed, 136-Year-Old 'Playbill' Does A Quick Online Pivot

The magazine given out at theaters isn't just a program, it's a cherished souvenir. The publication has doubled down on its digital offerings, and to almost everyone's surprise, it's doing quite well.

With Theaters Still Closed, 136-Year-Old 'Playbill' Does A Quick Online Pivot

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