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

Performing Arts

Friday

The Peony Pavilion: A Vivid Dream In A Garden

A garden serves as the stage in the opera. Zhang Yi hide caption

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Zhang Yi

Deceptive Cadence

The Peony Pavilion: A Vivid Dream In A Garden

Peony Pavilion is one of China's most famous operas, but uncut performances of this romantic 16th century work can take more than 22 hours. An adapted version of the dream-like opera will take place at the Metropolitan Museum.

The Peony Pavilion: A Vivid Dream In A Garden

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Tuesday

Kennedy Center's New Organ No Longer A Pipe Dream

After years of waiting, the Kennedy Center has a new symphonic organ replacing its old Filene organ. The $2 million project will culminate in the organ's debut on Nov. 27. William Neil (left), the National Symphony Orchestra organist, speaks with NSO Assistant Conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl (center) during the organ's test with the orchestra on Oct. 18. Kainaz Amaria/NPR hide caption

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Kainaz Amaria/NPR

National

Kennedy Center's New Organ No Longer A Pipe Dream

The old organ was in bad shape and beyond repair. Now, after more than two years of construction and installation, a new organ has arrived and will make its debut on Nov. 27.

Kennedy Center's New Organ No Longer A Pipe Dream

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Monday

Princess Marty Is A Smarty If She's At A Child's Party

Mary Alice LeGrow, otherwise known as "Princess Marty," hugs a young girl during a birthday party in a Philadelphia suburb. A graphic artist and "cosplay" (costume play) fanatic, LeGrow became a full-time professional party princess to make ends meet during the economic downturn. Kainaz Amaria/NPR hide caption

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Kainaz Amaria/NPR

Princess Marty Is A Smarty If She's At A Child's Party

Her highness — known outside the big dress as Mary Alice LeGrow — is a professional party princess. She uses her best princess voice and dresses up in full regalia to charm children. But life in the kingdom isn't all candy and sugarplums; it takes a lot of muscle to be a princess.

Princess Marty Is A Smarty If She's At A Child's Party

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Thursday

Circus Roboticus, Or: This Actor Is A Serious Heavyweight

The cast and creative team of Sans Objet learned the hard way that a 2,800-pound robot can be a bit of a diva: Because he's run by a computer program, he never forgets his blocking. Algae Bory hide caption

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Algae Bory

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Circus Roboticus, Or: This Actor Is A Serious Heavyweight

A repurposed robot prototype named KUKA, originally designed by the auto industry, is the breakout star of Sans Objet, a performance piece making its debut in the U.S. this month. Randy Gener describes the rewards — and the challenges — involved in working with a nearly 3,000-pound diva.

Friday

Theater

Past is Present in 'An Enemy Of The People'

Although it was written in 1882, Henrik Ibsen's play An Enemy of the People still resonates today. Richard Thomas and Boyd Gaines, the stars of a new production of the play, join Ira Flatow to talk about the play's themes of power and truth, and the role of whistle-blowers.

Past is Present in 'An Enemy Of The People'

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Thursday

Broadway To Sandy: The Show Is Back On

Superstorm Sandy starting hitting New York on Monday. By Wednesday, life had returned to the Time Square theater district. John Lamparski/Getty Images hide caption

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John Lamparski/Getty Images

Superstorm Sandy: Before, During And Beyond

Broadway To Sandy: The Show Is Back On

New York's theater workers mobilized to get their shows back up and running by Wednesday. But with no trains, very few buses and massive traffic jams, the commute wasn't easy. One actress had to walk about two hours to Manhattan from her home in Queens.

Broadway To Sandy: The Show Is Back On

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Sunday

Star-Studded 'Heiress' Considers A Woman's Worth

Jessica Chastain makes her Broadway debut as Catherine Sloper in The Heiress. Chastain says she was moved by the arc of her character's story — initially defined by the men in her life, but ultimately finding strength in herself. (c) 2012 Joan Marcus hide caption

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(c) 2012 Joan Marcus

Theater

Star-Studded 'Heiress' Considers A Woman's Worth

A much-anticipated revival of The Heiress, a 1947 play based on the Henry James novella Washington Square, opens in New York on Thursday. It marks the Broadway debut of two young stars — Jessica Chastain, the Academy Award nominee from The Help, and Dan Stevens from the hit series Downton Abbey.

Star-Studded 'Heiress' Considers A Woman's Worth

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Sunday

'Beat Generation,' Kerouac's Lost Play, Hits Stage

The cast rehearses a scene from Jack Kerouac's only play, The Beat Generation. Courtesy of the Merrimack Repertory Theater hide caption

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Courtesy of the Merrimack Repertory Theater

Theater

'Beat Generation,' Kerouac's Lost Play, Hits Stage

WBUR

Legendary beat novelist Jack Kerouac shot to fame with On the Road, but unknown to many fans, he also wrote a play. The Beat Generation was never produced and quickly forgotten. Rediscovered in 2004, the play is now set to premiere in the writer's hometown.

'Beat Generation,' Kerouac's Lost Play, Hits Stage

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Friday

A Celebration Of Janis Joplin And All Her Swagger

Mary Bridget Davies as Janis Joplin and Sabrina Elayne Carten as Blues Singer in the Cleveland Play House production of One Night with Janis Joplin. Janet Macoska/Arena Stage hide caption

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Janet Macoska/Arena Stage

Theater

A Celebration Of Janis Joplin And All Her Swagger

In her short time on the scene, Joplin helped define the music of a generation with her bluesy rasp. A musical honoring her talent and her muses is playing now in Washington, D.C. While it doesn't get into the darker chapters of her life, the show is captivating lifelong fans — including the lead actress.

A Celebration Of Janis Joplin And All Her Swagger

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Wednesday

Racial Issues, Far From 'Invisible' On D.C. Stage

Teagle F. Bougere plays the titular Invisible Man in The Studio Theatre's adaptation of Ralph Ellison's novel. Astrid Riecken/The Studio Theatre hide caption

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Astrid Riecken/The Studio Theatre

Theater

Racial Issues, Far From 'Invisible' On D.C. Stage

An adaptation of Ralph Ellison's landmark novel The Invisible Man is electrifying audiences in the nation's capital. NPR's Audie Cornish talks to the writer, director and star about bringing a complicated story to the stage.

Racial Issues, Far From 'Invisible' On D.C. Stage

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Tuesday

A Broadway Mystery Worthy Of 'Rebecca'

The original Vienna production of a new musical based on the novel Rebecca didn't fall prey to the woes plaguing a planned New York staging. VBW hide caption

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VBW

Theater

A Broadway Mystery Worthy Of 'Rebecca'

A musical adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's Gothic novel Rebecca was set to come to Broadway — until the existence of its major investor came into question. New York Times theater writer Patrick Healy discusses the mystery on All Things Considered.

A Broadway Mystery Worthy Of 'Rebecca'

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Tuesday

Shorts Inspire Music In 'Sounding Beckett' Trilogy

In Ohio Impromptu, one of three short plays featured in Sounding Beckett, the silent character (Philip Goodwin, left, with Ted van Griethuysen) inspired music based on knocks and repetitions. Jeremy Tressler/Sounding Beckett hide caption

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Jeremy Tressler/Sounding Beckett

Theater

Shorts Inspire Music In 'Sounding Beckett' Trilogy

Samuel Beckett, the author of Waiting for Godot, is known for the spare, modern rhythms of his plays. Now, as Jeff Lunden explains, the off-Broadway show Sounding Beckett brings together three of the playwright's short works with new pieces of contemporary music they inspired.

Shorts Inspire Music In 'Sounding Beckett' Trilogy

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Tuesday

In New York, Two Big Arts Institutions Go Small

LCT3's Claire Tow Theater is a two-story structure built on a steel truss that straddles the roof of Lincoln's Vivian Beaumont Theater. Before or after performances, theatergoers can mingle over drinks at a roofdeck bar that overlooks Lincoln Center and the surrounding neighborhood. Francis Dzikowski/ESTO/Courtesy of H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture hide caption

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Francis Dzikowski/ESTO/Courtesy of H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture

In New York, Two Big Arts Institutions Go Small

Lincoln Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music recently opened new, smaller theater spaces designed by architect Hugh Hardy. There, new works can be performed without the financial pressure of filling a large theater — and with cheaper tickets, they can attract the younger generation, too.

In New York, Two Big Arts Institutions Go Small

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Thursday

Audra McDonald: Shaping 'Bess' On Broadway

Audra McDonald plays Bess in the current Broadway production of Porgy and Bess. Michael J. Lutch/Courtesy of the American Repertory Theater hide caption

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Michael J. Lutch/Courtesy of the American Repertory Theater

Audra McDonald: Shaping 'Bess' On Broadway

Fresh Air

The actress plays Bess in the Broadway musical Porgy and Bess. The show, which won two Tony Awards, closes next month.

Audra McDonald: Shaping 'Bess' On Broadway

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Broadway Spoofers Return To 'Forbidden' Territory

Natalie Charle Ellis, Scott Richard Foster, Jenny Lee Stern and Marcus Stevens are part of Gerard Alessandrini's Forbidden Broadway troupe, which is returning to the stage after a three-year hiatus. Carol Rosegg/Forbidden Broadway hide caption

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Carol Rosegg/Forbidden Broadway

Theater

Broadway Spoofers Return To 'Forbidden' Territory

After a three-year hiatus, satirist Gerard Alessandrini is back with Forbidden Broadway: Alive and Kicking! Alongside Once and The Book of Mormon, they also target the Broadway-centric TV series Smash — but like all good parody, the skewering comes from a loving place.

Broadway Spoofers Return To 'Forbidden' Territory

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