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

Performing Arts

Sunday

The Angst Of The '90s Is Alive On Broadway

Elizabeth Stanley plays Mary Jane Healy, a central character in Jagged Little Pill. Matthew Murphy/Courtesy of the artist. hide caption

toggle caption
Matthew Murphy/Courtesy of the artist.

Theater

The Angst Of The '90s Is Alive On Broadway

The 1995 hit album Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette is now a musical on Broadway. We talk with show creators Diablo Cody and Diane Paulus for a sneak preview.

The Angst Of The '90s Is Alive On Broadway

Listen · 4:32
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/782403545/782403546" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

'Sorrow Is Not The Same As Pessimism': Comedian Jenny Slate

Jenny Slate's new Netflix comedy special is Stage Fright. JoJo Whilden/Netflix hide caption

toggle caption
JoJo Whilden/Netflix

She's Funny

'Sorrow Is Not The Same As Pessimism': Comedian Jenny Slate

Now that she's released her first Netflix stand-up special (Stage Fright) and her first book (Little Weirds), Slate says she's finally finding her comedic voice in smallness.

'Sorrow Is Not The Same As Pessimism': Comedian Jenny Slate

Listen · 7:37
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/779412430/780563175" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sunday

Ghosts Haunt 'The Inheritance,' From E.M. Forster, To The Generation Lost To AIDS

Inspired by E.M. Forster's Howards End, Matthew Lopez wrote The Inheritance, which explores different generations of gay men, and the legacy they pass on to one another. Pictured above are Samuel H. Levine, left, Kyle Soller and Andrew Burnap. Marc Brenner/Polk & Co. hide caption

toggle caption
Marc Brenner/Polk & Co.

Theater

Ghosts Haunt 'The Inheritance,' From E.M. Forster, To The Generation Lost To AIDS

The next big thing on Broadway might live up to the hype. The Inheritance takes E.M. Forster's Howards End into modern day Manhattan — the seven-hour play has been compared to Angels In America.

Ghosts Haunt 'The Inheritance,' From E.M. Forster, To The Generation Lost To AIDS

Listen · 5:48
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/779399724/780231772" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Saturday

'I'm A Purist': Mary-Louise Parker Returns To Broadway For A New Challenge

Mary-Louise Parker stars (with Will Hochman) in the new two-person Broadway drama The Sound Inside. Jeremy Daniel/Courtesy of The Sound Inside hide caption

toggle caption
Jeremy Daniel/Courtesy of The Sound Inside

Theater

'I'm A Purist': Mary-Louise Parker Returns To Broadway For A New Challenge

The actor discusses her "arduous" role as a 53-year-old Yale professor in the dark play, The Sound Inside. "It requires a lot of technique," she said. "Because I don't want you to see the technique."

'I'm A Purist': Mary-Louise Parker Returns To Broadway For A New Challenge

Listen · 6:26
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/779719536/780068046" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

These Circus Cats Will Jump Through Hoops — Thanks To Training (And Treats)

The Savitsky Cats are now scampering through New York City's Lincoln Center as one of the new star attractions of the Big Apple Circus. The Gingerb3ardMen/Courtesy of Big Apple Circus hide caption

toggle caption
The Gingerb3ardMen/Courtesy of Big Apple Circus

These Circus Cats Will Jump Through Hoops — Thanks To Training (And Treats)

In addition to the usual assortment of death-defying acts, The Savitsky Cats — a Ukrainian mother-and-daughter team and their nine trained fluffballs — are now performing for New York crowds.

These Circus Cats Will Jump Through Hoops — Thanks To Training (And Treats)

Listen · 2:35
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/778939619/779902481" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Saturday

Not My Job: We Quiz 'Hamilton' Star Leslie Odom Jr. On Ben Franklin
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!

Not My Job: We Quiz 'Hamilton' Star Leslie Odom Jr. On Ben Franklin

Leslie Odom Jr. originated the role of Aaron Burr in Hamilton and we were curious to find out: How much does he know about founding fathers who weren't in the hit Broadway musical?

Not My Job: We Quiz 'Hamilton' Star Leslie Odom Jr. On Ben Franklin

Listen · 9:28
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/777605028/777912793" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

David Hasselhoff Is Still Big In Germany 30 Years After His Berlin Wall Show

David Hasselhoff performs during a concert in Berlin on Oct. 3 — Germany Unity Day. In 1989, his song "Looking for Freedom" was the anthem to many Germans' newfound freedom. Frank Hoensch/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Frank Hoensch/Getty Images

World

David Hasselhoff Is Still Big In Germany 30 Years After His Berlin Wall Show

The Hoff recently sat down with NPR in Berlin and told the story of how he became a rock star there.

David Hasselhoff Is Still Big In Germany 30 Years After His Berlin Wall Show

Listen · 3:58
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/777155039/777466999" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Film And Television Comic John Witherspoon Dies At 77

John Witherspoon leaves a taping of The Late Show with David Letterman in New York in December 2009. Actor-comedian Witherspoon, who memorably played Ice Cube's father in the Friday films, has died at age 77. Charles Sykes/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Charles Sykes/AP

Television

Film And Television Comic John Witherspoon Dies At 77

He was a veteran of 1970s television comedies such as Good Times and What's Happening!!, but was best known for his role in Ice Cube's Friday films.

Monday

'The Best Part Of The First Amendment': Dave Chappelle Accepts Mark Twain Prize

Dave Chappelle accepts the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. PBS will air a television special of the ceremony in January. Tracey Salazar/Courtesy of the Kennedy Center hide caption

toggle caption
Tracey Salazar/Courtesy of the Kennedy Center

'The Best Part Of The First Amendment': Dave Chappelle Accepts Mark Twain Prize

Sarah Silverman, Tiffany Haddish and Jon Stewart were among the comedians who honored Chappelle as he received the annual American humor award in a music-filled ceremony at the Kennedy Center.

'The Best Part Of The First Amendment': Dave Chappelle Accepts Mark Twain Prize

Listen · 3:41
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/773979675/774000082" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Saturday

'Everybody's Other Than Everybody Else': Choreographer Mark Morris

Choreographer and director Mark Morris, pictured here at a rehearsal in 2017, will release a new memoir called Out Loud. Beowulf Sheehan/Courtesy of Mark Morris Dance Group hide caption

toggle caption
Beowulf Sheehan/Courtesy of Mark Morris Dance Group

Dance

'Everybody's Other Than Everybody Else': Choreographer Mark Morris

The prolific dancer and company director has written Out Loud -- a memoir of hits and flops, childhood trauma and a lifetime at the forefront of modern dance.

'Everybody's Other Than Everybody Else': Choreographer Mark Morris

Listen · 5:31
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/771431015/771518879" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

After Nearly Losing His Voice To Cancer, Anthony Roth Costanzo Takes On 'Akhnaten'

Anthony Roth Costanzo stars in the title role of the Metropolitan Opera's production of Philip Glass' Akhnaten. Richard Hubert Smith/English National Opera/Metropolitan Opera hide caption

toggle caption
Richard Hubert Smith/English National Opera/Metropolitan Opera

Music Interviews

After Nearly Losing His Voice To Cancer, Anthony Roth Costanzo Takes On 'Akhnaten'

Fresh Air

Ten years ago, Costanzo had surgery that threatened to destroy his singing voice. Now the countertenor is starring as a gender-fluid Egyptian pharaoh in a new production by the Metropolitan Opera.

After Nearly Losing His Voice To Cancer, Anthony Roth Costanzo Takes On 'Akhnaten'

Listen · 42:39
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/767216524/767978492" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sunday

At 94, Director Peter Brook Is Still Asking The Deep Questions

Peter Brook and Marie-Hélène Estienne, his co-director and co-writer on the new show Why? Pascal Victor/ArtComArt hide caption

toggle caption
Pascal Victor/ArtComArt

Theater

At 94, Director Peter Brook Is Still Asking The Deep Questions

The iconic British director has a new work on stage in New York; Why? asks exactly that question about the purpose of theater in society. Brook says he'll carry on as long as he can find the energy.

At 94, Director Peter Brook Is Still Asking The Deep Questions

Listen · 5:37
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/766836746/767636995" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sunday

Mystery Woman Sings Opera In Los Angeles Metro — And Goes Viral

A video of an unidentified woman singing a famous Puccini aria on the platform of a Los Angeles Metro stop has gone viral. Above, passengers board a Metro train at the Culver City station in Culver City, Calif., on April 26, 2016. Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Strange News

Mystery Woman Sings Opera In Los Angeles Metro — And Goes Viral

A video posted on Twitter by the LAPD shows the woman, her hair pulled up in pigtails and arms loaded with bags, singing a famous Puccini aria — and hitting every note.

Wednesday

MacArthur 'Genius' Grant Winners Attest To 'Power Of Individual Creativity'

Recipients of the 2019 MacArthur fellowships, otherwise known as the "genius" grants. (Two of this year's fellows declined photographs.) John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation hide caption

toggle caption
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Culture

MacArthur 'Genius' Grant Winners Attest To 'Power Of Individual Creativity'

As usual, the more than two dozen winners in 2019 span a range of fields, from fiction and cartoons to neuroscience and theoretical geophysics. Now they've got one important accolade in common.