Performing Arts : NPR

In 'This Is Not My Memoir' André Gregory Recounts Tales Of Childhood And The Theater

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Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Review

Book Reviews

In 'This Is Not My Memoir' André Gregory Recounts Tales Of Childhood And The Theater

November 18, 2020 • The avant-garde theater director and actor pairs up with writer-director Todd London to present the story of his multi-faceted life, full of dramatic ups and downs — and celebrities.

Illusionist Scott Silven Can Turn A Video Call Into A Magical 'Journey'

"Even in fragmented times, we can still find new forms of connection," says mentalist Scott Silven. His new virtual show is called The Journey. Scott Silven hide caption

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Scott Silven

Theater

Illusionist Scott Silven Can Turn A Video Call Into A Magical 'Journey'

November 15, 2020 • The Journey is an ingenious use of a virtual performance space. Silven invites 30 audience members to travel to his childhood home in Scotland where they interact in amazing feats of magic.

Illusionist Scott Silven Can Turn A Video Call Into A Magical 'Journey'

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Struck With Memory Loss, A Dancer Remembers 'Swan Lake.' But Who Is She?

A former ballerina named Marta C. González, dancing to the music of Swan Lake in a video still from YouTube. Música para Despertar hide caption

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Música para Despertar

Culture

Struck With Memory Loss, A Dancer Remembers 'Swan Lake.' But Who Is She?

November 10, 2020 • Viewers worldwide are responding to a moving video of Marta C. González, a former dancer afflicted with dementia. But critics are questioning whether González is who the clip makers claim she is.

Comedian Sarah Cooper in her new special, Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine. Lacey Terrell/Netflix hide caption

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Lacey Terrell/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

2020 Comedy Special Recommendations

November 6, 2020 • Comedy specials come in many forms. Stand-up, sketch, improv — and there are times when they really come in handy. But there are also so many of them circulating right now that it can be tough to find the ones that are worth your time. We're here to help. We want to share a few specials that have managed to make us laugh in 2020, despite 2020, so that when you have a moment when you can really use one, you'll have one on hand.

2020 Comedy Special Recommendations

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Sally Herships

The Indicator from Planet Money

A New DAWN On Broadway

October 26, 2020 • 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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'American Utopia' Book Argues For The Reincarnation Of Hope In The American Project

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Bloomsbury Publishing

Review

Book Reviews

'American Utopia' Book Argues For The Reincarnation Of Hope In The American Project

October 26, 2020 • The work is much more like reading a book-length poem than reading a play, though few poems or poetry collections come filled with charming illustrations of trees, dancers, and party-hatted dogs.

'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

October 23, 2020 • 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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'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

October 21, 2020 • 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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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?

October 16, 2020 • 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

October 16, 2020 • 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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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

October 12, 2020 • 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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Broadway's Reopening Is Pushed Back Again

The performing arts remain in economic peril as Broadway extends closures until May due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Cindy Ord/Getty Images hide caption

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Cindy Ord/Getty Images