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

Performing Arts

Tuesday

Moni Yakim Knows How To Move You

Moni Yakim teaches a movement class at Juilliard in May 2019. Claudio Papapietro hide caption

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Claudio Papapietro

Moni Yakim Knows How To Move You

The movement coach has taught at Juilliard for 50 years. Stars of stage and screen credit him with helping them create physically demanding roles by manipulating their bodies.

Moni Yakim Knows How To Move You

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Pop Culture

'Fresh Air' Favorites: Joan Rivers

Fresh Air

This week, we're listening back to some favorite Fresh Air interviews from the past decade. Rivers, who died in 2014, spoke to Terry Gross in 2010 about the sacrifices she made as a female comedian.

'Fresh Air' Favorites: Joan Rivers

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Friday

Theater

'Fresh Air' Favorites: 'Book Of Mormon' Creators Trey Parker And Matt Stone

Fresh Air

This week, we're listening back to some favorite Fresh Air interviews from the past decade. In 2011, Terry Gross spoke to the creators of South Park about their Broadway hit.

'Fresh Air' Favorites: 'Book Of Mormon' Creators Trey Parker And Matt Stone

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Theater

'Fresh Air' Favorites: 'Hamilton' Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda

Fresh Air

This week, we're listening back to some favorite Fresh Air interviews from the past decade. Terry Gross spoke to Miranda in 2017 about how his "mixed tape" musical came together.

'Fresh Air' Favorites: 'Hamilton' Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda

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Wednesday

Our 15 Favorite Things Of 2019

It was undeniably the year of Lizzo. Bill McCay/Getty Images for iHeartMedia hide caption

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Bill McCay/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our 15 Favorite Things Of 2019

We loved a lot of things in 2019. And now, as the year comes to a close, it's time to give you just a taste of some of our favorite things of the year. We've got movies, music, television, and theater. (Support your local station at donate.npr.org/happy)

Our 15 Favorite Things Of 2019

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Sunday

Anna Karina, Acclaimed French New Wave Actress, Dies At 79

Anna Karina, the French New Wave actress who in the 1960s established herself as a fixture in films directed by Jean-Luc Godard, died on Saturday in Paris. She was 79. INA/INA via Getty Images hide caption

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INA/INA via Getty Images

Movies

Anna Karina, Acclaimed French New Wave Actress, Dies At 79

Danish-born Karina hitchhiked to Paris at the age of 17. Before long, she would establish herself as one of the most prominent actors in the French New Wave film scene of the 1960s.

Tuesday

An 'Ode' To Victims Of Gun Violence — From Alvin Ailey Dancers

Jamar Roberts, the first resident choreographer of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, is the creator of Ode. Andrew Eccles/Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater hide caption

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Andrew Eccles/Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Dance

An 'Ode' To Victims Of Gun Violence — From Alvin Ailey Dancers

The dance company dedicated to African American culture premieres a new work tonight. Jamar Roberts, its first resident choreographer, says he was inspired by the deaths of Trayvon Martin and others.

An 'Ode' To Victims Of Gun Violence — From Alvin Ailey Dancers

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Sunday

'I Done Been Through Some Things': The Tina Turner Musical Is Now On Broadway

Adrienne Warren, center, stars in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Manuel Harlan/Courtesy of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical hide caption

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Manuel Harlan/Courtesy of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Theater

'I Done Been Through Some Things': The Tina Turner Musical Is Now On Broadway

Tina playwright Katori Hall and star Adrienne Warren have plenty to say about working with the star, depicting domestic violence and learning to sing in a new voice.

'I Done Been Through Some Things': The Tina Turner Musical Is Now On Broadway

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Friday

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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