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

Performing Arts

Saturday

Opera Ebony broke boundaries in classical music for 50 years — but what comes next?

Benjamin Matthews, one of the founders of Opera Ebony. Opera Ebony hide caption

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Opera Ebony

Culture

Opera Ebony broke boundaries in classical music for 50 years — but what comes next?

Opera Ebony was formed when opportunities for Black singers were few and far between. The company celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, but may not survive its 81-year-old founder.

Opera Ebony broke boundaries in classical music for 50 years — but what comes next?

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Thursday

Writer Neil Gaiman debuts his first music album with an Australian string quartet

Writer Neil Gaiman (center) makes music with FourPlay (L-R: Peter Hollo, Shenton Gregory aka Shenzo Gregorio, Lara Goodridge and Tim Hollo) Chris Frape/Riot Act Media hide caption

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Chris Frape/Riot Act Media

Music News

Writer Neil Gaiman debuts his first music album with an Australian string quartet

British writer and comic book author Neil Gaiman launches first studio music album with Australia's FourPlay String Quartet.

Writer Neil Gaiman debuts his first music album with an Australian string quartet

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Saturday

Dame Edna creator Barry Humphries dies at age 89

Barry Humphries performs as Dame Edna for a farewell tour in London on Nov. 13, 2013. Tony Award-winning comedian Barry Humphries, internationally renowned for his garish stage persona Dame Edna Everage, died on Saturday in Sydney. Joel Ryan/Joel Ryan/Invision/AP hide caption

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Joel Ryan/Joel Ryan/Invision/AP

Obituaries

Dame Edna creator Barry Humphries dies at age 89

The Tony Award-winning comedian was internationally renowned for his garish stage persona Dame Edna Everage, a condescending snob whose evolving character delighted audiences over seven decades.

Friday

Broadway legend Chita Rivera dances through her life in a new memoir

Chita Rivera as Anita in the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story. AP hide caption

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AP

Culture

Broadway legend Chita Rivera dances through her life in a new memoir

In Chita: A Memoir, Rivera recounts her career originating roles in major Broadway shows. Now 90, Rivera remembers West Side Story from the beginning: "I was there at the first flicker of the skirt!"

Broadway legend Chita Rivera dances through her life in a new memoir

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Saturday

'Phantom of the Opera' takes a final Broadway bow after 13,981 performances

John Riddle as Raoul, Laird Mackintosh as the Phantom and Emilie Kouatchou as Christine, take a bow at the end of the final performance of the Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theater in New York City on April 16, 2023. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

Theater

'Phantom of the Opera' takes a final Broadway bow after 13,981 performances

On Sunday night the curtain will fall on the longest-running show in Broadway history: Andrew Lloyd Webber's mega hit ran for more than 35 years. "I got the gig of a lifetime," says one cast member.

'Phantom of the Opera' takes a final Broadway bow after 13,981 performances

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Friday

Death and grief in 'Succession'; plus, privacy and the abortion pill

The third episode in season four of the HBO hit 'Succession' has the dysfunctional Roys dealing with grief and death. HBO hide caption

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HBO

It's Been a Minute

Death and grief in 'Succession'; plus, privacy and the abortion pill

This week, host Brittany Luse is joined by UC Berkeley Law professor Khiara Bridges to connect the dots between the recent legal battles over the abortion pill mifepristone and our constitutional right to privacy. Then, Linda Holmes of NPR's 'Pop Culture Happy Hour' stops by to chat about the television episode that still has our group chats in a chokehold, and how it eloquently captured the way we experience death and grief in real life.

Death and grief in 'Succession'; plus, privacy and the abortion pill

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Monday

Terence Blanchard's opera on the troubled life of boxer Emile Griffith premieres

Terence Blanchard's work based on the troubled life of boxing champion Emile Griffith premieres at the Metropolitan Opera. (This piece originally aired on Weekend Edition on April 8, 2023.)

Terence Blanchard's opera on the troubled life of boxer Emile Griffith premieres

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Saturday

'Champion' is not your grandmother's Metropolitan Opera

Ryan Speedo Green as Young Emile Griffith in Terence Blanchard's Champion. Zenith Richards/Met Opera hide caption

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Zenith Richards/Met Opera

'Champion' is not your grandmother's Metropolitan Opera

Terence Blanchard made history last season when his opera Fire Shut Up in My Bones was the first work by a Black composer staged by the Metropolitan Opera. And the Met has asked for more.

'Champion' is not your grandmother's Metropolitan Opera

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Friday

From Daft Punk to ballet: Thomas Bangalter makes full swing to classical

Thomas Bangalter, half of the former Daft Punk duo, composed the score for the ballet Mythologies, choreographed by fellow Frenchman Angelin Preljocaj. Jean-Claude Carbonne/Biz 3 hide caption

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Jean-Claude Carbonne/Biz 3

Music

From Daft Punk to ballet: Thomas Bangalter makes full swing to classical

Thomas Bangalter, formerly of French electronic music duo Daft Punk, has released a classical music album: the score to a ballet titled Mythologies that draws on American minimalism and Baroque works.

From Daft Punk to ballet: Thomas Bangalter makes full swing to classical

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Wednesday

As 'Sweeney Todd' returns to Broadway, 4 Sweeneys dish about the difficult role

Annaleigh Ashford and Josh Groban in the 2023 Broadway production of Sweeney Todd. Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman hide caption

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Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

Theater

As 'Sweeney Todd' returns to Broadway, 4 Sweeneys dish about the difficult role

Josh Groban, Michael Cerveris, Norm Lewis and Len Cariou all agree: It's exhausting playing a murderous sociopath, while dealing with stage blood, a mechanical barber chair and singing complex music.

As 'Sweeney Todd' returns to Broadway, 4 Sweeneys dish about the difficult role

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Friday

The Queen's Cartoonists: Where jazz meets animation and hints of musical circus

The Queen's Cartoonists perform at the Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown, PA on November 22, 2019. Lindsey Theong/The Queen's Cartoonist hide caption

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Lindsey Theong/The Queen's Cartoonist

Music Interviews

The Queen's Cartoonists: Where jazz meets animation and hints of musical circus

The Queen's Cartoonists is a jazz band with elements of classical music, comedy and clowning that performs music live to animation, both old and contemporary.

The Queen's Cartoonists: Where jazz meets animation and hints of musical circus

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Saturday

Sam Waterston on being the most recognizable pretend lawyer in New York
Santiago Felipe/Getty Images

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Sam Waterston on being the most recognizable pretend lawyer in New York

On this week's episode, guest host Karen Chee talks with legendary actor Sam Waterston about Law & Order, how to look good in a stovepipe hat, and where to see raccoons doing Shakespeare.

Sam Waterston on being the most recognizable pretend lawyer in New York

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Thursday

Drag queen (and ordained minister) Bella DuBalle won't be silenced by new Tenn. law

Bella DuBalle describes her drag persona as a combination of Miss Piggy, Dolly Parton and Mr. Rogers. Bella DuBalle hide caption

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Bella DuBalle

Law

Drag queen (and ordained minister) Bella DuBalle won't be silenced by new Tenn. law

Fresh Air

DuBalle says the legislators behind a new law criminalizing public drag shows don't understand the art: "They think that every drag performer is doing something hypersexual or obscene."

Drag queen (and ordained minister) Bella DuBalle won't be silenced by new Tenn. law

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Saturday

2023 marks a watershed year for Asian performers at the Oscars

Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan and Michelle Yeoh appear onstage during the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Feb. 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, Calif. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Movies

2023 marks a watershed year for Asian performers at the Oscars

With four nominations, more Asian performers were recognized by the Academy in 2023 than in any single year in its history. In other respects, this year was a step back from diversity at the Oscars.

2023 marks a watershed year for Asian performers at the Oscars

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From elected official to 'Sweatshop Overlord,' this performer takes on unlikely roles

Los Angeles artist Kristina Wong in Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord, a co-production with East West Players. Javier Vasquez hide caption

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Javier Vasquez

Theater

From elected official to 'Sweatshop Overlord,' this performer takes on unlikely roles

Kristina Wong is a Los Angeles-based satirical artist with a history of taking on surprising leadership positions in real life and on stage. Her latest solo show is Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord.

From elected official to 'Sweatshop Overlord,' this performer takes on unlikely roles

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