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

Performing Arts

Friday

Culture

A Clever New Take on 'Cyrano de Bergerac'

There's a clever new adaptation of the play Cyrano de Bergerac now being performed at the Shakespeare Theater in Washington D.C. NPR's Robert Siegel talks with the playwright Barry Kornhauser about the show, and they talk about the history of the classic French play.

A Clever New Take on 'Cyrano de Bergerac'

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Tuesday

Monday

Culture

Composer Jerry Bock and Lyricist Sheldon Harnick

Fresh Air

One of their most beloved musicals -- Fiddler on the Roof -- is back on Broadway. The production, at the Minskoff Theatre, stars Alfred Molina as Tevye and includes a new song they wrote. There's a new cast recording of the show. Bock and Harnick collaborated on Fiorello (which won a Pulitzer Prize), She Loves Me and The Rothschilds.

Composer Jerry Bock and Lyricist Sheldon Harnick

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Friday

Thursday

Culture

Music Review: 'The Royal Sessions' from The Bo-Keys

Meredith Ochs reviews the new album released by Memphis-based musician Scott Bomar. He jams with some of soul's legendary musicians, musicians well known for their work on the Stax/Volt record labels. The Bo-Keys CD is called The Royal Sessions.

Music Review: 'The Royal Sessions' from The Bo-Keys

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Culture

Judi Dench on Acting Regal

Judi Dench has won major acting awards on both sides of the Atlantic, including the Oscar, the Tony and six Oliviers (England's top theatrical honor). The British actress is famous for Shakespearean roles, but she's also played spy chief M in James Bond films and currently appears in the Vin Diesel science fiction action flick The Chronicles of Riddick. NPR's Susan Stamberg interviews Dench about the art of acting.

Judi Dench on Acting Regal

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Monday

Culture

Intersections: The Indefatigable John Lithgow

Some might say actor John Lithgow was born into the craft: His father, Arthur, was a college professor and Shakespearean actor. As Father's Day approaches, the Emmy and Tony-winning actor -- and writer and composer -- reflects on his father's influence on his own career. For Intersections, NPR's Noah Adams reports.

Intersections: The Indefatigable John Lithgow

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Sunday

Music

'To Tulsa and Back' with J.J. Cale

Since the mid-1960s, songwriter J.J. Cale has been writing southern-style rock hits for Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers. He talks with NPR's Liane Hansen about his first collection of new songs in eight years, To Tulsa and Back.

'To Tulsa and Back' with J.J. Cale

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Saturday

Thursday

Wednesday

Tuesday

Monday

Culture

'Avenue Q' Wins in Tony Upset

Avenue Q, an adult musical featuring naughty puppets, wins the prize for best new musical at Sunday night's Tony Awards. In a major upset, Idina Menzel -- who plays the green-skinned Elphaba in Wicked, a retelling of the Wizard of Oz -- wins in the toughest race of the night, best actress in a musical. Phylicia Rashad becomes the first African American to win best actress in a play for her role in a A Raisin in the Sun. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep.

'Avenue Q' Wins in Tony Upset

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