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Performing Arts

Friday

The Impact of War

Broadway Chanteuse Barbara Cook: 'My First Memories Are Of Singing'

Fresh Air

After starring in Broadway shows like The Music Man and Candide, Cook struggled with addiction, then staged a successful second career as a cabaret singer. Originally broadcast June 27, 2016.

Broadway Chanteuse Barbara Cook: 'My First Memories Are Of Singing'

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Sunday

Julius Caesar Production Closes, But Debate Over Art And Politics Likely to Rage On

People arrive for the opening night of Shakespeare in the Park's production of Julius Caesar at Central Park's Delacorte Theater on June 12 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images

Politics

Julius Caesar Production Closes, But Debate Over Art And Politics Likely to Rage On

A production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar has drawn the ire of conservatives for its depiction of President Trump as the ill-fated Roman politician.

Saturday

'1984' Comes To Broadway And 'It's Not An Easy Evening'

Olivia Wilde and Tom Sturridge star as Julia and Winston in the stage adaptation of George Orwell's 1984. Julieta Cervantes/DKC/O&M hide caption

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Julieta Cervantes/DKC/O&M

Theater

'1984' Comes To Broadway And 'It's Not An Easy Evening'

George Orwell's dystopia returned to bestseller lists after the inauguration. "It's quite something to bring it to New York now, in this political climate," says adaptation co-author Duncan Macmillan.

'1984' Comes To Broadway And 'It's Not An Easy Evening'

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Friday

Atop Ancient Ruins, A Rock Opera About Emperor Nero Leaves Some Romans Unimpressed

A stage constructed amidst Roman ruins to host the rock opera Divine Nero has led some archaeologists and art historians to denounce what they see as the commercialization of the city's heritage. Stefano Montesi/Corbis via Getty Images hide caption

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Stefano Montesi/Corbis via Getty Images

Parallels

Atop Ancient Ruins, A Rock Opera About Emperor Nero Leaves Some Romans Unimpressed

A new musical seeks to present a different side of the emperor, known best for fiddling while Rome burned. But some historians object to what they see as the commercialization of Roman heritage.

Atop Ancient Ruins, A Rock Opera About Emperor Nero Leaves Some Romans Unimpressed

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Monday

Delta, BofA Drop Support For 'Julius Caesar' That Looks Too Much Like Trump

The Public Theater's production of Julius Caesar in New York's Central Park features a titular character who wears a Donald Trump-like costume and is stabbed to death onstage. Verena Dobnik/AP hide caption

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Verena Dobnik/AP

The Two-Way

Delta, BofA Drop Support For 'Julius Caesar' That Looks Too Much Like Trump

A New York production's Caesar has blond hair, a fondness for long ties and a wife who speaks with a Slavic accent. Delta said the assassination tale "crossed the line on the standards of good taste."

Sunday

Karyn Meek, production stage manager for the Tony-nominated musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, describes stage managers as

Karyn Meek, production stage manager for the Tony-nominated musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, describes stage managers as "the hub of the wheel." Jeff Lunden for NPR hide caption

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Jeff Lunden for NPR

Theater

Stage Managers: You Can't See Them, But Couldn't See A Show Without Them

Off in the wings, stage managers coordinate cast and crew, calling hundreds of cues during Broadway performances. They may not win Tony Awards, but without them, not even the curtain would go up.

Stage Managers: You Can't See Them, But Couldn't See A Show Without Them

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Saturday

'The Great Comet': 'Hits All Of The Checkmarks' Of A Broadway Experience

Denée Benton stars in the multiple-nominee hit Broadway musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet Of 1812. Chad Batka/Courtesy Matt Ross Public Relations hide caption

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Chad Batka/Courtesy Matt Ross Public Relations

'The Great Comet': 'Hits All Of The Checkmarks' Of A Broadway Experience

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with director Rachel Chavkin and actress Denée Benton of Broadway's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, which retells Tolstoy's War and Peace with a diverse cast.

'The Great Comet': 'Hits All Of The Checkmarks' Of A Broadway Experience

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Saturday

This Play Was Inspired By A Real Refugee's Shakespearean Dilemma

Daniel Kyri plays Shedrick Yarkpai in the Goodman Theatre production of Objects in the Mirror. Liz Lauren/Goodman Theatre hide caption

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Liz Lauren/Goodman Theatre

Theater

This Play Was Inspired By A Real Refugee's Shakespearean Dilemma

Shedrick Yarkpai escaped war-torn Liberia under an assumed name, which he kept as he started a new life in Australia. Objects in the Mirror follows Yarkpai's struggle to reclaim his identity.

This Play Was Inspired By A Real Refugee's Shakespearean Dilemma

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Wednesday

Elizabeth Taylor, (from left) George Segal, Richard Burton and Sandy Dennis starred in the 1966 film adaptation of Edward Albee's play, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? A theater director in Portland recently cast an African-American actor as Nick (Segal's role) — and found the Albee estate withheld rights to the play.

Elizabeth Taylor, (from left) George Segal, Richard Burton and Sandy Dennis starred in the 1966 film adaptation of Edward Albee's play, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? A theater director in Portland recently cast an African-American actor as Nick (Segal's role) — and found the Albee estate withheld rights to the play. Keystone/Getty Images hide caption

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Keystone/Getty Images

Code Switch

Why A Theater Director Made A 'Color-Conscious Choice' In 'Virginia Woolf' Casting

A small theater in Portland, Ore., cast an African-American actor in Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? But the Albee estate wouldn't grant the rights to produce the 1962 play.

Why A Theater Director Made A 'Color-Conscious Choice' In 'Virginia Woolf' Casting

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Tuesday

Cole Porter's Pro-Immigration Ballet Gets A Trump-Era Revival

German studies major William Keiser rehearses for Princeton University Ballet's revival of Cole Porter's Within the Quota. Julio Cortez/AP hide caption

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Julio Cortez/AP

Cole Porter's Pro-Immigration Ballet Gets A Trump-Era Revival

Within the Quota criticized the restrictive immigration laws passed by Congress after World War I. Now the Princeton University Ballet has brought the show back — with a few updates.

Cole Porter's Pro-Immigration Ballet Gets A Trump-Era Revival

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Thursday

Asian-Americans In Hollywood Still Waiting For The Spotlight

Actor Daniel Dae Kim attends a cocktail party celebrating dynamic and diverse nominees for the 67th Emmy Awards hosted by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and SAG-AFTRA at Montage Beverly Hills on Aug. 27, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images hide caption

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Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Code Switch

Asian-Americans In Hollywood Still Waiting For The Spotlight

In the meantime, some are producing their own shows or creating material for alternative platforms like YouTube.

Josh Groban Leaves Big Shoes To Fill In The Tony-Nominated 'Great Comet'

Groban wears a fat suit and a scruffy beard in his role as the generous but miserable Pierre. Chad Batka/Courtesy of Matt Ross PR hide caption

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Chad Batka/Courtesy of Matt Ross PR

Theater

Josh Groban Leaves Big Shoes To Fill In The Tony-Nominated 'Great Comet'

For his role as Pierre, Groban had to be able to play the accordion while navigating multiple sets of stairs. His replacement, Okieriete Onaodowan, has about two months to master the instrument.

Josh Groban Leaves Big Shoes To Fill In The Tony-Nominated 'Great Comet'

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