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

Performing Arts

Wednesday

Ellie Goulding's Music 'Lights' Up U.K., U.S.

Ellie Goulding sings "Your Song," which she dedicated to the late Amy Winehouse, at NPR headquarters in Washington D.C., on July 25. Amy Ta/NPR hide caption

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Amy Ta/NPR

Studio Sessions

Ellie Goulding's Music 'Lights' Up U.K., U.S.

The Welsh musician's new album Lights topped the U.K. albums chart. She won the "Critics Choice Award" at the Brit Awards and the "BBC Sound of 2010." Host Michel Martin speaks with Ellie Goulding about her childhood and career, as well as the link between art and pain.

Ellie Goulding's Music 'Lights' Up U.K., U.S.

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Monday

e-Geaux: Social Networking Without The Social Or The Networking
Courtesy of Pepys Inc.

All Tech Considered

e-Geaux: Social Networking Without The Social Or The Networking

Make your Facebook friends think you care without the time commitment of leaving a meaningful birthday message or bothering to read their ranting comments.

e-Geaux: Social Networking Without The Social Or The Networking

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Thursday

New Film Shows Pains, Gains Of Female Friendship

The characters Lily (shown) and Snow Flower exchange secret messages written between the folds of a fan. Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures hide caption

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Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Movie Interviews

New Film Shows Pains, Gains Of Female Friendship

The film "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" is based on Lisa See's novel of the same name, and it highlights the timeless power of female friendship, as well as traditional Chinese ideas of gender roles, beauty and family. It's the latest work by Wayne Wang, director of the award-winning "The Joy Luck Club." Host Michel Martin speaks Wang about his new film.

New Film Shows Pains, Gains Of Female Friendship

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Tuesday

'Bad Boys Of Abridgement' Reduce World Of Sports

Reed Martin (from left), Austin Tichenor and Matt Rippy reduce the entire history of athletic competition to a two-hour comedy show. Meghan Moore/Megapix Photography hide caption

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Meghan Moore/Megapix Photography

'Bad Boys Of Abridgement' Reduce World Of Sports

The Reduced Shakespeare Company comedy troupe is known for condensing everything from American history to the Bible into 90-minute stage shows. Now, they're taking on sports. The Complete World of Sports (Abridged) aims to reduce every sport ever played in the entire history of the world.

'Bad Boys Of Abridgement' Reduce World Of Sports

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The RSC In NYC: 41 Actors, Five Plays, Six Weeks

A scene from the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of As You Like It in the specially constructed theater at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. Stephanie Berger hide caption

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Stephanie Berger

Theater

The RSC In NYC: 41 Actors, Five Plays, Six Weeks

Last week, the Royal Shakespeare Company began a six-week residency in New York, performing five of William Shakespeare's best-loved plays in repertory. The productions take place in a 975-seat replica of the company's main theater from Stratford-Upon-Avon.

The RSC In NYC: 41 Actors, Five Plays, Six Weeks

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Friday

Essence Music Festival Explores The 'The Roots Of R&B'

Essence magazine's General Manager Joy Collins is in charge of the 2011 Essence Music Festival. Courtesy of Essence hide caption

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Courtesy of Essence

Music

Essence Music Festival Explores The 'The Roots Of R&B'

The Essence Music Festival launches in New Orleans today and expects to draw in 400,000 people. This year's theme is "The Roots of R&B." Guests can expect performances and discussions from some of America's biggest names, including Soledad O'Brien, Usher and Chaka Khan. To learn how the festival aims to empower and educate the public, host Michel Martin speaks with Essence magazine's General Manager Joy Collins.

Essence Music Festival Explores The 'The Roots Of R&B'

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Thursday

'New Hero' Of Classical Guitar Shares His Passion

Milos Karadaglich says as soon as he held his father's rusty, old guitar, he knew it was the instrument he would play. Olaf Heine hide caption

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Olaf Heine

Music Interviews

'New Hero' Of Classical Guitar Shares His Passion

Milos Karadaglich grew up during wartime, but no conflict on the Balkans could stop him from playing the guitar. He earned a coveted spot at London's Royal Academy of Music, and his debut album made a splash on the U.K. charts. Host Michel Martin speaks with the Eastern European artist about his life, music and goals.

'New Hero' Of Classical Guitar Shares His Passion

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Monday

Stephen Sondheim's 'Company': Can Theater-To-Film Take Off?

Neil Patrick Harris stands among the cast of Company, which played in select movie theaters this weekend. Dario Cantatore/Getty Images hide caption

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Dario Cantatore/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Stephen Sondheim's 'Company': Can Theater-To-Film Take Off?

This weekend, movie theaters played a filmed version of a star-studded production of Stephen Sondheim's Company that played live in New York in April. An experiment in filmed versions of live performances (though certainly not entirely new), it raises the question of what the future could hold.

Wednesday

'Spider-Man': Worked Over And Reworked, Does It Work Better Now?

Reeve Carney appears onstage at the curtain call for the opening night performance of the Broadway musical Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark. Charles Sykes/AP hide caption

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Charles Sykes/AP

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Spider-Man': Worked Over And Reworked, Does It Work Better Now?

Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark is finally officially open on Broadway, substantially revamped from its troubled beginnings. Critic Mark Blankenship says there are thrills to be found, but none of them are in the unimpressive score or the flat story.

Tuesday

Stephen Colbert: In Good 'Company' On Broadway

Stephen Colbert and Martha Plimpton perform a song from Company on stage during the 65th annual Tony Awards. Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

Theater

Stephen Colbert: In Good 'Company' On Broadway

Fresh Air

The political satirist and comedian talks about his Broadway performance (and performance anxieties) and about his recent segments on The Colbert Report featuring Sarah Palin and Anthony Weiner.

Stephen Colbert: In Good 'Company' On Broadway

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At Long Last, Curtain To Rise On 'Spider-Man'

Reeve Carney (left) as Peter Parker and Jennifer Damiano as Mary Jane Watson on the Spider-Man set at the Foxwoods Theatre. Carney previously starred in Taymor's film The Tempest; Damiano earned a Tony nomination in 2009 for her performance in Next to Normal. Jacob Cohl hide caption

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Jacob Cohl

Theater

At Long Last, Curtain To Rise On 'Spider-Man'

After months of previews, cast injuries, scathing reviews and delay upon delay followed by a shut-down and complete overhaul of the script, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark — the most expensive musical ever produced on Broadway — opens Tuesday night.

At Long Last, Curtain To Rise On 'Spider-Man'

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Monday

Culture

Kansas Cuts Public Funding For The Arts

Gov. Sam Brownback recently did away with the state's arts agency — and many in the arts community are up in arms. But some arts advocates argue that being less reliant on government funding is actually a good thing for the arts.

Kansas Cuts Public Funding For The Arts

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'Book of Mormon' Draws Hopefuls Into Ticket Lottery

Trent Fucci and Nancy King fill out lottery tickets for The Book of Mormon in front of a Broadway theater. The play has been sold out since previews. Margot Adler/NPR hide caption

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Margot Adler/NPR

Theater

'Book of Mormon' Draws Hopefuls Into Ticket Lottery

The Book of Mormon has been a popular Broadway musical since it was in previews — So popular, in fact, that hundreds gather in the heat, day after day, just to enter a lottery for a ticket.

'Book of Mormon' Draws Hopefuls Into Ticket Lottery

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Saturday

Friday

A Rising Talent Finds Inspiration In A Theater Vet

Nina Arianda plays Billie Dawn, a showgirl accompanying a corrupt tycoon to Washington, D.C., in the Broadway revival of Born Yesterday. Carol Rosegg hide caption

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Carol Rosegg

Theater

A Rising Talent Finds Inspiration In A Theater Vet

Nina Arianda is dazzling playgoers in a revival of Born Yesterday; a few blocks away, British-American actor Mark Rylance is performing in Jerusalem — after wowing critics earlier this season in La Bete. Jeff Lunden talks to two of this season's Tony favorites.

A Rising Talent Finds Inspiration In A Theater Vet

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