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Performing Arts

Wednesday

What makes a good race joke?

Comedians Brian Bahe, Maz Jobrani and Aparna Nancherla. Brian Bahe, Storm Santos and Aparna Nancherla hide caption

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Brian Bahe, Storm Santos and Aparna Nancherla

Code Switch

What makes a good race joke?

When a comedian of color makes a joke, is it always about race, even if it's not about race? In part two of our comedians episodes, Code Switch talks to comedians Aparna Nancherla, Brian Bahe and Maz Jobrani about how and why race makes an appearance in their jokes.

What makes a good race joke?

Listen · 27:48
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Friday

Thursday

Wednesday

Three comedians share their thoughts on what makes a great joke about race

Comedians Ziwe, Joel Kim Booster and Anjelah Johnson-Reyes. Myles Loftin/SHOWTIME, Taylor Miller and East 2 West Collective hide caption

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Myles Loftin/SHOWTIME, Taylor Miller and East 2 West Collective

Code Switch

Three comedians share their thoughts on what makes a great joke about race

What makes a great joke about race? In the first of two episodes, Code Switch talks to comedians Ziwe, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes and Joel Kim Booster about their favorite race joke they tell: What's its origin story? Why is it so funny? And what does it say about race in America?

Three comedians share their thoughts on what makes a great joke about race

Listen · 31:48
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Thursday

Published 8 years after her death, Mary Rodgers' memoir is a true tell-all book

Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green, co-authors of Shy: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers Courtesy of the Rodgers-Beaty-Guettel family; Earl Wilson/New York Times hide caption

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Courtesy of the Rodgers-Beaty-Guettel family; Earl Wilson/New York Times

Theater

Published 8 years after her death, Mary Rodgers' memoir is a true tell-all book

Rodgers, the daughter of theatrical legend Richard Rogers, was a songwriter, children's book author and philanthropist. Her memoir, Shy: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers, is out now.

Published 8 years after her death, Mary Rodgers' memoir is a true tell-all book

Listen · 6:03
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Saturday

Artist Tunde Olaniran's 'Made a Universe' opens a portal at a Detroit museum

Artist Tunde Olaniran Steven Piper/Tunde Olaniran hide caption

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Steven Piper/Tunde Olaniran

Culture

Artist Tunde Olaniran's 'Made a Universe' opens a portal at a Detroit museum

Musician and artist Tunde Olaniran is a rising star from Flint, Michigan whose exuberant work comments on serious issues such as environmental injustice and the carceral state.

Artist Tunde Olaniran's 'Made a Universe' opens a portal at a Detroit museum

Listen · 5:37
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Friday

Thousands of Afghan artists are still trying to flee the Taliban

The Heart of Afghanistan project is Ahmad Fanoos on vocals & harmonium, his sons Elham on piano and Mehran on violin, with Hamid Habibzada on tabla. Sachyn Mital/Sachyn Mital hide caption

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Sachyn Mital/Sachyn Mital

Culture

Thousands of Afghan artists are still trying to flee the Taliban

A family of Afghan musicians in the U.S. wants to raise awareness about their plight.

Thousands of Afghan artists are still trying to flee the Taliban

Listen · 3:50
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Thursday

Tuesday

'Castor and Patience' opera explores systematic barriers to Black land ownership

Patience (Talise Trevigne, right) comforts Castor (Reginald Smith Jr.) after his breakdown over the crush of dept and his search for a solution as other family members look on. Philip Groshong/Cincinnati Opera hide caption

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Philip Groshong/Cincinnati Opera

Culture

'Castor and Patience' opera explores systematic barriers to Black land ownership

Cousins struggle with debts and may have to sell property long held by their family in a work created by former poet laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy K. Smith and composer Gregory Spears.

'Castor and Patience' opera explores systematic barriers to Black land ownership

Listen · 4:47
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Here's why Joni Mitchell's performance at the Newport Folk Festival is so incredible

Brandi Carlile (right) introduces Joni Mitchell for a special Joni Jam at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park, R.I., on Sunday. Carlin Stiehl for Boston Globe via Getty Images hide caption

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Carlin Stiehl for Boston Globe via Getty Images

Music News

Here's why Joni Mitchell's performance at the Newport Folk Festival is so incredible

The iconic singer-songwriter wasn't able to walk or talk after a brain aneurysm in 2015. Dr. Anthony Wang, a neurosurgeon, explains the challenges she faced as a musician and her remarkable comeback.

Monday

Friday

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing

Jaquel Spivey and the cast of "A Strange Loop" perform at the 75th annual Tony Awards on June 12 at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP hide caption

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Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

What's Making Us Happy: Recommendations From 'Pop Culture Happy Hour'

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Hurricane Season, A Strange Loop, and more.

'Into the Woods' returns to Broadway

Joshua Henry (left) and Gavin Creel in Into the Woods. Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman hide caption

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Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

Theater

'Into the Woods' returns to Broadway

A concert version of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods stars Sara Bareilles, Brian d'Arcy James, Joshua Henry and others.

'Into the Woods' returns to Broadway

Listen · 7:04
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Wednesday

'The Kite Runner' brings life in Afghanistan to Broadway

Amir Arison (left) and Eris Sirakian in The Kite Runner. Joan Marcus hide caption

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Joan Marcus

Culture

'The Kite Runner' brings life in Afghanistan to Broadway

The play is based on Khaled Hosseini's 2003 best-selling novel, set in Afghanistan and among Afghan migrants in the United States.

'The Kite Runner' brings life in Afghanistan to Broadway

Listen · 5:35
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Tuesday

Scout from the 'To Kill A Mockingbird' film now plays the racist neighbor onstage

Dorcas Sowunmi and Mary Badham on the national tour of To Kill A Mockingbird. Julieta Cervantes/The first national tour of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' hide caption

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Julieta Cervantes/The first national tour of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

Culture

Scout from the 'To Kill A Mockingbird' film now plays the racist neighbor onstage

Mary Badham was 10 years old when her performance as Scout earned her an Oscar nomination. Now, six decades later, she's touring the country's stages in the Broadway version.

Scout from the 'To Kill A Mockingbird' film now plays the racist neighbor onstage

Listen · 2:31
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