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Performing Arts

Friday

Hasan Minhaj and the limits of representation

Stephanie Mills in The Wiz, and Hasan Minhaj on stage. Hulton Archive/Kevin Winter hide caption

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Hulton Archive/Kevin Winter

It's Been a Minute

Hasan Minhaj and the limits of representation

A recent New Yorker piece on Hasan Minhaj found that some crucial bits of his stand-up act didn't stand up to fact-checking. Stretching the truth in comedy is par for the course, but how does that work for a figure like Minhaj, who'd previously doubled down on these stories in interviews and is known for his political satire shows? Brittany is joined by writer Imran Siddiquee and journalist Allana Akhtar to make sense of an entertainment industry that created the conditions for his fame.

Hasan Minhaj and the limits of representation

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Thursday

Michael Gambon, who played Dumbledore in 'Harry Potter,' dies at 82

Actor Michael Gambon took over the role of Albus Dumbledore in The Prisoner of Azkaban. Carl Court/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Carl Court/AFP via Getty Images

Obituaries

Michael Gambon, who played Dumbledore in 'Harry Potter,' dies at 82

Gambon was best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in most of the Harry Potter movies. The Irish-born actor got his start on stage and worked under Laurence Olivier.

Michael Gambon, who played Dumbledore in 'Harry Potter,' dies at 82

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Wednesday

A Jim Crow satire returns to Broadway after 62 years — and it's a romp, not a relic

Leslie Odom Jr., who won a Tony playing Aaron Burr in Hamilton, is now back on Broadway as Purlie. Marc J. Franklin/Purlie Victorious hide caption

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Marc J. Franklin/Purlie Victorious

Theater

A Jim Crow satire returns to Broadway after 62 years — and it's a romp, not a relic

In 1961, actor and Civil Rights activist Ossie Davis wrote the blistering play Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch. Now, Leslie Odom Jr. stars in the revival.

A Jim Crow satire returns to Broadway after 62 years — and it's a romp, not a relic

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Monday

Saturday

Free babysitting on Broadway? This nonprofit helps parents get to the theater

Broadway tickets are expensive — add babysitting to that and the costs are often prohibitive. But a nonprofit is trying to bring free babysitting to theaters around the country. Kohei Hara/Getty Images hide caption

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Kohei Hara/Getty Images

Theater

Free babysitting on Broadway? This nonprofit helps parents get to the theater

Broadway tickets are expensive — add babysitting to that and the costs are often prohibitive. But a nonprofit is trying to bring free babysitting to theaters around the country.

Free babysitting on Broadway? This nonprofit helps parents get to the theater

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Friday

A black market, a currency crisis, and a tango competition in Argentina

Dancers Saya Date and Shashank Duggal (center couple) perform in the improvised "Tango de Pista" category at the annual Mundial de Tango competition in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Lucas Babic/NPR hide caption

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Lucas Babic/NPR

Planet Money

A black market, a currency crisis, and a tango competition in Argentina

The Nobel-prize winning economist Simon Kuznets once analyzed the world's economies this way — he said there are four kinds of countries: developed, underdeveloped, Japan... and Argentina.

A black market, a currency crisis, and a tango competition in Argentina

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Wednesday

Franne Lee, who designed costumes for 'SNL' and 'Sweeney Todd,' dies at 81

Franne Lee at the New York Public Library's Hal Prince exhibition in 2019. Lee designed the costumes for Prince's Sweeney Todd and Candide. Doug Reside/New York Public Library hide caption

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Doug Reside/New York Public Library

Obituaries

Franne Lee, who designed costumes for 'SNL' and 'Sweeney Todd,' dies at 81

From SNL's Coneheads to Killer Bees, Broadway's Sweeney Todd and Candide, we remember Tony Award-winning costume designer Franne Lee who died on Aug. 27.

Franne Lee, who designed costumes for 'SNL' and 'Sweeney Todd,' dies at 81

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Saturday

Burning Man festival organizers lift driving ban and allow people to leave

In this image from video provided by Rebecca Barger, festival-goers are helped off a truck from the Burning Man festival site in Black Rock, Nev., on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Rebecca Barger/AP hide caption

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Rebecca Barger/AP

Culture

Burning Man festival organizers lift driving ban and allow people to leave

Organizers of the Burning Man festival lifted a driving ban on Monday as muddy roads that had stranded thousands of attendees in the Nevada desert had dried up enough to allow people to begin leaving.

Wednesday

Should you stand or sit at a concert? Adele fan ignites debate

Juan Lastra unabashedly stood up, sang and filmed himself during one of Adele's concerts in Las Vegas. When security tried to get him to sit down, Adele told them to leave him alone. @juanp_lastra hide caption

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@juanp_lastra

Culture

Should you stand or sit at a concert? Adele fan ignites debate

When security told Juan Lastra to sit down, Adele told them to leave him alone. The incident sparked a debate about concert etiquette. Stand when others are sitting? Tell a fan to sit down?

Should you stand or sit at a concert? Adele fan ignites debate

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Tuesday

'All The Things She Said': queer anthem or problematic queerbait?
Robert Mora/Getty Images

It's Been a Minute

'All The Things She Said': queer anthem or problematic queerbait?

In September 2002, the Russian pop duo t.A.T.u. released their smash single "All The Things She Said." The song is a grungy euro-dance track, and the video features the lead singers Lena Katina and Julia Volkova dressed in schoolgirl uniforms and making out in the rain. The video was banned from UK television for being "not really suitable for children."

'All The Things She Said': queer anthem or problematic queerbait?

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Friday

How 'Back to the Future: The Musical' created a DeLorean that flies

Tim Hatley's sketch shows the musical's DeLorean on stage. Tim Hatley/Back to the Future: The Musical hide caption

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Tim Hatley/Back to the Future: The Musical

Theater

How 'Back to the Future: The Musical' created a DeLorean that flies

It flies over the audience and flips over — but that's not all that it does.

How 'Back to the Future: The Musical' created a DeLorean that flies

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Thursday

Billy McFarland went to prison for Fyre Fest. Are his plans for a reboot legal?

Billy McFarland, pictured in 2018, said he's relaunching the infamous Fyre Festival in response to "interest and demand" in his ability "to bring people from around the world together to make the impossible happen." Mark Lennihan/AP hide caption

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Mark Lennihan/AP

Culture

Billy McFarland went to prison for Fyre Fest. Are his plans for a reboot legal?

The controversial entrepreneur is seeking redemption and some people are ready for him to try. Tickets have sold out. But he still owes $26 million in restitution to the people he fleeced.

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? Code Switch talks to comedians Aparna Nancherla, Brian Bahe and Maz Jobrani about how and why race makes an appearance in their jokes. Plus, one of our own reveals her early-career dabbling in comedy.

What makes a good race joke?

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Wednesday

Maui's cultural landmarks burned, but all is not lost

The destroyed Waiola Church is shown following wildfire, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Lahaina. Rick Bowmer/AP hide caption

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Rick Bowmer/AP

Culture

Maui's cultural landmarks burned, but all is not lost

Balancing sadness for the losses with hope about what's been saved, heritage workers are in the early stages of planning recovery and restoration efforts.

Maui's cultural landmarks burned, but all is not lost

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Thursday

Hollywood strikes' economic impacts are hitting far beyond LA

Yellowstone's later seasons were filmed in Montana. Paramount hide caption

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Paramount

National

Hollywood strikes' economic impacts are hitting far beyond LA

The writers and actors strikes in Hollywood are affecting jobs across the U.S. The Motion Picture Association says film and TV productions employ more than 1.7 million people outside California.

Hollywood strikes' economic impacts are hitting far beyond LA

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