Jeff Lunden http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101672137&ft=1&f=101672137 <br /> en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sat, 18 May 2013 02:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Jeff Lunden http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101672137&ft=1&f=101672137 Audra McDonald, A Broadway Star Gone Roaming, Comes Home After extended jaunts in TV and on the road, McDonald's first new album in seven years marks a return to her roots in musical theater. Sat, 18 May 2013 02:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/183965997/audra-mcdonald-a-broadway-star-gone-roaming-comes-home?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/183965997/audra-mcdonald-a-broadway-star-gone-roaming-comes-home?ft=1&f=101672137 After extended jaunts in TV and on the road, McDonald's first new album in seven years marks a return to her roots in musical theater.

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]]> 'Pippin' Revival Is A Circus Of A Show The smash-hit '70s musical, which made a name for <em>Wicked</em> composer Stephen Schwartz, gets a shiny new production set at the circus — with real-life acrobats and Broadway pros alike in the center ring. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 03:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/178795989/pippin-revival-is-a-circus-of-a-show?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/178795989/pippin-revival-is-a-circus-of-a-show?ft=1&f=101672137 The smash-hit '70s musical, which made a name for Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz, gets a shiny new production set at the circus — with real-life acrobats and Broadway pros alike in the center ring.

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]]> A 'Caesar' With An African Accent The plays of William Shakespeare are known for their enduring universality, so the Royal Shakespeare Company's new production of <em>Julius Caesar --</em> set in a chaotic African dictatorship, with an all-black cast — makes a certain sense. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:52:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/13/177048980/a-caesar-with-an-african-accent?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/13/177048980/a-caesar-with-an-african-accent?ft=1&f=101672137 The plays of William Shakespeare are known for their enduring universality, so the Royal Shakespeare Company's new production of Julius Caesar -- set in a chaotic African dictatorship, with an all-black cast — makes a certain sense.

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]]> 'Matilda' Brings Beloved Book To Broadway Roald Dahl's beloved children's novel is set to hit the stage as a Broadway musical. The musical's creators say the show skews closer to the beloved book than to Danny DeVito's 1996 movie, leaning more on the original's naughty charm. Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:40:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/11/176704420/matilda-brings-beloved-book-to-broadway?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/11/176704420/matilda-brings-beloved-book-to-broadway?ft=1&f=101672137 Roald Dahl's beloved children's novel is set to hit the stage as a Broadway musical. The musical's creators say the show skews closer to the beloved book than to Danny DeVito's 1996 movie, leaning more on the original's naughty charm.

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]]> On Broadway, Old Shows And New Tricks These days, a hit show can run not just for years but for decades. So how do you keep it fresh for new audiences? Reporter Jeff Lunden talks to people who work on three of Broadway's biggest hits to find out. Sat, 06 Apr 2013 04:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/06/175954357/on-broadway-old-shows-and-new-tricks?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/06/175954357/on-broadway-old-shows-and-new-tricks?ft=1&f=101672137 These days, a hit show can run not just for years but for decades. So how do you keep it fresh for new audiences? Reporter Jeff Lunden talks to people who work on three of Broadway's biggest hits to find out.

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]]> 'Kinky Boots' Walk Cyndi Lauper To Broadway <em>Kinky Boots,</em> the quirky independent British film, has been turned into a splashy Broadway musical with a score by pop icon Cyndi Lauper. Reporter Jeff Lunden takes look. Thu, 04 Apr 2013 03:17:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/04/176136297/kinky-boots-walk-cyndi-lauper-to-broadway?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/04/176136297/kinky-boots-walk-cyndi-lauper-to-broadway?ft=1&f=101672137 Kinky Boots, the quirky independent British film, has been turned into a splashy Broadway musical with a score by pop icon Cyndi Lauper. Reporter Jeff Lunden takes look.

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]]> Nora Ephron's 'Lucky Guy' And Tom Hanks Make Their Broadway Debuts <em>Lucky Guy</em><em> </em>is one of the spring theater season's most highly anticipated plays. It stars Hanks, in his first Broadway performance, as tabloid journalist Mike McAlary. Director George Wolfe calls Ephron's last play "a love poem to journalism." Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/01/175923676/tom-hanks-and-nora-ephrons-lucky-guy-make-their-broadway-debuts?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/01/175923676/tom-hanks-and-nora-ephrons-lucky-guy-make-their-broadway-debuts?ft=1&f=101672137 Lucky Guy is one of the spring theater season's most highly anticipated plays. It stars Hanks, in his first Broadway performance, as tabloid journalist Mike McAlary. Director George Wolfe calls Ephron's last play "a love poem to journalism."

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]]> Singing The Praises Of Pre-Dawn Walks <em>Winter Morning Walks, </em>an album featuring jazz composer Maria Schneider and <em>s</em>oprano Dawn Upshaw, revolves around meditations on nature and beauty by former U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser. All three artists have had battles with cancer — when, Schneider says, "everything in life becomes heightened." Mon, 01 Apr 2013 03:18:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/04/05/175463625/singing-the-praises-of-pre-dawn-walks?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/04/05/175463625/singing-the-praises-of-pre-dawn-walks?ft=1&f=101672137 Winter Morning Walks, an album featuring jazz composer Maria Schneider and soprano Dawn Upshaw, revolves around meditations on nature and beauty by former U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser. All three artists have had battles with cancer — when, Schneider says, "everything in life becomes heightened."

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]]> For This Pair Of Clowns, 'Old Hats' Means New Laughs Theatrical clowning duo Bill Irwin and David Shiner haven't shared the spotlight onstage since the late 1990s. Now, with a collaborative theater project running at off-Broadway's Signature Theatre, they bring their zany brand of participatory slapstick to a new generation. Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:33:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/05/173176707/for-this-pair-of-clowns-old-hats-mean-new-laughs?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/05/173176707/for-this-pair-of-clowns-old-hats-mean-new-laughs?ft=1&f=101672137 Theatrical clowning duo Bill Irwin and David Shiner haven't shared the spotlight onstage since the late 1990s. Now, with a collaborative theater project running at off-Broadway's Signature Theatre, they bring their zany brand of participatory slapstick to a new generation.

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]]> 'Don't Underestimate The Guts' Of This Modern Leading Lady Winning a leading role on Broadway by way of a reality TV show may not have been the most traditional career path. But Laura Osnes proved she was the real deal. The young actress leads a revival of <em>Cinderella </em>opening this weekend. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:17:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/02/173235652/dont-underestimate-the-guts-of-this-modern-leading-lady?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/02/173235652/dont-underestimate-the-guts-of-this-modern-leading-lady?ft=1&f=101672137 Winning a leading role on Broadway by way of a reality TV show may not have been the most traditional career path. But Laura Osnes proved she was the real deal. The young actress leads a revival of Cinderella opening this weekend.

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]]> Grand Central, A Cathedral For Commuters, Celebrates 100 The largest railroad terminal in the world opened its doors for the first time in 1913. And while Grand Central Terminal, in the heart of New York City, no longer serves long-distance trains, it is still a vibrant part of the city's ecosystem. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 03:40:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/01/170692025/grand-central-a-cathedral-for-commuters-celebrates-100?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/01/170692025/grand-central-a-cathedral-for-commuters-celebrates-100?ft=1&f=101672137 The largest railroad terminal in the world opened its doors for the first time in 1913. And while Grand Central Terminal, in the heart of New York City, no longer serves long-distance trains, it is still a vibrant part of the city's ecosystem.

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]]> 25 Years Strong, 'Phantom Of The Opera' Kills And Kills Again Invited guests packed the Majestic Theater on Saturday night to celebrate the longest-running Broadway musical ever<em>. </em>Times have changed, but the Phantom, that tortured genius who haunts the Paris Opera House, creating havoc and causing the chandelier to fall, has endured. Sun, 27 Jan 2013 02:52:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/27/170377703/25-years-strong-phantom-of-the-opera-kills-and-kills-again?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/27/170377703/25-years-strong-phantom-of-the-opera-kills-and-kills-again?ft=1&f=101672137 Invited guests packed the Majestic Theater on Saturday night to celebrate the longest-running Broadway musical ever. Times have changed, but the Phantom, that tortured genius who haunts the Paris Opera House, creating havoc and causing the chandelier to fall, has endured.

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]]> The Composer Who Tested Fighter Planes And Partied With Sinatra A cool ladies' man with a shaved head, Jimmy Van Heusen was one of America's greatest popular composers. He wrote "Darn That Dream," "Swinging on a Star," "All the Way," "High Hopes," "Here's That Rainy Day," "Come Fly With Me" and more. Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/26/170202514/the-composer-who-tested-fighter-planes-and-partied-with-sinatra?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/26/170202514/the-composer-who-tested-fighter-planes-and-partied-with-sinatra?ft=1&f=101672137 A cool ladies' man with a shaved head, Jimmy Van Heusen was one of America's greatest popular composers. He wrote "Darn That Dream," "Swinging on a Star," "All the Way," "High Hopes," "Here's That Rainy Day," "Come Fly With Me" and more.

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]]> A Cooler Roof For A New 'Cat' A Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' iconic <em>Cat on a Hot Tin Roof</em> may feature big names, but it aims for a quiet kind of authenticity. Director Rob Ashford asked his cast to take their characters off the pedestal of dramatic history and put them back in the scene. Thu, 17 Jan 2013 03:45:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/17/169156926/a-cooler-roof-for-a-new-cat?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/17/169156926/a-cooler-roof-for-a-new-cat?ft=1&f=101672137 A Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' iconic Cat on a Hot Tin Roof may feature big names, but it aims for a quiet kind of authenticity. Director Rob Ashford asked his cast to take their characters off the pedestal of dramatic history and put them back in the scene.

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]]> A Vet's Haunted Homecoming In 'Water By The Spoonful' Quiara Alegria Hudes' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama <em></em>opens off-Broadway on Tuesday. The play is the second in a trilogy focused on an injured Iraq veteran named Elliot — a character based on Hudes' cousin. "I just remember the instant I saw him, there was just something changed in his eye," she says. Tue, 08 Jan 2013 03:47:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/08/168814442/a-vets-haunted-homecoming-in-water-by-the-spoonful?ft=1&f=101672137 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/08/168814442/a-vets-haunted-homecoming-in-water-by-the-spoonful?ft=1&f=101672137 Quiara Alegria Hudes' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama opens off-Broadway on Tuesday. The play is the second in a trilogy focused on an injured Iraq veteran named Elliot — a character based on Hudes' cousin. "I just remember the instant I saw him, there was just something changed in his eye," she says.

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