NPR Topics: Performing Arts

NPR Topics: Performing Arts http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1046&ft=1&f=1046 News, interviews, and commentary on theater, the arts, music, and dance. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Performing Arts http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1046&ft=1&f=1046 'The Vibrator Play': Why Yes, It Is About Exactly That Any short list of important young American playwrights would have to include Sarah Ruhl, who at age 35 has had work performed at major theaters around the country. She made her Broadway debut Nov. 19, with a period drama called <em>In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play.</em> But as Jeff Lunden reports, it's as much about intimacy and honesty as about sexuality. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120463597&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120463597&ft=1&f=1046 Any short list of important young American playwrights would have to include Sarah Ruhl, who at age 35 has had work performed at major theaters around the country. She made her Broadway debut Nov. 19, with a period drama called In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play. But as Jeff Lunden reports, it's as much about intimacy and honesty as about sexuality.

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]]> Blanchett's Blanche, A Capital Conversation-Starter Washington, D.C. has been talking for weeks about a performance New Yorkers are still waiting to see: Cate Blanchett's Blanche DuBois. Now the Oscar-winning actress and passionate anti-global warming activist sits down for a talk with Diane Rehm. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:03:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114403680&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114403680&ft=1&f=1046 Washington, D.C. has been talking for weeks about a performance New Yorkers are still waiting to see: Cate Blanchett's Blanche DuBois. Now the Oscar-winning actress and passionate anti-global warming activist sits down for a talk with Diane Rehm.

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]]> One-Woman Show Explores Human Side Of Health Care Actress Anna Deavere Smith traveled across the country interviewing people about their thoughts on health care. From an injured bull rider to a medical school dean, she recounts what she heard through monologues in her latest documentary-style theater production, <em>Let Me Down Easy.</em> Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120387137&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120387137&ft=1&f=1046 Actress Anna Deavere Smith traveled across the country interviewing people about their thoughts on health care. From an injured bull rider to a medical school dean, she recounts what she heard through monologues in her latest documentary-style theater production, Let Me Down Easy.

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]]> Theater Producer Takes The Stage As New NEA Chair Former Broadway producer Rocco Landesman is about to embark on a journey that will take him way off-Broadway: Peoria, Ill. is his first stop on "Art Works," a six-month tour of arts organizations around the country. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114044365&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114044365&ft=1&f=1046 Former Broadway producer Rocco Landesman is about to embark on a journey that will take him way off-Broadway: Peoria, Ill. is his first stop on "Art Works," a six-month tour of arts organizations around the country.

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]]> Lead Of Closed Broadway Revival On Experience <em>Brighton Beach Memoirs</em> opened on Broadway to generally positive reviews on Oct. 25. A week later, the revival of Neil Simon's hit closed due to poor ticket sales. Lead actor Noah Robbins says the cast was told about the closure half an hour before a performance. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120065995&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120065995&ft=1&f=1046 Brighton Beach Memoirs opened on Broadway to generally positive reviews on Oct. 25. A week later, the revival of Neil Simon's hit closed due to poor ticket sales. Lead actor Noah Robbins says the cast was told about the closure half an hour before a performance.

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]]> 'Finian's Rainbow' Arcs Over Broadway Again The 1947 musical gets its first full-scale Broadway revival starting Oct. 29. The production took 10 years to assemble, but producers say the timing is great: Yip Harburg's witty lyrics and the show's pointed political satire make it the perfect musical for a country still reeling from a major economic recession. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114294754&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114294754&ft=1&f=1046 The 1947 musical gets its first full-scale Broadway revival starting Oct. 29. The production took 10 years to assemble, but producers say the timing is great: Yip Harburg's witty lyrics and the show's pointed political satire make it the perfect musical for a country still reeling from a major economic recession.

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]]> Jackson's New Career: Permanent, Posthumous Brand The Michael Jackson concert film <em>This Is It</em> — cut together from rehearsals filmed in the months before the pop star's death — is just the latest venture to highlight how valuable the coin of celebrity can remain even after a star's life is over. Nate DiMeo looks at the big business of posthumous brand management. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:10:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114168764&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114168764&ft=1&f=1046 The Michael Jackson concert film This Is It — cut together from rehearsals filmed in the months before the pop star's death — is just the latest venture to highlight how valuable the coin of celebrity can remain even after a star's life is over. Nate DiMeo looks at the big business of posthumous brand management.

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]]> NBC News Anchor Brian Williams Plays 'Not My Job' Williams joins <em>Wait Wait</em> at New York City's Carnegie Hall to play a game called "You are the very worst act ever to play this stage": three questions about music legend(?) Florence Foster Jenkins. Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:17:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114075281&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114075281&ft=1&f=1046 Williams joins Wait Wait at New York City's Carnegie Hall to play a game called "You are the very worst act ever to play this stage": three questions about music legend(?) Florence Foster Jenkins.

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]]> A Murder Mystery Musical Targets China's Yuppies Meng Jinghui is China's most avant-garde theater director: One of his plays focuses on the obsessive love of a rhino keeper. Now, he takes a stab at reinventing the musical with a story that deals with murder, death and "people collapsing in this ridiculous society." Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:51:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114008271&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114008271&ft=1&f=1046 Meng Jinghui is China's most avant-garde theater director: One of his plays focuses on the obsessive love of a rhino keeper. Now, he takes a stab at reinventing the musical with a story that deals with murder, death and "people collapsing in this ridiculous society."

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]]> Tales Of Suffering And Succor, Written On The Body As the health care debate rages on, solo theater artist Anna Deavere Smith brings her own singular perspective to the table. For her new documentary play, <em>Let Me Down Easy</em>, she talked to more than 300 people on three continents. Their stories became a show about "the power of the body, the cost of care and the resilience of the spirit." Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113771426&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113771426&ft=1&f=1046 As the health care debate rages on, solo theater artist Anna Deavere Smith brings her own singular perspective to the table. For her new documentary play, Let Me Down Easy, she talked to more than 300 people on three continents. Their stories became a show about "the power of the body, the cost of care and the resilience of the spirit."

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]]> 'Ten Years Later,' The Matthew Shepard Story Retold The 1999 play <em>The Laramie Project</em> explores the true story surrounding the death of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who was beaten and left to die in Laramie, Wyo., in 1998. The case, which became a landmark symbol for hate crimes, still elicits varied reactions — which is why on Oct. 12, hundreds of other theaters around the world will perform <em>The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, an Epilogue.</em> Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113663235&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113663235&ft=1&f=1046 The 1999 play The Laramie Project explores the true story surrounding the death of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who was beaten and left to die in Laramie, Wyo., in 1998. The case, which became a landmark symbol for hate crimes, still elicits varied reactions — which is why on Oct. 12, hundreds of other theaters around the world will perform The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, an Epilogue.

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]]> Firesign Theater Reignites For 40th Birthday During the mid-1960s, the Firesign Theatre started on radio in Los Angeles and produced a series of records that became cult classics — with detective "Nick Danger: Third Eye" becoming one of their most famous characters. Now the troupe gathers to celebrate Danger's 40th birthday. Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113733752&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113733752&ft=1&f=1046 During the mid-1960s, the Firesign Theatre started on radio in Los Angeles and produced a series of records that became cult classics — with detective "Nick Danger: Third Eye" becoming one of their most famous characters. Now the troupe gathers to celebrate Danger's 40th birthday.

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]]> Charles Strouse's Big Scores, From 'Annie' To 'Birdie' The Tony Award-winning composer created the music and lyrics for more than a dozen stage hits, including <em>Annie, Applause</em> and <em>Bye Bye Birdie.</em> Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:52:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113653650&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113653650&ft=1&f=1046 The Tony Award-winning composer created the music and lyrics for more than a dozen stage hits, including Annie, Applause and Bye Bye Birdie.

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]]> Andrew Lloyd Webber Sets The 'Phantom' Sequel At ... Coney Island? Andrew Lloyd Webber is moving the Phantom to Coney Island. Our minds are a little bit blown, too. Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113610853&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113610853&ft=1&f=1046 Andrew Lloyd Webber is moving the Phantom to Coney Island. Our minds are a little bit blown, too.

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]]> Jude Law, Tackling Hamlet From The Inside Out The star of <em>Cold Mountain</em> and <em>The Talented Mr. Ripley</em> takes time out from baiting the tabloids to take on one of the theater's pinnacle roles. Jeffrey Lunden talks to the actor — and his director and co-star — about the making of Broadway's latest great Dane. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:17:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113403283&ft=1&f=1046 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113403283&ft=1&f=1046 The star of Cold Mountain and The Talented Mr. Ripley takes time out from baiting the tabloids to take on one of the theater's pinnacle roles. Jeffrey Lunden talks to the actor — and his director and co-star — about the making of Broadway's latest great Dane.

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