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The Radio France Philharmonic orchestra's South Korean conductor Myung-Whun Chung performs during a rehearsal in the new auditorium of the Maison de la Radio before its inauguration on November 14, 2014 in Paris. The two orchestras of Radio France will perform Wagner, Mozart and Prokofiev during tonight's inauguration of the new Maison de la Radio after five years of refurbishing. AFP PHOTO LOIC VENANCE

Myung-Whun Chung conducts the Radio France Philharmonic orchestra during a rehearsal at the Maison de la Radio before its inauguration on Nov. 14, 2014, in Paris. Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images

Music

South Korean maestro Chung will be the first Asian music director of Italy's La Scala

Myung-Whun Chung will be one of the first non-Italians to take the post of music director at Milan's famous opera house.

La Scala opera house names South Korean conductor as first-ever Asian director

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Age gaps & wage gaps: unpacking our Belichick-Hudson obsession

Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson pose for a photo backstage at the 14th Annual NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre on February 06, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images hide caption

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Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

It's Been a Minute

Age gaps & wage gaps: unpacking our Belichick-Hudson obsession

After 8 trips to the Super Bowl, 73 year-old former NFL coach Bill Belichick is ready to start a new phase in his career: mentor, college football coach, and now doting boyfriend to 24-year-old Jordon Hudson. But as Hudson also takes an increasingly important role in Belichick's professional life, people are speculating about the motivations behind their union. Why do we care?

Age gaps & wage gaps: unpacking our Belichick-Hudson obsession

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Buffalo, N.Y.-based drag king Freddie Hercury performs at an event in Homer, N.Y. in 2023. The artist sought out Qommittee, the group behind the new 'Drag Defense Handbook,' when they faced an online bomb threat in the run up to Pride performance in 2024.

Drag king Freddie Hercury performs at an event in Homer, N.Y., in 2023. The artist faced an online bomb threat in the run-up to a Pride performance in 2024. Natalie Curry hide caption

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Natalie Curry

Drag artists are getting attacked. This safety handbook aims to help.

As Pride Month approaches, a group of drag artists and their allies are releasing guidelines to help performers navigate a landscape of online harassment and physical violence.

Drag artists are getting attacked. This safety handbook aims to help

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President Donald Trump talks to the media in the Hall of Nations during a tour at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after leading a board meeting on March 17, 2025.

President Donald Trump talks to the media in the Hall of Nations during a tour at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after leading a board meeting on March 17, 2025. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Culture

Former Kennedy Center president refutes Trump's critique of 'bad management'

"I am deeply troubled by the false allegations regarding the management of the Kennedy Center," Deborah Rutter wrote in a statement.

Mary Todd Lincoln as a cabaret star? How Cole Escola's 'stupid' dream came true

"This play is about a woman with a dream that no one around her understands," Cole Escola says of their Tony-nominated play Oh, Mary! Grapevine PR
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Grapevine PR

Theater

Mary Todd Lincoln as a cabaret star? How Cole Escola's 'stupid' dream came true

Escola gives the former first lady a wild second act in the Tony-nominated play Oh, Mary! "This play is about a woman with a dream that no one around her understands," Escola says.

Mary Todd Lincoln as a cabaret star? How Cole Escola's 'stupid' dream came true

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Justin Hopkins, left, Nathan Granner, David Morgans, Markel Reed and Chaz’men Williams-Ali rehearse a scene for Detroit Opera’s performances of Anthony Davis’ opera The Central Park Five on May 10, 16 and 18.

Justin Hopkins (from left), Nathan Granner, David Morgans, Markel Reed and Chaz'men Williams-Ali rehearse a scene for the Detroit Opera's performances of Anthony Davis' opera The Central Park Five on May 10, 16 and 18. Austin T. Richey/Detroit Opera hide caption

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Austin T. Richey/Detroit Opera

This opera tells the story of 'The Central Park Five,' Donald Trump's role included

In 1989, Trump took out full-page newspaper ads demanding the death penalty "for roving bands of wild criminals." The Detroit Opera decided to program this work long before the presidential election.

This opera tells the story of 'The Central Park Five,' Donald Trump's role included

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"I don't know what comes after this, what tops this overstimulation of characters," Sarah Snook says of her work in The Picture of Dorian Gray.

"I don't know what comes after this, what tops this over stimulation of characters," Sarah Snook says of her work in The Picture of Dorian Gray. hide caption

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Theater

1 show, 26 characters: Sarah Snook shares the stage with herself in 'Dorian Gray'

Snook, who played Shiv Roy on Succession, was just nominated for a Tony for playing all the characters in The Picture of Dorian Gray on Broadway. "I don't know what comes after this," she says.

1 show, 26 characters: Sarah Snook shares the stage with herself in 'Dorian Gray'

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Women rehearse inside Radio City Music Hall before the Rockettes open auditions in April.

Alyssa Gallagher (in black leotard, center) says becoming a Rockette is her dream. Keren Carrión/NPR hide caption

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Keren Carrión/NPR

Culture

Times have changed — but the Rockettes keep kicking

Nearly 1,000 women from around the country flew to New York City to audition for the dance troupe on its 100th anniversary. What's helped it last so long?

Times have changed — but the Rockettes keep kicking

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Nicole Scherzinger as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd.

Nicole Scherzinger as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. Marc Brenner hide caption

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Marc Brenner

2025 Tony nominations are out — and they're full of celebrities

Broadway isn't just back — it's raising the bar. Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her and Maybe Happy Ending tied for most nominations. Plus, nods to George Clooney, Nicole Scherzinger and more.

2025 Tony nominations are out — and they're full of celebrities

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Philippa Hughes attends "Looking For America," a series of dinners and art exhibitions, at the El Paso Museum of History in 2019.

Philippa Hughes attends "Looking For America," a series of dinners and art exhibitions, at the El Paso Museum of History in 2019. Adam Ruben/Philippa Hughes hide caption

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Adam Ruben/Philippa Hughes

Fall of Saigon, 50 years on

The Vietnam War tore her family apart. She's bringing people together.

Philippa Hughes' life spans war, international romance, divorce, an abduction, art and politics. As one of the few liberals in her family, she knows how divisions can break a family and a country.

The Vietnam War tore her family apart. She's bringing people together

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Is 'Étoile' magnifique, or non?

Luke Kirby in Étoile. Philippe Antonello/Prime Video hide caption

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Philippe Antonello/Prime Video

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Is 'Étoile' magnifique, or non?

Étoile is the latest series from Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. It's about the wacky goings-on between two prestigious but struggling ballet companies, one in New York, and one in Paris. You'll see some of your favorite actors from the Gilmore and Maisel universes all speaking that signature rapid-fire, joke-dense patter. But can a comedy set in the rarified world of professional ballet find its audience – and be funny? Étoile is streaming on Prime Video.

Is 'Étoile' magnifique, or non?

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Josh Gad

Josh Gad at MaxFun HQ. Daniel Speer hide caption

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Daniel Speer

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

Josh Gad

Josh Gad joins us to talk about his new memoir In Gad We Trust: A Tell Some. He also gets into what life was like growing up in South Florida, the one time he refuses to use his Olaf voice and winning three national titles in teen oratory competitions.

Listen to this Episode

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Left to right: Alana Arenas (Morgan), Kara Young (Aziza), Harry Lennix (Solomon), LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Claudine), Glenn Davis (Junior) and Jon Michael Hill (Naz) perform in a Broadway production of the play Purpose, written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Phylicia Rashad.

Left to right: Alana Arenas (Morgan), Kara Young (Aziza), Harry Lennix (Solomon), LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Claudine), Glenn Davis (Junior) and Jon Michael Hill (Naz) perform in a Broadway production of the play Purpose, written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Phylicia Rashad. Marc J. Franklin, 2025 hide caption

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Marc J. Franklin, 2025

Theater

A civil rights leader's family airs its dirty laundry on Broadway in 'Purpose'

"Purpose" by playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, now on Broadway under the direction of longtime actress Phylicia Rashad, explores the generational conflicts in the civil rights movement.

A civil rights leader's family airs its dirty laundry on Broadway in 'Purpose'

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The Kennedy Center in Washington DC laid off its social impact team on Tuesday — the latest in a wave of dramatic changes at the national performing arts institution.

The Kennedy Center in Washington DC laid off its social impact team on Tuesday — the latest in a wave of dramatic changes at the national performing arts institution. Kennedy Center/Kennedy Center hide caption

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Kennedy Center/Kennedy Center

Kennedy Center lays off Social Impact employees

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., has dissolved its Social Impact division, which partnered with local organizations to bring in diverse artists and audiences.

John Kani in Kunene and the King at Shakespeare Theatre Company.

John Kani in Kunene and the King at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Teresa Castracane Photography hide caption

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Teresa Castracane Photography

Culture

John Kani risked his life to tell stories of apartheid — at 81, he's still at it

The South African actor has been speaking out about racial injustice for decades, often in collaboration with the late playwright Athol Fugard. Kunene and the King is Kani's latest project.

John Kani profile

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Jasmine Amy Rogers takes a bow as Betty Boop in Boop! The Musical now on Broadway.

Jasmine Amy Rogers takes a bow as Betty Boop in BOOP! The Musical now on Broadway. Avery Brunkus/BOOP! The Musical hide caption

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Avery Brunkus/BOOP! The Musical

Theater

This Betty Boop is Broadway's newest star

Jasmine Amy Rogers is starring in her first Broadway musical. Eight years ago, NPR talked with her when she was still in high school.

BOOP!

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South African playwright Athol Fugard with actors John Kani (left) and Winston Ntshona at a 1973 production of Sizwe Bansi Is Dead in London.

South African playwright Athol Fugard with actors John Kani (left) and Winston Ntshona at a 1973 production of Sizwe Bansi Is Dead in London. Evening Standard/Getty Images hide caption

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Evening Standard/Getty Images

Obituaries

Playwright Athol Fugard, who chronicled apartheid and its aftermath, dies at 92

The celebrated South African playwright was known for Blood Knot, The Road to Mecca and "Master Harold"...and the Boys. He said his job was to make "leaps out of my reality and into other realities."

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