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A scene from a Ukrainian production of The Witch of Konotop. At the window, Olena, played by Mariia Rudynska, is the love interest of the main character but does not love him back. And a three-witch chorus is seen right.

A scene from a Ukrainian production of The Witch of Konotop. At the window, Olena, played by Mariia Rudynska, is the love interest of the main character but does not love him back. And a three-witch chorus is seen right. Ivan Franko Theater hide caption

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Ivan Franko Theater

Europe

A dark musical comedy about witches has Ukraine enthralled. Here's why

Witches are having a moment in Ukraine. Now they have taken center stage in a dark musical comedy titled The Witch of Konotop, with performances selling out all summer in Kyiv.

Why the dark, musical-comedy 'The Witch of Konotop' has Ukrainians enthralled

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The Von Trapp children, their father Georg and then-nanny Maria appear in a Salzburg Marionette Theater production of The Sound of Music story.

The Von Trapp children, their father Georg and then-nanny Maria appear in a Salzburg Marionette Theater production of The Sound of Music story. George Kaulfersch/Copyright Salzburg Marionettentheater hide caption

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George Kaulfersch/Copyright Salzburg Marionettentheater

Movies

'The Sound of Music' was filmed in Salzburg 60 years ago. Locals say, so what?

Tourism in the Austrian city of Salzburg generates about a billion euros annually. Many of those tourists visit locations where some scenes of The Sound of Music were filmed, but many residents are less than enthusiastic about the von Trapp family's story.

Despite a big anniversary, many locals don’t feel connected to 'The Sound of Music'

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Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté and his beloved 21-string kora, photographed at WOMAD -- the World of Music, Arts and Dance festival held yearly in the United Kingdom.

Musician Toumani Diabaté of Mali and his 21-string kora, photographed at WOMAD -- the World of Music, Arts and Dance festival held yearly in the United Kingdom. Diabaté died on July 19 at age 58.
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Judith Burrows/Getty Images/Hulton Archive

Goats and Soda

Toumani Diabaté plucked the kora's 21 strings. The world fell in love with his music

The musician died this month at age 58. His collaborators are paying tribute to "a great artist who belongs to the world.”

'Cats: The Jellicle Ball' gets 10s across the board

Chasity Moore as Grizabella in 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball' Matthew Murphy hide caption

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Matthew Murphy

It's Been a Minute

'Cats: The Jellicle Ball' gets 10s across the board

In the latest revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats, there are no singing cats. The actors have basically ditched the furry ears and velvet tails and reimagined the characters as competitors in the ballroom scene, vying for trophies and a new chance at life. This week, host Brittany Luse talks to Cats: The Jellicle Ball star Chasity Moore and co-director Zhailon Levingston about ballroom, spectacles and memories.

'Cats: The Jellicle Ball' gets 10s across the board

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Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage

Grammy award-winning soul singer Mavis Staples Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images

It's Been a Minute

Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage

This week, the legendary singer and civil rights figure Mavis Staples is turning 85 and there's no sign of her slowing down: She released a new song, "Worthy," and a children's book, Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples.

Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage

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Theater

'Slave Play' playwright Jeremy O. Harris is on a mission to diversify theater

The award-winning playwright talks about his provocative Slave Play, which earned 12 Tony nominations. A new HBO documentary chronicles the making of the production. Originally broadcast June 2023.

'Slave Play' playwright Jeremy O. Harris is on a mission to diversify theater

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Taylor Tomlinson's mom died young. This is how she stays connected to her memory

Taylor Tomlinson on Wild Card Monica Schipper/Getty hide caption

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Monica Schipper/Getty

Wild Card with Rachel Martin

Taylor Tomlinson's mom died young. This is how she stays connected to her memory

Taylor Tomlinson has found the kind of success many comedians dream about, with multiple Netflix specials and a late-night hosting gig — After Midnight on CBS. She tells Rachel that part of the secret to her success is fear. They also swap stories about their Christian upbringings, the search for validation and getting things stuck up their noses.

Taylor Tomlinson's mom died young. This is how she stays connected to her memory

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Above, Lily Tomlin, left, Wanda Sykes, Joel Kim Booster and Trixie Mattel.

Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution explores the history and current state of LGBTQ comedy — the pioneers, the breakthroughs and the setbacks. Above, Lily Tomlin, left, Wanda Sykes, Joel Kim Booster and Trixie Mattel. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Movies

'Laughter is disarming': A new documentary traces generations of LGBTQ comedy

The new Netflix documentary Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution features interviews with dozens of gay and trans comics, archival footage and lots of jokes.

Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

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Sarah Paulson accepts the best leading actress in a play award for Appropriate, marking her halfway point to EGOT status.

Sarah Paulson is seen Sunday night accepting the best leading actress in a play award for Appropriate, marking her halfway point to EGOT status, a person who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions hide caption

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Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

Theater

5 takeaways from the 2024 Tony Awards

There were very few surprises during Sunday's Tony Awards, except for one: best musical. The final award of the night went to The Outsiders, the adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s beloved book.

Broadway musical Illinoise’s sound mixer and designer Garth MacAleavy does his preparation for the evening show at the St. James Theatre in New York, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

Broadway musical Illinoise’s sound mixer and designer Garth MacAleavy does his preparation for the evening show at the St. James Theatre in New York, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Marco Postigo Storel for NPR hide caption

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Marco Postigo Storel for NPR

Theater

When you can hear every word, thank the sound mixers

They sit behind a console that looks like the bridge of a spaceship and use complicated technology to bring words from the actors mouth to the audience's ears.

When you can hear every word, thank the sound mixers

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Conservatives want to burn flags too; plus, the power of a singing POTUS

An American flag flown upside down near the U.S. Capitol. Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images/Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images/Getty Images

It's Been a Minute

Conservatives want to burn flags too; plus, the power of a singing POTUS

Flags have been making a lot of headlines lately, and it's not because today is National Flag Day. The upside down flag that was flown outside of Justice Samuel Alito's house after January 6th is back in the headlines again. Plus the Colorado Republican Party has been making news for their post on X to "burn all the #pride flags this June." Host Brittany Luse is joined by Nick Capodice and Hannah McCarthy - hosts of NHPR's Civics 101 - to get into why both liberals and conservatives get so riled up by a piece of fabric.

Conservatives want to burn flags too; plus, the power of a singing POTUS

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Cole Escola literally changes history in 'Oh, Mary!'

Cole Escola as Mary Todd Lincoln in 'Oh, Mary!' Emilio Madrid hide caption

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Emilio Madrid

It's Been a Minute

Cole Escola literally changes history in 'Oh, Mary!'

Cole Escola is the star and creator of Oh Mary!, an upcoming Broadway play about Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of President Abraham Lincoln. But there's a twist: Mary is reimagined as a raging alcoholic with cabaret dreams and Lincoln is portrayed as an evil closeted gay man plotting on her misery. On the cusp of the show's Broadway debut, Brittany chats with Cole about the inspiration behind Oh Mary!, their favorite joke and why it's fun to play older women.

Cole Escola literally changes history in 'Oh, Mary!'

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Hollywood flips the script in the new movie 'Ezra'

William A. Fitzgerald and Bobby Carnavale in the film Ezra. Bleeker Street hide caption

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Bleeker Street

Consider This from NPR

Hollywood flips the script in the new movie 'Ezra'

'Ezra' is a road trip movie, a movie about fathers and sons.

Hollywood flips the script in the new movie 'Ezra'

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Creating the most famous eyes in television. A scene from a new Disney+ documentary by Oscar-winning director, Ron Howard. It's called

Creating the two of the most famous eyes in television. A scene from a new Disney+ documentary by Oscar-winning director, Ron Howard. It's called "Jim Henson: Idea Man." Disney/Disney hide caption

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Disney/Disney

Movies

Inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational revelations in a new Disney+ documentary about Jim Henson

Inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational revelations in a new documentary about Jim Henson

Disney+ documentary details the life, art, and ambition of Muppet creator Jim Henson

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Tony nominee Jocelyn Bioh puts braiders centerstage

Somi Kakoma and Lakisha May in Jaja's African Hair Braiding on Broadway Matthew Murphy/Manhattan Theatre Club hide caption

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Matthew Murphy/Manhattan Theatre Club

It's Been a Minute

Tony nominee Jocelyn Bioh puts braiders centerstage

This week, Brittany Luse sits down with playwright Jocelyn Bioh, whose new play, Jaja's African Hair Braiding, is up for five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play. The two discuss Bioh's unique approach to comedy, what it took to bring a hair affair to Broadway, and how to find humor in dark situations.

Tony nominee Jocelyn Bioh puts braiders centerstage

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A new album by pianist Inna Faliks features world premiere recordings of works by five composers.

A new album by pianist Inna Faliks features world premiere recordings of works by five composers. Rosalind Wong/Inna Faliks hide caption

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Rosalind Wong/Inna Faliks

Music Interviews

Pianist Inna Faliks traces musical odyssey from Soviet Ukraine via Faustian fantasy

Faliks draws from her Ukrainian-Jewish heritage and Mikhail Bulgakov's anti-censorship novel The Master and Margarita for a new album.

Pianist Inna Faliks traces musical odyssey from Soviet Ukraine via Faustian fantasy

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Playwright Paula Vogel is known not just for her work on Broadway — but for the generations of famous playwrights whose careers she has nurtured. Above, Jessica Lange in Paula Vogel's Mother Play.

Playwright Paula Vogel is known not just for her work on Broadway — but for the generations of famous playwrights whose careers she has nurtured. Above, Jessica Lange in Paula Vogel's Mother Play. Joan Marcus/Second Stage hide caption

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Joan Marcus/Second Stage

Theater

In honor of Mother's Day, here's 'Mother Play' — which gestated for 40 years

Playwright Paula Vogel is known not just for her work on Broadway — but for the generations of famous playwrights whose careers she has nurtured. Mother Play is about her own mother.

In honor of Mother's Day, here's 'Mother Play' — which gestated for 40 years

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Switzerland's Nemo rehearses

Switzerland's Nemo rehearses "The Code" before the second semifinal. Jessica Gow/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty hide caption

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Jessica Gow/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Eurovision 2024: Here are the songs with the best shot at glory

Another year, another glitter-filled spectacle known as the Eurovision Song Contest. The Grand Final airs Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET on Peacock in the United States.

Eurovision 2024: Here are the songs with the best shot at glory

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