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Performing Arts
Father And Son: Sheen Revisits 'Subject Was Roses'

The Next Stage: Brian Geraghty (left) plays the role of Timmy in the 2010 production of The Subject Was Roses. The role was originally played by Martin Sheen (right) in 1964. Now, 46 years later, Sheen returns to Frank D. Gilroy's Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning play — this time, as the dad. Craig Schwartz hide caption

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Craig Schwartz

Theater

Father And Son: Sheen Revisits 'Subject Was Roses'

In 1964, a young Martin Sheen played the role of a solider who returned from World War II only to confront the private war between his parents. Now, more than 40 years later, Sheen reappears in Frank Gilroy's Pulitzer Prize-winning play — but this time around, he's the dad.

Father And Son: Sheen Revisits 'Subject Was Roses'

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Annette Bening, Playing 'The Female Of The Species'

Annette Bening, shown here in a 2009 file photo, stars in The Female of the Species, a controversial exploration of feminism. Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images hide caption

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Annette Bening, Playing 'The Female Of The Species'

In Joanna Murray-Smith's latest play, the actress stars as a feminist icon who has written such literary gems as Madame Ovary. "It's a grown-up play with lots of ideas and lots of debate," Bening tells NPR.

Annette Bening, Playing 'The Female Of The Species'

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Theater

Composer Robert Schumann And Sting: 'Twin Spirits'

Fresh Air

2010 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of composer Robert Schumann. One of the most interesting Schumann commemorative items is the DVD Twin Spirits, a British music-theater piece about the intense relationship between Schumann and his wife Clara, performed by Trudie Styler and Sting.

Composer Robert Schumann And Sting: 'Twin Spirits'

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Theater

Schreiber, Johansson Build A 'Bridge' To A Classic

Liev Schreiber and Scarlett Johansson are starring in a widely praised revival of Arthur Miller's A View From The Bridge. They tell reporter Jeff Lunden that as in all great tragedies, this one's clashes and catastrophes have something of the inevitable about them.

Schreiber, Johansson Build A 'Bridge' To A Classic

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ABBAWorld, How Can We Resist You?

Bjorn Ulvaeus (right) and Anni-Frid 'Frida' Synni Lyngstad, former members of the Swedish pop group ABBA, stand by caricature puppets used in a music video, at the ABBAWorld exhibition in Earls Court London on Jan 26. Joel Ryan/AP hide caption

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Joel Ryan/AP

Music News

ABBAWorld, How Can We Resist You?

The music of four small-town Swedes has endured for nearly 40 years. Now, a new theme park open in London extends the appeal of the 1970s supergroup to a new generation.

ABBAWorld, How Can We Resist You?

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Comedian Russell Peters Capitalizes On Indian Roots

Russell Peters has made a career of poking fun at ethnic peculiarities. He is now one of the highest-earning comedians. Michael Tullberg/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Arts & Life

Comedian Russell Peters Capitalizes On Indian Roots

As a small South Asian kid with a big mouth, Russell Peters found himself the victim of race bullying. To coax his bullies from rage to laughter, he used self-deprecating comedy. Decades later, he is still poking fun at his own ethnic quirks to disarm audiences, and in the process, he is becoming one of the highest-earning comedians.

Comedian Russell Peters Capitalizes On Indian Roots

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Stargazing At The Opera

The Hayden Planetarium in New York takes opera to the moon with a new production of Il Mondo Della Luna. Diane Paulus and Philip Bussmann talk about merging cosmos footage with music, how science can enhance the arts and the future of technology and theater.

Stargazing At The Opera

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Theater

Obama 'The Musical' Opens In Germany

A new theater production Hope: The Obama Musical Story opened this week in Frankfurt, Germany. It tells the story, in song and dance, of America's first black president. It is likely to be a big success in a country where President Obama is still immensely popular.

Obama 'The Musical' Opens In Germany

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Pride And Privilege — And Prejudice — On Stage

Nikkole Salter as Taylor (from left), Jason Dirden as Kent, Billy Eugene Jones as Flip and Rosie Benton as Kimber in Stick Fly at Arena Stage. Scott Suchman/Arena Stage hide caption

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Scott Suchman/Arena Stage

Theater

Pride And Privilege — And Prejudice — On Stage

In U.S. dramas, African-Americans are often limited to portraying impoverished characters, like slaves or street thugs. So Lydia Diamond wrote a play about the opposite: An extremely wealthy black family vacationing on Martha's Vineyard.

Pride And Privilege — And Prejudice — On Stage

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Yes You Can — See The New Obama Musical

Jimmy Wilson plays Barack Obama during a rehearsal of Hope: The Obama Musical Story in Germany. Michael Probst/AP hide caption

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Michael Probst/AP

Arts & Life

Yes You Can — See The New Obama Musical

Theatergoers are packing a concert hall in Frankfurt, Germany, for a new musical about Barack Obama, but the show's creator says the production isn't just about the president.

Yes You Can — See The New Obama Musical

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'Cult' Hero Mike Daisey: When The Dollar Is Almighty

Daisey's breakthrough work 21 Dog Years also weaved details from life with historical fact, tracing the dotcom boom through his years working at Amazon.com. Stan Barouh hide caption

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Stan Barouh

'Cult' Hero Mike Daisey: When The Dollar Is Almighty

The celebrated monologist is a man on a mission: To make audiences look a little differently at their relationship with their money. His solo show The Last Cargo Cult examines the American worship of wealth through the lens of a South Pacific religion that worships all things American.

'Cult' Hero Mike Daisey: When The Dollar Is Almighty

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'Romeo And Juliet': Just As You Misremembered It

Robert M. Johanson and Anne Gridley in Romeo and Juliet. Paula Court hide caption

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Paula Court

Theater

'Romeo And Juliet': Just As You Misremembered It

In a new off-Broadway production, Shakespeare's classic is retold through the fuzzy recollections of people who slept through English class. The play is more about how we remember — or thought we remembered — the greatest love story of all time, and less about who said what on that balcony or whatever.

'Romeo And Juliet': Just As You Misremembered It

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Can Afrobeat Musical 'Fela!' Move The Masses?
Monique Carboni

Music Articles

Can Afrobeat Musical 'Fela!' Move The Masses?

In 2008, the off-Broadway musical Fela! became one of the most talked-about shows in New York. Telling the life story of Nigerian musician and political activist Fela Kuti, the show made the move to Broadway last month and opened to ecstatic reviews. But will this unconventional theater piece speak to a larger audience?

Can Afrobeat Musical 'Fela!' Move The Masses?

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Illusionist's Show Becoming A Pretty Slick Trick

Sleight-of-hand artist Ricky Jay is breaking in a new show. It's been playing Chicago and will open next week at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. It's even said to be on its way to Broadway. Host Scott Simon speaks with Jay about his new show, "Ricky Jay: A Rogue's Gallery."

Illusionist's Show Becoming A Pretty Slick Trick

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'Black Nativity' Shepherds Sing Michael Jackson Songs

The holiday brings out performing arts staples: Handel's Messiah, The Nutcracker, and Langston Hughes' Black Nativity. For years, theaters have transformed Hughes' original script — adding songs and changing settings. San Francisco's Lorraine Hansberry Theatre features shepherds singing Michael Jackson tunes, and an act set in a contemporary urban African-American church.

'Black Nativity' Shepherds Sing Michael Jackson Songs

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