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Category Archive
'Black Watch' Is Worth Watching May 22, 2013 |
Have you ever thought of marching, fighting soldiers as ballet dancers? In a play called "Black Watch," now intriguing audiences in San Francisco, a troupe of Scottish actors, all male, spends nearly two hours strutting across the stage, choreographed as if they were dancers.
In 'Other Desert Cities,' a Family History Lush in Secrets May 10, 2013 |
When Jon Robin Baitz's family drama "Other Desert Cities" closed on Broadway last June, it concluded a strong run and had been showered with high praise for showcasing its creator's talents. But for all of that, Baitz and his work may be getting more attention from a wider national audience now.
The Daily Frame March 15, 2013 |
Dancers perform a scene from 'Virtues (3rd & 4th sections) ' during a dress rehearsal for Ailey II's New York Season at the The Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York.
The Daily Frame March 6, 2013 |
A dancer prepares at the side of the stage before the English National Ballet's Emerging Dance Competition in London.
Conversation: Mary Zimmerman's 'Metamorphoses' March 1, 2013 |
Based on the classical mythology by Ovid and notably set in a pool of water (a nod to the ancient maritime cultures), Mary Zimmerman's "Metamorphoses" earned her a 2002 Tony Award and a claim as one of the theater world's leading directors. That play is currently being performed at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.
After 31 Years, Robinson Takes Final Bow February 6, 2013 |
Washington, D.C. native and classical dancer Renee Robinson credits her extensive dance training to the longevity of her three decade career. "The first dance technique I learned was classical ballet as a student at the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet [in Washington, D.C.]. I enjoyed my school, I liked my teachers and instructors and I loved the seriousness of it. I liked the poetry of it. I found that I enjoyed the intense training and required focus to connect my thoughts with my movements."
Conversation: Uncovering the Bard With Jeremy Irons February 1, 2013 |
Airing now on PBS is the series "Shakespeare Uncovered," six films that tell the stories behind some of the Bard's greatest plays. The series is hosted by some pretty hefty talent, including Ethan Hawke, Derek Jacobi, Trevor Nunn and Jeremy Irons.
In 'Pullman Porter Blues,' a Family's Train Trip Through Time December 12, 2012 |
Art Beat talks to playwright Cheryl L. West and actor Cleavant Derricks after opening night at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., where her play "Pullman Porter Blues" is enjoying strong reviews.
Conversation: Bringing Joey to Life in 'War Horse' November 9, 2012 |
The play "War Horse" is the story of friendship, war, love and one remarkable steed named Joey. To get an idea of what it's like to control Joey from his expressive ears to his hooves, Jeffrey Brown sat down with "War Horse" actor Danny Yoerges, who handles the head of Joey.
Conversation: 'Broadway or Bust' on PBS September 14, 2012 |
Have you ever wanted to be on Broadway? Well, thousands of young people from around the country do, and a new PBS series is documenting their struggle to get there. It's called "Broadway or Bust," produced by WGBH in Boston. The first episode aired last week, the second is this Sunday.
The Daily Frame July 17, 2012 |
JO!: Africa to America and A Dance Odyssey performs at the 2012 Concert of Colors at Max Fischer Music Center in Detroit, Mich. Photo by Paul Warner/Getty Images.
Q&A: Actress Audra McDonald Poised to Make Tony Award History June 7, 2012 |
Audra McDonald is set to make Tony Award history. If she wins on Sunday, McDonald will be the first African-American actress to win five Tony Awards and will be tied with Julie Harris and Angela Lansbury for most wins by an actress.
Conversation: Kristen Dupard, 2012 Poetry Out Loud National Champion May 18, 2012 |
Jeffrey Brown talks to Kristen Dupard, the 2012 Poetry Out Loud National Champion.
In 'First Position,' Ballet Behind the Curtain May 17, 2012 |
In the ballet world, the Youth American Grand Prix can make or break a young dancer's career. In "First Position," director Bess Kargman follows seven aspiring ballet dancers between the ages of 10 and 17 as they prepare for and compete in the annual New York City event.
Q&A: Pulitzer Prize Winner David Auburn on His New Play, 'The Columnist' April 25, 2012 |
Art Beat talks to Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Auburn abuot his new play, "The Columnist."
Q&A: Terence Blanchard and a New 'Streetcar Named Desire' April 20, 2012 |
Grammy Award-winner Terence Blanchard returns to Broadway with an original score for a new production: a multiracial revival of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire."
Monday on the NewsHour: Albany Park Theatre Project March 26, 2012 |
An extended interview with Albany Park Theatre Project founder David Feiner.
Q&A: Lloyd Suh's 'Great Wall Story' March 22, 2012 |
In 1899, three bored -- and slightly drunk -- newspaper reporters decide to concoct a story that the Great Wall of China is being torn down. The story takes off, and suddenly the reporters find themselves at the center of the swirling controversy. That's the premise for "Great Wall Story," a new play produced by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and which is based on actual events.
The Agony and the Dishonesty of Mike Daisey's Apple Story March 16, 2012 |
Last year, performer Mike Daisey sat down with Jeff Brown for Art Beat to discuss his much-talked-about one-man show, "The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs." It was revealed Friday that parts of Daisey's story were not true.
Conversation: Edward Gero on Rothko, 'Red' February 8, 2012 |
Mark Rothko's life has been turned into art in the play "Red," starring Edward Gero, written by John Logan and directed by Robert Falls, now at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.
Conversation: Mark Morris February 3, 2012 |
Jeffrey Brown talks to dance choreographer Mark Morris, whose "L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato" was recently performed at Washington's Kennedy Center.
The Daily Frame December 1, 2011 |
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs at its opening night gala Wednesday at New York City Center. The dance company's five-week New York season will be the first led by new Artistic Director Robert Battle, who replaced Judith Jamison, the longtime face of the company, dancer and choreographer.
Leon Keeping Busy With Two Broadway Plays, Tupac Musical, 'Steel Magnolias' Remake November 16, 2011 |
Kenny Leon is directing two Broadway plays this season: "The Mountain Top," starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Basset, and the Alicia Keys-produced "Stick Fly," starring Dule Hill and Tracie Thoms.
Dancers, Visual Artists Share the Stage at ICA November 9, 2011 |
The Institute of Contemporary Arts/Boston is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. To help mark the occasion, the museum opened a centerpiece exhibition called "Dance/Draw," which explores "the dynamic exchange taking place between visual art and dance today."
The Daily Frame October 27, 2011 |
Dancers Lana Jones, left, and Amber Scott of the Australian Ballet pose at the Lincoln Center fountain Wednesday in New York. The ballet company will perform "Swan Lake" at the Lincoln Center in June 2012.
Waiting for a Revelation in 'A Bright New Boise' October 26, 2011 |
There's no shortage of man-made and natural disasters, political upheavals, economic collapse and nationwide pessimism dominating the current state of affairs. This bleak societal backdrop sets the stage for the religious fervor and search for deliverance at the heart of Samuel D. Hunter's play, "A Bright New Boise," at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre in Washington, D.C.
Al-Bassam Theatre Takes Inspiration From Shakespeare and the Arab Spring October 7, 2011 |
Kuwaiti playwright and theater director Sulayman al-Bassam adapts Shakespearean plays to the modern Arab context to explore issues of religion and society in the contemporary Gulf. Art Beat spoke with al-Bassam on the phone from Brooklyn about the effect of the Arab Spring on his play and on art across the Arab world.
The Daily Frame October 5, 2011 |
Dancers from Garth Fagan Dance perform a scene from the world premiere of "Madiba" during a dress rehearsal yesterday. Photo by Timothy A. Clary /AFP /Getty Images.
The Daily Frame October 3, 2011 |
Cast and crew celebrate on stage during the 25th Anniversary performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom Of The Opera."
The Daily Frame September 29, 2011 |
Actors perform Kunqu, one of the oldest forms of Chinese Opera, on the subway this week in Nanjing, China. Photo by: ChinaFotoPress /Getty Images.
The Daily Frame September 23, 2011 |
An Indian folk dancer from the Zanzar Performing Arts poses with her troupe during a rehearsal for the upcoming Navratri festival in Ahmedabad. Photo credit: Sam Panthaky /AFP /Getty Images.
Gertrude Stein's 'Four Saints in Three Acts' Achieves a Good Afterlife August 16, 2011 |
Besides being featured in two major art shows, where works collected by Gertrude Stein and her family in Paris during the early days of the 20th century are on display, an avant garde opera written by Stein and composer Virgil Thompson is set to open on Thursday at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
Monday on the NewsHour: Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh August 15, 2011 |
Actress Cate Blanchett came from the theater, and to the theater she's returned. Now artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company, she and her husband Andrew Upton have brought a new production of 'Uncle Vanya' to Washington.
Pulitzer-winning 'Clybourne Park' Returns to Woolly Mammoth With Story of Race August 5, 2011 |
Jeffrey Brown talks to Howard Shalwitz, artistic director and co-founder of the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, about Bruce Norris' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "Clybourne Park."
On Stage, Interactive 'Omnivore's Dilemma' Offers Food and Thought July 29, 2011 |
In the first-ever stage adaptation of Michael Pollan's nonfiction bestseller about American food production, 'The Omnivore's Dilemma,' the audience isn't allowed to stay in their seats for long.
Conversation: 2011 Tony Award Nominations May 4, 2011 |
Critic Linda Winer of Newsday discusses the 2011 Tony nominations in a year of many strong new productions.
Conversation: Mike Daisey's 'The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs' April 14, 2011 |
Obsession, lust, a bit of espionage, a lot of laughs, and some serious questions of ethics and working conditions are all questions raised by one man, sitting at a table for an hour-and-a-half monologue titled, "The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs."
Julie Taymor Out as Director of 'Spider-man' March 10, 2011 |
The curtain has closed for Julie Taymor, director of the problem-plagued Broadway musical, "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark." The show's producers announced Wednesday night that Taymor will be stepping down and that Philip William McKinley will replace her.
Conversation: Steppenwolf Theater's 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' March 4, 2011 |
Edward Albee's classic American play "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" has been revived in an acclaimed production by the Steppenwolf Theater Company of Chicago, and is currently onstage here in Washington at the Arena Stage.
Monday's NewsHour: Anna Deavere Smith in 'Let Me Down Easy' February 7, 2011 |
Monday on the NewsHour, Judy Woodruff sits down with Smith for a look at her latest work, Let Me Down Easy, which takes up the many-voiced debate on health care in America.
'Lombardi' Makes a Play On Broadway February 4, 2011 |
Playwright Eric Simonson talked to Art Beat about adapting the iconic football figure Vince Lombardi for the Broadway stage, and the good timing of having the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl.
New York Times' Brantley Previews Upcoming Theater Season January 7, 2011 |
New York Times chief theater critic Ben Brantley previews the shows to watch out for in New York and on stages across the country.
A Seasonal Standby, Re-envisioned to Reflect Local Flair December 21, 2010 |
The Nutcracker is the cash cow of ballets, with performances raising between a third to the entire amount of a company's annual budget. Companies big and small put their own spin on their productions to differentiate it from others nearby or connect to the culture of their community.
Phylicia Rashad, Marcus Gardley Pay Homage With 'every tongue confess' December 16, 2010 |
Mysticism, spirituality, racism and redemption are major themes of "every tongue confess," a new work by playwright Marcus Gardley that saw its world premiere at the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.
Wednesday on the NewsHour: Trey McIntyre Project Finds a Dance Partner in Boise December 15, 2010 |
More from Jeffrey Brown's profile of choreographer Trey McIntyre.
Wednesday's NewsHour: Stephen Sondheim December 8, 2010 |
Jeffrey Brown's full interview with musical writer Stephen Sondheim.
For Birbiglia, Comedy Is a Means to an End November 11, 2010 |
Mike Birbiglia, a regular on PRI's "This American LIfe", has turned his one-man off-Broadway comedy show into a new book called "Sleepwalk With Me."
Writers' Theatre: Big Ideas on a Small Stage November 2, 2010 |
The Writers' Theatre, a small venue housed in the Glencoe (Ill.) Woman's Library Club, has garnered big accolades over the last decade for its varied programs mixing original works with fresh looks at classic stories.
Conversation: Musician Evan Ziporyn, Composer of 'A House in Bali' October 15, 2010 |
Based on the memoirs of Colin McPhee, a musicologist who, in the early 20th-century, spent several years in Bali studying traditional music, "A House in Bali" is a blend of western opera and the music of that island.
Conversation: Director Nicolas Kent Brings Real Drama of Afghanistan Onstage September 29, 2010 |
Starting with the 1842 Anglo-Afghan War and running through to the present day conflict in Afghanistan, a new theater production called "The Great Game: Afghanistan" attempts to educate audiences about the history of modern foreign intervention in that region with an entertaining cycle of 12 plays.
A Birthday Present to the World: A New Dance By Paul Taylor July 29, 2010 |
Thursday marks the 80th birthday of Paul Taylor, one of America's most celebrated modern choreographers. Last week, the company visited the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, just outside metropolitan Washington, D.C, for a special debut.
Celebrating the Marriage of Art and Technology at the Creators Project July 15, 2010 |
A partnership between Vice Magazine and Intel, the Creators Project was launched on June 26th in New York, bringing established and emerging artists from around the world together to explore the use of technology in art.
Conversation: The State of Ballet in America, Part 2 June 25, 2010 |
Ballet in America was once dominated by a few major companies and concentrated in New York and a handful of other cities. But today there are more than 65 professional, million-dollar-budget ballet companies all around the country.
Conversation: The State of Ballet in America, Part 1 June 24, 2010 |
Ballet in America was once dominated by a few major companies and concentrated in New York and a handful of other cities. But today there are more than 65 professional, million-dollar-budget ballet companies all around the country.
Wednesday on the NewsHour: Maurice Hines Makes Return to 'Sophisticated Ladies' June 16, 2010 |
Performer and choreographer Maurice Hines had mostly retired his dancing shoes, until an opportunity came knocking at Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage.
Monday on the NewsHour: Laurence Fishburne June 14, 2010 |
Jeffrey Brown talks to actor Laurence Fishburne about playing Thurgood Marshall in a play now at the Kennedy Center.
'Knuffle Bunny,' a Favorite Kids' Picture Book, Comes To Life Onstage May 20, 2010 |
In "Knuffle Bunny: a Cautionary Tale," a simple trip to the laundromat gone awry provides plenty of dramatic and comedic material for a 31-page picture book. But is it enough to support a 45-minute musical? That was the challenge for author, illustrator, and now playwright, Mo Willems, whose very popular children's book has just been transformed into a stage performance at the Kennedy Center.
Conversation: Winner of the 2010 Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest April 29, 2010 |
Earlier this week, 53 students from around the nation gathered in Washington for the 2010 Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest, an annual event that encourages the love of spoken word among young people.
Conversation: Sir Patrick Stewart Stars in 'Hamlet' Tonight on PBS April 28, 2010 |
Tonight on PBS, Great Performances presents the television adaptation of the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2009 production of "Hamlet." David Tennant stars as Hamlet to Sir Patrick Stewart's ambitious but flawed Claudius.
Conversation: PBS President Paula Kerger Making a Push for More Arts Programming April 23, 2010 |
The "Public Broadcasting Service":http://video.pbs.org/feature/149/ -- our home -- has a long tradition of showcasing the arts. But it's also true that programs featuring performances and exhibitions are not as pervasive and prominent on the nightly schedule as in the past.
Conversation: Pulitzer Prize Winners in Drama, Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey of 'Next to Normal' April 14, 2010 |
Bipolar disorder and the emotional toll mental illness takes on a family are not standard fare for Broadway musicals, let alone Broadway hits. But that is the subject of "Next to Normal" which has managed to draw both commercial and critical success. On Monday it earned another honor: It was named winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, making it just the eighth musical in history to receive that award.
Conversation: Alfred Molina Plays Painter Mark Rothko in 'Red' April 2, 2010 |
In "Red", a new drama by John Logan, abstract artist Mark Rothko speaks his mind about art and life and battles with a young assistant as the two prepares a commission of blood-colored murals. Veteran actor Alfred Molina (acclaimed most recently for his role in last year's 'An Education') plays the famous but violent-tempered artist.
Conversation: Ethan Hawke on Directing Shepard's 'A Lie of the Mind' February 24, 2010 |
Actor Ethan Hawke is best known for his work in film, including early successes like "Reality Bites" and "Before Sunrise." Hawke's latest project is directing a major off-Broadway revival of Sam Shepard's 1985 play, "A Lie of the Mind."
Wednesday on the NewsHour: Using Drama to Understand and Heal the Wounds of War February 3, 2010 |
A dramatic performance project called "Theater of War" uses ancient Greek tragedies for a very special goal: To link ancient and modern warriors in an understanding of war's pain and mental agony.
Monday on the NewsHour: Judith Jamison and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater January 4, 2010 |
Watch more of the interview with Judith Jamison, performance pieces and a 1990 segment about her by former NewsHour correspondent Charlayne Hunter-Gault.
Conversation: Harold Ramis and Bernard Sahlins on Second City's 50th Anniversary December 17, 2009 |
On a cold December night in 1959, The Second City opened in the Old Town section of Chicago in a small space that had been previously been a hat shop and Chinese laundry. Fifty years later, Second City stakes claim to having been the training ground for scores of now-household names.
Our Correspondents' Picks of 2009 December 8, 2009 |
As the year draws to a close, and critics everywhere are drawing up their "Best Of" lists, we thought we'd enlist the PBS NewsHour mindshare to give us their picks for their favorite books, films, concerts and plays of 2009.
Monday on the NewsHour: The Metropolitan Opera's Grand Revitalization Act December 7, 2009 |
More of Jeffrey Brown's interviews with Renee Fleming and Bart Sher, and excerpts of the Metropolitan Opera's "The Barber of Seville" and "Tosca."
Here's to a Year of Art Beat December 4, 2009 |
Hard to believe, but it's been a year since we launched this blog. After our first weeks, I wrote a thank you to our "first responders" -- the people who'd written in to say how much they appreciated and supported our goal of providing a place online for the arts and culture.
Tuesday on the Newshour: Dancer and Choreographer Bill T. Jones November 24, 2009 |
Bill T. Jones has long been recognized as one of this country's leading contemporary dancers and choreographers, known for his mix of athleticism and his willingness to take on big subjects from the world around him.
Conversation: Frederick Wiseman, Director of 'La Danse' November 20, 2009 |
Director Frederick Wiseman has documented a wide range of people's everyday routines and the goings-on inside institutions. A "big ballet fan," and a sometimes-resident of Paris, Wiseman recently turned his camera to one of France's most important cultural institutions: the Paris Opera Ballet.
Preview: 'Ancient Paths, Modern Voices' November 9, 2009 |
Coming soon on the NewsHour, Jeffrey Brown reports on "Ancient Paths, Modern Voices: A Festival Celebrating Chinese Culture," a festival currently taking place at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Jessye Norman, the Roots Team Up for Langston Hughes' 'Ask Your Mama' August 27, 2009 |
Five years ago, Emmy Award-winning composer Laura Karpman stumbled across a copy of Hughes"Ask Your Mama." She was instantly struck by the power and potential of the piece, believing it cried out to be realized as a 21st century multimedia performance.
Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday Blowout on PBS July 30, 2009 |
Time for a summer sing-along, but forget the bonfire! Instead, gather around the cool light of your TV to watch the man who wrote or made famous most of the songs they taught you sing at camp. Tonight on PBS, Great Performances presents Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday concert at Madison Square Garden.
Remembering Merce Cunningham July 27, 2009 |
An extended interview with David Vaughan, who has been with Merce Cunningham's dance company for more than forty years. He is also the author of the biography, "Merce Cunningham: Fifty Years."
Merce Cunningham, 90, Modern Dance Master July 27, 2009 |
Merce Cunningham, a dancer who is regarded among the most important and innovative American artists of the 20th century, died Sunday night at his home in Manhattan. He was 90.
The Missoula Children's Theatre July 23, 2009 |
The Missoula Children's Theatre in Montana is a traveling theater company that temporarily sets up shop in schools across the country that don't have drama programs.
Sci-Fi Funk: Robot Rhythms of Janelle Monae July 22, 2009 |
Cindi Mayweather is a cyborg who is wanted for falling in love with a human, and the alter ego of Janelle Monae, a rhythm and blues singer whose 2007 album "Metropolis Suite I of IV: The Chase" boasts clever orchestrations, dynamic vocal stylings, and a political message that transcends the world of a made-up "Metropolis" by finding parallels in ours.
In London, Antony Gormley's 'One & Other' July 14, 2009 |
Twenty four hours a day for 100 straight days, different people will join kings and generals high atop London's Trafalgar Square, becoming, if only for an hour, a living monument.
Kernis Takes On Ibn Gabirol in 'Meditations' July 1, 2009 |
What do you get when you pair an 11th century Spanish poet with a modern American composer? Last week, the audience at the Seattle Symphony found out at the world premiere of Aaron Jay Kernis' "Symphony of Meditations."
Tonight Show's Ed McMahon Dies at Age 86 June 23, 2009 |
Ed McMahon, television's most famous late-night sidekick, died Tuesday in Los Angeles. The cause has not been released, though a friend reported he had been suffering from bone cancer, as well as other illnesses, for the last few years. He was 86.
Artomatic: For the People, By the People June 16, 2009 |
It's easy to walk into any of the myriad free art museums here in Washington and find days' worth of great stuff to see. But what about the chances of you getting your artwork up in one of those museums? Fat chance!
Extended Interview: Lynn Nottage June 15, 2009 |
It's set in a small bar in the Congo, but Lynn Nottage's recent Pulitzer Prize-winning play, 'Ruined,' tells an epic story about the ravages of war, especially its impact on women.
Conversation: Terry Teachout Recaps the Tony Awards June 8, 2009 |
It was a big night for "Billy Elliot" as the theater world celebrated Broadway at the Tony Awards. In a first, the three teenage boys who rotate in the role of Billy Elliot shared the Tony for best performance by a leading actor in a musical.
Friday on the NewsHour: Tony-Award Winning Signature Theatre Has Rich Past June 5, 2009 |
Friday on the NewsHour: Tony-Award Winning Signature Theatre Has Rich Past
Conversation: Michael John LaChiusa June 5, 2009 |
Michael John LaChiusa is one of today's leading musical theater composers whose shows have appeared on and off Broadway. His musical, "Giant," based on the 1952 Edna Ferber novel, made its world premiere at the Signature Theatre.
Passionate Pursuits in 'Arcadia' June 2, 2009 |
Originally produced in 1993 with revivals now playing in London and Washington, D.C.'s Folger Shakespeare Library (staged by director Aaron Posnert), "Arcadia" pays homage to the pursuit of knowledge, and has been hailed as one of the finest plays of the last century.
Conversation: Geoffrey Rush May 29, 2009 |
Geoffrey Rush is well-known for many film roles, including "Shine," for which he won an Academy Award, "Shakespeare in Love" and much more. "Exit the King" is his debut on Broadway, and he's been nominated for a Tony Award for best actor in a play.
Elevator Repair Service Works On the Experimental Level May 19, 2009 |
Witness the weird magic of the Elevator Repair Service. The group has set out to confront "the problem of performance" through its trademark swirl of imaginative choreography and dense soundscapes.
Curtain Call for the Amato Opera May 18, 2009 |
For 61 seasons, singers have taken to the tiny stage at the Amato Opera Company in Lower Manhattan, delighting audiences with a surprisingly big sound and an even bigger passion for music. But all of that is about to come to an end.
First Family Hosts 'Poetry Jam' at White House May 14, 2009 |
On Tuesday, President Barack Obama and first lady Michele Obama welcomed actors, poets and writers to the East Room of the White House for a night of poetry readings and spoken word.
'Billy Elliot' Leads in Tony Nominations May 5, 2009 |
The nominations for the 2009 Tony Awards bear a distinctly Tinseltown glint, with big- and small-screen heavyweights leading the list. A number of the recognized performers -- Angela Lansbury, James Gandolfini, Jeff Daniels, Marcia Gay Harden, Allison Janney and Jane Fonda, just to name a few -- have had incredibly successful careers on television and in film. And many of the nominated works have been adapted from movies.
At Black Rep, Women's Voices are Loud and Clear May 1, 2009 |
"In the Continuum" reaches across continents to track the separate lives of two young women, one African and the other African-American, as they deal with the grave realities of the AIDS epidemic.
Conversation: Poet Mark Nowak and Director April Daras Discuss 'Coal Mountain Elementary' April 24, 2009 |
Mark Nowak's recently published poetry collection "Coal Mountain Elementary" explores the perils and at times personal tragedies of the coal mining industry. "Coal Mountain Elementary" is also being staged as a play by Davis & Elkins College.
An Evening With Mike Nichols April 23, 2009 |
The works of celebrated director Mike Nichols are on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York during a two-week retrospective that closes May 4.
In D.C., All Eyes on Neko Case April 14, 2009 |
On a recent evening in Washington, D.C., a petite woman stepped onto a stage before a sold-out crowd. Her look was casual, but this was no soft-spoken, indie folk singer. It was Neko Case, who some critics say is in possession of one of the greatest voices of her generation.
Writer Horton Foote Dies at Age 92 March 5, 2009 |
Horton Foote, who captured the dignity, depth of character and frequent hardship of American life for the stage and screen, died Wednesday in Hartford, Conn., at the age of 92.
Tonight: Three Women Artists from Cairo February 26, 2009 |
On Thursday's NewsHour, Jeffrey Brown reports on three artists from Cairo with their own perspectives on the fascinating city he visited earlier this year: jewelry maker Azza Fahmy, conceptual artist Lara Baladi and dancer and choreographer Karima Mansour.
Al-Bassam Theatre Finds Modern Inspiration in Shakespeare's 'Richard III' February 25, 2009 |
Here's the second in our broadcast series on Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World, which began Monday at the Kennedy Center. Tuesday evening, Jeffrey Brown profiled Kuwaiti writer and theater director Sulayman al-Bassam.
The al-Bassam Theatre's 'Murder of Clarence' February 24, 2009 |
Tuesday on the NewsHour, Jeffrey Brown profiles Kuwaiti writer and theater director Sulayman al-Bassam, who adapts Shakespeare to explore contemporary culture and politics in the Persian Gulf.
Dance Dance, Science Revolution February 18, 2009 |
Most of us aren't asked to dance our life's work, and that's probably a good thing. But John Bohannon, a visiting scholar at Harvard University and writer for Science Magazine, believes dance is the ultimate translation challenge for scientists.
Look Out! 'Soul' Is Back February 13, 2009 |
In September 1968, WNET began airing an hour-long, all-black variety show Thursday nights. It showcased funk, jazz and soul musicians, and had interviews with leading politicians, writers and thinkers.
Conversation: Brian Dennehy and Robert Falls February 6, 2009 |
Brian Dennehy and Robert Falls have teamed up for nearly all of O'Neill's classics. Now, they're at it again, with "Desire Under the Elms," part of an ambitious six-play festival of O'Neill at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.
Something for Everyone Inauguration Week January 14, 2009 |
In the lead-up to the passing of the keys to the White House, Washington, D.C., is giving entirely new meaning to the "party system." Most hotels have been sold out for months; Craigslist is overstocked with temporary rentals.
For Arts Funding, 2008 Was a Rough Year December 31, 2008 |
As the clock ticks down on 2008's roller coaster of economic turmoil and time runs out for charitable giving this year, non-profits are under pressures they weren't feeling a year ago and communities are struggling to support art programs during the downturn.
Singer, Performer Eartha Kitt Dies at 81 December 26, 2008 |
Eartha Kitt's first album, "RCA Victor Presents Eartha Kitt," was released in 1954, featuring "Santa Baby." The song has since remained a radio staple every holiday season, and there's no doubt countless heard it on Christmas Day, the day she died.
Influential Playwright Pinter Dies at 78 December 25, 2008 |
Harold Pinter, the Nobel Prize-winning playwright who has been lauded as the most influential dramatist of his generation, died Wednesday at age 78 after a long battle with cancer.
Soweto Gospel Choir: Songs of Hope December 18, 2008 |
The Soweto Gospel Choir blends the rich sounds of traditional African music with dance and a variety of musical genres -- rock and hip-hop, and American gospel and R&B -- and the combination has earned the choir legions of fans and awards.
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Cosmetics Heir Lauder Donates $1 Billion in Cubist Art to Met
'No Place on Earth' Brings to Light Story of Holocaust Survivors Who Hid in Caves
New Anthology Captures Postmodern American Poetry
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How Is the Sequester Affecting the Arts?
After 31 Years, Robinson Takes Final Bow
Weekly Poem: 'Not a Verbal Equivalent'
Weekly Poem: 'Child Support Hearing'
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