May 16 Watch 6:48 Young playwrights use the theater to confront the trauma of gun violence By Jeffrey Brown, Lena I. Jackson, Madison Staten In 2021, more than 1,500 children and teenagers in the United States were killed by gunfire. Activists across the country are working to shed light on that issue through a series of plays written and performed by young adults, many… Continue watching
Mar 23 Oscar-nominated film ‘CODA’ to be adapted to the stage by Deaf West Theatre By Jake Coyle, Associated Press "CODA," the Oscar-nominated film about a singing teenage daughter in a deaf family, is being developed as a stage musical by the Los Angeles-based Deaf West Theatre. Continue reading
Mar 20 Watch 5:46 Claudia Rankine’s ‘Help’ brings the topic of white privilege to the stage By Zachary Green Two years ago, just after the start of previews for Claudia Rankine’s play, “Help,” New York’s theaters shut down. Now with the pandemic easing, the show is finally opening. PBS NewsHour Weekend sat down with Rankine two years ago and… Continue watching
Sep 26 Watch 4:52 Broadway throws open its doors as it returns from its longest shutdown By Zachary Green New York City’s theaters are finally reopening after they were shut down on March 12, 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to hit the city. This has been the longest shutdown in Broadway’s history. Major hits like “Lion King” and… Continue watching
Mar 23 George C. Wolfe, Anne Carson win PEN achievement awards By Associated Press Tony Award-winner George C. Wolfe and Canadian poet-translator Anne Carson are among this year's winners of PEN America awards for career achievement. Continue reading
Feb 10 Watch 5:42 A leading playwright and a pioneering virologist marry science and art on stage By Jeffrey Brown, Anne Azzi Davenport A new interactive theatrical production, "The Catastrophist," follows the story of a scientist thrilled by discovery and pained by loss. It was written by playwright Lauren Gunderson about her husband's life as a leading researcher into the causes and effects… Continue watching
Feb 05 Watch 7:24 Broadway’s closure exposes its sway on the economic ecosystem By Jeffrey Brown, Rhana Natour Prior to the pandemic, Broadway was booming. But curtains haven’t risen since March, with deep personal and financial impacts. By one count, Broadway is directly responsible for nearly 100,000 jobs in New York City alone and, as a leading attraction… Continue watching
Jan 25 Watch 6:53 In Miami, making live theater work during the pandemic Miami, one of the top tourist destinations in the U.S., has been hit hard by COVID and the travel shutdown. Officials at Miami International Airport say traffic is off by more than half, impacting hotels, restaurants, and hot spots like… Continue watching
Dec 28 Watch 6:52 Two critics on the shows and movies that got us through 2020 By Jeffrey Brown Even though most theaters remain closed, a regular lockdown conversation starter begins with “so what have you been watching?” Lorraine Ali of the Los Angeles Times and Ann Hornaday from the Washington Post help Jeffrey Brown sort out the year’s… Continue watching
Oct 23 Watch 7:30 The show will go on! Performing arts pivot during pandemic By Jeffrey Brown, Anne Azzi Davenport The coronavirus pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of American life, including the performing arts. Actors and dancers are experiencing unemployment rates over 50 percent, and many companies have said they will remain closed for in-person performances for the foreseeable… Continue watching