>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," MOST OF THE KAMALA HARRIS HEADLINES LATELY HAVE PROBABLY NOT MADE THEIR WAY INTO HER SCRAPBOOK, AND THEY'RE RAISING ONE BIG QUESTION: IF SHE WERE A WHITE MAN, WOULD ANY OF THESE BE STORIES?

"THE BOSTON GLOBE'S" SHIRLEY LEUNG AND POLITICAL ANALYST JACQUETTA VAN ZANDT JOIN ME ON THAT.

THEN, LATER, THE URBAN NUTCRACKER IS BACK FOR ITS 20th YEAR, BLENDING CLASSICAL AND MODERN WITH COMPANY TCHAIKOVSKY AND DUKE ELLINGTON, ALL SET TO A VERY BOSTON BACKDROP.

THIS YEAR'S SUGAR PLUM FAIRY AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE LIVE ORCHESTRA, WHO HAPPEN TO BE HUSBAND AND WIFE, WILL OFFER UP A PREVIEW.

AND, FINALLY, FROM THE STAGE TO THE CLASSROOM.

THE LATEST STORY OF PANDEMIC LIFE-CHANGE FROM OUR GBH NEWS SERIES: "THE BIG QUIT."

♪♪ >> Braude: VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS IS AN ACCOMPLISHED FORMER SENATOR, STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND PROSECUTOR.

BUT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT BASED ON ANY OF THE MEDIA STORIES COMING OUT ABOUT HER LATELY.

WITH PIECE AFTER PIECE QUESTIONING HER ABILITIES, HER VALUE TO THE WHITE HOUSE, ACCUSING HER OF BULLYING STAFF, AND TAKING HER TO TASK ON EVERYTHING FROM HER COOKWARE CHOICES TO OPTING FOR WIRED HEADPHONES OVER BLUETOOTH -- SERIOUSLY?

THE CLAIMS ABOUT HER STAFF HAVE GOTTEN THE MOST ATTENTION IN RECENT MONTHS, WITH THE "WASHINGTON POST" PUBLISHING A REPORT OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT THE EXODUS FROM HER OFFICE, CITING ONE EX-STAFFER WHO DECLARED HARRIS DISHES OUT "A CONSTANT AMOUNT OF SOUL-DESTROYING CRITICISM."

OF COURSE, GETTING LESS ATTENTION WAS ANOTHER FORMER STAFFER QUOTED IN THAT REPORT, WHO SAID HE THOUGHT THE V.P.

WAS TOUGH BUT NEVER FELT LIKE SHE WAS UNFAIR, TELLING THE "POST": "IF SHE WERE A MAN WITH HER MANAGEMENT STYLE, SHE WOULD HAVE A TV SHOW CALLED "THE APPRENTICE."

POINT TAKEN, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE THAT'S A RINGING ENDORSEMENT, EITHER.

STILL, IF YOU'RE THINKING THAT THESE CRITICISMS SOUND FAMILIAR, THEY ARE.

DURING THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, AMY KLOBUCHAR FACED A FLOOD OF STORIES ABOUT HER LEADERSHIP STYLE, TOO.

AFTER THE 2016 ELECTION, MEMBERS OF HILLARY CLINTON'S OWN PARTY BLAMED THE OUTCOME ON HER "ARROGANCE."

AND, OF COURSE, THERE WAS THE POSITIONING OF MICHELLE OBAMA AS THE "ANGRY BLACK WOMAN," WITH CRITICISM OF HER ATTITUDE, HER APPEARANCE, AND THOSE WERE SOME OF THE NICER COMMENTS SHE HAD TO ENDURE.

I'M JOINED NOW BY "BOSTON GLOBE" COLUMNIST AND ASSOCIATE EDITOR SHIRLEY LEUNG, AND JACQUETTA VAN ZANDT, THE HOST OF THE POLITICS AND PROSECCO VIDEOCAST, AND A FORMER ADVISOR TO THE FIRST BLACK, FEMALE WOMAN IN THE STATE, FRAMINGHAM MAYOR YVONNE SPICER.

>> Braude: GOOD TO SEE YOU YOU BOTH.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> IF SHE WERE A WHITE GUY, A WHITE MAN, WOULD THESE STORIES HAVE BEEN WRITTEN?

WOULD WE BE TALKING ABOUT THEM?

>> THE OBVIOUS ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY NOT.

IT IS BECAUSE SHE IS A WOMAN, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, BECAUSE SHE IS BLACK.

THE NARRATIVE THAT THE MEDIA LIKES TO TAKE WITH BLACK WOMEN IS WE'RE ALWAYS ANGRY.

SHE IS NOT WALKING IN WITH ANY SORT OF NEPTITUD, SO THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT HER NARRATIVE, SO THEY HAVE TO CREATE ONE.

>> Braude: SHIRLEY, DO YOU BUY THAT?

>> YES.

HOW CAN COOKWARE BECOME A HEADLINE.

IF SHE WERE A GUY AND BOUGHT GOLF CLUBS, NOBODY WOULD BE WRITING ABOUT IT.

BECAUSE SHE BOUGHT HIGH-END COOKWARE AND SHE LOVES TO COOK, IT BECOMES GLOBAL NEWS.

IT IS RIDICULOUS.

>> Braude: SHIRLEY, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.

WHEN SHE WAS IN FRANCE ON OFFICIAL DUTIES RECENTLY, SHE BOUGHT A POT FOR $375, AND IT PROVED SHE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN BACK HOME.

SHIRLEY, STAYING WITH YOU FOR A SECOND, IF YOU ENCOUNTERED, AS YOU HAVE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, A VICE PRESIDENT WHO ALMOST NEVER APPEARS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, A VICE PRESIDENT WHO IS ACCUSED FROM STAFF PEOPLE OF SOUL-CRUSHING CRITICISM, WOULDN'T THAT BE SOMETHING YOU WOULD WRITE ABOUT?

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS WORTH EXPLORING.

I THINK THE "POST" WAS TRYING TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THEIR STORY.

I THINK WOMEN POLITICIANS, WOMEN LEADERS, THEY ALWAYS HAVE A DOUBLE STANDARD.

I THINK ABOUT WHEN I READ THIS STORY, YOU KNOW, IF SHE WERE A MAN, SHE WOULD BE HAILED AS FRANK.

INSTEAD, SHE IS LABELED AS MEAN.

THERE IS A STORY ABOUT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE QUITTING, RIGHT?

AND I WAS THINKING, IT IS THE PANDEMIC.

IT IS THE GREAT QUIT.

EVERYBODY IS QUITTING THEIR JOBS.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF IT REALLY IS HER AND HER STYLE AND HOW MUCH OF IT IS THE PANDEMIC AND WORKING UNDER THOSE -- YOU KNOW, WORKING IN A VERY HIGH-PRESSURE JOB.

>> Braude: LET ME BRING IT BACK HOME TO MASSACHUSETTS FOR JUST A SECOND, AND THEN WE'LL RETURN TO D.C., JAQUETTA.

CHARLIE BAKER CAN'T GET OUT A SENTENCE WITHOUT DESCRIBING IT AS THE BAKER POLITO ADMINISTRATION, BUT WHAT HAS THAT DONE FOR HER?

THERE WAS A RECENT POLL OUT OF U-MASS, IN WHICH CHARLIE BAKER WERE BEAT MAURA HEALEY.

IS THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT NUMBER TWO SEXISM, OR BEING NUMBER TWO IS MAYBE A THANKLESS JOB TO BEGIN WITH.

>> HERE IS WHAT IS INTEREST, WHEN IT WAS BAKER AND MAURA, HE BEAT HER.

AND IF NOT, IT IS CRUSH.

A LOT OF IT IS LANGUAGE WE USE TO INTERPRET HOW WE PERCEIVE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, LISTEN, I THINK A LOT OF TIMES HAVING WORKED IN D.C., SPECIFICALLY HAVING WORKED IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FIRST TERM, A LOT OF THAT IS FLUID IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

IT IS FLUID ON CAPITOL HILL.

PEOPLE DON'T STAY FOR AN AMOUNT OF YEARS.

SO I DON'T SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN HER STYLE OR BAKER AND POLITO'S LEADERSHIP STYLE.

I THINK HE HAS MORE OF A CALL IN NATURE, THAT IS JUST WHO HE IS AS A PERSON.

BUT I THINK IN D.C., IT IS A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE.

>> Braude: OKAY, SHIRLEY, I'M GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THE CASE -- I'M NOT SURE HOW POWERFULLY -- THAT PART OF THIS IS KAMALA HARRIS' OWN MAKING.

I'M SURE YOU BOTH HAD SEEN THE INFAMOUS INTERVIEW SHE DID IN JUNE.

SHE VISITED GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, AND EL SALVADOR, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THIS ADMINISTRATION, ALL OF THEM BELIEVE HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH SO CONDITIONS THERE ARE BETTER SO PEOPLE DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO RISK THEIR LIVES TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES.

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH NBC'S LESTER HOLT, SHE IS ASKED ABOUT TRIPS TO THE BORDER.

HERE IS THE BACK BACK AND FORTH.

>> WE ARE GOING TO THE BORDER.

WE'VE BEEN TO THE BORDER.

THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT THE BORDER, WE'VE BEEN TO THE BORDER.

>> YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE BORDER?

>> AND I HAVEN'T BEEN TO EUROPE.

[LAUGHTER] >> I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE BUOYANT THATPOINT THAT YOU'RE MAKING.

>> Braude: SHE WAS CRITICIZED BIG TIME FOR THAT, INCLUDING BY ME.

AM I A SEXIST DOG, SHIRLEY?

>> YOU ARE NOT.

THAT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT INTERVIEW FOR VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS.

MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN OFF-LOADING AND DELEGATING TO HER, INSTEAD OF TAKING IT ON HIMSELF.

LIKE MANY WOMEN, SHE IS PUT IN AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION BY THEIR BOSSES.

>> Braude: BUT ALMOST EVERY REPORT I'VE SEEN IS ONE OF THE OTHER IMPOSSIBLES IN HER PORTFOLIO IS VOTING RIGHTS.

AND EVERY STORY I'VE SEEN SAID SHE ASKED TO BE GIVEN THE VOTING RIGHTS PORTFOLIO.

WHAT SHOULD SHE HAVE BEEN DOING THERE?

>> WHAT IS SHE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING?

THAT IS THE BETTER QUESTION.

VOTING RIGHTS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE L.B.J.

HAD TO ENFORCE THAT PEOPLE CAN EVEN GO TO THE POLLS SAFELY.

IT HAS BEEN NOW ALMOST 50 PLUS YEARS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT VOTING RIGHTS ISN'T AN ISSUE.

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING HER TO DO IN THE MATTER OF A FEW MONTHS, OR EVEN A YEAR, THAT CONGRESS HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IN 50 YEARS.

AND I WANT TO INCLUDE BLACK CONGRESS AS WELL.

>> Braude: JAQUETTA, I WANT TO STAY WITH YOU, YOU USED TO WORK IN WASHINGTON, OBVIOUSLY WISE ENOUGH TO COME BACK TO MASSACHUSETTS -- I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT, BY THE WAY.

I KNOW IT IS HARD TO GENERALIZE, BUT IS THIS GENERALLY THE FATE OF WOMEN IN POLITICS IN WASHINGTON AS THEY RISE UP THE LADDER?

>> IT IS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, UM, SOME OF US, INCLUDING WOMEN, PERPETUATE A LOT OF THAT AS WELL.

I DO THINK IT IS DIFFICULT.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE SQUAD.

THEY GET MORE PRESS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE SAYING, OR HOW THEIR SAYING IT, AS OPPOSED TO THE ACTUAL ISSUES THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE SEE THIS IN NANCY PELOSI, THAT SHE IS A BULLDOG, AND SHE IS SO AGGRESSIVE, WHEN SHE IS JUST DOING HER JOB.

>> Braude: JAQUETTA, I WOULD DISAGREE WITH YOU.

MAYBE THAT IS SAID ABOUT PELOSI, BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY THINGS I HAVE READ IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS THAT SAY SHE IS THE MOST POWERFUL SPEAKER IN THE HOUSE IN THE HISTORY OF THE CONGRESS.

>> SHE MAY BE, BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY REPORTS THAT SAY SHE IS AGGRESSIVE.

AND I'VE HEARD HERB CALLED HER BE CALLED AN ATTACK DOG, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

SHE IS POWERFUL, AND SHE ALSO IS A VERY SMART LEGISLATOR.

THAT IS THE FIRST PART.

HER BEING A FEMALE, THAT SHOULD COME WITH IT.

BUT FIRST THING, SHE IS A VERY SMART LEGISLATOR.

>> Braude: SHIRLEY, YOU WRITE A TON ABOUT WOMEN BEING TREATED AS SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS IN LOTS OF SETTINGS.

AS I'M TALKING TO BOTH OF YOU, I THINK THE ULTIMATE TRUTH IS, AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD A WOMAN PRESIDENT.

AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE MOST LIBERAL STATE IN AMERICA HAS NOT HAD AN ELECTED WOMAN GOVERNOR.

SO WHAT'S THE CURE?

DO WE JUST KEEP WAITING?

WHAT CHANGES THAT CREATES A HEALTHIER, MORE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR WOMEN TO BE TREATED JUST LIKE MEN, AND VICE VERSA.

>> WHAT I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT -- I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS WHEN MAYOR WU BECAME THE MAYOR OF BOSTON, AND WOMEN AND THEIR ALLIES NEED TO COME TO THE DEFENSE OF IF THEY SEE WOMEN POLITICIANS OR LEADERS UNFAIRLY CRITICIZED.

AND YOU SAW THIS WITH KAMALA HARRIS.

YOU SAW PEOPLE COMING OUT AND SAYING, LISTEN, AS RELATED TO THE 375 DOLLAR COOKWARE, SHE USED HER OWN MONEY.

THIS IS NOT TAXPAYER MONEY.

>> Braude: THAT WAS RIDICULOUS.

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S THE THING: YOU CALL OUT THAT BEHAVIOR.

AND YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WOMEN FEELING EMPOWERED TO CALL OUT WHETHER IT IS THE MEDIA OR OTHERS WHEN WOMEN ARE UNFAIRLY CHARACTERIZED.

EVEN YOU DOING THIS STORY IS GREAT, TO TALK ABOUT IT.

I THINK THE BIGGEST, UM -- BACK TO THAT "POST" STORY, I THINK WHAT UPSET ME THE MOST ABOUT PEOPLE QUITTING AROUND KAMALA HARRIS IS THAT THIS MEANS THAT SHE IS UNFIT TO BE PRESIDENT.

>> Braude: THAT WAS THE IMPLICATION.

THAT WAS THE IMPLICATION.

>> HOW CAN THAT BE?

WHO JUMPS TO THAT CONCLUSION?

>> RIGHT.

>> ANYWAYS, AND THAT'S -- >> CAN I JUST ADD -- >> Braude: YOU GET THE LAST 30 SECONDS.

TAKE IT.

>> I THINK WOMEN HAVE GOT TO HAVE A COHESIVE CRY, A COHESIVE RALLY AROUND WOMEN WHA WHEN THEY DO RUN.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF RUNNING, AND IT SPLITS THE VOTE.

THE SAME THING FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THERE IS NO COHESIVE MESSAGE, NO COHESIVE RALLYING AROUND.

SO THAT ALSO ADDS TO IT.

WILLSE WEWILL WE HAVE A WOMAN PRESIDENT IN MY LIFETIME?

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT UNTIL WE GET ON BOARD AND RALLY AROUND THEM COHESIVELY, THEN WE WILL SEE RESULTS.

>> Braude: THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS NOR FOR HAVING US.

>> Braude: NEXT UP, VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUM FAIRIES DOWN BOYLSTON STREET FOR THE URBAN NUTCRACKER, BACK FOR ITS 20th SEASON AFTER A YEAR-LONG PANDEMIC HIATUS.

PRESENTED BY CITY BALLET OF BOSTON, THE "URBAN NUTCRACKER" CELEBRATES THE MANY CULTURES OF THE CITY AND FEATURES SEVERAL STYLES OF DANCE, FROM TAP TO HIP-HOP TO SWING, ALL SET TO THE CLASSICAL SCORE FROM TCHAIKOVSKY, BLENDED WITH THE RHYTHMS OF DUKE ELLINGTON.

MORE THAN 150 PERFORMERS ARE INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION, INCLUDING LOCAL CHILDREN, TAP VIRTUOSO KHALID HILL AND STAR HIP-HOP DANCER RICCARDO FOSTER, JR., BOTH BORN AND RAISED IN BOSTON.

PLUS, DORCHESTER'S OWN BILL WHITNEY WILL LEAD THE LIVE ORCHESTRA SAYS THE SHOW'S MUSIC DIRECTOR, AND RUTH WHITNEY WILL BE WORKING TRIPLE TIME ON STAGE IN THE ROLES OF SUGAR PLUM FAIRY, THE SNOW QUEEN, AND AN ARABIAN DANCER.

RUTH AND BILL WHITNEY JOIN ME NOW.

>> Braude: GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY HAVING US.

>> Braude: I SAW A URBAN NUTCRACKER A FEW YEARS AGO, AND I THINK OF JOHN'S HALL, AND IT IS NOT YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S NUTCRACKER.

RUTH, CAN YOU EXPAND ON ANTHONY WILLIAMS' VISION AND VERSION OF THE NUTCRACKER?

>> WELL, I THINK HE HAS THIS VISION THAT IT IS REALLY FOR EVERYBODY.

AND IT INCLUDES ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF DANCE AND MUSIC, AND THAT IT IS FOR EVERY KID, NOT FOR ONE PARTICULAR KID OR ONE PARTICULAR TYPE OF FAMILY.

AND SO I THINK THAT THE WAY IT IS SET ON STAGE, WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DANCE REALLY SPEAKS TO THAT.

>> Braude: AND, BILL, WE SEE A LOT OF BOSTON.

I REMEMBER, I THINK, THE STATE HOUSE DOME, THE CITCO SIGN.

THIS IS A BOSTON NUTCRACKER, NO?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

IN FACT, IN THIS SHOW, THIS IS SOMEWHAT UNCONVENTIONAL FOR BALLET, THE BAND IS ACTUALLY UP ON STAGE.

WE'RE NOT DOWN IN THE PIT.

THEY BUILT US SOME LOFTS UP IN THE SET.

AND MOST OF THE BAND IS STAGE LEFT, AUDIENCE RIGHT, SORT OF LIKE THE HAT SHELL.

IT IS KIND OF A COOL PRESENTATION, YOU KNOW?

>> Braude: RUTH, HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU FIRST SAW THE ORIGINAL, THE CLASSICAL NUTCRACKER?

>> SOMEWHERE BETWEEN TWO AND THREE.

>> Braude: IS THAT REALLY TRUE?

>> YEAH.

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LET ME IN THE THEATER, AND MY PARENTS SAID, OH, SHE'LL BEHAVE, AND THAT WAS IT.

I SAID, I'M GOING TO BE A BALLERINA.

>> Braude: DID YOU BEHAVE?

>> I DID.

I SAT ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT, AND THAT WAS IT.

I DANCED EVERY DAY ALL AROUND OUR HOUSE.

I SAID, I'M GOING TO BE A DANCER.

>> Braude: AND HAVE YOU PERFORMED IN THE TRADITIONAL, FOR LACK OF A BETTER EXPRESSION, NUTCRACKER, RUTH?

>> YEAH, MANY TIMES.

AT ONE POINT, AS A TEENAGER, I THINK I DID 52 PERFORMANCES OF THE NUTCRACKER ONE YEAR.

>> Braude: WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU'RE DOING THIS?

WHEN PEOPLE SEE THIS, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A LOT, INCLUDING THE PLOT LINE, THAT IS PRETTY SIMILAR.

BUT, WOW, IS IT A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR US AS A PERFORMER?

>> HONESTLY, THIS IS MY FAVORITE NUTCRACKER I'VE EVER DONE AS A PERFORMER.

BECAUSE WHEN I'M IN BALLET PRODUCTION, DANCERS CAN BE VERY WARM AND ENCOURAGING, BUT BALLET DANCERS ARE, USUALLY BY NATURE, VERY QUIET AND FOCUSED.

SO IT IS ALL, GOOD JOB, AND WE ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER.

BUT IN THIS JOB, EVERYBODY IS HIGH-FIEFG HIGH-FIVING AND YELLING AT EACH OTHER, AND SAYING GO, GO, AND IT IS KIND OF ELECTRIC.

IT IS JUST FANTASTIC.

>> Braude: BILL, WERE YOU TWO OR THREE WHEN YOU FIRST SAW THE ORIGINAL?

>> NO.

NO.

I CAME TO BALLET A LITTLE LATER THAN MY WIFE DID.

>> Braude: THAT'S FINE.

BILL, THERE ARE A TON OF LOCAL -- I LOVE THIS PART OF IT -- A TON OF LOCAL KIDS IN THIS PRODUCTION.

I'M ASSUMING NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE PERFORMED ON STAGE BEFORE.

IS THAT A FAIR ASSUMPTION?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE KIDS IN THIS SHOW, THEY WORK REALLY HARD AND HAVE DONE A LOT OF DANCE CLASSES, BUT, YEAH, THERE ARE SOME YOUNG KIDS.

I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE THIS IS A FIRST PERFORMANCE FOR ANY OF THEM, BUT MANY OF THE CHILDREN INVOLVED IN THE SHOW ARE NEW TO PERFORMING, AND THEY REALLY WORK HARD AND THEY'RE IN IT, MAN; THEY'RE PART OF THE CAST.

>> Braude: RUTH, I'M ASSUMING NOT ONLY ARE THEY NEW TO PORM, PERFORMING, THEY'RE PROBABLY NEW TO THE NUTCRACKER.

AND I'M GUESSING A TON OF THESE KIDS, THE URBAN NUTCRACKER IS THE ONLY NUTCRACKER THEY KNOW.

NO?

>> YOU KNOW, PROBABLY.

I THINK THERE IS SO MUCH OUT THERE OF THE MORE CLASSICAL VERSION, THAT PROBABLY BY THE TIME THEY'RE 10 OR 11, THEY'VE SEEN IT.

BUT FOR THE LITTLE KIDS, THIS IS PROBABLY THE ONE THEY SAW FIRST.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS LIKE.

I THINK THE OTHER IS A LITTLE MORE BORING.

>> Braude: I'VE BEEN TO THE OTHER A LOT OF TIMES, AND I -- I SHOULDN'T ADMIT THIS, BUT I'VE SLEPT THERE SOME PERFORMANCES.

NOT THIS, THOUGH.

BILL, I KNOW WHEN ANTHONY WILLIAMS FIRST HAD THIS PERFORMED IS RIGHT AFTER 9/11.

THIS IS A PRETTY TUMULTUOUS TIME, TOO.

DO YOU THINK THAT IN ANY WAY SHAPES HOW THE PERSON SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE SEES WHAT THEY'RE VIEWING ON STAGE, OR NO?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AS PERFORMERS, WHETHER I'M PLAYING IN AN ORCHESTRA OR IN, YOU KNOW, IN A BAND KIND OF SETTING OR DOING THESE THEATRICAL PRESENTATIONS, OUR JOB IS TO KIND OF TAKE PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR REALITY.

AND, LIKE, THIS IS SORT OF ESCAPISM, BUT IT IS A LITTLE MORE OF AN EMOTIONAL JOURNEY THAN THAT.

THAT'S OUR GOAL AS PERFORMERS, RIGHT?

YEAH, AND I THINK THE CRAZIER THE TIMES THAT WE'RE LIVING IN, THE MORE THIS STUFF MATTERS.

LIKE THE MORE PEOPLE NEED THIS.

>> Braude: I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

HOW MUCH DO YOU TWO PERFORM TOGETHER IN THE SAME PRODUCTION?

>> NOT NEARLY OFTEN ENOUGH.

>> Braude: AND WHAT'S THAT LIKE?

>> I LOVE IT.

THE BULK OF MY PERFORMING IS ACTUALLY OF A NINE- NINE-PIECE SOUL BAND.

WE USUALLY PLAY CORPORATE SETTINGS OR WE PLAY WITH THE CAMBRIDGE SYMPHONY.

IT IS UNUSUAL I GET TO DO A BIG PRODUCTION WITH RUTH, BUT ANY TIME WE DO, IT IS REALLY SPECIAL.

>> Braude: RUTH, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, WHAT IS IT LIKE PERFORMING WITH YOUR HUSBAND?

>> I CAN'T RAISE MY RIGHT HAND BECAUSE I'M HOLDING THE PHONE.

I'M SO SORRY.

>> Braude: WHAT IS IT LIKE?

>> I REALLY LOVE PERFORMING WITH HIM.

I -- YOU KNOW, WE'RE SO DANG BUSY, WE HAVE KIDS AND WE DO A LOT, AND TO HAVE A CHANCE TO GO TO WORK, AND WHILE I'M AT WORK ACTUALLY SEE MY HUSBAND AND NOT COME HOME AT 11:30 AT NIGHT AND SAY, HOW WAS YOUR DAY?

IF I COULD DO THAT EVERY DAY FOR MY LIFE, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD CHOOSE.

I CHOOSE MY PARTNER.

>> Braude: I SHOULD HAVE ASKED, BUT I JUST NOTICED YOU'RE SITTING IN YOUR CAR.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS VERSION, BUT THE ONE I SAW WAS BRILLIANT AND A HUGE AMOUNT OF JOY.

I HOPE PEOPLE GO.

IT IS GREAT TO MEET YOU BOTH.

GOOD LUCK WITH THIS RUN.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

FEW WEEKS, WE'VE BEEN BRINGING YOU STORIES FROM GBH NEWS' ONGOING SERIES "THE BIG QUIT: WHY I'M MOVING ON," PROFILING PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A MAJOR CHANGE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

TONIGHT WE HEAR FROM GAREN SCRIBNER, A DANCER WHO, WHEN THEATERS WENT DARK DOING THE PANDEMIC, DECIDED TO MOVE FROM THE STAGE TO THE CLASSROOM.

>> THE TRUTH IS, AS PERFORMERS WE PUT OUR BODIES ON THE LINE, FULL STOP, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BE INSPIRED.

PEOPLE CAN BE MOVED BY THE STORIES THAT ARE TOLD.

WE HAVE NO SECURITY.

IF OUR SHOW CLOSES, WE DON'T GET PAID THAT NEXT WEEK.

AND WHEN PEOPLE STARTED GETTING SICK AND THEATERS CLOSED -- AND SO MANY OF THEM ARE STILL CLOSED -- IT SHOWED THAT VULNERABILITY ON A BIG MACRO LEVEL.

MY NAME IS GAREN SCRIBNER, AND I AM IN GRAD SCHOOL AT THE HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL, GETTING MY MASTER IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

BUT I'M REALLY A BALLET DANCER, BEEN A DANCER MY WHOLE LIFE.

AS A YOUNG GAY KID IN 1990s VIRGINIA, GROWING UP I WAS SORT OF OUT OF THE ORDINARY RIGHT OFF THE BAT AND FACED, LIKE ANY BOY WHO DANCES, BULLYING.

AND RATHER THAN PULL ME OUT OF BALLET, IT BROUGHT ME CLOSER AND IT BROUGHT ME BACK INTO THE STUDIO BECAUSE THAT WAS A PLACE THAT I WAS SAFE.

I JOINED THE SAN FRANCISCO BALLET WHEN I WAS 18, AND I STAYED IN THAT COMPANY FOR 10 YEARS.

I ROSE TO THE RANK OF SOLOIST.

AND THEN FROM THERE, I JOINED A COMPANY CALLED NETHERLANDS DANCE THEATER AND WORKED WITH AVANT-GARDE CHOREOGRAPHERS FROM ALL OVER EUROPE, ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THEN I MOVED TO NEW YORK TO DO A BROADWAY SHOW, TO DO A BROADWAY SHOW, "AN AMERICAN IN PARIS."

I ACTUALLY HAD A SURGERY ON MY FOOT ON MARCH 7th, 2020.

JUST DAYS BEFORE THE SHUTDOWN, I WAS RECOVERING, WITH MY FOOT UP, AND EVERYBODY KIND OF JOINED ME IN QUARANTINE.

THE GIFT OF TIME AND SELF-REFLECTION HAS ENABLED ME TO MAKE A REALLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN MY LIFE.

>> HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> WHAT I PLAN TO DO IS BRING WHAT I LEARNED HERE BACK INTO THE SPACE WHICH I KNOW, AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I FEEL THAT IT'S REALLY MY RESPONSIBILITY TO BE OF SERVICE IN CULTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTS.

>> ONE.

>> NICE.

>> EVERY BONE, ROLLING THROUGH.

>> SUPER LENGTH OF THAT, YEAH.

>> THE CHANGES THAT I HOPE TO SEE AND I HOPE TO BE A PART OF IS TO TRY AND HELP INCREASE ACCESS AND EQUITY WITHIN THE DANCE WORLD.

THE RAVAGES OF THE PANDEMIC ON THE PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY ARE GOING TO BE PROFOUND, AND THEY ARE GOING TO ECHO FOR A LONG TIME.

THE OLD SYSTEMS ARE CLEARLY NOT WORKING.

SO IF WE'RE GONNA REBUILD IT ANYWAY, NOW'S OUR CHANCE TO KIND OF RISE FROM THE ASHES.

>> Braude: YOU CAN FOLLOW "THE BIG QUIT" STORIES AT gbhnews.org/thebigquit, AS WELL AS GBH RADIO 89.7, AND HERE ON GBH 2.

YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT US AT gbhnews.org/thebitquit TO SHARE YOUR STORY.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

RHODE ISLAND SENATOR SHELDON WHITEHOUSE ON THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY AND AGAINST MONEY-LAUNDERING, OVERSEAS AND HERE AT HOME, THE FATE OF "ROE VS. WADE," AND MORE.

PLUS TYRONE CLARK, WHO'S RAPE CONVICTION WAS JUST THROWN OUT AFTER 50 YEARS BEHIND BARS.

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

AND STAY TUNED NEXT FOR ANOTHER INSTALLMENT FROM THE GBH NEWS CURIOSITY DESK SERIES.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org >> HEY, FOLKS, EDWARD B. HERWICK III HERE FROM GBH'S CURIOSITY DESK, WHERE YOU ASK QUESTIONS AND I FIND ANSWERS.

AND TODAY WE TAKE A TRIP TO THE S.P.

A.

LIFE HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS IS CHOCKFUL OF LITTLE QUIRKS.

AND YOU CAN SEE AN IMAX MOVIE AT A FURNITURE STORE.

OUR BOWLING BALLS ARE HALF AS BIG AND DON'T HAVE ANY FINGER HOLES.

AND, YES, CONVENIENCE STORES ARE SOMETIMES CALLED SPAS.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS LONG PUZZLED ONE LOYAL FAN OF THE CURIOSITY DESK.

>> I WAS WONDERING IF YOU KNOW WHY CONVENIENCE STORES, OR CORNER STORES, IN BOSTON ARE CALLED SPAS?

>> NOW THAT WORD, "SPA," COMES TO US FROM, OF ALL PLACES, BELGIUM.

SPECIFICALLY A SMALL TOWN IN BELGIUM NAMED SPA, AND THEY NAMED IT SPA BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT AROUND THIS NATURAL BUBBLING MINERAL SPRING, THOUGHT TO HAVE HEALING POWERS.

THE WORD "SPA" DERIVES FROM IT'S WORD "ESPA," WHICH MEANS SPRING OR FOUNTAIN IN WALLOON, A ROMANCE LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN PARTS OF BELGIUM.

RESORTS BUILD AROUND MINERAL SPRINGS, LIKE THE ONE IN SPA, BEGAN POPPING UP ALL OVER EUROPE AND THE U.S.

IN THE 19th CENTURY.

AND THEY BECAME KNOWN AS SPAS.

SO FROM THERE, YOU CAN SEE WHY WE USE THE WORD TODAY FOR ANYTHING FROM A SWANKY RESORT TO A HEALTH AND WELLNESS PLACE, EVEN A BUT A CONVENIENCE STORE?

THE USE OF THE WORD "SPA" IN THIS SENSE IS UNIQUE TO THIS AREA.

AND IT GOES BACK AT LEAST AS FAR AS THE LATE 1800s.

WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE JULIE ROBERTS IN THE WORLD.

SHE STUDIES REGIONAL DIALECTS, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT WE SPEAK AROUND HERE, WHICH IS KNOWN IN LINGUISTIC CIRCLES AS EASTERN NEW ENGLAND ENGLISH.

>> IT'S WICKED NICE OUT.

I'M GONNA GO TO THE SPA TO GET A BOSS OF TONIC.

>> SEE, THAT'S CLASSIC EASTERN NEW ENGLAND ENGLISH RIGHT THERE.

ROBERT'S TRACKED DOWN ONE OF THE EARLIEST KNOWN USAGES OF THE WORD "SPA" IN THIS CONTEXT IN PRINT.

IT WAS IN A STORY ABOUT BOSTON, FROM A PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER.

>> IN BOSTON, THOMPSON'S SPA, THE GREATEST SODA RESORT AT THE HUB, EASILY CLEARS FOR ITS OWNERS $50,000 A YEAR.

>> WHAT MADE THOMPSON'S PLACE A SPA WAS THE BUBBLING SODA FOUNTAIN.

AND, OF COURSE, FOR DECADES SODA FOUNTAINS WERE A STAPLE IN DRUGSTORES AND FIVE AND DIMES, THEMSELVES THE FORERUNNERS TO THE MODERN CONVENIENCE STORE.

THERE YOU HAVE IT, A LITTLE QUIRK OF EASTERN NEW ENGLAND ENGLISH THAT, UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION, ACTUALLY MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE.

DON'T FORGET TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE.

AND, PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT BECAUSE, HEY, I MIGHT JUST LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU.

I'M EDWARD B. HERWICK III.

STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE.

SWEET, THERE'S ONE OF MY SHIRT.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE IT OFF.