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California Characters

Richard Montoya: 25 Years Of Laughing About Race

In the mid-1980s in California, at a time when few people wanted to talk about race, Richard Montoya was laughing about it. His thought-provoking performances with the group Culture Clash over the past 25 years have cracked up audiences, and changed some minds.

Richard Montoya: 25 Years Of Laughing About Race

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Singing About Mental Illness In 'Next to Normal'

The Tony award-winning musical Next To Normal portrays a family struggling with mental illness and the treatments offered by modern psychiatry — with rock songs about Valium and bipolar disorder.

Singing About Mental Illness In 'Next to Normal'

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How Artists Make Money

Life On The Fringes: It's Not Easy Being Scene

For NPR's series on how artists earn a living, Neda Ulaby looks at a hardy, scrappy breed of survivors: performers who make a career out of careering across the country from one Fringe festival to another.

Life On The Fringes: It's Not Easy Being Scene

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Lessons In Reality, Just From 'Playing Shakespeare'

A new DVD of the BBC's legendary Playing Shakespeare series — with Judi Dench, Ian McKellen and more — has critic Bob Mondello mulling over what the bard knew about "holding the mirror up to nature."

Lessons In Reality, Just From 'Playing Shakespeare'

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In Argentina, Swine Flu Means Early Curtain Call

Despite critical acclaim, The Way Things Are is closing at the end of the month because of low attendance, due to worries over the flu outbreak. Silvina Frydlewsky for NPR hide caption

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Silvina Frydlewsky for NPR

World

In Argentina, Swine Flu Means Early Curtain Call

In Argentina, swine flu has killed more than 160 people — more than Mexico, where the epidemic began, and the highest death toll outside the United States. The country's vibrant theater industry — Latin America's richest — has been hit especially hard.

In Argentina, Swine Flu Means Early Curtain Call

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Arts & Life

Creative Coincidences: Cage On Cunningham

Fresh Air

Composer John Cage was Merce Cunningham's life partner and longtime collaborator. Cage, who died in 1992, was a pioneer of electronic music and compositions involving chance and randomness.

Creative Coincidences: Cage On Cunningham

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Performing Arts

Second City Takes On Obama In New Show

When Barack Obama was elected president, some comedians complained. But Obama does not intimidate Second City, the Chicago-based comedy troupe, which is performing a show called Barack Stars in the nation's capitol this month.

Second City Takes On Obama In New Show

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Arts & Life

Fantasia Inspires Fans, Brings Love To 'The Color Purple'

Many remember Fantasia Barrino as Season Three winner on the hit reality television singing competition American Idol. Now, Fantasia stars as Celie in the Washington, D.C., run of The Color Purple. Host Michel Martin speaks to the electrifying singer about American Idol, her role on Broadway, motherhood, and the role of Celie has changed her life.

Fantasia Inspires Fans, Brings Love To 'The Color Purple'

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How Artists Make Money

For Playwright, TV Gigs Make Theater Possible

The play may be the thing, but the hard truth is that theater isn't particularly lucrative. Acclaimed playwright Theresa Rebeck is just one of many dramatists who pay the bills by writing for television.

For Playwright, TV Gigs Make Theater Possible

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Performing Arts

Wisdom Watch: Playwright Anna Deavere Smith

Playwright Anna Deavere Smith has been hailed as the "most exciting individual in American theater". Smith talks about her extraordinary career and her latest project, a play about change in Washington, DC, called The Americans.

Wisdom Watch: Playwright Anna Deavere Smith

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DVD Reviews

'Playing Shakespeare' The Way The Pros Do It

Fresh Air

Playing Shakespeare, a 1984 series in which actors dissect some of the Bard's most famous works, shows how crucial an understanding of Shakespeare's language and versification are to conveying the meaning — and power — of his scenes.

'Playing Shakespeare' The Way The Pros Do It

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Arts & Life

Londoners Pleased With Live Broadcast Of 'Phedre'

The National Theatre on the South Bank in London is broadcasting its first live play out to the world from Iceland to South Africa. Academy Award-winner Helen Mirren stars in the 17th century play Phedre, written in Alexandrine verse. At an ordinary movie theatre in the London suburb of Brixton, locals give their thoughts on the play.

Londoners Pleased With Live Broadcast Of 'Phedre'

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Performing Arts

'Looped': TV's Rhoda Tackles The Trials Of Tallulah

Two one-name legends meet as actress Valerie Harper takes on a stage play about an iconic Hollywood broad having a very, very bad day.

'Looped': TV's Rhoda Tackles The Trials Of Tallulah

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Open Mic

Comparing Notes: Kitt, Kander And Miranda

Broadway composer and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who created and starred in the Tony-winning musical In the Heights, sits down at the piano with John Kander, the legendary composer of Chicago, and Tom Kitt, composer and winner of this year's Tony for the musical Next to Normal.

Comparing Notes: Kitt, Kander And Miranda

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