Arts

Arts

Hamilton Wins 11 Tonys Out Of Its 16 Nominations

6:29pm June 13, 2016

by Jeff Lunden

Tony Awards host James Corden and the night's biggest winners paid an emotional tribute to the 50 lives lost in a mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday morning.

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On the CBS series BrainDead, Laurel Healy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) returns home to Washington, D.C., to work for her brother, Sen. Luke Healy (Danny Pino), only to find herself embroiled in two huge problems: The government has stopped working due to bud

Arts

Aliens Attack And Congress Goes Extreme In CBS' Political Satire 'BrainDead'

4:46pm June 13, 2016

by David Bianculli

The creators of The Good Wife mix comedy, politics and science fiction in their new summer series. TV critic David Bianculli says BrainDead is bizarre, fun and full of "intriguing little elements."

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Why did humans start cultivating celery? It's low-calorie and, one might argue, low flavor. We asked some experts at the intersection of botany and anthropology to share their best guesses.

Celery: Why?

3:34pm June 13, 2016

by Natalie Jacewicz

Considering humans' millennia-long struggle with famine, it's surprising anyone spent time or resources cultivating low-calorie celery. But the vegetable's original use had nothing to do with food.

Cover image of Greetings from Utopia, by Claire Hoffman

Books
Arts

A Childhood Of Transcendental Meditation, Spent In The 'Shadow Of A Guru'

2:09pm June 13, 2016

Journalist Claire Hoffman grew up in a utopian community in Fairfield, Iowa. At first, she says, "it was entirely magical." Then doubt crept in. Hoffman's memoir is Greetings from Utopia Park.

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Arts

Tony Awards Show Honors Florida Victims; 'Hamilton' Wins 11 Categories

11:42am June 13, 2016

by Maquita Peters

The 70th Tony Awards ceremony was dedicated to people affected by Sunday's deadly mass shooting in Orlando, Fla.

Physicist Stephon Alexander shares his love of science with his students at Brown University, and his love of jazz with musicians around Providence.

Scientist Stephon Alexander: 'Infinite Possibilities' Unite Jazz And Physics

3:49pm June 12, 2016

by Ari Daniel

Stephon Alexander once downplayed the connections he saw between jazz and physics, concerned that — as "the only black person" in his professional circle — his credibility would be questioned.

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Books
Arts

'Rich And Pretty' Author Rumaan Alam Captures Lives Very Different From His Own

7:51am June 12, 2016

The new novel "Rich and Pretty" follows two women who find themselves at a crossroad. Host Linda Wertheimer talks to author Rumaan Alam about writing characters that are nothing like oneself.

Books
Arts

In Debut Thriller Novel, Iain Reid Delivers Shivers Without Reader Knowing Why

7:51am June 12, 2016

Iain Reid has written a creepy but enthralling new novel, "I'm Thinking of Ending Things." It's a psychological thriller that keeps readers guessing. Host Linda Wertheimer talks with the author.

Michelle Gonzalez has been an usher for 11 years. She's the newly elected shop steward at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, home of the musical Waitress.

Arts

May I Help You Find Your Seat? We Sat Down With Broadway's Longtime Ushers

7:45am June 12, 2016

by Jeff Lunden

Winners for the 70th Annual Tony Awards are announced Sunday night. Every year, NPR's Jeff Lunden talks to some of the hardworking people in the theater biz who aren't eligible for Tony nominations.

Books
Arts

Yes, All Men (And Everyone Else) Need To Read 'Sex Object'

7:00am June 12, 2016

by Annalisa Quinn

Jessica Valenti's powerful new memoir examines the toll sexism takes on women's lives. Sex Object doesn't offer solutions; instead, it bears witness to the daily grind of harassment and hatred.