culture

Pabllo Vittar performs during WorldPride NYC 2019 on Pride Island in New York City.

Pabllo Vittar: The drag queen-superstar fighting for equality in Brazil

2:02pm June 21, 2022

by Michael Levitt

Pabllo Vittar is one of the biggest drag performers in the world. In her native Brazil, the LGBTQ icon uses her platform to fight for equality — and against injustice.

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'An Immense World' dives deep into the umwelt of animals

7:39am June 21, 2022

by Barbara J. King

Pulitzer prize-winning science journalist Ed Yong writes in a perfect balance of scientific rigor and personal awe as he invites readers to grasp something of how other animals experience the world.

A group in Nebraska is celebrating Juneteenth with a steampunk twist

5:08pm June 20, 2022

by William Padmore

In Lincoln, Neb., organizers of a Juneteenth festival celebrated the holiday with a combination of history and modern steampunk.

Julie Andrews sang "The hills are alive" in the film version of The Sound of Music, but Hammerstein's letters reveal that a much bigger Hollywood star had lobbied hard to play Maria.

Oh, what a beautiful archive: Oscar Hammerstein's letters reveal his many sides

4:00pm June 20, 2022

by Bob Mondello

A thousand pages of correspondence by Oscar Hammerstein II, the lyricist for such musicals as Show Boat, Oklahoma!, Carousel and The Sound of Music are available to a wide public for the first time.

Karim Sulayman, Raha Mirzadegan, Coral Dolphin and John Taylor Ward perform in Unholy Wars in Charleston, S.C., in May.

An Arab American singer reframes music about the Crusades

2:36pm June 20, 2022

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

A new project conceived by Lebanese American tenor Karim Sulayman recasts baroque music that by turns demonizes and exoticizes Arabs and Muslims.

Jeremy Allen White as Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto, Lionel Boyce as Marcus, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richie.

Arts

FX's 'The Bear': A funny, raw, real drama in a restaurant kitchen

5:00am June 20, 2022

by Glen Weldon

Jeremy Allen White plays a wunderkind chef who returns to his family's restaurant after a tragedy. The Bear knows exactly what it's doing, and it does it well.

Screenwriter, producer and director of film and television Paul Haggis, pictured in 2017, has been arrested in Italy on sexual assault charges.

'Crash' director Paul Haggis was arrested on sexual assault charges in Italy

6:03pm June 19, 2022

Oscar-winning film director and screenwriter Paul Haggis is being detained on sexual assault charges. He has previously been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women.

Cenk Bulbul, a single dad by choice, with his youngest daughter Gaia Bulbul in New York, NY. Cenk had both his daughters via the same surrogate using donor eggs and his sperm to make the embryos that were implanted.

Three single, gay dads reflect on fatherhood, surrogacy journeys

10:51am June 19, 2022

by Alana Wise

For Father's Day, NPR spoke to three, gay single fathers who made the choice to become parents via surrogacy.

Arts

'Wait Wait' for June 18, 2022: With Not My Job guest Sean Hayes

12:12pm June 18, 2022

Sean Hayes is an award-winning actor, producer, and podcaster. He's a true triple-threat, but can he answer our three questions about Purple Haze and other weird marijuana strains?

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A learning lab that's part of the exhibit ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States.

Arts

A new exhibit takes visitors closer to the National Museum of the American Latino

8:01am June 18, 2022

by Miranda Mazariegos

The National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, D.C., won't be finished for another decade, but a pop-up exhibit from the museum has opened on the National Mall