Performing Arts

Laura Benanti performs in Washington in 2015. She recently asked high school students to send her videos of their musical theater performances after many of them were canceled.

A Broadway Star And #SunshineSongs Bring High School Musical Theater To Small Screens

1:37pm March 17, 2020

High school musicals are canceled around the country over coronavirus concerns. Broadway star Laura Benanti asked disappointed high school singers for the next best thing: performance videos.

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The current production of Riverdance was updated for its 25th anniversary. But performances have been postponed for the rest of the month because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Arts

'Riverdance' Turns 25, But Has Put The Celebration On Hold — For Now

12:35pm March 17, 2020

by Jeff Lunden

The Irish dance spectacle has been performed for audiences all over the world. The current production was polished for the anniversary, but has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Arts

Here's How We Cope When We're Stressed: Ideas From NPR's Arts Desk

12:44pm March 16, 2020

by NPR Staff

A Norwegian knitting marathon. America's Next Top Model. British crime dramas. Real-time strategy games. Peanut soup. These are some things that help us feel better — maybe they'll work for you, too?

Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, photographed in New York on Aug. 19, 2007. The artist, best known for their work in the groups Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV, died on March 14, 2020.

Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, Provocateur And Industrial Co-Creator, Dead At 70

12:00pm March 15, 2020

by Sasha Geffen

The Manchester-raised artist was an invariably complicated and controversial figure, said to exert an unhealthy level of control over their collaborators.

A woman walks past the theater showing Hamilton on Broadway on Thursday in New York City. Audiences won't be seeing the award-winning play for at least a month.

Broadway Shutters Its Stages Amid Coronavirus Threat

6:50pm March 12, 2020

by Jeff Lunden

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced a statewide ban of gatherings of more than 500 people. That includes Broadway's 41 theaters.

An empty Lincoln Center will be a much more common sight over the coming weeks; all its constituent organizations have all closed temporarily due to coronavirus worries.

Performing Arts And Cultural Organizations Close Their Doors Due To Coronavirus

5:10pm March 12, 2020

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Arts and cultural events and institutions across the country are announcing cancellations and closures, including SXSW in Austin, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

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Working on Coal Country helped Steve Earle write his upcoming album, Ghosts of West Virginia. Seven songs from that record are featured in the play.

Featuring Music From Steve Earle, 'Coal Country' Recounts Deadly Mine Explosion

11:04am March 07, 2020

by Rick Karr

A new play tells the story of the 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine disaster in West Virginia. Songwriter Steve Earle used it as a creative challenge to write his forthcoming album, Ghosts of West Virginia.

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SXSW Events Canceled Over Coronavirus Concerns

10:22am March 07, 2020

South by Southwest — a massive art, music and technology festival — has been canceled over fears that visitors might help spread the coronavirus in Austin, Texas.

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Jerry Minor plays Michael Jackson's glove in For the Love of a Glove. The unauthorized, satirical musical is playing at The Carl Sagan & Ann Druyan Theater until March 22.

New Musical Imagines Michael Jackson's Story As Told By His Famous Glove

11:47am March 01, 2020

by Andrew Limbong

For the Love of a Glove explores an alternate history in which Michael Jackson meets a sparkly silver glove from outer space named Thrihil-Lha who gives Michael his talents in exchange for blood.

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Arts

'West Side Story' Gets A Modern Reboot On Broadway

6:05pm February 23, 2020

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Shereen Pimentel and Isaac Powell, who play the lead roles in West Side Story, about this latest revival that's set in modern day New York.

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