Theater

Song From Broadway Musical 'Hamilton' Celebrates Founding Mothers

4:12pm December 25, 2015

by Jeff Lunden

As part of NPR's year-end series "One That Got Away", reporter Jeff Lunden tells us about his favorite song from the hit Broadway musical Hamilton. It's not about the founding fathers; it's about some founding mothers.

Edie Brickell, Steve Martin Broadway Bound With 'Bright Star'

5:50am December 25, 2015

by Vince Pearson

In 2014, Steve Martin and Edie Brickell won a Grammy for the title track to their Bluegrass album Love Has Come for You. Now the duo is headed to Broadway with a musical inspired by that album.

Encore: Among Santa And Mistletoe, A British Christmas Includes Comedy

4:18pm December 24, 2015

by Ari Shapiro

For many people in the United Kingdom, the Christmas season includes a visit to a pantomime or a silly comedy musical. This story originally aired on Dec. 25, 2014 on All Things Considered.

Brits Doing Brooklyn: 'A View From The Bridge' Crosses The Sea To Broadway

7:08pm December 22, 2015

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with actor Mark Strong about his Broadway debut playing Eddie Carbone in Arthur Miller's, A View from the Bridge.

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Arts

Revisiting Mary Martin's Lighter-Than-Air Exuberance In NBC's 1955 'Peter Pan' Live

2:18pm December 22, 2015

by Lloyd Schwartz

In 1955 and '56, NBC aired live telecasts of the Broadway hit Peter Pan, starring Mary Martin. Critic Lloyd Schwartz calls the performances, now available on Blu-ray, a "tribute to freedom and youth."

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"In material like this, I hope that there is a danger in what we're doing. I hope we are on a razor's edge." Leslie Odom Jr. gets into character as Aaron Burr on the Hamilton set.

Being Aaron Burr

10:01pm December 21, 2015

by Daoud Tyler-Ameen

The moment he looked at an American villain and saw a human being, Leslie Odom Jr.'s life changed. The Hamilton star looks back on a career-making year in the biggest show on Broadway.

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Arts

Back On Broadway: 'The Color Purple'

7:47am December 12, 2015

Cynthia Erivo stars on Broadway as Celie in The Color Purple. She talks with NPR's Scott Simon about the production, and revisits one of the first songs she sang for an audience: Silent Night.

Alex Brightman stars as Dewey Finn — a rocker turned substitute teacher — in the musical adaptation of School of Rock.

Arts

Andrew Lloyd Webber Says Music Empowers In 'School Of Rock'

6:59pm December 07, 2015

by Jeff Lunden

The composer teamed up with Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey, to create the new rock musical adaptation of the 2003 movie.

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Arts

Anna Deavere Smith Wants Playgoers To Do What They Can To Counter Violence

5:45am December 07, 2015

by Michele Norris

Through powerful monologues, Anna Deavere Smith has tackled race riots, integration and health care. In Notes from the Field, she's using her characters to explore the school-to-prison pipeline.

Arts

New Exhibit Remembers Shakespeare's Silent Soirée

7:57am December 05, 2015

Forget the Merry Wives of Windsor, NPR's Scott Simon recalls a time when Shakespeare spent the night with a groupie.