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Performing Arts

Monday

Theater

Heart-Stopping Production Numbers Make Up For A Thin Plot In 'An American In Paris'

Fresh Air

The new Broadway musical was inspired by the hit 1951 Hollywood musical starring Gene Kelly, with music by George Gershwin. Critic Lloyd Schwartz explains why he hopes a lot of people see the show.

Heart-Stopping Production Numbers Make Up For A Thin Plot In 'An American In Paris'

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Sunday

Targeted To Teens, A German Play About ISIS Stokes Fear, Teaching Opportunities

Jurgen Todenhoefer in 2014 ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images hide caption

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ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Parallels

Targeted To Teens, A German Play About ISIS Stokes Fear, Teaching Opportunities

A play based on the experiences of one of the few journalists to have reported from behind ISIS lines is causing controversy. Critics are wary of how students will receive the sensitive themes.

Targeted To Teens, A German Play About ISIS Stokes Fear, Teaching Opportunities

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Tuesday

To Make It In Comedy You Have To Bet On Yourself

Stephen Agyei (left) and Roy Wood Jr. talk about what it takes to make it in comedy. Jeffrey Nicholson/Courtesy of Stephen Agyei; Mindy Tucker/Courtesy of Roy Wood Jr. hide caption

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Jeffrey Nicholson/Courtesy of Stephen Agyei; Mindy Tucker/Courtesy of Roy Wood Jr.

Been There: Lessons From A Shared Experience

To Make It In Comedy You Have To Bet On Yourself

Stephen Agyei is a Denver-based comedian who's ready to quit his day job and take his comedy full time. The Daily Show's Roy Wood Jr.'s advice? Move to a coast.

To Make It In Comedy You Have To Bet On Yourself

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Saturday

'Hamilton' To Pence: 'We Are The Diverse America Who Are Alarmed'

Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo and Ariana DeBose with Lin-Manuel Miranda with the cast during their final performance curtain call of Hamilton in July. Walter McBride/WireImage/Getty Images hide caption

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Walter McBride/WireImage/Getty Images

Politics

'Hamilton' To Pence: 'We Are The Diverse America Who Are Alarmed'

Pence was met with boos and cheers as he came to see the show, and afterwards the diverse cast and crew delivered a pointed statement about what they believe really makes America great.

National

'Hamilton' Cast Makes Appeal To Attendee Mike Pence, Amid Emotional Audience

Vice president-elect Mike Pence attended the Broadway production of Hamilton last night. At the end of the musical, the cast of the show had a message for him.

'Hamilton' Cast Makes Appeal To Attendee Mike Pence, Amid Emotional Audience

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Tuesday

Monday

Anna Kendrick Says Acting Is 'The Way That I Learn About Other People'

Anna Kendrick began performing in community theater when she was 6; by 12 years old, she had made it to Broadway. Casey Curry/Casey Curry hide caption

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Casey Curry/Casey Curry

Author Interviews

Anna Kendrick Says Acting Is 'The Way That I Learn About Other People'

Fresh Air

The Pitch Perfect star started acting when she was 6. Back then, she says, she likely just did it for the attention. "Then it sort of transformed into something that was really meaningful for me."

Anna Kendrick Says Acting Is 'The Way That I Learn About Other People'

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Monday

Comedian Aparna Nancherla Makes Light Of The Heavy Stuff

Aparna Nancherla says that making jokes about depression and anxiety injects "a little dose of hope." Shaughn & John hide caption

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Shaughn & John

Culture

Comedian Aparna Nancherla Makes Light Of The Heavy Stuff

Nancherla is riding high with a new TV special, a tour and a new album, Just Putting It Out There — all while dealing with some difficult personal issues, like depression and anxiety, on stage.

Comedian Aparna Nancherla Makes Light Of The Heavy Stuff

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Sunday

Akron Works To Bring Joy To Voting

Akron is one of four cities trying to inject playfulness and joy into the act of voting through activities such as "virtual wrestling." New World Performance Laboratory hide caption

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New World Performance Laboratory

Politics

Akron Works To Bring Joy To Voting

WKSU

Akron is one of four cities using civic-engagement grants to make voting a more playful and community-oriented act.

Akron Works To Bring Joy To Voting

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Saturday

This Election Is Even Tough For Comedians

For the past two years this election season has been relentless. And it turns out it's especially tough for stand up comedians. Washington, D.C. comedian Rob Maher explains.

This Election Is Even Tough For Comedians

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Thursday

Sunday

Debbie Allen's 'Weapons' To Stop Gun Violence Are Dance And Music

Debbie Allen's FREEZE FRAME...Stop the Madness is a musical featuring dance, video and visual art that explores gun violence in cities. Lee Tonks/Courtesy of Debbie Allen Dance Academy hide caption

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Lee Tonks/Courtesy of Debbie Allen Dance Academy

Theater

Debbie Allen's 'Weapons' To Stop Gun Violence Are Dance And Music

Director, actor and choreographer Debbie Allen's multimedia musical Freeze Frame examines the lives of young people living in cities with the backdrop of violence and police shootings.

Debbie Allen's 'Weapons' To Stop Gun Violence Are Dance And Music

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Thursday

'Falsettos' Still Resonates In Changed Social Landscape

When Falsettos first premiered in 1981, this frank, funny musical about gay, Jewish life in New York City was covering new territory. Now a revival is in the works, but will it still feel resonant in an age where gay rights have become mainstream?

'Falsettos' Still Resonates In Changed Social Landscape

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Monday

Culture

Christopher Marlowe Credited As Shakespeare's Co-Author On Henry VI Plays

True authorship of Shakespeare has been debated for centuries. Now, the New Oxford Shakespeare edition will list Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe as co-author on the three Henry VI plays, part one, two and three. NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Florida State University professor Gary Taylor, one of the general editors of the new volume.

Christopher Marlowe Credited As Shakespeare's Co-Author On Henry VI Plays

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Manic And Depressed, 'I Didn't Like Who I Was,' Says Comic Chris Gethard

Chris Gethard co-stars in Comedy Central's Broad City and in Mike Birbiglia's film Don't Think Twice. His one-man show, Career Suicide, details his experiences with depression. Atisha Paulson/Chris Gethard hide caption

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Atisha Paulson/Chris Gethard

Shots - Health News

Manic And Depressed, 'I Didn't Like Who I Was,' Says Comic Chris Gethard

Fresh Air

Gethard tells stories of hitting rock bottom in his new one-man off-Broadway show, which is billed as a comedy about "suicide, depression, alcoholism and all the other funniest parts of life."

Manic And Depressed, 'I Didn't Like Who I Was,' Says Comic Chris Gethard

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