British Playwright Peter Shaffer, Who Wrote 'Equus,' Dies At 90
Playwright Peter Shaffer has died. He was best known for Equus and Amadeus, both of which became movies.
Performing Arts
In 'The Dresser,' Anthony Hopkins Brilliantly Comes Undone
Anthony Hopkins says his turn as an aged and increasingly faulty actor performing King Lear in a small theater during World War II is one of his favorite roles in a career full of memorable ones. He stars in the BBC adaptation of the play, The Dresser, along with Ian McKellan. Hopkins, who seized pop culture fame in 1991 for his portrayal of the psychopathic psychiatrist Hannibal Lector, started his career in the British theater and has no sense of lingering romance about it.
From Broadway To TV, An Actress' Death Takes Us Down Cultural Rabbit Hole
Beth Howland died in December at age 74. One of her best known roles, was as the original Amy in Stephen Sondheim's "Company." Looking into her past can lead you down a pop culture spiral.
Taylor Swift, Aryan Goddess?
Haters (of a multicultural society) gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. Meanwhile, Swift will continue to bask in her utterly unremarkable whiteness.
Candice Hoyes Sings Blackness, Womanhood And History On Her New Jazz Album
When Candice Hoyes sings, she's channeling a legacy of black women in jazz. Her debut album, On a Turquoise Cloud, celebrates the genre's storied roots.
Archaeologists Find Early Shakespeare Theater Was Rectangular
Archaeologist Heather Knight tells NPR's Scott Simon about how the Curtain Theatre, where Shakespeare staged early plays, was rectangular and not round.
After Factory Layoffs, The 'Skeleton Crew' Is Left Behind
Born and raised in Detroit, Dominique Morisseau has written three plays about her hometown. Her latest explores the lives of auto workers struggling to keep their jobs during the 2008 economic crisis.
From Walter White To LBJ, Bryan Cranston Is A Master Of Transformation
After five seasons as Walt on Breaking Bad, Cranston reinvented himself as Lyndon B. Johnson in the play (and now the HBO film) All the Way. Originally broadcast March 27, 2014.
An Underground Supper Club Where Music Moves The Menu
Philip Gelb once toured with top musicians. Now he's a chef who hosts intimate dinner parties where the entertainment, by innovative world musicians, is as experimental as the ever-changing fare.
'Hamilton' Producers Strike Deal To Share Profits With Original Cast Members
The Broadway hit musical, Hamilton, is up for 16 Tony Award nominations, and that's sure to boost its already high profits. In April, the musical's producers struck a deal to share some of its profits with original cast members. NPR's Audie Cornish talks to Michael Paulson, a reporter for The New York Times, about what this means for the industry.