Tom Stoppard brings his Jewish identity to the stage " decades after he learned of it by Jeff Lunden

All four of the playwright's grandparents died in the Holocaust, but Stoppard only learned he was Jewish in middle age. Now, at 85, he engages with his family history in the play Leopoldstad…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:49pm on October 3, 2022☆⚑

New Broadway play 'Leopoldstadt' looks at a large Jewish family in Vienna over a half century by Jeff Lunden

Tom Stoppard's new play, "Leopoldstadt," grew from a midlife realization concerning how many of his relatives died in the Holocaust.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 10:03am on October 1, 2022☆⚑

Where are the Black musicians in the country's largest orchestras? by Jeff Lunden

In 2014, a study found that only 1.4% of orchestra musicians were Black. In 2022, it's hard to know if that number is better or worse.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 9:25am on September 29, 2022☆⚑

The Broadway community is celebrating another year of pandemic survival by Jeff Lunden

It's been a year since Broadway started back up again - and there've been a lot of ups and downs. COVID still had the power to shut down shows, but performers and audiences persisted.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 9:43am on September 14, 2022☆⚑

Published 8 years after her death, Mary Rodgers' memoir is a true tell-all book by Jeff Lunden

Rodgers, the daughter of theatrical legend Richard Rogers, was a songwriter, children's book author and philanthropist. Her memoir, Shy: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers, is …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 9:07pm on August 11, 2022☆⚑

Encore: 'Into the Woods' returns to Broadway by Jeff Lunden

The concert version of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods moves to Broadway, with Sara Bareilles, Brian D'Arcy James and others.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 9:33pm on July 27, 2022☆⚑

'Into the Woods' returns to Broadway by Jeff Lunden

A concert version of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods stars Sara Bareilles, Brian d'Arcy James, Joshua Henry and others.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 7:33am on July 22, 2022☆⚑

'The Kite Runner' brings life in Afghanistan to Broadway by Jeff Lunden

The play is based on Khaled Hosseini's 2003 best-selling novel, set in Afghanistan and among Afghan migrants in the United States.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 6:54pm on July 20, 2022☆⚑

The villainous King Richard III will be played by a woman in Shakespeare in the Park by Jeff Lunden

Casting a female actor in the lead role of "Richard III" is just one twist New York's Shakespeare in the Park has given the classic this summer.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 9:18am on July 10, 2022☆⚑

Why it matters that Danai Gurira is taking on Richard III by Jeff Lunden

Guirira said it was interesting to explore "toxic masculinity" as a perpetrator instead of an object - and that the role brought up a lot of questions.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 9:18am on July 10, 2022☆⚑

Broadway's highest honors were handed out at Radio City Music Hall by Jeff Lunden

Sunday's 75th annual Tony Awards celebrated Broadway's first full season since the pandemic shutdown. A theme of the night was deep gratitude for the uncelebrated people who keep the shows r…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 11:24pm on June 13, 2022☆⚑

These essential workers aren't eligible to win Tonys but deserve the spotlight by Jeff Lunden

Music directors aren't eligible for awards at tonight's Tonys. We hear from three from Tony-nominated shows, talking about their craft and the challenges of conducting eight performances a w…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 12:24pm on June 12, 2022☆⚑

Iranian-American playwright is set on breaking expectations by Jeff Lunden

Sanaz Toossi is having a moment " her first production ever, English, just won a Lucille Lortel award for outstanding new off-Broadway play, and Wish You Were Here opened last week.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 5:33pm on May 13, 2022☆⚑

'A Strange Loop' garners 11 Tony nominations, including Best Musical by Jeff Lunden

These nominations are for Broadway's first season after the 2020 COVID shutdown.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 10:12pm on May 9, 2022☆⚑

Photos: The Golden Age of Broadway is celebrated in a new online exhibit by Jeff Lunden

A new virtual art exhibition celebrates theater, movies and television with original sketches by Broadway set and costume designers.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 9:18pm on May 7, 2022☆⚑

Broadway's 'POTUS': Should these women save the president? by Jeff Lunden

Seven comic actresses star in a new play by a 28-year-old up-and-coming playwright.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 5:24am on April 27, 2022☆⚑

From Fanny to Barbra to Beanie: 'Funny Girl' comes back to Broadway by Jeff Lunden

In 1964, the musical made a star out of 21-year-old Barbra Streisand. Now a new version features Beanie Feldstein.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 9:42am on April 22, 2022☆⚑

Young playwrights confront gun violence with their art and say #Enough by Jeff Lunden

Across the country, theaters and civic organizations commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Columbine school shootings by presenting readings of eight short plays by teenagers.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 1:54pm on April 17, 2022☆⚑

On the date of Columbine, 8 plays on gun violence will be read across the U.S. by Jeff Lunden

Young playwrights highlight the damage done by gun violence after winning a competition called #enough. Their performances are scheduled to occur on the date of the 1999 Columbine school sho…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 1:54pm on April 17, 2022☆⚑

A stripped-down 'Cyrano' " a London import " is all about language by Jeff Lunden

James McAvoy stars in this Olivier-winning production that includes beatboxing " but no prosthetic nose.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 6:37am on April 14, 2022☆⚑

At the Broadway Makers Marketplace, theater fans find both crafts and community by Jeff Lunden

A pop-up shop in a New York subway station is home to all things Broadway: memorabilia, live performances and handmade goods created by fans. Now, the shop's owners hope to find a permanent …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 3:18pm on March 20, 2022☆⚑

Norwegian opera singer Lise Davidsen is on the verge of superstardom by Jeff Lunden

Lise Davidsen is in her mid-thirties, and she didn't even hear an opera live until she was in her twenties. Now, she's a sought-after opera singer.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 8:18am on March 14, 2022☆⚑

A machine turns Black people white in the musical 'Black No More' by Jeff Lunden

An off-Broadway show, based on a 1931 novel, explores the results when a scientist charges Black people $50 each to change their race with his new invention.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 8:33am on February 14, 2022☆⚑

Theater stars spring to life on the pages of 'B is for Broadway' by Jeff Lunden

A few years ago, a children's book called A is for Audra celebrated musical theater divas. Its creators have written a new book, B is for Broadway, celebrating theater from auditions to Zieg…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 8:42pm on January 29, 2022☆⚑

Omicron hampers Broadway. Fewer tourists are there for just a score of shows by Jeff Lunden

Tickets may be easier and cheaper to get for the plays that are still open. Some producers reopened until the virus raced through the cast and crew. Future productions are hard to see on th…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 8:06am on January 23, 2022☆⚑