New Play On Incarceration Has The Fingerprints Of Real-Life Prisoners by Jeff Lunden

Whorl Inside A Loop, a new play opening in New York, looks at six inmates in a medium security prison and the actress who agrees to teach them how to tell their stories " as she steals those…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 9:16pm on August 27, 2015☆⚑

A Hip-Hop Soundtrack For A Musical About Alexander Hamilton? Sure, Why Not? by Jeff Lunden

The new musical about the U.S.'s Founding Fathers " set to a mostly hip-hop score " that everyone's been talking about for months and months finally opens officially on Broadway Thursday nig…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 2:51pm on August 7, 2015☆⚑

Now On Broadway: The Hip-Hop Tale Of A 'Bastard' Who Became A Founding Father by Jeff Lunden

Hamilton, the hotly anticipated musical about America's founding fathers " which is set to a mostly hip-hop score " is opening Thursday night on Broadway.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 7:11pm on August 6, 2015☆⚑

'Who Does That?!' Broadway Stars React To Badly Behaved Audiences by Jeff Lunden

The Internet erupted this week in protest over the outrageous behavior of New York theater audiences and their mobile devices. Tony Award-winner Patti LuPone is taking matters into her own h…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 10:15pm on July 11, 2015☆⚑

'Who Does That?!' Broadway Stars React To Badly Behaved Audiences by Jeff Lunden

The Internet erupted this week in protest over the outrageous behavior of New York theater audiences and their mobile devices. Tony Award-winner Patti LuPone is taking matters into her own h…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 9:36am on July 11, 2015☆⚑

The Mornin' Ain't So Beautiful For This Dark 'Oklahoma!' Production by Jeff Lunden

In upstate New York, an experimental staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic sets a key scene in total darkness and adds coldblooded murder to the plot.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 1:47pm on July 7, 2015☆⚑

The Mornin' Ain't So Beautiful For This Dark 'Oklahoma!' Production by Jeff Lunden

In upstate New York, an experimental staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic sets a key scene in total darkness and adds coldblooded murder to the plot.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 8:13pm on July 6, 2015☆⚑

Unearthed In A Library, 'Voodoo' Opera Rises Again by Jeff Lunden

The Harlem Renaissance opera Voodoo has not been performed since 1928. A Columbia University researcher rediscovered the score, and now the Harlem Opera Theater hosts two performances.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 9:15pm on June 24, 2015☆⚑

Unearthed In A Library, 'Voodoo' Opera Rises Again by Jeff Lunden

The Harlem Renaissance opera Voodoo has not been performed since 1928. A Columbia University researcher rediscovered the score, and now the Harlem Opera Theater hosts two performances.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 8:54pm on June 24, 2015☆⚑

'Fun Home,' 'Curious Incident' Take Home Top Tony Honors by Jeff Lunden

The Fun Home won best musical, best book and best original score " to name just a few of the honors. The award for best play went to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 7:29am on June 8, 2015☆⚑

First-Time Tony Award Nominees Enjoy New Fame, But Keep Day Jobs by Jeff Lunden

This year, several writers are up for Tony awards for the first time. But while the experience may be a time to celebrate, they're sticking to their day jobs and already eyeing the next proj…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 7:34pm on June 7, 2015☆⚑

First-Time Tony Award Nominees Enjoy New Fame, But Keep Day Jobs by Jeff Lunden

This year, several writers are up for Tony awards for the first time. But while the experience may be a time to celebrate, they're sticking to their day jobs and already eyeing the next proj…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 1:34pm on June 7, 2015☆⚑

Angry Reaction as Theater Critics Cross the Line on 'Spider-Man' by Jeff Lunden

Bloomberg News and Newsday reviewers file reports long before the February opening, breaking longstanding agreement.

SOURCE: Backstage at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Angry Reaction as Theater Critics Cross the Line on 'Spider-Man' by Jeff Lunden

Bloomberg News and Newsday reviewers file reports long before the February opening, breaking longstanding agreement.

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

'Spider-Man' Musical Will Need to Make $1 Million a Week to Break Even by Jeff Lunden

Troubled $65 million musical will need sellout runs of two to three years just to break even.

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 5:58pm on May 25, 2015☆⚑

Athol Fugard Breaks Fences Around 'The Painted Rocks At Revolver Creek' by Jeff Lunden

The 82-year-old playwright says he thought he was done writing about South Africa after apartheid ended " but there were more stories in him, like this tale of a farmer who paints his life o…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:42pm on May 11, 2015☆⚑

Getting To Know The Real Story Was Key To Broadway's 'King And I' Revival by Jeff Lunden

The musical's heroine was inspired by an English-Indian governess who really did travel to the king of Siam's court. The revival, directed by Bartlett Sher, has received nine Tony nomination…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 7:57am on May 2, 2015☆⚑

Getting To Know The Real Story Was Key To Broadway's 'King And I' Revival by Jeff Lunden

The musical's heroine was inspired by an English-Indian governess who really did travel to the king of Siam's court. The revival, directed by Bartlett Sher, has received nine Tony nomination…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 7:57am on May 2, 2015☆⚑

Bill Nighy And David Hare Team Up Again In 'Skylight' Revival by Jeff Lunden

"Our paths haven't crossed " we've beaten a path towards each other," says playwright David Hare. "Bill is my favorite leading man." Nighy is now starring in a revival of Hare's Skylight on …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:21pm on April 7, 2015☆⚑

Bill Nighy And David Hare Team Up Again In 'Skylight' Revival by Jeff Lunden

"Our paths haven't crossed " we've beaten a path towards each other," says playwright David Hare. "Bill is my favorite leading man." Nighy is now starring in a revival of Hare's Skylight on …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:21pm on April 7, 2015☆⚑

Helen Mirren Extends Her Elizabethan Reign In 'The Audience' by Jeff Lunden

Playwright Peter Morgan eavesdrops on more than 60 years of private conversations between Queen Elizabeth II, played by Mirren, and her prime ministers in The Audience.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 6:05am on March 8, 2015☆⚑

One Playwright's 'Obligation' To Confront Race And Identity In The U.S. by Jeff Lunden

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has written a trilogy of provocative and fantastical explorations of race. His latest, based on a 1859 melodrama, pokes fun at conventions while raising difficult ques…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:00pm on February 16, 2015☆⚑

One Playwright's 'Obligation' To Confront Race And Identity In The U.S. by Jeff Lunden

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has written a trilogy of provocative and fantastical explorations of race. His latest, based on a 1859 melodrama, pokes fun at conventions while raising difficult ques…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:00pm on February 16, 2015☆⚑

One-Man Show Casts 'Brilliant' Light On Realities Of Suicide, Depression by Jeff Lunden

The off-Broadway play Every Brilliant Thing tackles its dark subject through audience participation and comedy. Both critics and audience members have described it as incredibly moving.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:39pm on January 30, 2015☆⚑

How Broadway Is Losing Its 'Middle Ground' by Jeff Lunden

Producer Darren Bagert says there's boom or bust environment on Broadway " you're either a huge hit or you close quickly. Two of the fall's most highly anticipated musicals are closing this …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 5:05pm on January 20, 2015☆⚑