All stories by Michel Martin on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

West African dance and hip-hop play a key role in the revamped Juilliard track by Michel Martin

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Alicia Graf Mack about how she's reshaping Juilliard's prestigious Dance Division to make it more relevant than ever.

SOURCE: npr.org at 09:36AM
Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Virginia Johnson on her time at Dance Theatre of Harlem: 'It was love' by Michel Martin

When Virginia Johnson joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem, it was often confused with the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. This week Johnson retires as artistic director of the pioneerin…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 06:13AM
Monday, July 4, 2022

At Madrid's Amor de Dios flamenco center, dancers are finding their rhythm again by Michel Martin

The pandemic placed competitive flamenco dancing on pause in Madrid. Now the passion and the intimacy of the artform are back on stage.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 07:54AM
Monday, December 9, 2019

'I Done Been Through Some Things': The Tina Turner Musical Is Now On Broadway by Michel Martin

Tina playwright Katori Hall and star Adrienne Warren have plenty to say about working with the star, depicting domestic violence and learning to sing in a new voice.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 01:24AM
Monday, July 15, 2019

The Pulitzer-Winning Play 'Fairview' Is About Being Watched While Black by Michel Martin

It starts with a perfect black family in a model household, like a '70s sitcom. Then it gets weird. Playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury says she was inspired by an experience with police survei…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 07:48AM
Tuesday, March 5, 2019

'Moonlight' Writer's Broadway Debut Stars A Queer, Black 'Choir Boy' by Michel Martin

Like many teenage dramas. Tarell Alvin McCraney's play is set in a prep school. But this one, populated by African-American boys and infused with spirituals and step routines, is a specific …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 05:45PM
Sunday, February 17, 2019

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Debuts 'Lazarus' To Celebrate 60th Anniversary by Michel Martin

The hour-long piece was created by choreographer Rennie Harris, who formed the first and longest running hip-hop dance touring company. Harris tells NPR's Michel Martin all about the new wor…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 07:32PM
Sunday, December 23, 2018

This Yente Found The Perfect Match, Performing 'Fiddler' In Yiddish by Michel Martin

Jackie Hoffman grew up speaking what her mother called "kitchen Yiddish" — a few words here and there. Now, she's dusting off the mameloshn (mother tongue) for a production of the 1964 mus…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 07:42PM
Saturday, March 31, 2018

John Legend Pulls From Familiar Roots To Play Jesus In 'Jesus Christ Superstar Live' by Michel Martin

NBC's latest one-night musical event revives the 1970s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, starring John Legend in its daunting lead role.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 05:53PM
Sunday, February 11, 2018

On Stage, In Marriage, These 2 Alvin Ailey Dancers Learned The Steps Together by Michel Martin

Linda Celeste Sims and Glenn Allen Sims met at work — at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Over 15 years of marriage later, they have some advice for balancing it all and sustaining …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 05:19PM
Monday, October 30, 2017

Bold Experiment Turned Broadway Hit, 'Lion King' Continues To Thrill — And Heal by Michel Martin

Director Julie Taymor took an unconventional tack in adapting the animated film for the big stage. Even 20 years on, she finds the musical's social themes evolve and resonate with audiences …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 03:06AM
Monday, October 9, 2017

Q-Tip Says His New Kennedy Center Role Helps 'Institutionalize Hip-Hop' by Michel Martin

A Tribe Called Quest frontman is the first artistic director for hip-hop culture at the Kennedy Center. He discusses the cultural levity of his appointment and the current political climate.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 03:54AM
Saturday, September 23, 2017

'We Believe Deeply In Lox And Bagels': What It Means To Be A Secular Jew by Michel Martin

In his new one-man show, On the Media host Bob Garfield grapples with questions of identity and belonging. "I've been running from the religious part of my religion for my entire adult life,…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 11:04PM
Saturday, July 1, 2017

How 'Fiddler On The Roof' (And Writing Its Sequel) Helped An Actress Find Closure by Michel Martin

Alexandra Silber's father died when she was just 18 — the same age as Fiddler's Hodel when she leaves her dad at a train station. Silber's new novel, After Anatevka, tells the rest of Hode…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 07:06PM
Saturday, April 15, 2017

'Smart People' Asks Hard Questions About Racism In America by Michel Martin

Smart People is a thought provoking play that examines the difficulties of talking about race. Playwright Lydia R. Diamond discusses the genesis of the play.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 10:12PM
Sunday, September 21, 2014

Adding Color To 'The Great White Way' by Michel Martin

NPR's Michel Martin asks a panel of award-winning playwrights how diverse artists are challenging Broadway's landscape, and whether it matters.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 07:45AM
Thursday, September 18, 2014

Look, Mom, I Finally Made It To Broadway! by Michel Martin

NPR's Michel Martin will sit down with a panel of award-winning playwrights to ask about diversity in theater. Follow here or join us on Twitter on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, using #NPRMichel.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 05:52PM
Sunday, August 3, 2014

Playing 'Crazy Eyes' Taught Actress 'It's OK To Be Just You' : NPR by Michel Martin

"I grew up in a very small town in Massachusetts, and it goes without saying that there weren't many Nigerian families in that town, and a lot of people couldn't say Uzoamaka," she explains.…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 02:12PM
Thursday, September 29, 2011

Grammy Winner Audra McDonald: Say Yes To Yourself : NPR by Michel Martin

Audra McDonald has been dazzling audiences for more than a decade with her stunning soprano voice. She has won Grammy and Tony awards, and has starred in stage classics and the TV drama, 'Pr…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 10:31PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards