The Culture Show Podcast

The Emmy award-winning composer Jeff Beal. You might not know it, but you’ve heard his work. He gave us the theme song to “House of Cards,” which became an anthem for power and corruption. He added even more splashes of color to the Oscar-winning film Pollock. Now his work brings him to Boston, to lead the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra in an upcoming concert. From there, when music saved Boston. We get a preview of a James Brown tribute concert, marking the anniversary of the night the “Godfather of Soul” brought peace to a restless city in the aftermath of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Finally, with the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, the president of Boston Architectural College, Mahesh Daas is here to talk about how we compare to other nations when it comes to investing in our infrastructure.

Comedian and actor Chris Fleming. He has a comedy special streaming on Peacock, a YouTube Channel with a cult following and he’s selling out comedy venues – but he’s far from selling out. As someone who has built a following playing the oddball, his absurdist comedy can’t be corrupted by success—he’ll be the first to tell you that it lives outside of the standards that come with standup. Ahead of his show at the Wilbur, the Massachusetts native joins us. In January we were joined by Amanda Shea, curator of HellaBlack Volume Six, when she was doing an open call for artists to submit their work. Now, HellaBlack is nearly here. HellaBlack is an interdisciplinary performance event curated by and for Black artists. On April 8, artists will showcase their work. Amanda Shea is back for a preview. She is the 2022 Boston Music Awards Spoken Word Artist of the Year, a performer and activist. She is also the host of GBH’s “Outspoken Saturdays” a spoken word poetry event for emerging artists, which we host at our studio at the Boston Public Library. From there, how the arts has been an economic engine. Waterville, Maine, the former mill town turned college town, was struggling. Only a few years ago their downtown was desolate. Today it is abuzz with shops, maker spaces, an arts complex and a museum. The investment, driven largely by Colby College, has turned the town around. David Greene, the president of Colby College, joins us.

Padma Lakshmi. She’s been on a quest to learn how food is entwined with our history and culture. From inviting us into her kitchen, to entering the kitchens of others. The through-line in all she’s done in her career is making people feel known – and feel at home. To honor this work,Boston University is presenting her with its ICON award. She joins us ahead of her visit to BU. And, In her book Muppets in Moscow, Natasha Lance Rogoff pulls back the iron curtain on what it was like to work in Russia as aTV producer in the 1990’s. There were absolute triumphs of Big Bird Diplomacy, moments when capitalism collided with the legacy of communism, and a deep realization that a country undergoing radical change, can only change so much .

Live from the Boston Public Library, it’s our arts and culture week in review. Beyonce gives new meaning to “Midnight Cowboy,” dropping her much-anticipated country album “Cowboy Carter” today at 12:00 AM. From there music mogul Sean Combs has been accused of sexual assault by multiple people, prompting Federal agents to raid his homes. Is this even more of a signal that people with money, power, and fame are no longer above the law? Then, it’s the kind of comeback that you only see in the movies. This week the Coolidge Corner Theatre has rebounded from covid closures, unveiling its megawatt makeover. And it’s Michaelangelo’s David vs. the Goliath that is capitalism. By defending David’s dignity against naughty souvenirs, is a museum director also attacking freedom of expression?

The street artist Shephard Fairey officially crossed the threshold into fine art with his first museum exhibition–right here at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. Curated by Culture Show contributor Pedro Alonzo, that exhibition happened 15 years ago. What did it mean for Fairey’s street cred? What trails did he blaze? Pedro Alonzo joins us to talk about about Shepard Fairey’s legacy and where street art lives today along the spectrum of counter-culture, conventional and commercial art From there, move over March Madness and make way for March grandness–I’m talking about the annual hanging of the nasturtiums at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: with vines that can be 20 feet long. We’ll talk to the woman behind this floral extravaganza. Finally, Mary Grant, president of MassArt joins us to talk about the art of sustainability.

He contains multitudes: an actor, singer, writer– a bon vivant with boundless energy. That would be the Tony-Award winning Alan Cumming. It’s impossible to typecast him: from performing Macbeth to Miley Cyrus. To starring on network television by way of The Good Wife, populating public Television as the host of our own Masterpiece Mystery. And now he’s the saucy star of streaming–on Peacock, hosting and producing the reality TV series, “The Traitors.” However, he is not a traitor to his demographic. At age 59 Alan Cumming is a font of wisdom when it comes to America’s obsession with the fountain of youth—breaking down how abstract and absurd ageism is in his cabaret show, “Alan Cumming is Not Acting His Age”. He joins us to talk about it all. From there, Culture Show contributor Lisa Simmons joins us to discuss the night James Brown saved Boston.

Kerri Greenidge discusses her book on the Grimke sisters; Stephen Drury previews a concert celebrating Charles Ives

Today on The Culture Show, host Jared Bowen is joined by co-host James Bennett II, as well as guests Julia Swanson and Katherine Tallman

First up, we mark the 34th anniversary of the Gardner Museum theft. It’s the ultimate whodunnit in the world of art heists, with the stolen works valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. AND, with a 10 million dollar reward on the table, the tip hotline never goes cold. Then, in the land down under, women rule and men’s egos are torn asunder–at least one man felt diminished when he was denied entry to the women’s-only Ladies Lounge, an art exhibition designed to highlight centuries of female exclusion. Now he’s suing for discrimination. Finally, his name is Taylor-Johnson. Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Will the British leading man be the next James Bond? That and more next on the Culture Show’s week-in-review, broadcasting live from the GBH studio at the Boston Public Library.

What happens when you mix Sting’s greatest hits with the power of hip-hop dance? You get “Message in a Bottle.” It’s a fusion dreamed up by Kate Prince, one of England’s most acclaimed choreographers…resulting in a production that addresses the international refugee crisis. And told from the point of view of a family displaced by civil war. Prince joins us ahead of the show’s New England premiere discussing what inspired her to weave Sting’s songbook into a high-voltage show. From there, a new documentary tells the story of five women living with Vitiligo, from the stigma, to the isolation, to finding strength and community. Then, WCRB’s Brian McCreath joins us fresh from Symphony Hall, with a preview of a weekend concert honoring the life and legacy of the great jazz innovator and saxophonist, Wayne Shorter.

Growing up in Venezuela, artist Miguel Braceli could not express queer love. Today he’s in Provincetown, wrapping up an artist residency program at the Fine Arts Work Center and he’s working to put queer love on the map. Literally. As part of his multi-pronged art project, Braceli has been crowdsourcing stories about finding love in P-Town…using people’s recollections to create a large-scale art installation titled “Map of Love.” He’ll unveil it this weekend…along with a parade of fabulosity, all along Provincetown Harbor. He joins us to talk about how P-town has been a paradise and creative catalyst. From there, it’s time for another edition of ‘balancing acts.’ With local theaters presenting a paradox of choice, theater critics Joyce Kulhawik and Chris Ehlers join me to preview–and prioritize—the must-see productions of the season.

In the play “Cost of Living,” now onstage in Boston, four characters find themselves isolated from society–cut off by poverty, by physical disabilities and by an armor of defensiveness that makes the cost of living exponentially more exacting. It’s a soul-stirring play that explores the longing for human connection. I’ll be sitting down with two of the show’s stars. From there it’s two takes on American history: First, a preview of an immersive experience that takes us into the world of Dill, an enslaved woman living in Massachusetts on the cusp of the Revolutionary War. Then, we talk to the president of Historic New England, the country’s largest independent preservation group. It’s expanding with a cultural hub in Haverhill and excavating the past with a slew of revelations about historic figures with extraordinary stories untold until now.

August Wilson’s monumental Century Cycle is a collection of 10 dramas chronicling the black experience in America, one set during each decade of the 20th century. King Hedley II, number nine in the series, is a powerful, gritty and gripping play about an ex-convict trying to rebuild himself and his community all the while the ghosts of the past haunt him. Actor Naheem Garcia, stars in the play as Elmore. As he’ll explain, playing the role is unfinished business. We’ll talk to him about his enduring relationship to August Wilson’s work. From there, we’ll preview a free concert, where electronic music meets brutalist architecture. And then: Puccini plus popcorn?! How does the experience of watching live opera in the opera house compare to the movie house? With the Metropolitan opera simulcasting live productions in high definition video, we’ll get Grammy-winning dramatic Soprano Jane Eaglen’s take.

Coming up, it’s our arts and culture Week in Review. First up, could Governor Healey be giving new meaning to Taxachusetts? By proposing a live theater tax credit the Bay State could become a breeding ground for Broadway. From there, can you really turn the clock back on TikTok? Even if the US Government bans the social media platform, we’ll look at how TikTok has been THE ultimate influencer. Changing the way people–and sometimes their pets– get famous, get our news, make money, and make up our faces —upending the entertainment industry along the way. Then, after artist Francoise Gilot walked out on Picasso, he told her that she would be nothing without him - au contraire! Now she’s receiving her own dedicated space in his Paris museum.

Vocalist Katherine Goforth. When she came out as a transgender woman and transitioned, she wasn’t sure if she would ever work in opera again. Opera can be conventional and conservative and gender roles are traditionally defined by the performer’s voice. So what does it mean to be a female tenor who wants to play female roles? Having found her voice, that’s what Katherine Goforth is finding out. And along the way she’s showing other vocalists what it means to be authentic onstage and off. She joins us ahead of her Boston Wagner Society recital. From there it’s Kneecap. The Belfast-based rap group known for their fiery social and political commentary is on the rise…with a forthcoming album, an upcoming biopic starring Michael Fassbender and a legal battle with the UK government. They join us ahead of their St. Patricks’ Day performance in Boston. Finally, we preview the MIT Museum’s events surrounding Pi Day.

What is it like to travel the world as a blind person–navigating different cultures, traditions and transportation systems? That’s what Dr. Mona Minkara explores in her travel documentary series, “Planes, Trains and Canes.” After losing her sight, Minkara came to believe that vision is more than sight. And her vision has been to reimagine the travel show by highlighting stories of people who have disabilities. From there playwright Ronán Noone shows us how the other half lives–or rather works, sweats and toils to achieve the American dream. In his play “Thirst,” he takes us into the room where Eugene O'Neill's “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” didn’t happen. Focusing on the hired help servicing the Tyrone Family. Ronan Noone joins us to talk about examining the Irish-immigrant experience, the perils of family loyalties and the push and pull of despair and hope. Finally, Grammy-award winning musician, composer and essayist Nicholas Payton joins us ahead of his performance at Scullers Jazz Club.

The Irish dramatist Conor McPherson wrote and directed a play incorporating 20 songs by Bob Dylan. This is no jukebox musical. And though it is set in Dylan’s hometown of Duluth, Minnesota it’s no bio-musical either. It’s titled “Girl From the North Country.” Set in 1934, the Dylan songs upon which McPherson draws convey the desperation and existential aching of Depression-era America. With the Broadway hit now in Boston we talk to McPherson about his weaving Dylan’s songbook into a deeply stirring show. Celtic Woman is an ensemble that honors Ireland’s history and celebrates the contemporary spirit of modern-day Ireland by fusing traditional and contemporary Irish music. They will be bringing their signature sound to The Chevalier Theater by way of their 20th-anniversary tour on March 21st. Joining us for a preview is one of the performers, Grammy-nominated singer Mairéad Carlin. From there, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kick off their international tour next week. Though they won’t be playing Gillette Stadium this time around, you can still have the Bruce Springsteen experience by way of a photography exhibition that offers a unique early and intimate perspective of The Boss far from the sold-out arenas.

Oppenheimer was the bomb at last night's Oscars, winning seven awards including best picture, best actor and best director. Joyce Kulhawik and Lisa Simmons are here for an Oscars recap, going through all the slights, stunners and the usual suspects. And, in August 1969, as many as half a million people gathered at a farm in upstate New York to hear music. What happened was more than a concert. It was an event that would define a generation. The question is: Were you there? The Museum at Bethel Woods wants to know as part of its Woodstock oral history initiative. They’re in Boston to interview people who were a witness to history-attending Woodstock. Finally Eliot-Norton Prize winning director Scott Edmiston joins us to talk about “The Minutes,” both a satirical take on municipal government and a scathing critique of American hypocrisy.

Coming up on The Culture Show, it’s our Arts and Culture Week-in-Review First up, could the State House become more of an art house? Governor Maura Healey has signed an executive order creating a culture advisory council to find ways to cultivate the Commonwealth’s arts and culture sector. Plus, RuPaul is running on all four cylinders with a book bus touring the country, delivering LGBTQ plus books to communities where they’ve been banned –but is he also throwing diversity under the bus? His online bookstore, which is on a mission to represent marginalized voices, is sparking controversy for its inventory, which includes titles such as Mein Kampf. Then, before there were wet T-shirt contests there was the sodden and besotted Mr. Darcy. The famously soaked white linen shirt that Colin Firth wore in the film “Pride and Prejudice” has sold for 25,000 pounds. That and more is next on The Culture Show.

From Abigail Adams, to grandmothers, to the brains that made breakthroughs in science, we’re marking Women’s History Month with the monuments and murals in Boston memorializing women. Julia Swanson of the Art Walk Project leads the way. From there, is A Midsummer Night’s Dream the perfect Shakespeare starter play? With a romantic tangle, an enchanted forest ruled by fairies, a Donkey and late night cavorting, it could be. Director Victoria Townsend of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company joins us to preview an upcoming production of Shakespeare’s comedy that’s staged with local students in mind. Finally, with Daylight saving time on the horizon that’s one way of ringing in spring. For The Koji Club–Boston’s first dedicated Sake Bar–their Cherry Blossom Disco signifies the seasonal shift. The Koji Club’s Alyssa Mikiko DiPasquale joins us for a preview.

What should reparations in Boston look like? A new report from Embrace Boston suggests that repairing generations of inequality and inequity will take more than monetary amends. It will take a wholesale and holistic approach, which includes amplifying and integrating Black History, black representation and the Black Boston of today into the arts and culture landscape. Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston joins us for that conversation. From there, ahead of this Sunday’s Oscars, it’s screen time with the projectionists at Somerville Theater. We get a behind-the-scenes look at a rare art in cinema amid a world that is going digital. Finally, is Artificial Intelligence putting the A-I in Architecture? Mahesh Dass, President of Boston Architectural College, joins us to talk about the emerging reliance of AI in architecture, design and construction.

Coming up on The Culture Show: scaling down Ibsen’s sprawling five act play to a mere 75 minutes. That’s the challenge writer, director and composer Bill Barclay took on when the Boston Symphony Orchestra commissioned him to downsize Peer Gynt, a giant of a play with incidental music composed by Edvard Grieg . This adaptation premiered at the BSO in 2017, now Barclay is back with an updated version of Peer Gynt. He joins us ahead of its performances at the BSO. After that, to encounter the work of artist LaToya Hobbs is really to enter into it. She is a painter and a printmaker whose themes are expressions of motherhood, home and cultural identity. Her monumental series, “Carving Out Time” Is intimate, deeply personal and utterly relatable. Hobbs joins us to discuss her work and its contemporary resonance. Finally, we continue our Oscars coverage with a look at “Maestro” and the burden that biopics have to get it right.

Father Columba Stewart. He is a Benedictine monk and scholar who travels the most volatile parts of the world to rescue and protect ancient documents. As we continue our series of conversations with the people on the frontlines of conflict zones saving art, culture and heritage sites from ruin, Father Columba joins us to talk about his mission. From there it’s the battle of the book. The Boston Public Library hosts an annual debate, asking which of the books from 100 years ago are most relevant today. We’ll get a preview of the books facing off for relevancy supremacy. Finally, Cambridge-based bestselling author Stephen McCauley is here to talk about his latest book, “You Only Call When You're in Trouble.” Brimming with McCauley’s characteristic wit and withering observations of human behavior–it tells the story of family bonds, and why we tend to load up on the louses in our lives.

“The Band's Visit” is one of the most captivating musicals about…nothing. The Tony-winning show follows the adventures of a touring Egyptian band stranded in an Israeli village. With nowhere for the musicians to stay, the locals take them in for the night. The overriding sentiment of “The Band’s Visit” is captured in the song Something Different: Quote, “Nothing is as beautiful as something that you don't expect.” I talk to the man behind those words, David Yazbek, the composer and lyricist for the hit musical. From there, What does it mean to be at sea? Literally, it means to be away from land. Figuratively it means to have no path. It means confusion and disorientation. This is what is captured in a 1915 Japanese work of art titled “Morning Sea.” Writer Gish Jen describes the experience of seeing this expanse of ocean as overpowering and profound.

We cross into the underworld by way of “Eurydice.” It’s a hell raising opera, truly. With music by Matthew Aucoin and based on the play “Eurydice,” by Sarah Ruhl, it’s a retelling of the myth of Orpheus, from the perspective of his bride. In this adaptation we follow Eurydice’s descent into the underworld, where her encounters are humorous, and heartbreaking–especially when she reunites with her father…a bond that proves hard to break. Eurydice had its Metropolitan Opera premier in 2021. Now it’s in Boston by way of Boston Lyric Opera which debuts a new orchestral arrangement. Matthew Aucoin and Sarah Ruhl join us for a preview. From there, it’s mixologist Marsha Lindsey–she’s been raising a glass, literally–to mark Black history month by serving up cocktails made with Black owned spirits. Finally, we leap into Leap Year with Edgar B. Herwick III.

Understanding American history means knowing Black history. And in Boston, that history has been made more visible by way of the African American Trail Project. Tufts University professor Kerri Greenidge joins us to talk about what went into mapping historic African-American sites in Boston and beyond. From there, it’s into the wild world of artist Raqib Shaw. He uses porcupine quills and enamel to create landscapes that are electrified by color. They are lush, opulent and ornate. But, his paintings are also always beset by a lurking menace. With an exhibition now on view at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, he joins us to talk about his work. Finally, this weekend P-Town becomes Performance-Town by way of the 24 hour Play festival. It’s the ultimate challenge: can six playwrights, six directors and 21 actors create six new plays in the course of one day?

Coming up on The Culture Show: does Washington have policy down to a fine art? The White House convened its first-ever arts summit, working with artists and arts organizations on how the arts can enrich society–from public spaces to public discourse. Mary Grant, President of MassArt was there. She joins us for her take on that and more. From there, for Boston-based architect Daniel Steger, the phrase “location, location, location,” took on new meaning when his house landed a supporting role in the film “American Fiction.” He joins us to talk about getting this behind-the scenes look into Hollywood. Finally, casting directors can be central to the success of films, and now the Motion Picture Academy has decided they’re eligible to win an Oscar. We’ll talk to local casting director, Julie Arvedon Knowlton about what her work actually entails and what this honor means for the profession.

When Reginald Dwayne Betts was 16 years old, he was an honors student. He was also arrested for carjacking. Prosecuted as an adult, he spent eight years in a Virginia prison, existing among grown up men. What got him through those years behind bars? Books. Betts left prison a poet; he then became an Ivy League-educated Lawyer and now he’s on a mission to bring libraries into prisons with a first-of-its kind organization called “Freedom Reads.” It aims to radically transform access to literature for people behind bars. Ahead of his appearance tonight at The College of the Holy Cross, he joins us. From there, a timely production brings the legacy and political savvy of Golda Meir to life. We talk to actor Annette Miller about inhabiting Meir at a time when the region is in crisis. And to finish the show, we’ll be talking to Alisa Bunin from Aeronaut Brewing Company about their forthcoming Leap Day event.

It’s our arts and culture week in review. Beyonce does the Texas two step onto the country music charts, landing the top spot with her hit “Texas Hold Em. And despite his pathology of antisemitism, racism and homophobia, the artist formerly known as Kanye West makes a controversial chart-topping comeback with his latest album. And, some speculate that the song Hotel California is a metaphor for prison–a fitting interpretation given that the men charged with stealing the lyrics and other Don Henley manuscripts are now on trial. From there, it’s the BCU: Beatles Cinematic Universe. John, Paul, George and Ringo will each get their own biopic. Now comes the hard part: casting them! And, even though Bill Belichick is a man of no words, Apple TV managed to get the notoriously terse coach to speak in its new docuseries about the Patriots dynasty.

Summertime, and the living is easy. Or, if you’re Audra McDonald, you make it look and sound easy. The award winning singer and actor earned her fifth – of a record-breaking six– Tony awards for her portrayal of Bess in the Broadway hit “The Gershwins Porgy and Bess,” which was mounted right here at The American Repertory Theater. On Tuesday she returns to Boston in a one-night-only engagement at Symphony Hall, as part of Celebrity Series. She joins us for a preview. From there, Director Igor Golyak, founder of Needham’s Arlekin Players Theater, joins us to talk about why a convergence of theatrical productions grappling with antisemitism is resonating with audiences today. Finally, as Ukraine marks the second anniversary of being at war with Russia, we look at the nation’s perseverance by way of the Grand Kyiv Ballet, which is kicking off a 60-city national tour of Giselle, here in Boston.

Boston Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola joins us to mark Black History Month. We’ll discuss her poem inspired by the book Beloved and a mother’s agonizing decision. From there, theater artist P Carl. He built a career, a marriage and a life as queer woman. But all the while he had a yearning to become more fully realized. For him that meant transitioning to another gender. He wrote about the transformation in his 2020 memoir, “Becoming a Man,” which he’s now adapted for the stage in a play making its world premier at the American Repertory Theater. He joins us to talk about seeing his life, brought to life on the stage. Finally, we meet the people behind an event turning the silver screen into a silver scream: The Dead of Winter Horror Festival.

I’m Jared Bowen, this is The Culture Show. In Gish Jen’s latest book, “Thank you Mr. Nixon,” Jen writes about US-China Relations. Today she joins us from Shanghai, using her recent cultural experiences as a window into East-West relations, from the Broadway hit, “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” to a blockbuster of a show featuring Leonardo daVinci. From there we talk to two renowned Boston artists: Stephen Hamilton and Napoleon Jones-Henderson. They’ve been orbiting each other for years, including showing their work in the same museum exhibition, but now they are finally converging, collaborating on an art installation commissioned by Roxbury Community College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. We’ll talk to them about what it means to create together. Finally, we head to Gloucester to visit the nation’s oldest art colony with an overview of their annual members show.

It’s hard to imagine Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art without the visionary Jill Medvedow, but that’s what we have to do–she’s stepping down at the end of the year. We’ll talk about her legacy and what’s next. After that, co-host Callie Crossley pores over the history of cocktails and how modern day mixology and classic concoctions are rooted in centuries of African American history.

It’s our arts and culture week in-review and we’ll start with some Friday afternoon quarterbacking: looking at the cultural touchdowns that were made during last week’s Super Bowl, from Queen Bee creating country controversy with her two new songs, to Ben Affleck and the DunKings releasing a single and selling out their Dunkin’ inspired tracksuits along the way. How do you like them donuts? From there, using a 32-ton Swiss Bank safe, A Russian artist is holding works by Picasso, Rembrant and Warhol–threatening to destroy them if Julian Assange dies behind bars. Plus Notre Dame’s new spire has been unveiled, marking a milestone in the cathedral’s restoration. And renewing a debate about historic preservation versus modern interpretation. Finally, the man in the mirror is Jaafar Jackson. With uncanny similarity, Michael Jackson’s nephew plays the gloved one in the new biopic.

From the poetry of Phyllis Wheatley, to the technicolor tapestries of Napoleon Jones-Henderson, to Terry Lynne Carrington’s contemporary beats, Boston’s Black art and culture is everyone’s art and culture. It’s also central to Boston’s Black History which is the city’s history. With Embrace Boston’s Imari Paris Jeffries leading the way, we’ll observe Black History Month, with a focus on the importance of Black art and culture. Then it’s all about fashion. Fashion as armor, fashion as language, fashion as identity. theo tyson, the Fashion Arts curator at the Museum of Fine Arts, joins us to talk about how clothing is central to the social fabric. Finally, the Worcester Art Museum offers a cure for the winter blues, by giving new meaning to wall flowers. We’ll get a preview of their Flora in Winter events–a four day floral takeover.

Composer Joseph Schwantner’s “New Morning for the World” is bold and buoyant and as eloquent as the words it honors–from selected texts by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. This Friday at Symphony Hall, the attorney, author, and civil rights activist Anita Hill will be making her orchestral debut, narrating Dr. King’s words in Boston Conservatory Orchestra's Black History Month concert, which includes Schwantner's composition. We’ll talk to Anita Hill about the power of Martin Luther King’s writing and how –despite our ever turbulent times–his message can still help to keep hope alive. After that, Lunar New Year celebrations continue by way of the Pao Arts Center. This Sunday there will be a convergence of activities from dance to drawing to puppet-making, not to mention other other celebrations along the way. Joining us for a preview is Cynthia Woo, the director of the Pao Arts Center. Finally, it’s time for AI: Actual Intelligence with Pedro Alonzo and a conversation about how Mexico has become one of the world’s top art destinations.

Artist Wu Tsang goes deep on Moby Dick, literally and figuratively with an immersive film installation that takes us into the depths of the ocean. But her interpretation of Moby Dick is from the whale’s perspective. Entitled “Of Whales,” on view at the ICA starting February 15th, it’s part of Wu Tsang’s Moby Dick trilogy, which premiered at the Venice Biennale two years ago. We’ll talk to the artist about her decision to take the Moby Dick plunge. From there we continue our conversation about preserving art amid wartime with a focus on Ukraine. Now living between Massachusetts & Ukraine, Oleksandra Kovalchuck is working to save the art and history of her homeland. And finally, it’s New England on the biggest screen. We’ll talk to director Daniel Ferguson about his documentary, The Heart of New England, now on view at the Museum of Science’s Mugar Omni Theater.

The US Military and the Smithsonian have revived a version of “the monuments-men.-”-- the group of soldiers and military personnel who recovered cultural artifacts and artworks looted by the Nazi regime during World War II. In the 21st century, modern warfare has wreaked havoc on cultural institutions and heritage sites from Bagdahd, to Kiev, to Gaza and beyond. We’ll talk to Cori Wegener, whose work at the Smithsonian is dedicated to preserving and rescuing cultural heritage sites and artifacts. From there, we talk to the playwright Francisco Mendoza about his new work, “ Machine Learning,” now onstage at Central Square Theater. Centered on the fractured relationship between a father, son, and a robot– the play explores society’s codependent relationship with technology, leaving us to ask ourselves if we’re the ones who need to be reprogrammed. Finally, ahead of Valentine's Day, we’re getting a booklovers’ guide to romance with GBH’s arts and culture reporter and associate producer Haley Lerner.

Seiji Ozawa led the Boston Symphony Orchestra for nearly 30 years. Taking it from the 20th to the 21st century. He was a force–a maverick whose awesome talent for interpreting music stopped legends like Bernstein cold–making Ozawa one in his own right. WCRB’s Brian McCreath joins us to remember the maestro, the man, his musicality and his legacy in Boston and the world over. From there, it’s Greek to AI. In a first, Artificial Intelligence has interpreted the text of bound papyrus scrolls. Then, how the Super Bowl became so much more than football by morphing into a super-sized, nacho-flavored cultural force. And finally, Austen’s powers–Jane that is. Hallmark is devoting an entire month of Valentine’s Day movies inspired by “Sense and Sensibility” and beyond.

For Nadia Liu Spellman and her mother Sally Ling, food is family. Sally Ling is behind one of the first fine dining Chinese restaurants in America. Her famed spot, named Sally Ling’s was a fixture in Boston, where celebrities like Julia Child and Yo-Yo Ma would feast. As an investment banker, Ling’s daughter Nadia Liu Spellman came to realize she couldn’t leave the family business, or that it wouldn’t leave her. Ten years ago she launched Dumpling Daughter, which now has several locations in and around Boston. They join us to talk about how cuisine and culture are intertwined and how all of us can authentically eat our way to a full Lunar New Year experience.. From there The Culture Show dives into aquaculture, by way of Island Creek Oysters. And finally, cocktail guru Jonathan Pogash shakes things up with some Valentine’s Day inspired concoctions.

In the latest adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, the star crossed lovers get that much closer to the stars– leaping, bounding, backflipping and flying high by way of the 7 Fingers circus troupe. In this spin on Shakespeare, the doomed romantics don’t need cupid's wings to soar above a common bound, because they’ve got a trapeze. I’ll talk to Aerial Emery, one of the hip-swiveling performers, about the US premiere, now onstage at The Cutler Majestic Theater. From there we enter the year of the dragon through Chinatown. To get a jump start on Lunar New Year, Julia Swanson leads the way, taking us on a tour of the public art hiding in plain sight. And, it’s time for AI: Actual intelligence. Mahesh Daas, president of the Boston Architectural College, says robots and artificial intelligence are striding into all walks of life, changing architecture and design along the way.

Clothes don’t make the man, they make the movie. Now that we are deep into Oscars season, who better to talk two than Academy Award-winning costume designer –and Springfield native – Ruth E. Carter. She won her first Academy Award for her work in “Black Panther,” where she created the Afrofuturist aesthetic of Wakanda. Four years later, she became a superhero in her own right, earning her second Oscar for her work in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” She made history with the win, not only as the first Black woman to receive two Academy Awards, but as the first person to win for both the original and the sequel of a movie. Last month, I caught up with Pakistani-born artist Salman Toor at the Rose Art Museum when his exhibition titled “No Ordinary Love” had just opened. On view through February 11th, we’re bringing you special coverage from our day with Salman Toor. On Sunday, Boston Mayor Michele Wu’s free admission pilot program began. On the first and second Sunday of each month, Boston Public Schools students and their families have free admission to a handful of arts and culture institutions. Culture Show producer Kate Dellis was there to gauge the turnout. Finally, South African vocalist NALEDI is bringing songs from her debut album to GBH Music’s upcoming JazzNOW event. She’ll be joining us to preview her performance.

Playwright Samuel D. Hunter writes about existential struggles. A rising star, he became widely known for “The Whale,” the critically acclaimed play that he adapted to the Academy Award-winning movie starring Brendan Frasier. In his latest work, “A Case for the Existence of God,” Hunter revisits the existential questions that shadow us: what is the point of sorrow? Where do we find the common ground on which we can build relationships? And how can we manifest hope amid despair? With his play now in Boston by way of SpeakEasy Stage Company, Hunter joins me to talk about this deeply moving production. After that, I’ll sit down with poets Diana Khoi Nguyen and Cindy Juyong Ok to discuss their latest collections of poetry. They’ll be discussing their work alongside local poet Sandra Lim tonight, February 5th, at 7:00 at the Harvard Bookstore. Finally, The Boston Comic Arts Foundation is launching a new series: Picture and Panel– a monthly graphic novel event produced in partnership with Porter Square Books and Aeronaut Brewing Company. The debut event is a discussion between writers Rosemary Mosco and Dan Nott titled Hidden Worlds. I speak with Zach Clemente, the President of the Board of Directors for the Boston Comic Arts Foundation.

It’s our arts and culture week-in-review. First up, it’s pumpkin soup for the protester’s soul. The Mona Lisa is the latest masterpiece to be slimed in the name of environmental activism. Is this an effective tactic or just weak sauce? Then, it’s a pyramid scheme: an extreme makeover of Egyptian ruins is outraging archaeologists. From there, with Sundance wrapping up, we look at its sway in the film industry and its funky alternative film fest: Slamdance. And we remember Chita Rivera, who danced and sang her way to an incomparable legacy. Plus, it’s STILL rock and roll to Billy Joel who just released his first single in 17 years. Finally, Huey Lewis was a pinch hitter, Michael Jackson’s pet snake rattled Lionel Ritchie and Eddie Murphy had better things to do…it’s all in a new documentary about the making of “We Are the World.” That’s next on The Culture Show.

Tina Turner, The Sex Pistols, David Bowie….to have seen these legends perform –and hundreds of others– is one thing. To make a career out of covering them, interviewing them and in some cases sharing ribald moments with them… is another. And that has been the life of writer Jim Sullivan. He’s observed and experienced so much of the Rock and Punk scenes that he needed to write a second anthology. He joins us to talk about “Backstage and Beyond, Volume 2 - 45 years of Modern Rock Chats and Rants.” Then we’re hitting the high note with countertenor Reginald Mobley. He’s had a whirlwind of a year, from a crowning achievement–performing at King Charles’ coronation– to earning a Grammy nomination for his latest album. Finally, we’re getting uncorked with an overview of this year’s Boston Wine and Food Festival.

The British artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen forced us to look at the atrocities of slavery in his film, “12 Years a Slave.” An offshoot of that undertaking is “Lynching Tree,” a photograph of a large oak tree, which McQueen took while on location in America’s south. At first glance, it presents as a tranquil landscape. Until you recognize the tree has survived centuries and was used for lynchings on the Deep South plantation on which it’s stood. The image had a profound effect on Boston Foundation President Lee Pelton when he encountered it at the Yale Center for British Art. He then worked with Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Director Peggy Fogleman to bring it here. They both join us to talk about the installation. From there we preview Black History month on film, with Lisa Simmons of the Roxbury International Film Festival.

Among the English courses being offered at Harvard this semester there’s “Sex, Gender and Shakespeare;” an exploration of British romantic poetry titled “Keats Isn't Dead” and a course that goes deep on Swift. No, not the satirist Jonathan Swift, but the singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. In a class titled “Taylor Swift and Her World.” Professor Stephanie Burt is bringing an analytical approach to the lyrics of Taylor Swift, her musical precursors and other writers who are Swift’s literary kindred spirits. We’ll talk to her about why she loves Swift’s music and what it means to bring academic rigor to the Taylor Swift Era. From there, Company One Theatre is kicking off their 25th season, with a new model where tickets are free OR people pay what they can. How they’re making it work when other theaters are just trying to make it is next on The Culture Show. In 2014, Mount Auburn became the first cemetery in the United States to establish an artist residency program, which supports the creation of new work by contemporary artists who have been inspired by their experience at Mt. Auburn. Joining us to talk about the program and the imminent deadline is Julie-Anne Whitney, Public Events Producer at Mt. Auburn Cemetery.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg secured a legacy as a crusader for women’s rights. Later in life she secured another legacy…as a vaunted cultural icon. She is forever associated with hip-hop as the “Notorious RBG,” her first gender discrimination case inspired the biopic, "On the Basis of Sex," and now she is the subject of the one-woman show, “All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.” Ahead of its limited run in Boston, I talk to actor Michelle Azar about assuming the persona of RBG. From there, writer Raj Tawney. Growing up in a multicultural household, his coming-of-age story happened in the kitchen, helping his mother and grandmother cook recipes from their homelands. Themes of food, memory, and identity come together in his new memoir, “A Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey through a Mixed American Experience” Finally, I’ll be joined by Cerise Lim Jacobs, an opera maker and the founding artistic director of White Snake Projects, which is producing the second annual “Shout Out Boston!”

It’s our arts and culture week in review. First up, the Oscar nominations –the surprises, usual suspects, and snubs that are sparking controversy in Barbieland. Plus, an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art featuring nude performance artists intending to pose questions about comfort levels, instead resulted in assault allegations. From there, Jon Stewart is jumping into the 2024 race, resuming his role on The Daily Show for what seems like an inevitable Trump and Biden rematch. But will his return feel more like an “also ran?” Then we offer an amuse-bouche with a look at the local James Beard Awards semifinalists. Finally, how tone deaf is Hollywood? Now musicians are threatening to strike if the movie industry doesn’t secure streaming residuals and protections from AI.

During her State of the City address, Mayor Michelle Wu made the personal policy. She talked about how formative it was, as a Chicago kid in a family of few resources, to be able to attend museums for free. Exposure to a vast universe of art and ideas that could transport her to other places–both real and imagined - changed her life. Now she is working to do the same for children here. She joins me to discuss a pilot program, kicking off next month, that will give Boston Public School students and their families free admission to a handful of local arts institutions. But first, actor Danny Burgos is here to talk about performing in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” and about his personal life, which has had a major plot twist of its own. He’ll break down how being a full- time nurse informs his work on the stage and why being an actor makes him a better RN.

We’re wrapping up our series of interviews with the ICA’s 2023 Foster Prize Winners with artist Venetia Dale. As a metalsmith and sculptor, Dale’s work looks at objects— their utility, people’s relationship to the things in their lives—what they need, what they delight in, and what they’ve relegated to the junk drawer. Dale is also interested in the incomplete and the imperfect — themes that she’s been exploring since she became a mother–and an artist interrupted. Then we segue into a Celtic Sojourn. The Burren is keeping the legacy of Brian O’Donovan alive by way of an ongoing legacy series. We’ll talk to local musicians Matt and Shannon Heaton about their upcoming performance. Finally, independent curator Pedro Alonzo is here to talk about Keith Haring and how his influence lives on today in the street art that is breathing life into our public spaces and shaking us out of our complacency.

The battle between the bomb and the blonde bombshell is over. Barbenhiemer has officially uncoupled with Oppenheimer dominating Barbie, earning 13 Oscar nominations. Arts and entertainment reporter Joyce Kulhawik joins me to sort through this, the snubs, surprises and snoozers. And, will the Grammys ever create a category for best song recorded by a state auditor? If so, Diana Dizoglio’s newly mastered release “This Is The Time” could be a winner. The auditor joins me to talk about her relationship to music and how singing has made her voice known –and heard–on Beacon Hill. And finally, we feel the Burn. This Thursday the whiskey will be flowing and the Haggis will be steaming as people celebrate the Scottish Poet Robert Burns. The British Consul General to New England, Peter Abbott joins us for an ultimate Robert Burns explainer and to preview an upcoming event that not only celebrates Burns but elevates Scottish Culture.

Shostakovich’s opera, “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.” It made its premiere in 1934 and became an overnight sensation. Then it all but vanished after Stalin banned it from what was then the Soviet Union and he sent Shostakovich into a state of fear that he would be arrested. Now the Boston Symphony Orchestra brings the piece to Symphony Hall this week, before playing Carnegie Hall. In between rehearsals, I caught up with the BSO’s conductor Andris Nelsons, and their head of artistic planning, Tony Fogg, for a behind-the-scenes look at this hugely ambitious undertaking. From there we look at a reworking of the classic ballet Raymonda. Boston Ballet’s artistic director Mikko Nissinen joins me to talk through what it took to scale the grand ballet down to one act. And along the way, ahead of tomorrow’s Oscar nominations, GBH’s Haley Lerner takes us through the cameo appearances Greater Boston and its bookstores have made in some of the likely nominees.

First up, What do the alternative rock band R.E.M have in common with hip-hop giant and superproducer Timbaland? They’re both among this year’s Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees. We’ll take a listen to the lyrics that have landed them this honor. Then it’s onto the lost and found department, from a priceless Picasso going up in flames to a stolen Picasso being recovered after a months long covert police operation. We’ll look at the value of physical artworks in an age of digital dominance. Plus the Oscar nominations are coming and it’s a paradox of choice thanks to a blockbuster of a year, from Oppenheimer to the box office blonde bombshell that is Barbie. Finally, the Bay State wins big time at the Emmys. With a handful of Massachusetts natives claiming awards this week – we’ll take a beat to bask in their reflected glow.

When it comes to reality TV is there really such a thing as too many cooks in the kitchen? We’ll ask Chef Jason Santos, who enters another season of Hell’s Kitchen as Gordon Ramsey’s sous chef. But that’s not all he’s up to, as chef and owner of a string of celebrated famed restaurants including Buttermilk & Bourbon, he joins us to talk about how he’ll continue to boost Boston’s flavor profile by way of a new restaurant slated to open this Summer. From there it’s artist Robert Freeman. In 1981 he painted “Black Tie, ” The painting shows a gathering of Black Americans at a formal event. Set in a segregated America where black people forged their own place in society, it is fitting that “Black Tie” now hangs in Governor Healey’s office. In her commitment to create a sense of belonging and inclusion, she selected Freeman’s work to showcase the diversity of the Commonwealth. He joins me to talk about the work. Finally, Tony “Hamstank“ Hamoui is a professional music producer and educator. Tomorrow, from 2:00-5:00 at the Lab at Teen Central - he’s teaching “Music Production with Hamstank: Beats, Recording, Mixing & Mastering.” This will be at the Boston Public Library’s Copley Square branch. To learn more, go to the events page at BPL.org.

Just as cities were wrestling with America's history with slavery -- and the people and places tied to that past-- the legacy of Faneuil Hall came under scrutiny. Before slavery was abolished in Boston, slave auctions were held at Faneuil Hall. Artist Steve Locke proposed an installation to reckon with that. But after Boston’s NAACP chapter and others voiced their opposition to Locke’s proposal, he withdrew it and moved on, literally. Now he’s based in New York, but Boston just can’t quit him. He joins me to talk about his latest installation at MassArt and his upcoming appearance at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. From there co-host Callie Crossley talks to Sowmya Krishnamurthy about her new book, Fashion Killa, which connects how record labels, magazines, designers and models converged to make Hip-Hop a revolutionary force in fashion. Finally, it’s different keystrokes for different folks. The Boston Typewriter Orchestra is here to preview their upcoming concert.

The plight of public defenders. How do seven beleaguered lawyers offset the burden of their Family Defense caseloads? And a fear that the judicial system won’t deliver justice? AND the burnout that seems to be careening their way? They eat lunch. This isn’t stress eating. In the comedic play “Lunch Bunch’ the midday meal is a gathering where breaking bread is an act of affirmation. Only an hour-long, this production at the Apollinaire Theatre company, may be snack-sized but it’s packed with flavor. I’ll talk to two of the actors that bring this story to life. From there we continue our conversations with the ICA Foster Prize winners. Today it’s recipient Cicely Carew whose art celebrates movement, mindfulness, and color, and whose vibrant sculpture, which she describes as “Flying paintings.” are cloudbursts of something both ethereal and exuberant. Finally, it’s the public art program WINTERACTIVE, which gives new meaning to Clown around. We’ll get the lowdown from the organization bringing three months of interactive art to downtown Boston. Including those colossal clowns turning heads in Downtown Crossing.

Today marks the first anniversary of the unveiling of The Embrace on Boston Common. While the sculpture is a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King and their fight for civil rights, the enormity of it is also a testament to the design and architectural teams behind it. It was crafted by MASS Design Group in partnership with artist Hank Willis Thomas. Jha D. Amazi, a Principal at MASS Design Group joins us to talk about the Embrace undertaking and the power of memorials. From there we take a tour of the other public art dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. that’s hiding in plain sight–from Brookline to the BU Campus. Julia Swanson of the Art Walk Project will lead the way. Finally, we make ourselves at home at The Culture House. The non-profit that turns empty storefronts into community spaces has launched a new pop up in Somerville’s Union Square.

The best things in life ARE free and in Boston, that includes the arts. This February Mayor Wu will launch a pilot, making a handful of arts and culture institutions free for Boston Public School students and their families. Could/Should this experiment become permanent? From there it’s a darker reality–in Massachusetts and beyond, natural history museums are reckoning with their collections of human remains. From how they acquired them to what it will take to repatriate them. And, we knew it was trouble when the New York Times published an opinion piece speculating on Taylor Swift’s sexuality. We’ll look at the backlash. Plus, AI takes the stage this week–from a George Carlin standup under the AI influence to all the new tech toys emerging from the Consumer Electronics Show. AND, is receiving an honorary Oscar an honor? Or an asterisk? Finally, we give respect to The Sopranos which premiered 25 years ago and forever changed our expectations of what TV could be.

It’s been nearly a year since The Embrace literally changed the landscape of Boston and challenged all of us to think about the purpose of public art. Now that we’ve moved on from the immediate reaction to this towering tribute to the Kings, what is The Embrace a commitment to and how is it shaping Boston beyond Boston Common? Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston joins me. From there, should opera be burdened with the reputation of being elite, arcane and unapproachable? After all, it is an ancestor of a very common genre of entertainment: the soap opera. And how does our relationship to opera in America compare to other countries? Are the latest local innovations and contemporary productions opening up the form? Dramatic soprano Jane Eaglen joins us for that. Finally, on Martin Luther King Day at the Peabody Essex Museum, something we like talking about this week: admission is …free.

The Boston Children’s Chorus is on a mission to give the city’s youth a voice by giving them the power to transcend social barriers by celebrating a shared love of music. Part of the mission includes the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert. Ahead of this year’s event at Symphony Hall, we’ll talk to the chorus’ Executive Director Andrés Holder. Then, it’s an entirely different performance, one that literally makes concert goers a captive audience: Madonna’s Celebrate Tour. Why does she notoriously make fans wait hours before she takes to the stage to express herself? GBH’s Haley Lerner joins us to recap the Madonna experience at TD Garden. From there we’ll talk to Giselle Byrd, the newly appointed leader of Boston’s Theater Offensive, which makes art by and for queer and transgender people of color. Finally, we’ll increase your origami awareness by way of MIT’s Beyond The Fold event.

It’s been nearly a year since The Embrace –the larger than life tribute to Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King–was unveiled on Boston Common. As we approach this anniversary, Tufts history professor Kerri Greenidge joins us to talk through the power of public art –how it can connect us to our history and introduce us to the people who have shaped who – and where – where–we are today. From there we look at how central memory, history and identity is to artist Yu-Wen Wu. Her work wrestles with immigration, examining what it means to assimilate, to be subsumed by another culture and to hold on to your roots. My conversation with her kicks off our series of interviews with the ICA’s foster prize winners. Finally, it’s the return of the Silver Screen. As we head into Oscar season, we look at how one beleaguered and beloved movie theater has rebounded with a Hollywood ending.

The pharaoh of the opera. Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo has made a name for himself starring in the MET’s production of Akhenaten – earning a Grammy award along the way. He’s also figuratively found his voice and the freedom to have fun by collaborating with cabaret performer Justin Vivian Bond in their hit performance and accompanying album, “Only an Octave Apart.” Now Anthony Roth Costanzo is bringing it all to Boston –from cantatas to camp, in an upcoming Celebrity Series recital that ranges from Verdi to Barbra Streisand. From there, it’s flour power. James Beard Award winning chef Joanne Chang joins us to dish on all things baking. And the winner of the Moby Dick Marathon is….. Herman Melville. Who else could inspire hundreds of people to read aloud for 25 consecutive hours? Edgar B. Herwick III joins us for a recap of this epic undertaking.

They’ve attacked governments, utilities and retail…and now hackers are escalating their assaults on museums. A ransomware gang has targeted software, bringing down online collections along the way. Then, after only 24 hours in the public domain, the first iteration of Mickey Mouse goes to the dark side, starring in slasher films and horror games. We’ll look at what it means for him and other prominent works from 1928 that are now copyright free and open to adaptation. From there when it comes to the silver screen, has Hollywood been putting up a smoke screen? Even though Barbie was last year’s top-grossing film, a new study finds the film industry’s pledge to put more women and people of color behind the camera has been an empty promise. Finally, when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie with pineapple, is that still amore? A pizzeria in Naples serves up a slice of controversy with its pineapple pizza.

One of the sectors hit hardest by the pandemic was the arts industry. By 2021 the prolonged closure cost Massachusetts close to 600 million dollars. Now that we’re on the other side of the shutdown, how are the arts sector and the creative ecosystem faring? Michael J. Bobbitt, head of the Mass Cultural Council, joins us for that and more. From there, a conversation about music as memory. The Boston Globe’s Jeremy Eichler joins us to talk about his new book, which looks at how four composers used classical music to not only articulate the unspeakable horrors of WWII but to also memorialize the victims of the Holocaust. Finally, it’s an adaptation of Moby Dick with strings attached. Told with 50 puppets, seven actors and video projections and in a minnow-sized 95 minutes, the artistic director behind this innovative show previews the upcoming ArtsEmerson production..

A Massachusetts marathon that might be more rigorous than Boston’s famed 26.2 mile road race - This is a 25-hour, non-stop epic endeavor where the equivalent of Heartbreak Hill is reading Herman Melville to a live audience at 2:00 AM, or even 3:00 AM. I’m talking about the annual Moby-Dick Marathon. Though it’s been centuries since a whaling ship sailed out of New Bedford, the literary legacy of Herman Melville enshrines New Bedford as a thriving whaling port where no end of Meville aficionados convene for this annual read-a-thon. Amanda McMullen, head of the New Bedford Whaling Museum joins us to talk about this upcoming winter ritual. From there we get a satirists’ take on the 2024 presidential race, with the comedy duo known as The Good Liars. If there is indeed truth in jest, their hijinks reveal some ugly–and uproarious realities about America’s powerful, political institutions. That’s next on The Culture Show. Stay with us.

Director Igor Golyak, founder of Needham’s Arlekin Players Theater, was born in Ukraine. Understandably, themes of displacement and war are often woven throughout his work. Now Golyak is embarking on a play recounting horrific real-life events: the massacre of 1600 Jews in a small Polish town in the summer of 1941. Titled, “Our Class,”  it follows 10 Polish classmates — five Jewish and five Catholic —who grow up as friends and neighbors. But they turn on one another with life-and-death consequences.  It’s a story with deep resonance today, From there, It’s telly time and an anglophile’s paradise for lovers of British TV. The forces behind GBH Drama are here to preview  MASTERPIECE’s new season and to guide us through other can’t miss shows from across the pond streaming now on Acorn, BritBox and beyond.Grab your biscuits and put the kettle on. That and more is next on The Culture Show.

Content warning - discussion of domestic violence. Today on our week-in-review, it’s the ghost of Christmas future haunting Hollywood. Will the double feature that was the actors’ and writers’ strikes take a toll on the film industry in 2024? Then it’s the stratospheric rise and fall of actor Jonathan Majors – a conviction on domestic assault charges has brought down the action film A-lister. With Marvel studios severing ties, is the film industry signaling a zero-tolerance policy for criminal behavior? Plus, after a 29-year run, Bryant Gumble’s “Real Sports” airs its final episode. Is this a final score for hardcore sports journalism? And first-time author Cait Corrain gives new meaning to “cooking the books.” The writer admits to creating fake profiles on Goodreads as a way to boost ratings for her forthcoming book. And if that wasn’t enough, she tried to take down other authors along the way. Finally, with Kwanzaa approaching, we’ll look at the origins of a holiday that was conceptualized as a celebration of community and African and African American Culture.

A story of a true underdog. Ricky the rescue chihuahua goes to Broadway for the role of a lifetime: playing Bruiser – the canine costar of Elle Woods, the rich ditz who charms her way through “Legally Blonde: The Musical.” Ricky might be small, but he steals the spotlight for a two-year run. Now “Legally Blonde” has landed in Boston. We’ll talk to Animal handler and actor, Brian Michael Hoffman, about getting a larger than life performance from the pint-sized pup, and how rescue animals really can have a true Hollywood ending. From there, we fast track it to Malden. Edgar B. Herwick III takes us to Charles Ro Supply Company. The nation’s largest model train store doubles as a museum and depot for train hobbyists and holiday shoppers. Finally, it’s radio on the rocks. We top the show off with Cocktail Guru Jonathan Pogash, and his recipes to solve your cocktail conundrums.

What does it mean to be at sea? Literally, it means to be away from land. Figuratively it means to  have no path. It means confusion and  disorientation. This is what is captured in a 1915 Japanese work of art  by Hashio Kyoshi. Titled “Morning Sea” It’s a silk on silk embroidery of waves– these are aggressive, savage waves that  create  a sense of total turbulence. Writer Gish Jen describes the experience of seeing this expanse of ocean  as overpowering and profound. At the time, Japan, which had deliberately kept isolated, was opening its ocean to trade. It was starting to westernize and the pillars of society that had anchored Japan were collapsing. Gish Jen joins us to talk about why this work of art resonates today and the hope art can give us amid these turbulent times. From there, it’s the FUN that art can bring us, we’ll talk to the creative forces behind a Provincetown inspired holiday album with a queer twist. Finally, the show wraps up with a call from Victor Infante, features editor of the Worcester Telegram and editor of the Worcester Magazine, who discusses the arts and culture scene in central Massachusetts.

Is the action film “Die Hard” a Christmas movie? Though there are some Yippee Ki NAYsayers – from film critics to Christmas traditionalists– there’s a case to be made that it is. Sure, there are explosions, terrorists and gunfire – BUT it does take place on Christmas Eve and Bruce Willis’s hero cop wants nothing more than to bring his family together for the holidays. There are even Santa jokes and the movie cranks up the volume on one of the best Christmas songs thanks to Run-DMC. Now, a die hard, “Die Hard” fan has spun this into an unauthorized parody titled “Yippee Ki Yay.” In time for some unconventional holiday fun, The Huntington is bringing it to Boston. We’ll talk to the actor leading this one-man show. From there, the founder of the Koji Club–Boston’s first sake bar– joins us to reframe sake. Not just for sushi, it actually pairs perfectly with your Christmas fare. That’s next on The Culture Show.

For his newest work, Playwright Lloyd Suh relied on maternal instincts. His works often take place during pivotal moments in Asian American history – examining the immigrant experience and how history exact can take a toll across culture generations. So for this one, he had long conversations with his mom. They surface in his comedy “The Heart Sellers,” where two young housewives grapple with the isolation that comes from moving to a new country. Lonely in a foreign land, they forge a friendship while undertaking a very American tradition: preparing the Thanksgiving turkey. Suh joins me to talk about this production, onstage now at the Huntington. Then it’s a Public Art, Public Service announcement– artist Julia Swanson gives us a guide to the art hiding in plain sight. Finally, local filmmaker John Stimpson–his new film, “Letters to Santa”, is included in Hallmark’s countdown to Christmas canon. We’ll find out, when it comes to making a holiday movie, what exactly is in the secret Santa sauce. That’s next on The Culture Show.

Today on our week in review: Is Netflix going the way of Neilsen?   The streaming  service has been described as a “black hole” for keeping its viewership data under wraps. But the battle for transparency became a key issue during the Hollywood strikes.  Now, in a first for Netflix, they’ve released reams of of data on thousands of titles and the billions of hours that people spent watching it all. We’ll  look at how this could change the industry –and what shows have emerged as their greatest hits. From there we’ll look at the span of Andre Braugher’s career, which was defined by redefining the role of the TV cop––from Homicide’s  cerebral and conflicted Detective Frank Pembleton to the deadpan humor  and humanity of Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Raymond Holt. And , is the Queen of Christmas the Queen of Copyright Infringement? Mariah Carey is being sued –again, for  her holiday hit, “All I want for Christmas is You.” That and more is next on The Culture Show.

We are steeped in American history, marking the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. Fed up with the tyranny of taxation without representation, American colonists took matters into their own hands–literally: tossing three shiploads of tea into Boston Harbor. The theatrics alone–the vision of angry patriots hurling 90,000 pounds of cargo overboard–has made it one of THE most celebrated rebellions. But to understand the ideals and motivations behind it, we turn to the Massachusetts Historical Society, where a current exhibition takes a nuanced view of a society on the verge of revolution. From there we brew another cup of rebellion by way of the Boston Tea Party & Ships museum. We’ll get a preview of the grand-scale reenactment of the historic protest taking place this weekend. Finally, Lisa Simmons joins us for her take on more recent local history, the legacy of ImprovBoston.

Coming up on The Culture Show, the extraordinary events of a Christmas truce between Germany and the Allies during World War  I  come to life in the musical “All is Calm”   We talk to the creative team at Greater Boston Stage Company who have made this a holiday tradition. Then it’s everything you need to know about the live music scene. Edgar B. Herwick III leads a roundup of performances in and around Boston.

Much of Alex Edelman’s comedy springs from his Jewish upbringing. He takes on Jewish identity, bigotry and ignorance–but there’s no malice in his material. Instead the Brookline native uses humor to process and even dismantle the complexities and the hate that plague our world. His recent Broadway hit, “Just for Us”--was inspired by his experience of attending a white nationalists meeting. Amid a surge in antisemitism and discrimination, “Just for Us” has a new urgency. But the laughs come just as hard–maybe even harder. He joins me ahead of his performances at the Emerson Colonial Theater. From there, we hit the pause button on the Santaland soundtrack to make room for Blue Heron. The vocal ensemble takes us back to 15th century England with medieval music that will put you in the holiday spirit of yore. Finally, ImprovBoston will literally be having the last laugh at the end of the month. After 40 years, the comedy colossus is closing up shop.

It’s a modern spin on a fairy tale classic: The Urban Nutcracker. By mixing hip-hop, streetscapes, and strains of Duke Ellington –all of it propelled by the heartbeat of Tchaikovsky– choreographer Tony WIlliams has created a contemporary classic. We’ll talk to him and Drag artist Patty Bouree about this holiday season’s production. And local art curator Pedro Alonzo gives us the lowdown on producing an arts festival in Saudi Arabia. All that and more - on The Culture Show.

It’s our arts and culture week-in-review. First up, pioneering  producer Norman Lear.  He dismantled TV’s nuclear family, taking on radioactive topics instead  – bigotry, abortion, poverty, politics—all of it was up for grabs and it landed lots of laughs along the way.  We’ll look at how his slew of successful sitcoms revolutionized Television–and changed the way we see ourselves. Then it’s time for cognitive dissonance, and the opposite of Norman Lear- The Golden Bachelor. How is it that amid acute ageism– a 72-year-old man  rescued the flailing Bachelor franchise? From there, did Mattel make a misstep? Their new Barbie Doll honoring Cherokee leader Wilma ManKiller is getting mixed reviews and churning up mixed emotions in the Cherokee Nation.  And we’ll look at how this year’s Art Basel Miami is a flashback to the Reagan-era culture wars–when provocative art was considered obscene and arts funding was hard to come by. That’s next  on The Culture Show. 

I’m Jared Bowen. This is The Culture Show.  First up, what do you call three lost souls left on a prep school campus during the holidays? The holdovers. That’s also the title of Alexander Payne’s new film.  Set in the 1970’s, Paul Giamatti plays a scrooge-like New England teacher–stingy with good grades and generosity. But over the winter holiday break, his heart thaws –slightly –and he forges an unlikely fellowship with a student who has been abandoned by his family and the school cook who has just lost her son– a soldier fighting in Vietnam.  I’ll talk to the Oscar-winning filmmaker about the making of what could become a holiday classic, shot here in Massachusetts. Then it’s onto a bibliophile’s bliss. We bring you the ultimate holiday booksellers guide in Boston and beyond. Finally, Tufts professor Kerri Greenidge looks at the life and legacy of Phillis Wheatley – an enslaved person who became one of the best-known poets in 18th century America. That’s next on The Culture Show.

First up, we remember the titan of TV: Norman Lear. He not only changed television, he changed the way we see ourselves by doing away with the traditional sitcom that idealized the nuclear family–instead finding humor in the messiness of life. From “All in the Family to Maude.” From there, MassArt is celebrating its 150th anniversary by celebrating others with the inaugural Common Good Awards. MassArt president Mary Grant joins us to talk about the artists and advocates they’re honoring. Then, what happens when you combine the band Guster, with the band the Zambonis? You get the Jewish rock band The LeeVees. They write songs about Jewish identity–and they have a lot to say about latkes and the struggle to correctly spell Hanukkah. Finally, in these ever darkening days of December. SOLSTICE, a large-scale light and sound installation is a cure for the winter blues. That’s next on The Culture Show.

“The Band's Visit” is one of the most captivating musicals about…nothing. Though it might not be action packed, it packs a punch for maximizing everyday moments and making them feel momentous. The Tony-winning show follows the adventures of a touring Egyptian band stranded in an Israeli village. With nowhere for the musicians to stay, the locals take them in for the night. The overriding sentiment of “The Band’s Visit” is captured in the song Something Different: “Nothing is as beautiful as something that you don't expect.” Coming up, I talk to the man behind those words, David Yazbek, the composer and lyricist for the hit musical which is now onstage at The Huntington. From there it’s two scoops of Scrooge. I speak with actors David Coffee and Karen MacDonald about what it takes to play Charles Dickens’ iconic character Finally, we continue with the holiday spirit, previewing a one-of-a-kind Hanukkah celebration.

Coming up: Tracy K. Smith. Through her poetry, the Pulitzer-prize winner probes the meaning of life. She meditates on what happens to our souls when we die. She communes with the dead. And ultimately, she makes the personal universal. Smith’s poems scrutinize oppression, the contradiction that is the American dream, and the injustices that plague our nation. All these themes converge in her new memoir “To Free the Captives: A Plea for the American Soul. ” It’s lyrical, it’s urgent and in this work –as Smith puts it–she is looking at Black strength and asking the question: where are we now, 400 years into the American Experiment? From there, It’s onto ‘Balancing Acts.’ With local theaters presenting a paradox of choice, from Holiday classics to world premieres, theater critics Joyce Kulhawik and Chris Ehlers join me to preview --and prioritize—the must-see productions of the season.

First up, what happens when a people’s cultural identity becomes a casualty of war? Throughout history monuments, cultural sites, artworks and artifacts have become collateral damage. Now Gaza is surveying the wreckage of Israel’s airstrikes, which have reduced more than 100 landmarks to rubble. Then a new docuseries excavates Boston’s fraught history of racism and segregation by way of the 1989 Charles Stuart murder scandal. It reflects on how law enforcement and the media fueled a race-baiting falsehood. And, move over Barbenheimer, it’s time for Beyonswift. That’s what happens when one mega star lands in London to support The Queen Bee’s Renaissance premiere. From there we’ll look at Spotify’s latest feature called “Sound Towns,” which in an entirely new, sonic, way, puts Burlington on the map. Finally, we remember the Pogues' punk poet…Shane MacGowan. That’s next on the Culture Show.

Today we are going to look at four pillars of holiday entertainment: the 1946 classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Then the contemporary classic “Love Actually. Plus “the juggernaut of jingle bells: The Hallmark Channel, which has 40 new holiday films this season. And finally, we break down Bah Humbug-ery, ranking the top adaptations of “A Christmas Carol.”

In the latest episode of "The Culture Show," hosts Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III, and Callie Crossley discuss this week's arts and culture news.

In this week’s episode of "The Culture Show," hosts Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III, and Callie Crossley discuss this week's arts and culture news.

In the first episode of "The Culture Show," hosts Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III, and Callie Crossley discuss this week's arts and culture news.