Episodes
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December 17, 2024 - Imari Paris Jeffries, Les Sampou and Ed Grenga, and Abelardo Morell
Today on The Culture Show Imari Paris Jeffries, president and CEO of Embrace Boston, joins us for his monthly segment: “AI: Actual intelligence,” where we tap into the most interesting thinkers in our region. Their insights and observations are totally original and algorithm free. Today Imari Paris Jeffries discusses President Biden commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 people and pardoning 39 others convicted of nonviolent crimes through the lens of Martin Luther King. Jr.’s legacy.. He also previews next month’s Embrace Honors MLK, which is on January 19th. To learn more about the event go here.From there we’re joined by singer-songwriter Les Sampou and composer, musician and songwriter Ed Grenga. Based in Massachusetts, they discuss their new album, “Best Day of the Year: Original Holiday Classics,” and what it’s like to score holiday films for Hallmark and Lifetime.Finally the innovative photographer Abelardo Morell joins The Culture Show to talk about his technique and his exhibition, now on view at the Clark Art Institute through February 17th, “Abelardo Morell: In the Company of Monet and Constable.” To learn more about the exhibition go here. -
December 16, 2024 - Six, Merriam-Webster's word of the year, and Midwinter Revels
Tony award-winning musical “Six,” in all of its exuberant defiance, reclaims history for Henry VIII’s six wives. Now the queendom reigns at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre by way of Broadway in Boston. Today two of the queens – Danielle Mendoza who stars as Anne of Cleves and Alizé Cruz who stars as Catherine Howard – join The Culture Show. Six is onstage through December 29th. To learn more go here.From there Edgar B. Herwick III is joined by Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, Peter Sokolowski about the word of the year: “polarization.” They talk about how Merriam-Webster decides on the word of the year, how they track linguistic trends and some history behind the famed dictionary.Finally, we tap into a holiday tradition, “Midwinter Revels.” This year’s theme merges the Irish and Cabo Verdean cultures and seasonal customs in “The Selkie Girl and the Seal Woman.” Director and Revels’ interim artistic director Debra Wise, Revels’ music director Elijah Botkin, vocalist and musician Liz Hanley and David Coffin, Revels’ artist-in-residence, join us for an overview. “Midwinter Revels: The Selkie Girl and the Seal Woman” is onstage at Sanders Theatre through December 28th. To learn more go here. -
December 13, 2024 - Week in Review: Luigi Mangione's cultural impact, the MFA selling paintings, and Nikki Giovanni
Today on The Culture Show, Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III, and Callie Crossley go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.First up this week is Luigi Mangione. As soon as his unmasked face was made public and once people knew the name of the suspected gunman who allegedly killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson – fandom flooded the internet and the memes followed. From look-alike contests to combing through his reviews on GoodReads, Mangione has truly captured this cultural moment. What does that say about us when an alleged murderer becomes an instant movie-star-like celebrity?From there, we'll discuss the Museum of Fine Arts' decision to sell 20 Dutch and Flemish paintings from its collection. The museum plans on selling several deaccessioned Dutch and Flemish pieces. And finally, we'll remember the poet and public intellectual Nikki Giovanni who died earlier this week at age 81. -
December 12, 2024 - Engelbert Humperdinck, the Boston Tea Party's anniversary, and Mahesh Daas
Engelbert Humperdinck is a multi-platinum legendary singer whose “Last Waltz Farewell Tour,” lands at the Chevalier Theatre in Medford where he performs on December 12th. Engelbert Humperdinck's latest album All About Love, is a collection of his own versions of some of some classic love songs. He joins The Culture Show to talk about it all.From there we get a preview of Revolutionary Spaces’ commemoration of the 251st anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. They’ll be staging with a world-class reenactment of the Meeting of the Body of the People at Old South Meeting House! Experience this pivotal moment in our nation’s history as you watch the vigorous debate that led to the destruction of tea on December 16, 1773. Matthew Wilding, Director of Interpretation & Education at Revolutionary Spaces joins us for an overview. To learn more about the reenactment and to get tickets go here.Finally, Mahesh Daas, president of Boston Architectural College, joins The Culture Show for his recurring feature “AI: Actual intelligence,” where we tap into the most interesting thinkers in our region. Their insights and observations are totally original and algorithm free. This month we’re talking about Notre-Dame de Paris, and the five-year restoration that went into resurrecting it from the ashes after it was damaged by a fire in 2019. Mahesh Daas is the co-author of the graphic novella about artificial intelligence, titled “I, Nobot.” -
December 11, 2024 - Musicians of the Old Post Road, John Derian, and Hanukkah at the MFA
The chamber ensemble Musicians of the Old Post Road is celebrating the holiday season with “Christmas Far and Wide,” a concert of festive 18th-century yuletide music from across the Western Hemisphere, making stops in Ireland, France, England. Poland, Mexico and more. They have two upcoming performances, one on December 14th at Trinity Lutheran in Worcester and another performance on December 15th at Old South Church in Boston. They both kick off at 4:00 PM. The co-Artistic directors, Suzanne Stumpf and Daniel Ryan join The Culture Show for an overview. Suzanne Stumpf is a flutist. Daniel Ryan is a cellist. We’re also joined by violinist and violist Sarah Darling. To learn more about the upcoming concerts go here.From there we’re joined by designer John Derian. He has a passion for vintage illustration, particularly 18th and 19th century imagery of the natural world. He joins us to talk about his latest book, John Derian Picture Book II. This Friday he’ll be in Roslindale Square at Joanne Rossman purveyor of the unnecessary & the irresistible for a book signing event, which kicks off at 4:00. To learn more go here.Finally, In what has become an annual tradition, the Jewish Arts Collaborative brings the Greater Boston community together to celebrate Hanukkah at the Museum of Fine Arts for “Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights”. Thousands of people gather each year for the annual celebration. And with MFA’s opening of its first gallery dedicated to Judaica last year, there’s even more depth, tradition and culture in the celebration. The Festival of Lights happens tomorrow, December 12th. Laura Mandel, Executive Director of JArts and Simona Di Nepi, Curator of Judaica at the Museum of Fine Arts, join The Culture Show for a preview. To learn more about the event go here. -
December 10, 2024 - A Betty White forever stamp, They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh, and Georgia O'Keeffe and Henry Moore at the MFA
The United States Postal Service has announced a 2025 postage stamp honoring actress Betty White.The stamp, based on a 2010 photo of White, is a work by Massachusetts artist Dale Stephanos. As an illustrator his clients include “Rolling Stone,” “Mad Magazine” and “The New York Times.” His work is exhibited in galleries across the country. Dale Stephanos joins The Culture Show to talk about his work, what it’s like to work with the USPS and how he managed to honor Betty White’s animal rights activism into the stamp’s illustration.From there we talk to John Flansburgh, one half of the iconic alt-rock duo They Might Be Giants. TMBG have charmed audiences with their eclectic, genre-bending style for decades. They’ve released countless albums, contributed music to TV shows such as “Malcolm in the Middle,” and wriggled their way into the public consciousness with songs like “Doctor Worm” and “Birdhouse in your Soul.” They Might Be Giants will be bringing their “Big Tour” to Boston with a pair of shows this Saturday and Sunday, December 14th and 15th, at the Orpheum Theatre. To learn more go here.Finally we head to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston for an overview of their exhibition Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Moore. The co-curators of the exhibition, Courtney Harris and Erica Hirshler join The Culture Show to talk about this major exhibition, which is on view through January 20, 2025. -
December 9, 2024 - Christine Ebersole, the NEC Chamber Singers, and Katy Rodden Walker
Two time Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole joins The Culture Show to preview “I'll Be Home For Christmas.” By way of Broadway in Worcester, Christine Ebersole and Grammy Award winning pianist Billy Stritch will celebrate the holidays together in a show that features the greatest hits of their twenty year partnership going all the way back to “42nd Street” on Broadway when they first met. “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” is onstage Wednesday, December 11th at 7:30 at the Jean McDonough Arts Center / BrickBox Theater, 20 Franklin Street, Worcester, MA 01608. From there it;s a holiday celebration at New England Conservatory by way of their family-friendly choral and winds concert showcasing popular holiday tunes, seasonal sweaters, Santa hats, and a singalong. The concert features NEC Chamber Singers, NEC Symphonic Winds, and Navy Band Northeast, led by conductors Erica J. Washburn, William Drury, and Lt. David Harbuziuk. Erica J. Washburn, Director of Choral Activities at the New England Conservatory, and members of NEC Chamber Singers join The Culture Show for a preview. The concert is tonight at 7:30 at Jordan Hall. They will also be performing at Mechanics Hall on December 11th, 12:00-1:00. To learn more about upcoming NEC concerts go here.Finally artist Katy Rodden Walker joins The Culture Show to talk about “Community BLOOMS.” a community focused art and science project that raises awareness about plastic pollution in our oceans, waterways, and food chains, and the natural phenomena of jellyfish blooms. It’s on view at New Bedford Whaling Museum through April 21, 2025. -
December 6, 2024 - Week in Review: Boston's free Sunday museum program, Spotify Wrapped, and Notre Dame
Today on The Culture Show Edgar B. Herwick III, James Bennett II and Lisa Simmons go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, this week Mayor Wu announced that the city is expanding its pilot program giving Boston students free access to select arts and culture institutions. Starting in January, it’ll be offered to all Boston students, with more free days and even more institutions participating. From there, famed writer Steven King is sending his independent radio stations to the Dead Zone. After 41 years of operating them, he’s giving Maine the silent treatment, citing sustained financial losses.And, it’s a renaissance in Paris. After going up in flames, Notre Dame Cathedral is set to reopen this Sunday after undergoing a five-year restoration. -
December 5, 2024 - The Pipes of Christmas, a missing mural, and a Mariah Carey tribute
For over 25 years The Pipes of Christmas has been a cherished holiday event, performing concerts that celebrate the Christmas season and the Celtic spirit. Next Thursday at Old South Church they will be making their Boston debut in a concert honoring Brian O’Donovan, and the holiday tradition he created: A Christmas Celtic Sojourn. Lindsay O’Donovan, the wife of Brian O’Donavan. She was central to A Christmas Celtic Sojourn, on the stage and behind the scenes. Lindsay O’Donovan, The Pipes of Christmas Executive Producer Bob Currie and vocalist and musician, Madelyn Monaghan join The Culture Show. To learn more about the concert go here.From there James Bennett II joins The Culture Show to talk about his recent reporting on a missing masterpiece at the Boston Public Library and one of John Singer Sargent’s controversial works.Finally, Just in time for the holidays, Berklee College of Music’s Signature Series presents “Singers Showcase: One Sweet Day–The Music Of Mariah Carey. It is an immersive, highly produced event showcasing the craft and artistry of Berklees students who are breathing new life into the Mariah Carey canon. The event features special musical guest Taylor Deneen, who graduated from Berklee in 2021. Taylor Deneen and Anthony Burrell, an Associate Professor of Dance at Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Mariah Carey’s former creative director, choreographer, and dancer consultant, join The Culture Show. The performances are December 5th and DEcember 6th at 8:00 at Berklee Performance Center.To learn more and to get tickets go here. -
December 4, 2024 - Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on the newly launched Boston Family Days, Front Porch Arts Collective, and J.D. Scrimgeour
Today, Mayor Michelle Wu announced Boston Family Days, an expansion of the successful BPS Sundays pilot program, which gave Boston Public Schools students and their families free access to several cultural institutions throughout Boston. With today’s announcement, Mayor Wu has expanded this free access experience to include all Boston school-aged children K-12 and their families and three new cultural institutions. Mayor Wu joined The Culture Show to talk about this expansion.From there, Front Porch Arts Collective is back with another serving of “Holiday Feast.” Christmastime episodes from four Black-led TV comedies of the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s — “A Different World,” “Amen,” “Family Matters,” and “The Jeffersons” — are performed live in staged readings. Actor Maurice Parent and Dawn M. Simmons, a Co-Producing Artistic Director of Front Porch Arts Collective, joinThe Culture Show.Finally J.D. Scrimgeour joins us to talk about his vision as Salem’s inaugural Poet Laureate. He’s an English professor at Salem State, and the author of five collections of poetry, which includes Banana Bread and Lifting the Turtle. As a dedicated advocate for the arts, he helped establish the Massachusetts Poetry Festival in Salem and he directs the Salem Poetry Seminar, helping future poets.
