Episodes
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August 1, 2024 - Sean Wang, the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, and the Nantucket sea monster
In his debut feature film, Sean Wang depicts the agonies of adolescence: alienation, awkwardness and angst. You know, all the things we try to bury and never remember again. But Wang makes them visible and hilarious. Titled “DIDI,” it’s the story of Chris, a 13-year old Taiwanese-American boy searching for belonging in suburban California – just as Facebook and MySpace are changing everything. It’s a time and place Wang knows well because in some respects, it’s his story. He joins us ahead of a screening at Coolidge Corner Theatre.From there we get an overview of the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival. Classical pianist Jon Nakamatsu, who is also one of the Artistic Directors, joins us to talk about its 45th anniversary.Finally, Edgar B. Herwick III takes us to Nantucket where the island is preparing for the return of an 80-foot sea monster. -
July 31, 2024 - An American in Paris, Lindsay Deutsch, and Synchronicity
With so much attention on Paris for the Olympics, many of us have a longing to be in The City of Light. But there is another way to make that French connection – by way of George and Ira Gershwin’s musical, “An American in Paris.”Part of Regale Music Theatre’s 55th season, it’s onstage August 9th through the 18th. The Elliot Norton award-winning Rachel Bertone – Reagle Music Theatre’s Artistic Director–joins The Culture Show for a preview.From there it’s violinist Lindsay Deutsch, a genre-defying musician known for applying the rigors of classical music to pop and rock, creating mesmerizing mashups along the way. She joins us ahead of her trio TAKE3’s upcoming show at Music Worcester.Finally, “Synchronicity,” The Police’s landmark 1983 album is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a six-disc limited edition box set.In a recent piece for The Washington Post, their national arts reporter Geoff Edgers asks if Synchronicity, the band’s biggest album, killed The Police. And he went to get answers about their premature end – interviewing Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summer, among others. -
July 30, 2024 - Imari Paris Jeffries, Adam Gardner, and Keefer Glenshaw
Kamala Harris is on the verge of making history –again–by becoming the first Black woman to serve as a major party's presidential candidate. And she will be the first to acknowledge that her political path was paved by those who fought for racial justice and civil rights. Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston joins us to talk about how Martin Luther King Jr. has made this moment possible.From there we head to Portland, Maine by way of Guster. Frontman Adam Gardner joins us to preview their annual beach bash “On the Ocean Musical Festival” and their new album–their first in five years.Finally, artist Keefer Glenshaw has turned playing cello into an endurance sport. In May he performed for 24 hours, this past Sunday another work took him into the woods of Lexington. -
July 29, 2024 - Kristin Chenoweth, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and Future Fest
The documentary film, “The Queen of Versailles,” is a rags to riches to rags story about one of America’s most opulent couples – David Siegel and his wife Jacqueline – and their quest to build the largest private home in America, Named Versailles, it’s modeled after the French palace. Now it is musical, making its pre-Broadway world premiere at Emerson Colonial Theatre. Starring Kristin Chenoweth, she joins The Culture Show to talk about bringing humanity to Jacqueline Siegel, a woman hell bent on living the high life.From there we head to the Berkshires by way of the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Raphael Picciarelli, their Managing director of Strategy and Transformation, joins The Culture Show to preview their mini-festival within a festival, WTF IS NEXT.Finally Billy Dean Thomas, Engagement Director of City Hall Plaza, and new media artist, composer and percussionist Maria Finkelmeier join the Culture Show to preview this Saturday’s future fest, which will transform Boston City Hall Plaza into a futuristic playground. -
July 26, 2024 - Week in Review: The Olympics, Veep, and Celine Dion
Today Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III and Culture Show contributor Joyce Kulhawik go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, the pop culture response to the presidential race, and the puzzle it presents: is it life imitating art, or art imitating life when it comes to HBO’s Veep? The satirical series following Selina Meyers’ political path from VP to President is surging in viewership as Kamala Harris seeks the Democratic nomination. And, what is a presidential race without celebrity endorsements? Could Hulk Hogan and George Clooney deliver votes for their respective candidates?From there, while President Biden is passing the torch to Kamala Harris, rap legend Snoop Dogg is literally passing it as the Olympics official torch bearer.Finally, two big reveals about the identities of Hello Kitty and SpongeBob SquarePants. -
July 25, 2024 - 46 Plays for America's First Ladies, Keith Haring, and Yoni Battat
A two hour romp through history considers all of America’s first ladies and their varied roles over the decades. Titled “46 Plays for America’s First Ladies,” The Hub Theatre Company’s production is a “pay-what-you-can" that also includes, a voter registration drive will be held in conjunction with this production. Lauren Elias, Hub Theatre Company founder and producing artistic director joins us along with actor Yasmeen Duncan.From there we look at the life and untimely death of Keith Haring by way of Brad Gooch’s new biography of the legendary artist, “Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring.”Finally, we head to Lowell by way of their 37th annual Folk Festival. One of the performers – multi-instrumentalist, composer and singer Yoni Battat joins us ahead of this weekend’s three-day event. -
July 24, 2024 - Michael C. Thorpe, swimming in the Charles, and Mary Grant
Michael C. Thorpe is a storyteller. Using bright colors, textures and geometric shapes, he literally stitches them together to figuratively stitch together scenes from everyday life. He has the eye and instinct of a painter who uses the art and tradition of quilt making. Now his quilted masterpieces are on view in his solo exhibition at the Fuller Craft museum, it’s titled “Michael C. Thorpe. Homeowners Insurance.” He joins us to talk about it.With the Olympics kicking off at the end of the week one of the most talked about topics is the river Seine. It is notoriously dirty and microbiologists are saying it’s not meant for swimming. But given how dirty the Charles River is, who are we to judge? Well, efforts to clean up the Charles – decades in the making –is paying off. Now people can swim in it, one day each year. Edgar B. Herwick III, Culture Show co-host and human guinea pig joins us to talk about what it was like to take that plunge.Finally, Mary Grant, president of MassArt, joins The Culture Show to talk about the college’s collaboration with the City of Boston to bring more public art to the city. -
July 23, 2024 - British Consul General Peter Abbott, the New Bedford rooster, and Revolution's Edge
Over the last four years, British Consul General of New England Peter Abbott OBE has represented the UK in a number of incredible moments –from the Prince and Princess of Wales’s visit to Boston for the Earthshot prize, to the coronation of King Charles. Along the way he has traveled across New England to promote trade and political alliances. Last winter, in a true display of diplomacy, he was on Boston Harbor for the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. Before he leaves for London next week, he joins us to reflect on his time here and to discuss where he thinks the UK and US are best poised to help in world affairs.From there Lindsay Mís, executive director of Massachusetts Design Art and Technology Institute, also known as DATMA, joins us to talk about their sixth season’s cultural exhibition “Transform: Reduce, Revive, Reimagine,” which is on view now through October 14th in New Bedford. Finally, the play Revolution’s Edge takes into the hours leading up to the Revolutionary war. It was written by Patrick Gabridge for Old North Church by Plays in Place, an organization that works with historic sites and cultural institutions to create site-specific productions. Patrick Greenbridge and Nikki Stewart, executive director of Old North Illuminated, join us. -
July 22, 2024 - NALEDI, Morgan Peterson, and Flora in Flight
NALEDI is a vocalist, composer and educator from Johannesburg, South Africa. Her music is grounded in Jazz, the church, and her heritage. Her dreams of studying music in the United States were realized when she landed a full scholarship to New England Conservatory. Then, after receiving a prestigious Kennedy Center Artist in Residence honor, her career took off with performances at storied venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center. She joins us to talk about her debut album BATHO, and upcoming performance at Cambridge Jazz Festival.From there it’s multi-media artist and professional glassblower Morgan Peterson. The Boston native, who recently emerged the winner of the NETFLIX glassblowing competition TV series, “Blown Away,” joins us ahead of her event at the Sandwich Glass Museum.Finally, Grace Elton, CEO of New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, joins us to talk about their vast, kinetic, public art installation, “Flora in Flight.” -
July 19, 2024 - Week in Review: Bob Newhart, Richard Simmons, and Andre 3000
Today Edgar B. Herwick III, Henry Santoro and Lisa Simmons go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.First up, the Emmy nominations are out–again. We’ll look at the surprises, snubs and snoozers. From there it is an epic loss of TV personalities and stars, from Bob Newhart, who managed to play unassuming characters while stealing the show, to the self-proclaimed “Clown prince of fitness,” Richard Simmons, to TV sex therapist Dr. Ruth and finally, actress Shannen Doherty who played the bad girl everyone loved to hate, but was also burdened by a real-life bad girl reputation.From there, the MFA’s courtyard concerts are back with a full schedule featuring seven summer shows, plus a climate change commentary comes to the Greenway by way of a new public art exhibit .Finally, it’s follow up Friday with an update on the stories we’ve been tracking, which includes André 3000 and why he feels like an outcast as a jazz musician.
