His statue may be a Theater District landmark now, but George M. Cohan caused no small amount of trouble for Actors' Equity early in its history. The union marks its 100th anniversary this year.
Equity At 100: More Than Just A Broadway Baby
()The union of actors and stage managers, who banded together to improve working conditions in the early 1900s, marks its centennial this year. As Jeff Lunden reports, it's operating in an ever-shifting theatrical landscape.
Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!
NFL Sideline Reporter Michele Tafoya Plays Not My Job()
As one of the first female reporters to be allowed inside the NFL locker room, Tafoya has been a pioneer in her field. But there are still places out there where they believe in cooties, so Tafoya will answer three questions about men's-only clubs.
The Salt
Meet London's Master Architects In Jell-0()
London duo Sam Bompas and Harry Parr have made names for themselves with their wild, experimental food installations. From pineapple islands and banana vapors to re-creations of famous architectural monuments, their work playfully pushes the boundary of how we experience food.
Author Interviews
Prepare For Takeoff With 'Cockpit Confidential'()
In his new book, pilot and columnist Patrick Smith explains why you have to turn off your cellphone for takeoff and landing, and why your ideas about autopilot are probably all wrong. He wants people to "re-appreciate the act of air travel. It's not as horrible as everybody thinks it is."
Monkey See
Are Women Really Missing From Film Criticism? ()
May 24, 2013 Are women really being shut out of film criticism? One recent study claims that they're worse off in the online world than they were in print.
Author Interviews
A Race Against Time To Find WWI's Last 'Doughboys'()
May 24, 2013 In 2003, Richard Rubin set out to talk to every American veteran of World War I he could find. With help from the French, he tracked down dozens of centenarian vets and recorded their stories in a new book called The Last of the Doughboys.
The Salt
The Great Charcoal Debate: Briquettes Or Lumps?()
May 24, 2013 Does the kind of charcoal you use really make a difference when it comes to grilling up a tasty steak or other food on the grill? Yes — but deciding which one to use depends on what you're after. Both briquettes and lump charcoal — aka "natural" hardwood charcoal — have their advantages and disadvantages.
Movie Reviews
More Time Together, Though 'Midnight' Looms()
Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke return for the third in Richard Linklater's loosely peerless Before series, and they've never been more persuasive — nor has the storytelling. (Recommended)
Movie Reviews
'Plimpton!': A Fond Look At A Man Of Letters()
May 23, 2013 An affectionate documentary portrays the Paris Review founder as a man devoted to illuminating how talent and creativity work — both for himself, and for the rest of us.
Movie Reviews
'We Steal Secrets': A Sidelong Look At WikiLeaks ()
May 23, 2013 The latest documentary from the prolific Alex Gibney digs into the genesis — and the implications — of what creator Julian Assange describes as "an intelligence agency of the people." (Recommended)
NPR's Backseat Book Club
'Lunch Lady' Author Helps Students Draw Their Own Heroes()
May 23, 2013 Can you imagine your own superhero? That's the question author and illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka posed to kids on a recent afternoon at a school in Washington, D.C. Krosoczka also described how he overcame a difficult childhood to become the author of the beloved Lunch Lady series.
Movie Reviews
To 'Fill The Void,' A Choice With A Personal Cost()
May 23, 2013 Rama Burshtein's ravishing family story is a love poem to life in an insular community — the ultra-Orthodox Hasidim of Tel Aviv, where the director lives. Studiously nonpolitical, it's a low-stakes story with the emotional punch of high drama. (Recommended)
Movie Reviews
'Fast 6': Silly, Speedy And Certain To Cash In()
May 23, 2013 Fast & Furious 6 pits Dominic's crew against a wily terrorist in a high-tech battle royale — but it has a devil of a time explaining why everyone should hop into their cars.
Pitbull Gets 'Epic': 'You Constantly Have To Defend Your Success'()
May 23, 2013 Armando Christian Perez — better known as Pitbull or Mr. Worldwide — has sold five million albums and had No. 1 hits in more than 15 countries. He tells NPR's Michel Martin about using music as an escape and playing a well-dressed toad in the animated film Epic.
Movie Interviews
Julianne Moore, Relishing Complicated Characters()
May 23, 2013 In What Maisie Knew, Moore plays a troubled rock star who might initially seem like a rotten person, but Moore's performance humanizes the character, highlighting her human frailties — something Moore has done in many parts.
Television
Douglas, Damon Illuminate HBO's 'Candelabra'()
May 23, 2013 Steven Soderbergh's latest film is a showbiz story about Vegas icon Liberace and his secret lover — played, respectively, by Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, both terrific in their roles. It premieres Sunday on HBO.
